by Amelia Grey
“Yes,” she answered standing her ground, knowing the last thing she wanted to do was get back in the coach.
“Now that I have you here, Loretta, do you really think I am going to let you go?”
Her chest heaved with deep, heavy breaths. His words and tone sounded possessive and— “Do you realize you just called me Loretta?”
“That’s your name.”
“But you can’t use it.”
“By now you should know that I don’t always follow the rules of polite Society.”
Oh, yes. She knew. “And you should know by now that I don’t always follow them, either.”
She was pretty sure he gritted his teeth for a moment or two before he nodded. An attractive grin lifted the corners of his lips when he said, “You are a worthy opponent, Loretta.”
Oh, he knew just what to say to settle her anger, to calm her spirit, and to thrill her heart.
“But I am being rational and you are not,” he continued.
“Ah! That is not a valid argument and you know it.”
“We don’t know who he is. You don’t know where he came from, where he was going, or what he’d planned to do.”
“That’s not entirely true anymore. I don’t know his full name or where he lives, but I now know a little more about him than when you last saw him. I’ll be happy to tell you what I’ve learned.”
The duke’s expression softened. He stared at her for a long moment as if he were taking stock of what she’d said. “All right, if it would please you to do so, I’ll listen.”
“I won’t go into all the details, but briefly, he has no family that he knows about. He lives under the steps of an old, abandoned building in London. Near St. James Park. He was abducted from a street near there and locked in a wagon with other boys who’d suffered the same fate. He was told they were being taken to a workhouse, where they were to be sold. The man would get money for delivering the children he’d stolen from the streets,” she said with disdain. “They were traveling somewhere near Mammoth House when the abductor realized Farley was sick. He didn’t want the others boys to catch the fever and die, too. That would keep him from getting any money. So he threw Farley out of the wagon and left him beside the road. Alone!” Loretta choked on the last word and had to suck in a deep breath.
“I’m sure it’s all true,” the duke said in a soft understanding voice. “And that it happens far too often in London.”
“Yes. I only wish I could save them all.”
He gave her a kind smile. “You know that’s impossible, don’t you?”
She nodded and realized she’d clasped her hands together so tightly they were aching. “But I can save Farley.”
“You know, I believe I’ve changed my mind. I’m actually glad that you brought him.”
“Are you?” she asked hopefully. “Truly?”
“Yes. Now that he is here, I’ll take over caring for him and ease that burden from you.”
Loretta’s back stiffened and her chin lifted a little higher. “He is no burden to me,” she challenged. “You may feel some sense of responsibility to him, as do I, because you ventured out into the storm to find and save him, but he is quite safe with me.”
“You mistake my motives, Loretta.”
“How?”
“I only want to see that he gets back to London, to his home.”
“He’s not well enough to go back. His cough is no better. Just yesterday Mr. Huddleston picked up a new tonic from the apothecary in Grimsfield, and we have hope this one will help him. There is simply no way he can return to London now.”
“He can stay here with me until he’s ready.”
Loretta’s stomach tightened. “I appreciate you wanting to do that, Your Grace, but it wouldn’t be best for him. He already believes you don’t like him, and I think he is afraid of you. Perhaps he’s afraid of all tall”—her gaze swept down his shoulders, across his wide chest, and then back up to his green eyes—“strong men since his abduction.”
“I won’t hurt him, Loretta.”
“No, of course you won’t. I know that but he doesn’t. He’s not used to people being kind to him.”
“All the more reason I should keep him here.”
She couldn’t let the duke take Farley away from her. He needed her. She needed him. They were just beginning to get to know each other.
Loretta took a step closer to the duke. “You will not take responsibility for him,” she insisted. “He doesn’t know how to trust anyone yet, but I believe he is beginning to trust me because he’s responding to my questions and instructions. I will continue to take care of him until his future is settled. Besides, when we return, I plan to talk to my uncle about allowing Farley to stay and work at Mammoth House.”
