“One could get lost here and never find their way out,” Georgie muttered.
Pippa squeezed her friend’s arm. “Isn’t it grand?”
Georgie laughed, but said nothing else as they navigated the vast sea of people.
Just as they approached the grove, a hand reached out from the shadows and caught Pippa’s arm. Before she could let out a squeal of surprise, she found herself staring up at a gentleman in black half-mask. A roguish smile lit his lips, then he tugged the mask off.
Colebrooke.
So handsome, his light blue eyes sparkled in the moonlight. Pippa’s heart leapt and her breath caught in her throat at his vision. “My lord!” she said on a sigh.
“My dear Lady Philippa.” And the way her name flowed from his lips made tingles race across Pippa’s skin.
Beside her, Georgie cleared her throat, which brought Pippa back to the present. Who knew how long she might have stood there gaping at Lord Colebrook otherwise?
“Oh!” Pippa glanced at her friend. “Lady Georgiana Bexley-Smythe, this is Viscount Colebrooke.”
“My lady.” Lord Colebrooke inclined his head in greeting. “You are Stalbridge’s sister?”
A crinkle formed on Georgie’s brow, but she nodded. “Do you know my brother?”
Lord Colebrooke frowned as though he meant to say something but changed his mind at the last minute. “Only by reputation.”
Georgie winced, but her expression returned to normal a moment later. “Even through all these people, I do see someone I know. Will you excuse me?” she asked, not waiting for an answer before she disappeared into the throng.
“Georgie!” Pippa called after her friend. What if she got lost in this crowd? “I wish you hadn’t mentioned Stalbridge.” Poor Georgie was beleaguered enough by her familial connection.
Colebrooke looked off in the direction Georgie had gone. “I do hope I didn’t make her run off.”
“Georgie’s resourceful. I’m sure she’ll be fine.” At least Pippa hoped so.
“Don’t frown, my lady, you make me feel like the worst sort of cad.”
“You couldn’t know she’d react in such a way. “ Pippa refocused on her handsome Sir Galahad. “Would you care to join us in our supper box this evening, my lord? I’m certain my brothers would like to make your acquaintance.”
“Afraid I already have plans,” Colebrooke drawled, then he offered his arm to Pippa. “But do let us stroll the gardens until then.”
A jolt of something went through Pippa as she took Lord Colebrooke’s arm. She glanced up at the viscount, catching his profile. His strong jaw, his aristocratic nose. A smile tipped the corner of his mouth as he caught her looking at him.
“How are you enjoying the Season, sweetheart?”
Pippa turned her gaze back to the path in front of them. “A bit strange, honestly.”
“Strange?” he chuckled. “I thought ladies lived for the Season.”
Pippa had certainly been anxious to attend her very first one, of that there was no doubt. But… “Well, in many ways it has been more than I’d hoped for, but in others…”
“Yes?” He led her towards a darkened, less crowded path.
“Well, I’ve been more than a little frustrated so far.” The shame of her first ball, that awful bet, the occasional look from haughty matrons. Her first Season was nothing at all as she’d thought it would be.
“I do hate to hear that,” he said softly, stopping along the now darkened path which seemed quite empty. “I hate to think of you ever feeling frustrated.” He drew her in front of him and he tipped her chin up with one bent finger. “I have wanted to do this since I first laid eyes on you.” He dipped his head towards hers, and before Pippa knew what or how it happened, Lord Colebrooke’s warm lips pressed against hers.
Her eyes fluttered closed and she would have tumbled to the ground if he hadn’t, at that moment, wrapped one arm around her waist, drawing her closer to him. Her hands landed on his chest, which felt hard as stone beneath her fingertips. Pippa gasped and Lord Colebrooke lifted his head, a rakish grin on his face.
“I think we should do that again.”’
He could think? She could barely rub two thoughts together. “Lord Colebrooke,” she started.
His grin widened. “Jason,” he whispered, dipping his head once more. “Call me Jason.”
