by Wendy Vella
“Yes, thank you, Mr. Dillinger.” Her words were precise and indicated she did not wish to discuss the matter further, so Ace kept quiet…for now.
Riff arrived with the carriage. Ted climbed up to sit beside his driver, and Ace opened the door and helped Lady Althea inside.
Chapter Two
He took the seat opposite and studied her. She was looking out the window with her lower lip trapped between her teeth. She worried it and Ace saw the emotions chase across her face as she thought about what she had seen. Lady Althea had probably just endured one of the most frightening moments of her life, yet she had not fallen into hysterics. Instead, she had chosen to remain silent and controlled, when he was sure inside she was in turmoil.
“The thing is, Mr. Dillinger, I have always thought of myself as a rational person, not some simple minded, fluffy headed girl who makes silly statements, rash decisions and faints at the sight of violence,” she said, still looking out the window, although her voice was steadier now. “My brother told me something that unsettled me on the journey here, and when I saw the advertisement I thought it would be the very thing to take my mind off this news.”
“Nothing serious, I hope?” Ace said.
“For no one but I, Mr. Dillinger, and something I hope to find a resolution for shortly,” she added and Ace wondered what she was referring to but did not push the matter, as he had no right to do so.
“Believe it or not, I thought through my attendance here today quite extensively, I assure you. I worked through the pros and cons, and even though Ted tried to dissuade me from attending, I refused to consider his words, believing I knew what I was about.”
He’d only seen Lady Althea a handful of times—four, perhaps five—but at each, Ace had noted her spirit. She never looked cowed, never giggled in the fluffy headed way she had just described, yet now she looked beaten. Her slender shoulders were slumped and her face sad, and seeing that torn ribbon dangling from her bonnet made him furious. Inhaling a deep steadying breath, he reined in his rage. Moving along the seat, he placed a hand on hers.
“Sometimes you have to listen to those around you, my lady. Of course it is never easy to do so; however, in my experience those who care for us most often have the right way of things.”
Her gray eyes were clouded as they caught and held his, and Ace felt his chest tighten at the look.
“My brothers often say things like that to me, Mr. Dillinger, and I ignore them,” she said softly. “It appears in the future I may have to at least take them into consideration.”
Ace felt the smile tug at his lips again. “I would not let them know you are thinking that way, however, my lady. It would not do to inflate their already considerable egos.”
“There is that,” she said, trying for a smile of her own but failing. “And in all likelihood, once my spirits have returned I will continue on as I always have.”
“I’m shuddering at the thought,” he said.
“I feel a fool, Mr. Dillinger, for what I have just done. I had believed I knew all there was to know about boxing, believed that because I had punched a bag stuffed with rags and my brothers a time or two I was now knowledgeable about what took place in a boxing ring between two men, and yet I was not. Nor was I ready for the other fight to break out before us. I had not even considered that eventuality.”
“I’m sorry the experience you have longed for did not meet your expectations,” Ace said, still squeezing the fingers beneath his. They were delicate, and swallowed up by his larger workingman’s hands. He had no right to be this close to her, touching her so intimately, yet he could not make himself release her. She would pull away from him soon, when she was once more herself. Pull away and never return, and that, Ace thought, would be a very good thing.
“Thank you for not saying anything further about my foolish behavior, Mr. Dillinger, and thank you for rescuing me when I was about to get trampled. I am sure you have seen your share of silly noblewomen and now I am to be counted in their ranks. Were one of my brothers seated where you are, he would have pointed out in great detail what an idiot I have been.”
“They love you, my lady, and anything they do or say is based upon that fact.”
“So they always tell me, just before they are about to deliver a lecture.” She sighed again.
“Had you no one to lecture you then you would wish for it, my lady, with all your heart,” Ace added.
She tilted her head slightly, studying him as if she could read his thoughts. She could not, of course; Ace had learned long ago how to hide.
“Do you have no one to take you to task, Mr. Dillinger?” She leant forward as she spoke, closing the distance between them in the small confines of the carriage. Her face looked concerned now, as if the fact he had no one to take him to task upset her in some way, which of course was ridiculous, Ace realized. Why would this woman feel anything for him?
“I have eight siblings, my lady, so as you can imagine, any one of them is more than ready to take me to task should they think I require it. Then there are my parents, who do so regularly.”
Surprise flashed across her face at his words.
“Did you believe me an orphan, Lady Althea?”
“No, I had no notion of your family life, Mr. Dillinger. Nevertheless, even my wildest guess could not have come up with quite so many siblings. I can imagine growing up in your household was quite chaotic.”
Ace snorted, which was probably an ill-mannered thing to do in front of such a woman, but the sound best fit the moment. “Our house was probably smaller than your bedroom, my lady, so as you can imagine chaotic is a polite term.”
“I would kill my brothers were I forced to live in such close confines with them, Mr. Dillinger.”
She made him smile again. The woman always said exactly what she was thinking, even when perhaps she should not. Not many women of her standing were that way. Most just said what they thought a person needed to hear.
“We had our moments,” was all Ace said. “However, I was not there that long, so I had only to cope for a few years.”
