Lord Carlton’s Courtship

by Alexandra Ivy

  She thought she heard him heave an exasperated sigh, but rather than pulling away in annoyance, he stepped even closer, his fingers intimately stroking the sensitive skin of her inner arm.

  “Because you amuse me, Roma,” he murmured softly. “And more importantly because of this …”

  Without warning, the raven head swooped downward and the warm lips that had already created far too much chaos in her life were once again closing over her parted mouth in a plundering kiss that made her mind spin with dizzying pleasure.

  For days she had been attempting to convince herself that the embraces she shared with this man could not be as earth shaking as she allowed herself to imagine. A kiss was a kiss, and it was simply her inexperience that made his seem far more poignant and meaningful than they were. But as her lips willingly melted beneath his persuasive mouth and she felt the irresistible wave of excitement curl through her stomach, she was forced to acknowledge this was no mere kiss.

  How could it be when her entire body trembled with the need to be held even closer to his lean frame? It did not seem to matter that she was behaving in a completely shameless manner or that this man was a master at seduction. The only things that seemed important were the emotion storming through her and the completely unexplainable sensation that she was exactly where she belonged.

  She gave a soft moan and as if he sensed her inability to resist the magical spell of his touch, his fingers tightened on her arms, slowly drawing her toward his broad chest.

  “Roma …” He whispered against her mouth, his voice barely recognizable. “We must talk. There are so many things I need to explain to you—”

  His words were abruptly cut off as the soft sound of approaching footsteps warned them that their privacy was about to come to an end, and with a muffled gasp, Roma pulled herself away from his clinging touch. Ignoring his soft curse and the frustrated fire that burned in those vivid eyes, she hastily raised a hand to absently push at her tumbled curls, unwittingly doing more damage than good. She felt a complete fool and could only hope that the darkness would hide the embarrassed color that rushed to her face.

  “Roma, listen to me—”

  “Not now,” she hissed softly, feeling ridiculously close to tears as Claude appeared on the terrace, followed by what appeared to be a large horde of unknown guests.

  “Giles … Oh, there you are.” Claude breathed an audible sigh of relief as he caught sight of the two standing in the shadowed corner. “I believe that these … guests are here to see you.”

  Roma felt Giles stiffen at her side, but her gaze never left the lovely creature that detached herself from the group beside the door, looking ravishing in a low-cut satin gown that shimmered like pure silver in the moonlight.

  “Giles, darling, I hope we are not intruding?” the woman purred, deliberately ignoring Roma as she floated across the terrace to lay a familiar hand on his arm. “We were on our way to my cousin’s estate, and we simply could not pass by without paying a visit.”

  “Really?” Giles had abruptly retreated behind his mask of cool arrogance, seemingly unaware of the stunning brunette’s provocative smile or the open invitation of her parted lips. “I have never known you to speak of any cousin who possesses an estate in the area. Certainly not one that could induce you to leave London at the height of the Season for a visit.”

  The lovely woman gave a dramatic sigh, ignoring the distinct frost in his tone.

  “What do I care about London without you, Giles?” she demanded softly. “I have tired of this ridiculous argument. It is time we put the past behind us and continue on with our future.”

  Her tone was low enough to prevent the avid onlookers from overhearing the less than subtle words, but Roma could clearly understand every pleading syllable. A harsh, cutting pain tore through her heart as she realized that this beautiful woman was Giles’s mistress. This was exactly the type of woman she would have pictured him choosing. Lovely, elegant and sensually sophisticated. Everything in fact that Roma was not, and for some ridiculous reason that only served to deepen the unexplainable anguish that rushed through her.

  As if sensing her distress, Giles abruptly wrenched his arm free of the woman’s clinging grasp, his dark features grim with displeasure.

  “Lady Hoyet, I am afraid you have intruded on a private party given in honor of my fiancée. I think it is best if you and your guests continue on your way.”

  The woman gave a small gasp at his blunt words, her almond-shaped eyes suddenly shimmering with tears.

