With His Ring (Brides of Bath Book 2)

by Cheryl Bolen

  With mere inches separating the length of their bodies, Glee unexpectedly drew the parallel that their position in relation to one another was not unlike that of two lovers sharing a bed. She fleetingly wondered if a man and woman could perform the sexual act standing up. Then she thought of Blanks making love to Carlotta. Had he enjoyed Carlotta's body today? The thought brought pain. For the virgin Glee hungered to feel Gregory inside her.

  "You're not pleased that I came early," she said.

  "Why would you say that?" he asked in mock outrage.

  "Because I've known you all my life."

  "Then your knowledge extends to clairvoyance?"

  "Not to clairvoyance. To reality. I know you, Blanks, as no other woman ever will. I vow to make your life as happy as I possibly can."

  "You have a most peculiar way of doing that."

  Her heart sank. Of course he was referring to her entrapment of him.

  They spoke no more for the rest of the dance.

  The last dance of the night Glee granted to William Jefferson. It was a waltz. When he placed his hand to her waist, she felt none of the raw emotion she had felt when Blanks had done the same thing. Mr. Jefferson was much shorter than Blanks—and though not as handsome as Blanks—he was considered one of the finest looking men in Bath. It was said that his dress was all that was fashionable in Paris and London. Whatever was the latest rage from the Continent, Mr. Jefferson eagerly adopted. He was the first man in Bath to sport long, white pantaloons. He flaunted his costly snuff boxes as some women did their bonnets. And the man prided himself on the fact he wore a different colored waistcoat every day. Tonight's was kelly green.

  Glee preferred a man with more subtle taste. A man like Blanks.

  "Mr. Blankenship is a most fortunate man," Jefferson said.

  Glee feigned ignorance of what he spoke. "Pray tell, why?"

  "Because he has stolen the loveliest girl in Bath. You must know you have broken many hearts."

  "Fie, Mr. Jefferson, you will turn my head."

  "I speak the truth. I'm one of the men who would wish to do harm to Mr. Blankenship."

  Even though she knew the man jested, his statement caused her heart to trip. "I beg that you not say that."

  "I would never knowingly distress you, Miss Pembroke."

  With surprise—and not without a trace of disgust—she suddenly realized the man was flirting with her, even though she was engaged to be married to a man standing no more than twenty feet away.

  Perhaps she could use his flirtations to her own advantage. After all, Mr. Jefferson was possessed of some social standing and attractiveness. Let Blanks know that other men found her desirable. Knowing that Blanks avoided dancing tonight—except the one dance with her—she decided to play up to Mr. Jefferson while Blanks watched.

  She tossed her head back and laughed playfully. "Really, Mr. Jefferson, you are much too kind."

  "Truthful, not kind."

  "Since we are being truthful, you must tell me why it is you have never married. You are older than my betrothed, are you not?"

  He nodded. "I'm two and thirty."

  "Two and thirty!" she exclaimed. "How is it you have avoided matrimony for so many seasons?"

  He tightened his hold on her and spoke in a low, husky voice. "It seems all the women who appeal to me are someone else's wife."

  "Oh, dear."

  "I'm giving you fair warning that I will not let a wedding ring stop me from showering attentions upon you."

  "Oh, dear."

  * * *

  Though he continued to chat with his friends, Gregory never let Glee stray from his vision. He did not at all like what he saw. The dandy and Glee looked good together. He showered her with the attentions Gregory had failed to give her. And he held her far too tightly. And why did the bodice of Glee's blasted dress have to be so wretchedly low?

  Gregory decided it was a very good thing, indeed, that he would not allow Glee to escape his scrutiny. Glee was far too innocent and trusting for the likes of William Jefferson. Gregory would have to be her protector.

  Oddly, it was a role he was not adverse to.

  Chapter 8

  During the well-lit walk from the Assembly Rooms to the hotel, Gregory had few words for Glee and Diana.

  "Does the location of the Harrison House suit you, Blanks?" Glee asked, looking up into his inscrutable face.

  He nodded. "It's a very fine location. Most convenient. But you must stop calling it the Harrison House. It will be our house in a matter of weeks."

