Authors: Susannah Merrill
And though she tried not to dwell on it, it bothered her to find her thoughts frequently returning to those moments prior to their compromise when he had held her in his arms, demanding a response from her lips and body she hadn’t known existed. In those fleeting moments, he had been able to strip her of her senses, leaving only passion in their wake. He had made her a stranger to herself and she was afraid to understand it – only wishing to deny that it had ever happened. As if she could.
“I seem to have lost your attention,” a teasing voice broke into her thoughts. Sarah blushed and turned her face to look up at the man grinning down at her
“I beg your pardon, sir,” she stuttered and pushed herself off the fence, landing lightly on her feet. “Shall we go to the stables,” she implored, attempting to cover her lapse.
He chuckled, as if he knew quite well the turn of her thoughts, but wisely chose to hold his tongue.
As they entered the darkened stable, they were met by a boisterous whinny from the corner stall. “Excuse me,” Stewart said, taking Sarah’s arm from his own, “but my friend over here wishes a word with me.” Reaching down into the pocket of his breeches as he walked, Stewart pulled out a sugar cube and presented it to Nubian, who was anxiously rustling about his stall.
“No wonder he is so glad to see you,” Sarah giggled, moving closer. “It appears you’ve been bribing him for his cooperation.”
“With excellent results, as you can see,” he answered, patting the horse’s velvety black nose as he devoured the treat. “I’ve ridden him every day with more success each time. We’ve become quite fond of each other.”
“I am so happy to hear that,” Sarah replied genuinely pleased. “Much as he abused his riders, I always took pity on him for being little used as a mount. He is much too strong and proud to be kept only for breeding.”
“My sentiments are not quite as noble,” came his reply. “I say he must work for his pleasures ... as I have been forced to do,” Stewart intoned, giving her a meaningful look.
Her hackles immediately raised, Sarah gasped angrily and whirled away from him. “There you go! Crudely referring to our compromise in the same breath as you mention rutting beasts! I should have known you would mock me at the first opportunity.”
Crossing the cobbled stable floor, she reached out for Serena, who was startled by her mistress’s angry tones. In doing so, she missed the warning etched on Stewart’s handsome visage as the muscle in his cheek twitched, his mouth set in a tight line.
“I was beginning to believe you were sincere in your efforts to treat me as a lady,” Sarah continued recklessly, “but now I see the truth: that you consider the whole idea a charade, a comical sketch to appease me so that you can swoop down on me unsuspectingly, like a hawk to some lone field mouse. Well, Mister Chamberlain, I am not fooled, and you can rot for all I care.”
Her tirade ended, Sarah leaned against Serena’s stall, her fingers shaking as her hand reached up to brush a dark curling wisp of hair from her hot face. She was completely unprepared for Stewart’s reply.
“Listen well, Lady Sarah,” he spoke, his voice menacingly quiet and controlled. “You have sorely tested my patience in this matter, and I am near the end of my rope. I wish to make it perfectly clear to you that though I have been made to exercise restraint, I will not be gelded by you or any other.” His relaxed posture belied the disdain of his words, and Sarah’s skin prickled with the fear of it and she refused to face him directly.
“I had believed that there was some room in our compromise for lighthearted banter, but I realize now that even though you are twenty years and, I might add, long past the age of knowledge,” he said, his tone tinged with sarcasm, “you are only playing grown-up. You are still very much the child, are you not? Perhaps you should have a talk with your sister concerning the harmless use of innuendo. It seems that you have too much to learn at my expense.” With a disgusted snort, he returned to Nubian, who was stamping impatiently for more sugar.
At the mention of her sister’s name, Sarah’s thoughts immediately turned to anger. She did not wish to be reminded of Juliana’s talents as a coquette, especially by Stewart Chamberlain. But at the same time, she knew she had overreacted to his innocent quip. It was his uncompromising virility that continually put her on edge. Haughtiness was the only shield she had to defend herself from his intangible but very real assault.
Mollified by the truth of his words, Sarah let out a trembling sigh, realizing she had held her breath all the while he had spoken. Gingerly, she turned and slowly walked toward him, unable to fathom his thoughts since his back was presented to her.
