by HELEN HARDT
“No, I didn’t.”
“Neither did I until this afternoon. Evidently they lost touch over the years.” Lily lowered her voice. “And do you want to know something else?”
“What, love?” Daniel whispered.
“My father once courted your mother.”
Daniel smiled mockingly. “Really?”
“You knew that?”
“I did.”
“Just think, if they had married, neither one of us would exist,” Lily said.
“I’d rather not imagine a world without you in it.” Daniel squeezed Lily’s thigh under the table. “Do you want to know something?”
“What?”
Daniel lowered his voice until it was barely audible. “I’ve been thinking about you all day.”
Lily’s blood turned to molten nectar, and her heart pulsated wildly. Warmth crept up her breasts to her face.
“You look amazing in that dress, but I know you’ll look even more delicious out of it.”
Lily squirmed as moisture penetrated the thin fabric of her undergarments. “You must stop talking like that.”
“Why? No one’s paying attention to us.”
“Because, it makes me feel all…”
Daniel grinned. “That’s the idea.”
* * *
After dinner, Lily relaxed with the girls on the front terrace, enjoying coffee and dessert, while the men retired to the back terrace for cigars and port. The others pounced on Lily.
“How did you manage to get seated next to him?” Alexandra asked.
“I’m not exactly sure.” At least that was the truth.
“He seemed to enjoy your company,” Sophie ventured. “It looked like he was conversing mostly with you, from what I could see.”
“It was either that or try to talk to Lady Bourough, who is deaf as a stone, or Lord Madison, who can’t keep from drooling over his wife.”
“Who cares?” Alexandra said. “You got to sit with him. Is he agreeable?”
“He’s very nice. And charming, as one would expect given his reputation with the ladies.”
“Not to mention, devastatingly handsome,” Alexandra added.
“Yes, there is that,” Lily agreed. “Tell me, Ally, how did you get on with Polk at dinner?”
“He was agreeable, but I actually preferred Mr. Landon, who was on my other side. He’s a cousin of the duke.”
“Really?”
“Second cousin actually. His father and Her Grace are cousins. He owns several businesses here and in America. It sounds like he’s worth a fortune.”
“Ally, don’t go barreling after a heavy purse,” Sophie warned. “There are more important things.”
“We can’t sponge off of Aunt Flora and Uncle Crispin forever, Sophie,” Alexandra said. “And damn it, I don’t want to be poor.”
“No one does, dear,” Sophie said. “But there are more essential matters, like love. Do you really want to end up in a loveless marriage with a tyrant like Father?”
“Of course not, and if any of us are lucky enough to find a love match, I’ll be the first one to hoot and holler in glee. But in the meantime, I’m willing to settle for money, especially if he’s handsome, which Mr. Landon is.”
“Well, as long as you have standards,” Sophie said, her tone sardonic.
They conversed and laughed until a maid approached them. “My lady?” she said to Lily.
“Yes?”
“I was bid to bring you to the library.”
“Whatever for?”
“His Grace wants to see you.”
“Oh.” How would she explain this to the others? “He’s going to show me the estate’s art collection. I nearly forgot. Will you all excuse me?”
They all stared at her wide-eyed.
“Would any of you like to come? Laurel Ridge is supposed to have some of the finest art.”
Alexandra beamed. “No, no, dear. We’ll wait right here for you. Do tell us all about it when you’re done.”
“You will have a chaperone, won’t you, Lily?” Sophie said.
“I’m sure His Grace has it all arranged.” Lily stood. “Do enjoy your evening, then.”
Lily followed the maid back into the house and dismissed her. Walking quietly through the entrance hall, she paused to glance inside the enormous dining room where servants were cleaning up after dinner. She continued down the hallway, looking for the library, but stopped when she came to a looking glass hanging on the wall by a small table. She quickly assessed her appearance, biting her lips, pinching her cheeks, and tucking a few stray hairs behind her ears.
