Truce: The Historic Neighbor from Hell anfh-4

by R. L. Mathewson

  The things they did!

  The things she did!

  A rather disturbing thought occurred to her. What if they ran into each other at another ball or a party? Would he expect a repeat of tonight? Would she allow it? It scared her how quickly she was able to answer that question.

  Yes, she would.

  If she was given another opportunity to be in his arms, she would not hesitate even for a minute. She'd risk everything for another moment with him. Knowing how weak she was when it came to the handsome stranger and what was at risk, she decided there was only one course of action left for her. She had to leave London sooner than she'd originally planned.

  * * *

  “There you are!” his mother said brightly, too damn brightly.

  Robert glanced around the large ballroom, hoping to find his minx. True to her word she had left. Now he was left at this dreadful ball with memories of her. He could simply ask around about her, but then that would put them in an awkward position. People would want to know why he was interested and tongues would wag. Maybe if he continued to go with his mother out on the town for the next few weeks he would run into her. It was possible.

  “Oh, Robert, Lord and Lady Norwood are waiting to see you. They’re so excited. They haven’t seen you since you were -”

  “Fifteen,” he supplied on a bored sigh. That was when he finally put his foot down and refused to be anywhere near Elizabeth Stanton. That was also the year the little brat poured ink into his damn teacup in front of the beautiful Eleanor Tidsby, who screamed her bloody head off before she’d fainted dead away when she saw his black mouth. He’d almost killed the little brat then and there.

  “That sounds about right. Come along,” she said, placing her hand on his sleeve. No one in this ballroom would suspect that she had his arm in a death grip that would no doubt leave a large bruise. Not that he minded. He would have other marks on his body from his minx. He barely stopped himself from grinning like an idiot. She truly was wonderful, he thought just before he spotted Lady Stanton standing next to a few young women, making his smile disappear instantly.

  “She’s not waiting with her mother, is she?” he asked.

  “Who?”

  “Elizabeth Stanton,” he said tightly, in absolutely no mood for any of his mother’s games, not tonight.

  She patted his arm. “No, my dear. She is somewhere around. It’s too bad. You’re both so much alike.”

  “Take that that back or you will never have any grandchildren by me,” he threatened, insulted that his mother would say something so horrible about him.

  She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Fine. I won’t mention her again. So touchy,” she said quietly as they reached Lord and Lady Norwood.

  “Robert, my boy,” Lord Norwood said with a warm smile as he reached out and took Robert's hand firmly into his own. The man was graying, but still an impressive sight.

  “It’s a pleasure to see you again, my Lord.”

  Out of the corner of his eye he saw Lady Norwood whisper something into Heather’s ear. He couldn’t believe how huge the woman was. Maybe the little brat was too. If only, he thought with an inward sigh. Heather shot her mother an annoyed look before she curtsied and walked away, clearly displeased with whatever her mother said. His father and brother walked over and joined them a moment later.

  One glance at his mother’s pleased expression and he knew that she was up to something. She kept looking around the large crowd expectantly and then back at James before she looked at his father, who nodded slightly as if to answer a silent question. Oh hell, poor James. Their parents, it seemed, were playing matchmaker. He knew that expression on his mother’s face and actually feared the day when it was focused on him, which was another reason why he was leaving.

  “Robert my boy, your father was telling me about your new estate. Congratulations,” Lord Norwood said with a warm smile that was nothing like the fake smile his wife currently had plastered to her face.

  “Thank you, my Lord,” he said, not bothering to mention that he no longer owned that estate.

  Out of the corner of his eye he saw Lord and Lady Norwood part. A second later a young woman was practically shoved between them. He saw James gasp and his eyes widen. His mother looked very pleased, as did his father. Robert turned around to see what they were looking at and smiled.

  His minx.

  “James, Robert, you remember our youngest daughter, Elizabeth?” Lady Norwood said proudly.

  Oh, hell.

  Chapter 9

  Elizabeth ran her eyes over the man standing in front of her. She was not going to faint or scream, she decided as she tried to remain calm. She shoved her hand inside her reticule and pulled out the small piece of paper and opened it while keeping her eyes focused on the small group in front of her, smiling charmingly as she prayed that this was all a mistake. As discreetly as possible, she looked down at the piece of parchment in her hand. She groaned inwardly. On the paper clearly written was the name of Robert Bradford.

  This could not be happening.......

  Robert’s smile disappeared only to be replaced by a sharp scowl in her direction. She was about to say a few choice words to him when James stepped forward. Good lord, the man was still a sight to behold.

  “Lady Elizabeth.” He took her hand and bowed over it. “You’ve grown into a lovely young woman.” She curtsied even as her eyes shot back to Robert. Her face burned with embarrassment just thinking about what they'd done. His scowl intensified when he noted her blush.

  “They’re about to begin the supper waltz,” her mother said none-too-subtly, intensifying her mortification when she really hadn’t thought it was possible.

  * * *

  “Ah, Lady Elizabeth!”

  Robert looked back and almost laughed. Lord Dumford was coming to claim her. Good. There wasn’t anyone who deserved it more than this woman. It surprised him how quickly she went from being his minx to this horrid woman in his mind. All those memories came flooding back to him. God, he hated her. It didn’t matter that he still wanted her. He hated her and that was all that mattered.

