by Allison Lane
He must have heard about Harriet’s escape after being denied another shopping trip. Emily had thought that invoking Jacob’s orders had settled the matter, but the moment she’d left for morning calls, Harriet had headed for Bond Street on foot. Alone. At a time of day when the street was crowded with gentlemen.
Richard had brought her back an hour later, ignoring the obscenities she threw at him. He must have informed Jacob.
Jacob blamed her. He knew that Lady Hughes had nothing to do with instructing Harriet or with enforcing the rules. It was Emily who dealt with her day in and day out. Now he’d decided that she was an inadequate mentor.
“Very well,” she said as she turned to leave.
He grasped her arm. “Where are you going?”
“To tell Mother.” She shook off his hand, furious that his touch raised sparks. When would her body accept that she didn’t love him?
“Later. What’s wrong with you, Em? I’ve never seen you this grim. Is it Harriet?”
“Of course not!” She fled further into the garden. How could she criticize Harriet now? Believing her incompetent, he would think she was lashing out in anger.
“Talk to me, Em,” he urged softly. “I can’t stand to see you unhappy. I owe you too much.”
“You owe me nothing.”
“Nonsense. You taught me patience ten years ago. You opened your doors to Harriet, despite that it meant sharing your Season. And I can’t begin to describe what last night meant to me. I’m grateful.”
I don’t want gratitude! she wanted to scream. I want love.
But love wouldn’t help. He was tied to another.
“It was nothing,” she repeated, cloaking herself in calm. By concentrating on his betrothal, she could stay in control.
“It wasn’t.” He gripped her shoulders, forcing her to meet his eyes. “You have no idea how much you helped.”
She pushed on his chest to loosen his grip. “Very well, Jacob. I’m glad you are satisfied. What time will you come for Harriet?”
He sighed, letting her break his hold. “Ten would be best. That way she can get settled before anyone calls.”
Surely he didn’t intend to take her home with him! “Where—” She couldn’t get the question out.
“Inslip House. Lady Inslip’s cousin will act as her companion.”
She nodded, but Inslip House was nearly as bad. It meant she would still have to deal with Harriet every night. And now that Jacob openly distrusted her, Harriet would be insufferable. Inslip House also meant that he would soon announce his betrothal. Marrying out of Inslip House would give Harriet more stature than out of Hughes House.
“I’ll see that she’s ready.” She couldn’t keep the strain from her voice.
“What’s wrong, Em?”
“Nothing.” She headed for the terrace. “The set is nearly over. I must return.”
“Nonsense.” He stepped forward, blocking the path. “It has a quarter hour left. Tell me your problem, and I’ll make it right.”
She shivered. How could she explain that she’d stupidly built him into a fantasy lover who would guarantee her a perfect life? How could she confess the naïveté that had exaggerated one kiss into an undying love affair? How could she bare her soul to be trampled into the ground like the yew leaves someone had crushed into the path?
“You are chilled,” he said, shrugging out of his coat and settling it over her shoulders. His warmth remained in the fabric, burning into her skin. His hands stayed on her arms as if unwilling to lose that fragile contact.
“Th-thank you,” she managed, trying to step out of reach. But her feet refused to move. Her eyes rested on his well-formed mouth, desperately seeking some sign that she was wrong, that the last weeks had been a dream, that—
His hands tightened. His mouth swooped, clamping over hers, just as it had done in the orchard.
All thought fled as he pulled her against him, devouring her as if he were starving. His arms crushed her closer, his tongue plunging, deepening the kiss beyond her wildest dreams. Every star in the heavens exploded behind her eyes.
She curved her arms around his neck, pulling his head lower and knocking his jacket to the ground. The body she’d touched only in dreams imprinted on hers, tightening her breasts.
More! screamed her mind. It isn’t enough.
As his scent wrapped around her, she squirmed closer, reveling in his heat, his touch, the wine that sharpened his taste. This was how she’d known it would be, this rightness, this certainty that they were two pieces of the same soul.
A laugh drifted across the garden. Loud. Vulgar.
Harriet.
Jacob froze.
Emily bit off a cry. How could she compromise herself with a man committed to another?
Jacob jumped back, his lips forming an apology. But she heard nothing through the buzzing in her ears. Clamping a hand over her mouth, she fled.
* * * *
Jacob stared as Emily disappeared around a hedge. A frown narrowed his gaze while he absently shrugged his coat into place. Why the devil had he kissed her?
You wanted to.
“That’s no excuse,” he muttered, slipping behind a tree to avoid an approaching couple. He’d been tempted by pretty girls before, but he never dallied with innocents. Even ten years ago, they hadn’t fit his plans for the future. That was even more true today.
For thirty years he had carefully planned every action, aware that his temper could cause trouble if he released it. Allowing free rein to any emotion could trigger obsession, luring him down the same dark road that had destroyed so many others. He’d recognized the danger inherent in his father’s detour onto that road, eavesdropping at every opportunity so he would know if the man’s obsession threatened others. And he’d devised a strategy for every conceivable betrayal – like warning his mother in case his father turned murderous.
So how had he kissed Emily?
Twice.
She had no place in his plans.
