by Anthology
Her eyes narrowed.
Her shoulders straightened.
“Good morning, love. How was your night?” He lifted his teacup in a toasting gesture and took a sip, glorying in the fire that danced in her eyes, a flash of anger.
“Disruptive and assaulting,” she shot back, and with more caution, approached the sideboard. She began filling her plate with bacon, eggs, beans and sausage. The Bright sisters were never ones to miss a meal, yet it was clear their figures never suffered.
And as he watched her butter a square of toast, he decided he rather liked that she ate with appreciation.
As she finished preparing her plate, she glanced about the room as if searching for a different place to sit rather than at the table with him.
“There’s always the floor,” he commented, smirking.
“Or I can simply stab you with my fork if you get any ideas,” she snapped, choosing a chair on the opposite end of the table.
“I have a scar from the last time you tried that.”
“I didn’t try. I succeeded. And you were trying to steal my bacon.”
“I forgot… never get between a hag and her prey.”
“Never get between a lady and her breakfast.”
He held up his hand, palm inward, displaying the three tine scars as if to prove her point.
“Nice to know you’re capable of learning something in your old age.”
“Ah, what’s your excuse then?”
“Intelligence needs no excuses.”
“Pity you don’t possess either.”
“May I eat, please? Or are you wanting to verbally spar all day? While you might have nothing better to do with your time, I find that I’m not challenged, interested, or amused by your ill attempts at wit.” She lifted a piece of bacon and bit, glaring.
“If my attempts are so futile…” He lifted his plate and teacup, rose from his chair and walked around the table toward her. “…then why rise to the occasion with a reply?”
Her eyes narrowed, her chewing slowed.
He sat.
Right beside her.
A dangerous gleam illuminated her gaze, and she lifted her fork.
“Needless assault? I didn’t think even you would stoop so low.” He lifted a forkful of eggs to his mouth and chewed, trying to appear unaffected yet prudence told him to remain cautious.
“Self-defense,” she retorted, but lowered her fork. She calmly spread jam on her toast and took a bite.
“I thought you understood… after last night.” He leaned inward slightly, trying not to chuckle at her quick gasp. “I’m a lover, not a fighter.”
Her head spun to face him, her eyes drew together and became mere slits.
That was a common reaction around him.
Yet all he could notice was the slight smear of apricot jam at the corner of her lip. Tasty, sweet, it was a distraction that could prove dangerous.
“Why you—”
He silenced her mouth with his own, removing every trace of delicious jam from her lips then retreated slightly. “Are delightful,” he finished for her then faced his own meal.
“Not what I was going to say.” Her tone was breathy, shocked. “You mustn’t do such things,” she scolded, yet even from the corner of his eye he could see the rosy hue of her cheeks.
“Why?” he asked, taking a sip of his now tepid tea.
“Because…” She took a deep breath. “While the little war we have is a game…”
He turned to face her, noticing how she wrung her hands in her lap. ”Love… affection… is not.”
“And you think I’m simply changing the strategy of the war?” He leaned in slightly, reaching over and stilling the incessant movement of her hands.
“I think you’re capable of trying anything to win,” she answered, her eyes steely.
“Meredith!” Louisa’s voice preceded her entrance in the breakfast room. Meredith pulled from his hold and stood, walking to the sideboard, leaving him brewing with irritation at her comment and burning with the desire to kiss her once more.
Damn woman, she was a devastation of emotion and he was not the type to enjoy so many sensations!
“Meredith! Did you hear?” She came into the room, her eyes focusing on Lucas and glaring. “You,” she sneered and walked to where her sister waited.
“Hear what?” Meredith asked, ignoring Lucas.
“Tonight we are going to have a party in the maze! The Duchess of Ashbury will have a frost-themed dinner, and the maze will be lit with torches! Do you remember the last time she did that? It was so diverting! I simply cannot wait! Will you be my partner?”
“Partner?”
“Yes, we need partners for the game!” Louisa took her sister’s hand.
“I’m afraid your sister cannot be your partner, Miss Bright,” Lucas interrupted just as he saw Meredith’s lips start to move.
Louisa turned to shoot him an annoyed glare.
“It’s true. My mother has all the teams set up as couples. Already she informed me that my brothers and I will be teaming up with you and your sisters. I do hope you are able to control yourselves for one evening. My mother has assured me that you’ve… matured since our last encounter. So you see, Miss Meredith is my partner for the challenge.” He gave her his best wolfish grin.
“I heard nothing of the sort when I was speaking with your mother.” Louisa placed a hand on her hip.
“Nor I,” Meredith added.
“She informed me, I’m informing you. Simple as that.” He shrugged, hoping they didn’t see through his quickly thought lie.
“I don’t believe you,” Louisa confronted him.
“You don’t need to. Simply ask my mother once she is up and about this lovely morning. Now. If you two ladies will excuse me.” He stood and bowed, watching with glee the shocked expression on the two sisters’ faces at his manner toward them, and turned and left.
He needed to find his mother.
She would be all too thrilled, he was certain. Yet, even as he strode down the hall, a quiet part of his mind whispered that he was sealing his fate with such a request.
