Larken (12 page)

She gathered the roses into a huge bouquet and brought them back to the sitting room, where the maid was waiting to pour her tea. Myles’ eyes widened at the sheer number of blooms.

“Where did you get those?” he asked.

“They were a surprise from Mr. King.”

“How beautiful!” the maid exclaimed.

Larken set the bouquet onto the tea cart. “Could you arrange them properly into vases for me? I’ll pour the tea.”

“Yes, Mrs. King.”

The maid disappeared with the flowers, and Larken filled a cup with hot, bracing tea.

“Men give women flowers when they like them,” Myles said.

“Mr. King was being kind, I think. He knows how much I enjoy roses.” She paused. “I’m to have dinner tonight with him again.”

“Me too?”

“Not this time.”

Myles snickered.

“What?” Larken asked.

“Mr. King must like you a great deal.”

“Hush!” Larken couldn’t suppress a smile.

While dressing for dinner that evening, Brandon felt as anxious as an awkward, adolescent lad with spots on his face. He’d not been nearly as nervous when courting Mariah, but perhaps he had far more to lose this time. Although it was painful to admit, his youthful attraction to Mariah had been shallow and based solely on the untouchable perfection of her features. Her hand had never trembled in his, nor had a blush ever warmed her cheeks. In fact, he doubted he’d ever managed to touch her heart at all. Worse, he’d been so bitter about her betrayal, he’d never fully appreciated how fortunate he was to have escaped marriage to a woman who was so fickle and self-centered. By contrast, Larken was not only physically beautiful, but she was vulnerable, warm, and lovely inside as well. Unfortunately, he’d placed himself at a distinct disadvantage by behaving toward her in an autocratic and cold fashion. Could she forgive and forget?

His valet must have sensed his mood because he brought him a glass of port without being asked. With murmured thanks, Brandon gulped down the spirits and then headed to the drawing room to await his wife. He paced, wondering if she’d liked his gift of roses. Perhaps his gesture had been too forward? A single rose might have been better, but it was too late to second guess himself now.

When Larken arrived, she wore an off-the-shoulder gown of palest pink that left her décolletage and most of her shapely arms bare. His mouth went dry.

“You look stunning.”

A smile. “Thank you. And the flowers were lovely.”

“You deserve them.”

“Do I?” She searched his face. “I confess you have me at a loss, Brandon. Forgive me if I’ve misinterpreted your actions, but for a man who has forsworn romance, you’re behaving quite strangely. Please explain what you’re about so I can keep up.”

“I
am
behaving strangely, I admit, and it’s difficult to explain. It’s as if I’ve suddenly woken up from a long sleep.”

“I’m sorry, but I still don’t understand.”

“Your presence at Graceling Hall has shown me what a complete fool I’ve been. I’m asking for forgiveness and a chance to start over.”

“Start over?”

“I’d like to court you properly, Larken.”

“What?”

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to earn your trust. Perhaps if we work at it, we’ll eventually have a real marriage, with children.”

She said nothing, but her eyes filled with tears. Panic seized him by the throat. Had he overshot the mark and declared himself too soon?

“Please tell me what you’re thinking, Larken. I can’t bear this silence.”

Larken’s thoughts and emotions were in such turmoil that she couldn’t seem to make sense of what Brandon was suggesting.

“Your change of heart is so abrupt, I’m not sure how to answer you.”

“It seems abrupt because of the stupid, ill-considered things I said last night. I haven’t wanted to admit it, but I’ve been changing since you and Myles came into my life. It’s been coming on gradually, but I suddenly realized the depth of my feelings today in the ballroom.”

Perhaps the years of abuse at the hands of the Howleys had made Larken singularly mistrustful, but she couldn’t ignore Brandon’s formerly dismissive attitude. And yet…she yearned for a loving marriage. Children. Everything she’d been told she couldn’t have.

“How do I know you won’t change your mind again?” she said.

“I’ll convince you otherwise. Just allow me woo you, like I should have done from the beginning. I-I’m not asking for you to take me into your bed right away.” He had the grace to blush. “Do you think you could ever care for me?”

Although she suspected she cared for him more than she wanted to admit, she was reluctant to say so. If Brandon wished to woo her, let him work at it.

“Perhaps.”

His dazzling smile was meltingly beautiful, but she held up her hand in warning.

“Brandon, this isn’t as simple as you might suppose.”

“What do you mean?”

“We have to consider Myles’ feelings. He wants us to fall in love. What will we tell him if we don’t?”

“For me, I’m afraid it may already be too late.”

When Brandon took her hand and kissed it like he had in the ballroom, Larken made a soft sound deep in her throat. Her reaction seemed to embolden him, and he trailed fiery kisses along the bare skin of her forearm. Before he could go much further, the butler interrupted to announce dinner. Larken felt the disappointment down to her toes.

“Thank you, Seagate,” Brandon said.

