by Amy Ruttan
Geraldine laughed. “Oh, really? And who would you be seducing after hours?”
“Doris, the cleaning lady.” He waggled his eyebrows and she laughed as he set out the aluminum containers and plastic utensils. “Sorry, my level of sophistication ends with the wineglasses.”
“It’s okay. It all smells so wonderful I’m ready to eat it with my hands.”
“You should laugh more, instead of showing the austere, reserved facade you’re trying to pass off to everyone. It suits you.”
A blush crept up her cheeks. “I laugh when something is funny. I’m not a total ice queen.”
“People at St. Thomas Aquinas beg to differ on that point.”
She groaned. “It’s just better to keep things professional.”
“Oh, well, I can take the food away...” he teased.
“Don’t you dare.”
He poured the wine. “Can you guess what I’ve ordered?”
“Since you’re serving a Sauvignon I’m going to assume garlic. That, and I can smell it.”
“Yes, Coquilles St. Jacques, aligot, crusty bread and madeleines are the menu tonight.”
“Aligot is a word I’m not familiar with.” She leaned over. “Smells good, though.”
Thomas pulled it out and opened it. “Mashed potatoes with garlic and melted cheese essentially. Aligot sounds much more sophisticated.”
Geraldine took a paper plate and he served her a bit of everything and then dished up his own, sitting across from her. He raised his glass. “To a new partnership.”
“Cheers,” she said, clinking her glass against his. “I have to say this is the nicest and most delicious work dinner I’ve ever had. I thought grabbing a pot noodle on rounds was as good as it got.”
Thomas wrinkled his nose. “Travesty. Though it usually is. This is a rarity.”
She smiled and his blood heated. He liked it when she smiled at him and he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to kiss those lips, to feel her pulse race under his fingertips and wrap her up in his arms, bringing her to ecstasy.
Whatever he had, he had it badly for Geraldine. Usually, with any other woman, he would pursue her, and date her for a short time, until they realized that he was completely dedicated to his work and they would drop him. As soon as they realized he had no intention of settling down, the brief affair would be over and he wouldn’t look back.
That’s what living with hypertrophic myocardiopathy afforded him. The devastation his father had carried when his mother had died was something he would never wish on anyone. He’d taken a leap of faith when he’d had a fling with Cassandra, but then she’d broken it off and he’d taken it as a sign.
He was meant to be alone. It was better that way.
Only he couldn’t do that with Geraldine. She was his partner, the daughter of a man he admired. There was no way he could seduce her to purge her from his system. So why was he bothering with this silly pursuit? The best idea would be to put distance between them but, try as he may, he gravitated to her.
He was drawn to her. He hadn’t realized how lonely he was.
“This is heavenly,” she said between mouthfuls. “Good choice.”
“Thank you,” he said. “I spent some time in France in my youth so I’m a bit of a connoisseur.”
“I’ve never been to France. I would love to go to Paris one day.”
“I’m sure you’ll go one day. I mean you have the money now,” he teased.
“I don’t. My father does.”
“You’re his heiress, are you not?”
She frowned, her face unreadable. “Yes, and what of it?”
“Don’t get defensive. I’m not a fortune hunter. I’m just stating a fact that as an heiress who stands to inherit a pretty penny you’ll be able to afford to go to Paris one day.”
“True, but Paris is the city of romance, is it not? I don’t want to go there alone.”
“Why not? I think it can be a great place to be alone. To get lost in yourself.”
She cocked her head to one side. “Is that what you did?”
“Once or twice. I love France, as well.”
She was staring at him with a dreamy expression, one he knew all too well from his past conquests. This was heading in the wrong direction fast. He needed to change the subject.
“So what was your mother like?”
“Unpleasant.” Geraldine frowned. “She had moments of tenderness, but really I don’t think she cared for me.”
“Makes you wonder why she kept you and didn’t hand you over to Charles.”
Geraldine nodded. “I’ve thought about that too. I guess she just didn’t want to make anyone happy. She didn’t get along with her parents, she didn’t have many friends. Men friends, yes.”
“You do know that my father was the other man.”
She almost choked. “What?”
He grinned. “Unfortunately, I was the boy who drove your mother into your father’s arms. Enraged my father something fierce. It’s why your father and my father hated each other. They were both vying for the same woman.”
“Be thankful your father didn’t marry my mother. It would’ve been terrible.”
“From what you say, I gather that, but honestly how much worse could she have made it? I was already pretty miserable.”
“I’m sorry, Thomas.” And she smiled at him warmly.
I’m sorry too. They came from different worlds, but really they were the same.
You need to put some distance between you.
He took that warning to heart and stood up.
“Well,” he said, clearing his throat and cleaning up the empty containers, “I have a long day of surgery ahead of me tomorrow. I’ll get this mess out of your way so you can get back to work and I’ll head back to my flat.”
