Passion

by Gayle Eden

  “Oh—my God…” Gabriella stared at her.

  Tears spurted even as Caroline rasped. “My knees went so weak, the butler grabbed my arm. However, all I could do was say stupidly, you are mistaken, he is a Captain…and the man said, why yes, Captain Blaise LeClair. I pulled away and ran blindly for the hack.”

  “My God. That means he’s—“

  “Stoneleigh’s brother.”

  Gabriella sat back, giving Caroline credit as she merely wept silent and held her stomach.

  She chanced softly, when they neared the house, “Perhaps it is for the best. Maybe now you can…”

  “—It’s not.” Caroline groaned. “It’s not. Don’t you see? He will think I knew. They will both think— and father—”

  Reaching over, Gabriella took her hands. “We’ll figure this out. I promise you. We will.”

  Caroline shook her head, her whole face showing that fear, and heartbreak. “It’s over, it’s over…and in the worst way. We have already sent invites out to the Duke and his family, for the ball this weekend. My life…is over.”

  Although she did not agree, Gabriella knew Caroline felt that. She pat her hand and tried to calm her, before they arrived home. Thankfully the Duke was not in when they did arrive, and Gabriella got her above before Caroline fell apart.

  There, her half-sister took off her jacket and hat, then fell across the bed, weeping.

  Gabriella left her a moment to see to their packages. The French maid Caroline employed whispered when she went back to check on her, “Er art is broken. I knew this would happen.”

  “Say nothing to the Duke. In fact, say nothing to anyone. Her ladyship has a headache …from…shopping.”

  “I would never.” The woman crossed her heart. “I will let is Grace know she is indisposed.”

  Gabriella blew out a long breath when the girl left, and took a glass of wine to Caroline. “Here. Drink this.”

  Not touching it, Caroline lay with her knees curled, holding a pillow to her chest. “I can’t believe I didn’t know.”

  “That’s the way with games. Even when we think we are making the rules and understand them.”

  Caroline rolled to her back, eyes looking worse and cheeks blotchy. “This is a nightmare. Worse. How could I have picked the one man in all of London…?”

  “If the feelings are real, then it was fate. If his feelings are true, it won’t matter.”

  “Oh. God.” Caroline covered her face with her hands. “It will matter to Stoneleigh. To father. Dear lord, I don’t know what to do.”

  “Tell your father the truth.”

  Caroline lowered her hands and looked at her as if she were daft. “Tell father that I’ve…:” she made a sound. “I can’t do that.”

  “Then tell me the story and I will tell him.”

  “I can’t. I cannot tell him. He thinks I am good and pure, and honest. Moreover, it will shock him terribly. Not to mention embarrass him for Stoneleigh’s sake. Its better I bear the brunt of this mess on my own. Although—I do not know how exactly. Dear—God, I’ve got to think of something before father’s ball!””

  Seeing she was not going to get anywhere with her. Gabriella simply sat with her sister for an hour, before leaving to change and having her own dinner brought up on a tray. Drinking coffee later, and pondering the irony in life, she finally got pen and paper out.

  She wrote to Raith—and had it sent to the Duke’s house.

  Chapter 11

  Raith read the missive from Gabriella. He held it in his fingertips a long time whilst standing by the fireplace in his chambers. He did not laugh at himself for the emotions that surged in him when it had come—thinking the note to be something entirely different. He did not deserve what he fantasized. He had not showed Gabriella anything—any other side of himself to inspire…other feelings.

  Finished, a grunt issued before he turned from the fire and went to the wardrobe. He was dressed in a black shirt and trousers, boots, so he took down a long ankle length coat, shoving his fingers through his hair as he grabbed up the cane. He only needed it when he stood too long, now.

  Artis was passing the foyer as he emerged, his father had apparently just returned from his club.

  “You’re going out?”

  Raith had gone out several times, walking often. Not in the dark and dankness, but in the park though at hours less frequented by society.

  “I’m going to see Jules.”

  Artis raised his brow. “I am glad to see you two are getting on.”

