Heaven Scent (22 page)

A slow smile split Henry’s face. When
he stared up at the sky and shut his eyes, Rafe thought he was
either sending up a prayer of thanks, or moments from shouting with
joy.

Henry’s gaze turned somber when his
eyes met Rafe’s again. “I knew you were the right
choice.”

Digging into his pocket, he retrieved a
small pouch. Fingering it, he shook his head. “I never could make
her mother happy.” He gave Rafe a penetrating stare. “Don’t make
the same mistake.” He held out the pouch.

Setting down his glass on the railing,
Rafe took the pouch from Henry’s grasp. Inside was an extravagant
emerald ring with a stone the size of a small boulder. The ring
alone could put Sutherland Shipping back on track.

“That was her mother’s wedding ring. It
would mean a lot to Tarin, and I, if you would honor Jane by using
it as a symbol of your fidelity.”

Rafe nodded as he returned the ring to
its pouch. A sudden whiff of roses assailed him, catching him off
guard. He was so used to the scent in Tarin’s company that he
looked around expecting to find her in their midst.

When he saw only men, he frowned. “I
would be honored. I know Tarin will be pleased.” He placed the
pouch inside his coat pocket.

Nodding, Henry looked away. Rafe
thought he saw the sheen of tears in Henry’s eyes, but could not be
sure.

“She is all I have, Rafe,” he mumbled,
his grip on the railing white-knuckled.

An unexpected weight settled in Rafe’s
chest. Would a man involved in underhanded dealings reveal himself
to Rafe in such a light? Show a vulnerability to someone he was
trying to destroy? Worthington had entrusted Rafe with his
daughter, his confessed ‘sole reason for living.’

Suddenly, doubts bombarded Rafe as that
new set of worries tried to push their way into his good mood. He
refused to dwell on his scars, or the consequences should their
bargain ever be revealed to Tarin.

Clapping Worthington on the
shoulder, Rafe turned him around. “With this marriage, Henry, comes
me
and
my family.
And, with God’s blessing, grandchildren. Tarin is not all you have.
As a matter fact, you may never get a moment’s peace
again.”

Henry laughed. “But I will lose my
physician. Kent will not be pleased.”

Rafe stilled. Worthington had given him
the perfect opportunity to question his relationship with Kent.
“That is all he is to you - a physician?”

Frowning, Worthington pulled his head
back. “Yes. What other relationship could we have?”

Studying Worthington’s face, Rafe
searched for sincerity. Henry seemed genuinely perplexed. “Business
dealings, perhaps?”

“Business?” Henry questioned, eyebrows
raised. “How could you ask such a thing when I have already
revealed to you his desire to buy Sutherland Shipping and his
desire to marry my daughter?” He lowered his voice. “Let’s get one
thing clear, Sutherland. If you are to be my son, there will be
complete and utter loyalty. I had assumed that went without
saying.”

Worthington
questioned
his
loyalty
?
Hands on hips, Rafe said, “I
am
loyal, Worthington. I just want
your assurance that you will be the same.”

Puffing out his chest, Henry’s face
turned red. “You insult me. I would not entrust my daughter to you,
otherwise.”

Rafe gave a curt nod. “Very well. Once
this wedding is past, you and I will have a talk. In the meantime,
be wary of Kent.”

#####

“Oh Tarin, I am just beside myself with
excitement.” Isabel squeezed Tarin’s arm where it looped through
hers.

Tarin smiled, a nervous energy droning
through her body. She was quite excited herself. So excited it
frightened her. How could someone be so happy?

They made their way towards the
ballroom, with a plan to stop at the punch bowl before anything
else. Tarin’s throat was parched and she knew she would need her
voice once her father made the announcement. She and Rafe would be
surrounded by congratulatory guests the rest of the
evening.

“I am still trying to get used to the
idea, Isabel.”

“It will be real enough once we start
making wedding plans.”

