“Perhaps that should be our next lesson,” he murmured as he passed by her to go through the doorway. Her sharp intake of breath told him she had heard him, and he found his mind wandering down the road of dangerous possibilities as she shut the door behind them.
“Are you mad to say such things here?” She stormed past him, hugging her midriff. “Our arrangement was to remain a secret.”
“And so it is. But I can’t help how I respond to you…or how you respond to me.” He moved closer to her, then trailed his fingertip along the shell of her ear. As expected, the caress made her visibly quiver. “Perhaps we should indeed use our five minutes for another lesson.”
“Have you no shame?” Her voice lacked the rebuke it should have had, and he could swear he could see her nipples straining against the dark gray dress she wore. “Anyone could come in here at any moment.”
“Then I suppose you had better tell me what’s going on. Why did Bailey summon me here?”
“I have convinced Annabelle to postpone the wedding.”
“Postpone? Not call off?”
“No.” Cilla shook her head. “For now, she is uncertain enough about Raventhorpe that she spoke with Dolly last evening about her concerns. Dolly talked to Annabelle’s father this morning. Now you are here, so I can only assume that Mr. Bailey has made a decision about the matter.”
“Perhaps he intends to have me keelhauled.”
“Do not be ridiculous. Virgil Bailey is a fair, levelheaded man. More likely Annabelle may have convinced him that they misjudged you.”
“That would be a miracle indeed.”
“At least postponing the wedding buys you more time to find evidence against the earl.” She bit her lower lip, her lovely brown eyes reflecting her apprehension. “I decided not to tell Annabelle the whole truth about Raventhorpe. Let her have her illusions about life for a little while longer.”
He tipped her chin up with one finger so her gaze met his. “You’re a softhearted little thing, aren’t you?”
“Nonsense.” She pulled away from him, but not before he noticed the pulse pounding in her throat. “I simply do not see any purpose in telling Annabelle such sordid tales unless it is absolutely necessary.”
“You know that by telling her the whole truth, she might very well drop Raventhorpe like a hot rock.”
“The thought did occur to me, but I truly believe she should be spared if possible. Besides, if I did carry such accounts to her and she did not believe me, she might tell her mother and then I would be dismissed. I am not willing to take that chance.”
“Is that the real reason?” He trailed his finger down the side of her neck, smiling as his suspicions were confirmed. Her pulse was racing like a rabbit’s.
“Of course. You know Annabelle’s safety is of the utmost importance to me.”
“Or were you worried that I would end our bargain as soon as we attained our goal?”
She glanced away. “I thought of it.”
He bent down until his mouth hovered near her ear. “Whatever happens with the wedding, our bargain stands.”
“Until when?” she murmured. “You do not intend to stay in England indefinitely.”
“No, but neither do I have pressing business in America. There is no shame in wanting more, Priscilla.”
She didn’t answer.
“Is that why you’ve convinced Annabelle to postpone the wedding instead of jilting Raventhorpe outright?”
“No, that is not why I made the suggestion.” She turned her head and locked eyes with him, her mouth only inches from his. “My own naïveté was destroyed by my husband, and I do not have the life I wanted. I do not want that for Annabelle. She still has a chance at happiness.”
Damn, but he wanted to taste that mouth again. But this was not the place or the time. There was business to attend to. “I’m not objecting. We can try it your way for a while, but if it does not work, we’ll have no choice but to tell her the whole of it.”
“I know. I just think we should lead her to jilt Raventhorpe and believe it is her own idea. She will be better off in the end.”
“In the meantime, you have delayed the wedding, which is in our favor.” He looked down at her lips, so full and soft. The temptation was killing him. “Your mouth is a man’s fantasy, do you know that?”
Her lips parted and a sound came out—some kind of squeaky, half-shocked gasp. Even that stirred his desire.
“I have some ideas involving that mouth.” He raised his brows. “You still have a free afternoon on Sundays, don’t you?”
“Yes, but…” She glanced around as if expecting the vicar to jump out from behind one of the curtains. “It still feels scandalous to indulge such appetites on a Sunday.”
“If you intended to make love in the church, I would agree with you. Otherwise, Sunday is just another day.”
“I attend services with the family on Sunday mornings.”
“What time are you released from your duties?”
“I begin my half day at two o’clock.”
“I will send John around at two o’clock then.” Distracted again by the lure of her lips, he took her chin in his hand and pressed a quick, hard kiss to her mouth. “You have no idea how much you tempt me to forget this meeting with Bailey,” he muttered. “But he summoned me, and I have to admit I am very curious as to what he has to say.”
She slanted him a look that told him she shared his regret. “Be sure to tell me what happens.”
“I will.” He started for the door, then paused. “Are you coming?”
“I will be along in a moment.” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “It is better if we are not seen together.”
“Until tomorrow then.” He gave her a nod, then left the room.
Samuel entered Virgil’s study at the behest of the surly Thomas. Virgil sat behind his desk, spectacles perched on his nose. He glanced over as Samuel closed the door behind him.
“Come and sit down, Samuel. Thank you for coming.”
