Will didn’t realize he’d instinctively tensed his hands into fists until Allegra began to gently straighten each clenched finger. Further conversation was impossible while he focused on the glorious sensation of her fingers stroking his.
He barely suppressed a sigh of disappointment when, her task concluded, she lowered her arm back to her side. “’Tis really best to do nothing,” she advised.
When her words finally penetrated, Will shook his head in amazement. “How can you view her interference so calmly? I’d be ready to strangle her.”
Allegra smiled ruefully. “What would you have me do? Rush into her chamber, burst into tears, beg her to treat me more charitably? I’d rather starve in the street.”
“How about you rush into her chamber, drag her from bed by her hair and scratch her eyes out? Since, unlike we gentlemen, you cannot slap her face with your glove and demand that she name her seconds.”
“How unfortunate that upon his return, Rob refused to continue the fencing lessons he’d begun with me years ago!” she said with a chuckle. “But little as I like it, Sapphira is Uncle Robert’s widow and mistress of the house in which I dwell. I could hardly do anything significant enough to quell her without Rob finding out, and though she deserves no consideration, I’d rather not expose her machinations and create a dispute within the family.”
“Perhaps I could entice her to a rendezvous on the pretext of discussing her scheme, then arrange to have us ‘discovered,’” Will suggested.
Allegra shook her head. “That wouldn’t wash. Sapphira would simply put it about that you lured her there on some pretext and being a grieving widow, she agreed, never imagining you would offer insult to a lady in her position. You might succeed in tarnishing her reputation, but ’tis more likely she would discredit you instead.”
Will shrugged. “I expect I could bear the scandal.”
“But you mustn’t!” she replied, concern in her voice. “’Twould be most injurious to your hopes of wedding an heiress. Promise me you will do nothing of the sort.”
Ah yes, those hopes—or rather, Lucilla’s hopes. Will felt his chest tighten. Though he was becoming surer by the day that the only heiress he wished to wed was Allegra, he knew instinctively that this was not the moment for such a declaration. Fumbling for something he could say, he finally replied, “If you insist, I will promise. By heaven, though, I wish something could be done. It grates exceedingly that Lady Lynton can contemplate perpetrating such an outrage with impunity.”
“Perhaps I shall hit upon a suitable response,” she said, a mischievous smile lighting her face.
“By all means do! The more nefarious the scheme, the more I should approve it.”
Allegra chuckled. “For shame, my lord! A gentleman should not bloodthirstily envision a lady’s discomfiture. But enough of Sapphira! Since we are speaking of nefarious schemes, what of your plans to take me driving? Perhaps, as you suggested last night, a public renewal of your pursuit would push Lynton into action.”
Her sudden change of subject was like a slap, bringing Will back to the realization that, for Allegra, ensnaring Lynton was still the most important goal. An aching sadness pierced his heart, followed by a brief blaze of anger. What of the kiss they had shared a few minutes ago?
To be fair, he had surprised her with it. Since she’d avoided all but a brief mention of it since, clearly she didn’t wish to even acknowledge her “unmaidenly” response. Thank heavens, then, that he hadn’t blurted out his tangled feelings and embarrassed them both.
She had never strayed from the script they had written, so best he return to it as well. “I should be delighted to take you driving again. Let us go back in and I will propose an outing to Mrs. Randall at once.”
No, he would not believe he saw disappointment in her eyes at his suggestion that they end their stroll. But having delivered his warning, ’twas no point lingering in the garden, where his restless body could remind him of the opportunities waiting round the turn of each allée when, for a few moments, they outdistanced the trailing maid. Especially when Allegra’s mind was obviously fixed, not on the titillating prospect of feeling his lips on hers again, but on getting Lynton’s ring on her finger.
Still, she should be safe now, so he should feel better. He did feel better. He just wished that the prospect of forwarding a scheme to get her into Lynton’s arms didn’t make that relief curdle in his gut.
MRS. RANDALL LOOKED UP as they reentered the parlor. “Ah, how fortuitous! I’ve just finished the last of my letters. Did you have a pleasant walk?”
