Tempted

by Jess Michaels

  Jude grasped his arm for a moment. “I know. How’s your jaw?”

  Gabriel blinked. He had been punched, hadn’t he? “I hardly feel it.” He tried the joint and flinched. “Well, now I do. But I don’t think it’s broken. I’ll just have a bruise for a few days.”

  Jude examined him a little more closely and then nodded. “All right, so what do you want to do now?”

  He faced his brother-in-law with a slight smile despite the ache the action caused. “This was a good day.”

  Jude’s eyebrows lifted. “We had to come to this godforsaken place, you were punched in the face, we were threatened and we leave with no more information than we had coming in. How exactly is that to be called a ‘good day’?”

  “No more information?” Gabriel scoffed. “Of course we have more information! We now know where Howe lives.”

  “We do?” Jude asked, blinking in obvious confusion.

  Gabriel nodded, the thrill of the investigation drowning out, albeit temporarily, the terror he now felt for Claire. “It took the man, what…all of a quarter of an hour to get to us once we started asking questions? Taking into account the time it would take a spy to get to him and him to get back here, that means he was in this general vicinity. Moreover, this must be where he lives or at the very least works nearly every day, or the coincidence of being able to find him so quickly would be too great.”

  “A good deduction.”

  “I know. And I’m just getting started.” Gabriel rubbed his hands together as he motioned for Jude to follow him outside to where their carriage was waiting. “When we said Claire’s name, Howe got scared. Not interested, not angry—scared.”

  “I noticed that as well. Fear in his eyes. An implication that someone had been hurt before for bothering Claire.”

  Gabriel sank into his memories a moment, analyzing each one carefully. “Howe said Aston was obsessed with her. Which means she might be somewhat protected, at least from the very worst I’ve pictured her enduring. Yes, she’s obviously Aston’s prize and that turns my stomach, but she’s not the prize of every man in his gang. Additionally, if more than just Howe has decided that Claire is not just Aston’s obsession, but his distraction…some of them might want to get rid of her. What would be a better way than by sending her back to her family?”

  “If we find the right person in his group…” Jude began as they climbed into the carriage.

  “Then we may find someone willing to give my sister up,” Gabriel finished.

  “So what is your plan?” Jude asked.

  “Have men go into the neighborhood here and look for Howe. I want his moves tracked. Once we have a pattern, I’ll come back myself.”

  Jude’s brow wrinkled. “Gabriel, I don’t like the sound of that. He knows what you look like. If you’re marked—”

  “I’ll be careful,” Gabriel assured him.

  “But why must you go? I’ll find trustworthy men.”

  “I’m sure they will be. But I want to personally see who is coming and going to call on that bastard. If he’s important to Aston in his dealings in London, he probably sees a great many of Aston’s other associates. I think I would be better able to judge who might be open to some careful prodding or even bribery.”

  “All right,” Jude said. “I understand. And you’re probably right that when it comes to deducing such things, you are the one to do it. Still, I want you to be careful. The threat Howe gave on the way out the door was not veiled.”

  As the carriage rumbled around a corner, Gabriel frowned. “Yes, he threatened our family. He threatened everyone we love. So of course I will be careful.”

  He thought of his broken family and the idea of Howe or Aston or anyone else bringing them harm made such an anger burn in his chest. Pulsing and throbbing and fighting to be expressed in the most violent way possible.

  But he could control that. To protect his mother, his siblings, to protect Juliet, he would have to control it. And control the volatile situation he now found himself in.

  If he could find Claire, it would be worth it.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Lady Woodley poured the tea and set a few cakes onto Juliet’s plate. Juliet smiled, trying to pay attention to whatever it was the dowager was saying. The feat was almost impossible when her attention was continually drawn across the room to Gabriel.

  Gabriel, whom she had not seen for days. Not since that last time they made love. He had been so tender to her that day, she had fully recognized her love for him, and then?

  He had all but disappeared, with no word for her whatsoever. Even now, as he stood holding a cup of tea across the room, he didn’t look at her. He stared at the steaming liquid, clearly lost in thought.

  He was investigating, she knew that. Without her. Which, of course, was his right, but it made one thing very clear: she would never come first in his life. This obsession with Claire would always trump anything and everything else.

  “My dear, you suddenly look very serious,” Lady Woodley said, resting a hand on her forearm. “You cannot be so very upset about Lady Allen’s party.”

  Juliet blinked. “I’m so sorry, my lady. I was clearly woolgathering. It was abominably rude.”

  Lady Woodley seemed to be drinking in her expression for a long moment before she said, “Not at all. I will start again. Lady Allen is hosting a Christmas soiree based on the Twelve Days of Christmas verse and we are invited.”

  “Based on the verse?” Juliet said, trying to gather her thoughts. “Wouldn’t that mean a lot of birds?”

  “That is what I said to her. If she wants to flood her ballroom with French hens, turtledoves and partridges, she will be asking her servants to clean up far more than mere dirty glasses afterward.”

  She laughed and Juliet forced herself to join in, even though her mind still wandered. Lady Woodley glanced across the room and smiled. “Your poor father is trapped by our vicar, Mr. North. He is likely questioning Jed quite vigorously about science as it fits in the teachings of the Bible. I see Jed’s eyes glazing over. I should rescue him.”

