Tenacious Trents 01 - A Misguided Lord (8 page)

Heat radiated from her skin, but it
was too dark to tell if she was blushing.

“
I should have considered
my actions in such a public place.”

“
No harm was done, Miss
Westin.” He patted her hand. “And for the record, I believe
everyone should be allowed an education regardless of their place
in the world or economic status.”

Her chin came up and a sweet smile
spread across her full lips. What would it be like to kiss Miss
Westin?

“
That is good to know, Lord
Bentley. Then I can assume you only wished to argue with me,
perhaps embarrass me before your friends.”

“
Hardly, Miss Westin.” He
placed a hand over his heart. “If you must know, I was trying to
think of a way to converse with you, and you were
listening.”

She looked away and bit her lip. “I
had hoped not to be obvious.”

“
You weren’t,” he turned
and continued walking further into the garden. “Only to me, but
that is because I can’t help myself but to watch you.”

She blinked in surprise.

“
You are still worried
about your brother?” He asked in a quiet tone.

“
Yes,” she
sighed.

“
I thought as much when I
saw you standing, not really speaking with anyone.”

“
So you chose to bring me
into your argument,” she demanded.

“
Debate, Miss
Westin.”

She pursed her lips and he wanted
nothing more than to make them soften. Miss Westin should smile
often, but right now they were firm and she looked as if she were
trying to decide exactly what to say back. Instead of waiting, Clay
did the one thing he longed to do since bringing her out here. He
placed a finger under her chin and brought his lips to
hers.

Miss Westin stiffened, then relaxed.
After a moment she was returning the kiss. He should pull away and
escort her back into the house. He was not a man to kiss innocent
young women in gardens. That was Jordan’s job. Yet, he couldn’t
bring himself to make the break. Her lips were sweet, her scent
intoxicating. Snaking a hand around her waist he brought her close
to his body and traced the seam of her lips. She opened and he
plunged. Desire shot to his groin. He should have known it would be
like this. Unable to get her out of his mind, or keep from looking
at her at every venue, he knew her kiss would be delicious as he
anticipated.

A small hand came to his shoulder and
she clutched him tightly. He deepened the kiss and she allowed it.
His body heated and he throbbed with desire. He needed to stop this
now before he found himself ruining the woman. She had enough
worries without him adding to them.

Slowly he drew away and looked down at
her. Miss Westin’s eyes slowly opened and looked into his. They
widened and she gasped, stepping away from his embrace. “Whatever
came over me?”

He grinned. “Hopefully the same thing
that came over me.”

“
Really, Lord Westin,
please don’t think poorly of me. I’ve, well, not, it is just that…”

He chuckled and placed her hand back
on his arm. “I understand.”

He should return her to the ballroom,
or at least to an area where there were more guests about.
Unfortunately, he could not enter a completely lit area until his
desire for her waned a bit. Not that he could explain his condition
to her. All Clay could do was walk slowly back and hope the
coolness of the night dampened his ardor.

*

Eleanor fell back in her bed and
stared up at the canopy. This day was unlike anything she had ever
encountered. First Benjamin came down with the measles, and since
no messages had arrived, Eleanor could only assume he had not
worsened and prayed for a quick recovery.

Then there was the unexpected kindness
of Lord Bentley. Truly, she never thought he would be the type of
gentleman to help her out unexpectedly as he had. And then there
was that kiss. She rolled over and sighed. Such a kiss. She had
only been kissed once, and that was by Drake. His had been short
and left no emotion behind. Whereas Lord Bentley’s sent heat
flowing through her veins and longing throbbed deep in her belly.
She had never experienced anything like it before.

Why had he kissed her? It was so
unexpected. Until today, she was fairly certain he didn’t even like
her. What was he about? Did she want to know?

Yes
.

He already knew of her family and had
still pulled her into conversation, walked with her in the garden,
and finally, had delivered the most delicious kiss anyone could
ever receive. Was he set on courting her or just being kind? Oh she
wished she knew, but it was too soon to get her hopes up. Just
because he showed her attention today did not mean he was
considering her for a more important position in his life. She must
just wait and see what the next few days would bring.

However, if he did want to kiss her
again, Eleanor was certain she would not object.

Clay glanced up when John stepped into
the room. “Could you close the door?”

John did as asked and sauntered over
to the desk and took a seat. “I haven’t been summoned to this room
in a very long time. Pray tell, what have I done?”

Clay sat back. “Nothing that I am
aware of.”

John glanced around and grimaced and
Clay didn’t blame him. When in London this was where their father
worked, and the only time any of the boys were in here was to be
punished. The room did not hold pleasant memories, but he couldn’t
very well relocate the library, nor could he work in the sitting
room. “I threw out all of the switches and boards.” He
grinned.

“
Thank goodness.” John
relaxed and looked back at Clay. “Is something on your
mind?”

“
Do you still have contacts
in Paris?”

John sat forward and tilted his head.
“Why?”

Clay picked up the documents he had
found and handed them to John. While his brother read, Clay poured
each of them a cup of coffee. A few moments later John whistled.
“They never died?”

“
No. I questioned the
solicitor.” He handed John a cup and relayed what he had
learned.

“
Why do you want to find
them now?”

“
What if Adele decides to
return? When society finds out she is not dead and there was no
divorce, then Rose’s marriage is invalidated and that would leave
Madeline a—.”

“
Bastard,” John answered
for him and threw the documents on the desk. “This is just like
something Father would do.” He stood and began to pace. “To think,
we have a sister out there. Who knows what kind of life she has
had.”

