“With the dreadful weather this summer, Lady Kesgrave couldn’t have picked a nicer day for an out of doors luncheon.”
“I believe you are right.”
“How is your story coming along?”
“Very well. I have made a few more changes. I am quite pleased with the way the story has developed.”
He slowed their pace and turned her toward him. “I would very much enjoy another reading.”
“Another reading?” He’d read this story twice already.
He smiled until his white teeth gleamed. He tugged her closer to him. “A private reading, just you and I.”
“Highly improper, Emory,” she said with a tap of her fan on his arm and a smile.
“You’re six and twenty now, Avis. Surely you must be curious about the physical side of love.”
“The physical side of love?” she squeaked.
He stepped closer until there wasn’t a breath of air between them. “I can satisfy all your desires, Avis. No matter how lurid.”
The sound of footsteps down the hall broke them apart. Emory winked at her before continuing out the door.
Avis remained rooted to the spot unable to believe the conversation she’d just had with him. She glanced down the hall and noticed the shadow of a man about to turn the corner. Knowing she couldn’t face anyone at this moment, she walked unsteadily into the billiard room.
“Avis?”
She closed her eyes praying the owner of that deep voice would just turn around and leave. As his hands curled around her shoulders, she knew he wouldn’t leave her…ever.
“Why are you trembling?”
“That’s what you do to me,” she whispered.
Banning chuckled softly against her ear. “Perhaps, but I think there is more to your nervousness than my presence. Did something happen?”
“Nothing important.”
“Indeed?”
“Yes,” Avis said softly as she savored the heat from his body. Just his presence made her feel safe and secure.
“Well, I suppose when you’re ready to tell me the truth, you will.”
She wanted to tell him but the words wouldn’t form. She knew what his reaction would be to Emory’s explicit suggestion. “You really should leave, Banning. Someone might see us like this and…”
“Of course,” he replied in a sarcastic tone. “God knows we wouldn’t wish to put your reputation at risk. There’s no telling what you might have to do to repair it.”
Cool air rushed over her arms with his departure. She sighed. He was always there for her. When she needed his support or comfort, he was near. And she had pushed him away…again.
She couldn’t pretend any longer. She needed him.
But now, she had to get back to the party before people noticed her absence. Proceeding outside, Avis glanced around and noticed many more people than had been at dinner last night. Two large tables were set with linens and china under large white tents. Small vases of fresh flowers accented the middle of the tables. She walked past the table and noted her place card and Banning’s on her right.
“Avis,” Charlotte called to her. “Come and meet some of Trey’s family.”
Avis walked over to the group of people and Charlotte quickly introduced her to Lord Kesgrave’s cousins. A woman about her age stared at her for a moment.
“Miss Copley, I believe we came out the same year.” She shifted the infant to her left arm. “I was Mary Clarke then. I’m Mrs. Martin now.”
Avis smiled, trying to remember the woman. “Of course. We ran with a different set though.”
Mary lifted her brows. “I should say so. You and your friends were only attending the Season because your parents forced you. While my friends and I were doing everything we could to catch a husband.”
“And it looks as though you did.”
“Yes,” Mary said with a contented sigh. The infant in her arms stretched. “This is Ethan Michael.”
A small girl with blond ringlets pulled on Mary’s skirts. “Mama!”
“And this would be Sarah, my oldest.”
“Mama!” the little girl cried out again. “I have to tell you something.”
“Well?”
“Not in front of her,” Sarah said, pointing at Avis. “It’s…it’s…”
“Private?” Avis asked.
Sarah nodded her head vigorously. “Yes.”
“Avis, would you mind holding Ethan while I talk to my daughter in private?” Mary asked with a grin.
Before Avis could deny her request, Mary held the baby out for her. “But I really don’t know anything about infants.”
“He’s fast asleep. Just hold him.”
Mary bent down so Sarah could speak in her ear. All the while, Avis stared at the little bundle in her arms. The breeze lifted the sweet smell of powder and the sour stench of milk toward her. And yet, the scents only made her smile. She had never held an infant so small and the warmth of emotions that washed over her was a complete surprise. He smiled in his sleep and her heart felt tugged by the action.
His fingers clenched into fists as he reached for his mouth. She smiled when his fingers finally found their destination. Holding an infant was far more precious than she had ever imagined.
“I can take him now,” Mary said, straightening back up again. “I must go and take him inside for his nap.”
Reluctantly, Avis returned Ethan to his mother. She blinked away the tears that formed as she thought about children. She would never know how it felt to have a baby stare up at her with nothing but love in his eyes.
She glanced around until she found Banning. He didn’t seem to notice her as he was engaged in conversation with Miss Roebuck. Surely someone had stabbed her heart for it to hurt this much. Never in her twenty-six years had she regretted her decision to remain a spinster…until the past month.
All she had to do was forget her concerns and say yes to him. It seemed so simple…and yet, she’d never faced such a daunting demon.
Other people married and seemed happy. Charlotte, Mary…well, two people married and appeared happy. Perhaps they really just kept up appearances. She suddenly felt compelled to know the truth.
