Invitation to Passion

by Bronwen Evans

  Richard laughed at the irony of his situation. “You’re advising me to be a friend to the woman I love, and to love a woman I view as a friend? If only the heart was that fickle.”

  “I didn’t say it would be easy. Just that it would be the right and honorable thing to do. For all concerned.”

  “Just so you know, I have not slept with Sarah since she married. I must admit I went a tad too far tonight, but I do have my own code of honor and sleeping with married women is something I draw a line at.”

  “Good to hear. I’m sure your future wife will be pleased to hear that.”

  Madeline. Christ, he was a selfish bastard. He’d left Maddy to face the pack of wolves on her own. “Do I look respectable?” Without waiting for Anthony’s answer, Richard headed for the door. “I have to get to Maddy.” She would be hurting, because all of her life she’d been the subject of ridicule, and tonight the ton’s spite would be torture for her. “I need to find her, and support her. She alone in this hell of a mess does not deserve to be hurt.”

  Anthony didn’t follow his twin. He sat back as his brother left the room and swirled the brandy in its glass before draining the fiery liquid. Then he smiled. Under his breath he uttered, “Another woman to save, brother. Let’s hope this time Madeline is strong and saves you in return.”

  #

  The first thing Richard noted when he returned to the ballroom was Madeline’s pale face. She looked as if death was visiting.

  His sense of pride rippled and kicked into place. Surely the thought of marriage to him couldn’t be that dreadful?

  Secondly, his eyes searched for Sarah and Wrentham, but there was no sign of the couple.

  Hiding his unease, Richard made directly for Rufus, who stood next to his sister. Her brother’s stance was vigilant and wary. Dowager Strathmore gave him a warm smile and a nod of her head. Richard was about to speak when Maddy turned and addressed him.

  “Mr. Craven, how good of you to join us.”

  For all she’d just been through, Maddy looked composed but the dry note in her observation was duly noted. He bowed deeply. “If you remember, I told you I had to find mother and give her the good news. She’s thrilled of course,” he lied for their audience who were watching and listening, crowding round, reminding him of vultures at a jungle feast. “Shall we make the announcement and toast our forthcoming nuptials?”

  Her face got paler. So, she was not as composed as she would have them believe. He bent low over her hand and heard her whispered response, “You know this is not my choice.” When he stepped back he was startled by the defiant tilt to her shapely chin. His puzzlement grew. He thought Maddy would embrace the marriage. He’d not missed the fact she had held a tendre for him.

  If anyone was going to be opposed to this marriage it should be him, for many reasons, not the least being because his heart still belonged to another.

  He was still gazing at Maddy when he heard Rufus clear his throat. Richard moved to her side and took her hand. It was as cold as ice.

  “Honored guests. Thank you for attending this evening. I have a surprise. I threw this ball for my lovely sister, Madeline.” There were polite ‘hear hears’ from a few of the young bucks. “What you may not have known was the occasion would also be used to announce my sister’s engagement to my family’s good friend, Mr. Richard Craven.”

  You could have heard a mouse scamper past. Then, God bless Lady Horsham, came some rousing support. “Well done, my boy. I witnessed the proposal and Mr. Craven did a fine job. They make a handsome couple.”

  At her declaration, the crowded room erupted into voluminous congratulations. They could hardly do anything else, given Lady Horsham’s standing in Society. No one would refute her version of events.

  Young, giggling debutantes wanting to hear about Madeline’s secret romance and when the wedding would take place, soon surrounded the couple. Forgotten in the melee, Richard soon found himself pushed aside.

  “My brother relays a different version of events. You’re one lucky sod. You’ve had a taste of Sarah and now you’ll get to fuck the delightful, virginal flesh of Lady Madeline.” Timothy Chesterton plucked a piece of flint from his sleeve. “Perhaps I should take to seducing innocents. Who knows what prize I’ll land?”