“J-Jason,” she echoed before his lips found hers once more.
But this time he kissed her more urgently, as though driven by some force Pippa couldn’t understand. His tongue touched the seam of her lips, and Pippa’s mouth opened in surprised. And then… Then his tongue entered her mouth, making her belly drop to her toes. He moaned, tightened his hold on her waist and tangled his tongue with hers.
Pippa had never imagined such a sensation, and though she wanted to follow Lord Colebrooke…er…Jason down this uncharted path, a little voice in her mind screamed of danger. She pushed against his chest and turned her head away from him.
Jason’s lips found her cheek and he kissed her softly there. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” he whispered, though his breath sounded labored to her ears.
How could she possibly answer him? She didn’t know what was wrong. She didn’t know what was right. She didn’t know anything. “I don’t know anything about you, my lord.”
He lifted his head and gazed down on her. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything,” Pippa said on a sigh. Then she spun out of his reach and started further down the darkened path.
Nearly breathless from their kiss, Jason could only stare after her, watch the way her gown swayed with her dainty steps. Dear God, what he wouldn’t give to lift those skirts and…
“Wait,” he called after her. Then he quickly followed her into the darkness, farther and farther from the lights and sounds of Vauxhall’s revelry.
As soon as he caught up and his step was with hers, Pippa cast him a sidelong glance. “Where do you hail from, my lord?”
Where did he hail from? Was she serious? Jason caught her elbow and swung her around to face him. “Do you truly mean to interrogate me?”
Her innocent smile nearly unarmed him. “Interrogate you?” She blinked at him. “I doubt I will ever forget that kiss, but I don’t know the first thing about you.” She shook her head. “I need to know who you are. I need to know…”
“Everything,” he echoed her earlier words.
“Well, something in the very least,” she said softly.
Jason tucked one of her stray curls behind her ear, and he brushed her soft cheek with his hand. Desire raced, once again, to his loins. He doubted he’d ever forget that kiss either. Clearly, it had been her first, which made him strangely proud. And he’d be damned if it was to be their last kiss. “I’ll trade you answers for kisses.”
Even in the darkness, he could see the innocent pink stain on her cheeks. “Are you trying to jumble my mind so it’s impossible for me to think, my lord?”
“Do I jumble your mind?” he asked, inordinately pleased to think that he might.
She turned her back to him as though embarrassed to have admitted as much. Jason closed the distance between them, slid his arms around her waist, and drew her back against his front. She truly did fit him nearly perfectly. Pippa shivered, but she didn’t pull out of his embrace.
“Cornwall,” he said quietly then kissed her cheek.
She looked over her shoulder to meet his eyes. “Cornwall?”
“I hail from Cornwall.”
The smile that lit her lips made his cynical heart lift just a bit. “Is it lovely there? I’ve never been.”
“I’d love to show you sometime,” he replied, and surprised himself with his words. Yet they were true. He could see her at Cardinham Park. He could imagine chasing her through the gardens like he’d done here. He could imagine the two of them riding for the coast and her unpinned hair flying in the sea breeze. He could imagine the two of them all tangled in bedclothes in the countess’s chambe
rs. Jason cleared his throat. “Do you ride, Pippa? The coast is breathtaking in its beauty.”
She sucked in a breath, most likely at his use of her nickname. “I love riding. My brother Harry even taught me to ride side-saddle when I was much younger.”
Dear God. “Side-saddle?” An image of her naked and straddling Jason flashed in his mind.
“Well, until Berks found out.” She winced a bit. “My oldest brother was not amused.”
Jason could well believe her. Berkswell did not seem the sort to throw caution to the wind. But Pippa did, and that thought made Jason’s cock stiffen anew. If he could just get her to throw caution to the wind where he was concerned. “Well, then I think we shouldn’t ever tell him anything that might upset him.”
“Do you have any brothers or sisters…Jason?”
