His Reluctant Mistress

Jack shrugged off the implied rebuke and crossed to the window to look down into the square below. ‘No sign of the carriage. What the devil is keeping the man? I ordered it for fifteen minutes since.’

‘Probably not his fault, Jack. With tens of thousands of visitors in Vienna, it’s sometimes impossible to move in the streets. And with a carriage…’ Leo shrugged and settled himself into the corner of the striped damask sofa, as if he suddenly had all the time in the world. ‘Pity we don’t have an attractive woman in the Honours,’ he said after a few moments. ‘Dominic always said we needed a Queen to stand alongside Ace, King, Knave and Ten. Now imagine if we had a Queen to pique the Russian Emperor’s interest. A little pillow talk might provide just the information we need at present. Don’t know nearly enough yet about what his intentions are.’

Jack turned back from the window. His face was full of animation. ‘What about this Venetian soprano, Leo? If she has the kind of beauty to attract the Emperor, maybe we could…er…enlist her services in our cause? She’s an opera singer, after all, so she’s more or less a courtesan. If she’s prepared to sell her body to him, perhaps she could sell his secrets to us at the same time.’

Leo ran his fingers over his chin and frowned thoughtfully at the empty fireplace. ‘Might work, I suppose, though we’d have to touch the embassy for the cash to pay her. Let’s look her over first.’

‘Don’t take too long about it, Leo. We might miss our chance. The Emperor is said to change his women as often as he changes his coats. You’d have to make sure you greased her palm before the Emperor started greasing—’

‘Point taken, Jack,’ Leo interrupted sharply, shaking his head as he rose to his feet. ‘A word of brotherly advice,’ he added, frowning. ‘I’ve a deal more experience with the fair sex than you do, you’ll admit. And I’ve found that it pays to treat them all as if they were true ladies. Even members of the muslin company. This nightingale of yours may earn her living on her back, but she has probably had no choice in the matter. If you took that silver spoon out of your own mouth once in a while, you’d have more understanding of how the less fortunate are situated.’

Jack coloured and hung his head a little.

Leo shook his head at his own outburst. Their lack of real progress here in Vienna was beginning to make him as surly as a bear. ‘Confound it, I’m beginning to sound as prosy as Dominic.’ He gave a snort of embarrassed laughter.

Jack grinned, his normal good humour quickly reasserting itself. ‘I’d rather take your advice than his when it comes to women, though. Not a good picker, our noble brother. Whereas you seem to stay on good terms with all the females you encounter, even your past mistresses.’

‘Not the same as picking a wife, brat, which I haven’t done and don’t intend to start upon. As for Dominic, I admit he made a mull of his first marriage, but this time may be different.’

‘This time?’ When Leo would not respond, Jack added, ‘Is that why he was so eager to be off to Russia?’

Leo pursed his lips. It was not his secret to share, though it sounded as if his slip of the tongue had simply confirmed what Jack already suspected. Sometimes brother Jack was too sharp for his own good.

Jack’s eyes widened. ‘So I was right. But surely Dom can’t marry a girl who’s served in the Russian cavalry? She’s probably warmed the beds of half the Russian army.’

‘You know, Jack,’ Leo said grimly, taking a step forward and gripping his brother’s shoulder tightly, ‘I doubt that. Very much. And if you have hopes of seeing your next birthday, I strongly suggest you forget any and all slights on that particular lady’s honour. Unless you fancy being on the receiving end of Dominic’s fists, or looking down the barrel of his pistol.’

Jack blanched visibly, then reddened. He looked incredibly young, Leo decided.

‘I’m sorry, Leo. I didn’t think. I—’

‘That’s your problem, Jack. You speak and you act without thinking of the consequences. Good God, man, you’re twenty-four years old. High time you learned some responsibility, don’t you think?’

Jack pulled himself very erect and looked his brother straight in the eye. ‘I gave you my word about the gambling, Leo. Do you doubt me?’

‘No, not on that,’ Leo said hastily, and in a gentler tone. ‘But on other things, you—It would be wise to be a little more careful, that’s all.’

‘And to grow up, I suppose.’

