When she was out of the room, Blake faced his brother. Jason stared after Taylor as he took his seat.
“My God, the girl has grown into a beautiful young woman,” he said. He turned in his seat to face Blake once more. “She was always a pretty thing, but how have I never noticed how incredible she is? Tell me, brother. How do you withstand the torture?”
Was he that obvious?
“Torture?” Blake asked.
Jason folded his arms on the table and fixed his gaze on Blake. “I know what hell it is to be near a woman whose very condition puts her out of reach.”
It was Blake’s turn to scoff. “You’ve never hesitated to cuckold any member of the ton, Jason.”
Pain flickered across his brother’s face, and Blake wondered at the reaction.
“True,” Jason said. “But I wouldn’t compromise the wife, or a sister of a valued friend.
Blake stared at his brother, Jason’s meaning was clear, and so was the truth of the matter. Blake wanted Taylor. But as Robert’s sister she was as out of reach to him at The Hideaway as she would have been if she’d remained in Sussex.
“I won’t compromise her,” Blake vowed.
Jason regarded him for a long moment. At last he barked out a short laugh. “Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
“She’ll keep to the office. At least she’ll be safe and I can keep an eye on her.” Blake wouldn’t discuss this any further with his rake of a brother. “Why don’t you share the true reason you’re here?”
Jason nodded as he chewed a bite of bread, his brow furrowed. He swallowed and let out a breath. “I need your particular talents, Blake.”
Chapter 5
Taylor watched the two gentlemen out of the corner of her eye. Why was the viscount here? She doubted he was merely paying a social call on Blake despite their obvious camaraderie. Blake’s brother seemed agitated beneath his noble façade. They bent their dark heads together, and her stomach clenched. Robert’s blond head should be near theirs, the three of them plotting and scheming nothing more ominous than their next prank on the dour vicar in Arundel. Squeezing her eyes closed, she tried to shut the image of her beloved brother out of her mind.
“What’s troublin’ you, dove?” Annie asked.
Taylor started and opened her eyes, reading the concern on the red-haired girl’s face. She offered Annie a weak smile. “N-nothing.” She wiped furiously at her eyes. “I’m tired, that’s all.”
Annie glanced toward the table where Blake and Jason Thompson still sat, their voices blending in a low, deep murmur she could hear despite the din of the pub’s other patrons.
Annie leaned closer to Taylor. “Are ya’ in love with him?”
Taylor shook her head even as her tears began anew. “Who are you talking about?”
“Thompson’s brother,” Annie said.
Taylor breathed a quick sigh of relief. “I am not in love with the viscount.”
Annie sighed. “Lord, he’s even more handsome than Thompson. Polly will dally with him, as usual.”
Taylor watched as Polly sat on another man’s lap, grinning and wriggling. “How can Polly divide her heart like that?”
Annie laughed and shook her head. “Her heart ain’t in question, Taylor! The girl don’t love the viscount, nor Thompson neither. She likes the extra pound notes, is all.”
Taylor wondered about that. How could a person give so much of themselves for so little in return? Her gaze fell on Blake, at the glossy black hair glinting in the candlelight as he spoke intently to his brother. Did everyone view intimacy in such a manner? What if Blake took her in his arms as he had Polly? Would he simply take what she happily surrendered and never give her another passing thought?
Well, she wouldn’t consider Blake as a tender lover or a careless user. She’d perform her duties at The Hideaway and keep to herself until they found Robert.
Taylor returned to the kitchen, intent on setting Blake and her girlhood wishes from her mind.
* * *
The dining room was empty except for Blake. After Jason told him the nature of this new case, troublesome but not impossible, his brother had taken Polly upstairs. That should free Blake from any entanglement with the serving girl. Better to find his pleasure elsewhere. Perhaps he’d go to London soon. The theaters had the prettiest and most accommodating opera girls. He knew that from experience. But London was where Robert was last seen. He couldn’t bear to go to Town and not return with his friend. He had to get a solid lead and soon.