The sound of his name on her lips made his heart beat faster. But she’d said something else, hadn’t she? What was it? Siblings or something? “I have an older sister,” he said. And then smiled victoriously. He had answered another question, after all. So he was owed another reward, wasn’t he?
He lowered his head and placed his lips on her neck. Inhaling her innocent rosewater scent, he nuzzled against the spot where her neck met her shoulder. The softness of her skin, the sweetness of her voice… She could easily drive him to distraction and he’d never even know how it happened.
With one hand he slowly started to draw her skirts upward.
“Are you close?” Her voice came out in a choke.
“Close?” He was so damned close to dropping his trousers and sinking himself inside her. He closed his eyes and kissed her shoulder.
“To your sister,” she amended, brushing his hands away and straightening her skirts.
Were they still talking about Nora? Jason shook his head to clear his thoughts. “I—”
“Ah, Jason!” came a familiar voice a few feet away. “I wondered where you’d disappeared.”
Jason stepped away from Pippa and turned to face his old friend. “Heath,” he growled. “What a surprise.”
Jason glared at Heath. Damn interfering man. And after all the years they’d been friends. “Shouldn’t you be entertaining your wife?”
Heath shrugged. “Emma is perfectly content with the Lockwells.” Then he glanced at Pippa. “Are you all right, my lady?”
She couldn’t quite meet his eyes, but she nodded her head. “Yes, thank you.”
“Why don’t you run along back to your box? Lord Berkswell appears beside himself with worry.”
Pippa squeaked. “Oh heavens.” She brushed past Jason, stopped in her tracks, and looked over her shoulder at him. “I do hope to see you soon, Lord Colebrooke.” Then she darted down the path, back towards the main walk and the supper boxes.
As soon as she was out of earshot, Heath folded his arms across his chest. “Colebrooke?”
So now Heath was going to be holier-than-thou? After all the carousing the two of them had done together over the years? “It is my name.”
“It is one of them,” Heath conceded. Then he shook his head. “What has happened to you?”
“To me?” Jason’s voice rose an octave. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that question?”
Heath heaved a sigh. “Are you chasing that girl because of that ridiculous bet?”
“No.” Jason shook his head. And he wasn’t. “Though in all honesty, I would have never given her a second thought if Berkswell hadn’t stormed into my breakfast room that morning.”
“So this is retribution for her brother?” Heath demanded.
But that wasn’t it either. And it wasn’t even that she didn’t remember him from that first night anymore. That had been his original impetus, but now… “What does it matter to you?” he countered.
“You’ve never chased innocent debutants. You’ve never set out to ruin anyone before, and—”
“I’m not going to ruin her.” How nice to think his friend thought so highly of his character.
“Oh?” Deep sarcasm laced Heath’s voice. “Are you planning to wed the girl then?”
“Me?” Jason’s mouth fell open. “Wed her?”
“How would you tell her that she’ll be Lady St. Austell and not Lady Colebrooke?” Heath continued as though Jason hadn’t spoken. “Because unless that is your goal, Jason, then ruination is her only other course.” He stalked forward. “What would have happened if someone else had come upon you?”
“You knew where to look for me,” Jason returned. “And why were you looking for me anyway? Since when have you become noble Saint George, saving virgins from dragons?”
Heath sighed. “When it became obvious my friend needed direction.”
Jason snorted. As though he needed direction from Heath of all people.
“What are you doing, Jason? This isn’t like you. I can’t believe you’d want to ruin that girl.”
Ruin. There was that word again, and a shiver raced down Jason’s spine.
“Do you want to see doors shut in her face? Do you want her to be a pariah? Is that what you truly want for her?”
What a ridiculous question. Jason glared at his friend.
“She’s not some merry widow,” Heath continued. “She’s not some fool’s neglected wife. She is an innocent girl whose life will be ruined if you proceed any further down this path.”
The sudden truth of Heath’s words floated around Jason like wisps of smoke, finally settling in his heart. He couldn’t see Pippa ruined. “I like her,” he offered lamely.
“Enough to marry her?” Heath asked.