  Our house. This was the first time she had thought of anything as ours. Her heart tripped. "Yes, the Blankenship House. I like the sound of it very much," she said. "Have you begun to make the necessary arrangements for its purchase?"

  "I'm talking with my solicitor tomorrow. I shall tell him we desire to occupy it immediately upon our marriage in three weeks’ time."

  Our marriage. At least he was no longer afraid to say it. "Then I take it there's to be no honeymoon." She stated it matter-of-factly, hoping disappointment did not creep into her voice. She should have known there would be no honeymoon, since the marriage was not to be a real marriage in the accepted sense. Of course Blanks would be anxious to return to his friends in Bath. After all, she had encouraged him to continue as he always had. Hadn't she told him their marriage would alter nothing?

  He turned to her. "I had not given any thought to a honeymoon. Does that disappoint you?"

  "Of course not," she said cheerfully. "I'm looking forward to setting up our house. It will be great fun." She must never initiate anything—even a desired honeymoon—that would be unpleasant to Blanks. She'd already heaped enough unpleasantness upon him. Now she would spend her life making it up to him.

  When they reached the hotel lobby, he said his farewells, then met Glee's gaze. "Will you do me the goodness of meeting me at the Pump Room in the morning?" Then as an afterthought, he glanced at Diana. "You and Lady Sedgewick, that is."

  Glee looked at Diana, then back to Gregory. "We should love it. Nine o'clock?"

  He grimaced. "Nine o'clock it shall be."

  Glee turned to Diana. "I'll have a private word with Blanks, if it does not offend you."

  Diana gave the couple a knowing smile. "I should be offended if the two of you do not have a private moment together." She turned and entered the hotel.

  Blanks shot Glee a quizzing look.

  Her heart drummed. "I just wanted you to know I saw you with your mistress today. You don't have to hide anything from me." Her seeming acceptance took a good deal of bravado she was far from feeling.

  "Bloody hell, Glee! I know ours is not to be a real marriage, but really you can hardly expect me to discuss so delicate a subject with you." Frowning, he added, "Nine in the morning." Then he spun on his heel and departed.

  * * *

  Once he left the hotel, Blanks angrily stormed the two blocks to Mrs. Starr's establishment, where the twins and Appleton were just walking up.

  "I say, Blanks, we've made a wager which involves you," Appleton said.

  Gregory came abreast of them and stopped, lifting a single brow.

  "Elvin wagered five quid you could sample the new dealer's charms this very night."

  Gregory leveled a gaze at Appleton. "And you?"

  "I said fleeting trysts weren't your style. Always concerned about disease you are."

  That much was true. One unpleasant experience at Oxford had taught him to be careful. "I cannot possibly answer your challenge until I see the lady in question."

  "She's blonde. You used to be partial to blondes before. . . Mrs. Ennis."

  "Have you not noticed my affianced is possessed of red hair?" he asked with a smile.

  A liveried butler let the four of them into Mrs. Starr's parlor, where play took place at five different tables. Elvin elbowed Blanks and spoke softly out of the side of his mouth. "She's at the faro table."

  "Then it's faro I play first," Gregory said, strolling up to the
table, where the buxom dealer was playing with an older, bald-headed gentleman. While Gregory watched and waited for the hand to end, a servant soon brought brandy, which Gregory—like his friends—consumed quickly. Mrs. Starr, apparently a wise businesswoman, made sure her servants kept her customers plied with liquor.

  Gregory used the idle time to study the dealer. Though she was fair like Glee, she was a good bit larger than Glee—especially in her bosom. He decided the woman must have had the neckline of her gown cut even lower than the current fashion in order to display her most notable feature. Or features.

  Substitute purple for the peach dress color and view her only from the neck down, and there was no difference whatsoever between her and Carlotta.

  He thought back over his meeting with Carlotta that afternoon, remembering her words. Because I allowed myself to be your mistress, I've lost your respect. He had vehemently disagreed, but now he wondered if there was some truth to her charge. Carlotta was not a woman he would choose to marry. He would never wish to bring her home to his father, were his father still alive.