“Very pleasant,” Allegra replied.
“You didn’t get too chilled?” her chaperone inquired.
To Will’s gratification, a blush colored Allegra’s cheeks. “No, the sun was quite warm.”
Mrs. Randall frowned. “And I thought the sky had come over cloudy. Well, no matter. I do wish I might have joined you. Though London is full of amusements, I must admit that I miss the beauty and peace of the countryside.”
A sudden, reckless idea formed in Will’s head. Allegra wanted to spend time in his company to provoke Lynton. Mrs. Randall pined for the country. And Will needed to do something quickly to squelch his growing compulsion to be near Allegra.
If the ladies agreed to it, this scheme was likely to inflame Lynton to the point of making some dramatic move to secure Allegra’s affections—if he ever meant to. It might infuriate him enough that Will could maneuver him into a bout of fisticuffs, a prospect Will found vastly appealing. Bloodying her beloved’s nose would probably give the bewitching Allegra a distaste for his company—if viewing his decrepit ruin of an estate didn’t send her fleeing first. He would be left in peace to pursue one of Lucilla’s approved heiresses.
He pushed aside the fact that pursuing other heiresses held no appeal at all.
“Miss Antinori and I have just been talking about taking a drive. But now that you mention a visit to the country, Mrs. Randall, what if we were all to ride out to Brookwillow? If we leave early enough, we can reach the estate by midday. The inn in the village has a tolerable lunch, and we could be back to London before nightfall.”
Mrs. Randall sighed. “Oh, a day trip out of London does sound lovely! Where is your estate located?”
“In Hampshire, about five miles from Hemley.”
“Hemley?” Mrs. Randall echoed. “Why, one of my dearest friends resides just south of the village!”
“Then we should certainly stop and call on her,” Will replied. “Would you like to go, Miss Antinori?”
“I would indeed,” she replied. “A day out of the smoke and crowds of London sounds delightful.”
“If your estate is located near Amelia’s home, ’tis rather ambitious to speak of driving there and back in a single day,” Mrs. Randall said, frowning. “Oh, I’ve no doubt you do so often enough on horseback, but the journey by carriage would be slower.”
Before Will could think of some other inducement, Mrs. Randall’s brow smoothed. “But I’m sure Amelia would be happy to have Allegra and I stay the night with her. You could leave us at Pinetree Manor after we visit your estate and return the next day to escort us back to London, if that would be agreeable to you, Lord Tavener.”
Two days out of London to walk with and talk with and tease Allegra Antinori. Even though his supposed goal was to put her at a distance, the prospect electrified Will. “That would doubtless make the excursion more comfortable,” he replied. “Would you wish to undertake such a journey, Miss Antinori?” he asked, willing her to agree.
She opened her lips to answer and then hesitated, her eyes widening. Will knew the instant it occurred to her that spending two whole days, rather than just one, in his company would be even more of a goad to Lynton. Flashing him a look of understanding, she said, “If you are sure your friend would not find it an imposition—and Lord Tavener can be away from the city for another day, I should happily undertake the journey.”
“Having an extra day at Brookwil
low will allow me to look into more estate business,” he said. Or likely through it, he thought, envisioning the new holes that must have worked themselves into the roof by now.
“I’m sure Amelia would be happy to receive us,” Mrs. Randall said. “I’ve already had two letters from her since arriving in London, chiding me for not yet paying her a visit. She suffers from a rheumatism that makes carriage travel quite painful, you see. I shall write her at once.”
“I must send a note to my bailiff and can have my man deliver the letter to your friend,” Will told her. Torn between the compulsion to push this matter to a conclusion and the wistful hope of retaining Allegra’s favor, he felt compelled to add, “I must warn you, my estate is in rather poor condition. Still, its setting overlooking the river and the drive itself are both lovely.”
“I would love to see your Brookwillow,” Allegra said.
With those lustrous dark eyes gazing expectantly at him, for a moment Will wished despairingly that the estate to which he’d pledged to escort her was worthy of her obvious anticipation.
