Twenty-one
Vivi’s heartbeat sped up as Luke offered his escort to the ballroom. Her mood had improved upon seeing him this evening. They had spent a pleasant dinner engaging in conversation with his brother Richard and Richard’s wife, Phoebe. Vivi had been relieved to discover Miss Truax had been placed far away from her at the table. Unfortunately, she had still been too close. Vivi had remained too aware of the other woman’s presence throughout the meal.
Every glimpse of the auburn-haired lady had reminded her that she needed to secure a moment alone with Luke. It seemed wise to address the issue of Miss Truax now before Vivi lost her temper with the woman. If Luke believed she required more instruction on how to be a lady, she must eliminate his doubts. He was her new beginning, and she had no intentions of becoming an object of ridicule again. Her past was behind her and she had a glorious future ahead.
“You look beautiful tonight,” he murmured as they reentered the ballroom. “Yellow suits you.”
“It’s called daffodil, Your Grace.”
He gave her a covert wink. “Thank you for giving me the proper respect when you correct me, Lady Vivian.”
Heat rushed into her cheeks. Perhaps she had overstepped her bounds in past encounters, but she didn’t understand the reason he entrusted Miss Truax with bringing it to her attention. “I didn’t mean to be contrary.”
“Are you ever anything else, dearest?” He gave her hand an affectionate squeeze and directed her toward a corner of the ballroom away from the crowd. “We haven’t long to talk before someone will demand our attention.”
His attention, he meant. Although Vivi had received many curious stares, no one aside from Luke’s family had spoken to her. Their betrothal hadn’t been announced, but she had heard snatches of whispers when she had entered the retiring room earlier. The young lady and her mother conversing in the corner of the retiring room apparently hadn’t given up hope of snaring the Duke of Foxhaven yet, even if it appeared he might be spoken for now.
Luke’s hip brushed against Vivi’s, making her blood simmer.
“How was your walk with Miss Truax?”
Vivi suppressed a grimace. She had hoped he wouldn’t ask until they were alone. “The gardens are beautiful.”
If he found her answer evasive, he didn’t press her further. “Tomorrow you should explore the maze. I will ask Gabby to show you.”
She perked up at the mention of a different companion. She had briefly met Lady Gabrielle, another of Luke’s sisters, when the ladies retired to the drawing room after dinner. Gabby was a beautiful young woman with ebony hair like Luke and his mother. More importantly, she was friendly and didn’t act like a dour old aunt.
Speaking of dour, Miss Truax was staring daggers at them from across the room. Perhaps the woman thought it inappropriate for Vivi to linger in a corner with Luke. Never mind that she was correct and Vivi’s behavior might be construed as loose.
She flicked open her fan and used it as a shield against prying eyes. “Would it be possible to speak with you later in private?”
He didn’t even look her way, giving the appearance of scanning the crowd of guests. “You may speak, but I would rather ravish you.”
“Your Grace,” she hissed and waved the fan in an attempt to cool her face before anyone noticed her blushing.
The corner of his mouth twitched, the only chink in his armor. “Tomorrow I’ll take you for a ride.”
Lord Brookhaven approached to claim the dance she had promised him. Luke smiled benevolently at the viscount, then bid her good evening. He moved on to speak with a group of gentlemen clustered at the edge of the dance floor.
Vivi tried not to watch him as he made his way from guest to guest, but it was nearly impossible. He fit into the ballroom as easily as he did a saddle; his movements were fluid and graceful. Reaching a lone gentleman leaning against the far wall, Luke stood with his feet planted wide, demanding his space. He was a stunning sight.
Vivi tore her gaze away long enough to smile politely at her dance partner, but Lord Brookhaven’s attention was directed elsewhere, so she resumed ogling her intended. She noticed a lady to his left was admiring him as well. And another. Then another. Her mouth felt dry. He had command of the room and his pick of ladies, all of whom likely knew more than she did about how to be charming.
Perhaps she would be wise to bite her tongue when it came to Miss Truax’s tutoring and follow Luke’s wishes. She suppressed the urge to roll her eyes.