  Yet she had been the perfect mistress. He even cared about her as one would a friend. And he would see to it she received a generous settlement.

  Perhaps the dealer would make a good mistress. Her face was pretty. Her voice was melodic, though not quite cultured. Her taste in clothing suggested she knew quality. Though she was pretty, she was not as pretty as Glee. And for some unexplainable reason, that bothered him.

  Why had he gone and thought of Glee? He had the rest of his life to be saddled with her. Damn it!

  When the game was finished, Gregory pulled out a chair and sat down in front of the dealer. She looked up at him and smiled coyly. "I'm Sheila. I don't believe I've seen you here before."

  "Nor have I seen you. You cannot have been here long."

  She seductively lowered her lashes. "This is my fourth week here."

  "I can see I've been away far too long."

  She shuffled the deck and put it into the faro box, turning up the top cards.

  Faro wasn't Gregory's favorite game. In fact, it held little interest for him. He was far more interested in the vingt-un being played at the next table, where Appleton sat. Then why had Gregory come here? For Sheila. What a fool he was being. All to prove to his friends his forthcoming marriage would change nothing.

  Now he would have to play up to Sheila. Because he had been blessed with good looks and large fortune, his friends thought there was no woman in the kingdom immune to his charms. A heavy burden, indeed.

  His friends would be proven right once again. First, Sheila allowed him to win. Then, she took his sport away when she asked him to see her home when all the patrons left. He smiled a bitter smile as he realized that within a few hours he would see her magnificent body unclothed.

  Then, completely unsummoned, he wondered what Glee's slender body would look like unclothed. He slapped his counter on the queen of spades.

  * * *

  As the last of Mrs. Starr's patrons was taking his leave, Gregory and his chums gathered in the foyer to collect their hats and coats.

  "Excuse me, gentlemen, for not leaving with you, but Miss Sheila has asked me to accompany her home," Gregory said.

  Appleton turned to Elvin. "I'll have to owe you. Mrs. Starr was very inhospitable to me tonight."

  Melvin grinned and spoke with slurred words. "But I must say her liquor was quite good."

  "And plentiful," his twin added.

  For all he knew, Gregory could be slurring his words, too, for he had consumed a great deal of brandy. He watched as his friends left, then a moment later Sheila—wearing a fox trimmed cloak—joined him, tucking her gloved hand into his bent arm.

  Her lodgings were only a ten-minute walk away. When they arrived at the door to her lodgings, she turned to him. Light from the street lantern fell on her face. "Should you like to come up?" She moved closer to him until he felt her most intimate parts rub against him.

  A smile on his face, he put arms around her.

  She lifted her face to his for a kiss.

  Though brandy made him randy, he could not bring himself to kiss her. The last woman he kissed had been Glee. This doxy's kisses would violate the sweet innocence left by Glee's tender lips.

  Actually, he didn't want to bed Sheila. He too vividly remembered the illness he had contracted at Oxford. There was also the fact that he was growing weary of buxom women. He fancied his next mistress would be petite. Like Glee. Damn! Why did he continue to think of her? Hadn't she done enough to make his life miserable?

  "I'm afraid I've had too much to drink," he said apologetically. "If I went up to your place I'd likely fall asleep and miss my assignation with my affianced tomorrow morning." He inwardly rejoiced. There were advantages to being affianced, after all. Sheila held the promise of becoming besotted like so many of the others, a prospect he did not relish in the least. One purple-hued lovelorn woman was quite enough for him right now.

  Her face fell, as did her voice. "Next time, perhaps."

  He bid good-night, knowing there would be no next time.

  When he arrived at his lodgings, the sun was rising over the River Avon. He had to meet Glee at nine o'clock. Bloody hell, he thought as he fell into slumber, forgetting to leave a note for his valet to wake him before nine o'clock.

  * * *

  Standing waiting for the attendant to fetch her second glass of water, Glee tapped her foot impatiently. Her betrothed was not the only one absent from this morning's social hub at the Pump Room. Timothy Appleton was not here, nor were the twins. Her heart drummed. Neither was Carlotta Ennis. Was Blanks with Carlotta? Had he spent the night with her? Good God, would he sleep with Carlotta after they were married?

