The Fire's Center (39 page)

Riona’s heart went out as she noted the wary expressions on their faces, and acted almost afraid to touch her as they extended their hands politely.

Riona looked over at Antoinette and saw her looking at her children with something akin to dislike. The timid pair positively shied away from her as they tried to tug at Lucien’s hand to ask him to come downstairs to play with them.

"We’re just showing Riona the room she has to dress in for the ball tonight, so will you help us? Lisette, this is woman’s work. Take Riona’s hand and escort her to the red room. Your brother and I will meet you both downstairs on the lawn for croquet in a moment," Lucien instructed.

Lisette looked up at Riona pitifully, so she simply smiled and held out her hand.

"Let’s hurry to see that room, shall we, Lisette? I love croquet!"

The tiny girl smiled then, and Riona swept past Antoinette, still standing stock-still, looking as though she had sucked a lemon.

Once Riona had seen the sumptuously overblown room, she headed back downstairs with her silent young companion.

Outside on the lawn, Riona and Lucien set up the croquet and lawn bowls for the guests who would be arriving soon, and Riona conferred quickly with Mrs. Allen as soon as she arrived.

"Nothing for you to worry about, Riona, my dear. You’ve done a wonderful job organising, so just enjoy the splendid summery weather."

So Riona and Lucien played croquet with the children, who soon hugged and played with Riona as though they had known her for years. She swung them around, play tag and tumbled with them on the grass, and even climbed a tree with them.

"Riona! Your gown! You’ll ruin it!" the little girl whispered in terror at one point.

"It’s only a dress," Riona laughed, as she hooked her knees over one of the tree branches and dangled upside down, much to everyone’s amusement, especially Lucien’s.

As she hung there, he said quietly, "I think her mother might think you were setting Lisette a bad example."

Riona righted herself, and came down the tree looking pensive.

"I don’t think so personally, my dear, but I am sure Antoinette and several of her other snobbish friends would be in fits if they saw you," Lucien sought to reassure her when he saw how crestfallen she looked.

"I’m sorry, Lucien, I’ll try to restrain myself."

"Don’t you dare," Lucien whispered back, with a meaningful look which Riona blushed at.

It must have been the summer weather encouraging their high spirits, for Riona and Lucien laughed and joked as they had never done before, enjoying the children’s company as well.

Quentin, peering through the window of his study at the antics on the lawn, could only look on at the joyous pair with yet another pang of envy.

He took note of his own wife, so cool, so aloof, so lacking in any joy as she sat going over endless lists to make sure everything was perfect.

Yet there was Riona, a poor girl without a penny to her name, or any influence and power, who exuded happiness.

But perhaps it was because of Lucien, he wondered, not for the first time, as she saw Lucien feed her a strawberry in a manner that could only be described as sensual. Erotic, even.

Were they in love? If not, they were both blind. He shook his head pityingly.

"My God! Look at Lisette’s frock!" came a horrified shriek from the sofa. His wife had come to look at what he was staring at so intently out the window.

"Really, Antoinette, Riona and Lucien are looking after the children, and they're enjoying themselves. It is not as though we're poor, that we can’t afford to buy the child another dress. Or even a thousand dress if she needs them," he said wearily.

Antoinette’s eyes narrowed then. "Do you want the child to grow up like a hoyden, like your cousin?" she accused nastily.

Quentin gripped her by the arms angrily then, and gave her a shake. "I can recall the time when you were a spirited-enough woman, passionate even. But once the wedding ring was on your finger, you changed completely.

"So don’t you dare criticise other women, and especially not Riona. At least she's honest, and loving. The only person you’ve ever loved is yourself!" Quentin said disgustedly, and stalked away.

Antoinette stood there stunned.
Had anyone told him about...

No, the servants wouldn’t dare, would they?

But all the same, it might do well to make some contingency plans, just in case. After all, Dr. O’Carroll really was the most exciting lover, and had even better social connections here and abroad than the wealthy Woulfe family, she thought with an arrogant toss of her blond curls.

She would make
both
brothers pay for their cavalier treatment of her, she determined firmly, swishing out of the study to attend to her toilette yet again in order to make the maximum impact on all who beheld her.

Soon the guests and visitors began to arrive, just as Riona and Lisette were finishing a three-legged race against Lucien and Neville, which they won due to Riona’s lightness on her feet and good co-ordination. Lucien and Neville landed in a tangle of limbs a few yards away from the finish line.

Riona went over to untie them, and got an affectionate hug from both of them.

