Seduced by the Dandy Lion

by Suzanne Quill

  “The pony, my lord. Drew. I’m not sure we can afford it, though it was very thoughtful of you to buy it for Andrea’s natal day. And, I know she loves it. But, it’s not only the pony. It’s the extra space it will take. The care. The food. It is an added expense, Drew. I just am not sure we can fit it into our budget. I’ve not had the rest of your father’s properties for long and they are not profitable yet. And, I had his debts to discharge. We are laying out much more than we are bringing in at the moment. We still must be very cautious with our spending.” She finally took a breath and looked away, realizing she had been running on and on and he had been patiently listening.

  Drew reached out and once again took her hand in his.

  She felt the heat go up her arm and spread through her body. She schooled her features and tried not to react to the intensity of the feelings cascading over her.

  “Marianne, there is no need to worry . . .”

  “But there is, my lord. Drew. We’re not so rich as yet. I’ve been very careful but your father did not change his ways all these years and when he died . . . Well, not to speak poorly about the dead but he left debts and they were yours, ours, to pay. We were responsible for them.”

  He wove his fingers between hers, then drew them to his lips. Like a butterfly alighting on a flower petal, he brushed his lips over the back of her hand.

  Marianne caught a deep breath. Her heart stuttered yet again.

  “Marianne, there is no need to worry. Regardless of the carelessness of my father, we have the money. I brought back a fortune with me, a very generous fortune at that.”

  “But how? You were kidnapped and only a sailor.” She decided not to pull her hand from his grasp. Despite his calloused palm she could feel the heat and steadiness emanating from him. It seemed to ground her, calm her.

  “I explained to your father last week. I meant to do so with you as well but we just hadn’t taken the time or made the opportunity. I have a gift with languages, you see. I speak many fluently from my youth: Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Russian. I seem to pick up new tongues with no effort whatsoever, even those of the islands of the Pacific and the Orient. That is a valuable talent on a sailing ship. My captains used me to make better trades and then gave me bonuses for my efforts, better quarters on board ship, fewer manual chores as well, since I spent most of my time translating papers in other tongues. I took the funds I earned and invested them. Some of the investments were risky, but unlike my father, I was in the thick of the action so I had information that could guide me as to where and when to place my money. And I placed it well. I am far wealthier than my father ever hoped to be. I don’t need your dowry any more, Marianne. It’s yours to dispose of however you wish and I thank you for how you tended my properties all these years.”

  Drew kissed her hand again, then released it.

  Slowly his words gained ground in her mind. He didn’t need her dowry? Did that mean he didn’t need her? What did that bode for their marriage? Their daughter? Their future? Was she free? Free to be with Robert? How could she be free without some type of divorce? That way guaranteed scandal. There was no easy way. She would have no control. Drew would have to claim cuckolding. Robert would have to be named as her lover. Her reputation and Robert’s would be ruined. They would be outcasts from society, any society. Did she want Robert so much? Did he draw her the way Drew did? Did he make her feel, with just a touch of his hand, the way Drew did?

  Protected. Cherished. Desired.

  “Marianne.” Drew fractured her thoughts. “You look worried and confused. There is no need to be. It will all work out for the best. It always does.” He took her hand yet again and tugged gently. He unbent his knees and spread his legs wide. “Come sit with me and rest. We will figure it out. We needn’t hurry.” As she moved toward him, he turned her around to sit in front of him, between his legs. “Relax. Lean back against me.”

  Marianne knew not what else to do, so she leaned her back against the solid wall of his chest, felt the heat of his body radiate through her like the warmth of the sun on a beautiful summer day, inhaled the spicy, masculine scent of him. His arms came around her, then he placed a hand, palm up, on each of her thighs.

  “Place your hands, palms down, in mine, Marianne. Lean back, close your eyes, take a deep breath and relax.”

  His voice rumbled deep and warm in her ear. She did what he asked. His chest supported her back. His palms remained open as she laid her palms against his. She took a deep breath, glad she had planned a home day and had skipped the corset and lacings. Then she took another. Then another.

  She could feel the rise and fall of his breathing behind her.

  She let go and felt herself floating . . . floating . . . floating . . .

  “Mama. Papa. You sleeping? Wake up!”

  Marianne raised her eyelids to see the happy face of her daughter approaching. Blue eyes bright, smile wide, the child scampered toward them, then soft, little hands patted Marianne’s cheeks.

  “Awake, Mama. Awake. You, too, Papa. Wake up!”

  Marianne took in a deep breath. How long had they been sitting there? She looked up toward the sky. A half hour? An hour? Did it matter?

  She made to move.

  “Take it easy, Marianne,” came the deep voice behind her. “Rise slowly or you may feel a little light-headed. You rested deeply.”

  She moved to her knees and felt Drew stand up next to her. She looked up into his face, saw his hand stretched out to help her, his eyes warm and knowing but still so gentle and kind.

  Who was this mysterious man she had married so long ago?

  “Papa, Papa.” Andrea clung to his leg but he remained steady as a rock as he held his hand out to her.

  “Let me help you up. Take my hand.”

