A Touch of Scarlet

by Renee Ryan

  “I’m sorry, Penny.” Sophie’s voice shook with obvious shame and remorse. “It never occurred to me what my actions would do to you or the rest of your family. I’ve been so angry for so long, I only thought of myself. It was very badly done on my part.”

  Proving she was the best of all the Griffins, Penelope pulled the other girl into her arms and stroked a soothing hand down her hair. “You are the injured party, my dear, sweet friend. Not me, not my family, and definitely not my father.”

  She said the last two words through gritted teeth. Luke found Penelope’s control impressive. She had every right to be angry with Warren, yet she set aside her own pain to help another woman through hers. His sister was one for the ages.

  Elizabeth was the same sort of woman, with a similar depth of character.

  And you sent her away.

  His blood ran cold at the memory of her devastated expression.

  “If I had only suffered a few sly glances, I might have kept the secret forever.” She sniffled, wiped at her eyes, then sighed. “But my mother has always enjoyed drama, on and off the stage. She changes the story about my father depending on her audience, and that has proven a problem. All my life, I’ve had to listen to the speculation, the hushed whispers, but it was the open criticism that hurt most. The names I have been called . . .”

  The feeling of helplessness came at Luke again, harder and with more force. He’d never put much stock in what other people thought about him, but he’d never had to endure the kind of censure Sophie described. “Has it been bad, Sophie?”

  “You have no idea.” Red-rimmed eyes turned his way. “I’m not like my mother, Luke. Despite my actions tonight, I abhor drama of any kind. I just . . . I’m just so tired of the lies. They had to stop. I tried to approach Warren here at this house, and again at his office. He turned me away both times. I could think of no other way to make him acknowledge me.”

  “You did what you had to do,” Penelope assured her, no judgment, no condemnation in her voice.

  A sob slipped out of Sophie. “I would understand if you wished to refute my claim publicly. I would not hold it against you.”

  “We will not deny you,” Luke vowed. “You are our sister.”

  “There is nothing more important than family.” Penelope hugged the girl again. “We stick together and stand by each other. It is our way.”

  Sophie gave them both a shaky smile. Penelope murmured something Luke couldn’t quite make out. Sophie responded in an equally low voice.

  As the women huddled together, their voices barely audible, Luke looked at Simon over their heads. With a hitch of his chin, he motioned for the other man to follow him out into the hallway.

  Seconds later, Simon stood before him, composed, coolheaded, the ultimate man of integrity. Tonight, he’d proven solid in his devotion to Penelope. Still, Luke wouldn’t breathe easy until he knew, without a doubt, that his future brother-in-law understood what he was in for in the coming weeks, months, perhaps even years.

  “You surprised me tonight.”

  The other man sniffed, his eyes radiating disdain and the judgment lacking in Penelope’s behavior toward Sophie. “It was shabby of you to doubt my love for your sister.”

  Perhaps it was, but Luke had no remorse. “Penelope’s future happiness matters to me.”

  Simon’s entire bearing went stiff. “Her future happiness matters to me, as well, far more than my own.”

  A pall of silence enveloped them, broken only by the sound of the soft female voices coming from the library. “Your good name will suffer once the scandal spreads,” Luke pointed out. “Are you prepared?”

  “There is nothing to prepare for.” Simon sent him a long, pitying look. “My good name will see us through this debacle.”

  “And if it doesn’t?” Luke pressed. “Will you have a sudden change of heart and abandon my sister?”

  Simon’s fist went up, quick and furious.

  Luke shifted smoothly to his left, catching the bulk of the blow on his right shoulder. Had he not been expecting the move, he would have been sporting a black eye later that afternoon.

  Rubbing his shoulder—the man clearly didn’t pull his punches—Luke gave Simon a wry look. “I deserved that.”

  One side of Simon’s mouth kicked up. “Yes, you did.” Shaking out his hand, he scowled. “Your concern for your sister is commendable, though wildly misdirected. Penny is worth ten times the man I will ever be, but she has agreed to marry me, and I am smart enough to know the blessing I have been given.”

