Chapter 17

Seventeen

" I 'm surprised you're not putting up a fuss and a fight, Maximilian. You usually detest these sorts of things," the duke said, as Maximilian climbed into the waiting carriage with his parents.

He was dressed sensibly, in tails and necktie, black breeches, polished shoes, and a starched collar and shirt. He appeared every bit the gentlemen and had gone to some considerable efforts over his appearance.

"I don't always behave like a rake, Father," he replied, raising his eyebrows, as the duke shook his head.

"You hardly make it easy to discern the difference, Maximilian. Still…if you're intending on behaving tonight, I'll not complain," he said.

Maximilian was not doing any of this for his father. But he had promised his mother the Miller Howe ball would be different. He would be a gentleman, or at least give the appearance of being one. Maximilian glanced at his mother, who gave him a reassuring smile.

"I think you look very handsome, Maximilian. I'm sure you'll find a respectable young lady to dance with," she said.

The duke snorted.

"Respectable? Maximilian? I doubt it…" he said, but Maximilian already had his trump card, and smiling, he addressed his father directly.

"Actually, she's very respectable. It's all arranged, Father," he said, and the duke looked at him in surprise, as did his mother, though she tried to hide it behind her fan.

"You've arranged to dance with someone?" he said, raising his eyebrows, and Maximilian nodded.

"Yes, she's a friend of the daughter of the merchant – Timothy Saunders. Doesn't he sell you wine, Father? We met at the market yesterday. She and her friend were buying new gloves and bonnets. A charming creature. We got talking, and… I asked if she'd be at the ball this evening. She said yes, and the arrangement was made," Maximilian replied.

He liked the fact of his father's surprise. Lily Porter was no foolish slip of a girl, nor did she come from a dubious background, even as Maximilian was uncertain as to precisely what that background was. Nevertheless, she was certainly respectable, and whilst she was not possessed of title, she was well connected to the up-and-coming classes – evident in her friendship with the merchant's daughter. The duke looked pleased.

"Well… I can only applaud you, Maximilian. The Saunders are a respectable couple. The daughter's called Alicia, I believe. I must say, I'm a little surprised, but pleasantly so. If this is what you intend, so be it. You have my blessing," he said.

Maximilian had not realized just how much such words would mean. He was taken aback by them, for he could not remember the last time his father had admitted he was pleased with him. The duchess, too, smiled, holding out her hand to Maximilian, who took it and smiled back at her.

"You see, it's not so difficult after all, is it, Maximilian?" she said, and Maximilian shook his head.

"I don't know why you're both so surprised," he said, as the carriage now drew up outside the imposing fa?ade of Miller Howe.

It was a handsome house, built only in the past twenty years, pleasingly symmetrical in a classical style of red brick, with a large wisteria growing across the front, and spreading its way over the portico. Liveried footmen stood stiffly on either side of the steps, where burning torches created a dramatic welcome. The sound of music was coming from inside, and a steady stream of guests in both modest and gaudy attire were making their way inside.

"We're pleased," Maximilian's mother said, looking pointedly at the duke, who nodded.

"Yes, very pleased," he said, as Maximilian spotted Lily and Alicia standing below the portico.

They both looked very pretty, but Lily in particular. She was dressed in a pink gown, with the white gloves he had seen at the market pulled at the length of her arms, and with a fascinator of peacock feathers on her head. Pointing out of the carriage window, he turned to his parents and smiled.

"There she is?" he said, feeling oddly proud at having secured a dance with a woman who seemed entirely respectable, and had been willing to see past his previous faults.

"I still don't understand why you're doing this," Alicia said, as she and Lily stood beneath the portico outside Miller Howe.

"Because…he intrigues me," Lily replied.

She was not about to tell Alicia the real reason for her acceptance of Maximilian's invitation to dance. But Lily's resolve was strong, and now she intended to create a situation such as to ensure the downfall, not only of Maximilian, but of the duke, too. Alicia tutted.

"Well, on your head be it. He's here now. You can't escape him. I just hope you know what you're doing, that's all," she said, and Lily nodded.

"I know precisely what I'm doing," she replied, as Maximilian approached.

