Lisa Plumley - [Crabtree 02]

by The Scoundrel

  “You know you have a skill with women,” Jack urged. “God only knows why, but they seem to find you not too repulsive.”

  “Apparently, appealing to women is your primary talent,” Marcus added. “So you may as well use it. Females love you. Sarah loves you. Go on and bring her to heel.”

  “With seduction?”

  Both men nodded. Although they were well drunk by now, they seemed dead certain of this tactic and more than a little self-satisfied for having come up with it.

  “Is that the method you use on Molly?” Daniel asked.

  Marcus frowned. For the first time he seemed uncertain.

  No matter. It was Daniel’s only option so far. At his wit’s end, he considered it. Looked at in a certain light, it seemed sensible. After all, his scandalous past proved his appeal to women. Evidently, he was simply that irresistible to Sarah, as well. He should have seen it brewing. Could he truly blame her for falling where other women had?

  Now that he thought on it, in fact, Sarah’s nonsensical maneuverings seemed less of an inconvenience to him and more of an inevitability. Of course she’d want him! Of course she’d want his kisses and his attention. How could she not?

  But could he safely seduce her, as Murphy had suggested?

  Pondering it, Daniel risked a glance across the room. He could only glimpse Sarah in profile now, with her nose tilted proudly and her fancified hair spilling down her back. Despite his recent…confusion…about his feelings for her, he had known Sarah all their lives. If he’d been meant to go sweet on her, he reasoned, it would have happened long before now. Therefore, wooing her must be safe.

  Relief swamped him. At last, a solution!

  He would endear himself to his wife and restore her wifely duties. He would use whatever charm lay at his disposal, and all the masculine attributes he’d been endowed with, and he would gain Sarah’s cooperation. This problem between them would end, doubtless before Daniel had much more to do about it than kiss her good-night.

  Squaring his shoulders, he looked to her once more. He grinned. Sarah didn’t know it yet, but things between them were about to turn interesting. If it hadn’t been a damned necessity, in fact, Daniel might have sworn he looked forward to the whole endeavor.

  Wistfully, Sarah gazed across the crowds of friends and neighbors surrounding her. This was likely her tenth winter social, but nothing much had changed since her first foray here.

  She still stood at the edges of the dance, trying to seem optimistic that a gentleman would ask her to take a round with him. She still put on her most interested face, with hopes that she’d appear captivated by the dance steps—whether she ever experienced them herself or not.

  She still felt alone.

  This time, she’d thought things would be different. After all, she was a married woman now, presumably with an escort for every last waltz. But Daniel had disappeared into the far reaches of the room with Marcus and that rascally Jack Murphy quite some time ago. Thanks to him, Sarah was as good as the wallflower she’d always been.

  She folded her arms across her middle. Then, feeling selfconscious, she assumed a more ladylike pose. Truly, it was wearisome to be delicate. She’d much rather have been skipping along to a reel or grabbing a fiddle herself. Standing still was not her way—in partygoing or in life.

  Some years, Sarah recalled, she’d refused to attend the winter social. She’d claimed herself too caught up in a book she’d been reading or too somber overall for silly revelries.

  But the truth was, Sarah loved a party. Even if no one would have guessed such a fondness lay beneath her starched and buttoned exterior. She loved the promise of it, the fancifulness of it, the possibility that—at any moment—she could find herself whisked away on the arm of a handsome stranger.

  Caught up in the notion, she tapped her toes, imagining herself approached by a wonderful princely gentleman. Her make-believe admirer bore a striking resemblance to Daniel, but Sarah didn’t dwell on that discouraging fact. In her mind’s eye, she smiled and flirted and chatted with him, and in no time at all he twirled them both to the center of the dancing.

  Somehow, her second-best green gown wove itself into a dreamy spangled creation, like something from a fairy tale. Her steps were light, her hair unsinged, her manner easy. As she and her spellbound prince went on dancing, all the townspeople would gradually drift aside, whispering among themselves about how lovely Sarah was. She’d be in the center of everyone’s admiration, especially that of the dark-eyed man who’d claimed her. She’d dance trippingly, witty to the last, and he would smile at her forever.

