Forsaking the Prize

by Boyd, Heather

  A sly grin crossed his face. “And if your window should slide open one evening I shall imagine you wish to talk to me in private. That’s all it will take, B. Just open the window whenever you wish and I’ll be there.”

  Good grief, would he ever stop the harassment. Tobias left her and joined the others while Blythe fought the blush heating her cheeks. Insufferable, conceited man. Did he honestly believe she’d invite him to join her in bed? She wasn’t that sort of woman. She wasn’t so desperate to regain the pleasures of the marriage bed that she’d share hers with a brash scoundrel like him.

  When Blythe resumed her seat, Lord Archibald smiled at her warmly. A sudden wave of goose flesh rose over her skin and she shuddered.

  “Are you all right, Lady Venables,” Lord Archibald asked, leaning closer as he did so.

  Blythe forced a smile. “I’m perfectly well. It’s nothing but a draft.”

  “Of course.” Lord Archibald smiled and sat back. “My cousin is forever chasing them down. According to my sisters, we boast the coziest parlor thanks to her efforts.”

  Emma’s skin colored with a blush.

  “I quite understand her feelings on the subject,” Blythe said. “Emma, dear, did you convince Lord Archibald to undertake the improvements to the drawing room you mentioned?”

  Emma glanced at Lord Archibald, her blush increasing in color. “Not yet. He’s been much too busy with the estate to worry about such matters at the moment.”

  Lord Archibald threw Emma a quelling glance, but then smiled at Blythe. “The estate takes up a good deal of my time.”

  Really, some men were entirely without good sense. Emma’s vision for the room was breathtaking and if it could be done before the winter ball then Emma’s brilliance would be seen by all and commented on. “Come now, my lord. I would have thought that keeping the three women housed under your roof happy would have been paramount to your own harmony. Ladies like their creature comforts.”

  Lord Archibald’s two younger sisters, Helen and Francesca, had little interest in the arrangement of a room until they were uncomfortable. They were nice girls, but Emma truly had the most sense of the three. Lord Archibald should have taken advantage of Emma’s counsel long before this.

  He leaned forward in his chair. “Do you approve the alterations my cousin has suggested?”

  Honestly, what would it take for the man to unbend and call Emma by her first name? At the rate their relationship was progressing, Emma would be an old maid before Lord Archibald did so. Blythe wanted her friend to be as happy as she had been in her marriage. Working out how to bring Lord Archibald up to scratch for Emma vexed her. Emma was the perfect wife for him. “Emma has always had excellent taste. She would never suggest an unnecessary alteration to your property. I should be proud to sit in the drawing room once her improvements have been undertaken.”

  Lord Archibald sat back, a frown line between his brows. “Then I suppose the changes can go ahead so that your future time with us is everything you could want it to be.”

  It was smoothly said, and although his agreement was a victory for Emma, a small trill of unease rippled through Blythe. Would she have to tell him whom to marry for that event to happen, too? Her friend had been trying to gain Lord Archibald’s attention for years. She’d fallen in love quickly for the blind idiot and had never said a harsh word against his stubbornness to make changes. Blythe would hate to think she had more influence over him than her friend. Emma’s lips trembled as they stared at each other. She was upset by this turn of events and Blythe had no idea what to do or say to make the situation better.

  “Miss Trimble,” Tobias Randall said suddenly. “I understand from Lady Venables that you are organizing a ball.”

  Emma faced Tobias. Her chest rose and fell as she took a deep breath. “Not a large ball, but an intimate party for Lord Archibald’s closest acquaintances. We hope that you will still be here to join us as part of the duchess’ party.”

  Tobias’ gaze dipped quite shockingly to Emma’s chest and then rose slowly as a small smile played over his lips. “I am breathless with anticipation.”

  “Oh, he will be there,” Mercy told Emma with a laugh. “I’ll even make certain he dances with every unattached lady present so your party is an unequalled success.”

  Tobias glanced at Mercy sharply as if he hadn’t cared to dance so much, but then he turned back to Emma with an easy smile. “I would be most happy to dance with you at your ball. In the mean time, perhaps I might secure a set at Lady Dunwoody’s soiree if your card is not overfull.”

