Masquerading the Marquess (3 page)

She sent him a haughty look. "Eavesdropping connotes intent. I was merely seated here enjoying the air when you three happened by, like ants invading a picnic."

He found himself enjoying the repartee, as usual. "I was taught one should announce one’s presence and not skulk in the shadows."

"I’m not surprised to find you’ve been caught skulking before, Lord Angelford." There was a sparkle in her eyes even as she frowned.

She was never a slowtop. Although her earlier comment in front of the others had been uncommon in its vehemence, it was her habit to verbally abuse him when no one was within earshot.

He smiled. "Miss Stafford, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you’ve missed me."

"Missed you? My lord, I was not even aware you were absent. I’m not even sure we’ve been properly introduced."

He carefully studied her over his cheroot. On the surface she was no great beauty. In fact, any sparkle was hidden beneath heavy layers of bombazine and netting. She was the exact opposite of the showy women he usually squired about town. Yet something about her drew and held his attention.

It was difficult to discern her features in the evening shadows, but in the ballroom her cap hadn’t fully covered hair the color of honey. No fashionable curls hung around her features due to the ruthless hairstyle pulling her skin from her face, but her bone structure was fine.
High cheekbones and kissable lips.
And unattractive spectacles could not mask bright eyes full of intelligence.

When he had returned her earlier barb, those eyes had contained mortification followed by disdain. He was struck by an unusual twinge of conscience.

He bowed low and plucked a blue-and-purple-tinged flower from a vine covering the hedge. "Miss Stafford, I am pleased to make your acquaintance." He offered her the bloom, but she eyed him suspiciously and didn’t accept the token.

The flower matched the color of her eyes.

"I am not pleased to make yours, my lord."

He smiled.
"Apparently not."

A maid rounded the corner, a tray in her hands.

She emitted a squeak as she toppled backward, surprised at finding someone in her way. James grabbed her and the tray before either hit the stones.

"Goodness. I beg your pardon, my lord. I was just collecting stray glasses, and . . ." The maid wrung her hands.

James returned her tray and the maid scurried around the hedge. Miss Stafford sat frowning at him.

"You should probably fetch that drink now, Miss Stafford, or may I call you Margaret?"

She looked outraged. "No, you may not. Good night, my lord."

She rose quickly and, with head held high, walked gracefully across the terrace and into the ballroom. James watched her, extinguished his cheroot and bent to retrieve the soft flower, which he had sacrificed to save the maid and her tray.

He twirled the bloom between his fingers,
then
picked up Margaret Stafford’s forgotten cane, unsure whether to smile or frown.

* * *

Calliope moved into the ballroom and toward the refreshment table
,.
What an irritating man.

While reaching for a cup, she was intercepted by the heavy bulk of Lady Simpson.

"Miss Stafford, where have you been?"

She had been on the terrace waiting for the interlopers to leave.

Calliope gathered her wits.
"My apologies, Lady Simpson.
I grew warm and thought the cool air might be soothing."

"Walking alone in the garden? Really, now, you must endeavor to maintain decorum."

From past experience Calliope found it better to ignore Lady Simpson once she began a tirade. "Yes, my lady. Here is your lemonade."

Lady Simpson sniffed. "When you failed to return, Lord Flanders graciously brought me a cup. I was parched and feeling faint."

Calliope nodded apologetically and set the cup down. "Are you ready to retire?"

Lady Simpson stared at her coldly and raised her voice above the din. "No. However, I do believe it’s time you did. Yes, indeed. As others tonight have brought to my attention, it is painfully obvious you are not suited to this position. Your behavior is questionable and your presence disastrous. It is time you find other employment. Unfortunately, it is quite impossible for me to provide you with a good reference, so I will save myself the trouble and not give one at all."

Calliope heard murmurs and snickers. Her eyes skimmed the assembly. A number of people were staring. Some guests appeared to be enjoying the show, some were eyeing her with pity and others looked uncomfortable. Calliope’s glance fell on Angelford lounging in the doorway. She tried to read his expression, but he was too far away. No doubt he was pleased with the entertainment unfolding in the ballroom.

