Shades of Truth (The Summerlynn Secrets) (29 page)

The laughter stopped however, when my partner for the last dance found me. Outwardly charming, his brown eyes were disturbingly masked. I didn’t want to dance with him, but my previous dance partner simply handed me over to this man. I thought his name was Lord Colin Liberty, but I wasn’t certain.

As nicely as possible, I attempted to detach myself from his grip.

“I’m suddenly feeling tired, my lord. I think it best I return to Her Majesty.” I smiled at him, hoping he’d take the hint.

“Then we must step out to the patio. The fresh air would do you good.” Without waiting for a response, Lord Liberty swept me out on the patio. The secluded patio.

The instant the night enclosed us, Liberty’s expression changed. Gone was the rather benign boredom and in its place a concentrated intensity. “Now, Miss Summerlynn. I will have the pendant, if you please.”

“What pendant?” Now that my father was dead, everyone wanted the pendant instead of him.

“The pendant you were given for your sixteenth birthday.” Lord Liberty sounded rather calm. For some reason, his calmness relaxed me. “The one that will find the twin.”

“Oh, that pendant. It became lost in the escape from Sal de Mar.” I shrugged as if it didn’t matter to me.
As if Liberty hadn’t dropped an all important clue.

A twin?
Of who or what? The pendant? Did I need two pendants to gain entrance to whatever they represented? Suddenly, I wanted out of this labyrinth of secrets and shades of truth ringing me. Why couldn’t anyone simply tell the whole truth?

“Be very careful, Miss Summerlynn, whom you lie to.” I couldn’t be certain in the dim light of the patio, but I thought Liberty smiled. “If you wish to learn more about the pendant, come to the island.” With that parting shot, he left.

Of course I wanted to discover more about the pendant and how it related to my father, but the map pulled me with equal intensity. But, since I didn’t know where the map led, and the island was easier to find, shouldn’t my quest for answers start there?

“Is everything all right, Miss Summerlynn? Queen Cassandra sent me to find you.” I hadn’t heard Corbin come outside. I walked to his side.

“Everything’s perfect. I felt faint, and wanted a bit of fresh air.” I twined my arm through Corbin’s and together we stepped back into the ballroom. In an effort to appear normal while my brain examined the encounter with Liberty, I chattered the entire way to Cassies’s side.

Looking a little tired, Cassie stood in the foyer, pulling on her long white evening gloves. “Thank you, Paul. When Sorin is back, we shall have you over to dinner.” Cassie lifted her cheek for Corbin’s kiss.

“And when do you expect him?”

“In a few days. One never knows with Sorin.” Cassie reached for my elbow. “You look flushed. Have you enjoyed yourself?”
             

“Immensely.” I smiled at her, looking around for Rob. “Is Rob staying?”

“He’s already in the carriage. Paul, will I see you tomorrow night at the Buckton’s?” Cassie addressed Corbin who still stood at my elbow.

“Only if you promise to save a dance for me.” He grinned, revealing a dimple in his left cheek. I imagined he and Sorin made quite the striking pair. “It will be my pleasure.” Turning to me, he raised my hand to his lips. “I look forward to becoming better acquainted, Miss Summerlynn.” He smiled one last time before rejoining the crush inside the ballroom.

“Of all Sorin’s friends, Paul is my favorite.” Cassie led the way to the carriage.

I shrugged noncommittally and entered the carriage to find Rob sprawled across an entire seat. “Have you been hiding from all those eager young ladies? They only want to marry you, you know.”

“And that’s where we have a slight difference in opinion.” Rob sat up to allow Cassie to step over his outstretched feet.

“Not for long, I hope. You need to settle down and give me grandchildren to spoil. I won‘t live forever.” No matter their station in life, all mothers longed for grandchildren.

“You, Mother, will outlive Sorin and I both.” I was inclined to agree with Rob’s statement. The queen possessed such vitality for life that I felt as though I was older rather than younger.