“Don’t be absurd,” Jason snapped. He was too young to marry. He had many years ahead of him before he had to begat an heir. He wasn’t quite ready to become a smitten lapdog like Heath.
“Then stay away from the girl,” his friend warned.
Jason touched a finger to his nose. “She has brothers to champion her. And you have a wife to care for. So stay out of my affairs.”
Heath shook his head. “It’s because of my wife that I say these things to you. I could have gone to Yorkshire and seduced Emma. Easily. But…” A frown darkened his face. “…once I’d left she would have been ruined for whatever man Norland found for her and… Well, I couldn’t have lived with that. I couldn’t have lived knowing she was married to another man, that she would have shared another man’s bed, borne some other man’s children.”
“Who knew you had it in you to be so prone to theatrics? Have you considered treading the boards?”
“Still the same cynical bastard you’ve always been, aren’t you?” Heath suddenly looked quite tired. “Don’t steal Lady Philippa’s future from her. You’ll hate yourself in the end.” Then he spun on his heel and stalked back down the path Pippa had already traveled.
“I sent you away to that school so you could learn to be a lady!” Berks bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls in his study.
Pippa lowered her head in submission and waited for her lecture to end, barely listening to her brother as her thoughts kept returning to Lord Colebrooke.
“…But it didn’t do one bit of good, did it? You ran off as soon as my back was turned.”
“I didn’t run off,” she protested, lifting her face to her scowling brother. “I simply went to explore the gardens. That is why we were there.”
Berks heaved an aggravated sigh. “That isn’t why we were there. We were there to see and be seen. After that business with Potsdon, St. Austell, and that damned betting book, your reputation is in a precarious position as it is. Your need to appear innocent and serene before all of society, not like a hoyden who runs off and does whatever she pleases, whenever she pleases it.”
“I’m sorry, Berks,” she mumbled, dropping her head once more.
Her brother rose from his desk, walked around the edge, and sank down to his haunches before her. “Don’t be sorry, Pippa. Just listen to me. You know I only have your best interests at heart.”
And she did know that. Pippa threw her arms aroun
d Berks’s neck and hugged him. “I will listen to you, I promise.”
He squeezed her back. “That’s all I ask for.” Then he released her and rose back to his full height. “All right. It’s been a long night. Off to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Pippa agreed with a nod, scrambled back to her feet and quickly departed her brother’s study.
Davis was waiting for her in the hallway with a large parcel. “This arrived for you not long ago, my lady. A servant in Stalbridge livery.”
“Georgie?” Pippa took the parcel from the butler and couldn’t help the grin that lit her face. A book, a large one at that. Dear Georgie, so true to her word. “Thank you, Davis. Thank you very much.” Then she rushed up the steps towards her chambers.
Once alone, she dropped on to her bed, tucked her toes up under her gown and tore into the paper covering what she was certain was Georgie’s volume of Debrett’s. A note fluttered to the floor.
My dearest Pippa,
I did search the second volume, on the off chance I simply had forgotten the Colebrooke viscountcy, but it was not there. I was correct. Colebrooke is obviously a courtesy title of some sort. Therefore, you will need to search through the dukes, marquesses, and earls to find your Lord Colebrooke’s father or grandfather. I’m wishing you the best of luck!
Yours always,
Georgie
She felt a tiny bit like a spy as she opened the book’s cover. She supposed she could have asked Jason who his father was, or his grandfather for that matter, but he never gave her much time to think about anything.
The memory of his kiss, of his lips on her shoulder, his hands on her waist washed over her anew. “All right, my lord, now to find you.”
The volume of Debrett’s, still resting in her lap, had struck like a viper with no warning. The beeswax candle on Pippa’s bedside table flickered wildly with the last sputterings of life, as it had burned through most of the night while she’d flipped page after page looking for Jason. But, now, she barely noticed the light as numbness settled in her belly and spread like poison across her body.
The Betting Season (A Regency Season Book) Page 5