He shuddered, swept again by the need to hold her, comfort her, protect her from harm. Her descent into melancholy hurt, and not just because he feared he was responsible. He would feel the same no matter what the cause. Emily deserved happiness.
You love her.
“Like a sister,” he insisted, leaning weakly against the tree.
But his protestations could no longer hide the truth. He loved her. Had loved her even as he’d fled the orchard ten years ago. That love had made it easy to ignore the diamonds who tried to catch his eye each year, easy to postpone the day he would dust off his heartless plan to wed solely for an heir, easy—
He pushed away from the tree. He had to find her, tell her—
Tell her what? She’d fled in disgust, so upset that she’d been on the verge of illness. She’d known he was lying about his reasons for removing Harriet. Your mother looks on the brink of collapse.
“Damnation!” he snarled inelegantly. He knew Lady Hughes had nothing to do with Harriet. And Emily knew he knew.
In his need to hide his unacknowledged love, he’d hidden his true reasons – that Em was suffering from Harriet’s presence. But his lies must have convinced her that he considered her incompetent. He’d seen that flash of pain.
It hurt, as did his fear that his love would hurt her if he pursued it. Obsession – and what was love if not a form of obsession? – made him dangerous. He might hurt her in a fit of fury. And if she ever came to love him, it would be worse. What dishonor might her love embrace if she thought he needed help?
“Stop this,” he snapped, squeezing his temples.
Only yesterday she had sworn that his mother had not killed for his sake. He’d yet to hear from his aunt, but he trusted Emily’s word. And it was far too late to walk away from her. Admitting his love had shattered a barrier around his heart.
At the very least, he must atone for again attacking her without warning. If she forgave him, he would tell her the rest of his family’s sordid history. Once s
he knew what he was offering, he could court her.
Taking a deep breath, he set out to find her and apologize.
But she was gone.
* * * *
Emily fought back tears as she fled toward the darkest corner of the garden. She could not return to the ballroom with puffy eyes.
How could she have been so stupid? She should never have let Jacob lead her outside. Knowing how hard it was to forget her infatuation, she shouldn’t even dance with him.
She was still castigating herself when she rounded a rosebush and slammed into Charles.
“Are you all right, Em?” he asked, echoing Jacob as he clutched her arms to steady her.
“Of course.” Her heart slowed, knowing she was safe.
“Hmm.” He looked her up and down. “Amber eyes glowing. Satin skin pearling in the moonlight. Gorgeous gown – have I told you how much I like this one?”
“All three times you’ve seen it.” She wanted to sigh, for she should have changed the trim by now to make it seem new.
“You remember.” His teeth gleamed when he grinned. “So tell me why you are racing around a dark garden alone.”
“Seeking a few moments of solitude.”
“Again? What did Harriet do this time?”
She refused to respond.
“I understand the need to escape, my dear, but this is not a sun-washed clearing. It’s a very bad place for an innocent alone – too many rakes lurking in the shrubbery.”
“Like you?” Elation soared as she realized he was jollying her into a better humor. She did not yet love him, but this was a start.
He laughed. “Your point, Em, though I was not lurking with intent. You have set my feet on the path to reform.”
“I must be judicious about wielding such power.” She took his arm. “Imagine how staid London would be without rakes.”
“Horrors!”
She giggled.
“My set, I believe,” he added as the musicians began a new tune.
“Of course.”
The country dance separated them almost immediately, giving her time to recover the rest of her poise. It also gave her time to consider the ramifications of Jacob’s announcement.
Charles kept his own rooms, but he often called at Inslip House and would undoubtedly see Harriet there.
No matter how lofty the Marquess of Inslip might be, his cousin could never keep Harriet in line.
Harriet hated Emily and was doing everything possible to make her life miserable, including luring anyone who displayed interest into her own court.
At first, Emily had thought the migration was an inevitable result of Harriet’s sensuality – who could see Emily when Harriet stood nearby in all her exotic glory? When she realized that Harriet was deliberately drawing men to her side, Emily had tried to believe that it was merely Harriet’s need to be the focus of every eye. Only later had she admitted that Harriet worked her wiles especially hard on those men who showed interest in Emily.
Emily wanted to believe that Harriet would leave her alone now that she was moving, but the girl would probably strike out anyway. If Sophie thought Charles cared, everyone at Inslip House must think so, too, which meant that Charles would be Harriet’s next target.
Needing time alone, she pleaded a headache when the set ended. Since her mother was weary, they left immediately.
But Emily’s fears increased as the carriage took them home. Harriet’s acid flowed freely tonight, and not only because they’d left early. Some new complaint was bothering the girl. Never before had she made her hatred so plain.
Charles was the best husband Emily could hope to attach, so she could not let Harriet drive him off, too.
Every day increased his attentiveness – now that she was looking, it was obvious; only her own blindness had missed it earlier. His fortune made her modest dowry acceptable. His Foreign Office job meant living in town, but he would meet Jacob mostly at his club.
Yet until he actually offered, Harriet posed a danger, so time was of the essence. She had to bring him up to scratch before Harriet poisoned his mind against her.
