No Decent Gentleman (12 page)

In the act of packing his papers into a satchel, Adam looked up and then stood as she crossed the chamber. "Come and sit by the hearth," he said. "I want to speak to you."

"I prefer to stand," Sabrina said coolly, crossing the study to the black marble fireplace.

Adam inclined his head and joined her in front of the hearth. Winston lay down on the rug.

"In the future, refrain from barging into my chamber," Sabrina said, folding her arms across her chest as if to ward off his nearness, staring him straight in the eye.

"I never did that," Adam said, staring back at her.

"You opened my door this morning and whistled to Winston."

"Yes, I did," Adam admitted with a smile. "A world of difference lies between whistling at the threshold and entering the room. Knowing you were sleeping behind that door was an enticement. Princess, you are simply irresistible."

Sabrina dropped her arms to her sides and stared at him in surprise. She couldn't credit that this sophisticated man of the world found her irresistible. She didn't know if she should feel flattered or insulted.

"Stop spying on me," Sabrina managed to say finally. "How can I find a potential husband if you stand guard constantly?"

"I said a
suitable
gentleman," Adam corrected her. "I do not consider Lord Briggs suitable."

"Why not?"

Adam merely smiled at her.

"Whom do you consider suitable?" Sabrina asked.

"Me."

Sabrina gave him a jaundiced, unamused look.

"I'm sorry, Princess. I must leave for London this morning," Adam said, lifting an ornately carved box off the table. "I've been saving this gift for you since we become betrothed fifteen years ago."

Sabrina could only stare at him. She'd lived her whole life receiving gifts only from her father, and now two men in two days wanted to give her a gift.

"My mother once told my father the story of a princess who kissed a frog and turned it into a charming prince," Adam continued. "Afterward, my father gave my mother this gift."

He opened the box's lid. Inside lay a frog brooch of diamonds set in platinum and gold, with emerald eyes and an emerald bow on one of its back legs.

Sabrina was stunned. Never had she seen a more exquisite brooch. Nobody she knew could purchase such expensive jewels. Who had his father been? Only royalty could afford priceless gems like this.

"I want you to wear this," Adam said.

Sabrina lifted her gaze to his and said, "I couldn't accept—"

"You can and you will." Adam lifted the brooch out of the box and moved to fasten it to her bodice.

"I'll do that," Sabrina said, reaching out to stop his hands before he touched her.

Gently but firmly, Adam pushed her hands down to her sides, saying, "I'll fasten it."

When he inched closer to pin the brooch to her bodice, his touch and his clean masculine scent assaulted her senses. She felt him with every tingling fiber of her body and feared he could hear the frantic beating of her heart.

Finished with his task, Adam slid his fingertips down the side of her breast. Shocked by the intimacy of his touch, Sabrina leaped back from him and, at the same moment, raised her hand to slap him. He caught her wrist before her hand found its target and pulled her against his strong, muscular body.

"You go too far," Sabrina said vehemently.

"Give over, Princess," Adam coaxed in a quiet voice, his blue gaze holding hers captive. "I only want a thank-you kiss."

Sabrina stared at him for a long tension-filled moment. "You may kiss me," she finally relented, offering him her cheek.

"Oh, no, you don't," Adam said, a spark of grudging admiration in his voice. With one finger, he turned her head to face him.

Adam lowered his head to claim her lips in a slow, soul-stealing kiss while his arms encircled her body and drew her against the hard, muscular planes of his chest. His lips on hers were warm and firm and demanding. He flicked his tongue across the crease of her mouth and, when it opened, slipped his tongue inside to taste the sweetness beyond her lips.

Overwhelmed by his intimate touch and the incredible sensation of his tongue caressing her mouth, Sabrina shivered with passion and surrendered to his consuming kiss. She entwined her arms around his neck and returned his kiss in kind. Being held in his embrace felt so comforting, so natural, so exciting.

Winston whined.

And their kiss ended as suddenly and unexpectedly as it had begun.

"That despicable dog has been in residence less than a day, and he's spoiled," Adam said, tracing a finger down the side of her face. "I'll miss you while I'm in London."

Still reeling from his devastating kiss, Sabrina felt flushed all over. Holy hemlock! How could a simple kiss have this effect on her?