  Smiling sardonically, Raith told him, “It’s not going to be a pleasant visit.” He pulled the note out of his pocket and stood, watching his father read it.

  When he was done, there was a thoughtful look on Artis’s face handing it back. His Grace murmured wryly, “Let me know how it goes.”

  “You don’t seem too upset.”

  “How can I be? Blaise is blind. He cannot see Caroline’s beauty, nor apparently did he know of her fortune, and who her father was. That says more to me than anything.”

  Raith nodded. “I’ll let you know.”

  “Raith?”

  Turning at the door, Raith looked at him.

  Artis smiled. “I like the way she thinks. This Gabriela.”

  Raith nodded and left, having nothing to expound on that. From the note, it was obvious Gabriella understood Jules and Caroline’s world. She did not want Blaise humiliated, or Jules upset, or Caroline either. She could not betray Caroline’s wishes and go to her father. Raith did not really care why she presented the problem to him. He was simply relieved to hear anything from her.

  He did not take a coach to Jules’s mansion, it being only blocks up, and though traffic was heavy as people left for balls and theater, Raith considered it mild compared to lower London. He stepped up and knocked, admiring the architecture of the building.

  A stately butler opened the door.

  “I’m here to see Lord Stoneleigh.” Raith stepped in when the man opened the door.

  “He’s above, just returned from his club. Who may I say is…”

  “His brother. Lord Montovon.”

  “Oh, I beg your pardon, your Lordship.”

  “Not at all. I’ll find my way up.” Raith did not hand over his coat but merely lay it over his arm, crossing a long high ceiling foyers, before reaching the grand staircase. It was marbled. High columns soared up two stories. The entire lower floors were rich, opulent, and he mentally shook his head how apt it suited Jules.

  He had a few false starts before a young maid emerging from another wing directed him to Jules chambers. Raith entered them, situated at the end of a long upper hall, and found Jules in his shirtsleeves, sipping coffee.

  “Raith…” He came to his feet and put the cup down, his eyes stark for a moment…”Is something wrong—father?”

  “No. He’s fine.” Raith tossed his coat on a chair, noting folding doors at the other end leading to a massive bedchamber. At the moment, they were in a sitting area cum library. He helped himself to coffee before waving Jules to sit down.

  Staring at him, Jules did. “What brings you here? To say I’m surprised is an understatement?”

  Raith had been looking around, but eyed him. “A personal matter.”

  “Certainly, whatever I can help you with.” Jules relaxed.

  Cynically Raith grinned. “You assume it is my problem?”

  “Well yes.”

  “It’s yours.”

  “Mine.” Jules arched his brow.

  Raith scanned his face. He was not sure why he began as he did, but he asked, “Do you care for Lady Caroline?”

  “Care for her?”

  “Don’t cock that arrogant brow, Stoneleigh. You know what I mean.”

  “Yes. But I am at a loss as to—“

  “Lady Caroline is in love with Blaise.”

  “What!” Jules nearly lost his hold on the cup.

  Raith pulled out the note. “Read it.”

  He sat and sipp
ed his coffee while Jules did. When his brother got up, laughing, truly laughing, Raith waited to hear what was so amusing about it.

  Laying the missive down, Jules wiped his hands over his face, gathering himself to say, “I cannot believe it.”

  “Do you really think yourself so superior that—“

  “—No.” Jules stared at him. “It’s not that. You have no idea.” He laughed and then shook his head. “My, God. I can hardly credit it. Caroline certainly fooled me. I would never have guessed…”

  “That she wouldn’t want you?”

  Stoneleigh snorted. “Yes, perhaps in my arrogance. Although Blaise has that seasoned, earthly appeal….But more than that, I would never suspect her of carrying on some…affair.”

  “Yes. Well.” Raith set the cup aside. “She has, with Blaise. Although, he does not know who she is. And she did not know who he was.”

  Jules sat rather heavily in the chair, his green eyes were still holding a stunned expression. “You’ve really no idea how….”

