“Not intentionally, no. But that doesnt mean I wouldnt cause you pain. Now run!
He lunged toward her. She spun on her heel and raced toward the house. She traveled a good distance before she dared to look back. Standing on the bridge with his head bent, he stared into the dark waters below.
The woman inside her screamed for her to return to him. But the lady insisted she continue on. She wasnt afraid of him, but of herself, of what she was feeling. She was incredibly tempted to let him make good on his threat.
Chapter 6
L ydia Westland was a temptation any man in his right mind would find difficult to resist. But for a man who had been without a woman in his bed for several long monthshellip;
Rhys sat at the table, glaring at his cold poached eggs. Hed always prided himself on his mastery of his baser instincts. He could pleasure a woman and, if need be, refrain from experiencing his own satisfaction.
He approached lovemaking as a form of art, a well-choreographed series of movements designed to enhance sensations, stimulate, and titillate. But he kept himself at a distance. The master in command of the production, watching from the wings, but never fully participating in the play.
Why did Lydia Westland make him feel like a lion that had pounced on his prey? A beast that had yet to be tamed? Why did she make him feel as though he was auditioning for a role he had no desire to play?
She was the sweetest of creatures. During their kiss, hed become lost, completely and absolutely. Adrift in the sea of her innocence. Her sighs and moans had ignited tiny sparks within him that had quickly flared. His own groans had filled the night, echoed around him, the growl of an animal seeking its mate, laying its primal claim. He wanted to declare her as his: possess her heart, her body, her soul.
“The physician looked rather grim when he left Fathers bedchamber this morning, Grayson said as he took his place at the table.
Rhys looked up. So wrapped up in his thoughts, hed been unaware his brother had entered the dining room or that hed already loaded his plate with the offerings from the sideboard.
“Yes, well, old Fitzhugh always looks grim, Rhys assured him. “I wouldnt worry overmuch. He wouldnt have left had he expected this day to be Fathers last.
“I wasnt aware that death kept a schedule.
“Youre quite right. I misspoke. I suppose we must all face the inevitable in our own way. Anxious to change the subject, he said, “You look as though you rested well.
“You look as though you didnt.
An understatement. Hed lain in his bed with the scent of Lydia still filling his nostrils, the feel of her soft skin a memory against his fingertips, the taste of her lips remaining on his tongue to be savored awhile longer. He shifted in his chair in a futile effort to ease an ache that refused to be eased. Hed never been obsessed with women.
They used him. He used them. It was the way of things.
“I simply have a great deal on my mind, he murmured.
“Is there anything I can do to help? Grayson asked.
Take your stepdaughter and get the hell out of here.
“No, but I appreciate your offer.
“Im not accustomed to a life of leisure, Rhys. While I intend to visit with Father often, Im also quite sure frequent visitors tire him. So if there is anything I can do to ease your burden, Im serious about wishing to help.
“Ill keep your offer in mind. I take it Father was awake this morning.
“For a short time, yes. He fell asleep before I was able to usher in the children. But it was good to have a few minutes with him.
“His moments of lucidity are rare. Im glad hes aware that youre here.
He unfolded the newspaper and stared blankly at the words that seemed to run together, a string of letters that made no sense. He could scarcely concentrate for thinking of Lydia. In the moonlight, in the library, during dinner. He was aware of her every movement, her every sigh, her every smile. She unsettled him, and he was not one who cared to be unsettled.
“I suppose youre kept quite busy fending off the young bucks where Lydia is concerned, he said lightly.
“She has her share of suitors, but shes hardly shown a bit of interest in any of themto their everlasting disappointment, I might add. She and Abbie should be down any moment.
Rhys set the newspaper aside. His chair scraped across the floor as he stood. “If youll excuse me, I need to take care of a few matters.
He strode from the room, a man bent on escape.
Lydia sat in a cheery room the butler had identified as the morning room. Hed also assured her the Duchess rarely made use of the room anymore, so Lydia neednt worry about being disturbed.
Sabrina was napping. She hadnt quite recovered from their long journey. Lydia knew she should probably rest as well, but she was loath to give up a moment in sleep.
Her stepfather had taken everyone into the Dukes bedchamber shortly after theyd finished breakfast. The Duke had failed to wake up while they were there.
Lydia was saddened whenever she realized she might never have a chance to talk with this man. She hoped hed at least have an opportunity to get to know Colton and Sabrina.
The immense size of the house helped to take them away from the sick room and made it easily forgotten. The fact that none of them was neededor truly wantedcaused her to often overlook the reason theyd come. Although her parents had explained before they left Texas that they didnt expect the children to spend their time here with puppy dog eyes, Lydia still felt guilty whenever she snuck away to have a few minutes to herself.
Now she tried to concentrate on reading her book, but her efforts were futile. Shed memorized so many little rules. How one left a calling cardwhich she did not possess. When it was appropriate to wear gloves. When one should don a hat.
Her problem was that for all the rules she knew, she didnt know exactly how to put them into practice. Her studying had prepared her for much of what she would experience over here, but she was quickly discovering many subtleties were still unknown to her. Something she hadnt considered when she was half a world away, but something that was suddenly glaringly obvious to her.
