by Wendy Vella
He was big, his body hard and muscled beneath the expensive material of his clothes and she’d thought he had such grace as he prowled toward her, his movements fluid and certain. Hatless, the sun had brushed his dark hair that had been tied back in a leather band, to hang between his shoulder blades. His eyes were a deep, intense brown, and when they had settled on Thea, she’d felt her pulse flutter.
She remembered thinking that day, for the first time in her life a man had made her aware of his presence, and she’d had the urge to throw herself at him just to feel all his strength and power pressed against her. It had been an instant and physical attraction that had disturbed Thea, as she had believed herself a woman who would never find a passionate, fierce love, until that day.
She’d seen him a few times since, and had even sat next to him once, when she’d dragged Bella out to view an exhibition he’d been attending also. Thea tried to analyze what it was about him that intrigued her. Was it his past? Did the fact he was not born of her world rouse her interest? She did not like to think she was that shallow, yet could not dismiss the notion.
But now there was that kiss. Dear Lord, when he’d taken control of it she’d melted against him. All rational thought had fled with the feel of his lips on hers.
“We have arrived in London, sister. So if you could please gather your scattered wits and refrain from further sighing, we shall soon reach Luke and Bella’s where I shall open the door and hurl both you and your luggage from the carriage, as I have no time to stop.”
“There is no need to hurl me, brother. I am quite capable of jumping as you very well know.” She gave him a cheeky smile, which he answered.
The carriage slowed minutes later to a stop, and she stepped from it outside the house of her dear friend. It was in a row with many others and rose three stories high. white-trimmed with black windows and door and an iron fence that ran along the street, behind which it sat. Like soldiers in uniform, each house had the same pristine façade.
“At least it is warmer in London,” Joseph said, coming to her side.
“Ah, but I would rather look out at the fields of our home than the multitude of houses stuffed together here in London, Joe.”
“True,” he grunted, placing a hand in her back and urging her forward as the door opened.
“Thea!”
“Bella!” She ran up the steps and into the arms of Isabella Fletcher, once Isabella Langley. They laughed and hugged each other, both talking over top of the other, and at their feet Eddie, Bella’s dog, yapped loudly, enjoying the excitement.
“It is the only time I see Thea like this. With others, she is quite composed, but your wife, Fletcher, makes her silly.”
Thea ignored her brother, who was speaking with Luke, Bella’s husband, and held her friend close until they were both ready to let go. Only then did she pull back.
“I’m not silly. I’m excited,” Thea said, moving to embrace Luke. “There is a difference, Joe, as I have told you before.”
“I stand corrected.”
“Still the mouthy girl who used to annoy me whilst I was trying to clean out your father’s stables, Thea?” Luke said, releasing her to slip an arm around his wife’s waist and pull her into his side.
Luke and Isabella Fletcher were childhood sweethearts, born into different worlds. Theirs had been a long and arduous journey, fraught with sadness and disappointment, but through it all they had never stopped loving each other, and finally, five months ago, they had married with the blessing of their families.
Tall and lean with brown hair and blue eyes, Luke seemed happier than Thea had ever seen him before as he looked down at his wife. Before their marriage, his eyes had been shadowed, his smile fleeting, but no longer. Marriage to the woman he loved had changed him.
“Thea is not mouthy, she is confident, husband,” Bella said giving her husband a gentle smile. Blonde with green eyes, Isabella Fletcher had transformed since her marriage into a beauty that rivaled her sisters.
She felt an unworthy stab of jealousy that her friend had found what she had not; a love so strong it encompassed them in a warm cloak for two. She was small and petty to feel such emotion, but it was there inside her nonetheless.
“Hello, Eddie. I see your manners have not improved.” Thea dropped to her knees to pat the little dog, who put his paws on her dress and licked her cheek.
“He is a heathen, but as Bella will not let me discipline him I see no change in the foreseeable future,” Luke said.
“I will return with Lord Collette, as he is coming to London for a few days to do some work on a bill I am proposing, Thea, and we shall move to the Rossetter Town House and await the rest of the family there. You and my Penny will then both shop and bankrupt me,” Joseph added as he prepared to leave.
“Oh, I shall be shopping whilst you are away also, brother.”
“Minx.” He kissed her cheek and left.
She was ushered inside out of the cold and took tea with Bella and Luke while they caught up on all their news. It was warm and cozy in the little parlor. Pushing thoughts of Oliver Dillinger and Lord Howarth from her head, Thea relaxed in the company of the two people who had been a part of her life for as long as she could remember.
“We have been invited to a small gathering this evening, Thea. It is with an associate of Luke’s, Mr. Merriam. You are invited, but if you are tired then we can offer your apologies.”
Bella looked uncertain as she spoke, and Thea realized there was something she was not saying.
“What Bella is not telling you, Thea,” Luke added as he squeezed his wife’s hand. “Is that there may be a few titled people present but not many, and most will be businessmen.”
“And you think this would concern me, Bella?” Thea felt hurt her friend thought that way. “I have never given you reason to believe me a snob, therefore I cannot see why you should think that way now.”
