A Ring of Midnight Orchids: Flowers of the Aristocracy (Untamed Regency Book 3)

by Jackie Williams

  A depression settled over her at the thought of him leaving her in Pierce Trenchard’s care. She liked Pierce well enough, who wouldn’t? He was quite charming. But he didn’t have a literary interest. Not that she knew much about her fiancé’s friend, but he seemed to spike her curiosity more. There was just something about him that she couldn’t name, but she wished it was Lord Caruthers who would be showing her the Perrydale library.

  She stared out at the man riding a few yards in front of the carriage. His shoulders were perhaps a little stiff. He turned a fraction, the line of his jaw suddenly visible. Was he about to look back and give her one of his gorgeous smiles? Her heart raced furiously. And then disappointment filled her as he turned away again, his horse suddenly picking up its feet and cantering off into the distance, giving her just a final fleeting view of a pair of very broad shoulders.

  God damn it! This was intolerable. How bad could he possibly feel? Lucas loathed himself, and he hated Pierce for putting him in this position. Lucas had deliberately decided to ride his horse, fear of being trapped by her trusting blue eyes that he knew would turn reproachful the moment they arrived at Perrydale, sending him scuttling for his mount.

  Why did she look at him like that, as he handed her up into his carriage earlier that afternoon? As if he were some kind of knight in shining armour, come to whisk her away from a fire-breathing dragon.

  Heaven knew that he was definitely no knight in shining armour, but her brother was certainly going to be breathing fire when he discovered what had happened to her. What Lucas was doing was inches shy of kidnap. And it was definitely going to ruin what little reputation she had. She would be alone with a man for several days. Whatever he had told her yesterday was a lie. Her maid’s word would mean nothing to the gossips.

  And that was without the scandal of her being seen drunk in public. If anyone enquired, there were over a dozen witnesses to the fact that he had carried his wife bodily from the bar to her room. His wife! Whatever had he been thinking? He should have insisted on removing her from such a position the instant she had arrived at his table. Instead, he had let the serving woman think they were a married couple. He might as well have declared that he was sleeping with Angelique the moment they arrived at the inn.

  Why he hadn’t thought of the situation like that before, was beyond him. He had let his own rancour with her cheat of a brother, sway his good sense. She didn’t have a clue as to what he and Pierce had planned. Lucas had thought she was someone different, but she was nothing like the person he had imagined. Rumour and gossip had tarnished her before he had met her. But now he knew that she was sweet and sincere, interesting and eager.

  And she looked up at him so trustingly, even as he spun his web of lies. What could she be thinking of him as she sat in the carriage with her maid? Was she looking out of the window at him? He almost glanced over his shoulder to check, but stayed himself just in time and dug his heels into his horse, encouraging his animal to pick up the pace. Blaze began to canter, but it was already too late. He knew that she looked out of the carriage window, her eyes burning holes into his jacket. He wished she wouldn’t. Lucas knew that he didn’t deserve to bask in her innocent gaze.

  And he didn’t want to think about the accusation and hurt that would be in them when she discovered that Pierce wasn’t at Perrydale, and that her reputation was in tatters.

  The storm clouds of the day before had long passed and now the countryside basked in endless blue skies, but something gloomy still lingered within her. The hours in the carriage had passed slowly. She had read for a while, but her book didn’t hold her interest for long, and she closed it on her lap.

  Her head still pounded and her eyelids grew heavy, and the next moment she was riding on a winged horse, flying over the countryside, the wind in her hair while Lord Lucas Caruthers, his body hot at her back, his muscled arm about her waist, rode along right behind her. A glass of heady red wine appeared in his other hand and he held it to her lips. She drank deeply while the world disappeared beneath her mounts great wings.

  They soared over hills and valleys, across lakes and along wave swept shores, all the time his deep voice caressed her with gentle words of love, of desire, of passion. Then he lifted her hair from her neck and she cried out his name as he placed a searing kiss on the soft skin below her ear.

