Lord Ruthven's Bride (9 page)

From the corner of her eye, Annabelle glimpsed Nick enter the parlor. She started as Lord Ruthven stepped up beside him. Good Lord, what was the viscount doing here? Her father spoke of him coming to Tain to learn about the property his uncle had left him, but Annabelle hadn’t expected to see him at Aeckland Castle. Both men had their sleeves rolled up to their forearms and dust caked their boots. Still, Lord Ruthven’s sleek, dark hair glistened raven black in the sunlight that poured through a nearby window. 

He shifted and Annabelle yanked her gaze to the teacup she balanced on her lap. Her heart began to beat fast, but she willed her hand steady and lifted the cup to her lips. She smiled at Lady Hilary who had said something that made the other three ladies in their group laugh. What interest could Ruthven and Nick possibly have in the ladies who were visiting her and Lena? 

“Oh my,” Miss Fletcher murmured, “look who is here.”

Lady Hilary’s attention shifted to something behind Annabelle. “I understand he is quite an eligible gentleman,” Lady Hilary said.

Annabelle groaned inwardly as she took another sip of tea. Lena sent her a covert glance over her teacup and telepathed with a roll of her eyes, a newly titled gentleman is always
quite an eligible gentleman
.

“Tell us, Annabelle,” Lady Hilary said, “what was it like being rescued by such a handsome man?”

“Did you swoon in his arms?” Miss Fletcher said.

Annabelle nearly dropped her cup onto the saucer. “I did not swoon.” Though she had cried when Lord Ruthven lifted her into his arms.

“I would have,” Miss Fletcher said.

Amusement twitched at the corner of Miss Duncan’s mouth. Annabelle had met Miss Duncan only today and liked her immediately.

“I would not mind being rescued by him,” Miss Fletcher said.

Annabelle snapped her attention onto her. “It was not a pleasant experience.”

Miss Fletcher shot the other ladies a knowing look. “No need to pretend, Annabelle.”

“You believe being kidnapped is pleasant?” Annabelle demanded.

“We were very fortunate that Lord Ruthven and Mr. Benning arrived when they did,” Lena cut in.

“Exactly what
did
happen?” Lady Hilary asked.

Barely an hour had passed since the ladies’ arrival and they’d pounced upon the first opportunity to gossip. Annabelle’s parents had instructed her and Lena to say nothing. Not that she would have given details to Lady Hilary—or Miss Fletcher. They were both terrible gossips and Miss Fletcher, in particular, loved to embellish.

“The newspapers said you were kidnapped in broad daylight right off the street in Inverness,” Miss Fletcher said in a whisper.

“By papers, you mean gossip sheets,” Miss Duncan said.

Miss Fletcher sniffed. “Everyone pretends they don’t read the sheets, but they do. And lest you forget, papers like the
Bull
report on many subjects. Not just happenings.”

“The
Bull
is a rag,” Miss Duncan said. “Have they, perchance, written about Lord Harley’s upcoming trial, or shed light on the case in order to ensure that Lord Harley doesn’t escape justice because he is a rich nobleman?”

“Miss Fletcher bristled. “I have not read the
Bull
these past few days, but I can assure you it is a respectable paper.”

“Perhaps their business section is respectable,” Miss Duncan said. “But their gossip section is nothing more than fairy tales.”

Miss Fletcher looked at Annabelle. “Is it not true that Lord Harley kidnapped you in broad daylight?”

“It was still daylight when he forced Annabelle
and
me into his carriage,” Lena said.

Annabelle shot Lena a quelling look.

“See,” Miss Fletcher said in triumph. “That is exactly how the
Bull
reported the incident.”

“Anyone can get a detail like that correct,” Miss Duncan said. “I daresay little else they printed resembles the truth.”

“That is unfair,” Miss Fletcher cried, and even Lady Hilary groaned.

“Please, Leslie,” Lady Hilary said, “You are defending a gossip column. I advise you to cease this ridiculous argument.” She gave a tiny nod to something beyond them, and Annabelle knew that Nick and Lord Ruthven were joining them.

