A Promise of Pure Gardenias Read online

  He had avoided Lady Sophia Barclay for the best part of the year following his own sister’s marriage to his best friend, and still winced at the memory of Algernon’s fist hitting him squarely on the chin. Good God! The man had been positively animalistic, demanding that he, Brendon, marry Sophia after discovering that he had shown her some old medical books while waiting days for her brother to regain consciousness.

  Admittedly, they were fairly detailed medical books, something he hadn’t known when he had first discussed them with the woman, but the whole thing was ridiculous. Sophia was too... she was more... she had such... He couldn’t explain it, but his insides turned over as they did every time he thought of the woman and the words she had spoken shortly after he woke up from Algernon’s granite hard punch.

  But this was no time to become distracted by the delightful Sophia Barclay. He let out a long breath and forced his thoughts back towards his father.

  Frances felt insulted! Insulted! The word fixed in his head. Had Algernon insulted Lord Spencer? Was that why his father mentioned Algernon in his letter? Brendon huffed out a pent up breath. He couldn’t see Algernon harming anyone, but who knew. The man had been a bag of nerves since discovering that Felicity was increasing. Algernon’s agitation might have led him to say anything to Brendon and Felicity’s father.

  He looked back at his mother.

  “I’m going to visit Algernon. Lucas too, if I can find him. Little squirt never stays in one place for long, but if he was at the Caruthers gathering he might be able to shed some light on whatever led to this state of affairs.” He waved his hand back towards the bed.

  Lady Spencer let go of his arm.

  “Please don’t become all hot headed. I know that you can control yourself with Algernon normally but this is an odd situation. Besides Sophia is likely to be there. I don’t want her seeing you punch her brother for no good reason ever again. Algernon would do nothing to hurt your father, and you know it. And don’t be so blasé about Lucas. You have been so occupied with that fancy piece of yours that you haven’t noticed he isn’t quite the ‘little squirt’ he once was, and you know how volatile you can be. You are more likely to end up with a blacked eye and a bloodied nose than he is.”

  Appalled that his mother knew about his mistress, Brendon covered his embarrassment with a cough and forced his thoughts to Lucas Caruthers. Brendon would have laughed at the notion of the man besting him, but thought better of it. His mother was right. This was a serious situation and a bout of fisticuffs would be unseemly especially if Sophia ever heard of it.

  Sophia! Visions of the distracting woman had kept him warm at night while at war, and had disturbed his dreams since returning home.

  He sighed and tried his best to shove the thought of Algernon’s little sister to the back of his mind, but it didn’t work. He nearly rolled his eyes at himself. Sophia, though slightly diminutive in height, was certainly no longer little.

  It had been almost a year since he had last seen her. A ball in town shortly after Algernon recovered from his bullet wound. Brendon recalled his eyes aching after they had nearly fallen from his head as she danced with that scoundrel Lucas Caruthers. Lucas hadn’t been able to keep his own eyes above the scandalously low dip of Sophia’s neckline, and Brendon’s fury had been such that it had taken all he had to resist wiping the smile from the runt’s face with his fist. Realizing that these feelings could be a relapse back into the bad habit of reacting first and thinking or asking questions later, Brendon removed himself from temptation and had avoided the woman at all costs since.

  But it would do no good dwelling on the subject of the ever alluring Lady Sophia Barclay. His mother was quite right. Sophia wouldn’t want to see her brother exposed to his short temper ever again. Algernon was one of the most caring men Brendon knew and he had often speculated that Felicity had his friend by the balls. He was too kind-hearted for his own good and Brendon knew that he had treated the man appallingly on several occasions.

  But he wouldn’t do it again. His mind refocused on his father’s injuries.

  “No, of course, but if he was there last night he may know something we don’t. I’ll go and see if he has any explanation of what happened. Send word if father wakes. I’ll come home immediately.” He bent to kiss his mother’s damp cheek. “He’ll be all right, mother. Father wouldn’t dare leave you yet. He would be too scared of the ear bashing he might receive when you eventually joined him in heaven.” He turned to leave but glanced over his shoulder as he thought he heard the faintest of chuckles coming from the shape tucked in the bed. He stared hard at the sleeping figure. The regular rise and fall continued and he decided that his imagination must have been playing tricks on him.