‘No need to get testy with me, brat. You know I have your interests at heart. As has Dominic. It’s just that—’ At the sight of Jack’s ever redder face, he stopped abruptly. He truly was turning into a miserable old greybeard. ‘Where the devil is that carriage?’ He strode across to the window and began to drum his fingers on the pane. ‘Damn the man. We’re going to be late.’

Sophie gazed round at the applauding audience, but she did not smile. She needed to maintain her concentration for this last aria. She had sung well, but this would be the pièce de résistance. The Russian Emperor, sitting in the front row, had been clapping enthusiastically so far. If she could truly impress him, she might secure an invitation to St Petersburg. That would be a godsend. The Russian capital was very rich, and a long way from the countries she so desperately wished to avoid.

Verdicchio looked round from his place at the pianoforte, waiting for her signal. The cellist and violinist were also waiting. She took a long, slow breath and let her eyes travel around the salon. She gave Verdicchio the signal and raised her chin, allowing the low, passionate notes of the cello introduction to flood her being with the essence of the music. After a few bars, the violin joined in, answering the cello like a bird fluttering over and under denser, darker branches. And then the pianoforte, soft and sonorous—

The noise of the door opening at the rear of the salon, and of raised voices, shattered Sophie’s concentration. How dare they? With a gasp of rage, she whipped round to reach for the glass of water on the table behind her, leaving the audience to gaze at her back. The music stuttered to an untidy stop.

After a few moments of breathing exercises, Sophie was once more in control. The commotion in the salon had subsided into silence. Slowly, majestically, she turned back to the sea of waiting, expectant faces. She refused to focus on any of them. Not even the Russian Emperor. Adopting her haughtiest posture, she gazed out over their heads and allowed herself to think only of the tragic heroine whose role she was about to interpret.

At her nod, the cello began to sing. And as the harmonies of the introduction rose and swelled, Sophie opened her throat and began her aria on a single, perfect pianissimo.

The brothers’ tardy arrival was the height of bad manners, Leo knew. Jack had been so sure they could slip in unnoticed at the back of the grand salon. He could not have been more wrong; their timing was as bad as it could possibly be. It seemed that the Venetian Nightingale had been just about to sing, though she had turned away so rapidly that Leo had not caught even a glimpse of her face. But her ramrod-straight back and stiffly held neck told the whole audience that she was absolutely furious about the interruption to her performance.

Leo held his breath, waiting for her to turn back to face the room. Beside him, in the back row of spindle-legged gilt chairs, Jack began to whisper something. ‘Stubble it!’ Leo muttered. Confound the boy, would he never learn?

The Nightingale had mastered her temper, it appeared. Very slowly, and holding herself with the pride of a queen, she turned, automatically arranging the flowing folds of her bronze-green silk skirts, while she gazed out over the heads of all of them. Diamonds glinted at her throat and on her wrists. The diamond drops in her ears sparked fire against the heavy black hair coiled against her neck.

Madame Pietre! His damsel in distress from the country inn!

She nodded to her accompanists like a duchess to a servant. Leo could not take his eyes from her. She was glorious. She was burning with anger. And she was nothing at all like the virtuous matron Leo had believed her to be.

Mad, confusing ideas tumbled through his brain. Perhaps she could indeed be persuaded to act the spy on behalf of the Honours? Perhaps that luscious body—which was every bit as delectable as Leo had imagined when he had first seen her wrapped in that plain cloak—had already graced the beds of half the crowned heads of Europe? Leo’s pulse began to race at the thought of this extraordinary woman in some lucky man’s bed. The rest of his body was responding, too. It was urging him to possess her, whatever the cost. He discovered, in that moment, that he cared not a fig for emperors and kings, or for whatever valuable information the Venetian Nightingale might discover by sharing their pillows. It was Leo’s pillow she had to share!

And then the Nightingale began to sing. Lord Leo Aikenhead, who had never cared above half for music, was instantly transported to a land of dreams, and ravishing beauty and of profound, heart-rending tragedy.

Sophie made a deep curtsy to the Emperor Alexander, as etiquette required.

He immediately took her gloved hand to raise her to her feet. ‘No, madame,’ he said in his immaculate French, ‘it is I who should bow to you. Such an exquisite voice. And such emotion. I swear that half your listeners were near to tears. I have never heard such a touching rendition of the tragic heroine.’