"I'm leaving now," he said. "Walk with me."

Uncle Charles was waiting in the foyer, which prevented a repeat of their kiss. Sabrina felt relieved. At least she wouldn't be required to kiss him in front of an audience.

"You'll first call upon Adolphus?" the duke asked Adam.

"Everything will be settled by the time you arrive in London," Adam assured him. He turned to Sabrina, saying, "I'll see you in a few weeks. Admit that you'll miss me."

"I'll miss you"— Sabrina smiled sweetly—"almost as much as my last toothache."

Adam grinned and leaned close to kiss her cheek. Without another word, he walked out the door.

Sabrina watched him climb into the coach. Sagi and Abdul climbed onto the driver's seat, and off they went.

Watching the coach take the marquess away to London, Sabrina didn't feel as relieved as she'd thought she would. In fact, she felt disappointed. Abingdon Manor would seem empty without him.

Sabrina shifted her gaze to the duke and blushed to find his gaze upon her. He looked at the brooch she wore and then smiled.

"I believe this will be my best year ever," he said, and then walked away.

Sabrina touched her frog brooch and smiled to herself. She looked at Winston, who stood beside her wagging his tail.

"Come with me, my friend," Sabrina said, turning away from the door.' 'I have a pretty blue ribbon I want you to wear."

Chapter 6

The month since his departure from Abingdon had passed excruciatingly slowly, Adam decided, relaxing against the leather seat in his coach. Those twenty-six days and nights had seemed more like twenty-six years.

His shipping business and financial investments had kept his days filled with activity. The nights had passed slowly, especially the small hours of the morning when he was alone with his thoughts.

Avoiding his former mistress, Adam had remained at home in the evenings or only ventured to White's Gentlemen's Club to have a drink or a hand of cards with Jamie Armstrong, his closest friend.

Had his abrupt departure from Abingdon Manor relieved or disappointed Sabrina? Adam wondered. Though he'd only known her for a few weeks, being away from her made him feel as if something of value was missing from his life. Could a man actually become emotionally attached to a woman in such a short period of time, or was this attraction merely physical? Her kiss had been sweetly seductive, so unlike those of the sophisticated London flirts.

Adam smiled to himself. Poor Winston had probably been subjected to wearing ribbons since his departure. And pink ribbons at that.

His coach halted in front of number 10 Berkeley Square, the elegant home of Alexis Carstairs, the Countess of Rothbury, his former mistress. Adam lost his smile when he realized he'd reached his destination.

What was so damned urgent? he wondered. He had several things to do before Sabrina's scheduled arrival in London later that day. He hoped Alexis wouldn't make life difficult for Sabrina.

Adam reached for the knocker and slammed it hard against the door several times. A moment later the Car-stairs majordomo opened the door, allowing him entrance.

"Good afternoon, my lord," the man greeted him.

"Where is Lady Carstairs?" Adam asked, marching into the foyer, too hurried to exchange pleasantries with the servant.

"My lady is still closeted in her bedchamber," the majordomo answered.

"Tell her I'm here," Adam ordered, crossing the foyer to the staircase. "I'll wait in the drawing room."

"Lady Carstairs bade me tell you to go directly to her chamber."

Adam nodded, acknowledging the man's words, and started up the stairs. How like Alexis to order him to her bedchamber like a queen granting an interview to a courtier. To make matters worse, the servants obviously knew she was receiving him in her bedchamber. Didn't Alexis have sense enough to realize that the servants from one house gossiped with those from another?

Standing outside the third-floor bedchamber, Adam reached for the doorknob but then hesitated. He lifted his hand and knocked instead.

"Come in," called a sultry voice.

Bloody hell
, Adam thought when he stepped inside the room. She was waiting for him in bed.

Blond and blue-eyed and voluptuous, Alexis Car-stairs appeared like a goddess of love as she lay languidly beneath the thin coverlet. Her nakedness was apparent.

"I thought you'd never get here," Alexis said in a breathless whisper, obviously meant to entice.

"What is so damned urgent?" Adam asked, staring down at her.

She pouted prettily. "I missed you."

"That is why you summoned me here?" There was no mistaking the irritated disbelief in his voice.

