And in the chaos of the last week, this seemed his greatest task, yet. He’d decided to court her, but so far, he’d hadn’t found a way to do so, without investing his heart. It would have been easier, if she’d not been a woman he already cherished in so many ways, but speaking to her, even light flirting, all came from his soul, every word crafted in the burning heat of truth. She did make him forget every well-made plan he had at keeping his distance, whenever she was around.
He watched her pale-yellow skirts as she moved, not daring to meet her eyes.
“I am very much a fan of Lord Byron. As is, Lady J…”
Reuben lifted his eyes then, and stared at her. Immediately he thought of all his correspondances with Lady Jay, and wondered if the other woman had shared with Rachel all his many shortcomings. He’d shared with Lady Jay his concerns for Eastridge, more than he’d shared with any other. He pictured Rachel and Lady Jay, a woman who was only a shadow in his mind, laughing at his expense. Finding his inability to govern his own estate humorous.
Rachel stared back at him with her back straight, and her expression as cool as ever. “Give me the book.” She held out her hand once more, her dainty palm lifted and stiff.
“Tell me about Lady Jay,” he demanded.
She dropped her hand and started for the door. “I don’t have to tell you a thing.”
She was in his arms before she took a third step, fighting his hold, her curves rubbing against him, until she suddenly relented. His hands rested partly on her shoulders, and partially on the bare skin, above. His eyes fell to the curve of her throat and he watched color bloom over her skin, turning it a pale pink. Her pulse was visible, as was her rushed breaths, with the quick rising and lowering of her chest. Once again, he lost all common sense.
He leaned closer. He heard her breath catch as he pressed his cheek into her hair. She smelt of delicate petals and honey. He tightened his hold on her and growled. “What do you do to me?”
RACHEL DIDN’T know how to respond, but her body did. It grew warm, and she had to fight the urge to lean back against him, to press her back against his chest.
The troubling thought brought back to mind why she’d teased him with Lady J’s identity, to start with. How would he feel, if he knew it was her that had been helping him, all along? Would he hate her? Turn against her? It was likely he wouldn't believe her, either way. Men usually thought a lady dim in the mind. She nearly feared that reaction, but thought it the only way to truly be rid of him.
Before he broke her heart again.
Before she placed all her greatest hopes into his hands again.
“I’m Lady Jay.”
His breath brushed her ear. “Impossible.” Then his body went brittle, and she tensed, right before he spun her around. He was glowering at her. “Of course. I should have known it was you.”
Her eyes widened. “You believe me?”
He frowned further. “A lady whose father taught her everything she needed to know to run her own estate? Of course, she is you. Your father was no fool, and neither are you.”
She was surprised. “Are you angry?”
He studied her and shook his head before he sighed. “How could I be, when you’re one of my greatest supporters? I find that I trust you a great deal, Rachel.”
Something warm spread through her, and touched a place she’d thought she’d locked tightly away. But fear gripped her again, and she knew that while Reuben trusted her, she could no longer say the same. She trusted him to protect her with his life, but not her heart.
“Would you come with me for a ride through the park tomorrow?” he asked.
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?” He was watching her steadily once more, and he saw that hesitation again.
She turned away, rather than expose herself to him anymore.
“I hurt you,” he said in the silence.
She could hear her heartbeat, and the dulled noise of the street, outside the window. She tried to concentrate on that. On the turning of the wheels of carriages. The clip-clop of horse’s hooves. The shouts.
“I was likely the first man you’ve given a chance since Stacy.” His fingers touched her chin and steered her head toward his. “Am I wrong?”
It was a mistake she wouldn’t make again. “Since I’ve exposed myself, there’s no longer a need to write to Lady J anymore. If you have further inquiries about your land, you may ask my father.” She turned to the door again, and this time got her hand around the doorknob, but he intervened..
His hand rested on her hers, but he didn’t try to stop her. His grip was gentle, asking her not to go.
She turned the knob.
“Does that portrait of Lady Lush still sit by your bed?”
She thought it an odd question. “I moved it to my vanity.”
“You look like her at this moment. The yellow dress reminds me of it.”
She was surprised he’d remember such a small detail about her bedchamber. As her former footman, he’d carried quite a few of her purchases in and out of the room. She turned her head to look at him. “It seems many a man finds my mother attractive.” Far more than they’d ever thought Old Rachel.
His hand moved up to her cheek and their eyes held. “Surely, you don’t put me in that number?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” she whispered. “You didn’t wish to court me until I changed.”
“Surely you don’t believe that.” His brows furrowed. He waited for her response.
She thought about it and then closed her eyes. “No. not really. You seemed… uninterested before.”
“I was interested. I still am.”
She shook her head, to dislodge herself from his statement and the hand that touched her.
Then she felt a something hard touch her belly. She looked down, and found Reuben had pressed the book against her.
“Don’t forget this.”
She grabbed for it. Her hands, covering his. She waited for him to let go.