  “You look so enthralled. I must be missing something.”

  Daniel’s deep voice dragged her from her reverie.

  Startled, Sarah glanced up to find her husband standing beside her, resplendent in the same suit he’d married her in. She was embarrassed to have been caught daydreaming. Again.

  “If you keep that up, you’ll make me a jealous man for certain.”

  He smiled, possibly at her expression of astonishment.

  Daniel, jealous? Of her? You’d have to fall in love with me first leaped into her mind, but before Sarah could blurt out such a telling comment, Daniel belied every one of her fears by holding out his hand to her.

  “Dance with me. I deserve a chance to prove myself, at least, before you decide on another man to replace me.”

  Replace him? She gawked. Where had that mischief in his eyes come from? She’d swear that look on his face was the same one he gave to the women he fancied—the one that always made them blush. Lord knew, Sarah had watched him often enough, always with her heart in her eyes, to recognize it.

  She gathered her wits. Daniel could not be flirting with her. This was simply her fanciful nature running away with her, as usual. Her family had warned her of as much.

  “Don’t be silly,” she said lightly. “You never dance. Have you forgotten our talk on that very subject after our wedding? When I all but begged you to dance with me?”

  Daniel gazed directly into her eyes. He shrugged, as though her protest were of little consequence. “I remember you looking beautiful,” he said seriously. “I remember not wanting to embarrass myself by acting a clod in your parents’ parlor.”

  Her mouth gaped. He’d worried about seeming silly…to her? He’d wanted to impress…her? Sarah could not believe it. Daniel always seemed so certain of things. Most especially her.

  Suspiciously, she wrinkled her nose. “Then what’s different tonight? You don’t fear dancing anymore? This place is a sight bigger than my parents’ parlor, but you may still trample my toes, after all.”

  “Ahhh.” Grinning, he placed his hand over his heart. “You wound me.”

  He teased her now? Sarah arched her brows, still feeling off-kilter. This was not quite the princely sweeping away she’d dreamed of. But it came closer with every tender look her husband gave her. It was hard not to be affected.

  “I wound you? You delay,” she teased, hoping to restore some of the usual bantering between them. Hoping to feel comfortable, easy…in charge, as she had since her strike had begun. “This is all a jest, isn’t it? You don’t mean to dance with me at all, do you?”

  “Try me.” Catching her hand, he flattened it beneath his own, against his chest. “Say yes. Dance with me, Sarah.”

  When she hesitated, overcome with the surprise of finding herself touching him so intimately, he cocked his brow mischievously.

  “Do you feel how my heart is pounding? That’s how afraid I am that you’ll say no to me.”

  She laughed at that. “No one ever says no to you.”

  “You do.”

  His hoarsely spoken words jabbed at her conscience. Yes, that was true. She had said no to him. But now, with her senses brimful of Daniel’s warmth, his hard muscles, his curiously limp shirtfront…now, Sarah found that prospect beyond difficult. This Daniel was not easy to refuse.

  She must, she thought, but couldn’t remember why.


  “You won’t say no to me tonight. I won’t have it.”

  Daniel dropped to one knee at her skirts. Pleadingly—but with an uncommon amount of maleness, all the same—he held her hand in his. She’d barely recovered from the shock of finding him there amid her ordinary green taffeta when he smiled anew. Almost as though he knew something she did not.

  That she could not countenance.

  “Get up.” She gestured frantically with her free hand. What if someone should see them like this? “Get up! What are you doing?”

  “I’m acting as your husband.” His tone sounded surpassingly reasonable, particularly for a man on bended knee. “The husband I ought have been to you from the start.” Daniel’s straightforward gaze met hers. “I saw you standing here alone and realized what a fool I’ve been.”

  Well, that made sense, but… She felt giddy. Truly. As though she might swoon. People around them were beginning to stare, to whisper behind their hands. To smile knowingly.

  Flustered, Sarah smoothed her hair. She bobbed lower. “Merely seeing me here incited you to drop to your knee?”

  He nodded, a lock of dark hair falling against his brow. “I’ll stay here till you agree to dance with me,” he vowed.