The duke’s eyes narrowed again. “I don’t think that’s wise. He’s not a farmer’s boy or a village lad who will easily fit into a normal household.”
“You don’t know that.”
“All right, it’s my guess that he’s grown up unsupervised on the streets of London for several years now and would find it very difficult to change his ways.”
“And I’m sure he wouldn’t have lived the life he has if he’d had any choice in the matter,” she said with all the conviction she felt. “He wouldn’t have chosen the life he’s been forced to live simply because fate has dealt harshly with him. All he needs is a chance for a better life. I believe he wants that, and I am in a position to give him that if my uncle is willing.”
“My greatest fear is that you are allowing yourself to start to care for him, and I don’t think that’s best for either of you.”
“What is wrong with caring for someone? Being nice. Helping them. I plead guilty to that.”
The duke’s gaze held steady on hers for a long time before he nodded. “All right. Perhaps I’m wrong about him. We will leave it as you wish—for now. I didn’t want you to come here so we could have disagreeable words about Farley. Truce?”
Loretta let out a deep breath and looked back at the imposing manor house. She hadn’t wanted to argue, either. She didn’t fully understand her obsession with Farley. Perhaps it was that she knew she’d never have a child of her own to worry about and to care for. Her brother would be marrying soon—if not to Lady Adele then to Miss Pritchard, or someone else—and leaving her on her own, at Mammoth House. She would have no one who needed her. Right now she did, and she wouldn’t willingly give him up.
She faced the duke again and said, “I would welcome a truce, Your Grace, for both our battles.”
He quirked his head and said, “Both?”
“The battle for Farley and for me. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”
He smiled at her and she felt as if sundown had suddenly become sunrise. She wanted to throw herself into the duke’s arms, feel his strength, bury her nose in the warmth of his neck, and give herself over to the desire she felt for him. But all she could do was look at him and wish.
“No, Loretta,” he said with a slight shake of his head. “I just surrendered Farley to you. That is all I am willing to relinquish. Even if you are battle-weary there will be no truce in my campaign for you. I will show no mercy. I won’t give up the fight and concede in my struggle for you.”
“Then the battle will continue, Your Grace.”
“It will,” he echoed. “And my name is Hawk. I want you to know the name of the man you are fighting and not be afraid to say it. When we’re alone, you are Loretta, and I am Hawk.”
She leaned back. “I couldn’t do that, Your Grace.”
“Hawk,” he corrected. “You’re one who is accustomed to ignoring the rules, remember. Now, let me hear you say my name.”
Looking at him now, the breeze blowing his hair, the serious thought of combat in his expression and the hope of victory sparkling in his eyes, Loretta wondered who she wanted to win.
“Very well, Hawk.” She moistened her lips and added, “I suppose we should head back. We’ve probably left Paxton an
d Lady Adele alone together long enough.”
“They’re not alone. Minerva is Adele’s shadow. She’s been taking care of Adele since we lost our parents. She’s been her mother, her sister, and her friend, depending on what Adele wanted or needed at the time. And she’s a saint for putting up with Adele without complaint.”
“I could see that she was looking Paxton over very carefully, but I can’t say that I blame her. It’s her duty.”
“It’s more than that. She’s not happy about my arranging someone for Adele to marry.”
“How nice. Another lady who thinks as I do.” Loretta smiled pleasingly. “That’s refreshing and I’m so glad to hear it.”
“No, no, Loretta, you misunderstand. She is unhappy because she wanted to choose the man for Adele herself.”
Loretta laughed. “You are teasing me.”
He chuckled, too, and then said, “It’s true. And you know, seeing you laugh makes me want to take you in my arms right now and kiss you.”
She glanced toward the house, and then over to the servants’ coach. All of them had gone in but one. “But you wouldn’t do that here, out in the open, would you?”