He was respectably dressed and had combed his hair and washed his face. There was a pleasing scent to him, and with a curt bow, he took Lily's hand in his and raised it to his lips.

"Miss Porter, what a pleasure it is to see you again, and how beautiful you look," he said, raising his eyes to her and smiling.

Lily had not known what to expect – a drunkard or a gentleman. But she knew enough about the rakish ways of men to know how easily a mask could be donned and an act performed. If charm was Maximilian's weapon, Lily was ready to defend herself.

"You flatter me, sir," Lily said, glancing at Alicia, who rolled her eyes.

"I'm going to get some punch," she said, following her parents into the house.

Lily was left alone with Maximilian, who offered her his arm and sighed.

"I don't think she likes me very much," he said, but Lily shook her head.

"I'm sure she's just…read the scandal sheets," she said, as now they made their way inside.

Lily wanted to push him. She was curious to know his true feelings – did he believe he had been treated unjustly? At the mention of The Broker Press, Maximilian raised his eyebrows, as now the master of ceremonies came to greet them.

"Lord Maximilian Oakley and Miss Lily Porter," he announced, and as they stepped into the ballroom, heads turned and fans rustled.

A whispering sweep of murmurs ran through the room, and for a moment, they were the very center of attention.

"I think they all read the scandal sheets," Maximilian whispered, steering Lily towards the refreshment table.

For a moment, Lily had experienced what it was like to be at the center of a scandal, to have all eyes on her, and know she was being judged. It unsettled her, and she was glad when the musicians struck up a tune and the dancing began. But still, she was curious.

"But is it true? Is what they write about you true? The way you treat women as objects for your pleasure," she said.

Maximilian smiled, offering her a glass of punch from an ornate glass bowl. He shrugged and shook his head.

"I have a reputation, and it's not undeserved. But doesn't a kiss take two? Doesn't a scandal always involve another person? Those women aren't wholly innocent, I assure you. But it's easy to paint the man as a devil and a rake. I admit I'm no saint, but…what man really is? Everyone has their secrets," he said, taking a sip of punch and smiling at her.

Lily had not known what to expect of Maximilian. At close quarters, he seemed…different, even as she thought back to their first encounter on the night of her arrival in Lancaster. He had been drunk then, and Lily had feared just what he might have done had they not been interrupted. But now, dressed in such a regal manner, and displaying only the epitome of good manners, Lily could not help but see a different side to the man she so despised…

"That's very true," she said, thinking back to all the scandal sheets she had written, and all the secrets she had exposed.

"But tell me more about yourself. I know nothing about you, but you know a great deal about me – if the writer of the scandal papers has me accurately, that is," he said, raising his eyebrows.

"Well… I…come from London, I'm the only daughter of a…land agent. My parents are respectable, though not wealthy by your standards. I spend my days…meeting friends, attending social events. I enjoy the theater and the opera," she said.

Maximilian nodded.

"Don't talk to my father about land agents. We've had some rather bad experiences with land agents," he said, and Lily's heart skipped a beat.

"Really?" she asked, knowing he was talking about her father.

"Oh, yes… Connor Edge. But the less said about him, the better. A wicked man. He tried to bring down the whole dynasty with his lies and deceit. But the dukedom endured, as did my father," Maximilian replied.

Lily felt her anger rising. How dare he speak so ill of her father – the man the duke had seen incarcerated, and whose reputation had been reduced to tatters because of lies and deceit.

"I'm sure he was… I'm sure he has his own story," Lily replied, but Maximilian shook his head.

"He was just a liar. He lied to everyone…but it doesn't matter now. Connor's in prison, where he belongs. And that's all that matters," he said, taking another sip of punch.

Lily was not used to being in such proximity to her target, and she was certainly not used to being so personally involved with the object of the scandal she hoped to expose. He was wrong about her father – it was the very opposite of what he said, and Lily found it difficult to control her anger in the face of his blatant lies.

"I'm sure there's another side to it. His story, too," Lily replied, but Maximilian only laughed.

"I wonder if the person who wrote the scandal paper thought that, too?" he replied.

