Lady In Distress (The Langley Sisters Book 3) (13 page)

“She won’t come out here. They’re too busy cooing over the baby.”

Before he could stop her, she’d pulled her dress and chemise over her head, leaving her naked. Most men would love her breasts; they were big and full, the nipples ripe, but all he could think about was Bella’s breasts. Hers would be perfect, the exact fit of his hand.

“There’s plenty that fancy you, Luke Fletcher, but it’s me who gets you.”

Her hands fisted in his hair and pulled his head down for a kiss. He should do this, take her now and slake the lust inside him, Luke thought, pulling back to suck in a deep breath. Lifting one hand, he held it before him to ward her off, but she simply stepped into him and pressed one of her breasts into his exposed palm. Instinctively, his fingers closed and she moaned loudly.

“Pride won’t ease the tension in you, Luke, but I can.”

 
The loud crash somewhere outside the stable startled him away from her.

“Someone’s there. Get your clothes on.” Moving her to one side, Luke made his way out of the stable. Looking to the doors, he saw Bella running through them. Ice filled his veins at what she had seen. He caught her as she reached the front door, wrapping his fingers around her wrist to make her stop.
 

“Bella, what you saw was Stella throwing herself at me, not the opposite.”

“I know what you say is true. I heard the conversation you had with her.”

She wouldn’t look at him and he guessed that for an innocent, seeing what she had, had shocked her.
 

“But it upset you to hear it, to see her with me?”

She turned then and he saw her distress. “I know my words are foolish and speak of my naivete, yet I had hoped never to see you with another woman.”

“I’m sorry you saw what you did, Bella.”

“Have there been other women you cared for Luke?”

How did he answer that question when the woman before him understood nothing of how men moved through the world? That they could take a woman to bed and walk away unscathed both physically and emotionally, but that a women’s reputation was easily tarnished.
   

“I am not innocent, if that is what you are asking me.”

“But you cared for none of them?”

“It is different for men than women, Bella.”
 

She studied him before saying, “I am not a fool, Luke. I understand that a woman must guard her reputation when a man often does not have to, but after what we have shared and what you made me feel...” She struggled to find the words.

“Passion, Bella. What we share is passion and its strength comes from the feelings we hold for each other.”

“Yes, and because of it and the small amount of time I have spent in your arms, I struggle to understand how you can feel nothing for a woman who you have shared so much more with.”

“I cared for none of them as I do you and that is the truth. If that makes me callous in your eyes I apologize, but I will never lie to you about this.” Would she turn away hearing him say such a thing? Would she think it wrong of him to have taken women to bed with no feelings involved?

She blew out a breath, the sound loud in the still evening air. “I understand my questions are naive and based on my lack of knowledge of such things, Luke, and I am grateful that you are honest with me.”

He cupped her cheek, running his thumb over the soft skin. “How does it feel to be an aunt?” He wanted to see her smile before she left him.
 

“It feels wonderful.”

“And now, Auntie Bella, you must walk through that door before I forget my good intentions not to kiss you again.”

She lifted a hand to cup his cheek as he was hers.
 

“I almost wish you had not kissed me, Luke, as then I would not know what there was between us.”

He ran his thumb over her lips, then reached around her and opened the door, gently urging her through, before shutting it behind her.
 

Making his way back to the stables, he wondered if she really did understand what he had told her. Walking to where Stella still stood, he pushed aside the hand that reached for him.

“I have no wish for your company, Stella. Go back to the house.”
She didn’t like his words and stormed out of the stables minutes later, throwing a final glare over his shoulder before leaving.
 

Picking up a brush, he began to groom the horses. Maybe after an hour of hard labor his body may have cooled down.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Bella walked downstairs the following morning, determined to put Luke from her thoughts. She hadn’t slept, constantly seeing his hand on Stella’s breast, and the site of her naked body pressed into his. She felt foolish because she had never once given thought to him with another woman. Even though she knew there was nothing between him and Stella, there had been others; he’d told her so.
 

“You are a fool, Isabella Langley,” she muttered, pushing open the breakfast parlor door.

“Is that a frown because you’re tired or because you’re angry?”

“The first,” Bella knew the smile she gave Phoebe was more a snarl, but she didn’t care overly. Sisters put up with each other no matter their moods; it was just the way of things. Making her way to where the covered dishes sat. Strangely, even though she had a disturbed sleep with dreams of Luke touching her breast, she was still hungry.
 

“I feel like a whale today.”

A wise person would do well to leave that comment alone, Bella thought after she’d filled her plate.

“You do look a trifle bloated.” Bella seated herself as Phoebe uttered a shriek. She did not feel wise today.

“Bloated! I do not look bloated.”

“You just said you look like a whale.” Bella felt her grumpy mood ease as she teased Phoebe. She was a small-minded person to enjoy her sister’s outrage.
 

“Your fingers look a trifle puffy, too.” Filling her tea, Bella looked at Phoebe. As usual, she looked beautiful. In fact, if she thought back, she had never seen Phoebe ugly, which just wasn’t right, when most women looked ugly at least once in their lives.

“Bella says I look bloated, Finn. I want you to discipline her at once!”

Finn gave his wife a loving smile then bared his teeth at Bella. “You behave yourself, you little fiend.” This dire scalding was followed up with a kiss on the top of Bella’s head.
 

Phoebe looked outraged that her beloved had not done as she asked and then followed her glare up with a loud sigh. “Do you know, I don’t think I’m one of those women who like being with child.”

“We are aghast with surprise, of course,” Finn drawled, making his way to her side with a plate so full of food Bella actually had to blink and then look again.

