The Perfect Suitor (Bewildering Love Series)

by Hilden, L. A.

Paxton huffed, “She is not my lady.”

  “Whatever you say.”

  “I’ll watch him.” Paxton decided he could do nothing less for he would not see Eve hurt by the Frog.

  “No, that’s not a good idea.”

  “If he is dangerous, I can’t allow him to continue his courtship with Evelyn.” Paxton was appalled his friend would expect him to do so.

  “She’s a grown woman, Paxton. I’m sure she can handle herself. Hell, she handles you with no problem. Besides, the man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Paxton didn’t miss the skepticism in his friend’s voice. “Promise me you’ll leave it alone?”

  Paxton said nothing, but then, knowing Cole, he hadn’t expected him to.

  ***

  Eve was tired of standing amongst the men while Henri droned on and on about politics. The other men in their circle often cast her apologetic looks for not talking of something more appropriate in her presence. It seemed like war was all Henri wanted to discuss this evening, and so she made her way to the table where Lydia was playing whist.

  Lydia noticed her arrival and smiled as she approached. “Having fun?”

  “Yes,” Eve lied, not wanting to disappoint her new friend. But with Paxton angry, Brandon gone, and Henri spouting nonsense, she really wanted to go home. “Are you winning?” she whispered so as not to bother the other players.

  An elderly woman removed herself from the table, and Lydia motioned for Eve to take the woman’s place.

  “No thank you.”

  Lydia shrugged. “Do you play?”

  “No. I don’t like gambling. My biggest problem is that I hate to lose.”

  “Everyone hates to lose, Eve. But I have this theory. If you always double up, eventually you’ll have to win,” Lydia explained while digging in her reticule for what Eve assumed were the last of her coins.

  “It sounds risky to me.” Eve watched Lydia add more money to the growing pile in the middle of the round table.

  The handsomely dangerous looking man across from them replied, “You have to love a lady who is willing to take risks.”

  “Exactly!” Lydia smiled flirtatiously at the man who stared at her as if he were undressing her with his eyes. Evelyn fought the urge to remove Lydia from the man’s intense gaze.

  “He’s a little scary,” Eve whispered in her ear.

  “Yes,” Lydia whispered back. “I think I’m in love.”

  Eve looked over at the man again. He had long dark hair with piercing bright blue eyes, a strong jaw line, and a hawk-like nose. He was, she had to admit, strikingly handsome in a menacing sort of way. With his dark clothing and large frame, he overshadowed the other two men seated next to him. After several hands and more losses, Eve whispered to Lydia again, “Does he ever talk or smile?”

  “He is a man of few words, but he speaks most eloquently when prompted. As for a smile, he seems to only do that when he wins my money.”

  “Does he ever quit staring?” Eve questioned.

  “Only when he’s looking at his cards. I guess some would consider his gaze a bit unnerving, but I love it. It sends chills up and down my spine.” Lydia smiled at the formidable man as she raked in her only winning coins so far this evening. Now she was back in the game and Eve was quite sure that was not a good thing.

  Eve watched a few more hands and then excused herself in search of fresh air. “I’d keep my eye on him if I were you,” Eve warned before she left.

  “Don’t worry. I will.” Lydia turned to stop Eve from leaving. “Do me a favor. Please don’t tell my brother about this. I can handle the man across from me, and I can handle my card play.” She looked at Eve awaiting a response. “Promise?”

  Seeing no harm, Eve agreed. “I promise.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Eve wasn’t surprised when Count Vernon insisted he had to leave the Arlington soiree to attend to other matters. It seemed the night was doomed to be maddening, for as soon as she made her way back from the ladies retiring room, she found Paxton at the end of the hall. He’d obviously been waiting for her.

  “What is irritating you now? Was I in there too long?” she asked in a scolding whisper, immediately irritated by his stern expression.

  “We need to talk.” He snatched her hand and held it down upon his arm as he led her back through the throngs of people and out onto a grand stone terrace overlooking a picturesque garden.

