More than Passion (18 page)

By the time they reached the third party, Becca was growing tired. It was a large affair, and the rooms were quite crowded and noisy. After greeting their hostess, Geoffrey grasped Becca’s elbow and led her to the main ball room. He bent his head to hers. “Would you care to dance?”

“Actually, I’d like to rest for a moment.”

“Certainly, love.”

He led her over to a row of chairs and sat beside her. They were almost immediately surrounded by Geoffrey’s friends.

“Kane!” Viscount Leed exclaimed. “Where have you been all evening?”

“Rebecca and I have been making the rounds, Leed.”

“Lady Kanewood, how are you?” Chester asked.

“Very well, thank you. We’ve been having a splendid time.”

“Good evening, Kane,” Lord Roberts intoned, shouldering his way between Chester and Leed. He took Becca’s gloved hand in his. “Rebecca.”

“Good evening, Lord Roberts,” she said.

“Kane,” Chester began, his tone light. “Leed and I would like a word with you when you get a chance.”

Geoffrey looked uncertain.

“Go on, Kane,” Roberts said. “I’ll keep Rebecca entertained.”

After a brief hesitation, Geoffrey agreed to speak with the other gentlemen.

Becca arched a brow. “Is anything wrong?”

He shook his head. “Don’t fret, love. I won’t be long.”

He kissed her lightly and followed Leed and Chester to the other side of the room.

Roberts took the chair her husband had vacated, his leg brushing lightly against hers. She barely noticed his closeness, her eyes still on Geoffrey. He turned his back to her then, deep in conversation with the other two gentlemen. With a sigh, she turned back to the man seated beside her.

His eyes sparkled as they ran over her. “May I say, Rebecca, that you look splendid this evening. Like a goddess.”

She smiled at his choice of words. “It’s the gown, I daresay.”

Roberts shook his head at her. “No, though it’s quite beautiful.”

She nodded at his compliment. “Thank you.”

Roberts began to amuse her with stories about the other party-goers. Each time one passed by, he’d tell her something of them. Most of the stories were from when they were all young and foolish. She smiled to learn that even members of such high society had their mistakes and foibles.

* * * *

Across the room, Geoffrey listened intently to Leed. The man had worked with them many times over the years, and was very trustworthy in Geoffrey’s opinion.

“Kane,” Leed began. “I don’t know how to tell you this, but someone has been passing notes in your name.”

“We were aware of that, Leed.”

Leed’s piercing blue eyes bore into Geoffrey’s. “No, you don’t understand. Someone is pretending to be you.”

Geoffrey looked from one man to the other. Chester nodded solemnly.

“But who would do such a thing? I’m surely not the wealthiest peer, not by many standards.” Geoffrey sucked in a breath. “Who held these notes, Leed?”

Leed shrugged. “Therein lies our problem. The notes passed through a few hands before ending up on your solicitor’s desk for payment.”

“I was afraid of that,” Geoffrey said. “When they informed me of the notes, I had no notion of their origin. I daresay they poured over the ledgers with a fine-tooth comb to discover any errors, though now we know the notes were forged.”

“The notes were paid, then?” Leed asked.

“Of course,” Geoffrey said. “They had no way of knowing I hadn’t written them myself. Can they be traced, Chester?”

“That’s what Roberts is looking into now. He and Leed here will try to find out who held them originally.”

Geoffrey nodded and opened his mouth to comment. He heard Becca’s laugh then, a sweet sound that carried from across the room. He turned and watched Roberts with his wife. Their dark heads were nearly touching. The viscount was obviously using all of his charm on her. Becca laughed again, placing her hand on Roberts’s arm.

Geoffrey’s eyes narrowed. “Gentlemen, if you will excuse me. I think my wife needs my attention just now.”

He reached Becca’s side, drawing Roberts’s attention as the man leaned closer to whisper in her ear. “Telling tales, Roberts?”

Becca looked up at him, tears of laughter in her eyes. “Geoffrey.” She giggled. “He knows the silliest stories.”

Geoffrey nodded, smiling at the delight on her face.

Roberts sat back. “And all of them true, God help us all.”

She laughed again. Geoffrey stood over the other man, waiting for his intentions to become clear. Roberts, however, didn’t catch his meaning quickly enough.