  She woke with a start, her maid smiling gently at her as she blinked away the disturbing dream. She touched the spot on her neck where Lord Caruthers had placed his lips and felt her cheeks begin to glow. Had she actually called out his name? She glanced at her maid.

  “Sorry, Mary. I couldn’t keep my eyes open. It must be the heat and movement of the carriage making me nap.”

  Mary gave a chuckle.

  “You’ve been sound asleep for almost two hours. We are about to arrive.” Mary pointed out of the window.

  Angelique looked out in time to see imposing stone gateposts and a tree-lined drive. Parkland stretched away into the distance either side. She took her fan from her reticule to waft her heated cheeks as Perrydale came into view. It wouldn’t do for Lord Trenchard, her fiancé, to see her looking hot and flustered.

  Her fiancé. How the title sounded so wrong, so hollow that it hardly seemed true. Would he be waiting on the steps for her to descend from the carriage? Would he run down them and take her in his arms, begging her forgiveness for not being there for her during the journey? Would he admire her in the gift of her beautiful new gown?

  Did she care? She didn’t think her heart could sink any further, but clearly it could.

  Gravel crunched beneath the carriage wheels as they continued up the avenue and circled into a wide, circled forecourt.

  She stared up at the towering facade in front of her. Rows of windows graced the front of the building, stretching out either side of a heavy oak door.

  “Oh my! I had no idea that Perrydale was so grand. I imagined a small country house, not a palace.” Nerves made her voice shake as the carriage came to a halt at the base of wide stone steps. A footman came hurrying to open the carriage door.

  “My Lady.” He bowed as he spoke and offered her his hand. “I am Henry. Lord Lucas arrived some time ago and has asked that you meet him in the drawing room. If you would like to follow me, I will show you the way.” He helped Mary from the carriage before turning back to the house.

  Angelique hesitated for a moment. The man had spoken about Lord Caruthers, Lucas, with some familiarity, but said nothing about her fiancé.

  “Is Lord Trenchard not here yet, Henry?” She hurried to catch up with the man.

  He glanced down at her then sniffed as he held the front door.

  “His Lordship only asked that I show you to the drawing room before seeing your maid to your chambers and making sure that your luggage is sent up. I know no more, my Lady.”

  The clip of the man’s heels echoed on the hall’s marble floor as she followed him past several closed doors. Henry stopped a few moments later and opened a door on their right. He stepped inside and held the door for her as he spoke.

  “Your Lordship, Miss Lancer has arrived.”

  The door closed behind her as she walked to where Lucas Caruthers stood staring out of open French windows.

  “I had quite forgotten how beautiful the view is from here,” he said as she joined him. He sucked in a deep breath of air. “And how fresh it is after being so hot and stuffy all day.”

  She followed his gaze and took in the scenery. A formal garden spread out in front of her giving way to a flower filled shrubbery. A clipped lawn drew the viewer’s eye down the long slope of garden to a silver lake. Swans drifted gracefully on the surface, long necks dipping occasionally. Beyond the lake, the trees thickened, darkening the scene. Rooks circled above the treetops, soaring high before flying back to their nests. She couldn’t ever recall a scene more beautiful.

  “It is delightful. I don’t think I have ever seen anywhere quite so serene and restful.”

  Lucas t
ook a step out onto the terrace, sucking in the clean country air.

  “I used to come here often, but never appreciated the place’s finer points. It’s been years since I visited. I am seeing it with new eyes,” he said softly and glanced down at her as she joined him, not thinking about Perrydale at all.

  She looked back up at him.

  “You and Pierce must have been close for a long while.”

  Lucas nodded.

  “Since birth. Our families are firm friends. Did you know that Brendon Spencer and his new wife, Sophia live not fifteen miles away. And the Barclays are only a few hours further on. We could visit one day.”

  A delicate wrinkle marred her smooth forehead.

  “One day? I thought I was only coming for one day before returning to town.” She looked about the terrace before turning to inspect the drawing room. She could hear birds in the garden, bees buzzing gently over the flowerbeds, she could hear Mary talking to someone, probably Henry, but no other noise. Certainly not the robust tones of Lord Pierce Trenchard. They were clearly alone. She glanced back up at the man beside her. “Lord Caruthers, when is my fiancé joining us? If he is not here soon, he will not be able to show me his fabulous library. I had hoped to see it today.”

