Rake & Romance

by Suzanne G. Rogers

  He glanced over at the viscount who was riding alongside him. “Lord Kirkham, Grovebrook strikes me as a very pretty place. How did Lord Philip come to be in possession of it?”

  “Philip has always yearned to be a landowner. Since Grovebrook was one of the assets in his father’s estate, he purchased it. And because Philip needed a man of business to collect rents and such, he offered the position to me. So far, we’ve been quite happy.”

  “I don’t consider work to be beneath a man with a title, but my opinion seems to be in the minority.”

  “Perhaps, but I quite agree with you.”

  “If I’m not being too personal, how did you come to the same conclusion?”

  The viscount gave him a broad grin. “When a man is deeply in love with a good woman, there’s nothing he won’t do for her.” He cocked a thumb at his chest. “I’m such a man, and Prudence is such a woman. Since I’ve no estate, and only a pittance of an allowance, I’m obliged to make a living if I want to support a wife.” He shrugged. “Truly, it’s no sacrifice, and I rather enjoy being a useful person. In the end, I decided my life would have been meaningless without Prudence by my side.”

  Cody was touched by the man’s story. “Thank you for being so forthright. Lady Kirkham is exceedingly lovely, and you’re a fortunate man.”

  “I can’t disagree with you there.” Kirkham gave him a sidelong glance. “I understand Lord Moregate is interested in selling a few more underperforming assets from his estate. One never knows for certain which purchasers will put themselves forward, but among them might be another gentleman, like Philip, who wishes to become a landowner. If so, I hope he has just as much success.”

  “Yes. You’ve given me a great deal of food for thought.”

  The man’s eyes gleamed. “Here’s another crumb for your plate. Although Prudence thinks I haven’t a clue, I’ve every reason to suspect I’m going to be a father.”

  Cody’s eyebrows rose. “What good news! Congratulations are in order.”

  “Please keep it under your hat for now, since I’m not supposed to know.”

  “I’ll be the soul of discretion, I assure you.”

  He laughed. “I thought my wedding day was the happiest day of my life, but this comes close. I can’t help but wish the same felicity for every young man who is in love.”

  “Yes.” Cody nodded. “We should all be so blessed.”

  Inwardly, he sighed. His purpose in acquiring property in Texas had been to own something tangible, to make his own way in the world, and to leave a legacy of achievement behind. Would any of that matter, however, if he couldn’t share it with the woman he loved? Perhaps he was guilty of not seeing the forest for the trees.

  Juliet’s mood improved immeasurably as she arrived at Drake Manor. She hadn’t been to visit her grandmother in years, but had spent many pleasant summers here with Kitty when they were little. The square, three-story brick residence was not architecturally unusual, but it was imposing. The grounds were more interesting, with rolling green lawns, a lovely garden with a gazebo, and—of course—a rambling berry patch set next to a small grove of cherry trees. Juliet remembered full well the times she and her sister had stuffed themselves so full of fat, sun-ripened fruit, they’d been unable to eat dinner. Their grandmother had, fortunately, never taken them to task.

  Ivy welcomed the carriage and riders with a beaming smile as they arrived. Once everyone had assembled in the courtyard, their hostess gestured toward the house.

  “I’ve set aside rooms where you may freshen up, if you wish. Afterward, servants will direct you to the party.”

  As they went indoors, Kitty gave Juliet a wink. “It looks as if Grandmama is enjoying herself already.”

  “I expect she doesn’t get too many visitors anymore, so I’m glad we’ve come.”

  The day was quite warm, so Juliet left her shawl and gloves in the room set aside for the ladies. Stephanie, Kitty, and Prudence did the same, although the viscount’s wife brought her cushion along.

  A striped, open tent had been erected near the grove, and a trestle table with chairs positioned underneath. Servants stood by with moistened towels for the guests’ hands. Although it was past breakfast and not yet time for lunch, another table had been set aside for refreshments. Pots of tea and pitchers of water were available, along with assorted biscuits and tiny sandwiches.

  Although larger tubs had been arranged to receive pails of collected fruit, only four pails had been set out for the party-goers.

