Her hands clenched. "You express your regrets for annoying me, my lord, yet you continue to do so by again offering your unsolicited opinion."
"I assure you I am-"
"I say, Sammie," Hubert's voice broke in from just beyond the doorway. "What's keeping you?" Turning, Sammie watched Hubert stride into the parlor, then stop dead at the sight of her guest. "Oh, I beg your pardon," he said, his face flushing red. "I didn't realize you were entertaining."
"No reason to apologize," she assured Hubert with a smile she hoped didn't betray her relief at his interruption. "The earl is a very busy man. I'm sure he won't wish to occupy himself with me much longer." From the corner of her eye she noticed a whisper of a smile pass the earl's lips.
Striving to keep her voice level, Sammie performed the necessary introductions, watching the earl closely, all her protective instincts for Hubert on alert. Last week, when Viscount Carsdale had called upon her, she'd introduced Hubert to the gentleman. Hubert's face had fallen when the viscount's gaze had flicked over him with dismissive disdain, flooding Sammie with the urge to slap the arrogant man. She was well-accustomed to social slights and had learned to disregard them, but Hubert was still sensitive to such cuts. If the earl acted in a similar fashion…
Surprise suffused her when Lord Wesley extended his hand in a friendly, unaffected manner. "A pleasure to meet you, lad," he said.
"The pleasure's mine, my lord," Hubert said, his face flushing deeper. He returned his attention to Sammie. "Sorry to interrupt, but when you didn't meet me in the Chamber as you'd promised, I grew concerned that the Cricket had waylaid you." A grin flashed across his face. "Thought you might need rescuing."
I did indeed, but not from Mama. Before she could respond, Lord Wesley asked, "Chamber?"
"My Chamber of Experiments," Hubert said. "I converted the old barn into a laboratory."
Interest filled Lord Wesley's gaze. "Indeed? And what do you do there?"
"All manner of experiments." Hubert cast a quick, self-conscious glance toward Sammie, then continued. "I also use it for my inventions and my astronomy studies."
"I've an interest in astronomy myself," the earl said. "I'm hoping the weather will be clear this evening so I might view the stars."
Hubert's face lit up. "As am I. It's a fascinating science, is it not? Sammie… I mean, Samantha, loves it as well."
Lord Wesley's gaze shifted to her. "Do you, indeed, Miss Briggeham?"
"Yes," she said briskly. "In fact, I was about to join Hubert in his Chamber when you called." Surely the earl would realize her broad hint and take his leave.
"My new telescope just arrived from London," Hubert reported to the earl. "Perhaps you'd like to see it?"
Sammie barely squelched a horrified squeak. "I'm sure Lord Wesley has pressing matters awaiting him, Hubert."
There was no mistaking the amusement glittering in the earl's eyes. "I do?"
"Don't you?"
"Actually, I'd be very interested to see Hubert's telescope."
"Surely you don't wish to-"
"Oh, it's a very fine one, my lord," Hubert broke in. " 'Twould be an honor to show it to you."
"I accept your kind invitation. Thank you." Lord Wesley offered Sammie a smile that appeared distinctly smug, a fact that tensed her shoulders. Extending his arm toward her, he said, "Shall we, Miss Briggeham?"
Mentally cursing her beloved brother for including the bothersome man in their outing, she forced a smile. She debated ignoring his arm, but decided not to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging that his presence disturbed her in any way. Besides, Hubert was clearly excited at the prospect of showing off his telescope. Surely she could endure the earl's presence for a short time longer… provided he did not voice disparaging words about the Bride Thief again. If he did, she'd simply change the subject, then send him on his way with all deliberate speed. And after today, she'd most likely never see him again.
Yes, that was a very simple, logical, practical plan. Resting her hand lightly on Lord Wesley's sleeve, they followed Hubert from the room.
Eric strolled along a winding garden path flanked by a profusion of roses, and tried to hide the smile that tugged incessantly on his lips. Miss Briggeham's fingers rested on his sleeve with what appeared to be all the enthusiasm of one touching a large, hairy, potentially poisonous insect. He had to admit that her reaction to him piqued his interest and curiosity. Women were always only too pleased to receive, as well as seek, his company. Perhaps such would still be the case were he not an earl, but certainly being titled and wealthy guaranteed him an excess of female attention.