“If you will excuse us, Roberts,” he said, taking Becca’s hand. “My wife has promised me a dance.”

She stood up and smoothed her dress. She happily let her husband lead her out onto the dance floor.

“Did you enjoy Roberts’s stories, love?”

“Yes, very much so. Only he wouldn’t tell me any about you.”

He arched a brow at that. “What is it you would like to know?”

She shrugged. “Just a bit about you when you were young and mischievous.”

“I never got into the slightest bit of trouble, I assure you,” he answered in mock-severity.

“I don’t believe that for a moment, husband.”

He smiled at her, drawing her closer. “Never mind.”

“Hmm,” she said, a playful look in her eye. “Perhaps I can persuade Lord Roberts to tell me all your secrets.”

He stiffened for a moment, not liking the idea of her being alone with the man. He also didn’t want her to know about his government work years ago, when he’d been embroiled in heated debates regarding Parliament’s insistence that England have no standing army.

He and Roberts, along with others, had worked furiously in the background to bring changes to the system, finding nothing but frustration at every bend. He saw his efforts as a failure, and preferred to keep the matter from Becca’s observance.

“Geoffrey, what is it?”

He shook his head and flashed her a smile. “Nothing, love.” He lowered his voice. “And we already share the most delicious secrets.”

A faint blush covered her cheeks as he brought his lips to her ear and whispered all the intimacies he wanted to share with her that very evening.

* * * *

With the Season nearly at an end, Geoffrey and Becca returned to Kanewood. Geoffrey was eager to get out of London and the danger it presented. Becca and Lady Margaret would be involved with preparations for the ball they would host in just two weeks. Many of the friends they had seen in town would come up to Kanewood for the bash to celebrate their nuptials. Of course, with the estate being so far flung from London, they would all stay for a time. It promised to be a lengthy affair, with the men hunting and the women gossiping for at least a week. A true house party set in one of the loveliest parts of England.

Becca and Lady Margaret wrote out the invitations while still in London, making sure all were delivered. The replies began to arrive at the townhouse the day after the invitations were sent. It seemed that all of the earl’s acquaintances were looking forward to celebrating their union, as well as spending a week in the country on the beautiful Kanewood estate.

They stopped at the Raven’s Inn on the way back home to invite Thomas to the affair. His chest puffed out with pride to be included in the festivities.

Once back at Kanewood, Lady Margaret began her tutelage. Becca listened intently to the woman, for Kanewood had hosted many an affair when Geoffrey’s father was alive. The older woman went over such matters as planning the menu, and selecting what types of flowers with which to dress the ballroom. The men would undoubtedly entertain themselves during the days as the hunting was quite good. And Lady Margaret was looking forward to spending unhurried afternoons in good company and pleasant conversation.

The day before the guests began to arrive, their preparations were long-finished. The staff readied the guest rooms and the kitchen was prepared. That morning after breakfast, Becca took herself up to the nursery to visit with Ann. The little girl squealed happily to see her aunt. Becca told her that she’d missed her very much when they were all in London. She played with the little girl, even sharing her snack of milk and biscuits. Ann seemed to crave the attention and it was a shame that the child’s mother didn’t show such affection to the girl.

Geoffrey found Becca in the nursery later. Ann seemed shy around him and stayed close to Becca’s side.

“Hello, Ann.” He smiled down at her. “How are you this fine day?”

“Hello, Uncle Geoffrey,” she said softly.

He turned his attention to his wife. “I wished to see you, love. Before I went out.”

“Where are you going?” Becca asked him.

“I need to see to those repairs we spoke of.”

She nodded and crouched down to the little girl. “I have to go now, Ann. But I’ll come back to visit you again.”

Ann threw her arms around Becca’s neck and placed a noisy kiss on her cheek. The obvious and open affection between Becca and the child touched his heart. There was no doubt in his mind that she would make a wonderful mother should they ever be so blessed. Like he had been, their child would be assured of its parents’ love. It was a shame that Ann did not have that certainty.

 They left the nursery and went back downstairs.

Geoffrey took Becca’s hand as they reached the main floor. “I probably won’t return until after tea time.”

She placed her hands on his chest and kissed him lightly. “I’ll see you then.”

