‘No—I realised that when I woke up in your bed.’
Adeline heard the insult in his smoothly worded comment, and almost choked on her anger. ‘What you or anyone else thinks of me does not matter. I learned to live with and accept the way I am a long time ago.’
Her admission struck Grant, and brought a strange ache to his heart. Momentarily distracted by the myriad of emotions playing in her expressive eyes, he was staring at her in utter astonishment as he recalled with vivid clarity all the womanly attributes concealed beneath her shapeless, unfashionable brown dress. He recalled seeing her stretched alongside him, as naked as a babe, and he remembered how white her high young breasts were, well-rounded, the nipples as wide and pink as rose petals. Why on earth she chose to wear her glorious wealth of hair in that unflattering, hideous bun at her nape he could not for the life of him imagine.
‘You may not make the best of yourself, Miss Osborne, but when I awoke in your bed I did not see you as plain, and you certainly did not lack feminine appeal—and I am prompted to say that despite our differences I suspect we were compatible in bed.’
Adeline stared at him, unable to believe he could describe the passion they had shared with such clinical calm. She failed to notice he had just paid her a compliment, for her fury was so great it was uncontainable.
‘You have no idea how hard I have castigated myself for not “kicking you out”, as you so aptly put it. It would have saved me all the misery I have endured since. You cannot possibly know how I have hated myself for my own lack of character and restraint for actually being tempted by you. I will never be able to forgive my stupidity.’
Grant put his hands on his lean hips and regarded her coldly. ‘I had no idea you would be so hard on yourself,’ he said sardonically, raising one dark brow.
‘That, Mr Leighton, is putting it mildly. For one night of illicit sex I behaved no better than all the other vacuous women who were guests at Diana Waverley’s party, and I cannot deny the awful truth that I sacrificed my principles, my virtue, my honour and my morals.’
‘You knew what you were doing.’
‘Yes—and unlike you I blame no one but myself. I made you a gift of my body and you can’t even remember. How do you think that makes me feel, Mr Leighton? I will tell you—insulted, dirty and defiled are the only words I can find to describe it. You are heartless, and I cannot believe I let you touch me. It is a shame I will have to live with for the rest of my life.’
Without further ado she turned on her heel and strode to the door, where she turned to deliver her parting salvo. ‘One more thing. Just in case you are wondering—although somehow I doubt it’s even entered that arrogant head of yours—I am not pregnant. So that’s one concern taken care of—and I hope the last.’
Grant watched the door close behind her. My God, she did have a way of knocking a man between the eyes. Devil take it, how had he ever got himself into this situation? Try as he might, he could not completely blame or acquit her. That there might be a child as a result of his stupid, irresponsible behaviour had bothered him. Thank God she wasn’t pregnant. He stood perfectly still, bemused and unable to shake off what had just transpired—or to believe that the beautiful creature he had made love to had quite unexpectedly turned up at his home when he’d thought he would never set eyes on her again.
Ever since that night his mind had been tortured by her. He could not forget even the smallest detail of her glorious body. Why she chose to dress the way she did, as if for some reason of her own she wanted to make herself inconspicuous, was a puzzle to him. Women with such courage and daring and fire in their veins as Miss Osborne possessed did not try to hide themselves away.
The weekend had lost its shine. Shutting out the reality of Miss Adeline Osborne’s presence under his roof was going to be impossible.
Adeline paused at the other side of the door and tried to compose herself before facing the other guests. She was trapped in this house, therefore she was going to have to find some way to remain here in relative harmony for the duration. In order to survive the ordeal she would simply have to ignore Grant Leighton’s inexplicable antagonism and take each moment as it came. She would be poised and polite and completely imperturbable, no matter how coldly or how rudely he behaved.
With that settled in her mind, she went to join Paul and her father.
Oaklands was made for grand occasions. By six o’clock the huge table in the dining room was laden with an impressive array of silver cutlery, Crown Derby and exquisite crystal glassware. There were few table decorations, and what there were created a light and graceful effect. Vases were filled with blooms which had been grown in Grant’s own hothouses.
