Christie Kelley (16 page)

“I don’t want you to call on me again. This foolishness needs to stop.” She twisted out of his arms and finally had the distance she needed to maintain control.

“This will not stop until you are my wife.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “And I will not stop calling on you.”

She shook a fist at him. She couldn’t cry. She wouldn’t cry. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t keep the tears from racing down her cheeks. How could she take a chance with him when she knew what was deep inside of her?

“I am never going to be your wife.”

“Yes, you will.”

By the time she reached the Kesgrave estate in Suffolk, Avis felt as if she would never eat again. With her nerves in a knot, she’d been unable to sleep during the drive. So her coachman had to stop every hour or two for her to cast up her accounts.

She stepped down and held her coachman’s arm for a moment to steady her legs. Once she was certain she could manage on her own, she walked toward the old stone house. Leaded glass windows lined the building, giving it an ancient feel. Carved in the wood above the entrance was the date 1593.

The door opened before she even reached the front step. The butler showed her inside and into the elegant drawing room. Lord Kesgrave and his wife Charlotte smiled at her as she walked toward them.

“Avis,” Charlotte said. “It’s so lovely to see you again. I am pleased you decided to join us for the week.”

“Miss Copley.” Lord Kesgrave nodded at her. “Jennette arrived ahead of you but awaits your presence in the billiard room.”

“Thank you, my lord.” Avis glanced toward Charlotte and noted the softly rounded belly that announced her impending motherhood. “You look very well, Charlotte.”

“I feel wonderful. I assume you wish to retire to your room to refresh yourself?”

Avis nodded. Nothing sounded better than a cup of tea and no rocking motion. “Yes, thank you.”

Charlotte led her into the large hallway where a footman stood in wait. “Show Miss Copley to her room.”

Turning toward her, Charlotte said, “Since you are a dear friend of Jennette, I put you in a room near the Selbys. I’ll have some tea sent up to you.”

Avis tried to control the nervous twitch that suddenly attacked her eye. Just how close would she be to
him?

“I would be happy to show you around our home once you have settled in,” Charlotte said.

“Thank you.”

Avis followed the footman through the hall to the oversized staircase, glancing at the large portraits of Lord Kesgrave’s ancestors that hung on the wall as she walked. The footman led her down a long hallway with bedrooms on each side.

Every room had a nametag, Lady Selby’s room, and then Jennette’s room. Thank heavens. For a moment she had been certain his room would be next to hers. The footman opened the door to her room and she stepped inside.

The bedroom teemed with yellows. The marigold bedspread on the four-poster bed matched the velvet curtains, which lined the windows. Pictures of tulips and daffodils provided a beautiful accent to the landscape painting over the bed. Avis knew with one glance at the picture that Jennette had painted it.

“Ma’am?” a voice called from the hallway.

“Yes?” Avis opened the door a crack and saw her maid, Bridget. “Please come in.” She held the door open as the maid came in followed by a footman carrying her small trunk.

As her maid unpacked her clothes, Avis relaxed and sipped her tea. Finally, her stomach settled down. Bridget helped her change into an ivory silk dress with bluebells embroidered on the hemline and then redressed her hair. As Avis collected a few extra pins in case her hair became unruly, her maid unpacked the rest of her gowns.

“The blue gown for dinner, Bridget.”

“Yes, ma’am. I will have it brushed out.”

Avis left the room to find Charlotte for her tour of the house. Her fingers trailed down the polished cherry handrail as she descended and scanned the area for Banning. Uncertain how to proceed after he left in a bit of a temper the other day, she decided it might be necessary to avoid him as best she could.

As she reached the last step, Charlotte withdrew from the drawing room. “I believe Jennette is looking for you. I shall lead you to her.”

As they walked along, her hostess rambled on about the estate and its history, but Avis’s mind remained on Banning. At some point she would see him, and then what? The crack of a cue hitting a ball revealed their proximity to the billiard room.

“Here you are,” Charlotte said. “I must go see to my other guests, but I shall have some refreshments brought in for you both.”

Avis strolled into the room and stopped. Banning leaned over the table with a long cue in his hand ready to knock a ball. His buff breeches accented his muscular thighs and buttocks. A small sigh escaped her. He turned his head toward her and instantly stood upright.

