Defiant Impostor

by Miriam Minger

  When she made a pretense of faltering, his voice became gentle despite his palpable impatience. “Go on,” he encouraged her, his gaze intent.

  “When I lived at Fairford, I had no desire to go out because it wasn’t my home. The people there were Aunt Melicent’s friends, not mine. It all seemed so pointless, their constant card parties and balls. I always knew I’d return to Virginia one day, and now that I’m here, I’d like to see more of the Tidewater and meet the people who knew my father. I don’t see any harm in it, Adam. Papa would have wanted me to be happy here. To make friends. He wouldn’t have liked me to shut myself away from everybody.”

  Susanna sighed softly, thinking how in truth, Camille might have said those words. Feeling suddenly very much an impostor, she looked down at her hands. Her next words, something Camille had shared with her, she doubted she could tell Adam to his face without giving herself away.

  “Actually, I’d like to be more like my mother. Papa didn’t speak of her often, I think it was too painful for him, but he once told me that she was as vivacious as a spring morning, and that she loved to dance. Everybody liked her, and they used to have parties here a lot, before she and my brothers …”

  Susanna was unable to continue for the tightness in her throat. Long moments passed during which she still couldn’t bring herself to look at him, but she knew from his silence that he was carefully pondering what she had said. Finally, when she heard him lean back in the chair, his movement carrying with it a sense of resignation, she knew she had convinced him. She met his eyes.

  “All right, Camille, all right. God knows, I want you to be happy and to do whatever you think will make you feel more at home here. I guess I should be thankful that at least I’ll be able to accompany you, unless something occurs here that needs my attention. “

  Her immense relief that she could finally shed her oppressive shyness and act more like herself was immediately checked by surprise. “You will?” she asked, his response not at all what she had anticipated. Bloody hell! How was she ever going to encourage other suitors with Adam dogging her every step? “Th-that’s wonderful, Adam.”

  “Yes, though there’s another thing you should know about your friend Celeste. She believes I’m interested in courting her … in fact, she welcomes it. It wasn’t my idea to walk with her in the garden this afternoon, but her father’s. I think he wants a crop master for a son-in-law.”

  Susanna felt unexpected and wholly preposterous jealousy. Celeste was interested in marrying Adam? Surely that had to be another one of his lies.

  “She invited me to accompany all of you on your outings, but only after I assured her that I had no interest in courting you myself.” Adam rose from the chair, clearly exasperated, and began to pace the floor, his limp more pronounced now that he had been sitting for a while. He seemed to be wrestling with some issue when he stopped and faced her squarely.

  “Camille, I know you don’t want to be rushed and I have no wish to pressure you, but the secretive nature of our courtship must end! I won’t have Celeste fawning all over me while I watch you being hounded by her brother … or any other man for that matter. Dammit, I’ll move into my office, if that’s what it takes to prevent any malicious rumors. I’ll do anything to protect you and your reputation, but I won’t stand for this charade any longer!”

  Susanna was stunned by his outburst. All she knew was that her plan to keep him at Briarwood for as long as necessary was about to crash down around her like a flimsy house of cards, unless she thought of something fast.

  “I-I don’t want you to move out,” she stammered, rising shakily to her feet. “I want you to stay near me, Adam. I like having you so close, and I don’t want to be in this big house alone. Please … can’t we go on as we have been for a few more weeks? Then I promise you we’ll announce our betrothal. It’s been so lovely … so romantic having our own little secret, just like in the books I used to read. Please, just for a little while longer …”

  Adam was tempted to sweep her into his arms, the plea in her beautiful eyes enough to make him relent, but it wasn’t just the two of them involved anymore.

  “What of Matthew and Celeste Grymes?” he asked. “And what of those other gentlemen who’ve been surrounding you all day? Is it fair to so mislead everyone?”

  She appeared to choose her words carefully. “I suppose … it depends on whose interests you have at heart, Adam,” she finally said softly, a playful tone creeping into her voice. “Theirs … or mine.”

