Courtesan's Kiss (3 page)

“I only wanted to make him a little jealous,” she said again. “Just a little. So he would stop treating me like one of his madcap friends and more like his future wife.”

“But the viscount would dance with you and escort you to dinner and to any shop you wished to visit. He would play cards with you and he took you to Astley’s and insisted that your skill on horseback exceeded the talent of anyone there.” Janina might as well have said, “Only you could want more than that.”

“I wanted him to kiss me with something that felt like more than two lips pressed to mine.” Janina was in love. Surely she should understand. “I wanted him to show me the passion that is as much a part of him as being Italian is a part of me. That was all it would have taken to convince me that I had found a place in life where I truly belonged.”

She stopped and bit her lip. William did not love her. Not enough. Which was exactly what he had accused her of. Not accused so much as gently suggested. So gently that she picked up a book and threw it at him so that he
would do something besides smile at her as though his heart could not stand any more pain.

She wanted William to sweep her into his arms and show her passion. Instead he had suggested that they end their ill-advised engagement. What else could she do but pretend she wanted that more than he did?

“Romero thinks he will come after you and beg you to take him back.”

“And you told him to stop spouting nonsense. You are so practical, Janina.”

“Yes.” Janina nodded with conviction. “I think Lord William is too short to be your husband.”

“That is unkind. William Bendasbrook is a gentleman in every way, and manly in all the ways one could want from a husband. His height is nothing more than a distraction.”

“Then you did love him!”

That question lay at the heart of the matter. In truth, Mia feared she was the one who had not loved enough. And if she did not love someone as ideally suited to her as William, was she even capable of love, fidelity, or finding someone to share her life with?

While she considered what to tell Janina, Mia heard the sound of hooves pounding along the dry road and nearly swooned at the idea that Romero understood the situation better than she did and that Lord William was almost upon them.

T
HE RIDER PASSED
and called a halt to the carriage. Even through the dust his thoughtless gallop had raised, Mia could tell that it was not Lord William. This man did not have nearly the command of his horse that William did.

“A highwayman!” Janina yelped. “Help us!”

“It is not a highwayman. Will you stop shouting, Nina.”

The gentleman stayed at the head of the team and waited for Lord David to ride back from some little way ahead. Not a thief, but he definitely wanted them to stop.

Dear God, she hoped nothing had happened to the duke or duchess.

Mia opened the door and jumped down, not waiting for the grooms to lower the steps. She almost fell, the drop steeper than she expected, but she found her footing and hurried to where Lord David and the rider were talking.
They stood in the shade at the side of the road, beyond the hearing of the coachman and servants.

Lord David did not appear particularly interested in the stranger’s words. He was scowling. That and exasperated summed up his usual expression.

“Is it Elena or the duke?” Mia stopped a moment to control her breathing. “Has the baby come early?”
Please, please let Elena be safe
. It would be more than she could bear to lose someone else she loved.

“Miss Castellano, rest easy. I am sure everything is as it should be at Pennford.” Lord David settled his horse as he spoke.

Rest easy
might be another command, but he spoke in such a matter-of-fact manner that she felt relief instantaneously. Mia relaxed her hands, not sure whether she had been praying or despairing. She stepped into the shade, and while she waited for an explanation she stared at the ever-changing patterns in the shadows as the tree branches swayed in the lightest of breezes. If fairies lived in these woods, this would be where they came to dance at twilight.

“Miss Castellano.”

She started. Mia hated the way Lord David began every sentence with her name as though he had to remind himself who she was.

“This is Mr. Warren Cole.” He made the introduction with the most perfunctory of good manners.

“Mr. Cole.” The name had a familiar ring, but she could not place him. She closed her eyes for a moment and recalled her friend from the posting house. “Ah yes,
Miss Cole’s brother, who is escorting his sister to London. How do you do, sir.” She curtsied and waited.

“Miss,” Mr. Cole responded. He did not dismount and gave her no more than an insincere bow from his neck. “My sister insisted that I bring you your hat and your fan. She said that you were compelled to leave quickly and would not want to be without them.”

Mr. Cole handed her the items, the hat crushed and without its feathers.

The young man gave his full attention to Lord David. “I am using the return of these fripperies as an excuse to speak with you about the behavior of this young woman in your charge.”

Miss Cole had not mentioned that her brother was a pompous fool.

“I am Miss Castellano’s escort, not her brother or husband. Speak to her directly.”

Mr. Cole looked surprised, but did as he was told, looking down on Mia from atop his horse. “What in the world possessed you to fill my sister’s head with such vulgar ideas?”

“Vulgar ideas—I did no such thing!” Mia looked at Lord David for support, hoping he would dismiss the man for his rudeness, but the dolt sat his horse, staring off into the trees as if he had more important things to think about than protecting her.

“You told her that she should say ‘No!’ more often, that the Season exists to buy and sell young women for a bride price, that a woman would have more control over her life if she went into trade.”

What a shame, Mia thought, that she had
not
told Miss Cole to hold their conversation in confidence. It was such a basic idea that she had not thought it necessary.

“I never said that last, Mr. Cole. But the rest is true and you know it. I would call my conversation with your sister frank, not vulgar.” She had to crane her neck to look him directly in the eye. The sun near blinded her and made it impossible to see his expression. “I did not suggest that she go into trade. Not at all. But I did discuss with her that courtesans have more control over their lives than married women do.”