“No!” Bella’s eyes widened. “Of course I don’t believe that, but I wanted to tell you as these men are not like noblemen, Thea. They can be gruff and sometimes say coarse things, but to be honest, they are far nicer and kinder.”
She felt mollified at the genuine look in her friend’s eyes.
“You are a goose, Bella, to think my sensibilities would by wounded by a few curses and gruff words. Have I not shown you many times over the years, that it takes a great deal to unsettle me and in fact, I can be coarse and gruff myself,” she added. “Perhaps it is Mr. Merriam and the other gentlemen that you should caution about me.”
“Now, there’s a thought,” Luke said, getting to his feet. “And on that note, I must go out for a while, but return in time to escort the two most beautiful woman in London out for an evening of entertainment.” His lips clung to Bella’s before he left and then the two friends were alone.
“All right, now he has gone you can tell me what has happened?”
“Pardon?” Thea looked at Bella. “What do you mean, what has happened?”
“Althea Ryder, I know you nearly as well as I know myself, therefore I know when something is bothering you. Now I will call for more tea, and then you will tell me at once.”
So she did. Slipping off her boots, Thea curled her feet underneath her as across from her Bella did the same. She then told her friend about the proposal from Lord Howarth and the fight she attended, and how Oliver Dillinger had rescued her. She did not mention the kiss—that was something she would mention to no one.
Bella laughed when she had finished. “I can imagine Ace’s expression when he realized it was you in that barn with all those men. For a man with his birth, he is very correct. In fact, Luke and I often say he is more a stickler for the rules that run society than many of noble birth.
“Yes, it is fair to say he wasn’t too happy about me being there, and even more so when I felt ill with all that blood.” Thea shuddered at the memory. “And then there was the other altercation which erupted before us when we started to leave. Thankfully, he is a big man
and was able to get us outside before we encountered any further trouble.”
“You are unhurt, Thea? You are not hiding anything from me?”
“I’m well, Bella.” Thea waved away her friend’s concerns. “But I fear I made a fool of myself. At least I did not cast up my accounts. We can be thankful for that one small blessing.”
“Well, I’m sure Ace will say nothing about the incident this evening. He is too much of a gentleman for that.”
“He’s going to be attending?” Thea felt the thud of her heart beating hard against her chest as she thought about seeing Oliver Dillinger again.
“Yes.” Bella frowned. “Is that a problem, Thea? Did he say something to upset you?”
Thea waved a hand about in denial. “No, of course not. It is just I made such a fool of myself,” she said quickly. “But I must face him sometime, so it may as well be sooner rather than later.
“Are you thinking seriously about accepting Lord Howarth’s proposal?”
“No, but Joe is,” Thea added. “And part of me wonders if I should as he is a good man and I am not sure love is for me, Bella. Therefore, perhaps I should marry a man I at least respect.” Oliver Dillinger slipped into her head, but she pushed him aside.
“Take this time away from your brothers to think, then, Thea. Work through all the options, but promise me you will not do this just to please the duke.”
“I promise,” Thea said, glad she was here with her friend. She would take this time to contemplate Lord Howarth’s proposal, and she would also take this time to decide what it was she really wanted from her future.
Six hours later, she was regretting the decision to accompany her friend and the thought of seeing Mr. Dillinger again was making her so nervous she almost asked Luke to turn the carriage round as it traveled through London toward the home of Mr. and Mrs. Merriam.
Luke and Bella sat across from her, Bella radiant in a gown of deep blue velvet over which she wore a matching cloak lined with satin. Her blonde curls were swept high and dressed with tiny pearls. Beside her, Luke looked handsome and content in his evening clothes, the deep green jacket and pristine white shirt and necktie accentuating his looks.
“We are here, Thea.” Bella said the words as the carriage rolled to a halt. Seconds later, they were on the street outside a large, white-pillared house. The butler opened the door as they reached the top step and soon, after handing over their outer clothing, they were making their way through the house.
“Smile, Thea. No one will bite you here, and if they do I shall deal with them.”
Thea forced a smile onto her face at Luke’s words and followed her friend into a room filled with elegantly dressed people. Her eyes found him instantly, as he stood a head taller than most. As if sensing her, Oliver Dillinger turned and gave her a steady look, then with a slight tilt of his head in acknowledgment he turned away once more.
“There. You see, all is well now you have seen each other,” Bella whispered in her ear. “Now you may relax and enjoy the evening.”
Relax! Thea’s stomach was clenched so tight she feared she might faint if she didn’t draw in a deep breath soon. Dear God, how could she react this way to him, as if her body was filled with a thousand butterflies all fluttering around inside her?
“Yes, I feel much better now,” she lied, and wondered if it was too soon to find a corner and hide in it for the remainder of the evening.
Chapter Four
Ace had been about to take a mouthful of his drink when Lady Althea Ryder walked into the room with Luke and Bella. Lowering it, he met her eyes, then gave her a brief nod before looking away. His heart was suddenly thumping inside his chest. Where before he had been calm, enjoying the evening for the company and the conversation, now he was tense. Knowing she was here, the woman who he had held and kissed, the woman who had taken up residence inside his head and refused to leave was unsettling.