  A darker blush swept Emma’s cheeks. “My card is not full and I would be honored, sir.”

  Could Tobias Randall dance? It had never occurred to her to check. Blythe winced. Poor Emma. She may not feel very honored after three turns around the dance floor with her toes trampled and her ears burning. Could Tobias speak civilly, as a gentleman, for that length of time?

  “Excellent. I shall look forward to our dance immensely.” His grin broadened slowly and Blythe clenched and unclenched her hands at the sight. Don’t flirt with my friend. Don’t ruin things between Emma and Lord Archibald.

  When Emma’s skin had blushed to an alarming shade of red, Lord Archibald cleared his throat. “Well, we should be going, Your Grace. Miss Trimble.” He stood suddenly and thrust his hand out to his cousin rather impatiently. Emma appeared as startled by Lord Archibald’s tone as everyone else appeared to be, too, but she set her hand in his. She stood slowly, her blush growing she said goodbye. “Thank you for seeing us, Your Grace.”

  “It is always a pleasure to have you visit for however short a time,” Mercy said, her gaze straying to where Lord Archibald stood. “Come tomorrow with Helen and Francesca and stay for lunch. We have much to catch up on before your party.”

  “I would like that very much.”

  Blythe stepped forward and linked her arm through Emma’s, pulling her away from the others. “Come, I’ll walk you out.”

  They made their way to the front entrance, but Emma cast furtive glances behind. “What just happened?”

  Behind them, Mercy had detained Lord Archibald and his face had darkened to an intense hue of crimson. “I fear he didn’t like the way Mr. Randall smiled at you.”

  Emma stopped. “In what way was his smile wrong? I thought Mr. Randall was a very agreeable gentleman. Very handsome, too. I should not mind getting to know him a little better.”

  Blythe patted her friend’s hand. “My dear, Tobias Randall appreciates a pretty woman as much as the next man. He just fails to hide how much. He was flirting with you in front of your cousin and Lord Archibald did not care for it.”

  “With me? Oh. Oh.” Emma’s smile grew until she beamed. “Oh, how unexpected and exciting. What’s he really like?”

  “There is no ‘oh’ about it,” Blythe warned. “Trust me, Tobias Randall is definitely not the man for you.”

  “What makes you so sure?” Emma’s hand rose to her cheeks. “He’s not at all what I expected. He even asked to dance with me. Archie hasn’t done as much and he knows full well I enjoy dancing. I was in dread of being a wallflower at Lady Dunwoody’s soiree, but now I cannot wait for the evening.”

  The object of their discussion, Tobias, stepped around the others. “It was a pleasure making your acquaintance, Miss Trimble. I look forward to seeing you often.”

  “And I you, sir.”

  Blythe’s heart pounded. A man like Tobias would have no proper intentions toward a woman. His smile might make a woman’s insides curl into knots, but he wasn’t likely to have honorable plans unless there was something to gain. With a sinking heart, Blythe remembered Emma had a substantial dowry. The lure of that wealth could be great for the penniless man. She pulled Emma toward the waiting carriage and away from the brazen pirate before irreparable harm was done to her friend’s eager heart.

  Six

  A thick cloud of dust rose up from the drive, partially obscuring Tobias’ view of the feminine arm
waving through the window. Nice lady. Insufferable prig of a lord though. Blythe’s friends were a mixed bag of personalities; Miss Emma so warm, Lord Archibald painfully stiff and proper. Would they all be like that? He had tomorrow night’s soiree to suffer through without offending anyone important and he was not looking forward to the event.

  “A word, brother.” Leopold caught his arm and led him down the front steps forcibly and across the gravel drive.

  Tobias glanced over his shoulder as they reached the lawn and strolled out onto the grounds. Blythe stood beside Mercy, a worried expression marring her pretty features. Now what? “What the devil are you doing?”

  “Getting to the bottom of a mystery,” Leopold growled.

