Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel (9 page)

Lady Gabrielle claimed Lana’s attention as soon as she arrived at Irvine Castle, linking arms and dragging her toward the maze.

“How about a lovely stroll, Miss Hillary?”

“P-perhaps Lady Phoebe would like to join us.” Lana glanced over her shoulder but couldn’t locate Phoebe.

“I highly doubt it. Phoebe complains of swollen feet all the time. I never knew babies could affect a woman so. Her ankles resemble plump sausages.”

“Lady Gabrielle,” Lana reprimanded with a giggle.

“I speak the truth, Miss Hillary.”

They entered the lush maze arm-in-arm. Lana had walked the hedge corridors almost daily on her last visit two years ago. “I do feel bad for leaving her alone. Perhaps I should forgo the walk.”

“Don’t be silly. Phoebe enjoys her solitude.” Lady Gabrielle tugged Lana’s arm. The young woman was stronger than she appeared. “This way.”

Lana furrowed her brow. “As you wish, Lady Gabrielle.”

“Call me Gabby. We’re practically family.”

Family?
What a strange young woman she’d become in the last two years. “Very well, Gabby, but I insist you call me Lana in return.”

The towering hedges closed out almost all outside sounds as they strolled deeper into the maze. It was quite peaceful. “Ah, this was a nice idea, Gabby. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed our strolls.”

“We walked this path many times in the past. How well do you remember the layout?”

Lana accessed the mental map she still carried, surprised by her recall. “Fairly well, I believe.”

Gabby darted a look behind them. “It appears no one followed us.”

Lana reflexively looked as well. What did it matter if anyone joined them?

“Do you recall where the Cupid statue is housed?” she asked.

“I believe I do. It’s a dead end, correct?”

Gabby leaned close. “Drew is waiting for you there,” she whispered. “I’ll create a distraction, but don’t be missing for long.”

“Lord Andrew?” Lana’s heart pounded out of control. This was beyond the pale. Why, she had gone to great lengths to avoid him the last several days, resigning herself to a match with Lord Bollrud, and Drew wished a clandestine meeting with her? What could he want?

Dizziness engulfed her, and she gripped Gabby’s shoulder to regain her equilibrium.

Blast
it, Lana, breathe already.
She gulped in a deep breath, filling her lungs and slowly banishing the dizziness.

“Please, hurry, Lana. Someone might discover us any moment. He will think you didn’t wish to meet him.”

Lana snapped out of her daze and broke into a running walk.

Left. Left. Right. Left. Right. Right.
Dear heavens, the Cupid statue would be around the next corner. Lana stopped and worried her bottom lip. Perhaps she should turn back. If discovered with Lord Andrew, her reputation would be ruined beyond repair.

Before she could change her mind and run in the opposite direction, he stepped into the opening.

He offered a glorious smile. “You came.” His sudden appearance determined her course. Like a sleepwalker, she moved toward him.

“Lord Andrew, what is the meaning of this?”

A tiny crease formed between his brows. “I thought we’d established you are to call me Drew when we are alone.”

She glanced around to see they were very much alone. “I shouldn’t be here, my lord.”

“Here in Cupid’s room? Have you lost your way, my sweet?”

She had lost
something
. Perhaps her God-given good senses.

Drew smiled like an innocent choirboy, which they both knew was a fabrication.

“I should return before Mama realizes I’m no longer with your sister.”

He offered his arm. “I promise not to keep you long, Miss Hillary. Please, stay a moment.”

She hesitantly placed her hand in the crook of his elbow, her acceptance bringing another radiant smile to his face.

“If I’m to call you Drew in private, then perhaps you would like to refer to me as Lana?” She forced a frown so as not to give him a false impression. “But don’t expect we will continue to meet privately. My mama would be crushed if I sullied my name.”

He led her farther into the Cupid room. “I have no intentions of ruining you, Lana. I only wish to speak with you for five minutes without incurring the wrath of my kin.”

“Five minutes then,” she conceded.

“Splendid.” Drew dropped her arm and walked to the hedge wall, feeling along the edges. “Here we are.” He held out his hand. “This way, please.”

“Have you gone mad?” Despite her protest, she took his hand.

“There’s an opening here. You’ll have to shimmy through, but you’ll meet with no impediments.”

