Captives' Charade (3 page)

The urge to needle him was strong, “Actually I would say your own President Jefferson was a greater problem to you than the French or the British,” she offered boldly.

Stewart suddenly leaned forward enthusiastically. “Ah yes,” he agreed. “The Embargo Act. I would be much farther along in my business dealings if it were not for that. Imagine, forbidding American ships to sail to any foreign port! The British may not have been able to defeat us, but we’ve almost done the job ourselves. It is indeed fortunate that President Madison has rescinded the Act, which enabled this visit to England.”

Thus set the tone for a lively conversation, politics stumbling over into geography, culture, and before Sarah knew it, the evening had flown. She was so enraptured by the handsome stranger’s account of his travels and his native land that it was only the noticeable hush, caused by a break in the musical performance, which made her aware of the passage of time.

“Ibegyourpardon,Mr.Chamberlain,”she pleaded sincerely when she realized the lateness of the hour. “I have sorely monopolized your evening when you should have been inside enjoying yourself.”

“Oh,butIhavebeenenjoyingmyself,”he crooned in his wonderfully rich baritone, making no effort to rise. “So much so, I could not begin to tell you.”

His appreciative gaze, illuminated by a shaft of moonlight, at once warmed and startled the innocent young woman. It was as if she had only this moment clearly realized the magnetic quality of this dangerously attractive man.

Tearing her eyes away from his, Sarah tensed noticeably, a cautious aura settling around her as real as the shadowy light torches near them in the suddenly numb, she removed his tailcoat from her shoulders, standing as she did. “Thank you,” she whispered self-consciously, “for sharing your coat. I-I have to go now ....”
emanating from the garden. With fingers

Stewart stood, too, his towering height and broad build overwhelming her. But he made no attempt to reach for the coat she offered with trembling hands.

“Do you ride?” he asked quite unexpectedly. Sarah blinked at the strangely mundane question.

 

“Ride?”shereplied,hersurpriseobvious.

“Yes, ride?” he grinned in that disarmingly relaxed way. “As in ‘ride a horse.’ Do you, Lady Sarah?”

“Why yes, of course,” she breathed shakily. “Why do you ask?”

“I thought perhaps you would be so kind as to accompany me tomorrow morning. Your father suggested that I might enjoy the countryside.”

“You will be spending the night?” she asked incredulously, clutching the silk tailcoat against her bosom. Part of her was thrilled; the other part feared the extended presence of this hypnotic man.

He nodded, smiling. “A week perhaps. Your father has suggested, wisely, I think, given the circumstance, that relative seclusion.” deter him from his purpose. “Would you accompany we conduct our business in But her question would not me then?” Noting her wariness, he added, “Being a stranger here, I would appreciate a guide.”

How could she refuse him the courtesy? After all, he was her father’s honored guest. “Very well,” she capitulated, feeling outmaneuvered and quite foolish for agreeing to spend any more time than necessary with this handsome foreigner. How much more could her throbbing pulse endure? “After breakfast then. I will meet you at the stables.”

“I shall be counting the hours,” he replied smoothly, reaching out toward her, his smoldering brown eyes holding hers fast.

Sarah took a skittish step backward, blushing visibly when she realized he was merely asking for his jacket. Thrusting the rich cloth in his hand, she was again undone by the startling warmth of his fingers making contact with her through her glove.

The unexpected touch evoked an immediate reaction that the stranger could not help but notice. Tearing her fingers away, she mumbled a stunned farewell. grasped chest, his wide mouth meshing with hers in a sudden but gentle kiss.

But before she could turn, Stewart had her shoulders and pulled her into his

Her surprise at his unexpected embrace in no way compared to the jolt of excitement caused by his wonderfully sensuous assault. Nervous fingers that had intended to push him away instead contoured with the hard wall of his torso, involuntarily kneading the rich fabric of his white waistcoat.

Ashiskissdeepened,Sarahfeltamindless urge to cleave to the strong, lean body imprisoning her. In no more than an instant, Stewart Chamberlain had brought her to a level of desire she had never known existed. Her eyes closed, and her entire body trembling with a mysterious anticipation, she was unaware that he had forsaken her lips and was carefully observing her reaction.

