Further Than Passion (16 page)

"I'm so confused." As if she had a dreadful headache, she rubbed her temples. "I'm not certain what's best."

"If you wed him, he'll continue to philander with every strumpet in town. He'll flaunt his paramours in your face. Could you bear it?"

"No ... no ..."

"Let me help you, Melanie. Let me rescue you from your mother's folly."

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"
I have to go," she repeated. Visibly disturbed, she stumbled out of the shed, and he permitted her to escape.

Smiling, he watched her race away. He'd planted fertile seeds, and he'd water them and wait for them to grow.

******************

"Selena!" Agitated and out of breath, Edith Fitzsim
m
ons rushed into the parlor. "The Earl of Doncaster is here."

"You're joking."

"No."

"Dio
m
io!"

Selena couldn't believe it. During his prior, abbreviated visit, she'd experienced a stunning connection with him, but she hadn't anticipated that he felt the same. In the past few years, she'd suffered too many disappointments to be optimistic.

Her first gentleman caller! And an earl! After she had spent so many poverty-stricken, lonely months in the dreary, gray city, it was too much to absorb.

Pulse pounding with excitement, she leapt to her feet, patting her hair and smoothing her dress. How she wished she'd had some warning, that she had a new gown or exotic jewels to wear for the marvelous occasion.

"How
do
I look?"

"Fabulous, as always." Edith linked their fingers and squeezed tight. "He seems like a fine young man. He could change your life."

"I'm hoping."

"At a minimum, he could find out what your sister's done with your money."

"Let's not discuss it now, Edith. Please."

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9

Convinced that Kate was a thief, Edith constantly blamed her, but Selena wouldn't listen to any accusations. Edith had been a godsend, had mothered and guided Selena through her assimilation to England. Selena trusted her and valued her advice, but Kate was Selena's only living relative, and she wouldn't tolerate a bad word being uttered about her.

"You should broach the subject," Edith chided. "He might assist you."

"Edith"—
S
elena was determined to be happ
y
—"a
l
l of a sudden, it's a grand day. The earl is here, when we least expected it. We can't have him dawdling on the stoop! Show him in; show him in."

With a smile, Edith recognized that she couldn't win the argument. Selena might be sixteen, but she was strong willed. Adversity had been an excellent tutor, and she knew her own mind, was definite in her decisions, mature beyond her age.

"Shall I remain while the two of you chat?"

"Don't you dare!"

"But I've never actually acted as your chaperone before. I ought to earn my keep."

"What are you supposing he'll do? Make mad, passionate love to m
e
—
w
ith you loitering in the hall?"

"He's a handsome lad," Edith acknowledged. "If he gets frisky, it wouldn't be a catastrophe."

"No," Selena giggled, "it wouldn't be. Go let him in!"

Posing herself on the tattered sofa, she tarried, as Edith greeted him, as they started toward the parlor. At the last second, Selena tugged at the bodice of her dress, lowering it to display more cleavage.

She didn't imagine Lord Doncaster had arrived to converse about the weather!

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Edith maintained that British girls were very prim and proper, that they were strictly raised, and their interaction with boys severely controlled. Selena had been reared in Venice, and her father's Italian blood flowed through her veins. She was on her own, and forced by circumstances to forge her own path.

The Fates had brought Christopher Lewis to her home, and there had to be a reason. She would seize whatever joy she could from the astonishing opportunity.

As he entered, her heart literally skipped a beat. He was so attractive, so ta
l
l and sure of himself.

"Lord Doncaster," she welcomed, "how wonderful to see you again."

"Call me Christopher."

"I will. And you must call me Selena."

She rose and tried to curtsy, but he wouldn't permit it. For an eternity, they stood, not talking, but staring at each other like a pair of enamored half-wits.

"I had to come to you," he admitted.

"I'm so glad you have."

He was so close that the toes of his boots dipped under the hem of her gown. Their bodies were almost touching, and sparks of exhilaration shot between them.

"You're Kate's sister, aren't you?"

She couldn't predict how Kate might wish her to answer the question, but as for herself, she wouldn't lie
,
"She's my half sister."

"Ah ... that explains the resemblance. You have the same mother?"

"Yes. Are you familiar with the details of her torrid
a
m
ore?”

"Not very. My mother rails about it whenever she's

141

in a mood, or when she's being horrid to Kate, but at Doncaster, it's mostly been swept under the rug."

"My
mother would have been devastated to hear that!" Remembering her flamboyant mother, Selena laughed. "She liked to make a stir, and she'd have hated to think her antics had been forgotten."

"She must have been quite a character to have braved such a scandal."

"She was in love, and she didn't feel she had any option but to run away."

"Yet she left Kate."

"Not intentionally." It hurt to have him assuming the worst. "She sent for Kate, after she was settled in Italy."

"Really? That information was certainly kept quiet."

"There were legal proceedings, but she was deemed an unfit mother, so her custody requests were denied. She went to her grave regretting her loss of Kate."

"How did you end up in London?"

"I traveled here after my parents died. Mother arranged for it in her will. She'd planned for Kate and me to be a family, but it never occurred to her that it would be so difficult for us to be together. Or that I would have to reside in London."