  He could not be serious. But when she looked down at him, at his callused hand holding hers and his somber expression, Sarah knew she could not refuse him. She could not refuse herself a taste of this new, courtly Daniel.

  “You’re being outrageous,” she said, buying time for her knees to stop quaking before she agreed. “Outrageous.”

  She tried to make her voice sound stern. She had some experience with that; years spent wielding influence in the schoolroom should have lent her that much authority, at least. But Daniel, contrary as usual, seemed unaffected.

  “I’m being husbandly.” He turned up her hand and kissed her palm, his gaze never leaving hers. “I’m being dutiful. Exactly the way you wanted me to be.”

  He…he’d kissed her! She couldn’t quite bring herself to believe it, but as proof her hand tingled where his lips had been. Still feeling light-headed, Sarah considered his words. She had wanted him to behave this way, that was true…but she hadn’t quite dreamed up this much acquiescence!

  Then it occurred to her. Husbandly. Dutiful. He was making a concession—a concession to the “husbandly duties” she’d requested of him. Of course. She was still winning. She was getting what she’d asked for at long last. The realization gave her the courage to accept his invitation.

  “Very well.” She could hardly suppress a smile of sheer excitement. “I’ll dance with you.”

  The people nearest them made way, smiling wider. With Daniel as chivalrous escort, he and Sarah moved to the center of the dancing. He smiled at her, then took her in his arms. He began to dance. It was, she realized with a secret smile, exactly the scenario she’d envisaged in her daydreams.

  Even while accommodating her untried abilities, Daniel executed the steps with surprising ease. He held her in his arms and moved to the music, and she realized that she’d never been held by him this way before. Not truly, not out of bed, not with purpose and gallantry.

  Looking up into his intent, handsome face, Sarah found it easy to understand why ladies clamored for his attention.

  She realized why and foolishly blurted it. “You make me feel as though no other dancers exist.”

  At his raised brows, dismay raced through her. Her statement was true enough, to be sure. But still… Now Daniel would tease her. He would ruin this unusual, special togetherness between them.

  “There are other dancers here?” He pretended to scout for more, then shook his head. “I only see you. You are the only woman I could ever want.”

  To prove his point, he twirled them both to a slightly more private spot. Just being there with him, Sarah felt scandalous. It was a new and pleasant experience.

  Daniel’s arms felt strong, his steps light. So brawny a man should have been clumsy or hesitant, but her husband was neither of those things. His hand on her waist felt possessive; his grasp on her hand, assured. Dancing with him was a heady occurrence. Indeed, Sarah hadn’t known what she’d been in for. Another minute and she’d be swept away for certain.

  She needed to converse. It was either that or continue mooning over the breadth of his shoulders and the brilliance of his smile. In a stilted voice, she tried an opening gambit.

  “The decorations are lovely, aren’t they?”

  “Your beauty puts them all to shame.”

  “And the…the mulled cider is delicious.”

  “No more than your smile.”

  Oh, my. “Pish. A smile cannot be delicious.”

  He pretended regret. “You caught me. I wasn’t thinking of your smile, after all. Beautiful as it is.”

  She shouldn’t inquire, but she had to know. “What were you thinking of, then?”

  “Your figure.” His gaze swept lower. “It is delicious. Round and soft and made just right for my hands. Here.”

  Shamelessly, he tightened his grasp on her waist. Sarah squealed, her whole body aflutter with having him touch her so purposefully…so manfully.

  “Quiet, now.” He gave a devilish grin as several dancers glanced their way, then murmured to each other. “You’ll let everyone know I can’t keep my hands from you.”

  She goggled, then let him spin her round the floor. “You’ve been able to well enough till now,” she couldn’t help but point out.

  He gave a thoughtful sound. “I intend to remedy that. Starting tonight. And every night after.”

  Curiosity quickened within her. Exactly what did he mean?

  “I won’t take no for an answer, wife,” he warned.

  She wanted to squeal anew. Goodness! His mock sternness set her heart astir. Although, given her present state of mind, she wasn’t likely to offer him “no” for an answer to anything, now, was she?

