One Rogue Too Many (7 page)

The baron grabbed the reins and signaled to his tiger. “That sounds like a challenge, Ellis.”

“I already won the challenge, remember? Now, be gone, you bloody mongrel.”

“I’m not the one foaming at the mouth, my friend.” Thorne flashed a jaunty grin and snapped the reins. The curricle lurched forward with a loud creak, gained momentum as it sped through the gates, and turned onto the boulevard.

Anthony dusted off his hands. Well, that was settled. But if Gabby’s brother thought he was going to wait until that evening to speak with her, Luke was mistaken. They had been apart long enough, and she wasn’t likely to forgive him if he gave up so easily.

He reentered the foyer without knocking and thankfully found it abandoned. Pausing inside the threshold, he considered his next move. His gaze locked on the stairwell. Her chambers were situated on the second floor. But he couldn’t, could he?

Before he could attempt anything too reckless, a maid swept into the foyer with charcoals and a sketchbook hugged to her chest. The same young woman who had taken care of the bouquet he’d brought for Gabby. She afforded him a curious glance but didn’t allow his presence to disrupt her mission.

When she disappeared through a doorway leading to the conservatory, he forced himself to stay put. He couldn’t follow and expect the chit wouldn’t notice. Several moments later, the maid reappeared empty-handed. This time she gawked as she slowly crossed the marble floor.

Anthony readjusted his hat and reached for the door handle. “I must be off now. Good day.”

He opened the door as if he was leaving, then quietly closed it again when the servant was gone. Before anyone else discovered him skulking about, he strode toward the conservatory, where he was sure Gabby was practicing her art.

Her back was to him, her head bent over her drawing as he entered. Her hand flew across the page in fast, graceful strokes. His throat suddenly felt tight. When had he last watched her sketch? Perhaps around the time his mother had died.

Gabby was so intent on whatever she was drawing she hadn’t realized he was there. Sunlight streamed through the windows, igniting the auburn in her dark hair. The color was always subtle and unexpected.

“Beautiful,” he murmured.

She gasped and twisted around on the settee. Her rosebud lips were parted and all he could think about was kissing them until they were swollen and pliable.

“Anthony.” Her voice was little more than a whisper. She tossed her sketch aside and shoved it under a pillow. “I thought you’d left.”

He pulled the door closed, then sauntered toward the settee. Her fingers clutched the charcoal as she looked up with wide gray eyes. Corby had been correct. She was an orchid among common roses, exotic and intriguing. God, how he had missed her.

He smiled. “I came to see you. Why would I leave before I’ve accomplished my aim? It is good to see you again, my love.”

He sat beside her and she quickly scooted over to create a sliver of space between them. He could still feel her body heat, however, and revel in her lingering perfume. Lavender. The scent was fiery and soft all at once. It suited her.

Her knuckles were turning white from gripping the charcoal.

He affectionately bumped her shoulder with his as he’d done many times. It was his way of telling her everything was all right.

“Cat got your tongue? I’ve never known you to be this quiet.”

She pursed her lips. “You seem uncommonly concerned with my tongue, my lord. First it is too sharp and now you insinuate I’ve become a mute.”

“Well, you just disproved the latter, but I maintain you have a sharp tongue,” he said with a wink.

“The better to give you a proper dressing-down for stealing into the conservatory when I am not properly chaperoned. What are you doing here?”

“Aren’t we beyond the need for a chaperone?” He reached for her hand, but she pushed to her feet and hugged her arms around her body.

“And why is that, Lord Ellis? Correct me if I’m wrong, but we are not betrothed. You missed your appointment with my brother weeks ago.”

He winced. Although he had known he would have to answer for his prolonged absence, he hadn’t expected to be scolded. “I promised to return, and here I am.”

“You promised to return
before
Easter, and there was no word from you. Did you expect me to read your mind to know you would be late?”

“I expected you to trust me.”

“Trust you.” She shook her head and walked to the window, presenting her back. “It wouldn’t have been the first time you misled me.”

He sighed. “Not this again. We aren’t children any longer. When are you going to stop holding me accountable for things I did as a boy?”

She glared over her shoulder, then turned back to the window. Well,
one
of them was no longer a child.