“Miss Copley,” he said in an unemotional tone.

“Lord Selby. I understood your sister was looking for me.”

“I believe she is.” He placed his hand on his hip and stared at her. “I did not think you would come all this way. With your dislike of traveling, that is.”

“I promised your sister.”

“Very well then.” He turned back to the table to take a shot. “Since you have not mentioned it, I trust there were no complications I need to be aware of?”

Complications? Is that what a child would have been? With her courses only just finished, she did not want to think about her reaction to them again.

“Complications? Whatever are you talking about, Banning,” Jennette said, entering the room like a floral scented breeze. She hugged Avis tightly. “I’m so glad you are here with us.”

Jennette pulled away, glancing at the two of them. “Now what were you discussing? Complications?”

Banning chalked his cue. “I happened upon Miss Copley a few weeks ago in Hyde Park. She had fallen off her horse.”

Jennette whipped her head toward Avis.
“You
were riding?”

Of all the excuses, he managed the one that his sister would never believe. “I thought to overcome my fear of horses,” Avis said with a glare to Banning.

“And did you?”

“She agreed to let me work with her while we are here.” Banning gave Avis a smug grin. “In fact we shall start tomorrow at eight, Miss Copley.”

Jennette laughed. “Well that should be something to watch. The way you two argue no doubt you’ll scare the poor horse to death.”

Avis continued to glare at Banning. “I don’t believe that will be necessary, my lord. I prefer to keep my distance from horses.”

“The only way to overcome a fear is to face it straight on.” He gave her a knowing look. “Tomorrow morning, meet me at the stables at eight.”

Banning turned to Jennette. “Are we playing?”

“It would be quite rude to Avis.”

“I don’t know how to play, so please go ahead,” Avis replied.

“Why don’t we teach you?” Jennette asked with a mischievous gleam in her blue eyes.

“Yes. A splendid idea.” Banning crossed the room to the cue holder and picked up another cue. “You and Avis shall play while I tutor her.”

No!
The word seemed to catch in her throat. In fact, she appeared unable to utter a single word or sound. He must have taken that for concurrence because he handed her the cue with an arrogant grin.

“Jennette, you may go first,” he said then turned to Avis. “Watch how my sister leans over the table and takes her aim. It’s a very simple game.”

She watched as Jennette hit the ball with her cue and it crashed into others, scattering them across the table. She would never be able to do that. Jennette took two more turns until she missed.

Avis leaned over the table as Jennette had, but before she could line up her shot, a muscular body pressed against her and strong hands guided her own hands. She trembled with his nearness. How was she supposed to take her turn with him so close? She glanced up and noticed Jennette pouring the tea that had arrived.

“Get away from me,” she hissed.

“Take your shot,” he answered in her ear then quickly kissed the nape of her neck.

The stick shot forward and nicked the ball, sending it only a few inches and nowhere near another one. Before he could move away, she elbowed him in the ribs. A small grunt from him was her only satisfaction.

“Don’t worry, Avis. You shall get better. Banning is wonderful at billiards. He taught me everything I know.”

He’d taught Avis a few things too. Banning’s closeness was her undoing. Every chance he had, he held her arms or her hands. He would stand over her, or worse, lean over her, pressing his strong body against hers.

“Not quite like that,” he said as she bent down to eye the ball on the table. He squatted next to her. “I want to make love to you right now,” he whispered, “on the billiard table.”

Avis jumped to her feet, heat scorching her cheeks. Banning rose with a grin that she yearned to smack off his face.

“Stop it,” she said.

“Is my brother bothering you?”

How could he have affected her to the point of forgetting that Jennette remained in the room? The man was driving her mad! Avis turned to Jennette. “His advice is not always welcome.”

“Banning, let her try it alone.”

“As you wish,” he said, dropping into the nearest chair.

Avis gulped and then stared at the balls again. She tapped her fingers on the edge of the table, frowning. Perhaps she needed some advice. She sneaked a glance at him. Based on his scowl, she’d better try it by herself. She whacked the ball, surprised to see it crash into another ball and then fall into the pocket.

“Well done, Miss Copley,” Banning said.

She resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at him. “Thank you, my lord.”

“Oh for pity sakes, call him Banning,” Jennette said. “I hate all this formality. You’ve known each other for years.”