  Chapter Two

  Friends in Need

  “Ouch! Do you have to keep whacking my head? It’s sore enough without you doing any more damage.” Lord Algernon Barclay grumbled, feeling an odd sense of de ja vu as his sister dabbed his head with what smelled like a cloth soaked in cheap gin. She had done something very similar the year previously, but that had been due to his friend’s appallingly bad habit of reacting first and thinking later, not his own stupid fault. He could feel the difference in her attentions.

  The cloth slapped down none too gently just above his left ear as she hissed at him.

  “I am not whacking your head. I am wiping it gently. Well, as gently as you deserve.” She narrowed her eyes and smacked the cloth onto her brother’s thick head once again. “If you didn’t become roaring drunk and fall out of the carriage I might not have to do this, but as you insist on drinking yourself blind, you must suffer the consequences of your own actions. I was so embarrassed last night, Algernon. Lucas thought it hilarious when you called his mother’s statue of Aphrodite, Felicity. And he nearly had hysterics when you climbed up the plinth and tried to kiss her. He practically rolled about the floor. I didn’t know where to put myself. If George hadn’t been on hand to help you into the carriage, I don’t know what I would have done.” She sniffed a little indignantly as she mentioned the Caruthers’ footman.

  Algernon almost shook his head, but thought better of it when a sharp pain lanced through his skull. He had barely been in bed more than a couple of hours when Sophia had come barging through the doorway armed with her medical kit. At least she had let him put on his clothes before ministering to him as he sat in the chair by the window.

  He managed to fix a contrite expression on his face and was relieved when his sister’s attentions gentled and the look of a harpy sucking on a lemon left her face. His huge shoulders slumped as he accepted her doctoring for a few seconds longer.

  “I don’t think I’ve been that drunk in years.” He let her clean the dried blood from his head and hair before he brushed her hand away. “Don’t fuss, Sophia. I don’t deserve it. I deserve to be kicked for being such a fool. I just can’t seem to contain myself these days. Felicity is worrying me sick. You know that she spent half of last week moving furniture for our new arrival. Seemed to me that we have far more than we have any use for. I mean, how much can one tiny baby need? I spent hours massaging the kinks from her back afterwards. Damned woman doesn’t know when to slow down.” He sighed deeply and let his head fall into his hands, knowing that his determined wife would never change no matter how much he worried over her. If it hadn’t been for concern over their growing child, he wouldn’t have minded one bit. As it was, he found himself so wound up that his judgement was becoming impaired, but three bottles of port certainly weren’t the answer. He hissed as his fingertips touched the knot above his ear. He raised his eyes to meet his sister’s gaze. “Damned plinth. I blame you and your decorating for this though, Sophia. Those dirty great lumps of stone never used to be either side of our doorway. If the one on the left hadn’t been there last night I never would have crashed into it, rebounded and injured myself on the one on the right.”

  “Injured yourself on what?” A deeply suspicious voice demanded from the bedroom doorwa
y. Algernon’s head shot up again as Sophia let out a small shriek of surprise. Neither had heard Brendon Spencer enter their London home.

  Sophia recovered first.

  “Good morning, Brendon.” She curtseyed a little stiffly. She had not seen the man for months but he looked as good as he had always done and her heart gave its usual flutter as she took in his shining dark hair and the impressive breadth of his shoulders. Acutely aware of his presence, she covered her discomfort by explaining the cloth in her hand. “I’m bathing this idiot’s head after he cracked it open on our new gateposts. The oaf tripped over his own feet last night after making a complete cake of himself at Lady Frances’ soirée. He has a knot the size of a walnut just above his ear.” She poked Algernon’s head with her finger to indicate the exact location of the injury.

  Algernon flinched and let out a yelp of pain.