  After his outlandish attentions tonight, it was hard to remember he was Daniel, her Daniel, the same man who’d awakened beside her this morning, raced from their bed and stubbed his toe in his haste to be away. She didn’t know what the change in him owed itself to.

  Contemplatively, Daniel gazed at her. “I meant to tell you before…I like your hair that way.” His voice lowered intimately. “It makes me want to take it all down and run my fingers through your curls.”

  The image of that struck her. She, with her head tilted back in enjoyment; he, with his deft hands caressing her. Curiously enough, in her mind’s eye, they weren’t dancing at all. They were alone someplace, someplace cozy and candlelit.

  Nearly carried away by the idea, Sarah shook her head. She had to reinstitute her common sense. It wouldn’t be wise to let Daniel know how well his charm was working on her. Now that she held the upper hand, she meant to retain it awhile. He’d already set her off-balance enough.

  “Oh, no. Doing that would only ruin the style.”

  He looked as though he knew a secret. “I would make sure you didn’t care about that.”

  “Oh?” She affected a carefree demeanor, even though her pulse raced. “How would you do that?”

  “Can’t you guess?” A smile. “I can imagine it well enough.”

  At the naughty tone in his voice, she glanced up at him, wide-eyed. They went on dancing, spinning to the music, but Sarah didn’t have a mind for tunes. All she could think about was Daniel…Daniel, and his sudden interest in her.

  “I would kiss you.” He leaned close to her ear, giving her a sampling of his clean-shaven jaw against her skin. His breath whispered past her earlobe. “I would kiss you until you begged me to never stop. You,” he promised, “would forget you had a hairstyle altogether.”

  Her heart pounded. The images his words gave rise to were tantalizing enough, even without the added incentive of his husky, masculine voice. She wanted his kiss—had wanted it, ever since their hasty wedding peck. She wanted it still.

  Hesitantly, Sarah leaned back, searching his expression. Their b
antering had done its work on her, but she had no notion if he felt the same. It would be awful if Daniel didn’t mean it, if he were only teasing her. But all she glimpsed in his face was a curious sort of intensity, and hopefulness.

  She swallowed hard. Met his gaze directly, with a bravery she hadn’t known she possessed. “And if I did beg you to never stop? What then?”

  For an instant, he seemed taken aback. Then his usual certainty returned. Daniel spun her round, his body naturally paired with hers and his grasp steady.

  “Then I never would. I never would stop.”

  “I am glad,” Sarah announced with certainty, just as the song ended. “Maybe we will reach a compromise yet.”

  Smiling, she offered him a curtsy. She straightened to meet his befuddled expression.

  “I’m offering more than a compromise,” he said.

  “And I am considering accepting it,” she told him.

  Keeping Grace’s tutorials—and her own long-term goals—firmly in mind, Sarah excused herself. She made herself walk from the dance floor, then headed for the cloakroom. Right now, a long walk in the swirling snow sounded just the thing—although she had a feeling she’d be remembering Daniel’s look of surprise the entire way.

  Chapter Eleven

  Guided by the moonlight, Sarah stepped between the snowdrifts to the sheltering cover of a stand of pine trees. Behind her, the winter social carried on in all its festivities, but she could not dance and laugh and mingle. Not the way she felt just now, so confused and overheated and so…alive.

  A giddy giggle rose inside her. Daniel wanted her! If she hadn’t experienced it with her own senses, if she hadn’t felt his arms around her and his whispered words in her ear, she would not have believed it so. But somehow Daniel had been snapped to, made to see his buried feelings…something. Something had made a difference in him.

  For now, she wouldn’t question it. How could she, when she’d wanted this very thing for so long?

  In the end, she thought she’d done quite well, she decided as she snuggled more deeply into her hastily thrown-on coat. She congratulated herself on her wit—what there’d been of it. On her dancing—insensible as she’d been to her moving feet. On her mustering the will to leave when she ought—reluctant as she’d been to do so. Thanks to those actions, Daniel probably didn’t realize exactly how…affecting…his invitation had been, how stimulating his talk and his touch and his dancing. Sarah had done her best to keep her reactions to herself. She thought she’d succeeded admirably.