Twelve, to be precise, Ace thought, remembering the day he’d walked away from his home without his family’s knowledge and not returned for many years.
“Why?”
Because my family could not afford to feed me.
“It matters not why, my lady.” Ace brushed her question aside. “What matters at this moment is that you are indeed unhurt and are not telling me falsehoods.”
She gave him another steady look but did not pursue the matter of his family.
“I will have a small bruise on my shoulder by morning, but it will be nothing in comparison to the sizeable one on my ego. Therefore, I assure you I am quite unharmed.”
“I am relieved.”
Ace watched the line form down her forehead as she frowned. “I am not usually such a faint-hearted woman, Mr. Dillinger.”
“Any person, man or woman, would have been unsettled at the circumstances you have just endured, Lady Althea,” Ace said soothingly.
“That’s as may be, but I am not speaking of the brawl and subsequent tumble I took. That was unexpected and at the time distressing. However, I wish to address the matter of the official boxing match I came to see.”
He loved the way she spoke, in a series of sentences carefully structured and thought out, then they were all delivered in an impatient tone which told the listener they needed to pay attention as what she was saying was of vital importance.
“The problem arose as I saw that man’s head snap backward, and the immediate flow of blood.” She inhaled deeply at the memory before continuing. “I felt unsteady suddenly, which is a very fluffy headed thing to do, but I fear I do not like blood overly, you see, and seeing so much of it was disturbing.”
“You don’t like blood and yet you came to a boxing match.” Ace shook his head. “What did you suppose would happen when the fist of one man contacted with the other’s nose?”
“You are making me sound quit
e brainless, Sir, and I’m afraid you have struck on one of my failings.”
“Just the one?” Ace couldn’t resist teasing.
“I fear this is one of my biggest.” Her gray eyes were now rueful. “You see, Mr. Dillinger, I cannot be dissuaded when I set myself upon a course. It is most irritating for all concerned, not least of all myself.”
“And yet you spent the night thinking things through, pros and cons, and not once did you factor in the prospect of blood?”
“Oh, dear. Put like that it does make me sound fluffy headed,” she said, the frown line deepening. “However, my brother’s news did disturb me enough that perhaps I was not thinking with my usual rationality.”
Ace resisted the urge again to ask what this news was.
“Not so fluffy headed, my lady,” he said, leaning toward her. Her skin was soft, with the faintest hint of color in her cheeks. He wanted to touch it, memorize the texture. “I have seen grown men faint at the sight of blood, so I would not be too hard on yourself.”
“Is that true, Mr. Dillinger, or are you trying to make me feel better?”
Not many people questioned his word, but she’d always done so, right from their first meeting. They were so close now, close enough that he could feel her breath on his face. Ace knew he should pull away, knew it with every fiber of his being, and yet he could not.
“You don’t know me very well, Lady Althea, but if you did, you would know I rarely speak anything but the truth.”
“Oh, but I don’t know you well, Mr. Dillinger,” she said as he moved closer still. Something about her drew him to her, like a moth to flame.
She tugged her hands free from his, and Ace thought she would move away from him, as she should. After all, she was at risk just sitting alone in his carriage with no one else to accompany them. Instead, she pulled off one her gloves and lifted it to touch his face.
“Lady Althea—”
“I have always wanted to touch your face, Mr. Dillinger, from our very first meeting, and as I have just explained that I am rarely dissuaded from a course I have set myself upon, surely you realize I must do this.”
Her fingers were soft, the lightest touch as she brushed them over his cheeks. “You are made up of so many angles, Sir. Such fierce beauty I see in you.”
“No.” He denied her words, his voice harsh now, the feel of her hands exquisite on his skin. “The beauty is all yours, my lady.”
She touched his lips then, tracing her finger over the upper curve then the lower, and Ace felt her touch through his entire body. He was aroused in seconds, his body tight with need. Closing his eyes, he tried to shut her out, tried to find the control to draw away.
“You have to stop this, my lady.”
“I know,” she whispered, and then she replaced her fingers with her mouth and he was lost.
Her touch was soft and tentative, her lips brushing his slowly and it was more powerful than any kiss he had ever received. Ace clenched his hands on his knees to stop himself reaching for her. He ached to hold her body and pull it close to his.
“Your lips are soft, unlike the rest of you.” She whispered the words against his lips. “I like the feel of them against my own.”
“My lady, please pull away,” Ace opened his eyes to look at her, “as I cannot.”
“Why can you not?” She touched his face again, one finger tracing the hard line of his cheekbone.
He only had so much control, and that touch pushed him to his limits. He didn’t tell her why; instead, Ace cupped her face and closed the distance once again. This time, he took control, kissing her deeply. She did not fight him, instead pressing her body into his. It was wrong but Ace could not stop. He wanted this woman, and now she was here he would kiss her, just this one time, and take the memory with him of what he could never have again.
She was sweet, the taste of her lips making his head spin. Her skin beneath his fingers was like silk to the touch, and he wanted to open her cloak and slip his hands inside. The thought of lowering her bodice, burying his mouth between her breasts and tasting her warm skin made him release her. This was wrong; she would never be his and he was taking advantage of her innocence.