  Richard gritted his teeth and curled his fists, longing to knock the smug smile off the younger Chesterton’s face, but a firm hand on his shoulder stopped him. This was not the time nor place.

  “Bugger off, Timmy. With a face and breath like yours, you’d be lucky to be able to seduce a cow.” Stephen’s words were delivered in a polite conversational tone, but the threat of violence shimmered underneath.

  Timothy’s face colored a deep red but he offered no retort.

  “If you’ll excuse us, Richard and I are going to go celebrate this happy occasion.” With that Stephen pushed Richard toward where Rufus and Anthony stood toasting the nuptials.

  #

  There was one young man among the crowd in the ballroom who did not find any joy in the announcement. In fact, the frown on his face would have had many believing he was jealous of Richard’s good fortune. After all, Madeline was a beautiful woman, from a wealthy, and now prominent, family.

  However, if you looked closely it was not the green-eyed monster causing his distress, it was raging anger.

  Samuel wasn’t exactly hiding in the shadows, but he had no reason to draw attention to himself. And anyone reading the expression in his eyes would know that his rampant displeasure at Madeline’s betrothal was born of hatred.

  Her engagement had changed everything. But his carefully laid plans simply needed re-evaluating, that’s all. Rufus Knight was happy, and that situation had to be reversed. He should be made to feel a world of pain, pain that would desecrate all the joy and happiness in his world.

  Madeline was the key, less protected than Rufus’s wife, but her death would wound just as deep. While Samuel had thought he’d have plenty of time to bring down the mighty Viscount Strathmore, or as he was now called, the Earl of Hascombe, that was now no longer the case.

  Madeline’s marriage would be inconvenient.

  He pushed off the wall behind him and tapped a finger against his chin. Or was it?

  He’d observed the look on Richard Craven’s face. He’d not seemed all that happy at the announcement. Perhaps there was more to this betrothal than met the eye.

  If there were, he’d find out. He looked over at Rufus standing proud, smiling and being congratulated, and his blood boiled with the urge to take the dagger he had hidden up his sleeve, and plunge it deep into Rufus’s beating heart.

  But that would be too quick and too painless.

  No. Before he dispensed Rufus from this world, he’d make sure those he loved were waiting in hell for him.

  Starting with Madeline.

  Chapter Three

  Dear Honorable Mr. Craven

  I still can’t believe you gave me such a wonderful Christmas present. Westin has grown so big, and he’s only eight months old. He’s almost the size of a small pony.

  The other day he made Mother, and all the staff, very angry. He chased the ducks into the pond and, still soaking wet and covered in pond scum, tore into the house and jumped on mother’s settee. Unfortunately, Mother and Mrs. Shrewbury, the vicar’s wife, were sitting on it at the time…teacups and scones went flying. It was so very funny. Well, I thought so.

  Unfortunately, Mother spoke very rudely about the appropriateness of some presents to young ladies. Your name popped into her tirade a few times…

  Perhaps it would be best to avoid Hascombe for a while.

  Yours gratefully,

  Madeline Knight.

  PS. Have you seen much of Rufus? If so, please give him my love and tell him I miss him.

  Hascombe Court, Newmarket – 3 days later…

  Madeline stood at the window, looking out on the gentle rain falling outside. The day seemed to be an ordinary one. The sun had still risen and the birds
still sang… However, the other night had seen her life changed forever.

  She would, apparently, be forced into marrying her best friend. Most women would be pleased. To marry someone you genuinely liked was a rare feat within the ton. To marry for love…well, that was almost unheard of. Why should she be any different?

  The problem she faced was that she was in love. Some would say it was fortune she was in love with her husband to be. Her brother would see that as a good thing and so should she, but unfortunately her husband’s heart belonged to another. Guilt at unwittingly trapping Richard meant she’d not slept the last few nights. Plus, the disgrace she’d heaped on her family… after all Rufus’s hard work and sacrifices to take his place back within the bosom of the ton. She fought back tears. They would have been tears of self-pity and she’d brought this situation on herself.

