A Stolen Kiss (Victorian Love Book 1)

by M. A. Nichols

  “Good afternoon,” he said, but the lady crossed her arms and gave the barest of nods.

  Try as he might, Jack could not help but smile at her behavior; it was so righteous in its indignation and full of such dignified haughtiness, as though she were being led to her martyrdom. Today, he was graced not with the quelling, wilting miss that scarcely met his gaze. Today, it was the fiery Lily who faced down foes without flinching.

  “I see you are a little piqued,” said Jack, climbing into the seat beside her.

  Lily’s head jerked towards him, her eyes narrowing. “You think this humorous?”

  Nudging the carriage forward, Jack took them into the thick of things as he considered her statement; most people cowered and avoided confronting him, so seeing Lily in all her furious glory was rather entertaining.

  “I suppose I do.”

  Lily’s lips pinched together. “You are a cad, Mr. Hatcher. You bullied me into doing as you wish—”

  It took the greatest of restraint not to jerk on the reins when he heard that accusation, but Jack kept hold of his temper and managed not to crash the carriage as he defended his honor.

  “I did not bully you,” he replied with a dark scowl. “I did not threaten nor force you to accept.”

  “You announced our engagement without speaking a word of it to me, and then you manipulated me into accepting it.”

  Jack snorted and shook his head. He should leave it be. It was not as though he cared what others thought of him, but an itch of unease settled into his spine, and Jack felt compelled to respond.

  “Call it manipulation if you like, but I merely made you see that it was in your best interest to accept my suit. Is it underhanded for me to cast an undesirable option in a favorable light?”

  “You used the Pratt’s reputation to force my hand,” said Lily.

  He nodded. “I saw a weakness in your resolve and exploited it. You refused to see that more than yourself might suffer because of the scandal.”

  Lily gaped at him. “And you say so without even a hint of remorse?”

  “I have nothing to apologize for,” said Jack with a shrug. “It was the best choice.”

  “It is not your right to decide what is best for me.”

  “It is when you are being unreasonable.”

  Crossing her arms tight across her chest, Lily glowered. “And disagreeing with you is ‘being unreasonable?’”

  The lady was not interested in a level-headed discussion on the topic, so Jack kept his own counsel and let Lily stew in her anger. She did not remain silent for long.

  “I cannot fathom why you are so insistent when you made it clear that you had no interest in furthering an acquaintance, Mr. Hatcher. You practically ran away that night and then tossed my uncle from your office when he pushed the matter.”

  Jack scowled at her. “I did not run away, and I have my reasons for changing my mind.”

  “And they are?”

  “Of no concern as the decision has been made,” said Jack, steering the carriage around a particularly large cart that commandeered half the road. “And it is ridiculous for you to keep calling me Mr. Hatcher, Lily.”

  “I did not give you leave to address me so informally,” came the curt reply.

  “You did when you agreed to our engagement.”

  Though the lady gave a huff of indignation, she voiced no further objection.

  “My friends call me Hatch,” said Jack, glancing over at his fiancé.

  Lily grumbled something under her breath, and with the sound of the clogged street around them, it was impossible to say for certain what the words were, but Jack felt her disgruntled meaning well enough.

  ***

  Fate was a cruel temptress. It was she who brought Miss Aubrey into Colin’s life, tempting him with her sweetness and beauty, and it was she who kept him from claiming Miss Aubrey’s love for his own. Strolling along the city street, Colin had only a vague notion as to where he was going and the world around him. Eyes fixed on the pavement before him, he cast his thoughts back to that most gorgeous of creatures.

  Though every rational thought told him it was futile to hold onto the hope of securing her hand, Colin could not give her up. If he were a better man, he would do so immediately and leave her free to pursue a gentleman who could provide her the life she deserved, but those few, precious moments they were able to steal away together during the odd ball or party were too precious to forego.

