Heaven Bound (A Blakemore Family Book: Madame Lou Series Book 2) (19 page)

After a few minutes of Jack leading her around the floor in a waltz, Addie had a hard time believing he hadn’t been doing this every evening. It was as if they were floating on air, there was so much ease in their movements together. She could almost believe that they had done this dozens of times before instead of this one and only time. In all the years they’d been friends, Jack had never danced with anyone but Clara. Addie had to stop herself from harboring that thought and instead concentrated on enjoying every second of this perfect experience and trying to burn this memory into her mind.

They finished that waltz and another. For Adeline, the whole world disappeared and all she could see, hear, or feel was Jackson and her moving together in complete synergy.

Beatrice put on a lively recording after the Chopin and a few of the younger guests participated in a One-step Turkey trot. By the time the music ended, both Jack and Addie were laughing and fanning themselves.

“Take me for a stroll outside, Jack, to cool off.” Addie knew this was her opportunity to get Jack away from the rest of the guests.

“Jackson Bradley, I had no idea you knew any of those modern dance steps.” Lady Eleanor had come out of nowhere and inserted herself neatly between Jack and Adeline. “You must show me how it’s done, I insist.”

Looking over the woman’s shoulder at Addie, Jack shrugged an apology and led Lady Eleanor to the dance floor. Furious that the viperous woman had just pushed her aside like so much flotsam, Adeline found the footman with the champagne and nursed another glass while she glared at Jack and the countess. This wasn’t going to be quite as simple as she had first supposed.

Addie was so focused on the dancing couple that she didn’t even notice when Winston had come up next to her until he leaned over and whispered in her ear. “A bit obvious, aren’t you? If you don’t stop staring at my brother like that your other beaus will give up all hope that they even have a chance at your regard.”

“Lord Abingdon, I don’t know what you are talking about.” Adeline turned away from the dancers and tried to appear nonchalant.

“Come now, Miss James.” Winston said, looking over her shoulder. “I can clearly see that you are fond of Jack. Anyone paying attention could, although I have a feeling that not many are. Not in this crowd, as they are all too arrogant to pay much attention to anything other than themselves. I, however, have been keeping a close eye on Jackson since his reappearance in Berkshire and this weekend is the first time I’ve seen that look in his eyes since arriving.”

“What look are you speaking of?” Addie had to ask, too curious not to.

“Interest in a woman.” Winston said, nodding his head and rocking back and forth on his heels.

“Lady Eleanor?” Adeline tried not to raise her voice in contempt, but the champagne had loosened her tongue beyond what was polite. “She doesn’t exactly seem like Jack’s type.”

“Oh, and how would you know, Miss James? Do you think you know my brother that well?” Addie thought she detected humor in Winston Bradley’s voice, but she could not fathom why. There was nothing funny about this situation.

“I was Clara’s best friend for more than five years, Lord Abingdon, and I do think I got to know them both quite well indeed. And I can assure you at no time was I ever given the impression that Jackson enjoyed having a woman of that sort throw herself at him. On the contrary,” Addie said, her voice rising as she warmed to her subject. “I observed him avoiding such encounters quite diligently.”

“Ah, yes, Miss James. I suppose he would as he was still married to Clara during those years.” Winston agreed, smiling a little too widely as he continued. “But now that his is a widow and not so deeply mourning, I can’t see why he wouldn’t welcome a bit of eager female attention.”

Adeline couldn’t hide her shock at Jack’s brother discussing something so improper with a young unmarried woman, until she realized that she had been the one to start down that path to begin with. She looked at Winston and suddenly burst out laughing. “What in the world are you up to, Lord Abingdon? Why are you letting me say such outrageous things and act the fool?”

“I can see that you are quite fond of my youngest brother, Miss James, but I also know that you plan to marry one of the three eager but destitute gentlemen who have been following you around all weekend.”

