Scarlet Kisses

by Tish Westwood

  Jackson nodded. “And Pamela?”

  Robert exhaled. “She wore a yellow gown to the masquerade.” Pamela had been the easiest to question. She had had no problem talking about herself and what she had done that night at Lady’s Brook’s masquerade. She had been seductive though. In case she was toying with him, he had led her out into the gardens. She had scurried behind him in excitement. But he had felt nothing when his mouth had touched hers. She had kissed him back teasingly, wanting more. He had felt no heat, no passion in her kiss. His heart had not raced and he hadn’t been overwhelmed with the urge to have her. She was not his Scarlet.

  “So we keep looking for this mysterious woman?” Duke asked, still holding Tucker upright.

  Robert exhaled and looked over the crowd. His gaze caught on midnight black hair and a green gown. Alyssum. He felt his heart jump at the sight of her. He cleared his throat, paying no attention to his reaction to her.

  “Excuse me, gentlemen.” He nodded to them and moved away, heading for Alyssum. But as he nudged by the group, a hand clamped onto his upper arm and pulled him to a stop.

  Robert turned with a frown. He looked down to his restrained arm and then up to Harry who held him. “Yes, Harry?”

  Harry must have seen which lady Robert’s gaze was on. “Alyssum—” Harry nodded in her direction, “—isn’t your Scarlet. You remember that. She’s my sister.”

  “I’m not going to forget that anytime soon.” Robert patted Harry’s hand and his friend released his grip. Harry stepped back but still watched him with a stern expression.

  Robert cleared his throat before he spoke. He never liked having heartfelt conversations so he spoke quickly. “I would never harm Alyssum, or any member of your family.” He then turned and walked across the room to Alyssum, feeling Harry’s eyes on him as he went.

  “Hello, beautiful.”

  Alyssum felt herself freeze. Turning slowly, she faced Robert. He grinned down at her.

  She lowered her gaze to his cravat and quirked a brow at its straightness.

  “I had my valet do it,” he whispered to her as he noticed her attention on his cravat.

  “You should always let him do it.”

  “But I like when you do it.”

  “What do you want?” she snapped.

  Robert laughed and shook his head. After being miserably foxed for the last week he’d found himself missing Alyssum’s sharp wit. “I’m saying hello,” he answered.

  Alyssum shifted her gaze around them as a few curious onlookers watched them.

  “Well say it and leave.”

  “No. I find myself wanting more.” His grin was back in place.

  “What do you really want?” she demanded quietly.

  “A dance.” When Robert saw she was going to say no, he added, “I’ll make a scene.”

  She glared. “You wouldn’t.”

  “Oh, I would.” He laughed. “Well?” He offered his black-gloved hand.

  Alyssum stared down at it. She sighed deeply then slowly raised her hand.

  Robert’s grin disappeared, a smile taking its place. She was going to dance with him.

  His hand reached farther, wanting to whisk her up quickly before she changed her mind. He was just about to grasp her hand when it was suddenly snatched away from him.

  “Sorry to interrupt.” Lilly smiled as she pulled Alyssum towards her. “But I must steal her away. Do forgive me, Viscount.” She led them away through the lively crowd.

  Robert fisted his hand then let it drop to his side limply. He exhaled. So close. Grabbing a glass of champagne from a servant’s tray, he downed the contents then picked up another two. Holding the champagne glasses, he walked over to a smiling face.

  “You’ll be nice to me, won’t you?” he asked Violet while handing her one of the glasses.

  “Of course I will.” She sipped her champagne as they stood side by side at the edge of the dance floor. Robert noticed Violet was watching the dancing couples quite wistfully.

  “Would you like to dance?” he asked.

  “Did you wear your strong boots?”

  Robert chuckled. “I must beg forgiveness for I have forgotten to wear them.”

  “I’ll find a way to forgive you.” She smiled up at him then turned her gaze back to the waltzing couples. “I saw you speaking to Alyssum,” she said casually.