  The Unnecessaries. That was the name his club had taken upon themselves, and it was a teasing veneer that hid an ugly truth. He and the other gentlemen of that illustrious group were the accursed third, fourth, or even fifth sons in the family; too low to ever hope for any inheritance of their own, and thus left to their own financial devices and ruin.

  How was a fellow to secure a wife and family of his own when his situation was so dire? It was yet another manifestation of fate’s cruelty. Colin DeVere had been raised with all the trappings of wealth but without any hope of securing it for himself. His allowance may cover his spartan bachelor lifestyle, but Colin could never hope to support his dear Miss Aubrey on such a pittance.

  Of course, her dowry would do much to support them, but only those with money were considered suitable for ladies with fortunes of their own. Her father would be a fool to allow a vagabond like Colin to pay court to his daughter.

  Ignoring the push of people around him, Colin halted in his tracks, head hung low. The whole situation was pointless to agonize over. He must simply accept that Miss Aubrey was beyond his grasp. Yet even thinking of abandoning her wrenched his heart in his chest, the pain spreading through the whole of his being.

  Miss Aubrey.

  With a resigned breath, Colin straightened and continued on his way. And it was then that his eyes rested on a particular gentleman sitting atop a fine cabriolet not fifteen feet away. The pressure in his chest built, and his despair dissolved beneath the spark of fury that burned through him.

  A gentleman keeps his word. That was the most basic tenet of their class. All Colin needed was an income. A position. If Hatch had only been honorable and done as he had promised, then Colin would be a successful man of business by now; someone worthy to court Miss Aubrey. Fate may have placed Miss Aubrey beyond his reach, but the impassable gulf keeping them apart was the work of Jonathan Hatcher.

  With a controlled snap of the reins, Hatch steered the carriage through the traffic, and the pressure in Colin’s chest grew, pressing against his ribs until they felt liable to snap. For a quick moment, he saw himself at the helm, squiring Miss Aubrey around town, and the muscles in his arms strained as he clenched his fists.

  When Hatch’s carriage moved forward, Colin’s feet followed. Traffic was heavy enough that the pair were easy to trail.

  Colin did not recognize the plump lady sitting beside the blackguard, but he guessed her identity and assumed Hatch was now in the midst of a tight and uncomfortable situation. Miss Kingsley scowled something fierce at her escort, and Colin hoped the lady was giving Hatch a thorough dressing down. No man deserved it more than he.

  However, as he watched the play between the pair, Colin came to a realization that had him gaping. First, that they were engaged; appearing in public unaccompanied so shortly after scandal had linked their names together could mean only that. But more importantly, Hatch admired his betrothed.

  Though passersby might believe the entirely hostile picture they painted, they did not know Hatch. Years may have passed since they’d served together in His Majesty’s Royal Navy, but Colin had known Lieutenant Hatcher well. He would never be forced into doing anything against his will.

  But more than that, Hatch watched Miss Kingsley in a manner that betrayed his interest. It was not the love-addled longing that was stamped on Colin’s face whenever Miss Aubrey graced his presence, but it was clear that more lay beneath Hatch’s reserve. It was not infatuation as of yet, but the fellow cared for Miss Kingsley.

  How unfortunate for Hatch
that the lady did not share his interest, for no one looking at her could mistake Miss Kingsley for a willing participant in their outing.

  Collin was no fool. Though he had nourished and spread the gossip concerning Hatch’s ungentlemanly behavior towards Miss Kingsley, Collin had never anticipated any repercussions beyond bruising the fellow’s reputation and frightening off his more scrupulous investors. But as he followed the carriage along, that original plan shifted and altered, becoming something far grander.

  Perhaps it was not the most honorable course of action, but the dark, angry part of his soul that cried out for vengeance would not allow him to ignore this opportunity. For once, Colin would have the whip hand over Hatch, and he was not about to surrender his one chance to use it.

  ***

  “You are quite forthright for a lady,” said Mr. Hatcher. No matter what the cad said, Lily refused to use anything but his proper address—even if she could not stop him from taking that liberty with her.

