by Jen YatesNZ
‘Reminds me of her mother. Lady Celia was like that, a sparkling jewel dazzling wherever she went. Wasted on that chap she married—Pountney. Could’ve done better for herself.’
‘I believe,’ Jane murmured, ‘if you were to ask Lady Pountney, she’d profess herself eminently content.’
He’d scarcely seen her back to her seat and left her side before Hades approached with Selena on his arm, laughing up at him with obvious affection. Holly always said he was a favorite with his nieces and nephews, and the bond between him and his eldest niece was clear.
A tall, black-haired man, more finely built than Hades, and with an exquisitely gowned blonde woman at his side, crossed paths with Selena and her uncle a little before they reached Jane.
The Duke of Wolverton, Jane realized, more mature than she remembered him. She’d still have recognized him, even with that wicked slashing scar down his cheek. Rather than marring the stunning masculine beauty he’d had as a young man, it added a piratical dimension to his features Jane imagined women found irresistible.
With an air of lazy elegance so infinitely Hades, he drew Selena forward and introduced her to his cousin.
‘Your Grace, might I present my niece, Miss Selena Carstairs, my sister Celia’s daughter. Selena, this is our cousin Dominic Beresford, the Duke of Wolverton and his—fiancée, Lady Sherida Dearing.’
The Duke’s long stride halted and his gaze went immediately to Selena who’d dipped in a curtsey.
‘I was thinking those black tresses were distinctively Beresford,’ he said. ‘And you have the look of your mother. Is she here with you? Surely she hasn’t left you to the dubious care of your uncle?’
Selena rose, her gaze dancing between the two men with green sparkles of amusement, confident as always in who she was.
‘Good evening, Your Grace. And Lady Dearing. Lovely to see you again. Uncle Bax,’ she said, turning to her uncle, ‘I met Lady Dearing last week when she came to visit with Grandmama.’ Her bright gaze swung back to the Duke. ‘Unfortunately, Your Grace, my mother is indisposed and Aunt Holly, in similar case, managed to persuade her friend, Lady Rotherby to bring me to London. This is she.’
She stepped back and Jane rose.
Before she and Lady Sherida could do more than smile at each other, Lord Baxendene leaned a little closer to the Duke, and murmured loud enough for all to hear, ‘Angular Jane.’
Wolverton’s slightly aloof smile widened, and the lines of severity around his handsome mouth disappeared as he bent over her hand.
‘Holly’s friend? Vicar Bracewell’s daughter?’
‘The same,’ Jane agreed, smiling serenely as she calmly withdrew her hand.
‘And no longer angular,’ Hades added.
One black eyebrow rose and a wicked twinkle glittered in the Duke’s green eyes. There was no difficulty imagining him commanding the deck of a pirate ship.
‘She’s discovered how to tame all that wild red hair too,’ he murmured. ‘She used to put me in mind of those barbaric Highlanders from north of Fort William.’
Nothing had changed with these two in the years since they’d known one another at Baxendene. Together they were still probably the world’s worst teases. Lady Sherida and Selena looked startled as well they might at such a rude and personal observation, while Hades’ eyes danced in anticipation. In this she couldn’t disappoint him. She’d always risen to their taunts with some equally derogatory counter-taunt. She may as well be fifteen again and they young men of twenty.
‘And you two were the most arrogant pair of Sassenachs a girl should have to endure. Good evening, Lady Sherida. Your Grace. I was also honored to make your fiancée’s acquaintance a few days ago, Your Grace. But Sheri, you should know this man to whom you’ve pledged your hand is not averse to handling toads and mice!’
Sheri’s fine brown eyes flew wide with surprise while Dom and Bax threw back their heads and laughed unrestrainedly.
‘She and Holly had the last laugh though, I seem to recall,’ Dom told Sheri. ‘Snails in our riding boots.’
Even Hades grimaced at the memory.
‘Marriage obviously suited you, my Lady,’ Dom said, his face sobering. ‘My condolences on your loss. Rotherby was a good man. Didn’t see him in town often. Not to his taste?’