  Lucas swallowed. He had run out of time. He dreaded telling her that her fiancé was going to force her to cry off, and he tried to lessen the blow with the only thing that might make a difference.

  “Come, I’ll show you the library while we wait for Mrs. Granger to bring tea. Pierce isn’t coming.” He ignored her gasp of surprise and turned back into the drawing room.

  “What do you mean, he’s not coming.” Disappointment laced her tones as her footsteps pattered behind him. “Has he sent word? Is his small emergency not quite as small as he originally thought?”

  Lucas’ heart gave a jolt. Did he have to tell her yet? Could he put off the inevitable for a few hours, perhaps days longer and tell another lie. He glanced down at her and bile rose in his throat as she stared up at him with those incredible eyes. He stopped abruptly and turned to her.

  Caught by his sudden change of direction, Angelique stumbled to avoid him, but it was already too late. She crashed into his solid wall of chest and bounced backwards, standing on the hem of her new gown. A ripping sound rent the air as she began to fall.

  In a desperate effort to save her from landing on her backside, Lucas grabbed her arms and dragged her towards him. She instantly found her footing and jolted forwards, landing with a gasp against his chest.

  He held her firmly, telling himself that he did so only to make sure she was steady, but it was really because her scent had caught him in its snare. Her warmth filled him with pleasure such as he had never felt before. The startled look in her eyes changed to something else, and her rose red lips opened a fraction.

  Desire hit him as surely as a knockout punch to the jaw. Nothing would be able to stop him. Those lips invited too much to resist. His fingers loosened their grip on her arms and slid gently, one about her waist, the other up to the back of her neck. Heat and passion flared in her eyes, her lashes fluttering closed as he bent his head to taste her.

  “Eh hem! Tea is served in the blue drawing room, my Lord.”

  Lucas’ head shot up as Henry’s voice threw cold water over him. He shoved Angelique away almost as desperately as he had gathered her to him.

  “Thank you, Henry.” It sounded as though someone was strangling him and he cleared his throat before attempting to carry on. “I was about to show Miss Lancer the library. Would you have the tea brought there.”

  Henry gave a short bow.

  “Of course, my Lord. Is there anything else that you require?”

  Lucas shook his head.

  “That will be all, but if you would like to call Miss Lancer’s maid, I am sure that she is also in need of some refreshment after spending so long in a stuffy carriage.” There was a short silence as Henry went back to the drawing room. “Shall we proceed?” Lucas looked down at Angelique while kicking himself metaphorically. He clearly couldn’t be trusted on his own with her. Thank goodness he had thought of inviting her maid to join them.

  She blinked back up at him, clearly in some distress.

  “My dress, I heard it tear.” She twisted to look over her shoulder and pulled her skirts around to the side. “Oh, I have pulled a seam. I should go to my room and ask Mary to make repairs.”

  Lucas placed his hand gently on her arm as she was about to walk away.

  “Come with me to the library. You have been looking forward to seeing it. The pull is tiny and barely shows. It is nothing that cannot be repaired later, and Henry has already gone to fetch your maid anyway. I am sure she needs a cup of tea as much as you do.”

  Angelique hesitated, sucking her bottom lip into her mouth. Lucas almost groaned at the sight, but pulled himself together before he did anything reckless again. Good God! He’d almost ravished another man’s fiancée. If Henry hadn’t spoken up when he did, all hell would have broken loose. Like it was going to anyway, he reminded himself as she peered at the fraying seam on her skirt.

  Apparently satisfied with the stitching, she smiled up at him again.

  “You are right. It is only a small pull. If I don’t fall over my own feet again, it will almost certainly hold for a while, and I would like to see the library.”

  Had she forgotten that he had told her Pierce wasn’t coming? Lucas sincerely hoped so. He wasn’t looking forward to making any excuses or explanations on his friend’s behalf and he certainly didn’t want to lie any more. He braced himself against the wave of guilt that threatened to sweep over him and strode onwards towards the library. At least he could keep one promise to her. The shelves of books were bound to keep her mind off her missing husband to be.