Riona shot Lucien a warning look as she helped the little boy to his feet. Just in time he recollected where he was, and that kissing her as he ached to would never do.

Then they dusted the grass off themselves and all went off together to search for some biscuits and lemonade.

The charity garden fete was indeed a huge success. True to his word, Lucien was nearly always on hand to help, encourage, give, advice, and lend his moral support as Riona tried to ensure that the whole affair ran smoothly, though what he longed for more than anything was to get her alone in that red room for a moment or two….

Neville and Lisette also tagged along with the pretty lady with vibrant red hair to lend a hand, but as the day grew hotter, and the children’s clothes grew grubbier, Antoinette finally came down from her boudoir to make her displeasure felt, and ordered them up to the nursery for a wash and a nap.

"I’ll see you later." Riona waved at them, and they both hugged and kissed her as well as Lucien before heading up.

"Thank you, Riona," Lucien said quietly, looping one arm around her slender waist as soon as they were alone again.

"What for?" Riona asked, surprised.

"For being so nice to them. They had a wonderful time. So did I."

"You make it sound like it was a chore. Neville and Lisette are lovely, really."

"So are you, Riona."

"Sush, someone will hear!" Riona scolded, trying to put some distance between them.

"I mean it. And I'm not talking about your looks, though they would awe a blind man." He reached for her automatically, but she shook her head and stepped backwards. "We mustn't. Not
here
. "

She hurriedly strode away from Lucien's questing fingers to survey all the arrangements.

There were many booths and stalls for both entertainment and selling wares, and activities for people of all ages to enjoy, from croquet, bowls and three-legged races, to baking competitions and horse and pony rides.

Riona was so busy she didn’t even get a change to partake of the luncheon which had been provided in Quentin’s magnificent conservatory, though Lucien did smuggle her out some
vol au vent
in a napkin and scolded her for not eating properly.

"I’m too nervous, Lucien, honestly." She shook her head as he tried to coax her to partake of the food.

"Come along, my dear, you ought to know me better than that. I will not allow you to go help with the doll’s tea party on the lawn until you eat all of these." Lucien grinned down at her, as he waggled the napkin in front of her nose.

In the end she sat on the grass under the shade of a large oak tree and ate the pastries.

"You’ve got a crumb on your cheek. Here, let me," Lucien offered, stroking her petal soft skin. His golden eyes glowed down at her.

Riona began to look forward to the ball with a tremor of anticipation. What it would be like to dance in his arms she had no idea, but then every time he looked at her, touched her, she felt herself go on fire.

"You’d better go, Lucien. Quentin seems to be looking for you," she suddenly prompted, as she sensed him about to kiss her.

She rose hastily and trotted off in the direction of the second-hand clothing stall. Certainly it wouldn’t do to be seen in such a compromising position in front of all of the best Dublin society.

At about five, Lucien came to find Riona to bring her in to tea. She socialised with the members of the committee, but kept clear of Antoinette, who looked daggers at her every time she passed.

Antoinette at last went upstairs to carry out her extensive toilette before the ball, as was the hostess’ privilege. Riona watched her sweep up the stairs in a flurry of green silk and cream lace, and wondered what she would be wearing.

No doubt she would put every woman in the room in the shade, Riona thought with an uncharacteristic touch of envy.

But then she hadn’t liked the way Antoinette had often clung to Lucien’s arm, using him as her chaperon as she circulated amongst the guests and ventured out onto the lawn, more for a private
tete a tete
with Lucien, Riona suspected, than to make sure all the guests were enjoying themselves.

As the sun went down, Riona glanced out the French windows and saw the bonfires on the estate being lit, with the ordinary folk carrying on the festivities until long into the night once all the stalls had been packed away.

Riona was delighted to see that everything had been sold, and Charles Durance was looking extremely pleased as he and Quentin and Riona all sat down in the library to count the proceeds.

Charles couldn’t take his eye off Riona. He joked and chatted away quite happily beside her at the desk. Lucien glowered at them in the background, but then he was called away by Mrs. Allen to attend to a small problem, and he had to leave them together, much as it irked him.

"I say, if you don’t get a move on, you won’t be ready for the ball, Riona," Quentin suddenly said when he heard the clock strike eight. His eyes rested warmly upon her.

"Are you sure you can spare me?"

"Of course, my dear. I’ll finish here, you go on up and get into your costume. Any hints?"

"No, Quentin, you will just have to wait and see," she said with a wink.