“And does being an Everton lady make you happy?” Sophia’s lips thinned into a line.
“I am honored by your concern. Truly, I am, but you need not worry about me. I live in a nice home where I have friends and I’m safe. Most importantly, I’m not married to a man I detest.”
Sophia sighed. “I suppose that is true. I have enjoyed our time together, and I’m not happy this is the final week of your contract with my brother. Perhaps you might visit us in the country in a month when we return there.”
When she disobeyed her parents and left home, all her friends had abandoned her. Even Serena had stayed away for a short time. Knowing that she now had friends who cared to see her clogged her throat with joy. All of this because of Anthony. How would she ever repay him? “I…I don’t know what to say. That would be lovely.”
Slapping her hand down on the cushion, Sophia smiled. “It’s settled then. I will write you with the dates, and Daniel will send a carriage to convey you.”
Sylvia wanted to hug someone. She stood and so did Sophia. It seemed the countess needed a hug too. The embrace was genuine and warm. Sylvia was about to dissolve into a puddle of tears over having a friend who would not abandon her.
Pulling away, Sylvia swallowed the lump in her throat. “I have to check on a few things for this evening. If you will excuse me?”
Chapter 14
Anthony watched Sylvia run from the room. “That was very kind of you, Sophie.”
“I like her, and more importantly, you like her.” Sophia dabbed a tear from her eye with her gloved hand.
“It’s good that you like her, since I intend to ask her to marry me.”
Sophia’s mouth opened and closed several times. “I had no idea you had come to your senses, Tony. When can we begin the celebrations?”
“As soon as I convince the lady she wishes to marry me, too. She has told me I am not a proper match for her. Miles seems to be my competition, though he claims it is not the case. It’s all quite confusing. I may have to accept that she does not like me.” Vomiting was not out of the question, since his stomach rolled at the idea of losing Sylvia.
Daniel laughed. “I would hazard a guess that it is not that she doesn’t like you, Tony. She can’t look at you without blushing. In my experience, if you make enough of a fool of yourself over a woman, she’ll come around.”
Sophia smacked his arm. “You nearly got yourself killed. I didn’t ask for that.”
“No. That was more than any of us bargained for. However, you are worth it, my love.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
Anthony groaned. “I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone. The other guests will arrive any moment, so don’t get too cozy in the parlor.”
Sophia giggled as Anthony stepped into the hall.
* * * *
The day proceeded exactly as Sylvia said it would. She’d planned every detail to make his guests comfortable and happy. Dinner had been lively, and afterward, the card tables were filled with laughter for a few hours before the company broke up and went to bed.
Glancing up the stairs, Anthony caught sight of Mrs. Horthorn and Serena, but there was no sign of Sylvia. Perhaps she had gone to bed earlier. After all, she had worked to make everyone else’s night pleasant, she must be tired.
In the foyer, Kravitz bowed. “My lord, I think all have gone to their beds.”
“Very good. I suggest you do the same. We have a busy day tomorrow.”
“Thank you, my lord.” Kravitz slid the bolt on the front door and strode toward the servants’ stairs.
The window in his study was open, and a cool breeze blew in. Anthony stood looking into the darkness.
The shrubbery under the window rustled.
Anthony stepped forward and pushed the glass farther open. “Is someone there?”
“It’s me, Tony.” Sylvia pushed through the dense foliage. A leaf stuck in her hair and she had a smudge of dirt on her cheek.
“What on earth are you doing out there?” He was torn between laughing and worry.
“I took a walk and got locked out. I didn’t realize I’d been out so long, and the staff must have thought I’d gone to bed.” Her teeth chattered.
The window stood four feet above ground, so only her head and shoulders were above the sill. He put out his arms. “Shall I pull you in?”
“I should tell you to go and open the door, but honestly, I cannot go back through these bushes to get out of here.” Lifting her arms up to him, she blushed the most stunning pink.
Anthony braced his knees against the wall, leaned out and wrapped his arms around her under her arms. Heaven would not be as wonderful as holding her, regardless of the reason.
Her hands came around his neck and her cheek settled alongside his, soft and cool from the night.
Her slight weight made it nothing to draw her inside, but he held her as he backed away from the window. Since she made no effort to disengage from him, he held on to her. “I wouldn’t mind staying just like this a while, Sylvie.”
In a long breath against his chest, her breasts lifted and fell. “You are very warm, Tony.”
“Ask me for that kiss.” He breathed in her floral scent and wanted more than anything to do so every day for the rest of his life.
“It’s not a good idea.”
“Ask me anyway?” It was a plea, and he didn’t care if he sounded desperate. He needed her.
“Kiss me, Tony?” A whispered breath was all it took.
Cupping her cheeks, and then threading his fingers through her hair, he kissed her bottom lip, then the top.
She answered each small caress with the same. “I’m never going to be your mistress.”
“I know that.” He deepened the kiss.
Her sweet tongue danced with his.
His body burned to know every inch of hers and make her his own.
“We have nothing in common.”
He silenced her with another kiss that took his breath away.