“I sincerely hope not. That would make for a lonely existence.” Cassie tapped on the carriage roof to signal the coachman we were ready to depart. If only all things were as easily left behind as balls.

A week quickly slipped past when I wasn’t looking. Not that I had time to look, anyway. Each night there was a function to attend, a musical, a building opening or a ball, in which Cassie insisted upon my attendance. Rob was usually pressed into service as well and I began to see Lord Corbin everywhere. I even saw him while out walking with Rob to pick up a book for King Richard! If I were the suspicious sort, I would suspect Colton asked him to keep an eye on me.

That started me thinking about how it was none of Colton’s business what I chose to do. With both parents dead, my time and life were entirely my own. It was time I began making decisions about my future. A future that did not include Colton.

If only the man would get that through his thick skull. Every time I began thinking Colton’s protectiveness sprang from warm feelings for me, I remembered our conversation about expectations and how it felt to learn he’d only brought me to the palace on his father’s orders.

It was no wonder I was out of sorts at tonight’s ball at Lord Such and Such’s. The only thing that changed nightly was the color and style of my gown. Tonight’s dress was midnight blue with silver accents around the waist and bodice. The material was a soft satin, my favorite, and the neckline was again entirely too low. Maura refused to ruin the lines of the gown by filling in the neckline, so I was stuck with a very revealing décolleté.

Covering my yawn with a gloved hand, I leaned close to Rob, whispering, “What are the chances your mother will want to leave before dinner?”

His blue eyes widened. “And miss the famed Rutchering roast duck? Bite your tongue!”

“What’s a Rutchering roast duck?”

“Only our esteemed hosts’ signature dish. You have never had roast duck until you’ve had the Rutcherings’.” Rob rubbed his stomach.

“Stop that,” I scolded, brushing his hand away. “You’ll crease your jacket.” I smoothed down the flap of cloth along his abdomen.

“And I’ll thank you to keep your hands off my royal person or I’ll have you beheaded on the morrow.” He half turned away.

“I am more worried about tonight. Half the women in this room wish me dead.” I was well acquainted with Rob’s appeal. Since I’d spent the majority of evenings out in his company, it was only natural there should be some talk. What I hadn’t expected was the halted conversations as I walked by or the hateful looks I earned when women thought I didn’t see them. Oh, well. The truth would out when Colton finally returned home.

There’d been no communication from him. Though part of me was glad of the reprieve from his intensity and my own reaction to him, the other part sorely missed him. Like it or not, he’d been my constant companion when everything began to fall apart, and I missed his confidence, his assurance that everything would turn out right.

I’d been able to make zero headway on my search for information about the twin, the map and the pendant, which further contributed to my sour mood. Though I hadn’t expected the answers to pop out of a room and yell “Surprise!” I also hadn’t counted on Cassie’s skillful evasion any time I asked about my father and what he’d been working on. I’d also spent a few afternoons in the assorted libraries, checking for maps and so far, nothing resembled my father’s map.

Then there was the matter of Lord Liberty and his tantalizing remark. I had to admit I was deeply curious as to what light the Tallons could shed on my father and his actions. The map could wait, I suddenly decided. I would go to the island.

“You are shattering my reputation, Cadrian.” Rob’s voice broke me from my thoughts.

“Oh?” I turned, a smile lighting my eyes.

“You’re frowning.”

“They will only say I am annoyed you are not speaking with me.” I shook my head at him.

“I like you, Cadrian, but not enough to dance attendance on you.”

“Hear that?” I cupped my hand to my ear. “That is the sound of my heart breaking.”

A look of mock horror crossed his face. “I do hope I haven’t stepped on any pieces.”

“Only the biggest, you oaf.” I swatted him lightly with my fingers.

