by Lisa Follett
“It is a shame. I am in full support of the endeavor. I promised Anne to escort the committee on their search next week for a suitable location for a home.” His eyes crinkled in the corners when he smiled and his straight white teeth gleamed in the candlelight.
Cassie might have sighed, except for the panic rising up within her. She also promised to go with Anne, and a few select members of the committee on their search. If she had know Lord William would act as their escort, she would have invented a reason to decline.
Her stomach churned at the thought of spending the day in Lord William’s company. The unsettling feeling caused her to stumble and step on his foot. “Oh dear, how clumsy of me.”
He braced her arm with his hand and gave her a questioning look. Surely, he did not think she stepped on him on purpose? Oh, but of course he did. She wished she had a fan to smack him over his head.
“Think nothing of it sweetings.”
“I am not your sweetings!” Cassie spit out. How dare he? The man itched her last nerve.
He laughed. Laughed. A rich, warm, bold laugh that put her on the edge of a cliff where she felt herself tumbling heart first. How could she possibly spend an entire day with this man? Her strange and uncertain feelings reminded her of a trip she once took with her family on a sailing ship, and how the angry sea roared through her body causing her to be weak with nausea and rolling stomach cramps. Except this time the sea did not upset her constitution, but the man before her.
“I apologize if I offended you Miss Chambers.”
The dance continued. How much longer would she have to endure this sweet torture? His eyes skimmed her face and landed briefly on her bosom. Her breasts throbbed like they had in her dreams at night, dreams that plagued her since meeting Lord William. The room suddenly grew hotter. Perspiration formed on her forehead and in the crevice between her breasts. She longed for the snapping cold of the February air.
The dance came to an end. He bowed; she curtsied. He took her arm and headed towards the punch table. “Perhaps you should escort me back to my mother.”
“I thought perhaps you would like a drink.”
“No. I want to return to my mother’s side, now, if you please.” She did not intend to sound snappish, but she was on edge, teetering on a line where panic poised to snatch her at her throat.
“Of course, Miss Chambers.” A flicker of raw emotion passed over Lord William’s face before turning back into cool, hard, stone. A mask. They both wore masks to disguise the growing frustrations between them. The man positively rattled her, and left her unsure of her own feelings. Would things have been different if she met Lord William before Mr. Parker?
No. She was merely a vicar’s daughter, a commoner.
But he was a commoner too, despite his courtesy title. However, he was the son of a marquis, second in line for the title.
Mr. Parker was also in line for a title, and was assured he would become the next Viscount Winnington in his lifetime. The viscount was an old man, in his seventies, near his maker’s door. Yes, her Mr. Parker would inherit the title and she would become a viscountess, the mother of the next Winnington heir. And yet, she was a vicar’s daughter, her father the son of a fourth son, the grandson of an earl.
She never knew her grandfather. He died long before she was born. She only met her uncle twice before he cocked up his toes and left the earldom to his son. Granted, a little blue blood ran in her veins, but now it was far enough removed that she determined it did not count or matter.
She knew she was fortunate Mr. Parker overlooked such a thing as her common birth. He did not care. He loved her. He wanted to marry her, despite the obstacle of convincing his uncle of her worthiness as his bride. He did not wait for his uncle’s approval, but instead, he proposed to her, promising her the moon and the stars and a lifetime of love.
She did not need the complication of Lord William. She had her Mr. Parker, and he was all she ever needed.
***
William watched Cassie dance with Lord John, a young buck barely out of knee breeches. The pink of her dress added a blushing glow to her porcelain skin and face. The dress flowed against her womanly curves, ripe breasts, and swaying hips. He groaned.
She tried to act cold to him during their dance, but only half succeeded. He felt her shivers and racing heartbeat through her hands and at the mere touch of her waist.
She wanted him. He knew it. She denied it.
He should turn away from his desire for her, but she was like a river of rushing water for a man dying of thirst. Miss Cassandra Chambers was his very own mirage. He wanted to drink, knowing it would never, could never, be enough.
He tried to shake her away; remove her from his thoughts, his dreams, and his every waking moment, but found it impossible. He journeyed to London to seek relief for his pain, but only found emptiness.
Lady Quartermane was happy to oblige him. He went to her bed, touched her body, kissed her lips, sank into her warm depths, but left feeling incomplete. Miss Chambers face never left his mind. It was her image he saw when he closed his eyes and thrust into Lady Quartermane’s body. It was her voice he heard cry out when her body shattered into thousands pieces of light. Not Lady Quartermain. Miss Chambers. Cassandra. Cassie.
He quit the room and wandered out to the patio to find a quiet corner, and a cold stone bench to rest his heated body. The bitter winds whipped his face and through his clothes. Exactly what he needed. He heard a moaning sound in the nearby bushes. Great. A lover’s tryst. The sound increased to panting and mewling. Damn! He only wanted a moment of peace. He rose and started down the steps to the gardens below. He walked the path, passing Mr. and Mrs. Brumsfield, nodded a good evening, and carried on. He came to a small resting area with a couple of benches and took a seat.