  Now Juliet didn’t have to fake her smile. “Oh do. He just might shock the vicar.”

  “I’ll talk to you later, my dear,” Lady Woodley said, and slipped from her side.

  Juliet watched her go, watched her father’s eyes light up as Lady Woodley approached. Then, with her chest burning, she turned her attention back to Gabriel. Now he was watching her and she blushed as she slowly moved across the room.

  He did not smile quite as brightly as her father had a moment before, but she thought she saw a flicker of pleasure, of desire, in his eyes.

  “Good afternoon, Miss Gray,” he said.

  She nodded. “My lord.” She leaned in closer. “I have not seen you in days.”

  He glanced around them. “Would you like to take a turn in the portrait gallery, Miss Gray? You were asking about my nose earlier and I believe I know exactly the portrait that will show you its origin.”

  Juliet pursed her lips. If he was going to such trouble to cover up their private conversation, then something must have happened. She shrugged. “Certainly.”

  He took her arm and led her from the room. Once they were gone from the company inside, she said, “It’s a very nice nose, Gabriel, but I don’t care two figs about its origin.”

  “You wound me,” he said with a chuckle as he steered her into the long hallway that made up the gallery. It was empty there, except for the eyes of the painted faces that seemed to follow them rather judgmentally, indeed.

  Of course why wouldn’t they judge? Here she was, an upstart country miss, engaged in a scandalous affair with a younger son of their important family. If the paintings could come to life, Juliet was certain they would all scold her in tandem.

  “I’m sorry I’ve been away these few days,” Gabriel said, thankfully breaking into her rather ridiculous thoughts.

  “Was it something I did?” she asked, an
d immediately wished she could take the words back. They revealed so much. Too much.

  “No!” he burst out, and moved toward her. “I have so much to tell you.”

  He leaned in and began to talk to her about his visit to the tavern and his encounter with Howe. Juliet gasped at his description and her gaze flitted to his jaw. There was a very faint bruise there, one she hadn’t noticed earlier in the day.

  “Gabriel,” she said, lifting her fingers to gently trace the mark. “You and Jude could have been killed.”

  He shrugged off the comment. “Worth it. Since then Jude’s men have been watching this Howe person, and for the past two days I have joined them, taking note of who visits him and what their dispositions are like.”

  She caught her breath. “Great God, Gabriel, that is dangerous work. What if you were seen?”

  He waved off her concerns. “I was disguised and careful, I assure you.”

  “I wish you had told me. I could have even gone with you,” she said.

  His eyes went wide. “Oh yes, that is a wonderful idea. To put you at risk.”

  “You put yourself at risk and without even a word to me.” She folded her arms. “I thought we were supposed to be partners of a sort in this endeavor.” His face twisted at that comment and her heart sank. “Unless you have decided I’ve fulfilled my purpose.”

  There was a long pause before he spoke again, long enough that she felt her question was being answered just as much by no words as any he might have spoken. Tears stung in her eyes and she blinked rapidly to keep them from becoming obvious. He wouldn’t like that. And she wouldn’t reveal so much.

  “Of course you haven’t,” he finally said. “It is only that in this case, you couldn’t have helped. As you’ve pointed out, this situation is very dangerous.”

  “So you’ve said.” She cleared her throat and turned away from him, pacing away to stare up at one of the portraits. Her eyes focused on it and she couldn’t help a small smile before she said, “Is it this grandfather who gives you that nose?”

  Gabriel moved toward her and caught her arm, turning her toward him. “I’m not cutting you out, Juliet,” he reassured her, and the way his strong fingers curled around her arm made her shiver with desire she now wished she could control. It felt so pathetic when it was obvious she didn’t mean as much to him as he did to her. “In fact, I need you more than ever.”

  She drew in a sharp breath, searching his handsome face. The way his eyes bore into her, the way his Adam’s apple worked as he swallowed, was he saying he cared for her?

  “Gabriel…” She drew his name out slowly.

  “I need you more than ever to help me,” he said, releasing her arm suddenly. “I have written down all my observations about the men I saw coming and going from Howe’s residence and have narrowed down a few. Perhaps later you could come review them and see if I missed anything.”

  Her heart sank. Once again he turned to the investigation they shared. The one that had brought them together. The one that served as a wall between them.

  “Of course,” she said, her tone flat. “I have offered my help to you. I would not take that offer back.”

  He nodded and then pulled his watch from his pocket. He frowned at what he saw. “I must go. I’m to go to observe Howe again this afternoon and I don’t want to be late. I’m beginning to find the patterns in his behavior.”

  She didn’t look up from the spot on the floor she had begun to stare at. “I see. Will you say your goodbyes to the party then?”

  “It will open up too many questions,” he said. “I’ll just slip out and send word later that I was called away.”

  She stepped back. “Good day then, my lord.”

  He frowned. “Walk me to my horse, Juliet. Please?”

  It was the please that did her in. Said so softly, so gently, the one syllable seemed to wrap around her heart and squeeze.