  “Yes, Lilly stole her away.” He took a large gulp of champagne, emptying his glass.

  “Ah.” Violet nodded. “How’s your Scarlet?”

  Robert looked to her in surprise then, with an exhale, muttered, “Harry.”

  “He worries about you, that’s all.”

  Robert grumbled in reply.

  “Do you know who she is?” she asked calmly.

  “No,” he grouched. “But I will soon enough.”

  “Really?” she turned her eyes away from the graceful dancers and looked up at him. “Any ladies I might know?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you going to make me beg?”

  Robert grinned at her. “I have a list,” he whispered.

  “Of what?”

  “Possibilities. There are two more women on the list.”

  Violet’s eyes widened. “Can I see it?”

  Robert hummed.

  “Please,” she pleaded.

  “Come with me.” Robert nodded towards the terrace doors.

  “If someone sees…”

  “I’ll keep you safe,” he assured her with a wink.

  “All right.”

  Robert took her glass and placed both their flutes on the table behind them. She took his offered elbow and allowed him to lead her out onto the terrace.

  “Now he’s got Violet,” Alyssum muttered to Lilly as she watched Robert and Violet walk through the glass doors.

  “He’s looking for you, Liss,” Lilly warned her. “He asked me about the masquerade. Even asked what color my gown was, then he asked what color yours was.”

  “What did you say?”

  “I told him to ask you himself.”

  Alyssum smiled.

  “I think I got him off your trail when I told him I had spoken to you before you left.”

  Alyssum nodded. “He would never believe it’s me anyway.”

  “So he kissed Pamela Carrington?” Lilly asked.

  “I heard it. She then urged him to stay outside with her.”

  “I knew she was a doxy,” Lilly whispered and Alyssum smiled again.

  At that moment, Lilly and Alyssum both looked behind them to check if Miss Rickton was still standing a good distance between them so she couldn’t hear their conversation.

  “Alyssum?”

  “Yes?” She turned her gaze back to Lilly.

  “Would it be so bad if he knew you were the woman he was searching for?”

  Alyssum remained silent. She then answered quietly, “He would be horrified.” She turned her gaze away before Lilly saw the sadness in her eyes. She still couldn’t believe he had kissed Pamela. Why not her? Why didn’t he try to steal her away into the garden? Why did he only come near her to vex her?

  “Lady Pamela Carrington,” Violet read the small list in her hand. She tilted the paper towards the window they stood before, hoping to catch more light. She squinted her eyes in the dark, trying to see the list clearly.

  “I know it’s not her.” Robert stood with his back against the wall beside the window. His arms were crossed over his chest as he watched Violet read.

  “How do you know?” She looked up to him.

  “I just know.” He shrugged.

  “Hmm.” Violet turned her gaze back to the list. It was hard reading it in the dark but she managed with the candlelight coming from inside.

  “It’s a small list. Are these guesses?”

  “No, a friend managed to obtain the invitation list from the masquerade.”

  Violet turned her quizzical gaze back towards him. “It was Mr. West, wasn’t it?”

  Robert laughed then nodded
.

  “What did he have to do?”

  “It’s a secret,” Robert whispered. Violet rolled her eyes skyward then turned her attention back to the list. Robert smiled down at her. If only she knew. Lady Brook was a faithful woman and had never betrayed her husband, but she did play games of chess with young gentlemen for favors. Jackson now met with her at her townhouse and played chess in her drawing room. He had nine more games left before the favor was complete.

  “Is that Alyssum’s name?” Violet asked.

  “Oh, yes. Um,” he stammered to explain. “She matches the description. The men wouldn’t allow me to cross her off until I know for certain.”

  “Do you know for certain yet?” she asked casually while watching him.

  Robert forced a laugh. “It’s not Alyssum.” The woman didn’t even dance with him. Why the hell would she kiss him?

  “So how do you find out these women aren’t Scarlet?”

  “That knowledge is unsuitable for your innocent ears.”

  “They’re not that innocent,” she muttered while handing the list back to him. “By the by, Katherine Jenkins just left town.”