“No, Minerva is probably watching us out the window. She didn’t want me to allow this meeting between Adele and Paxton in first place. Highly irregular and most improper of me to have him here with Adele before the Season starts, as she has reminded me often. And as you will soon find out, she believes herself your chaperone as well.”
“Mine?”
“You are an innocent young lady and you have no chaperone other than your brother. She considers herself responsible for your reputation as well as Adele’s while you are in my home and without what she considers a proper chaperone of your own. She aims to see that I don’t tarnish your reputation while you’re here.”
A smile twitched the corners of her mouth. “That’s most comforting, Hawk.”
He chuckled huskily. “Do not be fooled by her hovering, Loretta. I have a strategy planned. There will be a time and a place that I can be alone with you.”
His words sounded like a promise. A sizzle of desire raced across her breasts, plunged down into her abdomen, and then spread between her legs. It was madness all the things Hawk could make her feel with just a few whispered words.
“So you haven’t changed your mind about anything since we last spoke.”
“I am more adamant than ever, more eager than ever. Not one thing has changed for me. And you?”
Had her decision to be with him changed? She didn’t know. She wanted what his words and glances promised, but the price was so high.
She cleared her throat, hoping it would also clear the fluttering of indecision and anticipation running rampant in her chest and her stomach. “Well, perhaps Paxton and Lady Adele are staring at each other and in need of something to say.”
“I can see you don’t know my sister at all,” he said as they started walking. “She seldom stops talking. I do hope Paxton can live with that.”
“I fear he will lap up every word like a kitten after sweet cream, and he will talk just as much if not more.”
Hawk chuckled and they walked in silence the few steps back to the lane in front of the house, where he stopped again and said, “Is there anything you want to say to me before you go inside? Does it feel like there is something you’re forgetting?”
“I don’t think so.”
She studied his handsome face. Was she? She must be. He wouldn’t have mentioned it if she hadn’t. But what was it? Something else about Farley? About her brother or their journey? For heaven’s sake, nothing would come to her mind and she was forced to say to him, “I’m not sure what you’re referring—oh, yes, of course. I remember now. I thought about it the moment I saw Lady Adele. I must apologize to you again for my remarks about her. She is truly lovely, with an engaging sense of humor as well.”
“Accepted, but that’s not what I was thinking about. You must try again to figure it out.”
Loretta held her breath, hating to bring up the subject again. “Thank you for allowing Farley and Mrs. Huddleston to stay when they weren’t invited.”
Hawk stared into her eyes for a long time before saying, “I’m not referring to that, Loretta.”
She couldn’t think of anything but kisses and sighs and wonderful feelings when he looked at her like he wanted to take her into his arms. “You will have to remind me.”
“It’s about the small matter that I talked your uncle into letting you come to Hawksthorn when you were quite clear it would be impossible for me to do.”
“Oh, yes, of course.” She placed a gloved hand over her mouth for a moment. “Uncle denied my requests to travel for so long. How could I have forgotten that? Thank you for reminding me of that, as well. You’d think I had no manners at all.” Her gaze caressed his face, willing him to know how much she appreciated his efforts. “I was very pleased to be allowed to come with Paxton. I admit I didn’t know who would win because both of you are such strong men.”
His gaze held tightly on hers. “The earl is a hard man. That is not strength, Loretta.”
No, it wasn’t. “If you don’t mind me asking, what did you say to get him to acquiesce to your wishes?”
“I don’t mind you asking at all.” A roguish grin lifted one corner of his mouth. “But I’m not going to tell you. What was said between us was private.”
“But I know him well. He will, no doubt, seek a favor from you in the future.”
The duke nodded. “He will.”
“And what will you do if it’s something you don’t want to do?”
“I will do it. Whatever it is he asks of me—it will have been worth it to have had your brother”—he paused for a moment before adding—“and you here at Hawksthorn with me.”
Chapter 17
A gentleman should always look at the lady he is wooing as if she were the most beautiful lady in the world.