  “That was some speech.”

  Simon continued as if Luke hadn’t spoken. “If, as you suggest, Penny and I are shunned from society, then so be it. I would rather spend the rest of my life with your sister as my wife than enter another ballroom without her by my side.”

  There was sincerity in the man’s voice that could not be faked, especially by someone like Simon, who lacked a sense of humor. “I was wrong about you,” Luke admitted.

  “You are wrong about a great many things.”

  Luke lifted an eyebrow. “Such as . . . ?”

  A flash of pity moved in the other man’s eyes, which he converted into a superior smile that set Luke’s teeth on edge. “You should not have sent Miss St. James away. She is stronger than you give her credit for and would have brought you comfort during this time of uncertainty.”

  His shock couldn’t have been greater had Simon challenged him to a duel. “You know about . . . Elizabeth and me?”

  “You’re not the only man investigating his future brother-in-law.”

  Well, well. He’d underestimated Simon Burrows. The realization brought him a moment of peace. Penelope was marrying a good man.

  “You should apologize to Miss St. James.”

  Some of Luke’s surprise edged into irritation. “You’re giving me advice on women now?”

  The superior smile widened. “Which one of us is happily engaged, and which one of us is pining for a woman he doesn’t deserve?”

  Luke rolled his throbbing shoulder at the rhetorical question. He was pining for a woman he didn’t deserve. He thought of Elizabeth’s steadfastness, her promise to stand by him. He’d all but thrown her out of his life. Worse, he’d told her to go to England and marry her British lord.

  An ache started in his gut and ripped through his chest. What had he been thinking? He couldn’t let her marry another man. She was his, the woman of his heart.

  Whenever he mentally reviewed the past few months, Elizabeth was in every moment worth remembering. Since the first ball after his arrival back from England, Luke had fought to keep this woman at arm’s length, to remember she didn’t belong to him. Even when she was no longer off limits, old habits had prevailed. Luke had maintained his distance, or had attempted to do so, never asking her to dance, keeping their conversations brief. But at every gathering, she’d been the one he’d sought out first.

  And then he’d kissed her. Twice. The first time had been about discovery, a lesson for her that had turned into a revelation for him. The second time Luke pulled Elizabeth into his arms had been . . . perfect. The homecoming he’d been waiting for since his return to America.

  How long had he been in love with Elizabeth?

  As long as he could remember. Not always as a man loved a woman, but she’d always held a special place in his heart. When she was near, nothing else mattered.

  He needed to make things right between them. Then, he would spend the rest of his life placing her well-being above his own. When he imagined their future together, he saw grand adventures, laughter, and children, a houseful of towheaded boys and girls with their mother’s goodness and strength.

  Luke would ask her to marry him today, after he apologized. He wouldn’t relinquish the good fight until she knew the contents of his heart. “I have to go.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  Luke paused mid-step.

  “You know, Simon. One of these days, you and I may become friends.” He
gave the man a hard pat on the back. “Today is not that day.”

  Luke left Griffin Manor with Simon’s low chuckle resonating in his ears. Perhaps the man had a sense of humor after all.

  Luke went straight to St. James House. Not wanting to waste a single moment, he didn’t bother changing out of his evening attire. Though the hour was still early, the sun had already made its appearance, tinting the sky a golden, rosy glow that would forever remind Luke of Elizabeth.

  She was everything good and beautiful in his life, a beacon of light in his otherwise dark world, and Luke had been a colossal fool of the first order.

  Had he actually thought he could live without Elizabeth?

  Had he truly believed staying away from her would keep her safe?

  No one knew better than Luke did that life was messy. People surprised and disappointed, often in the same moment. Safeguarding loved ones from pain was an admirable pursuit but not always an easy feat.

  In an effort to protect Elizabeth, Luke had hurt her terribly. He would make it up to her, somehow. Even if it took him fifty years, a hundred, he would show her how much he loved her, wanted her.

