“Shhh, someone may hear you,” the younger woman cautioned, squeezing her friend’s fingers warningly. She glanced around to see if she could detect heightened interest on the faces of those standing within close proximity. Seeing no evidence of such, she felt a surge of relief that her friend’s whisper had not been overheard above the low drone of voices in the crowded parlor.
Samantha lightly scoffed. “Considering the way Felicity’s eyes have narrowed, I wouldn’t put it past her to have read the words right out of my mouth. Witches are like that, you know.”
“Perhaps we should join the men upstairs and pay our respects to Mr. Gladstone before he becomes thoroughly spent. Jane said he wasn’t feeling very well this evening, so I would imagine he’s not up to all this company. If Colton and Percy are acceptable to the idea, we should perhaps consider taking our leave fairly early. Felicity certainly doesn’t seem to want us here, and I’d rather not feel beholden to her.”
Samantha chanced another glance toward the blonde and shivered, feeling a cold chill go through her. She couldn’t remember ever being the recipient of such venomous glares. “What did we ever do to deserve those icy daggers? As much as we thought we were doing her a favor by inviting her on our outing, she seems to begrudge us now.”
“I believe her resentment, dear friend, has something to do with the contract your father dreamt up.”
Once again sliding her eyes askance toward the one who, by some strange turn of events, had become something of a nemesis to each of them, Samantha could think of no other reason for the change in the woman. “You mean because you have Colton and she doesn’t. As if she ever stood a chance with my brother.”
“I don’t have Colton,” Adriana corrected in an emphatic whisper. “He’s very much his own man.”
“Well, if I’m able to read anything from Felicity’s glares, I’d be inclined to say that everybody else believes you do, and she’s hearing their gossip.”
“Then everybody is wrong. Now let’s go upstairs before I become vexed with your constant insistence that Colton and I are as good as betrothed. And while I’m speaking my mind, I wish you wouldn’t talk so freely about my having his children in his presence. I’m sure it embarrasses him as much as it does me.”
“Doubtful,” his sister rejoined, following Adriana into the inner hall. “I don’t think anything embarrasses him. More likely than not, seeing the world as part of an army of men has made him impervious to almost everything.”
Pausing on the bottom step of the stairs, Adriana turned on her friend in a bit of a huff. “If he is, then I most certainly am not, and if you insist upon carrying on with such talk, henceforth I shall refuse to go anywhere with you while Colton is present. So I urge you, Samantha, stop trying to prod him into marrying me. If he doesn’t lose his temper, then I surely shall.”
Casually dismissing the younger woman’s threat with a shrug of her slender shoulders, Samantha glanced everywhere but at her companion. “You’re just being overly sensitive about it, that’s all.”
Heaving a frustrated sigh over what she had come to consider a careless disregard for propriety, Adriana managed a subdued retort. “I could say you’re being overly insensitive, my dear, but I doubt that would do any good.”
Samantha flicked a brief sidelong glance at her friend and then looked back a second time almost as quickly. Upon closer inspection, she began to giggle as she stared intently at the tip of Adriana’s nose. “I do believe Felicity’s glare has left its mark on you or else, you naughty girl, you’ve been playing in the soot. Whether you’re aware of it or not, you’ve acquired a dark smudge on your nose. I hope it isn’t your witchy temper evidencing itself again.”
In sudden consternation, Adriana glanced down at her gloved hand and discovered the leather near her fingertips now bore a dark blotch of ink. She remembered the guest book lying open on a table near the front door and could only believe the elderly lady who had entered before them had accidentally smeared ink on the pen. Stripping off her gloves, she whispered urgently, “Hurry, wipe off the smudge before someone else sees it and thinks I’ve grown a wart or something worse on my nose.”
“Warts go right along with being witchy, you know,” Samantha teased, her eyes dancing.
Adriana sighed in exasperation. “Are you going to play the simple-pated buffoon or will you be cooperative for a change?”
Once again, Samantha’s slender shoulders moved upward in placid response. “I don’t have anything with which to wipe it off.”
