by Gayle Callen
He lowered his head and kissed her, and though she’d braced herself to reject such an intimate invasion, his lips gently explored hers in a slow, sweet seduction, kiss upon kiss, warm, moist heat of desire that simmered quietly, deceptively.
With a moan she gave in, forgetting the mistakes of her past, thinking of nothing but mind-altering pleasure. She slid her hands over his shoulders and up into his hair, holding him to her, feeling the warm, silky thickness of it. It was as if the touch of her hands unleashed something inside him, because he turned his head and deepened the kiss, parting her lips with a thrust of his tongue. She’d been kissed before, but it had never set her afire with such masterful skill. His tongue explored the inside of her mouth, rasping against hers, taking possession. She pushed up against him, trying to get closer, and he pushed back.
She closed her eyes as he continued to nuzzle behind her ear, licking and nipping, and finally her brain seemed to function again.
“You must stop,” she whispered.
He spoke against her skin. “This is a seduction. I don’t want to stop.”
“But it’s not a seduction if I don’t want it to go further.”
He lifted his head and studied her. His wet mouth made her shudder.
“So I’m not seducing you tonight?” he asked.
“You think I’d let you win so easily, so quickly?”
He smiled wryly. “No. I knew you would be a challenge.”
She stared at him. “Sadly, it seems I like challenges.”
“Why is that sad?”
But she’d said too much. She liked being with him, wanted the pleasure of his attention. Surely she could have that and still defeat him in the end. She moved, and he slid to the side, allowing her to roll off the bed.
“You have to leave,” she said firmly.
He lay on his side, head propped on his hand, and watched as she tugged down her nightgown. She felt like she was the evening’s entertainment.
“I’ll leave when your brother arrives home.”
“But he would see you!” she cried, aghast. “He would think that I—that we—”
“He won’t see me. This seduction is between you and me.”
“But why stay? I am perfectly safe here.”
He hesitated as his expression became serious. He sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. “I don’t like it that someone is watching your house. I didn’t see him tonight, but I might have just missed him.”
“Perhaps Will made a mistake,” she said, wanting to believe that. “He’s only a boy.”
“I’m not taking that chance.”
“Do you think there are people after Edward?”
“Or after their share of money.”
“Then Edward could be in danger!”
“I doubt it. They want the money, and if they harm him, they won’t get it.”
She went to the door. “So you’re just going to…stay here?”
“I can see the front of the house from the windows.”
“And Edward can see the light.”
“No, because I’m done luring you.”
He gave a wicked grin, and then leaned over and blew out the candle. She could see nothing in the sudden blackness, but she thought she heard him leave the bed and come toward her. Fumbling behind her for the door, she fled out into the hall.
When she was in her own room with the door locked, she thought she would have a difficult time falling asleep. But Daniel followed her into her dreams, and this time when they kissed, he was pulling her nightgown up her body, and she was letting him.
When Grace entered the stables in the morning, she found Edward’s horse already saddled and Will giving her a curious, wide-eyed stare.
“Will, thank you for anticipating what I’d want,” she said.
“I’m not the only one, miss,” he said, gesturing over his shoulder with his thumb.
Daniel stood there in his riding clothes, tall black boots up to his knees, brown trousers, and coat. On another man they might look plain, but on him the garments only emphasized his dark good looks. He was wearing a devilish smile, and when Will wasn’t watching, Daniel let his gaze roam over her.
She was caught in the awareness of him, in the memory of his chest on hers and his lips giving her such pleasure.
“Have a good ride, miss,” Will called, darting outside toward the house.
Daniel’s mouth quirked.
Grace lifted her chin, trying to look composed, but she couldn’t think of a thing to say.
“Will is your only servant?”
She frowned at him. “Yes.”
And then he came toward her, stalking her just like last night. There was still a post between them, and she stayed on her side of it.
“You’re not very talkative this morning,” she said quickly.
“Talking isn’t part of our challenge.”
“Women like talking,” she said. “I don’t think you’re very good at seduction. I think you’re used to women falling into your lap.”
His laughter was low and intimate, and it was difficult not to join him.
He reached for her, keeping to his side of the post, and she eluded him.
“Or money,” she said. “You throw money at them.”
“Money makes things easier sometimes. Is that what you want from me, Grace?”
She had no money of her own that she could touch. If there wasn’t a deadline to their challenge, and it played out long enough, she’d have been desperate for her own money to survive.
But she wasn’t there yet. She still planned to win the violin.
She turned, saw the mounting block perfectly positioned, and used it to vault into the sidesaddle. She went racing out the back into the alley behind the courtyard, passing Daniel’s tethered horse. By the time he caught her, there would be witnesses that he was pursuing her. Again.
He caught up to her in the park, and to her satisfaction, she saw several riders make note of their entrance. This made two mornings in a row they had been seen together. It was true, at first people might assume he pursued her as a possible mistress, since it was his pattern. But she would make certain that everyone soon knew differently.
