Collector of Hearts

by Cassandra Samuels

  She looked up and caught Justin looking her way. His hazel eyes warmed her with their sympathy as much as they annoyed her. She did not want his pity. He strolled over and sat next to her, patted her hand, but did not say anything. He just sat, his hand inappropriately still on hers.

  She studied him. He was so handsome, so real and she wanted to cry. Why could she not have fallen in love with a man like him? A man who offered his friendship with no hidden agenda, no rakish words of seduction, just his reassuring touch. She curled her fingers around his and he squeezed hers in response, his face still trained on the others. It was like an act of protection, like a promise, and she didn’t quite understand how she felt about that. She had never seen him so still for one thing, and he wasn’t smiling, although his features were completely amiable.

  ‘I hate to see you like this, Bella,’ he whispered without looking at her.

  ‘I hate it too.’ And she did. She could not think of a time in her life when she had felt so wretched.

  ‘Come, take a walk with me. It will clear your head and bring some colour to your cheeks. Isabelle says you have a small walk out back. I would like to see it.’ He had released her and now stood towering over her, his arm in the offering.

  ‘Thank you. I would enjoy that, Lord Barton.’

  Isabelle and Quinn looked up momentarily, but other than that paid no attention to their departure. Justin was family; he was no threat to her or her reputation.

  They stopped only briefly for her to gather her bonnet and a shawl. Once outside, Justin sighed dramatically and looked her way.

  ‘I’m disappointed in our man, I must confess,’ he said as they walked out into the weak sunshine.

  ‘Are you? I did try to tell everyone that making him jealous wouldn’t work.’

  ‘Ah, but Bella it did. Didn’t Quinn tell you? No, he must have wanted to spare you the details. I’ll tell you what happened after the ball and you can make up your own mind on the subject.’

  ‘Tell me.’ She raised her chin. No matter the consequence, she needed to know what had happened.

  ‘He prowled around like a caged lion for one, growling and showing his fangs, but I think you know what brought him to that state.’ Justin guided her down the gravel path.

  ‘Yes, we argued.’

  ‘I figured as much. After your departure he tried to avoid me, but I would not let him off quite so easily. Needless to say, this irritated him immensely, but stuck as he was between a pillar and me, he had little choice but to listen to me. I was eager to tell him how much your beauty struck me and in a more than poetic turn of events he tried to choke me with my own cravat.’ Justin chuckled slightly at her no-doubt horrified expression.

  ‘Don’t worry your pretty little head about me. I wasn’t in any real danger. I can take care of myself when presented with such a scene. John and Quinn were quick to persuade him to a different course and took him off to get some fresh air.’

  She bit down on her lip, blaming herself for what had happened.

  ‘So you see, he definitely saw me as a threat to you, which means that he is jealous; not only jealous but vulnerable.’

  ‘So he’s vulnerable. How does that help me?’ They continued to crunch along the gravel path for a few moments.

  ‘It means that he is distracted, strayed from his usual course. The things that have worked for him in the past are no longer helping him. He is unarmed against you. This allows for you to go forth and attack while his defences are in ruins.’

  ‘I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you want me to do?’ Her emotions were churning inside her.

  ‘We need to gather our allies close.’

  ‘I still don’t get your meaning.’

  ‘Who is the person whom he loves more than himself, besides you?’ Justin raised a brow at her and waited for her to respond.

  She halted on the path. ‘I will not use his mother against him! He would never forgive me and neither would I.’

  Justin laughed at her outraged face and pulled her hand to his lips. ‘Bella, Bella, how I wish I had met you earlier. I would never dream of using his mother so ill. I simply meant having her here for the wedding would be the best option. Just think how delighted she will be. An unassuming yet powerful ally is exactly what you need. Who knows him better than his own mother? Who else would move heaven and earth to see him happily wed?’

  ‘Isn’t it a little too late? Would she get here in time?’ Arabella thought only of how Robert might perceive the presence of his mother.