Stewart’s deep voice shocked her in that she felt the vibrations in his chest before she actually heard his words. “I believe I shall very much enjoy my stay here, Lady Sarah,” he crooned, his voice thick with desire. “We appear to have a great deal more in common than I would have expected only moments ago.”

With a horrified gasp and a backward lunge, Sarah fell away from the overpowering stranger. “You ... you ... ” she stammered, her cheeks flaming with embarrassment. But her fevered brain was no help. With a strangled cry, she spun and flew toward the safety of the mansion, his gentle laughter ringing in her ears.
CHAPTER 3

Mortified by her capitulation, Sarah did not stop running until she had reached the safety of her candlelit bedroom on the second floor. She had taken the servants’ stairs to avoid notice, but from the laughter emanating from the ballroom, she knew that the party was far from over. She could tell that many of the remaining guests were well into their cups and the booming voice of her father proved he was regaling the hearty group with stories of his days at Court.

But there was no way she could rejoin the carefree throng. She could not bear to face Stewart Chamberlain again. Whatever had caused her to react so violently to the man, she wondered, pacing the pale rose and blue Aubusson rug beneath her feet. She was no stranger to a man’s attention, or even a stolen kiss in the garden. But never had she been so mesmerized by a man’s presence. Always she had remained cool and remote toward any would-be suitor, finding their interest in her disgustingly obvious and predictable.

But Stewart Chamberlain had found her weakness – in more ways than one. It was not until they had completed their interesting discussion that she realized what signals she must have been conveying to the rakish foreigner.

And now his kiss revealed that he planned to treat her like ... a woman, Sarah found herself thinking with a sudden clarity. Though Stewart had stolen a forbidden kiss in the garden, she was nonetheless giddy with the thought that he had, at first, seemed more interested in her mind, her wit, than her appearance. And she had responded to that with an enthusiasm that could only have encouraged him.

Quicklyremovingherdressanddonninga pristine nightgown, Sarah bathed her warm face in tepid water from the bowl Tegan had left for her. She then removed the pins from her hair and began brushing the long silken tresses with a vigorousness that made her wince.

But even the slight pain could not take her mind from the man whose company she had so enjoyed. As she considered mentally which riding habit she might wear on the morrow, it was with amazement that despite his indiscretion, she was still eager to see him again. With a perplexed sigh, she threw back the rose coverlet from her wide four-poster bed and snuggled against the lacetrimmed pillows. Thinking how strange it was to be both frightened and excited about their next encounter, she willed herself to let sleep overtake her. But it was visions of the darkly handsome stranger that permeated her last conscious thoughts.

It seemed as though she had just fallen asleep when impatient hands were roughly shaking her. “Sarah, Sarah, wake up. Oh, please wake up! What are you doing in bed?” Through her sleepy fog, Sarah realized Juliana was tugging at her and she moaned as she tried to push her away.

“Julie, stop. Go away,” she mumbled, trying in vain to pull the covers over her face.

“Lady Sarah Catherine Tremont,” Julie continued, seeming not to care that her sister had been fast asleep. “I have so much to tell you. When did you leave? I have been looking for you everywhere!”

Reluctantly, Sarah slowly propped herself up in bed, knowing that her sister would not go away. When Juliana had something to say, there was no chance it would go unheard. “What-what time is it?” she asked, rubbing her sleep-filled eyes.

“It’s 2 o’clock and I came to tell you that my party was a marvelous success,” Juliana answered brightly, flinging her pink-clad form unceremoniously on the bed. “I had the most exciting evening of my life and I simply must tell you about it. Why weren’t you there? Are you ill?”

“I-I was tired. Too much champagne, I guess,” Sarah said, yawning.

“I had too much, too,” Juliana giggled, “but it made me feel wonderful and wicked. Oh you’ll never believe what happened tonight!” she cried, falling back on Sarah’s feet, stretching her petite body languorously.

“Tell me, then,” Sarah said sleepily, “what happened that has you in such a state?”

Juliana turned toward her, propping her golden head on her hand, a contented smile turning her entire face radiant. “The Yankee, Mr. Chamberlain? He is the most divine man I have ever met. He is so charming; I was completely swept off my feet. He dances like a prince, and Sarah, he is so romantic. Why, poor Jack was beside himself. But I doubt that I could have turned Mr. Chamberlain’s attentions away if I had tried. He is so persistent,” she smiled, then giggled. “But I adore a man who knows how to get what he pursues, don’t you?”