  He regarded her quizzically. “You know my answer to that.”

  “Then I don’t see that there’s any problem, do you? It could actually be fun … our deception.”

  Adam exhaled slowly, thinking with amusement that he didn’t know this woman very well. It seemed that there was a mischievous vixen hiding within his timid mouse, a spirited and naughty side to her that might prove most entertaining once they were wed.

  Adam smiled with keen anticipation.

  He had sensed early on that she possessed a passionate nature, but last night her wanton response to his kiss had almost made him forget he was a gentleman, and he could have sworn that her fiery passion had startled even her. Nor would he have ever guessed she had an impish streak in her, but it was clear that she was trusting him more and more to reveal such a facet of herself. Damn, if it wasn’t amazing what a little gentle wooing could do; everything was progressing just as he had expected! She was no longer asking for months of courtship, but mere days.

  “A few weeks?” he asked huskily, reaching out and drawing her slowly toward him.

  “Yes,” Susanna murmured, her heart pounding as his strong arms went around her in a possessive embrace. “Only a few more weeks.”

  “Done.”

  Although she was swept by overwhelming relief that once again she had so easily deceived him, Susanna was equally aware of how difficult her search for the proper husband had suddenly become and how little time she had to accomplish it. Then his lips brushed hers, his breath whispering past her parted lips, and she thought no more of her perilous situation, only how warm his mouth was and how good it felt for him to kiss her.

  She melted within his arms, somewhere in her passionate haze hearing the soft swoosh of satin and the crisp rustle of damask as he hugged her more closely. She scarcely knew when he lifted his mouth from hers and trailed a fiery path down her throat, but she started when his lips found the deep hollow between her breasts and he kissed her there, his tongue flicking a soft, rounded curve. It was a sensation wholly unlike any other, and she could not deny she liked it … very much.

  “You are perfection, my love,” he whispered against her skin, the warmth of his breath heating her lavender perfume so that it drifted around them. “Sweet, wondrous perfection.” He kissed her breasts again, lingering over each in turn until she was softly moaning, then he raised his head and stared into her half-closed eyes. “A few weeks?” he teased.

  Susanna couldn’t speak, her reason shattered. Only her senses were wildly alive to the sensual wonders of the man who held her: the iron strength of his arms; the hard, solid feel of his body pressing against hers; the incredible depth of his eyes which made her feel as if she was drowning. She had never before felt such an acute disappointment as when a soft rap came at the door and Corliss’s voice called out to her.

  “Miss Camille, your guests have been asking for you. Shall I tell them you’ll be coming down soon? And I’ve a message here from a gentleman who just arrived. He said for me to deliver it to you straightaway.”

  “Damn. Saved again, my love,” Adam murmured, releasing her as reluctantly as Susanna, still dazed, wanted to be free of his arms.

  But when Corliss knocked more loudly a second time, Susanna disengaged herself from his embrace. Walking shakily to the door, her skin still feeling as if it burned from his touch, she hoped her voice didn’t sound too breathless or strange.

  “I’ll be right down, Corliss. Mr. Thornton and I were just finishin
g our” —she glanced at him, thankful for her sudden irritation at the conspiratorial smile on his handsome face— “business discussion.”

  “All right, Miss Camille, but I don’t dare return to the hall without giving you this message first.”

  Annoyed that anyone would order her maid around, Susanna quickly smoothed her skirt, flipped a slightly mussed curl over her shoulder, and opened the door.

  “Who is it from, Corliss?”

  The maid shrugged, though she smiled secretively. From her excited expression, she didn’t appear to be upset that one of the guests had sent her on such an odd mission.

  Susanna quickly broke the blood-red wax seal and read the carefully inscribed note:

  My dearest Miss Cary,

  If you will kindly grace presence, you will see the gift I have brought for you, which I hope will be only the first of many tokens of my esteem and affection.

  Yours,

  An ardent admirer

  Susanna folded the fine cream paper, curiosity and excitement building within her. Who could have sent this?

  “Well?” asked Adam.

