The Gift of Love (The Book of Love 8)

by Meara Platt

She eeped.

  “Obviously, being male, this is the thought that crosses my mind every time I set eyes on you. This was my thought from the first moment I met you. Low brain fully in control. Heart in spasms. Lungs squeezed tight. Beautiful girl. The most beautiful I’ve ever beheld. How would she look without her clothes?”

  “Ronan!” She ought to have slapped him and walked off. Fortunately, no one was close enough to have overheard their conversation. Since there was no harm done, she did not bother to feign outrage when she wasn’t really offended. If anything, she was intrigued. “Do you mean it?”

  “Yes, Queen Pea. You still have this effect on me.”

  “Most interesting. Well, lately, my heart has been fluttering whenever I see you. I feel suddenly breathless, too. I shouldn’t be telling you this, I suppose. But since we are being honest with each other, you may as well know. You probably understand what’s happening to me far better than I do.”

  “It’s all set out in those chapters we read. The discussion about the five senses. This is the way our brain responds when in the company of someone pleasing to us. Remember the opening paragraph?”

  She winced. “No. Remind me.”

  “Our brain controls our responses, sending signals to the other parts of our body. When I first saw you, my brain immediately recognized that I liked you. It sent commands to my organs. Heart, start beating faster. Lungs, stop filling with air. Eyes, open wider to take her all in.”

  She laughed. “I think I am far better off having you read the book and explaining it to me. I’m learning nothing on my own. I even peeked ahead a few chapters, for all the good it did me. I think my brain is still too numb to decipher what it is reading.”

  “Understandable. The other problem you have is that you do not have any romantic experience. Gerald was never a proper beau. That much is obvious.”

  “Yes, I agree. Gerald was very bad for me. This knowledge will not be wasted. It is a hard lesson learned and not soon forgotten. Hopefully, never repeated.”

  They spoke no longer as a bell rang to summon everyone to the music room for the concert that would soon begin. “Ready, Queen Pea?”

  He held out his arm to her once more.

  When she took hold of it, she felt a sudden awareness of his strength. Of course, she had always been aware of his size and brawn, but this time was different. She was responding with all the ‘feels’ described in The Book of Love. Heart flutters. Breathless feeling. Blood rushing. But there was another response that she was not quite prepared for.

  It was as though her body was preparing itself for Ronan’s intimate touch. Certain parts of her were awakened as they never had been before.

  She began to squirm.

  He glanced at her with concern. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Let’s find seats. The place is filling up fast. Do you prefer to be up front or tucked away in the back?”

  He shrugged. “Wherever you like.”

  She chose seats toward the middle, finding two that were at the end of the row. It would be easier for her and Ronan to leave if they needed to make a quick escape. Not that she expected to find the need, but if Gerald behaved oddly again, she wanted to keep her options open.

  They had just taken their seats when she felt Ronan tense. “Lady Melinda is here,” he muttered.

  “What about her father? Do you see him?”

  Ronan nodded. “Time to start gazing at me adoringly, Queen Pea. The game is afoot.”

  “I’ll do my best. Let’s hope Gerald doesn’t ruin it.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “I hope he does. Fighting over you is not such a bad idea. Everyone would notice and be talking about it for the rest of the week, if not longer.”

  She inhaled sharply. “Ronan, you can’t.”

  His expression turned stubborn. “I won’t start anything, I promise. But if he tries something, I’m going after him.”

  “I hope he isn’t that stupid.”

  He cast her a wry smile. “And I hope he is. It will make my life a lot easier if the Duke of Stoke believes I’m in love with you. Not to mention, it would add to your cachet to have two men fighting over you.”

  “That is an honor I will gladly pass up.”

  They spoke no more as the concert was now starting. A young man with flowing gold hair strode to the pianoforte in the front of the room and made an extravagant bow before settling on his stool and bringing his hands down on the keys to strike a vigorous chord. His mastery was excellent, and he cut quite the dashing figure.