Lana detected the narrow passage now that she stood close. “Is this supposed to be here?”

Dropping his hand, she moved carefully to avoid snagging her dress.

“It’s a hidden exit from the maze. My father added it years ago.”

“Wh—?” Her question was lost on an intake of breath. They stood on the edge of an open field dotted with millions of wildflowers. The sun saturated the field, making the purple and yellow flowers even more radiant. “Oh, Drew. How beautiful.”

A huge smile spread across his lips. “I thought you would appreciate the view. If you want to come back with Gabby to pick some, you approach from that direction,” he said, pointing to their left. “It comes out by the stable yard.”

“That would be lovely.” She walked farther into the field until a blanket of purple, yellow, red, and white surrounded her in every direction. With a giggle, she turned in circles to see them all. “Truly magnificent.”

Drew chuckled.

She stopped mid-pirouette. “Do I amuse you, my lord?”

“I only now realized how truly untouched you are, Lana, watching you spin ’round in a field of flowers.” He held out his arm. “Allow me to escort you back to the maze.”

She pulled at his sleeve. “Nonsense. We just arrived. Walk with me farther.”

He didn’t budge and instead shoved his hands into his pockets. “I realize now I can’t. Have you no care for my reputation?”

Lana tossed her head, her laughter carrying on the breeze. “What harm could I do to your reputation, my lord? It’s already atrocious.”

Drew’s forget-me-not eyes sparkled with merriment. “Yet, you would tarnish my reputation by drawing attention to my sensitivity? Have a heart.” He took her hands in his and coaxed her back toward the maze. “We can’t allow anyone to discover us, peach.”

Although he made light of the situation, his warning sobered her. What was she thinking wandering off with a scoundrel like Lord Andrew? They both had much to lose, Lana’s reputation and heart, and his freedom. She tromped toward the maze, wishing she had an excuse to ignore her good sense.

“Heaven forbid anyone should discover
you
possess a soft spot,” she grumbled.

“Apparently I do.”

Reaching the hedge, she whipped around to face him. They stood inches apart, his heat infusing the space between them. “Did you really bring me here to view the flowers?”

He held her gaze without wavering, his blue eyes darkening and sending a rush of desire to her belly.

“I wish I were that noble, Lana.”

Her eyes trailed to his lips. Oh, how she wanted to taste him. A scrumptious blend of sandalwood and seduction wafted across the short distance between them. Never had Lana met a man who emitted sensuality from every pore.

She licked her lips. “I wish you were
less
noble, my lord, like that night in the Eldridge’s garden.”

His dimpled smile stole her breath. “Why, Lana, I do believe you are trying to seduce me again.”

His voice washed over her, filling her with warmth and tingles from head to toe, even in her unmentionable spot. Unable to resist temptation any longer, she grazed her mouth over his, flicking the tip of her tongue across his bottom lip to satisfy her curiosity. Heavens, he tasted sinful.

Tentatively, she threaded her arms around his neck and pressed her lips harder against his. When his soft hair touched her fingers, she buried them into his locks then leaned into his firm chest.

Drew groaned against her mouth. “You have no idea what you’re doing, do you?”

Pardon?

She fell back a step and released him. Hurt shook her to the core. She didn’t know how to kiss a man properly?

Drew’s fists were shoved to his sides, and a grimace marred his handsome face. His eyes fluttered open. “Is something wrong?”

Good
heavens
above! He hadn’t been kissing her back, had he?
She repulsed him. A scoundrel who had kissed hundreds of women, and she, Lana Hillary, repulsed him.

Clamping her lips tightly, she fled toward the maze. No lady should have to endure such humiliation.

“Where are you going, peach?”

She stopped long enough to glare over her shoulder. “Stop calling me that, you scoundrel.”

“Lana, wait.”

Before Drew could reach her, she wiggled through the secret passage and dashed for the maze exit.

Drew wrestled with the urge to run after Lana. As much as he wanted to discover what went wrong, he couldn’t risk her reputation by chasing after her. Though he didn’t want to see her married to Bollrud, he wouldn’t stand in the way of her making a match with a decent gent if she wished to reconsider matrimony.