“Good evening, love.”
“Goodness,” she said, nearly jumping. “Do you just appear out of thin air?”
Daniel smiled. “Come with me.”
“Wait a moment,” she said. “Shouldn’t we have a chaperone?”
“Does anyone know you’re with me?”
“My sister and cousins.”
“Ah. And I assume one of them was your nude bathing friend?” Daniel’s eyes sparkled.
“My cousin. Alexandra.”
He winked. “I think our secret is safe with them.”
He led her farther down the hallway to an enormous two story room filled with books and art. The overhead chandelier had been lit, and the soft velvety lighting cast brightness upon shelves and shelves of books. Lily breathed in the alluring scents of leather and parchment. She loved reading nearly as much as art, and this room was a treasure trove.
“This is magnificent.” She hurried toward the rows and rows of beautifully bound volumes. Books of history and books of law, volumes of poetry and Greek mythology, novels, reference volumes, and religious treatises. Lily ran her fingers over rows of books, taking in their texture and warmth. “If I had the time, I’d devour everything in here.”
“I thought you wanted to see art this evening,” Daniel said.
“Oh, I do. I just never imagined seeing so many books at once. This simply dwarfs the library at our estate.”
“Feel free to borrow anything you’d like while you’re here.”
“I intend to. I’m going to finish my painting tomorrow morning, and then I’m going to curl up under a tree with a good book. Doesn’t that sound heavenly?”
He smiled. “It actually does. In the afternoon, though, I’d like you to go riding with me.”
“Of course, I’d love to.” Then, “Oh, Lord Evan asked Rose to go riding, and I think she wants me to go along. I’m sorry. I forgot.”
“That’s not a problem,” Daniel said. “We’ll all go together.”
“I don’t know.” Lily chewed on her lip. “Are you sure we should go with others? They might think you’re courting me.”
“Perhaps I am.” His gaze met hers.
Lily laughed aloud. “You’re too funny, Daniel. If you were courting me honorably, you wouldn’t have taken me to bed. And if I’d wanted to be courted, I wouldn’t have gone.”
Daniel looked away. “I suppose you’re correct about that. I’ve never courted anyone before anyway. I’m not sure I even know how to go about it.”
“I think you would probably do fine. You’re quite charming. Any woman would be thrilled to have you court her.”
“Even you?” He gave her his lazy half smile.
The warmth of a blush crept over Lily’s skin. “Well, I… You certainly are appealing, naturally. And we seem to get on well enough. But I don’t have to remind you that you have a rakish reputation, and of course, you know I’m not looking for courtship of any kind.”
“You’ve made your point, Lily.” He spoke gruffly. “But I see no harm in going riding with your sister tomorrow. I’ll speak to Xavier about it in the morning.”
“That sounds fine. Oh, Daniel!” Lily spied a portrait of two small boys on the far wall of the library. She hurried toward it to examine it more closely. The boys didn’t look to be more than four or five, and they were both beautiful, one with light chestnut hair and brown eyes, th
e other with blond hair and green eyes. “My God, that’s you, isn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s Morgan and me in 1825. I remember sitting for that damned portrait when all I wanted to do was play.”
Lily reached to explore the texture in her mind. “The technique is wonderful. It’s beautifully done, but the artist didn’t get the color of your eyes quite right, did he? It’s signed MLF. Who is that?”
“Morgana Landon Farnsworth. My mother.”
“Really? She is quite a talent, isn’t she, even if she didn’t do your eyes justice.”
“The eyes look all right to me,” Daniel said.
“How can you say that? Your mother is gifted, to be sure, but she made your eyes green.”
“My eyes are green.”
“Well, yes, but your eyes are unique. They’re not just garden-variety green. They’re deep and expressive, with hues of forest and blue and violet. I’ll have to try to recreate the color, if I can ever get my father to allow me to have some blasted oils.” Lily sighed softly. “My, you were a beautiful child. I just want to reach out and pinch those adorable little cheeks!”
