Shades of Truth (The Summerlynn Secrets)

by C. L. Stockton

  I looked away. “You should leave. Your fatigue is affecting your manners.”

  “I will go home only if you accompany me.”

  “The only way I am leaving this place with you is if you tell me something interesting.”

  “Define interesting.”

  I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “Have you discovered something about my father?”

  He surveyed me with a raised eyebrow. “When will you learn there are reasons beside your father I wish to be alone with you?”

  Unable to hold Colton’s gaze (not when he looked at me that way), my eyes found Rob. He’d witnessed the entire thing. Desperate for a buffer between myself and Colton, I lunged for his arm. He attempted to politely detach his arm from my fingers, but my grip was too strong for him. Short of creating a scene, he would have to bear the hold until I was distracted.

  “What do you want?” Rob didn’t dare smile but I saw laughter in his eyes.

  Standing on tiptoe to whisper directly in his ear, I said, “You cannot leave me alone with him.”

  “You are not alone. There are easily sixty people here.” He extended his hand to Colton, who watched our interaction with a frown. “Been home long?”

  Colton’s eyes narrowed as he decided how best to react to our apparent closeness. “A few hours. I stopped home for a bath before coming here. Has dinner been served yet?”

  “Rest assured. The Rutchering roast duck has yet to make an appearance.”

  His brow cleared. “Excellent. Then I will have the pleasure of dining with Cadrian.” A long careful look between Rob and I. “Unless you had other plans?”

  Rob said “No” while I said “Yes.”

  “What Cadrian means to say is though she planned to eat with me, you are here, and she is honored to sit beside you.” This time, Rob firmly freed his arm, taking my hand and holding it out to Colton. “She is all yours.”

  “Thank you. We will talk later.” Colton dismissed his brother with a nod. He tucked my hand into the crook of his elbow. I immediately tensed at the feel of firm muscles against my fingers. “Please stop looking as though I am going to devour you.”

  “Aren’t you?”

  “Perhaps, but in any case, not until after dinner.” From the way his eyes moved over me, I had the feeling only good manners held him in check.

  Time to talk about something less volatile. “Was your journey pleasant?” I wanted to know where he’d been and why and hoped to lull him into telling me.

  Colton gave me a sardonic look. “If you wish to know you shall have to catch me alone and even then, you will have a devil of a time convincing me to talk.”

  “Colton,” I began, but my words died when his eyes kindled.

  “My name is Sorin.”

  “Then you should have introduced yourself as such to begin with,” I returned tartly.

  “I have already explained once. Call me Colton again and I will dare much more than a kiss.” His eyes dropped to my mouth, igniting the familiar current of emotion in my body whenever he was near.

  Deciding this conversation was going nowhere I wished to be, I tore my gaze from his face and began looking around the room. As I suspected, Colton’s arrival and insistence on coming straight for me had begun the endless speculation of the other guests. All their neat little theories about Rob and I were being replaced by ones about Colton and I. Before long, they would invent a brotherly feud over me. There was nothing better than a woman coming between brothers.

  I stole a glance at Colton. His profile was crisp, and so familiar. I now realized why I’d vaguely recognized it. King Richard’s profile appeared on every Goran mark.

  “Do you mean to sulk all night?” Colton’s voice was soft. I turned my head fully to look at him, but he kept his eyes on the dancers.

  “If by sulking you mean ignoring, then yes, I do mean to sulk all night.”

  “Surely your manners are better than that.”

  “Not tonight.”

  He chuckled. A moment passed, our eyes on the dancers. “I see you and Rob are getting along famously.”

  I shrugged. “He is an easy companion.”

  “And I am not?”

  “No.” My reply was emphatic.

  “I have been told I am the easiest of companions.”

  I snorted. “Probably by people afraid of you.”

  “I do not inspire fear everywhere I go.” He shook his head. “I hesitate to learn your true opinion of me.”

