Authors: Wendy Soliman
“Oh, Uncle, I must be a dreadful trial to you.”
“Abbey,” he replied, patting her hand and looking quite emotional. “You’re one of the few things in my life that gives me true pleasure. I’m inordinately proud of your courage and want only, eventually, to see you happily established with a family of your own on the Penrith estate.”
“I know that, uncle, and I can’t begin to express my thanks for all the sacrifices you’ve made to get me to this point.” She turned her tear-stained face in Sebastian’s direction. “What is your plan? I’m ready to hear it.”
He cleared his throat and told her. She was so astonished that her mouth fell open in an unladylike manner. God’s beard, had the entire world run completely mad?
“Let me see if I understand you a’right,” she said, sitting up straighter, disregarding the pain in her ankle as she allowed her indignation full rein. “You want me to imply that you are remaining beneath this roof, even though the snow’s thawing rapidly and the roads should be passable again tomorrow, at my specific request? We are to spend all of our time together and pretend a
tendre
exists between us.” She bit off the words as though they had stung her. “Once we have aroused suspicions, or jealousies, or whatever, Hodges will casually mention in the senior servants’ hall that you’re taking me for a clandestine luncheon in the folly on the furthest edge of the estate.”
“That’s about the size of it,” Sebastian agreed, having the nerve to wink at her when her uncle wasn’t looking.
“And what good do you suppose that will achieve?”
Sebastian’s smug grin fuelled her anger. His quite disgusting charm and confidence bordered on conceit. Even so, she reluctantly admired his coercive powers in persuading her uncle even to consider such a scandalous suggestion.
“Whoever’s behind these attacks will hear of my intentions from his man. You know how servants’ gossip always finds its way upstairs. They’re desperate and won’t be able to resist such a prime opportunity to eliminate us both, especially if they think you have developed feelings for me. I will make it my business to ensure they have reason to believe those feelings are reciprocated.” His smile possessed definite wolfish qualities. “What do you say?”
If her uncle hadn’t been present she would have told him precisely what she thought of his arrogance, even though she privately conceded his plan was a good one. But could she play her part? Just the thought of being held in his arms again, even if it was only being done to mislead her attackers, had the most disconcerting affect upon her. He had only suggested the scheme to help her out of her difficulties, she was willing to concede that much. She also knew it wasn’t a stratagem and he had no ulterior motive. She had already let him know just how keen she was to further her erotic education at his hands and he’d had the gall to turn her down. So why did he find her embarrassment so amusing? Really, the man was insufferable and deserved to be taken down a peg or two.
“It’s the most ridiculous plan I have ever heard and will never work,” she said, aware it most likely would.
“I believe it will, Abbey,” her uncle said, introducing the first sensible words into what was rapidly developing into a battle of wills between her and Sebastian. “But it will require courage, and if you don’t feel ready to play your part after your fall then no one will think the less of you. We shall find another way.”
Botheration, by calling her courage into question her uncle had said the one thing guaranteed to change her mind. Anyway, there was never any serious possibility of her refusing. Had she not been complaining about the restrictions placed on her freedom? Well, now she had the chance for more adventure than perhaps she could handle. No, declining wasn’t an option. Her uncle seemed to realise it. Sebastian most definitely did.
“Very well,” she said with a reluctant nod. “But you should know, uncle, I am only doing this because you deem it wise. I think the whole scheme is ridiculous and can’t persuade myself it has the remotest possibility of success.”
“Oh, it has a fair chance of exposing the villains.” Sebastian offered her a smouldering grin that softened his eyes and lit up his rugged features so compellingly she was forced to avert her eyes. “But only if we put on a convincing performance.”
“I ought to warn you my acting skills are on a par with my singing.”
He cocked a brow. “That bad, huh?”
“I am afraid so.”
“Well, we shall just have to do the best we can. I will leave you to rest this evening but first thing tomorrow you must start looking upon me with love in your eyes.”
She smothered a hoot of laughter. “Now you are asking too much.”
“I have every confidence in your ability to rise to the occasion,” he said, chuckling as he bent to kiss her hand and left the room in her uncle’s wake.