Avis found Charlotte resting in a chair on the terrace. She rubbed her belly as she sipped her lemonade.
“Avis, are you enjoying the luncheon?”
“Very much. You have a lovely home.”
“I am happy you decided to come all this way. Jennette told me about your illness when riding in coaches.” She pointed to the chair next to her. “Please sit with me for a few minutes. Trey insisted I rest for awhile.”
Avis sat down and pulled out her fan. “It must be wonderful to have a husband who cares so much for your well-being.”
“He certainly cares more for me than my first husband.”
“You were married before?”
“Unfortunately, I was. It was not a love match,” Charlotte answered with a shudder. She closed her eyes and sighed. “But that part of my life is over and now I have the man I love.”
“You seem very happy,” Avis commented.
Charlotte laughed softly. “How could I not be happy? I have a loving husband and soon a baby that I never believed I would have.”
“You want nothing else out of life?” All her friends wanted so much more and yet, no one seemed as happy as Charlotte.
She patted Avis’s hand. “You and Jennette have such great passions for life. I am a simpler person. I have my husband, my friends, and horses to ride when I’m not with child. My husband values my opinions on the estate so I certainly don’t feel useless. I have my hobbies to keep me busy when Trey is not around. What more could I want out of life?”
Avis had no idea. Once again, her life felt empty. The only time she’d felt such happiness, Banning had been with her. And now, he had rejected her…and it was all her fault.
“I dare say you should go rescue Lord Selby from Miss Roebuck,” Charlotte said, pointing toward the table. “He looks
as if he wants to stuff his handkerchief in her mouth.”
“I doubt that would keep her quiet,” Avis replied with a grin.
Charlotte laughed. “You might be right. Now go, my darling husband is here to escort me to the table.”
Lord Kesgrave nodded at Avis as she stood to take her leave. She sauntered over toward Banning and Miss Roebuck.
“Well, Miss Roebuck, don’t you look pretty this afternoon. I believe pink must be your color.”
“Thank you, Miss Copley.”
“Miss Copley.” Banning nodded coolly toward her. “I believe we are seated next to each other today.”
Miss Roebuck’s bow-shaped mouth pushed out into a pouty smile. “Why, my lord, I believe you are mistaken. I just checked the tables and you are sitting on my right.”
Avis knew Banning was right and wondered if Miss Roebuck could have exchanged the cards. Avis noted the devious gleam in Miss Roebuck’s eyes as she spoke. It was as if she had been formulating a plan. Avis shook her head at the absurdity of that idea. Indeed.
Banning barely made it through the luncheon without strangling the woman sitting next to him. All the while, Avis sent him curious looks from the far end of the table. Luckily, he didn’t have to worry about her and Billingsworth since her seat was away from the bastard. By the end of the luncheon, Avis appeared most sullen. He hated this. Trying to make her jealous was tearing him apart, but he needed to win her. He had to find some way of getting through to her heart.
Unfortunately, his performance gave Miss Roebuck the wrong impression. As he rose from his seat, she did the same and wrapped her arm with his.
“My lord, will you escort me to the seats over by the archery competition? I would so love your company while we watch the players.”
“Alas, I am one of the players so I cannot keep you company.”
Thank God for Trey’s idea of a competition. He had paired off couples to compete together and the winners would start off the dancing tomorrow. Banning had no idea who his partner would be, but at least he knew it would not be Miss Roebuck.
“Good luck then, my lord. I fear my archery skills are so poor I didn’t dare risk anyone’s life.”
“I must find my partner,” he politely bowed over her hand and then left to find the list posted on a tree. As he approached the willow, he saw Avis scanning the list of names.
“Oh, dear,” she muttered.
“Is there a problem?”
She turned to face him, a grimace planted firmly on her face. “I daresay there is. I’m partnered with you.”
He wondered if this was Charlotte’s idea since Trey believed Banning should be making Avis jealous. He wasn’t about to complain though because it kept him away from Miss Roebuck’s clutches, and Avis away from Billingsworth.
“Well, then.” He held out his arm for her. “Shall we find our bows?” A familiar sensation of warmth raced up his arm as she linked hers with him. He would have to thank Charlotte for partnering them together. They walked toward the field already set up for the match.
“Did you enjoy your luncheon with Miss Roebuck?” she asked tartly.
Perhaps jealousy might work with her. “I did indeed.”
“I do hope you have some aim?” she said, reaching for a bow.
“A bit,” he replied. “Though as I get older, my eyesight does decrease. Did you know Miss Roebuck is only nineteen?”
“A pity about your sight. Though you are now, what? Thirty?”
“Hmm, one and thirty.”
“And you haven’t started to use a quizzing glass yet?”
He smiled at her ribbing. “Not yet. And you? Please tell me that my partner will not hit another player.”
She chuckled softly. “At least I can still see the target and my target isn’t a child barely out of the nursery,” she mumbled.
Banning almost laughed at her snide comment regarding Miss Roebuck. He wondered if he’d be able to concentrate on anything with Avis so near. Already the heady scent of her jasmine perfume surrounded him. It was taking every bit of focus he had to make certain no one else noticed his blatant attraction to her.