What
in
the
devil’s name came over her?
One moment she nearly sent him over the edge with the start of a sensual kiss—Good God, what a kiss that could have been—and the next she took off in a fit of anger. Lana Hillary was as predictable as a tempest and twice as destructive. His body was in shambles, thanks to that woman. What type of lady stoked a man’s passion then left him in misery? She was a cruel chit, indeed.

Shoving his hands in his pockets, he stalked around the outside of the maze. If he hurried, he could cut through the house and intercept Lana on the veranda. He would demand she explain her outburst.

Drew had faced many angry women over the years, but at least he usually knew the cause of their ire. And if he didn’t know the reason, he didn’t bother finding out. He’d always considered it fortuitous if the woman stomped away, leaving him to consider his actions, at least until now.

As soon as he passed through the double glass doors, he spotted a small crowd of women huddled together, distracting him from his mission for the moment. The ladies clucked over a figure slumped in a chair. His curiosity piqued, he moved closer only to discover the crumpled figure was Gabby.

Lady Eldridge vigorously fanned his sister while their mother clutched her hand. Lana loitered right outside of the circle, her expression troubled.

He trotted over to them, his heart accelerating. “What happened to Gabby?”

His mother’s watery eyes fixed on him. “Oh, thank heavens. I need you to carry your sister to her chambers.”

“There, there, Lady Gabrielle,” Lady Eldridge cooed.

“Oh, my poor, poor darling.” Worry etched his mother’s forehead.

“What in God’s name happened to her?” he demanded. His furious gaze shot around the veranda. He’d kill the blackguard who’d dared to touch his sister.

“Drew, please watch your tongue,” his mother scolded. “There are ladies present. I need you to carry your sister to her chambers right away. She must stay abed the rest of the day.”

“No,” Gabby protested a little strongly, but then repeated in a much weaker voice, “I’m better, Mama. I simply overheated. That’s all.”

Drew’s eyes narrowed. The air was pleasantly warm, but not hot enough to cause problems for a young woman her age. She lied. “Overheated you say?”

His sister’s eyes bore into him. “Yes,
Drew
. I overheated while playing a game of hide-and-seek with Miss Hillary in the maze. I’m afraid I was forced to stop searching for her after five minutes passed with no sign of her. I felt faint, you see.” Gabby swooned again, eliciting shrieks from the older women around her. With a weak smile, she blinked up at Lana. “Miss Hillary, I’m sorry to have left you waiting in your hiding spot. Thank heavens you didn’t become lost.”

Drew unsuccessfully tried to capture Lana’s eye.

Their mother stood and shook his arm. “Drew,
please.
Carry your sister inside where she may recover.”

“Yes, Mother.” What a little pretender. Drew scooped Gabby into his arms and toted her into the house.

On the stairway and out of the center of attention, she scowled. “Why didn’t you return her when you said? I didn’t know what to do when Mrs. Hillary cornered me outside the maze.”

“I’m sorry, princess. I hadn’t intended to keep her.”

Gabby’s gaze narrowed. “What did you do to Lana?”

Her intense accusation startled him. “Nothing.”

“I don’t believe you,
Andrew
. Lana is obviously upset. Thank goodness
my
plan worked. Everyone attributed her troubled expression to worry for me.” She poked her finger against his chest. “You promised not to hurt her.”

They made it to the top of the stairs before he dropped Gabby to her feet. Grabbing her shoulders, he met her accusing stare. “I did
nothing
to Miss Hillary. I was a perfect gentleman. She was fine one moment then without warning, she stormed away.”

Gabby wrinkled her nose. “Did you pat her on the head? I hate it when you pat me on the head.”

“No,” he answered, unable to suppress a chuckle.

“What about an insult? Did you call her a silly name?”

“Absolutely not. Princess, this line of questioning is ridiculous. I don’t pat grown women on the head or insult them, not if I wish to get anywhere.”

“Aha!” Gabby poked him in the chest again. “You tried to seduce her. I
knew
it. I never should have trusted you. You’re a scoundrel
and
a rogue.”

“That’s practically the same thing, princess.”

“Oh, be quiet. You—you roguish scoundrel.” His sister flounced into her chambers and tried to slam the door, but he jammed his palm against the hard surface.