  “—Why don’t you enlighten me?”

  “I’ve become involved…with Caroline’s best friend,” Jules confessed and then laughed without humor. “I don’t do that, you know. I don’t have affairs, and I don’t have….women…”

  Raith waited but when nothing more came, he read the rest in Jules’s silence. “That answers my first question. Now though, you have to think of Blaise. You have all but commanded his appearance at this ball of Coulborn’s. If he’s Lady Caroline’s lover, and I seriously doubt that he’s not been intimate with her, then he’ll know her.”

  Jules got up again, rubbing the back of his neck as he paced. “I cannot believe I never mentioned him.”

  “I can.”

  “In any case," Jules ignored that grunt. “I didn’t see the least hint of this…Wait—ah, yes…I believe I did.” Jules smiled a bit. “At least I noticed Lady Caroline seemed…different.”

  “From Gabriella’s accounts, she fell in love with him.”

  “Yes. I gather that.”

  “Do you think that Blaise will believe she didn’t know who he was?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Raith stood too. “Her father will be upset?”

  “Likely. Nevertheless, he cares for Caroline, obviously. He will be embarrassed on my behalf, although I should relieve him on that score. I certainly feel no betrayal. Blind, perhaps, but that’s a willful blindness.”

  “So, who will you meet with first? Caroline or Blaise.”

  Jules regarded him. “I have to think this through. It’s not just us, those who are involved, but society and the impression we’ve fostered.”

  “To bloody hell with them.” Raith shook his head. “For once in your life, Jules, do not attend what others think or expect. Doesn’t this—mess, make it plain to you how doing so just makes for misunderstandings and mistakes? You have done the same thing that Lady Caroline has done. Why?”

  “I didn’t set out to have anything with…”

  “Lady Harriet?”

  “Yes.” Jules grit his teeth.

  Raith laughed abrupt. “Not your type at all, is she brother?”

  “No.” Jules went over and found his cheroot box, lighting one, and pacing more.

  “Jules,” Raith walked over to the window and gazed down. “You’ve been prodding me to look at myself. Everyone has focused on me, for the obvious reasons. I am not saying it is not justified. But, look at yourself, all of us. Why do you think Blaise was willing to play such a game? Does he strike you as a man who is not straightforward? No. And I cannot think he did not know she was a refined and proper young woman. If it’s a game, then we can tell ourselves we have no real feelings at stake.”

  “I agree.”

  Raith turned and looked at him. “And you are still willing to pretend that society matters more than anything else? You escaped a scandal, have been blackmailed, and yet you’ve involved yourself with a woman who is best friends with the one everyone assumes you will wed.”

  “I know what you are saying, Raith.” Jules blew a tense stream of smoke. “I take part of the blame for this tangle. I understand Lady Caroline better than you think. We exist in the same world.”

  “But do you understand Blaise? Do you know that it is fear? That is why we lie to ourselves. No doubt, it has to do with his blindness. I do not profess to know what he feels every day, knowing the man he was, and the one he has to create all over again. However, I would imagine that compared to others, he sees himself with less to offer. Certainly, Jules, would see you as the better man for someone like her. Providing he believes she knew nothing of your relation and can think half way clear.”

  Jules arched his brow. “What do you expect me to do? I cannot control his reaction. This is something of Caroline’s making.”

  “Yes. I am merely saying, consider his pride before your own this time. And consider her position, too.”

  “Very well.”

  Raith turned to pick up his coat and Jules murmured, “You did this, came here, for Gabriella.”

  “Yes.’ Raith looked at him. “But also for you. Aside from being brothers, you saved my life. For a few moments, I hated you for that. Nevertheless, once I realized I was no longer haunted, I could think clearer. You have always been the one to do things right, Jules. You cared more about that, than any of us. Even when it appeared, you had sold yourself for this world of bloodlines and titles and having that flawless rep, you cared enough for father, to try to fulfill his wish. I do not know that you would have gone on and wed Lady Caroline. I had no clue you had something with Harry, but I assumed you would do as expected.

