“Like who?”
Cathy intervened gently that they only “thought” this was what had happened. “We should not accuse anyone without proof, Jussy.”
Wainwright sighed. “I see.”
“Oh, why did you tell him?” Rebecca snapped angrily. “The fewer people who know, the better!”
Justina took a breath to calm herself and said, “I know we can trust Mr. Wainwright. He will be discreet.”
She felt his eyes upon her, warm and appreciative. “I can assure you all that this will go no further,” he promised.
Rebecca covered her face with her hands, and Cathy consoled her as best she could.
“Please tell me what is known already,” he added. “I should like to be of some assistance, if I may.”
Justina’s gratitude almost bubbled into tears. It would have been difficult for any of the ladies to chase after the missing couple without assistance. For one thing, none of them had transportation and would have to borrow or hire it, which meant letting more people in on their unhappy secret. Mr. and Mrs. Bridges were so far the only villagers who knew of Lucy’s sudden disappearance, and they were in great distress after discovering her empty bed that morning and a note bidding them a somewhat dramatic “Adieu.” But they did not yet know about Captain Sherringham’s departure at the same time. Only the Book Club Belles knew of both, and they had the fate of Lydia Bennet at the hands of George Wickham in Pride and Prejudice fresh on their minds.
“Oh, why did they run off?” Cathy had muttered sadly. “If they wanted to marry, there was no need for this. I cannot imagine Mr. Bridges would raise any objection if his daughter is in love. As for the major, he has long wanted his son to settle down in marriage, and Lucy is a sweet girl.”
But Justina very much doubted marriage was on the captain’s mind. He was angry with Diana and wanted her jealous. Lucy was a pretty, naïve young girl with romantic inclinations. She had proclaimed to Justina, only a few days prior, that the captain needed “someone to cheer him up.” Nathaniel must have taken advantage of the situation.
“This entire village already distrusts Nate,” Rebecca exclaimed, “and I am forever seeking to improve his reputation, to save him from his own worst demons. This is how he repays me. Causes a dreadful scandal that will never be lived down.”
Once again Diana defended the missing pair. “I am quite sure they can be found and the entire incident explained. Nathaniel would never do anything to harm Lucy, or any of us.”
“Do we know their means of travel?” Darius asked steadily. “Do we know their direction?”
He was so calm and collected, Justina thought. When he might easily have gone back inside and closed his gate, he volunteered his assistance and soon became the leader of a recovery mission.
The beat of her heart was thrown off-kilter when she looked up at him and felt his quiet confidence take control.
“I’ll commandeer my stepsister’s barouche—since my own vehicle remains mysteriously crippled—and bring the couple home.”
“One of us ought to go with you,” said Justina.
“No. You must all remain here. I’ll deal with this.”
When she caught the gleam in his eye, she had a sneaking suspicion he was rather enjoying playing the gallant rescuer. “Don’t do anything foolish,” she warned.
Stepping up into his carriage, he turned to look at her and smiled. “That’s why I’m not taking you with me.”
“Very amusing, Mr. Wainwright!”
Her heart and mind felt very full. She knew he was doing this for all of them—for Lucy, her parents, her friends. But he did it most of all to please her. A month ago he would not have involved himself in their troubles.
Suddenly she made a decision and, before he could shut the door, she’d leapt up into the carriage with him.
“You’re not going anywhere without me!”
Somewhere behind her she heard her sister gasp. Wainwright looked as if he might insist she stay.
“She’s my friend. And I wouldn’t want you to punch Captain Sherringham again.”
“What makes you think you can stop me?”
“I’m a lady, and you’re a gentleman.”
He smirked. “Are you sure about that?”
“About which?”
“Either.”
Feeling rather warm, she leaned out to wave to her sister, shouting, “Tell Mama I am gone away on another mission and I might be gone some time. And yes, I shall use the boot-scraper upon my return.” Her good-byes complete, she rapped on the carriage roof with her knuckles, the horses tugged them forward, and she fell back in her seat at the sudden jolt.
“I doubt your parents would approve,” he muttered.
“If my friend is about to be ruined, I must save her.”
His eyes narrowed. “I remember a time when you had a similar plan to discard your own virtue, Miss Justina Penny. Also at the hands of Captain Sherringham. Are you envious of Lucy perhaps?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. I’m wiser now. About a great many things! And don’t you dare say I see.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
The carriage rattled speedily along the lane. Darius had instructed the coachman to head for Manderson, as it seemed likely the couple would stop there first for provisions they might need on their journey.
“I have never been to Manderson alone with a man before,” Justina exclaimed breathlessly as she bounced about on the seat.
“You realize, of course, that this will cause rumors, Miss Penny.”
“Well”—she hung onto the little leather strap by the window—“I recently read in a book that it is the only reason we live—to make sport for our neighbors and laugh at them in our turn.”
He smiled at that. “You have no objection to it then? To what people could say of us being alone in a carriage? An unwed young lady and a bachelor?”
“Goodness, how could they possibly suspect us of wicked motives?”
“Quite true.”
