by Joanna Shupe
Mama had, of course, been thrilled about the engagement to Lockwood. She cried and told Maddie how lucky she was to have such an important husband, one that would elevate their family tree to practically royalty. Your children will influence the course of history, her mother had said. This was quite a lot of pressure for children who hadn’t even been born, but Maddie kept that opinion to herself.
Now she was headed to the gazebo along with Katherine, though she longed to be anywhere else.
She had considered claiming a headache or monthly pains. An upset stomach or organ failure. Anything to get out of going on this blasted picnic. But she was not a coward. A promise of chaperone duties had been made, and Maddie couldn’t desert Katherine, no matter her irritation with Harrison.
And she was irritated. His behavior toward Lockwood had been downright appalling. If this was Harrison’s idea of protecting her, she would need to set him straight. He was about three years too late for that nonsense.
The gazebo rested near the edge of the property, almost at the cliff’s edge, where one could watch the boats and the surf while sitting in the shade. She spotted Harrison there, his hands jammed in his pockets, gaze locked on the ocean. He wore no hat, the wind plastering a cream linen suit to his flat chest and long legs. Her insides jumped as if touched by an electric spark, then everything turned warm. Thank goodness for the cool breeze to chill her overheated skin.
You are betrothed. Stop ogling Harrison.
Katherine pulled Maddie to a stop. “Oh, rats. I realized I’ve forgotten something. I need to return to the house.”
“What? No, wait—”
“It’s important.” Katherine leaned over and spoke from behind her hand. “Woman problems.”
Maddie nodded, completely understanding. “I’ll come with you.”
“No, no. That’s unnecessary. I’ll go to the house, then come back.” She pushed Maddie toward the gazebo. “You go on without me. See you later!”
Without waiting for a response, Katherine hurried in the direction from which they had just come. Maddie considered tagging along, but Katherine could surely find the way herself. Resigned, she resumed her trek to the gazebo. At least this would give her the opportunity to speak to Harrison alone about his deplorable behavior.
His brows lowered as she stepped inside the open wooden structure. “What happened to Miss Delafield?”
“She’ll return. She needed to retrieve something from the house.”
“I see.” He rocked on his heels. “Turned out to be a bit windy. Are you certain we shouldn’t move this outing—?”
“Why do you antagonize Lockwood at every turn?”
He had the grace to appear sheepish. “May we at least sit before you yell at me?”
“No. I am too angry.” Her arms flopped uselessly at her sides, fury robbing her body of its usual coordination. “I cannot understand. You are acting like an ogre and he doesn’t deserve it. Frankly, neither do I.”
He gestured to the picnic basket and blanket on the wood floor. “Please, Maddie. It’s too windy. Sit down.”
She complied, if only to move things along. They arranged themselves on the floor, the sides of the structure blocking most of the breeze, and Maddie held herself stiffly. He opened the large wicker basket and pulled out a bottle of champagne along with two coupes. As he popped the cork, she removed her gloves. “I hardly feel like celebrating with you.”
His gaze flew to her ring finger, his entire body growing very still. “What is that?”
Clearing her throat, she tried not to fidget. “Lockwood has asked me to marry him.”
Harrison sat there, unmoving, for a long moment. Then he filled one coupe to the brim with champagne and downed the liquid in two swallows. After that he poured more. “Would you care for champagne?”
A clear head seemed wise at the moment. “No, thank you.”
Stretching his legs out in front of him, he leaned back and sipped champagne, his expression blank, gaze fixed on the horizon. The gazebo was intimate, not overly large, and they were close enough for her to see the hint of stubble on his jaw. The long lashes that framed his eyes. Slashing brows and high cheekbones. It was a face she knew well, though he remained enigmatic, a mystery since he’d returned from Paris.
The silence wore on and she strove for patience. He seemed in no hurry to answer for his obnoxious behavior—which only angered her further. Katherine would return soon, which meant there wasn’t much time. “Are you going to explain yourself?”