  “Very well,” she said. He offered her an arm and she took it, trying to ignore the electric jolt of awareness that shot between them. Why did he have to cause her such distraction? Why had she been so foolish as to love him?

  Those questions raced through her head as he guided her through the house and out the front door. She expected him to motion for a footman to bring his horse, but instead he took her down the drive, away from the street and up to the stable. There was a horse waiting there.

  “I left him here rather than allow him to be taken back with the others,” Gabriel explained, as if he could read her question. “Easier to make my escape when it was time.”

  She reached up and absently stroked the nose of the stallion as she tried to keep her tone calm. When she felt she’d finally gained some control, she spoke.

  “Gabriel, I beg of you to be careful,” she said, daring to look at him again. He was staring at her intently.

  “I will be,” he said, his voice very soft. He reached out and brushed a lock of hair off her cheek. “I promise.”

  She smiled, but the expression quickly faded when he surprised her by cupping her chin, drawing her closer and pressing a gentle kiss to her lips right there in the open.

  But she didn’t resist. She sank into the caress, opening for him slightly, trying to suppress a soft moan when he tasted her briefly. Then he drew away.

  “I have been wanting to do that for three very long days,” he said. “And the impulse only grew stronger the moment I saw you. You know, I used to be a man in control of himself.”

  She was still slightly off kilter from his kiss, but managed to extract herself from the gentle prison of his arms. “You still are.”

  He smiled. “I suppose. And at least that thought won’t distract me today.” He swung up on the horse in one smooth motion and turned the animal toward the drive. Before he left, he looked down at her. “Come to me tomorrow, Juliet. Two o’clock?”

  She nodded, and he tipped his head toward her before he urged the horse to move and thundered through his mother’s gate. She watched him go, watched the place where she’d last seen him long after he was gone. There was no denying now how she was lost.

  And worse yet, she wasn’t certain when it came to Gabriel that she actually wanted to be found. So in the end, there was no doubt that she would be hurt. And yet loving him seemed worth it.

  Juliet moved to the sideboard and poured herself the last few drops of tea. She was adding milk to the warm brew when she heard her father clear his throat from behind her. With a smile, she turned to face him.

  “I have stolen the last bit of tea,” she confessed. “But I could call for another pot, I’m sure, if you would like to join me.”

  He shook his head, and to her surprise, he slowly shut the door behind him. “No, thank you, Juliet. I’m swimming in tea after that gathering. You take the last.”

  Juliet watched as he moved to the fire, using the poker to stir the embers and lift the flames. “Where is Lady Woodley?”

  There was no denying how his shoulders straightened at the mention of their hostess’s name. That fact no longer surprised Juliet, though she did wonder where the relationship between the two stood.

  “I have a question for you,” her father said, setting the poker aside and turning toward her. “Though I almost don’t know how to put it.”

  He shifted with discomfort and Juliet set her cup down. Perhaps he was about to give her the answers she was just pondering. Perhaps he was going to ask her something about Lady Woodley.

  “Just say it,” she encouraged gently. “It cannot be as difficult as you think it might be. I love you, Papa and I want you to be very happy.”

  He blinked as if confused. “What? This has nothing to do with my happiness, Juliet. I actually wanted to ask you about…about Lord Gabriel.”

  Juliet staggered a step away from him and drew a long breath to steady herself. “I-I see. What about him?”

  Her father’s eyebrow arched. “You will play coy with me, daughter? Very well, I will p
ry if I must. I wanted to know if there was something between you two.”

  She dropped her chin so he wouldn’t see into her eyes, but she recognized that would do no good. She and her father were close, even closer in the years since her mother had died. If he was asking the question, he already knew the answer, though likely not the extent of the connection she shared with Gabriel. Even her mild-mannered father wouldn’t have been so calm if he realized she was sharing the man’s bed.

  “Papa—” she began, uncertain what to do or say so that he wouldn’t see how far her heart had gone. “I—we—”

  He moved toward her and his smile was gentle. “I like the young man, of course. He is of a scientific mind and our conversations have been invigorating. He also seems a solid sort and honorable. But I do worry about you, Juliet.”

  She frowned. “Why?”

  “Because of the last time.”

  She turned away. He was referring to the man back in the village so many years ago, of course. She hadn’t been able to keep her excitement from her father as she was “courted”. Or her sorrow when she was tossed aside for the richer, more appropriate girl. And once again, her father didn’t know just how far she had gone with that other man.

  “I saw you hurt,” her father continued. “I would hate to see that again.”

  She blushed despite the fact that he couldn’t possibly guess what wicked things she had been up to behind his back. “Oh, Papa. It was different before. Gabriel is not leading me on in any way.”

  And that was true. Gabriel had made no promises; he had declared no false intention. It wasn’t in him to be dishonest in that way or purposefully hurtful. In fact, if he knew she loved him, Gabriel would probably run rather than use it against her.

  “But you care for him,” her father said softly.

  She lifted her gaze to him, at last. It seemed she couldn’t hide her heart even if she obscured her face. “Is it so obvious?”

  He nodded. “Yes. I see it when your eyes light up the moment the young man enters a room; in the way you lean in when you are talking to him.”