“Your summons took me by surprise.” Samuel seated himself in a chair before the desk. “I had not expected to hear from you after our conversation the last time I was in this room.”
“I know, I know.” Virgil took off his spectacles and laid them on the open book in front of him. “You’ve got every right to be angry.”
“Why did you call me here?”
“Not going to give an old man a shot, eh? That’s all right. I’d be steamed if I were you, too. Anyhow, I wanted to tell you that I thought about what you said.”
Samuel simply nodded.
“And you’re right, I should have believed in you.” Virgil pinched the bridge of his nose. “The thing is, Annabelle was devastated when you didn’t come home. After a while, I was so burned up at seeing her cry all the time that I was ripe for the picking when Raventhorpe came around with his story about how you were no good.”
“Do you believe that he lied?”
“I don’t know what to think except this: Something extraordinary must have happened to you because nothing short of that would have prevented you from keeping your word to my baby.”
“That’s right.”
“So I’m not choosing between the two of you, saying who’s right and who’s not. I can’t do that. Your word against his, you understand?”
“I would hope you would give weight to my word since you have known me longer.”
“Like I said, without evidence, I can’t make a true decision. But what I can do is follow my gut. And my gut says you belong back home.”
Emotion welled up, tightening in his chest. “What made you change your mind?”
“You did, son. You and those principles of yours. Once the dust settled, Dolly told me that she didn’t believe you’d run off like a coward. She thought something else must have happened, something that prevented you from coming back to Annabelle.”
“Raventhorpe happened,” Samuel said. “When he came to you to tell you his tale—probably to cove
r his own tracks—and he saw how pretty Annabelle was, and how rich, he must have seen a golden opportunity. The man gambles too much and always needs money.”
“Well, Dolly believed in you, and then Annabelle told us about how Lord Raventhorpe started treating her after you came back. Looking down on her because she was American and trying to push up the wedding. Sort of made me think.”
“You place too much importance on having a title.”
“I’m starting to see that. After Annabelle told us what sort of things went on and why she was thinking maybe she’d misjudged you, it occurred to me that earls and those types are born into their positions. They don’t earn them. You, son, you earned your way to the captain’s spot. That says something about a man.”
Samuel gave a short nod, struggling to remain collected in spite of the emotion welling up inside him.
“Tell me, were you taking up with other gals while you were away?”
Samuel stiffened. “No.”
Virgil nodded. “And did you stay away of your own free will?”
“No.”
“All right then. That’s all I’m going to ask you. The rest is water under the bridge. Forgotten.”
Surprise made him blink. Could he forget the pain of his surrogate family not believing in him? Could he forgive that easily?
He looked into Virgil’s eyes and saw reflected back the same man who had been like a father to him. Stubborn, resourceful, proud, and honest as the day was long. If Virgil wanted to move forward on the understanding that Samuel had not acted like a cad, it might be the best he was going to get. He would take it.
“If you’re willing to forgive an old fool, I’d like to shake your hand on it.”
Samuel nodded and extended his hand. The older man took it and shook firmly.
“What now?” Samuel asked. “Are you willing to hear what I’ve learned about Raventhorpe?”
“You got evidence?”
“No.”
“Then no, I don’t want to hear any rumors or gossip or what have you. Let’s just leave it at the fact that you two fellows don’t like each other very much. And that Lord Raventhorpe can act like a jackass sometimes.”
“You’d be right.”
“Then let’s not talk about that. Let’s talk about Annabelle.”
“What about Annabelle?”
Virgil sat back in his chair and folded his hands across his stomach, a grin stretching across his face. “I’d like to offer you the chance to court her.”
“Court her? But she broke our engagement.”
“Well, she was mad at you. Thought you’d abandoned her for some senorita down Mexico way or some nonsense.”
“That is nonsense.”
“Well, she’s postponed the wedding to Lord Raventhorpe. She can’t make up her mind about which one of you she wants for a husband, so she wants you to both court her so she can make up her mind.”
“But she’s still engaged to Raventhorpe.”
“We haven’t torn up the agreement, if that’s what you’re asking. I talked to him about the situation this morning.”
“And he went along with this?”
“Oh, he’s madder than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers, but the truth is, he had no choice.” Virgil’s mouth thinned. “If he wants to win Annabelle, he’s going to play by my rules, and I say we’re postponing the wedding. What my baby wants, she gets, and right now she wants to be courted by both of you.”
“I’m flattered, Virgil, but I’m not interested in courting Annabelle.”
“Not interested?” Virgil sat up in his chair. “A few weeks ago you busted into my house and raised a ruckus about marrying Annabelle.”
“And afterwards I realized that she and I have both changed. We’re not the same people we were, and getting married now might be a mistake.”
“Well, hell. What am I going to tell her now? She wanted the two of you to fight for her hand or some female foolishness. If you’re not interested, then she’s probably going to end up with Raventhorpe just to soothe her ruffled feathers.”
“There are a dozen equally eligible bachelors she could choose from. Why him?”
“He helped her through a tough time, so I reckon she has a soft spot for him.”