  “Witch! You did that on purpose.” He cradled the side of his head with his hand.

  Brendon shook his head at the man’s discomfort and strode towards his friends, trying to ignore the familiar scent of gardenias that tantalized his nostrils and disguised the acrid odour of cheap alcohol that wafted in the air. He bowed over Sophia’s hand.

  “I’m sorry, Sophia. I didn’t mean to startle you. Mrs. Archer let me in and told me to come up.” He looked across at his friend. “Gads! You look awful, Algernon, but I am afraid I don’t have time to sympathise. I came to ask what you know of this incident with my father, and find you almost as incapacitated. What happened to you and does it have any bearing on my father’s situation?”

  Algernon frowned and rubbed his temples. His head throbbed violently enough to rob him of sensible thought.

  “If I knew what incident or situation you alluded to I might have some idea, however I am having some trouble recollecting anything of the evening, let alone any particular events involving your father. Don’t tell me he fell over too, or does he merely have a hangover? Or has your family decided to upgrade their own front doorstep too?” He glared up at his sister then closed his eyes briefly before continuing to explain more fully. “Apparently I fell out of our carriage while incapacitated and misjudged our new entrance way. Entirely my own fault. I was worrying about Felicity again and partook of rather too much port. Shouldn’t be surprised if Lucas’ head is throbbing just as badly considering the amount of bottles we sank last night. Your father had his fair share too, but I rather thought he carried it better than us.”

  Sophia huffed out an impatient breath.

  “Algernon wasn’t the only one to make a complete fool of himself. Lucas behaved like an idiot too, rolling about on the floor like a small child. His mother was furious, though she tried not to show it. However, regardless of your friends’ terrible behaviour, your father was the perfect gentleman, Brendon, as always. If he had been drinking, it certainly wasn’t to excess.” Sophia reassured their visitor as she began clearing away the bloodstained cloths and bandages.

  Algernon huffed.

  “Typical that she’s on your side, Bren. But what of it anyway? I daresay we shall all recover, given a good breakfast and some fresh air.” He sucked in a deep breath, gave himself a small shake, and smiled grimly as he rose a little unsteadily to his feet. “Now, tell me how can I help you? I gave all the latest news of your sister to your mother last night, though I can offer you tea and repeat it again if you wish to have it from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Come on. We can go downstairs. Let us sit down with Sophia and take tea and some refreshment. I’m sure Mrs. Archer has made cake already this morning.” He lifted his nose and sniffed appreciatively at the air wafting up the stairs.

  Brendon was in no mood for pleasantries. He strode over to the window and glanced out into the street below. There were few people other than tradesmen about at this hour of the morning. It was no wonder Algernon appeared groggy. Lady Caruthers events always went on until daybreak. The man must have only just gone to bed. Brendon dropped the curtain again and turned back to face his friends.

  “I’m not interested in my sister, either of your company, or even Mrs. Archer’s cake.” He began a little harshly but stopped the instant he heard Sophia’s horrified gasp and saw Algernon’s hand clamp into a tight fist. He raised his own hands in a placating gesture. “No, no! I meant no offense. Of course I am interested in my sister’s welfare, both you and Sophia, and in other circumstances, even a slice of Mrs. Archer’s cake, but I have a more a pressing matter to deal with this morning. My father lies abed after taking a bullet to his shoulder. He fought a duel at first light this morning. His opponent had disappeared by the time Stevens and our driver Bilton discovered my father lying in his own blood on the duelling ground. We know not yet if he lives or dies.” Brendon didn’t think the exaggeration too much. Algernon had suffered two bullet wounds of his own the year previously. He knew of the possible complications only too well. If fever set in, who knew what could happen.

  Algernon’s eyes widened as Sophia dropped the gin soaked cloth back in the bowl.

  “Your father took part in a duel? I don’t believe it!” She cried out.

  Algernon cleared his head rapidly as he agreed with his sister.

