Another surprised expression passed over his features. “You’re not like most women, are you, Miss Maura?”
She blushed and lowered her chin. “No, apparently, I’m not.”
“Good.”
She told herself not to compare them to Julius’s, whose gaze could hold enough heat to melt her right in her boots.
Julius was not for her.
“Garrett,” Adair called. He sat on a black Spanish thoroughbred a few yards away. “What say we give this boy a race?” He looked over to Henry who was hopping from one foot to the other.
Betsy squealed. “Oh, Mama. A race with a real prince!”
Garrett’s face lit up at the challenge. “Get me a steed, old friend.” Then he turned to Maura. “Could I ask the princess for a favor?”
Maura laughed and reached into her reticule for her handkerchief. Since it was for the children, she tied it around his wrist and then stepped away and prepared to watch the race.
“I like Garrett for you,” Lorena said as she came to stand by Maura. “He’s the most apt to settle, given he’s two boys who need a mother.”
Maura turned to Lorena and sighed at her cousin’s antics. “You said the same thing about Lord Blackfall this morning after I sat with him during breakfast. You said the solicitor could use the stability of a wife for when he returns home.”
Lorena grinned. “Oh, I did?” She fluttered her lashes innocently toward Maura and then laughed. “You must choose one today and then we’ll focus on him for the next few days.”
Maura’s stomach felt like a hundred horses ran through it. “I… don’t think I can do this.”
Lorena placed a hand on her arm and moved closer. “Darling, you must… unless you wish the Spinsters to go with the other plan?”
Maura blinked and then gasped. “Oh, no. Don’t do that.”
Lorena frowned. “Then what would you have me do?” She grabbed Maura’s hand, her own soft and warm. “Maura, I can’t lose you again.”
* * *
chapter 32
* * *
Tears burned Maura’s eyes, and she wondered if she’d ever have a calm day ever again. Tired of her own tears, she pulled in a breath. “I don’t think I can charm a man into falling in love with me in one week. I never know what to say. I told Lord Blackfall about that play that Selina wrote.” Selina was one of the women who lived at the Spinster Home.
Lorena twisted her lips and said, “Well, he laughed, didn’t he? Perhaps all you need do is be yourself. I love you, don’t I?”
Maura smiled. “But you’re my cousin.”
Lorena shrugged. “I’m sure I’d have been your friend even if we’d not been related.”
Maura nodded, believing it, but that didn’t make her feel right about her current situation. How could she catch the heart of any of these men in a week when she’d failed to touch Julius’s and he’d known her for years?
And more importantly, could she truly see herself falling for any of the unwed gentlemen present? It seemed unlikely and it most assuredly would not happen if she had less than a week to do so. It all seemed so very wrong.
If only Julius made his heart as available as he made his body.
She was distracted with the sound of a horse trotting and looked up just in time to see Garrett gallop past. He smiled down at her and she returned it, unable to do anything else. He was very handsome. “You know, Lorena, it’s almost as though the men know I wish to court one of them. They’ve been quite attentive.”
“Oh?” her cousin said absentmindedly.
Maura’s heart fell. “Do they know about the plan?”
Lorena shook her head. “Of course not, dear. Though, I might have sent Jane with you for more than just to spare your reputation. This morning, she revealed to me some of the details of the discussion the men had in the parlor last night.” Lorena smiled. “She listened at one of the servant doors and heard the men speaking about the Brotherhood. It appears that a few would be interested in joining.”
Maura thought about the carriage ride and her eyes widened. “You used membership in the Brotherhood as a reason to court me?”
“Why not?” Lorena asked. “Marriages have been based on connections for years. We already decided that it helped that your father was a baron. Why not also mention your other connections, like the one to the Brotherhood? For anyone who wishes to be closer to the Men of Nashwood, it’s yet another incentive.”
Maura thought for a moment and tried to decide how she felt about it. “It seemed as though yet again she’d be tied with a man who didn’t love her, but perhaps one of the other arrangements would be better than what Julius had planned. She couldn’t believe he’d leave her barren. She wanted children.
She grew angry remembering that little fact he’d failed to mention when he’d first brought up their marriage. Had she married him without knowing, had she never asked the question, her life would have been miserable. Not only would she not have had a true husband, but she’d have never had anyone to love her.
She looked over in his direction. He was speaking with Anthony and a moment later, both men turned to glance at her. Anthony grinned and then turned back to Julius. Everything about Anthony was so elegant, from the way he spoke to the way he stood. She didn’t know what they were discussing and wasn’t sure she wanted to.
Cheering exploded as Garrett won the race. Then he surprised everyone again when he trotted the steed over to Henry, plucked the boy off the ground, and took him around the ring once. Adair’s riders and staff all clapped in earnest and Maura found herself reevaluating her former convictions. At the moment, she found it hard to find a place in her heart to accept anyone else, but perhaps with time… who knew?
* * *
chapter 33
* * *
“Are you following me?”
