Shades of Truth (The Summerlynn Secrets)
Page 21
“See that man over there? The one in the green jacket?” Rob indicated with our joined hands as we glided to the left and then to the right. “Wickham’s his name. Dreadful bore. Stay away from him unless you wish to fall asleep where you stand.”
“Why is he so boring?” I was curious. Wickham seemed nice enough, surrounded by a group of wide-awake people.
“He is obsessed with the health and behavior of horses.” Rob didn’t dwell on that. He was busy pointing out another gentleman. “Now look to your left. That’s Lord Corbin. He’s extremely intelligent and has better manners around the ladies. After this dance, I’ll introduce you. He’s one of Sorin’s friends.” Rob spoke of a tallish brown haired gentleman whose profile was quite handsome over by the refreshment table. He was well built and finely turned out in a tight fitting black evening coat and black trousers. If his hair was a little too long, it only added to his slightly dangerous aura.
“Trying to marry me off?” I continued to watch Lord Corbin. I wondered how long he’d known Colton, and if he knew anything about my father and a lost twin.
“Hardly. My brother has a nice right.” A grin tipped his mouth upwards.
I rolled my eyes. “I am not your brother’s.”
“Try telling him that,” Rob smirked, earning him a glare.
“I have.”
“What did he say?”
“He ignored me.”
Rob hooted with laughter. “Of course he did. He always ignores anything he doesn’t wish to hear.”
“Which is pretty much everything I say.” Absently, I smoothed the fabric over Rob’s shoulder, noting the firm muscles beneath.
“Sorin loves a challenge and by disagreeing with him, you only increase his interest” At my frown, he explained, “My advice? Take up sewing and say yes to everything he says.” He gave me an appraising look. “That is, only if you do not want his attention. If you do, keep arguing. I think a spring wedding would be lovely.”
The music ended on that note, leaving me with my mouth slightly agape. I was unable to remonstrate with Rob because he steered me off the dance floor in the direction of Lord Corbin. I didn’t really want to meet him, but it would increase the number of people I knew in the ballroom from two to three.
“Your evening is about to get brighter, Paul. May I have the honor of presenting Miss Cadrian Summerlynn to you? Cadrian, this is Lord Paul Corbin.” Rob shook Lord Corbin’s hand warmly before drawing me forward.
“Pleased to meet you,” I said, dropping into a curtsey.
“The pleasure is all mine,” Lord Corbin replied, lifting my hand to his lips. I could get used to all this hand kissing.
“Miss Summerlynn is staying with my family for the next couple weeks, though Sorin’s hoping to convince her of something more permanent.” Rob grinned wickedly at me. In his brother’s absence, Rob obviously felt the need to declare me off limits.
Lord Corbin turned to me, interest apparent. I resisted the urge to sock Rob in the shoulder for his comment but consoled myself knowing there would be plenty of opportunities to hit him in private.
“Things have been taken out of context,” I said, looking down. Hopefully Lord Corbin would assume I was shy and not fighting the urge to scream at the top of my lungs. Arrogant controlling men evidently ran in the North bloodlines.
“I look forward to hearing about it.” Lord Corbin’s eyes were a warm chocolate color. They were assessing, not malicious.
“I am needed elsewhere. It was nice seeing you, Paul.” Rob kissed my cheek, muttering, “Behave yourself!” before walking away.
“I am not much of a dancer, Miss Summerlynn. Would you care to promenade with me?” Lord Corbin actually waited for my agreement before starting off around the perimeter of the ballroom.
We passed a few moments in meaningless small talk. I asked after his day, he asked if I was enjoying the cooling weather of fall. When a sufficient amount of time passed, I asked, “How long have you known Prince Sorin?”
“Since boarding school. I was the first boy unafraid of his title enough to bloody his lip when he was being difficult. We’ve been friends ever since.” The brown eyes crinkled at the corner as he remembered. “We got into some scrapes.”
I had a hard time picturing Colton as anything other than the somewhat unreadable, carefully controlled man he presented to me. “Such as?”
