Once and Always Read online

  Jason’s dark brows drew together in a slight frown. “Who taught you to cheat?”

  “Andrew. He said they were ‘card tricks’ he learned when he was away at school.”

  “Remind me never to put this Andrew up for membership at any of my clubs,” Collingwood said dryly. “He wouldn’t live to see the next day.”

  “Andrew never cheats,” Victoria corrected loyally. “He felt it was important to know how cheating is done, so one can’t be cheated by an unscrupulous gambler—but he was only sixteen at the time, and I don’t think he realized yet he was unlikely ever to meet such a person. . . .”

  Jason leaned back in his chair, watching Victoria with fascinated interest, amazed by the gracious ease with which she conducted herself with his guests and the way she effortlessly charmed Robert Collingwood into participating in the dinner table conversation. He noticed the way her face glowed with fondness whenever she spoke of her Andrew, and the way she brought the dining room to life with her smile.

  She was fresh and alive and unspoiled. Despite her youth, there was a natural sophistication about her that came from an active mind, a lively wit, and a genuine interest in others. He smiled to himself, remembering her courageous defense of her dog, which she had announced would henceforth be called Wolf, not Willie. Jason had known a few men with true courage in his lifetime, but he had never met a courageous woman. He remembered her shy responsiveness to his kiss and the incredible surge of hot desire she had ignited in his body.

  Victoria Seaton was full of surprises, full of promise, he thought, studying her surreptitiously. Vivid beauty was molded into every flawlessly sculpted feature of her face, but her allure went much further than that; it was in her musical laughter and her graceful movements. There was something deep within her that made her sparkle and glow like a flawless jewel, a jewel that needed only the proper background and setting: elegant clothes to complement her alluring figure and exquisite features; a magnificent home where she could reign as its queen; a husband to curb her wilder impulses; a baby at her breast to cuddle and nourish. . . .

  Sitting across from her, Jason remembered his old, long since abandoned dream of having a wife to light up his table with her warmth and laughter . . . a woman to fill his arms in bed and banish the dark emptiness within him . . . a woman who would love the children he gave her. . . .

  Jason caught himself up short, disgusted with his naive, youthful dreams and unfulfilled yearnings. He had carried them into adulthood and married Melissa, foolishly believing that a beautiful woman could make those dreams come true. How stupid he had been, how incredibly gullible to let himself believe a woman cared about love or children or anything but money and jewels and power. He scowled as he realized Victoria Seaton was suddenly bringing all those old, stupid yearnings back to torment him.

  Chapter Ten

  THE MOMENT THE COLLINGWOODS LEFT, Jason headed straight for the library, where Charles had vanished an hour before.

  Charles laid his book aside at once and beamed at Jason. “Did you observe Victoria’s demeanor at supper tonight?” he asked eagerly. “Isn’t she splendid? She has such charm, such poise, such understanding. I nearly burst with pride watching her! Why, she’s—”

  “Take her to London tomorrow,” Jason cut in shortly. “Flossie Wilson can join you there for the season.”

  “London!” Charles sputtered. “But why? Why must we hurry?”

  “I want her away from Wakefield and off my hands. Take her to London and find her a husband. The season begins in a fortnight.”

  Charles paled, but his voice was determined. “I think I’m entitled to an explanation for this sudden decision of yours.”

  “I gave you one—I want her away from here and permanently off my hands. That’s explanation enough.”

  “It isn’t as easy as that,” Charles protested desperately. “I can’t simply advertise in the newspaper for a husband for her. We have to go about it properly—by entertaining and formally introducing her to society.”

  “Then take her there and get started.”

  Raking his hand through his gray hair, Charles shook his head, trying to dissuade Jason. “My house isn’t in any condition to give lavish parties—”

  “Use mine,” Jason said.

  “Then you can’t stay there,” Charles objected, searching wildly for obstacles to throw in the way of the plan. “If you do, everyone will assume Victoria is another one of your conquests—and a brazen one, to boot. The fact that you’re supposedly betrothed to her won’t carry any weight.”

  “Whenever I’m in the city, I’ll stay at your house,” Jason said briskly. “Take my staff from here with you—they can be ready for a party at a day’s notice. They’ve done so before.”

  “What about gowns and vouchers to Almack’s and—”

  “Have Flossie Wilson take Victoria to Madame Dumosse and tell Madame that I want Victoria to have the best—immediately. Flossie will know how to go about getting vouchers to Almack’s. What else?”

  “What else?” Charles burst out. “To begin with, Dumosse is so famous even I’ve heard of her. She won’t have time to outfit Victoria, not with the season almost upon us.”

  “Tell Dumosse I said to use her own judgment on Victoria’s wardrobe and to spare no expense. Victoria’s red hair and petite height will be a challenge for her; she’ll outfit Victoria so that she outshines every insipid blonde and willowy brunette in London. She’ll do it if she has to go without sleep for the next two weeks, and then she’ll charge me double her usual exorbitant price to compensate herself for the inconvenience. I’ve been through all this before,” he finished briskly. “Now, since everything is settled, I have work to do.”

  Charles expelled a long, frustrated sigh. “Very well, but we’ll leave in three days, not one. That will give me time to notify Flossie Wilson to join us in London, not here. As an unmarried man, I cannot live in the same house with Victoria unless a suitable chaperone is present—particularly in London. Send your staff ahead to see to your house and I’ll send word to Flossie Wilson to join us in London the day after tomorrow. Now I have a favor to ask of you.”

  “What is it?”

  Carefully phrasing his answer, Charles said, “I don’t want anyone to know your engagement to Victoria is off, not right away.”

  “Why not?” Jason demanded impatiently.

  Charles hesitated as if at a loss, then brightened. “Well, for one thing, if members of the ton believe Victoria is already betrothed to you, they won’t watch her so closely. She’ll be able to go about with a little more freedom, and to look over the gentlemen at her leisure, before deciding on anyone in particular.”

  When Jason looked ready to argue, Charles added quickly, “She’ll be much more admired—and much more desired—if the London beaux believe she’s wrung an offer from you, of all people. Only consider, every eligible bachelor in London will think she must be special indeed if you want to marry her. On the other hand, if they think she’s your cast-off, they’ll hang back.”

  “Your ‘friend’ Lady Kirby will already have told everyone that the engagement is off,” Jason pointed out.

  Charles dismissed that with a wave of his hand. “No one will pay any heed to Kirby if you don’t deny the betrothal when you’re in London.”

  “Fine,” Jason said, ready to agree to almost anything in order to get Victoria married off. “Take her to London and present her. I’ll provide a suitable dowry for her. Give some balls and invite every fop in Europe. I’ll attend her debut myself,” he added sardonically. “And I’ll stay in London to interview her prospective suitors. It shouldn’t be hard to find someone to take her off our hands.”

  He was so relieved to have settled the problem of Victoria that he didn’t stop to consider the conflicting rationales behind Charles’s impassioned argument in favor of letting the betrothal stand.

  Victoria walked into the library just as Jason was leaving. They exchanged smiles; then he exited and she