He’d dreamt about her last night—erotic, sensual visions had woven through his head which had left him aroused and angry with himself. She was out of his reach. He knew this, yet he could not stop thinking about her.
“I think it would be in both your and Fletcher’s interests to look into that consortium further, Ace, before joining it. I’m not sure Lord Carrington is all he purports to be.”
Ace tried to focus on Mr. Vaughan’s words but his mind was still on Lady Althea. One look was all he’d had—no more than a few seconds, maybe six—and he knew she wore pale gray, the color of her eyes, and around her shoulders was a rose silk shawl. A few curls framed her face, and like he, she’d looked nervous.
“I think the Evans venture would be a more profitable investment for you, Ace.”
“Yes, I had thought about that. Thank you, Jeffrey, and am already looking into it.” Ace answered, pleased he’d managed to follow the conversation.
“Ace, how are you?” Luke had reached his side.
“Luke, Bella.” He shook his friend’s hand, kissed Bella on the cheek and then bowed to Lady Althea. “My Lady.” He found a polite smile for her.
“Mr. Dillinger.” She offered him a curtsy that was stilted and unlike the graceful displays he had seen her execute before.
“Are you in town for long, Lady Althea?” Mr. Vaughan questioned her.
“Yes, Sir. My brother has business before the rest of our family arrives, and then we return to our home in Two Oaks for Christmas.”
As Ace was standing beside her, he could feel her tension. The hand at her side was twitching the skirts of her dress.
“You will be shopping then, I’m sure,” Mr. Vaughan added. “My wife is doing just that before we leave to join our family. Apparently, London is the only place that has the things she needs…lots of things,” he added, which made everyone laugh.
“Are you still visiting your factory the day after tomorrow, Ace?” Luke questioned him.
“I am,” he nodded. “There are a few matters I need to oversee; do you still wish to accompany me?”
“Now Thea is here to keep Bella company, I will. Thanks,” Luke said.
“You own a factory, Mr. Dillinger?”
“I do, Lady Althea, a few of them,” he added.
“What is in your factories, if I may ask?”
Ace knew in polite society, women did not converse on such topics, but here with these people, wives often joined such conversations. However, he wasn’t sure if Lady Althea should be doing so.
“People and machinery, my lady.”
“Doing what?” she persisted.
“Ace owns mills and factories that do many and varied things, Thea,” Bella said, joining the conversation. “The factory they are to visit makes glass.”
“Isn’t that made from sand and broken glass?” Lady Althea looked up at him again for confirmation.
“There are a few more components, but yes, those two are used in making glass,” Ace said, surprised she knew about such things.
“How interesting, perhaps I could—”
“No!” Luke said quickly.
“Have a sample of your glass as a gift for my sister in law,” Lady Althea added smoothly. “As she has quite a fondness for the stuff. She has a vast collection, as you know, Luke.”
“You weren’t going to say that,” Luke accused her.
She gave him such a wide-eyed, innocent look that Ace laughed.
“Why, whatever else would I have said?”
Luke shook his head. “I know you, Althea. You were going to ask to visit Ace’s factory.”
“It would be interesting,” she said, turning her gaze on Ace.
“I think not,” Ace said, going cold at the thought of her near some of the machinery in his factories. “There are many hazards, my lady, and it would not be safe.”
She didn’t look happy with his words, but said nothing further as they were called to take their seats for the meal.
Luke took Bella on his arm, which left Ace to lead Lady Althea in, as Mr. Vaughan had gone to collect his wi
fe.
“My lady.” He held out his arm and after a brief hesitation, she rested her hand on it. He had noticed most women placed the tips of their fingers, but not her. She placed her whole hand.
“How do you know about what goes into the making of glass, Lady Althea?” Ace asked as they followed the others out of the room.
“I am as well-read as my brothers.”
“I had not thought the making of glass would be something that interested you.”
“You didn’t add because I’m of noble birth I should, therefore, read poetry and French prose, Mr. Dillinger.”
“Putting words in my mouth again, my lady?”
“You judge people because of their title, Mr. Dillinger. Try and deny it.”
She looked away from him, her eyes on the walls as they walked. Her hair was pinned into tiny curls and a few small ribbons the color of her shawl were sprinkled throughout. His eyes were drawn to the pale skin of her neck, what would it feel like to press his lips there, to taste the soft skin?
“And have you not formed opinions on people simply from past experiences, Lady Althea?” Why did he enjoy talking with her so much? Even when she was angry, he wanted to have her anger focused on him.
“We are not talking about me.” She waved her hand about.
“That hardly seems fair. I am to have my personality scrutinized yet you are not? Surely that merely strengthens my belief?”
“My birth has nothing to do with the fact we are discussing your small-minded beliefs, Mr. Dillinger, if that is what you are inferring.” Her eyes were shooting sparks at him, but there was something else in their depths. Excitement, perhaps? Like he, was she enjoying their battle of wills.
He rubbed his chest as if to ease the pain she was inflicting. “Idiot, arrogant, and now small minded, my lady. You wield your tongue like a finely honed blade.”