  How could she resist? What had he done to her, with her?

  She placed her hand in his and rose to her feet. As he had warned, she felt a slight dizziness but it left as quickly as it came. Then she felt . . . rested. She felt as if she had gotten out of bed after a full night’s deep sleep.

  How had he done that?

  Drew looked down at her. “Are you all right? You look better. Your color is back. You no longer look so tense.”

  “Mama, Papa. Play.” Now Andrea’s free hand tugged on Marianne’s skirt while clinging to her father’s leg.

  “Fine, my lord. Drew. I’m fine. I feel fully rested.” She bent to take Andrea’s hand but the child raised both hands to her father.

  “Uppy. Uppy, Papa!”

  “I think we need to be, as someone wants us to play.” Drew lifted the toddler up and tossed her in the air.

  “Papa! Papa! Again! Again!”

  “That child is going to think she’s a bird if you keep tossing her into the sky that way.”

  “Never.” Drew placed the little girl’s feet back on the ground. “I’ll always put both of her feet back on terra firma. It’s such a joy though to have her, to play with her. I’m so glad you’re not one of those parents who feels she must send the children away while they are so small. My father did that and my parents were nearly complete strangers to me by the time I returned home.”

  “My parents raised me, Drew. I would want no one else to raise my own children.” Marianne bent down to her daughter. “How about hide-and-go-seek? Papa can count and you and I will go hide.”

  “Yes, yes. Papa count.”

  Marianne smiled up at him just before he turned back to the tree to count. Then she grabbed Andrea’s hand and they ran to hide from Papa.

  Chapter 13

  Drew entered the ballroom a week later hoping his dance lessons with dancing master Thomas Wilson would pay off.

  He spent a few moments chatting with the host and hostess, Baron and Baroness Asterland, who were effusive with apprecia
tion for his appearance at their event. His attendance could make it the event of the evening. He then scanned the faces of the crowd.

  It took only seconds to locate his quarry, pleased beyond measure when she looked up into his gaze as if sensing his presence.

  He definitely took that as a good sign.

  His attendance tonight would be focused on marking his territory. No more would the ton be discussing how the Countess of Reignsfield could rid herself of the earl so she could wed the interloper, Sir Robert Gentilly.

  No. After tonight, Gentilly would be the usurper. After all, Drew was married to Marianne. While Drew traveled, Gentilly could entertain thoughts of claiming Marianne once the legalities were sorted out. But Drew had met with his solicitors that very morning. He knew exactly what would have to be done to free Marianne. It would not be pretty and Drew would refrain from putting Marianne through it unless she convinced him she very definitely wanted her freedom. Gentilly would have to fight to earn Marianne’s hand. And both Marianne and Gentilly would have to take the unfortunate but necessary actions of sullying their reputations to pursue a divorce.

  A remote possibility at the moment, since Drew expected he could entice Marianne to make him her preference. He saw how she watched him beneath lowered lashes. He knew her curiosity about his travels abroad and his relaxation and meditation techniques only grew. She had waited for, wanted his kiss that night in the corridor outside her room. And, she continued to encourage his becoming an instrumental part of Andrea’s little life.

  If he had desired Marianne before he returned, discovering his fatherhood to an angel of a little girl made it all the more imperative that Marianne make it clear to all, especially Gentilly, that he, Andrew Saxtonby, Eighth Earl of Reignsfield, was her preference and love.

  Tonight, another solid step would be taken in that direction.

  As he strode directly across the ballroom, veering only slightly to avoid the dancers on the floor, his gaze remained locked with hers.

  “My lady.” He made a formal bow. Taking her offered gloved hand, he brushed a kiss lightly over the satin. Still their eyes did not release. “I believe this is our waltz.”

  She glanced briefly at Gentilly, making her excuses and turning her attention to dancing with Drew.

  He led her onto the floor, swung her gracefully into his arms, waited moments to pick up the beat of the music, “The Sussex Waltz” by Mozart, then became one of the swirling couples enjoying the experience.

  “My lord, you have not forgotten how to waltz after years away from the floor?”

  He pulled her just a little closer than would be proper for a courting couple. “Master Wilson has been refreshing my steps and figures these last two weeks. I can only hope I was an apt pupil.”

  “We have not danced before, Drew.”

  Thank God she used his Christian name. Was it not a good sign?

  She continued, “But I would say you are the best lead on the floor.”

  “Thank you, as I strive to be of the highest aptitude for my lady wife. You, Marianne, are the fairest of the fair this evening. The pale blue of your gown reminds me of the shallow bays of the Caribbean Sea. It flatters your eyes and complexion. May I assume you are most pleased with the necklace, as you are wearing them to advantage as well?”

  The ruby and diamond pendant glittered in the soft candlelight, and the richness of the pearls glowed against the warmth of her skin. Marianne’s gaze swung back from the clusters of onlookers to meet his eyes again. “Yes. They are luminous and seem to flatter everything I wear.”

