A Rose in Winter (46 page)

The expressionless mask considered her with a sternness that brooked no refusal. Erienne was subdued by its blank regard, and she could only murmer in a small voice, "I have no wish to displease, milord."

Lord Saxton returned to her dressing table and scooped up the costly chain of emeralds and diamonds. When he beckoned, Erienne came to him and presented her back. In a moment his warm, naked fingers laid the strand about her throat. The task done, the hands caressed the soft curve of her shoulder and moved downward until they rested at her waist. After a strained clearing of his throat, he withdrew his touch and spoke brusquely.

"I bid you enjoy yourself, madam. I shall not see you again before you leave." He traversed a labored path to the door, there pausing for a last look. "I shall send Tessie back so you can complete your toilet. Aggie will inform you when the gentleman is here. Good night, my love."

The preparations were completed, and when the summons came, Tessie followed her mistress, carefully holding the heavy velvet cloak across her arms so it would not sweep the floor. Erienne was most wary of the identity of her escort and made her way down the stairs with as much stealth as she could manage herself and could encourage from the girl. Erienne mulled over the limited choices Stuart had, and she had fleeting visions of some of Talbot's friends offering their services, for the benefit of their host, of course. She had not taken Christopher's warning lightly, despite her rather flippant dismissal of it at the time.

At the entrance of the great hall, Erienne halted and clutched a hand over her suddenly pounding heart as she saw the one who awaited her. She found it hard to believe that her husband would be so foolish as to trust the Yankee to protect and uphold her virtue.

He stood in front of the hearth, staring into the flames. A tall, slender-hipped, broad-shouldered man, Christopher Seton was as handsome of physique as he was of face. Garbed in silver-gray silk and white shirt and stock, he looked the part of some landed gentry. His chiseled profile was touched by the warm light of the fire, and the growing ache in her bosom attested to the degree of its handsomeness.

In an attempt to regain her serenity, Erienne let out a slow, steadying breath and entered the room, bringing him about to face her as her heels tapped against the stone floor. Smiling, he came across to meet her while his eyes plumbed the depths of her beauty. When he halted before her, he bowed with a grand, sweeping gesture.

"Lady Saxton, I am honored."

"Christopher Seton." She forced a strong note of sarcasm in order to hide the shakiness of her voice. "You are beneath contempt."

"Madam?" He straightened with a look of bemused surprise.

"You have somehow convinced my husband that the fox should watch over the hen house."

A slow grin came with his answer. "Lady Saxton, your husband's skill with weapons is widely known, and I do not doubt that he would take up arms against any man who would abuse you. You have my word that while we're in public, I shall comport myself with such dignity and propriety that you need have no fear of your reputation."

She regarded him with a widely skeptical frown. "And Lord Talbot? Will he admit you?"

"Set aside your fears, madam. I would not be here unless assured of that fact."

"I have promised my husband that I will abide by his wishes in this matter," she stated. "I shall therefore propose a truce. For this evening alone, you shall respect me as a lady, and I will try to regard you as a gentleman, just as we did at our last meeting."

Christopher gave her a shallow nod. "Until the ball is over then, my lady."

"Agreed."

There was something subtle in the way his smile changed that made Erienne uneasy, but in London he had restrained himself to her satisfaction, and with Tanner driving the coach and Bundy going along as added protection against the thieves, she had only to call out for assistance, and she would have it. Thus assured, she turned to Tessie.

"You needn't wait up for me. It might be quite late before we return."

The maid dipped in a quick curtsy. "Yes, mum."

Erienne reached for her cloak, but Christopher took it from the waiting maid.

"Allow me, my lady," he offered.

Scarcely breathing, Erienne waited as those lean, strong hands arranged the cloak over her shoulders, then with solicitous care he ushered her out to the waiting coach. Once within the interior, Erienne snuggled beneath the fur throw on the rear seat and placed her feet near the warming pan. Velvet curtains were drawn snugly over the small windows, providing more privacy than Erienne thought she wanted. She cast an apprehensive eye toward Christopher as he climbed in, but much to her relief, he settled across from her. As he caught her gaze, he smiled.

"I fear the nearness of you would completely destroy my good intentions, my lady. 'Tis safer if I sit here."

Erienne relaxed back in the seat. The evening was off to a good beginning. She could only hope that his restraint would continue and her resistance would not be tested. Just the memory of his kiss could sap the strength from her limbs and leave her breasts tingling for the want of his caress.

Small interior lanterns gave off a weak light, softly illuminating his handsome face and making her aware of his casual gaze, but she was soon placated by his warm, masculine voice. He knew how to entertain with vivid stories, and she listened with avid interest, laughing now and then at his humor. The two of them, content to be in each other's company, hardly noticed when less than an hour later, the coach turned up the drive to the Talbot mansion. As the coach came to a halt before the elaborate manse, Erienne sat forward in the seat, immediately tense and nervous. Christopher caught her brief, anxious glance and reached out to take hold of her hand. He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze of reassurance.

"You'll likely set them all agog, Erienne," he whispered.

A smile wavered on her lips, and she watched as he brought her fingers to his lips to kiss their pale tips slowly. The gentleness of his gesture plucked at the strings of her heart and set a seed of bittersweet yearning growing deep within her. Then his head raised and his gaze softly caressed the delicate visage.

"I think we'd better go in before I forget my promise and make love to you here and now."

Erienne waited as he stepped lightly to the ground, then he turned back, offering up a hand. Though touching him sent the pulse leaping through her veins, she accepted his assistance to the door of the manse. Within the elaborate foyer, he drew the wrap from her shoulders, and though his touch was brief, it was like a soft caress. A maid received their cloaks, and they were led to the entry of the great hall. There the majordomo stepped ahead of them and decorously announced:

"Lady Saxton..."