Idiot, he told himself, squelching the emotion. The whole purpose of his plan was to disappoint her, to make her withdraw from him at the same time they maneuvered Lynton closer into declaring for her. “I’ll make the arrangements. Shall we say later this week?”
“I shall propose to Amelia that we set out in two days’ time and let you know as soon as I have her reply, Lord Tavener,” Mrs. Randall said.
“My man will come by to collect your letter this afternoon, ma’am,” Will said.
A discreet knock at the door distracted them, followed by the entrance of the butler. “Colonel Jessamyn and Sir Thomas Reede to see you, Mrs. Randall, Miss Antinori.”
Having accomplished what he’d come for, best that he take his leave—rather than remain to stoke his ire by watching Jessamyn and Sir Thomas pant over Allegra. Only the knowledge that she had no inclination toward either of them allowed him to calmly bow to Mrs. Randall before turning to take Miss Allegra’s hand.
“Thank you for a most warming turn about the garden,” he murmured, unable to leave without referring at least once to the unacknowledged passion between them. He brushed his lips over her gloved hand, savoring her lavender scent. “I await our outing with utmost anticipation.”
A barely perceptible blush colored her cheeks and she raised her eyebrows in reproof. “As shall I, my lord.”
Despite his ostensible purpose in conveying Allegra to Brookwillow, Will couldn’t help the spring in his step as he descended the front steps of Lynton House and hailed a hackney. Two days in her company! ’Twas a boon he intended to relish…right up to the minute when her tour of Brookwillow ended her interest in him for good.
Arriving back at his modest rooms, he called for Barrows. “I’ve several letters to write and I’ll need a runner to take them to Brookwillow. I’ll be paying a brief visit later in the week.”
“Very good, m’lord. Give me the letters when you’ve finished. In the meantime, I’ll pack our bags.”
“You won’t need to accompany me. I’ll be engaging a carriage and there won’t be room.”
About to exit, Barrows stopped short on the threshold. “Engaging a carriage? You do not intend to ride?”
“Mrs. Randall, Miss Antinori’s chaperone, has a friend near Hemley whom she wishes to visit. Since I planned to go to Brookwillow anyway, I offered to escort the ladies.”
Barrows stared at him for a long moment while Will felt his face heat. “You’ve been planning to visit Brookwillow? And I was unaware of that fact?”
Will took refuge in hauteur. “I don’t tell you everything, Barrows.”
“Apparently not. But you probably should. Shall I arrange for the carriage?”
“No, I’ll take care of it. As for the packing, I’ll only be gone for two days, so I won’t need much.”
“It would be better if I went along. The ladies will not be much impressed if you do not bring a valet.”
“Not impressing them is the point,” Will murmured. “In any event, it’s already decided.”
Barrows shook his head. “You’re going to regret declining my assistance.”
“Go!” Will said irritably, dismissing him. Sometimes he wondered which of them was master and which, employee. But given how uncomplainingly Barrows had shared his poverty and the very resourceful assistance he often provided, ’twas only natural he felt he ought to be part of whatever Will was planning.
Except that Will didn’t think he could bear having even Barrows, who knew him perhaps better than anyone on earth, present to watch him tear his heart out while he drove Allegra away from him.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
FROM THE MOMENT Hobbs escorted Lord Tavener out and Colonel Jessamyn and Sir Thomas in, Allegra was occupied by a steady stream of visitors. It seemed virtually everyone she knew in London had either attended the musicale or heard of it, and all were anxious to applaud her performance or inquire about the evening.
It wasn’t until late afternoon that Allegra was able to get away to her own chamber to reflect upon Lord Tavener’s warning. Though she’d known Uncle Robert’s spiteful wife disliked her, she was genuinely surprised at the lengths to which Sapphira was apparently willing to go to discredit her.
It both angered and saddened her that Sapphira apparently felt compelled to use every means at her disposal to exclude from the society over which she reigned a person she judged unworthy of it. Thank heavens that, though a product of the same world, Uncle Robert had quite different standards!
