at her. “I believe you; thousands wouldn’t.”
Three females, all insatiably curious, hurried to join them.
“Lady Goodwood, Lady Firle, Lady Sackville…m’sister, Tory,” he said negligently.
Tory immediately recognized the noble names from the journal.
Lady Firle stroked her fan along Falcon’s arm. “Darling, are you sure you have no French wine hidden away?”
He took her fingers to his lips. “If I had, I’d keep it for myself, Joan. Try the gin, I’m told it provokes lust.”
“I’ll gladly share a glass of blue ruin with you, darling. Just keep it away from Lord Firle,” she cautioned dryly.
Lady Sackville narrowed her eyes. “I warrant gin’s not the only thing you’d gladly share with Falcon.”
Joan laughed. “What makes you think I haven’t, Lavinia?”
“If you had, your look would be more content and less rabid.”
“You should know, Lavinia,” Lady Goodwood drawled.
They’re having a catfight over him.Tory accepted a glass of cider from a footman and almost choked on its powerful effect.
“Careful, m’dear, it’s as potent as your brother,” Joan warned.
Carswell came to claim his dance. The galliard was a favorite and all the ladies eagerly sought partners. The laughter became raucous and it didn’t matter that Tory missed a few steps. She was breathless when the dance ended. The musicians played a slow pavane, and she was glad that everyone left the floor. Carswell returned her to her “brother.”
“Your eyes followed me all around the room. Were you afraid I’d disgrace myself?”
“Yes, I thought your titties would fall out of your bodice.”
“In this crowd I’d have lots of help putting them back in.”
“They wouldn’t dream of touching the precious objects without a formal introduction, so come and meet them.”
Victoria met government officials, a magistrate, and various lords from Rye and Hastings. Some of the nobles she met were from the next county of Kent. The guests were far more interested in drink, cards, and gossip than they were in dancing. The one exception was the captain of the Sussex Militia.
“Any arrests this week, Captain Drudge?”
“There was another sighting of the phantom ship two nights back prowling the coast for prey, your lordship.”
“Superstition is rife in coastal villages. If you had a crown for every phantom ship reported, you’d be a wealthy man, captain.”
“She’s no phantom, she’s just familiar with these waters. I’ll be ready for her at the next dark of the moon.”
“Excellent! Keep your sword to hand, Drudge.”
Falcon led Tory to the card tables and handed her a couple of gold crowns. “Here, go mad.”
Tory had never gambled in her life, but now that she had money she wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to indulge. She didn’t dare throw dice; she chose a card game instead.
Eventually she lost everything, but she resolutely pushed away the feeling of guilt that seemed bound and determined to have its way with her.
It must have been around midnight when she saw Mr. Burke at the chamber’s entrance.
She saw him nod once at Falcon, then quietly leave. Victoria knew it was a signal.
Thoughts chased through her mind as she pondered the things that went on at Bodiam.
Though her conclusions seemed far-fetched, she felt as if some sixth sense revealed the castle’s secrets to her. It wasn’t long after that the party broke up and the guests began to depart.
She stood beside Lord Hawkhurst at Bodiam’s front entrance, as they watched the drivers bring the carriages from the grass quadrangle to pick up their noble masters.
When the last coach went beneath the portcullis, Falcon took Tory’s hand. “Are you ready to collect your wager?”
CHAPTER 5
Victoria’s provocative words from earlier in the evening flew back to her and suddenly she felt shy.
Falcon toyed with the curl on her bare shoulder. “I cannot wait to rid you of such artifice.
You have a natural beauty
Three females, all insatiably curious, hurried to join them.
“Lady Goodwood, Lady Firle, Lady Sackville…m’sister, Tory,” he said negligently.
Tory immediately recognized the noble names from the journal.
Lady Firle stroked her fan along Falcon’s arm. “Darling, are you sure you have no French wine hidden away?”
He took her fingers to his lips. “If I had, I’d keep it for myself, Joan. Try the gin, I’m told it provokes lust.”
“I’ll gladly share a glass of blue ruin with you, darling. Just keep it away from Lord Firle,” she cautioned dryly.
Lady Sackville narrowed her eyes. “I warrant gin’s not the only thing you’d gladly share with Falcon.”
Joan laughed. “What makes you think I haven’t, Lavinia?”
“If you had, your look would be more content and less rabid.”
“You should know, Lavinia,” Lady Goodwood drawled.
They’re having a catfight over him.Tory accepted a glass of cider from a footman and almost choked on its powerful effect.
“Careful, m’dear, it’s as potent as your brother,” Joan warned.
Carswell came to claim his dance. The galliard was a favorite and all the ladies eagerly sought partners. The laughter became raucous and it didn’t matter that Tory missed a few steps. She was breathless when the dance ended. The musicians played a slow pavane, and she was glad that everyone left the floor. Carswell returned her to her “brother.”
“Your eyes followed me all around the room. Were you afraid I’d disgrace myself?”
“Yes, I thought your titties would fall out of your bodice.”
“In this crowd I’d have lots of help putting them back in.”
“They wouldn’t dream of touching the precious objects without a formal introduction, so come and meet them.”
Victoria met government officials, a magistrate, and various lords from Rye and Hastings. Some of the nobles she met were from the next county of Kent. The guests were far more interested in drink, cards, and gossip than they were in dancing. The one exception was the captain of the Sussex Militia.
“Any arrests this week, Captain Drudge?”
“There was another sighting of the phantom ship two nights back prowling the coast for prey, your lordship.”
“Superstition is rife in coastal villages. If you had a crown for every phantom ship reported, you’d be a wealthy man, captain.”
“She’s no phantom, she’s just familiar with these waters. I’ll be ready for her at the next dark of the moon.”
“Excellent! Keep your sword to hand, Drudge.”
Falcon led Tory to the card tables and handed her a couple of gold crowns. “Here, go mad.”
Tory had never gambled in her life, but now that she had money she wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to indulge. She didn’t dare throw dice; she chose a card game instead.
Eventually she lost everything, but she resolutely pushed away the feeling of guilt that seemed bound and determined to have its way with her.
It must have been around midnight when she saw Mr. Burke at the chamber’s entrance.
She saw him nod once at Falcon, then quietly leave. Victoria knew it was a signal.
Thoughts chased through her mind as she pondered the things that went on at Bodiam.
Though her conclusions seemed far-fetched, she felt as if some sixth sense revealed the castle’s secrets to her. It wasn’t long after that the party broke up and the guests began to depart.
She stood beside Lord Hawkhurst at Bodiam’s front entrance, as they watched the drivers bring the carriages from the grass quadrangle to pick up their noble masters.
When the last coach went beneath the portcullis, Falcon took Tory’s hand. “Are you ready to collect your wager?”
CHAPTER 5
Victoria’s provocative words from earlier in the evening flew back to her and suddenly she felt shy.
Falcon toyed with the curl on her bare shoulder. “I cannot wait to rid you of such artifice.
You have a natural beauty
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