“Mother?”
“Yes, dear.” Claire nodded, fortifying herself with a sip of tea. Willow was wearing a new morning frock made of printed muslin patterned with a design of red cherries with green stems and leaves, and she would have looked quite fetching but for the frown upon her face.
Philip cleared his throat. “Neither Willow nor I were aware that you had met the Earl of Sommerset before last evening’s ball. And we had no suspicion that you had entered into an ... an understanding with him.”
Rather than address Philip’s unspoken query, Claire nodded again. She did not wish to tell a falsehood unless she was forced to do so.
“Mother?” Willow leaned forward, putting herself directly into Claire’s line of vision. “How did you meet the earl?”
Claire sighed and decided to be truthful, rather than be caught out in telling a bouncer. “I met the Earl of Sommerset last evening, at the ball. Lady Bollinger introduced us. I am certain that you observed me partnering him in the waltz.”
“And that was when he declared for you?” Philip’s brows shot up disapprovingly.
“Yes, indeed. And I accepted him.”
“After only one waltz?” Willow blinked, doing her utmost to maintain her dignity.
“Yes, dear.” Claire smiled sweetly. “After only one waltz.”
“Mother! How could you?”
Willow’s mouth dropped open and Claire stifled a giggle. She had the urge to tell her daughter to close it before the flies flew in, just as she had when Willow had been a child.
“Lady Radcliffe,” Philip said and drew a deep breath, “I must confess that I find my cousin a pleasant enough fellow, but as I am soon to become your daughter’s husband, I feel it is my duty to inform you of a distressing fact. I fear that the Earl of Sommerset is not the gentleman that he appears to be.”
Claire shrugged. “I know all about the earl’s reputation, Philip, and it does not concern me in the slightest.”
“But Mother! The Earl of Sommerset is a known rake!” Willow blinked several times and Claire hoped that she would not turn into a watering pot. Though some young ladies appeared quite beautiful when they cried, Willow was not among them.
“I have heard the gossip, Willow.” Claire felt the heat rise to her cheeks as she remembered the earl’s kiss. Perhaps experience in matters of love was to be desired in a suitor. But Willow was watching her with eyes that were slowly filling with tears, and Claire felt compelled to set her fears to rest. “The Earl of Sommerset was falsely accused, dear, and I intend to set those rumors to rest. He is a kind and personable gentleman and I desire that both you and Philip treat him with the respect he so justly deserves!”
“Bravo, madame!”
Claire turned toward the door and her face drained of color as she met the amused gaze of their first morning caller. It was the Earl of Sommerset, himself!
“Perhaps I should have waited to be announced, but your butler became quite witless when I stated that I was your fiancé.” The earl grinned at Claire and crossed the room to take a seat at her side. “The poor man rushed off in a taking and left me to find my way here unassisted.”
Claire felt a smile spread over her face as the earl took her hand. She was glad that he had come and she should not have to face the children alone. “Jennings has not been informed of our engagement. I should have thought to tell him, but our decision to marry was so ... so sudden.”
“After one waltz.” Willow frowned at the earl in clear disapproval. “Mother has told us that you declared yourself only last evening.”
The earl smiled. “It would have been difficult to do so earlier, as I had not met your dear mother before.”
“Now see here, Sommerset.” Philip faced the earl squarely. “I am certain that you can understand why my fiancée and I do not approve of this match. It is simply not done, you know. What kind of a gentleman declares for a lady upon their first meeting?”
“A gentleman who is firmly smitten.” The earl gave Claire’s hand a comforting squeeze and turned to face Philip. “I should say that you describe a gentleman who is so completely in the grips of an overwhelming love that he cannot imagine life without his intended bride.”
“But why did you not come to us before you declared for my mother?” Willow’s voice was shaking with anger.
“Because there was no need to seek your approval. Dear Claire has informed me that you are soon to marry and that you and Ralston have encouraged her to do the same. Do you deny that you have been presenting gentlemen to your mother for that exact purpose?”
“No.” Willow’s voice was tentative as she shook her head. “It is true that we have encouraged Mother to find a match.”
“Ah. Am I to assume that you do not approve of me as a prospective husband for your mother?”
Willow had the grace to blush as she nodded. “Yes, that is it exactly. We know nothing about you, sir. And ... and I do not wish to see my dear mama hurt.”
“I should never hurt your mother. You need have no worry on that score.” The earl’s voice was gentle as he answered her.
“Perhaps, but we do not know you well enough to judge that fact.” Philip re-entered the conversation. “Though you are my cousin and I have made your acquaintance before, it was only in passing. I must admit, however, that I found you most personable.”
“Thank you.” The earl nodded gravely.
“But that was before we heard the rumors,” Willow spoke up. “Mother has told us that they are not to be believed, but it is exactly as Philip has stated. We do not know you well enough to be assured that you are truly an honorable man.”
“Then I shall provide you with the opportunity to become better acquainted with me. I have secured a box for the opera this evening and I should like both of you to accompany us.”
Willow exchanged a glance with Philip and then she nodded. “We shall be delighted, Lord Sommerset.”