  Susanna glanced at him. He seemed to be glaring at the letter in her hand. “It says to step out onto the balcony. Someone has brought me a gift,” she said, not sure why she felt the need to offer him an explanation and wishing she hadn’t when his expression darkened. It angered her that he would show his resentment so openly. Their agreement to keep their courtship a secret was still very much in effect.

  “Come on, Miss Camille,” Corliss urged, paying no heed to Adam as she flung open the latticed doors to the balcony. “Oh, will you just look at that …”

  As Susanna stepped outside and leaned on the wooden banister, her breath caught at the sight of the most beautiful thoroughbred mare she had ever seen, prancing friskily in place almost directly below her. A bewigged black man in splendid silver brocade livery held the reins, while encircling him and the restless animal was a crowd of her guests. From the curious, expectant looks on their faces, everyone was enjoying the unusual spectacle.

  “Miss Cary, I present this filly to you on behalf of my master, Mr. Dominick Spencer,” the groom announced. “Her name is Sheba, and she bears the finest quarter-horse blood to be found in the Tidewater.”

  “Dominick Spencer?” Susanna breathed. “Of Raven’s Point?”

  Corliss nodded excitedly. “That’s right, Miss Camille. I told you he had the finest racehorses around. That Sheba’s just one of them.”

  “Which gentleman is he?” she asked, scanning the crowd.

  “Oh, Mr. Spencer’s not down there. He’s waiting for you in the ballroom. He said to tell you he didn’t want no thanks for the mare. All he wanted was the first and last dances of the evening.”

  How intriguing, Susanna thought, impressed by the planter’s extravagant gift and its grand presentation.

  “Well then, I suppose I should go downstairs and meet my ardent admirer,” she said, turning eagerly back into the room. She was surprised to see that Adam was gone, the door to her room left open.

  Then again, he had said earlier that he didn’t want any other man hounding her, and if her woman’s intuition was any gauge, she imagined Mr. Spencer intended on doing just that, and maybe more. Corliss had told her that the rich widower was looking for a wife.

  Adam had shown he was jealous just by hearing that someone had brought her a present, and it had probably made him even more resentful to hear that his latest rival was his former employer. From the one time they had discussed Dominick Spencer, followed by Adam’s stubborn reluctance to answer any of her questions about his former life at Raven’s Point, she was certain that there was bad blood between them.

  But whatever that might be, it didn’t matter to her, Susanna thought defiantly as she took a last look at herself in the mirror, determined to forget the scorching memory of Adam’s lips upon her breasts. All that mattered was that she meet this gentleman who had gone so out of his way to impress her. Adam might soon discover that he had good reason to be jealous.

  Chapter 11

  When Susanna entered the ballroom, she found it ablaze with hundreds of white candles adorning the crystal chandeliers. Many of her guests had already assembled, eager for the dancing to begin, and the air was charged with excitement. Gay laughter and the animated buzz of conversation rang all around.

  The double doors to the adjoining music room had been thrown open and the harpsichord repositioned just outside them; a musician was practicing lightly on the keys. A trio of violinists tuned their instruments nearby, while a fifth musician tooted upon his French horn and another performed trills on a silver flute. Robert Grymes had outdone himself in providing music for the evening, and Susanna made a mental note to thank him. Everything looked and sounded so festive!

  A quick scan of the room told her that Adam was not present, an easy thing to discern since most of the men were wearing wigs while he did not, and she was surprised by her sudden disappointment. Telling herself that she didn’t need his furtive attentions or interference right now, she searched the crowd for a gentleman who might fit Corliss’s description of Dominick Spencer: handsome, distinguished, and about forty-five years old. She was surprised he had not greeted her at the entrance to the ballroom, considering that Corliss had said he would be waiting for her—

  “Miss Cary?”

  Susanna whirled around and came face-to-face with one of the most aristocratic-looking men she had ever seen. “Yes?”