‘Your Imperial Majesty is more than generous.’ Her admirers in Venice had been gentlemen or aristocrats; never monarchs. Sophie smiled shyly up at the Emperor. He was much taller than she was, with light brown, slightly receding hair, fine side-whiskers, and a ruddy, cheerful face. The many stars and orders on his dress uniform caught the light every time he moved. Yet, in spite of that daunting splendour, he gave the impression of geniality. And he was showing knowledgeable appreciation of an artistic performance.

He shook his head, returning her smile. ‘No, indeed. Your singing, madame, has been the musical highlight of my visit to Vienna. May I hope to have the pleasure of hearing you sing again, on another occasion?’

‘I am engaged for a number of performances in Vienna, your Majesty. Perhaps your Majesty—’

‘Ah, yes. Yes, indeed. As you say, madame. But may I hope that there is still some free time, in your busy schedule of engagements, for performances to a more select audience?’

Sophie swallowed. Did he really mean what she suspected? He would certainly not be the first to try to turn a recital into a more carnal assignation. But he was the Emperor of All the Russias. A mere opera singer could not openly question his motives. ‘Maestro Verdicchio has arranged all my engagements, your Majesty,’ she said, a little uncertainly. ‘If your Majesty wishes, I could—’

He pursed his lips a little, as if trying to hide a smile, and reached for her hand once more, raising it for a gallant kiss. ‘I shall look forward to hearing more of that radiant voice. For the moment, madame, I must bid you adieu.’ With an elegant bow, he strode away to join his host on the far side of the huge salon.

The other guests, in deference to the presence of the Emperor, had stood at a discreet distance. Sophie now found herself alone. Little groups of aristocratic women were gossiping quietly, some of them nodding in Sophie’s direction. She could very well imagine what they were saying. It seems that his Russian Majesty has decided to bed the Venetian Nightingale, just as he dallies with every other beautiful woman he encounters.

Sophie felt a tiny shudder run down her spine. How did one refuse an Emperor who had too much finesse to proposition a lady directly? If Alexander of Russia asked Verdicchio to organise a private recital for him, it would be a gross insult for her to decline.

‘Madame Pietre? May I compliment you on your magnificent performance?’ The low voice came from just behind Sophie’s shoulder. Something about it was familiar, as if—

For a second time, her hand was taken and raised to a man’s lips. He stood before her. Lord Leo Aikenhead. Her champion. And the man who had been troubling her dreams for more than a week. She could feel the colour rising on her neck. This man had thought her a lady, but now he knew what she was. Would she see contempt in his eyes? She did not dare to look.

‘You must be thirsty after singing for so long, madame. A glass of champagne, perhaps?’ With the ease of an old friend, he tucked her hand under his arm. ‘I saw that you were besieged by half the men in the audience, and then by the Emperor, but not one of them had the wit to offer you more than fine words. I am hoping that my more practical offering will encourage you to keep me company for a little.’ He drew her towards the side of the room where a waiter stood with a huge salver of champagne flutes.

She had misjudged him. He was still treating her as if she were a lady. Sophie allowed herself a tentative smile and relaxed a fraction.

‘Much better,’ he said gently. ‘If you will forgive my remarking on it, madame, you were as tense as a spring. I could feel it, even in your fingertips.’ As if to emphasise his words, he placed his free hand over her fingers for a second or two. It seemed to be intended as a friendly, reassuring gesture from a gentleman to the lady he was escorting.

But for Sophie there was nothing in the least reassuring about it. The shock ran up her arm like a stab of pain, so sharp that she almost gasped aloud. She should not have dared to relax, not even for a moment. Not with this man.

It seemed he had not noticed her body’s reaction this time. He had turned aside to take a champagne flute from the tray.

‘Try this, madame.’ He put the glass into her unresisting fingers. Then he caught up another for himself and touched it to Sophie’s. ‘To the Venetian Nightingale. Whose spellbinding performance has been a revelation to me.’

Sophie forced herself to nod in acknowledgement of his words. He was watching her carefully as he drank, his deep blue eyes scrutinising her face intently. What could he see there? Disconcerted, she took a large swallow of her champagne. Too large. The bubbles caught in her throat. She choked.

