Page 2 of Wickeds Scandal
Alexandra’seyes flicked over the blonde. In addition to being stuffed into her dress, anannoying spray of ostrich feathers rose from the side of Lady Norris’shead. She resembled an overstuffed capon.
Lady Norrissniffed and lowered her voice. “Of course you know all about him livingin Macao with the heathen Chinese. He went native, smoking opium and keeping aharemlike a Chinese warlord. ” The words dangled in the air above Lady Martin,waiting for her to take the bait.
Macao?Chinese harems? Alexandra moved as close as she could to the two women. Havingnever really left the safety of Hampshire, and certainly having never been anyfarther than London, Alexandra adored tales of faraway places and exoticlocales. Many nights she would sit in the Helmsby Abbey library with acup of tea, brought by the aged butler, Jameson, and read an entire book ongeography in one sitting.
“Oh,my!Heissomething, isn’t he?” Lady Martin clutched one hand to herbreast as if she were about to swoon.
Alexandra’sattention snapped back to Lady Martin. She tilted her head to hearbetter. The women of thetonwere incredibly silly.Alexandra never found any man to be worth swooning over – even if hedidhave a tattoo. She stood on her toes to try to catch a better lookat the man who caused such dramatic behavior.
SatanReynolds burst through the crowded mass of dandified gentlemen and preeningladies into Alexandra’s line of vision. She gaped, realized hermouth hung open, and quickly shut it. The man striding through theballroom did indeed resemble the name he had been given, for after all, wasn’tSatan supposed to be the most beautiful angel of all?
LordReynolds was tall and lithe with broad shoulders that stretched the limits ofhis perfectly tailored coat. He walked slowly through the crowd,never acknowledging the stares of the men and women who stood aside to let himpass. Nervous whispers and gestures followed in his wake. Thelong, dark hair danced above the top of his expertly tied cravat, in defianceof the current fashion. He looked down his patrician nose and across hiselegantly carved cheekbones to survey his surroundings with boredarrogance.
Alexandrathought him the most stunning creature she had ever seen. The lads inHampshire weren’t even the samespeciesas the man sauntering across theballroom.
A tallvoluptuous redhead in black silk pushed her way through the crowd, blocking hispath. Satan Reynolds quirked his full mouth in amusement, but gave thewoman his attention. The woman dipped into a curtsy so deep that evenAlexandra could see directly down the woman’s bodice. No doubt SatanReynolds could as well. He smiled and brushed a kiss across the redhead’shand.
“Lucky LadyFellowes!” Lady Martin opened her fan. “How convenient for her that LordFellowes’s heart finally gave out last year, but the man was eighty if he was aday. She looks quite stunning in her black, doesn’tshe?”
Alexandrahad to agree. The black of Lady Fellowes’s dress set off her red hair andcreamy skin to perfection.
LordReynolds leaned into the redhead, cocked his head to listen to something shesaid, while his fingers glided over her arm.
“Did I evertell you that Richard attended Eton with Satan Reynolds and the otherWickeds?” Lady Norris said in sotto voce to Lady Martin.
Lady Martinshook her head.
“Reynolds,that Irish earl and Viscount Lindley were roommates. Teased by the otherlads. Satan Reynolds for his possible illegitimacy, though it’s neverbeen proven,” Lady Norris added carefully. “The Irish earl’s mother a murderessand Viscount Lindley…” She snapped her fan shut. “Well, I think we allknow abouthisfamily don’t we? Even I am not bold enough todiscuss himopenly.”
LordReynolds nodded politely again to Lady Fellowes, brushing her knuckles againsthis lips before moving again through the mass of the ton. He likely knewhe was the subject of much speculation by the number of whispers and hands overmouths, but he never slowed or even spoke to anyone else. Alexandra wonderedif it bothered him – to be on display. He had to be. His looksalone, regardless of his reputation, would garner attention wherever he went.
Lady Norrisnodded towards Lord Reynolds. “The three lads visited a gypsy in thewoods – a woman who could see the future. The lads wished to learntheir fates.”
Lady Martingave her friend a skeptical look and pursed her plum colored lips into aperfect rosette.
“The oldlady said they were cursed with wickedness and gave them each a terriblefate. Ever after, the three were always called The Wickeds. Theother boys gave them a wide berth.”
“Really?What rubbish! Was the ‘curse’ of Satan Reynolds to be the most soughtafter rake in London?” Lady Martin mocked her friend.
“All I knowis that Satan Reynolds lived up to his name. Richard’s sisters were neverallowed to visit him at school when Satan Reynolds was in residence for fearthey’d be ruined.” Lady Norris seemed quite sure of her story. “Heeven seduced the Headmaster’s wife! The elder Lord Reynolds sent for hisimmoral son, dragging him back to London. A few years later, SatanReynolds just disappeared into the jungles of Macao, which I’m told is muchmore primitive than India! We all thought he was dead! His grandmothersent ten men—ten men—to fetch Lord Reynolds back toEngland. He didn’t wish to come back, you see.Ever.”
The twowomen gave each other a look of confusion as if not understanding why anyone,let alone a man who had the title and wealth of Lord Reynolds, wouldn’t wish tobe in England amongst theton.
Alexandrafelt a pang of sympathy for the handsome tattooed Marquess. Of course, hehadn’t wished to come back! Who would want to be the object of so muchscrutiny? Or to have your parentage questioned? She wonderedwhy he chose Macao for his escape. How she would love to askhim. Alexandra smirked. Now that would be a true scandal, havingthe biggest rake in London at her disposal to answer the questions of abluestocking. He would make a most inspiring LordThurston.
Lord Reynoldsreached the far end of the ballroom. He nodded in greeting toseveral gentlemen and their overly adorned wives. The women all twitteredand gave him buttery glances. The men regarded Lord Reynolds cautiously,as if they expected him to spring at the women and carry them off.Alexandra thought it quite amusing.
She turnedback to Lady Norris and Lady Martin, but the women were no longer besideher. The duo moved into the crowd, Lady Norris furiously waving her fanat another subject to gossip about.
Out of thecorner of Alexandra’s eye, the purple turban reappeared. Lady Dobson madestraight for Alexandra, her face wrinkling up like a prune.
“Your unclehas requested your presence,” Lady Dobson hissed. One claw-like handcaught Alexandra beneath her elbow. “Come. How fortunate you arethat he cares enough to find you a suitor. He could have just put you outon the streets as soon as he sells the estate.”
Alexandradidn’t feel fortunate. She felt as if she would faint at anymoment. She did not wish to marry and even if she did, it would not be tosuit her uncle. Alexandra needed a moment to think.
“LadyDobson, I wish to use the Ladies Necessary Room,” Alexandra said in as modest atone as she could muster.
The purpleturban shook. “Down the hall,” she said as she pointed a boneyfinger, “to the right, then a direct left. No wandering about. Youare to return within a quarter hour. I shall inform Lord Burke.”