He had continued to value her mother despite the choices she’d made and had always shown the greatest respect for Allegra’s talented father. Once again, she was humbled that Uncle Robert believed her worthy of inclusion among the ton her mother had abandoned—despite the fact that it seemed increasingly likely that Allegra would never feel comfortable there. She was grateful, too, that if her dream of winning Rob’s heart was not realized, she would have Uncle Robert’s legacy to fall back on.
Should she eschew the polite world and settle on her country manor, she could think of few in society she would miss, save Rob—and Lord Tavener. She felt herself smile. Would he still deign to recognize a musician’s daughter, even after he’d married an heiress?
Once she allowed herself to think of him, the indiscretion she’d fought all day to forget breached the barrier of will and came flooding back. Little shivers rippled across her skin as she remembered the feel of his lips on hers.
She’d never imagined such joy, such wonderment, such a powerful, compelling rush of sensation could result from the simple brush of a man’s mouth over hers.
Not that she’d been able to limit herself to just that first gentle contact. No, having wondered so many times what it might feel like to kiss him, she’d been unable to resist the unexpectedly overwhelming response he evoked in her. No wonder Molly had been so captivated by her rogue!
She should have pushed him away after that first caress, but doing so became simply impossible once his tongue teased its way into her mouth, igniting a maelstrom of wicked, irresistible desires. Rather than step back, she’d wanted to press her body closer, deepen the kiss, nearly desperate to taste more of him, to urge his hands and mouth to continue their explorations.
No, it would not have been fair to slap him for his effrontery when all she’d wanted was still more of his delicious impropriety. Her face heated, her lips and nipples burned at the thought.
She put cool fingers to her flaming cheeks. It seemed she was even more susceptible to him than she’d thought.
And what if Rob had been home, had chanced to gaze out the library window and seen her, clinging to Lord Tavener like some Covent Garden strumpet?
The spiral of sensation in her gut abruptly stilled. At the least, Rob would have been disappointed; at worst, he might have felt she’d dishonored him and his household.
Proving Sapphira correct in her estimation of Allegra’s character.
&nbs
p; Well, such a thing must not happen again. She had a clearer knowledge now of the full extent of her weakness for Lord Tavener. She must not in future tease him into making advances she had just found, to her shame, that she was nearly incapable of resisting.
Did the necessity to be more circumspect mean she must give up his friendship, too? she wondered wistfully. It had been kind of him to worry about her so much he’d felt compelled to warn her against Sapphira. Not since Papa died had anyone been that protective of her welfare.
Though she had to laugh, recalling how, brow creased and hands clenched into fists, he’d talked of wanting to deal with Lady Lynton himself. Uncle Robert’s wife would probably faint dead away if she ever saw directed toward her the menacing look Allegra remembered upon Tavener’s face when he’d scared off Lord Wofford last night. He truly was the most kind and chivalrous of gentlemen.
Resolving to figure out a way to remain his friend while resisting his appeal, Allegra forced her thoughts away from envisioning his all-too-compelling countenance and back to the problem of Sapphira.
What would be best to do about the woman? Reviewing Tavener’s description of her tawdry scheme, Allegra felt her lip curl in contempt. Trust Sapphira to look for some dupe to maneuver into doing the disreputable work for her. Though as she’d told Tavener, Allegra was not particularly worried about the plan, if Sapphira did manage to recruit some unsavory gentleman to implement it, once he realized Allegra could not be easily seduced, he might become less genteel in his methods. Though she remained confident she would be able to escape such a man with her virtue intact, it was possible she might need help, and in coming to her aid, John Coachman or Hobbs or Lizzie might be injured. That, she couldn’t allow.
Better, therefore, to make Sapphira see the wisdom of abandoning her scheme as soon as possible. Allegra set her lips in a firm line. She’d confront her this very day.
Allegra rang the bell and asked Lizzie to let her know when Sapphira awakened from her afternoon nap. At that time, Lady Lynton usually lounged in her bed sipping chocolate and reading the society pages before summoning her maid to help her dress for the evening.
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