  Ivy gave everyone a mischievous smile. “I thought for our first game, you’ll form teams of two. Whichever team gathers the most fruit in the time allotted wins a prize.”

  Prudence squealed with delight as she plucked a pail off the table, grabbed Kirkham by the hand, and tugged him toward the berry patch. Stephanie happily chose Augustus, and Kitty tucked her hand around Philip’s arm. As three couples strolled out from under the canopy, Cody gave Juliet an awkward smile.

  “I’m afraid you’re stuck with me, señorita.”

  Juliet saw no reason not to be gracious. “Then I have the best of the lot.” She glanced at Ivy. “Will you join us, Grandmama? I hope the rules don’t prohibit a team of three?”

  But her grandmother waved off her suggestion. “Someone must be the disinterested judge, and that would be me. Run along and enjoy yourselves.”

  Cody picked up the remaining pail and offered Juliet his arm. “Shall we start in the cherry grove?”

  Juliet concentrated on picking fruit from the lowest branches, while Cody was able to manage the ones higher up. For several minutes they worked without speaking at all, but the silence began to weigh on her. After a sidelong glance at her teammate, she cast about for an innocuous topic of conversation.

  “Erm…have you seen the sketches Augustus made of your sister? I thought them terribly good.”

  “I quite agree. In fact, I’d like to have one of my own.” He laughed. “Did Lord Elbourne mention my pathetic attempt at drawing? He came upon me just as I was making my first attempt.”

  “He didn’t mention it, I’m afraid. Are you interested in learning to draw?”

  “Not particularly, but I’d heard from a credible source that the most admirable gentlemen read, draw, and collect butterflies. Since I already read, and I’m not particularly keen on Lepidoptera, I thought I’d give drawing a whirl.”

  Juliet laughed and shook her head. Merciful heavens but Cody was charming when he wished to be! “Perhaps your credible source should have mentioned that the most admirable gentlemen pursue those activities most interesting to them…such as riding and trick roping, for example.”

  His eyebrows lifted. “Has Stephanie gone and spoiled my surprise?”

  “Was she not supposed to say anything?”

  “I didn’t tell her not to mention it, but I didn’t wish to excite anyone’s anticipation. Trick roping can hardly be compared to the sort of artistic ability demonstrated by Lord Elbourne.”

  “He is exceptionally talented, but then I’ve rarely heard anyone deliver a soliloquy as masterfully as you did the other evening.”

  Cody sketched a graceful bow. “Muchas gracias.”

  She giggled and redoubled her efforts to pick cherries. “I’ve no idea how long Grandmama means to give us, so we’d best not shirk.”

  “I wonder what could be the prize?”

  “Whatever it is, if we win, I hope it can be split in two.”

  “I’ll happily give my half to you, unless it’s something dreadful. In that case, I’ll take the entire prize for myself.”

  Juliet giggled again. “Perhaps it’s a chamber pot.”

  “In that case, we’ll have to arm wrestle for it.”

  Without warning, he caught her hand and drew her close. Although he said nothing, his eyes seemed to caress her face. When his gaze settled on her lips, her heart began to hammer in her chest and her resolve weakened along with her knees.

  “Cody…”

  His voic
e took on a note of desperation. “Do you care for me? I mean truly care for me more than any other man?”

  She shook her head. “Please don’t make me say it.”

  “Then say you despise me.”

  “I-I can’t. It does no good to speak of my feelings.”

  “Then show me how you feel.”

  Cody leaned forward and pressed his lips to her in a long, lingering, burning kiss that registered in every part of her body. Afterward, he gazed into her eyes with a sad smile.

  “Thank you, Juliet.” He kissed her hand and then released it. “I just had to know.”

  “Whatever we have between us…you know it’s impossible.”

  “Good. Love should be impossible, unforgettable, and maybe even a little dangerous. I’m not the sort of man to settle for less.”

  Ivy rang a bell just then.

  “Our time’s up,” Juliet said.

  Cody retrieved the pail. “For now.”