  Now you know Lady Caroline is as human as you are. As we all are. Blaise probably is—in love with her. You have the chance to stop lying to yourself too and running from feelings. You’ve the chance to do something, because you know the lady cannot, and Blaise won’t.”

  Raith turned and walked out, having said what he came to say. As he put on his coat and went out, he heard Jules call from the top of the stairs.

  “Someone trusts you to do the right thing too, brother. Someone, knows you’re a man who will take care of what needs done.”

  Raith nodded and left, though as he strolled he did begin to see what Gabriella sending him that note meant. When they last parted, he had no relationship with his family, and felt no obligation to them. Now she had people in her life, blood kin, as he did, and it was uncanny that she knew, simply knew, he had crossed all those bridges and was forming a relationship with his father and brother too.

  When he arrived home, he wrote his own note and had it delivered to Gabriella.

  * * * *

  Those closest in the Duke’s circle arrived at the birthday ball first, so there were crowds enjoying the music, mingling and such in the mansion long before the official hour.

  Gabriella had dressed early in her new ball gown, wearing her hair up with gold combs that his Grace presented her with. She let Caroline take center stage, and her father. Though eyed often and suffering raised brows, her mind was on her presence mattering to her father more. Still, she held herself aloof and kept herself back from the main guests.

  She observed the Duke of Eastland, and the Earl of Stoneleigh’s arrival, with two other males. Raith was there too. His hair had been cut and much of it had silver shimmering in it. The straight stuff grazed just at his strong jaw, looking as if he had made attempts to keep it tucked behind his ears. Still, it enhanced his patrician bones, even if they were on the fierce side, his sooty lashes, raven brows…dark, polished black eyes, and stirred emotions in her. He would always be unique, she decided.

  Tall and broad shouldered, even having to lean a bit on a silver cane, the cut of his thigh length jacket was different from the formal clothing on other men—black, but having a hint of silver in the thread. His neck cloth was not the snowy white most seen, it was simply tied and purplish silver.

  What stood out was his sinew, the fierce handsomeness, compar
ed to his brother Jules’s princely beauty. And, perhaps, because she knew him….knew what the aura of remoteness was. That darkness gave him a mature and older than his year’s air of mystery.

  She remembered from her youngest years with him how drawn to it, to him, she was and Gabriella felt all the feelings rushing back, only stronger. She thought of his note begging a private word with her, and could hardly keep her heart from beating out of her chest.

  He was taking a drink from the wine glass he had held by the bulb in his long fingers when his dark eyes moved across the room. They found hers, held, and Gabriella felt an invisible pull, a physical current inside of her sparking everything to life. Skin, heart, blood, senses all quickened.

  Raith lowered the glass, swallowed, stared as if experiencing the same out of place and time sensation she felt. His tongue licked his sensual mouth. Dark eyes were shielded by the half-mast of his lashes.

  It was such a familiar action, her own mouth pulled into a hint of smile.

  However, when his lashes lifted, those pitch eyes held an unmistakable beckoning.

  She found herself making her way toward him, wanting to run instead of the graceful steps she took.

  * * * *

  Caroline’s knees shook. Her lungs became starved for air whilst she watched the Captain approach. Oh. God. Oh—Please. A sickening sensation filled her. She trembled and felt hot and cold at the same time. She seriously feared she might faint, right there in a ballroom full of people.

  He reached Jules first, as Stoneleigh stood beside her, having arrived early to host.

  Despite her tilting world, she noticed how very handsome Blaise looked in formal clothing. His hair had grown into waves of beautiful oak brown, and the glasses he wore were a light blue tint, showing more of the shape of his eyes. His formal attire was a deep bronze, with suede, thigh length coat—snug bronze trousers, wine boots, and a silk shirt. His neck cloth had the merest hint of amber stripe in it, reminding her that his eyes were very light brown.

  Throat closing, she was near to swaying as he spoke to Jules, and all too soon—Jules turned to her and began the introductions….