  Tobias had not missed being pushed around by his elder brother for the past ten years. Leopold seemed entirely too happy to throw his weight and position as head of the family in Tobias’ face. Up until now, Tobias had gone along to keep the peace, but there were limits to how much manhandling he would tolerate at four and twenty years of age. “Is there something else going on? Honestly, can’t you just give up and leave Romsey behind. I swear you’d be a happier man without the responsibilities inherent with this place.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll never leave Romsey Abbey. But this discussion is not about me. It’s about you. What the devil do you think you are doing?”

  Tobias shook off his brother’s grip, and tugged his coat sleeves back into place. “What now? Was I not gentlemanly enough today? Have I embarrassed you with my manners or lack of?”

  “The problem is that you were entirely too gentlemanly. Are you intending to pursue the lady for a wife because flirtations such as I’ve just witnessed usually leads to a marriage proposal.”

  Tobias stared at his brother in surprise. Blythe wouldn’t marry again. She was still in love with her dead husband and disliked Tobias in the extreme. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not interested in marriage and I was not flirting with her as part of a seduction. She’d sooner cut me than marry me.”

  “Miss Emma Trimble is an unmarried young woman and well respected in the district. You have no cause to flirt with her again unless you’re prepared to take a place before the alter and marry her.”

  Tobias laughed at his mistake. Devil take it, he’d thought Leopold was referring to his interactions with the prickly countess. He hadn’t one iota of interest in Miss Trimble and had thought he’d acted the part of a gentleman. Apparently he hadn’t done well enough.

  What would Leopold say if he learned of Tobias’ night-time visit to Blythe’s bedchamber two weeks ago? While nothing at all had happened between them, it would be considered scandalous. More than likely, his brother would have a seizure over the harmless conversation. Tobias would have to be even more reserved when conversing with women. “Miss Trimble is lovely and my intentions toward her are entirely proper, I assure you.”

  Leopold gave him a long assessing stare. “She has a dowry of four thousand pounds and you have asked about marriageable young women recently. Have you set your sights on Miss Trimble already?”

  If he was going to live comfortably, he did need funds. “Miss Trimble is attractive, and has an easy manner about her. But there is just one small problem. She appears to already be in love.” He shrugged. “She fancies Lord Archibald.”

  “Oh.”

  Tobias nodded. “Every word Miss Trimble spoke was followed by a swift peek at Lord Archibald to see how he reacted. Do you walk around with your eyes closed old man? Her admiration is as plain as the nose on your face. Smitten, and that fool cannot see it or chooses to ignore it. Damn cruel if the latter is the case.”

  Leopold crossed his arms over his chest, flexing his muscles so as to intimidate. “I’m not a fool. You were flirting with Miss Trimble.”

  Tobias held his hands up to ward off his brother. “All right. All right. A little—just to see if Lord Archibald would become protective of his cousin. Since he rushed to take his leave, dragging the startled woman away as quick as may be, my ploy worked perfectly. Men dislike competition, even if they don’t yet realize they’ve staked a claim. However, if he can’t be bothered offering for her I could easily consider taking her off his hands.”

  Leopold checked the time on his pocket watch. “You play a dangerous game.”

  Tobias shrugged. “Life is meant to be a challenge. Although, by now I’m sure Lady Venables has warned Miss Trimble against forming any attachment toward me. As you’ve repeatedly mentioned, people will listen to her opinions.”

  “You place great faith in Lady Venables’ powers of persuasion. I would not have thought the two of you would get along as well as you have.”

  Tobias buckled over and laughed until his sides hurt. When he stood again, his brother’s scowl could have cracked the earth. “Lady Venables tolerates my presence, Leopold. I’m sure she would rather not have met me at all.” At Leopold’s frown, Tobias swung his arm about his shoulders and led him further from the house. “Tell me what’s happening with you. I’ve barely seen you the past few days.”

  “I’m getting married. Isn’t that explanation enough?”

  Tobias squeezed his brother and then let him go. “Sounds positively dreadful.”

  “Not dreadful, but complicated. Mercy wishes to give up her title and I disagree with her decision. I am sure when her brother arrives he will add weight to my arguments against doing so.”

  “That is if he agrees to the match at all. He sounds like another pompous arse.”

  Leopold laughed. “From what Mercy’s told me, a debauched arse would be a better description. Mercy swears his daughters are suffering from a lack of mothering, shut away at Stanton Harold Hall as they are while he’s off doing god knows what.”