  ‘She is already on her way. I am to meet her in the village and escort her here. Have no fear, Bella, by the time we arrive she will be well informed of the situation and I’ve no doubt that she will be more than happy to see her son finally settled.’

  ‘I see my acquiescence wasn’t required in this scheme you have plotted with Amy and Lady Shacklesbury.’

  ‘It will all be well, you shall see.’

  She had to admit that having his mother onside would be a definite advantage. She had heard so little about her from Robert that she seemed somehow unreal. It would shock the stockings off Robert to see Lady Shelton and herself together; he had once told her that she would never meet his mother. She felt her heart thump wildly in her chest, her nervousness at the possibility of this all going horribly wrong making her feel ill, but what else was she to do?

  ‘She has not been able to sway him in any regard in the past, why do you think it will work now?’

  ‘Because he’s in love with you and, who knows, Lady Shelton may have some very interesting things to say on the subject of her incorrigible son. Perhaps give up that vital clue to winning his heart, eh? I know things seem bad but all is not lost. A smile, Bella, please … That’s better,’ he said at her rather poor attempt.

  ‘I feel like such a fool. I will never be able to repay you for all you have done, Justin. Even if this does not work I will always be grateful to you.’ She took his arm again and walked with new enthusiasm towards the house. Perhaps there was hope after all.

  ‘Save your gratefulness. My payment will be to see you happy, sweet Arabella.’

  ***

  The next day Arabella took the boys out to the barn to escape the excitement in the house. They didn’t understand what was going on, not really. All they knew was that there were strangers in the house all fussing and carrying on around Isabelle and there was to be a party.

  ‘Let’s go and see the puppies, shall we?’ She led them to where Minnie, her father’s favourite beagle, had delivered her pups several weeks ago.

  ‘Minnie wouldn’t let us near the pups when they were born. Mr Phipps said it was ’cause she was a new mama and wanted to look after them all by herself,’ her younger brother George explained on the way. He was seven and a keen student; he had an eye for detail and would make a wonderful seventh Lord Tremaine. He was interested in everything and asked a lot of questions and his tutor was more than happy with his scholarly attentions.

  ‘Hurry, Bella. I want to play with the puppies,’ said Michael, tugging at her hand. He was nearly four and though he was more interested in getting dirty than getting smart, he followed George everywhere and hung on his every word.

  ‘Soon they won’t need their mother so much and will want to go out on their own, won’t they, Miss Fleming?’ Stephen, Quinn’s brother, strolled next to her. She smiled at the lanky boy on the verge of manhood.

  ‘Yes, and beagles are very inquisitive, so I am sure they will get up to plenty of mischief,’ Arabella supplied. She felt a little sorry for Stephen. He must be feeling a little displaced, not a child, yet not quite an adult. He had been given permission to sit with them at dinner, which made him feel very important, but the adult pursuits, all surrounding the wedding, bored him to tears.

  Arabella had done her best to keep him entertained, taking him riding, and playing games of chess and backgammon, but she suspected he was becoming bored with her as well. The boys kept him occupied, but they were too
young to be of any real interest to him. Still, she suspected he liked the fact both her brothers idolised him.

  She sat on a bale of hay while the boys stirred the puppies up to a fever pitch of yapping and wagging tails. Arabella remembered how just this morning Justin had looked suitably triumphant when he had returned, presenting Lady Shelton like a trophy. She hoped she had done the right thing in enlisting her help and letting her know of her feelings for her son.

  Lady Shelton had been most gracious and had taken Arabella’s hands in hers, kissed her on the cheek and told her she was all she had ever wished for in a daughter. Justin had been right. Having Robert’s mother onside had definitely lifted her spirits, but she was not her daughter yet. There was the small matter of a confession of love and a proposal first.

  Lady Shacklesbury had, as usual, taken the situation in hand and the two had been seen heads together in conversation. Quinn’s mother had no doubt spent little time in telling Lady Shelton everything that had transpired.

  She wondered how Robert would react when he finally arrived and saw that his mother was here. Would he be angry or happy, suspicious or puzzled?