Her mother would have had a conniption fit if shed seen Lydia last nightwearing her nightclothes and traipsing over the lawn with Rhys. And if shed happened to spot Lydia lying on the bridge with Rhys hovering over her, his mouth devouring hershellip;
She fanned her heated face and tried to erase a memory she had no wish to forget.
What happened last night could not be repeated. Not at Harrington, not with Rhys. While hed claimed to be intrigued by her, and she was completely fascinated with him, she was fairly certain she could expect little more than misery by marrying into this family when the Duchess so hated her stepfather.
No, shed definitely started out on the wrong foot where Rhys was concerned. She needed to prepare herself for a possible sojourn into London. As soon as the butler brought in the tea, she would begin practicing. Meanwhile, she turned her attention to memorizing more rules she would probably never have an opportunity to put to use.
But at least concentrating on them took her mind off Rhys and the inappropriateness of her behavior last night.
The last thing she wanted was to be embroiled in any sort of scandal. Her mothers experience with Grayson Rhodes had taught her that.
As strange as it might seem, English society appealed to her because of all the rules. No behavior was left to chance. Etiquette dictated every action. It seemed such a safe world, a world where men of rank were as anxious to avoid scandal as the ladies were.
Grayson Rhodess birth had excluded him from that upper tier. Lydia was certain that within Londons high society, a lady was protected at all costs. Lydia dearly wanted what the Duchess possessed: respect that came from ones position regardless of ones actions.
She could only achieve that by conquering London.
Rhys spent the early hours of his morning secluded in his study. He reviewed the ledgers and studied the copious notes his
father had made some months earlier regarding improvements he wished to make at Harrington.
Then Rhys met with Mr. Willis. The man was nearly as old as his father and as steadfastly set in his ways. Hed overseen Harrington long before Rhys was a disappointment in his fathers eyes or a curse upon his mothers lips.
That Mr. Willis failed to comprehend the significance of modern technology was only mildly troubling. That he was nearly deaf, blind in one eye, and suffering from rheumatism that caused him to move in what appeared to be an extremely painful shuffle was more disconcerting.
He would have to be replaced soon, and that action would not sit well with those who held an allegiance to Mr. Willis. Hed always been well liked and treated the workers fairly. It was unfortunate enough that everyone was going to have to grow accustomed to a new duke. Change was seldom welcomed, and Rhys had hoped to keep it at a minimum.
He was strolling through the manor, pondering his dilemma, when he passed by the morning room. Usually he found the gloom of the rooms darkness, with its heavy drapes that were never drawn back, somehow comforting.
This morning, however, the room was awash with sunlight. Rainbows danced over the walls, reflecting off the crystals on the lamps on either side of the sofa. And through the windows of the closed French doors, he could see Lydia pouring tea.
He was so ensnared by her joyous smile, her sparkling eyes, and her tinkling laughter that he was halfway tempted to overlook the fact that she was absolutely, completely alone.
Surely not .
Keeping to the side so he was neither directly in front of the door nor squarely in her view, he eased closer and peered through a window, striving to see into a corner. No one came into his vision. He glanced the other way. The room appeared to be quite emptyexcept for the intriguing Miss Westland.
He directed his attention back to her. She was no longer entertaining an imaginary friend, but had shifted on the sofa and was running one of her fingers over the page of an open book.
What a strange creature she was.
Was she perhaps practicing her role in a play?
He contemplated the advantages of silently stepping back, out of sight, and pretending hed never spotted her to begin with. But none of the advantages outweighed his desire to remain as he was and simply watch her.
He could not remember a time when anything had brought him as much pleasure. Yet he knew he was being unaccountably rude, invading her privacy, behaving as a voyeur. Unfortunately, he seemed unable to nobly retreat.
Shed apparently lost interest in whatever she was reading, because she began to turn to the tea service resting on the small table in front of her. At the same moment, her body twitched, her eyes widened, and she pressed her hand just above her left breast as though to still her pounding heart.
The fact that her gaze was locked on his revealed the cause of her surprise. He should have been ashamed to be caught as he was, longingly peering through the glass of the closed doors, but he could not manage to feel anything except grateful that he was now forced to speak to her.
And more gratified that hed failed so miserably at his attempt to escape her.
Gathering his wits about him, he quietly opened the door and strived to sound as though he were the master of decorum and had not just been caught with his hand deep in someone elses pocket. “Miss Westland.
“My lord, she responded breathlessly, her raspy voice causing his insides to tighten. “How long have you been standing there?
“As a gentleman, I should say I only happened by at the exact moment you managed to look up
“If that were true, I dont think your breath would have fogged the window.
He glanced back at the door. No evidence of her claim remained. Not that it mattered. Unless shed purposely fibbed to test his words. Was she that clever? He was certain she was, and more. He turned back to her. “It is impolite to interrupt.
“Its impolite to spy! The teacups rattled with the force of her rising to her feet.
“I believe I spoke similar words last night, he reminded her.