He had to remove Miss Chambers from his mind. He could not imagine how he would do that when he had to spend an entire day in her company next week. Why did he promise Anne to act as escort? Stephen should go. As the heir, the responsibilities of a local home for orphans will eventually fall onto brother’s shoulders. Perhaps he should try to convince Stephen to take his place. He did not think he could endure an entire day Miss Chambers’ company, knowing he could never touch her.
He thought back to their kiss in the woods. He had not meant to kiss her. He could not say what overcame him. He had no right to taste her lips, to run his hands down her arms and back, but he could not help himself. He dreamed of her, wanted her, needed her. Why her? Why did it have to be her?
Chapter Three
Cassie walked the short distance from the parish to Nightingale Hall. The imposing structure still struck her with awe. The white stone mansion sat far behind a long stretch of green lawn with a few trees scattered about. Great windows ran along the front of the house, and met in the middle near double doors as high as two tall men standing on top of one another. A footman opened the ironwork gates to let her enter. She walked up the winding drive until she reached the steps that carried her up to the door.
“Good day, Randolph. I am here to meet with Lady Anne.” She smiled at the old butler and handed him her coat and hat.
“Good day, miss. Everyone is in the drawing room. I will announce you.”
Butterflies instantly fluttered in her tummy. Her mind tossed this encounter about since she danced with Lord William. She admitted she lied to herself, telling her heart she did not look forward to this day, when in truth, she did, and this fact disturbed her above all else.
Of course, her tossing and tumbling night dreams did not help matters in the least. Last night she woke in the middle of the night with her entire body drenched in perspiration. She felt hot, needy, wanting for something she did not understand, but the oddest thing she could not figure out was the throbbing wetness down there. Just the thought of her dreams caused her face to flush hot. Oh, how she wished she was not so prone to blushing.
As soon as Randolph announced her, Lady Anne came over to hug her. “I am so glad yo
u could come. You have met Mrs. Bloomingburg and Lady Danforth?”
“Yes. Lady Danforth, I am pleased to see you again.” She curtsied and then turned her attention to Mrs. Bloomingburg and nearly laughed aloud. The woman’s outrageously large and floppy hat had an entire birds nest on top, complete with a stuffed bird and four ostrich feathers at least two feet high, and this with a pea green and yellow dress. “Mrs. Bloomingburg, how do you do?”
Both ladies greeted her with the customary greetings. She sat down on a settee across from the two local grand dames and took the cup of tea Lady Anne offered her.
“I must apologize for my cabbaged-headed brother. The man will probably be late to his own wedding. I should have told him we were leaving at eight-thirty instead of nine-thirty, and then we might possibly have a chance of him arriving on time.” Lady Anne huffed and took a sip of her tea.
“Lord William is getting married?” asked Mrs. Bloomingburg.
Cassie’s chest squeezed tight at the idea of Lord William married to another woman, a woman he would kiss, a woman who would become the mother of his children. A shadow of melancholy passed over her causing her heart to beat faster and her breathing to become shallow.
“Oh no, he is not engaged, as of yet that is. Out of all of the Prescotts, William is the only one of us who actively seeks a spouse. He has always dreamed of a house filled with children.”
“That is mighty strange for a young bachelor of the ton. Most men run from the marriage minded mamas and young misses as if their life depended on it.” Lady Danforth laughed as if she said the funniest thing in the world.
Cassie could not say if she giggled from seeing Lady Danforth laugh so, or from the sudden sense of relief. Not that it was her place or concern to worry about Lord William’s future wife and children. She would soon be a wife and mother herself. Lord William had every right to find the same happiness. She simply could not figure out why it bothered her so.
This madness needs to stop! She must compose herself right now, before Lord William entered the room, before another blush warmed her cheeks, before she threw caution to the wind and begged him for another kiss.
Another kiss?
Surely she did not just think that.
“Good morning, ladies. Are you ready for the journey?”
Cassie melted at the sound of his voice, warm and deep, and in her case, dangerous. Their eyes met for the briefest of seconds, seconds that stayed with for an eternity. Oh, heavens, it was going to be another hot February day. How could she always feel so warm with such frigid temperatures outside?
“I saw Randolph in the hall. The carriage is ready with plenty of warm blankets. Shall we?” The ladies rose as one. Lord William hung back as he allowed his sister and the two ladies to pass in front of him. He held out his arm to her. “Miss Chambers.”
She hesitated. Why did he have to single her out? He should have taken Lady Danforth’s arm. She was the highest ranking lady in the room. Why did he force her to touch him? She did not want to touch him.
Not really.
Then she might feel that warm feeling wash through her and make her throb in her most secret place. She did not know what it meant, but thought perhaps it was desire. When she felt the wetness there, she sensed an emptiness so strong she knew it needed to be filled. But with what? Her reactions to Lord William were unsettling at best.
She took his arm. What else was she to do? She certainly could not give him the cut direct. She tried to smile, but her mouth wobbled, somewhat like her legs. She worked to arch her spine, lift her chin, school her features and look straight ahead.
Lord William leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Are you troubled about something Miss Chambers?”
“No, of course not, whatever would give you that idea?” She practically growled. She must pull herself together or she would not get through this day.