‘Water for madame!’ Lord Leo snapped to the waiter. ‘At once!’

The servant rushed to obey. Lord Leo set down both champagne flutes and led Sophie to an alcove at the side of the salon. She sank gratefully on to the red-velvet bench seat, her coughing now more or less under control. But when she tried to speak, no words came out.

Lord Leo looked round impatiently for the servant and almost snatched the glass from his hands. ‘There’s barely enough water there to wet the inside of the glass,’ he said testily. ‘Go and fetch more. Quickly now.’

Sophie drank it in long gulps. It soothed her bruised throat. ‘Thank you, sir,’ she said, in something akin to her normal voice. Had she done any damage? Verdicchio would swiftly disown her if she could no longer earn enough to keep them both in the luxury he felt to be his due.

‘You permit, madame?’ Lord Leo indicated the vacant space beside her.

Sophie nodded. ‘That is the second time you have rescued me, Lord Leo.’

‘I think not, madame. On this occasion, I fear that I was the cause of your difficulty. Ah, here is what you need.’ He indicated to the servant that he should place a small table at Sophie’s hand and put the decanter of water within easy reach.

Sophie busied herself with refilling her glass, slowly, so that she had time to think. What did he want of her? At their first meeting, she had doubted that Lord Leo Aikenhead was a connoisseur of music. He had said nothing so far to change her mind. Mischievously, she murmured, without turning back to him, ‘That last aria was one I seldom perform in gatherings such as this. The heroine’s plight is so very tragic. Audiences seem to prefer the lighter pieces, as a rule. Is that your taste also, Lord Leo?’

His response was initially a little hesitant, but he soon recovered his normal confidence. ‘I must tell you, madame, that your final aria was more touching than any I have ever heard,’ he finished.

‘You are too kind,’ Sophie responded automatically. Was his compliment sincere? Rashly, and against her better judgement, she risked a glance up into his face to find those fierce blue eyes fixed on her with an intensity that was almost frightening. She found herself recoiling a little. The elemental force of him was too powerful to withstand. He was dangerous, and yet she was drawn to him. Too close and he would burn her up.

She must keep her distance from this man.

She set down her glass with a sharp click. ‘If you will excuse me now, sir, I think that Maestro Verdicchio wishes to speak to me.’

‘Stay.’ It was a low, almost animal growl.

He did not touch her or move to close the proper distance between them, but Sophie felt as if he had seized her and dragged her tight against his body. She could almost feel the heat of him prickling her skin. And yet they still sat half a yard apart!

‘Sir?’ She was hoarse all over again.

‘Madame Pietre, I must tell you how ardently I admire you. Your voice, your beauty.’ He allowed his gaze to roam slowly over Sophie’s face and figure. ‘You are exquisite. Incomparable.’ He sighed rather theatrically. Then he nodded dismissively in the direction of Verdicchio, who was talking too loudly to one of the Emperor’s entourage at the far end of the room. ‘I understand that you already have a protector. But I beg you to consider my earnest desire to know you more nearly.’

Sophie was incapable of speech. Hot anger was starting to boil in her breast. But she remained motionless, except for a single raised eyebrow.

He seemed to take it as an invitation to continue with his proposition. ‘I am fixed in Vienna for some time, madame. I would deem it an honour to be allowed to enjoy your company, and to serve you while I am here. Vienna has become something of a city of pleasure, has it not?’

There was now so much relaxed confidence in his face that she itched to slap him. It was clear in his eyes. They had become dark and limpid, full of desire. Not the slightest hint of wariness, or of doubt. He knew he was a personable man, and he expected Sophie to accept him as her new protector.

She swallowed and hardened her feelings against him. He was just like all the others. Worse, even. He had been prepared to consider her a lady, and to treat her as one, until the moment he learned that she was a mere opera singer. One song, one recital, and the last vestige of his respect for her had vanished. All he could think of was how to persuade this fallen woman into his bed.

Well, aristocrat or no, he was wrong, and Sophie Pietre was going to make him smart for his insolence. ‘Pleasure, Lord Leo, comes only at a price,’ she murmured silkily, looking up at him through her lashes.