“John,” the earl corrected. “Since I shall soon be your mother’s husband, there is no cause to be so formal.”
“J ... John.” After another glance at Philip, Willow repeated his name with some reluctance.
“Until this evening, then. I shall collect you in my carriage.” The earl rose from his seat and extended his hand to Claire. “You will see me to the door, my darling?”
Claire was smiling as she rose to accompany him. The earl had handled the situation with Willow and Philip most admirably and she was eager to tell him so.
As they walked across the floor and into the hallway, Claire found herself blushing like a schoolgirl. If the earl lingered a bit before he took his leave, perhaps he would even see fit to kiss her again. They were engaged, after all, and couples who were engaged were allowed to take leave of each other with a fond kiss.
FOUR
John glanced at Jennings, who was stationed at the door, holding his gloves and hat at the ready. He was eager to present the doubloon to Claire, but not in the presence of her butler. Before he could ask Claire if it would be proper to enjoy a moment in private with her, she walked up to Jennings and relieved him of the gloves and hat.
“That will be all, Jennings. I wish a moment in private with my fiancé.”
“Are you certain, my lady?” The butler’s haughty demeanor held more than a hint of disapproval.
“Yes. You may leave us now, Jennings.”
Claire’s tone brooked no nonsense, but the butler cast an icy glance at John before he turned and disappeared down the long hallway. It was clear that Jennings did not approve of the earl as a suitable companion for his mistress.
John chuckled as he turned to Claire. “I would venture to say that your butler does not like me.”
“It should be most unusual if he did.” Claire looked most apologetic. “Jennings has decided that his sole mission in life is to protect our reputations. It was a full sennight after Willow’s engagement before he would consent to admit Philip without the formality of first presenting his card. The worst of it i
s, Jennings tends to hover about most persistently when his presence is least wanted.”
John nodded. “I see that. I do believe he is peeping out of that half-closed door even now.”
“He is?” Claire whirled to gaze in the direction of the door that John had indicated and they both observed it slide shut, closed by an unseen hand. “Perhaps we should retire to a place where Jennings cannot observe us. You wished for a private moment with me, did you not?”
John nodded, a teasing glint in his eye. “I did. And you, Lady Radcliffe, have managed to read my thoughts accurately. Have I entered into an engagement with a witch?”
“No, indeed. I simply knew that I wished to be alone with you and I hoped that you shared my sentiments. If you will join me in my sitting room, we shall close the door.”
John raised his brows in an attempt to appear scandalized, but he knew the amused twinkle in his eyes threatened to give him away. “For shame, Lady Radcliffe! Have you no care for your reputation?”
“None.” Claire laughed. “As you so aptly stated last evening, my good standing with the ton has already been destroyed by affiancing myself to a known rake.”
John grinned as he took her arm. “And you are enjoying it immensely, are you not?”
“I am.” Claire nodded. “I find it gives me a marvelous sense of freedom to flaunt society’s silly conventions. Come with me, sir, and we shall see what further damage I can do.”
As she directed him down the hallway, John could not help but smile. Claire possessed the charm and spontaneity one might find in a willful child. He wondered whether she had always been this way, or whether he had caused this aspect of her personality to surface. He must make an effort to learn more about this delightful lady who had agreed to act as his fiancée for the remainder of the Season.
Claire opened the door to her sitting room and John’s eyes widened. It was decorated with a treasure trove of interesting artifacts from faraway places. The carpet was exquisite, a woven tapestry from India bordered with a design of elephants that were both artistic and humorous. It was most unusual and unlike any that he had ever seen. A pedestal table placed in front of a window held a lovely blue glass bowl; John surmised it was from Venice as that city was known for its colored glass. A shining silver goblet of a Russian design sat on a corner of the small secretariat, and both a Tomahawk from the Colonies and an Egyptian scarab were displayed in glass-topped cases. Two ceramic creatures sat high on the mantelpiece and John walked over to examine them. Their features resembled both dog and dragon and he was intrigued.
“They are temple pieces—I have placed them here to protect the house.” Claire smiled at his interest. “I am told that it is the custom in the Orient.”
John nodded, returning her smile. Claire was indeed fortunate to have rented this particular town house. The owner had excellent, as well as charmingly eclectic, taste.
“You must see the piece that pleases me most.” Claire led him to a teakwood cabinet against the fall wall. “It is a clockwork toy from France.”
John smiled as he gazed at the lovely figurine of a miniature lady seated at a tiny spinet. Claire pressed a small lever that activated a concealed music box and the figurine began to move. The lady’s hands swept over the keys in perfect time with the music. Her head bobbed as if she were counting the measures of the tune that she was playing, and after an interval, one small arm raised to turn a page on the music rack.
“It is delightful.” John smiled as the music came to a conclusion and the figure was motionless once more. “This whole chamber is delightful. I am surprised that the owner of this house did not pack her treasures away.”
Claire laughed. “She did. These are my treasures, given to me by my husband’s younger brother. Before he assumed my husband’s title, he traveled the globe. He was aware of my interest in artifacts and he brought me these gifts.”
“It is a charming collection, but you have nothing from Spain.” John began to grin as he drew the small box containing the pendant from his pocket. “I should like to rectify that oversight.”
