Lilac Temptress (36 page)

“
I would hope so. I do not
wish to catch my death from her,” Isadora turned her nose up at
Sierra before glaring at Drake. She hadn’t missed Sierra’s exit
from the ball or how Gerard causally disappeared through the crowd,
going after her—although she had at first considered that Sierra
and Girard were romantically involved, after witnessing them
dancing together. But now she knew her assumption had been wrong.
And Sierra’s disappearing act from the party did not go unnoticed
by others.

During the celebration Isadora stood
with Drake at her side, secretly seething each time his attention
turned away from her so that he could explain Sierra’s sudden
absence to those who had inquired—hoping for an introduction.
Isadora had sought to ease her mind away from the competition by
escaping Drake a few times, making her rounds, speaking to
others—feeling more and more confident each time that someone told
her how perfect a pair she and Drake made. But now she was not so
sure that Sierra was not a problem. And she wondered what interest
Drake might have in Sierra. After all, he did have a reputation for
his appreciation of beautiful women.

“
Will you tell me why she
is staying here to begin with?” Isadora inquired of Drake, letting
her insecurity get the best of her.

“
The
three
of them are my
guests,” Drake said in a way that oversimplified the more complex
situation as he gestured toward Rosaline, Sierra, and Kyle—who
remained a silent onlooker. By Drake’s guess, the look on Kyle’s
face showed that he had no intentions of further stirring trouble
and Drake was silently grateful.

Isadora dared not give Sierra’s
presence any more discussion. She’d rather not rile Drake’s
feelings by forcing the issue. The hour was too near for their
nuptials, and her objective was to keep him rapt with her, long
enough to exchange their vows.

“
Isadora, let me show you
to the morning room. I am certain you might enjoy a cup of warm
mint tea, allowing me the time to properly dress, and afterwards
join you.” Drake used his most charming voice, taking Isadora’s
hand, and leading her down the hall with the intention to get her
away from the others before real harm could be done.

Rosaline watched Drake with that
heartless shrew stroll off, silently loathing the sight of them
together before voicing, “Sierra, you took no favors from the ball.
I have an ivory and ostrich plume fan for you, a lace handkerchief,
and small bells in my room.”

Rosaline glanced briefly at Kyle.
“Meet me in the stable at noon. Sierra and I must talk woman to
woman.”

Rosaline watched Kyle obediently nod
before he strolled away; he had already had enough excitement, and
the day was just beginning.

“
Come with me Sierra,”
Rosaline beckoned.

“
I do not like Isadora and
my place is not here. I am no longer welcome,” Sierra
murmured.

“
Nonsense,” Rosaline
snapped, squeezing Sierra’s hand gently and pulling her down the
hall. “Now, come along quickly to my room. I will not have my
brother wed her.”

They entered the bedroom and Rosaline
shut the door behind her giving them privacy.

“
Why not, Rosaline? As I
understand it they are well suited for each other.”

“
They are anything but. And
why would you say such a thing?” Rosaline countered. “She will make
my brother miserable. She will have him catering to her every whim.
Marriage for her is only about riches.”

“
Isn’t that what Drake
wants—an alliance between your two families?” Sierra pressed,
taking a seat on a plush sofa near the veranda.

“
He is only marrying her
for the sake of our father.” Rosaline paced back and forth quickly,
slapping her fists together. “Drake is loyal to him. He will honor
father’s wishes even if it means sacrificing his own happiness,”
Rosaline complained. “Drake does not love her,” Rosaline said—the
highly flavored pitch of her own voice shocked her.

“
Are you certain? How do
you know this for sure?” Sierra asked, unconvinced.

“
I know this because he is
in love with you!”

Sierra’s body quivered over the
thought that Drake might be in love with her. She had no idea how
Rosaline could be so unquestionably positive. And even if Drake did
love her, it didn’t change the fact that he belonged to another
woman, Sierra concluded.

“
By my guess you are in
love with him,” Rosaline continued more gently, taking a seat
beside Sierra and touching her forearm. She hoped that her
comforting touch would calm Sierra’s nerves.

“
I don’t know what you are
insinuating, Rosaline.”

“
Oh, but don’t you? I
saw your pained expression before you scurried out of the ballroom
last night. I saw the way Drake watched you as you left. He tried
to be discrete, but it was all too clear to
me
that he has feelings for you, even
if he doesn’t know what they are. He has never been in love before,
at least not to my knowledge. I don’t think he ever wanted to fall
in love. I don’t think that you were ever part of his plans.
However, I do think that you came at the right time. Everything
happens for a reason.” Rosaline paused to give Sierra time to
consider her words.

“
When I first met you, I
did not know if I could trust you... I did not know if you were
only after my brother’s wealth—after all, you are so pretty. Drake
weakens at the sight of beautiful women—whom have always been his
Achilles’ heel. But last night it became evident to me that you are
in love with him. Tell me if I am wrong.”

“
And what do you know about
love young lady?” Sierra questioned, rather than respond to her
accusation.

“
Apparently more than Drake
and yourself.”

Sierra stared at Rosaline. If she
admitted that she loved Drake she would be bound to that love by
way of her own confession. She couldn’t think of how Drake made her
feel. He belonged to someone else and she would not dwell on him,
lest she set herself up for even more despair. “It does not matter
how I feel, Rosaline. They are betrothed, and will marry in just
three weeks. And I have more important things to do. Like find work
and a dwelling. What is done is done.”

“
They are only
engaged
, it is not
binding—what is done can still be undone with your help, and
finding work will be no problem for you, really. I can help with
that. I know people who will give you work on my word. The more
urgent matter requiring your attention is to help Drake
come to his senses. He tells
me
that I should marry for love,”
Rosaline puffed. “Sierra, I want him to do the
same.”