* * *

Lord Grayson started across the parlor and James followed. Accompanying the earl here had been a mistake. Lady Annabelle wore an ivory silk day dress and her hair lay piled atop her head in a mass of soft brown tresses that he longed to touch. How he was going to manage being in her presence the next few minutes, much less the next week or next year while her father trained him how to manage his late uncle’s properties?

They reached the ladies and Annabelle lifted her eyes from her teacup. Their gazes locked. He didn’t care for the weariness evidenced by the tiny pucker of her brow. Was she getting enough sleep or did she suffer from fitful dreams as he did? If she did, her dreams were surely nightmares inspired by monsters like Lord Harley. His nights, on the other hand, were filled with dreams of reaching for her in bed and pulling her warm body flush against his. 

“Ladies,” Grayson said, “may I present Lord Ruthven. Lady Hilary, Miss Fletcher, Miss Duncan.”

Miss Fletcher and Lady Hilary lowered their lashes and murmured demure greetings.

“My lord,” Miss Duncan said in a clear voice.

“You remember Lena,” Grayson said.

“Lord Ruthven,” she said. “It is good to see you.”

“And you, Miss Summerfield. Lady Annabelle,” he said.

“Oh, yes, good to see you, my lord.”

He hid a laugh. The lady acted as if she had just noticed him.

“I’m sorry to intrude, Annabelle,” Grayson said, “but Josephine wants to know if you saw Mrs. MacBain’s daughter today when you visited Tain.”

“I don’t know her. Was I supposed to see her? Jo said nothing of it.”

Grayson shook his head. “She heard from another of the villagers that her daughter was ailing and Jo simply wondered if you knew anything of it.”

Her brows drew down. “Someone should have told me. I would have made a point of seeing her.”

She glanced at her guests and James wondered if she intended to desert her guests and go into the village this very minute.

“You can look in on her tomorrow,” Grayson said. “Today is lovely, however. Have you ladies considered a walk?”

She narrowed her eyes. “No, we have not.”

“Sun would do you good,” Miss Summerfield said.

Lady Annabelle scowled.

“Please say yes,” Lady Hilary said. 

A gleam lit Annabelle’s eyes. “Only if Nick accompanies us.”

“Oh yes!” Miss Fletcher and Lady Hilary chimed in together. 

“Ladies,” he said, “surely, an old married man like myself isn’t good company—”

“I think an
old married man
like yourself will be fine company,” Lady Annabelle interjected.

“Josephine may have other plans for me,” he said. 

“I have no doubt of that,” Annabelle said in a dry tone that elicited titters of laughter. “But, at the moment, we need you more than she does.”

“Then I suppose we must all go.” He looked at James.

“You
must
come, Lord Ruthven,” Miss Fletcher cried.

James blinked. “I have been working all day. I am no’ fit company for ladies.”

“As fit as I am,” Grayson said.

James looked at him. This is what he got for hobnobbing with nobility.

“Shall we say fifteen minutes?” Lady Hilary said.

Miss Fletcher gave a delighted clap of her hands. “Perfect.”

James glimpsed the frown on Lady Annabelle’s face—and the twitch of amusement on Miss Duncan’s mouth before he turned with Grayson and strode from the room.

James’ heart stilled when Lady Annabelle stepped from the narrow staircase into the foyer. She had exchanged the satin day dress for a white muslin gown that clung to her lithe frame most indecently. An ivory ruffle framed the gentle rise of her creamy breasts. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and waited for Miss Duncan, who took the last two steps and halted beside her. Miss Duncan tilted her head toward her and murmured something he couldn’t hear. Lady Annabelle smiled and made a low reply.

He would give all he owned to have her smile at him like that. That smile made him want to take her in his arms and beg her to forget Northington and run away with him. His chest tightened. He whirled and strode to the large wood door, then pulled it open and waited. 

“Where is Nick?” Annabelle asked.

Grayson emerged from the hallway to the left. “I am here,” he said. “Where is Lena?”