Claire’s hand shook as she accepted the box and opened it. Her eyes widened as she drew out the pendant and examined it, and then she turned to him with an anxious expression. “This is one of the very first Spanish doubloons and, as such, it must be at least two hundred years old! I cannot accept such an expensive gift.”
“Nonsense.” John took the pendant and quickly fastened it around her neck before she could protest further. It nestled against the soft, sweet hollow of her throat and he found that his hand trembled slightly as he drew it back. “It belonged to my mother. She was fond of collecting Spanish doubloons and her possessions came to me when she died. I thought that it should make a perfect engagement gift to you.”
Claire reached up to touch the lovely pendant and then she sighed. “It is a perfect engagement gift and I should be delighted to accept it if we were truly engaged. But we are not.”
“Only you and I are aware of that fact.” John searched his mind for a way to make her accept his gift. For some unknown reason, he found that it was most important to him to see his mother’s pendant against her lovely neck. “I should like you to have it, Claire. The members of the ton know that I am wealthy. If I do not present you with an engagement gift, some may speculate that our engagement is less than sincere. Surely you can see that you must accept some token from me.”
Claire nodded. “Yes. What you say makes perfect sense. But this lovely pendant is more than a token. It is so personal and you have admitted that it is a family heirloom. Can you not find something more ordinary?”
“I could give you the family emeralds, but I thought this pendant to be more to your taste. If you would prefer the emeralds, I can certainly...”
“Oh, no!” Claire interrupted him quickly. “This pendant is ... well... it is simply perfection! You are entirely right, John. I should adore to wear it. And you may be sure that I shall return it to you the moment that our ruse is concluded.”
John shook his head. “You must keep it as a gift from me. It is such a small thing and I owe you a debt much greater than it’s worth. Why, only this morning my butler told me that not one single young lady attempted to gain my attentions by claiming that her carriage had broken down at my door.”
“Good gracious!” Claire stared at him in shock. “Does this sort of thing occur often?”
“More often than I would wish. I am considered a prime catch, my dear, and on one particular afternoon during the past Season, no fewer than five carriages, all carrying attractive and eligible young ladies, had mishaps on my street.”
“And I have saved you from all that?” Claire’s eyes began to sparkle.
“You have. Please keep the pendant, Claire. It is yours with my gratitude. I shall be most overset with you if you attempt to return it.”
“I shall keep it, then!” Claire gave a delighted laugh. “It is truly the most exquisite gift that I have ever received. Thank you, John. You are the kindest and most thoughtful of gentlemen!”
As John grinned, feeling proud that he had chosen the perfect gift to delight her, she rushed to throw her arms around him. Before John could consider the rashness of his action, or renew the vow he had taken not to kiss her again, he pulled her even closer and turned so that his lips met hers.
The feel of her delightfully curved body against his and the willingness of her lips as they eagerly parted, drove John’s cautions to the wind. She was even more passionate than she had been the previous evening and John groaned as he was swept away on a tide of blazing need. He had not enjoyed a woman’s intimate charms since he had left Spain and he was hard pressed to contain his lust. Without conscious thought, his fingers sought the rounded curve of her bodice and he groaned deep in his throat as she welcomed his every advance.
John felt her body tremble under his caress and the soft moans that escaped from her throat served to fuel his ardor. She pressed herself against him in wild abandon an
d his fingers shook as he began to unfasten the bodice of her gown. It was more than even the most perfect gentleman could bear, and John was not a perfect gentleman. He picked her up in his arms and carried her to the settee, intent on ravishing her most thoroughly.
It was at this point, as she lay trembling so willingly beneath him, that John heard an impatient knock on the door. A deep voice intruded from the hallway and he recognized Jennings’s disapproving voice.
“Lady Radcliffe? I have brought the tea tray.”
“Damme!” John’s voice was a whisper, but his anger was as apparent as if he’d shouted the word. “It’s your butler, protecting your virtue.”
“And just in the nick of time.” Claire sat up, giggling like a schoolgirl, her gown in complete disarray.
“What shall we do?” John smiled as he caught the humor of the situation. “If we allow him to enter, what little reputation you have left will be compromised.”
Claire sighed, blushing prettily. “Compromised? What a lovely word, and so well chosen! I do not suppose you could simply open the door a crack and tell him that we are otherwise engaged?”
“I do not think that would suffice. Have you any other suggestions?”
“Yes.” Claire nodded quickly. “I shall take care of the problem. Follow me, sir, and help me lift the lids on those trunks under windows.”
John raised his brows, but he followed Claire to the large trunks that sat under the windows and helped her lift the lids. Inside were books, hundreds of them, packed carefully and neatly in stacks.
“Please remove several large volumes and bring them to me.” Claire took up a position by the empty bookcases that lined the far wall and accepted the armload of books that he carried to her. She glanced down at her gown, signed deeply, and shook her head. “I believe another four volumes should suffice. “Please bring them to me and then remove another stack of volumes for yourself. And then, if you will but climb the ladder and shelve one or two of those books, we shall be ready for Jennings.”
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