Although Brandon released her, his lingering half-lidded gaze left no doubt in Larken’s mind as to what he wanted. Truth be told, she wanted the same thing, but it was far, far too soon. She would allow him into her bed when he’d earned her trust completely and not before—no matter how sorely she was tested.

Fortunately for her resolve, Brandon’s demeanor shifted from seductive to solicitous over dinner. They compared notes about favorite books and music, and he asked her questions about her childhood. When the conversation turned to her pretend friends, Larken laughed.

“Mrs. Howley thought it was the accident that made me odd, but I’ve always had an active imagination. Of course, my whimsical nature came out a great deal more often when I lived with the Howleys because I lacked playmates.” She giggled. “I still regret having to leave Mr. Marmalade behind.”

“I was quite fortunate to have a brother as a playmate. We were so close in age, many people mistook Theo and me for twins.”

“You miss him terribly, don’t you?”

Brandon’s expression became bleak.

“I’m tortured by his death…even more so now that I realize Mariah wasn’t the woman for me. If only I’d been more gracious, my father wouldn’t have disinherited Theo and she wouldn’t have left him.” He shook his head. “Because of my selfishness, my brother took his own life.”

His hand, which had been resting on the table, clenched. Larken covered it with hers.

“I’m so very sorry,” she murmured.

With a visible effort, Brandon got his emotions under control. “Thank you.”

“I can’t help but think you’re being too hard on yourself. How do you know he took his own life? With no evidence to the contrary, Theo’s death could have been an accident, or a robbery gone horribly wrong.”

“The police identified him by a pocket watch he always carried, engraved with his name. If it had been a robbery, the watch would have been taken. Theo went to Liverpool to talk Mariah out of setting sail for America. When he failed, I believe he decided to end it.”

“Even if that’s true, the fault is Mariah’s, not yours.”

“Partly, yes. But there is more than enough blame to go around.”

For the remainder of the meal, Brandon was subdued. Larken could tell his mind was elsewhere, so she didn’t take it personally. In fact, she was glad to share a little of his pain. After dinner, Brandon escorted her to the stairs and said good night.

“I didn’t mean to spoil the mood tonight,” she said.

“You didn’t. It’s just my brooding nature coming out again. It’s funny, but I always thought it was Theo who had a tendency toward melancholy. I suppose I learned it from him.” He gave her a sad smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll be better in the morning. I almost always am. Please come down for breakfast, won’t you?”

“Yes. I’ll see you in the morning.”

As Larken readied herself for bed that night, she had much to contemplate. In his own way, Brandon was suffering as much from his loss as she was from hers. Could two such tormented individuals forge a happy life together, especially considering their rocky beginning? Perhaps desire and motivation would overcome the long odds.

I hope so.

Indeed, Brandon managed to shake off his doldrums by morning, and he greeted Larken warmly when she appeared in the dining room for breakfast.

“I hope Myles isn’t too unhappy eating alone?” he asked.

“He has Lord Topper, Miss Josie, and Lady Peabody for company.”

“What happened to Lord Apollo?”

“He’s having breakfast with me.”

“Aha! What inspired such a name?”

“Oh…it’s quite silly, really. When my parents took me to London for my birthday, we went to the Adelphi Theatre for a matinée. I was rather taken by one of the handsome young actors in the performance, so my father brought me backstage afterward to have him sign my program. His name was Lord Apollo, and I’d never been so thrilled in my entire life.”

“What does that have to do with my portrait?”

A flush of embarrassment stung her cheeks. “Your portrait reminded me of him a little.”

“I’m flattered. When is your birthday, by the way? We’ll plan a celebration.”

She averted her eyes. “I had my nineteenth birthday already this year.”

“When?”

“A few weeks ago.”

He stared at her. “You had a birthday and I didn’t say anything? I’m mortified!”

She shrugged. “I’m used to it. It’s really just another day now.”

“No, it’s not. We must have a party, and you shall have presents.”

“You already bought me an entire wardrobe! I lack for nothing.”

A mischievous glance. “I know just what I’ll give you for a gift.”

“Brandon, I—”

“Shh! I’ll speak to the cook after breakfast, and we’ll have a family party tonight with you, me, and Myles. Would that please you?”

“Yes.”

“Good. It’s settled. And I promise, you’ll never celebrate your birthday alone again.”

Larken’s throat tightened with emotion, and her lower lip trembled.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Unable to speak, she shook her head. Then, with a choked sob, she dissolved into tears. Brandon stood, pulled her to her feet, and held her in his arms. She rested her head on his shoulder and breathed in his fragrance until the shudders racking her body eased.

“It’s been so long since anyone cared about me, I’d forgotten what it feels like,” she murmured.

“I care about you very much, and so does Myles. We’re a family now, Larken.”

Cradled in Brandon’s embrace, she began to feel it was true.