  “They certainly flatter you.” Drew broke his gaze as he turned at the end of the floor. Momentarily his eyes lit on Gentilly’s face. Marianne’s interim beau was not a happy man, his brow furrowed, his body stiff, and leaning as if to charge like a mad bull seeing red. Only Lady Summersborne coming up next to the trespasser deflected the man's obviously seething dislike.

  No doubt hatred would more accurately describe the emotion floating through that gentleman’s mind. Drew had returned before being declared deceased, had won the heart of his daughter, and made gradual inroads to winning over his wife. The man must be at a total loss to understand how his plans had gone afoul.

  What exactly were Gentilly’s plans? Did he really love Marianne? Or just the monies she controlled? Drew would make it his business to find out.

  He returned his attention to his wife but spoke little as the music continued. Upon completion of the waltz, much too short for his liking, he returned his wife to Gentilly’s side and bowed to Lady Summersborne.

  “You are an exquisite dancer, my lord.” Vanessa glanced over to Marianne and winked. “Please choose me if you ever have need of a partner.”

  “Thank you, Lady Summersborne.”

  “Please, your wife and I are close friends. You must call me Vanessa as does she.”

  “As you wish, Vanessa.” Drew stepped just behind his wife’s left shoulder so he could loom like a lion behind Gentilly. “Tonight I am here for my lady wife. Not only have we not danced during my absence, we had not had the pleasure before my unexpected departure.”

  Vanessa gave him a knowing nod, squeezed Marianne’s hand, and moved off.

  The evening continued pleasantly enough for Drew but Gentilly seemed most put out as he could only claim the cotillions and country dances. Drew garnered all of the waltzes.

  As her husband, it was his right.

  To further discomfit his rival, he made sure to lead Marianne in for supper. Gentilly stewed as he followed, as closely as permissible.

  After the final waltz, Drew relented. Turning to his wife he bowed as he kissed her hand. “Thank you, my lady. It has been my pleasure. I will see you at home.”

  With a nod to his sneering opponent, he took his leave.

  Chapter 14

  Two days later Marianne returned from shopping on Fleet Street and the Strand only to find Drew supervising workmen unloading a dray at their front door.

  “What goes on here?” Marianne asked when Drew acknowledged her presence.

  “I’ve brought these statues back from my travels in China.”

  Marianne sidled up to one of the huge stone creatures. “Most unusual, my lord. Fierce faces, curly manes, objects under their paws. Will they not frighten our guests even before they enter? How are we to make the ton feel welcome?”

  “They are shi, my lady,” Drew explained as the workers settled one of the immense, grey, granite animals in place at the base of the granite entry steps. “They are protectors against evil and threats to our household and bring good fortune.” Drew went over to place a hand on the creature newly sited to the right of the steps. “Europeans may call them Foo Dogs but they are actually modeled on Chinese Imperial lions. This is the male lion, with the orb under its paw. He represents yang energy and will ward off any negative or evil influences that try to come to our door.” The workmen situated the second statue in place to the left of the steps. “The second lion is female, representing yin energy. See the little cub under her paw? She represents the cycle of life and protects the people inside our home.”

  Marianne came over to examine each of the statues more closely. Looking back at him, she frowned. “Will they not frighten Andrea?”

  Drew shook his head. “Not at all. They are, after all, cats and we know how she loves her kitten. We shall tell her they are her new pets and she can name them. We can sit her on their backs and she can pretend to ride them. She will be delighted.”

  “They are truly hideous,” came a tight, dissenting voice from behind them.

  Drew and Marianne turned as one to find Robert studying the statues.

  “As you wish, sir. But I am proud to have them here. In China, only the wealthiest families can afford to have such protectors at their front doors, especially ones so
large and finely carved as these.” Drew rested his hand on one of the curly manes.

  “Welcome, Robert. You’re just in time for tea.” Marianne tried to temper a tense situation before it occurred.

  “Is it safe to enter?” Robert started up the steps.

  “Only if you have no purpose of evil thoughts or deeds,” Drew called after him.

  “How absurd.” Robert started coughing badly as he made his way up the steps toward the front door. The violence of his cough set him off balance and he tripped, nearly falling, but Blevins opened the door and saved him before he crashed into the granite steps headfirst.

  Marianne turned to Drew, her gaze hard, her brows furrowed in question.

  Drew just shrugged. “I’ll be in shortly to join you for tea. You might want to give Sir Robert a glass of water as well. He seems to have picked up a cough on our newly protected steps.”

  Marianne retorted brusquely, “Indeed,” then made her way indoors.

  Chapter 15

  The next night, Drew attended another ball. Yet again he arrived late to make a grand entrance, stood protectively behind his wife, and commandeered her for every waltz and the supper.

  Drew could feel the malice and frustration roll off Gentilly as he stood next to Marianne. Occasionally Gentilly would glare back at him but only if Marianne was distracted in some other direction.

  Drew refused to acknowledge the man’s presence. He simply looked over his head or kept his attention on something or someone else. Determined to keep his rival in check, he continued to gather the support of the ton. Already Lady Summersborne and Marianne’s other friends indicated their preference in small ways such as brighter smiles, more subtly flirtatious words. Vanessa even gave him an occasional wink at a discreet moment.