Lily had no answer. There was no answer. A scandal sheet exposed the facts – or, at its lowest, elaborated on them. But as for a right to reply…

"I suppose they didn't," she said, and Maximilian nodded.

"I rest my case," he said, as the music came to an end, and a throng of dancers approached the refreshment table.

"Will we dance?" she asked, but Maximilian shook his head.

"I'd far rather find a quiet corner and talk," he replied.

Lily nodded. This was it. This was the moment she had been waiting for. It was just the same as she had observed Maximilian behave with Amelia. He wanted her alone, and then…

"I'd be delighted," Lily said, and taking his arm, the two of them retreated from the hustle and bustle of the ballroom to a quieter recess, where the light of the hundreds of candles lit around the room failed to penetrate.

Miller Howe's interiors were as handsome as its fa?ade – an homage to glittering continental baroque – and Lily and Maximilian took seats beneath a fresco of some classical scene, the figures half obscured in the fading light coming through a nearby window looking out over the gardens.

"What a gaudy place. I've never liked Miller Howe," Maximilian said, sitting back in his chair with a sigh.

"Do you prefer a more austere style?" Lily asked, and Maximilian laughed.

"I could hardly be called austere. But I don't care much for being inside – except when I'm asleep. At Burnley Abbey, I have a rose garden. It's beautiful, and I spend most of my time there," he said.

Amelia had told Lily of this ploy – how he made mention of the rose garden and offered to show her it. But where was the scandal? So far, Maximilian had done nothing but talk. He had not even slipped his arm around Lily's waist or leaned forward with a suggestive expression on his face. If anything, he was rather dull.

"It sounds…idyllic," Lily said.

She loved roses, even as she knew they hid thorns…

"It is. I'd be pleased to show you, but…well, all that's behind me," he said.

Lily was confused as to what he meant. What was behind him?

"I don't understand," she replied, and he looked at her with a wearisome expression.

"Oh…all of it. I should be married by now. The respectable heir to the Duke of Lancaster. But I'm far from that. I've got a terrible reputation, only made worse by those scandal papers. But the problem with them is there's no sense of redemption. A person can be written about, and then…that's that. An opinion's formed. There's no escaping it. I could give my whole fortune away to charitable causes, renounce my title, and enter a religious order and I'd still be considered nothing more than a rake and a devil," he said, shaking his head.

Lily would not feel guilty, nor would she feel sorry for him, and yet there was truth in his words. A reputation could take a lifetime to build, and a moment to destroy. She could think of no one about whom she had written who had suitably redeemed themselves. The only sensible course of action for such a person was to enter relative obscurity and live out their days keeping away from scandal.

"Then what are you going to do?" Lily asked.

Maximilian thought for a moment, a smile coming over his face.

"As I see it, I've only got one choice, but because of what's been written about me, that choice isn't one I can pursue. I need to get married – and quickly. That way, I can assuage any doubts as to my current behavior," he said.

In that moment, Lily made a bold decision. It seemed he was not about to create a scandal where she was concerned, and yet there was a necessity in discovering one if she was to supply The Broker Press with the desired scandal sheet and see her father avenged. A sudden idea had occurred to her, one so fantastic it might actually work.

"Or…you could enter an arrangement of convenience," she replied, leaning forward so they could not be overheard.

He looked at her in surprise, and she smiled, knowing she had caught his interest.

"I don't understand. What are you proposing?" he asked.

"That you and I enter into an arrangement. My parents hoped a season in the north might open further possibilities for me. London's so full of admirable young ladies as to make one feel quite like a competitor in a ghastly agricultural show – parading, pruning, longing… No, they wanted me to find a respectable match, a merchant, they said, but I'm sure the heir to a dukedom would suit them far better. And you know Mr. and Mrs. Saunders, they won't object," Lily said, warming to the idea, and Maximilian nodded.

He seemed taken with the idea, nodding, as a smile came over his face.

"Well, Miss Porter, you've made me an attractive proposition. I didn't really want to marry, if truth be told, but the illusion of it…yes, that would help my cause no end. It seems we're in agreement," he replied, raising his punch glass to her with a smile.