Chapter Fifteen
Clear skies and a rise in the temperature lifted everyone’s spirits the following morning. The snow in the garden was reduced to a watery slush and the girls’ snowman had almost melted completely away. At breakfast the gentlemen were cheered to learn a neighbouring hunt would be going ahead that day.
“Shame you can’t stay and join us, Denver,” Lord Wilsden said affably.
“Doubtless you’re anxious to be on your way now that the roads are passable,” Evans added.
“Sorry to disappoint you, Evans,” Sebastian replied, “but I’ve decided to accept Lady Abigail’s invitation and extend my stay.”
“What!” Evans choked on his coffee, spilling it over his coat.
The rest of the gentlemen expressed their surprise. Sebastian watched them carefully, but only Evans showed any outward signs of anger.
“I expect Lady Abigail was just being polite,” Sir Michael said to Evans in what was probably supposed to be a supportive aside. “You know how kind-hearted she can be.”
“Why don’t you put Warrior through his paces on the hunting field, then?” Charlie asked.
“Now that would hardly be gentlemanly,” Sebastian said, stifling a yawn. “The lady’s asked me to stay, and since she’s incapacitated the very least I can do is my humble best to entertain her. Don’t suppose the task will be too arduous,” he added in a velvety smooth voice, drawing a bark of laughter from Charlie.
Evans looked as though he might explode with anger and as soon as Lord Bevan rose from the table, saying he didn’t intend to hunt today either, Evans stood also.
“A word, if I may,” Evans said, putting aside his napkin and following his host from the room.
Raised voices could be heard emanating from the library. Evans emerged ten minutes later, his face puce with rage.
“Wonder what that was all about,” Sebastian said to no one in particular. “Enjoy the day’s sport,” he added when Charlie pushed his chair back and readied himself to leave.
Once the huntsmen had departed, Sebastian sauntered off in search of Hodges. He discovered him polishing Sebastian’s boots.
“Any luck with Miss Frobisher?” he asked.
Hodges appeared affronted by Sebastian’s question. “She’s just like all the others deep down. A few words of flattery, listen like you’re interested to her endless list of complaints about her charges and she would have told me anything I wanted to know.” Hodges’s smug expression gave way to a grimace. “But don’t ask me to go near here again, m’lord, ’cause I won’t do it, not even for Lady Abigail. And, what’s more, Sally’s overset ’cause she saw me making up to the old witch and so I’ve queered my pitch with her an’ all.”
“Did you learn anything to make the sacrifice worthwhile?” Sebastian asked, failing to show much sympathy for Hodges’s romantic farrago.
“You were right. It was Mary Bevan who told her Lady Abigail wanted to see Ellen. Miss Frobisher was all for saying
no
but her mistress was in one of her uncompromising moods and apparently there’s no arguing with her when she gets like that.”
“I can well imagine.”
“Hmm, well…”
Sebastian’s theory had just been proven beyond any doubt, at least as far as Mary Bevan was concerned. It was too great a stretch of the imagination to suppose it could be a coincidence. That someone else had loosened the heel and Mary just happened to send her youngest daughter to see her aunt and a time when she was bound to delay her.
“Right, Hodges. We now know the identity of one of the people we need to keep a close watch on. On no account must she be allowed to get close to Lady Abigail again, especially when she’s alone.”
“But what of the other blaggard?”
“What indeed? All of the evidence still points to Charlie but…oh, I don’t know why but somehow I just can’t see him having the guile or the nerve to carry it through.”
Sebastian cursed his inability to fathom the logic behind the attacks on Abbey. There were only a few suspects so it shouldn’t be so very difficult to work it out. Unfortunately, Sebastian’s admiration for the lady he had been charged to protect was a constant source of distraction preventing him from thinking the matter through with his usual detached lucidity. That was hardly the best way to be of service to her and he adjured himself to keep his mind focused on his reason for being with her. He had already failed to prevent one near-fatal attack and was damned if he would be found wanting for a second time.
“Well, I must away and entertain Lady Abigail,” Sebastian told Hodges. “Keep me informed of events below stairs.”