  “You can not be so cruel, Giles. Do you truly intend to punish me by marrying this unsophisticated chit? She would only be miserable once you realize that you still love me. Can you not see this is all a mistake?”

  “The only mistake is your being here, Lavania,” Giles gritted out, in his fury emanating static tension. “I suggest you leave before my desire to avoid creating a scene is overcome by my urge to physically throw you from this house.”

  “How unforgiving you are.” She gave a delicate sniff, suddenly turning toward the silent Roma. “You should take careful note, my dear. Your soon-to-be husband can be a callous brute when he chooses. They say the streets of London are paved with the hearts he has broken; are you quite certain that you wish to be tied to such a man for the rest of your life?”

  “That does it. You and your friends are leaving, Lady Hoyet. Make your good-byes.”

  Reaching out a hand, Giles grasped the woman’s arm in a none-too-gentle grip, propelling her firmly away from the stunned Roma. There was a faint stir as the other elegantly attired people watched Giles approach, but one glance at his savage expression was enough to have them nervously shifting out of his path without a word.

  Under any other circumstance Roma might have found their subdued retreat humorous. But at the moment she barely noted their hasty exit. Instead she found herself struggling to accept the horrid realization that had quite literally hit her like a slap in the face.

  It couldn’t be true. It was ridiculous, absurd, completely insane. But no matter how desperately she might attempt to convince herself she was merely reacting to the stresses of the situation, it was impossible to avoid the truth.

  Somehow, in some way she had fallen in love with Lord Giles Carlton. That was the reason she had so mysteriously trusted him from the very start, and why she melted at his slightest touch. It was also the reason she had been torn with painful jealousy at the sight of his beautiful mistress.

  Raising a shaky hand to the uneven beating of her heart, Roma gave a small shake of her head. She was a fool. An innocent child that hadn’t seen the danger until it was far too late. And now the smug Roma Allendyle who had been quite certain she was too shrewd to ever open her heart to treacherous emotions was suffering the pangs of unrequited love.

  “Roma, are you all right?”

  With a reluctant blink, Roma forced the chaotic thoughts to the back of her mind, belatedly realizing that Claude had moved to stand beside her.

  “Actually, I have developed the most shocking headache,” she said, realizing that it would be futile to pretend nothing was wrong. “I think perhaps it would be best if I went home.”

  Claude was appropriately sympathetic. “I am sorry, Roma. I will go tell Mama and see you home.”

  “No.” She gave a stubborn shake of her head. “Aunt Clara will need you here with the guests. I brought my groom with me, and it is only a short distance home. I will be fine.”

  “But, Roma—”

  “Please, Claude.” She eyed him in an unconsciously pleading manner. “I really would prefer to slip away unnoticed. I will make my apologies to your mother tomorrow.”

  Claude hesitated, then, sensing her determination, gave a reluctant nod of his head.

  “Very well, but do not judge Giles too harshly, Roma. It was clear that the woman came here tonight to cause trouble. He at least deserves an opportunity to give you an explanation before you try and convict him.”

  Her smile was
filled with self-mockery. “I have no right to judge him at all, Claude. He came here to help me find my brother, and if he chooses to have a dozen mistresses, then it truly is none of my concern. We would both do well to remember that important fact.” She straightened her shoulders, refusing to display the pain that throbbed just below the surface. “Please tell Aunt Clara I am sorry her evening did not go as planned. Perhaps my next engagement will prove to be less distressing for everyone involved. Let us hope so.”

  Barely hiding the threatening tears, she slipped into the shadows surrounding the house. She had to get away before she broke down completely. And even though she realized her sudden disappearance would only fuel the gossip that was bound to occur, she knew it would be impossible to face Giles at the moment.

  She needed time to reconcile herself to the startling revelations and, more importantly, to find the courage to face him without revealing the emotions that ran rampant through her heart. Of course, she wasn’t sure there was enough time in the world to accomplish that difficult task.