  “Why?” he asked, not remembering having met the lady.

  “Her sister is having a baby and she wanted to be there.”

  Robert sighed. “So that leaves Lisa Knight,” he muttered.

  “Until Miss Jenkins comes back. Have fun with your hunt.” She patted his shoulder before leaving his side and walking back into the soirée.

  Robert remained outside, listening to the buzzing crowd within the house. His thoughts drifted to Scarlet. He remembered her kiss, how innocent she had started then how passionately she had responded. She had rubbed her body against his, wanting him. His hand slipped into his coat pocket and touched the black garter. He would find her.

  When Robert arrived at his townhouse after the ball, he walked straight to the library and poured himself a brandy. Leaning against the bar, he stared into the dying flames in the fireplace. After taking a swig from the glass, he placed the drink down and pulled out the list from his breast pocket. Walking over to the small table in the room, he grabbed the pen from the desk, dipped it into the ink and slashed two more names off the list.

  Lisa Knight, she was next on his list. He would have to wait for Katherine Jenkins to return.

  Robert placed the list back in his pocket then drained the rest of the glass. He worried over the fact that what bothered him the most about tonight was not that he didn’t find Scarlet, but that Miss Darrel had stopped him from dancing with Alyssum.

  Chapter Seven

  When Alyssum woke in the morning, she felt excitement instead of dread. Robert was looking for her. Telling herself repeatedly that it was a bad, bad thing, she got herself ready for the day before her maid came to wake her.

  Not bothering with breakfast, she gathered her tools and gloves and went straight to the garden out the back.

  In the solace of her garden, she began relaxing, allowing all her worries to flee. She snipped a dead daisy from the bush and placed it in her basket. She continued to work happily, cutting away the dead flowers.

  “Good morning,” Robert’s silken voice spoke behind her.

  Her hand froze mid-reach for another dead flower. Her heart began beating wildly in her chest. Alyssum sighed at the loss of her calmness. As Robert walked closer to her, she heard his boots crunching over the grass. She turned her head and saw two black boots beside her.

  “What brings you here, Viscount Lambert?”

  “Viscount Lambert?” Robert sighed. “You’ll never call me by my first name will you?” he asked as he stared down at her.

  “Harry’s still sleeping,” she told him, still keeping her face averted.

  Robert nodded at the information then sat beside her. Now facing her, he smiled as he saw her face.

  “We didn’t get a chance to dance last night,” he told her.

  “Such a shame.”

  “You’ll break my heart if you keep being mean to me.”

  Alyssum fought to hide her smile then, with a huff, she sat back on her legs and looked at him. She felt her whole body freeze as his hand reached out and tucked a loose curl behind her ear. His fingertips left scalding prints on her skin.

  “I thought your heart belonged to Scarlet.” She mentally slapped herself.

  Robert pulled back gently, lowering his hand. “You know about her?”

  “The whole family does, and the ton is clucking like hens about the woman in scarlet.”

  Robert exhaled and leaned back on his hands. “What do you think about her?”

  Alyssum shrugged and turned back to the daisies. “I don’t think about her.”

  “Do you think about Mr. Potting?” he asked.

  Alyssum turned her surprised gaze back to him. “Wh… I…” she stammered over her words.

  Robert grinned and rendered her speechless. “Why did you want to marry the vicar anyway?”

  “He was a nice man,” she snapped.

  “I know a lot of nice men. Would you like to marry them?”

  Alyssum didn’t answer, just chopped a flower harshly. “So this Scarlet woman…”

  Robert exhaled.

  “Do you love her?” Alyssum paused and faced him, waiting for his answer.

  Robert shook his head. “I don’t know her.”

  “But you’re spending all your time looking for her.”

  “No, I’m not. When I have a spare minute I’ll ask a question or two. I’m curious like all the others,” he lied.

  “What happens when you find her?”

  “I don’t know.” He laughed.

  “Well, what would you say?”

  “I guess, hello.”