Calliope straightened her spine and addressed Lady Simpson. "And it is a good thing,
Georgina
,
" Calliope
said, drawing out her Christian name. "A reference from you would mean I might be tempted to seek employment from one of your friends, such as Lady Turville. Looking at her muttonchops over dinner every night would probably upset my ability to eat, just as you claimed it upset yours. Or perhaps I would have tried Mrs. Dunleavy’s employ. I remember you calling her an ordinary fishmonger. And let’s not forget Lady Flanders, a woman you claim dresses and acts like a flagrant strumpet. I would have been plumb fatigued after opening her well-used door for each devotee."

Lady Simpson was sputtering, and her fan mimicked the action as it madly twitched.

Calliope did not falter as weeks of pent up abuse spewed forth.
"How kind of you to decide not to recommend me to your friends.
What a nuisance to search for a miracle cream to shrink Lady Killroy’s nose. I believe you called it piglike?"

Calliope raised her chin. "No, I don’t believe a reference from you would do me much good." She started walking and then turned. "By the by, you would make a wonderful lady’s maid. Keep it in mind in case fate is unkind."

Calliope swept out of the ballroom. A swath was made for her, people too agog at the verbal interchange to do anything but move out of her way. She marched up the curved staircase and looked toward the green-and-gold-liveried servants. They were staring avidly and showed no sign of movement, so she decided to abandon her cloak.

She exited the Killroy residence and halted at the drive, rubbing her arms. She hadn’t given a thought to how she would get home. And she had forgotten her cane on the terrace, blast Angelford.

She had no trouble walking most distances
unaided,
the cane was more a part of her disguise. But her right leg would not hold for the long trek to her real home.

"Miss Stafford! Miss Stafford!"

Terrence raced down the steps, his face etched with anxiety. He skidded to a stop in front of her.

"Where will you go? For whom will you work?"

Calliope’s shoulders drooped. It was easy enough to disappear and reappear when one used a variety of pseudonyms and attracted little attention, but after tonight she would have a difficult time re-entering society in a new guise. "I’m not sure, Mr. Smith. I’ll think about that later. Right now I must find a way home."

Terrence cast an uneasy glance toward the mansion’s entrance. Any minute the curious would be exiting to see if the spectacle might continue outside.

"Take my carriage. My driver will drop you at your residence." He told her how to identify his carriage and slipped two worn cards from his jacket. One was embossed with a heavy red wax seal, probably the symbol of his father’s baronetcy.

The other was a calling card. He handed her the latter. "Give this card to my driver and tell him your destination."

The night’s events started to weigh on her. She gripped his arm. "Thank you, Terrence
. "

He looked startled at her use of his given name, but patted her hand. "Send a note around and let me know how you’re doing
. "

She nodded and walked quickly toward the row of carriages parked along the lane. The merged voices of the guests increased in volume, so she stuck to the shadows. She located Terrence’s carriage and gave his card to the sleepy driver along with her direction. He asked no questions.

Inside the carriage, Calliope slumped into the well-worn seat and leaned her head against the door as the conveyance moved down the drive.

What a fiasco. Even though a voice in her head cruelly taunted her quick tongue, she placed the responsibility for the disturbance on the Marquis of Angelford. He was undoubtedly the one who had advised Lady Simpson to dismiss her.

One nobleman at a time.
The sentiment was sound.

Intent on her thoughts, she missed the
thoughtful
 
figure
standing in the doorway swinging her forgotten cane lightly in his hand.

"
Cal
, don’t you think you’ve become a bit preoccupied with the Marquess of Angelford?"

Calliope shot Robert Cruikshank, her mentor and caricaturist extraordinaire, a fuming glance and dropped into her soft leather chair. "He provides so much material. How can one not take notice?"

Robert shook his head and ran a hand through his fashionably cut locks.
"Three more drawings on the same subject—'The Travails of a Marquess.'
It’s a bad idea to concentrate on one person, especially a peer who values his privacy. "

"I know, but admit it, they are good illustrations."

Robert inspected the drawing in his hand. "Better than good, they are inspired. Just be careful. Angelford is a powerful lord and isn’t accustomed to this type of attention. None of the other artists portray him in such a narrow, unflattering manner. "

Robert tossed the sheet to her and leaned back, crossing his shiny Hessians on the edge of her worn mahogany desk.

