Prologue
London
1823
Seventeen-year-old Brilliana Payne shoved the note from Niall Lindsey, Lord Margrave’s heir, into her pocket. Then she slipped into her mother’s bedchamber. “Mama,” she whispered. “Are you awake?”
Her mother jerked her head up from amid the satin covers and feather pillows like a startled deer. Brilliana winced to see her mother’s lips drawn with pain and her eyes dulled by laudanum, even in midafternoon.
“What do you need, love?” Mama asked in her usual gentle voice.
Oh, how she loathed deceiving Mama. But until her suitor spoke to his parents about their marrying, she had to keep the association secret.
“I’m going for my walk in Green Park.”Where Niall, my love, will join me.“Do you need anything?”
Despite her pain, Mama smiled. “Not now, my dear. You go enjoy yourself. And tell Gilly to make sure you don’t stray near the woods.”
“Of course.”
What a lie. The woods were where she would meet Niall, where Gilly would keep watch to make sure no one saw them together. Thank heaven her maid was utterly loyal to her.
Brilliana started to leave, then paused. “Um. Papa said he won’t be home until evening.” Which meant he wouldn’t be home until he’d lost all his money at whatever game he was playing tonight. “Are yousureyou don’t need me?”
She dearly hoped not. Niall’s note had struck her with dread, partly because he rarely wrote to her. Usually he just met her at Green Park for her daily stroll when he could get away from friends or family. Something must be wrong.
Still, it shouldn’t take more than an hour to find out what. And perhaps let him steal a kiss or two.
She blushed. Niall was very good atthat.
Then again, he ought to be. He was rumored to be quite a rogue with ladies, although Brilliana was convinced it was merely because of his wild cousin, Lord Knightford, with whom he spent far too much time. Or so her maid had told her.
“I’ll be fine,” Mama said tightly. “I have my medicine right here.”
Medicine, ha! It made Mama almost as ill as whatever mysterious disease had gripped her. The doctors still couldn’t figure out what Mama had, but they continued to try everything—bleeding her, cupping her, giving her assorted potions. And every time a new treatment was attempted, Brilliana hoped it would work, would be worth Mama’s pain.
Guilt swamped her. “If you’re sure . . .”
“Go, dear girl! I’m just planning to sleep, anyway.”
That was all the encouragement Brilliana needed to hurry out.
A short while later, she and Gilly were in Green Park, waiting at the big oak for Niall.
“Did he say why he wanted to meet, miss?” Gilly asked.
“No. Just that it was urgent. And it had to be today.”
“Perhaps he means to propose at last.”
Her breath caught. “I doubt it. He would have approached Papa if that were the case.”
Gilly’s face fell. “Then you’d best take care. ’Cause if he spends as much time with the soiled doves as I’ve heard, he might be the sort of fellow to take advantage—”
“He’s not like that,” Brilliana said. “Not with me.”
Except for those lovely kisses, he was respectful. Besides, the gossips always painted a scandalous picture—that was why they were called gossips. But through weeks of secret meetings, she’d seen his character, and it was a good one. She was sure of it.
“Well, I daresay you’re right about him then,” Gilly said soothingly. “And he still might be proposing, you know. He might just have wanted your consent before he approached your papa.” A hopeful expression crossed her face. “That’s how all the gentlemen is doing things these days, I’m told. And only think what your mama will say when she hears you’ve snagged an heir to an earl!”