They turned into the dining room and
nearly ran into Dr. Kent.

“Randall!” Isabel stopped short. “How
nice it is to… run into you.” She laughed.

In a suit of black satin, with a royal
blue vest and white cravat, Dr. Kent once again epitomized the
height of men’s fashion. His honey-colored hair was combed back
from his face, his jaw freshly shaved.

“My stars, don’t you two look
fetching,” Dr. Kent exclaimed, his mouth turned up at the
corner.

His gaze trailed over Isabel briefly
before his eyes scanned Tarin quite thoroughly. His eyes held a
definite male appreciation that made Tarin shiver
uncomfortably.

“Thank you, Dr. Kent.” Tarin tightened
her hold on Isabel.

The older woman glanced at Tarin with a
frown before turning back to Dr. Kent. “Yes, thank you. Where are
you headed – the card room?”

“
Actually, I was going in
search of Tarin.” Hands in his pants pockets, he turned from Isabel
to Tarin. “You received Samuel’s note that he is taking the
petitions to the legislature on Thursday?”

The petition signatures. She had
forgotten about the good news in all of the excitement of her
engagement.

“Yes, I did. It’s wonderful
news.”

“How marvelous,” Isabel chimed in. “It
is certainly an evening for celebration.”

“Yes, I hope to make it even more so.”
Kent’s eyes on Tarin were filled with hidden meaning. “Isabel, do
you mind if I have a word with Tarin?”

No! Please, don’t leave,
Isabel
. Tarin knew he had courtship in mind
but she didn’t dare say anything about her engagement until her
father made the announcement.

Tarin hoped her eyes relayed her plea
to Isabel. However, when the older woman offered to get their punch
and walked away, dread settled in Tarin’s stomach like a lead
weight.

Escorting her into the hall, Dr. Kent
stopped beside a credenza and cornered her against the wall. Tarin
stepped aside to give herself room.

He frowned. “I can guarantee
legislative approval, Tarin.”

“You can?” she asked, eyebrows raised.
“Have you received word of enough support to vote it
in?”

Shaking his head, Kent’s smile was
wily. “No, but I can buy the votes. All I need is a ‘yes’ from
you.”

“A ‘yes?’ From
me
?” That dread clenched
her stomach in a tight grip.

He stepped closer. Tarin swallowed. She
thought he might kiss her.

“Say you’ll agree to marriage and I’ll
push it through.” He trailed a finger down her cheek. “For
you.”

Gasping, she grabbed his hand and
shoved it away from her face. Kent pulled his head back, clearly
shocked.

How dare he try to blackmail her! She
had been so blind. All of these years she had considered Dr. Kent a
respectable physician. Now, his true colors had come to light and
she did not like them.

“And if I say ‘no?’ What then?”
Squinting her eyes, Tarin fisted her hands in her
skirts.

He glared down at her, hands in his
pockets. “Then do not be surprised when the college is not
approved.”

Squaring her shoulders, Tarin lifted
her chin. “Do you think you are the only man in Boston with
political connections?”

His laugh was bitter. “Tarin, we both
know your father disapproves of this college. Do not play that card
with me.”

She glared down her nose at him. “I was
not referring to my father, Dr. Kent. Do you think you are the only
one with secrets?”

Turning away, Tarin started down the
hall. Anger made her hands shake, her steps rigid. Stopping, she
turned back to him. “By the way, Dr. Kent, in case you are unsure,
my answer is ‘no.’”

Reaching the dining room doorway, Tarin
stopped short when Kent’s cold, low voice reached her
ears.

“You will regret that decision, Lady
Worthington. No one refuses me... No one.”

Whipping her heard around, she saw Dr.
Kent walking in the opposite direction. A chill raced through her
as she recalled the menace in his words. Was he capable of true
harm? Would he carry her rejection that far?