  The night was warm and the soft lull of music drifted out of the open double doors. The smell of lilacs clung to the air above them and violet jackmani clematis climbed the wall to the left where it draped the railings of a metal balcony above them. Being a lover of flowers, Eve scanned all the nearby flowerbeds, observing the magnificent array of colors. “I’m really not in the mood to argue with you,” she thought to warn him.

  “Good. I don’t wish to argue either. Let us walk.” Paxton escorted her down the numerous stone steps to a candlelit path that meandered through the garden obscured by flowering trees and bushes.

  “I’ve been warned to never venture off into gardens with men at night,” Eve hastened to reply.

  “Don’t worry. I’m too old to do you any harm,” Paxton said with annoyance as he dragged her down the winding path. “I’d likely hurt my back.” He laughed sarcastically.

  Eve said nothing as they walked, observing rare Dutch tulips, spectacular hydrangeas, and a lovely variety of wild flowers. When they came up upon a butterfly bush, she stopped to take in its soft scent.

  “I see you are enjoying my cousin’s garden. Rebecca takes great pride in it.”

  “It shows. I think it’s marvelous.” Eve continued to admire the bush.

  “What kind of bush is that?” Paxton asked, seemingly interested in her fascination with it.

  “Actually, I’ve only seen it in books. It’s called a butterfly bush, and as its name suggests, it attracts butterflies.” Eve walked to the next flowerbed.

  “You would like to have one in your garden?”

  “Absolutely. Who wouldn’t?” she stated.

  “Then I shall see that you have a dozen. I’m sure my cousin can arrange it.”

  “I would love that, my lord, and I will see that you’re compensated in return.” Eve gingerly touched the petals of an exotic orchid. She jumped with a small cry of surprise as a peacock ran out from under the foliage and across the path and disappeared into more shrubbery.

  Paxton laughed at her expression. “My cousin does tend to go to extremes.”

  Eve smiled, nodding in agreement. As they came around the bend, she was shocked silent as she stared at a man bending over a woman in the bushes. Not wanting to make their presence known, she whispered to Paxton, “Are they…?” She hesitated, unable to finish her question, being that it was of a sexual nature.

  Paxton, clearly astonished at what Eve was insinuating was taking place, laughed. “No, love. They’re not.”

  Oh my goodness. I sound ridiculous. She was immediately appalled and embarrassed by her lewd train of thought and the fact she had spoken it aloud. She felt a blush creeping into her cheeks. She was sure her face was as red as the large dahlia next to her. She deemed it her mother’s fault for telling her how a stroll in the garden often led to nefarious activities. Now she seemed destined to see lewdness where there was none.

  What was the earl thinking of her now, knowing an innocent like her actually knew such a position existed? It was unseemly and she was mortified. She was immediately transported back to when she was younger. She had gone to stay with her Russian school friend Alexia for a week. Being typical adolescent girls, they were too intrusive for their own good. One day, while they were taking turns hiding on Alexia’s younger brother. They found a large book under Alexia’s parent’s bed, Aretino’s School of Venus. This special Italian book held sixteen unforgettable
engravings each depicting a different sexual position. The images had taught Evelyn things she had not thought possible. She had never been able to forget those graphic pictures. She suddenly found herself envisioning what pleasure would feel like with Paxton.

  “Excuse us,” the earl interrupted the couple.

  “Oh!” The lady turned, bumping into the man bent over behind her. “Oh blast it, Harold. Kindly give me some space!” The man immediately stepped back and the woman stood, shaking out her skirts. “Oh, how this must look. It is not at all what it seems. You see, I lost my locket.” She cast a glance at the man next to her, and then said, “Or should I say, someone threw it in one of these flowerbeds.” She gave the man another evil look.

  “Would you like for us to assist you in your search?” Eve automatically bent over to help, moving branches and greenery aside.