“You are quite the skilled rider, unlike yesterday,” Daniel said dryly, tipping his hat as they rode past another couple.
She gave him a smug grin.
“How old are you?” he asked.
She frowned, wondering where he was leading her with such a question. “I am twenty-three.”
“So certainly not in the first blush of youth.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Why have you not married?”
“I have not had a proper Season, unlike most young ladies. The village had a limited selection of young men.”
“But I’m certain you must have had some of them courting you.”
“Sometimes.” This was cutting too close to her foolish mistakes. “None of them were appealing. So how old are you?”
“That’s a change of subject,” he said.
“Not really. Just reciprocating.”
“Very well, I am twenty-nine.”
“Ah, ancient for a bachelor. Shouldn’t you be married by now? Or have your mistresses taken up too much of your time?”
He frowned, as if he were giving her question serious consideration. She didn’t think he would answer something so personal, and sure enough, he said, “Do you want to race?”
She stared at him, the challenge filling her. He was an unusual man. Even the thought of besting him made her pulse race and gave an added spark to her day. She knew it was making her forget about other things, and right now, she was glad for that.
She was still so very aware of him, wondering what he was thinking, what he planned next—and the thought gave her a secret thrill—but she was also contemplating her own strategy.
Having Daniel seen gallantly rescuing her and dancing with her at a ball, might eventually make him seem like he had become a marriage
able man in Society, but it would not make him a better man. And that’s what she’d told Edward she meant to do. She had to succeed, or Edward would ask too many questions about how she’d really won the violin.
So it was time to think about trying a different tactic. She would have to call upon Miss Parker, the famed spinster and head of charitable organizations.
“Daniel, you’re not changing the rules of the challenge, are you?”
“No, why would you think a race would do that?”
“Maybe you’re becoming desperate. You have not convinced me to be your mistress. You’ll have to do better than what you’ve tried.”
“Oh believe me, I have several more ideas to pursue.”
She shivered with anticipation.
Chapter 7
Returning from a call on Beverly, Grace let herself in the front door. She heard the unmistakable sound of several voices from down the corridor, none of which sounded like Edward.
How many strangers could invade a town house in just a few days? she wondered with exasperation.
“Hello?” she called.
At once, a man dressed formally in black livery came into the entrance hall.
“You must be Miss Banbury,” the man said. “I am Woodley, the new butler.”
Had Edward won so very much last night? she thought in surprise. “I didn’t know you’d been hired, Woodley,” she answered honestly.
“Our registry office was contasted this morning, miss, by your brother’s assistant.”
An assistant?
“We have already been paid for the first month, Miss Banbury, and we certainly appreciate such thoughtfulness.”
“We?” She swallowed heavily. How could Edward have afforded to hire more than one servant?
“There’s myself and my wife, who is a fine cook and housekeeper, miss. This is a cozy home—we’re all you need. And there’s a fine bedroom for us right behind the kitchen.” He bobbed his bald head. “We appreciate not having to climb the stairs.”
She couldn’t help but smile at his friendliness. “I’m glad you approve.”
“Tell me you’re hungry, miss, because my wife can have a roast turkey ready soon. Will Mr. Banbury be dining this evening?”
Already her mouth was watering. “No, I’m afraid my brother and I both have plans. But I look forward to tasting your wife’s cooking soon.”
She felt a momentary pang, wondering what Edward was doing, but she had long ago told herself she could not constantly worry about him.
The day became even better when her lady’s maid arrived soon after from the country, along with several small trunks of Grace’s wardrobe. Woodley and Will left the trunks in Grace’s room, and the two women were finally alone.
Grace hugged her maid and stepped back to look at her with delight. A redhead, Ruby Grover was short and plump and mischievous.
“Miss Grace, ye took off so fast from home I feared someone was sick,” Ruby said, playing up her disappointment. “And ye didn’t even let me enjoy the fun.”
“It wasn’t fun at first, believe me,” Grace said, as the two of them began to open the trunks and remove gowns to be ironed. “So tell me, did Mr. Throckmorten send his own steward to our manor? I hope he didn’t try to change too much.”
“Mr. Who?” Ruby said, puzzled. “No one came to visit us, Miss Grace. And who would have the nerve to change somethin’?”
Grace straightened in surprise, a pair of linen drawers dangling from her hands. “Nothing has happened at home?”
“Well, your mother be gone on a trip, but ye knew that before ye left.”
“Then…you don’t know why my mother left?”
“No, miss.” Ruby wrinkled her upturned nose. “Is somethin’ wrong?”
Grace took her hand. “My mother lost the deeds to both our homes in a card game, Ruby. I came here to see if my brother and I could somehow…fix things.”
The maid blew out a sigh. “’Tis sad news, Miss Grace, and I’m so sorry to hear it for yer sake.”
“And I’m sorry for your sake, and for all the good people who work—worked—for us. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but at least the new owner hasn’t tried to change things immediately.”
“So this Mr. Throckmorten is the new owner.”