  “I hope you never know.” I couldn’t stop the words, but I managed to restrain the palm wanting to thunk itself against my forehead. Why not simply tell the man I loved him?

  Unable to breathe, I waited for his reply.

  “That bad?” Though the tone was light and teasing, the set of his mouth told me he wasn’t as relaxed as he wanted to be.

  Seeing my opportunity, I plunged in. “If you tell me where you went and what you learned, I will tell you how I feel about you.”

  This time it was a full out laugh, causing heads that weren’t already watching to turn in our direction. “I only bargain for information I really want and your feelings, however tantalizing, are not worth the price I’d pay for them.” His eyes dropped to my mouth. “I will find other, more interesting ways of making you talk.”

  I felt my cheeks warm. If he put his mind to it, he would discover how I felt before my next breath. A bell sounded, signaling dinner.

  “Good. Dinner.” Colton started us walking from the drawing room down the hall to the dining room. I spared a thought for how well my stride matched his.

  When we reached the door of the dining room, silence fell for a split second before an excited hum filled the air. I imagined Colton’s name was very high on the list of envied guests. Any event he attended would be an immediate success.

  With an excited noise, Cassie waved us to her side of the table where two empty seats waited. She hugged and kissed her son, smacking him on the shoulder for not telling her of his return. I noticed Rob further down the table, seated between two very attractive ladies. Our eyes met and I narrowed my eyes. He smirked in return.

  I sat in the chair Colton pulled out, and carefully spread my napkin over my lap. Beside me, I heard Colton answering a question from his mother. While he was distracted, I turned to the person on my left. To my surprise, it was Lord Corbin. I should have known he’d be near if Colton showed up.

  Determined to ignore the speculation now I’d been seated beside Colton, I addressed Corbin. “You must tell me, Lord Corbin, if the Rutchering roast duck is worth its reputation.” I smiled flirtatiously.

  “I was unaware rumors had spread all the way to Sal de Mar.” He smiled. “And it is Paul.”

  “You can blame the princes for inflating my hopes. It was all they could talk about this evening.”

  “I am disappointed in Sorin, however, if roast duck was his preferred topic of conversation with you as company.” Paul leaned back as a footman carefully put slices of roast duck on his plate. I was served next and when I leaned back, the men beside me made eye contact.

  “I tried, but Cadrian refused to speak of anything else.” Reaching in front of me, Colton shook Paul’s hand. “Good to see you, Paul.”

  “Likewise.” Something passed between the two men. “Your lady has led me a merry chase, but has behaved for the most part.”

  I frowned. Colton had asked Paul to keep an eye on me while he was gone, even though I promised to give him two weeks. He still didn’t trust me.

  “Now sweetheart, I can explain.” He grabbed the hand that was suddenly grasping the handle of my knife.

  “Do so.” My words were sharply bitten off. I forgot all about the other guests in my determination to murder the man beside me. How dare he doubt my word?

  “Certain things came to light that led me to believe your life might be in danger.”

  “Oh, please,” I scoffed. “You only say that because you don’t want me to kill you.”

  “I’ll ad
mit that concerns me.” Hand still pinning my arm against the table, he continued, “Is it so wrong to want to protect you?”

  “From imaginary things? Yes.”

  “They’re not imaginary.” Shooting a glance around to see if our argument was attracting attention (it was), he leaned closer. “I needed to ensure you kept your word and remained at the palace.”

  “I said I would.”

  “Yes, but you have been less than honest with me.” His gaze dropped to my décolletage, as if searching for a certain pendant.

  Again, it circled back to the central theme of truth. Who told it, and who hid it. “Release me.”

  “How do I know you will not stick that knife in me?”

  “You don’t.” When he didn’t release me, I said, “Do not tell me you’re frightened of a woman.”

  “When that woman is you and you are armed, you terrify me.” In the process of attempting to stare him down, I felt rather than saw the guests’ attention. To soften the obviously contentious gesture, he caressed the inside of my arm with his thumb.

