Lilac Temptress (42 page)

Drake sighed with frustration and dug
back into his folios, she was right after all.

Chapter 18

“
Charles, it’s so good to
have you come out and visit with us this morning,” Isadora said,
cordially greeting him with a kiss on each cheek.

She knew it was time to perform the
moment Charleston laid eyes on her. So she’d purposely referred to
him by his first name, and had gone an even further step by using
an overly familiar “Charles”, rather than “Charleston”, his
surname, when conversing.

“
Isadora, it’s good to be
welcomed here, and I must say that you look resplendent as always.
The plum color suits you,” he answered in kind.

“
Thank you Charles,”
Isadora said, accepting the compliment. She knew that Charleston
would see through false modesty, and she also knew she looked
stunning as she had especially selected this dress to wear for him.
In contrast, Charleston dressed simply, wearing a pinstriped brown
vest with a burgundy shirt tucked neatly into his dark trousers.
His thick silver hair, cropped short to the nape of his neck, gave
him a distinguished, older gentlemanly look.

“
I am grateful for your
invitation,” Charleston replied, satchel firmly in hand. “I know
your days must be exceptionally busy as you make your wedding
plans.”

“
Indeed.” Isadora smiled
most enchantingly, turning the butler away, and personally leading
Charleston down the hallway to a quiet sitting room where Drake
awaited.

Drake rose from the sofa to meet them
at the parlor’s entryway. Charleston appeared overly inquisitive,
his decisive gaze firm, taking inventory of his surroundings.
“Welcome Mr. Brennan,” Drake said, clasping his guest’s hand in a
firm handshake.

Drake took note that Charleston’s
darting eyes tried to avoid his jawline, which still showed visible
discoloration. “A small accident,” Drake said straightforwardly,
dismissing the minor injury. “Do come have a seat with
us.”

Charleston sat in a an armless,
cushioned chair, with a wide seat covered in high-quality fabric,
adjacent to Isadora and Drake who both sat next to each other on a
plush sofa filled with decorative velvet throws and adorned pillow
cushions. The table set before them, offered tea and
biscuits.

“
Mr. McCalister, finally I
have the opportunity to sit with you for an interview. I appreciate
the time you, and your lovely betrothed are sparing for me. If I
didn’t know any better, I would think that you’ve been avoiding me
all these years,” Charleston jested politely.

“
What can I say to that Mr.
Brennan, I’m a very busy man,” Drake asserted, shifting awkwardly
in his seat. He didn’t like being scrutinized by this
man.

“
How would you like to
begin, Charles?” Isadora asked eagerly, her voice purring as she
fixed him a cup of tea. “One or two lumps?”

“
However you should like to
start, and one lump will do, thank you.” Charleston pulled
parchment paper out of his satchel along with his quill, small
inkbottle, and blotting paper—which he placed on the table,
assuming it was acceptable to do so. “Although, if you feel the
slightest bit uncomfortable, which some people do at times, I can
ask you the questions, if it will make it any easier for
you.”

“
That should be fine, Mr.
Brennan,” Drake permitted.

“
Please, call me Charles. I
hate all the formalities. After all, I’ve written about your family
for at least a decade. I feel like I practically know
you.”

“
No doubt you do know
something of the McCalisters, Charles,” Isadora said agreeably,
smiling at him. “So often you have written favorable mentions about
the undertakings of Drake’s father.”

“
Indeed, Randal is an old
acquaintance of mine, yet shall we get started? Why don’t you tell
me, how did you two meet?” Charleston continued.

“
My, you’ve jumped right to
the chase,” Drake said, wishing he were anywhere but there. He
could have been doing any number of more important things, like
reviewing his business matters.

“
It’s what I do Mr.
McCalister.”

“
Charles, I will do you the
honor of telling you how Drake and I met.” Isadora knew Drake was
not up for the task, so she gave a good imitation of a woman in
love. Her eyes sparkled while she glanced at Drake beside
her.

