Price of Desire (19 page)

He’d been flanked and he hadn’t even seen it coming
.
So much for thinking a brief dream had no cost
.
Rose Burberry, the troublesome witch, didn’t even need to be present to land him like a trout.

“Uhh.
”
Oh, yes
,
that was persuasive.

“Just head that way
.
I really am most overheated
.
I fear I may faint
.
Oh, I am so dizzy.”

She rocked back and forth nearly upsetting the boat before leaning all the way forward to brace her hand high on his thigh.

“That’s much better, isn’t it?
”
Her fingers began a slow walk upward.

All thoughts he’d had of insisting they row back to the party fled
.
He tried to shift away, but that only forced Lady Clarington to bend further
.
She was going to pop right out.

She smiled like a cat with the mouse caught firm beneath her paw.

“To shore it is.
”
He set the oars to water with such fervor that the boat rocked back, and so did she.

He picked up the pace
.
It would be easier to evade her on shore where there was much more room to maneuver.

“I do like to watch a man of fine physique.
”
Her eyes raked over him harder than a harpy’s talons
.
“But, I am afraid I am more heated than ever.
”

She dipped her fingers into the lake water and let it trail in rivulets down her bosom
.
Now there were rivers as well as roads
.

He rowed faster
.
The skiff hit shore with a thud.

She fell back in her seat, her legs and petticoats fluttering
.
Why was he not surprised that her skirts finally settled about her knees?

“Oh, dear me, now you must help me up.”

Maybe he should have rowed back to the party, to safety
.
He’d even welcome a little cannon fire about now.

He stepped forward
.
The mud squelched about his boots and he held out his hand
.
Being a gentleman was hell.

Lady Clarington stared from his hand to his face and back again
.
She clearly wanted a little more assistance
.
He held firm.

She huffed, then righted herself and with a sigh that nearly set several roads on new courses, grabbed his hand and let herself be pulled to standing
.

Victory.

“Look at that mud.
”
She peered down at the slime coating his best Hessians
.
“You’ll have to carry me.”

And ambush.

He bent forward and pulled her into his arms
.
A battle of wills
.
He kept his elbows straight and she leaned with all her strength towards him
.
Did those things move on their own?

Two quick steps and a hop and they were high on the grassy bank
.
He set her on her feet and stepped back with lightning speed.

“You do look peaked
.
Stay here
.
I’ll fetch your husband.”

He set off towards the woods.

“Oh, but you can’t leave me alone!  I am so frightened.”

He heard the rustle of her feet on the remaining leaves and picked up his pace.

“No, you mustn’t exert yourself
.
You would not want to be overcome.”

He was just about running now.

“But, I find certain exertions pleasurable.”

Forget being a gentleman
.
Wulf had never thought he would put his best scout training to work on the grounds of a well-manicured estate
.
He darted sideways and sought refuge behind a bush
.

What a beautiful afternoon
.
This was much more in line with the party Rose had imagined, her guests spread like daisies upon the lawns, reclining on blankets or the chairs brought down from the summerhouse, the lobster patties fresh, the wine chilled
.
It was almost perfect.

Even the absence of Wulf added to the calm
.
She ignored the niggling displeasure that he’d allowed himself to be maneuvered into a boat by Lady Clarington
.
He’d already demonstrated that he didn’t mind married ladies
.
But, of course he hadn’t known that Rose had been was married
.
He’d been so angry when he found out, so h
urt
.
Then why was he now . . .

She would not let her afternoon be ruined by such an insignificant problem
.
Wulf was not her concern
.
He could do what he pleased, and so would she
.

She collected herself and with her best smile went to greet Mr. Williams, who had just strolled down from the stables
.
He really was showing signs of getting a bit round about the middle, but his smile was wide and generous
.
Surely
,
that was more important than anything else
.
Attraction and compatibility had nothing to do with each other.

“Mr. Williams, I am so pleased that you were able to join us
.
I’ve looked forward to furthering our acquaintance.”

“I share the sentiment, Lady Burberry
.
I have heard only the most gracious of things about you, and I look forward to finding out their truth.
”

“Come, then, let me introduce you to the company and we can talk further
.
I am very interested in discovering how you enjoy our small village and what brought you to the neighborhood
.
It seems an unusual spot to choose residence without prior knowledge.”

“Actually, I had an aunt who lived not far away
.
I visited several times as a boy and
,
when I came into funds
,
I made inquiries
.
I’d always fancied myself a country gentleman.”

“You enjoy managing your lands, then?”

“I don’t think I go quite that far
.
I must admit it’s been a bit more difficult than I first imagined
.
I find myself a bit of a fish out of water.”