“Your words are offensive, even to me, a gentleman and, I assure you, a man of the world. To use such a term in my sister’s hearing, much less discuss the advantages of a whore’s life, is beyond vulgar and makes me question whether you are indeed a lady yourself.”

Mia took a step back, his use of the word
whore
making her feel as though he had punched her in the heart. She raised a hand to her chest to ease the pain.

“That is more than enough, sir.” Lord David edged his horse close to Mr. Cole’s, making both the man and his mount nervous.

Lord David dismounted and stood beside her. “I will not tolerate insults to the lady.”

Thank the saints Lord David had been listening. Mia turned her back on both men and pretended to be overcome with tears. She fumbled in her reticule for a handkerchief, but apparently Janina had not thought to put one in. A hand appeared over her shoulder with a handkerchief
and she nodded thanks as she took it and dabbed at her eyes.

“You had best keep an eye on your relation, Lord David, or she will ruin you and your house.”

Only a nodcock would threaten a Pennistan. Their tempers were as well known as the family’s rank.

“That’s true—if fools like you must announce wild stories. Listen to me, Cole. Keep this to yourself or you will regret it.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Oh, no,” Lord David said with a laugh. “If I threatened you there would be no need to ask.”

Lord David had his back to her and she could not see his expression. Mia could imagine it easily enough. A stare that would have unmanned a pirate. A mouth no more than a thin line of disgust. She was relieved that for now it was aimed at someone else.

“When I see you in London, my lord, I will give you the cut direct.”

Mia pressed her lips together to keep from laughing out loud at the pathetic threat, even as she wondered if this confrontation would come to blows.

“Cole, you had best research my connections before you think to do that or you will be the one on the outs with the ton.”

She turned around in time to see Lord David slap the rump of Mr. Cole’s horse. The next thing she saw was Mr. Cole on his way back from whence he had come on a horse not entirely in his control.

“Thank you, Lord David.” Mia tried for meekness and kept her eyes down.

“Look at me.”

With a grimace she raised her eyes to his and he shook his head.

“Your eyes are twinkling. You enjoyed every moment of that.” He made it sound like a grievous sin—and besides, it was not true.

“No, I did not
enjoy
it. No one likes to be insulted. But I did admire your rescue.”

“Miss Castellano, climb back into the carriage, like the little piece of baggage you are. I have no doubt Mr. Cole told the truth, with the exception of his last crude comment. Our last meeting showed just how wild you can be. I can see that you have learned very little from the experience and are still a hellion.”

“And you are a pedantic bore.” She hated his patronizing tone, his implication that she was too wild when all she wanted was a little bit of adventure. “You know as much about having fun as I know about boxing. Which is to say nothing at all.” She folded her arms to keep from throwing his handkerchief at him.

“Do not provoke me,” he said in a threatening tone. “I assure you that Lord William is ten times the gentleman I am.” He leaned closer to her. “I do not treat women gently.”

Mia could not look away from him. His eyes held hers. Dark blue eyes that sent a tingle from her heart to her toes.

“Signorina.”

Janina’s voice sounded unusually timid and Mia turned around, welcoming the chance to end the competition without actually losing, no matter that she was not sure what a loss would mean.

She didn’t look at Lord David again, but allowed him to lower the carriage steps so she could climb inside more easily.

“I am not feeling well. If we move there will be a breeze and I am sure that will help.”

“Yes, Janina.” Mia settled herself on the seat and handed her maid Lord David’s unused handkerchief. “Wet this. If you press it against your forehead it will help, I am sure.”

“It is not my forehead that hurts.”

As the carriage moved forward Janina moaned and Mia reached for her hat.

“Here. Please, please use this if you are going to be ill and we cannot stop the carriage quickly enough.”

“Oh, but it would ruin your beautiful hat. This is the one that you were wearing when Lord William proposed.”

“Yes, well, it’s already ruined and it is no longer one of my favorites.” Mia reached for the bottle strapped to the wall as Janina rapped for the carriage to stop, practically leaped from the steps, and was sick before she reached the side of the road.

D
AVID
P
ENNISTAN PUSHED HIS HORSE
into a canter and then a gallop. The horse needed the freedom as much as he did. Run as he might, David’s mind could not lose the
image of Mia’s expression in that moment before her maid had called to her.

He’d meant to discourage her; instead, he’d seen awareness and challenge in her eyes. It fired the lust he’d done his best to ignore.

Bending low, David took off into the woods, following an old deer track he knew would lead to the same ford as the road. He had to concentrate to keep his seat. Just what he needed to dispel thought of trouble in a lilac dress.

The trees rushed by him, the occasional branch snagging his coat, bruising his hat. The horse knew what David wanted and gave it to him. They were both on the edge of losing control, close to catastrophe but so aware of life in them, around them, they were at one with it.

This was the way it felt to be in the top mast, watching the play of the sea all around him, no land in sight, just miles and miles of rolling blue waves, the deck a thousand miles below. When one misstep would mean death. His short career in the navy had been headed for failure even before the shipwreck, but when he thought about those months, the highlight would be his time on top of the world when he felt the same elation he felt now.

David slowed Cruces about a quarter mile from the ford that crossed some nameless tributary of the Severn and waited for the carriage to catch up with him. Finally he saw it coming around the last bend, moving so slowly that he would have to revise their travel time.

The carriage passed him and the coachman raised a hand to his forelock. David gave a jerk of his head in response. He nodded to Miss Castellano, who raised her
hand to knock on the roof of the carriage. It slowed to a stop, which only took a moment since they were hardly moving anyway.