Drake wanted to escape when Isadora
took hold of his hand tenderly and began one of the most
fabricated, sensational stories he’d ever heard told. Sure, he had
met her occasionally at social events, but the romantic spin she
wove into their glorious courtship never really happened. The brief
courtship, which included the sending of flowers, chocolates and
fine jewelry, walks in the City Park, and carriage rides through
the French Quarter never happened. The nights they enjoyed having
their secret trysts at secluded meeting places Isadora chose, were
never mentioned.

Indeed, Isadora painted a pretty
picture of a romantic courtship worthy enough to make any woman
green with envy, and any man look like a romantic fool. Drake
casually watched this woman expertly deceive Charleston using her
cunning and flirtatious charm.

“
Well... well, Mr.
McCalister, if I didn’t know any better I would say you are a man
who is amorously and gallantly attentive toward women. Not at all
the philanderer you’ve been occasionally mistaken for,” Charleston
remarked.

Drake smiled coolly even though
Charleston had touched a nerve. He tried not to express the
annoyance he was feeling. He hated it when his life was being
intruded upon. His libertine reputation among high Society women
and men in New Orleans had been rightfully earned, but not
purposely.

His fiancée’s reputation wouldn’t
provide such colorful commentary for Charleston, he suspected
because while Isadora was no blushing virgin, she’d hidden her
scandalous liaisons quite well. She never slept with a man who
could later damage her reputation as a pure, respectable young
noblewoman. She also took the necessary precautions.

Drake learned of her affairs, limited
to hand-picked beautiful male staff within her father’s own estate
where she resided, only after he’d had her investigated—a necessary
precaution, he reasoned, given their competing family interests.
However, Isadora had made her own power play, suggesting marriage,
not simply a roll in the hay, to secure both families’ prospects,
and end their rivalry once and for all.

“
I have tamed him,” Isadora
countered, catching Drake’s attention. She detested his drifting
away and she wondered what he was thinking.

“
And for you I can imagine
it took very little effort to do so,” Charleston complimented
her.

Isadora laughed enchantingly while
squeezing Drake’s hand, to bring him back to the
present.

“
My apologies for
interrupting,” Rosaline said breezily, as she sauntered into the
room, finely dressed for an outing.

Isadora immediately twisted her face
at the sight of Rosaline—briefly forgetting to mind her manners in
front of Charleston, before restoring her serene, congenial face
once more. “Excuse me Charles, this dear young lady is Rosaline,
Drake’s younger sister.” Isadora stood to her feet approaching her,
and taking both her hands. Her back to Charleston, her eyes
beseeched her future sister-in-law to play along with
her.

Rosaline smiled gracefully in the
direction of Charleston, understanding the importance of appearance
before visitors, especially being a member of a New Orleans
ruling-class family.

“
Yes, I am aware. Rosaline
McCalister, the apple of your father’s eye, I’ve been told by your
father face-to-face.” Charleston set aside his interviewing
materials, stood and bowed his head before her.

Rosaline curtsied. “Do forgive me good
sir, for impolitely disrupting, however my brother has a former
engagement that he must attend, sealed with a promise.” She beamed
toward her brother.

Drake attempted to hide his relief at
Rosaline’s intrusion.

“
But Rosaline dear, we have
not yet completed our interview. Perhaps this engagement you have
with Drake can be postponed.” Isadora sounded more demanding than
asking, however she maintained her artificial smile.

“
Why should it be
postponed?” Rosaline challenged politely while looking at Drake in
protest.

“
Then we will have it both
ways.” Isadora didn’t allow Drake any time to object. Bickering in
front of Charleston would create poor press. “Charles, do join us.
We’re taking an excursion, on the Darling Belle riverboat, along
the Mississippi. You are more than welcome to share the day with
us.” Isadora hoped she didn’t look as exhausted as she felt. She
had not planned to attend an outing, especially with all the things
left to do on her list, however she would not allow Rosaline or
that inferior woman Sierra, the pleasure of hoarding Drake for the
day.