Adriana cast her eyes briefly upward as if passionately praying for patience, and then, mutedly issuing a mutter about some testy individuals, hurriedly searched through her heavily bejeweled handbag for her own dainty, lace-trimmed handkerchief. “Getting back to what we were discussing a moment ago, Lady Burke, this courtship was not your brother’s idea. It was forced upon him. You’ll only give him more reason to resent it if you persist with your suggestive comments about my having his baby. If you do not desist, he just might be tempted to leave Randwulf Manor as he did before.”
“Bah! ‘Tis time Colton marries whether he realizes it or not. He’s not getting any younger, you know, and if he intends to sire a dynasty, he’d better get started instead of merely thinking about it. He just may lose the opportunity. Which reminds me, I’ve heard that Lord Harcourt is having his personal chambers enlarged to include a lavish bathing room. The gossips are nearly beside themselves, thinking he’s planning on getting married and not telling anyone.” Samantha leveled a suspicious squint upon her friend. “Would you happen to know anything about that?”
“No, of course not,” Adriana replied, hurriedly drawing the handkerchief from her purse and wiping at the spot on her nose. “Why should I, of all people, be cognizant of what he’s planning?”
“Because, my dear friend, you’re the only one he has shown any interest in for over a year or more. He has made no bones about desiring you as his marchioness. Did you happen to tell him that you’re committed to a contract of courtship?”
“Is the smudge gone now?” Adriana asked, trying to ignore the woman’s probing questions.
“No, you goose, you’ve only made it worse. Let me have the handkerchief. I’ll wipe it away.”
Submitting herself to the other’s care, Adriana waited patiently as her friend scrubbed away the blotch. It was no easy task, considering that it felt like the skin was being scoured off right along with it.
“There, your nose is just fine now . . . except for its bright red hue,” Samantha teased and then laughed as her friend groaned in annoyance. “It isn’t really that bad, but for that bit of service, you must tell me all you know about Lord Harcourt’s plans to marry.”
“I have no idea what he intends. Ask him, if you’re so curious. He’ll likely tell you if you’re bold enough to ask.” Preferring not to be questioned further, Adriana turned abruptly about and continued up the flight of stairs, ignoring Samantha’s petulant mutterings.
“You’re being awfully secretive about this,” the elder complained, following close behind. “Perhaps I should warn Colton. . . .”
Adriana mentally scoffed. As if that would do any good! “Go ahead, he may decide to let Riordan take over the courtship.”
“Riordan?” Samantha’s tone peaked in the area of the incredulous. “You’re calling him Riordan now?”
Adriana managed a noncommittal shrug in spite of the fact that she wanted to kick herself for making such a slip. “Do I not call your brother Colton?”
“You’re as good as betrothed to him,” Samantha declared. “I certainly hope that is not the situation between you and Riordan.”
They were on the upper flight of stairs when Adriana happened to glance up and then almost gasped in alarm as she saw Roger. He had halted several steps above her, from whence he smiled at her leisurely as his gaze slowly swept her from charmingly coiffed head to dainty slippers.
“Good evening, Mr. Elston,” Adriana gritted out stiltedly, hating
the way her voice trembled. All the trauma she had experienced during his attack swept over her again in a thick wave, nearly choking off her breath. Beneath his bold perusal, she felt as if she were being stripped naked.
“ ‘Tis indeed a pleasure to see you again, my lady,” he said magnanimously, as if he had never once thought of raping her. “I hope you’ve been well . . . and happy.”
She wondered if he detected some strange emotion in her expression, for he canted his head thoughtfully as he considered her. She made every effort to sound gay and lighthearted. “Yes, of course, very happy, very well, thank you. And you?”
“As well as can be expected, under the circumstances.”
“I’m sorry, I did hear that your father was ailing, and I know that must be a tremendous source of concern for you. Please allow me to offer my prayers and wishes for his speedy recovery.”
He inclined his head, acknowledging her gracious request. “You’re as kind as always, my lady, but I wasn’t referring to his malady, but mine. . . .”
Her brows gathered in confusion as her eyes briefly swept him, but for the life of her, she could detect no sign of frailty. “Have you perchance fallen victim to some illness?”