‘Thank you, Your Grace. We both preferred our life at the Hall. Marriage to James was the best thing that could have happened to me. I miss him greatly.’
Sheri stepped forward then.
‘That gown is stunning on you, Jane. Will you be too tired to ride in the morning, do you think?’
‘I hope not,’ Jane responded with fervor. ‘It’s the best way to start the day. I’m only delighted to find someone who feels the same way.
Discovering a mutual love of riding, they’d shared two morning rides since meeting when Sheri and her mother had come to visit Lady Baxendene.
As the Duke led Sheri to where her mother was sitting, Jane glanced at Hades and was surprised to see a scowl darken his brow as his gaze followed his cousin. Sheri had indicated there was some discord between the two, but in their frank exchange when Hades introduced her, she’d thought the breach mended. Now she wondered.
Then he turned back to her, his brow smooth and the usual silvery glint of wickedness in his deep grey eyes.
‘See you for the supper dance,’ he murmured, moving away to make room for the small crowd of young men and women who gathered about Selena.
She didn’t see him again until the supper dance was announced—and most certainly hadn’t been looking.
When he bowed over her hand she caught the aroma of cigars and guessed he’d abandoned the ballroom for some all-male enclave more to his liking.
They’d swept round the room twice and Jane was really enjoying waltzing with this big, superbly built man when he deftly maneuvered them through the open doors into the great Gothic conservatory. The lights were a little dimmer here yet Jane didn’t mind. People were less likely to see if he held her closer than proper, and they only had to complete a circuit of the vast room and they’d be back at the doors to the ballroom.
Rather than continue to circle the room, Hades drew her closer until their bodies were aligned and touching from breast to knees.
Her heart slammed into her throat as he guided their dance steps towards a tall door open to the night and the fairyland gardens beyond. She knew if they moved beyond the light and into the gloom of the trees, she’d be in his arms, his mouth would claim hers and she’d be lost. There’d be no stopping him—or herself. She wanted what he offered as desperately as he.
‘Come explore the Regent’s gardens with me, Jane. I’m parched for a taste of your lips and we should find a secluded spot out there.’
Trust Hades to leave her in no doubt as to his intentions. Wicked intentions, as always.
Standing in the doorway looking out into the gardens, she teetered on the brink between two worlds. Behind her was the pomp and politeness, the properly behaved world of the ballroom and her duties as a chaperone, her role in life as a widow, the Dowager Countess of Rotherby.
In front, the garden beckoned with magical flickering fairy lights and tempting shadows where she’d certainly discover what it really meant to be a woman in a man’s arms, in Hades Delacourte’s arms.
Temptation almost took her feet over the threshold, but her fear of him discovering her secret was greater. Angry at herself for the depth of that temptation, she turned her anger on the source of it. Anger was all that would save her.
‘And we’re to leave your niece to her own devices with us nowhere in sight should she need our support—against importuning rogues like yourself? You, Lord Baxendene, are more of a hindrance than a help with your pseudo concerns for her well-being. You’re simply using Selena as an excuse to torment me! You’ll escort me into the supper room this very instant and leave me there. And I’d be delighted if I never had to suffer your presence ever again!’
A stillness came over him
. His arm dropped from her waist and he turned his back on the magical garden scene. She thought she’d finally managed to anger him, but then he looked down at her with a careless grin and cocked his elbow for her.
‘It shall be as my Lady commands,’ he said, and waited until she laid her fingers on his arm to lead her back to the supper room. Rather than abandon her as she’d thought he would, he crossed to the buffet to fill two plates from the great array of food and direct Selena and Lord Jasper to where Jane waited.
Others joined them and in the general chatter none noticed Jane and her partner scarcely spoke a word to each other. Once they returned to the ballroom, Lord Baxendene took himself off and Jane didn’t see him again until guests started leaving and he returned to escort them home.