“You will have plenty of time to draw Sorin’s secrets from him.” He considered. “I wonder how many of them you already possess.”
“Not nearly enough,” I said, before I could stop myself. I watched Lord Corbin’s eyes darken with knowledge. Why not just post a sign around my neck reading I am in love with Prince Sorin and save everyone the trouble?
“May I be candid?” At my nod, he continued, “Sorin is not a man easily known, Miss Summerlynn. Only time will reveal what you wish to know.”
“Which is?”
“How he feels about you.” A gentle grin caused my cheeks to warm.
“The more important question is how I feel about him,” I returned. For all his kindness, Corbin was a stranger, and a friend of Colton’s. If I were to admit to any kind of feeling, he would find out.
Corbin gave me a faintly chiding look. “I picked you for an intelligent woman, Miss Summerlynn. Do not ruin my opinion of you.”
“After the week I’ve had, opinions are the least of my worries.” Our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a rather attractive young man. My eyes lingered over the man’s broad shoulders.
“Evening, Corbin. Dare I hope for an introduction to this beautiful woman beside you?” Though I felt the flattery was over the top, I didn’t mind hearing it.
“Of course. Miss Summerlynn, may I present Lord Tanner Maybrook? Maybrook, this is Miss Cadrian Summerlynn.”
My hand was lifted to Maybrook’s lips. “Good evening, Miss Summerlynn. It is my hope to coax you away for a dance.”
“I would be delighted. Thank you, Lord Corbin, for the conversation.” I smiled brightly, following Lord Maybrook’s lead onto the floor.
The following hours passed in a blur. I had a succession of dance partners and soon lost track of their names. Colton probably hadn’t had this in mind when he told me to accompany his mother, but surely he didn’t expect me to be a social outcast, either. I was glad for the distraction of handsome men, loud music, and conversation.
The laughter stopped however, when my partner for the last dance found me. Outwardly charming, his brown eyes were disturbingly masked. I didn’t want to dance with him, but my previous dance partner simply handed me over to this man. I thought his name was Lord Colin Liberty, but I wasn’t certain.
As nicely as possible, I attempted to detach myself from his grip.
“I’m suddenly feeling tired, my lord. I think it best I return to Her Majesty.” I smiled at him, hoping he’d take the hint.
“Then we must step out to the patio. The fresh air would do you good.” Without waiting for a response, Lord Liberty swept me out on the patio. The secluded patio.
The instant the night enclosed us, Liberty’s expression changed. Gone was the rather benign boredom and in its place a concentrated intensity. “Now, Miss Summerlynn. I will have the pendant, if you please.”
“What pendant?” Now that my father was dead, everyone wanted the pendant instead of him.
“The pendant you were given for your sixteenth birthday.” Lord Liberty sounded rather calm. For some reason, his calmness relaxed me. “The one that will find the twin.”
“Oh, that pendant. It became lost in the escape from Sal de Mar.” I shrugged as if it didn’t matter to me. As if Liberty hadn’t dropped an all important clue.
A twin? Of who or what? The pendant? Did I need two pendants to gain entrance to whatever they represented? Suddenly, I wanted out of this labyrinth of secrets and shades of truth ringing me. Why couldn’t anyone simply tell the whole truth?
“Be very careful, Miss Summerlynn, whom you lie to.” I
couldn’t be certain in the dim light of the patio, but I thought Liberty smiled. “If you wish to learn more about the pendant, come to the island.” With that parting shot, he left.
Of course I wanted to discover more about the pendant and how it related to my father, but the map pulled me with equal intensity. But, since I didn’t know where the map led, and the island was easier to find, shouldn’t my quest for answers start there?
“Is everything all right, Miss Summerlynn? Queen Cassandra sent me to find you.” I hadn’t heard Corbin come outside. I walked to his side.
“Everything’s perfect. I felt faint, and wanted a bit of fresh air.” I twined my arm through Corbin’s and together we stepped back into the ballroom. In an effort to appear normal while my brain examined the encounter with Liberty, I chattered the entire way to Cassies’s side.