Before I could expand upon Rob’s oafishness, I was hailed by Lord Samuel Milbank. We’d danced a couple times and I found him a pleasing if somewhat overbearing companion. We exchanged a few words after I explained I was sitting this dance out. I was still talking when a finger ran lightly down my back. I didn’t react, being involved in a conversation. It was only Rob, anyway, attempting to be annoying.

Again, the finger traced the line of my spine. I drew in my breath at his audacity. There was enough talk about us, and such a public display of affection would only spur the talk. But the hair on the back of my neck was prickling, and the air had changed.

As politely as I could, I ended the conversation with Lord Milbank. Affixing a bright, public smile to my face, I turned knowing who I would find.

My composure nearly faltered at the sight of him. He was unbelievably gorgeous. That hideous beard was gone, and I received my first look at how he normally appeared. From the top of his fantastically high cheekbones, over the smooth cheeks to the firmness of his square jaw, and the most tempting mouth I’d ever seen, the man was too dangerous to be unleashed on the female population without a warning.

Of course, his lean frame was only emphasized by the professional cut of his blue evening jacket, crisp white waistcoat, and dark grey formal trousers. His hair was neatly combed and clean, judging from its rich golden color and the blue of his eyes fairly snapped at me. I wondered what people would say if I launched myself into his arms and refused to let go.

Colton watched me appraise him, a smile relaxing the lines around his mouth. I looked closer, noticing the dark circles and lines of weariness in his face. Though his posture was straight, I sensed his fatigue. Others may not notice the little things, but after a week spent in close proximity, I knew his body and gestures better than I knew my own.

I raked him from head to foot with my eyes. “You look tired.”

“Only because I rushed over here to see you in your evening finery.” That light, teasing note I adored was in his voice. “No hello?”

I shrugged. “No goodbye.”

He smiled. “You look beautiful, but I am certain many men have already told you that this evening.”

“A few.” But their compliments meant nothing. This man’s, though, meant the world. “Seeing me must not have been so important if you took time to change and shave.”

“I cannot win you if I impersonate a homeless man.”

“That’s not nice,” I chided.

He leaned close, his cologne teasing me. “Nothing’s nice about love.”

I stepped back. “I wish you wouldn’t say things like that.”

“Lucky for you, this is neither the time nor the place for the things I wish to say.” Colton regarded me a moment, a half smile lurking.

Feeling entirely unequal to the task of reining him in when he was so flirtatious, I settled on a frown. “Stop right this minute.”

“Or you’ll what? Hit me?” He lifted an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t recommend it. Attacking your future monarch is normally frowned upon.” Our eyes met and the emotion blazing from his frightened me. This, he, was too much.

I looked away. “You should leave. Your fatigue is affecting your manners.”

“I will go home only if you accompany me.”

“The only way I am leaving this place with you is if you tell me something interesting.”

“Define interesting.”

I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “Have you discovered something about my father?”

He surveyed me with a raised eyebrow. “When will you learn there are reasons beside your father I wish to be alone with you?”

Unable to hold Colton’s gaze (not when he looked at me that way), my eyes found Rob. He’d witnessed the entire thing. Desperate for a buffer between myself and Colton, I lunged for his arm. He attempted to politely detach his arm from my fingers, but my grip was too strong for him. Short of creating a scene, he would have to bear the hold until I was distracted.

“What do you want?” Rob didn’t dare smile but I saw laughter in his eyes.

Standing on tiptoe to whisper directly in his ear, I said, “You cannot leave me alone with him.”

“You are not alone. There are easily sixty people here.” He extended his hand to Colton, who watched our interaction with a frown. “Been home long?”

Colton’s eyes narrowed as he decided how best to react to our apparent closeness. “A few hours. I stopped home for a bath before coming here. Has dinner been served yet?”

“Rest assured. The Rutchering roast duck has yet to make an appearance.”

His brow cleared. “Excellent. Then I will have the pleasure of dining with Cadrian.” A long careful look between Rob and I. “Unless you had other plans?”

Rob said “No” while I said “Yes.”