‘Of course, madame. I had expected nothing less.’ He edged a little closer to Sophie. She could truly feel the heat of him now.

She retrieved her glass of water and took a tiny sip, holding his gaze all the while. ‘I am relieved to hear we are of one mind on this, Lord Leo. But you would not expect me to accept such a nebulous offer, I am sure. Even from you.’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘Did you have something more specific to propose, perhaps?’

This time he really did look uncomfortable, but he was equal to her challenge. He raised his chin a little, and named the price he was prepared to pay. ‘In addition,’ he continued smoothly, ‘I would of course provide you with all the luxuries such a beautiful lady could desire.’

She had expected him to suggest at least as much as the Baron von Beck. But this was not even a quarter of the Baron’s offer. In that instant, Sophie almost felt sorry for Lord Leo. He had made things so easy for her.

But then she looked into his eyes once more, and saw there the desire for possession that had inflamed so many of her suitors, not one of whom had cared for more than her body and an opportunity to slake his lust. She hardened her heart. Lord Leo was no different from all the rest. Just meaner, when it came to money.

She rose swiftly to her feet and gazed down at him, lifting a stern hand to prevent him from moving from his seat. She wanted him to remain there, below her, gazing up like a suppliant. She wanted this arrogant aristocrat to learn how it felt to be humiliated. ‘I thank you for your offer, Lord Leo. I do not stoop to call it insulting. That would demean both of us. Suffice it to say that, having heard the paltry value you set upon my company, I prefer to remain as I am. I was indebted to you before, I freely admit. But now, sir, I fancy that we are even. Goodnight to you.’ She dipped him a tiny, impudent curtsy and walked serenely away before he had time to utter a word.

Chapter Four

Leo marched straight out into the garden. The moment he was alone, he let fly with a volley of oaths that would not have disgraced the meanest soldier in the British army. He desperately wanted to hit something, or someone. Preferably Jack. If he had not had to mortgage The Larches and most of his annual income to pay off Jack’s debts, Leo would have been able to offer the Venetian Nightingale whatever she desired. As it was, he had insulted her by offering her a pittance. And, in revenge, she had made him feel like a worm, to be trodden into the mud under the heel of her shoe.

That did not lessen his unquenchable passion for her, though. If anything, it made his desire even stronger. He could not understand it. He had had many mistresses over the years, all of them quick-witted and a delight to the eye, but he had always remained in control of the relationship. Never before had his body reacted as if he were a green boy, lusting after his first woman.

What was it about Madame Pietre? He closed his eyes and pictured her. She had a dark, luscious beauty that made him want to put his lips to her skin as he would to a ripe, sun-warmed peach before biting into its sweet flesh. She was only an opera singer, yet there was a kind of nobility in the way she carried her head and in the way she spoke. She was intriguing, exotic, mysterious. And under that polite exterior, a passionate Latin woman lay concealed. He was sure that, as a lover, she would surpass any woman he had ever known. He had to have her!

He began to pace the rose-covered walk where his wandering steps had led him. There must be a way to reach her. Perhaps he could borrow money from—

‘Leo! I’ve been looking for you everywhere.’

Jack! It would be Jack. Just when Leo was ready to plant him a facer!

‘I can’t imagine what you’re doing out here on your own,’ Jack continued equably, apparently oblivious to Leo’s black frown. ‘I thought you’d be in the salon, toadeating the Emperor’s retainers.’

Leo did not dare to speak, lest he ring a peal over Jack’s head. The boy had apologised, more than once, for the straits they were in. It would be dishonourable to blame Jack for Leo’s unaccountable passion for the Venetian singer.

‘Ben has arrived at last. I thought you’d want to know at once.’

Leo took a long breath and sighed it out, forcing his mind back to their mission. Action would drive out his demons. ‘Where is he?’

‘At the embassy. They told him where to find us. His messenger arrived here not five minutes ago.’

‘Excellent. We can certainly use his help, though we shall be even more cramped with three of us, plus the servants, in those poor rooms.’

‘He can share mine. And he has brought two servants, so he must be more flush in the pocket than we are.’ Jack grinned sheepishly. ‘His grandfather must have franked him for the trip. Otherwise he’d have been walking all the way.’