And yet, hoped he wouldn’t. She wanted him to make her stay. She wanted him to love her.
He spoke again. “At times, I feel as though I’ve no clue what to do with you.”
She lifted her head then, and said, “Then don’t approach me again, until you do.” And the minute his hand released the book, she fled.
* * *
23
CHAPTER
TWENTY-THREE
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He heard the laughter just as soon as they’d made it to the bridge, and stilled near a tree.
His companion, and one he was having second thoughts about, grunted. Nash stood beside him and stared in the direction of the crowd by the water. “So, this is why you asked me if I felt like walking through the park.”
She stood only yards away, and Reuben thought Rachel looked even more lovely, by water. The sun was high, and though she held a parasol above her head, the glittering surface of the lake seemed to dance like jewels around her figure. Rachel wore a cornflower blue muslin dress today, with capped sleeves and a fitted bustline, which he noticed more than one man in the group glancing toward.
The hem of her garment, and the loose strands of her hair danced in the wind just as every other lady’s did, but any man worth his salt, knew Rachel to be the jewel of the hour. She was simply radiant.
It was her laughter he heard on the wind, like a kiss to the ear, it flowed through the air, and he took note that she did so loudly, pouring her entire body into her utter happiness, as she listened to something that one of the parties in her group had said.
Reuben knew a few of the people present. There was Susanna, and to Reuben’s utter annoyance, Lord Castell. Two other ladies were there, and another gentleman.
“Do you plan to simply watch her, or go over there?” Nash asked.
Reuben glared at him. “I can’t. She told me not to approach again, until I knew what I
was about.”
“And what are you about?” Nash asked, with a lifted dark brow. He took most matters with nearly a careless ease, unless someone was hurting someone he loved. During those moments, Nash went dark, but today was not one of those moments.
Today, Nash was all charm. It was his day away from the boxing club that his taught at, which was a reason Reuben had asked him to come.
But also, because there were times when he liked Nash’s advice… not that he would ever tell his brother so. Nash already held far too much arrogance, as it were.
Reuben thought about his question, and said, “I don’t know. How does one court a woman like her, without losing their senses?” He looked over again to find that another gentleman had joined their small crowd, evening the numbers.
“A woman like her?” Nash asked.
Reuben looked at him. “What?”
His brother shrugged. “You said ‘a woman like her’. What did you mean?”
Reuben grunted and turned to look at Rachel. “I simply mean… she’s easy on the eyes, and she’s quite clever. Also, very brave and wise beyond her years.” He closed his mouth before confessing what he already knew.
That he was falling for her, or had been for a while.
“Reuben.”
He looked over at Nash, waiting for his simple counsel.
His brother grinned. “I say do what leads to the most satisfaction.”
That, Reuben thought, was the worst idea yet. “Do what leads to satisfaction? Is that the philosophical wisdom you wish to bestow upon me? Is it the way you live your life?”
Nash nodded once, his blue eyes soft. “I find it works.”
“Until you end up in prison,” Reuben reminded him.
Nash shrugged, and looked over at the group by the water, his gaze fixed. “That worked out for me as well. Had I not gone to prison, I’d have never met Manus, saved his life, and been rescued and employed by his father, Lord Iverstone.”
Reuben shook his head and turned back to the group. One of the ladies, a blonde, was looking in their direction, her gaze stuck on Nash. She blushed and turned away… but not for long.
A thought came to mind, and Reuben asked, “Play a game with me, if you will. Say you had a father, and you found out that he was killed by your uncle. What would you do?”
“That’s easy,” Nash said, never asking why Reuben would phrase such a question. “I’d kill my uncle.” His brother smiled at the blonde as he spoke, as though they spoke of little more than the bark on the trees.
Reuben’s heart raced. “Surely, you’d think about the consequences before doing such a thing.”
Nash looked at him then, his smile gone. “I guess we’ll never know. We should count ourselves lucky that I’m nothing more than a bastard.” Then he started across the grass. “I’m going to join them.”
“What?” Reuben became alarmed. “No, don’t—”
“I’ll tell Rachel you’re hiding from her, in the trees,” Nash said, before he was out of hearing range.
All but forcing Reuben to join him. He cursed himself for ever bringing his brother along.
RACHEL HAD noticed Lady Graves quick glances into the trees, but between being blinded by the sun, and the attention the men and women around her, required of her, she hadn’t been able to make out what had caught the woman’s eye.
Until Nash emerged from the trees.
In the sunlight, he was even more striking. The red tint in his dark hair became visible, and the blue of his eyes—
She stiffened. Reuben was with him.
Susanna giggled at something Lord Castell said, and Rachel turned in that direction, but could no longer hear what anyone was saying. Out the corner of her eyes, she watched them approach, and knew that she could not ignore them anymore.
