Price of Desire (13 page)

“Actually I just don’t care for
–
”

Rose st
a
mped on her sister’s toe
.

“
–o
h, yes
,
that’s it exactly
.
I am sure if I had more familiarity with horses I might feel differently.”

Clarington’s lips curved up at this sensible explanation
.
Rose stepped back from Marguerite and deftly turned the conversation to the fine weather, hoping that even Marguerite and Clarington could manage that subject
.
As she stepped back, a frisson of awareness shot through her
.
Wulf had come to stand behind her and the heat from his body radiated forward, encompassing her
.
Her toes curled as he bent forward, his warm breath brushing her ear
.

“You started to talk about your daughter
.
You should tell us more
.
Stories of children are always so entertaining.”

“No, I couldn’t
.
I am sure you’d all be bored to tears.
”

She had to stop this now
.
She would not discuss Anna with him
.
Rose turned to
Lord
Clarington, trying to ignore the fluttering in her belly
.
Surely
Lord
Clarington would save her
.
She couldn’t imagine he’d want to hear about
her daughter
.

“Delightful idea
.
Always liked children
.
Such a shame Minerva and I had
only
Simon
.
Don’t know where that boy’s gotten to
.
Should have better manners than to disappear after dinner
.
But, yes
,
let’s
do
hear about your daughter.
”

Lord Clarington turned to her with interest.

“Anna is
four
.
”
Maybe, if she was brief enough they’d lose interest
.
She’d stick to facts
Wulf
already knew
.
She would stop this conversation, now.

Unfortunately Marguerite did not know
Rose’s intentions
.
“Oh, she is the most delightful child
,
and ever so bright
.
She was quiet at first, but now she chatters away
.
I’d never had much experience with children
.
Mama didn’t like the noise
.
But, when Anna smiles, my heart just melts
.
That’s not to say she can’t be willful, though.”

Marguerite smiled back at Rose
,
waiting for her to fill in the details.

“Yes, she does have a mind of her own.
”
Keep it brief, don’t give him any fodder
.
She danced from foot to foot as she felt him inch closer.

Wulf nodded at her words, then turned back to Marguerite
.
“You seem to have a particular story in mind.”

“I was hoping Rose would tell it
.
She’s much better at telling stories.”

“I am sure that’s true.”

Marguerite was momentarily thrown by his answer, but rapidly recovered
.
“I am afraid you’re right, but I’ll do my best anyway
.
I do have
one particular favorite . . .
”

Rose wished she could kick them both, hard
.
Instead, she stared at her sister, willing her to stop
.
This evening was turning into a disaster and she hadn’t even tried to speak to James Percy, Earl of Sommerton, or Sir Barton
.
How was she supposed to find a husband when she couldn’t let Wulf out of her sight for more than a moment
?
Who knew what mischief he’d start
?
He was not to be trusted
.
She would protect her daughter, whatever the cost.

Rose
deliberately turned her eyes upon the two men who stood across the room, considering their physical features, slightly round and dark, versus angular and fair
.
Neither one raised the uncomfortable shivers of the man beside her, but she wanted contentment
,
not sparks
.
She flicked her gaze back across her group and met Wulf’s bold glance
.
N
ot sparks,
but
flames
.
She spun to face Marguerite
as her sister’s words penetrated.

“And then Anna wedged her w
ay under the armoire and would no
t come out.
”
Her sister continued the story she had started
.
“She was adamant that she was no
t going back to the nursery unt
il Nanny said please
.
She did no
t understand why she always h
ad to say please and Nanny did no
t
.
Nanny refused to even think about saying please if Anna was going to act like a street urchin
.
Then
,
just when they worked it all out
,
Anna discovered she could no
t get out
.
It took four footmen to lift the armoire off her.”

Wulf chuckled, but as his eyes met Rose’s she caught a glimpse of some darker emotion hiding underneath.

“She sounds very stubborn
.
I wonder where she got that
?
”
He refused to drop his gaze from hers.

Lord
Clarington coughed once
.
“I wo
uldn’
t know
.
I always heard that Burberry was famous for his flexibility, his ability to compromise himself into a winning position
.
Doesn’t sound like your daughter picked up that characteristic.”