Well-presented delicious food would be served, along with many various wines. No guest ever left the table at Oaklands with less than complete satisfaction.
Two beautiful crystal chandeliers were suspended from the high ceiling in the large drawing room. One wall was a wide sweep of windows, with French doors thrown open to the scented breezes of the garden and a broad stone terrace ablaze with pots of flowering shrubs, affording breathtaking views of the manicured lawns, the magnificent gardens giving way to a lake and surrounding countryside.
Grant moved among his guests—twelve in all—with the confident ease of a man well assured of his masculinity and his own worth. He conversed politely, seeming to give each his full attention, but the major part of it was concentrated on the door, as he waited for Miss Adeline Osborne to make an appearance.
Adeline entered the room feeling more than a little trepidation. Directly ahead of her was the impressive figure of their host, and he was looking straight at her. With a defiant toss of her head she lifted her chin and walked forward between Paul and her father.
Grant disappeared for several minutes, and when he returned had an elderly lady in turquoise silk on his arm. They circulated, laughing and chatting to guests, and eventually crossed the room to where Horace Osborne stood with a rather stiff-looking Paul and an apprehensive Adeline. When Grant introduced the lady to Horace she eagerly extended a thin hand in greeting, giving him all her attention.
Small, trim and white-haired, Hester Leighton gave the physical impression of age, yet her twinkling blue eyes and easy, willing smile were the epitome of eternal youth.
‘I am so pleased to meet you, Mr Osborne—and Mr Marlow and your charming daughter.’
Horace bowed politely over her hand. ‘Likewise, Mrs Leighton.’
She smiled sympathetically at Adeline. ‘How young you look, Miss Osborne. I’m afraid you’re stuck with a lot of old fossils for the weekend. I don’t think there’s anyone here under the age of forty—excluding Grant, of course,’ she said, smiling fondly at her son.
‘Oh, I’m sure I’ll survive, Mrs Leighton,’ Adeline replied, for the most part keeping her gaze averted from their host.
‘Less of the old fossils,’ Grant chided mockingly. Speaking to Horace, he said, ‘Mother is still youthful, despite having raised four children.’
Horace arched his brows, seemingly surprised. ‘Four? And are they all present this evening?’
‘No,’ Hester replied. ‘Just Grant—and my daughter Lettie will be along later. My youngest son Roland is in India with his regiment. I had a letter just last week, informing me he will be coming home for Christmas—as will my daughter Anna and her family, from Ireland. It’s all very exciting—a Christmas to remember. It will be the first Christmas we have been together as a family for many years. Do you have other children, Mr Osborne?’
Horace shook his head. ‘Sadly, no. My wife died when Adeline was a child. I never remarried.’
Hester smiled at Adeline. ‘It’s a pity Lettie isn’t here—but she will be later on. At least I fully expect her to be. She’s only just arrived home from London, so she will miss dinner, I’m afraid.’ Her gaze was drawn back to Horace. ‘I really am so glad you came.’ She turned to Grant. ‘You have seated me next to Mr Osborne at dinner, I hope, Grant?’
/>
He smiled indulgently. ‘As you requested, Mother.’
‘Good. We have so much to discuss.’
Horace smiled. Her light-hearted charm was infectious. ‘I hope you don’t hold a grudge because of my refusal to sell Rosehill?’ he questioned.
‘Of course not. I’m disappointed, naturally, but I never hold grudges.’
‘I’m relieved to hear it.’
Mrs Leighton was as gracious and kind as she was witty and warm. Adeline was surprise to see that her father was captivated. Her surprised deepened as his face took on a rare sparkle of humour.
At that moment the butler announced that dinner was about to be served.
Mrs Leighton turned at Horace. ‘Will you be so kind as to escort me into dinner, Mr Osborne?’
He offered her his arm. ‘It will be my pleasure, Mrs Leighton.’
‘Oh, you must call me Hester. We are very informal at Oaklands, you know.’