  Several young ladies were the first to jump up and applaud his performance. The other guests soon followed, for he was quite good and everyone had enjoyed his playing. Dahlia rose and clapped, then spared a glance at Ronan.

  He was also on his feet, no doubt relieved the ordeal was over and eager to join the other men already running from the room to grab drinks and settle at the card tables the moment those were set up. “I see Heather seated with my cousins, Dillie and Daisy. They are the daughters of Aunt Sophie and Uncle John.”

  “I know their husbands,” Ronan said. “Your cousins are legends among the military ranks. You do realize Daisy helped turn the tide against Napoleon. As for Dillie, she saved her husband’s life twice.”

  Dahlia nodded. “I’d heard rumors to that effect. I think this is what I dislike most about what you and I are doing. There is nothing valiant in feigning a romance.”

  Ronan was giving her that bone-melting stare again. “Then don’t let it be a pretense.”

  When she looked away to stare down at her toes, he sighed and tucked a finger under her chin to raise her gaze to meet his. “Sorry, Queen Pea. I spoke out of turn again. Come on, I’ll escort you into the parlor.”

  “What will you do afterward?”

  “Stay by your side. Dance with you if there is to be dancing. I’ll introduce you to the Lord Admiral if he happens to put in an appearance. More important, I want the Duke of Stoke to see us together. Do you think you can give me an adoring look or two?”

  She laughed. “It will be quite a hardship for me, but I shall endeavor to try.”

  By the time they walked back to the parlor, footmen were offering champagne. The glasses were carried on large trays poised on their shoulders. Ronan quickly took two. “Cheers,” he said and raised his glass in toast to her.

  She clinked hers with his. “Here’s to successful new budgets and a beautiful home...and to decorating it.”

  Another bell sounded just then.

  “Ah, the dinner bell. Are you hungry, Queen Pea?”

  While they and the other of Lady Broadhurst’s guests enjoyed a light repast, the music room was cleared of chairs to create a dance floor. When they returned to it, Dahlia saw that only a few rows of chairs remained, and those had been pushed back along the wall for guests who wished to sit and watch.

  The parlor had now been set up for card games.

  Dahlia knew Ronan would have preferred to play cards, but he was on a mission and determined to remain by her side. The Duke of Stoke had seen them together; of this, she was certain. It was no hardship for her to play the role of adoring debutante. Ronan was the most handsome man in the room. But she did not allow herself to be distracted by her deepening feelings for him.

  All that mattered at this moment was his budget vote. It was important to Ronan, and she did not want to fail him.

  But their ruse also served another purpose. He was staying close to her because of Gerald.

  The bounder would not stop staring at her.

  His odd behavior was beginning to unsettle her.

  Ronan had noticed it as well. “I’m going to teach him a lesson.”

  She missed a step and would have stumbled had she not been in Ronan’s arms. They were dancing the waltz. She looked up at him in alarm. “Don’t you dare. Can’t you see? He’s purposely goading you.”

  “It’s working. I am goaded.”

  Dahlia began to nibble her lip, now fretting as the dance came to
an end. “Please, just ignore him.”

  He was looking over her head and tossing Gerald a scathing scowl. “Let me go, Queen Pea.”

  “No. You shall make fools of us both if you take a step toward him because I won’t let go. I’ll be clinging to your arm like a limpet fish. You’ll be dragging me along behind you.”

  He groaned. “Why are you protecting him?”

  “Believe me, I’m not. I would love to walk up to him and punch him in his imperious nose. But I am trying to protect myself. Two men brawling over me as though I were a common doxy in a taproom? I’ll be notorious. My reputation will be tarnished. So, ambush him in the park, if you must. But keep me out of it.”

  He regarded her as though she’d just slapped him in the face. “Ambush him?”

  Oh, he looked so offended. “Bad choice of words on my part. I know you would never do anything so cowardly. Just don’t fight over me. All right?”

  His response was a frown.

  “Oh, they’re playing another waltz. Dance with me, Ronan. That will make two, and then you won’t have to dance with me again.”