A sudden hush settled over the guests as those present immediately turned, anxious to appease their curiosity about this woman and her husband, the purported beast of Saxton Hall. What they saw confused them, for the nightmare they had been prepared for was truly a vision in white standing on the threshold of the room with a tall, handsome gentleman at her side.

"And Mr. Seton."

Almost as quickly as the silence fell, a confused medley of inquiries filled the room. Those who stood nearest Claudia heard her gasp, and they stared, baffled, as she hurried toward the couple. When she neared, she cast an eye in Christopher's direction before scowling darkly at Erienne. What she blurted was not exactly what she had meant to say, but she could not think rationally when the sharp talons of rage clawed at her savagely.

"What are you doing here?"

Christopher stepped forward in a protective manner, half shielding Erienne with his bulk. "You invited me, remember? I have the invitation right here." He thrust his hand in his coat. "Written in your own hand, I believe."

"I know I invited you!" she replied impatiently. "But you were supposed to come alone!"

He smiled pleasantly. "My apologies, Claudia. Lord Saxton was otherwise occupied, and he desired that I should escort his lady."

Claudia's mouth tightened, and an icy coldness hardened the dark eyes. This was not what she had planned, not at all. She sorely regretted not being able to send the Lady Saxton home to her beastly husband. It was what the snip deserved for daring to come without him.

"You look positively divine, Erienne." She made no attempt to hide the cool smirk in her smile. "I'm really surprised. Who would have thought that the mayor's daughter could do so well in outfitting herself with jewels and all? Tell me, dear, are those baubles real?"

Christopher chuckled and answered the barb himself. "I understand they've been in Lord Saxton's family for some time, and I suspect that they're real enough. Of course, it would take an eye well acquainted with precious gems to recognize their worth, wouldn't it?"

Claudia cast him an oblique glance. "Tell me, Christopher, why would Lord Saxton trust you to look after his lady? I would think the man would be most fearful of you."

Laughter twinkled in his gray-green eyes as he waved a hand casually around the room. "Are we not well chaperoned, Claudia? Then there is Bundy and the coachman, Tanner. They would hasten to their mistress' aid at the least hint of impropriety. You no doubt have heard how Lord Saxton put the thieves to rout? I'm certain he would give short shrift to any man who would try to take his lady from him."

Claudia smiled blandly. "Then I hope you intend to be extremely careful, Christopher. I would hate to see such a handsome and charming man laid in his grave because he became enamored with his charge."

"Thank you, Claudia. Your concern is touching." He clicked his heels and bent forward in a shallow bow. "I shall take care."

The woman was completely disarmed by his soft-spoken defense and with a last blazing glare at Erienne, Claudia moved away. Allan Parker stood talking with two other men near the corner of the room, and she strode purposely to him.

The sheriff was nearly as resplendent as his surroundings. His dark blue-and-gray garb was richly decorated with silver, giving it an almost military appearance, yet it was conspicuously void of either honors or rank. The bare shoulders of his coat seemed to cry out for epaulets, and the barren breast for medals of valor and badges of campaigns.

Slipping her arm through his, Claudia brought his rather skeptical gaze around to her. He seemed somewhat confused by her attention until he glanced toward the entry and saw Christopher with Erienne. The sight of the couple ended his puzzlement and brought a smile of amusement to his lips. But when his eyes flicked over Erienne in warm appreciation, his ribs received a quick, sharp jab from Claudia's elbow. She was not about to let another man emend his favor because of an infatuation with her rival's beauty.

"My lady," Christopher murmured aside to Erienne, "I, fear you have quite astounded everyone by your beauty."

"They're disappointed because Stuart didn't come," she whispered back. "But if they thought to make a laughingstock of him, they're mightily mistaken. He is no one's fool."

"You sound as if you admire the man," Christopher remarked.

"I do."

He arched his brow as he contemplated her. "You do baffle me, Erienne. I had all hopes of you fleeing after a fortnight of wedlock with Stuart. I was waiting to welcome you with open arms. Now I am bemused as to what to do. Am I really to believe that you prefer a scarred cripple above me?"

Erienne glanced around at the lily-white faces that wore hopeful smiles and the eyes that watched Christopher in eager anticipation. She could have lost herself in deep reverie in that moment, having such a handsome man at her side, but the memory of Lord Saxton standing behind her in the silvered glass jolted her back to reality. "I have no second choice," she stated bluntly. "What is done is done. I am honor-bound, and there can never be a turning back."

Christopher's eyes flicked about the room, in his turn taking note of the men who were still eyeing her. He guessed their thoughts were not so different from his own. Little did they know how strong-minded and determined the lady was. But then, he had always had a rather persistent nature himself, and he was not as easily daunted as other men.

Decorously he presented his arm. "Come, my sweet. People are staring, and I would have this dance before I find you swept away by some overzealous swain."

He led Erienne forward on his arm, and the guests opened a corridor to the ballroom, where the musicians struck up a quick, lively tune. Before he could lead her onto the floor to join the rest of the couples, however, they were intercepted by a richly garbed servant. Indeed, his attire rivaled that of the royal house.

"Lord Talbot requests the presence of Lady Saxton in his study," he loftily announced in monotone. He gave her a stiff bow. "If you will please follow me, my lady."

Erienne looked worriedly toward Christopher, but he was already reaching to take her arm.

"Lead the way," he bade the servant.

That one's brows raised at the man's audacity to invite himself. "I believe Lord Talbot requested only the lady's presence, sir."

A lazy grin drew up a corner of Christopher's mouth. "Then he will be getting more than he bargained for, or nothing at all. I promised Lord Saxton that I would not let his lady out of my sight."