  “That statement reveals more about you and the simpering ladies with whom you surround yourself than it does about me,” said Lily, turning to watch the passing streetscape. “I know many who would not be quick to bow and scrape to a fellow who had forced their hand in such a devious manner. You may not believe me, but ladies do not care for being bullied and badgered. You would not wish to meet my Aunt Mary in a temper. Or my Aunt Tabby, for that matter.”

  Every word she’d spoken was true, but Lily knew that such an illustrious description did not normally apply to her. Something about Mr. Hatcher loosened her tongue, and with the fury of this situation spurring her on, Lily could not remain silent.

  “Why are you so opposed to our engagement?”

  Mr. Hatcher’s question startled Lily, for his motives were far more questionable.

  “Why am I so opposed to irrevocably binding myself to a stranger for the rest of my life? I think that question answers itself.”

  “You were quick enough to throw yourself into my arms.”

  That verbal parry landed with precision force, striking a killing blow. Lily’s heart constricted in her chest, and she turned her face away from Mr. Hatcher, refusing to allow him to see the tremble of her chin.

  Desperate. That was a terrible word far too many almost-spinsters embraced. As years passed and their prospects dwindled, they settled on unacceptable bridegrooms or resorted to underhanded methods to force a gentleman to the altar. Trapping a husband hadn’t been Lily’s intention, but others would assume it was.

  Poor Lily Kingsley. The unwanted young lady who resorted to throwing herself into the arms of a stranger to steal a few minutes of a fantasy that would never be hers. Clearly, Mr. Hatcher thought she had not the self-respect to insist on a loving, respectful marriage.

  “Take me home,” she murmured. She should never have come to London. Never agreed to this farce.

  Mr. Hatcher did not deviate from their course, and Lily repeated herself.

  “We are nearly to the park,” came the reply.

  “I do not care about going into the park, Mr. Hatcher. I wish to return home. Immediately.”

  Glancing at her, Mr. Hatcher’s scowl spoke plenty though he remained mute.

  Gathering her strength about her, Lily met his gaze and fought to keep the sheen of tears from her eyes. “If you do not turn this carriage towards my uncle’s house, I will alight and walk there myself.”

  When he did not answer or do as he was bidden, Lily shifted as though to make good on her threat, though it was as empty as their false engagement. Mr. Hatcher shifted to keep her in her seat and then guided the horses to the first available street that would return her home.

  Lily could not look at the fellow, and he did not deign to speak, which suited her. With any luck, Mr. Hatcher would see how ludicrous this engagement was, and she would be rid of him posthaste. But instinct told her the fellow was too stubborn to admit defeat so easily.

  Hope as she might, Lily was forced into this unhappy engagement until her parents returned.

  Why had she been so hasty? Barring the others from writing her parents had seemed a good idea at the time, but that left her shackled until their trip came to its natural conclusion. Should Mama and Papa discover what had happened, they would return posthaste and save her from this torture, but the thought of her foolishness curtailing their travels did not sit well in Lily’s heart.

  Knowing that she needed rescuing only added to Lily’s embarrassment, anger, and general agitation. She already had much to atone for, and Lily would not add to the list by robbing her parents of their long-awaited tour of the Continent. She could only wait and knowing that a reprieve was forthcoming was enough.

  *

  Jack was the first to admit that he knew little of ladies, but Lily was as inscrutable as any he had known. Pushing the horses faster than he would have normally, Jack wove through traffic, determined to be done with this disastrous outing.

  A morsel of guilt pricked at his conscience, like a rat nibbling on a discarded biscuit. It wasn’t often that Jack lost control of his temper, but the way Lily was reacting to the engagement had struck a vulnerable part of his soul he hadn’t known existed.

  Lily spoke as though marrying him was repugnant. And though she took pains to hide her expression, Jack saw the way her lips trembled as she studied the passing buildings. Less than twenty-four hours into their engagement and his fiancé was all but hysteric over the thought of spending one more minute in his presence.