He was simply a man. A man who kissed her once. A man who entered her dreams and caused her to toss and turn in her bed with a wild, forbidden need she did not understand. A man who was not her betrothed.
“You seem agitated. I hope I am not the source of your agitation.” Lord William’s cheeky smile nearly did her in.
“You are quite sure of yourself, my lord, to believe you are the source of my distress. Not that I am distressed, mind you, because I am not.”
“Tsk,tsk. Testy, too. I hope you are not so growly all day.” His eyes crinkled up with suppressed laughter. Cassie was tempted to pop him on the head with her reticule.
The walk to the carriage seemed miles away. She let out a breath of relief when they arrived. She tried to set herself apart from Lord William, but somehow he managed to put himself between her and Lady Anne. Mrs. Bloomingburg and Lady Danforth sat in the seat across from them.
The close contact with Lord William was too much. Their upper arms touched, as well as their thighs, and despite their clothes, her skin burned. “How long is the drive out to Mulberry House?”
“Mulberry House is approximately ten minutes to the North. I have never been there myself, but from the description sent to me by Lord Dray’s solicitor, the property sounds perfect for our needs. It was once a school for young ladies run by Lord Dray’s late sister,” said Lady Anne.
“I hope it will suit our needs. I would hate to continue dragging ourselves around the countryside looking for a property,” said Mrs. Bloomingburg.
“How many bedchambers are in the house?” asked Lady Danforth.
“There were eight chambers for pupils. I believe they had two girls per room, but the solicitor wrote that four children would comfortably fit in each room. There are four additional bed chambers for staff and rooms for servants.”
“The property sounds ideal,” Cassie added, hoping to think on something besides Lord William’s body wedged next to hers. The half hour passed with conversation about the orphans and Mulberry House. Lord William added little to the discussion, but she could have sworn the man kept glancing down at her in a way that could be called into question at any moment. She hoped no one else noticed.
***
What did he ever do in his life to deserve such torture? Granted, he spent a few of his youthful years gambling, drinking, and whoring like most young men, but really, he never gambled in high stakes games, only drank himself sick once (which was quite enough), and never touched an innocent, well…until recently, until he stole kisses from Miss Chambers in the woods. He thought himself an honorable and proper gentleman. He invested his funds wisely, bought a grand manor to make a home for his future wife and family, and made himself available to both his friends and family whenever they were in need.
After all, he was accompanying a group of ladies to search for property for a home for orphans. He could not think of too many gentlemen of his acquaintance who would do such a thing without proper persuasion.
He volunteered.
Well, perhaps he volunteered after Stephen turned Anne down, claiming he had a business meeting of sorts in London, and after he learned Miss Chambers would be joining the party.
Miss Chambers.
He closed his eyes and felt her arm and thigh against his. The contact was too much for him to bear.
However would he get through this day without touching her? She was everything he dreamed of in a wife. Lovely, caring, intelligent. He wanted her. He wanted her in his house and in his bed, but he could not have her.
He constantly reminded himself she belonged to another man. Something else swelled in his gut. He did not know this Mr. Parker, but he decided already he did not like him. He comes from the same family tree as his crabby old uncle, a man whose idea of pleasantry is barking at those around him. He had disliked Lord Winnington the moment they met, and he thought his nephew, his heir, the man who lived under his thumb and influence certainly could not be much better.
What attracted Miss Chambers to such a man? Mr. Parker must be handsome and charming, and really, a future viscount for a common vicar’s daughter could be at
traction enough. Perhaps it was the man’s title or his fortune. Except she did claim she was in love with the man. He clinched his fists at the sudden need to punch something or someone.
Lord William’s title was only a courtesy, and his fortune a gift from his father, but he was second in line for the title of marquis, which should account for something. Oh bother! This line of thought would get him nowhere. He glanced down at Miss Chambers. Her soft features begged to be kissed, and her bosom, ample and round, and heaving, begged for something more. Why was she breathing so hard?
He thought they would never arrive. He bounded out of the carriage to help the ladies down in order to escape the close knit quarters. Miss Chambers departed last. He took her hand as she descended the steps. The touch of their hands sent shockwaves to a certain part of his body. Thank God he had on a large overcoat.
“The solicitor said he would meet us here at ten. It does not appear he has arrived yet,” said Lady Anne. They walked up to the front door. William soundly banged it with the knocker. They waited. No one came. He tried to open the door, but it was locked.
“It appears we will have to wait. The house is locked up and no one is about,” said William.
“I suppose we could walk around the property.” Anne pursed her lips. She obviously did not like this turn of events. She expected the solicitor to be here when they arrived. Unlike himself, Anne was never tardy.
“Humph,” grunted Lady Danforth. “I will be quite put out if we came all this way for nothing.”
“I am sure the solicitor will be here soon,” said Miss Chambers.
“Yes, you are probably right. Shall we tour the grounds?” asked Anne.
The party walked around the gray stone manor house until they found a gate leading to the gardens. Overgrown flower, herb, and vegetable gardens stretched across the walkways. They had to pick their way through the weeds and vines. A lovely gazebo sat in the center of the gardens. Lady Danforth and Mrs. Bloomingburg climbed the short steps to make good use of the benches.