“He caused the tough time.” Virgil held up a finger in warning, and Samuel let out an impatient sigh. “But you have no proof of that. I understand.”
Virgil sat back in his chair again and eyed Samuel. “I was hoping you’d end up being my son-in-law, boy. Maybe you could humor an old man. Get to know Annabelle again. Not court her, just be her escort to a couple of social get-togethers. Maybe spend some time talking.”
“I don’t want to lead Annabelle to think I’m angling to marry her,” Samuel said.
“That’s fine,” Virgil said. “I’m just thinking that maybe with you hanging around her some, she might not be so quick to jump back into Raventhorpe’s arms.”
He could tell from the gleam in the older man’s eyes that Virgil was hoping Samuel would decide to rekindle his relationship with Annabelle. Samuel knew that would never happen, but it might be wise to go along with Virgil’s plan as a way to keep Annabelle and Raventhorpe apart. Anything he could do to buy more time to dig up evidence on Raventhorpe.
“All right. I will make an effort to get to know Annabelle again, as long as it is clearly understood by both you and her that I am not attempting to woo her into marriage. My role will be that of a family friend, someone who occasionally escorts her to social events.”
“Sure, sure. I’ll explain all that to her.”
“This is important to me, Virgil.” He caught and held the man’s gaze. “I have already been falsely accused of being a cad once. I have no desire for history to repeat itself.”
“Absolutely, my boy. I’ll make sure Annabelle understands completely. She and Dolly are out visiting right now, but I’ll sit down with her as soon as she gets back.”
“As long as we understand each other.” Samuel stood and held out his hand to Virgil. “Thank you for the apology. I hated to think there was bad blood between us.”
Virgil stood and shook his hand. “Me too, son. Me too.”
She was not eavesdropping, Cilla thought as the study door opened. She simply happened to be passing by on her way to the gardens. If she chanced to overhear anything, it was completely by happenstance.
“There’s the Archer thing on Wednesday. You could escort Annabelle to that,” Virgil said, clapping Samuel on the back.
“I will be pleased to do so.”
“Ah, Mrs. Burke.” Virgil beamed at her. “Do show Samuel out, won’t you?”
“Of course, Mr. Bailey.” Cilla met Samuel’s gaze. He was escorting Annabelle to a ball? What had happened in that room?
Was Samuel going to start pressing his suit with Annabelle again?
“I’m glad we had this chat, son,” Virgil said.
“I am, too. I will see you Wednesday.” Samuel stepped out into the hall.
“Yes, you will.” With a gleeful grin, Virgil slipped back into his study and closed the door, leaving Samuel and Cilla alone in the hall together.
“Is there somewhere we can talk?” Samuel asked, glancing at a maid passing by at the end of the hall.
“I can show you out through the garden gate.” Her blood seemed frozen in her veins. If he was going to be pursuing Annabelle again, he would no doubt be ending their arrangement. She should have expected it. He had never made any secret about the fact that he would do anything to break up Annabelle’s marriage to Raventhorpe.
But he had also given her reason to believe that he and Annabelle were not suited. Had he lied to her? Had he simply used her to accomplish his own ends?
Had she once more allowed a man to make a fool of her?
Numb, she led him toward the door in the rear of the house, where they could slip out into the garden unnoticed. Cilla was very aware of Samuel’s close proximity as they started down the path leading to
the side gate.
They walked for a couple of minutes in silence. Each second that ticked by, she waited for his announcement that the Baileys had accepted him back into the fold again and that he would once more be pursuing Annabelle.
Finally he stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Wait a moment.”
She squeezed her eyes closed for a quick second, bracing herself for disappointment. “What’s the matter?”
“I can tell you are upset.”
“Nonsense.” But she couldn’t meet his eyes.
“Come here.” He took her hand and led her beneath an arbor and behind some tall shrubbery. A marble bench sat in the hidden alcove. “Sit with me for a moment.”
“How did you know this was here?”
“John and I studied the garden’s layout extensively. Just in case.”
“We should not linger. Someone will be missing me shortly.”
“Don’t fret about that.” He tugged on her hand until she sat on the bench, and then he settled beside her. “Dolly is out with Annabelle, so you can stay with me for a few minutes.”
“Very well. But only for a few minutes.” She tugged at her hand, but he continued to hold it.
“I like touching you,” he said. “Now tell me why you’re so unhappy. Our plan is working.”
“Working so well that you are now escorting Annabelle to the Archer ball.”
“Is that what this is about?”
“What am I expected to think? You have made no bones about the fact that you are determined to see Annabelle parted from Raventhorpe, no matter what the cost.”
“True, but—”
“I had thought that postponing the wedding would serve as a solution until I could convince Annabelle to break off the engagement. But apparently you have found a different way.” Her voice broke on the last word. She sucked in a deep breath. She would not act like a ninny and fall in love with Samuel Breedlove. What they had was not love. It was sex.
“Cilla, you are overreacting. Yes, I have agreed to escort Annabelle to a ball or two, but I made it clear to Virgil that it is just as a family friend.”
“It is not so great a leap from family friend to suitor.”
Tempting a Proper Lady Page 22