  He was still irritated. “Are you certain you wish to be in the arms of a coward?”

  “I wish to be in the arms of the bravest, most intelligent man in the room...but unfortunately, I am stuck with you.”

  He chuckled in response. “Fine, I’ll behave.”

  “You really are all those things. Handsome. Brave. Intelligent, usually. Just don’t turn into a protective ape because of me. I think it is important that I stand up for myself. I know I made a fool of myself last time. But it is much like riding a horse, isn’t it? If you get thrown off, just get back on and try again.”

  “It isn’t as simple as that.”

  “I know, but look at what my cousins accomplished at my age?” She sought out Dillie and Daisy, spotting them across the room. “Why should I not push myself to do the same?”

  They were so busy talking, they did not notice the Duke of Stoke come upon them. “Brayden,” he said gruffly, “introduce me to your lovely companion.”

  Dahlia tried to keep her heart from pounding a hole through her chest. She had to remain calm. This was the opportunity Ronan and the Lord Admiral had hoped for.

  “Your Grace, may I present Miss Dahlia Farthingale.”

  “A pleasure, Your Grace.” She bobbed a quick curtsy and smiled at him with genuine warmth. If he was going to behave brutishly toward her, she was going to prove herself the better person and a lady.

  But he did not appear to be a brute. Indeed, he looked quite elegant with his full head of white hair and tall, trim countenance. His eyes were a piercing gray, and there was a hawkish keenness to them. The man was obviously intelligent and missed little.

  Graced with wealth, a title, and good looks, he must have been quite the rake in his day.

  “So, you are the young lady who has captured Captain Brayden’s heart. I did not credit it, at first. But now that I’ve had a good look at you, I can see why he is captivated.”

  She glanced at Ronan, then turned back to the duke. “I cannot speak for Captain Brayden. But as for me, I consider myself most fortunate to have made his acquaintance.”

  She did not look at Ronan but felt his approval.

  So far, so good.

  She did not wish to appear too eager.

  “Have a turn on the dance floor with me, Miss Farthingale. It is not often an old man such as myself has the chance to waltz with a beautiful girl.”

  “Of course, Your Grace. It would be my pleasure. I don’t believe I’ve ever danced with a duke before.”

  “We don’t bite, I assure you.”

  She did not believe it for a moment. This man was going to question her and see if he could trap her into making a mistake. And then she would be in his jaws, and he would be drawing blood.

  As expected, the questions began the moment they began to spin around the floor along with the other dancers. “How long have you known Captain Brayden?”

  “I met him when I first arrived in London a few months ago.”

  “And you and he have been an item ever since?”

  “No, Your Grace. I came to London believing another gentleman of my lifelong acquaintance was going to offer for my hand.”

  “That Wainscott fellow?”

  She pursed her lips in a grim expression. “Then you’ve heard.”

  He spun her in a twirl. He was an accomplished dancer and as spry as any young buck strutting along the edges of the dance floor. “Seems the two of you parted ways only a few days ago. And now you are here with Captain Brayden?”

  “You are polite in saying we parted ways. Lord Wainscott openly humiliated me and dumped me. In truth, I am still bruised over the public embarrassment. But I am not pining for him. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have seen his true nature before it was too late. As for Captain Brayden, again, I cannot speak for him. But he told me that he only held back from courting me because he thought I was about to be betrothed to another. He was there and witnessed the Humiliate Dahlia spectacle.”

  “What did Brayden do?”

  “Jumped in and defended my honor. I don’t think Lord Wainscott would be alive today if I hadn’t begged Captain Brayden not to hurt him. I think he was more overset than I was about the sad affair. He has apologized to me a thousand times since for not pressing his suit.”

  “Do you love him, Miss Farthingale?”

  “Captain Brayden? I expect I shall, Your Grace. But I am no fickle maiden. I’m still reeling from my first unhappy experience with love. I don’t trust my feelings yet and will need a little time to regain my balance. However, I am not blind to Captain Brayden’s merits. Is there any doubt he is magnificent?”