Horace’s eyes twinkled. ‘And I would like it if you would call me Horace.’
The rest of the evening passed in a relaxed and congenial atmosphere. Adeline listened, and conversed when spoken to, and smiled when it was appropriate. Often when she looked in Grant Leighton’s direction she found him watching her with a strange sort of intensity she could not define—as if he were making a study of her person.
After dinner everyone gathered in the drawing room to partake in various amusements. Grant leaned on the piano, listening to Mrs Forrester play some Chopin nocturnes—both she and her banker husband were his guests from London. She was a clever, interesting woman Adeline had conversed with at length at dinner, and she was extremely proficient on the keyboard.
Adeline surreptitiously watched Grant’s tall, lounging figure. His head was bent low as he listened attentively to the music. Without warning he turned, and Adeline was caught in the act of staring at him. His gaze captured hers, and a strange, unfathomable smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Immediately she jerked her gaze away and looked down at her book.
Unable to resist speaking to her, Grant went and perched on the arm of the sofa where she sat, looking down at her. He had noticed that her face in repose had a vulnerability to it that was startling, as if pain were familiar to her. She could not have been aware of her expression or she would have been more guarded. Now she peered up at him in surprise through her spectacle lenses.
‘I think you may have lost your way, Mr Leighton. Please don’t feel you have to speak to me.’
‘I don’t. I suppose we must play out the farce to its conclusion.’
‘It looks like it. But do you have to be so disagreeable all the time?’
‘I intend to continue being disagreeable while you are in my house.’
Adeline sighed and closed her book. ‘It might please you to know that I am paying dearly for my lack of judgement—which is only right. And even though I am now in the most dire straits because of it, I suppose that, too, is justice.’
‘Exactly what do you mean by that?’ Grant asked, in spite of himself. ‘Something to do with your lack of loyalty to your fiancé, perhaps?’ he mocked lazily, watching tension and emotions play across her expressive face.
‘Either that or his loyalty to me.’ She grimaced. ‘Paul doesn’t know the meaning of the word.’
Her tone was scathing, and her reply left Grant puzzled. Despite his resolution not to give a damn what her problems were, he was a little disturbed by her answer—but he didn’t want to enlarge on it.
Sensing he was softening a little, Adeline dinted her pride and presented her advantage. ‘Mr Leighton—’
‘Grant.’
‘What?’
‘Please feel free to call me Grant. Everyone does. It will seem odd if you don’t.’
‘Very well—then you must call me Adeline.’
‘Please continue—Adeline. You were about to say something?’
‘Yes. Surely nothing that has happened between us should make us behave badly towards each other?’
Grant lifted an arrogant sleek brow. ‘No?’
‘Neither of us were hurt.’
‘We weren’t?’
‘No. So there is no reason why we can’t be cordial to one another—for the time I am here.’ She gave him a small beguiling smile and, removing her glasses, looked at him directly. ‘Believe me, if I could I would leave. But I can’t—so we are stuck with each other.’
Her smile was so disarming that Grant experienced the first crack in his defence. Her clothes may be severe—almost puritan—but her face threw out a challenge. It was a face with a capacity for merriment and cheerful cynicism, and there was impudence in the tilt of her nose. Suddenly he was surprised to find he wasn’t nearly as immune to her as he wanted to be.
‘It seems like it,’ he replied. ‘You know, you look so much better without your spectacles.’
‘So do you,’ she replied with a trace of sarcasm.
Grant laughed, not in the least offended. Without her spectacles to distort his view, he thought how beautiful her eyes were—green and large, and surrounded by thick black lashes. When he had first seen her earlier he had thought how unattractive she was, and had found it difficult to believe he had found anything striking about her when he had awoken in her bed. But looking at her now, bathed in a golden light, her lips—sensitive lips, full, sensuous and sweet—her expression soft and alluring, and looking very young, he was forced to revise his opinion.
‘I would also like to remind you that like everyone else I am your guest, so I would appreciate being treated like one and not as an intruder. You have hardly been the soul of amiability towards me.’
