Scandalous Intentions (10 page)

“I have no wish to speak further of Lord Luvington.”

“Very well, dear.”

Lord Luvington weaved through the crowd toward them. His gait fast, his mouth a determined line. She could not help but trail her gaze over his form. Her pulse sped up as she did so. Why did he have to affect her in such a delicious way?

He stepped up to her, one of those rakish blush-inducing smirks curving his full lips.

“Your Grace, Lady Sarah.” Lord Luvington bowed. “It is a pleasure running into you.”

“Likewise.” Grace grinned at him.

Sarah tried to calm her hammering heart with a deep breath. She nodded politely. “If you will excuse us, Lord Luvington, we were on our way to the refreshment tent.”

“Allow me to escort you.” He offered his arm, and Grace took it.

Lady Sarah squared her shoulders. “I would rather you did not.” She glanced at Grace, hoping for her support. Sarah had made her privy to what transpired between them. Why would she continue to support his endeavor? She should not be pushing the suit.

“Dear me, this is awkward.” Grace frowned at her. “It is vulgar to be rude, dear.”

Sarah sighed. “My apologies, Lord Luvington.”

Grace was correct, but she also knew perfectly well why Sarah wished to avoid him. Could Grace be in cahoots with him? She did spend a great deal of time defending the lord. No matter, it was not as though Sarah could do anything if she were.

“I am no longer in need of refreshments.” She allowed a smirk. “I will join back with my mother and father. The two of you can go on without me.”

“Very well, but we shall escort you.” Grace leveled a no-nonsense gazed on her.

It seemed he had everyone on his side. Sarah forced a small smile. How had a notorious rake gotten so many respectable ladies to champion his cause? “If you insist.” She turned on her heels and headed toward her parents.

Grace and Lord Luvington kept pace beside her. She snuck a peek at him from the corner of her eye. Why did he refuse to cease his pursuit of her? Perchance he had come to care for her as well. She shook her head, chasing the bird-witted thought away. It was too much to hope for. A rakehell such as himself could never genuinely care for a lady.

“Might you consider a stroll through the garden, Lady Sarah?”

She took note of the uncertainty in his tone, and her chest tightened at the vulnerability. Perhaps a short walk would not hurt. Just long enough for her to properly end this charade. Maybe if she allowed him to speak his piece and then begged him off, it would stick.

“Very well, my lord. But it shall be both short and well-chaperoned.” Heat spread through her cheeks. She must be going mad to have accepted his invitation.

“I am happy to act as chaperone.” Grace released Lord Luvington’s arm. “I will follow behind and keep within a proper distance.”

Sarah stepped up, keeping her gaze averted. She did not wish to see any traces of hope in his eyes. This, her acceptance, was no more than a way to end his courtship once and for all. She wrapped her hand around his arm, and a surge of warmth coursed through her. His muscles tensed under her touch. She needed end this nonsense before she lost the will to walk away.

Lord Luvington led her as they strolled through the maze of hedgerows, neither speaking a word. The warm breeze wrapped around her, only increasing the heat that already spread through her. Her fan threatened to slip palm as she flicked it open. Sarah waved the fan, but its breeze on her face did nothing to cool her.

Perhaps she should begin the conversation? Surely Grace could no longer hear what they said. Sarah did not care if she could, but Lord Luvington may not agree with her assessment. She glanced at him and nibbled her lower lip. His gaze fixated on a point ahead. If he noticed her peeking at him, he gave no sign.

She pushed out a sigh as Lord Luvington lead her toward a stone bench nestled among the lush green hedge.

“Shall we sit for a moment? I wish to explain.” He pressed his arm against her hand then loosened it again.

She looked away. “Very well. Though I cannot imagine what you might say to change things.” She hesitated for a moment, reluctant to release her grip on him before she lowered herself onto the bench. The stone’s cool exterior seeped through her skirts, a welcome contrast to the warmth radiating through her. She rested one hand on her lap and waved her fan with the other.

Lord Luvington positioned himself on the bench a smidgen closer than was proper, angling himself so he faced her. The fresh spring scents of foliage and flowers took on a heady intensity as she stared fixedly at the hedge in front of her. Her face flamed though she could not credit it to the heat of the atmosphere.

She needed to take control of the situation before it swept her away. “Speak your piece and be done with it. I do not wish to linger over long.” He flashed a toe-curling grin just before she glanced away.

“What I said in the park was the truth. Is the truth. But there is more to it than just my need of a respectable wife.”

“Do tell.” She lowered her fan to her lap, its ribbons trailing in the breeze.

“I have come to care for you, admire you, even. You are a fascinating and attractive woman.”

She plucked at her satin skirts as the heat climbed back into her face.

“It is true that I will no longer receive my stipend if I fail to secure a proper society wife. It is the very reason I began looking for one. I shall not deny it, but nor is it the reason I continue to pursue you.” He reached up and brushed a curl that had escaped her bonnet away from her cheek.