A blush tinged her cheeks and she swept an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “Of course, yes. I have a lot of charting to finish up. I don’t want to be here all night.”
Thomas nodded. “Good night, Geraldine.”
“’Night, Thomas.”
He left her office, shutting the door behind him. He lingered briefly in the hall then headed back to his office. There was no way he could purge her from his system. He couldn’t pursue a friendship or anything more with Geraldine. Things had to be completely professional.
Or he’d forget himself completely and put his heart at risk.
CHAPTER SIX
GERI WAS PACING and still trying to figure out a way to get out of going. Social functions had never been her forte in the past. She was a bit of a wallflower and the couple of times she’d accompanied Frederick somewhere she’d felt very out of place and unwelcome. And she had a sneaking suspicion that she would be unwelcome at this function as well. She was, after all, Lord Collins’s estranged daughter.
“You’re worrying for nothing, Geraldine.”
She glanced up the stairs. Her father was standing at the mirror on the landing, adjusting his bow tie.
“And how do you know I’m worried?” she asked.
“Easy. You pace, just like me.”
Geri smiled and then went up the few steps to the landing to help her father with his bow tie.
“You’re hopeless at this. I thought a lord would know better,” she teased.
“I have someone dress me usually.” He was teasing her back and it was nice. Usually he was so careful, so polite.
“There,” she said, smoothing his lapels. “All done. What would you do without me?” Then she blushed when she realized what she’d said and she could see the sadness in her father’s eyes. A brief flicker of regret.
And she shared it, as well.
All those wasted years her mother had stolen from them.
; She cleared her throat.
“You really shouldn’t be going to this social event, Father. You’ve only been out of the hospital for three days.”
Her father walked down the stairs slowly. “Nonsense, you’re just trying to get out of it.”
“I’m not.”
Liar.
She was totally trying to get out of it. At least she didn’t have to go to the horse show. She liked horses, she just wasn’t really into them all that much, and enclosed stadiums full of animals were not her thing.
“You look stunning, by the way,” her father said as he adjusted the cuff links on his tuxedo. “Absolutely stunning.”
She was pleased by that. The dress was bronze-colored, with a fitted strapless bodice and a full taffeta skirt that was bustled up in a haphazard way. She felt very awkward in it, but she’d always secretly dreamed of wearing a dress like this, though after a certain point she’d stopped dreaming about it because she’d thought it would never happen.
Even at school formals, her mother had got her dresses from charity shops because her mother didn’t believe in feeding the consumeristic fashion industry.
Vintage was better.
Only Geri secretly craved fashion and being chic.
That was the only upside to this social function, because she was absolutely dreading everything else. She didn’t know anyone there and certainly didn’t know how to talk to them. She knew nothing about the International Horse Show.
Once she got there and her father was satisfied that she’d met enough people, she’d retreat to a corner and try to stay unnoticed until her father grew tired enough that he’d leave. And she was sure that, given his bad reaction to the chemotherapy, their jaunt out tonight to this ball would not be long.
Her father was having a hard time coming down a flight of stairs. She doubted he would be able to do much socializing tonight. She wrapped her wrap around her shoulders so she wouldn’t freeze in the December weather.
“Shall we?” He held out his arm, smiling at her.
“Of course. Let’s get this over with.”
“Geraldine, don’t be such a Debbie Downer. You’ll have fun. Who knows, you might meet an eligible and suitable young man.”
“So you keep saying, but I’m not looking. Right now it’s my career, as I’ve told you before.”
“I can live in hope.”
“You’re a romantic? You?”
Her father nodded. “Yes. In spite of the hand love dealt me, I’m still hopeful.”
She squeezed his arm. She wished she had his optimism, but when love had dealt her a bad hand she’d known it was better to cut her losses than remain hopeful.
Marriage was not in the cards for her.
Jensen was waiting at the bottom of the stairs for them. He held open the door and Geri slid in first, tucking her skirt in as her father climbed in beside her. There was a pained expression on his face. He winced as he shifted.
“Are you sure you should be going tonight?” she asked again.
“Positive,” he snapped. “I’m fine, Geraldine. I’ve never missed this event and I’m damned if I’ll miss it now.”
She shook her head. “You’ll regret it in the morning.”
“I can live with that.”
They stopped arguing when Jensen got into the car. They rode in silence to Mayfair, where the Gileses were holding the ball. The street and the drive were jam-packed with luxury cars and limousines.
“I’m sure their neighbors love them,” Geri mumbled at the congestion.
“Most of the neighbors are invited.” Her father smiled at her and took her hand. “Relax. It’ll be fine.”
Jensen pulled up and parked. He opened the door and her father got out first, then helped her out. Geri tried not to shake with nervousness as her father led her up to the front door.
She was stunned by the beauty of the home and by all the people dressed to the nines. There was a huge Christmas tree at least fifteen feet tall in the foyer. It was decorated in traditional Victorian ornaments and candles.