Julius looked up at Maura’s approach and hoped his face showed surprise. “Following you? I haven’t the slightest clue what you’re going on about. Besides, it’s far more likely that you would follow me.” He didn’t let his amusement show as Maura’s expression showed puzzlement.
He did realize however that when their eyes had first caught, her’s had shown pure rage.
That rage returned swiftly. “Why would I have followed you here?” Here was Adair’s gallery. The Brotherhood and Spinsters had been given an invitation to his home for an evening of food and music. The theatre they’d visited that day happened to hold his trick show quite often, so he’d purchased a home for when he was in town.
It appeared that many of the women and men from the show had other talents. Even now, Julius could hear the fiddle floating through the air from Adair’s music room. A woman with a beautiful voice accompanied the player. They were very good, so good, in fact, that Julius had almost been distracted when Maura slipped from the room, but luckily, he caught the sight and waited an excruciating moment later before departing himself.
So, he was following her, but she didn’t need to know that.
She placed her hands on her hips. She looked slightly flustered with a few wild curls dangling in front of her face. She swept them back the moment he noticed them. “What reason would I have to follow you?”
He lifted a brow. “You’re clearly recalling this morning and can’t seem to get it out of your mind. You’ve been longing for my touch all day and had been hoping…” He let his hand trail down her arm.
Maura’s eyes remained unmoved, but Julius saw the slight twitch in her lips and she had to swallow before she spoke. She laughed first. “It seems clear to me that it is you who’ve been thinking about this morning.”
Julius grinned. “So, I have.” The song ended, and Julius looked away. “You better hurry inside. We wouldn’t wish for anyone to catch us this way.”
She took a step away from him, and color touched her cheeks before she fled.
He wanted to keep her but had promised Natalia that he’d stay away, give her a chance to charm one of the other men. He would
and had been for the entire day. She’d spent dinner between Prince Garrett and Anthony and had then been seated next to Allen during the musical. Raymond kept his distance, though he watched her as though he were trying to figure out what to do about the situation. He likely knew there to be bigger sharks in the water and knew better than to wade in.
He turned at the sound of footsteps and straightened. Anthony came around the corner, the same direction that Maura had departed in.
Anthony straightened his jacket as he glided down the hall. A grin on his face spoke of secrets created in hidden places.
Julius felt pressure build inside his head, his blood pounding. “Where did you just come from?”
Anthony blinked and looked back down the hall. Then he shrugged. “Went looking for a distraction. These musical performances are not the sort of thing I like unless the women are removing their clothes.” The comment reminded Julius of the one he’d made to Maura that very morning. He also recalled how… unsettled Maura had appeared just a moment ago.
Julius wasn’t sure what had happened, but in a blink, his hand was around Anthony’s neck and he had the earl backed into a wall. “What did you do to her?”
Anthony didn’t fight him, though in reality, they both knew he could. Anthony enjoyed playing the dandy, but underneath all that fine silk rested a man who’d been one of the best rowers at Oxford. He still rowed and was on the school’s committee to make the game competitive.
But while a fight might have made Julius feel better, the earl did nothing but grin. “I didn’t do anything she didn’t enjoy.”
Julius tightened his hold.
The humor stayed in Anthony’s eyes but only for show. Julius could see the seriousness that dwelt there, ready to attack at any moment. “Maura and I might have had a chat. That was all.”
“What did you say?” Julius asked.
Anthony lifted a brow. “What does it matter? You think her mad, don’t you? Want to keep her in an arranged marriage where she’d live separately from you. Where’s the fun in that?”
Julius’s eyes widened. “She told you about our arrangement?” To say he was surprised was an understatement.
Anthony jerked Julius’s hand from his throat and then straightened, forcing Julius back. He went, too dazed to truly pay attention to anything that was happening.
The earl straightened his clothes and then moved his hands through his hair, a gesture Julius had seen him do in the company of women to gain their attention. “She told me what I needed to know in order to get you out of the running.”
“I’m not in the running.” Julius took a step back. “I’m simply trying to help my friend.”
“Friend… of course.” Anthony chuckled and then slapped Julius’s shoulder. “Don’t you worry. I’ll see that your friend doesn’t return to Bedlam.” Then he leaned closer and said, “And just so you know, I’m quite fond of mad women, have been told I’m a little mad myself.” His smile slipped away as he added, “Touch me like that again, and I just might prove it to you.” Then he left with a stride that would have been ridiculous on any other man.
Julius returned to the music room just as a woman left the chair directly behind Maura, and Julius took it. When the next song began, he moved to whisper in her ear but was cut off by a soft hand.
He turned to meet Natalia’s gaze. She said nothing, only shook her head.
He leaned away, even as everything within him wanted to fight. He told himself he was only concerned for Maura. Anthony clearly had a plan and Julius needed to know what that plan was. What had taken place in the hall? He needed to speak with her.
But he couldn’t. Not until this silly game was over.
But what if she married someone else? Why did it matter?
Did it matter?
Blood pumped through his veins faster than the lively tempo that came from the pianoforte.
