The Duke's Legacy (14 page)

What did he intend to do next? She shouldn’t stay here and compliantly wait to find out; really she should not. But curiosity won the day and she didn’t move, willing him to cover her lips with his own as his hands once again rested on her hips.

On the point of capitulating to whatever he had in mind, some sixth sense, some deep rooted awareness of duty and propriety, prevented her. Even so, it took every last vestige of her willpower to move out of range of his magical fingers. Not trusting herself to speak, she put all her frustration into her shot and watched the ball tumble crisply into the opposite pocket.

“You have commendable powers of concentration,” Sebastian said softly.

Something made Abbey glance towards the door as he spoke and her heart sank. It burst open and Lord Evans stood there wearing a torn hunting coat and an expression of total outrage.

“Now I am really for it,” she told Sebastian in a gloomy undertone. “And it’s all your fault.”

Chapter Ten

“Is there a problem, Evans?”

Abbey fled the billiards room, brushing past Lord Evans without pausing to beg his pardon. Sebastian’s languid drawl vaguely registered as she made good her escape. She hoped it wouldn’t further antagonise Lord Evans, causing him to act foolishly in defence of her honour.

The sound of cue striking ball reached her ears and she could easily imagine Sebastian’s languid demeanour. Lord Denver had mastered the art of expressive innuendo, which was all very well, but it was her reputation at stake on this occasion.

Abbey spent the rest of the afternoon hidden away in her chamber with a book she wasn’t reading open on her lap. She summoned Sally early and spent longer than usual attending to her toilette, expecting at any moment to receive a summons to attend her uncle and account for her activities. When it didn’t come she couldn’t decide whether she was relieved at the delay or disappointed not to get the scolding over with.

When she could defer her arrival in the drawing-room no longer she descended the stairs on leaden feet, wishing she had done something to justify her guilty conscience. If she was to be taken to task for behaving improperly with Lord Denver then she would prefer to have something to truly repent.

Upon entering the room she looked for Sebastian and easily located him. He must experience difficulty in making himself inconspicuous in a crowd. There was something about him—an indefinable something that made it hard to overlook his sophisticated presence in a room full of equally sophisticated people. Abbey could see he wasn’t making any attempt to draw attention to himself, but for her there might just as well have been no one else in the room. Dear lord, she was a hopeless case!

She paused in the doorway, taking a moment to feast her eyes on his muscular physique before her appearance was noticed and she was obliged to enter the fray. He was engaged in conversation with Harold and Mary and appeared to be the only person in a room resonating with tension who was perfectly at his ease. There was an element of suspicious resentment in the way some of Abbey’s guests darted wary glances in his direction. If Sebastian sensed their animosity he gave no sign. Abbey wondered how that could be possible when the charged atmosphere was almost palpable—as though everyone was waiting for something to happen.

Sebastian presented a picture of unruffled calm as he listened to whatever Harold had to say to him. As she walked towards them she could hear her cousin speaking affably, displaying his very obvious suitability for his chosen profession. Presumably he’d noticed the thinly-veiled hostility directed towards Sebastian and was going out of his way to make him feel welcome.

Abbey was still on edge, following her day of rebellion, and persuaded herself she was reading too much into what had after all only been a moment’s scrutiny of her guests. Perhaps her nerves had got the better of her and it was nothing more than the inclement weather, which would keep the company off the hunting field until it improved, casting a pall over the proceedings?

She observed Mary smiling almost coquettishly at something Sebastian murmured to her in a private aside. Abbey’s lips twitched. Even Mary, who had earlier warned Abbey to be on her guard when in Lord Denver’s presence, clearly was not immune to his charm.

Uncle Bertram turned at that moment, caught sight of Abbey and beamed at her. Abbey, nervously clenching her fingers around her fan to prevent her hands from shaking, was confused. Her uncle couldn’t take her to task in front of their guests, she perfectly understood that. Even so, she hadn’t expected him to greet her in quite such a convivial manner. By now he must know all the lurid details of her conduct that day—well, most of them, anyway—and he would be very angry with her.

