But she only had an hour.
She needed to explore her surroundings, needed to note the exits and possible entry points. A second door led off to the left. When she opened it, she stopped short.
Gabriel’s room.
The room was tastefully decorated but sparse, clearly a place used only to sleep. Everything was neat, his clothes packed away, nothing personal left out in the open.
It saddened her to think he had no place to retreat for comfort.
After the confrontation this morning, she understood why he had no fond memories of this house.
Gertrude acted like the house was hers, that she deserved it after losing her daughter.
Diana was determined to change that.
When she heard footsteps on the stairs, she whirled and dashed toward her room. Her heart pounded as she quietly shut the door just seconds before Gabriel entered on the other side. She backed away, as if he would fling the connecting door open and accuse her of snooping.
Only then did she become aware of the lock…allowing her to ban her husband from her room if she chose. Her pulse fluttered at the thought of Gabriel entering at any time he wished. Perhaps she should be fearful, but she experienced a thrill of excitement instead.
Gabriel’s loneliness was palpable, and Diana was determined to prove to him that he was no longer alone.
She picked up her satchel to store it in the armoire, but halted.
Old habits died hard.
She took out three weapons, hiding them about the room—one under the bed, one under her pillow, the last tucked under the chair of her dressing table. That only left two in the bag. Diana opened the wardrobe to find her one lonely dress hanging on the hook. She rolled it up and placed it back into the satchel, quickly stashing it under the bed in case she needed to leave in a hurry.
Her room was in the back of the house, overlooking a small garden. There were no trees close enough to climb if she needed to escape or sneak back into her room. She opened the window and peered out, noting there was one more floor above her own. The stones were positioned so if she stretched, she would be able to climb to the next window or even to the roof.
Diana believed Gabriel would do his best to keep his promise and keep her safe, but past experience taught her all too well how easily things could go horribly wrong.
Pastor Williams would not give up so easily, marriage or no marriage.
With great reluctance, Diana removed the weapon from her boot and the other hidden in the wide belt against her lower back. Then with a sigh, she unstrapped the last weapon from around her thigh, but couldn’t force herself to set it next to the other two.
Without her weapons, she felt naked.
A hole opened up in the pit of her stomach, and she paced the room, flipping the blade end over end, catching it. The action calmed her enough to allow her to think clearly, and she froze as an idea formed.
She might not be able to wear her weapons, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t still bring one.
Dropping to her knees by the bed, she groped underneath for her satchel, quickly digging to the bottom until she felt the silky material of her string purse. She dropped the blade inside, the pommel barely fitting as she drew the strings close. The purse clunked heavily on the floor, and she quickly tied it to her wrist. Then she pinned her hair up in a sloppy knot.
More confident, Diana walked toward the door, but stopped, stunned to realize that she was nervous about seeing her husband again, then wanted to kick herself for being foolish. She should be more focused on the men hunting her than seeing Gabriel again.
Mistakes like that would get her killed.
She closed the door behind her, frowning when she noticed there was no lock. She managed only a few steps when the hairs on the back of her neck prickled.
She was being watched.
Heat tingled along her veins as her gift stirred, and the lines along her back itched as her magic woke. Balanced on the balls of her feet, Diana ducked around the corner, trying to trace the source of her unease.
When she turned the second corner, she nearly tripped over Wolf as he slunk along, crawling low to the ground, as if in apology.
Diana straightened, planting her hands on her hips. “You should be ashamed of yourself. You were very naughty.”
Wolf whined in misery and placed his paws over his eyes.
Some of the starch went out of her spine at seeing his familiar face. As if reading her mind, he gave her one of his panting, doggy grins. Diana snorted and ruffled his fur. “What do you say we hunt you up a treat after all your hard work?”
Wolf bolted to his feet, quivering in excitement, and licking his chops in agreement as he ran toward the stairs.
Trusting Wolf’s nose to find the kitchen, Diana followed, flexing her shoulders as her gift reluctantly settled back beneath her skin.
Wolf brushed against her leg as if to hurry her along, his tongue lolling out of his mouth, and she wove her fingers absently in his fur to settle her nerves as they crept through the house. She felt like a thief.
The smell of food guided them to the back of the house. She eased open the swinging door and cautiously peered inside.
No sign of Gabriel.
She expected relief, so why did her stomach splat at her feet in disappointment?
She entered, hoping to sneak a bone without disrupting everyone. Wolf adroitly followed, very experienced at slipping into a room after people to keep from being shut out or left behind. Much to her dismay, they were spotted almost immediately.
Both sides froze, and the servants fell silent one by one.
Diana’s smile faltered under all the attention, and she cleared her throat. “This is Wolf. He will be staying with me. I wanted to beg for a few scraps or maybe a bone.”
The cook, a burly woman, brushed forward, wiping her hands on a large apron tied at her waist. Her smile was genuine, but a little uncertain as her eyes rested on the animal.
Diana patted Wolf on the head, and he promptly sat. “Don’t worry. All you need to do is feed him, and he will be your slave for life.”