It was like nothing she’d ever seen before. It was like something from a magazine.
“You’ve stopped shaking,” her father teased.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
“Admit it. You’re glad you came.”
“Only a bit.” She smiled at her father and gave him a little side hug. “I do like Christmas trees.”
Her father just grinned at her and led her down the stairs through the foyer. Above the tree was a large chandelier, which accentuated the large spiral staircase.
“Are you quite all right?” Her father asked as he handed her a flute of champagne.
“I think so.” She took the flute and laughed. “Still nervous, but this is just wonderful.”
Her father nodded. “I’m going to say hello to our host and hostess. Will you be okay if I leave you for a moment?”
“Of course.” Geraldine had already met the host and hostess and her father knew she was nervous about this event enough to make pleasantries.
She walked slowly around the tree, admiring the decorations and listening to the chatter around. There was a group of woman about her age. Debutantes. They barely spared her a glance, but she didn’t care. She just stood there, admiring all the Christmas decorations and taking in the sights of a beautiful London home decked out for Christmas.
“I can’t believe they invited Duke Weatherstone and that he actually came. He never comes to these things.” The ladies began to chatter loudly.
“I heard that he actually seduced Harriet Poncenby, but since he didn’t want to get married ever, she dropped him.”
“He’s devilishly handsome, though.”
Geri chuckled to herself as she listened to the gossip and she couldn’t help but wonder who this Duke Weatherstone was because she’d heard so much about him. All she could imagine was a middle-aged Lothario, because even though these socialites thought he was devilishly handsome, she doubted very much that he would live up to expectations.
No one ever did.
“He did, he actually came to this event and he looks so handsome in that tuxedo. Too bad he brought his half sister with him.”
Geri whipped around to see who they were talking about and she gasped when she saw that it was Thomas and Zoe who were coming down the stairs.
Thomas? He’s the Duke of Weatherstone.
And the women were right, he was devilishly handsome in that designer tuxedo. His dark hair was perfectly groomed and a mischievous, devil-may-care smile flitted about his lips. It made her feel weak in the knees and her pulse race. She’d been attracted to Thomas before, he was very handsome, but seeing him like this made her swoon just a bit.
Zoe looked gorgeous in a dark green velvet dress that accentuated her blond hair, the complete opposite of her dark brother. She also looked uncomfortable, but then her gaze met Geri’s and she waved. Geri waved back, stunned. Thomas turned and looked at her and that smile disappeared, replaced by an expression she couldn’t read.
Warmth spread across her cheeks and she knew she was blushing.
Run.
He was heading toward her and there was no escaping now.
Zoe moved away to a group of friends who were waving her over, so by the time Thomas reached her it was just the two of them, but she was sure everyone was staring at them as they stood beside that big tree.
“You look beautiful,” Thomas said. He took her hand in his and bent over it, kissing the knuckles. His hot breath fanning against her skin made a shiver of anticipation run down her spine. “Just absolutely stunning.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, finding her voice again.
“I do believe I’ve rendered you speechless.” He grinned. “Good.”
; “Good?”
“All right, not exactly good, but I quite like being able to take your breath away.”
“Thomas, or should I say the Duke of Weatherstone. You’re a duke? So when were you planning to inform me? I am, after all, your business partner. Shouldn’t I know these things?”
“That’s a lot of questions.”
“Well, I’m a bit shocked you’re a duke.”
“Yes, I’m afraid so.” He winked.
“The Dark Duke, that’s what they call you? Seducer of debutantes.”
“And where did you hear that?” He asked.
“It’s the on dit here tonight.” Geri nodded slightly in the direction of the group of ladies, who sent her pointed stares.
He winced. “Again, guilty.”
“I don’t think I should be associating with you, Your Grace. You’re liable to ruin my reputation,” she teased, letting her guard down just slightly because she was enjoying her conversation with him.
Dangerous move.
He was a seducer. This was his game and she suddenly felt like the prey, only she wasn’t sure she minded too much at the moment.
There was a twinkle in his eyes as he smiled. “Since when did you care about reputation?”
She froze, worrying that he knew something about Glasgow, about Frederick. “I don’t...I don’t care about reputation.”
“Don’t get missish on me. I’m only teasing.”
She couldn’t help but laugh in relief. “You look very svelte,” she said, changing the subject.
“Why, thank you. I am, after all, in the line of succession.” He ran a hand over his lapels. “I have to look somewhat dashing. I do have a reputation to uphold since I’m a dark seducer of innocents.”
“You’re such a rogue.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
And then before she could help herself the words tumbled from her lips. “You should. I have a soft spot for rogues.”
* * *
Thomas cocked an eyebrow, but his pulse began to race the moment Geri said she had a soft spot for rogues. There was a slight twinkle in her eyes and if she’d been anyone else, he might have taken her up on that.
Except she was completely off-limits. He wouldn’t seduce Charles’s daughter.