  “Hmm, I like the sound of him. An unattached man has so many more vices and a willingness for good company. We could get along well.”

  “That is my hope for all of us,” Leopold muttered fervently.

  A prickle of heat swept over Tobias’ neck and he quickly glanced over his shoulder to see what had caused the sensation.

  Mercy hurried across the lawn at a near run, Blythe followed with the young duke in her arms. “Leopold, we have company.” He peered at Blythe’s white face. “And by the look of it, unhappy company at that.”

  Mercy threw herself into Leopold’s arms. “It’s happened again. I’d thought it had all stopped. Why now?” She sobbed hysterically against his brother’s chest.

  “Calm down, my love. Shh,” Leopold said as he cuddled her close.

  Tobias turned as Blythe reached them.

  “Another rabbit on her bed,” she mouthed so the boy couldn’t hear.

  “Here, let me take him,” Tobias said. “He must be heavy for you.”

  “I don’t really mind. Soon he’ll be too big for me to carry.” She didn’t make a move to hand him over, but pressed a kiss to the boy’s dark hair before meeting his gaze. “Wilcox will deal with the matter, as he has all others, but it is exactly the same as the other instances.”

  “The timing, again, is interesting. Coinciding with visitors to the abbey so we have doubts about who was where,” Leopold said aloud.

  Tobias rubbed his jaw. “We were in the drawing room all morning. Together in fact.”

  Leopold’s brow rose. “And before that?”

  “I woke and went immediately down to breakfast,” Blythe said quickly, “then went to the drawing room. I’ve been reading the old duke’s journals all day.”

  A frown crossed Leopold’s face and Tobias guessed his brother doubted her story. Although Leopold still had concerns that Blythe could be involved, Tobias simply couldn’t fathom how. He didn’t believe the woman had it in her to be so cold. Bad tempered perhaps, especially with him, but not cruel. Despite the frost, she loved her sister and nephew dearly. She wouldn’t hurt them.

  Tobias cleared his throat. “I woke to find Murphy in my room.”

  Blythe scowled at him. “Is that why you started the day sh
outing?”

  Tobias grinned. “Wouldn’t you shout out in horror to find Murphy shaking you awake?”

  Blythe rocked the young duke from side to side as if she held a baby. “I imagine I’d act with a lot more decorum and Mr. Murphy would have better sense than to enter a ladies bedchamber without her permission.”

  Before Tobias could form a suitably bland reply, the young duke lifted his face and rubbed the tip of his nose across Blythe’s. She chuckled suddenly and hugged him to her. Her merry laugh, so at odds with the situation, caused a warm glow in the vicinity of his chest. The woman was so changeable, but always sweet with the boy. Anyone could see the truth of her heart just by observing her with her nephew.

  Leopold stepped forward, hands held out for the young duke. “Are you two always so aware of what the other is doing?”

  Lady Venables gave Leopold a quelling glare as she passed over the boy. “Some walls inside the abbey are thinner than others. I would prefer not to know what your brother is doing with his mornings. However, he has a propensity to shout at Mr. Murphy so I cannot avoid hearing the cursing.”

  Damn it. Leopold would have a seizure before the day was out. Tobias smiled awkwardly. “He’s really an annoying servant. I am unused to such mothering.”

  “He has better manners than some,” Blythe muttered just loud enough to be heard.

  “Good lord you two can bicker.” Leopold juggled the boy and then slung his arm around Mercy’s waist, pulling her into motion. “We’ll return to the abbey and investigate this latest occurrence. The two of you can butt heads later. We have bigger problems it seems.”

  As they hurried back to the entrance of Romsey Abbey, Tobias fell into step beside Blythe. “Are you all right, B?”

  A sad frown crossed her face. “Your brother still doesn’t believe I have nothing to do with these troubling events. It was a foolish wish, but I suppose he never shall be entirely comfortable with me nor I with him. I am unused to being doubted.”

  “Well, I believe you had nothing to do with this mornings’ event. I followed you down to breakfast and then into the drawing room. We’ve spent the whole day together.”