  She’d obviously learned nothing over the lonely years of being talked about and despised. In one mad moment, she’d thought nothing about the impact of her actions, when all her life she’d strived to do what society had expected of her. Now, they expected her to marry Richard., Maddy thought it was now most likely she was in for a life of disappointment and heartache.

  She looked over at the man who would soon be her husband as he sat before the fire, chatting casually to his brother, Anthony.

  It wasn’t her reputation she cared about should she refuse his gallant offer. She had to think of the two men in her life-Richard and Rufus. Richard, her friend and how she’d trapped him into marriage. The only reason she’d finally agreed to the betrothal was to save Rufus even more pain. He’d spent his whole life earning the respect of the ton, and she would have destroyed his hard work in one foul swoop. It had taken him years to clear their father’s name of treason and earn his place in society. How could she take that from him?

  More than anything, she was sorry to have caused her brother further embarrassment.

  Then there was Richard…

  She wrapped her arms around her waist. My God, what had she done to Richard?

  Richard, a man who loved another, would now be bound to her for life. She supposed, since Sarah was married, he had taken their situation better than expected. He could hardly marry Sarah now and, in fact, seemed very accepting of the situation he now found himself in.

  Richard had been politely reserved at breakfast, greeting her properly, his lips barely grazing her knuckles. Where was the quick peck on her cheek that he usually gave her? His obsidian eyes had pierced her with a look, a probing, questioning look. She simply nodded at his unspoken question. Yes, she’d indicated that she was all right. His concern warmed her heart and gave her hope that perhaps this situation wasn’t such a catastrophe after all.

  She suddenly felt his gaze upon her now and she gave what she hoped was an encouraging smile. He smiled back and her world spun. God, he was so unbearably handsome.

  What would it be like to be married to him? To share his life? To share his bed? That’s what she’d always dreamed of.

  A shudder ran through her, warming every inch of her skin. It would be pleasurable; she was sure it would be, in his bed at least. However, she wondered how she would keep a man like Richard interested enough to ensure he did not take a mistress.

  Maddy squeezed her eyes shut for a moment to block out the images of Richard with other women. She may be young, but she was not naive. An elder brother, who had had a rakish reputation before he married, saw that she knew more than the average debutante about men’s base desires.

  For most of her life rakes had surrounded her and she knew how easily men separated love from the act of loving. She knew desire engaged a part of their anatomy that was nowhere near their hearts. Men protected the organ beating in their chests as determinedly as a shield deflected a sword. It took a special woman to slip underneath the armor and pierce their hearts.

  She somehow doubted she was special at all, especially not to Richard, in any way other than as a sister. He’d never treated her as anything other than his friend’s younger sister. She didn’t even know if he desired her.

  For the millionth time, she wished she could go back and re-live the other night. Her mistake had had monumental consequences for all concerned. With a sigh she scolded herself that now the damage had been done, she had to live with it. It was the future she must look to. More than anything else, she had to find a way to endure this marriage. Unless she was able to get her feelings under control, the marriage was going to cause her years of torment. To be in love with a man who loved another was stupidity in the extreme.

  She needed to speak privately with Richard and discuss how they could make this marriage work, in order to minimize its hurt for them both.

  Richard’s chest ached. Maddy seemed so fragile as she stood alone by the large window. The dim light was shrouding her as if it was trying to protect her from further hurt. He hoped he wouldn’t hurt her any more than he had already done so. If only he’d refused to meet with Sarah, then none of this would be happening. Maddy had tried to save him—had, in fact, saved him. This situation was of his making, and now Maddy would pay for it.

  Gone was her chance to marry the man of her choice, of her heart…

  She was trying to hide her dismay at the upcoming marriage but he could see through her bravery to the scared girl underneath. Girl? His body gave a start. He looked her over from head to toe and then back again. She was definitely no longer a girl. She was a beautiful woman. Christ.

