The Reluctant Suitor (45 page)

Her dainty chin lifted at his scathing tone. “Perhaps you did indeed hope I would ignore the contract my parents signed, Roger, but that has never been my intent.”

A loud clearing of the throat announced the entrance of Lord Standish, who peered at his daughter to affirm her safety. “Everything all right here?”

“Not altogether, Papa,” Adriana replied in a voice that was noticeably strained. Not since Colton’s return had she felt so much tension. “I was just about to explain to Roger that I must ask him not to visit Wakefield Manor again after tonight or to follow me about to other places.”

Roger twisted his lips in sardonic revulsion. “You must pardon me for
ever
thinking you had a mind of

your own, my lady. Why, you’re just as spineless as all the other women I’ve ever known.”

A prickling along her nape and a stirring of her temper reaffirmed within Adriana’s mind that she was not as cowardly or weak-willed as Roger suggested. He had definitely been successful in raising her hackles.

“Roger, I’m afraid as far back as a year ago you erred in thinking that we could be anything more than casual acquaintances. ‘Twas apparent from the very beginning that you wanted something more from me, something I
never
had any intention of offering you. At the very best, you were nothing more than a distant friend, someone who took it upon himself to follow me about and even intruded when he had not been invited. I should’ve told you months ago that your efforts to see me would avail you nothing. You’

ve known for some time now that I’ve been pledged to another from my youth, and yet you continued to visit me as if that would never come to fruition. I tell you now that nothing you could’ve said or done would’ve ever changed that.”

Roger glared back at her through gathering tears. “You couldn’t even tell me! You let me go on hoping like some poor, blind fool!”

Adriana was repulsed by his whining complaint. “I never once led you to believe that it could be otherwise, Roger. I had obligations to my family . . . and to others. I tried to tell you earlier tonight that I couldn’t see you again because your jealousy and aspirations had made it impossible for us to continue on as friends, but you refused to listen, so it’s down to this. . . .”

“Tonight!” he barked. “You’d have been kinder had you told me a year ago, before I ever reasoned in my heart that I would do anything to have you! Why did you let me go on believing there was some hope?”

“How quickly you forget the many times I made that evident. The first time was when you took it upon yourself to come here without invitation. Thereafter you infringed upon my hospitality and that of others every chance you found, following me to the homes of my friends and elsewhere. Had I refused to see you at the very beginning, this wouldn’t be happening now. I never wanted you to be hurt, Roger; I never expected you to hope for anything more, but friendship was all I’ve
ever
been able to offer.”

“You knew I wanted more from you, and yet you never warned me that you’d be considering another as your husband.”

Adriana’s stomach turned. His maudlin distortions of the truth were no doubt intended to make her feel sorry for him; he just didn’t realize that what he was arousing within her was a nauseating sense of repugnance. “That’s not true, Roger, and you know it. My father is here to affirm that he explained the situation to you quite carefully when you asked for my hand.” She paused, glancing down at her tightly clenched fingers, desperately trying to collect her aplomb, and felt a calmness settle over her as Colton gently squeezed her shoulder. Sensitive to the comforting pressure, she lifted her gaze to Roger. “Perhaps you foolishly imagined some miracle would happen to change my mind, but even if Lord Randwulf hadn’t returned, I would’ve married another man from among my peers. The simple fact is, Roger, you’ve never been anything more than a casual acquaintance, and a rather persistent one at that.”

The apprentice straightened his coat with an outraged jerk. “Well, I hope the lot of you will be happy together.” The glower he bestowed upon each readily annulled his statement, for it clearly conveyed his loathing for them. “You probably will be, considering you’ve had everything in the world delivered to you on golden chargers.”

“If we have,” Colton retorted, rankled by the slur that often came from commoners who were wont to complain about the class distinction but were reluctant to do anything to improve their own circumstance,

“it’s because our forebears were willing to fight and die for king and country. Because of their allegiance,

they were granted titles and land. Before that, our ancestors had little, if anything, but they were ready to sacrifice the very breath from their bodies to achieve honor and greatness, which was far more than you seemed disposed to do for your country in our latest confrontation with the French.”

