James stared at him. The hard-drinking, rakish Guy Dannon who he had known since Eton was fast disappearing. In his place was a man with steely determination. James wasn’t certain that he liked this new version of Guy.
He picked at several dog hairs on the sleeve of his evening jacket and flicked them away. He really should not wrestle with King after he dressed for formal occasions such as tonight’s ball—a furry dog was the enemy of the well-turned-out gentleman.
“Have you discussed any of this with Leah?” asked James.
Guy downed his brandy, then fixed James with a hard, almost mocking look. “Are you barking mad? Of course, I haven’t discussed this with her. She is a slip of a girl. I’ve paid her sweet compliments each time I have visited at her parents’ home, and foolishly fussed over her at a garden party. Not that being pleasant to her in public got me very far on Saturday. I was disappointed in both you and Francis over getting Leah all excited at the end of the game. She would not have kissed him if the two of you had not encouraged her with your foolish behavior.”
James was not going to mention the minor detail of neither him nor his cousin being involved in Leah’s sudden decision to plant a kiss on Francis’s cheek. Nor was he going to say anything about his own reaction to that kiss. If Guy had any inkling that he wished he had been the one she’d kissed, their friendship may be called into question. James stirred from his personal musings. He really had to force himself to stop thinking about Leah. She was not for him. He just wished his nightly dreams were not full of images of her naked and in his arms. And those lips.
“Her father will tell her that she is to accept my suit. After that, she will do as I instruct,” said Guy.
James closed his eyes for a second, while he absorbed the magnitude of Guy’s words. Leah had no say in anything.
He rose from his chair, suddenly wishing he had not committed himself to attending this evening’s ball. He would have cried off but considering the mood that Guy was in, he knew he would be made to pay for it. He had also promised Claire he would help her practice her waltz, and he didn’t wish to disappoint his sister. If he could avoid spending more than the required polite amount of time in Leah’s company, he might just make it through this evening with his heart still in one piece.
Guy followed him out to the cloakroom of White’s club and handed over his token to the attendant. Once they had retrieved their evening cloaks and hats, they walked the short distance from St James Street to King Street. While Guy took the lead, James lagged a step behind, his mind still concentrated on Guy’s determination to press ahead and marry Leah.
Once inside the elegant mansion on King Street, he left Guy and went in search of his family. He found Claire and his mother in one of the anterooms. His other sister was nowhere to be seen. Disappointment at her absence added to his growing dark mood. If he could just get Maggie to attend more social events, she might be inclined to move on with her life. To find love once more.
“I was beginning to think you were not coming,” said his mother.
James placed a dutiful kiss on Mary’s cheek. He smiled at her soft, playful rebuke.
“I am always late, but never once have I failed to arrive,” he replied.
Mary patted him gently on the cheek. “Cheeky boy.”
“No Maggie this evening?” he asked.
His mother sighed. “She said she had letters to write. More plans for Robert’s memorial. She wants to travel up to Coventry and meet with the local stonemason who is to make the statue.”
He knew to leave his sister and her need to grieve over her late fiancé well enough alone. Some day he hoped she would find someone else to take the place of Robert in her heart. He had died at the battle of Waterloo more than two years ago. Their engagement had only been a brief one. Maggie was far too young to consign herself to a lifetime of widow’s weeds.
Claire flicked open her fan and held it in front of her face. It was a subtle signal to move on with the discussion and not linger on the topic. James scowled at her, but she shook her head and mouthed the word ‘later.’
“Is Guy here with you?” she asked.
Mary took a step back and waved them both a quick farewell. “I shall take that as my cue to go and find your father. Don’t forget to pay your respects to the host before you leave. And, James, try not to drink too much tonight; your father is in one of his odd moods. I don’t want him any grumpier and bear-like than he already is at the moment.”
James raised an eyebrow at the thought of his father being bear-like. Hugh Radley was a cross hedgehog on his worst day. He was not one for raising his voice. His preferred method of disciplining his offspring was to have them come to their own realization that they had misbehaved, and then offer up a shamefaced apology.
“I promise not to drink too much this evening. Now go and have some fun,” said James.
Mary Radley disappeared into the crush of party guests and was soon lost from sight.
“I came with Guy, but he headed toward the ballroom as soon as we arrived. I take it your friend Leah is here tonight?”
“Yes, she is in the ballroom. So, no prizes for guessing why Guy made a beeline for there as soon as you arrived. From the look of things, Leah and Guy appear to be moving at a rather hurried pace toward announcing a betrothal,” said Claire.
James leaned in close. “And do you think that is a good thing? I am concerned that, as you say, things are moving a little too fast. He seems set on the match, but I have my doubts as to whether she feels the same eagerness to be wed.”
“Yes, Caroline made mention of the odd goings on at the garden party on Saturday. And on the rare occasion that Leah has made mention of Guy, her words have not been kind. That does not augur well for a happy future for either of them. Though I doubt there is much which can be done even if she does not wish to marry him. From the moment Tobias Shepherd gave his blessing for Guy to court Leah, the wedding date was all but set.”