She smiled and said, “Good afternoon. Lord Eastridge. Mr. Smith.” After Susanna said her own greetings, she quickly introduced them to the rest of the group. There was Castell, of course, but Rachel was sure Reuben had never met Princess Amy, Frederick’s younger sister. She’d yet to have a season, since her father considered her too young for society, at fourteen. Like Frederick, she’d gained Lady Yall’s blond hair, but unlike her brother, she’d inherited her father’s green eyes. She was pretty and pleasant, and had her own charm, which she’d used to get her brother to bring her to the park today.
She introduced the last, the very becoming Lady Graves, and charming Lord Hayward and Lord Park.
And then Lord Park’s dog, gorgeous brown and white spaniel named Tessa.
Lord Park immediately pulled Reuben into a conversation about the war, asking for information that would end a debate he was having with another gentleman, while Lady Graves seemed quite content to speak with Nash. Rachel knew the woman would pale when she discovered Mr. Smith was not of blue blood, but until then…
Rachel noticed the ease in which Reuben spoke to the other men, even Lord Castell, yet still she could see the tension in his body. He was so stiff, he might as well have been a tree in the park.
Something ruffled her skirt, and she looked down to find Tessa sniffing at her hem. The dog was large, but quite friendly. Rachel smiled, and pet the animal’s head, the hair smooth like silk.
Tessa’s dark eyes looked up at her. And then, she jumped. Heavy paws landed on Rachel’s legs, and pushed her over.
She dropped her parasol and gasped.
But then, an arm shot out and yanked her up, before she could fall into the lake.
The quick movement whipped her head around, and immediately her hair felt loose.
“Oh, my lady,” Lucille said from behind her. “Your headdress.”
Rachel straightened. It was Lord Park who’d caught her. He’d likely felt Tessa’s move on the end of his leash, and moved quickly. There was a lot of noise around her, but as Rachel touched her head, she couldn’t hear a word. Her mother’s headdress was gone! Her fingers started to tingle, as panic set in.
Tessa was barking, and Lord Park tried to pull her away.
“I’m quite sorry, my lady,” the gentleman was saying. “I’ll gladly pay for the cost of the jewel.”
Tears gathered in Rachel’s eyes, as she looked out at the lake. Lucille also stood at the edge of the dark water, but there was nothing to be seen. Only darkness, and the reflections of the sun in places.
Lord Castell knelt down, took off his coat, and swept his hands through the water, close to where Rachel stood. Moments later, he stilled and lifted his head to her, regret on his face. “I’m terribly sorry, my lady, but I can’t find it.”
“Reuben, don’t be a fool.” Nash said, at her back.
Rachel turned and watched as Reuben took off his boot. The other sat in the grass next to the jacket he’d already taken off, along with his waistcoat and cravat. His shirt was open and billowed in the wind, as he stood.
She wanted to ask him what he was about, but she knew that if she began to speak, she would cry, and she truly did not wish to cry in public.
A parasol came over her head once more, and she saw that Lucille held it for her, her eyes also on Reuben, as he moved barefooted toward the water.
She’d never seen his feet before, and noted that they were wide and long. Bigger than the average man’s, she was sure, though she’d not seen many feet in her life.
“Reuben,” Lord Castell called. “You’ll likely never find it here. This lake is deep, and the water could have moved it anywhere… and it’s filthy.”
Reuben ignored him, and waded into the water, disappearing as he went, until there was nothing but his head. And then his eyes met Rachel’s, before he took a breath and went under.
Princess Amy giggled. “Fred, I’ve never seen anyone not listen to you.”
Her brother narrowed his eyes at his sister where he was still crouched by the lake, and then stood. “Come. He’s a fool. He’ll never find it.” He placed a hand on his sister’s shoulder.
Princess Amy pouted her small mouth. “Oh, but c
an’t we wait and see if he does find it? Would be quite a miracle.” Already, a few others who’d been about the park were making their way over to the pond.
“He won’t find it,” the prince assured her.
Rachel’s stomach dropped. She was inclined to believe him.
And then, as if realizing how his words affected Rachel, Castell looked over at her sheepishly. “Forgive me, my lady, but it’s unlikely that he’ll—”
* * *
24
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
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Rachel watch Reuben surface, and pull in air. His black hair was plastered to his head, and water glittered on his lashes, and trailed down his cheeks. He reminded her of Poseidon, a god rising from the water.
“Did you find it?” she asked, her pulse beating with hope.
Reuben shook his head, and she was staggered by the disappointment.
“As I said,” Frederick began, but he was cut off once more, as Reuben inhaled before dipping back into the black pool.
The prince shook his head, and led his very reluctant sister away.
Susanna spoke to Nash. “Do you think your brother will find the jewel?”
Nash replied rather loudly, as though he wanted the crowd to hear. “My brother found an enemy of the crown in one of the bloodiest wars yet. A jewel will not defeat him.”
There was a murmur that went through the crowd. There were at leave twenty people about now, with children among them.
Tales of a Viscount_Heirs of High Society Page 16