Except, obviously, for Miss Samantha Briggeham, who looked as if she'd just as soon toss him into the privet hedges than spend another minute with him. When her brother had invited him to view his telescope, Miss Briggeham had looked as if she'd swallowed her tongue-a fact that simultaneously annoyed and amused him.
Determined to break the silence between them, he remarked, "Your brother mentioned a 'Cricket' earlier. Who, or what, is that?"
A subtle blush stole over her cheeks. "It's merely a silly name we call our mother. She tends to chirp when overtaken by the vapors."
"I see," he murmured, recalling with amusement that Mrs. Briggeham had indeed chirped last evening when she'd claimed to feel faint-just before hauling Misters Babcock and Whitmore away.
They walked for nearly a full minute in silence, and for reasons he could not explain, Eric took perverse delight in deliberately keeping their pace at a near crawl to counteract Miss Briggeham's not-as-subtle-as-she-believed attempts to hurry him along. Noting Hubert was far enough ahead of them not to be able to hear their conversation, the devil inside him prompted him to say, "You didn't want me to join you. May I ask why?"
She turned quickly, peering at him through her thick spectacles before turning her attention once more to the path in front of them. When she didn't answer for several long seconds, he prompted, "Tell me. Do not fear you will hurt my tender feelings. I'm quite impervious to verbal barbs, I assure you."
"Very well, my lord. Since you insist, I shall be perfectly blunt. I don't believe I like you."
"I see. And therefore you do not relish the thought of my company."
"Precisely."
"I must say, Miss Briggeham, I don't believe anyone has ever said such a thing to me before."
She sent him an arch, sidelong glance. "I find that very difficult to believe, Lord Wesley."
He should have been appalled at her temerity-and at the unmistakable insult that was only slightly tempered by the glint of deviltry in her eyes. Instead, he was unexpectedly amused.
"Hard to believe or not, I'm afraid it's true," he said. "In fact, so many people so often make it a point to tell me how much they like me and enjoy my company, I often find myself suspicious of their motives. I find it rather refreshing that you think I'm…"
"Annoying?" she supplied in a helpful tone.
"Exactly. However, since your brother's invitation forces you to endure my company for a bit longer, I propose we call a truce of sorts."
"What do you mean?"
"Clearly any mention of the Bride Thief raises your hackles, and believe it or not, it distresses me to be thought of as an annoyance."
She turned toward him and cocked a brow. "You did ask for the truth, my lord. And I cannot imagine that my opinion of you would affect you one way or another."
You're right. It shouldn't. But damn it, for some inexplicable reason, it does.
Before he could reply, she continued, "So am I to understand that this truce you are proposing would require you not to express your opinions about the Bride Thief, and me to refrain from calling you annoying?"
"You've summed it up quite nicely, Miss Briggeham."
Unmistakable mischief glinted in her eyes. "May I continue to think of you as annoying?"
"Of course. However, you should be aware that by doing so, you present me with an irresistible challenge."
"In
deed? What is that?"
"Why, the need to prove you wrong, of course."
Laughter erupted from her lips, and her eyes twinkled up at him. "Do you think there's any chance of that?"
He clutched his hand over his heart. "You wound me, Miss Briggeham, I'll have you know I'm rarely wrong. In fact, now that I think upon it, I don't believe I have ever been wrong."
She made a tsk-ing sound and shook her head. "Dear me. Annoying and arrogant. So many words beginning with 'a' to describe one man. And that is just the start of the alphabet."
"There are other 'a' words one might use, such as-"
"Aggravating?"
He sizzled a mock frown at her. "I was going to say 'amiable.'"
A noise that could only be described as a snort escaped her. "If it is any consolation, I'm certain most people think you are, my lord."
"Yet, I distinctly recall you telling me last evening that you are not most people."
"I fear that is true."
A grin tugged at his lips. "Well, then, I shall simply have to change your mind and make you see the error of your ways."
She laughed, a delightful sound that spread warmth through him. "You're welcome to try."
"See how well our truce is working? Already you've issued me an invitation." He paused, drawing them to a stop, and gazed down at her. The sunlight coaxed deep reds and burnished golds from her hair, and her eyes sparkled from her laughter.