“Mr. Chamberlain,” she began tentatively, and then with more resolve, “Stewart. I-I am very sorry. I fear I reacted more strongly than was called for.” Because he refused to acknowledge her nearness, Sarah moved forward and lightly touched his arm, struck by the muscular hardness beneath her glove. “You’ve been very ... fair.”
“No,” Sarah replied hastily, her fingers tightening involuntarily, “No, I fear there is truth in what you say. You have treated me honorably and I’ve repaid your courtesies by acting like a child. Will you excuse me?”
Stewart was quite sure Sarah had no idea that her lovely upturned face and those wide innocent blue eyes were so positively convincing. But his ire would not be so easily appeased; he hesitated to reply.
“Please?” she persisted, just as he was about to turn his head away. And then, completely by impulse, she moved closer and, tugging on his arm, reached up and planted a slow, prim kiss on his grimly set lips.
Though her cheeks reddened in shock at her own boldness in using physical means to wield a pardon from this man, she smiled innocently as she lowered herself onto her heels and repeated, “Please?”
With a teasing twinkle suddenly aglimmer in his mink-colored eyes, he shifted his weight to a more casual stance and replied lightly, “At the risk of inciting you again, I think that one more kiss, with perhaps a bit more feeling, might just restore my pleasant mood.”
Againsurprisingherself,Sarahgaveawry smile. Then, placing her arms around his neck, she drew his head down to hers and kissed him again, tentatively moving her ripe lips against his. When he did not respond, she pulled him closer, parting her lips slightly to match his more completely.
It was then that Stewart, warming to her attempts, slowly let his arms slip around her, and with one hand on the small of her back, used his other to gently cup the back of her head.
Thoughhispacewaslanguidandunhurried, Sarah was overcome by the richness of the feelings he had ignited. It was so easy to bask in the tenderness of his touch, to be filled with the heady scent of his cologne and leather, to feel the hardness of his chest pressing against her tingling breasts. As his fingers wove their way into the loose curls at the nape of her neck, his tongue sought the warmth of her mouth and she found herself overcome by the delicious assault.
Her senses reeling with the ever-building current that passed between them, Sarah longed for the feeling to go on ... and on. His probing tongue set her afire and she knew that she could not pull away from him even if she had wanted to.
Stewart, reveling in the newly-discovered willingness of the delicate pink lips beneath his, was struck by her innocent enthusiasm, quite sure that she had no idea of the effect she was having on him. He felt the familiar stirring in his loins, and wished fervently that their embrace were taking place anywhere but in this very public stable. He would have loved nothing better than to woo her in some secluded forest, where he could lay her down on the sweet-smelling moss and ....
A whinny from Nubian broke Stewart’s reverie and he raised his head from Sarah just in time to see Silas leading the filly through the stable doors. Sarah let out an embarrassed gasp, too shocked to move, but Stewart appeared unnerved as he calmly took her wrists in his hands and slowly lowered them from his neck.
If Silas had indeed discovered the ardent couple, he gave no indication as he struggled to control the spirited yearling. “Good afternoon,” Stewart called to the man, the assuredness of his voice belying her effect on him. “You seem to have your hands full with that one,” he said, holding tight to both of Sarah’s wrists as she winced at the double entendre.
“That I do, sir,” Silas grunted, pulling the horse toward the stall, “but she’s coming around. Afternoon Lady Sarah,” he added, pushing the filly into her stall. “Don’t tell me you’ve come for a ride?”
“No-no, not today,” she answered much too breathlessly. With a nervous tug, she pulled her hands away from Stewart’s grasp. “Just to visit.”
Refusing to look into the thoughtful brown eyes that gazed down on her, she hastened to pull her shawl around her quivering shoulders and said, “I think I should be getting back. I have things to attend to before we dine.”
“Yes, I do as well,” Stewart intoned, his voice stirring her with its gentleness as he placed his hand at the small of her back to guide her toward the stable doors. “Good day, Silas.”
“Good day, sir” Silas replied, without looking up. As she walked past the trainer, Sarah’s eyes narrowed slightly, wondering how much he had noted, but knowing there was really no need to fear. Silas – and all her father’s servants for that matter – were nothing if not discreet.
As they entered the sunlight, Sarah demurely stepped away from Stewart’s touch, afraid that she would not be able to concentrate if he continued to walk so closely beside her. “I understand that a special meal has been prepared for this evening since this is your last day with us for a time.”