Tiny moans sounded from deep in her chest, and she ran her hands down his back, to his waist, then up his abdomen to his chest.
Lord, how he wanted to feel those soft hands against his bare skin. He nibbled the flesh behind her ear and down her neck to her shoulder. “We have a lot in common.”
“You said you didn’t want a wife. You came to the Everton Domestic Society with the single notion of not marrying. You told me you would run away to Italy as soon as you could.” She kissed his throat just above his cravat.
Tearing at the knot, he pulled open the neck cloth. “I say a lot of things that are stupid. You will get used to it.”
Taking advantage of his newly exposed skin, she kissed his Adam’s apple and below. “I don’t want…”
He froze. “What don’t you want, Sylvie?”
Heaving breaths, she was as desperate for air as he was. He longed to kiss her throat, chest, and lower until he knew every inch of Sylvia Dowder.
He wanted to taste every part of her and give her more pleasure than she could stand. The growing need was impossible.
Where her eyes had been filled with passion, suddenly confusion and fear clouded them. “I don’t want you. I’m sorry, Tony. This is all my fault. I will be more careful in the future. You’ll not have to drag me in windows again. You will find the right woman now that you’re open to marriage. I am not the one. I am no one’s perfect match.”
Then it happened, his heart broke in two. Everything he wanted was right in front of him. She’d asked him to kiss her. She’d wanted him as he wanted her. What had happened? “Why are you saying this?”
“Young men all reach a point when they are ready to marry. The woman is not consequential. You will find the right one.” She ran to the door.
“Sylvie!”
She stopped and pressed her forehead against the wood wit
h her hand gripping the doorknob. “I don’t want you, Tony. Can’t you understand that?”
“Please, Sylvie, don’t say things that will hurt us both, then run from the room.” She might as well have flayed him open with a dagger and twisted the blade. Nothing could hurt this much and not kill him.
“I’m sorry.” She fled the room, and her soft footsteps sounded on the stairs until they too were gone.
He sat in the chair nearest to him. It was a short-legged thing he hated, as it forced his knees up and made him look like he was sitting on a child’s chair. It reminded him of when he got too big for the chairs in the nursery.
It was insane. She loved him; he knew she did. No one could kiss him so tenderly and hold him with so much intensity and feel nothing. Sylvia was not cold and never calculating, so the only answer was that she loved him.
Closing his eyes, he forced his emotions into check. Running up the stairs and banging on her door until she told him what was wrong with him would not be smart, no matter how tempting.
He was going to need help.
* * * *
Anthony walked along with the group as his gardener talked of this flower, plant, and tree or that. If he’d not been so distracted, he might have cared about the dissertation.
The problem with finding someone to help him was he didn’t want to embarrass Sylvia in any way. He couldn’t tell his sister about the kiss, and she would certainly want to know how he could be so sure that Sylvia loved him. He would have to find some other way.
Miles slapped him on the back. “You might want to put on that bland mask you’ve been working on.”
Knowing he was right, Anthony hid whatever emotions were crossing his face. “I must work on that.”
They slowed their pace and put some distance between the others and them. Miles asked, “She still hasn’t fallen into rapturous love with you?”
“If she has, she’s far better at hiding it than I am.” He wouldn’t tell Miles anything about his encounters with Sylvia any more than he would tell Sophia.
“You might try her sister.”
“Have you lost your mind? They’re not interchangeable like pawns on a chessboard. I could no more court Serena Dowder than I could court Mrs. Horthorn or my own sister.” The notion of hurting Sylvia in such a way was completely abhorrent. She might not ever admit to loving him, but he loved her and was nearly certain she had some feelings for him too.
“Your sister is married, and Mrs. Horthorn a bit old for you. Serena Dowder is pretty in a way you seem to enjoy, and she is available for the moment. You could do worse. But it looks as though you won’t have much time. Stansfield looks about ready to propose. You might want to move quickly.” It was all so matter-of-fact to Miles and his English sense of order.
“Miles, if you want to court Serena, you should. If Sylvia loves you, I would relish her happiness despite my own misery. But I will never court her sister. You English have no heart to think one woman is as good as the next.”
“These two look exactly the same. I don’t see what you’re so upset about. It’s not unusual to marry another sister when the first is not available or is unwilling.”
True or not, the idea was repulsive. Miles had clearly never been in love. “I appreciate your advice, but from now on, you may keep it to yourself.”
Laughing, Miles jogged to catch up with the others.
Sylvia wore lavender. He’d noticed it was a color she favored during the day. Her cap became caught in the rosebush, and she laughed as Sophia tried to pull her free. Rather than continue to be attached to the bush, Sylvia pulled the bow at her chin and released the hat. Her hair tumbled loose around her shoulders while Daniel rescued her hat.
Seeing her with his family, enjoying the day, everything was as it should be. If only she would talk to him and tell him what fear kept her away from him. How could he prove himself if he didn’t know where the battle was to be fought?
