Free A Little Deception by Beverley Eikli

would
appear the lady is foxed. Come, Cousin Helena, we must find somewhere where you
can sit down.’
    With little show of gratitude she accepted the orgeat he
procured for her as he led her to a small sofa in a secluded annexe between the
card room and the ballroom.
    ‘I’d rather have what you’re having,’ she complained.
    ‘And I’d rather return you to the company at large without
besmirching my reputation.’
    She hiccupped. ‘Your reputation is nothing to be proud of,
if what your dear mama says is true.’
    ‘Oh ho, tales from home.’ Oswald sounded more amused than
angry. ‘Incidentally, she’s not my mother. She’s some addle-brained fool my
senile old father married before he jumped ship for the Far East, and now I’m
stuck with her until Papa gets called up. Sadly, his Maker appears to be in no
hurry.’
    ‘Just as I’m stuck with that addle-headed fool I married until
he slips off this mortal coil.’ Helena studied the trompe l’oeil on the ceiling
while Oswald regarded her with greater interest.
    ‘So the novelty of becoming Lady Chesterfield has lost its
lustre …’ He moved a little closer. ‘You realize, madam, that there are other
avenues for disillusioned married women to pursue?’
    ‘It wasn’t my idea not to be Lady Chesterfield,’ said Helena
petulantly, slapping away Oswald’s hand which he had insinuated on to her
thigh. ‘Your cousin Rose hatched the ridiculous notion that she could do a
better job than I of petitioning Lord Rampton for a little favour.’ She gave
another hiccup. ‘Now he’s decided not to go to the Continent after all and I’m
stuck playing the innocent virgin. I’m sure your mama has exacted the promise of
silence from you under pain of death.’
    The champagne was having its effect and Oswald’s persistent
questioning soon ferreted out the details his mother had omitted.
    Helena smoothed the silky folds of her diaphanous gown.
‘Your mother hinted that she knows how to lay hands on the funds to repay Lord
Rampton. I think we’re just waiting for someone to die … though she said she’s
prepared to lend an advance if that takes too long—’
    ‘Oh, she is, is she?’
    ‘Well, it seems only fair, since your stepmama inherited a
fortune while nothing went to Charles and Rose’s mama—’
    ‘Because of their late father’s faro habit, I believe,’
Oswald interjected drily.
    ‘Anyway,’ Helena bit back defensively, ‘Aunt Alice has no
children, for you don’t count.’
    ‘Though she has reared me since I was ten years old.’ Oswald
smiled. ‘So Mama is aiding and abetting this wild charade with her usual
childish enthusiasm.’
    ‘Yes, although she doesn’t quite know the size of the debt
owed to Lord Rampton. She just thinks Rose has lost her head to him. Which of
course she has. And while I don’t care a fig about Rose’s reputation, I do care
about securing the funds.’ She hesitated, then added, ‘Charles says if Rose can
find a way of absolving us of the debt, he’ll buy me a diamond collar.’
    The corners of Oswald’s thin mouth curled up. ‘A diamond
collar,’ he said, as if much impressed.
    ‘Yes, a diamond collar,’ repeated Helena, avarice making her
eyes sparkle.
    ‘Well, my dear, I would hate to stand between you and a
diamond collar.’ His gaze strayed from her face to her décolletage, then back
again. He scratched his pointed chin, appearing to ponder the matter. ‘In
effect, you want to dash your sister-in-law’s chances of making good out of
this so-called ridiculous charade and win yourself a diamond collar.’
    ‘Yes, and I can’t decide which is more important to me.’
    Daringly, Oswald plucked at the sheer fabric of Helena’s
costume, as if to smooth it, and gave a low chuckle. The lovely Helen of Troy
was clearly lost in a reverie of sparkling diamonds and heady revenge. Putting
his lips to her pretty, seashell ear, he murmured, ‘Have you not considered
that both might be