The remaining champagne disappeared into his mouth, and the strong column of his throat moved as he swallowed. “I don’t have to like him, Maddie.”
“You never even gave him a chance before you started sniping at him.”
Harrison reclined until he was flat on the wooden floor, his hands resting on his stomach. He said nothing, and she sighed in defeat. This was exhausting. If he couldn’t be honest with her, then she was wasting her time.
She started to rise, but Harrison reached over and wrapped a hand around her wrist, stopping her. “Wait, stay.”
“Why? Katherine will return soon. You don’t need me.”
“Do not go,” he said, his voice low and harsh as he propped up on an elbow. “Not until I explain.”
She folded her legs to one side, adjusted her dress and perched on her hip. “Then explain.”
The wind whistled through the gazebo’s top and created a small pocket of intimacy on the floor, a hidden place where only the two of them existed. A muscle in Harrison’s jaw worked, his stare locked on where their bodies were touching. She hadn’t realized he was still holding on to her. His thumb rubbed her skin, stroking, and her flesh sizzled under his fingers, the warmth spreading up her arm and to her breasts. Down between her legs. The touch felt possessive, not the least bit gentle.
So why wasn’t she pulling free?
Without releasing her, he sat up and locked eyes with her. Blue flames licked in the depths of his irises, heat like she’d never seen before, and her mouth went dry. “I am jealous,” he whispered. “I acted like an ass because I am consumed with jealousy, so much so that I cannot think straight, Mads.”
Her heart thumped as wicked pleasure flooded her veins, a rush of unexpected emotion that rose up like a wave . . . until she remembered.
Betrothal. Lockwood.
A chill went through her, chasing away any residual heat, and she jerked out of Harrison’s grip. “You shouldn’t say such things to me.”
His brows shot up. “Why? You were jealous of Esmée. How is this different?”
“Because you are not marrying her. You are not betrothed to another woman. I have a future decided, whereas you do not.”
“Your future is not yet decided, Maddie.”
How could he say that? “As of two hours ago, it is. I am promised to the Duke of Lockwood.”
“Who merely wants the dowry.”
“You act as if that is an uncommon occurrence.”
“True, but he doesn’t know you. He didn’t teach you to skip a rock or dig up clams. Or spend hours with you on the back lawn catching fireflies, making each other laugh.”
“We were children. That is what children do together.”
“The only person I did those things with was you. And unlike your fiancé, I actually care about you.”
She blinked, mouth open, at a loss as to what to say.
“I . . .” He blew out a long breath. “You asked for the truth and I did not want to lie.”
A part of her wished he had, that he’d kept this to himself. The knowledge threatened to strangle her, her chest tight with the ramifications of his revelation. Her mother had been right: Harrison was jealous of Lockwood. That implied Harrison had feelings for her, feelings that went deeper than friendship.
How was that possible? They had been out of contact with each other for the last three years, all by his design. Now he had returned and, what, developed a crush on her? It didn’t make any sense. Was this why h
e’d nearly kissed her on the terrace?
And why he’d stared at her so intently at dinner?
She rubbed her temples as if to stop her mind from spinning. None of this mattered. Not one bit. She was engaged to another man, a fact she hadn’t hidden from him.
So why was he doing this now?
“I have no choice, Mads,” he said. “It has to be now.”
He always had an uncanny ability to see what she was thinking. “Stop reading my thoughts.”
“I can’t help it, not when I know you so well.”
“Your timing could not be worse, Harrison.”
“I am aware.”
“I am betrothed to the duke.”
“Again, I am aware.”
He was so calm it only agitated her further. “Three years! Three years you were away without a word. And now you’ve returned, storm into my life, and talk of jealousy and kissing? It makes no sense.”
“Maddie—”
“Stop.”
She slid on the wooden floor, putting distance between them, but he inched closer, as if reluctant to part from her. “Something is happening between us,” he said quietly. Seductively. “After all these years, something has changed between us, even if you don’t wish to admit it.”