What was happening? She felt Sebastian’s gaze resting upon her, and from the significance of his expression knew he was trying to warn her something important had occurred. In a blinding flash she understood. Lord Evans hadn’t tattled on her to her uncle. Through choice or had he been persuaded by Sebastian to keep quiet? Abbey suspected it must be the latter since Lord Evans’s standards were rigid and he would have felt honour bound to report what he had seen.

Abbey hadn’t considered her suitor’s manners in that light before. Indeed she had never had occasion to since her behaviour had always been as punctilious as his. Now that her eyes had been opened, could she still marry such a man? She looked in Lord Evans’s direction, trying to keep the enquiry out of her expression. He was conversing with Laura and Elizabeth but looked over their heads and frowned at Abbey, shaking his head in a gesture which managed to convey his disappointment.

Then she understood.

Sebastian hadn’t persuaded him to keep silent. He’d done so for fear of losing favour with her. She experienced only a moment’s gratitude before accepting she was far from exonerated. His lordship’s grim expression told her at least that much. What in heaven’s name would it cost her to purchase his continued silence? What promises would she be expected to make? What assurances would she be required to give? Irritation superseded her fleeting gratitude. Whatever she might have done to provoke his displeasure, Lord Evans still presumed too much and his attitude was starting to rankle.

Thrusting her grievances to the back of her mind, Abbey moved to join Harold and Mary, linking arms with the latter and smiling at Sebastian.

“Lady Abigail.” Sebastian bowed perfectly correctly but set her senses reeling by offering her a fleeting wink as he raised his head.

“Lord Denver.”

“His lordship has been telling us about his recent visit to Italy,” Harold explained. “It’s a country I’ve never set foot in. It boasts such a rich religious history that the desire to experience it first-hand would tempt any man of God. I wouldn’t be averse to making a visit.”

“Nor I,” Mary said with a wistful sigh.

“Mary!” Abbey was genuinely surprised by her reaction. “This is the first time I’ve ever heard you express the slightest interest in setting foot outside of England.”

“Perhaps I don’t talk about such things, Abbey dear, but I have my aspirations, just like anyone else. I’d give much to see the wonderful architecture and museums of Florence, travel the canals in Venice and experience the splendours of Rome.” She sighed again and looked almost pretty. “Lord Denver makes it sound so romantic.”

“I too was unaware that you yearn for such adventure, my dear,” Harold said.

“We can all dream, Harold, but that’s all it is. I’m well aware it will never be anything more.”

Harold looked upon her with genuine concern, as did Abbey, both well aware it was out of character for Mary to complain, however obliquely. Indeed, she wanted for nothing, was adored by her husband, and it was difficult to imagine her having anything to complain about.

“Then one day I shall take you.” Harold patted his wife’s hand. “Upon that you have my word.”

“I don’t see how you will be able to keep that promise, but I appreciate your making it all the same.”

Mary seemed her old self again as she curtsied to Sebastian, excused herself and crossed the room in answer to a signal from Lady Bevan.

“What was that all about?” Harold asked, looking genuinely bewildered.

“What indeed,” Abbey replied, lifting her shoulders.

“I’m to blame,” Sebastian said, his demeanour thoughtful rather than contrite. “My descriptions of Italy were a little too colourful and caused your wife to acquire a yearning for foreign travel I had no right to excite. I apologise if I’ve overset her, Bevan.”

“Think nothing of it.” Harold waved Sebastian’s apology aside. “But perhaps, if you will excuse me, I had best ensure she’s all right. She didn’t look quite the thing just now.”

Harold bustled off, leaving Abbey and Sebastian alone.

“Circulate,” he whispered. “We’re being observed and you are not supposed to like me, remember?”

“I
do not
like you,” she replied. “I don’t need to act.”

Abbey drifted away from him and joined Charles. He was in the midst of describing to Sir Michael the added complexities of phaeton racing when a high-perched conveyance was involved. Barely pausing to acknowledge Abbey’s presence, he continued to explain the importance of possessing a perfectly matched pair.