Looking a little tired, Cassie stood in the foyer, pulling on her long white evening gloves. “Thank you, Paul. When Sorin is back, we shall have you over to dinner.” Cassie lifted her cheek for Corbin’s kiss.
“And when do you expect him?”
“In a few days. One never knows with Sorin.” Cassie reached for my elbow. “You look flushed. Have you enjoyed yourself?”
“Immensely.” I smiled at her, looking around for Rob. “Is Rob staying?”
“He’s already in the carriage. Paul, will I see you tomorrow night at the Buckton’s?” Cassie addressed Corbin who still stood at my elbow.
“Only if you promise to save a dance for me.” He grinned, revealing a dimple in his left cheek. I imagined he and Sorin made quite the striking pair. “It will be my pleasure.” Turning to me, he raised my hand to his lips. “I look forward to becoming better acquainted, Miss Summerlynn.” He smiled one last time before rejoining the crush inside the ballroom.
“Of all Sorin’s friends, Paul is my favorite.” Cassie led the way to the carriage.
I shrugged noncommittally and entered the carriage to find Rob sprawled across an entire seat. “Have you been hiding from all those eager young ladies? They only want to marry you, you know.”
“And that’s where we have a slight difference in opinion.” Rob sat up to allow Cassie to step over his outstretched feet.
“Not for long, I hope. You need to settle down and give me grandchildren to spoil. I won‘t live forever.” No matter their station in life, all mothers longed for grandchildren.
“You, Mother, will outlive Sorin and I both.” I was inclined to agree with Rob’s statement. The queen possessed such vitality for life that I felt as though I was older rather than younger.
“I sincerely hope not. That would make for a lonely existence.” Cassie tapped on the carriage roof to signal the coachman we were ready to depart. If only all things were as easily left behind as balls.
Chapter Thirteen
A week quickly slipped past when I wasn’t looking. Not that I had time to look, anyway. Each night there was a function to attend, a musical, a building opening or a ball, in which Cassie insisted upon my attendance. Rob was usually pressed into service as well and I began to see Lord Corbin everywhere. I even saw him while out walking with Rob to pick up a book for King Richard! If I were the suspicious sort, I would suspect Colton asked him to keep an eye on me.
That started me thinking about how it was none of Colton’s business what I chose to do. With both parents dead, my time and life were entirely my own. It was time I began making decisions about my future. A future that did not include Colton.
If only the man would get that through his thick skull. Every time I began thinking Colton’s protectiveness sprang from warm feelings for me, I remembered our conversation about expectations and how it felt to learn he’d only brought me to the palace on his father’s orders.
It was no wonder I was out of sorts at tonight’s ball at Lord Such and Such’s. The only thing that changed nightly was the color and style of my gown. Tonight’s dress was midnight blue with silver accents around the waist and bodice. The material was a soft satin, my favorite, and the neckline was again entirely too low. Maura refused to ruin the lines of the gown by filling in the neckline, so I was stuck with a very revealing décolleté.
Covering my yawn with a gloved hand, I leaned close to Rob, whispering, “What are the chances your mother will want to leave before dinner?”
His blue eyes widened. “And miss the famed Rutchering roast duck? Bite your tongue!”
“What’s a Rutchering roast duck?”
“Only our esteemed hosts’ signature dish. You have never had roast duck until you’ve had the Rutcherings’.” Rob rubbed his stomach.
“Stop that,” I scolded, brushing his hand away. “You’ll crease your jacket.” I smoothed down the flap of cloth along his abdomen.
“And I’ll thank you to keep your hands off my royal person or I’ll have you beheaded on the morrow.” He half turned away.
“I am more worried about tonight. Half the women in this room wish me dead.” I was well acquainted with Rob’s appeal. Since I’d spent the majority of evenings out in his company, it was only natural there should be some talk. What I hadn’t expected was the halted conversations as I walked by or the hateful looks I earned when women thought I didn’t see them. Oh, well. The truth would out when Colton finally returned home.