His smile was brief enough to be terse. “I’m afraid ‘tis a matter of the heart, my lady. It has been seriously wounded, and I fear ‘twill never mend.”
“Oh.”
He cocked a brow as he gave her a dubious smile. “Nothing more to say, my lady?”
“What is there to say, Mr. Elston?”
“And your courtship with Lord Randwulf? Is it going well?”
“Why, yes . . . of course. I mean . . . very well.”
Thoughtfully Roger tapped a thin knuckle against his chin as he studied her for a lengthy moment. “Why is it that I sense something amiss, my lady? Your lovely face is not as radiant as I’ve seen it in the past. Should I think your courtship has gone awry? Are you not happy with the marquess?”
“Yes, of course. Why should you even ask such a ques—?” She halted abruptly, sensing a presence on the landing above the stairs, and lifted her gaze to find Colton watching her with a solemnity she had not noticed in him since the day of his arrival. He had obviously been hovering there as her guardian in case Roger did anything out of hand. It was equally apparent that he had been listening to every word of their exchange. In the moments that followed, his eyes delved deeply into hers until Adriana thought she could not bear his intimate inspection without absconding like a feckless coward. Indeed, he seemed to probe to the very depths of her mind.
Following her gaze upward, Roger managed a bland smile for the nobleman. “You may indeed have some legal claim upon Lady Adriana, my lord, but from all appearances ‘twould seem that entitlement has not appeased the lady’s heart.”
Smirking with satisfaction as Colton scowled, the miller continued his descent, taking special pains to make no imprudent movement as he passed Adriana. From the area of the front parlor a moment later, Felicity heralded his approach by drawing another woman’s attention to her “handsome escort.” In the ensuing moments, Adriana was sure even from where she stood rooted to the stairs by Colton’s probing stare that she could hear the blonde cooing.
Samantha’s hand coming to rest upon her arm reminded Adriana that they had been on their way upstairs to visit the elderly miller. She hastened up the remaining flight and, at the landing, found Colton awaiting her there. Drawing her hand through the bend of his arm, he allowed his sister to precede them as Percy stepped to the landing to await her with a hand extended. Following the couple, Colton escorted Adriana into the miller’s bedchamber.
“My ladies,” Samuel Gladstone cried in a croaky voice as he saw the beauteous pair. He held out a hand to each. “ ‘Tis a very great pleasure ta see yu both again. Yu’re rays o’ sunlight shinin’ inta me drab room.”
As older matrons moved aside to allow the pair access to the miller, Adriana and Samantha left their manly escorts and went to stand on either side of the old man’s bed. Accepting his extended hands, they either squeezed or patted them fondly before leaning near to place doting kisses on the elder’s pallid cheeks.
“You’re looking as handsome as always,” Adriana informed the miller, her eyes glowing with as much radiance as her smile.
His blue eyes shone with merriment as he chided, “Ah, m’liedy, don’t yu go fillin’ me addled head wit’ yur pretty lies now. ‘Tis swimmin’ enough as ‘tis, but I thank yu kindly just the same. Yu both always bring a bit o’ life back inta me heart wit’ yur visits.”
“Then we shall have to come more often, won’t we?” Samantha suggested, as she squeezed his hand affectionately. “But be warned, you could grow bored with us.”
Mr. Gladstone chortled. “Doubtful, doubtful.” Turning his head upon the pillow, he indicated the pair with a broad thumb as he winked at a wizen-faced elderly man standing on the far side of the bed, just behind Adriana. “Ah, Creighton, me friend, don’t it jes’ tear yur heart out ’cause yu’re not gettin’ any o’ this fine attention ’ese liedies be lavishin’ ‘pon me?”
“Now, don’t yu be tryin’ ta make me jealous, Sam,” the old man fussed jovially, displaying sparse and crooked teeth in a broad grin. “ ’Ere I be, a bachelor ’ese many years, an’ I’m jes’ now seein’s what I’ve been missin’ all this time.”