  Twenty

  “Giles … You are hurting my arm.”

  The petulant wail did little more than harden the already grim expression on Giles’s dark countenance as he half-led, half-dragged the reluctant woman toward her waiting carriage.

  “Be relieved that it was your arm I chose to grab and not that lovely neck,” he snarled in a low voice. “It was a definite temptation.”

  “Such passion.” She gave a toss of her head, surrounding them in a cloud of cloying perfume. “Do you honestly imagine that milk-and-toast fiancée of yours will be woman enough to fulfill your insatiable needs?”

  A surge of disgust rushed through Giles. It seemed impossible to believe that he had ever been attracted to this woman, or that he had once believed he could be satisfied with a relationship built solely on lust. Now he couldn’t rid himself of her and her frivolous friends quickly enough.

  “My needs are no longer your concern, Lavania,” he informed her in icy tones. “And be assured, this is the last time you will attempt to embarrass me or my fiancée.”

  She gave a sharp laugh that didn’t hide her bitterness. “Are you so certain she is still your fiancée, Giles?” she mocked. “She was looking distinctly uncertain when we left. Of course, no woman would like to think she is about to tie herself to a callous rake.”

  His grip tightened until she gave a small gasp. “I have no doubt you came here to create trouble, Lavania. And if I believed for a moment that I genuinely hurt you, then I might forgive you for coming here tonight. But this little display was no more than a vain need to revenge your pride. You are a shallow, selfish and grasping woman and, if you did manage to convince Roma that I am untrustworthy, then I will spend the rest of my life attempting to prove how wrong you are.”

  “Do not tell me you had the poor taste to fall in love with the chit?”

  “Yes, I love her. And even though I am quite certain I do not deserve her, I am going to do everything possible to win her love in return.”

  A bleak, almost forlorn expression momentarily flitted across her beautiful features.

  “I do not believe you. How could you possibly fall in love with a nobody without rank or fortune? You could have any woman in London.”

  “Roma possesses much more than mere rank or fortune,” he informed her, unable to stir pity for the woman’s brief regrets. She had long ago turned her back on love for the wealth and social position gained in a hollow marriage. “She has an unquenchable spirit and a generous nature that make every other woman I have encountered fade into insignificance.”

  “Please do not expect me to wish you well,” Lavania retorted, her full lips twisted into a sneer.

  “All I expect is that you treat Miss Allendyle with respect,” he retorted, the warning in his tone unmistakable. “The next time you attempt to harm her, you will not be let off so easily.”

  She gave a disdainful sniff, but allowed Giles to bundle her into the waiting carriage without argument. Hopefully his warning would be enough, but Giles was fully prepared to do whatever was necessary to protect Roma from this woman’s malicious nature. At the moment, however, he was more intent on ridding himself of the unwanted intruders so that he could return to Roma. He knew she was upset, not only because of Lavania’s ill-timed entrance, but also because it followed on the heels of the consuming kiss that had left them both shaken. He had never intended things to get so out of hand; in fact, he hadn’t meant to touch her again until he had confessed his love.

  But the moonlight and the scent of her warm honeysuckle skin had effectively destroyed his stern discipline, and unable to resist temptation, he had given in to his burning need to taste the nectar of her soft lips. Her instant response had only inflamed the fires that smoldered whenever she was near, and before he’d known what was happening, he had discovered himself taking swift advantage of her unexpected vulnerability.

  Now he had no doubt that she had scampered back behind her antagonistic shell of indifference. He could only hope she would at least be reasonable enough to listen to him. After tonight there would be no more games. He would tell her that he loved her and damn the consequences.

  He was so anxious to return that he Ignored Lavania’s mocking farewell and even shoved aside one of the younger men who instantly paled at the thought of annoying such a famed marksman. He needn’t have worried, however, as Giles strode past him without so much as a glance and, with a determined pace, circled the brightly lit house to return to the terrace.