“I owe you an apology for missing our riding lesson this morning. Meet me at the stables in the morning so we can overcome one of your fears.”
She looked up at him, confused. “One of my fears?”
“The least significant fear. We’ll work on the others later.”
“Oh?”
Banning smiled at her as he placed the arrow in the bow. Each couple had the opportunity to shoot six arrows toward a target. The two top scoring teams would then get their chance against each other. When Avis’s turn approached, she sighted her target and released the arrow, narrowly missing the bulls-eye.
“Blast,” she mumbled.
“Quite nice, actually.” Banning sighted his target and let his arrow fly. He smiled as the arrow flew straight into the center.
“I’m much better with a rifle or a pistol,” she said, readying her next shot.
Better than me, no doubt, he thought.
He pushed away the dreadful reminder of his own fear. He’d lived the past few years dreading that someone would reveal the truth about him.
Banning understood, since his conversation with his sister, that Avis’s own fear was a palpable thing. He empathized with her desire for spinsterhood, even though he knew that in this, she was wrong. He’d never hurt her.
Her next arrow hit the target perfectly. “Remind me to never get you angry with me again,” he said with a grin.
“I should have warned you years ago about my archery skills.” She let out a giggle as her last arrow took flight. Again, she missed though this time by a larger distance. “Don’t make me laugh or we shall never win.”
“But then you will have to open the dancing with me,” he said close to her ear. “I hear it may be a waltz.”
“A dance is a dance,” she said with a smile.
“Oh no. A waltz is like a seduction. That is why it was so frowned upon.” Banning didn’t wait for her reply. He took aim and released his arrow straight for the target, pleased with not only the shot but with how the woman at his side now reminded him of the Avis back at the cottage. Funny, light-hearted and warm. Perhaps she was finally coming to terms with their relationship.
“I daresay with that shot I may have to dance with you.”
He smiled at her. “You shall at that. Twice if I have my way. And I always get my way.”
Chapter Twenty
Avis slipped into the Kesgrave study, sank into a chair by the fireplace, and sighed. Finally, she had some solitude. She hadn’t wanted to go to her bedroom because her chatty maid would be waiting for her and the other rooms in the house were still active with gaming and other amusements. But she just couldn’t take another moment being around people. At this point, facing her motion sickness in order to escape everyone held a certain appeal.
She glanced up at the clock—nearly midnight. The gaming would end soon and then everyone should be off to bed. Once the house quieted, she would make her way upstairs. Perhaps by then Bridget would be too tired to make conversation as she helped her undress.
She picked up a book on the table and just made out that it was a poetry volume. The light from the two candles burning on the desk didn’t illuminate the room enough for her to read. She placed the book back on the table and relaxed deeper into her seat.
With nothing else to do, her mind reverted to her conversation with Emory. It seemed odd that after three years of close friendship, he suddenly appeared to want more from her. Emory was a good friend but she felt no attraction to him in a physical manner. Perhaps before Banning she might have been able to feel some attraction for Emory. But now, she knew what desire was and she felt none toward him.
How was it that she had reached the age of twenty-six without attracting a man only to suddenly have two men after her? Very odd, indeed.
The door flew open and she covered her mouth to suppress her sound o
f alarm. Hopefully the darkness of the room would keep her place secret.
“What exactly am I supposed to do?” Banning asked, following behind Lord Kesgrave into the study.
“You have no choice.”
“She won’t agree.”
Avis wondered whom this she was and what she wouldn’t agree to.
“Compromise her,” Kesgrave said. “In front of a large number of people.”
“She’ll hate me forever if I do that.”
Kesgrave poured two brandies. “Damnation it’s dark in here.”
Blast! If he lit more candles, he would unknowingly reveal her hiding place. While she wasn’t normally one to eavesdrop, this conversation held her interest.
“Ban, if you mean to protect her from him I don’t think you have much choice.”
“She may never agree to marry me anyway. I’m starting to believe she may have feelings for him.”
“You went away with her for a fortnight. Surely she must have some feelings for you?”
They were talking about her! She must be more tired than she realized if she only now determined the subject of their conversation. A burst of anger flared her to action.
“I cannot believe you told him about us,” Avis exclaimed, jumping out of her seat.
“Good evening, Miss Copley.” Kesgrave moved back to the brandy. “Care to join us?”
She ignored her host, instead, glaring at Banning. “You’ve ruined me!”
“Avis, I trust Trey with my life. He would never tell a soul about us.”
“That is not the point. You told him—”
“Actually, Miss Copley, I deduced what had happened between you two.”
She turned back toward Kesgrave. “Why would you have deduced such a thing unless he,” she pointed at Banning, “told you something?”
Kesgrave smiled warmly at her. “I helped Banning prevent you from speaking with Billingsworth the night of your cousin’s ball.”
“And from that you assumed we were lovers?” she asked sarcastically. “It all makes sense now.”
“No,” Kesgrave answered with a low chuckle. “Banning was seen leaving the Halstead Inn with a lady of quality. It seemed a simple enough deduction that you were the woman, especially after your lengthy disappearance with him at your cousin’s ball.”
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