  Glee had thought she couldn't wait until they were married and she could be with him always. It now occurred to her that might not be the case.

  Diana came to stand beside her. "Don't be so morose, pet. Blanks and his friends likely stayed out excessively late last night. You know how it is with young bachelors. He's merely sleeping. I daresay, he'll show up at the hotel this afternoon—all apologetic."

  Glee took her glass. "A pity I won't be there. I desire to return to Hornsby Manor at once."

  Diana raised her brows in concern. "What of the things you wish to order for your new house?"

  "I can just as easily select those once I'm married." If I marry, she thought with disappointment. Blanks may want to cry off now that he was back in Bath with his friends.

  And back with Carlotta.

  Diana put a gentle hand on Glee's forearm. "Don't be angry with him. He's only enjoying his last days as a bachelor."

  Glee harrumphed, knowing he would continue as a bachelor even after they wed. If they wed. "I shan't be angry with Blanks. I only desire to return to the manor house in order to prepare my trousseau."

  "But I thought there were several more things you wished to purchase for it in Bath."

  Glee moved to leave the Pump Room. "I can purchase those now, before we leave."

  * * *

  Before returning to the hotel, Glee purchased a half dozen delicate night shifts. Once in her chambers, she sat down to compose a letter to Blanks.

  My Dear Blanks,

  I hope you are not disappointed to learn I have returned to Hornsby Manor to prepare for our wedding. My mission in Bath was accomplished far sooner than I had expected.

  I'm sorry to have missed you at the Pump Room this morning but am looking forward to our wedding day, when I will see you again at the chapel in Duncaster for the ceremony which will make us man and wife.

  It is to be hoped you enjoy your waning days of bachelorhood, though you and I both know those days do not have to come to an end with our marriage.

  With love,

  Glee

  Signing the letter had taken a great deal of thought. She thought of signing simply love, but did not wish to scare him off. The same went for yours. She finally deemed with love appropriat
e. It was something the sister of his friend would sign—which, after all, was exactly what he expected her to be. Nothing more. Also, it conveyed affection without the possessiveness of your fiancé or all my love.

  Satisfied, she sealed the letter and gave it to a page to deliver to Blanks's lodgings.

  * * *

  It was well into afternoon when Gregory awoke, cursing himself for having missed the morning meeting with Glee at the Pump Room. No sooner was he awake than Stanley brought him the note from Glee. Cursing as he read, he wadded it up and threw it into the smoldering fire.

  "Hurry, Stanley, my clothes!"

  His valet quickly gathered up his master's clothing, but by the time he returned, Gregory had fallen back into his pillows. "Never mind. She's likely gone by now."

  Stanley murmured his apologies.

  "'Tis just as well," Gregory said. He bloody well planned to do as Glee bid and thoroughly enjoy his remaining days of bachelorhood. With no Carlotta. No Sheila. He didn't need any women. He'd get his bloody fill of them—or one of them—soon enough.

  He might even pop over to London, go to Jackson's salon. For some reason, he wanted to pound something.

  "What day is it, Stanley?"

  "'Tis Thursday, sir."

  "No. I mean what is the date?"

  "It's the twenty-seventh day of February."

  Blanks did the mental calculations. "Only nineteen more days of freedom."

  Chapter 9

  It was a dreary day, much like it had been the day Glee's irrational act had forced Blanks to become betrothed to her. Under stone gray skies she walked to the folly and sat upon its marble bench to ponder her predicament. She had left Bath more than two weeks ago and had not heard a word from Blanks since then.

  She chided herself for not staying there, but she had instinctively known Blanks needed total freedom the last weeks of his bachelorhood. As she gazed around the barren stone edifice where Blanks' fate had been sealed, she came to realize he was not going to marry her after all.

  And it served her right. She had gone ahead and thrust him into a marriage he wanted no part of. All of this she had orchestrated, knowing full well that being married was something he found onerous.