“Make fun of me at your peril,” Phoebe said, taking a slice of ham off his plate and putting it into her mouth.

Bella studied her sister as she nibbled the ham. Of course she didn’t look like a whale. Her skin had a healthy glow, and her hair seemed to have more luster. Her eyes sparkled, and she looked, if possible, more beautiful than she usually did. Dressed in deep rust, the color should have been too much on her rounded figure, but instead enhanced her beauty. Livvy and Bella had often commented that if she didn’t have so many character flaws, she would be unbearable to have as a sister.

“Would you like to come with me to the stables, Phoebe? You can stand by the railing and yell orders at me as Moses gives me my first lesson. After all, it has been many years since I sat a horse, so that should provide you with some amusement.”

Phoebe’s eyes lit at the idea. “And you won’t be pathetic if I say something you don’t like?”

“I promise.” Bella picked up her cup to hide her laugh as Finn winked at her.

“I shall wear my new cloak because the buttons on my emerald coat no longer meet in the middle.”

“And you shall look fetching, my love.”
Phoebe’s eyebrows met in the middle as she turned to scowl at her husband. “Fetching is for a woman under the age of fourteen, husband, not your wife.”

Finn just smiled. “I had no idea there was an age limit to looking fetching, love, but I thank you for enlightening me.”

“I’ll have you know I’ve never been called fetching in my life.”

“Now that doesn’t surprise me.”

Bella ate, enjoying the banter between Finn and Phoebe. For so long Phoebe had been almost brittle. Determined to let no one close to her but Livvy and Bella, but now she had Finn, and he had softened her. It was wonderful to see this love both she and Livvy had with their husbands.
 

Leaving the house with Phoebe an hour later after visiting Livvy, who looked tired but happy, they walked towards the stable.
 

“It’s nice to be outside even if it is a bit brisk.” Phoebe took her arm as they made their way along the driveway.

“Livvy looked happy, didn’t she? and Henry looked like—”

“A wrinkled little prune.”

“Phoebe!” Bella laughed. “He does, but only you would be rude enough to say it.”

“But he is the most beautiful little prune I have ever seen,” she added, sniffing.

“Lord, you’re not going to cry again are you?”

“Probably, and then I’ll likely cry again when you start riding about in front of me, so prepare yourself. Did you know that one of Henry’s names will be Luke?”

She hadn’t known, and it took her a few seconds to form a reply. “That’s very nice of them, don’t you think? I’m sure Luke will be surprised, but proud.”
 

“Will is closer to no man than he, Bella. You must know that.”

“Of course I know that.” She didn’t want to talk about Luke, so instead she asked Phoebe if she and Finn had come up with any names yet. “The reason I ask, Phoebe, is because Will was bandying about some very unflattering ones in the carriage on the way back from Scotland and he’s sure to have told Finn.”

“Like what?”

“I heard Horatio.”

They continued this discussion until they arrived at the stables.

“I shall pick both names, but let Finn believe he has helped,” Phoebe said to finish the conversation as Moses led a little chestnut horse forward to greet them.
 

“This little mare should be just the thing for your first ride, Miss Langley.”

Bella saw Luke in the distance; he was bent at the waist, inspecting the hoof of another horse. Looking to the stable she had found him and Stella in last night, Bella tried to shut out the memory of the woman naked, her body arched towards his. The worst part was that during the night it had constantly been her breast in his hand not Stella’s.

“I’m excited to sit a horse again, Moses, and as my brothers-in-law, are otherwise occupied, now is the time for me to re learn, before they can start worrying.”

“Well, it’s a mite chilly, but the air is clear, so we should have a good ride. As long as you keep your feet in the stirrups then I can see no problems.” This was accompanied by a look from the man to Phoebe.

“You miss those days, Moses, admit it.”

Moses had once ridden tricks on horseback in a carnival and Phoebe had made him teach her a few.
 

“I gave your life a sense of adventure that is now lacking; in fact, you’re suffering from boredom because you are no longer teaching me to stand on my horse’s back,” Phoebe teased him.

“It’s certainly better for my heart,” Moses muttered as Luke approached. He was wearing the clothes he used to, the ones for working with horses. His sleeves were rolled up, exposing his muscled forearms sprinkled with hair.
 

“Good morning, Bella, Phoebe.”

Horrified, Bella felt color fill her cheeks, so she mumbled her greeting and kept her eyes on the horse, stroking its neck. She’d always been aware of him, but lately and especially after what she had seen last night, she was suddenly aware of what lay simmering between them.
 

“You are going riding?” He appeared as calm as he always did.

“Yes.”
 

“Lilly is a sweet-natured little mare, Miss Langley, and perfect for your needs. Now do you want me to lead you about for a while, or will you take the reins?” Moses said, unaware of the currents vibrating between Luke and Bella. Phoebe however, was watching avidly.

“You never offered me a sweet-natured mare, Moses.”

“That’s because you’re not sweet-natured, Phoebe.”

“I can be sweet natured, Luke Fletcher, and how dare you state otherwise!” Phoebe gave him a look that would wither most men. “Why, just this morning I lied to my sister and told her that my nephew is the cutest baby I have ever seen. If that fabulous lie is not showing my sweet nature, I fail to see what is.”

“Phoebe!” Bella moaned. “Henry is cute in a…wrinkled, old man way,” she finished lamely.

***

Luke returned his eyes to Bella. She was nervous with him near, aware of him as he was of her.
 

“Babies all look like that. Yours will be no better,” he said, looking at Phoebe, before turning back to Bella.