Oh, God. She covered her mouth with a hand, frightened of what she might say. Because he was right. From the instant he’d returned she’d noticed the changes in him, from his broad shoulders and thick thighs, to his flirtatious and intense manner. The confident way he moved and the determination burning in his gaze. Her stomach now fluttered the instant he walked into a room.
Far from offering comfort, however, the realization terrified her.
For as long as she could remember, he had been the impetuous one, cajoling her to join in his antics. She had been the steady presence, a calm voice of reason to keep him grounded. Like when he’d tried to take the skiff out in a thunderstorm and she’d stopped him, saying it was too dangerous.
This time the danger was right in front of her, so handsome and alluring. If she lost her head, her entire life would be ruined. Lockwood would be devastated, not to mention her parents, and the scandal would be horrific. She’d never be able to hold her head up on Fifth Avenue ever again.
Go, go, go. If nothing else she had to put distance between them.
Drawing in a fortifying lungful of ocean air, she pushed to her feet. “This was a bad idea. I regret I brought it up.”
“In other words, you wish you did not know.”
“I should return to the house.” Damn and blast. Where on earth was Katherine? Maddie sent a longing glance toward the path, but there was no sign of her friend. “We shouldn’t be alone.”
Gracefully, he unfolded his limbs and stood. “There’s no need to be afraid of me. I won’t pounce on you.”
She could hear the hurt in his voice, the contrition. No doubt he wished he hadn’t been honest with her. She quickly decided the only thing to do was give him honesty in return.
“I am not afraid of you, Harrison. I am afraid of myself.”
Chapter Ten
A flat expanse of lawn stretched behind the tennis court, the ground a lush green in the afternoon sun. Carefully groomed boxwood bushes edged the grass on three sides. On the lawn, wickets were arranged, along with the stakes, in a familiar figure-eight pattern, while mallets and balls waited nearby.
Though he longed to be elsewhere, Harrison stood alone in the tent aside the court, waiting for the rest of the guests to arrive for a game of croquet. He’d left the gazebo a few minutes ago, having sat there long after Maddie hurried off and disappeared into the chateau.
Their outing hadn’t gone well.
The engagement had thrown him off. Seeing that ring knocked him sideways, stealing his sense of reason and tossing it into the sea. He should have expected it, with Lockwood’s sudden arrival and all, but the garish ring on Maddie’s finger had flipped a switch inside him. Powered up his panic and electrified his desperation.
So, without much forethought, he confessed his jealousy to see how she would react. The end result had been mixed, with her scurrying from the gazebo, unable to get away fast enough. However, her final comment gave him hope.
I am not afraid of you, Harrison. I am afraid of myself.
This meant she knew something was happening between them, something deeper than friendship. Of course, he’d had years to come to terms with how he felt about her, but it was a recent development for Maddie. What did she plan to do about it? He couldn’t let her ignore him, or pretend the gazebo hadn’t happened.
Your timing could not be worse.
He disagreed. In fact, there was not a moment to lose now that she was betrothed. He had to keep pressing, keep trying to convince her, otherwise she would be lost to him forever. It had taken every bit of his restraint to let her walk away, not to chase her and continue their discussion.
But such was not the way to convince her. Maddie had a tendency to dig in her heels and refuse to see logic. Like when she wouldn’t swim in the ocean beyond where she could stand because she thought a fish would eat her. Harrison had finally coaxed her into deeper water by showing her ever-so-slowly that it was safe.
She needed gentle pressure to come around to reason . . . not a harsh shove. If he wasn’t steady and methodical in his pursuit, he would scare her off. Even if the waiting was pure torture.
What if she actually marries Lockwood?
The possibility turned his blood cold.
For now, he had to believe that he could persuade her otherwise. Losing her to another man was not an option.
Suddenly Kit ambled across the lawn, looking far too pleased with himself. “A fine day for croquet.”