Sarah’s face had gone completely white. “What is the matter, darling? Is something wrong?” Juliana asked sweetly. “I told you I would be with him – if he were handsome – and oh, he has surpassed my wildest dreams! Sarah, don’t you think he’s magnificent?”

Sarah forced herself to close her mouth, and blinked her eyes to shake her mind of the dread that was forming there. “I-I suppose he is good looking enough. But what of Jack?” she replied, in a desperate attempt to hold at bay the confirmation of her growing suspicions.

Juliana raised her head angrily and slammed her open hand on the coverlet. “Oh, will you please let me forget about Jack one moment?” she shouted. “I am sick to death of everyone thinking he is my beau. He is not! And you can be sure I made Mr. Chamberlain aware of that fact,” she huffed, and just as quickly, her face took on its former dreamy look as she sighed, “Stewart. What a marvelously strong name. Stewart Chamberlain. It fits him to a tee, does it not?”

Sarah felt her skin go hot as her teeth clenched in helpless dismay. Of course Stewart and Juliana would be attracted to each other. Why had she so blithely assumed that hers was the only company he sought under this roof?

But then, a fit of jealousy took hold. The nerve of him to woo both his host’s daughters in the same evening! He was despicable.

As delicately as she could, Sarah attempted to stop Juliana’s effusive praise of Mr. Chamberlain’s attributes. She certainly did not want to hear any more about him. “Julie, I am very pleased that you had such a wonderful time, but I feel I must remind you that he is only visiting Father for business reasons. It would appear doubtful that you would ever see him again once he leaves.”

“Oh pooh, Sarah. The man spends his time traveling all over the world,” Juliana shifted her small body excitedly. “He is free as a bird, and if I want him to stay – which I most certainly do – I am quite sure a way can be found.

“Do you realize,” she crooned, suddenly changing the subject once again. “Mr. Chamberlain is at this moment in the guest room over our very heads,” she sighed and looked longingly at the elaborately wall-papered ceiling. “Father invited him to stay the week and I have no doubt he will be spending all his free time with us. Is that not the most marvelous news? We are going riding tomorrow and Stewart has promised to tell me all about his home and his adventures. Did you know he used to be a sailor?”

“Itdoesnotsurpriseme,”Sarahreplied through clenched teeth, thinking of the Yankee’s duplicity, and not Juliana’s ramblings. How dare he ask her to go riding – and then invite Juliana as well? At the moment, she did not know with whom she was most angry: Mr. Chamberlain or herself for being so naïve.

With an unusual desire to mollify her sister, Sarah snapped, “Tell me, Julie, are you not being forward in calling him ‘Stewart’? After all, you only met him this evening.”

“Oh, but he asked me to. He says that in America, they have become much less formal about such things than we, and besides, we did take a walk in the gardens, so it would be ridiculous to pretend we are strangers,” she said smugly, a sly smile quivering on her rosy lips.

“You what?!” Sarah gasped, her cheeks burning. “You let Mr. Chamberlain walk you alone in the gardens? Juliana, have you no sense of propriety? Father would be outraged,” she blurted, though she knew her sire could be no more offended than she herself.

“Sarah, for heaven’s sake. You are such a prude! The man asked me to show him around. And at the time, I thought I may never see him again, so you can understand I simply had to know what it would be like to kiss him,” Juliana said simply, as if her logic were ridiculously clear.

“Juliana, you should be ashamed of yourself. Sometimes you are so bold, I cannot believe you are my own flesh and blood,” Sarah railed, horrified by the knot of jealousy tightening in her stomach.

In a bored voice, Juliana replied, “And sometimes you are so cold, I find myself thinking the same.” With that, she jumped off the bed and twirled around on the pink and blue rug. “I am as far from ashamed as I can possibly be. Stewart is an accomplished lover and his kisses are divine,” she sighed dramatically, reaching for the bedpost and clutching it between her breasts. “If you were not so straight-laced, you might have found that out for yourself.”

With that, she planted a loud smack on the carved oak. “And now that I have told you my wonderful news, I am going to bed and pray that morn comes soon. I cannot wait to feast my eyes on Stewart Chamberlain again. Sarah,” she smirked, as she placed her small hand on the doorknob. “I want you to know that I envy you.”