by Gayle Callen
“Now you’re being patronizing,” she said with a huff.
“I am not. But you told me how you were treated at your last position. I just worry that you might run into the same situation—someone who would force you into something that you didn’t want.”
When she didn’t say anything, he felt tension grip his stomach. She hadn’t felt…forced by him, had she?
“Well, you needn’t worry,” she said primly. “I plan to do some of my own interviewing before I accept any position.”
“So the employers have to give you their references,” he said with amusement.
“Correct.”
They sat quietly for several minutes, and he realized how peaceful he found her company. He was still driven crazy with lust at just the smell of her, of course, but when he could subdue that, he simply…enjoyed her for the person she was.
“I should leave,” he finally said. “You must be tired.”
“I haven’t been riding in a long time, and muscles I had forgotten I had are sore.” She hesitated. “Georgie felt quite guilty riding.”
“And I told her not to. She actually asked my permission. Just because I’m afraid, doesn’t mean she has to…” His words died away.
She said nothing to change the topic, so he was forced to continue. “I wouldn’t be able to see where I’m going, and I would have to be led around like a child learning to ride.”
“That’s not such a bad thing, especially if you’re with people you enjoy.”
He took a deep breath. “I’m worried I’ll be thrown again.”
“You have every right to be worried,” she said.
“When I could control the animal, I was thrown onto my head. A horse knows if you’re tentative, and tries to get away with what it can.”
“But a gentle mare…”
“Now you’re the one threatening my manliness.”
She giggled. “Well, think about it. I would be glad to take you somewhere in private and ride with you.”
With her innocent words, it all came rushing back, the taste of her skin, the heat between her thighs when he’d pressed himself there. He imagined her on top, riding him. Gripping the arms of his chair, he tried to sound mild as he said, “You’re getting good at saying one thing and implying another.”
“Oh!” She sounded shocked and puzzled at the same time. “You just assume everything has a hidden meaning. Now you really need to go. The door is to your left.”
He rose to his feet. “I know. So will our friendship survive?”
He heard her stand. “Is that what we have—a friendship?”
“I’d like to think so.”
“I’ll agree to that. As a friend, we could have a serious discussion about oarlocks.”
He laughed. “There’s not much to tell. I’m just rethinking the design. Good thing no one pressed me on the concept. That will teach me to confide in Georgie.”
He reached the door and opened it, letting in the cool wind and the smells of the garden. “Sleep well, Louisa.”
“Good night.”
When he had gone, Louisa collapsed back on her bed, arms thrown wide, confused and happy and worried all at the same time. She was glad he considered himself her friend, and worried because she didn’t know if it was a good idea for him to feel free to wander into her room in the name of that friendship. If she forbade it, he would acquiesce. But telling him not to return seemed impossible. She wondered if this friendship was another convenience for him, but she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Obviously she missed her sisters terribly, because she was telling her secrets to a man she wasn’t even sure could be a friend. And he was telling her his. She ached with sympathy over his inability to ride. She knew how important such a thing was to a man.
And being intimate with women was even more important.
Simon was enjoying a pleasant dinner with the three ladies the next night, when the door opened fast enough to bang against the wall. He waited for a servant to make an announcement, but instead heard, “Hello, everyone!”
It was his younger brother, Leo. Simon folded his arms over his chest and shook his head as Leo, slapping him jovially on the shoulder, greeted their sister and grandmother.
“Well, Georgie,” Leo said, “I was ready to find you wearing spectacles this time around. You have been more and more a bluestocking each time I see you.”
“Leo, as usual, you don’t know anything,” Georgie said sweetly.
“Well you do look rather grand today. What’s the occasion?”
After a curious pause, Leo called, “Hey, no need to hit me! I’ll just stay on this side of the table with sympathetic people. Grandmama, you look as lovely as ever.”
Simon could hear the smacking kiss from across the table.
“It’s about time you visited us again,” Grandmama scolded. “Your brother and sister have been worked to death trying to keep me entertained. I actually had to hire a companion!”
“Ah, a newcomer. Let me get a good look at—Miss Shelby.”
Simon frowned. Leo’s voice had actually softened. Was that a hint of uneasiness he heard?
“Mr. Wade,” Louisa answered coolly.
So they knew each other as more than just gossip.
Georgie asked, “How do you know my brother, Louisa?”
“We have met at several events,” she answered diplomatically.
“She allowed me to step on her toes once or twice on the dance floor,” Leo added. “Miss Shelby, so you have to put up with my grandmother now? You have my heartfelt condolences.”
Simon was reluctantly impressed by Leo’s tact in not questioning why Louisa had come down in the world. Maybe there was hope for his brother after all. Now if only Simon could persuade him to tell no one of Louisa’s reputation.
“So why have you arrived so late in the day?” Grandmama asked. “Surely your horse could have hurt itself in the dark.”
“Or thrown me? Oh, sorry, Simon,” he added, sounding contrite for Leo. “Not still a sore subject, is it?”
“Of course not,” Simon answered mildly.
“I went to Reyburn’s first this afternoon. Shot some quail, ran a few hounds into the ground, you know, the sort of thing one can’t do in London. The start of the real Season is almost upon us, so I can’t stay long. You’re coming again this year, Georgie?”