Claire’s words had James thinking once more about Leah. A young woman in the early and heady days of love would be sharing all manner of secrets with her friends. Her hopes and dreams for a marriage proposal should be the topic of every conversation. Yet from the sound of things, Leah was more than a little reluctant when it came to the topic of Guy Dannon.
Claire was right. That did not bode well.
Leah’s opinion of Guy wasn’t something anyone in her family seemed to give a damn about. As soon as he arrived in the ballroom, her mother and older married sister were all over him like he was this month’s copy of La Belle Assemblée. Leah, meanwhile, stood a step back from the tight gathering and watched with a sinking heart as her female relatives made pretty eyes at Guy.
Ugh.
It was some time before Guy finally tore himself away from the clutches of Mrs. Shepherd. Leah gritted her teeth as his gaze now fixed firmly on her.
“Miss Shepherd, Leah. How lovely you look this evening. Your gown matches your green eyes,” he said.
She fixed a social smile to her face and nodded. “Mister Dannon. If you bothered to check, you would see that my eyes are blue.” She wasn’t going to grace him with the use of his Christian name in public. It was all a bit too familiar and encouraging for her liking. And Guy Dannon was not someone she had in mind to encourage in any way, shape, or form unless it was to encourage him to look elsewhere for a wife.
He raised a hand to her cheek and brushed his fingers gently across her skin. Her mother softly sighed as he did so.
“You have two new freckles on your face, Leah. You should have listened to me when I told you to wear your bonnet at the garden party,” he said.
Her mother’s sigh turned to a disapproving tsk. A reprimand would no doubt follow as soon as they got home. Pale, flawless skin was the ultimate fashion accessory for a young woman.
“I am sorry if you do not like a sprinkle of sunshine on a young lady’s face,” she replied.
“Leah, manners. Apologize this instant,” his
sed her mother.
A strange look came over Guy’s face and he stepped back. “No, Mrs. Shepherd, it is I who should apologize. I overstepped the mark. I, as yet, have no right to be instructing Miss Shepherd on how she should dress or behave.”
Guy bowed low before Leah. When he righted himself again, he met her gaze. His eyes held not a hint of warmth or sincerity. “Miss Shepherd, I offer my full and unreserved apology to you.”
Caught between her mother’s barely suppressed outrage and Guy’s sleight of hand, Leah was left with no other option. “I shall accept your apology, Mister Dannon, if you will graciously accept mine. I should not have been so dismissive of your valuable opinion.”
Mrs. Shepherd gave a slight nod at Leah’s words. Guy held out his hand and a socially obliged Leah was forced to take it. His fingers felt hot and clammy.
“Mrs. Shepherd, would it be acceptable for me to accompany Leah and seek out some mutual friends of ours? Mister James Radley and Miss Claire Radley will be in attendance this evening. It might serve to lighten the mood if we were able to spend some time with them. I promise Leah will be in safe hands,” said Guy.
His words were so typical of Guy—always working to twist the situation to his advantage. He would make the perfect politician.
“Of course, Mister Dannon,” replied Mrs. Shepherd.
Reluctantly Leah took hold of Guy’s offered arm and let him escort her from the ballroom.
“Now then, that wasn’t so bad, was it? You will find that doing as I ask will make for a happy home,” said Guy, gently patting her arm.
She gritted her teeth and forced herself to remember the spider and its web.
Her hope for salvation now rested in the hands of James Radley.
Chapter Seven
“Leah, come join us!” Claire waved to Leah and Guy as they walked arm in arm into the reception room which adjoined the ballroom.
James looked from his friend to Leah and back again. They were a study in opposite emotions. Guy had a self-satisfied smirk firmly plastered on his face, while Leah looked for all the world like she was going to meet the hangman’s noose. Her posture was stiff, as if the only thing she had left was her dignity.
Guy held up a hand in acknowledgement of Claire before verily dragging Leah over to where she and James stood. At the sadness on Leah’s face, James was sure something broke in his heart.
“So good to see you both again,” said Guy.
Claire permitted Guy to kiss her hand. James bowed low to Leah, all the while wishing he could pull her into his arms and offer her comfort. Anything that would take away the pain.
To his surprise, she immediately slipped from Guy’s arm and offered James her hand. “Mister Radley, how delightful to see you this evening.”
He took her hand and placed a polite kiss on it. “Miss Shepherd, I trust you are well.”
A hard smile spread across Leah’s mouth. Unfortunately, it did not extend to the rest of her face. Her eyes still held pain within them. Instead of sparkling pools of aqua, they appeared as deep wells of dark emptiness.
She blinked, and he could have sworn he saw tears on her lower eyelashes. “Yes, I am well, thank you, James. And may I also thank you for the spirited game of lawn bowls at the garden party. I hope you have forgiven me for besting you,” she replied.
He caught the look which Guy shot in Leah’s direction. By the way that she studiously kept her gaze fixed on James, he suspected Guy had not appreciated her use of James’s Christian name. There was something at play here, but he was at a loss as to what it was.
Guy loudly cleared his throat. “Leah, my dear, would you like a drink?”
She shook her head but didn’t bother to look at Guy. It was clear that the war of wills James had witnessed at the garden party was still on.