Grant tilted his head to one side, studying her. He was considering whether or not there would be an advantage in putting their hostility aside. Concluding that there would, he nodded in agreement. ‘Very well. I want the time that you are here to be pleasant for both of us, and for the weekend to run smoothly for all concerned. I will make every attempt to be civil.’
‘Are you sure you’re up to the challenge?’
‘I shall prevail.’ Suddenly he smiled at her, and that smile was as bright as the sun coming out from behind a cloud.
Completely caught up in the heady power of that smile, Adeline warmed to him, appreciating the considerable charm he could wield without any effort at all. ‘Thank you.’
‘It may interest you to know that Mrs Forrester has been singing your praises. It would appear that you have hidden talents, Adeline. She says you are an extremely knowledgeable young woman who can converse on most subjects. She was delighted to find herself in the company of another clever, intelligent woman.’
‘That’s nice of her.’ Adeline’s smile became mischievous as she gave what he’d said some thought. ‘Clever and intelligent? Oh, dear—for an intelligent woman I’m not doing very well. Look at the mess I made of things at Westwood Hall. My life hasn’t been the same since.’
‘It’s a little late in the day to start thinking about that, but you’ll soon get it back in order—when you marry Paul Marlow.’
Adeline looked at him and tried to feel some enthusiasm, but failed. ‘I suspect you don’t like Paul.’
‘You suspect right.’
‘Then why did you invite him?’
‘Because I was afraid your father wouldn’t come otherwise.’
‘So you could try to persuade him to sell Rosehill?’
Grant nodded.
‘He won’t, you know.’
‘I know that. He was most definite about it. But it means a lot to my mother,’ he said, with a teasing twinkle in his eyes, ‘and I couldn’t deny her the opportunity to use her persuasive charm on him.’
‘Father never succumbs to charm.’
‘And he’s not an easy man to live with I imagine.’
‘Not really. He’s always worked hard, and he has become set in his ways—he always believes he’s right.’ She smiled, then looked away. ‘He’s terribly strict, but not cruel. He’s the kind of
father who allows me every indulgence, except the freedom to choose my own husband. Not that there’s anything unusual in that. Most fathers are stiff and virtuous, and keep a very short rein on their daughters, regardless of how plain they are.’
Grant lifted an eyebrow, surprised at her outspokenness. ‘And do you regard yourself as plain?’
‘Oh, absolutely. Still,’ she said, laughing softly, ‘since Mrs Forrester says I am intelligent and clever, I don’t suppose I can have everything—and if I had to choose between the two then I would choose intelligence over everything else.’
‘Then I must introduce you to my sister Lettie. I think you will find you have much in common. Speaking of which—’ he said, looking beyond her towards the door, where there seemed to be some kind of a disturbance. He rose to see better the cause of it.
Lettie’s entry was like a whirlwind coming through the door—a fresh, airy breeze sweeping through the house. Adeline saw a slim young woman clad in rose-coloured satin. Bestowing smiles on everyone she passed. The new arrival made a beeline for her brother, and with her came a freshness and vitality that shone.
Grant smiled tolerantly as she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. ‘Dear Lord, don’t throttle me, Lettie,’ he complained, but his firm lips were stretched in a grin as he held her at arm’s length and surveyed her. ‘You’re looking well.’
‘It’s been a whole month, and I’ve been working very hard, I’ll have you know, so I must look a sight—but bless you for the compliment. It’s lovely to see you again—and Marjorie sends her regards, by the way. I’ve missed you. Have you missed me?’
‘Like a bad headache,’ he drawled, pleased to see her nevertheless.
Adeline was more than a little charmed by Lettie. She smiled a great deal, and her bodily movements were as lively as her expression. Dark-haired, with deep blue eyes, a pure complexion, a waist the requisite handspan and a dazzling smile, there was no doubt in her mind that this was Grant Leighton’s sister. They were so alike.
Wicked Pleasures Page 6
