“Help me?” she said. “I can assure you there is nothing you can—”
“Not true,” he said between gritted teeth. “I could pummel those men into the ground.”
She finally turned all the way around, smiling broadly, all hesitation gone. A bit of victory sang in his veins. “There are quite a few of them,” she said. “That would be an awfully lot of fighting.”
He stood straighter, his chest expanding. “You do need my help.” Stepping closer, he reached for her waist and turned her around, pushing the umbrella back so it didn’t poke his neck. “I don’t need to beat them all up, just one or two key players and the rest will fall in line.”
The sun kissed her ivory cheeks, creating a flush on her smooth skin. Without meaning to, he reached up and brushed his thumb down the silky flesh.
“Key players?” she asked as she nibbled at her own lip. “How did you know there was a key player?”
Victory sang in his blood. She’d tell him who tormented her, he’d solve this problem for her. And then…his mind stopped. What exactly did he hope to accomplish? He nearly grumbled aloud. Chris wanted Bianca to value him. Think he was worth something. He could have rolled his eyes at himself. He was nothing. Just a stuttering man whose own father hated him still. “You said as much from our walk back from the village.”
She let out a soft little sigh, her gaze focused on his chest. “Lord Craven, I should go. We shouldn’t be alone like this. I—”
He pulled her a bit closer to his body. “My name is Chris.”
“Chris?” she said, her chin lifting as she looked into his eyes.
“Christian, actually.” He let his thumb brush her cheek again. The feel of her skin making his stomach tighten. “Now that we’re more acquainted. Tell me what happened.”
She gave her head a tiny shake. “I made a fool of myself. I’d rather not repeat the mistake.”
“Confiding in me is not a repetition but rather a correction.” He didn’t want to tell her, he was all too aware of how much teasing hurt.
“I…” Her face turned a bright shade of red. “I went to a local dance last year. There was one man…he’s the son of a wool producer that I fancied at the time.”
“What’s his name?” He splayed his hand out on the small of her back, wanting her to feel safe.
She licked her top lip. Clearly a nervous gesture but it sent a pulse of desire coursing through him. “William Taberman.”
“And what happened with William Taberman?”
“I…” She shifted under his hand and as he brought her body against his chest. “I kept passing by him, trying to catch his eye. It always works for Adrianna.” She paused, drawing in a deep breath. The comparison with her youngest sister didn’t escape him. He’d spent a great deal of his childhood wishing for a sibling. Someone to confide in, look to. Now, he was mostly glad no one else had to experience what he’d endured. And while Adrianna seemed lovely, she didn’t make his heart race in his chest the way Bianca so effortlessly managed.
“What happened next?” Her stomach came to rest against his hips and he ignored the rush of desire that pulsed through him.
She trembled against him. “On my third pass, I tripped on my own skirt and fell. In front of everyone.” She rested her free hand on his biceps. “If that wasn’t humiliating enough, I started explaining…” He heard her swallow. “No one said a word and then—” She dropped the umbrella down in the sand. “William and the four men he stood with began laughing. There I was, a pile of jumbled skirts on the floor, and they just laughed at me, didn’t even bother to help me stand. They’ve been bullying me ever since. Bumbling Bianca. Babbling Bianca.”
He wrapped his other arm about her waist. Rather than help her, they’d made fun of her. And they continued to do so. “Bianca,” he started, wanting to comfort her.
She shook her head violently. “I know I deserved it. I chatter incessantly. I get myself stuck in trees and I had no business trying to strut in front of a group of men as though they might want me.”
He paused, staring down at her. “Bianca,” he said again, reaching one hand under her chin to tilt it up. “Plenty of men will want you.”
She looked up at him, her lips slightly parted. “Why would anyone want me?”
He couldn’t help himself. Bianca pressed against his front, both hands now resting on his arms. Her lips were achingly full and begging to be kissed. But before he stole a taste of her, he leaned down and whispered. “You’re beautiful and kind, to start.” And then he pressed his mouth to hers.
She drew in a sharp breath underneath his lips but she didn’t pull away and so he remained still, allowing her to adjust. When her mouth closed and her lips pressed into his as she kissed back, he lifted, repeating the process three more times until her lips were eagerly meeting his.
His head was swimming as he drank in her sweet taste. Reluctantly, he lifted his head.
She blinked up at him. “Why did you kiss me like that?”
The world had just shifted and Bianca wondered if it would ever return to the way it had been.
Lord Craven…Chris…had kissed her. And the touch had melted her bones. Granted she was still standing, but she was certain she’d been reformed into an entirely new person.
“I kissed you because I need you to see yourself differently. You are not Bumbling Bianca or whatever nonsense they say. They only tease you for a bit of fun or to make themselves feel better about their own insecurities.”
Somehow, those words sounded right. “How do you know?”
He grimaced. “I’ve got a bit of experience when it comes to teasing youth.”
She cocked her head. Had he been a bully as a child? He was awfully large, strong and intimidating. “So what do I do?”
“You prove to them that they are completely wrong about you.” He gave her another squeeze.
She danced her fingers over the deep ridges of his biceps. “How do I do that?”