Was that a love bite peeking out from under Kit’s collar? “You’re certainly in a good mood. Where have you been?”
“Visiting with a friend.” The nature of said visit was obvious, considering the smug twist to Kit’s mouth. “How was your picnic with the Delafield girl?”
“She never showed. Maddie did, though.”
“And how did that go?” Kit asked.
“I’m not sure yet. Lockwood proposed.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Exactly.”
“What will you do?”
“Split them up, obviously. I just need to figure out how.”
The ladies and chaperones emerged then, converging on the lawn and preventing Kit from offering up a response. The Duke of Lockwood brought up the rear of the pack, and on his arm was Maddie’s mother.
Maddie was nowhere to be found.
Harrison’s stomach sank. Damn it. Was she not planning on joining them?
“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” Mrs. Webster called. “It’s nice to see both of you eager for an afternoon of croquet.”
Hardly. But there was no way for him to back out now. The guests filtered under the tent, while Lockwood escorted Mrs. Webster over to Harrison and Kit. “Is Maddie coming?” Harrison asked bluntly.
“She wasn’t feeling well,” her mother said, “so I told her to rest. His Grace has volunteered to help instead.”
The duke’s stare held a note of challenge when it turned on Harrison. “I quite enjoy croquet. Seemed like an excellent way to spend an afternoon.”
Harrison ignored him. “How will this work?”
“Maddie said you should play in teams of two.” Mrs. Webster waved her hand, as if the details hardly mattered. “You and the duke figure it out.” She disappeared under the tent.
“Shall we choose partners?” Lockwood asked.
“I’ll sit out. I’ve had enough exercise today,” Kit said before he walked away.
Harrison and the duke decided on two teams of three each. They would play two rounds of croquet, mixing up the partners so all the ladies eventually had a turn.
The ladies drew sticks for teams, and Lockwood was paired with Martha Thorne, who was from an old New York family, and Emily Mills, the daughter of a Chicago industrialist.
Harrison’s sticks were chosen by Angelica Dent, a relation to President Grant, and Nellie Young. Before selecting mallets, they had to decide which team would go first.
“Shall we go by rank?” Lockwood sounded bored, but Harrison wasn’t fooled by the casual suggestion. The duke clearly thought getting out in front gave him a tactical advantage.
Harrison didn’t mind. He’d rather trail Lockwood and catch up than look over his shoulder the entire game. “By all means.”
The group strolled out to the lawn. Lockwood, the picture of aristocratic entitlement with a mallet tucked under his arm, leaned toward Harrison. “I should warn you, old boy. You’ll find I am a bit more skilled at croquet than lawn tennis.”
Ah, so that was Lockwood’s plan. Revenge for the morning’s match. Harrison lifted a brow. “Then I look forward to playing against you. Old boy.”
Lockwood’s expression hardened, his lips flat. “She’s not here for you to impress, you know. I wonder if you’ll try as hard.” Without awaiting a response, he strode ahead to the starting stake.
Harrison ground his back teeth together and followed at a slower pace. He burned with the need to steal Maddie away from that arrogant bastard, no matter the scandal.
Martha led off for Lockwood’s team. It was clear she hadn’t played much, as her swings were wild and uncoordinated, and her ball went off course. Angelica started for Harrison’s team and her ball fared better than Martha’s. The other two ladies followed, leaving Lockwood and Harrison as the final two players.
Lockwood sent his ball through the first two wickets easily, then continued on to the next set. Harrison had no interest in the wickets. He did, however, have an interest in sending the duke’s ball flying off the course as much as possible.
When it was finally Harrison’s turn, he easily caught up to Lockwood’s ball, staying a little behind on purpose.
The next round began, with the ladies focused on getting through the wickets as quickly as they could. Emily was a decent player for the other team, while both Angelica and Nellie were aggressive in their play. In the third round, Nellie bumped into Martha’s ball, so she lined up the two balls, put her foot on her own ball, then sent Martha’s ball rolling several feet away.