"At this juncture of your career it would be much easier, as well as safer, to portray those who expect and encourage the notoriety
. "

Calliope groaned. "They’ve all been overworked."

Robert shook his head with more than a little irritation. "
Cal
, that’s one thing you need to accept. Everything doesn’t need to be new. One of an artist’s greatest challenges is to create something exciting from the mundane. "

"I understand Robert, really I do. I just think Angelford is an interesting subject."
and he deserves the comeuppance
, she added mentally.

Calliope scanned the image. The marquess was dodging carefully laid traps set by society mamas and debutantes as he scampered after a dozen scantily clad courtesans. Examining the caricature, she felt an odd mixture of satisfaction, anger, sadness and regret. Across the lower right she signed the name
Thomas Landes
with a flourish and slid the sheet back to Robert.

He sighed and carefully placed the sheet on top of the other two caricatures of the marquess. "The publishers are very pleased with your work.

Sales have increased and they are eager for the mysterious Mr. Landes to provide more fodder for their presses. You will notice an increased compensation. "

He handed her the banknotes and she noticed the look of pride he tried to conceal. She swelled beneath it.

"Thank you, Robert. You’re a dear friend, and I don’t know what I’d do without you. I’ll have a new selection for you next week, and I promise to choose a different subject." Behind her back she flexed her crossed fingers and promised herself she would indeed try.

His expression turned serious. "See that you do,
Cal
. I have an uncomfortable feeling about the direction you’re taking with the marquess. Most likely these three sketches of Angelford will be published every two weeks, to whet the public’s appetite. The others you did of him were much different." He shook his head. "Tongues will wag over these new ones, so be prepared for possible repercussions in the next few months."

"Then again," Robert said, and shrugged in his offhand manner, "since your work is selling well, perhaps you shouldn’t take my advice."

Calliope laughed but couldn’t hide her nervousness. He looked at her questioningly and lifted his eyebrows. "Out with it."

"Lady Simpson terminated my employment. I need to retire ‘Margaret Stafford.’”

"Yes, I know. Even the men at the clubs have been talking about the 'Killroy Incident.' You made Lady Killroy’s ball the event of the Season thus far. She is fair to preening from the attention, despite being called porcine."

Some of Calliope’s embarrassment must have slipped through her reserve, because Robert reached over and patted her hand. "You should be relieved at this turn of events. If I’m not mistaken, I believe you called Lady Simpson something akin to a harridan quite loudly in front of the entire assemblage.

"Regardless of your feelings for the woman or the fact that the position gave you entree into the ton, by your own admission you had almost drained her of ideas."

He motioned to a blank sheet of drawing paper. "You really ought to illustrate the occurrence from Margaret’s point of view. Other artists are bound to capitalize on the subject, and it would be best to have yourself well represented."

Calliope nodded, opened her top drawer and handed him an already sketched and signed caricature of the event. He took one look at it and roared with laughter.

The picture illustrated a sparrow with a bandaged leg and spectacles applying tar and feathers to a large-mouthed harpy standing in shock. In the background, ornately plumed birds had wide eyes focused on the twosome, and the flock was depicted gathering up bits and pieces of grain on the floor.

"And here is another
. "
She withdrew a second caricature. It was a tribute to Lady Simpson, who wielded a knife as she carved into a roasted pig bearing Lady Killroy’s features.

"These are fabulous. The public will love them."

She allowed herself a small smile. Paybacks were quite satisfying.
One noble at a time.

"However, it does leave you in rather odd straits." Robert tucked the sketches into his leather satchel. "You may not be able to get a companion position under a different persona. There are limited ways in which one can appear severely dowdy and not be recognized. And you have stressed to me several times the desire for your real identity to remain anonymous."

Yes, anonymity was essential. Calliope knew society. Lady Salisbury had countless friends who would keep her fully abreast of the latest on-dits. And since Margaret Stafford definitely was in the on-dit category at present, Calliope could only breathe a sigh of relief that she had persisted with the disguises.

Robert’s hands were crossed in a contemplative fashion as he waited patiently for her response to the dilemma.

Calliope breathed deeply. "Robert, after much consideration, I have decided to view society from a totally different perspective."

His eyebrows rose, but he waited for her to continue.