“Forgive me, Lady Althea, what I just did was unpardonable.” His words were a low rumble as he struggled to control the raging fire in his body. He turned away from her to look out the window at the darkening skies. He had no wish to look at the lure of her lips as he fought to regain control.
“And will you forgive me also, Mr. Dillinger, as it was I who instigated the kiss?”
“No blame lies at your feet, my lady; it is I who should have known better. You are a woman of noble birth, an innocent—”
“And therefore completely without either intelligence or control?”
Ace turned reluctantly to face her once again. The passion he had glimpsed in her gray eyes had been replaced by anger once more.
How long is this bloody carriage ride? Surely they were close to her lodgings?
“I did not say that, Lady Althea. I merely stated that I am the experienced one in this carriage, and as you have been sheltered and protected your entire life, you could be—”
“So because you were born into a house the size of my bedroom with eight siblings,” she interrupted him, eyes flashing. “And you have no doubt lived a life I could not even imagine, and k-kissed many women, plus…” She lifted a hand to stop him speaking as he opened his mouth. “You are a man and therefore you should take all responsibility for the fact that it was I who kissed you!”
“Yes…no.” Ace always knew what to say, but not now. Not with this woman who was tying his tongue into knots.
“Do you have such a high opinion of all women of noble birth, Mr. Dillinger? Do you believe we are all frivolous and fluffy headed, and in need of protection? P-perhaps I have kissed many men before you. What do you say to that?”
The flash of anger he felt at her words was only brief, but very real and that scared him. She hadn’t, of course. He knew that deep inside. Her kiss had been too innocent. The slight stutter told him she had not dallied with other men, but the picture her words created had not been a pleasant one. This woman was out of his reach in so many ways, and he did not want to feel anything for her, especially not jealousy.
“Perhaps I am experienced, perhaps I have—”
“Enough.” Ace said, cutting her off. “Do you ever keep the words inside your head?” he demanded.
“No,” she said. “I say what I believe needs saying—”
“You have made your point, my lady.” Ace lifted one hand to cut her off again. “However, in the matter of your innocence I do not agree with you, and do you know why?”
She gave an angry shake of her head and then glared at him, defying Ace to say anything that may enrage her further. Gone was the soft woman who had kissed him so sweetly.
“Putting aside the fact of your birth and circumstance, it is my belief neither of your brothers would ever allow you to kiss anyone, nor for that matter become promiscuous. They watch you, my lady, closely, and it would seem with good reason.” As soon as the words left his mouth, Ace knew they were the wrong ones, but he could not unsay them.
“Say nothing further, Mr. Dillinger. I am now very clear on your opinion of my character.”
Before Ace could refute her words or defend himself, the carriage stopped and she flung the door open and leapt from it. Ace followed, but did not catch her as she disappeared inside and ran up the stairs. As he was staying here too, he decided now was the perfect time for a large, strong drink. Before he had taken two steps toward that drink, however, Ted stopped him.
“I would like to thank you, Mr. Dillinger, for taking care of Lady Althea when I could not.”
“Tis nothing.” Ace waved the words away. “And call me Ace,” he added.
“I could not do that, Sir.”
“I bet she keeps you on your toes?” Ace nodded to where Lady Althea had fled.
Ted’s smile was ge
nuine. “Always, and her brothers would have her no other way.”
He then bowed.
“You have no need to bow to me, Ted.”
Sighing loudly when the servant simply offered him a smile and walked away, Ace made his way toward the taproom. He pushed open the door and was hit with the familiar comforting smells. The fire roared in the hearth and heat settled around him as he headed toward it and a table. Taking off his coat, he sat and stretched out his legs, enjoying the warmth.
He ordered ale and food from the barmaid, who displayed an ample bosom in a low cut bodice but no front teeth, and then settled back to think about Lady Althea Ryder.
The woman just did not fit into the mold of the noblewoman he had come to know. She was opinionated, demanding and did things like punch a bag. She didn’t simper or flirt with him as many did. Women who believed he would offer them what their titled husbands could not in bed had propositioned him often. One lady had told him she liked it rough, and was sure Ace would oblige. But after his experience with Lady Thompson, he’d stayed well away from women like that…until now. Lady Althea was dangerous to Ace because he wanted her, and if he’d learned one thing today in his carriage, it was that he couldn’t resist her, especially now he’d kissed her. Closing his eyes at the memory of her in his arms, he blew out a steadying breath.
He had managed half of his ale and meal before he saw the duke. There was a presence about him that made a person look. Many in the room grew silent briefly as he walked, watching his progress before they resumed their conversations. His clothing was the finest quality and he moved with confidence—head up, back straight, never in doubt of who he was.
He was headed toward Ace, and there appeared no anger in his face, nor hurry in steps. Therefore, he did not believe the Duke of Rossetter was about have words with him about his sister, and the situation she had recently plunged herself recklessly into.
“May I share this table, Sir, as there are no others available?”
“There are private parlors, Your Grace,” Ace said, hoping he would go and sit in one of them. This was no place for a duke, with its sticky tables and loud, belching patrons.