Upon facing the man, Roger lifted his upper lip in a derisive sneer. “Some men enjoy killing; others do not.”

Turning crisply on a heel, he stalked toward the door, yielding Gyles a glare as he did so. Upon reaching the wooden barrier, he flung it open with enough force to cause it to rebound against the raised molding of the adjoining wall. Just as quickly it swung shut on his heels.

“I know now that I should have told Roger the first time he came out that I couldn’t see him anymore,”

Adriana murmured. “Had I done so, he wouldn’t have been here tonight.”

Colton squeezed her shoulder again. “Obviously Roger was hoping for a miracle. He made it abundantly clear the day of my arrival that he was cognizant of the contract between us.”

“You’re right, of course,” Adriana conceded, releasing a troubled sigh. “He was indeed aware that your return would doom his aspirations. His animosity toward you that day readily evidenced that fact.”

“ ‘Twould seem the lad didn’t take our altercation seriously,” Colton replied.

A troubled sigh slipped from Adriana’s lips. It was a long moment before she directed her gaze toward her father. “Do you suppose we should be getting back to the ballroom now, Papa? Mama will be wondering where we are.”

“Yes, yes, of course,” Gyles agreed, releasing his own breath in much the same manner. “Your mother will be fretting. Why don’t you two join the others. I’ll follow in a moment. I’d like to indulge in something a bit stronger than wine. It has been a most trying day.”

Colton smiled, wondering how he’d cope with suitors quarreling over a daughter. But then, that seemed far better than having to watch a plain-faced spinster pining her heart out for want of a beau. “If I may have your permission, my lord, I’d like to dance with your daughter again.”

Chortling, Gyles waved them off. “Be my guest, as long as I can stay here and leisurely sip a brandy.” He glanced around as if fearful of someone overhearing. “Don’t tell my wife. She condemns the stuff as being less than genteel, but I’d rather have it any day over port.”

Colton chuckled. “Aye, my lord, and so would I. ‘Twould seem we share my father’s tastes.”

“A man of excellent taste, I might add,” Gyles replied, and then chortled. “He certainly foresaw my Adriana as a jewel in the rough. Now look at her.”

“I have been, all evening,” Colton averred with a broad grin and was wont to marvel at how comfortable his hand felt riding on the small of Adriana’s back as he escorted her to the door. A scant three months ago, he would never have imagined such simple, yet totally gratifying pleasures.

They were just leaving the library when a shocked gasp drew their attention to the woman standing in the hallway. The look of astonishment on Felicity’s face seemed to convey that her thoughts were not all that favorable for Adriana’s reputation.

Colton wasn’t inclined to offer reassurances of their innocence, at least not at this point. “Were you looking for anyone in particular, Miss Felicity?”

“Mr. Elston seemed terribly angry when he stalked past me in the hall just now,” she explained, glancing from one to the other. “I was just a bit bemused, that’s all, wondering what had upset him. I didn’t realize the two of you were in the library.”

Colton smiled briefly. “I’m afraid Roger was hoping he could win Lady Adriana for himself, but it was explained to him that that wouldn’t be the case. He didn’t care for that idea.”

“No, I imagine it wouldn’t be . . . to his liking, I mean,” Felicity replied with a rather frail smile. Hearing footsteps, she glanced toward the library door as the elder Sutton made an appearance.

Having heard the exchange, Gyles had deemed it wise to present himself for his daughter’s sake. Smiling as he glanced toward the couple, he rumbled, “I thought you two were going to dance.”

Colton gave him a crisp half-bow. “Aye, my lord, that was our plan . . . unless you’ve changed your mind about giving your permission.”

“And why should I?” Gyles inquired quizzically and blustered a bit as he strove to control a grin. “Unless, of course, you’re a rogue at heart.”

“I may well be, my lord,” Colton acknowledged, grinning. “Your daughter could be in danger.”