  Paxton began to help too, although, Eve noticed, without much enthusiasm. The situation reminded Eve of her father who was always missing something: a glove, a hat, his favorite riding crop, even money. He would yell for her mother, insisting he had looked everywhere for the missing item. Mother would stop whatever she was doing, walk into the room where he was searching, and hand him the object. Of course her father would claim he had already looked in the same place.

  As Eve leaned over a large white spirea, she felt something nudging her from behind. She turned her head to find Paxton backing into her. Before she could say something, she lost her balance and fell into the white flowered bush. Eve squawked as she plunged forward.

  Paxton, having stepped on her dress, found himself losing his balance; and as he lost his footing, he wound up in a heap below her. As he tried to make sure they weren’t stabbed by any branches, he frowned up at Eve who was laughing hysterically as she tried to remove herself from the bush. Instead of allowing her up, he tugged on her dress and she fell another foot down to lie on top of Paxton.

  “Oh you!” She smacked him softly on his chest. “Now let me up this minute.”

  ***

  Paxton, enjoying the position they were in, wrapped his arms around her to keep her from fleeing.

  Eve tried to push away. “Paxton, please!” She looked around, seemingly happy no one was in their vicinity.

  The other couple had already wandered off down the path in search for the locket. Paxton hoped they kept going.

  “What if someone sees us? What will they think?” Eve kept looking frantically in all directions, and he began to feel sorry for her.

  “Evelyn,” he said. When Eve quit struggling and looked at him, he smiled. “Do you think they might come to the same conclusion you did when we happened upon Harold and the locket lady?”

  “Well, it is quite possible.” Her cheeks flushed in an adorable manner.

  Paxton laughed at her heightened color. Looking into her ocean-colored eyes, he felt whisked away to the young man he used to be, to the days when he was happy, carefree, and not burdened down with estates to manage and his lack of trust toward females. Without thinking, he pulled Eve’s head down and kissed her with all the joy he was currently feeling. Passion ignited between them, their combined heat ready to burst into flames and consume them. Eve eagerly met the thrusts of his tongue with her own, encouraging him to continue. She ran her hands over his face, moved her lips back and forth over his, tasting him, driving him mad with desire as her body molded to his.

  It was Paxton who finally broke the embrace, though regretfully, for he heard someone approaching. He pushed, and Eve quickly stood, righting her clothing. He could tell she was trying like mad to rid herself of her guilty expression.

  With her hands, she tried to make sure her beautiful red hair wasn’t in disarray. She looked up at him and smiled at his stare. “What?” she asked as he came to stand beside her.

  “Nothing. You look perfect,” he said, trying to reassure her and not knowing what else to say. He hadn’t intended for the kiss to happen. He just couldn’t make himself hold back. “I guess most friends don’t…” Damn, apologizing is indeed difficult when one isn’t sorry.

  Eve quickly held up her hand for him to stop. This gesture seemed to indicate that an apology was not necessary and he sighed in relief. “Let us forget about it,” she told him, and he nodded, knowing such a thing was not even in the realm of possibility.

  And then, like a man bewitched, he watched as Eve continued to look for the locket.

  Harold came around the corner. “Any luck?”

  “No, not yet,” Paxton answered, trying hard not to look at Eve’s backside as she bent over in her search.

  “Well, I am extremely grateful for your help.” Paxton knew Harold was aware most people wouldn’t have bothered themselves with the search, and indeed, Paxton might not have either, if it wasn’t for Evelyn being in his company. With hesitation, he gave his enchantress a smile when she looked at him. He didn’t know what to do about her.

  “I give up!” the locket lady stated heatedly as she came stomping from around the corner. “You’re going to have to replace it.”

  Eve pushed some ferns to the side and Paxton saw her smile of victory. She had either found the gold locket or perhaps another rare species of flower. “Here you go,” she said, spinning around with the locket in her hand. She passed the item to the lady.

  The woman smiled, thanking Eve for her help. Then she grabbed the man named Harold by his overcoat and pulled him down the path.