“I’m cook.” Her gruff voice belied her youthful appearance and kind face. With shaky fingers, she stuck out her hand. Wolf sniffed delicately and licked her in welcome. “Oh, what a handsome fellow. It will be good to have a mouser in residence.”
The kitchen maids tittered and crowded closer to receive the same treatment. Soon everyone was talking, their friendliness a nice welcome.
Until Mrs. Ketterling opened the door and shrieked. “What is that filthy beast doing in here? Get.” She picked up her skirt and shooed the dog, her imperious voice ringing in the room.
“That will not be necessary.” Diana smiled at the agitated woman. “We’ll be leaving in a moment, we’re just waiting for a treat.”
Mrs. Ketterling’s face drew up, her lips pursed in clear distaste. “I won’t allow it. Not in my kitchen.”
Cook stepped into the fray, delight etched on her face. “My kitchen you mean.”
She turned to Diana with a smiled of pure delight. “You both are welcome at any time, Lady Mendenhall. It is nice to have the house full again.”
“Cook!” Ketterling’s sharp tone was like stone on glass. “Get back to work. If I see you dallying around one more time, I’ll send you back to the country where you belong.”
“I’m sure I’ll find Cook’s service delightful. I would hate to see her lose her post.” Diana could actually see the housekeeper’s dislike turn to hatred as her brown eyes narrowed.
Ketterling huffed and stuck her nose in the air. With one last piercing look, she turned and marched off, letting the door swing shut behind her.
Everyone remained silent for a moment, then began to snicker at seeing the clearly unpopular Ketterling routed.
Cook’s eyes twinkled as she clapped her hands. “Back to work, everyone. Let’s impress milady with what we can do.”
As one, they returned to work with smiles on their fac
es.
Diana followed cook into the pantry when beckoned. The door no more then shut when cook held out a large hambone to Wolf. The beast glanced at her, and Diana nodded permission. He delicately removed the bone from cook’s hands, never once touching her.
“Such fine manners!”
Diana grinned at the woman’s surprise, then saw the Cook’s face turn serious. “Take care to watch yourself around Mrs. Ketterling. She’s not a forgiving woman. You countermanded her orders in front of the servants, and her dignity has been affronted. She won’t forgive you—” Cook crinkled her nose, “—or me for the slight. Without a mistress the last few years, she’s been getting above her station. Mrs. Ashmore has allowed her free rein, as if they owned the house.”
Diana was both touched and concerned. “If she gives you any trouble, promise you’ll come to me. I don’t know how to go about being a proper lady, but I do know never to dismiss the value of a kind gesture.”
Cook studied her face then smiled. “No worries, I know how to handle the likes of her, but I will remember your words. As to the other matter, just be yourself. I think you’ll be surprised at how easy it will be for you to be a lady without trying. Some people are just born to it.”
When she bustled out of the room, Diana stared after cook for a stunned second before following. Giving a jaunty wave to the staff on her way out, she went in search of Gabriel for their appointment, while Wolf carried his bone upstairs to Emilie’s room.
Gabriel paced the foyer while he waited for Diana to arrive. He knew she was going to fight him on the amount of clothing she needed. He listened for the rages and tantrums his first wife threw when she didn’t get her way, but the house remained ominously silent, which was almost worse.
The clock chimed the hour.
No sign of Diana.
His gut clenched in disappointment, and he strode outside toward the waiting carriage, hoping to find her inside. He opened the door, and the happy future he envisioned for them crumbled when he found it vacant. The darkness in the carriage mirrored the emptiness rising inside him. He couldn’t go back in the house, refused to let her see how much her rejection hurt, but nor could he force himself to leave, either. It would mean defeat, and he wasn’t sure he could so easily let her go.
The door flew open as Diana exited the house. “Sorry I am late.”
His head snapped up to see her wearing a frumpy old cap, her hair pinned haphazardly underneath the atrocious thing, and he struggled not to smile at the incongruent picture she presented. He could tell she’d donned the hat hoping to remain unnoticed, but her beauty shone through the flimsy disguise. “You’re just in time.”
He seated her inside and quickly followed, blocking the exit before she could change her mind. He motioned the carriage forward, satisfaction curling through him. A hint of lavender teased his senses, and, predictably, his cock hardened. While Diana looked out at London, he couldn’t keep himself from studying her, fascinated by her fleeting expressions of wonder and curiosity, with a touch of wistfulness he couldn’t place.
The ride ended much too soon.
“Here we are.” He descended first, then offered her his hand. Once he had possession of it, he refused to relinquish her hand, and tucked it in the crook of his arm.
Her fingers clamped down on him, the simple action revealing that she was more rattled than she wanted to let on. Her uncharacteristic hesitation triggered a wave of possessiveness, and he leaned down to ask quietly. “Nervous?”
“A little.”
They were just one store away from their appointment when Diana tugged on his arm, eagerly studying what was on display in the window. Curious to know what caught her attention, Gabriel dutifully slowed his pace. He expected to find jewelry or some other bauble, not rows of guns and blades.
She had such an expression of yearning, Gabriel almost stumbled, imagining what it would be like to have someone look at him that way. With a wistful sigh, Diana turned away and Gabriel vowed to come back later and choose something suitable for a lady.