But his presence seemed to fill the carriage, just as the man himself filled her mind.
She stared at him. “It’s not as if anything might happen between us, is it?”
“You have decreed it so.”
With those five words he put the reins completely into her hands. No one had ever given Justina such a responsibility and that, combined with the jostling pace of the carriage, quite took the breath out of her lungs.
***
Her lips looked very full today and rosy. Several curls had tumbled to her shoulders, escaping her bonnet. Those two deep pools of blue watched him thoughtfully across the carriage, taking his measure, it seemed, inch by inch.
“You must think me a rather stupid oaf, Miss Penny.”
Her brows arched high. “Indeed not. Why would I?”
“For the clumsiness of my visit to your father’s house recently, when I failed even to deliver flowers in one piece, let alone properly explain my purpose there.”
A little color rose over her cheeks. “Perhaps we have both not been entirely adroit in our dealings, Mr. Wainwright.”
He drummed his fingers on his knees and then spread them wide, making a concerted effort to still their fidgeting. “Perhaps.”
“Shall we put that behind us then?” She hitched forward on the edge of her seat.
“I…I think we might.”
“I am glad.” She dazzled him with a bright smile and then launched forward to sit beside him. “Now we can be friends,” she said.
“You had better return to your seat, Miss Penny.”
“But I like this one,” she replied. “I am much safer wedged in beside you, and here I have more to hold on to.”
He groaned. “Are you looking for mischief? Another of your games? Think very carefully before you continue in this vein.”
“What is it you want from me, Justina?”
She reached up and with one small finger traced his brows, first one and then the other. “I have decided I want you to frown less, Mr. Wainwright.”
His heart was beating too fast. He had never acted this way with a woman and never had one be playful with him. “And then?”
“Smile more.”
“And then?”
“We’ll see.”
He had to laugh at that. “Are you setting me a test, Justina?”
“Yes.” Now she ran her finger over his lips. “You may set one for me, if you like.”
Her finger ventured over his mouth again and this time he caught it gently between his teeth. Those satiny, oceanic pools widened as he gave her a finger a little suck and tasted her skin. Soft, chalky lavender. Having her this close was causing discomfort of an ungentlemanly nature. He let her finger slip from his lips.
“I want you to call me Darius, when we are alone.”
She nodded. “And?”
He wasn’t sure how much more he could ask for, but she was teaching him to be bolder. “I want you to kiss me at least once a day.”
“Mr—Darius,” she gasped. “You ask a lot of a maidenly, properly raised young woman. I merely asked you to smile.”
“But as you know, smiling is very hard for me. So once a day,” he repeated firmly, “I should be rewarded with a kiss. At least once a day. In fact, madam, I should receive a kiss in payment for every smile.”
To his amusement, she could not long keep her lips in a stern pout. “You drive a hard bargain, Mr…Darius.”
He’d never liked the sound of his name much, but on her lips he did. Slowly he grinned. “I did warn you about bargaining with me. Several times now.” Before she could speak again, he held her chin in his palm and lifted it. “Kiss me.”
She did. It was gentle and sweet, her lips melting like butter against his mouth. He quickly decided he needed more and stole another three kisses before she slipped back to her seat across the carriage.
“Any more questions, Justina? You usually have many all at once.” Darius would have been disappointed if she stopped asking.
She cleared her throat. “I have plenty, but I’m saving them for the proper occasion.”
Although he had no idea what she meant, he looked forward to it.
Now she sat demurely, feigning innocence, with her knees together and her gaze fixed upon the window, but her coat was unbuttoned and he could see her bosom rising and falling rapidly. She must have been in haste to go out that day, looking for her friend, not sparing a moment to fasten the clasps and save herself from a chill. Someone really ought to look after this woman.
Suddenly she began shrugging out of her coat. “Now I’m too hot,” she muttered, glancing briefly his way. The mischievous glimmer in her eyes was evident.
After a moment he swung himself across to sit beside her. When the carriage bounced violently at the same time and she lost contact with the seat, he caught her, setting her down in his lap.
“I cannot think this very proper, sir,” she exclaimed, slipping her arms around his neck.
“I’m quite sure it is not.” He spread his fingers around her waist, holding her tight. “But I won’t tell a soul, if you won’t.”
Her eyes shone brilliantly. Darius felt himself pulled in, surrounded by her warmth and laughter, embraced by it.
The urgency of desire streaked through him, left him short of breath. Needing to adjust her teasing, restless weight on his lap, his hand swept down to the curve of her bottom. But rather than ease her to a less troublesome position, he found himself too tempted by that handful, and much too distracted as she leaned in to kiss him on the lips again.
He groaned, let the kiss deepen while his hand squeezed her firm bottom. Her bonnet slipped back, the very lackadaisical knot slithering undone of its own accord due to the rough rhythm of their ride and the carelessness of the woman who had tied it. Darius felt the hat falling and did nothing to prevent it. Neither did she.