“
You ask me to risk my
heart, Rosaline. You want me to become vulnerable to rejection. I
cannot compete with her!” Sierra realized the sound of her voice
was almost frantic. She instantly slowed her choppy
breathing.

“
And why not, because she
is highborn? I ask you to give yourself and Drake a chance to see
if what you two have is real. You took a chance by even coming
here, Sierra. Why not take another risk?” Rosaline dared
her.

“
Because my heart is on the
line. Isadora is beautiful, business savvy, and cultivated. Not to
mention she is of nobility. I am just a small town girl, lucky
enough just to be here. How could I possibly compare?”

“
Kyle speaks of you as
strong, but I see no strength in you now. You are behaving like a
coward.”

“
I am not, Rosaline. And
you should really mind your tongue if you wish to keep our fondness
of each other in tact,” Sierra scoffed. She knew Rosaline was only
trying to help like Kyle had, last night. But neither of them had
any business interfering in her relationship with Drake.

“
I apologize, Sierra. I
know that we have not known each other long, and I do wish to
remain in good standing with you. But I know my brother very well,
and he is lonely in this place...” Rosaline frowned, lowering her
head.

“
You must know that he uses
work as a distraction, and even though I have tried to convince him
to find his true love, he thinks that my wishes for him are nothing
more than an adolescent dream. He says his life is too busy for a
great romance. However, I honestly believe that he doesn’t think he
deserves to be happy—he would never tell me this of course, but I
know my brother,” Rosaline argued, convincingly.

“
Rosaline...” Sierra spoke
softly; she knew in her heart that what Rosaline said was true. She
could feel Drake’s desperation each time that he held her. His
yearning for her always seemed tied to his principled sense of
right and wrong. His feelings for her were impossible for her to
read, and yet she desperately wanted to believe that he needed
her—and she missed him, his familiar scent, his warm embrace, and
his saturating voice whispering in her ear.

“
Sierra, I know that
he
does
have
feelings for you. I think you might know it too. But he will leave
them at bay, and do what he thinks is right according to my
father’s will. All I ask is that if you love him, fight for him. Do
not give up so easily,” Rosaline beseeched her.

Sierra contemplated Rosaline’s
proposition. What did she really have to lose, her dignity? It
seemed like Isadora would take the little dignity that she had
left.

“
I will have a servant sent
into town today with your measurements to select proper clothing
for you. Meanwhile, come to my closet and let’s dress you in
something pretty. Sierra, please take caution. Isadora mustn’t know
who you really are. She will make us all very miserable if she
finds out,” Rosaline forewarned.

“
I still have not agreed to
go along with this scheme. Now that you have told me that you can
help me find work, why should I subject myself to this plot of
yours?” Sierra raised her brows at Rosaline.

“
Am I so wrong to ask you?
You still have not answered my question yet. Do you love
Drake?”

Sierra looked down at her lap quietly.
“I’m sorry. I will not do what you ask. I will not be your pawn. I
hope there will be no enmity between us on account of my
decision.”

Rosaline grimaced,
disappointed.

“
We have nothing left to
discuss.” Sierra lightly patted Rosaline’s hands that sat on her
lap, and then she stood and swiftly exited the room.

Sierra decided that she would get
Benjamin to take her into the city just as soon as she dressed in
daywear. She would try her luck at finding employment without the
help of Rosaline. She wasn’t in an ideal situation, and she would
not wait until the day that Drake told her she and Kyle must leave.
She decided that her best plan of action was to find work as
quickly as possible. Three weeks wasn’t very long, and she did not
plan to stick around for the wedding day.

* * *

Drake closed the doors to the morning
room after guiding Isadora inside. “Would it do you too greatly an
injustice to be a little more kind?” Drake asked
restlessly.

Despite Drake’s obvious irritation,
Isadora leaned into him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, and
pressed her head into his chest. “Forgive me, Drake. It is only
that I’ve missed you over the past few months, and your sister and
guests have already consumed so much of my time and energy. Every
minute that I can spend with you alone is all that matters to me.
Except for last night, I have not seen you enough lately, and we
have not made love for quite some time. You were away on business
far too long this time.”

Isadora lifted her chin, looking into
his eyes while lifting the ends of his nightshirt and maneuvering
her hands up his chest, ready to pull it over his head.

Drake stopped her.

“
What troubles you?”
Isadora nearly shrieked as he put her aside. “This is the second
time I’ve beckoned you to bed since your return, and you have
refused me.”

“
We are to be married,
Isadora, in just a few short weeks. We should abstain. It will make
our nuptial journey more enjoyable. We’ve waited this long haven’t
we?” Drake didn’t feel his usual draw or sexual desire for her.
Sierra’s distress was stained in his memory. He could barely stand
being in the same room with Isadora right now. He wanted to get
away, and think about all the events that had recently passed, and
figure out what he should do about Sierra and Kyle.

“
I don’t prefer to wait,”
Isadora responded seductively ignoring Drake’s protest. She took
his hands and slowly glided them over her covered breasts, and up
her throat to her cheeks. She pulled his body against hers, drawing
him near with her hands. “Don’t fight me.” Her lips pressed against
his. Drake reluctantly yielded to her, and took possession of her
mouth momentarily before slowly pulling away. He did not enjoy
lingering on her lips. His troubled mind would not allow
it.

“
We will wait, Isadora,”
Drake uttered, watching her. He could not deny that she was indeed
a vision of loveliness, but now was not the time. “Don’t distress,
I will make it worth our wait, and meanwhile, I will arrange to
work from home until the wedding. I won’t leave you
unattended.”