After taking lunch, she joined Lady Margaret and Patricia in the parlor. The two women were busily working on their needlework, so Becca set about painting the fire screen she’d been decorating. It wasn’t very large, but the design she painted was quite intricate. She wanted to use it in her and Geoffrey’s chamber and chose a design of flowers to offset the masculine furnishings.

The three ladies passed the afternoon and when tea time was nearly upon them, Patricia suddenly sighed irritably.

Becca looked at her sister-in-law in surprise. “Is something wrong, Patricia?”

Patricia set her needlework aside and stood. “Yes,” she answered, full of pique. “My husband has been out all day and I have need to speak with him.”

Becca blinked at her. She looked to Lady Margaret, who simply gave a slight shrug of her shoulders. Becca turned back to Patricia. “I’m certain he’ll be back soon.”

A smile curved Patricia’s lips. “And where is Kane?”

“Geoffrey had to take care of some matters on the estate,” she answered easily. “I don’t expect him back much before dinner.”

Becca’s calm response seemed to only make Patricia more irritated. With a swish of her skirt, she left them.

“I wonder what made her so angry?” Becca asked.

“Patricia is used to getting her own way,” Lady Margaret answered. “Don’t take it personally, dear.”

Becca nodded and returned her attention to the fire screen. She would not give Patricia and her prickly behavior another thought. Instead, she focused on how pleasant it was to pass the time without that woman in the room.

She was just filling in a lovely pink tulip on the screen when Geoffrey strode into the room. She was focused on her work, biting her lip in concentration.

“Hello, love,” he greeted her from the doorway.

She looked up, startled. A smile slowly curved her lips as she took in his appearance. He’d indeed been working on the estate. He’d removed his jacket at some point and his shirt was open at the collar. It was rumpled and soiled, and his breeches were dusty. His hair was tousled and dirt was smudged on his face. He looked absolutely gorgeous to her, like the plainly-dressed man she’d first met at Raven’s.  He affected her as he had that very first day, causing her heart to trip and her breath to catch.

“Geoffrey, what have you been about?” Lady Margaret asked.

“Seeing to some repairs, Mother.”

“You look a fright.”

“Oh, I disagree,” Becca intoned. “I think he looks like quite the rogue.”

Geoffrey smiled, his eyes twinkling. He crossed to her and kissed her lightly. He pulled back and looked at her, suddenly grinning.

“What is it, husband?”

He reached out a finger and rubbed her nose. “I’m afraid I left my mark on you, wife.”

She shooed him out of the room and watched him as he left. She turned to Lady Margaret, noting the laughter in the woman’s eyes. She smiled at her mother-in-law and once again bent her head over her work.

Chapter 19

Awaiting dinner in the dining room, John and Patricia discussed the upcoming event. Lady Margaret hadn’t yet joined them, so they talked freely.

“Heaven help us, John,” Patricia began, rankled. “All of Kane’s friends will be here. The place will be overrun.”

“I disagree, my dove. I, for one, am looking forward to the hunting. It’ll be pleasant to have some spirited competition.”

“But what of the ball tomorrow night? Yet another evening devoted to the earl and his ‘ravishing’ bride.”

“Careful, careful,” he gently chided. “Do I see the green-eyed monster peeking out from your beautiful blue eyes?”

She sighed irritably. He chuckled then and grasped her hand. “Rebecca is quite stunning. But she can never outshine you in my eyes.”

Patricia let his words convince her of his loyalty.

John turned his attention to the doorway just as Geoffrey and Becca entered the room. He stood as they entered. “Kane, where have you been all day? I could have used your company on my outing. The pub was a dreadful bore, I daresay.”

“I had work to see to, brother,” Geoffrey replied.  “Something you are always welcome to help me with.”

“Now why ever would I do that, brother?” John shrugged.  “You’re the earl and therefore the work must be yours to shoulder just as the rewards are yours to reap. I am merely the second son.”

“You’ve had plenty of rewards, John,” Geoffrey retorted. “Father left you well taken care of.”

John gritted his teeth and then shrugged. “Perhaps.” He effectively dismissed his brother by turning to Rebecca, with a charming smile. “Good evening, Rebecca.”