CHAPTER FIVE
“AM I AWAKE?” Louisa turned to Meredith, reached out and pinched her.
“Ouch! What was that for?”
“To see if I’m awake.”
“You’re supposed to pinch yourself!”
“Oh, well I don’t want to pinch myself, so you’ll have to do. If you felt that, that means I’m not in a nightmare. Drat.”
“I share your sentiment,” Meredith replied, yet her body flushed as she considered spending the evening in the secluded maze with Lucas.
This could be very bad.
Or very good.
Depending on one’s perspective, and, as of yet, she was completely undecided.
“Did he actually bow when he left?” Louisa asked as she piled her plate with food.
“Yes… I rather think he did.”
“And he didn’t insult us?”
“You. He didn’t insult you. He insulted me,” Meredith answered wryly.
“Oh… were you in here long with him before I arrived?”
“Long enough.”
Meredith took her seat once more, swiping a piece of uneaten bacon from Lucas’ abandoned plate.
“Were… were you sitting that close?” Louisa paused as she set her plate down beside Meredith.
Meredith froze. ”Er… yes.”
“And there was no one else in the room?”
“No…”
“What am I missing?”
Meredith swallowed the bacon. “I was… looking for an opportunity to stab him with my fork again.”
“Oh… right. Make his scars match on both hands. Brilliant idea.” Louisa shrugged and started to eat.
“Was Sara awake?” Meredith asked, trying to change the subject.
“I’m not sure. She wanted to be up early, but she didn’t answer the door when I knocked. I checked your door too, that’s how I
knew you were here. I’m somewhat surprised not to see her. Unless she slept through my knock that is.”
“I see. So, the frost-themed dinner. I think you should wear your cream colored gown. I’m thinking my blue but we’ll need our fur pelisses if we are to be outdoors.”
“Agreed. What exactly are we going to plan?” Louisa asked in a whisper.
“Not here…” Meredith glanced about the room. ”After breakfast meet me in my room. We’ll work out something.” A well-remembered chill ran through her body at the thought of once again outwitting the Mayford brothers. It was far more familiar territory to terrorize them, rather than be seduced by them.
And familiar was far more comforting.
And comforting was less threatening than seduction.
Even if seduction was more enticing.
Especially since seduction was more enticing.
“LUCAS!” JACK RAN UP the stairs to catch up with him.
“What is it?” Lucas replied.
“Did you hear? Mother has lost it! She is demanding that we pair up with a hag! To think, I’ll have to spend the entire evening with Sara.” He shivered.
“You’ll survive.” Lucas rolled his eyes and turned to ascend the rest of the stairs.
“Survive? Since when are you so optimistic! You have to endure the company of the ice hag, Meredith! I would venture to guess that the majority of scars on your person are either credited or in associated with that very woman!”
“Yet here I am,” he snapped impatiently.
“What is with you? Are you not irritated? Why in heavens name are you so calm about this?” Jack marched in front of him, halting his progress.
“Because I am older, wiser, and far more able to adapt than you, apparently.” He gave his brother a hard stare.
“Bloody hell… you didn’t,” Jack swore, glanced away, then met his brother’s gaze with an accusation of his own.
“Didn’t what?” Lucas sidestepped him, walking toward the library.
“You’re not…” He paused, took a deep breath and started again. ”You’re not attracted to one of them… are you?”
“Attracted?” Lucas turned to face his brother. “No. But I sure as hell am seducing one. And tonight provides the perfect opportunity.” Lucas walked defiantly into the library.
“No! I refuse to believe it!” Jack followed him. “This is madness! First Hugh drops his jaw on the floor when he sees Louisa, and now you? Which one are you panting after?”
“My partner.” Lucas selected a random book from the shelves and took a seat. He opened it and began reading whatever was in front of him, hoping his brother would take the hint and leave him alone.
“Meredith? Queen of the hags? This is a bloody disaster!” He stomped about the room. “Very well. If you two milk sops won’t take matters into your hands, I will. We have a legacy, a history to overcome! And just because you have gotten soft, does not mean I have to. You just wait, Lucas.” He stormed out of the room, his head still shaking in disbelief.
He watched as his brother fumed, steam practically coming from his ears as he faded from sight. But Jack’s words haunted him. Was he going “soft” as his brother had put it? Was it possible that this new… development with Meredith was nothing more than a ploy the hags had implemented? Yet, as he considered her expressions, the prickly personality with which she rebuffed his advances… or answered them, he knew that such mannerisms were instinctive, not borne of some elaborate plot.
Shaking his head, he studied the fire burning low in the grate. It was madness, yet he was a willing participant in such folly, especially if Meredith was the prize. Tonight he would put forth additional effort in the delightful diversion of seducing Meredith.
She wasn’t averse to his kiss, that much was certain, so that meant that she was more… distrusting.
He could… he would change that.
All he needed was time.
And opportunity.
A garden maze.
Torchlight.
It was perfect. Now, if only he could get the woman to cooperate.
Unlikely.
Which in truth, made it all the more fun.
