Lilac Temptress (26 page)

“
Rosaline, please, you’re
embarrassing me,” Drake interrupted, quickly taking his sister’s
hand and sitting her across from Sierra. He would not let Rosaline
discredit Sierra by making her seem as if she were just any other
female, nor would he risk entering a conversation about his past
liaisons.

“
As you were saying, Drake
never really ever takes the time to introduce...” Sierra
inquisitively raised her brow.

“
We—” Rosaline gave brief
pause, taking note of Drake’s rigid stare. “Well several of our
family members never had much opportunity to meet any of Drake’s
female acquaintances,” Rosaline said politely.

“
Well, I haven’t actually
met any of them either,” Sierra countered with a hint of a
smile.

Rosaline quietly laughed. “Forgive me,
Sierra. Sometimes I slip and speak before I think.”

Drake’s lips curved into a
smile. It pleased him to see how much Sierra and Rosaline were
alike. Both were curt and witty. However, it had never fazed him
that Rosaline would be there in his home, on his immediate return.
And though he spoke the truth when he told her he was happy to see
her, he had no idea how things would play out going forward with
both these women staying in his home. He could only hope that each
would come to accept the other.
This will
be an interesting night
, he
thought.

“
So tell me, how is it that
you two have met?” Rosaline insisted.

“
Honestly Rosaline, must
you continue to embarrass me so?” Drake asked. “Sierra, Rosaline is
a bit overprotective.”

“
As you are of her, I’m
sure.” Sierra’s attention turned to a handsome young man entering
through the doors. “Kyle,” Sierra said, immediately beginning to
feel some ease of tension now that her brother was there. She hoped
his presence might help remove all the focus off her and Drake’s
first encounter.

Kyle strolled into the room, clean and
properly attired. He quickly seated himself in a chair next to
Sierra. Something was bothering him. Sierra could tell by his
thoughtful facial expression and the stiffness of his
body.

“
You
?” Rosaline all but jumped out her
seat; her lovely face wrinkled becoming a twisted mass of redness
as she stared at him with disbelief.

“
Who else might I be?” Kyle
deliberately refused to further acknowledge the girl seated across
from him. Instead, he savored the exquisite banquet set before him
on the table, telling himself that she didn’t exist.

“
I see you two have met,”
Drake spoke quaintly.

“
Yes, at the stable,” Kyle
answered quickly, trying to sound as casual as possible. He could
feel Rosaline’s glare burning a hole through his
forehead.

Rosaline turned to Drake, her
demanding stare pleading his explanation, her mouth
agape.

Drake decided not to answer Rosaline’s
questioning eyes but instead asked, “Shall we start dinner? I’m
famished.”

Drake raised his hand so that the
footman could start the business of serving them and then Drake
blessed the meal.

“
What is this?” Kyle asked
abruptly, looking at the stuff that sat on his plate.

Rosaline answered first,
implying with her tone that Kyle should know such simple cuisine.
“It is
gumbo
, made
with fresh oysters.”

Kyle placed a huge chunk
into his mouth. “It’s good. In fact it is
really
good. Sierra, isn’t this the
most delicious thing you’ve ever tasted?” He reached for a loaf of
flaky French bread, tearing and quickly shoving a piece into his
mouth.

In a state of shock, Rosaline gawked
at Kyle while he ate. She eyed his elbows on the table, his mouth
open, chewing and taking in large bites, all the while polishing it
all off with repeated gulps of red wine. Some of the drink escaped
his mouth and trickled down his chin. Kyle grinned at her with food
stuck between his teeth.

Sierra thought that Rosaline’s eyes
might pop out of her pretty little head.

“
Good to see a young man
with a hearty appetite that matches my own.” Drake was all too
amused with Kyle’s ravenous display.

Kyle responded by raising his crystal
wine goblet because his mouth was too full. He realized how
gluttonous he must have appeared, and for the most part he didn’t
care. He even found it laughable the way Rosaline sneered at him in
disgust. He wondered if he should be vexed with her. She was
utterly revolted by him. And he realized with secret joy that he
didn’t give a damn what she thought. All he needed was a good meal
and a good night’s sleep. He had no intentions of taking to heart
what that little girl might have thought of him.

Sierra stared at her plate, too
nervous to eat. She pushed her food around with her fork between
very small bites. Drake was so close to her and yet so far away,
she thought.

“
Drake, how do you
expect me to dine in
his
company?” Rosaline finally blurted out. She
couldn’t watch Kyle’s barbarism for another moment or she would
feign ill, she thought.

“
Sierra, Kyle, would you
two please excuse us for a moment?” Drake stood and motioned for
Rosaline to exit the room with him.

Sierra nodded quietly, as she could
not come up with an excuse for her brother’s crude
behavior.

After Drake and Rosaline took their
leave, Kyle roared with laughter, filling the room with his
triumphant victory.

* * *

Rosaline quickly followed Drake to a
nearby drawing room. He shut the two heavy doors behind
them.

“
These people are
your friends?” Rosaline let out an exasperated sigh, not letting
Drake answer her question before speaking again.
“
He
was tending a
beautiful stallion that I thought to be yours. By his manners, I
would mistake him for a pauper. They are both commoners are they
not?” Rosaline fumed. “
He
is lacking social experience and
grace.”

“
I take it you don’t
like
Kyle
very
much.” Drake laughed expressing his amusement at his little
sister’s blatant outburst.

“
Don’t you make fun of me!
I won’t let you be entertained by this!” Rosaline snapped
angrily.

“
Kyle’s really gotten under
your skin hasn’t he, Rosaline? Drake tried not to chuckle
excessively hard at her expense.