A PROPER GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO WOOING THE PERFECT LADY
SIR VINCENT TYBALT VALENTINE
Dinner was a lavish affair.
There was no other way to describe it. The table had been covered in a gleaming white cloth. More sparkling silver and crystal than Loretta had ever seen on her uncle’s Christmastide dinner table had been placed in perfect order at each chair. The room glowed richly with candlelight and leaping flames from the roaring fireplace. The duke was seated at the head of the table with Loretta and then Paxton to his right and Lady Adele and Mrs. Philbert to his left. A dark red wine filled the crystal glasses, and small courses of soup, fish, fowl, potatoes, and meat had been consumed. Now a sweet confection of stewed apples and cinnamon folded into a delicate pastry bowl, and served on gold-etched plates, had been placed in front of everyone.
Loretta wore a pale-lavender gown with a sheer, cream-colored overskirt. It flowed with scalloped flounces that fluttered and swished like butterfly wings every time she took a step. Delicate beading trimmed the scooped neckline, the hem of her capped sleeves, and the high waist. The diamond-and-amethyst necklace she wore was fashioned in an elaborate starlike design. According to her uncle, it had been her mother’s favorite. Therefore, it was Loretta’s favorite, too, and it made her happy to have the opportunity to wear it again.
Just as the wineglasses were never empty, the conversation had never lagged. Paxton and Lady Adele had chatted like magpies enjoying an early summer morning while perched in their favorite tree. They exchanged stories about their childhood, books they had read, and their shared interest in all of nature’s beauty. They moved from one subject to the other with hardly a break to take a breath in between.
Hawk and Loretta had discussions, too, but theirs were softer, less hurried and excited. And they’d included Mrs. Philbert from time to time, who seemed to welcome the chance to speak. She was a good distraction so that Loretta wasn’t constantly looking at the duke as she wanted to do. Their talks weren’t as open and freely spoken as Paxton’s and Lady Adele’s. They all kne
w how to manipulate the dialogue along, and yet be wary, evasive, or persuasive with their words and expressions when they needed or wanted to be.
One bite of the scrumptious fruit was all Loretta could manage after feeling obligated to taste each of the five previous courses. Gingerly she laid her spoon aside and picked up her wine. She watched, amused and amazed, as Hawk finished off his dessert with vigor, as if he hadn’t eaten another mouthful all evening.
When he noticed she was watching him, he set his spoon on the empty plate and said, “I don’t believe you’ve told me what you thought of the book I gave you. A Proper Gentleman’s Guide to Wooing the Perfect Lady. Did you read it?”
It was more like she’d memorized it, but not wanting him to know how precious it was to her, she only answered, “I read it straightaway as I promised I would.”
“What did you think of the man’s ramblings? A bit high-handed, priggish, and rather an egotist, wasn’t he?”
“Egotist? In what way?” she asked.
“That he felt qualified to lecture other gentlemen on the proper rules of wooing a lady.”
Her lips twitched in a smile. “Well, he did do quite a good job of it.”
“You truly think so?” Hawk grunted ruefully, smiled, and then said, “It might be nice to know just how many successful courtships the man had in order to deem himself an expert in the art of wooing a lady.”
“Perhaps not any.”
His eyes concentrated on hers as if he were trying to figure out her meaning before he said, “Why do you say that?”
“He was so insightful, my first thought was that the author must have been a woman writing under a man’s name.”
Hawk laughed softly, huskily. “Your humor pleases me, Miss Quick. So does your imagination.”
She sipped her wine. “I wasn’t trying to amuse you,” she pointed out to him. “I was being honest. I thought: How does this man know so well what it is a lady appreciates, what she wants, how she desires to be treated, and what pleases her most?” She could tell by the look in his eyes and expression on his face that she had captivated him, and it thrilled her immensely. She smiled and added, “And then I said to myself, it must be because he is really a woman.”