  “May I have the pleasure of the supper waltz and then perhaps escort you to supper?” Lord Dumford asked with that damn pompous tone that grated in the worst way.

  “I’m sorry, my Lord. I’ve already promised another gentleman to dance and dine with him tonight,” she said sweetly, very kindly actually.

  “Who?” Lord Dumford asked rather rudely.

  “Me,” James said firmly.

  Damn it!

  James held out his hand. “I believe this is our dance, Lady Elizabeth,” James said smoothly. Their parents were practically giddy. This was planned! They wanted James and Elizabeth together.

  The hell that was going to happen!

  He would not stand for it.

  * * *

  Elizabeth had no choice but to accept his offer. Although she wouldn’t mind fulfilling a childhood fantasy by dancing with James, she needed to speak with Robert and get their stories straight. Once that was done, she would happily beat him upside the head with her book, she thought with a smile.

  “I believe you’re correct, my Lord,” she said as she took his offered arm, leaving Robert behind to glare after them.

  They took their place among the other couples on the dance floor. James smiled down at her. “I must say, Elizabeth, you look nothing like the child I remember.”

  “Fourteen years will do that, my Lord,” she said coolly, making him visibly wince.

  “Ouch. I suppose I should now apologize for my absence. I did not do it to be cruel, my dear. I had to support my brother and all that.”

  “I thought as much. You were always close to my family. I assumed your absence was in support of your brother.”

  “Well, you couldn’t blame the boy. You were clearly driving him on the path to Bedlam,” he said with a grin.

  She took pride in that. She really shouldn’t, but she did. “He wasn’t such an angel if
I recall,” she pointed out just as the waltz began.

  He chuckled. “No, he certainly wasn’t. I do recall an incident where he cut off your hair.”

  “Yes, I believe someone put tar or some sticky substance on his saddle,” she said innocently.

  James laughed heartedly. “Yes, I believe I remember that. He was forced to leave his breeches behind and run to the house, wrapped in an itchy horse blanket.”

  She shrugged delicately as they turned. “I still don’t see how he blamed me for someone’s careless placement of such a sticky item.”

  His eyes twinkled with merriment. “How ever did he get to you? If my memory is correct, you were both so wary around each other and constantly on guard.”

  “I was walking beneath a tree with Mary when he reached down and grabbed my braid. The silly oaf was hanging upside down from a branch. He held on tightly, ignoring Mary’s slaps while he cut my braid off with a dull pocket knife.”

  He cringed. “That must have hurt.”

  She smiled sweetly. “Not as much as that spanking your father gave Robert later.”

  “I bet.” He laughed. “You two were awful.”

  “I was worse,” she said with a gleam in her eye. He chuckled as he led her around the dance floor.

  When the dance ended he led her off the floor towards the supper room. He walked with her to a table by the far wall and held a chair out for her.

  “There you are,” Robert said, taking one of the extra seats at their table. He placed a plate overflowing with food and a glass of punch on the table.

  “Please do join us,” James said dryly.

  “Thank you, I believe I shall,” Robert said cheerfully.

  “I’ll get us something to eat,” James said pleasantly to her before he sent a brief glare in Robert’s direction.

  Elizabeth watched nervously as James walked away. “Never going to happen,” Robert said around a bite of biscuit.

  * * *

  “What?”

  “You and my brother. James will always think of you as the fat little pain in the ass that used to follow him around.”

  “And you’ll always be the annoying little boy who used to leave more puddles around the house than my dog.”

  His temper flared. “Why you little-”

  “Ah, Lady Elizabeth, may I join you?” a man with an eager expression that annoyed Robert, asked.

  "No, go away," Robert said, glaring at the man.

  The man opened his mouth, but quickly shut it as he scurried away.

  "That was rude!" Elizabeth hissed softly.

  He merely shrugged as he dug into his food.

  “Here you are.” James placed a small plate of food and a glass of punch in front of her.

  “Thank you, my Lord.”

  “James. Please call me James. Our families are old friends, after all.”

  “James, thank you,” she said pleasantly.

  Robert rolled his eyes and looked back down at his plate. Damn those biscuits were actually warm and pretty good. Not the norm for ball food. He reached over and snagged the biscuit off her plate. “Thanks,” he muttered.

  Elizabeth simple rolled her eyes.

  “Robert,” James hissed.

  “Oh, very well.” He reached over and snagged his brother’s biscuit as well, couldn’t have improprieties after all.

  “Are you enjoying yourself this season, Elizabeth?” James asked, pointedly ignoring him now.

  Her eyes shot to Robert. There was that blush again. He rather liked that blush on her. “Yes, thank you.”

  “Have you had a chance to see the sights?” James asked.

  They both knew that she’d been coming to London every year of her life. James really needed to work on his dinner conversation, Robert decided.

  “Not yet,” she said with a polite smile.

  “You should really check out the orangeries. They’re very interesting,” Robert said before he could stop himself. Ah, well at least she blushed again.

  “What?” James asked, sounding confused as he shifted his gaze between the two of them.