There was a good chance she would have a sore tongue before this house party was over.
“It was a pleasant surprise coming upon you and Miss Truax in the gardens today,” Lord Brookhaven said.
“Yes, it was delightful,” she lied.
Vivi had no objections to Lord Brookhaven—he proved to be a considerate and gentlemanly sort when he wasn’t intoxicated—but she was less fond of Miss Truax and Mr. Collier.
His grin widened. “Splendid. I had feared we had made a nuisance of ourselves.”
“Not at all.” Luke continued his path around the ballroom.
“Perhaps we could take another turn about the grounds tomorrow,” Lord Brookhaven said. “With a proper chaperone of course.”
Vivi snapped to attention. “Oh! I-I’m afraid I must beg off, my lord. I have a prior commitment.” Specifically to Luke.
“No, no. I understand.” His gaze fixed on something toward the sidelines. Vivi turned to see what accounted for his forlorn stare and discovered Miss Truax chatting with Luke’s sister, Lady Gabrielle. “Do you think Miss Truax would welcome an invitation?” he asked.
Her spine softened and she lowered her guard. “I imagine any unattached lady would welcome your company, my lord.”
***
Luke barely had gotten two words out of Lord Brookhaven since he had stopped to talk with the viscount in a corner. “I wanted to thank you for sending Mrs. Price back to London,” he said.
Brookhaven’s eyes flicked his direction briefly before traveling back toward the dance floor. “Mrs. Price was Jonathan Collier’s guest. I should have sent him back as well.” He nodded once in the direction of the dancers.
Luke looked up to find Collier circling Johanna, their palms pressed together as they danced the minuet. It wasn’t unusual for her to participate in whatever festivities his mother enjoyed, and Johanna was fond of dancing. He didn’t understand Brookhaven’s objections to Collier partnering with her. “Explain yourself.”
Brookhaven hooked a finger inside his cravat and tugged. “The young woman is your relation, is she not?”
“Miss Truax is my mother’s cousin and companion.”
“I have no desire to cross you, Your Grace. You must know I have little in common with Mr. Collier, despite our years of acquaintance.”
Luke nailed him with a glare. “If you have something to say, speak up.”
Brookhaven checked the area then stepped closer to Luke. “He has a proclivity for innocents,” he mumbled.
“I beg your pardon?”
“He may have identified your kinswoman as fair game seeing as how she is not strictly under your protection.”
“She is under my roof and therefore protected.” His voice came out low and gravelly, similar to the warning growl of a dog. Johanna was his mother’s source of comfort, and he wouldn’t see his mother suffer any more than she already had.
As the dance drew to a close, he stalked across the ballroom to intercept Collier when it appeared he might lead Johanna outside onto the veranda. Collier’s smile thinned when faced with Luke’s glower.
“It was an honor, Miss Truax,” Collier said. “Perhaps you will save a spot on your dance card tomorrow evening.”
He offered a token bow to Johanna. It was an empty gesture of respect from a man who would see her ruined. Luke had heard tales of Collier’s conquests, but he hadn’t known whether the rumors were true, until now. If Collier’s friend had no faith in him, Luke had no qualms about believing the worst about the man.
Once Collier left, Luke offered Johanna his arm. “Let’s take refreshment, shall we?”
She appeared flushed, splotchy red places appearing on her neck and chest like a patchwork quilt. He narrowed his eyes. “Did Mr. Collier say something inappropriate to you? He will have to answer to me if he did.”
Her hand fluttered to her chest. “No, Your Grace.”
They walked toward the refreshment room in silence, and he retrieved a glass of lemonade for her. After she drained her drink, they took up position at the threshold of an empty alcove. They remained within sight of everyone and he maintained a respectable distance between them.
“I want you to steer clear of Jonathan Collier. He is bad seed.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “How so? He seems like an honorable man.”
“Appearances can be deceiving, Miss Truax. Please, do as I command and avoid him. I wouldn’t want any harm to come to you.”
The tightness around her mouth melted away. “Of course, I will heed your warnings, Your Grace. You know best.”