Lust was close to consuming him in that moment, with her body pressed to his, the alluring curves suddenly his to play with. Although he knew he took too great a liberty with the lady, he could not help himself. They were all alone, and whenever that happened he didn’t seem to be able to behave himself. His fingers splayed over her bottom, traced gently upward to the small of her back, and then followed the sensual bend and sway of her spine, all the way up to her neck. There his fingers aided the escape of more tumbling brown curls, before sliding down again to the enticing swell of her breast.
Meanwhile she moved her hand under the high collar of his greatcoat and touched his cheek. “Your lap is rather uncomfortable, Darius,” she whispered.
“Hmm.” He let his thumb stray across the tiny peak that pressed against the front of her gown. It swelled further, igniting another flame of wanton need. Feeling possessive, he placed his hand over the full curve. Whenever he closed his eyes he could picture her as she was in Bath, when she leapt, naked but for silk stockings and garters, onto his bed.
“It’s getting bumpier by the second.”
“Hmm?”
“Your lap, Darius.” Justina’s hand now began a slow course back down his body, but he apprehended it before she reached her goal. That would be dangerous territory even for this intrepid and very lovely explorer.
She pecked at his chin with little kisses, her teeth gently nibbling at the rough skin. “You have not shaved today,” she observed with a heated whisper. “I have never seen you so…imperfect.”
There had not been time to shave since she interrupted him so early that day. Now he was glad of it, however, for her tone was suggestive of approval.
“Are you blushing, Darius Wainwright?” She chuckled.
“No.” He tried to be stern. “You’re making me hot.”
“Shall I get off your lap then?”
Before she could slip away he grabbed her even tighter. And that, combined with the somewhat savage nip he gave to the side of her neck shortly after, was answer enough.
“I wish we might have gone the long way to Manderson,” she gasped on a halting breath.
But Darius thought it was a very good thing for her that their journey could not last too long. He was extremely ravenous for once and had come out before breakfast. And she was quite possibly the most delicious morsel he’d ever tasted.
***
It did not take long to find Captain Sherringham and Lucy in Manderson, because they made no attempt to hide.
“Good Lord!” the captain exclaimed when confronted outside the blacksmith. “I merely gave Miss Bridges a ride when I saw her along the side of the road in the small hours. She flatly refused to go home, so I thought it best to bring her where she wanted to go until she realized she’d made a mistake. Then I could take her safely back. Poor little thing. I do believe she’s been feeling somewhat ignored, and I perfectly understand how that is.”
“Nonsense,” Justina exclaimed. “She is not in the least ignored and neither are you.”
“In any case, she seemed very glad to have company, and I could hardly leave her unguarded to wander about the town, could I?”
It seemed as if the Book Club Belles had jumped to conclusions.
Lucy reluctantly admitted that she had planned to run away for some excitement of her own at last, but Captain Sherringham had been trying to talk her into going home again. It would not have taken him long to persuade her, as it turned out. She had brought all her savings with her on this journey, but since half was now spent on a new fur tippet already, her adventure was bound to be cut ruthlessly short.
The captain confessed to Justina that he had been on his way to Newmarket when he encountered Lucy on her ill-advise
d flight astride her father’s mule.
“I’ve suffered some losses lately,” he confessed dourly. “I hoped to recoup some coin at the races.” Then he glared at Justina. “Surely you did not think me capable of eloping with Lucy Bridges? I hope you, at least, believed in me.”
She had to be honest. “Apart from my sister, who would never say a bad word about anyone, I’m afraid only Diana defended you wholeheartedly.”
This seemed to bring him some cheer. His shoulders went back, and he took a breath. “Diana? Really?”
Darius spoke up. “Miss Makepiece, it seems, holds you in high regard despite the way you have treated her.”
Nathaniel looked away, his jaw grinding. Justina placed a hand on his arm. “We’ll take Lucy back to Hawcombe Prior. Will you come?”
“No,” he muttered. “I have things to do.” Then he shook his head. “Before I bury myself forever in debt, I must find a way to pull myself out of it.”
“By gambling more money on the horse races? Surely there are other ways?”
“You don’t understand, Jussy.”
“You’re always saying that! But I am not a child anymore, Sherry.”
He finally looked at her again. His eyes were sadder than she’d ever seen them, but they were determined too. “I want to be worthy of her,” he said simply.
Justina knew, of course, that he did not refer to Lucy, who was now showing her new fur tippet to a hugely disinterested Mr. Wainwright.
“When will you come back home?” she asked the captain.
He took a breath. “When Diana can no longer say no to me.”
“But she is marrying another.”
Briefly he covered his eyes with one hand. “I do not believe she will. I know her. She can’t marry without love, whatever duty she thinks she owes her mama. I will wait for her.”
She did not know what to say. The captain was a broken man today, but perhaps this was what he needed in order to rebuild himself. Sometimes one had to fall to the lowest point before improvement could be made.
Oblivious to the panic she’d caused, Lucy wanted to stay longer and finish her shopping, but Darius insisted they return immediately to calm her anxious parents and friends. Justina agreed.
Once Upon a Kiss (Book Club Belles Society) Page 28