  Angelique followed Lucas Caruthers, her heart pounding wildly. Had he been about to kiss her? Her head spun with the thought...And with the longing such a thought brought forth in her. It was almost a physical ache, beginning somewhere in the pit of her stomach and rising until it filled her heart to near bursting.

  Was this a normal sensation to have when about to be seduced by the most gorgeous man she had ever set eyes upon? She didn’t have anything to go on, having never been kissed before. Certainly not by Brendon Spencer, who did like to read, but didn’t want to do anything else. Nor by Pierce Trenchard, who often tried to hint at more than reading, but never found the opportunity to act upon his wishes, though that was probably more to do with her. Eager as he was, he didn’t appeal enough to explore the possibilities, and she wouldn’t let Pierce near enough to pounce and kiss her.

  But the god like creature striding down the hall in front of her was an entirely different entity. He gave her shivers, very pleasant shivers, every time his dark sapphire eyes glanced her way. And they seemed to glance her way rather a lot. Except when he suddenly caught her looking back at him and quickly averted his eyes, as he had done just now.

  Why would he do that when only moments earlier there had been such heat in his gaze that she felt the blaze through to her soul.

  She hurried after him and was about to speak when he turned to another door. He flung it wide and stood back for her to pass him.

  Any thoughts of shivering again as he watched her pass, disappeared as soon as she entered the room. She turned slowly as it took her a few seconds to comprehend what she was seeing. She had imagined shelves of books, a reading table, and perhaps some comfortable chairs; it was a library after all. What she hadn’t expected were floor to ceiling book cases, some glass fronted, others with railings or sets of wooden steps to the highest shelves. There was a spiral staircase reaching up to one area and a balcony with small seating area overlooking the rest of the huge room.

  Angelique closed her eyes and opened them again before spinning slowly for a second time. She stopped as she caught sight of Lucas Caruthers’ smiling face.

  “I never expected anything so glorious,” she breathed quietly, not quit
e sure if she meant the fabulous library or his blindingly handsome face, lit up by a shaft of evening sunlight.

  He stepped into the room and looked around with her.

  “I don’t think I appreciated this as much as I should have either. I don’t recall ever taking a book from a shelf, though Pierce and I, and several of our friends, often found it a good place to hide from one another.”

  Angelique wandered to one of the shelves and peered at the titles.

  “These are new books.” She ran her fingertip down a spine before walking further into the room and stopped at a desk. She turned over a page of the book that lay there. “And every book is catalogued, with a location in the library.” She glanced back at Lucas. “Someone words very hard at this. Does Pierce employ a librarian? Somehow he never gave me the impression that he was so interested in literature. Where is he, by the way? You mentioned that he wasn’t coming but never answered my questions.”

  So much for her forgetting. Lucas sighed and reached out to shove the library door closed. His time was up. He leaned against it and took a deep breath.

  “Pierce doesn’t employ a librarian as far as I know, but then this isn’t his library. It’s mine. Perrydale belongs to me.” He held her gaze as he waited for her to berate him for his subterfuge. There was a long, uncomfortable silence in which he wished she would say something. Anything! Standing there waiting for her shouts of outrage and tears of disappointment was killing him.

  “I see.” Was all she said.

  Lucas shook his head.

  “You probably don’t.” He pinched the bridge of his nose before carrying on. “I can’t keep it from you any longer. I feel awful for doing this, but I truly didn’t understand the sort of woman you were, I mean are, or I never would have suggested such an outrageous course of action. I am afraid that you have been misled.” He took a deep breath and plunged on. “Pierce does not want to marry you, but doesn’t want to see your reputation suffer any more than it has to. We thought that if you disappeared from the London scene, the gossips would just forget about the forthcoming marriage and Pierce could remain a free man. A small announcement about you crying off would be sufficient to satisfy any enquiries.” Her calm demeanour worried him more than a fit of hysterics.