“You’re welcome to pinch any part of me, Lily.” He grinned rakishly and put his arms around her.
“Daniel! Anyone could walk in.”
“I’m not sure I care,” he said, nuzzling her hair.
“You are a rogue! Now let go of me and show me some more art.”
“All right.” He led her to a beautiful oak table and pointed to an ornate coppery red vase. “This is from China, the Ming dynasty. It’s dated around 1500.”
“It’s lovely. I’ve heard of Ming vases. They’re quite valuable aren’t they? Are you sure it’s safe to have it sitting out here?”
“This is a reproduction. The actual vase is in the estate’s safe. My father agreed with your assessment, especially when Morgan and I were young. Sometime maybe I’ll show you the real one.”
“I’d love that.”
She followed him to a portrait of an older gentleman.
“Do you know who this is?” he asked.
“Yes, I think so. It’s George Washington, the first president of the colonies.”
“It’s the United States, love. Since last century, remember?”
She gave him a friendly smack on the arm. “Who painted it?”
“An American artist named Gilbert Stuart. My father got it when he went to America shortly after the turn of the century. Many peers faulted him for hanging it here, but he always admired the Americans and their courage and fortitude. He said they offered a great lesson in pride and perseverance. This painting reminded him of that.”
“Your father sounds like a wise man.”
“He was. About some things. I’m hoping some of it rubbed off on me along the way. Here, this one I think you’ll like.” They stopped in front of a full-length portrait of his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Lybrook. “This was commissioned shortly after they were married. My mother was actually pregnant with Morgan at the time, but the artist depicted her otherwise.”
Daniel’s father, Charles Farnsworth, the sixth Duke of Lybrook, was built like his son, tall and strong with broad shoulders and lean hips. His hair was a light chestnut, and his eyes the color of cinnamon. His face had the same fine lines and strong jaw that Daniel possessed. Morgana, the Duchess of Lybrook, was as Aunt Iris had described her, exotically beautiful, with hair that rivaled Daniel’s and eyes the color of clear green emeralds.
“I can see where you get your good looks, Daniel,” Lily said. “Your parents are both spectacular.”
“Yes, I can’t say they never gave me anything, can I?”
The facetious comment confused Lily, but she said nothing as Daniel led her to a glass-knobbed door between the rows of shelving on the wall opposite the door they had come in. He took a key out of his pocket and turned it in the lock. “Now, if you’ll follow me.”
Lily’s heart nearly stopped. It was another library, but this one was a gallery dedicated solely to art. The giant chandelier illuminated a room filled with treasures. Paintings hung on the walls, sculptures stood on the floor, and vases and smaller statues graced several cherry tables. “Oh Daniel!” She grasped his arm. “I can’t believe this!”
“Don’t get overly excited. About half of these paintings are my mother’s work, and she was never a big name in the art world.”
“You silly, art isn’t about names. It’s about beauty and emotion.” She whirled around, trying to take it all in.
Daniel patiently led her through the room, showing her each individual piece and explaining the history behind it and how it had come into his family. Lily gushed over paintings by Van Dyck and Rembrandt, and was particularly taken with a copy of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa that the duchess had painted.
“This was the only time she ever copied someone else’s work. She was so taken with the portrait that she spent a month in Paris so she could go to the Louvre and look at it every day. She would spend about an hour each morning studying it and then go back to her chamber and paint. I’ve seen the real one, and my mother’s is remarkably accurate.”
“It’s amazing,” Lily said. “I must see the Louvre someday. I can’t even imagine what a thrill it will be.”
“Let’s go tomorrow, then,” Daniel said with a smile.
“All right. I’ll pack my valise.” She gave him a quick hug. “This has been a fantastic evening. Thank you so much for showing me everything.”
“I have several more pieces I’d like for you to see, but they’re scattered around the estate. Would you like to save them for another time?”