  I softened my tone. “Come now, Colton, I wish to sample my roast duck. It is unparalleled, or so I’ve heard.”

  Through tightly gritted teeth, he said, “My name is Sorin.”

  “So you say. Why make a first impression as Colton?” I heard him grind his teeth. Paul choked on a laugh, head bent over his roast duck.

  Colton released my wrist and focused on cutting his meat into precise squares. His knife scraped against the plate and I knew he fought his temper. Either that or he was contemplating the best way to remove me from all witnesses so he could exact retribution. Hmm. I’d make myself scarce after dinner.

  The duck was as good as promised. It fairly melted on my tongue and I chased every last bit around my plate before reluctantly turning my attention to the rice and vegetables. For the most part, I directed my conversation to Paul, feeling I’d teased Colton enough for one night.

  Not that he was waiting with bated breath for my attention. It seemed he was intimate with half the guests there, or at least the female half. I overheard many of the compliments and flattery thrown his way, nearly blushing as one lady made her appreciation very obvious.

  A surge of heat rushed through me when his arm brushed mine. At the same instant, his now freshly spicy scent washed over me. My eyes half closed and I banded my hands together in my lap to stop from reaching for him. Once my fingers touched him, I couldn’t speculate what I would do with him, though I had a few choice ideas.

  Oh, stop, I scolded myself. Yes, he is handsome, and yes, he smells utterly delicious, but that does not change the fact he is overbearing, arrogant, too intelligent for his own good, and dishonest from the first minute we met. Why, he probably knew exactly what he was doing with each “accidental” arm brush, and foot touch. Well, I wasn’t going to give in. I was stronger than this sharp mixture of love and lust.

  Who was I kidding? All it would take was Colton turning to me with that tender look in his eye, a soft smile curling his lips, and I would launch myself into his arms. If launching was even possible while seated at a table.

  Dinner finished and dessert was brought out. I abruptly pushed my chair back, unable to remain so close and yet be so far removed. He might flirt with and tease me, but I didn’t for one moment believe he felt anything beyond curiosity as to what I knew.

  Colton turned to me, an eyebrow raised in inquiry. “I do not feel well.” It was a horrible excuse, but I was willing to grasp anything that removed me from his presence.

  Unfortunately, my scheme backfired.

  All concern, Cassie said, “Then you must go home at once. Sorin, be a dear and escort Cadrian home. You could do with an early night as well.”

  “That is really not necessary,” I began, but it was too late. Colton was already standing and to refuse his solicitous arm would be churlish. Curse my manners!

  “Please. I insist.” I alone caught the determined glint in his eyes. Everyone else probably thought he was simply being kind to his mother’s houseguest. Or, failing that, he was bringing me back to the palace for a long night of loving.

  Before I knew it, I found myself in the carriage, alone, with the one man I was determined to stay away from. Though we sat on opposite benches, I could not escape his gaze. His presence was formidable in the close confines of the carriage.

  “If you have something to say, say it.” My nerves were screeching with tension. I felt that if he did not speak to me or kiss me in the next five seconds, I would go insane.

  He made me crazy. I rolled my eyes at my sudden melodramatic turn. I was not crazy, just a little love sick.

  “I am simply admiring your forethought in providing an adequate reason for leaving the party early.” He spread his arms along the back of his seat. “I was leaning toward throwing you over my shoulder.”

  Though my heart thrilled to his words, my mind was less certain. What did he want? “Your mother would never forgive you for creating such a scene.”

  “If it netted her a daughter and grandchildren, Mother would help abduct you.” In a sudden movement, he crossed the carriage to sit beside me. Part of my skirt caught beneath him, limiting my instinctive movement away.

  Spreading his palm across the bare skin of my collarbone, he gently traced the bones to where they disappeared beneath the fabric of my dress. From there, his fingers tracked the plunging neckline, sometimes on fabric, sometimes on skin, all the way to the lace trim at the front.

  “I really do love this dress,” he murmured the instant before he kissed the side of my neck. My knees weakened and my heartbeat increased the lower his mouth drifted.