  “I don’t believe it either. Your father wouldn’t raise a hand to anyone, let alone a pistol. And who was his opponent? Who could he possibly have insulted, or been insulted by? He has no enemies or rivals and is the most diplomatic man I know.”

  Brendon nodded.

  “That’s what I knew you would say, but as far as I can gather, someone said something to him last night at the ball. Must have been something awful for him to react so out of character. Here, read the letter he left my mother.” He drew the note from his pocket. Algernon read rapidly with Sophia at his elbow.

  Sophia glanced up at Brendon. She wished she could ease the worried creases from his brow, but she held herself back and spoke quickly.

  “What does he mean about it not being Algernon’s fault? Algernon didn’t have anything to do with this. He couldn’t have. He was far too involved with Lady Frances’ figure of Aphrodite.”

  Brendon raised his eyebrow enquiringly as Algernon cheeks flushed bright red. Algernon waved Brendon’s glance away.

  “It’s a story for another time. We must discover who did this to your father. And we also need to know if your father hurt anyone else. We can’t have this ending up in the courts. Causing death by duelling is a capital offence.”

  Brendon began pacing the room, his boots clomping over the thin rug on the floor. He came close to Sophia and tried not to notice her perfume. Unfortunately it wasn’t the only thing he noticed. On closer inspection he noticed that Sophia’s dress looked suspiciously like one his own mother had once owned. He remembered it well as the colour looked hideous on someone his mother’s age, while on Sophia the cornflower sapphire looked glorious.

  He dragged his eyes away from her and glanced about the room. Drooping paper still graced the wall in the damp corner beside the window; the seat of the chair appeared just as worn as when he had seen it a year before; the sunlight shone even more brightly through the threadbare curtains. While Sophia might have been improving parts of the house, she certainly hadn’t made Algernon’s bedroom a priority. It still looked as miserable and worn as it had always done, and knowing Sophia, Brendon doubted her own looked much better.

  Questions rose in his mind. However did the woman manage to live like this? While Algernon’s fortunes had improved vastly with his marriage to Brendon’s sister, there was clearly still much to do in the London home.

  He glanced at Sophia, suddenly disgusted with his own behaviour towards her. The woman lived in miserable surroundings with little in the way of luxury and, knowing the ton’s predilection for wealth and excess, he suspected even fewer friends. How could he have thought that staying away from her would have improved her lot? It was no wonder that she danced with Lucas when she could.

  An evil snake curled in Brendon’s stomach as he thought of Lucas Caruthers. It sh
ouldn’t have. Though Brendon hadn’t seen him in a while, they had once been good friends and, although kept on a short leash by his father, Lucas Caruthers expected to inherit huge amounts of wealth. Certainly enough to raise Sophia from this miserable situation. He should be delighted that Lucas showed an interest in her, but the thought of another man’s hands on Sophia’s tiny waist caused the air to mist red before Brendon’s eyes.

  He fought the sensation. Both Sophia and Algernon stared at him and Brendon had to focus on the matter at hand. A few breaths later he was back in control.

  “My father must have known that there was a chance he would be injured, that’s why he took Stevens with him. Lucas was present at the event last night. If you know nothing, he might be able to shed light on the matter. I must make his apartments my next call of the day. Though I suppose that if he was as drunk as you suggest, I’ll presume that he was staying with his mother.”

  Sophia shook her head.

  “No. That wasn’t his intention. He said that he was going to ride back to Hanover Square.”

  Brendon had to breathe slowly through his mouth when the distracting scent of Sophia’s perfume caught him again.

  “Ah! Hanover Square, you say.” He couldn’t quite explain the ripple of annoyance that shot through him.

  She lowered her eyes and looked down at the carpet.

  “At least that’s what he told me when we danced. I enquired if he was staying with Lady Frances, just to keep up the conversation, but he said that he preferred his own rooms. Of course, he may have changed his mind later on. He was clearly well into his cups when I brought Algernon away.” Her voice had dipped to a near whisper.

  A bristle of indignation crawled up Brendon’s spine, but he left the questioning to his friend.