Wulf finally turned away to address Lord Clarington
.
“No, it doesn’t sound like she takes after Burberry.
”
He turned back to Rose, his eyes focusing on her lower lip
.
She chewed on it nervously
.
Where was he taking this discussion?

“Are you particularly stubborn, my lady?
”
He stepped towards her.

Marguerite glanced up suddenly
.
Rose met her gaze and sent a silent
plea
.
Thank God,
for once Marguerite
seemed to read her appeal
.
She stepped forward, drawing Wulf’s appraisal
.
Rose almost sighed in relief as his glance left her.

“I have no
t finished the story,” Marguerite stated
.
“The truly delightful thing was that no sooner was she left in her bed to sleep than she snuck back down to crawl under the armoire again
.
She apparently liked the attention
.
We had to put lifts un
der its legs so that she would no
t become caught again.”

“She sounds like a very independent young lady
.
I do believe I’d like to meet her
,” Wulf said
.
“
I
may yet yield to our hostess after this telling example
.
I
t sounds
as though that child would
have a thing or two to teach me about battle strategy.
”

Rose again curled her fingers into a fist, fighting not to let her tension show
.
If she wasn’t careful
,
she’d have permanent
dimple
s in her palms
.

“I thought you’d sold your commission
,” Rose said
.
“
And besides, I hardly think the presence of my daughter would add to the atmosphere of civility I endeavor to achieve
.
I am afraid she is one delight you will have to do without.
”
Rose pretended that ice dripped from each word
.
I
f only
such ice
would cool her
!
“Now, if you’ll forgive me
,
I must attend to my other guests.”

“As you say, my lady
.
We can leave our discussion of daughters and delights until later.
”
Wulf gave a curt nod.

Rose
turned and did her best to glide away, ignoring the heady sensation of green eyes burning into her back
and the unspoken threat
in
his words
.

With a pasted smile she approached Sir Barton, wishing that his watery brown eyes and round belly reminded her less of a basset hound.

“How are you this evening, Sir Barton
?
Have you found enough to entertain you?”

“Well, thank you, Lady Burberry
.
Your home is most exquisite
.
I am looking forward to seeing the park tomorrow
.
What have you planned for us?”

“If the weather holds, I thought the gentlemen would ride in the morning and then, when the ladies had risen, we could all join together for a walk down to the lake and perhaps a picnic.”

“Oh, sounds delightful
.
I hope you’ll have time to show me around personally.
”
His eyes moved from her face to her bosom and his tongue flicked at the corner of his mouth
.
Again the image of a plump hound came to mind
.
No wonder Lady Smythe-Burke
had
called him a puppy.

“I look forward to the chance
.
I am hoping we can become well acquainted during your visit.
”
The moment the words left her mouth
,
Rose wished she could swallow them back
.
Sir Barton clearly read more into them than she intended
.
Please let it
be
only her imagination that he was actually panting.

“Delightful, delightful
.
I shall look forward to it
.
Always best to let the ladies plan things
.
Don’t mind if I join Clarington
.
He’s got a horse I am interested in.
”
With one last look at her neckline
,
he ambled off in the general direction
from which
she had just come
.

She tried to resist the urge to let her eyes follow him to his destination
.
If she didn’t look at Wulf
,
she could just pretend he wasn’t there
.
Then everything would be so much simpler, more
in accordance with
her original plan
.
She risked the slightest peek
,
and caught Wulf
,
still watching her with calculation
.
She turned with a decided twist, ignoring the continued burn in her belly, and set off towards Lady Clarington and Lady Smythe-Burke
,
who had Lord Sommerton firmly entrenched between them
.
He looked in need of rescu
ing,
and
Rose knew
she was just the one to do it
.

As she approached
,
she let her gaze move over him
.
While not as tall as Wulf
,
he was of decidedly athletic figure
.
His hair might be growing a little sparse
,
and she never had cared for a hook nose, but he had a kindly look about his eyes and Rose rather imagined that he w
ould be
appetizing
enough
,
according to
Marguerite’s criteria.