  But his desperate hope that Roma had chosen to wait for his return was instantly dashed as he crossed the garden to discover Claude standing alone in the shadows.

  “Damn …” He heaved a sigh of exasperation, crossing toward the man who was clearly waiting to speak with him. “I suppose Roma has returned to the guests?”

  “You suppose wrong,” the young man surprised him by answering, his boyish face set in lines of accusation. “She decided it would be better if she slipped away quietly. And I must say I don’t blame her. Whether your engagement is real or not, these people are Roma’s friends and neighbors, and they believe you are her fiancé. How do you think she feels knowing that tomorrow they will all be discussing how you spent the entire evening flirting with every woman in the room, and to top it off, your mistress barged into the party and made a spectacle of herself? She is bound to be humiliated.”

  “I had no notion that Lady Hoyet would appear here tonight,” he said, his tone unconsciously defensive. “And while I will freely admit that I am not, and never have been, a saint, I can assure you that I do not keep a fiancée and a mistress at the same time.”

  Claude gave an inelegant snort, clearly unimpressed “And what of your behavior tonight? You all but ignored Roma while you played the role of the callow flirt.”

  Giles responded with a restless shrug, the emotions boiling through his blood making it difficult to remain placidly standing on the terrace. He wanted to scream out his frustration or, better yet, gallop across to Greystead Manor and convince the exasperating woman once and for all that she needed him in her life. But he could do nothing but wait until the morning when he could decently make a proper call. Their relationship had strained the rules of convention enough without adding a midnight visit to his sins.

  “If you must know the truth, I have avoided your cousin quite simply because she is far too shrewd not to guess that my emotions have become entangled.”

  There was a short pause; then a wide smile suddenly split the younger man’s face.

  “The devil you say. I had hoped the wind blew in that direction, but Roma was so adamant it was all no more than a sham I began to accept that she must be right.”

  “As far as she is concerned it is all a sham,” Giles admitted, wry amusement at his self-made dilemma momentarily softening his grim features. “I have convinced her that she needs my help to locate her brother, but I seem remarkably inept at persuading her that our destinies lie togeth
er.”

  Claude’s chuckle was filled with sympathetic understanding. “As I mentioned she can be annoyingly stubborn when she chooses.”

  “So I have noticed.” He rolled his eyes at the understatement. “She is also sharp tongued, short tempered and thoroughly unpredictable. I have little doubt that any man foolish enough to take her on as his wife will find himself led on a merry dance. He will also be the most fortunate gentleman in the world.”

  “Well, if anyone can tame that willful cousin of mine it is you,” Claude said. “Of course, we first must convince her …”

  His relieved words trailed away as the sound of running footsteps echoed through the garden and both men turned to discover a man dodging through the rosebushes, his harsh breathing clearly audible as he rushed onto the terrace.

  “My lord … you must come at once.”

  Puzzled by the intruder’s bizarre behavior, Giles eyed him with wary suspicion, wondering if he were in his cups.

  “Come? Come where?”

  “Tomkins sent me,” he panted, clearly exhausted from his long run.

  Giles frowned. “Tomkins?”

  “Miss Allendyle’s groom.”

  A swift, all-consuming fear rushed through Giles as he realized that the man was speaking of the servant he had hired to keep a watch over Roma.

  “Where is he? Has something happened?” Barely aware of his actions, he reached out to grasp the front of the man’s uniform, nearly yanking him off his feet in his haste to discover what was wrong. “Is Roma hurt?”

  “I do not know, my lord,” the man stuttered, thoroughly intimidated by the wild-eyed nobleman. “We were taking the miss home when another carriage suddenly jumped into the road blocking the path. We didn’t have no choice but to stop, it was that or turn the carriage over for sure …”

  “Yes, yes … Just tell me what happened,” Giles barked impatiently.

  “I am trying to, sir. As I said, we had to come to a stop, and before we knew what was happening, a man suddenly leaped from the dark and pulled Miss Allendyle from the carriage.”