His gaze moved downward, settling on her extraordinary mouth and that alluring freckle dotting the corner of her upper lip. The warmth her laughter had inspired, instantly turned to heat.
"Here's to our truce," he murmured. Taking her hand, he raised it to his lips and lightly kissed her fingers. The scent of honey filled his senses, and he barely resisted the overwhelming desire to touch his tongue to her skin to see if she tasted as sweet as she smelled. Their eyes met, and he watched all vestiges of humor slowly ebb from hers, as he continued to hold her hand a hairsbreadth away from his lips.
Surprise flashed across her features, then turned to confusion that painted her cheeks a delightful rose. Her skin looked petal soft, and his fingers suddenly itched with the need to feel that beckoning smoothness. With his free hand, he reached out, slowly, like a man in a trance, toward that enticing blush-hued skin. Her eyes widened and her breath caught, an utterly feminine sound that charmed him.
"Are you coming, Sammie?" Hubert's voice boomed from just beyond the rose hedges.
Miss Briggeham gasped and stepped back, snatching her hand from his grasp as if he'd burned her. "Yes," she called, in a slightly breathless voice. Clasping her hands tightly in front of her, she indicated the path with a jerk of her head. "This way, Lord Wesley."
Eric fell into step beside her, his height allowing him to match her brisk strides without much effort. He made no attempt to offer her his arm, instinctively knowing she wouldn't accept it, and not at all certain he should touch her again anyway. The woman had the oddest effect on his senses.
Damn it all, the desire to touch her had nearly overridden his common sense. What the devil was wrong with him? He wasn't here to court Samantha Briggeham. He merely wanted to ensure she wasn't hatching some crazy scheme to aid the Bride Thief. And while she was clearly protective of the man, a fact that oddly pleased him, she was also obviously an intelligent, logical young woman. There was no need for him to be concerned about her welfare. In fact, as soon as he finished looking at the telescope, he would take his leave.
Sammie carefully observed Lord Wesley as Hubert conducted a tour of his Chamber of Experiments for their guest, waiting to see any signs of boredom or ridicule directed toward her brother.
Instead, his lordship appeared fascinated by Hubert's Chamber and its vast array of glass beakers, jars, and experiments in progress. He asked Hubert dozens of questions, intelligent questions, she had to admit. Clearly the man possessed not only an interest but a knowledge of chemistry. And he never once looked askance at Hubert or spoke to him in a tone that suggested he thought either her brother or his laboratory odd. In fact, no matter how she looked at it, his lordship was acting in a way that could only be described as…
Amiable.
Her brow collapsed in a frown. Blast it all, she did not want to find the man amiable. She much preferred to think of him as annoying and arrogant. But seeing him bend over to apply his eye to Hubert's microscope, then look up at the boy with a grin creasing his handsome face, she couldn't deny that another "a" word to describe Lord Wesley was… attractive.
"Sammie, why don't you show Lord Wesley your section, where you prepare your honey and beeswax lotions?"
Hubert's question jerked her from her disturbing musing, and she pressed her hands over her stomach to quiet the jitters fluttering through her insides. As much as her scientific nature urged her to join the gentlemen across the room, her feminine instincts warned her to stay where she was, as far away from Lord Wesley as she could be while they stood in the same room.
Forcing a smile, she pointed toward the far corner of the room and said, " 'Tis nothing exciting to see, my lord. Just those burners, pots and molds, and my few remaining jars of honey."
"She is being modest, Lord Wesley," Hubert said. "Sammie is a first-rate scientist and teacher as well. Indeed, she sparked my interest in my own studies, and she is my greatest source of encouragement and inspiration. Her experiments with creams and lotions are fascinating, and she may soon see a breakthrough."
Heat rose in Sammie's cheeks, and she fought the urge to clap her hand over Hubert's mouth. While she appreciated his enthusiasm and kind words, she had no desire to see the inevitable expression on Lord Wesley's face-the one showing his dismay, horror, disgust, boredom, disdain, or any combination thereof regarding her work. She turned to him, determined to adroitly change the subject, and was surprised to see him regarding her with unmistakable curiosity.