Drake held his composure,
though inside he was going silently crazy, and wanted to
escape.
What on God’s green earth are
these women doing?
he thought. “Now surely,
Charles has more important things to do this afternoon,” Drake
asserted, hoping that Charleston would take the hint to retreat as
quickly as he had arrived.

“
Oh no, Drake, don’t
discourage him. Having Charles accompany us will be absolutely
delightful,” Isadora insisted. She did not want Charleston to get
any wrong impressions about them and their hospitality. What she
wanted was for Charleston to write a grand story about Drake and
herself, and going on this outing offered the perfect chance to
convince Charleston of their happiness—to make it absolutely clear
to everyone that Drake McCalister and Isadora Marcos belonged
together.

“
As a matter of fact, dear
lady, my schedule is clear for the rest of the day, and I would
love to join you.”

Drake silently complained as the women
had their way with him. And there was no point in disputing. Caught
between Isadora and Rosaline’s plans, there was no way he was going
to walk away unscathed.

“
Wonderful, then it is
settled,” Rosaline interjected with good grace, though leery of
Isadora’s self-invitation. She had not wanted Isadora to come along
and now her plans were absolutely ruined.

Rosaline had concocted the whole
scheme of getting Sierra out of the house, so that Sierra might
spend a day in Drake’s company without all of the chaos that
Isadora had recently brought to Newhaven. Rosaline had thought that
Isadora would be tied up with wedding preparations. And now, not
only would Sierra lose an opportunity to spend quality time with
Drake—who had spent an inordinate amount of time in his study
recently, but Sierra would have to endure a sure-to-be icy Isadora,
and a nosy member of the press to boot.

“
Come Mr. Brennan, let me
escort you to the coach and introduce you to my companions who will
be joining us. If you have traveled by your own horse, we can have
him hitched as well so you can ride back into town from the quay,”
Rosaline suggested.

Drake reluctantly stood from his seat.
This day was certain for disaster.

* * *

Thomas sat in the box next to Ben who
steered the deluxe Concord, which held the party comfortably. Kyle
sat between Sierra and Charleston while Drake sat across from them,
between Isadora and Rosaline.

A knot of tension welled in Sierra’s
stomach as she pulled the curtain back to look out the window. The
sight of Isadora flinging herself at Drake sickened her.

As Charleston prattled on in polite
conversation, discussing the weather among other trivial topics,
Sierra eyes focused anywhere besides the stunningly beautiful
couple, unable to bear the way Isadora treated Drake as if he were
her prized possession. The fact that Sierra, if she were in
Isadora’s shoes, would do the same, did nothing to steady the
queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.

“
Such a charming pair you
two make,” Charleston commented admiringly.

Isadora nudged herself closer to
Drake.

“
Yes, they do make a
charming couple, don’t they? Any closer Isadora and you might find
yourself in his lap.” Sierra tried to sound as pleasant as
Charleston had, but the bitterness of her voice revealed her
contempt.

Kyle sat quietly rolling his eyes at
both women.

“
A man so strapping can
bear the burden of his soon to be wife,” Isadora bit back coolly,
with a self-satisfied smile on her face. “Do public displays of
affection bring you discomfort?”

“
Better such things are
done in private,” Sierra replied effortlessly.

“
Exceptions can be allowed
when you are in love. Perhaps one day, when you have truly fallen
in love as madly as we have, you will forget yourself, and not be
concerned with others around you.” Isadora’s words bluntly enforced
her point.

Sierra had no visible reaction but
deep within she wanted to lunge out and smack the smirk off
Isadora’s face.

“
I, for one, have always
found that when couples display too much public affection,
privately there is very little real affection at all. Possibly,
those couples only try to convince themselves of their love,”
Rosaline taunted, in Sierra’s defense.