“One angry lady is more than any man should have to contend with in a day. I swear to you, I didn’t touch Miss Hillary.” A grin stretched his lips. “
She
touched me.”

His sister’s mouth fell open, but no sound came out.

“Believe me, Gab, I wanted to kiss her, but she caught me quite by surprise.”

His sister yanked him into her bedchamber and slammed the door. “Oh, my goodness. Tell me. What did
you
do?”

“I already told you, I did nothing inappropriate. I stood there, trying my best to maintain control—”

She thumped his chest hard this time. “You dolt.”

“For the love of—Gabby, control your temper.”

She hit him again.

“Ouch! I said stop it.”

She marched across the room, the Oriental carpet cushioning her steps, and then whipped around to throw her hands in the air. “I can’t believe this. And you’re supposed to be a connoisseur of women.”

“Gabrielle Forest, where did you learn such language?”

She tossed her head. “You truly
are
an imbecile. I possess two ears, dear brother. I hear the scandalous things the ladies say about you. How can you be ignorant to the fact that when a lady kisses you, you are expected to kiss her back?”

Heat crept up his neck to the tips of his ears. Gabby knew of his liaisons? “I was
trying
to be a gentleman,” he mumbled.

She punched her hands to her hips. “Why start now? Miss Hillary is a thousand times more perfect for you than any of those ninny hammers. It’s no wonder you never offered for any of them.”

He cleared his throat. “Yes, well, Richard demands I leave Miss Hillary alone.”

She gawked as if he belonged in a carnival sideshow. “So Richard is allowed the woman he wants, but you’re not. How is that fair?”

Gabby made a valid point. Why
should
Rich be the only one satisfying his desire? Of course, his brother married his lady, and Drew was certain that was Gabby’s implied meaning.

He rubbed his hands over his face and heaved a sigh. “What if our brother disowns me? Then you’ll be stuck with me always instead of half the time,” he warned.

She tossed her head. “Perhaps I’ll disown you as well. Let Lizzie and Katie deal with your foolishness for a change.”

Why couldn’t Rich be as understanding as Gabby? Drew gathered his sister in a hug and kissed the top of her head. “Thanks, princess.”

Halfway to the door, he turned back. “Great performance, by the way, although you might wish to be a tad less melodramatic next time.”

***

Drew’s place at dinner was too far from Lana to converse with her, but he noticed she picked at her meal. He sat next to Amelia, much to his displeasure.

“Lord Andrew, what a pleasure it is to see you, at last.” Her greeting sounded accusing.

“I’ve been here several days, Lady Audley. Have you been enjoying the festivities?”

The lady fidgeted with her napkin. “Very much, my lord, although I’m puzzled as to the reason I’m here.”

“It’s a house party. I’m certain you were meant to partake of the activities offered.”

His gaze strayed to Lana again, and he suppressed a sigh. She concentrated on manipulating the peas on her plate as if she recreated an edible Mona Lisa.

Amelia’s knee brushed against his. Drew jumped and banged his leg on the table.

“Oh, dear. Are you all right?” Amelia’s nervous laughter rose above the garbled conversations at the table.

The loud noise grabbed Lana’s attention, and she glared in their direction.

Hell’s teeth.
Why did she make him feel as if he’d done something to deserve her glower? He stared back without wavering.

Lana’s eyes dropped to her plate again, and she studied it with an even greater intensity while her face flushed an attractive pink.

He tossed a distracted glance at his dining partner. “My apologies, Lady Audley. I’m a little out of sorts tonight.”

“I didn’t mean to startle you,” Amelia whispered. “Perhaps we could slip away after the last course is served. We should talk.”

He smiled as graciously as possible. Amelia happened to be a perfectly nice lady. Her beauty had gained his notice one evening at the opera. Widowed for a year, she had seemed ready to dabble in pleasure. Unfortunately, Drew had misread her.

Amelia seemed to desire a replacement for her husband, but Drew wasn’t the one to fulfill her wishes, so he ended their association, or he had tried to end it.

“I couldn’t ask you to miss the ball, Lady Audley. All the gentlemen will be searching for you.”

“I see,” she murmured and turned her face away.

He looked toward Lana again. Her apparent misery invoked the worst pain in his chest, and he longed to ease her suffering, if only she would allow him.