“Yes.” Grace smiled without humor. “He was really only after the violin. His family is musical.”
“Your papa’s violin is gone, too? Oh, miss!”
Grace squeezed the maid’s outstretched hand. “Don’t worry about me, Ruby. I have a plan.”
“Of course ye do,” Ruby said. “So what is it?”
No one was going to know the true challenge but herself and Daniel. “I’m going to win back the violin by making Mr. Throckmorten into a better man.”
Ruby frowned. “And ye say he really wanted the violin? That doesn’t make sense, Miss Grace, if ye don’t mind my sayin’.”
“Did I mention he is quite the rake, Ruby?”
“No, ye didn’t, but that explains why ye feel you can change him. Then ye’re goin’ to turn him over to some other young lady, and he’ll be so grateful, he’ll give ye back the violin?”
“And then I’ll sell it and rent a town house.”
“Sell yer papa’s—” She broke off. “Ye have another plan, Miss Grace, ye got to, because I can’t see this one workin’.”
“We’ll see.” Grace went back to unfolding garments. She might as well start her own private wager for how long she could keep Ruby in the dark.
She was just beginning to plan what she’d wear to Beverly’s house for dinner when she heard the pounding of boots up the stairs. She flung open her door, and then fell back as her brother strode in and closed it behind him.
“I thought you couldn’t access your dowry,” Edward said, hands on his hips.
She blinked at him. “I can’t. What made you think otherwise?”
“Then how did you hire two new servants?”
After gaping at him, she managed, “I thought you hired them.”
They stared at each other for a moment, and then he ran a hand through his hair. “Damn, it must be a mistake.”
“I don’t believe so. They said they were hired by your assistant.”
“I don’t have an assistant!”
“But—then who?”
“Mother? Out of guilt?” he said hesitantly.
She shook her head.
He sank down on the edge of the bed. “Could your plan for Throckmorten have worked already?”
“I don’t understand.”
“You’re trying to redeem him, aren’t you?”
She hesitated, knowing that that was only for the public’s eye—and to quiet Edward’s suspicions. “You think Daniel—”
“Calling him by his first name already?”
She saw his jaw clench, knew he was grinding his teeth together, his longtime method for trying to hold on to his temper.
“I misspoke. But you can’t believe that Mr. Throckmorten is behind this.” But was he? Did he think that by giving her an easier life, she would be more inclined to favor him? To lose control when he touched her?
“First he allows us to live here, and then he hires servants. He’s taking care of us as well as pitying us.”
She winced. “It isn’t like that, Edward. I…assume he doesn’t wish the place to be in poor condition if he takes it over.”
“You mean when.”
“No, I don’t. I’m going to beat him at this game. You have to have faith in me.”
“Then I’ll have to,” he said bitterly, “because I have no more faith in myself.”
“Oh, Edward—”
“I want to refuse this pitying gesture of his, but I can’t consign you to cleaning this entire house yourself. And it’s his house.”
She didn’t know what to say that wouldn’t make things worse. How many more blows could Edward take before he was overwhelmed?
Part of her wanted to refuse Daniel’s “gift,”
because it made her feel even more like a kept woman. But perhaps he wasn’t doing it for that reason. Deep down inside, could he have a conscience? Did he feel guilty for his part in their family’s demise?
And could she use this unexpected side of him to her advantage?
Daniel approached Edward Banbury while he was eating dinner at their club, and the younger man noticeably stiffened and put down his spoon.
Daniel sat down across from him. “I have some things I want to discuss with you.”
“I don’t see what we have to discuss,” Banbury said coldly. “You saw that I couldn’t afford servants to make life easier for my sister, so you decided to provide them.”
Daniel hadn’t thought his part in it would stay hidden long, but a couple of hours wasn’t much. “I’m not doing this to help you.” He hadn’t thought that his actions might be another blow to Banbury’s already wounded pride. But what else could Daniel have done? He hadn’t wanted to become so involved, but Grace was alone too much in a house that was being watched. Did Banbury even know?
“Helping Grace is even worse,” Banbury said. “Unless you plan to marry her.”
Daniel couldn’t help but smile. “I’m not marrying her, and she certainly wouldn’t want to marry me.”
Banbury slammed a hand down on the table.
This had gone far enough, Daniel realized. “Someone is watching your house.”
Banbury’s defensiveness fled. “What? Why?”
“I don’t know. Your groom spotted him first, and I saw him once, but not again. I assumed it was because of a debt.”
Banbury shook his head. “My vowels are minor. Why would someone need to watch our house?”
Daniel rubbed his jaw. “I don’t know. But something seems wrong to me.”
“Until I know what’s going on, I won’t leave Grace alone at night.”
Daniel nodded.
“I don’t like this control you have over her.”
Daniel waited, wondering if he was about to be challenged over something he hadn’t even done yet.
“I want to buy the violin back. I know Grace has these plans to get it back from you.”
Daniel couldn’t believe Banbury would be this calm if he really knew all the details. “Grace might want a say in this,” he said dryly.