“Lord Hawthorne will pick you up at ten,” she informed Harriet as they headed up the stairs. “You had best get some sleep.”
“I knew he would agree,” Harriet exclaimed. “He should have taken me to Hawthorne House in the first place.”
Emily opened her mouth to correct the assumption, then gave up. Let Jacob deal with her. Harriet was no longer her responsibility.
Closing the door in Harriet’s face, she concentrated on Charles. They would attend the opera tomorrow evening. Surely she could let him know that she would welcome his hand.
She didn’t love him, but they had been friends for many years. Few couples had that much affection when they first wed.
It would work. His love would give them a framework. Her own feelings would match his in time.
Ignoring the voice that insisted no one could love her, she fell into a thankfully dreamless sleep.
Chapter Ten
As footmen loaded the last of Harriet’s luggage into Jacob’s town carriage, he joined her on the seat of his curricle. How had two modest trunks burgeoned into six in only three weeks? To say nothing of a dozen hatboxes. He had clearly not seen all her accounts.
Irritation sharpened his tongue. “Move over, Miss Nichols. I can’t drive with you hanging on my arm.” Her touch made his skin crawl. Being in the same room with her was bad enough. Sharing a carriage seat was intolerable.
“I am so glad you are taking me away,” Harriet cooed without moving. “I don’t know how you can consider those people friends. Not only did they mistreat me, but the things they said about you—”
“Move over!” He glared pointedly at her hand.
A tiny frown creased her forehead, but she moved two inches and dropped her hand into her lap. “They were ghastly last night,” she continued. “Calling me the worst names, then celebrating my departure – except Richard, who scowled so fiercely I feared he would attack. He was furious to discover that you’d foiled his plans.”
Turning down Brook Street, Jacob closed his ears to her lies, praying that Lady Inslip’s cousin could control her until he could find her a husband – one with sufficient strength to handle her. Preferably one who lived far from London and nowhere near Gloucestershire. He never wanted to see her again.
He picked up speed, darted around a lumbering delivery wagon, then ducked down Davies Street.
“Where are you going?” she demanded, grabbing his arm. “Grosvenor Square is the other way.”
“But Inslip House is this way.”
“B-but I thought you would look after me.” She produced tears to glisten in the morning sun.
“Tears don’t affect me, Miss Nichols.” He urged his team to a faster trot. “You cannot stay in a bachelor establishment, as I’ve explained before. It would brand you a harlot, and I would be chastised for bringing a light-skirt into my home.”
“But—”
“I’ve had enough of your megrims. And more than enough lies.”
“I never lie!”
He snorted. “I knew your mother, Miss Nichols. She might have fooled some, but not me. You use the same mannerisms when lying, the same innocent voice when wheedling, the same—”
“I don’t!”
“You do, and it’s not attractive. Nor is your disdain. Do you think I’m stupid? Richard could not have glowered at you last night. He was with me. Now stop this. Your headstrong ways have damaged Lady Hughes’s health, placed unpardonable burdens on my dearest friends, and annoyed society. I won’t tolerate them another moment. Nor will Lady Inslip. You will follow her orders. Is that clear?”
“Of course, but—”
Again he interrupted. “You will not receive invitations to most of the events she attends. On those days, you will remain home with her cousin and behave yourself. If you anger anyone at Inslip House, I will send you to the country. Under guard, if necessary.”
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“You wouldn’t!”
“I would. Society is very strict. It is willing to tolerate those of lesser breeding if they behave, but it owes them nothing and will turn on them in a trice if challenged. My gratitude to Captain Nichols does not stretch as far as you seem to think. If you can’t or won’t adhere to the rules, I will remove you permanently. You have embarrassed me and my friends for the last time.”
“Embarrassed!”
“Exactly. Lord Inslip has agreed to house you as a personal favor to me, but he knows you have no chance of wedding one of his peers. Instead of throwing tantrums, you should be grateful to be here at all. But don’t set your sights above younger sons, or you will fail.”
“I will do my best, my lord,” she said, lowering her eyes demurely.
“Thank you.” Not that he believed her. He’d caught the flicker of her eye as she gauged his reaction to her apparent capitulation.
Damn the chit! She obviously hoped to attach him – an impossible task. If she continued on this course, he would have to disclose every detail of her mother’s scandals, condemning her to the demimonde. Society would not only ostracize her, it would heap censure on him for thrusting her into its drawing rooms. He should not have repaid Captain Nichols’s kindness by trying to do her a favor.
He turned into Berkeley Square, stopped in front of Inslip House, and escorted Harriet inside. Lady Inslip was waiting.
“Welcome, Miss Nichols.” She smiled coolly. “I trust you will enjoy your stay. May I present my cousin, Miss Beaumont? Alice will chaperon you when our schedules differ.”
“Of course,” said Harriet faintly. “I’m pleased to meet you, Miss Beaumont.” But her eyes pleaded with Jacob over the woman’s head.
Jacob relaxed. Miss Beaumont reminded him of his nurse. A frown pinched her lips as she took in Harriet’s frivolous morning gown. Her head shook as she met Harriet’s gaze. She might not approve of her cousin’s request, but she was determined to whip Harriet into shape.
Just like Coocoo.