“
That isn’t the point,”
Clay argued.

“
The hell it isn’t. I don’t
care about Adele, but I do care about a sister we thought was
dead.”

Clay should care about Julia too, but
all he could think of was the scandal and the harm to his
step-mother and Madeline.

“
Did father think nobody
would ask questions if he had brought Julia back here?”

John’s agitation was rising. It was no
different than the reaction Clay has suffered upon learning the
news. He stopped in front of the desk again. “What did Jordan
say?”

“
I haven’t told
him.”

“
What?” John pushed his
fingers through his hair. “Our brothers have a right to
know.”

“
I agree. I only just
learned of this two days ago and it has taken me that long to
become used to the idea.”

John sank back in the chair. “If I can
locate her in Paris, then what?”

Clay clenched his jaw, anticipating
that John would not like his decision. “I want to make sure she
stays out of London. Out of England. I will not have her ruining
Rose and Madeline’s life.”

“
Agreed.”

Clay straightened. He had expected
John to want a reunion, for things to be made right within the
family.

“
At least until Madeline is
married. It is a shame we can’t see Julia again, and see what type
of woman she became though.”

“
She is probably married,
and possibly with children of her own. She would be four and twenty
now.”

John nodded. “Who knows what story
Adele told her. We shouldn’t upset her life either.”

“
But, you will still try to
locate Adele.”

John grinned. “Consider it
done.”

*

Eleanor straightened from Benjamin’s
bed. He was still feverish and complained of itching and achiness,
but there was nothing they could do. She and Mrs. Hartley tried to
make him as comfortable as possible and Eleanor slipped out when he
drifted off to sleep.

When she came down the stairs Mrs.
Hartley was peeking out through the curtains.

“
Whatever are you watching
for?”

“
I was seeing if that bloke
was out there again.” The woman grinned.

“
You mean Lord
Bentley?”

“
Who was he?” Leigh asked.
“He is so handsome and waited the longest time for you.”

What could she say about Lord Bentley?
She certainly couldn’t mention that kiss. Her face heated just
thinking about it. “I met him at a ball and he was kind enough to
assist me yesterday, that is all.”

Mrs. Hartley narrowed her eyes and
nodded her head. Goodness, that woman was far too
perceptive.

“
Is he courting you?” Leigh
persisted in her questions.

“
No, he is not.”

“
But…”

“
I wouldn’t mind if he did.
There, are you happy now?”

Leigh grinned widely. “I hope it is
so. Then we can all be together again.”

Tears sprang to Eleanor’s eyes. She
would like nothing better than for them to be all under the same
roof. She just wasn’t sure if it was going to be Lord Bentley who
put them there.

*

Never one to make rash decisions,
Clayton continued to call on Lady Anne but the more he was in the
presence Miss Westin, the more he compared the two ladies. If
Father were picking his bride, it would be Lady Anne without
question, and the betrothal would already be announced. But, Father
was dead and Clay was the person who would need to live with the
woman for the rest of his life. No matter how many times he tried
to pull Lady Anne into a conversation on any topic, other than the
weather, plays or operas, she had nothing to say. Did she have no
opinions? And, if she uttered the words “If you believe so” one
more time he was going to break something. It was one thing to
marry a pleasant woman who was agreeable. But, he didn’t want a
wife that would simply accept what he told her.

Whereas with Miss Westin, she had far
too many opinions for one woman, but at least her conversations
were lively. And, she would bring joy to the household and their
children would not be ignored or regulated to the care of
nannies.

He couldn’t envision Miss Westin not
being involved with her children.

Clay also dwelled far too much on the
prospect of having her beneath him and enjoying the very activity
that would create children. He envisioned Miss Westin with her lips
parted in passion, nipples tight in arousal, thighs clutching his
hips, rising to meet him as he thrust, carrying them higher and
over the brink. While a man should not lust after his wife, he
should at least find the idea of bedding her palatable, shouldn’t
he?

From his place by an open door he
watched both ladies as they waltzed past with other partners. Yet,
wasn’t Lady Anne the type of woman he was supposed to marry so past
mistakes weren’t repeated? He turned and stalked out onto a balcony
and into the cool of the night and tried to envision a future with
Lady Anne. No demands, no arguments, no opinions. When he came to
her bed she would probably lay silent and still as he lifted her
gown and got the deed over with as quickly as possible, and praying
for an heir so it didn’t happen too often. He could not imagine in
an spark of passion from Lady Anne. The two times he attempted to
kiss her she had stiffened and turned her cheek. And, it wasn’t on
account of propriety, but Clay got the distinct impression she did
not want to be touched. Did he really want that for a
marriage?

Clay pivoted and looked into the
ballroom. No. He didn’t. His eyes strayed to Miss Westin. He
already desired her and knew that if they married, there was a
chance he would spend more time in her bed than out of it. That
would not do for a marriage, either.

Currently she was standing with
Jordan. He said something and she laughed. Jordan had an easy charm
and ladies were always falling in love with him. Clay’s gut
tightened. He didn’t want Miss Westin in love with his brother and
he most certainly did not want Jordan in love with Miss
Westin.

Why did Jordan have such an easy way
about him? Was it simply because he was a second son? Despite being
brothers only a year and a half apart, they had been raised
differently. Father concentrated on Clayton, making sure he knew
the importance of his future, the type of earl to be and the type
of woman to make his countess.