He scarcely looked at her, spoke only of necessity and was achingly polite. She wondered if he’d undergone a personality change.
All her fault, she knew. But necessary, she stoutly told herself. The sooner the season was over, the sooner she could return to the safety of Rotherby Dower House. The fact she could raise no enthusiasm for a return to her old life she would deal with when the time came. She would endure. As she had after James’s death.
***
Sheri was waiting for her at Hyde Park gates when Jane arrived just after sunrise. It had been no hardship rising early. She’d slept in fits and starts and been heartily sick of staring into the darkness trying to work out how to discreetly rid herself of her virginity.
Lady Sherida appeared to have slept no better. But they’d only known each other for a few days and what little time they’d spent together had been while riding, so neither made any comment. Since both horses were keen to run, they indulged in a gallop round the carriageway towards the Serpentine.
‘I needed that,’ Sheri declared. ‘I leave for Wolverton tomorrow so I won’t be able to join you again until I’m back in London. And I don’t know when that’ll be for I think Dom plans for us to stay at Wolverton for a couple of weeks at least.’
‘Are you—looking forward to being married?’ Jane asked, a little hesitantly. She couldn’t help wondering how it would be, looking forward to a real marriage. The anticipation—
Dear God, she knew how anticipation felt, even if it hadn’t figured in her own marriage.
‘I’m downright nervous,’ Sheri blurted, then snapped her mouth shut as soft color flooded her cheeks.
‘Perfectly natural, I believe,’ Jane murmured, then wondered what Sheri would make of the comment. For as a married woman, Jane would be expected to know.
But to her intense relief Sheri seemed preoccupied this morning.
‘You are coming down to Wolverton with the Briscos, aren’t you?’
Jane sucked in a deep breath.
‘I hadn’t really decided. I have a sister who lives alone in Dover and I’d thought to visit and make sure all is as well as she’s making it out to be in her letters. Selena will scarcely have need of me at a house party involving so many family members.’
Sheri turned solemn brown eyes on her.
‘Please come. Dom says Wolverton Castle is stunning at this time of the year. You could always go down to Dover after the wedding. Heavens! I’ll probably have need of some of your calming herbal tea or something!’
Jane laughed.
‘I’d be honored to be present at your wedding. For all we’ve only just met. I feel comfortable in your company, like we’ve known one another forever.’
‘Oh, so do I,’ Sheri smiled. ‘Let’s gallop again.’
Leaving the carriageway they took to the lesser used riding paths and let the horses have their heads until they agreed it was time to turn for home.
As Jane rode sedately back through the streets with the groom behind her, she steadily reassured herself there’d be plenty of guests at Wolverton, thus making it easy to always be somewhere Hades Delacourte wasn’t!
***
He knew when he was beaten. He damned well did. Bax leant against the wall in a corner of Lady Wendell’s music room, trying not to listen to another Wendell daughter murder a perfectly good piece of music. He knew Jane had been asked to sing. She’d become popular at these musical affairs as more heard her sing and requested she grace their next soiree or musical evening. He longed for the moment her melodious voice would stroke across his senses—and dreaded it for the pain it afforded him. And yet he waited for her to sing. He was an addict and she his drug.
He’d never failed with a woman, supposed he’d eventually accept it. He would, he snarled at himself, beating down the denial rising up from some place fundamental in his gut.
He should leave London. Trouble was, he’d promised Pountney he’d watch out for Selena and he’d never broken a promise yet. Dick was right to be concerned for the girl. Wherever she went a veritable court of eager young bucks followed and it was only a matter of time before one of them stepped out of line. He intended to be on hand should that happen.
Which meant seeing Jane, now resplendent in the rich jewel colors of her new gowns from Madame Callie’s. He’d backed off as she’d insisted, but it didn’t mean he’d stopped wanting her, dammit! If anything, the hunger increased.
He couldn’t even look forward to her easy company. There were many things every day, he thought to discuss with her. Lord, he had to wonder at himself. Always before, he’d talked the hard stuff over with Knight. It had never occurred to him there was a woman alive who could fill that role for him.
