Dance with Deception: Scandalous Secrets, Book 1 - Exclusive Edition (Scandalous Secrets - Exclusive Edition) (9 page)

As if reading his thoughts, Gwen joined him and whispered, “I wanted you to see our library for that very painting. It reminds me of your lake. Do you like it?”

“Yes, it’s almost like seeing heaven,” he murmured.

Victoria approached them, interrupting Sebastian’s quiet moment with Gwen. “What beautiful art.” She turned to her brother. “Doesn’t that look just like our lake?”

Gwen began to explain who the talented artist was before her father startled everyone by intoning in a rather abrupt manner, “It is time for our meal. Everyone into the dining room, please.”

He ushered the group to the dining room, uttering indistinguishable words under his breath in
a low tone.

After they were seated, Tristan and Sebastian conversed about the young MacAlistair’s law business. Their conversation bored Lachlan and he refused to join in. Instead, he studied his guest, noting with disgust that he resembled the late duke.

Lachlan fought to keep his expression neutral, his mind racing.

You shouldn’t have brought her back here
.

Had he miscalculated? He’d been forced to flee his home in Scotland until after Gwen’s wedding. It was the only way he could ensure the marriage would take place without disruption.

But he failed to predict how events here would unfold, with Tristan showing up at all the wrong times and the presence of the Duke, who rarely tore his gaze from Gwen.

Fearing that he had indeed miscalculated, he silently fought to calm his taut nerves. After all, it didn’t matter. Even if Davenport was smitten with his daughter, Lachlan wouldn’t allow her to back out of his contract with Keir. He’d worked too hard at it to see it all crumble around him.

Lachlan rose from his chair determined this evening would be the last time Gwen saw the ninth Duke of Davenport.

Placing a hand on his forehead as if feigning a headache, he said in his most feeble of voices, “If you’ll excuse me, I am feeling ill. I’m afraid I must retire for the evening.”

“I will help you upstairs, Papa,” Gwen offered, just as he suspected she would.

“Gentlemen,” Lachlan fought to hide the contempt in his tone before adding, “Lady Victoria, I apologize.”

He then offered a frail bow, and as his daughter arrived at his side, Tristan stood.

“Here, Father, let me take you upstairs. Gwen, you entertain our guests.”

“No, Tristan, I require your sister’s attention,” Lachlan said, his tone terse. He paused, and as if all was settled, he added, “Enjoy your meal. Your Grace, Lady Victoria, goodnight.”

As she exited the dining room with her father, Gwen sent a look of apology to Sebastian.

“I was unaware that your father was ill, Tristan. I hope we didn’t impose too much.” Victoria then asked Tristan in an alarmed tone, “Will he be all right?”

Tristan stared at the door as he returned to his seat, his controlled tone flat. “I believe my father will be fine now.”

Gwen attempted to leave several times; however, during each instance her father requested something else of her. After what seemed like a lifetime had passed, he allowed her to leave his side at last.

Because she had been gone so long, Gwen was certain their guests had already left so instead she traveled downstairs in search of her brother. Following the tinkling chimes of random pianoforte
keys, she found Tristan at last. Their guests, to her great surprise, had remained.

Her brother approached her. “Let me guess. He made you stay with him.”

“Yes,” Gwen quipped. “He chained me down and forced me to wait out the rest of our meal.”

Tristan replied with a wicked grin before responding, “I’m glad you broke free of his chains. They don’t match your frock.”

Gwen rolled her eyes.

“Ah, the rolling of the eyes,” Sebastian’s voice seemed full of mirth. “It is an expression all too familiar. I see it at least five times a day from Victoria.”

Tori’s hands froze on the pianoforte keys. She turned to her brother. “I’ll have you know that I cut that number down to three.”

“I stand corrected.” Sebastian bowed his head to her.

“And I thought you were more perceptive,” Victoria teased in a sing-song voice.

“Annoying lot, sisters are.” Tristan caught and held Sebastian’s gaze. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

Sebastian raked Gwen with a stare as she crossed the room and joined his sister on the piano bench. “It depends on whose sister it is, I suppose.”

“Did your mother ever read you nursery rhymes?” Gwen asked of her younger counterpart.

Tori nodded, “Of course.”

“Mine too,” Gwen replied as she rummaged for a specific sheet of music before placing it atop the piano. “I loved the one about a brother and sister traipsing through a forest.”

“Why was it your favorite?” Tori asked.

“He was eaten by a wolf.”

Victoria glanced over her shoulder, seeking her own brother, her eyes widening with mischief. Sebastian coughed behind his hand, desperate not to laugh.

“See what I mean.” Tristan clicked his tongue, shaking his head. “They are absolutely brutal.”