  ‘You see,’ Justin had said to her. ‘The lady does exist and is eager to help put her wayward son on the right path.’

  Arabella had not responded but had watched the two women disappear up the stairs towards her mother’s rooms. Victoria Mallory looked just as Robert had described her, golden blonde and perfect, and they did have the same beautiful midnight-blue eyes.

  ‘Now,’ Justin had said, kissing her hand. ‘Didn’t you say you were going to be eternally grateful? You can start by offering me a cup of tea and the pleasure of your company.’ He had said it with a smile and a wink and she’d had to laugh. He was a rogue in his own way and some day he was going to make some lady very lucky indeed.

  The pleasure of her company was first interrupted by Quinn, her father and John, who had all just returned from a ride to the lower fields, and then by her brothers. Justin had looked almost disappointed when she had offered to take the boys out to the stables to see the pups.

  Distracted as she was with her thoughts and watching the boys, she hadn’t heard the booted steps that came her way as a rider led his horse into the stable. It wasn’t until the stable boy, having been distracted himself by the noisy pups, had rushed past her that she turned her head towards the deep voice.

  ‘He’s ridden hard, so mind you walk him a bit and give him a good rub down.’ The rider handed the reins over and turned towards the sound of young voices and yapping dogs.

  He stilled.

  She stood for an awkward moment while they stared at each other. He looked superb, dressed as he was in dark navy with a silver-striped waistcoat, all completely spotless, all in place, all wonderfully male, all completely Robert. Did he even have the slightest awareness of how good-looking he was? Well, yes, of course he did. He was the Collector of Hearts, after all. She had missed him terribly even though she was still angry with him. It took all her self-control not to fling herself into his arms.

  ‘Robert? I mean, Lord Shelton.’ Stephen ran over to him.

  ‘Ah, Master Braxton.’ He shook the boy’s hand in a manly gesture, giving him a warm smile. Bella wished he had given her one of those smiles. ‘I see you are stirring up the natives, as usual.’

  ‘This is George and Mick,’ Stephen said, grinning and indicating the two little boys who were now hovering at his sides. ‘They are Miss Isabelle and Miss Arabella’s brothers,’ he explained.

  ‘Are they now?’ He crouched down in front of them and offered them his hand. ‘Very nice to meet you, gentlemen. I am Lord Shelton. I trust you two are looking after Stephen?’

  ‘Yes, my lord, Stephen is awfully clever with a slingshot and he is going to teach us how to skip stones later when we take him down to the river,’ replied George.

  ‘Is he? Well then, you won’t need your sister to watch over you then, will you?’ Robert said, smiling and tickling Michael under the arm until he squealed.

  ‘No, my lord. Papa says that we mustn’t tie ourselves to Mama or our sister’s apron strings,’ George explained, smiling with a gappy grin. ‘I don’t know why he says that as Mama never wears an apron.’

  Robert chuckled and then stood up again. ‘I’ll escort your sister back to the house on your behalf. Do I have your permission?’ The boys both nodded and then ran back to the puppies with Stephen rolling his eyes in mock suffering before following them back to the noisy brood.

  ‘They are fine-looking boys,’ Robert said.

  Arabella had not moved an inch. ‘Yes, my father is very proud of them.’

  Robert watched as she touched one of her curls absently. He hadn’t had to guess which sister he was talking to, his body had told him who she was immediately.

  ‘How are you?’ This was awkward. He wanted to take her in his arms and kiss away her frown, to tell her that he loved her and then take her into one of the stalls and make love to her, but of course he couldn’t do that, so instead he had asked her the insipid question.

  ‘I’m fine, and you?’ she replied politely.

  ‘Fine.’

  ‘How was your trip here?’

  ‘Fine, and the wedding plans?’ he asked then.

  ‘Fine.’

  ‘Good, so everything is fine. Settled. The church and everything.’ He sounded like an idiot. No wonder she was looking at him as if he were a lunatic. ‘Bella—’

  ‘Robert—’ They said each other’s name in unison.

