Scarlet Kisses (13 page)

Lilly chuckled.

“What did he say?” Lilly asked intrigued and leant forward.

“He said he’s only looking for Scarlet because he’s curious, just like the rest of society.”

“What twaddle. He’s looking for the woman who set his heart aflame,” Lilly said passionately. “Who sparked his desires to a burning pitch!” She placed her fist over her heart and looked into the distance. “The one woman who has truly given him pleasure.”

Alyssum chuckled lightly.

“I’m serious.”

“The only woman who’s given him pleasure?” Alyssum arched a brow, doubtful.

“Okay, so men these days aren’t monks, but that doesn’t mean you didn’t give him something no woman ever has.”

“And what would that be?”

“Love.” Lilly smiled.

Alyssum stared at her for a moment before chuckling again.

“Hey,” Lilly gasped.

“
That’s
absolute twaddle.”

“It is not. Where’s your garter hmm?”

Alyssum stopped laughing.

“Why would he take it?”

Alyssum shrugged her shoulder, not knowing.

“My advice, tell him before he finds out himself.”

Alyssum shook her head quickly.

“Yes. I saw you two in the garden,” she said firmly, stopping Alyssum’s head shaking. “If I hadn’t interrupted he would have kissed you.”

“No, he wouldn’t have. He wants Scarlet.”

“You are Scarlet,” Lilly exclaimed.

“I was.” Alyssum sighed. “Now I’m just Alyssum.”

“So put that dress back on and be Scarlet.”

Alyssum chewed her bottom lip.

“Where’s the dress?” Lilly asked.

Alyssum’s gaze moved to her wardrobe across the room in front of her. Lilly turned around and looked at the wardrobe then jumped from the bed and went over to begin searching.

Alyssum stepped from the bed. Her head no longer swayed with dizziness.

“It’s at the back in a white box,” she told Lilly and fidgeted on her bare feet.

“Ah-ha.” Lilly dragged the white box out. She brought it over to the bed and placed it on the mattress. She pulled the lid off and they both looked into the box. Alyssum’s heart fluttered while Lilly stared in awe.

Alyssum reached into the box and pulled out the scarlet dress.

“It’s beautiful,” Lilly whispered. She then turned her gaze back to the box and pulled out a black glove.

“You have to. How could you not?”

“Have to what?”

“Be Scarlet again.”

Alyssum chewed her lips again. “I don’t want to risk it. What if he pulls my mask off?”

“Then kiss him to distraction.” Lilly laughed. “He’ll love it, like he loves you.”

“He loves Scarlet,” Alyssum muttered.

Lilly placed the glove back in the box, walked around Alyssum, grabbed her shoulders and turned her towards the long mirror. Alyssum stared back at her reflection as she held the scarlet gown in her hands.

“Alyssum, I’m only going to tell you once,” Lilly said sternly.

Alyssum looked up and caught gazes with Lilly.

“You are Scarlet,” she told her firmly, leaving no room for argument.

“Not anymore.” Alyssum shook her head and turned away from Lilly and the mirror.

She packed the dress away and tucked the box back into her wardrobe. Lilly stared at the closed wardrobe for a moment then looked to Alyssum.

“You should begin to get ready.”

“Pardon?” Alyssum asked, confused.

“Remember we’re going to the theatre tonight?”

Alyssum sighed and nodded.

“I’ll see you tonight.” Lilly waved before leaving.

Alyssum stood quietly in her room, her gaze on the wardrobe. She remembered how it felt to wear the dress, to feel Robert’s kiss on her lips.

She turned with a huff, marched over to the bell pull and called her maid.

“I’m not Scarlet,” she whispered to herself.

Chapter Eight

As Alyssum and her family were filing into their box at the theatre, her mother whispered at her ear, “Why didn’t you wear the lavender gown?”

“It was wrinkled,” she answered.

Caroline nodded with a smile and patted her arm.

“Are you feeling well?” Harry asked gently.

“I’m fine,” she told him. They had been asking her all afternoon. She wore a pair of long white gloves, hiding the bandage around her finger.

“Well, this should be a wonderful evening,” her mother announced.

“It should be.”

Alyssum paused at the sound of Robert’s voice behind her.

“I thought I would say hello before the play began,” he said.

She turned to see him speaking to Caroline.

“That was sweet of you.” Her mother smiled brightly up at him. As always, he placed a gallant kiss on her hand then Violet’s. He looked over and their eyes met. She smiled hesitantly.

“Are you well?” he asked.

“She’s fine,” Harry, Violet and Caroline answered in unison.

“I see I’m not the only one who is concerned.”

Concerned?
Hoping her face wasn’t blushing, she replied, “There’s no need for concern. I’m fine and will continue to be so.”

“Good.” He smiled and her breath caught. “I’ll see you all at intermission.” He bowed and left the box.

She was finally able to breathe when the red curtain fell behind him as he left.

As the curtain lifted on the stage and the play began, Alyssum kept her eyes trained on the stage and tried not to think of Robert and the scarlet gown in her wardrobe, but she couldn’t help it. She missed his kiss.

A quarter way through the play a surge of excitement and gasps ran through the theatre. Alyssum turned her gaze from the stage, trying to find out what had caused the stir. She felt her heart stop. She gasped. Scarlet.

Not realizing what she was doing, Alyssum stood from her seat and stepped toward the edge of the box. Down in the pit was a woman in a scarlet gown. She wore a black domino and black gloves. Alyssum shook her head, not believing her eyes. That was her dress.

“Oh my,” her mother breathed behind her as she looked at the new Scarlet.

She felt Violet stand beside her. “But…” She also shook her head, not understanding.