"What sort of experiments are you conducting, Miss Briggeham?"
Not a bit of mockery or sarcasm in his voice. Just keen interest. She hesitated a few seconds, then led him to her work area. "Last night I mentioned one of my friends, a Miss Waynesboro-Paxton-"
"The lady who could not attend the soiree due to illness," Lord Wesley broke in.
"Yes," Sammie said, surprised he remembered. "She suffers from severe joint pain, mostly in her fingers and knuckles. I noticed that two things help alleviate her pain: wrapping her hands in warm, moist towels, and massaging my honey cream into her hands. I am attempting to discover a way to make my honey cream self-heating."
Lord Wesley stroked his chin and nodded slowly. "Thus incorporating the wanning properties directly into the cream. And you're close to success?"
"I've recently made some progress, but I fear I've still much work to do. Still, I am determined to succeed."
She raised her chin a notch, silently daring him to mock her, to dismiss her as nothing more than a bluestocking, but only admiration shone in his eyes.
"Ingenious idea," he said, his gaze shifting to roam over her supplies. "I offer you my sincere best wishes for success. Tell me, do you harvest your own honey?"
"Yes. I keep a half-dozen skeps behind the Chamber."
"She's hoarding those last few jars like a miser," Hubert said in a teasing voice. "But once she harvests her skeps next month, I'll be able to nip off with a jar without her noticing it's missing. I fear I have a weakness for honey."
Lord Wesley returned his gaze to her, studying her with an unfathomable expression that tightened her stomach. "Yes, I fear I do as well," he murmured. He then once again focused his attention on Hubert, and Sammie nearly groaned with relief.
Good heavens above, the man had the strangest effect on her senses. It was as if his nearness brought them all alive and into sharp focus. The feel of his strong arm beneath her palm as he'd escorted her down the garden paths; the woodsy, clean scent of him that made her want to lean closer to him and simply breathe him in. Disturbing feelings she'd managed quite well to i
gnore.
Until he'd stopped walking and looked at her with that intense expression that had curled her toes inside her slippers, and heated her from the inside out.
Until he'd brushed his.lips over her hand.
Warmth rushed into her cheeks, and she quickly walked to the telescope and pretended to inspect the instrument, to hide her confusion. And there was no denying the man confused her. She'd started out angry with him, but after he'd apologized, he'd somehow managed to disarm her and amuse her, just as he'd done at Mrs. Nordfield's soiree. She'd enjoyed their verbal sparring, but once they'd ceased talking, and he'd looked at her in that way… suddenly she hadn't felt like laughing. Suddenly she'd wanted nothing more than for him to touch her face, as he'd been about to do.
She caught herself in the act of heaving a long sigh, and mentally slapped herself. Heavens, what was she thinking? She couldn't possibly entertain romantic notions toward Lord Wesley. To do so would be the same as extending an engraved invitation to Heartbreak. She needed to keep her romantic fantasies focused on make-believe gentlemen who could not ever hold her heart in their hands. Or even on a man like the Bride Thief-one that existed only in her memory, and even there more as a heroic figure than a flesh-and-blood man.
The rumble of masculine voices drew her attention to the other side of the room where Hubert and Lord Wesley were engaged in conversation. Hubert's face was alight with the pleasurable glow that always suffused him when he discussed one of his experiments or inventions. It was a look normally focused on her, and an odd pang clutched her that it was currently focused on a man she wasn't certain she liked… A man she wasn't certain was worthy of the admiration shining from Hubert's eyes. Or perhaps the problem was the niggling fear that she could like him, if she allowed herself, and that Hubert's admiration wasn't misplaced.
Her gaze shifted to Lord Wesley, who was nodding, his serious expression riveted on the liquid-filled beaker Hubert held aloft. She tried to pull her gaze away, but she found herself admiring the man's profile-the sweep of his forehead, his high cheekbones, straight nose, firm lips, and the strong line of his jaw. As if he felt the weight of her regard, he turned and looked directly into her eyes. Heat washed through her and she barely refrained from smacking herself on the forehead. Dear Lord, he'd caught her staring! Coughing to cover her embarrassment, she quickly applied her eye to the new telescope, praying her cheeks were not as red as they felt.
The Bride Thief Page 9