He thought of Taylor, of how she’d looked in the dim light of the dining room. Lord, she was lovely. And determined. Bloody hell! He closed his eyes but couldn’t block her dangerous beauty from his mind. Jason had called it torture. Well, his brother wasn’t too far off the mark.
“Blake,” Taylor whispered.
He opened his eyes to find her standing before him, a question in her eyes. Why was she down here at this hour?
“Yes?” he asked wearily.
She opened her mouth to say . . . what? He couldn’t guess. Fixing a smile on her face, she shrugged one slight shoulder. “I simply wanted to say good night.”
Blake stared up at her for a long moment. Why the devil hadn’t he drunk more ale than the single tankard? Then his body would welcome sleep as much as it would taking its pleasure from her. His intent must have been there for Taylor to see, for her pretty eyes widened. She turned to go and he reached out to grasp her wrist. The warm fragile flesh beneath his fingers brought him briefly to his senses. He stood as he released her.
“Allow me to escort you to your room, Taylor,” he said. Her lush mouth opened in what he presumed would be a rejection of his offer, so he took her elbow and turned her toward the staircase. “It’s not improper, love.”
Before she could protest, he mounted the stairs, all but pulling her behind him. Muffled sounds of laughter and pleasure reached his ears as they entered the corridor. Surely Polly was as thorough with his brother as she’d ever been with him. Taylor glanced at him and he was amazed to feel a flush creep into his cheeks. He didn’t expect such an assignation with this girl. She licked her lips and he watched the action, his body stirring to life despite his mind’s denial.
Taylor stopped before her door. “Thank you, Blake.”
She turned to face him and Blake stared at her mouth for a long moment.
“I, um . . .” he murmured. “Good night.”
The relief on her face cut him, though he knew it was deserved. She placed her hand on the doorknob and began to open the door.
“I’ll be away on a case tomorrow,” he said, stilling her. “Promise me you won’t ask anyone else about Robert.”
Taylor clicked her tongue. “We have to find him, Blake. Don’t you care about him?”
“Of course,” he said. “Damn it, I’ve been looking for him for weeks.”
“Then where is he?” she asked, her voice high. “God, don’t you know what I’ve been through these past weeks?”
She trembled and he grabbed her shoulders, urging her into the room.
“What is it, love?” he asked.
Tears filled her beautiful blue-gray eyes and she shook her head as her mouth worked. She must be thinking about what her damn cousin had nearly forced on her. God, what she must have gone through; first Robert disappearing, then her father dying, then almost being raped in her own home. If he had his way, she would never suffer such horrors again. “Hush,” he soothed.
He took her in his arms and let out a breath at the contact. That heat he’d felt in his office that first morning was just as strong now. He rubbed his hands over her back in an effort to still her shivers.
“You must find Robert,” she whispered. “Say you’ll do everything to find him. He’s all I have left.”
He heard the desperation in her voice. He dropped a kiss on her brow as one hand stroked her hair, her neck. “Don’t worry, Taylor,” he whispered. He kissed her wet cheek. “I’ll find him.”
&
nbsp; She stiffened and raised her head to face him. The vulnerability he saw on her face frightened him witless.
“Taylor . . .”
“You’ll find him.” She nodded. “You gave me your word.”
Before he could respond to her expression of faith, she reached up and touched his cheek. The feel of her fingertips on his flesh broke through his barriers and he brought his mouth to hers.
“I’ll do everything I can, Taylor,” he murmured, brushing his lips against hers. “I promise.”
Her mouth was soft and warm. Her little gasp of pleasure thrilled him as he pulled her body against his. His hands grasped her round bottom and he lifted her onto her toes to bring her more fully against him.
She fit him perfectly.
“Ah, God . . .” he groaned as he nuzzled her ear. “Taylor.”
Her arms encircled his neck and he felt her shudder. The slight movement made him harder. While he worked the tiny pearl buttons on her bodice free, he continued to drop kisses on her face, her neck. Ah, she smelled so sweet. She gasped again as he opened her gown and cupped her lush breasts in both hands.