“I know the sentiment
.
When Burberry first took ill I was overwhelmed with the magnitude of the details that needed my attention.”

“That’s it exactly
.
I thought spring planting meant you just spread the seed over the field
.
I never knew you had to prepare the soil and then hope for rain, but not too much rain
.
And slugs
.
I never thought I’d find myself in meaningful conversation
s
about slugs.”

Rose released a full bodied laugh
.
“Oh, you do bring back memories.”

Warm brown eyes turned towards her
.
“We definitely have much to talk about, my lady
.
I sense you’ve tales to tell.”

“I’d always heard the answer was ale
.
You just put out a bowlful and the slugs climb in and drown
.
It’s quite effective.”

“Oh.
”
His interest grew.

“Unfortunately, that’s fine if you’ve a kitchen garden or a bed of posies
.
I was ready to try it out on the fields.”

Mr. Williams’ brows drew together as he considered the implications of this, then a slow easy smile spread across his face
.
“Dear me.”

“Yes, I believe I was ready to buy up every barrel on the coast when I learned the true secret.”

Mr. Williams leaned forward.

“Do share.”

She leaned forward, prepared to conspire in this most important campaign
.
But a third voice interrupted their conspiracy.

“Lady Burberry, do introduce me.
”
It was Lady Smythe-Burke
.
“I hate not to know everybody
.
Although, of course, you must be Mr. Williams
.
Met your aunt once
.
Sweet lady, but a tendency to ramble on
.
She spent her summers hereabouts, didn’t she
?
I think she dreamed of King Arthur
.
Always talking about the majesty of Cornwall
.
To be sure, the only Arthur hereabouts is my
nephew
, and he’s a duke,
Westlake
, not a king
.
Lovely man
.
Beautiful wife, too
.
Hear she’s in an interesting condition
.
What do you know about that
?
I imagine they won’t attend the ball
.
Such a shame.
”
She turned to Rose, but then quickly back to Mr. Williams
.
“Do you dream of Camelot also
?
Never did understand the fascination
.
Your aunt could talk of it for hours
.
Of course, I did only meet her the once
.
Maybe it was only a brief fascination.”

“Lady Smythe-Burke, Mr. Williams, as you guessed
.
Mr. Williams, do allow me to introduce you to Lady Smyth-Burke
.
She’s been gracious enough to help me with all my plans.”

Lady Smythe-Burke lifted one brow
.
“Your plans
?
Have you been discussing your plans with the gentlemen
?
Not at all the way I would have gone
.
But, each to his own
.
So what do you think about dear Lady Burberry’s plan
?
Isn’t it sensible?”

Mr. Williams stared, his eyes wide and fascinated.

“I am not quite sure to which plan your refer.”

“Why her plan to . . .
”

“Get rid of the slugs, of course
.
Lady Smythe-Burke must have heard us talking.
”
Rose interceded before she could lose control of the conversation
.
It was bad enough knowing that she was a prize for every man with a pocket to let, but she didn’t need them knowing she was out hunting too.

“Slugs?
”
Lady Smythe-Burke stuttered.

“Yes, slugs.”

“Oh no, I was talking about your plan to
–
”

There was a decided gleam in Lady Smythe-Burke’s eye as Rose grabbed her arm.

“Ducks
.
That’s the answer, Mr. Williams
.
Ducks eat slugs
.
I’ll explain more later
.
I am afraid I’ve forgotten to discuss the preparations for the dance with Lady Smythe-Burke
.
I wouldn’t want to bore you.”

She held firmly to Lady Smythe-Burke’s wrist and led her to the edge of the shrubbery
.
Once they were sheltered from the gathering by the bushes, she turned to face Lady Smythe-Burke, squarely, face to face
.
The lady had grown even narrower as she’d stretched herself upright in indignation.

“I haven’t told Mr. Williams about my plan to
–
”

“Find a husband
.
I know.”

Rose gaped
.
She shut her mouth with a decided click.

Lady Smythe-Burke smiled
.

“You were looking too comfortable
.
You need to make the man work or he’ll never appreciate you properly, and that, decidedly, would not comport with your plans.”

“Are you playing hide and seek, too?”

Wulf jerked back, startled
.
He hadn’t even heard her coming
.
He’d been so busy trying to avoid Lady Clarington that he hadn’t paid attention to anything else
.
If this had really been war, he would have been dead, or captured
.
He shuddered
.
Lady Clarington was a more adept adversary than a grenadier of the Grande Armée
.
And becoming her prisoner was no pleasant prospect.