“I don’t see your point.” Adeline said, becoming nervous now that Lord Abingdon might be on to her less-than-honorable designs on his younger sibling.

“The woman I was referring to who Jack has shown an interest in is you, not Lady Eleanor. So, I would prefer it if you did not break Jack’s heart when it is only so newly healed from his most recent tragedy.” Winston paused and forced Addie to meet his eyes. “You are planning something untoward, aren’t you.” He did not even pose it as a question. “Well, maybe it will be good for him. God knows he needs a little push to get him back in the game, and you just might be able to pull it off. Well, good luck, Miss James. Just be careful with him. Jack is a good man and deserves some happiness after all he’s been through. I’d hate to see him hurt, especially by you.”

Winston walked away, not giving her a chance to respond, even if she could have come up with something to say that wouldn’t have sounded utterly ridiculous given his all-too- observant conclusions.

Overall, Addie agreed with Lord Abingdon. Jack did deserve some happiness and she didn’t want him to be hurt, if at all possible. But she did believe that they both wanted this night together. She had seen it in his eyes as well; she was certain of it. And besides, Jackson didn’t want to remarry. He’d said so over and over again. She was just helping him to move on from grieving for Clara. Addie felt a wave of relief wash over her as she realized how freeing this would be for both of them. This was the freedom Madame Lou had communicated as well, wasn’t it? It must be, she convinced herself finishing off her drink. Now she just had to wait for her opportunity and make sure that Jack didn’t get away from her this time.

Lady Eleanor did not appear to be willing to give up her dance partner any time soon, so when the duke approached Addie and asked if she would like to take a turn around the room on his arm, she was agreeable.

“Miss James, would you be interested in a stroll through the garden this evening? I doubt we’ll have weather this fine on our return to London, so we should take advantage of the fresh country air.”

Adeline longed to leave the stuffy confines of the parlor, but she didn’t dare take her eyes off of Jackson. So she begged off, claiming that the champagne had gone to her head and she needed to freshen up in the ladies’ retiring room. Making her excuses to Lord Grafton, she slowly made her way to the other side of the room waiting for the duke to turn away so she could double back and somehow lure Jack away from that audacious woman. Maybe it was just her imagination, but he did appear to be growing impatient to part ways with Lady Eleanor. And when she finally caught his eye, she thought she might have seen him give her a longing look.

Addie bit her lip, wishing she knew how to tell Jack that she wanted him to follow her. But all she could do was watch and hope that somehow he would just know. Sighing in defeat and realizing that her inexperience was no match for one such as Lady Eleanor, Adeline finally gave up and turned to leave. She was halfway to her room when she heard someone approaching. Afraid it was Lord Denbigh, somehow returning unbeknownst to their host, she spun around, ready to fight him off, but it wasn’t the viscount—it was Jack.

“Adeline.” Jackson said hurrying towards her. “I wanted to say goodbye, in case I missed you tomorrow.”

Addie smiled; this was working out even better than she could have planned. “Jack, I’m so glad you found me. I wanted to return your dinner jacket to you. Won’t you come to my room and take it off my hands?”

“I suppose there would be no harm in that.” Jack said with a shrug of his broad shoulders. “Lead the way.”

Adeline could feel the blood rushing through her body in anticipation of what was about to happen if she could manage to actually get Jack inside her room and close the door behind him. She had been practicing what she would say if this moment really materialized. When they arrived outside her door, she stopped and faced the portal, turning her back on Jackson for a moment in order to school her face into calm nonchalance so that he wouldn’t think twice about what she was about to ask.

“Oh, do come in for a moment, Jack. I have something I want to show you.” The words came more easily than she’d first imagined. It wasn’t a lie, really.

Jackson looked up and down the hallway and seeing it was empty, raised one dark eyebrow, then nodded. “Just for a moment, though. I don’t want to be responsible for ruining your reputation.”

“Of course,” Addie said opening the door and allowing Jack to enter first. “Your coat is on the divan.” She entered behind him, closing and securing the door so they wouldn’t be disturbed.