  What had he said or done to disturb her so? Lily had been eager for his attention in that blasted library, yet in the light of day, she fought tooth and nail to be rid of him. The lady was ridiculous.

  Luckily, her uncle’s house arrived in a trice, but before Jack moved to assist her, Lily was out of the cabriolet and up the stairs, scurrying through the front door without a backward glance. With a sigh and a shake of his head, Jack turned his carriage homeward.

  Chapter 8

  Foot tapping to the music, Lily watched the dancers from the safety of her seat as the instruments’ refrain buoyed her spirits. Ballroom music was not as enthralling as attending the opera or a concert, but Lily was quite pleased for an opportunity to enjoy any music.

  Though she knew plenty of individuals who found great enjoyment in turning about the dance floor, she thought her position far more preferable. She was not forced to interact with more of her aunt’s set and trip over all the inevitable faux pas when she did not know so-and-so or react appropriately when faced with a piece of gossip that meant nothing to her.

  Perhaps being engaged was not such a tragedy.

  Life had changed with alarming speed. All of a sennight had passed since “the incident,” and where Lily had been guarded religiously before, she was now at liberty to enjoy the ball as she pleased, and Aunt Louisa-Margaretta no longer snared young men for her unattached niece. Not that her aunt gave her complete freedom. No, Lily was still subjected to social calls and events she did not wish to attend, but Aunt Louisa-Margaretta no longer hovered at Lily’s elbow.

  It was quite liberating. Especially as Mr. Hatcher had not seen fit to visit again, and thus, Lily was not made to suffer through his company.

  So, Lily sat on the edge of the ballroom availing herself of the only enjoyable aspect of a ball while her aunt danced the night away and her uncle lost himself in a card game. Mr. Hatcher’s unceremonious announcement of their engagement had seemed awful, but at present, Lily could not deny that this horrid mess had its merits.

  This evening was near perfection—if not for Mr. Hatcher looming in her thoughts.

  Engaged yet unwanted. There was no other manner in which to view her situation, for the gentleman hadn’t chosen her of his own free will. If his behavior precipitating the engagement was an indication, Mr. Hatcher did not desire this marriage any more than she. Though Lily could not decipher the sudden shift in his behavior, it was clear that he viewed it as an obligation.

  What a terrible word. There was no
thing more unflattering than being a duty to fulfill. Lily had suffered through years of being an obligation, and she had never dreamt that such a word would apply to her marriage. Where others had celebrated their announcement, Lily felt a hollow ache in her chest.

  Turning her gaze from the dancers, Lily looked at her gloved hands clasped in her lap. The pale blush of her dress was a stunning shade and the embroidery along the edges of her skirts was some of the finest she had seen, yet for all the finery, Lily felt like a sow’s ear fashioned into a silk purse.

  Blinking, Lily fought against the sadness that crept into her soul, seeping into her like a malodorous vapor. Memories of her family’s compliments came to mind, attempting to buoy her spirits, but they could not balance out the weight of her experience. Lily was no beauty.

  This would not do. It was of no use to bemoan that which could not be changed. Lily would not allow despair to linger in her heart.

  Holding her head erect, she watched sightlessly as the dancers turned about the room. The Walkers had decorated the room in a fine fashion with great floral arrangements lining the walls as though they climbed them. The chandeliers burned bright and each sconce was fitted with a great many candles until the ballroom was as bright as the midday sun.

  All things considered, it was quite a lovely party, and Lily ought to enjoy it.

  “Miss Merriweather?”

  Not being her name, Lily did not respond until the gentleman repeated himself, coming to stand just a few steps away from her. Lily looked at the fellow, and he gave a start.

  “Oh, I do apologize,” he said with a grin. “I mistook you for someone else.”

  Lily stared at the mysterious gentleman, though he hardly looked old enough for that title. She could not tell his precise age, but he was at least five years younger than herself.

  “Think nothing of it, Mr.…” Lily had begun the sentence without thinking it through and stumbled.