  “I think Harold’s in for another argument.” Paxton stepped up next to Eve. “I noticed Count Vernon left early. Did he have a prior engagement as well?” He was curious as to where the French spy had run off to in such a hurry.

  “Are you implying that both my worthy suitors had better things to do than spend time with me?”

  Ah, dash it! I’ve angered her again.

  “Let me tell you, Lord Devonhurst. I could have dozens of men clamoring for my hand. It happened to be my own decision to concentrate on only a select few. It may be hard for you to understand, but I would like to get to know a man before I decide to spend the rest of my life with him.” Now she was sounding like his sister.

  “Whoa, love. I meant you no insult.” Paxton ran his thumb down Eve’s cheek in a soft caress. She was so lovely.

  She looked up at him when he touched her cheek, and he watched as her anger melted away and she smiled. He was sure their kiss still had her out of sorts. Lord knew his mind was still reeling with the aftereffects. He understood that she was taking her frustrations out on him. He should have never brought her into the garden.

  “I apologize. It was the way you phrased your question. As for Count Vernon, he did not share his plans with me, nor did I ask.”

  Paxton decided to change the topic. “By chance, have you seen my sister?” he questioned, guiding her back down the path and up the steps into the ballroom.

  “I think I saw her in the card room last.” She appeared not to want to elaborate, which immediately told Paxton that his sister was gambling when he strictly asked her to cease such activity.

  “Was she playing cards?”

  “I can’t say.” Eve looked down at the highly polished floor as they entered the ballroom. Paxton noted that she wasn’t very good at deception. He smiled at that thought and decided he happened to like that about her.

  “Can’t or won’t?” he teased as they crossed the ballroom and entered the room in question.

  “Oh, there she is!” Eve made a dash to Lydia’s side. His sister was thankfully standing well away from the gaming tables and talking with some other women.

  Eve approached Lydia with a smile and stood next to her. Noticing her right away, his sister made the appropriate introductions to the elderly matrons with whom she was conversing. Eve then turned, likely checking to see if he was following her, but he had moved to stand with Cole beside a potted palm in the cor
ner.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “Where did you and the fair Eve disappear to?” Cole rested his arm on a wooden ledge specially crafted to hold beverages along the wall.

  “We went for a stroll in the garden. Eve happens to be a lover of flowers,” Paxton answered, watching Eve across the room laugh at something one of the ladies said.

  “I’m sure she is.” Cole followed his friend’s gaze. “Shall we join them?”

  “In a minute.” Paxton glanced around to make sure no one was close to them, then lowered his voice to ask, “Did you notice the count was here earlier and then he made a hasty departure?”

  “What of it? Perhaps the man was feeling under the weather.” Cole shrugged.

  “Or perhaps he found out about a certain meeting and hurried off to perform his duty as spy?”

  “Found out about the meeting, did you?” Cole smiled.

  “Not hard information to come by when most of the guests on my cousin’s list happen to hold various positions in government. So why are you here and not at the meeting with your father?”

  “I was told I could be of more help if I came here. With me here, people are less likely to think the meeting terribly important. Not all government officials had to be present. I’m sure you’ve noticed that I’m not the only official still in attendance.”

  “Yes, I noticed.” Paxton looked around the room. “Care to share with me what the meeting is about?”

  “We’re discussing some precautionary measures: reviewing positions of military garrisons, making sure our trade relations are solid, our sea routes secure, and any other matters of importance.”

  “If everything is going well, then why are we worried about garrisons?”

  “We don’t want to get caught with our pants down, so to speak. On the sea we are unbeatable, but we have to increase our strength on land.”

  Lydia and Eve approached, putting an end to their conversation.

  “What do you two have your heads together about?” Lydia asked.

  “I was telling your brother that he could not have a lovelier woman for his sister. I must say, you look fetching this evening, Lady Lydia.” Cole poured on the charm.