Guy stopped a passing footman bearing a tray of drinks. He retrieved two glasses of orgeat which he handed with great flourish to the women. For James and himself, he then selected two brandies.
James caught the sour look on his sister’s face as she took hold of her glass. He quietly sighed. He would be hearing about it in the carriage ride home. All the way back to Fulham Palace if he knew his sister. Claire was not one for having a gentleman treat her in such a patronizing manner.
His gaze now fell on Leah. She was holding her drink stiffly. Why Guy would think that Leah had suddenly developed a taste for it was beyond him.
“Would you prefer champagne?” James offered.
“Well, yes . . .” began Leah.
Guy took a sudden step closer to Leah and loomed over her. The move was so menacing that even James felt intimidated.
“Leah is fine with orgeat. It is a drink more becoming of a young unmarried miss than champagne. Of course, once she is married, then she will be permitted to partake in the odd glass of champagne. Drink up, Leah,” said Guy.
Leah lifted the orgeat to her lips and took a sip. Guy remained standing over her. She took another long drink, her gaze locked on his. When she went to move the glass away from her lips, Guy lifted his hand and placed it under hers. “Finish it, my love.”
As James watched the tense scene with growing unease, he felt the lightest of touches on his arm. His gaze met Claire’s.
“Perhaps it is time we went to the ballroom and danced. James you could dance with Leah, while Guy and I can make up another pair,” his sister said.
Guy took the now empty glass from Leah’s hand and passed it to a nearby footman. He bowed to Claire. “What a capital idea.”
Claire immediately handed her still untouched orgeat to James. A blaze of indignant anger burned in her eyes.
Bloody bastard.
Leah had begun building quite a collection of private insults for Guy, bastard being the latest.
She had tried. Her initial efforts at attempting to like him were not half-hearted in any way. But it was hard to like a person who treated you the way Guy treated Leah. The man was an overbearing pig.
He was just like her father. The first time she had looked deep into his eyes searching for any sense of connection, she had seen Tobias Shepherd staring straight back at her.
And now this. The battle over a glass of orgeat. From the moment Guy had handed her the drink, she’d known he was going to make her down every last drop. If there was one thing she knew about bullies, it was that they were nothing if not predictable. Whatever they did, it had to be with the long-term goal of eventually beating you down and winning. Guy, no doubt, would feel that by making her drink the foul, sweet liquid, he had won.
She felt sorry for Claire and James. Embarrassed for them to witness such behavior. From her knowledge of the Radley family, she suspected it was not something that they were used to seeing. Leah, meanwhile, had a lifetime’s experience of it upon which she could call.
As Guy led Claire toward the entrance to the ballroom, Leah gave a small sigh of relief. She needed time to regroup her thoughts and steady herself for the next skirmish in the ongoing battle of wills. Guy might think himself the master of the game, but Leah was far from done.
“Are you alright, Leah?” asked James.
She gave him a bright smile. “Perfectly well, thank you. It is a lovely evening. Your sister dances well, so I am certain that Mister Dannon will appreciate her lightness of foot.”
Leah bit down on her bottom lip. She was not going to make further mention of the incident with the drink. It was more important that she gather her wits and focus on the task at hand—that task being to get James Radley somewhere private.
“Shall we follow them?” he asked.
“In a moment. But before then, do you think we could go somewhere and talk?”
When his brows furrowed, she tapped him lightly on the arm, reassuring him. “Guy has already secured my father’s approval to court me, and he has a second appointment at our home tomorrow. I’m not asking you to take me to your bedroom and ravish me. I just want five minutes of your time, James.”
“Of course,
” he replied.
She offered him her arm and led him silently toward the hallway. Her heart was thumping a strong tattoo in her chest. James Radley may not like what she was about to do. She could only pray that Guy Dannon would hate it.
Chapter Eight
Much as he disapproved of the way Guy treated Leah, James still felt a strong sense of unease at allowing her to take him by the hand and lead him away from the main party. This was the sort of situation every young man was warned about. Going anywhere private with an unchaperoned, unmarried young woman was fraught with peril.
He was about to tell her that this was not wise, and that they should head back to the ballroom, when she stopped at an open door and quickly pulled him inside. This was madness.
“I think we should leave,” he said.
“You agreed to five minutes. That is all I ask,” she replied.
His gaze took in the room. From the large oak desk and towering shelves of books, it appeared to be the host’s private study.
“This is the perfect place,” she said. She let go of his hand and locked the door.
James swallowed a lump of nervousness. Leah was up to something, and every ounce of his good sense was screaming that whatever it was, he was in grave danger.
“For what?” he ventured.
The words had barely left his mouth before Leah took hold of the front of his evening jacket and pulled him hard toward her. With Leah gripping firmly onto his lapels, James had little choice but to bend. They came face-to-face, mere inches apart. He looked deep into her blue eyes, unable to pull away.
“This.” And then she kissed him.
It was not just one kiss. Leah graced James with a blaze of hot, passionate kisses that took his breath away. Kiss after kiss, which soon had him seeing stars. When she opened her lips and her tongue darted into his mouth, James’s cock went hard.
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