Tempted by You

by Tiffany Clare

  He stood so close to her that the warmth of his presence brushed teasingly over her skin where her upper arms were exposed.

  “Thank you.” Her knuckles immediately dropped to the piano keys, and she ran them gently over the blacks. Would it be obvious to him that it was a nervous gesture? She hadn’t anticipated being in anyone’s company other than Nathan’s at least until dinner. While this introduction was unexpected, it was not the least bit undesirable. Anyone who could distract her from worrying about her brother was welcome to spend time with her.

  “I honestly didn’t mean to intrude. I’ll leave you to your playing,” the stranger said.

  “Wait—” She stretched her arm out to him, but he was already beyond her reach. “Might I have your name?”

  “Thaddeus de Burgh.”

  She felt like a ninny for not having put the pieces together before now; his laugh was similar to Nathan’s.

  “Yours, madam?”

  “Rosalie Montgomery, my lord.” She curtsied.

  Was her surname familiar to him? She hoped he did not make the connection with Amaryllis Montgomery—her given name—once named the Royal and Imperial Virtuosa in Austria, the highest honor a musician of seventeen could achieve. She knew all about Thaddeus de Burgh and his passion for creating music.

  Those who once knew her would hopefully never see how far she’d truly fallen. Especially this man, who was a composer—or had been. If memory served her correctly, he’d stopped making appearances a number of years ago.

  “You play the piano well,” he said.

  The knot that had formed in her stomach eased. He did not recognize her name. Had he, he would have certainly said so.

  “It’s no more than a pastime. Needlework can be quite painful to practice, considering my condition.”

  “Not merely a pastime, Miss Montgomery.” Laughter infused his voice. “I would be a content man if half the students I instructed showed the aptitude you just displayed and in less than a quarter hour at the keys.”

  “Thank you,” she said, taking the compliment without any shyness. “It is an honor to be praised by you.”

  There was also no denying that it sent a sharp thrill of pleasure right down to the tips of her toes that he’d listened to her playing for that long. It had been awhile since she’d been complimented on her musical acuity—eight years to be precise.

  “I feel at a disadvantage that you seem to know more about me than I you,” he said. “After all, we’ve never been introduced.”

  “I’ve been your brother’s friend for many years. He talks of you and your sister often enough that I’d be hard-pressed not to know of your accomplishments. Nathan is proud of what you’ve accomplished.”

  De Burgh made a derisive sound in his throat. “Nathan exaggerates.”

  “Perhaps the assessment is my own.” She had heard him in a string ensemble once. He had played the violin with so much passion that it sounded like angels singing in her ears.

  “Did Anna send you to check on Nathan?” he asked.

  Why would he think Nathan’s ex-mistress would send her? While she knew the woman and had been a friend of hers over the years, they were not confidantes. Anna would never ask Rosa to choose between two friends in a rift.

  She shook her head. “I only just learned of Nathan and Anna’s separation. I came to ask a favor of your brother.”

  “What did you ask for?”

  Why did de Burgh want to know why she was here? Was it genuine concern or did he have another reason?

  Rosa pressed her lips together. “It is of a personal nature.”

  “I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but Nathan’s not his usual carefree self.” De Burgh’s exhalation was full of frustration—not with her, but for his brother. “He’s not necessarily in the right frame of mind to help out a friend.”

  She folded her hands together, well aware of that fact. She knew Nathan would only assist her until he left for Maidstone. And she also knew that that wasn’t enough time to help her find her brother, but it was better than no help at all.

  Did de Burgh ask so many questions because he wished to help her in his brother’s stead? That seemed odd, especially considering they were strangers.

  “Will you be staying the night?” he asked.

  “Your brother insisted.”

  “He can be rather forceful when he’s got his mind made up about something. I can lend you my carriage if you wish to return home tonight.”

  Ah, the crux of his interest was as clear as a cloudless day; a shame she hadn’t come to the conclusion sooner. He must know that she wasn’t precisely a lady.

  Did de Burgh think to proposition her for his effort? She sighed heavily, disappointed by him and by her circumstance. “I do not seek male companionship.”

  “Perfect.” There was a hint of amusement in his voice. “Because I do not seek a mistress.”

  She opened her mouth to respond, then closed it. What could she say to that? “What is it you want of me, my lord?”

  “You require something from Nathan, and I do not believe he can help you at present. I on the other hand am more than willing to assist you if you allow me to use your musical insight selfishly for my own.”

  Taken aback by the request, she thought carefully on her response, since that was the last thing she’d expected him to ask. “And you think I’d be useful to someone with your reputation in music?”

  He made a derisive sound. “Hardly a reputation worthy of boasting about. However, I am working on a new concerto. I haven’t made an appearance of a professional nature for some time, so this piece is near and dear to me. It must be beyond perfect when it’s debuted. Listening to you tonight, I realized that I needed the assistance of someone as passionate about music as I am.”

  Though she knew de Burgh wasn’t active in his compositions, she should have known better than to assume he had given music up. The drive to create did not simply stop; it pressed forward like the force of a babe being brought into the world. To create, even for her, was an undeniable need.

  “What can you possibly learn from me?”