Gwen leaned toward Tori then whispered in a conspiratorial tone, “If we ignore him, he may go away.”

“Tori was about to sing for us.” Sebastian’s rich timbre filled the small room.

“She was explaining that she doesn’t like playing the pianoforte,” Tristan added. “Why don’t you accompany her?”

“What do you think, Tori?” Gwen asked, shrugging her shoulders. “Shall we entertain the gentlemen?”

Though Victoria’s nerves were evident in her round, saucer shaped eyes her wit remained strong as ever. “I’d much prefer drawing them a mural.”

“And I’d much prefer pointing to it,” Gwen said, undaunted. “Alas, since that isn’t an option, we might as well make ourselves useful.”

Sebastian studied the scene with a keen sense of interest. He was well aware that his sister’s sarcasm, though one of her finest qualities, was also a prop. It allowed her to hide her anxiety. Somehow, Gwen seemed to sense this encouraged Victoria to the point where the anxious young woman, although not excited, was no longer opposed to the idea of singing in public.

Gwen’s fingers glided over the keys and Victoria sang like an angel. Upon seeing Gwen with his sister, Sebastian’s admiration for her increased ten-fold. She was wonderful with his sister. He rectified that. Gwen was wonderful, period.

Tristan interrupted Sebastian’s thoughts. “When I’m home, Gwen and I always go riding at daybreak.” He spoke in hushed tones, adding, “By and large, we don’t run into anyone as our trail goes from our estate up to the hill that borders our properties. Do you ever ride that trail in the mornings, Your Grace?”

Sebastian shot Tristan a sly look. “I believe I will be traveling that trail every morning from now on.”

“What a coincidence,” Tristan mocked, turning to enjoy the ladies’ performances.

Sebastian smiled to himself, fully satisfied with the evening’s events. He wanted Gwen more than he had ever wanted anything or anyone though he knew not why. Perhaps it was because he had known her so long ago? He knew her soul to be kind and pure? Or perhaps it was because she was betrothed to another therefore out of reach and off limits to him?

No, none of those reasons rang true. It was because he wanted her, plain and simple, nothing more. Yet, the more he considered it, it was indeed more complicated. After all, he wanted Gwen to desire him just as much.

He had always known that at some point he would be forced to consider a marriage of convenience for the sole purpose of producing an
heir if nothing more. The thought always sickened him, as Sebastian had no desire to ever marry but his duty to carry on his title to the next generation nagged at him, refusing to let him be. It was forever lurking in the shadows and never hidden for very long.

As Sebastian watched Gwen tapping the keys to the pianoforte he silently listed her finest qualities. She was smart and witty, kind and honest – she always had been. She was also spunky as hell, as he had just recently been reminded. In addition, Gwen was absolutely beautiful and alluring as can be.

What more could he ask for?

It came as no surprise that his thoughts would enter the territory of marriage. After all, marrying Gwen would solve both of their dilemmas. She wouldn’t have to marry a man of her father’s choosing with some ridiculous name and worthless title. In turn, Sebastian would acquire a wife and produce an heir, without ever having to subject himself to the marriage market that was the
ton
. The more Sebastian considered it, the more he decided marrying Gwen would be the best course of action for both of them.

The moment the women finished, Sebastian announced the first part of his plan. “Victoria and I are throwing a ball in a fortnight. We will, of course, be dispatching the invitations through our livery. I hope you will both attend.”

Lachlan turned the corner just as his son accepted
the Duke’s invitation, quickly backing away and returning to obscurity before anyone saw him.

Damn that boy for accepting the Duke’s invitation
.

As he ascended the stairs, Lachlan tweaked his plan, calculating his next move. No one would see it coming. His daughter’s wishes be damned, Keir would join them at the Duke of Davenport’s ball and a wedding announcement would take place.

With the customary spring rain nowhere in sight, Gwen and her brother resumed their morning rides the very next day. She couldn’t discern why Tristan insisted she wear the appropriate ladies’ riding habit, as no amount of questioning would bring about an answer from her mischievous brother.

The answer to the riddle became obvious when they reached the crest of their favorite hill, her pulse quickening as she spied Sebastian sitting astride his prize black stallion. Her body’s response to his very presence, even today with her brother chaperoning them, remained relentless. It all but drove her mad, since Gwen doubted that she would ever feel the same about Keir.

In the course of the next week, Victoria began to join their morning rides and Gwen eagerly awaited the precious time she shared with them. The Duke of Davenport’s ball approached and her excitement grew with each passing day. She had already picked out a beautiful bronze gown, and in an effort to look more appealing than every other woman in attendance, instructed Jane to cut material from the bodice.