"However, in order to do so I will need your help finding a man of noble birth who can be completely
trustworthy.
A nearly impossible request, I know. "

She saw more interest gather in his eyes. Robert loved a challenge. "Well, don’t keep me in suspense."

"I’ve decided to become a courtesan."

Robert’s face went blank.
"A what?"

"A courtesan."

"A courtesan?"

"Yes." Her nerves were already frayed.

He sat up in his chair. "Let me get this straight. You want to be a lady of the night, a bird of paradise, one of the demimonde, fallen?"

Calliope fought to maintain her composure. "Yes, but in name only
. "

"Ridiculous."

"No, it’s a perfect cover." `

"Why not a seamstress?"

"Too tedious and limiting."

"Governess?"

"Too restrictive."

"Scullery maid?"

Calliope cringed. "No. Any service position would be skewed to the household I would inhabit."

Robert’s face had turned an unbecoming shade of red. Calliope jumped into the brief silence.

"Robert, listen before you negate the idea.
I’ve been mulling this over for days." Calliope examined her ink-stained hands as she reviewed her arguments. "This role will be terrific. I will have access to new haunts and will be able to view the ton from a new perspective. The position will give me insight into the vagaries of society and
provide ,
an exceptional opportunity to observe and capitalize on the ton’s wilder side. And I stress it will be
in name only
."

Robert paced to the window, his
hands
 
clenched
at his sides, his protective nature in obvious conflict with the thought of the adventure.

Calliope held her breath. The room was cloaked in silence, and she shifted uncomfortably. Her plush chair, the one extravagant purchase she had allowed herself from her caricature earnings, felt hard.

He had to agree. He had to see this was the best way to proceed. A lady’s companion position was closed to her, thanks to her interactions with the infernal Marquess of Angelford. No other position would do. He had to agree.

An eternity passed before she saw Robert’s fingers relax. He turned to her, a thoughtful expression on his face.
" Your
benefactor will need to be completely aware of your position and his role in this undertaking so there is no misunderstanding. In order to meet the appropriate people he will need to be accepted by and have access to the ton."

Calliope allowed herself a tentative gleam of hope. It must have shown in her eyes, because she received a stern look in return. "This role will not be easy,
Cal
. The rules of this game are quite different from any you have played thus far."

She couldn’t stop her head from bobbing in agreement.

He gave her an admonishing look. "I want you to note I feel this is a dangerous idea."

Calliope gave a suitably restrained nod.

He regarded her seriously for a moment and then regained his usual flippant air, tapping his chin. "As odd as it may be, I happen to know just the person who fulfills the criteria. He would find this charade highly amusing, and despite his rakish appearance he is a gentleman and utterly trustworthy.
" He
paused. "Although he has been out of the country recently, he is well connected and possesses a stinging sense of humor. He would enjoy playing the ton."

Robert walked to the door and touched the handle. Turning back, he said, "I’m going to contact my distant cousin, Stephen, and get back to you by the end of the week. Just remember my cautions."

Calliope exhaled and forced herself to relax. She had passed the first hurdle. Despite any mustered objections, the new role would provide a perfect cover with excellent exposure. The familiar excitement of creating a new persona radiated through her. She was anxious to talk to Deirdre.

A week later, Deirdre Daly rubbed her hands in eager anticipation. "Let me repeat that I think this is a wonderful development. I hated getting you ready for all those boring soirees."
Dee
grimaced. "What a miserable way to play, no less live."

Calliope grinned at her foster sister as they pillaged Mrs. Daly’s dressing room at the Adelphi Theatre. "Yes, it was a truly constraining existence."

But the grin slowly slipped from her face as she mulled the matter further.
"Although it is quite advantageous to be one of them.
As an outsider looking in, I don’t envy some of the poor debutantes who barter themselves each night on the marriage mart."

A bitter note crept into Calliope’s voice as the cast of faces who had snubbed her flitted through her head. "However, the ones I feel sorry for are few and far between. Most of the ton is composed of lazy, selfish entities
who
live off their relatives, contribute very little to society and spend countless hours degrading others."

Deirdre stopped searching through her mother’s theater wardrobe and cast
her a
worried glance. "Callie, is something wrong? Your ranting sounds worse than usual."