The Langley Sisters Trilogy Boxed Set (47 page)

      “I’ve thought about that and I think we should say we have an investor who wishes to remain anonymous, Phoebe.”

      “That may just work.”
 

      They were silent for a while before Hannah said, “I’m sorry you lost both your parents, Phoebe.”

“Thank you. Do you have siblings, Hannah?”

      “Yes and no.”

“You will have to explain that statement,” Phoebe demanded, intrigued and more than happy to pursue the change in subject. Speaking about her parents always made her feel raw and exposed, like she had a wound deep inside her that was not quite healed.
 

“My father’s sister died during the birth of her first child and her husband would take no responsibility for the babe. My father and I went to visit one week after her funeral because Papa was worried for the child. My uncle would not let us enter the house, so father simply knocked him to the ground and stomped over him. I was sixteen and loved the drama of the occasion,” Hannah said. “We found the babe. She was lying in filth, soiled clothes, sores on her poor bottom. Pitifully thin, her cries were so weak it broke my heart.”
 

      “That’s horrible. Why would someone treat an innocent babe like that?”
      “Father said he had never liked the man. Had a weak chin, apparently, and was living off his wife’s dowry.”

      “I really must meet your father.”

      “You will.”

      “Finish the story, Hannah,” Phoebe prompted.

      “I stripped the babe and wrapped it in the cleanest blanket I could find. I remember picking her up. She was so weak, but she rested her head against my chest and stopped crying. Father swears she sighed and closed her eyes, finally at peace in my arms.”
 

“I hope your father did something terrible to that man before leaving!”
 

“He made him sign a piece of paper handing the child over to us; he forced him to sign it by holding a knife to his neck.”

“What happened then?” Phoebe questioned, enthralled by the tale.

“We left the house, only stopping briefly at a nearby farmhouse where we got some milk for the babe, and then we took her home.”

      “And?” Phoebe prodded.

      Hannah’s sigh was loud and long. “And we spoilt her atrociously. She’s now ten and totally obnoxious.”

      “And what is the name of the atrociously spoilt child who you love very much?”

      “We named her Bridgette after her mother.”

      “You have just restored my faith in my fellow man.”

      “What are you discussing? Have I missed anything?” Alex arrived with their drinks. “Don’t gulp them. I saw someone have a coughing fit after he took a mouthful. The man looked as if he was having an apoplexy.”

      Phoebe eyed the glass warily as he handed it to her, then sniffed it and wrinkled her nose at the sweet smell.

“You have missed nothing, Alex, we were just chatting while we awaited your return,” she added.
 

      “Did either of you see Lady Hatching’s dress,” Alex said. “The blue velvet is totally wrong on her and swamps her slight figure. However, the cream satin van dyke point edging was superb.”

      Hannah and Phoebe both blinked at the same time and looked up at Alex.

      “What?”

      “It’s just going to take some getting used to, hearing you speak in such a way,” Phoebe said. “You’re so…manly, for want of a better word,” she added. “It will take some adjustment on our parts.”

      “Manly, really?” Alex smiled and drew back his shoulders which made them both laugh.

      “I must admit to admiring Miss Kipling’s hem. It had tiny rosebuds embroidered into the band.”      

      “I saw that, too,” Phoebe nodded to Hannah.

      The next few minutes were spent discussing various gowns, and then Alex said he had some ideas for fitting out the inside of the boutique, which both Hannah and Phoebe agreed with after hearing the details.

      “You three appear deep in conversation.”

      She hadn’t heard him approach, which was a surprise, as Phoebe always seemed to sense Lord Levermarch before he appeared.
 

      “What were you discussing so intently?”

      Phoebe couldn’t form a single thought. Suddenly, her head was an empty cavern of nothingness.
Dear God, had he heard Alex discussing satin van dyke trimmings?

      “Miss Wooller is trying to persuade me to eat offal, Finn. Apparently kidneys, and I quote, are food for the gods.”

      Phoebe swallowed the need to laugh at Alex’s words, as Lord Levermarch’s eyes swung from Alex to her.

      “In particular deviled kidneys, Lord Levermarch,” Hannah added.

      “Devilled kidneys,” he repeated slowly.

      “Quite, although I enjoy sweetbreads.” Hannah smiled.

      “Do you? Well, then, I must have Will’s cook give you her Battalia Pye recipe. It is simply delicious,” Phoebe said, joining the conversation now she had the need to laugh hysterically under control.
 

      “I cannot believe you are discussing animals’ organs.”

      “Finn’s just saying that because he doesn’t eat them himself,” Alex said. “Turns green at the sight of a kidney.”

      He was uncomfortable that Alex had told them he had a weakness. Phoebe could see it in the way he glared at his brother. The great Lord Levermarch, becoming ill at the sight of animal organs.

      “And now, Miss Wooller, I believe you promised me a dance.” Alex held out his hand, which Hannah immediately took. Giving Phoebe a look that she could not interpret, she then let him lead her inside.
 

      “Can I escort you, Miss Langley?”

Phoebe shook her head as Lord Levermarch held out his hand, too.

“You go in, my lord. I shall take a few more breaths of air before returning. Phoebe then turned to face the night sky, hoping he would leave.
 

“You should not be here alone, Phoebe.”
 

“I am within sight of the doorway and there are other people around, Lord Levermarch. Please return to your friends, as I am quite safe standing here.

“I had no idea you, my brother and Miss Wooller were all so well acquainted.”