Stansfield and Serena walked apart from the party, talking softly together. There was little doubt of their regard. Her mother favored Sir Henry, a man of lesser title and poor character. None of the Dowder women made any sense. Well, except Serena. She preferred Stansfield and had asked for help to gain his proposal over Sir Henry’s.
Perhaps Serena was the Dowder twin he needed to speak to after all.
* * * *
After the evening’s musical entertainment, the party broke up and many of the guest went out into the torch-lit garden. Anthony had liked the torches from the ball so much he had ordered them placed each night in the gardens of Riverdale.
The grand parlor overlooked the garden. Sophia and Daniel walked arm in arm into the shadows. The moon was almost full once again. Time slipped by him more quickly, and he wondered if he was too late to get what he wanted.
“Tony?” Sylvia whispered. She’d managed to creep up behind him without him hearing her.
Turning, he caught sight of her, and his heart swelled. She changed into a shimmering blue gown for dinner. When she’d first come downstairs, he’d been bewitched. If he were honest, he still was under her spell. “Yes, Sylvie.”
“Was everything to your liking today? I have a picnic planned for tomorrow afternoon, but I can change it if you wish.” Tense and tentative, she had none of the fire she’d displayed when they argued or kissed.
“Today was perfect. Everyone had a good time and still had time to rest. The gentlemen and I are going hunting at first light, but a picnic sounds lovely for the afternoon. I assume you have arranged everything with the staff.” Not kissing her full bottom lip was becoming harder and harder.
“Yes. I’m glad they enjoyed it. And you? Did you have a good day?” Her cheeks pinked.
“Are you making small talk? There is no need. We are friends still. You have made it clear that you would prefer if I quelled my desire for you, and I will comply until you change your mind.”
She blinked several times, and her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. “I will not change my mind.”
He bowed. “As you say. Then why do you seem out of sorts?”
Chewing her bottom lip, she clasped her hands together. “I think you must hate me now, and we still have five more days before we are separated. I suppose I’m embarrassed.”
Like the magnetic force of the sun, he was drawn to her. He stopped when he was close enough to reach out and touch her, but he resisted the temptation. “Sylvie, I can say with absolute certainty, I could not and will not ever hate you. I’ll not lie, I am disappointed, but my feelings for you remain unchanged.”
She shifted from foot to foot and gnawed on her lip, which drove him mad. “Your sister must surely hate me.”
“I’m sure that is not so. I have not shared our private conversations with Sophia. Besides, your friendship with her is not reliant on ours.” He longed to wrap her in his arms and ease all her worries, but it was too soon. Even with time running out, there was still enough to change her mind.
A tear slipped down her cheek. “Thank you, Tony. You cannot know what it means to me.”
Unable to resist, he thumbed her tear away and rubbed the moisture between his fingers, letting her joy and sorrow seep into his skin. “I do know because I know you, Sylvie.”
“You and Sophia are so close, I thought for certain you would have told her.”
He could get lost in those eyes. “I will never do anything that will hurt you. Including discussing our falling out with my sister. Though, I don’t think that would change how she feels about you. Still, I would not risk it, and I know it would make you feel self-conscious.”
She swallowed several times. Tears welled up in her eyes, making them the bluest pools. With a quick curtsy, she turned and rushed away.
In the hall, she said, “Serena, are you going up to bed?”
“Yes, will you join me?” The sisters’ v
oices were very similar.
Soft footsteps followed and disappeared.
* * * *
Unable to sleep, Anthony had wandered the house as long as he could stand it. Guests and servants alike had gone to bed. The moon shone through the glass doors, and he followed it out into the garden.
A hint of blue near the veranda caught his attention, and he quickened his step before he lost sight of her.
Leaning on the stone wall without the benefit of gloves, Sylvia was watching the garden.
“Are you all right, Sylvie?” He climbed the five steps up to the veranda and walked toward her.
Straightening, she turned to face him.
It was Sylvia’s dress, but this was Serena. “Tony, what are you doing here?”
“I did not realize that we were on first-name terms, Miss Dowder.” Whatever she was up to, he wouldn’t let her get away with it.
She stomped her foot. “How did you know it was me?”
“I know what Sylvia looks like.”
“We are identical.” She crossed her arms and pouted.
“Not to me.”
She leaned back against the railing and frowned. “Well, that is something. Our parents can’t even tell us apart. I thought if I put on Sylvia’s dress, and mind you I had to wait a long time for her to fall asleep, I could find something out.”
“So, you wanted me to believe you were Sylvia. For what purpose?” Perhaps he had misjudged Serena. Maybe she was more like her mother than he’d thought.
One arm around her waist, she bit the thumbnail of her other hand. She watched him under hooded eyes. “I don’t know if I can trust you or not.”
He held his arms out. “We are alone in the garden by your design. Though I don’t know what you would have done if I didn’t come out here tonight. You must trust me enough to risk your reputation. What I want to know is, what are you after?”
Dropping her hands to her sides, she stood up straight. “I have noticed you have an interest in my sister. You pay her special attention and call her by her pet name. I also know my sister, and she seems out of sorts around you, which is unusual. Tonight, I overheard your conversation.”
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