  “Forgive me, but I stepped into the game room for a moment and missed your arrival. If I may introduce myself … Dominick Spencer.” He bowed gallantly, with a practiced flourish, then straightened and met her eyes with a gaze of ice-blue intensity. “I am delighted to finally make your acquaintance.”

  “Mr. Spencer,” she said softly, inclining her head in the polite fashion she had seen women doing all day.

  “You saw my gift, I take it …”

  “Oh, yes. Yes, I did,” she blurted, thinking how ungrateful she must appear that she hadn’t thought to thank him. “It was so unexpected. Such a beautiful creature—”

  “No more so than the lovely vision you make, Miss Cary, if you don’t mind me complimenting you so boldly. Simply put, you take my breath away.”

  In truth, Susanna did find his praise rather fulsome. He had delivered it in so smooth a manner she could not help thinking that however out of breath he might claim to be, he looked as cool and unruffled as a judge. Yet her cheeks grew warm under his admiring appraisal.

  If she had been asked to pick someone among her guests who appeared the perfect embodiment of a Tidewater gentleman, it was Dominick Spencer. Everything about his attire proclaimed his wealth and prominence, from his full campaign wig, gold brocade coat and blue satin waistcoat, white silk stockings and diamond-studded buckles on his red-heeled shoes, to the gold sword hilt encrusted with jewels which protruded through the side vent of his coat.

  He was tall—though perhaps surpassing Adam by only an inch—and his demeanor was proud. He had a decided air of arrogance about him, but she quickly reasoned that any man of his caliber would possess the same. And Corliss had certainly been right about his looks.

  His features were patrician and symmetrical in a long, angular face which appeared surprisingly unlined and youthful for his age. His countenance was almost too perfect, in fact, and to Susanna it seemed much less compelling than Adam’s rugged good looks. He wasn’t as broad-shouldered or as powerfully built as Adam either, but somewhat on the lean side

  Oh, Adam, Adam, Adam! she fumed in frustration. Why could she never get him out of her mind?

  “I believe your guests are waiting for you to lead them in the first dance,” Dominick said, his hard, thin lips curved into a quizzical smile, as if he was amused by her open scrutiny. “Did your maid remember to give you my full message … the first dance and the last?”

  “Why, yes. She did,” Susanna replied, embarrassed that she had been staring at him so bla
tantly, and equally flustered by her persistent thoughts of Adam. She hoped that Dominick had also heard Camille Cary was shy, which would serve as a plausible explanation for much of her discomfiture.

  “I shall only demand them, Miss Cary, if you are well-pleased with your gift …”

  “Oh, I’m very pleased, Mr. Spencer—”

  “Call me Dominick. Last names are so formal for two people who I predict are going to become very good friends.” He took her arm solicitously. “Our minuet, Camille.”

  Susanna barely had a chance to nod her assent before he was leading her onto the dance floor, the other guests forming several long lines of paired couples both in front of them and behind. She was stunned by how suavely he had taken charge of the proceedings; something, she realized as he bowed deeply and she curtsied, that he must be accustomed to doing. Then the music began, and they were dancing to the strains of a courtly minuet, Dominick holding her gaze as he continued to converse with her in low, precise tones meant for her ears alone.

  “This is quite an impressive event, Camille. Your father would have been proud of you.”

  “Thank you … Dominick,” she replied, thinking it strange to be addressing him with such familiarity when they had just met. Then again, Adam had done the same thing, perhaps waiting only a little bit longer. It seemed neither man wanted to waste any time, but of course, she didn’t care what Adam wanted. She was, however, very interested in what this particular gentleman had in mind. “I’m glad you could attend. I’ve heard so much about you.”

  “Really? From whom?”

  Susanna felt a moment’s unease, wishing she could retract her statement. She didn’t know if he would be pleased or not to discover he was the subject of gossip among her servants.

  “Actually, my waiting-maid Corliss. She brought me your message.”

  “Oh, yes. A well-mannered, obliging girl, though a little talkative for my taste. You might want to rein her in a notch. It’s always a good thing for slaves to know their places. They can become uppity, which must then be corrected with a very firm hand …”