  “I’m not easily moved by a simple piano piece, but you have managed to surprise me, Miss Montgomery. I could use your insight. Another ear would be more than welcome with my latest compositions.”

  She chewed on her lower lip, mulling the idea. Why was she even entertaining such madness? It was ludicrous to entangle herself with this man, but music was her knee-bending weakness ... and also her greatest strength.

  “You want a muse.”

  “In a sense.”

  Why not take his offer? He was a gentleman and would be able to enter the clubs her brother frequented. Provided de Burgh still agreed to the arrangement once she explained what she required.

  “But you haven’t any inkling of what I need,” she pointed out.

  “Then you will have to enlighten me.”

  How much of her brother’s indiscretions and knack for ill-wagered gambling should she reveal? It was better to be vague—for the time being. Maybe her skill in music alone would win him over. She nearly snorted at the idea. How ludicrous; if such a thing were possible she would never have had to play the role of courtesan.

  “My brother has not been seen for a week. I wish to locate him.”

  “A simple enough task.” There was no hesitation from de Burgh. “Will you agree to spend an evening around Town with me tomorrow? We can discuss our mutually beneficial arrangement in further detail.”

  Why was he so quick to offer his help? Did it matter? She couldn’t refuse his offer. She had a feeling, knowing Nathan as she did, that she could trust de Burgh implicitly. Besides, his name would provide entrance into more places—nearly as many as Nathan’s she was sure—than hers.

  “I would need you to attend the gentlemen’s clubs and quietly ask after my brother, starting in the morning. I’m quite anxious to locate him.”

  “I am completely at your service, madam.”

&nb
sp; Put simply, it would be madness not to accept his proposal.

  “Then I accept your offer, de Burgh.”

  She stuck out her hand; she had every intention to seal their deal with a handshake, since she could not see his expression. His grip was strong and steady. When their grasps loosened, he curled his fingers around hers and raised the back of her hand to his mouth. The tips of his fingers were callused, most likely from the strings of his violin. His breath was warm on the back of her hand as he lingered for a while before pulling away.

  “Do you dine with us this evening?” His voice deepened, as though it were an intimate question.

  Did he wish to tempt her into a liaison, too? Did it make her a terrible person that she wanted to encourage a flirtation? And why shouldn’t she? They shared similar interests and were about to embark on a mutual pursuit that would be more fulfilling than the lonliness she felt of late. She hadn’t been a part of the music world and in the company of the people who made up that world for so many years. The yearning that bloomed in her chest chased away the constant loneliness that stabbed at her heart whenever she thought of her old life.

  “What is it you seek, my lord?”

  “Your company.”

  She took a step toward him. He was like having a taste of the rich and forbidden once again.

  Her desire to spend time with de Burgh felt like a betrayal of her brother. There were family secrets that had to remain forever buried and protected, but could she keep them buried when de Burgh was a temptation she didn’t think she could deny herself for long?

  “Is that all you require of me?” she asked.

  “I wouldn’t dare trick you. I give you the truth.” He cleared his throat. “Might I ask you a personal question?”

  “By all means, but I may choose not to answer.”

  “What a refreshing woman you are, Miss Montgomery. I rather enjoy it when a beautiful woman tells me exactly what she thinks.”

  For the first time in days, she felt a genuine smile lift the corners of her mouth. “I’m glad you approve of my directness. Your question?”

  “Where did you learn to play the piano?”

  She hadn’t been expecting that. She’d not reveal to de Burgh that she’d been playing the piano since she was three, or that she had traveled Europe extensively with her father, looking for the best instructors for her lessons. Or the fact that she’d played for royalty and with some of the greatest musicians of her youth.

  Playing the piano had never been a passing amusement. It was as vital as water and as crucial as breathing to her. Without it, she couldn’t truly live.

  It was better to tell him as little about herself as she could. Half-truths and nothing more would have to suffice.

  “Not so uncommon a question. I was not always as you see me.” She motioned one hand toward her eyes. “My father taught me to play when I was a young girl. A carriage accident took my sight when I was seventeen.”

  They shared a moment of silence. Not the kind of quiet that grows awkward between two people who haven’t anything to say to each other. There was something more complicated and elemental happening here. She wasn’t sure how she felt about the odd familiarity after just meeting. It must stem from hearing about him through Nathan for so many years—she almost felt as if she knew Thaddeus de Burgh.

  What would he say or ask next? She inched closer in anticipation. The only way to justify her reaction to this man was to remind herself that the past week had been fraught with so much emotion, worry, and fear for her brother and what trouble his latest scheme had gotten him into, and de Burgh served as a respite from her frustrations. He made her feel alive, almost as though she could see a spark of light in the pitch-darkness that was her life.

  It was newfound hope—nothing more. She knew it would pass the moment she woke up, making this no more than a dream.

  “I’m not presentable for dinner,” he said abruptly, breaking the spell that had ensnared them. “But I promise to find you before we sup.”

  “Till then,” she said, realizing her main interest in joining Nathan for dinner was because she wanted to learn more about Thaddeus de Burgh.