  Needed her.

  He bound up the front steps leading to St. James House. Pausing at the enormous front door, Luke battled back a rush of unease.

  What if he couldn’t convince Elizabeth that he loved her? He’d treated her dismally. The damage could be irreparable.

  His heart started beating madly in his chest, like a small animal’s fighting to free itself from a net. No. He refused to admit defeat, not yet. Not ever.

  Jaw set, he stabbed the doorbell and kept his finger in place long past necessary. He would not be ignored or turned away this morning.

  A bleary-eyed, somewhat annoyed-looking Aldrich let him into the entryway. The butler’s weary posture suggested there’d been difficulty at St. James House the previous evening. It seemed a night of drama was enjoyed by all.

  “Mr. Griffin.” The butler angled his head in confusion. “I wasn’t aware you had an appointment with Mr. St. James this morning.”

  “I’ve come to speak with Miss St. James.”

  Two bushy eyebrows slid up the other man’s forehead. “That presents a problem, sir. She’s not at home. She left the house nearly an hour ago.”

  Luke’s heart took a hard plunge. He’d prepared for every possible contingency, except Elizabeth’s absence.

  Battling a thread of panic, he made himself speak slowly, deliberately. “Did she happen to mention where she was going?”

  The butler lifted his chin at a proud angle. “Miss St. James is not required to reveal her comings and goings to me.”

  Apparently, Luke had hit a sore spot. “Thank you, Aldrich. I’ll see myself out.”

  He exited the house and conquered the steps two at a time. His sole intent was to find Elizabeth as quickly as possible.

  Raking a hand through his hair, he forced himself to stop and think logically. Where would she go at this hour?

  Who would she turn to, if not him? He could think of only one person—her cousin.

  Twenty minutes later, the door to Jackson’s house swung open. The man himself stood on the other side of the threshold, his gaze clouded with something that might be called amusement. “You look dreadful.”

  Luke let out a humorous laugh. “It’s been a long night, and proving to be an equally trying morning.”

  “No doubt.” Jackson ushered him inside.

  Only once he’d crossed the threshold did Luke notice the squirming orange ball of fluff tucked under his friend’s arm. “Is that one of your grandmother’s pomegranates?”

  “Otis is a Pomeranian,” Jackson corrected. “And yes, he belongs to Granny.”

  “How did he end up with you?”

  “Caroline mentioned our desire to start a family. Granny was so over the moon hearing this news that she suggested Caroline practice her mothering skills on Otis.”

  “Ah.” It was no secret that Hattie Montgomery was fond of her miniature dogs. Last Luke counted, she had seven of the little terrors in her possession. She treated them like her beloved children, outrageously spoiling them. To give one of her “babies” to Caroline spoke of the older woman’s desire for a great-grandchild.

  “I take it you want to see Elizabeth.”

  Relief nearly buckled his knees. “She’s here, then.”

  “Possibly.”

  Which meant yes.

  The fact that Jackson just stood there, unmoving, eyes slightly narrowed, pushed Luke’s control to the breaking point. “You want to let her know I’m here?”

  “I will. Eventually.”

  The remaining scraps of his control unraveled. “Get her now.”

  “Not yet.” Jackson’s voice was as flat as the thin line of his lips. “You need to calm down first.”

  “I am calm,” he said through a tight jaw.

  “And yet, I remain unmoved.” Jackson shifted the dog to his other arm. “If it’s any consolation, Elizabeth arrived dry-eyed and far calmer than you.”

  This didn’t surprise Luke. “She has hidden depths and strength of character that goes far beyond mere kindness.”

  “You know her well.”

  Luke rubbed at the ache behind his temple. “Elizabeth is the best woman I know.”

  “Yes. She would have been a great help to you and your family last night if you would have let her stay.”

  Luke saw something in his friend’s serious eyes: sympathy—commiseration, even. “Elizabeth told you about last night.”