“Tarin! There you are.” Isabel
approached, cups in hand. Her smile soon turned to a frown. “What
is it?” She looked past Tarin’s shoulder into the hallway. “Did Dr.
Kent upset you?”

Unwilling to allow Kent’s threat to
ruin her evening, Tarin waved away Isabel’s concern. “I am fine,”
she replied with a grin. “Just thirsty.” Taking the glass from
Isabel’s proffered hand, she sipped voraciously.

Tarin could tell by the crease between
her brows that Isabel did not believe her. But, she was not going
to concern herself with it now. Soon, they would both be surrounded
by joy and the conversation would be forgotten.

Entering the ballroom, the two of them
looked around for Rafe and her father.

Isabel leaned close. “We must find Rafe
before your jilted dance partners catch up to you.”

Oh no
. Tarin had not considered that. Leaning up on her toes, she
craned her neck. Spying her betrothed on the opposite side of the
dance floor, relief immediately flooded her body.

Rafe was so handsome in his dark
evening clothes with his equally dark hair curling at his nape. His
nearly black eyes sparkled with laughter, his dimples shining in
the cheeks of his tanned face. He was literally the most handsome
man she had ever seen.

And he wanted her. No other. A thrill
raced down her spine.

With his family and friends around him,
Rafe stopped all conversation when she and Isabel approached. The
wide smile on his face told her he was genuinely happy to see her.
Tarin let out a deep sigh as he raised her gloved hand to his
lips.

With his gaze studying her closely,
Rafe’s smile slowly vanished. Turning her from the group, his voice
was low when he spoke. “What is it? What’s happened?”

Blast
. She thought she had hidden it well. “Do you have rum in that
glass?” She nodded at the tumbler in his hand.

Handing it to her, she set her punch
glass aside and drank from his.

“Tarin-”

She waved his concern away. “Do not
concern yourself, Rafe. It is insignificant.”

“It’s not insignificant if it has upset
you.”

Laying her hand against his vest, she
smiled up at him. “I am not upset. I am excited, anxious for our
announcement.”

Frowning, he covered the hand on his
chest with his own. “This is your last chance to change your
mind…”

Shaking her head, she assured him. “I
am certain.”

An inner light lit his dark eyes as he
graced her with one of his knee-weakening smiles. She admonished
herself for allowing his smile to affect her so. Would she do this
the rest of her days?

“I want to introduce you to Beau and
Rosa.”

With Isabel standing beside her, Rafe
turned her towards his family. She came face-to-face with Rosa
Mendoza and felt an immediate intimidation, an inferiority she had
never experienced before.

Rosa’s beauty was staggering. Her
whiskey-colored eyes shown like amber stones, her fawn-colored skin
utter perfection, save for a mole on her right cheek. Blue
highlights shimmered in her jet black hair, while her tiny bow
mouth appeared as though a painter had created it just for
her.

Fisting her hands in her skirts, Tarin
told herself that she could not allow jealousy to overwhelm her.
This woman had traveled across the country to find her one
connection to life after losing all she had. She could not blame
her for falling in love with Rafe. She had done so
herself.

Tarin pasted on her most pleasant
smile. “Rosa, it is a pleasure to finally meet you.”

The woman’s heavy, Spanish
accent only added to her appeal.
“
Asimismo
,
usted es una mujer afortunada
.”

“She says you are a fortunate
woman.”

While Tarin had picked up some of the
translation herself, she turned to the voice that had completed it
for her. Ice green eyes smiled into hers from a face that could
only be called beautiful - in a man or woman. Yet, the man standing
before her was no dandy but a man nearly as masculine as Rafe. How
he carried it off, she was not certain. But, carry it he did - with
regal composure and absolute confidence. Almost as though he were
born of royalty.

“This is my friend, Beauregard St.
John.” Rafe placed a hand at her back. “He served with me in the
Rangers.”

“Are you certain, Rafe?” she teased
when Beau winked at her. “He has nary a scratch.”