“Perhaps,” she answered cautiously.
Leo sighed loudly. “No one cares, sister dear. I told them all you were hopelessly clumsy as a child. No one thinks you did anything deliberately. Ow! No need to fling a fork at me, Georgie. I’m just teasing.”
Simon grinned. “Did you hit him in the face? I would love to see tine marks in his skin.”
“You must be joking,” Leo said in mock horror. “Scar this lovely face that the ladies swoon over?”
The evening was vintage Leo, and Simon enjoyed himself. But he couldn’t help noticing that Leo never flirted with Louisa, as was his habit with a beautiful woman.
After dinner, when the ladies rose to leave for the drawing room, Simon called Leo back.
“Simon, I can have my port with the ladies. Grandmama might even let me smoke a cheroot in front of her.”
“I need to talk to you,” Simon said. “Are we alone?”
The doors closed.
“Now we are. A brandy?”
“Thank you.”
Leo sat down beside him and said, “You’re scaring me, Simon. I feel like I used to when Father needed to have a discussion with me.”
“I’m not here to punish you, Leo.”
“Good, then I’m glad we’re alone. I need some advice. There is this actress—”
“Later, this is important.” Simon took a sip of brandy. “It’s about Louisa.”
“You mean Miss Shelby?” Leo said a bit too thoughtfully. “Already calling her by her Christian name? Why Simon, you devil. Even blind you can still sway the ladies.”
Simon sighed loudly. “I j
ust want to warn you to say nothing to anyone about Louisa’s reputation.”
Leo hesitated, and when he spoke, he sounded more subdued. “I never spread unsubstantiated rumors.”
“You’re one of the ones who told me! You and several other fools.”
“Well, yes, but I was in my cups and—”
“Then don’t drink. I don’t want the ladies hurt—especially Louisa. I don’t think she knows what’s been said. She is having difficulties right now.”
“Obviously, since she’s hired herself out as a companion.”
“That’s only part of it.”
“Gossip? Tell me more.”
“Leo,” Simon said through clenched teeth. “I need your promise first.”
“Well of course I promise. I would never harm a lady by spreading such rumors.”
“Except to all the men you told.”
“Actually, I told no one but you.”
He sounded sincere, which made Simon suspicious. But he let it go. “Grandmama brought Louisa here to help Georgie, too.”
“I did notice the new gown. Not something Mother would have chosen.”
“Exactly. Louisa enjoys helping girls prepare for their Season.”
“Oh.”
Simon didn’t know what that meant, and for the hundredth time wished he could see his brother. Leo’s face was always open to him. But he was finally beginning to learn that sound could carry much meaning. “So there’s Georgie to consider. I know she’s going to start attending parties, and I somehow have to minimize the effect of Louisa’s presence.”
“Surely you are overreacting,” Leo said.
“So I’m supposed to take the chance that Georgie’s reputation could suffer?”
“I see,” Leo answered softly. “But only a few men know, and surely no one was crass enough to tell the ladies.”
“But we don’t know that. Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything. I just want you to keep your mouth shut.”
“You always do like to take over and control things,” Leo said with amusement. “It’s good to have that Simon back.”
Chapter 14
Louisa bent her head over her embroidery and listened as Lady Wade and Georgie speculated about the motives for Mr. Wade’s visit, as if he regularly avoided them.
She wouldn’t put anything past Mr. Wade. She remembered him as a forward young man who used to try to maneuver her alone at parties. She had thought him charming and reckless, and had laughed off his advances. But he had been only her first experience at that sort of man. Later, at Lady Ralston’s, she had really understood how cruel some men could be, and how little they respected her.
She had never given Mr. Wade the opportunity to harm her, and she told herself that everything would be all right. He’d seemed surprised to see her, but he was civil and kind. Perhaps he regretted his behavior now that he was several years older. She would give him the benefit of the doubt—but she would never allow herself to be alone with him.
They heard the gentlemen long before they arrived.
“Well, look at you, Simon!” Mr. Wade said boisterously. “Walking all alone. Where’s Manvil? Is he sad he’s been demoted?”
“He’s satisfied to return to his real position,” Simon said, his voice echoing ahead of him.
“A valet has too much time alone in a bedroom. There’s only one reason to do that—”
Mr. Wade broke off as they rounded the corner and entered the room. He smiled, and Louisa couldn’t help smiling back, even as she shook her head. The Wade brothers oozed charm out of every pore. Mr. Wade was as blond as his brother, with hair even curlier. He wore mutton-chop sideburns that drew attention to his legendary family dimples. He was taller and leaner than Simon, almost gangly in a boyishly endearing way. Louisa had been swept up in his presence as much as every other girl. When members of the ton graced a party hosted by a wealthy factory owner, eligible ladies took notice.
She looked between the two brothers, alike and yet so different. There was a maturity and responsibility and kindness about Simon that his brother couldn’t match.
Perhaps the fact that she was “smitten” impeded her judgment, but she didn’t think so. Most women would think that it was the title that made Simon more alluring. But they didn’t know him like she did.