“She decided on a nap instead of a walk,” Lady Annabelle said.

“I suppose I should have specified that she should come with us,” he said.

Lady Annabelle started toward James. “I’m sure she would have heeded your command, Nick.”

“As well she should,” he said with a laugh.

Lady Hilary said, “We shall have fun without her,” and glanced at James.  

James glimpsed the roll of Lady Annabelle’s eyes as she passed him and inhaled the scent of the rosewater she must have used to bathe. Desire tightened his groin and he shifted his gaze as Miss Duncan approached.  

“You are a brave man,” she whispered as she passed. “I will pray for you.”

“Ye have a perverse sense of humor, my lady,” he replied under his breath.

She gave a low laugh, but said nothing more as Lord Grayson and Miss Fletcher approached.  

James followed them out, pulling the door closed behind him. Lady Annabelle and Lady Hilary stepped down the three stairs to the ground. The sway of Annabelle’s hips snagged his attention. He yanked his gaze away. Good God, he’d been staring. Where the bloody hell was her husband-to-be? He should be here to protect her. If she belonged to James—she
didn’t
belong to him. He must remember that.

James reached the steps and too-late realized Lady Fletcher’s intention as she extended a hand. He grasped her fingers. Miss Fletcher lowered her eyes demurely and James assisted her down the three steps that Lady Annabelle hadn’t even bothered to lift her skirts to descend. He pitied the man charmed enough by Lady Fletcher’s dark hair and crystal blue eyes to marry her.

Her foot touched the walkway and she slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. They strolled behind the others. Lady Annabelle hadn’t waited for him or Grayson, but walked ahead with Miss Duncan. There would be no asking a man for help from her. Neither would there be hatred or manipulation. Intrusion, yes. Passion. Oh yes. He’d tasted of that passion, and couldn’t forget her unreserved response to his kiss.

James nodded in response to something Miss Fletcher said, but continued to covertly watch Lady Annabelle.

“I have been here only a month and sometimes I think I shall go mad if I hear another lamb bleating,” Miss Duncan said to Lady Annabelle.

Lady Annabelle laughed, and James realized he’d not heard her laugh before now. Her unabashed delight captivated him. Could he make her laugh like that?

“If you feel yourself slipping over the edge of sanity you may find comfort in the knowledge that tomorrow there will be even more sheep, for they are prolific,” she told Miss Duncan. Miss Duncan shuddered and Lady Annabelle linked arms with her. “Never fear,” she said in a mock whisper, “the cure for country life is a good party. We shall have to plan one soon.”

They reached the end of the drive.

“Turn left, Annabelle,” Grayson called. “Let’s have a look at The Three Sisters.”

She cut him a narrowed-eyed glance, but turned left and kept walking. The walkway widened and Lord Grayson and Lady Hilary fell in alongside them. James hung back. He preferred keeping Lady Annabelle in his sights. Only God knew what trouble she might cause and, he had to admit, he liked the way her dress hugged her backside.

“Have you seen The Three Sisters, Miss Duncan?” she asked.

Miss Duncan shook her head. “I have not. What is it?”

“Stones that form a rather unique falls,” Annabelle said. “Three tall rocks, thin, like a woman’s body. Water pours from the mouth of each into an inlet. It’s quite beautiful.”

“Are there any sheep nearby?” she asked.

Lady Annabelle barked a laugh, then glanced at Lord Grayson, but he made no comment about her unladylike outburst.

“To my knowledge, there are no sheep in the vicinity,” she answered, and James heard the laughter fighting to break free of her control. “If you wish to see sheep, come with me tomorrow when I visit Mrs. MacBain.”

“Oh dear,” Miss Duncan said. “That is a muddle. If I refuse, then I am uncharitable. If I go, I may end up in Bedlam.”

Lady Annabelle and her group slowed, and James and Lady Fletcher caught up to Grayson and Lady Hilary, then fell into step with them.

“How are you liking Tain, my lord?” Lady Hilary asked.