“That was different.
“How so?
“Concern took me into your fathers room.
“And concern brings me into this one. I assure you that I was not spying. I was merelyhellip; What could he admit? That if he was wise, he would steer clear of her? That he found himself drawn to her as the waters of an ocean were drawn to the moon?
“I merely wished to apologize for my behavior at the pond. It was entirely inappropriate and shant happen again.
“You mean your kissing me?
Kissing you, ravishing you, enjoying you.
“Quite so.
She visibly relaxed. “Id come to the same conclusion earlier. That my behavior was inappropriate for a lady.
“Then were of a like mind. I find that rather reassuring.
“You were looking for me then? To apologize?
“No, I was simply passing by when you caught my attention, and I thought to make the most of the moment. It has been some time since Ive seen sunlight allowed in here.
He walked farther into the room bathed in yellow, orange, and green. Hed always thought it looked as if his mother had planted a garden within the fabrics of the furniture and draperies. It had been a place that had once sparkled, where she had always seemed happy.
But as he looked toward a window, he understood now that his mother had turned the morning room into a mourning room, because a small sliver of the window had the misfortune of bringing into view the family pond.
“I didnt think Id bother anyone here, she said defensively.
He studied the high color in her cheeks, a red almost as vibrant as her lips. “And you are quite right. I was not bothered by your presence. Merely intrigued.
He tilted his head toward the tea service and the two cups filled to near overflowing with tea. “Were you expecting company?
Her blush, if possible, deepened. She appeared positively mortified and so breathtakingly beautiful he thought he might be content to simply sit and watch her for hours on end. Hed never before felt this way about any woman. Perhaps because hed always known hed had no hope of ever winning any womans favor on a permanent basis. Yet that explanation fell short, because he knew he had no hope of ever having anything permanent with Lydia, either.
“I washellip;uhhellip;. She cleared her throat. “I was very thirsty.
He couldnt prevent a corner of his mouth from quirking up as he raised an eyebrow. “So pouring tea into two cups instead of one twice allows you to drink more quickly?
“Twice as much tea is able to cool in the same amount of time. Therefore I can drink one right after the other instead of pouring one, letting it cool, drinking it, and then pouring another
“And having to wait for it to cool, he finished.
She nodded enthusiastically as though she truly thought he believed her tripe.
“Fascinating, he murmured.
He crossed the room and sat in the high-backed padded chair. She jerked as though hed slapped herclearly not wishing him to stay. Yet he was loath to leave.
“What other ingenious time-saving habits do you Americans practice? he asked dryly.
Suspicion darkened the violet of her eyes. “Youre teasing me.
“Only because I sensed that you were teasing me. What are you doing in here, Lydia?
She seemed as startled by his using her first name as shed been by seeing him standing in front of the door like some beggar child gazing longingly in a store window at Christmas.
She sat on the sofa and folded her hands in her lap. “I was practicing, she admitted quietly.
“Practicing?
“Serving tea to a gentleman.
“I see. And where is this gentleman who is the fortunate recipient of your kind regard?
“Youre being deliberately obtuse.
“Perhaps. Why dont you straighten me out?
Lydia considered tossing the warm tea into his face, but since he had
yet to laugh out loud, she hoped maybe he was trying to put her at ease with his teasing. Or perhaps he simply wanted to embarrass her more. Still, she decided to take a risk, to hope with her confession he might see his way clear to help her.
She lifted her book off the sofa and extended it toward him. His eyes widening in surprise, he took her offering and trailed his fingers over the cover.
“ The Laws of Etiquette , he murmured. He raised his gaze to hers with a question in his eyes.
She thought if she kept blushing under the heat of his perusal, shed be able to boil a new pot of tea. “Im trying to educate myself on what is acceptable behavior.
“While I must confess to not knowing you well, I can hardly fathom you engaging in unacceptable behavior.
She gave him a pointed stare.
He cleared his throat. “Last night was a rare exception, Im quite sure.
She scooted to the edge of the seat. “May I speak candidly?
“By all means.
She licked her lips and took a trembling breath. “I dont wish for your father to die.
“Extremely charitable of you.
“Please dont make snide remarks.
“A tiger cannot change its stripes. Still, I shall endeavor to be more pleasant. Setting the book aside, he sat up straighter and gave her his complete attention, as though he intended to at last take her seriously.
She hesitated, but she wanted success too much not to take the risk, not to dare to explain. “It is my fervent hope that while were in England, Ill have a chance to travel to London before the Season is over.
He rested his elbow on the arm of the chair and stroked his finger along the edge of his lower lip. She loved the shape of his lips. Not too thin, like those of so many men she knew. His mouth was full, but not at all in a feminine way. Not pouting, but sumptuous. Wide. Incredibly soft. Not chapped by dry Texas wind or sun. The way it had molded against hers had been sheer heaven.
He cleared his throat, and she jerked her gaze up to his.
“Do continue, he prodded, looking as though he were fighting not to allow that mouth to curve into the half-moon of a smile.
Love With a Scandalous Lord Page 7