He frowned. “Let me think on it.” He tapped the small of her back. “But first, I want to meet this William.”
“I don’t think so.” The very idea made her stomach drop to her toes. This man, the one holding her, made her feel attractive. The last thing she wished was for Chris to see her through William’s eyes. Chris was building her up and that could only help her find her future. Find a husband. William had done nothing but make her doubt herself.
She squeezed his arms again. Perhaps she’d found her future already. Here was this strong man holding her in his arms. Did he want to be in her life? Hope fluttered in her chest.
He leaned down again, but rather than kiss her mouth, he kissed the sensitive spot just behind her ear. “Bianca. I’m no one’s hero. And I can’t be your everything.”
What did that mean? “My everything?”
He shook his head. “I’m no woman’s prince. But I can do this for you. I can make those men stop harassing you so that you can move on with your life. Won’t you let me help you?”
That made her breath catch. What did he mean he couldn’t be her hero? Wasn’t that exactly what he was trying to do? And would he still like her after he’d met William? “There is a cricket match in the village this afternoon. He’s sure to play. He’s the captain of the local team.”
By way of answer, he let her go and reached down to pick up her umbrella. “In that case, you and I are going to a cricket match today.”
She took the umbrella from his hand and gripped the handle tightly. “I’m not certain about this plan.”
His hand came to her back again and he began steering her up the hill. “Trust me, Bianca.” He dipped under her umbrella, which created an air of intimacy, and her hand rested on his chest, her fingers lightly stroking his skin through his thin shirt. This man had kissed her. The first kiss of her life and he’d been right about one thing. She felt stronger, more confident because of his touch.
“I’ll make sure that they never tease you again.”
Bianca
stopped, looking over at him, his face close to hers under the canopy. “I still don’t understand why you’re helping me.”
A muscle in his jaw pulsed and suddenly he scooped her up in his arms, moving faster up the hill. “I’m sure you noticed that I’m rather quiet. It’s been a long time since anyone made me wish to talk. I’m not always very good at it. I was so quiet as a youth, I didn’t learn the finer points…” He paused his speech, moving them faster. “But with you, for the first time in a long time, I wish to speak my mind.”
“Oh.” She reached an arm about his neck, feeling the bulge of muscle under her fingers. “That is so wonderful.”
“Bianca.” They were nearly at the top of the path and he stopped, just before they became visible. “I won’t stay here in Seabridge Gate, I shan’t ever marry. I won’t start a family and build a lovely home with children and cats. But I can help you with this. Do you understand?”
Not really. What did he mean he wouldn’t marry? He was a lord. Did he just mean he wouldn’t marry her? Her stomach did a sickening little flip. “It’s all right if you don’t like me enough to propose. No man has.”
He growled out a protest. “It’s not you, Bianca. It’s me. I won’t marry any woman ever because I’m not suited for it. But I’ll leave here knowing those men have ceased teasing you and that you understand your own value.”
Those words stole her breath. Bianca had to confess, she did want to marry. Stay in Seabridge Gate, start a family, and build a lovely home with children and cats. But even if he wasn’t the man to give her all these things, right now, she needed what he offered. A chance to start fresh and build toward her dreams.
Chapter Six
Chris set her back down, then held out his arm. He shouldn’t have carried her up at all, but he thought best when he moved and sprinting up the hill when carrying her had been the perfect finish to the exercise that had cleared his mind.
And allowed him to realize a few key points. He wouldn’t be satisfied leaving until he helped her. Lovely as she was, she was fragile too and she needed the sort of protection he could provide.
Chris had warned her that this was not a promise for a future from him. He’d simply get her started down the right path.
With that in mind, he left her at the kitchen door with a promise to return that afternoon.
“Are you certain this is a good idea? I mostly avoid them and—”
“That’s no way to live,” he answered, his hand tightening into a fist. He tried that as a child too. It just made him more of a target. The teasing hadn’t stopped until he’d learned to fight back. “I’ll help you. Don’t worry.”
She gave a tentative nod and then disappeared into the house.
He’d started sprinting down the road once again, intent upon getting back to the cottage for a good bath. At the match, his first order of business was to decide what sort of man William was. Did he tease Bianca because he was insecure, a braggart, or just a mean fellow? The answer to that question would help Chris decide how best to proceed. Did he threaten, trick, or openly punch the man in the face? The last sounded the most satisfying.
And he’d enjoy this bit of a time with Bianca. Perhaps he’d convince her to take a walk on the beach with him. One where he actually allowed her to walk. He really ought to cease carrying her everywhere. It was just that she fit against him so nicely.
He ate a quick bite at the inn, took a bath, and then dressed before returning to the Moorish house in Dashlane’s carriage. The large vehicle would hold six. He knew full well this would be a chaperoned event and sure enough, Juliet stood next to Bianca on the front drive.
The sight of Bianca nearly stole his breath. That morning, she’d looked gorgeous in a serviceable day dress. But now she wore a fitted gown made of a frothy pale blue fabric that highlighted her dark hair and the blue in her eyes. The high waist was accentuated with a wide band of ribbon that matched her gown and showed off the natural curves of her body in the most delightful way.