  “Nothing,” he mumbled. This woman was his enemy. If he kept saying stupid things, they would be found out and then he would be stuck with her for eternity. He shuddered at the thought. For the rest of the meal he remained quiet, limiting himself to refilling his plate five times instead of his customary ten so that he could keep an eye on her. When they were finished with their meal they met up with their parents. Plans for the rest of the night were quickly made. It was decided that both families were going to his father’s house for a game of cards and a drink.

  Robert waited until their parents and James were ahead of them before he grabbed Elizabeth by the arm and dragged her towards the small hallway behind the grand staircase. It was dark and, most importantly, private.

  “Get your hands off me!” she demanded.

  “We need to talk,” he said through clenched teeth.

  “We have nothing to talk about.”

  “I beg to differ.” He forced himself to ignore her soft warm body pressed up against his. She tried to push past him, but he wasn’t having that. He gently pushed her back against the wall.

  “Robert, let me go! They’ll notice our absence.”

  “Too bad. I want to know why you tricked me.”

  “No one tricked anyone. It was just a mistake, one better off forgotten.”

  A mistake? The most passionate night of his life was a mistake? Her first time and that’s what she thought. That grated on him in the worst way. “Is that what you think, Beth?”

  “Don’t call me that.”

  “Why, Beth?”

  “You know I hate that name.”

  “Oh, so sorry, Beth. I do apologize, Beth.” He was being petty and he knew it, but he didn’t give a damn. She’d always brought out the very worst in him.

  She reached up and twisted his ear. “Ow!”

  “Out of my way, Robert Lemonade,” she said casually, pissing him off in the worst way.

  She released his ear just as she stepped back into the foyer after making sure that it was empty. “Good seeing you again, Robert.”

  Chapter 10

  He absently rubbed his ear as they rode through the city. His mother and father couldn’t say enough nice things about Elizabeth. He wanted to hurl. James seemed to agree with them. He nodded quite often and smiled. Dear God, the man was smitten with the little minx.

  James and Elizabeth, the idea was horrifying. Having her as a sister-in-law would drive him to drink. Poor James, the bloody bastard would be stuck with her day and night. Night. The idea of James experiencing his minx was not comforting. His minx? She wasn’t his anything. That didn’t mean that he wanted her to join the family, because he didn’t and she wouldn’t be. He wasn’t going to put a stop to it over jealousy. He had future generations of Bradfords to worry about after all. Just because the idea of her with another man made his blood boil did not mean that he was jealous. Just the opposite in fact. He didn’t want to see any man tied down with such a horrible woman.

  “What’s going on?” James suddenly asked, making him realize that he’d been glaring at his brother since they’d left the ball.

  “Fire!” their coachman yelled as the coach came to an abrupt stop, jolting them all.

  “Harold, it’s our house!” Danielle cried.

  “Nonsense,” Harold huffed as he leaned over to look out the small square window.

  “It is!”

  Robert was already jumping out of the carriage and running before the last word was out of his father’s mouth. Ahead of him Lord Norwood and, damn it all to hell, Elizabeth were also running towards the large blaze.

  Elizabeth stopped in front of the crying maids. “Johnny’s in there!”

  “Who’s Johnny?” Elizabeth asked, getting the attention of the maid closest to her.

  “He’s the cook’s grandson. He’s visiting. Oh, he’s so small!” the maid cried, her horrified gaze fixed on the
townhouse slowly being consumed by flames.

  She grabbed the maid’s shoulders, ignoring the smoke and blaze for a moment. “Where is he?”

  “In the back! In the servant’s quarters!”

  “Elizabeth, get back!” her father yelled from the line of men handling the buckets of water.

  “You’re sure he didn’t make it out?” she asked the maid, ignoring her father's demands.

  “Yes! He was crying when they dragged me out!”

  “Okay, the back you say?”

  “Yes!”

  Elizabeth grabbed a passing bucket of water and poured it on herself. “My Lady?” the maid asked, stunned by the odd behavior, but Elizabeth was already off and running into the smoke filled house.

  “Elizabeth!”

  “Beth!”

  She ignored the shouts and pressed her wet shawl to her mouth so that she could breathe through the thick smoke. She ducked low and moved forward. Her eyes were already stinging by the time she made it to the front step. She had no idea where the fire had started, but she had a good idea that it had started on the second floor since she didn't see any hint of flame through the thick smoke. Old houses like this went up quickly once the flame took hold so she knew there wasn’t much time to guess. She moved to the back of the house, jumping over rubble and avoiding the crumbling ceiling along the way as she prayed that she was headed in the right direction.

  “Johnny!” she screamed, coughing as she made her way through the smoky kitchen to the back rooms. She hadn’t been in this house in over ten years, but she was able to get her bearings, she knew it as well as her own.

  “Johnny!” she yelled again when she reached the servants’ quarters. She remembered the cook had the room at the end of the small hallway and kept walking, praying that nothing had changed since she’d last been here.

  Halfway down the small hallway a hand wrapped around her arm and pulled her to a stop. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Robert demanded, yelling so that he could be heard over the loud crackling of fire and the sounds of timber crashing close by.