“
All banters aside, Drake.
Who are these people you have invited into your home?”

Drake’s face grew grim. He would not
tell her the whole story about Sierra and Kyle, or even parts of it
for that matter. He was a grown man and refused to be interrogated
by his little sister. “The simplest truth Rosaline is, that they
are my guests, and you should treat them as such.” Drake paused a
moment to give Rosaline an opportunity to respond.

She remained quiet, contemplating. A
frown creased her lips.

“
What is it Rosaline?”
Drake noticed the thoughtful change in her demeanor.

“
I’ve had many surprises
tonight.” Rosaline swooped into a tall end chair that swallowed her
petite frame. “However, I will treat them as guests, of course.
After all, I am much the same.” Rosaline paused briefly before
raising her next topic for discussion.

“
Drake, I have
something of importance to discuss with you. During the past month
while you’ve been away on business, rumor had it that you’ve been
courting Isadora.” Rosaline scrutinized Drake with wondering eyes.
“Of course Father was pleased to hear of it. He wasn’t sure what
your plans were for marriage. Honestly Drake, you didn’t think that
you could hide such a thing for long? And to keep this secret
from
me,
I’m
disappointed to hear it through hearsay. I am your only sister. Are
the rumors true?” Rosaline patiently waited for Drake’s
response.

Drake hands became clammy and he was
too paralyzed to answer. He had purposely put Isadora out of his
mind for a while, and he knew that these rumors would not have
surfaced and circulated throughout Society unless Isadora had
started them, and wanted them to be known.

“
By your silence I guess
that the rumors are true.” Rosaline lowered her brows in
consternation. She knew the look of her brother’s eyes meant that
she wouldn’t get very far with her inquiries.

“
Lately, every time we meet
Isadora becomes a topic for discussion,” Drake grunted. He had been
in a cheerful mood and wanted to remain that way.

“
I know father wants you to
marry her but...” Rosaline sighed deeply before protesting. “She is
always trying to steal the spotlight. She thinks everyone should
cater to her as if she is the Queen of the South. I can’t wait to
see the look on her face once she finds out that you’re keeping a
woman here who matches her in beauty—and at least now there is not
a chance of you marrying that wretched Marcos woman... Of course,
Mother and Father will be upset. Father looked forward to your
union.”

“
You’re being very
presumptuous, don’t you think Rosaline?” Drake said, heavily eyeing
her.

“
Drake, you know how much I
dislike Isadora,” she stressed with frustration. “She is
pretentious and arrogant. I can barely stand to be in the same room
with her during social events.”

“
Must
you
dislike her
so
much?” Drake responded
with displeasure as Rosaline stared up at him. Her hands were
folded neatly in her lap and her aura—full of resistance, bombarded
him.

“
Must
you
like her
so
much? Of course, you
are a
man
. You
only see how pretty Isadora is, like the rest of the male
pack.”

“
I will not have you speak
of her so disparagingly under my roof,” Drake corrected his sister
firmly to dissuade her from further argument. “For God’s sake, is
everyone so knowledgeable of Isadora and me?” Drake marveled,
folding his arms across his chest at Rosaline.

“
Well don’t
swear
.” Rosaline frowned
at her brother’s ill manners. “And no… Not everyone—only those who
matter in Society.

“
When I saw Lady Maudet, I
just thought for a moment, that maybe the gossip was not true. I
hoped that it was not true… She is quite beautiful—Sierra, I mean,
even though she is not of wellborn linage,” Rosaline speculated
aloud.

“
What do you care about
nobility, Rosaline? You’ve been a rebel from the day you were born.
And look at you now, all grown up and quite a lovely young woman
running from numerous suitors even, likely too many to count,”
Drake huffed.

They both stared past each other,
wrapped in their own thoughts for a moment, before Drake broke the
silence. “When you marry, marry for more than a name.”

“
Don’t worry,
brother. When and
if
I do marry, it will be for love,” Rosaline said, glaring at
Drake, who stood quietly, towering above her. “Well, I guess I
should tell you more about why I am here.”

“
You know I don’t need
reasons, Rosaline.” Drake softened his voice. He was glad the
argument was over.

“
I know, Drake. But all the
same, Father and Mother are throwing their annual gala the night
after tomorrow. There is going to be a grand jubilee at their
estate and I decided to be the one to deliver the invitation to you
personally.

Everyone who is anyone will be there
as usual, including Alexandre Marcos and no doubt his daughter.”
Rosaline drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair. “It’s a black
tie affair as is the custom,” she sighed, sounding bored with the
event already.

Drake shared his sister’s sentiments.
He’d rather stay home and enjoy his guests but he knew there was no
escaping this event. Unless there was something of dire importance
or he was away on business travels, his parents never excused him.
And he also knew that Sierra wanted to gain new experiences, and
parties of grandeur, such as those hosted by his parents, she’d
likely enjoy.

“
Rosaline, I need to ask
you a favor. I need you to help prepare Sierra for this gathering.
I wish to invite her and her brother, Kyle, to attend.”

“
You can’t be serious,
Drake?” Rosaline exclaimed, but one look into her brother’s eyes
told her that he was extremely serious. “How would I even go about
getting her ready in one day? It has already taken me over a week
to prepare for this ball!” she protested.

“
Get to know her, Rosaline.
Befriend her. Accommodate her. Help her conform to our rules of
conduct. She’s not much older than you,” Drake beseeched
her.

“
Conform
—and what should we tell
people when they ask about them?”

Drake thought for a moment. “Tell them
they are friends of yours visiting from out of town. You needn’t
say more.”