“How come you get all the best jobs?” Hodges asked with a twisted grin. “You get Lady Abigail and I get the Frobisher witch. It don’t seem fair.”
Sebastian was still laughing when he knocked at Abbey’s door.
He was admitted by a blushing but subdued Sally, who appeared to have been crying. Sebastian paused to whisper something in her ear, which made her blush even more deeply. But she also brightened visibly. Abbey was fully dressed and reclining upon the settee in her anti-room. It was the same one Sebastian had carried her to the previous day and afforded her a fine view of the barren winter gardens, still covered with snow in places. Her injured leg was again supported by an abundance of cushions, her gown pulled down to cover the affected area. Her dogs were slumbering on the rug, eyes occasionally opening to rest covetously upon the plate of sweetmeats at her side. Sally picked up the sewing which had presumably occupied her before Sebastian’s arrival. With another brief curtsey and beaming smile she moved to another chair a discreet distance away.
“Good morning,” Sebastian said.
The dogs roused themselves and allowed their ears to be tickled. Their tails thumped against the rug but they soon lost interest in Sebastian when they discovered there was nothing edible in his pockets. After turning in several tight circles, jockeying for the best position, they settled down to resume their slumbers.
“Good morning,” Abbey replied.
“How is your ankle?”
“A little less sore today.”
“I am pleased to hear it.”
She beckoned him closer. “What did you say to Sally just now to cheer her up? She’s been miserable the whole morning but wouldn’t say what was wrong.”
Sebastian laughed. “Hodges had been making himself agreeable to Miss Frobisher on my specific orders. I don’t think that found favour with your maid.”
“Ah, I see.” She offered Sebastian a captivating smile that went straight to his groin. “Not that I approve of their relationship exactly, but still, I am glad she’s no longer Friday-faced.”
“I live to serve,” Sebastian replied with a mocking smile.
Abbey wagged a figure beneath his nose. “Your coachman took deliberate advantage of poor Sally.” When Sebastian merely smiled and made no comment, he sensed Abbey’s indignation increasing. “He seduced her!”
“Perhaps he did, but have you stopped to consider she may have wished to be seduced, and might have enjoyed the experience?”
***
Abbey felt herself blushing, wondering what madness had made her start this conversation? He had just pointed out what could so easily have happened in the garden between them yesterday—well, she was almost sure it could have if Sebastian hadn’t been the one to show restraint. All the same, she didn’t think it was very gentlemanly of him to point it out, even if she
was
the one to raise the indelicate subject of seductions.
“Hodges doesn’t force his attentions where they’re not welcome,” Sebastian said.
“Ha, so you admit it then! He makes a habit of this sort of thing, which only adds to his culpability.” She threw him a disapproving look. “Like master, like servant, no doubt.”
He laughed. “Very possibly. You already know what a hopeless case I am.” He shrugged. “I am surprised I’m still admitted to polite society.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Why do I get the impression you’re manipulating me in some way?”
“You wound me, Lady Abigail.” She bit her lip to prevent herself from laughing at his woebegone expression. “Here I am, doing my humble best to make myself agreeable and concur with everything you say, and yet you don’t seem to believe me.” He spread his hands. “I can already see you are going to be a very difficult patient to entertain.”
“Very likely. Patience isn’t a word that has a place in my vocabulary, you see. If I want something, then I want it straight away.” She shrugged. “It is just the way I’m made, unfortunately.”
“There’s nothing unfortunate about the way you’re made.”
He took her hand and ran his fingers slowly down the length of hers. His almost casual, featherlike touch sent spangles of pleasure cascading through her with devastating consequences for her equilibrium. She had spent most of the night disciplining herself to remain indifferent to whatever ploys he decided upon to dupe the rest of their party into believing an amatory interest had sprung up between them. Failing so spectacularly at the first hurdle was most discouraging. Determined not to permit him to see just how easily he could arouse her passions, Abbey snatched her hand away. Sebastian recaptured it, holding it too firmly for her to break free a second time.
“You seem to have forgotten we are on the brink of becoming lovers,” he whispered, his voice a velvety caress as his lips almost brushed her ear.