  There was something about this man’s character, the subtlety of his approach, and the steady cadence of his voice that offered safety and comfort. She felt she could let her guard down with him. Could she trust him like she trusted Nathan? There was no doubt in her mind that she could.

  How had her original purpose in coming here deviated so far? Was she interested in de Burgh because he did not crassly proposition her as most men did? Or was it because he understood and appreciated music? Perhaps it was nothing more than the adoration she heard in his voice as he praised her piano skills.

  No, it was because he offered her the one thing she needed most right now: his assistance in finding her brother. She knew Nathan would help in any way he could, but he was focused on his latest problem with Anna. De Burgh was in a much better frame of mind to help her.

  With a soft tap under her chin, de Burgh tilted her head up. His touch was gentle and not at all brotherly like Nathan’s was. What did he think to read in her face, or see in her eyes—eyes that could no longer make out the beauty that surrounded her?

  “Dinner will be most pleasurable with you present, Miss Montgomery.”

  She made no response, just held perfectly still. What she wanted to do more than anything was touch the planes of his face, to see him with her hands. That would be too intimate a gesture, so she fisted her hands at her sides instead. He released her and stepped away. The air between them immediately cooled and she felt momentarily bereft.

  The tread of his feet was the only indication that he’d left her standing there alone.

  She sat on the chair and placed her right hand over the higher register, dancing out a Mozart gigue to match the skip of her heartbeat.

  Could she enjoy an affair with de Burgh? Maybe even companionship for the short time they would work together? She was entitled to a small bit of happiness while she searched for her brother. Wasn’t she? The fates were cruel to dangle temptation before her unseeing eyes.

  DRESSED FOR DINNER, TEDDY PAUSED in front of the piano in his room. He focused on the scribbled notes of his latest composition spread across the top. It was a mess, and without his usual inspiration; in fact, he hated it all and wanted to start it over again, but was running out of time. That thought conjured Miss Montgomery to mind. There was no denying that he did require her discerning ear, and her blindness didn’t matter; he knew an exceptional pianist and musician when he heard one.

  Apart from that, he felt that there could be something more between them.

  He wasn’t precisely sure why he had invited her to join him around Town tomorrow night, but the opera would be the perfect place for their first meeting of minds. It was a way for him to test her knowledge and understanding in music further. But a larger part of him wanted nothing more than to spend time in her company.

  He had no intentions of traveling back to Maidstone with his brother. Not until Nathan wanted to talk to him, if such a time ever presented itself—Nathan was a private man, and Teddy fully respected that. Teddy, on the other hand, had his own life to attend to and a promise to Miss Montgomery that he would fulfill. A little intrigue with the mysterious pianist was more than enough to keep him in London.

  He brushed his fingers across the stave paper. There were blocks of empty lines where notes should be dotting out melodic interludes or harmonic progressions between the instruments. Nothing seemed to be coming together for this composition.

  The chords of Miss Montgomery’s piece teased at his mind.

  He wondered if he had been overthinking the process all this time, until the joy he normally found in writing music had diminished until it felt more like an unwanted chore. Perhaps the issues stemmed from being out of practice in composing?

  For the past few years, he’d done nothing more than transpose popular works by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, and Bac
h, for the music publications in London. It was tedious, unfulfilling, thankless work. And if he never had to transcribe someone else’s works again, he would be content.

  Yet the pressure to produce something for the masses suddenly felt overwhelming.

  He wondered what his concerto would sound like if Miss Montgomery were to play the piano solo. Then he wondered what kind of embellishments she would include and how she would interpret the piece to make it hers alone.

  He was getting ahead of himself.

  Luckily for him, a friend had offered him the opportunity of a lifetime. Teddy was to open the Season with the performance of the new concerto he’d feverishly worked on for the past six months. He would round out his month in residence at Hanover Square Rooms conducting Haydn’s Symphony No.85.

  This was his chance to prove himself as a composer. If he bungled this opportunity to play in a respectable place, he might very well be relegated to playing the music halls and pennies—places where the poor found a reprieve for a few shillings.

  He had nothing left to lose except for his pride, though he’d been pitching pride into the fire for quite some time now, with one failed piece after another. Years ago, his ensemble pieces had been well received, but he wanted something grander, something that made him as respected a composer as any of the modern Greats.

  He shut the lid on the piano keys, blew out the candle, and headed out the door.

  Miss Montgomery had made something come to life inside him. The moment her fingers had sung out a tune, he’d felt inspired and had wanted to accomplish so much more. Her playing had been inspirational to say the least.

  He shouldn’t have left her in the music parlor to begin with, but had to because he had been close to reneging on his promise of wanting only her musical assistance; he’d nearly kissed more than her hand. Even though she’d made it quite clear she was not looking for companionship, there was a receptiveness offering more than her company when he’d kissed her hand—he’d been sure of it. Instead of making himself seem like an ass, he’d forced himself to walk away.

  As though his thoughts conjured her up, he caught sight of her heading toward the dining room. The clever flip at the tail end of her frilly underskirts added an indecent, alluring quality to the way she strolled, her heavy skirts crinkling in rhythm with her easy stride. Trailing her fingers along the chair rail, she used it as a guide.