Or was she foolish to imagine that she understood him?
For an hour, the family discussed the latest London gossip, and Louisa listened with interest, since she recognized so many of the names. She was glad Georgie showed an interest, although she thought it was mostly because she enjoyed bantering with her brothers.
Mr. Wade finally turned to Georgie and gave her a raised eyebrow. “So Simon tells me you’re being tutored.”
Georgie tilted her chin. “I’m enjoying working with Louisa.”
“I like the gown,” Mr. Wade said. “Miss Shelby, is that due to you?”
Louisa set her embroidery in her lap. “Lady Wade helped greatly.”
Lady Wade waved a hand. “I did not. I let the two girls have their heads and they took the London dressmakers by storm.”
“So what is Georgie wearing?” Simon asked.
“A lovely green gown.”
“Ah, matches her eyes,” Simon said, nodding.
Georgie giggled and rose to her feet, holding her arms out as she turned a circle.
“The waist is cinched a bit tight,” Mr. Wade said. “Can you breathe?”
She threw a pillow at him.
Mr. Wade ducked. “Tight sleeves, a little lace here and there, square neckline.”
“Suitably modest, I hope,” Simon said.
“Of course. But she’s blushing now,” Mr. Wade added.
Simon smiled at his sister. “It sounds lovely. But then I’m not surprised.”
Mr. Wade turned his critical gaze upon Louisa, and she found herself straightening uncomfortably.
“Ah, the teacher does not want to be criticized,” Mr. Wade said.
“Louisa?” Simon asked, turning toward her.
She had often imagined what Simon would think if he could see her—would he approve of her hairstyle, her choice in gowns? Of course he seemed to want to remove the latter.
“She’s quite red in the face now,” Mr. Wade said. “Goes well with the rose-colored gown. Modest neckline, too.”
Lady Wade gasped. “Boys! Miss Shelby is a guest in our home.”
Louisa looked fondly at the older woman. She knew that she was an employee, but was never treated as such. She often felt part of the family—which was too seductive a thought.
“Lady Wade, I am quite used to being scrutinized,” Louisa said. “After all, that is what a ball is held for.”
“To be on display,” Georgie added ruefully. “A marriage mart.”
“You don’t think we gentlemen are on display?” Simon asked.
“Of course you are,” Louisa said. “But you don’t have to wait worriedly to be asked to dance. You control a poor lady’s evening.”
Mr. Wade smiled at her. He seemed almost…nervous, as if she would tell his family how he’d pursued her.
“I don’t think you ever waited long to dance, Miss Shelby,” Mr. Wade said.
Louisa wondered why he would say such a thing in front of shy Georgie, when he knew the girl had lacked suitors.
“Sir,” Louisa said, tilting her head, “sometimes it is not the honorable men who ask a woman to dance.”
Now it was his turn to blush, but she believed he hid it by sipping his drink.
Simon cocked his head, looking interested. “And what do you do when that happens, Miss Shelby?”
“We attempt to avoid it by signaling our friends or sisters.”
He grinned. “Signaling?”
The way he was focused on her was distracting as usual. It was hard to even think, when she remembered how he’d focused on other parts of her so intimately. He had an amazing ability to make a woman think she was the one thing he cared about—at that particular moment.
She looked down at her lap and took a deep breath. “My sisters and I had worked out a system to help each other.”
“Really?” Georgie said with admiration.
“Oh, it was more for fun, really, but once or twice it did come in handy. Let’s see,” she said thoughtfully, looking up at the ceiling to concentrate. “I was never standing alone when a man approached; usually at least one of my sisters was with me. So if we didn’t like the gentleman, we linked elbows.”
Simon nodded. “And this meant…”
“‘Please invent a reason that I can’t dance right now, even though my dance card is not full.’”
Lady Wade and Georgie burst into peals of laughter, while the men looked bemused.
“The excuse was always something innocent,” she hurriedly said, “like claiming that my mother just told us she needs us. Or my sister would say she felt ill, and I had to escort her out for some cool air.”
“But what if the gentleman was persistent?” Simon asked.
“Then there wasn’t much to be done but accept,” Louisa admitted.
“I think you used that on me,” Mr. Wade said, his eyes narrowed with amused skepticism.
Louisa blinked with innocence. “Never, Mr. Wade! Why wouldn’t I wish to dance with you?”
Again, he sipped his drink, and Georgie gave him a curious stare. She turned to Louisa. “To celebrate Leo’s homecoming, I’ll play the piano, and you and Simon should sing.”
Louisa felt her skin flush, and she deliberately avoided looking at Simon. “Georgie, I’m certain that Mr. Wade would rather sing with you two.”
Mr. Wade sat back, relaxed once again. “Oh, no, I’d rather hear the three of you. Simon, do show me how it’s done.”
Louisa risked a glance at Simon, who gave his brother an annoyed expression.
“And besides,” Mr. Wade added, “I have a request I need to discuss with Grandmama.”
“Tell me now before the singing starts,” Lady Wade said. “After that I’ll be too distracted.”
As Georgie went to the piano and began to look through sheet music, Mr. Wade gave his grandmother a winning smile.