  Richard was at sea, with no idea of where to go from here. What was done was done—there was nothing either of them could do now, for to call off the wedding would plunge her into a scandal so deep she’d never escape from it. He looked across at Rufus. He hated that he’d inadvertently hurt his friend as well.

  The only option was to simply make the best of it. At least he liked Maddy. He didn’t know if that made the situation easier or worse. He gazed at her again and remembered the touch of her hand on his bare skin. His groin stirred. Christ! He’d have to bed Maddy! His friend, a girl—a woman he’d always viewed like a sister.

  As he drank in her beauty, he realized that the idea was not repugnant. He suddenly frowned. But would she find it repugnant? The possibility did not sit well. He needed to talk with her.

  He strolled casually across the room toward her, cognizant that all those present were watching with a mixture of concern and interest. He halted at her side and stood silently for a moment looking out at the view with her.

  Finally, clasping his hands awkwardly behind his back, he said quietly, “We need to talk.”

  She looked briefly at his face. “Agreed.” With a glance over her shoulder at the others trying hard not to stare at them, she said more loudly, “I suggest we borrow Rufus’s study. I believe you know the way.” At his nod of agreement, she calmly walked out of the room.

  Her dark crimson and gold skirts floated behind her. Richard could not help but remember the day he’d saved her from the Chesterton bullies at this very estate. That day seemed so long ago now. However, he remembered he’d told her that one day he’d be protecting her for another reason—even then he knew she’d be a beauty. And now she would be his.

  His body reacted as Maddy squeezed past him. Her scent of lilies filled his nostrils. She looked as delicate and as beautiful as the flowers she loved. With a growing realization, he acknowledged that she’d become a stunningly beautiful woman. As they waited for a footman to light several candelabras about the room, Richard studied his bride-to-be, and thought how his situation could be so much worse. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also an extremely desirable woman. If he couldn’t marry Sarah, then Madeline was an excellent second best.

  He took the chair opposite her and smiled. Richard waited for the footman to close the door, and then said, “Who would ever have thought we’d find ourselves in this—situation.”

  She played with the edges of her skirt. “I’m sorry.” She raised pleading eyes to him. “You don’t know how sorry I am
for putting you in this position.”

  The troubled sound of her voice pierced his soul. “It wasn’t your fault, Maddy. I am to blame.”

  She seemed not to have heard him. “I’ve hurt so many people. God, Rufus… and after everything he’s done with his life to restore the Strathmore name and I then taint us again.”

  Richard watched a tear slide down her cheek. He moved to kneel at her feet, taking her tiny hands in his. “Don’t cry, Maddy,” he uttered helplessly. “It will be all right. We will be all right.”

  “Isn’t there some other way?” she cried anxiously. “I know you have no wish to marry me.”

  “If I could think of another option, I would. We must face the fact that we have little choice but to marry.” He gave her hands a squeeze. “Is that so terrible? Am I such a monster?”

  She shook her head. “I feel so guilty.” She pressed a fist against her mouth to stifle a sob. “You’re trapped.”

  He hugged her. “Hush there, Maddy. Feeling sorry for ourselves does us no good. We can’t go back. We can only go forward—together.”

  She pushed out of his arms and sat up straight. “You’re right. Feeling sorry for myself, for you, won’t change anything.”

  Richard moved back to his seat. “That’s my girl. Are you feeling up to discussing our situation?”

  “I’m quite composed now, thank you.”

  He nodded. “Good.” Sitting forward in his chair, he leaned his elbows on his knees and cupped his chin in his hands. Earnestly he spoke. “I will try to make the next few days as painless as possible for you. The wedding will take place here at Hascombe, in two days’ time.”

  “So soon?”

  “Rufus thinks that is best.”

  “My brother is probably happy to see me wed and off his hands. Now he can have Rheda all to himself.”

  Richard sighed. “That’s a bit mean, Mads. Rufus loves you and is only thinking of your reputation.”