Maura turned around, smiling at Natalia, but when her eyes caught his, he saw that fresh anger again before she turned away.
Damn. Anthony had turned her against him.
He looked around to find Anthony speaking with Morris. The two were laughing about something and Julius began to brood. Did that man want to take everything from him, including his place in the Brotherhood? That was impossible. The Brotherhood was a closed group.
Wasn’t it?
* * *
chapter 34
* * *
Maura was awake when her door opened. Knowing who it would be, she rose from the bed with grace and fluidity, as though she were being pulled by strings. Her eyes met Julius’s and she didn’t have to wonder at his amazement. Candles burned around the room, sitting on shelves, circling the floor, above the mantle, and covering the entire surface of both her vanity and sideboard.
It put the room in a heady glow, washing everything in oranges and black. The wind blew through the open windows, causing shapeless shadows to flicker around them.
Julius glanced around slowly and then his eyes returned to Maura. “What are you doing?”
She’d wondered when he’d arrive. She’d been waiting for almost an hour. The smell of wax was heavy in the room, and she was hotter than usual, but that wouldn’t stop her from what she planned to do.
She remained still and then, with the next gust of wind, she pulled in an exaggerated breath and turned her gaze away from him. Then she moved from the bed, slowly, fluidly. Her toes touched the floor, and she stood, her night rail and robe falling around her. Slowly, she crept to the center of the room and began to spin.
Julius remained with his back to the door. He hesitated before he closed it behind him. “Maura, what’s going on?”
She ignored him and continued to dance. She’d had Diana, Frank’s fiancée, show her a few moves earlier that evening. Diana was a ballerina, but this spring, she planned to leave the stage to start a school in London.
Maura used what she knew for the next few moments, sure she was doing them with little accuracy, but Julius wouldn’t know. The point wasn’t to be a great dancer at the moment. The point was to prove his theory.
She was mad.
She’d powdered her face white before he’d come, adding to her costume.
Julius moved toward her.
The wind blew again, and she gasped before she threw herself on the ground. Then she lifted her eyes and stared at the far wall. “You called for me?” She pretended someone was there.
“Maura?” Julius moved closer.
She continued to stare at the wall that held nothing, nodding as though someone was speaking to her. She continued to ignore Julius as he came to stand next to her.
“I… don’t have it, but I’m sure I can find it for you.” She pretended the wall was Albion.
Julius knelt next to her. “Is he here, Maura?” He looked worried.
The urge to hit him rose within her, but instead, she used that energy to shoot to her feet. She pressed her hand to her chest, hoping she was a great actress at the moment. “No, please. I’ll get it for you.” She allowed fear to distort her features, and Julius cringed as he looked around.
Yes. You believe me to be insane. You’ve told others that I’m crazy? I’ll show you crazy.
* * *
Julius wanted to flee from the room but struggled with the idea of leaving Maura by herself.
When she started to dance again, and he feared her clothes catching flame, he put out the candles, needing something to do. Perhaps extinguishing the flames would break her from whatever trance she was in.
“Please,” she begged the ghost. “Give me time.” Her eyes glittered in the light that was still available to him.
His hands shook. He had no clue what to do. Should he call someone? He didn’t think that a good idea. Besides, she’d survived these occasions more than a few times in her past. He circled her, putting out the candles while keeping her in his sight.
Her eyes widened. “My… time has run out?” She covered her mouth and closed her eyes. “Please, don’
t force this upon me.”
Force? He froze and watched.
Maura turned away from the wall where the being was located and went to the vanity. His heart jerked as she picked up a long blade.
Maura’s lips trembled as she lifted the blade high with both hands, the knife pointed downward toward her. “With this final act, I give you my soul so that you may find what you seek.”
“Maura, don’t!” Julius flung himself across the room just as the blade began to descend.
They both fell to the floor. The blade slid across the room.
Maura groaned in pain. He’d not cushioned her before they’d landed. All he’d wanted to do was make sure she didn’t stab herself.
“Maura!” He cupped her cheeks. “Speak to me.”
She made a pained expression, but then her eyes flickered open and she blinked. Another blink later, she tilted her head and frowned. “Julius? What are you doing here?”
Julius stared at her. He took in her paler than usual features. The powder came off in his hands, but he held her eyes. Had she truly not known he’d been there the entire time? She seemed normal at the moment, but what he’d just witnessed…
His eyes burned. “Maura…” He swept his hands over her face and her tangled hair. Then he sat up and pulled her against his chest, covering her face so that she couldn’t see his.
He swallowed and told himself not to weep but couldn’t stop his body from trembling. “God, if I’d not been here. I don’t know what would have happened to you. I could have lost you forever.”
* * *
chapter 35
* * *
Maura remained still as Julius locked her in his hold. His fingers dug into her hair, and he forced her head onto his chest hard enough for her to feel his strength.
Maura’s Special Spinster’s Society (The Spinster’s Society) (A Regency Romance Book) Page 12