“Your compliance is appreciated.” Obedient and amiable. He smiled, fondly recalling the words Vivian’s brother had used to describe her. “I haven’t had a chance to thank you for entertaining Lady Vivian today. She said the two of you had a pleasant walk in the gardens.”
“She did?” When he slanted a look at Johanna, she twittered. “Yes, we did. It was a very pleasant afternoon, even if Mr. Collier joined us without an invitation.”
Luke’s frown returned. Now he had no doubts about Collier’s intentions to woo Johanna. He would caution Vivian when he claimed the next waltz and request that she keep Johanna close for the duration of the house party. There was safety in numbers, and he would see his household protected. Perhaps he would even assign a footman to accompany them outside of the castle.
“Promise you will be careful of Mr. Collier,” he said to his cousin.
Johanna nodded, her eyes wide. “I will do whatever you command of me. Anything at all, Your Grace.”
He didn’t know what had gotten into her, but Johanna’s fawning was beginning to make him uncomfortable. With a gentle push at her elbow, he directed her back toward the crowd. “Perhaps you would be kind enough to see that Mother is having a good time.”
“It would be my pleasure.”
Of course it would.
***
Luke stoked the fire in the grate to keep the chill in his study at bay. If he intended to take Vivian for a ride tomorrow, he needed to attend to the some of the correspondence on his desk. The authors of the letters had been kept waiting long enough for a response.
He shouldn’t have suggested he wanted to make love to her when she’d asked to speak with him. It was not well done of him. Nevertheless, he had and he did. He wanted her with an intensity that made him feel as if pieces had been ripped from him, vital parts that he didn’t know how to live without, and only she could put him together again.
He remained adamant he would not take her innocence until they had signed the marital contract, but in reality, every romantic encounter chipped away at her naivety. A greedy part of him liked that she would come to his bed with some experience, and therefore no fear.
Desire, thick and hot, surged through his veins.
As he replaced the poker, a light knock sounded at the door. The door eased open and Johanna’s anxious face filled the crack. “Is everything all right?”
His desire receded quickly, and he waved her inside before someone discovered her. She slipped into his study, closed the door, and leaned against it. Her tongue darted across her lips.
“I saw the light burning underneath the door on my way to the kitchens. Your mother couldn’t sleep so I’ve requested chamomile tea for her.”
He came forward, prepared to go comfort his mother as he had in those first few months after his father’s death. “How is she now? Did she have another bad dream?”
Johanna shook her head and halted his exit. “It’s nothing like that, Your Grace. There was a lot of excitement today with your arrival. She is having difficulty settling in. The dreams appear to have stopped troubling her.”
She sauntered into his space as she had done on many occasions.
“I’m glad to hear that is the case,” he said and swept a hand toward the desk where the pile of letters lay. “I will be sorting through my correspondence awhile longer, but it’s late. You should get some rest.”
She drew up short, her lips turning down. “Very well. I’ll leave you to your work. But before I go, I would like to thank you again for warning me about Mr. Collier.”
“I felt it was my duty.” He returned to his desk, hoping she would take her leave. He had no desire to be rude, but it was highly improper for her to be in his study at this hour.
Johanna looked down at her hands, pink splotches appearing on her neck again. “Luke, may I ask what danger he poses? I realize it may be none of my concern…”
He didn’t agree. It was her concern since an association with Collier could bring her harm. He didn’t believe in hiding the truth to protect the fairer gender’s sensibilities. How else were they to know of the dangers around them?
“It has come to my attention Mr. Collier has no honor. He is a threat to unsuspecting young ladies, and he should be avoided.”
She blanched. “I see. Well then, I won’t go near him again.”
“Very good. I will rest easier tonight knowing you are aware of the danger and plan to avoid him.”
Her face brightened again. “I should go so you can get back to your work.” She made a quick curtsy and left his study as quietly as she had entered.
Luke glanced at the mantel clock. It was two o’clock. He couldn’t procrastinate any longer. He sat in his chair and picked up the first piece of post. Perhaps he could do this without any pain if he read it in small portions. And his reward would be time with Vivian. He didn’t require more motivation than that to begin his arduous task.