Authors: Nichole Matthews
“
Yes, my lady?” Rockwell’s elderly stern-faced butler asked apparently not recognizing her as
George
or he was too well trained to comment.
“
I must speak with Lord Rockwell,” she demanded, her cheeks flushed, her eyes wide and her foot tapping impatiently on the top step. When he made no move to comply with said demand Piper added, “Immediately,” she hissed through gritted teeth.
“
I will inquire if he is available.”
Lowering her parasol, she closed it before marching into the stark foyer. Unknotting her ties she handed over her pelisse and parasol to a waiting footman and waited and waited. Sure that Graydon was deliberately keeping her waiting. She hoped the delay was because of his extreme guilt after he took advantage of her the night before.
When his butler finally returned, he gestured for her to follow him as he opened the door to one of the sitting rooms.
“
I would prefer to wait in his library.” Piper told him, making a dismissive gesture with her hand.
“
I’m afraid that is not possible, my lady,” he replied, disapproval dripping thickly from each word.
“
His library,” she growled, almost stomping her feet.
With a sharp intake of breath at her audacity, he responded, “Of course, my lady.” When he made move to direct her, she stopped him. “Don’t bother, I know the way.” Striding down the hall, her feet stomped out an angry staccato that echoed throughout the foyer. Flinging open the library door, she slammed it behind her, pleased at the loud rattle that followed.
Too agitated to sit, she began pacing in front of the fireplace, pausing with each sound that carried from the hallway. Her eyes wandered over the piles of books next to his chair. Her heart sung at their similarities, but ached at their differences. She couldn’t live like that.
Uncertain.
How could he do this to her? Was she overreacting? Perhaps
that woman
had not even been granted admittance to the house? This was very likely to be an extremely uncomfortable encounter. “Oh, what is wrong with me?” She muttered, moving to the window, curling her fist in the drapery as she stared blindly out into the garden.
What could be wrong? They weren’t betrothed, after all. He hadn’t mentioned one word of marriage. Perhaps the rumors were true. He takes, without giving. But that was definitely not the man she was coming to know.
‘You are being completely ridiculous,’ she said sternly.
“
Well’s was spot-on.” He chuckled, leaning against the doorframe his spectacles held loosely between his fingers. “He informed me that there was an irate woman pacing impatiently in my library and I was loath to believe him.”
She heard his voice coming from a side entrance before she saw him framed in the doorway. The sound of his voice caused a yearning deep in her soul. Piper took a moment to compose herself before she turned, attempting to hide the relief she felt at the sight of him. Instead she folded her arms across her chest and studied him through angry blue eyes. Why did he have to be the handsomest man she had ever seen?
“
You snuck out before I had a chance to say goodbye.” He smiled. Amazed at how beautiful she was even with angry eyes shooting daggers at him.
“
What was
she
doing here?” Piper cried indignantly with her finger pointing in the direction of the front door.
“
I hadn’t realized that I was to report my actions to you?” His mouth twitched. “I have yet to make you mistress of this house.” He knew his reply was unnecessary and hurtful.
She rarely acted out of impulse, and now she understood why. It got you nowhere and was nothing but trouble. She straightened her spine, drew her shoulders back, raised her chin and turned angry eyes upon. “What was that
woman
doing here?” Her voice rang, filled with angry contempt, her nostrils flaring with outrage. “You swore to me, Graydon. Swore!”
Crossing his arms over his wide chest, “And am I allowed to ask to whom you are referring?” A perplexed look spread across his face, no longer smiling. He knew there was a reason he stayed away from virgins.
“
Don’t treat me as if I’m senseless.” Piper paused, closing her eyes and drawing a slow breath, in another failed attempt to compose herself. She was shaking. “How can I trust you?”
He stiffened. “What the devil, Piper? I am not treating you as if you are senseless.” His stunned gaze met hers, he looked genuinely shocked. “I truly haven’t a clue what has you so upset?” He said, running a hand over his eyes. ‘
Lord, help me
,’ he mumbled.
She made herself take another deep breath and count to ten. “Did you offer her a
carte blanche
?” She said the word with utter disdain, glaring at him, blushing scarlet as the words spewed out of her mouth, smoothing an agitated hand down her lavender skirt. “How could you! The day after we—we—were
intimate
.” She whispered the last word as if the walls had ears.
“
Sit down. I’ll get you a drink.” He indicated the chair by his desk, then went to the liquor cabinet, sitting his spectacles down before pouring two tumblers of brandy. “Here, drink this. You obviously need it. Then start from the beginning.” He looked half annoyed and half amused.
Piper took a large swallow of the contents of the glass, then sputtered, coughing uncontrollably.
Graydon crossed over and patted her on the back. “This is some of the finest brandy in the world, you’re supposed to sip.” His amber eyes gleamed at her humorously as he chuckled. “Not gulp.” He swirled the contents of his own glass. “This should be savored.”
Piper jumped up, his attitude irked her. His amber eyes always looked as If he found humor in everything. “There is nothing humorous in this situation, Graydon!” She cried, her brandy nearly sloshing over the lip of her glass. “I cannot answer for the rest of the
ton
, but this kind of behavior is unacceptable to me!” She pushed past him into the middle of the room, clapping a hand over her mouth to muffle a broken cry.
Graydon’s glass paused midway to his lips; a flash of temper darkened his eyes, he couldn’t tolerate watering pots. With three women under his care already, he must be turning into a soft man.