There’d been no communication from him. Though part of me was glad of the reprieve from his intensity and my own reaction to him, the other part sorely missed him. Like it or not, he’d been my constant companion when everything began to fall apart, and I missed his confidence, his assurance that everything would turn out right.
I’d been able to make zero headway on my search for information about the twin, the map and the pendant, which further contributed to my sour mood. Though I hadn’t expected the answers to pop out of a room and yell “Surprise!” I also hadn’t counted on Cassie’s skillful evasion any time I asked about my father and what he’d been working on. I’d also spent a few afternoons in the assorted libraries, checking for maps and so far, nothing resembled my father’s map.
Then there was the matter of Lord Liberty and his tantalizing remark. I had to admit I was deeply curious as to what light the Tallons could shed on my father and his actions. The map could wait, I suddenly decided. I would go to the island.
“You are shattering my reputation, Cadrian.” Rob’s voice broke me from my thoughts.
“Oh?” I turned, a smile lighting my eyes.
“You’re frowning.”
“They will only say I am annoyed you are not speaking with me.” I shook my head at him.
“I like you, Cadrian, but not enough to dance attendance on you.”
“Hear that?” I cupped my hand to my ear. “That is the sound of my heart breaking.”
A look of mock horror crossed his face. “I do hope I haven’t stepped on any pieces.”
“Only the biggest, you oaf.” I swatted him lightly with my fingers.
Before I could expand upon Rob’s oafishness, I was hailed by Lord Samuel Milbank. We’d danced a couple times and I found him a pleasing if somewhat overbearing companion. We exchanged a few words after I explained I was sitting this dance out. I was still talking when a finger ran lightly down my back. I didn’t react, being involved in a conversation. It was only Rob, anyway, attempting to be annoying.
Again, the finger traced the line of my spine. I drew in my breath at his audacity. There was enough talk about us, and such a public display of affection would only spur the talk. But the hair on the back of my neck was prickling, and the air had changed.
As politely as I could, I ended the conversation with Lord Milbank. Affixing a bright, public smile to my face, I turned knowing who I would find.
My composure nearly faltered at the sight of him. He was unbelievably gorgeous. That hideous beard was gone, and I received my first look at how he normally appeared. From the top of his fantastically high cheekbones, over the smooth cheeks to the firmness of his square jaw, and the most tempting mouth I�
��d ever seen, the man was too dangerous to be unleashed on the female population without a warning.
Of course, his lean frame was only emphasized by the professional cut of his blue evening jacket, crisp white waistcoat, and dark grey formal trousers. His hair was neatly combed and clean, judging from its rich golden color and the blue of his eyes fairly snapped at me. I wondered what people would say if I launched myself into his arms and refused to let go.
Colton watched me appraise him, a smile relaxing the lines around his mouth. I looked closer, noticing the dark circles and lines of weariness in his face. Though his posture was straight, I sensed his fatigue. Others may not notice the little things, but after a week spent in close proximity, I knew his body and gestures better than I knew my own.
I raked him from head to foot with my eyes. “You look tired.”
“Only because I rushed over here to see you in your evening finery.” That light, teasing note I adored was in his voice. “No hello?”
I shrugged. “No goodbye.”
He smiled. “You look beautiful, but I am certain many men have already told you that this evening.”
“A few.” But their compliments meant nothing. This man’s, though, meant the world. “Seeing me must not have been so important if you took time to change and shave.”
“I cannot win you if I impersonate a homeless man.”
“That’s not nice,” I chided.
He leaned close, his cologne teasing me. “Nothing’s nice about love.”
I stepped back. “I wish you wouldn’t say things like that.”
“Lucky for you, this is neither the time nor the place for the things I wish to say.” Colton regarded me a moment, a half smile lurking.
Feeling entirely unequal to the task of reining him in when he was so flirtatious, I settled on a frown. “Stop right this minute.”
“Or you’ll what? Hit me?” He lifted an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t recommend it. Attacking your future monarch is normally frowned upon.” Our eyes met and the emotion blazing from his frightened me. This, he, was too much.