  “Stop,” I said in a strangely uncertain voice.

  “Why?” He sucked on my collarbone.

  Reaching through the sensations to where Reason was cowering, I said, “Because…” Then I forgot about thinking the moment his mouth found mine.

  Kissing was certainly an effective way to stop words. As for thinking, who needed it? I was all for feeling the heat of his hands on my body, the swirl of his tongue against mine, and the way it felt entirely natural to put my fingers against his newly shaven jaw to urge his mouth more fully against mine.

  The kiss had barely begun when the carriage stopped, nearly pitching us onto the floor. Well, if he hadn’t been half on top of me, we would have been better prepared for the cessation of motion. As it was, I was forced to clutch Colton even tighter to avoid falling to the floor.

  Thankfully, the carriage door remained closed. Shoving Colton to the far side of the bench, I began rearranging the bodice of my gown, which was now lower than the tailor intended. Nothing was torn, and I was able to restore some semblance of order before the door opened.

  Before either of us moved, Colton said, “You forgot something.”

  I looked down at myself. “What?”

  “Your mouth. You look thoroughly kissed.” With that, he alighted and offered his hand to help me down.

  I had half the mind to spurn it, but the carriage was rather high, the steps tricky. Better to submit to his touch than fall flat on my face.

  As we walked toward the open front doors, I couldn’t resist looking at him. The man was too handsome for his own good. In his experience with the opposite sex, I was willing to bet anything he wanted, women sighed, fluttered their lashes, and gave it to him.

  I wondered what it was about fluttering lashes that attracted men. Did they possess hypnotic powers and a man was defenseless around them? Interesting.

  Almost without noticing, I found myself standing in one of the miscellaneous drawing rooms littering the first floor of the palace. I didn’t believe I’d ever been in this one, the painting of a woodland picnic being unfamiliar. How many drawing rooms did the royal family need?

  I watched Colton as he nonchalantly sprawled across a lavender sofa. “So, Cadrian, tell me how much you’ve missed me while I’ve been gone.”

  “If I remember correctly, you hate disappointme
nt.” I seated myself on an armchair adjacent to him, so I wouldn’t have to face him. His blue eyes were lethal. “Where did you go?”

  “To find your father.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  His words brought me out of my seat. I was on the sofa beside him so fast the breeze from my movement ruffled his hair. My skirt half spread over his leg, the blue color complimenting the grey of his trousers. Amusement colored his eyes a lighter shade of blue. “If I’d known your reaction would be to throw yourself at me, I would have told you earlier.”

  I swatted him, my hand curling around his bicep before I remembered I shouldn’t be touching him. “My father’s dead.” Already I felt the pull of attraction by sitting so close to him. I saw a tiny red cut on the slant of his jaw from the blade used to shave him.

  “Some believe he is still alive.”

  Tamping down on my racing heart, I asked, “Why are you doing this? My father is dead.”

  He grabbed my hand and squeezed. “He may not be.”

  “No.” I tried to stand. “If I believe that and it is wrong…”

  Putting his arm around my shoulder, Colton drew me against him. Just feeling the solidness of his body, the familiar bulge of his bicep did wonders to calm my racing heart. For a moment, his hand rubbed up and down my shoulder, infusing my suddenly cold skin with heat. “But, if there is a chance, wouldn’t you want to know?”

  I shook my head, the effort somewhat dulled as my head pressed against his shoulder. “Unless he walks into this drawing room, he is dead to me.”

  It was his turn to sigh. “Forgive me then, for raising your hopes. I have no wish to cause more pain.” Whisper light, his mouth brushed the hair above my ear. “How can I help you?”

  “Bring my parents back and return me to the day before everything happened.”

  “I hoped you’d ask for something more doable, such as rescuing the stars from the night sky or giving you a castle by the sea.”

  “Do you even have a castle by the sea?”

  “We have two. One in the east and one in the west.”