"Why don't you move nearer to Doncaster?"

Blushing, she was saddened that he'd mention th
e
painful topic. "You know why I can't."

"No, I don't."

She assessed him, speculating as to whether he was a very proficient liar or he simply didn't recollect. "Your mother told Kate that she'd discussed it with you, and that you'd said no."

He sputtered and fumbled for a comment. "Regina claimed that she'd discussed it with
m
e
?”

142

"Yes." Ashamed to dredge it up, she looked down at the rug. "You thought my presence would be harm
f
ul, that I might rouse animosity among the neighbors or the servants."

He was silent for such a lengthy period that she was in agony. It was ruined before it had begun! Oh, when would she learn to curb her tongue!

"Selena," he murmured, and his voice was so sweet and so gentle that she hazarded a peek at him. "This is the sole reference I've received as to any of this. Until I met you the other day, I had no idea you existed. I swear it."

"Why would your mother spew such a vile tale?"

"It's her way, but it's not mine. She can be very vicious.
"

"Why don't you stop her?"

"I've only recently grown old enough to where I can stand up to her. She makes many decisions without consulting me, which was necessary when I was younger, but I'm gradually wresting control. She doesn't want to relinquish it, so it's challenging."

"Kate says you'll be a fine earl."

"Kate is right." He glanced toward the hall. "Will Mrs. Fitzsi
m
mons be joining us?"

"I believe it's her nap time"—
s
he winke
d
—"and she's a very heavy sleeper."

"Marvelous."

He led her to the sofa and sat down. When she would have seated herself next to him, he tugged her onto his lap, her bottom balanced on his thigh, and he tipped her forward so that her breasts fell onto his chest.

She wondered what he had in mind, and was already deliberating as to how much she'd allow, and she was

1
4
3

sure she'd
allow
quite a bit. She was no simpering miss. From her mother's experiences, she was aware of the trouble in which men and women could entangle themselves, but she wasn't about to forego the naughty behaviors he'd attemp
t
—
a
lthough she wouldn't let him go too f
a
r.

A female had to keep some of her secrets, had to give him a reason to visit again.

"How long can you stay?" she asked.

'Till Mrs. Fitzsimmons arrives and chases me out." He grinned. "If I'm lucky, she won't awaken till tomorrow morning."

She grinned, too. "Why don't I lock the door so we're not disturbed?"

"Why don't you?"

She probably should have been worried or afraid about being sequestered with him, but she wasn't. If they spent a few hours together, who was to protest? There was no one to catch them, so there would be no damage to her reputation, and as to what Christopher might instigate, he would never hurt her.

He helped her to her feet, and she raced across the floor, spun the key, and hurried back. With open arms, he was waiting for her, and he pulled her close and kissed her, his lips resting lightly upon hers.

Her first kiss! Bestowed by the most handsome, most dashing man she'd known since her gallant father. It was heaven, it was bliss, and, reveling in every second of the embrace, she shut her eyes and let him sweep her away.

******************

Regina lounged on Lady Pamela's verandah, fanning herself and nibbling on a plate of candies that Pamela's

144

slothful servants had finally been trained to keep filled. With how lazy some of them were, it was amazing they retained their employment. At Doncaster, she'd have had them flogged, then discharged.

Out in the garden, Melanie was walking wi
th
Kate. It was clear that they were arguing, and Regina was curious as to what had them in such a dither, although with Melanie it could be any frivolity.

Regina had tried to rear her appropriately, to inspire good manners and a pleasant disposition, but a mother could only do so much. Despite her efforts to the contrary, Melanie was spoiled, and she didn't comprehend how privileged she was to be so pampered and about to marry Stamford.

At the moment, he was playing hard to get, which was pointless. Regina had concluded that the marriage would transpir
e
—
i
f for no o
th
er purpose than to show Stamford that she would have her way.

She had unlimited perseverance and stamina, and if Stamford had any notion of her resolve, he'd speed matters along by making an appointment with his tailor to be fitted for his wedding suit.

Just then, both girls turned toward the verandah and frowned. It was obvious they'd been gossiping about her, and Regina scrutinized them. They were acting oddly, having furtive conversations and hurling barbed remarks. Melanie, in particular, had something eating at her, but she was too timid to voice it aloud.

She was surly, defiant, eager to quarrel, and Regina was weary of her attitude. Melanie was about to be Stamford's wife, and the sooner she came to terms with the idea, the smoother the nuptials would be.

The pair strolled down another path, and it was Kate

145

who held Regina's attention. She hadn't seen Kate in days and was shocked to note that her appearance was greatly altered.

Her eyes were brighter, her skin more radiant, her hair more lustrous. Even though she was attired in the most drab gown, she was glowing, and as she stood next to Melanie there was no question who was more attractive.

Unfortunately, Kate's mother's reckless beauty was surging to the fore, which bothered Regina enormously. The prospect of Kate's exuding some of the harlot's winsomeness and elegance had al
w
ays terrified Regina, and her worst fears were being realized.