  As they hastened from the grove, Cody’s cryptic remarks echoed through her mind. Was he speaking in riddles? She felt a flash of annoyance. The blasted man had forced her to reveal her feelings with that kiss, and she could never forgive him. In the next breath, her annoyance faded. No, no matter how much she wished to blame him, to do so was utter nonsense. She’d yearned to tell him he’d captivated her heart and had ached for his kiss. Strangely enough, now that she admitted her adoration openly, a sense of peace filled her soul. They might never marry, but to know he returned her sentiment was something she’d treasure the rest of her life.

  Cody’s spirit soared as he carried the pail of cherries back to the canopy. Ivy needn’t announce the winner of the game, since he’d already won the most incredible prize. Juliet loved him. It would have been nice to hear the words, but her kiss had said everything he’d needed to know. None of the cherries he’d picked could have tasted sweeter than the joy spreading through his veins. In that moment, he didn’t want to ponder the future; he just wanted to bask in the miracle that a woman as wonderful as Juliet could find something worthy in him.

  As it turned out, Stephanie and Augustus returned with a pail overflowing with fat, luscious raspberries, and won a beautiful mosaic patchwork quilt for their efforts. His sister couldn’t have been more pleased, of course, since she always loved to win. Prudence and Kirkham returned to the canopy with lips stained blue from eating fresh blueberries, and Kitty complained she and Philip couldn’t pick fruit as quickly because they’d been chased away from their berry bush several times by bees.

  Eager to spread his peacock tail feathers, Cody fetched the rope he’d brought and while everyone relaxed under the canopy, he demonstrated the trick roping he’d learned in Texas. As he dropped the lariat into a flat spin at his feet, he reveled in their rapt attention. When he spun the circle up and over his head, oohs and aahs made him smile. Then, after returning the lariat to its original flat spin, he spun it vertically and jumped back and forth through the circle several times. Once he’d demonstrated a few other maneuvers, such as spinning the rope while switching hands, he bowed, to great applause.

  “Would anyone like to see how the lariat is used to capture animals?”

  Stephanie raised her hand. “I would!”

  Cody grinned. “Miss Beaucroft, might I beg your assistance to help me with my demonstration?”

  Juliet’s eyes widened, but she joined him.

  “What should I do?” she whispered.

  “Would you prefer to run or just allow me to rope you?”

  “I-I’ll allow you to rope me. I’ve no desire to run from you.”

  A ripple of pleasure made the hair on his upper arms stand at attention and brought a slow smile to his lips. “Bien. In that case, just wait here with your arms at your side.”

  Cody stepped out several paces, spun his rope into a flat spin, and then tossed it in a slow arc over Juliet’s head. She gave a little squeal as the lasso tightened around her upper body, and then, amidst applause from the audience, he tugged her to him.

  “You see? No struggle.” Juliet laughed.

  He loosened the rope and set her free. “I wouldn’t say there hasn’t been a struggle.”

  “What would you have done if I’d run?”

  “Caught you, of course.” He chuckled.

  As Cody escorted Juliet back toward the canopy, people peppered him with questions about trick roping. During the ensuing conversation, Prudence rose.

  “Kitty, will you accompany me to the house? I’d like to freshen up.”

  The two ladies hastened off. Augustus, Philip, and Kirkham wanted an impromptu lesson on how to perform a flat spin, so Cody demonstrating the flat spin technique. Since there was only one rope, Kirkham had the first turn. He’d just managed a reasonable rotation when Kitty returned with a frown on her face.

  “Freddie, Prudence is asking for you.”

  Kirkham, upon noticing Kitty’s unhappy expression, dropped the rope and ran toward the house. Cody exchanged a puzzled glance with Juliet. Prudence had seemed to be enjoying herself moments before. What could be amiss?

  Kitty glanced at Ivy. “Grandmama, may Freddie and Prudence use your carriage to go home? She’s feeling unwell.”

  “Of course.” Ivy gestured to one of the servants. “Make sure the carriage is brought around, forthwith.”

  As the servant left, Ivy stood, took Kitty to one aside, and had a whispered conversation. As Cody watched, the older woman winced and shook her head. Moments later, Kitty and Ivy returned to the canopy.