He moved to stand behind her. Good manners dictated she should turn to face him, yet Phoebe didn’t want to. She had no wish to go a few more rounds with him tonight. Her head was filled with a tumble of thoughts about their new venture, and her wrist was starting to ache. She was not good company for anyone, least of all him.

“I know your brother from my sister’s wedding and as Miss Wooller was with me when he approached, I introduced them.” She turned now, reluctantly. “Is there a problem with your brother associating with me or Miss Wooller, Lord Levermarch? Do we not meet your exacting standards for well-mannered young ladies? “

She couldn’t see his face as the light was at his back, but she heard the snap of his teeth shutting. Then she was being urged along the deck before she could resist, with his arm now wrapped around her shoulder.

“Release me at once!”

He did when they were no longer in sight of the other guests. He turned her to face him and then, backing her into the stone balustrade, he braced his hand on either side of her body, thereby caging her inside his big body, and heaven help her, she trembled at his nearness.

“I may have annoyed you earlier, Phoebe, and perhaps my teasing was uncalled for, yet you seem to bring out something in me that demands I continually challenge you. However, up until today you have never been churlish or nasty. But what you just said was unjust, and I think I deserve an apology.”

He was close, his face inches from hers. His frown made him look fierce but Phoebe wasn’t scared; she was excited. However, she was also ashamed. He was right. She was being churlish and mean. “Forgive me, my lord. I had no right to speak as I did. It seems you also bring out the worst in me, at times.”

“I wonder why?” He moved closer.

Phoebe’s body came alive as he closed the last few inches between them. His hand pushed her chin upwards.

“Does it hurt?” 

Her eyes closed at the touch of his hand on her bruised face. For such a big man, he was gentle. Her skin tingled and she had the urge to lean into him and beg him to touch more of her.

“No.”

He lifted her wrist then and ran a large thumb over the satin of her gloves. She shouldn’t be able to feel the heat through the fabric, but she did, and it travelled slowly up her arm.
 

“I can see by your eyes that you’re not telling me the truth, Phoebe. This also hurts you, doesn’t it?

She nodded, unable to pull away. What was it about this man that made her want more of him? She wanted his big body pressed against hers, his arms around her.

“Do you think if we call a truce it will last, Phoebe?”

She shook her head. “No, I fear it would be hopeless to try.” He was so close now, his face just inches from hers. Before she gave herself time to think, Phoebe rose up on her toes and closed the distance.

Finn almost moaned as their mouths met for the first time. That soft upper lip was heaven and she tasted like sin. Cupping her cheeks, he tilted her chin up and deepened the kiss. She made a small noise as her hands reached for him, clutching his jacket as she arched into him. Finn placed a hand on her spine and pulled her closer until her lush curves were pressed against his harder ones. His body tightened as she yielded beneath him. She felt as he’d known she would, like heaven in his arms, her soft, supple body fitting perfectly with his. Her lips were tentative but willing, and Finn lost every thought but her as his hands traveled up her sides until his fingers brushed the bottom of her breasts. She sighed as he cupped the swell, the tips of his fingers touching her bare skin above the bodice. He wanted to pull it down and devour every inch of her skin.

A burst of laughter made him stop. Lifting his head, he came to his senses. Mother of God, he had lost all control and done so with people who had the power to ruin Phoebe’s reputation just a few feet away.
 

“Phoebe, please forgive me,” he rasped, stepping away from her. His body was painfully aroused and he knew it would be some time before the fire inside him cooled.

“We were both at fault, my lord.”
 

Her lips were swollen and wet from his kisses and her eyes still held the lingering heat he had woken within her. He fought the need to reach for her again.

“It is I who should have known better, Phoebe.”

“Because you are a man, or because you are the only one of us who has an understanding of honor? Or perhaps because you have chosen your future wife and fear she will hear of our dalliance?”
      “What future wife?” Surely Will had not told her he was nearing the end of his search.

“I overheard a lady discussing her impeding nuptials to a viscount, and as there are only three of you around this season I thought perhaps it was you as the other two are over sixty.”

 
“I have made no such declaration.” Finn’s tone was harsh. “And don’t put words into my mouth, Phoebe. I never once questioned your honor.” Christ, he could have ruined her and then would have been duty bound to marry her. All his carefully laid plans of a peaceful life with an uncomplicated woman would have come to nothing if they had wed.
 

“I would not have married you even if we were caught.”
 

How the hell had she known what he was thinking?
 

“Yes, you would have.”

“No, Lord Levermarch, I would not. I know exactly what high standards you demand from a wife and I could never be that person.”

“You would have had no choice,” Finn said, wondering why he was debating something that would now not happen, ever. Surely he was relieved about that fact, wasn’t he?
 

She smoothed her skirts and then her hair and finally patted her bodice, which nearly made Finn’s eyes cross, as her hands were exactly where his had been.

“Tell me, my lord,” she then said, looking up at him once more, only this time instead of sensual heat her eyes were once again filled with that mocking glint he had once thought enticing. “Do I even have one of the traits on the list I’m sure you have prepared for you ideal wife?”

Finn took too long to answer, instead lowering his eyes briefly before once again fixing them upon her. He saw instantly that his actions had confirmed her words.

“Not even one? I am indeed a sorry specimen of woman-hood.”

“It is not wrong to want the mother of my children to be compatible with my needs, Miss Langley.” Christ, he sounded like a bore but couldn’t seem to help himself. “It is not wrong to want a peaceful existence with an undemanding woman at my side.” Finn winced as he realized he had just all but inferred she was complicated and far from peaceful, which while true was hardly what he should have said at that moment.

“No, but it is wrong to lust after a woman who will never fit those needs, Lord Levermarch!”