Speaking his Christian name in front of others made their relationship appear far too intimate. “It is highly improper of me to call your brother anything but Selby.”

Jennette waved a hand in dismissal at her.

“Who else is coming this week?” Avis asked Jennette.

“You should know just about everyone.”

“I did not see your mother,” Avis commented. “Is she here?”

“My mother and Trey’s mother are currently in the salon planning Banning’s downfall.”

Avis glanced over at him. His lips turned down into a deeper scowl.

“His downfall?” Avis asked.

“My mother believes it is well past time he marries. He disappointed her greatly by not choosing a bride this Season.”

“I
am
in the room, Jennette,” he growled.

Jennette walked past him and flicked his head. “I believe I noticed you were here. Anyway, Lady Kesgrave, the dowager Lady Kesgrave that is, is marvelous at matchmaking.”

“Well, I wouldn’t trust my future to either of those ladies,” Banning said.

“I am certain you will find the perfect woman when the time is right,” Avis replied.

“I’m sure I have,” he muttered.

Jennette turned back to him. “You have?”

He smiled at Avis and then Jennette. “Slip of the tongue. I’m sure I will.”

Banning watched Jennette and Avis leave the billiard room to change before supper. He needed a little time alone to get his base urges under control after the close contact with Avis. The woman drove him insane. It took all his concentration to focus on the billiards and not her lush body. He’d meant every word when he told her that he wanted to make love to her right here. But he couldn’t believe he’d said that to her while Jennette was in the room. Insanity. Surely, that had to be the cause of his actions.

Ever since he’d met Avis he’d felt insane, mad with lust and now crazy in love with her.

“So here you are,” Trey said, entering the room. “How was the billiards?”

Banning shrugged. “Jennette made me Miss Copley’s tutor for the game.”

Trey raised a chestnut brow at him. “Indeed?”

“Yes.”

“So when is the wedding?”

“What?”

Trey laughed as he pulled the billiard balls out of the pockets. “I may have left London, but I still hear the gossip. Something about you being seen at an inn with a woman of quality.”

“Don’t remind me.” Banning rose and grabbed a cue. “And what makes you think it was her? It could have been any woman.”

“Just a hunch.” Trey placed the balls on the table. “Of course your defensive attitude more or less confirms it.”

Damn. “The woman is driving me mad. She has no intention of marrying…ever.”

“Ever?”

“Ever.”

“Odd,” Trey replied. “I don’t believe I’ve ever met a woman who really had no desire for marriage.”

“Well, she doesn’t.”

“Why not?”

“Damned if I know.” Banning leaned over and took a shot. But he did have an idea what caused her wariness. Absolute fear. But fear of what? Him? Marriage? “She’s scared of something but won’t confide in me.”

“Perhaps you should speak with your mother. She might have an idea as to the cause of Miss Copley’s reluctance.”

The idea of asking his mother anything about any woman held no appeal. She would assume he cared for Avis. Which while true, he had no intention of divulging that information to his mother or anyone else. If his mother discovered his true feelings for Avis, a wedding would be planned whether or not Avis wanted it. Then again, he might save that idea as a last resort.

“If you have done what I believe you have,” Trey said, taking aim, “you really should force the issue with Miss Copley.”

“And how exactly do I force the issue with her?”

Trey hit the ball with his cue, scattering the others across the table. “Compromise her publicly.”

Banning laughed aloud. “I doubt even that would convince her to marry me.”

Trey pointed the cue stick at him. “Then perhaps you need to make her jealous.”

Make her jealous…he tasted the idea in his mouth for a moment. But could he do that? “You make a good point, Trey.”

“It does happen on occasion,” he replied with a laugh.

Banning left the room to change into his formal evening attire. As he walked down the hallway, he noticed her room nearly across from his. How convenient. He wondered if she’d taken notice of his bedroom.

For once, Trey might have the right idea. If Banning gave his attentions to another, it could serve to make her jealous. He definitely would not compromise her. Perhaps by making her jealous she would acknowledge her feelings for him and confide in him the true reasons for her fear of marriage.

“And then Mrs. Dilworth said…”

Banning stopped listening. Miss Roebuck’s conversation had run the gamut from tiresome to exceedingly dull.