The elder stroked his chin reflectively, wondering if he should read anything into the marquess’s statement, and cocked a brow meaningfully. “Perhaps I should warn you, sir, that if warranted, I’m not above changing your status from bachelor to bridegroom.”

Colton had the feeling the man would prove a formidable foe to best should anyone offend his daughter.

He laughed to ease the elder’s fears. “I hear that you’re a fair shot, my lord, so be confident of my good intent. I shall take special care to treat your daughter with utmost respect.”

“Good!” Gyles chortled and waved them off. “Now you’d better go before the musicians decide to take another break.”

Smiling, Gyles stroked his chin as he watched the couple strolling down the hall together. It was rare indeed for a man and a woman to complement each other to such a degree. His old friend had certainly chosen well for his son, but then, Gyles was of a mind to think he could have done far worse for his daughter. As for the future, that was anyone’s guess.

With a tenderness rarely exhibited by a man who had spent half his lifetime in the military, the marquess drew the lady’s arm within the bend of his elbow as his glowing eyes delved into hers. Beneath that consuming gaze, the dark orbs seemed unusually soft and pliable above a gentle smile. It was not at all surprising that the man paused and, pulling the lady near, pressed his lips to her brow for an unusually

long moment, causing Gyles’s heart to swell with spiraling hope.

Mentally rubbing his hands together in relish, he could only imagine the future rewards to be had from his daughter’s union with the handsome man.
And what beautiful grandchildren they will make for us!

Clearing his throat as he got down to the business at hand, the Earl of Standish faced the young lady who was staring rather miserably after the two, or perhaps, more precisely, the Lord of Randwulf. “People have been known to get lost in this old Tudor mansion, Miss Fairchild. Its many wings seem to confuse strangers. Would you care to be escorted back to the ballroom?”

I
n something of a breathless panic, Adriana fairly flew toward the stairs, thankful no one but Colton was in the hall to take note of her rapid flight
or
her flaming cheeks. Over the balustrade, she noticed his face had become a rigid mask as he sought to suppress the manly instincts goading him. Like some sleek, powerful panther prowling the narrow limits of his cage, he paced the shadowed confines of the corridor, grinding the clenched fist of one hand into the palm of the other.

Upon reaching the landing, Adriana couldn’t resist a last glance back at the handsome marquess. He had paused to watch her ascent, and beneath the consuming heat of his eyes, she felt thoroughly divested of her garments as those gray orbs ranged slowly upward.

The lady’s elevation allowed Colton a view of trim ankles clad in dark silk stockings. From there, his lusting gaze ranged upward with equal admiration. Having stored within his memory every detail of those long, shapely legs bereft of clothing, he could envision the lush, dainty place where they joined and the smooth, creamy hips bejeweled by nothing more than a tiny navel. Her slender waist dipped inward smoothly from her hips, and from there his mental eye roamed upward to well-rounded orbs adorned with nipples as soft and delicate as blushing pink rose petals. His gaze lifted to her gracefully wide shoulders and higher still, until at last his smoldering gray eyes met her worried gaze.

“Hurry,” he silently mouthed, finding it hard to drag his mind free of the tantalizing image of her standing in nothing more than her own fine, unfettered, womanly raiment.

Responding with a jerky nod, Adriana lifted her hem and hastened toward her bedchamber. Upon entering its spacious privacy, she swung the portal closed behind her and then leaned back against it, totally shaken and thoroughly amazed by what she was experiencing. Her knees felt too weak and shaky to carry her across her chambers. Yet infinitely more disquieting was the strangely pleasurable throbbing at the core of her womanly being.

It had begun innocently enough shortly after a group of twenty or so matrons of various sizes, shapes, and ages had rushed giggling through the ballroom door, promptly meeting a barrier of musicians and dancing couples who, in a quest to escape outdoors for a bit of fresh air, had converged on the opposite side. At the time, Adriana had wondered what chicanery the older women had been about and could only believe some new, titillating gossip had come to their attention and they were eager to spread it.