  ‘Bella, I wanted to apologise for my behaviour at the Cowley’s ball. It was... I was... insufferable.’ He tapped his crop against his leg.

  ‘Yes. You were, but I should not have said what I did either.’ She took a step towards him then halted.

  ‘You were completely right to do so. I deserved it.’ He tugged at his cravat. She gave him a strange look as though she didn’t quite believe he had admitted guilt. ‘I have had time to do a lot of thinking,’ he added.

  ‘And drinking, from what I’ve heard.’

  Was that a hint of a smile he saw? She started walking towards the doorway. He fell in next to her, hands clasped behind his back because he couldn’t trust them not to touch her.

  ‘Yes, a bit of that too, I’m afraid.’ He wondered who had told her. Barton probably, which meant she had gotten the bad version, not that there was really a good version. ‘I was hoping we could meet somewhere to talk later. I need to explain myself to you.’

  ‘We are talking, why can’t you tell me what you need to now? Besides, our liaison is over, remember? There should be no need to meet anywhere, to talk or explain.’

  He could tell she was trying to be strong. It was her eyes that gave her away. A look of sad determination.

  ‘Please, Bella, I just need a few minutes alone with you. There are some things I need to tell you. That’s all, I promise.’ That was as close to begging as he was going to let himself go, any lower and he may as well go professional.

  She stopped and stared at him for a moment. Was she trying to decide whether to believe him or not?

  ‘Oh, all right. Any dishonourable behaviour, though, and you will rue the day, I swear.’

  He smiled. ‘I will do my best to be as Quinn-like as possible.’ He crossed his heart with his finger just for good measure. She sighed as if that this was all very much a bother to her and she’d rather be having her corset tightened.

  ‘Very well, I shall meet you in the library after lunch. Quinn and Isabelle are in the parlour with my father, John, and some of our other guests. We should join them.’ He nodded and followed her into the house.

  When they reached the parlour door, she gave him a warning look, which then turned unsure. He raised a brow but she ignored the question on his face and walked into the room.

  ‘Look who I found outside,’ she announced a little too brightly and all eyes were upon him. She moved further into the room and went to stand near Isabelle. Quinn came over immed
iately with a smile and shook his hand.

  ‘You made good time. We weren’t expecting you until later this afternoon. You’ve made it just in time for lunch. Well done.’

  Lady Tremaine greeted him. ‘We are so glad you’re here, Lord Shelton. There has been someone waiting anxiously for you to arrive.’

  His gaze went directly to Bella but she was not looking at him. She was looking towards the other side of the room, as was everyone else. He followed her gaze.

  ‘Mother?’ Well, this was a shock. She was the last person he had expected to see. A wave of happiness washed through him as she rose elegantly from her chair and moved towards him.

  ‘Hello, Robert dear.’ She extended her hands towards him before saying softly, ‘Your mouth is open, my boy.’

  He kissed her cheek and smiled. This was a splendid turn of events. Quinn must have done this to surprise him, although he wasn’t sure why.

  ‘It is so wonderful to see you.’

  He noticed Barton had moved to stand behind Bella and although he wanted to knock the man on his arse, he schooled his features with great effort. Gone, obviously, were the days when he could conjure up a bored facade without much effort at all.

  His mother smiled and placed her arm in his. ‘Lord and Lady Tremaine have been most gracious hosts to my last-minute arrival.’

  Last-minute? Before he could ask why, the lunch bell went and everyone shuffled eagerly into the dining room. Robert escorted his mother while he imagined daggers sticking out of Barton’s back.

  It seemed that lunch was going to be a long, drawn-out affair, considering the fact that he was trapped between his mother and Lady Shacklesbury and Barton was sitting opposite him with Bella on one side and Amy on his other. If this were a game of chess he would be in strife, surrounded as he was and with his Queen out of reach. He was the pawn continually bombarded by trivial questions from his left and right while he was being strategically manoeuvred out of the conversation by the knight directly in front of him, and all the while his Queen played the demure waiting game.