  “Please, everyone, do carry on. I must tend to Lord and Lady Kirkham just now, but I’ll be back.”

  After their hostess departed, everyone stared at Kitty, hoping for an explanation.

  “There’s no reason for alarm. It’s just that Prudence has had a bit of a disappointment, I’m afraid,” she said.

  Stephanie covered her mouth with her hand, and Juliet gasped. Although Cody suspected what had happened, Philip and Augustus looked bewildered. Kitty apparently noticed their expressions.

  “Prudence had been hoping to present Freddie with good news, but she’ll have to wait another month or two. There’s nothing wrong, but the situation hit her rather hard and she became distraught.”

  Stephanie’s face crumpled. “This is my fault. I should have kept my uninformed opinions to myself.”

  Augustus rested a comforting hand on her shoulder, and she rested her cheek against it.

  Juliet glanced at the pillow left in Prudence’s chair. “Should I take her cushion to the carriage?”

  Kitty shook her head. “I think it’s best to leave her and Freddie alone for the time being. I’ll bring the cushion to Cousin’s Cottage tomorrow.”

  The abrupt departure of the Kirkhams seemed to affect the atmosphere of the party immeasurably. As if on cue, clouds rolled in overhead and gave Drake Manor a bleak appearance. Stephanie proposed a game of Blindman’s Buff, but Prudence had had the blindfold in her pocket and nobody suggested locating a new one. A game of horseshoes filled the time until luncheon was served, but Cody suspected nobody’s heart was in it. Not even his sister seemed much interested in winning. After lunch, he managed to give a brief trick roping lesson to both Augustus and Philip before the outing came to a close.

  On the ride back to Constance Hall, Cody rode three abreast with Augustus and Philip. When the two brothers chatted about future plans Philip had for Grovebrook, Cody was only half-attending. So much had occurred that morning, he could scarcely keep track of it all. The joy Juliet had brought him under the cherry tree had been blunted a great deal by Kirkham’s disappointment. The viscount was a fine, jolly fellow, and it pained Cody to realize how he and Prudence must be suffering. Furthermore, when he thought about what his cousin was missing with Violet, he felt physically ill. Even a scoundrel was allowed happiness—if only he could be persuaded to seize it.

  Although the caravan didn’t stop at Cousin’s Cottage, Cody felt the impact of the day’s event anew as he rode past. Not
hing but time and nature would cure Lord and Lady Kirkham’s heartbreak, but that certainly wasn’t the case with Zachary and Violet. He decided to depart Grovebrook for London tomorrow morning, so he could shake sense into Zachary. An inkling of a plan was beginning to take root in his mind, and he wanted to discuss it with his cousin. Above all else, he was determined to do the right thing for Juliet. The success or failure of Cody’s meeting would impact whether he ought to return to Constance Hall or whether it was kinder to stay away.

  In the distance, Stephanie shrieked with laughter as Augustus pursued her across the lawn. Juliet sat in the garden, alone and forlorn, while Texas and Robin Hood played amongst the ferns nearby. To her dismay, Cody had left that morning before she’d arisen, without any mention of his impending departure the night before. Instead of a personal good-bye, she’d discovered a letter from him slipped underneath her bedroom door. Although the missive was filled with warm sentiments about his regard for her, it contained few specific details about when she’d see him again.

  After their cryptic conversation in the cherry grove at Drake Manor, Juliet had allowed herself to imagine Cody might have changed his mind about leaving England. Now, she feared he might have been indulging himself at her expense. If so, Juliet now knew how Prudence must have felt yesterday when she realized her fondest hopes had been dashed. If Cody Gryphon was truly cruel enough to lead her on, she could almost bring herself to detest him. Could the man’s temperament really be so mercurial, or was her judgment fundamentally flawed where he was concerned? She picked up a walnut-sized rock and hurled it at an unsuspecting rosebush. A rose by any other name was a rake and she was a besotted fool.

  Kitty emerged from the house and made her way toward Juliet’s white marble bench. As the puppies ran to greet her, the brunette beauty knelt long enough to give them both a fond pat on the head and to let them lick her hand. Then she came to sit alongside her sister.