He helped both ladies into the carriage, Juliet first, as she flashed him a smile. “I thought for certain Lord Dashlane would join you.”
Chris shrugged. He hadn’t seen Dashlane since they’d made their way back from their cat hunt. Nor was he the type to intercede and tell Juliet that Dashlane was unlikely to attend any events where he wasn’t absolutely required. That would involve far too much talking.
Juliet gave him a long look as though she expected some sort of explanation. When he gave none, she finally flounced onto the bench seat of the carriage.
He turned to Bianca, taking her gloved hand in his. Every time he touched this woman, he just wanted more, and this was no exception. Automatically, he brought his other hand to her back, fingers spreading wide to touch as much of her as possible. He couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her.
Juliet raised her brows as she studied his face. He had to confess, he’d not thought Bianca’s sister would notice, but he didn’t remove his hand either. Bianca climbed into the vehicle and sat next to her sister as he took the seat across from them.
“Thank you for escorting us to the match, Lord Craven.” Juliet smiled brightly though her brow furrowed. “I personally love the game. Tell me, do you play cricket?” she asked as she shifted in her seat, spreading out her skirts.
He nodded stiffly. “Not for ages, of course. But I used to excel at the game.” Physical movement had always been his strength. He’d been faster, stronger, more coordinated than every other player at most any game.
Juliet cocked one of her brows. “Really? With your build? How shocking.”
“Juliet,” Bianca admonished. “Be nice.”
“I am being nice. He knows I was being sarcastic. He could be carved from stone like one of the statues in Lady Percy’s garden with his build.”
His eyebrows lifted and a small smile touched his lips. Juliet was a bit more like Bianca than he’d first imagined and he quite liked her. The compliment helped. “Thank you, Miss Moorish. Very kind of you.”
Of course he’d known that women found him physically attractive. Which was how he got away with not saying much. At least in the sort of causal relationships he kept.
She waved. “I wasn’t being kind. It’s the truth.” She sat forward, her gaze narrowing as she looked back and forth between Bianca and himself. “An athletic lord is taking us to a sporting game where your tormentor is the lead player and captain of the team.”
He cocked a brow, his hands rubbing together. “An athlete, is he?”
Juliet pointed her finger at him. “You knew about William.”
“I do. We met some of his friends in the square earlier.” He cracked his knuckles without thinking the gesture through, showing exactly what he intended to do to the man who’d hurt Bianca’s feelings so often.
Juliet clapped her hands, a large smile splitting her face. “Oh, this should be fun.”
“No fun today.” He shook his head. “Just observation.”
“Today is just observation?” Bianca asked, scooting closer. “So you’ll be staying for a few days?”
He gazed over at her, resisting the urge to reach out and touch her again. The thought of leaving made his stomach twist in discomfort. He tried not to think about the feeling too much. He had a little time to help her and have a very good reason to stay in this little village. “A few.”
Juliet looked between him and her sister. “I’ve been thinking, Bianca, that we should hold a soiree. Music and dancing the night away. Doesn’t that sound fun?”
“It does,” Bianca answered, her eyes still locked with his. “When do you think we’d have this party?”
“I’m not certain,” Juliet answered. “Lord Craven, how long might you stay in Seabridge Gate?”
Chris gripped his thigh to keep from reaching out and pulling Bianca close. If she asked him that same question, he’d have a difficult time refusing her anything. “I’m not certain, I—”
Bianca leaned further forward, her h
ands clasped in her lap. Damn it all to hell, but her cleavage peeked out from the lower neckline of her dress. He clenched, his jaw ticking with the effort to keep still.
“Wouldn’t a dance be fun?” Bianca asked, her breath catching.
No. A dance sounded positively dreadful. He hated such events. But he found he quite liked the sound of her voice when it was breathless with excitement. And much to his surprise, the idea of dancing her out of a ball and onto a patio where they found some dark corner sounded even better than fun. “The idea holds a certain charm.”
Juliet clapped. “I’ll see how quickly I can plan one.”
Chris shook his head. He was helping an innocent woman all the while agreeing to attend a ball. What had gotten into him?
Bianca worried the inside of her cheek as she stared across the carriage at Chris. The man stole her breath.
She’d fancied herself in love with William. He was handsome and popular within the village. Many of the ladies fawned over him to gain his favor. And she’d wanted to be one of the women to whom he turned his attention. She supposed, in a way, he had.
His teasing was a certain form of attention. But rather than feel good, his barbs had often cut deep. And half the village had joined him in his mockery, which hurt a great deal, but William’s words had always stung more.
She’d had such an affection for the merchant’s son. But now…
What she’d felt for William didn’t even compare to the breathless excitement that filled her every time Chris was near. Was it just because Chris was nice to her? That he touched her, kissed her even? Or were they just better suited to one another?
She stopped. Chris had told her he couldn’t be her hero. He’d outright said he wouldn’t marry. She still wasn’t certain what he did plan for his future, but he obviously didn’t intend to stay in Seabridge Gate for any length of time.
Romancing the Rake: Seven Regency Romances Page 22