“Blake,” she said, her voice shaking.
He lifted his head and saw an expression of worry mixed with the desire on her face. Her brow furrowed as her mouth parted to take his once more. Summoning a speck of honor, he dropped his hands and took a step back from her. His gaze fell to the ripe body before him, to the pink nipples straining at the thin chemise, and he groaned again. God, she wore no stays.
Taylor was the first to regain herself. Blake could only stare as, sniffling, she buttoned her dress with trembling fingers. He’d never get the image of her full, round breasts out of his mind. He clenched his hands at his side to keep from stripping the plain gown from her body.
“Taylor, forgive me,” he whispered.
She lifted that quivering chin. “I’m not one of your serving maids, Blake,” she said, her voice hushed, “meant to take another’s place in your bed.”
He was stunned. She looked hurt, yes. But also embarrassed that she’d gotten so carried away. “I didn’t mean to—”
“Don’t speak of it, pray,” she whispered, her eyes closed tight.
Blake reached for her, stopping before touching her shoulder. He swallowed past the constriction in his throat. “Good night.” He fingered the new lock gleaming on the old wood casing. “Don’t forget to lock this door.”
He left her room, closing the door quietly behind him. He heard the lock click into place and let out a breath. What the bloody hell had he been thinking? She was so sweet, so luscious there in the chamber. The narrow bed a few steps away, their bodies a few buttons apart . . . He’d nearly seduced her. It would have been so easy. She wanted him. Innocent though she was, she’d responded to his tame kisses. But her words, her accusations, chilled him. She thought he wished to use her to replace another? As if any other woman could ever draw his lust like she did.
He’d never felt such a rush of desire. He’d had plenty of lovers since Pamela’s betrayal. How the hell did this one particular girl affect him so strongly?
Yes, she was beautiful. Quite possibly the loveliest woman he’d ever seen. It was more than that, though. Maybe it was their connection in Sussex that drew him to her now. His protective nature from when they were children. Maybe it was her brother’s disappearance that heightened everything he was starting to feel for her. Guilt and shame, and now lust. And something else he didn’t want to think about.
Bloody wonderful.
He’d come dangerously close to taking her. Perilously close to damning propriety and his own conscience to make her his in the most basic way possible.
He couldn’t do anything to jeopardize Taylor’s safety. Or her virtue. They had more in common than the desire he felt so deep in his bones. They both wanted to find Robert. Their differences were just as glaring, however. She deserved an honorable husband who would accept both her passion and her devotion. He sure as hell wasn’t that man.
Polly exited one of the rooms to his left as he passed, her hair tousled and her clothes in disarray. A smile curved her lips as she nodded to him. “Good night, Thompson,” she sighed, her eyes clouded.
Blake shook his head and returned to his own chamber. There was little doubt his brother would sleep the sleep of the contented while he himself would toss and turn and suffer every ache of pent up passion with Taylor safely ensconced in her room. Far from his lecherous intentions.
Damn.
* * *
Taylor hugged herself as she stood in the center of her little room, grateful that Blake was gone. She couldn’t bear to see the censure in his eyes, following so closely on the heels of a desire she couldn’t ignore. What must he think of her, giving him such liberties? Surely he thought she was like Polly, free to share her smiles and her body with any man who paid her money or attention. She could never be such a woman, no matter how she was forced to live now. But the touch of Blake’s hands on her flesh, the brush of his lips against hers . . . her heart raced at the memory before shame struck her. What would her father think? Painful reality shot through her. There was no one to care about her virtue now. Her brother was missing, her father dead. Even her home was no longer hers, taken over by that usurper.
She glanced in the mirror atop the washstand and was shocked by the image that stared back at her. Her hair was loose and wild, her mouth swollen from Blake’s kisses. She certainly looked the part of a wanton.