Let the chase begin.
CHAPTER SIX
“LOUISA! IT’S A MAZE, not a London Ballroom! You simply cannot wear that!” Meredith felt her last nerve stretching thin as her sister waltzed into her room wearing a delicate pale green silk dress — one that would shred to pieces if even brushed against the hedgerows of the Wingham estate!
“It is perfectly suitable.” Louisa smoothed the skirt and glanced over her shoulder at the mirror opposite her.
Meredith narrowed her eyes. “What is going on?”
“Going on? I have no idea what you're talking about.”
“Yes… yes you do.” She marched toward her sister. “You have that… that… thing! That twinkle in your eye that means you’re going to do something either brilliant or foolish!”
“Deep breaths, Meredith… full sentences,” Louisa shot back, an unrepentant grin on her face.
“It’s Hugh.” Sara walked into the room, causing Meredith to turn and regard her. Sara’s face was beet red, her hat askew as her hair sprung freely from beneath it.
“And what happened to you?” Louisa asked, her tone hesitant.
“Ask Jack. The bloody son of a—”
“Sara!” Meredith and Louisa both interrupted her tirade.
“He can rot for all I care,” she fumed. “Rot!” Stomping her foot she stalked toward the mirror and whimpered as she looked at her disheveled state.
“Do I even want to know?” Meredith asked.
“No,” she grumbled.
Louisa snorted softly. “I’m great with not knowing.”
“I hope they pull the same prank on you.” Sara glared.
“Let’s move forward shall we? Sara, do you know what you’ll be wearing for the activities tonight? Hopefully something more sensible than your sister.” Meredith gave Louisa an admonishing glare.
It was Sara’s turn to snort. ”She just wants Hugh to notice her. They were walking in the garden earlier and if I weren’t so innocent—” Her blue eyes shot daggers at Louisa.
“Sara went behind us and put ink in Jack’s tea this morning at breakfast,” Louisa interrupted.
“What? Oh Sara…” Meredith lamented. ”I thought we agreed to save that! It was meant as the last prank so that they wouldn’t be able to do something similar to us!”
“I know, but I had such a perfect opportunity, and I simply could not pass it up!”
“I understand, but you must learn some self control,” Meredith scolded.
“Speaking of self-control—” Sara began.
“I think you need to wear my pink silk!” Louisa shouted, interrupting once more.
“Pink silk?”
“Pink silk?” Meredith echoed Sara.
“Yes! Don’t you think it will look lovely?”
“Indeed,” Sara replied, her gaze studying Louisa and then nodding once. ”I do think that… arrangement… can be made.”
“Are you buying her silence?” Meredith turned to Louisa.
“No… Can’t I simply be generous?”
“With your pink silk?”
“Yes.”
“I… simply do not want to know. Let Father or Mother deal with the both of you.” Meredith lifted her hands in exasperation.
“I’ll simply go and get ready,” Sara chirped and practically skipped out the door.
“Don’t pretend you’re immune to the charm,” Louisa whispered, leaning in slightly.
“Immune to what?”
“I know about Lucas…” With that she left, her footsteps echoing in the hall.
Just how had the Mayford brothers divided and conquered so effectively? Yet as she considered it, were they actually doing that on purpose, or had they all changed?
Disregarding the troubling thought, she dressed in her blue muslin and pinned her hair firmly, knowing they’d
be shamelessly running throughout the maze, ladies or not, some things were never outgrown. With a smile at her reflection in the mirror, she made her way to the hall where they’d start the evening’s activities, hating that as she entered the room, there was only one person she noticed.
Sworn enemy.
Searing kisser.
Tonight would prove interesting.
“HOW LOVELY, YOU DIDN’T need to dress up to please me.” Lucas bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling too widely as Meredith’s eyes snapped with fire at his remark. Nevertheless, he reached for her hand to kiss it, and she allowed him.
Small victories.
“You assume much… I understood you to be supremely arrogant in nature, but apparently I can add unobservant to your long list of faults as well.” She shrugged.
“Unobservant?” he asked as he wound her hand around his arm and led her to the table.
“Indeed. You speak as if you are the only male at the party. Who is to say that I dressed to please you? Why not another? Am I not allowed my own secrets?” She gave him a saucy grin and slid her gaze away. He followed her line of sight and found himself regarding Lord Ackman.
Jealousy flared within, then calmed as Lady Smyth wound her arm around Lord Ackman’s, an inviting expression on her lips.
Leaning down, he whispered beside her ear, the scent of rose water teasing his senses. “Ah, pride comes before a fall.”
“You would know.”
He chuckled as he pulled out a seat for her.
His mother had been all too pleased to adjust the seating arrangements for him upon his request to sit beside Meredith. Of course, that was after his mother asked him to repeat said request more than once.
As he took the seat beside Meredith, he watched her face flood with color as she glanced from him to the name placard and back, disbelief coloring her expression.
“What are you doing?” she asked in a harsh whisper.
“Sitting?” he answered in an innocent tone.
“Why? Why here? I checked earlier and you were—”
“You checked?” He turned to face her fully, altogether amused.