“Who is that?” Violet demanded.

“Scarlet,” Harry muttered the word everyone was whispering.

Robert was running. He dodged past couples and ran down the hall.

He knew Tucker and Jackson were helping. They had left the box as well to find her.

She was here. Scarlet. He had hardly believed it was her when he’d looked down and saw her, but there she was, scarlet gown, black gloves, black mask, long black hair. What made his heart pause was the fact that even though he was standing and ready to chase Scarlet his gaze had moved to the Rosewood box. His gaze had caught on Alyssum. She had been staring down at Scarlet with shock written all over her face.

He had then dragged himself out of the box and began running. He had to know who she was.

Lilly gasped as she ran. Her hands were bunched in the dress’s skirt as she held it up and ran. The dress was way too long for her. It trailed behind her and she had to gather more in her hands. Seeing an alcove, she jumped inside and whipped the curtain closed. She moved back and gasped as she bumped into music stands. She heard heavy footsteps run past.

She placed her hand over her panting mouth. When silence filled the hall, she exhaled in relief and moved to leave the alcove. She poked her head out and looked up and down the empty hall. She tiptoed out and then began walking quickly.

A hand grabbed her arm and yanked her back against a hard chest. Her mouth opened, ready to scream, but a strong hand clamped over her mouth. She gasped against the man’s palm.

“Hello, Scarlet,” he breathed into her ear.

No, no, no. This wasn’t how it was meant to happen.

“Let’s see what you’re hiding behind this mask.”

As she felt his hands untying the bow at the back of her hair, she struggled in his grip. He grunted against her strength but kept hold of her. The mask came off and she was spun around in his arms. She heard him gasp. Too afraid to look up, she kept her head down until strong fingers gripped her chin and tilted her head back.

Her eyes widened as she stared, not into Robert’s brown eyes, but Mr. Jackson West’s blue gaze.

“Lilly?” he breathed.

“Please don’t say a word,” she gushed out.

He shoved her back. “You? You’re Scarlet?”

Lilly was shocked by how much anger she saw in his expression. She shook her head. “I’m not Scarlet.”

Jackson laughed and arched a brow at her dress. He then frowned as he looked closely at it. Lilly knew it was practically falling off her, and the Scarlet he had seen at Lady Brook’s had fit into the dress with perfection.

“You’re not her. But you know who is. You took the dress from her.”

“Please, I beg you, don’t say a word about this to
anyone
.”

Jackson’s grin curved his lips. “You owe me one.” He pulled his coat off and handed it to her.

“Better run before Robert finds you.”

She took the coat and shrugged into it, wrapping it around the scarlet gown. Before she turned, his voice stopped her. “It’s Alyssum isn’t it?” he asked.

Lilly stared up at him in silence and he grinned broadly.

“Both your secrets are safe with me.”

She sighed with relief and then smiled as she saw an easier way to finish her plan.

“Get Robert drunk tonight.”

Jackson laughed and took a step toward her. “You want to run that by me one more time?”

“Which tavern do you frequent?” she asked and stared at him intently.

“The Dove,” he answered.

“Take Robert there tonight, get him drunk but not too drunk, and I’ll give him his real Scarlet for the night.”

Jackson shook his head at her. “What are you planning?”

“My best friend’s future happiness.” She smiled brightly. “Now get him drunk and I’ll send Alyssum at ten o’clock.”

“Bit early.”

“Not for a lady. Now do as you are told.”

Jackson laughed and bowed his head to Lilly. When he looked back up it was to see her running down the hall. He watched her until she disappeared and then turned as he heard approaching footsteps. Realizing he still held the black mask, he shoved it into his pocket and stepped forward just as Robert rounded the corner.

“Did you see her?” Robert asked, panting.

“No.” Jackson smacked Robert’s shoulder. “Sorry.”

Robert exhaled in defeat.

“Come on, let’s watch the end of this boring play then get drunk at The Dove.”

Robert followed him back to the box. Halfway back to their box, Robert frowned at Jackson. “Where’s your coat?” he asked.

“I gave it to a pretty little thing,” Jackson answered with a jaunty grin.

Robert chuckled.

Hours later Alyssum closed her bedroom door, leaned back against it, closed her eyes and exhaled.

“Please don’t be mad,” a quiet voice reached her.

Alyssum’s eyes snapped open to find Lilly sitting on her bed beside the scarlet gown.

“You.” She stepped forward.

“Please. I had good intentions.” Lilly jumped up, her hands raised in surrender. No longer wearing the scarlet gown, she was garbed in one of her white dresses. Her hair was no longer unbound.

“What were you thinking?” Alyssum whispered angrily.

“That you would see sense.”

“How?”

“Did you like seeing Robert running after another woman?” Lilly asked with her hands planted on her hips.

“He wasn’t running after another woman. He was running after Scarlet.”

“And who is Scarlet?”

“Me!”

“Ah-ha,” Lilly exclaimed victoriously while Alyssum exhaled. “You are the woman he wants, so stop being difficult and go to him.”

Alyssum’s heart raced. She remembered the feel of his kiss on her lips, his body against hers. She nodded before she knew what she was doing.

“Really?” Lilly asked.

“Yes,” Alyssum breathed.

Lilly squealed in excitement. “Okay, I have my carriage waiting outside—”

“What about your parents?”

“It’s bridge night at the Harvey’s and my jail warden’s fast asleep,” she replied.

Alyssum nodded and they both turned their gazes to the dress.

“How did you get the dress?” Alyssum asked.

“Your butler let me in and I stole it. Now, Robert will be at The Dove and slightly drunk, so if he tries to take your mask off and you’re not ready, a simple shove should put him on his backside.”