"I want to discuss something with you," she replied.

Adam lifted her black lace nightgown off the foot of the bed and tossed it at her, ordering, "Cover yourself."

Her expression mirrored her surprise. Instead of watching her rise nude from the bed like Venus rising from the sea, Adam crossed the chamber and gazed out the window overlooking the garden.

Alexis stood beside him, slipped her arm through his, and brushed her breast against it. "Remember the night you climbed up the oak tree and into my chamber?" she asked with sultry amusement. "I'll never forget how glad I was that you had persuaded me not to cut it down."

Adam nodded, but refused to spare her a glance.

"You used to be sooo romantic," Alexis said with a sigh, "but you haven't touched me since my beloved Rupert passed away. That was—let me think—six months ago."

"You are in mourning," he reminded her.

"I'm wearing black."

In spite of his irritation, Adam couldn't suppress a smile. The idea of that black lace nightgown being appropriate mourning attire was simply too absurd. The beautiful minx had shed no tears for her husband's passing. Well, he supposed that was the way of the world when a lovely young woman married an old man.

"I've escorted you to the opera and various other activities," Adam defended himself. "Which, I might add, caused a small sensation since mourning precluded you from going about."

"Yes, but you haven't called upon me since returning from Abingdon," Alexis said. "By the way, I met an acquaintance of yours at Lady Chester's soiree last night."

Her nonchalant tone of voice alerted him to trouble. He turned his head to look at her, asking, "Who would that be?"

"Lord Edgar Briggs from Abingdon."

"Lord Briggs is a social-climbing buffoon," Adam said with a sardonic smile. "The man doesn't know his left elbow from his arse."

"I think you underestimate the man," Alexis disagreed.

"Why do you say that?" he asked.

Alexis shrugged. "The baron seemed an intelligent, determined man to me." She paused a moment to slide her hand up the length of his arm and then said, "Let's announce our engagement. I'll cut my mourning period short so we can marry in a few months."

"My dear, you have never observed any mourning period," Adam said dryly.

His flippant remark seemed to anger her, but she recovered herself before offending him. "I'm serious, Adam. You need a sophisticated wife who will give you heirs. What better choice than me?"

"I need no one," he replied, disengaging himself from her grasp.

"Who is Sabrina Savage?" Alexis demanded.

Adam inclined his head. "I see Briggs has been a useful source of information."

Staring down at her angry expression, Adam decided the moment for truth had arrived. The best policy would be to get this distasteful scene out of the way before Sabrina arrived in London. On the other hand, Alexis could be particularly vicious, and he didn't want Sabrina to suffer. Perhaps he could sugarcoat the truth.

"Sit down over there," Adam said.

Obediently, Alexis sat down on her dressing table stool. Adam remained standing near the window.

"Sabrina and Courtney Savage recently lost their father, the Earl of—"

"Suicide, I heard," Alexis interrupted.

"What else did Briggs tell you?" Adam asked.

"Both girls are adopted bastards."

That bit of information surprised Adam. He would have sworn that the baron truly cared for Sabrina. What kind of man would denounce the woman he loved as a bastard?

"My Uncle Charles is executor of the late earl's will," Adam told her, ignoring her comment on bastardy. "I will take charge of the Savage assets for the time being. According to the late earl's wishes, they will make their coming-outs this season."

Alexis brightened. "So, you are a guardian of sorts?"

"Not precisely," Adam replied. "As children, Sabrina Savage and I were betrothed."

"What?" Alexis bolted off the stool.

"Sit," he ordered sternly.

Alexis sat down again. Her blue gaze sparkled with anger.

"Lady Sabrina is reluctant to keep the bargain made by her father all of those long years ago," he continued. "I have given her a way out of it. If she meets some other suitable gentleman during the season, she may nullify our betrothal and marry him."

Alexis's smile was feline and calculating. "So, if the girl falls in love with someone else, the betrothal between you is nullified? Both of you will be free to—"

The unexpected sound of excited female voices in the corridor drew Adam's attention. He looked at Alexis, who gave him an innocent smile. In that split instant Adam knew what was happening; Alexis had engineered him into a compromising position to force him to marry her.