His fingers left a tingling trail in their wake, and something inside her began to crumble. She glanced down at the path they had just walked.

“I would like the chance to make this right. Allow me to court you, Lady Sarah. Let us discover if there might be something real between us.”

She glanced at him, unsure how to respond. Her mind screamed no, but her heart and soul begged for him. She wanted to reach out and run her hand across his strong jaw, feel his lips pressed against hers, discover what it felt like to be in his arms.

“Spend the rest of the party in my company, Lady Sarah. Grant me one afternoon to change your mind.”

A wave of tingles ran down her and congregated in her abdomen at his smile. This was dangerous, and she knew it. And yet…

“One afternoon, after which you will cease this foolishness.”

“If that is your wish, but know it is my desire that you will no longer feel the same way.”

The sincerity in his eyes baffled her. His features were so gentle, his gaze so deep, it was as though he were looking at her very soul. Oh, how she wanted to trust him. Alas, something in the way he had approached her and Grace earlier weighed on her mind. He still withheld information from her.

A grin pulled at her lips in spite of herself. “We will see, but first I want to know why you looked so distraught when you approached me.” She stiffened her spine. “And do not attempt to sell me a falsehood.”

He glanced away, a muscle in his jaw twitching. “I never tried to sell you a falsehood.”

“Then you tried to trick me. One is not very different from the other.” She stood and turned her back to him. “I wish to go back this instant.” She should have known better than to waste her energy granting him an audience.

“Now I have vexed you again, and for that I am truly sorry, but I did tell you the truth of it when you asked me in the park.” He stepped in front of her, standing scandalously close. “And again just now. I have never lied to you, and I will not start at this juncture.”

“Then tell me what else is going on.” She met his gaze in challenge.

“My parents are in attendance and want to become better acquainted with my future wife.”

“I beg of you, watch your words. Someone could overhear. It is not proper.” She exhaled a breath. “Did you tell your parents I agreed to such a thing?” Her hands shook as heat surged through her. He had attempted to use her yet again.

He chuckled. “I only told them I had made my choice and was courting you.” He smirked. “Can you call any of it a lie?”

She sighed. “No, I do not suppose I can.”

“Then you will agree to meet them?”

Hope flashed in his light-green gaze. How could she refuse him? “Very well. But I beg of you to remember our bargain. At the conclusion of Lady Vivian’s party, you will end your courtship of me should I request it of you.”

He pressed one hand to his chest, resting it on his cravat, over his heart. “On my honor, Lady Sarah.”

“I have previously told you what I think about your honor.” She smiled sweetly. “You have one afternoon to change my opinion.”

He offered his arm. “Shall we?”

She took hold of him a might faster then she ought to have done, and he rewarded her with a rakish grin. “You do enjoy my company.”

She swatted his bicep with her fan. “Do stop. You are incorrigible. I could not possibly enjoy your company. On the contrary, I am making the best of a sour situation.”

His rich, throaty chuckle wrapped around her. Sarah’s own laughter erupted before she could stop it. Just for today, she determined to shut off her mind and allow her heart to lead. Would she regret it on the morrow?

SCANDALOUS INTENTIONS

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Sarah clung to
Lord Luvington’s arm as he steered her toward the Duke and Duchess of Tisdale. The duchess sat on a turkey rug waving a fan in front of her. A grin played on her lips. She appeared friendly, but the duke stared at them with pinched lips and drawn brows. The tautness of his jaw and stern lines of his face gave her pause. It startled her how much he looked like the lord at her side. She angled her head to gaze at Lord Luvington. “Why does your father seem displeased?”

He frowned. “Pay no mind to it. Father is naturally stern. I give you my assurance. He is looking forward to meeting you.” One corner of his mouth lifted in a weak grin.

Sarah wanted to believe him, but something about his father did not sit well with her. She took a deep breath and pasted a smile on her lips. For today, she would play along.

Grace caught up with the pair and walked next to Sarah. She patted Sarah’s shoulder. “The Duke of Tisdale is not so fierce as he lets on. Once you get to know him, you will see he is quite pleasant. And you will get on swimmingly with the Duchess of Tisdale.” She dropped her hand back to her side and grinned. “They will adore you, dear.”

She hoped against reason Grace was correct. Why did she care what they thought of her? Sarah agreed to one day and would be calling off this farce at its conclusion.

Her pulse quickened. The mere idea caused her discomfort but not nearly as much as a broken heart would. Her only rational choice was to beg him off before the damage became irreparable.

The Duke and Duchess of Tisdale rose to their feet as Lord Luvington guided Sarah and Grace up to the old lime tree.

“What are you waiting for, introduce the lady.” The Duke looked at his son before turning to Sarah.

“Mother, Father, allow me to introduce Lady Sarah Roseington, daughter of the Marquess and Marchioness of Havenshire.”

Sarah dipped into a curtsy and bowed her head. “Your Grace’s.” Coming back to her full height she could not help a grin. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”