Amid the laughter evoked by his remark, Adriana found herself stumbling hurriedly backward as Felicity rudely pushed her way to the old man’s bedside. It was just another thorn in Felicity’s flesh that her own grandfather was among those smitten with the lady. Adriana had been successful in stealing the hearts of gentlemen everywhere. Surely, Samuel Gladstone would evidence a partiality for his own granddaughter. In an endeavor to prove that premise, Felicity took the elder’s hand and sought to press a kiss upon his leathery cheek.
Mr. Gladstone promptly turned his face aside and, lifting a hand, tried to ward off her attempts. “None o’ ‘at now, not aftah yu’ve been ignorin’ me very existence since I bid yur mother ta take o’er management o’ the mill,” he rumbled. “I won’t accept affection when yu only give it in front o’ a houseful o’ guests. ‘Tis no ne’er mind ta me how yu’ve been slightin’ me. I’ve come this far wi’out yur coddlin’; I can get by wi’out it what li’l time I ‘ave left on this earth. See ta yurself, girl.”
“Grandpa! What are you saying? I’ve been busy planning these festivities for you. I just haven’t had time to spend with you,” Felicity insisted, her face flaming from his harsh rebuke. She leaned forward expectantly. “Here now, let me kiss you so you’ll know how much I care for you.”
“I want nothin’ from ye,” the elder muttered, pulling a sheet over his head, in so doing forbidding her access.
Felicity strove hard to maintain her dignity as she retreated from the old man’s bedside. Stiltedly, she went to the doorway where her mother, upon entering the room, had paused.
“He’s growing more senile by the day,” Felicity complained, struggling to keep her composure in spite of her vivid blush. “I don’t know what we’re going to do with him.”
“Senility had nothing to do with it,” Jane Fairchild replied and casually shrugged her thin shoulders. “I can’t blame him. Had you not been so caustic when he asked you to help me, he wouldn’t have snubbed you in return. One usually reaps what one sows.”
“Now I know where you learned your little tricks,” Felicity hissed and stalked out of the room, her back as rigid as a plank of seasoned oak. Several moments later, the front door slammed, indicating her angry departure from the house.
Colton approached the bed, prompting Samuel to lower the sheet from his head. The miller eyed him quizzically as he drew Adriana’s arm through his, and then a slow grin stretched across the elder’s lips.
“So, yu’ve come back from the wars an’ taken yurself the fairest maid in all o’ Wessex, have ye?” The miller chortled as he snuggled his chin into the rumpled collar of his nightshirt. “Can’t say
s as I blame yu none. ‘Twould be me own pick if’n I were kin ta yur sister an’ Lady Adriana was agreeable.”
“I shall bring both ladies with me the next time I visit,” Colton rejoined, bestowing a broad grin upon the man. “Their presence seems to rejuvenate your spirits.”
“Come often,” Mr. Gladstone urged enthusiastically. “I’m a poor, sickly man in much need o’ bolsterin’.”
Colton threw his head back and laughed in hearty amusement. “Aye, I shall do that very thing just to make sure you will enliven our lives for many a year to come.”
In the concluding hours of their outing together, the dispersal of the occupants of the landau was in sharp variance to what had become the normal rote. Whereas the Burkes’ country manor was farther away than Randwulf Manor was from Bath, Bradford on Avon, and all the other places they normally went, the married couple usually had their driver deliver them to the Wyndham mansion, from whence they left in Colton’s landau to collect Adriana from Wakefield Manor, which was even closer yet to all the areas to which they ventured. On the return jaunt, Adriana had always been the first to be returned home. Shortly after the foursome had partaken of a meal at an inn outside Bradford on Avon, however, it became apparent that Colton had other plans in mind for the evening, for he instructed Bentley not to stop at Wakefield at all, but to go immediately to Randwulf Manor, where the Burkes’ carriage awaited them.
Samantha had been greatly heartened by the events of the evening, and although she would never have admitted as much to Roger, she saw a reason to be thankful for the miller’s comments, for he had obviously shaken Colton’s steel-bound confidence. She just hoped they’d produce the results she yearned to see, that being her brother’s proposal of marriage. Yet she couldn’t help but feel a deepening empathy for Adriana, who seemed greatly unnerved by the changes Colton had implemented.
The Reluctant Suitor Page 38