She took a deep breath and readied for bed. But her body remembered all Blake had done to it. Oh, her knees went weak and her heart raced even now. When he’d taken her mouth, when he’d placed his hands on her breasts, she’d almost surrendered. Squeezing her eyes shut, she sought to send from her mind and body the ache he’d aroused within her. There was nothing else for it. He would never offer for her. That was certain. Even if he did, she would know that it was because she was alone and needed his help. Her father hadn’t raised her to be a burden and she didn’t want to be one to her husband. She might have her inheritance upon her marriage but she would be a burden to Blake in every other way. She would trap him in a marriage of one-sided love.
She knew she could fall in love with him so easily, but she was a gentleman’s daughter despite her current situation, and she would never give herself to a man without benefit of marriage. And Blake wasn’t the type to ever marry. His ill-fated betrothal to Pamela aside, he had his life here at The Hideaway. He had his cases to occupy his time and plenty of women to warm his bed. How long had he been at this life? Nearly four years now. He wouldn’t change his ways to settle down. Not for a fortune, and certainly not for her.
“Bloody hell,” she muttered.
Grimacing at the very unladylike expletive, she closed her eyes and waited for sleep.
* * *
When she awoke the next morning, she vowed to set aside her confusing feelings for Blake. She might have adored him when she was a child, but she wanted him now as a woman wants a man. She’d just have to protect her heart and keep her focus until she and her brother were safely back at Shelby Manor. Then she could put aside her misplaced desire for her brother’s best friend.
She dressed with haste, knowing she must speak to Blake directly, to find out if he’d look for Robert today. She reached the dining room and hurried toward Blake. He turned to her and she swallowed her disappointment. It was the viscount.
“How are you this morning, Taylor?” Jason asked.
She cocked her head to one side and regarded him closely. Mirth danced in his eyes, eyes so like Blake’s. What was the man about?
“I’m quite well, Jason,” she said. “You’re up and about quite early this morning. I take it you slept well?”
He glanced toward the kitchen, where Polly was readying the teapots. His lips twitched and he took in a breath. “I daresay I never sleep better than when in the country.”
Taylor’s cheeks heated. “Y-yes, well—”
“Not that my bro
ther can boast of the same condition this morning,” Jason added.
Now her face flamed. She busied herself at the sideboard and joined him at the table. “I assume, then, that Blake is gone?”
Jason nodded as he ate another piece of bread. “On pressing business, I daresay,” he went on. “I’m completely at fault, though I had no other recourse.”
Taylor wondered about Blake’s task this day, but taking her cue from Jason’s mood she didn’t believe he was in danger. Jason must have read something in her face, for he smiled gently and placed his hand on hers.
“Blake is the best at what he does,” he said. “You should have him back here by your side within a day or two’s time.”
“But he isn’t . . .” She swallowed. “That is to say, I’m not worried about—”
“Be at ease,” Jason said softly. “I’ll keep you safe here in his absence.”
She closed her mouth with a snap. Well, that was just fine. Blake’s brother also assumed she was nothing more than a troublesome chit to watch over like a child in the schoolroom. She balked at the kind indulgence in Jason’s eyes. “I’m not a little girl and don’t need to be looked after.”
Jason flinched at her sharp tone. “Taylor, I was just trying to help. Blake wanted me to watch over you—”
“I’m not a child in need of a nursemaid, Jason. Neither you nor Blake need worry about me. I’m perfectly fine,” she said, coming to her feet. “Excuse me,” she said stiffly. “I must see if Mrs. Mott needs my help this morning.” She turned and walked into the kitchen.
Taylor knew she’d been overly harsh with Jason, but she was angry that Blake would want him to watch over her. To be her keeper, for goodness sake! First, he took liberties with her, then he asked his brother to watch over her? One would think he was her fiancé. But Taylor knew that was the last thing on Blake’s mind. No words of love or marriage had passed his well-formed lips. Nor were they likely to. No. If he had had those thoughts about her he would have told her more about his life, his work, or at least about his search for Robert. Oh! If only she had a way to search for Robert on her own, she’d leave for London on the next hack. She had to face facts, however. She had no recourse but to rely on Blake to find Robert.
A Hero and A Gentleman Page 5