“Lord Mendenhall, welcome.” The door chimed shut behind them. “Is this the…lady you would like me to dress?”
Gabriel’s lips tightened at the small slight. “Yes, my wife. That is, if she finds your creations acceptable.”
The matronly woman gave a start of surprise, and her expression warmed. “Yes, of course. It would be a pleasure. What would you like to see?”
Diana smiled and just waved her hand. “Just a dress or two should be fine. Nothing elaborate. No hoops. No bustles. Something understated but nothing too tight.”
Gabriel scowled, frustrated to have her refuse his generosity. How was he supposed to show his affections for her if she refused to be showered in gifts? He turned away and nodded toward the proprietress. “She’ll need a full wardrobe.”
“Don’t be silly. Two is enough.”
The proprietress backed away and vanished from the room to give them privacy.
“We’ll be going out in public, balls, teas and whatnot. You’ll need more than just two dresses.”
“But the expense—”
“I can well manage the cost,” Gabriel reassured her.
“My lord—”
“My name is Gabriel.” That was not what he meant to say. She looked more than a little confused, but he refused to let the matter rest. “We are husband and wife, and I would like you to call me by my name when we’re together.”
He didn’t like the distance she maintained between them, the tension escalating while he waited for her to answer. After a minute passed, when he feared she’d refuse, she finally gave a hesitant nod, and it felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. “Pick out as many dresses as you want.”
Instead of being pleased, she looked more dejected than ever. “I wouldn’t know what to select. I have no idea what would be appropriate for people in your class.”
Gabriel hesitated. “Would it be easier if I choose for you?” Much to his surprise, the idea of picking out clothes and colors that suited her pleased him.
“I am not used to all the people and fuss. Can we not just buy some fabric? I could easily make—”
“You will not have the time.”
“My lord—”
“Gabriel.” He repeated his name, a scowl darkening his face, wishing to hear his name from her lips.
“Fine. Do whatever you want.” Diana sighed in exasperation, but stubbornly refused to speak his name. He decided the better part of valor would be to allow her to have her way…for now. As he nodded toward the proprietress and seated himself, he was surprised to realize that Diana really had no interest in clothes or his money. The only things that had caught her attention were the weapons next door.
The warmth that filled his chest as he watched her wander around the store troubled him deeply. He must not fall in love with her, not before he had time to convince her that she couldn’t live without him.
Gabriel devoted himself to studying the fashion plates, ignoring the disturbing direction of his thoughts. He’d deal with them later. He flipped through the designs, then shook his head. “These will not do. My wife needs simpler styles, more earth-tone, natural colors. These,” he waved at the designs, “are too fussy, too revealing.”
When Diana inched closer to see the designs, he reached out without looking up and snagged her hand, absently playing with her fingers.
The proprietress noticed the gesture, her eyes warming further. “I believe I have just the thing.”
She disappeared into the back, returning a moment later with a small folder.
Gabriel quickly glanced through them and nodded. The designs were sleek and modest, like nothing he’d ever seen. They suited Diana perfectly. “These will do nicely.”
“Wonderful! I’ll have my girls get started.” She turned to Diana. “If you’ll follow me?”
Diana shot a startled look toward Gabriel while she was led away.
Twenty minutes passed, then an hour.
He shifted uncomfortably, imagining her standing naked just a few feet away. To rid himself of the distracting thought and the unwelcome erection, he studied the room. He almost had himself under control…until he noticed a full-length mirror partially hidden behind a gap in the curtain.
Or more precisely, the image in the mirror.
At first he only saw her hair, two of the servants blocked the rest of his view. He’d almost convinced himself to turn away when they moved, and then he was lost. The full image of Diana was on display in the mirror, dressed only in a shift. The fabric stopped just below her knees, revealing very shapely, lovely, long legs that were made to wrap around his waist.
He shifted uncomfortably, refusing to even blink. With so much light flooding the room, the material was practically opaque. The muscles of her arms and legs were smooth and sleek, and his fingers twitched, wanting to run his hands all over her. But what riveted his attention was her shape. Her small, pert breasts suited her, and coupled with her narrow waist and slim hips, they transformed her from gangly to exotic. Each part fit so seamlessly that Gabriel only now realized what her clothes truly hid.
Perfection.
And he found himself utterly seduced.
He remembered the feel of her when she pinned him to the floor on the train, her sleek, strong body assuring him he could touch her, love her, without fear of breaking her.
When the strap of her shift slipped, his attention was drawn to a flash of blue. Unaware that he stood, Gabriel walked quietly toward the curtain and peered closer at her back. He should be ashamed for spying on her, but he couldn’t resist studying the small clue into the mystery of her past.
Before he could understand what he had seen, the image vanished as she slipped the strap up over her shoulder. She turned suddenly, and their gazes clashed in the mirror. Her eyes widened in shock, but he couldn’t force himself to turn way. He swallowed hard when she returned his regard, watching him as blatantly as he watched her.
Druid Temptation (A Druid Quest Novel Book 2) Page 11