Angular Jane.
Her voice floated out over the hushed room and he found he couldn’t stay and listen after all. He slipped out a side door in search of air to ease the tight sensation in his chest—brought on by the deep, husky tones of her voice.
She was more than enough of a chaperone for Selena tonight. There were none of the more rambunctious young fellows present. They’d have been as bored as he was.
God dammit! He’d ask Falcon-Smythe to see the ladies home and go hang out with Knight. At least he could get drunk there—maybe find a woman to take his mind off his body’s incessant desire for one who wanted none of him.
***
The night before the journey to Wolverton Castle for the wedding Lady Baxendene requested they all dine quietly at Baxendene House rather than attend yet another ball that would continue until the small hours of the morning.
‘That way,’ she said, ‘we can start the journey fresh.’
Jane tried to renege since it was just family and Holly roundly told her she was family and her absence would be noted.
‘Besides,’ she added knowingly, ‘if you’re trying to avoid my brother, he rarely dines at home anyway.’
Jane could rarely deny Holly anything and only hoped she was right about Hades. Knew in her heart she probably wouldn’t be. Though he’d been less importunate since the Regent’s Ball he’d still been a presence wherever they’d been.
Deliberately wearing an understated gown in midnight blue with a paler blue pashmina, she told herself she’d blend in with the furniture and he’d not notice her.
He was at his favorite spot in the drawing room, leaning against the mantel with negligent elegance.
His sister and niece received a warm buss on the cheek and when Jane tried to slip by with a muttered ‘Good evening, Lord Baxendene’, he snagged her hand so she had to stop—and look up into gravely smiling grey eyes.
Hades in devilish mood she could rebuff with ease, but this solemn version threw her into disarray. She didn’t even have the presence of mind to evade his kiss when he pulled her closer and pressed his lips lightly to her cheek, exactly as he’d done to Holly and Selena.
When he drew back there was definitely devilment dancing in those eyes, and something else Jane hesitated to name ‘ruefulness’.
‘Beautiful. You even smell beautiful,’ he murmured.
Jane finally remembered to breathe and retrieve her hand to cross the room to greet Lady Baxendene, uncomfortably aware Lord Brisco had followed her into the room
and probably witnessed the whole exchange. She didn’t want to think what he’d make of it.
Lady Baxendene had ordered the meal served in the small family dining room since there were only six of them and they were all family.
Holly laughed when her mother announced this.
‘You see, Jane? Even Mama considers you family!’
‘She is family—on your father’s side.’
‘A long way back,’ Jane murmured.
‘Not so far,’ Lady Baxendene declared. ‘Your Grandmother Mairi who married the Earl of Clary was half-sister to Fergus Blair, the last Laird of Rosen Keep—’
‘Who was my great grandfather!’ Holly finished for her.
‘And the Lament written for his wake was passed down through both families,’ Lady Baxendene added.
‘So we’re practically sisters!’ Holly said.
Which made Jane smile and say ruefully, ‘I’m closer to you than any of my sisters.’
Garnet announced dinner and they trooped through to the family dining room at the back of the house.
With Lord Baxendene at one end of the table, his mother at the other and the Briscos opting to sit together on one side, Jane quietly maneuvered Selena to sit at her uncle’s right hand, which left her to sit at Lady Baxendene’s left. Her ruse worked for most of the meal. She didn’t have to converse directly with Hades nor did their eyes meet down the table, though she was aware his smoky grey gaze rested on her from time to time.
Over dessert talk turned to travel arrangements for the following day. The Briscos were taking the children and a lot of luggage and two nursemaids so were travelling in two carriages. Selena was to travel in the Baxendene carriage with her grandmother.
‘There’ll be room for you too, Jane, because Haden always rides,’ Lady Baxendene offered.
‘Thank you, Lady B, but I intend to take my own coach. I’ve a sister in Dover and thought to visit her after the wedding.’