Lily lifted her hand and caressed the curve of Daniel’s jaw, his night beard rough against her palm. “You know, I never thought I’d say this, but I don’t want to look at another piece of art tonight.”
“What do you want to do, love?” he asked, taking her other hand in his.
More than anything in the world, she knew what she wanted. And damn the consequences.
“I want to go to bed,” she said. “With you.”
Chapter 7
Lily sighed as she entered Daniel’s bedchamber. A fire had been started in the grate, casting a delicate glow about the room and illuminating St. Praxedis’s lovely face in an incandescent beauty. The table in the window was set with a small platter of fruit and chocolate, and an uncorked bottle of wine and two glasses stood next to it. Two tapers lit the small banquet.
“Oh my,” Lily said. “That’s lovely.” Then, turning to Daniel, “One might think you assumed I’d come with you.”
“I just believe in being prepared, love.”
“And I suppose, had I refused, you’d have found a willing substitute?”
He moved toward her and cupped her face in his hands. “I don’t want anyone but you tonight, Lily. Had you refused, I’d have blown out the candles and gone to bed.” He led her to the table. “Come, sit with me. I want to feed you.”
Lily’s heart raced. Daniel had the most remarkable way of using words to make her feel absolutely giddy with desires. Years of practice, no doubt. She pushed the conjecture from her mind. She wanted to enjoy the moment. She started to sit down on the settee where she had taken lunch, but he pulled her away.
“I said sit with me.” He sat down and pulled her into his lap. He took the bottle of wine and poured two glasses. “This is Château Beychevelle, 1831. I think you’ll find it to your liking.”
“I’m afraid know very little about wine.”
“Then I shall teach you.” He held up the glass. “Smell this.”
“What?”
“Stick your cute little nose into the glass and smell it.”
She complied.
“Now, what did it smell like?”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“Was it smoky, or floral, or fruity? Those are just some examples. Here, try again.”
“Daniel, I feel like an utter fool,” she said, but she tried again anyway. “I don’t know
. It’s fragrant.”
Daniel chuckled. “Of course it’s fragrant, Lily. What does the fragrance remind you of?”
She smelled the wine once more. “It reminds me of berries.”
“Swirl it in the glass,” Daniel said, showing her. “That releases the aromas a little more. Now smell it again.”
“Berries still. A little…wood, perhaps? Maybe some cinnamon?” She swirled and smelled again. “This can’t be.”
“What?”
“I’m getting…” She stuck her nose far into the glass, touching it to the wine. “Coffee, Daniel. It has a slight coffee smell.”
Daniel kissed the drip of wine off of her nose. “I knew you’d have a good nose, Lily. As an artist and writer, you have heightened senses of sight, hearing, and touch. It’s not surprising that your sense of smell is enhanced also.” He swirled the wine in the glass, closed his eyes, and took a long sniff. “I do believe you’re right. It does remind me a bit of coffee. But I’m smelling the cinnamon and berries much more on the surface. You did amazingly well for your first time.”
“What now? Do we just smell it, or are we going to drink it?”
“We’re not going to drink it yet,” he said. “We’re going to taste it.”
“What’s the difference?”
He held the glass to her, smiling. “Take a sip, but don’t swallow. Let it rest on your tongue for a moment.”
She obeyed.
“Now swish it around a little. Let it coat every part of your mouth. Good. Now swallow slowly if you can. Each part of your mouth will register a different part of the wine’s complexity. There, what did you think?”
“It was… I don’t know. Warm, a little spicy in the back of my mouth. But on my tongue it was fruity, like layers of dark grapes. And blackberries. And currants.”
“Very good.”
“Aren’t you going to taste it?” Lily held the glass to him.
“Of course.”
He took the glass from her, set it on the table, and kissed her gently, prying her lips open with his tongue. He glided smoothly over every inch of her mouth. She was breathing heavily by the time he lifted his head.