“Why do you have candles lit?” Jack asked, looking around the suite in the dim lighting. “Are the electrics not working? I’ll let one of the servants know.”

“The electric lights are working perfectly, Jack.” Adeline said inching her way closer to him.

“Well, you should tell your maid that the candles are a fire risk and she shouldn’t leave them unattended like this.” He blew out the candle nearest to him and was about to switch on one of the lamps.

“Please don’t, Jack.” Addie said finally getting the man’s attention. She was only a hand’s breadth away from him now as she started pulling hairpins out of her elaborate coif.

“What are you doing, Adeline?” Jackson started backing away from her even as she advanced. “You shouldn’t be doing that with me here. I shouldn’t be here; I shouldn’t have come in.”

“But I want you here, Jack.” The final pin came out and her hair tumbled down around her shoulders. “I’ve been wanting this for a very long time, I think; ever since that night on board the ship, when we were on deck.”

“I know what night you mean.” Jackson said raking a hand through his dark hair and trying to look anywhere except at Addie. “Aren’t you supposed to be marrying one of those titles wandering about downstairs?”

“Yes, and I’ve chosen the baron to marry. But I do not choose Lord Craven for this.” Adeline’s hands went to the back of her dress. She and Emily had purposely picked out a gown for tonight that Addie would be able to undo without her maid’s help. She managed to undo a few of the buttons, loosening the dress so that it gapped away from her breasts, revealing the French lingerie that she wore beneath it. Jack gazed at the skin she was revealing and visibly swallowed.

“Addie,” he whispered her name as she walked the final steps that put her into his arms.

* * *

Jack was amazed by this young woman again. She refused to conform, she refused to follow social rules, and now here she was, insisting that he throw caution to the wind and go along with her mad folly.

She raised her lips up toward him, inviting him to kiss her. For a moment he resisted, knowing he shouldn’t do this, understanding more so than Adeline what it would mean if he gave into this wildly inappropriate whim of hers. All of his upbringing came rushing up to meet him and he thought about what his parents would say and the indiscretion that he was seriously contemplating at this moment. But then he saw Clara and Madame Lou in his mind’s eye, and knew that this moment was somehow destined for him and Addie. And, by God, he wanted it as well. He wanted Adeline and no one else. Not Lady Eleanor, not any other woman or doxy; the only woman who had been tempting his fortitude these days was this one standing before him, offering herself and everything that meant. Adeline wasn’t stupid; she knew that her husband would probably know he hadn’t been the first one to bed his wife. But she was also wise enough to realize that with her wealth behind her, it wouldn’t make a difference to the man either. The baron would probably just believe his new bride was no virgin because she was American and that all colonials were backwards in such things.

Jack realized that he was trying to rationalize the situation and give himself permission to take what Addie was offering. As she came closer and pressed her soft, supple body against his and wrapped her hands around his neck, pulling his mouth in closer, he knew he wanted this, probably more than she did. Finally, he gave in to the immediate temptation of kissing those soft, pink lips. He could stop before it went too far, he told himself, not really believing that. He was fooling himself, of course he knew that, but right now all Jack could think about was the warm, willing, soft body in his arms.

Pulling Adeline against his full length, Jack dipped his lips to hers and drank from their sweetness, gently plucking the nectar from her mouth in soft slow caresses until he could no longer hold himself back from delving fully into the moist hot depths of her parted mouth.

Her response was immediate. Moaning, Adeline pressed her soft breasts into him and tangled her fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck, trying to pull him even closer. Jack responded in kind, deepening the kiss even further, running his hands over her half-exposed back and finding the rest of the buttons, undoing them as quickly as he could.

What was he doing? His head started to get in the way of what he was feeling. With a moan of anguish, he pulled away from Adeline and held her at arm’s length. She held onto to his biceps, trying to pull him back into her embrace.