“About this evening,” Stewart replied, “do you think you and I could find a few moments to ourselves? Perhaps after dinner? In the garden?”
After what had just transpired, Sarah was frightened by the intimacy of his tone. Her voice caught in her throat as Stewart continued. “You needn’t fear my intentions, Sarah, though I’m sure you know that already. It’s just that I’m leaving at first light and I won’t have another chance to speak with you privately.”
“I-Idon’tknow,”Sarahrushedon,“Iamnot sure it is possible, and besides, it would be seen as improper.”
“Lady Sarah,” Stewart chided teasingly, “you are trying much too hard to thwart our friendship. It is both possible and proper to carry on a private conversation. Why, I believe we are having one at this very moment. So, out with it. What is your real excuse? Are you in the middle of a good book perhaps? Or will a few minutes spent with me disrupt your beauty sleep?”
Sarah’sblueeyesblazedasshesnappedher head up to look at him, “Do not mock me. I am not a recluse as you are most fully aware.”
“Ah,” Stewart raised his brows, “then maybe there is a beau who occupies your evenings? I have never seen you dally with the others after dinner. Of course!” he beamed, seemingly proud of his powers of reasoning. “That would explain your absences and aloofness. Tell me now. What young stud has stolen your heart? Is it the viscount?”
Sarah was infuriated by his callous taunts and immediately quickened her pace. “You vex me sorely, Stewart Chamberlain! You are all too aware of the fact that Lord Harrington is practically betrothed to my sister, and that I have no particular beau – at the moment,” she spat out. “As for making myself scarce, it is a habit I’ve only recently acquired,” she said, throwing him a meaningful glance.
“Very well, then,” Stewart smiled with satisfaction, “you have nothing to keep you from meeting me this evening. ‘Tis good, for I have something rather important to tell you.”
“Ifitisindeedauspicious,”Sarahsaidhu ffily, “then perhaps you’d better tell me now. I really do not know if I shall be able to meet you.”
Stewart ignored her reluctance. “I’m sure you’ll manage.” Before Sarah could utter another word, they had arrived at the mansion. Stewart opened the door with a gallant gesture and Sarah whisked her way past him, the butler’s presence closing the opportunity for her to make one last protest.
Smiling politely, she greeted Farnam and threw a farewell to Stewart over her shoulder as she swiftly ascended the grand staircase. Farnam and Stewart both watched her go, smiling fondly, but for entirely different reasons.
CHAPTER 9
Dinner was a festive occasion. The Duke of Weston was in a remarkably fine mood, perpetuated by the fact that his young business partner was soon to set in motion the plans they had so meticulously developed for their new and exciting venture. The Duchess, a lovely and gracious hostess, had arranged a bounteous feast of roast veal, pheasant and all the trimmings, carefully prepared and served by the competent staff. The banquet table in the main dining room was set with the family’s best china, crystal and silver on a magnificently embroidered tablecloth made by Sarah’s late grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Weston.
Lady Juliana was, as usual, in her glory whenever a hint of celebration was in the air, and Sarah, who sat beside her, could not help noticing what a vibrantly beautiful woman her young sister was. Juliana’s thick golden hair was swept up and away from her face, emphasizing her slender neck and high cheekbones. Her lavender silk satin gown was cut off the shoulder and heightened the attractiveness of her snapping green eyes and creamy alabaster skin. Sarah was fascinated by Juliana’s wiles; the way she would raise a finely shaped eyebrow, flutter her gorgeously thick lashes or absent-mindedly run a fingertip across the edge of her revealing bodice when their handsome guest’s eyes would meet hers across the table.
Stewart, tonight, Sarah midnight blue over a silk waistcoat, linen shirt and black stock. His black doeskin breeches hugged his lean form and Sarah could not ignore the handsomeness of his tanned face, nor the way his warm brown eyes bespoke his pleasure when he first looked at her this evening.
too, looked especially elegant mused. He wore a tailcoat of
Thoughherdresswasnotcutnearlyaslow as her sister’s, Sarah was pleased she had chosen the pale blue duchesse silk gown with sparkling beaded trim. The cap sleeves revealed her slender white arms above kid gloves and the beautiful perfection of her bodice.