  “My daughter seems to think so, too.”

  Dahlia instinctively flinched and then silently berated herself for giving away her reaction. “I see. Did she ask you to dance with me to pry information out of me?”

  He frowned at her. “That is an impertinent question. I am no one’s lap dog.”

  Did he expect an apology? He wasn’t going to get one. “I’ve read the gossip rags. I know your daughter and Captain Brayden are supposedly an item. I know for a fact it is not true. What is it you wish to find out from me? Whether it is for your sake or your daughter’s sake, just ask me, and I will answer it to the best of my ability. And if it is none of your business, I shall tell you so.”

  “You are quite direct for a young chit. You surprise me, Miss Farthingale.”

  “In a good way, I hope. But knowing the embarrassment I suffered, can you blame me for having very little patience for lies, evasions, or manipulations?”

  The waltz would soon come to an end, but Dahlia dared not breathe a sigh of relief until the duke had returned her to Ronan. Only a few more spins around the room, and it would be over.

  “Does your sudden infatuation with Captain Brayden have anything to do with my displeasure of him courting my daughter?”

  “No, Your Grace. It has everything to do with my enjoyment of his kisses.” She blushed. Gad! Why had she blurted this? She sighed. “Kindly do not report this to my aunt and uncle. They’ve been extremely kind and generous with me. In fact, to all their nieces. I would feel awful if I shamed them.”

  “Miss Farthingale, dukes are not in the habit of tattling.”

  She could not hold back her laughter. Perhaps it was her nerves getting the better of her. Or the shock so evident on his face when she so much as accused him of being a tattletale. It was both, most likely.

  “One last question before the dance ends, and I return you to Captain Brayden. By the way, he has not taken his eyes off you the entire time.”

  “It is his protective nature. He knows I’ve been hurt once, and he has appointed himself as my guardian angel. As I said, I think that incident tore him up inside worse than it did me.”

  “I see.” He emitted some harrumphs and grumbles, then asked another question. “What do you know of the Roy
al Navy’s budget vote?”

  “I know that Captain Brayden has poured his heart and soul into it. I know it means a lot to the navy that it passes.”

  “Enough that they would contrive this romance between you and Captain Brayden in the hope I’ll believe he is not courting my daughter against my wishes? I know my vote is essential.”

  “What has one thing to do with the other?”

  “It might. Will you answer my question?”

  “Do you wish my honest answer?”

  “Yes, Miss Farthingale. Surprisingly, I believe you will give me one.”

  “I will, Your Grace. I’m a terrible liar, and you would see through any falsehood at once. So here is the truth. Captain Brayden is in love with me. He is not in love with your daughter. If he were, he would not sneak around behind your back. It is cowardly, and Captain Brayden is no coward.”

  “I never said he was.”

  “You suspected him of going behind your back, and that is insulting enough. Now, about our courtship. It is not contrived. If it were up to Captain Brayden, we would be married tomorrow. But as I mentioned earlier, I do not trust myself yet. He knows better than to push me for an answer.”

  “And the funding vote?”

  “Why should my answer matter? Aren’t you going to vote on its merits? In which event you would have to approve it because I cannot imagine Captain Brayden putting anything extraneous or unnecessary in his budget.”

  “How little you know of the workings of government. Merit alone is never enough.”

  “Merit is all that should matter. Shame on all of you for even considering putting the lives of our noble seamen in danger over your petty suspicions and dislikes. Your Grace, those less clever than you would be guided by you on this vote. On any vote. You cannot hold back your approval out of spite.”

  “Who says I plan to vote against it?”

  “Then why are you questioning me? Why have you asked me to dance with you?”

  “Concern for my daughter, of course.”

  “And what has the Parliamentary vote on the navy’s budget to do with her happiness? You have a moral duty to king and country to protect our fighting men and honor them to your utmost. How can you be so venal as to willingly destroy the Royal Navy because you are peeved at your daughter’s choice in men? If anything, she has shown far better sense than you in this matter.”