  “Hello?” she repeated. “You would just say hello? After searching all that time that’s all you would say?”

  “Sure.”

  Alyssum made a noise of distaste and began hacking the daisies, not even caring if the ones she cut were dead or alive.

  “I don’t know what the daisies did, but I’m sure they’re very sorry they upset you.”

  Alyssum clenched her jaw. Grabbing another stem, she held her scissors clenched tight in her hand and snipped.

  Robert must have seen her flinch and heard her quiet squeak. The scissors dropped onto the grass and Alyssum turned away, holding her hand.

  “Let me see,” Robert ordered and leaned over to try and grab her injured hand.

  “It’s nothing,” she said tightly.

  “Then show me.”

  Alyssum moved to get up but Robert grabbed her ankle through her skirts and pulled her sharply towards him. She gasped as she slid over the grass and stopped right before him. He let go of her ankle and grabbed her injured hand. She fought to get her hand back but he pulled the working glove from her fingers.

  She stopped fighting once they both saw the blood. Raising her hand, Robert looked at her sliced index finger. He winced as her blood ran down her hand and dripped onto the grass.

  “Does it hurt?” he asked when she didn’t complain.

  Alyssum shook her head quickly with a pained expression.

  Robert laughed softly. “Liar.” He moved closer to stare at the cut. “It’s deep,” he muttered. “You should call the doctor.”

  “I’m not going to call the doctor over a cut.”

  Robert stared at her blood running over her wrist then looked up to her. He arched his brow.

  “I’m fine,” she snapped and tugged on her hand but Robert didn’t release her. He reached into his pocket and took out his handkerchief. Alyssum hissed against the pain as he wound the soft piece of cloth around her finger.

  While holding her hand, he raised his other to tuck the same loose curl behind her ear again. Alyssum looked up with gasp as he touched her. A crease furrowed her brow as she stared at him. It was then she realized how close they were sitting together.

  Her lips parted, her breath panting lightly she watched frozen as Robert reached up
again and stroked her cheek with his thumb.

  He looked into her wide green eyes and smiled at her shocked expression.

  “Ahem,” an amused voice reached them.

  Alyssum shoved Robert’s chest and pushed him back onto the grass. She stood fast and turned towards the voice. She sighed as she saw it was only Lilly smiling broadly.

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Lilly said sweetly with her hands behind her white skirts.

  “Of course you didn’t,” Robert muttered as he pulled himself up and stood. He looked over to Alyssum and rubbed his chest where she had shoved.

  Lilly chuckled quietly but then stopped and gasped as she saw Alyssum’s hand bleeding. “What happened?” She raced forward to grip Alyssum’s hand and inspect it.

  “I nicked my finger with the scissors.”

  “Nicked,” Robert scoffed. “She sliced her finger. Make sure she calls the doctor.”

  Lilly unwound the handkerchief gently then gasped again as she saw the cut. “Alyssum, this is really deep.”

  “I’m fine,” Alyssum snapped and took her hand back. She wound the handkerchief tightly and winced. Blood now seeped through the cloth. She stared at her blood as it came through the material and dripped down onto the grass. She raised her hand then watched as the blood trailed down her arm and seeped into the indent of her elbow.

  “Liss, you’re as white as a ghost.” Lilly placed her arm on Alyssum’s shoulder. She then grunted as Alyssum suddenly slumped against her unconscious.

  “What did you do?” Violet cried as she saw Alyssum pale, unconscious and in Robert’s arms.

  “Me?” Robert snapped. “I didn’t do anything. She sliced her finger while cutting the daisies and fainted at the blood.”

  “Blood.” Violet suddenly stopped her approach towards them. She looked to Alyssum’s hand then turned pale.

  “Oh, not you, too,” Robert pleaded.

  “We…we Rosewoods…we don’t do very well with blood,” Violet said weakly.

  “You don’t say?”

  “What’s going on?” Harry demanded as he entered the parlor and saw Robert placing Alyssum down on the settee. He reached her side quickly and patted her cheek. “Alyssum?”