“Knew a chap once who spent a small fortune on a well-bred pair, but they didn’t work right together, don’t you see. One of them just wouldn’t take near-side corners on the right leg. Overset the entire rig and cost the chap another fortune to put it right.” Charlie waved his arms about, almost knocking the glass from Abbey’s hand. Hastily, she backed out of his range. “It’s far more important to make sure your pair are properly schooled, and completely in tune with one another. Flighty horses don’t always make the best teams. Give me sturdier beasts, bred for endurance, any day. Proved the point this autumn when I beat Powell in our race to Brighton. His pair was much better bred but ran out of steam and didn’t last the distance.”

“Will you let me drive your pair sometime, Charlie?” Abbey asked sweetly.

“Not a chance, Abbey. Too dashed valuable, and too much time invested in them to risk them to a woman’s hand.”

“I say!” Sir Michael puffed out his chest. “That’s a bit rich. Have a care, Wilsden. I happen to know that Lady Abigail is a first-rate whip.”

“Sorry, Abbey.” Charles patted her hand but didn’t look sorry at all. “I know you’re an adequate driver—”

“For a woman? Is that what you were going to say, Charlie?”

He grinned and twitched her nose. “Absolutely.”

By the time dinner was announced Abbey congratulated herself upon successfully avoiding Lord Evans’s efforts to have a private word with her. But her relief was short lived because he materialised at her side, offering her his arm. She had let her guard down while sparring with Charles and hadn’t noticed him hovering. Reluctantly she placed her hand on his sleeve.

Matters were even worse in the dining room. Sebastian had been claimed by Laura and was at the other end of the table, where he wouldn’t be able to help her out of any difficulties. Almost as though he recognised the fact and was using it to extract revenge, Lord Evans played upon her taut emotions by making no immediate mention of all he had observed that day. There were ample opportunities for him to do so, since those around them were engaged in conversations of their own, paying Abbey and Lord Evans little attention. A dozen times Abbey steeled herself, convinced he would broach the subject. Instead he engaged her in light conversation, saying nothing she could take exception to, and seemed to go out of his way to make himself agreeable.

If his plan was to strain her nerves then he was succeeding better than he could know. She was as jumpy as a rabbit, had no appetite at all and the concentration span of a mosquito.

The interminable meal was almost at an end and Abbey was starting to relax a little, thinking she might be safe after all. As though reading her mind, Lord Evans chose that very moment to break his silence.

“What were you thinking of, taking to the field with Denver today, when you know your uncle expressly forbids you to hunt?”

Abbey was prepared for the question and countered it with one of her own. “What makes you suppose I was on the hunting field?”

“Don’t imagine I speak out of turn.” He eyed her with a combination of disapproval, affection and annoyingly possessive intent. “I saw you, and that rogue, with my own eyes. You could have been hurt, Lady Abigail. I couldn’t bear to think of you being harmed, or worse, for the sake of a few hours sport. I suppose he wagered you didn’t have the courage?”

“You saw me?” Abbey tilted her head, pretending to consider the matter. “Where? I don’t remember seeing you.” She paused, still feigning misunderstanding. “Oh, was that you, crumpled on the ground by that unclipped hedge?” She offered him a seraphic smile. “I do hope you were not hurt.”

Lord Evans coloured. “Not at all, but don’t think to change the subject. It’s your conduct under scrutiny at this moment. Quite apart from allowing that scrape-grace to talk you into hunting, you must also have ridden with him this morning, unaccompanied. That’s not something you consent to do, even with me.” A note of ill-usage entered his voice. “You shouldn’t—”

“Enough!” Abbey’s sharp tone stopped him mid-sentence and he looked at her with a combination of concern and censure in his eyes. “I have lived under crippling restrictions for years now and if I occasionally decide to have a little fun, then it really is no business of yours.”

“Fun? Really, I don’t think you understand—”

“No, it’s you that lacks understanding. Tell my uncle if you feel you must, but please don’t presume to tell me how to behave. I already have more than enough people willing to do that.” She inverted her chin. “Nothing of an inappropriate nature occurred between Lord Denver and me, which ought to be enough to satisfy your sense of honour.”

“Nothing inappropriate, you say!” His voice rose, causing those near him to look round in surprise. He checked himself and continued in a more moderate tone. “If what I observed in the billiards room is not your idea of inappropriate behaviour it only serves to demonstrate just how comprehensively he has already turned your head.”