  Jackson nodded. A multitude of questions swam in his gaze. He voiced none of them, no doubt out of deference for their friendship. Or he simply hadn’t come to grips with the truth that Warren Griffin, a man he’d always admired, wasn’t who he presented to the world.

  “Then you are aware of Sophie Cappelletti’s connection to my family.”

  “I know she’s your sister.” Jackson made a sympathetic sound that spoke volumes. “I also know Elizabeth tried to stand by you when the scandal broke, but you sent her away.”

  A familiar rush of guilt spread through him. “I did it for her own good.”

  “You’re an idiot.”

  “I don’t disagree.”

  “When a woman like Elizabeth pledges her devotion, you don’t throw her out of your life. You take the gift God has given you and treasure her the rest of your days on this earth.”

  Luke didn’t need his friend telling him what he already knew. “I didn’t come for a lecture.”

  “You’re going to get one. But not here. Out in the garden. Otis is overdue for his morning constitutional.”

  Luke considered shoving past man and beast and then searching the house for Elizabeth. He thought better of it when he saw the look in Jackson’s eyes. Luke wasn’t getting past him until he’d had his say.

  Patience, he told himself, feeling anything but. Patience. “Lead the way.”

  They exited the house through the terrace doors and fell into step, old friends used to one another’s pace. Neither spoke as they worked their way down the marble stairs leading into the gardens below.

  The crisp morning air smelled like spring, sweet and fresh. A symphony of blooms colored the entire area, and Luke was reminded of the time he’d come upon Elizabeth in the gardens of Griffin Manor. That night had changed everything between them. That had been the first time Luke had allowed himself to think of her as anything but his sister’s friend.

  After setting the dog on the ground, Jackson straightened and turned to Luke, his gaze full of bafflement. “The news of your father’s infidelity came as quite a shock. I had no idea about the true nature of Warren’s character.”

  “Not many did. My father has kept his secret . . . passions well hidden.”

  Jackson studied him a silent moment. “How long have you known?”

  Shame coursed through Luke, his skin burning hot. “A decade, maybe longer. Esmeralda was only the first of many, but I don’t believe I have
any other half siblings besides Sophie.”

  Sympathy returned to Jackson’s eyes. “You have carried this burden with you all that time?”

  Luke nodded.

  “You could have told me.”

  He could have, on any number of occasions, but . . .

  “To what end?” Luke shoved his hands in his pockets and glanced over the manicured lawn, raking his gaze across the flower bushes and shrub trees without really seeing them. “You’ve always admired Warren.”

  “I considered him a second father.”

  “He liked playing that role in your life.” Luke remembered the countless times Warren had compared him to Jackson. Why can’t you be more like your friend?

  “I never understood why Warren gave my father money to leave the country with his lover. It makes sense now.” Jackson’s voice was bleak, his gaze troubled. “It’s going to be rough going for your family in the coming weeks.”

  If anyone would know, it would be Jackson. He’d faced his share of gossip because of his father’s scandalous behavior. He’d worked tirelessly restoring his family’s good name, and had nearly succeeded, only to toss every bit of progress away to marry Caroline.

  He claimed he had no regrets for his choice.

  Luke believed him, especially now that he’d discovered his own love for Elizabeth. If she were the one facing family disgrace, Luke would stand by her without a moment’s hesitation.

  “The Griffin name will suffer some pretty heavy blows,” Jackson said.

  “We’ll get through it.”

  “You won’t do so alone. Caroline and I will stand by you.”

  Simon would stand with his family, as well. There would be others. Not many, but some.

  “I have one question for you, Luke.” Jackson glanced briefly over Luke’s shoulder. “And I want an honest answer.”

  Knowing what was about to come, he prepared to answer from his heart. “All right.”

  “Do you love Elizabeth?”

  “With every fiber of my being.”

  “Then why did you reject her support last night?”

  Luke ran a hand over his face, the scratch of day-old stubble rough against his palm. “I can’t tolerate the thought of her facing down a scandal that isn’t hers to bear.”