Heaven help him
With a questioning look in his eyes, he glanced at her. “What the hell are you talking about, Piper?” His brow furrowed. “I thought I was through with women and histrionics when I met you.” He rolled his eyes studying the ceiling as he fought for patience. “Obviously I was mistaken,” he muttered in exasperation, before he took a deep swallow of brandy, then placing the now empty glass on his desk. “Why must you continue to speak in riddles?” He gave her a reprimanding look, his eyes darkened further, she could see the tension around his eyes, the slight tic in his jaw. Hands on hips, he demanded, “Spit out what you are trying to say, instead of this circuitous way of talking.”
“
I saw her with my own two eyes,” she spat, the pain in her voice was evident. “
She
was leaving when I arrived.” She couldn’t hide the disbelieving expression in her blue eyes. She had expected him to be amused by her upset. Everyone knew of the shocking tales that surrounded him, why would he try to deny this particular visit?
He held out his hands as if to ward off her antagonism. Her voice spoke volumes of doubt and concern, and Graydon felt all his protective instincts rise to the fore. He rubbed the back of his neck, a thoughtful frown now creasing his brow, he strode to the door, wrenching it open. “Wells!” He sighed, a great heaving of his shoulders, and raised weary eyes to meet her confused ones.
Piper waited, clasping her hands tightly at her waist.
Graydon rolled his shoulders as if to ease an ache that had settled there while he waited for Wells.
Quick footsteps tapped down the hall. “How can I be of service to you, my lord?” Wells inquired, bowing slightly at the waist.
“
Did I have another visitor prior to Lady Piper’s arrival?” He raised an arrogant brow.
“
Yes, my lord,” Wells acknowledged. “Lady Carleton. She did not stay.”
After a sharp intake of breath, Piper’s head dropped into her hands. Mortified was not strong enough to describe how she felt.
“
Can you tell me why she didn’t stay, Wells?” He gave Piper a smug,
see I told you so
look.
“
Your instructions were to deny her entrance, my lord.” Well’s looked at him as if he had lost his mind.
He glanced at Piper out of the corner of his eye. “That will be all, Wells.” He gave him a grateful look.
“
Yes, my lord.” He bowed out of the room.
When she lifted her head, Piper expected to see a disgusted look on Graydon’s face, not a look of uncertainty.
Piper’s left hand flew to her mouth as she bit back a sob, a horrified look in her eyes. “I—I—I spoke out of turn.” She stepped back until her knees hit a chair and she sank back into the cushions. My God, she thought, what is he going to think of me? No man wants a jealous screaming shrew. She finally found a man she could countenance spending her life with and she had to go and ruin it by accusing him of infidelity when they weren’t even married, as a matter-of-fact, not even affianced.
What Piper assumed was an ominous silence filled the room.
Graydon quietly walked towards her, afraid that he might increase her skittishness and removed the glass from her limp fingers before it crashed to the floor. He definitely didn’t need to hear grumbling from the household staff to comprehend how difficult it was to painstakingly pick minute shards of glass out of the rug.
He knew the rumors that soared throughout the
ton
. He knew he was painted a roué. And he knew that Piper had every right to doubt his sincerity or could it be called
devotion
?
“
I didn’t offer Lady Carleton anything.” He gave an exaggerated sigh. “You know that I haven’t been celibate my whole life, Piper.”
“
I realize that now,” she muttered, her arms crossed protectively over her chest, looking everywhere but at him.
“
I’m such a fool,” she choked out, her voice thick with sudden tears. “I’m a fool,” she repeated, sniffling on another tear, she heard him expel a gusty sigh.
“
I cannot imagine what could have possessed you,” he drawled.
When she finally looked straight into his eyes, she apologized, “I’m sorry. I should not have attacked you. I had no cause to attack you.” He hadn’t deserved her anger and unjust accusations. “I’ve heard the shocking tales about you. I knew of your rather scandalous notoriety and I still pursued an acquaintance, what rights have I to sit here and complain?”
“
You pursued the acquaintance?” He regarded her rather quizzically.
She nodded her head.
“
What do you want, Piper?” He asked, his brows lifting in question.
She jumped up and began pacing the room in much the same manner as before. “When I saw her departing your house,” She groaned, turning her head, batting back tears. “I just needed to know that I had not given myself to a feckless rake!”
“
Feckless rake?” He made a harrumphing sound.
She acknowledged this with another slight nod, twisting her locket. “Do you deny it?”
“
Love is for fools,” Graydon muttered rubbing his forehead.
Piper slowly raised her eyes; a tear escaped slipping down her cheek before she swiped at it impatiently. She was so taken aback, she was momentarily without words. “What did you say?” her voice a mere whisper, an astounded expression on her face. She felt the blood drain from her face, her hands clutched tightly in front of her; she could feel her nails biting into the flesh of her palm, leaving half-moon indentions in her flesh.
He studied her right back, looking at her for so long; she shifted nervously in her seat. Graydon ran a rough hand through his hair. “
I said
, love is for fools.” He made his way back to the door, closing it with a loud thud and turning the key in the lock. Tall and relaxed he stepped away from the door, moving with easy grace towards her, she imagined he looked rather like a lion stalking its prey. She watched as his thighs thick with muscles flexed when he moved towards her. She wanted to moan at the sight, but she stifled the sound. Too embarrassed to even believe he would want to have anything to do with her.
“
I cannot credit this,” she was finally able to squeeze the words past her numb lips. “Love?” she croaked with a look of pure suspicion in her expression.
He gave her a bold, scorching look. “You believe me insincere?” He stepped forward. “I would call out a man for doubting my word.” His amber eyes drifted over her, branding her with their fire.
She took a step backward.
“
Are we dancing now, my lady?” The corner of his mouth curled in a slow sensual smile.
Piper paused unsure of where to go from here. “No, I’m…”
“
Be quiet,” he interrupted his eyes glowing with challenge. “My patience is now at an end.”