His gaze slid down her narrow back and tapered waist, and feasted on the roundness of her hips. No, she was definitely all grown now. The realization that she was a woman and no longer a little girl had hit him at her father’s birthday celebration three years earlier. A forbidden desire he had buried had resurfaced.

The day he had received her letter expressing her love and imploring him not to marry Camilla, he had known he loved her too. But it had been wrong. Gabby had been too young, their age difference too large. To love his best friend’s little sister was depraved. Besides, he had been engaged to a woman he thought would complete him.

He’d been wrong, because that woman stood before him now. Walking away from Gabby had been a mistake he wouldn’t make again.

He went to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She stiffened in his embrace, but he didn’t allow that to deter him. His lips grazed her ear, then trailed loving kisses along her neck. “I missed you, Gabrielle.”

She melted against him, her back molding to his front.

“You must have known I wanted to be here with you,” he said.

“How?” she whispered. “You were gone so long and you sent no word. I don’t even know what you were doing in Wales.”

He pulled back, his lust cooling by degrees. He had planned to share his secret today, but her cool reception gave him pause. What if she refused his offer? He must protect Annabelle above all others. If there was any doubt in Gabby’s mind…

He urged her to face him. Perhaps if he looked into her eyes, he would see that she still loved him, that he could trust her. He studied her in silence, searching for a flicker of anything to reassure him.

Her expression began to harden again, and she crossed her arms. Her eyes became like shards of ice. “Aren’t you going to tell me anything? I want to know why you were in Wales.”

He released her, disconcerted by her coldness. “What happened to your promise to wait for me? What is this nonsense with you being on the marriage mart?”

“That isn’t an answer.”

“Neither is
that
.”

She flung her hands in the air. “I had no excuse to give my brother when he insisted it was time to return to London. What would you have had me tell him?”

She had a point, but that didn’t explain Thorne.

“Attending balls is one thing, but taking carriage rides with the baron was unnecessary. Your brother didn’t force you into accepting his invitations, did he?”

“Luke would never force me into accepting anyone’s suit.”

“I’m fully aware of that, thank you. Why didn’t you tell him I was coming today?”

“Why do you get to ask all the questions?”

“
That
was a question.”

“And you didn’t answer again. Really, Anthony. You are too frustrating by half. Do you truly want to know why I didn’t mention you? I couldn’t count on you showing up.”

He balked. “How can you say that? I realize I wasn’t back by Easter, but you were aware I intended to ask for your hand. When have I ever let you down?”

Her mouth dropped open as if she had a retort, but she snapped it shut.

“Go on. You seem to have something to say.”

She shook her head. “It’s nothing. Perhaps we should forget about that day at Ellis Hall. I showed up on your doorstep unannounced and my emotions were high. You were just trying to comfort me. I don’t blame you for—for…you know.”

“Almost making love to you?”

She blushed and backed up a step. “I understand. You did the honorable thing by asking for my hand.”

There had been nothing honorable about his offer. Once she was his wife, he wouldn’t have to stop himself from taking her on the settee, or any place they damn well pleased.

“I’m releasing you,” she said with a dismissive flick of her wrist. “Lord Thorne has made his intentions known. You needn’t worry about me anymore.”

His blood shot to boiling. “I didn’t ask you to marry me because I was worried about your future.” He’d been worried about his own. “I refuse to be released.”

“What? Why? Even before you left, you avoided me like the plague. I know you don’t really want to marry me.”

“You know nothing, you little fool.”

She cried out in outrage. “A fool? You call me a fool and I am supposed to believe you love me.”

Damn.
He was mucking this up badly. “I didn’t mean to call you a fool. But not realizing I needed to keep my distance to remain a gentleman makes you seem kind of foolish.”

She cried out again. “And
you
seem kind of like an overbearing jackanapes who has no sense of how to woo a lady. Fool, indeed. I would have to be one to marry you.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’ve changed my mind. See yourself out.”

He caught her arm before she stormed away. “Well, change it back.”

“Change what back? My mind?” She tried to jerk free, but he wouldn’t allow her to run without talking this through fully. “Let me go!”

He released her as the door opened, and Gabby’s sister appeared in the threshold, her brow furrowed. “Is everything all right? I heard yelling.”

Gabby swung toward her sister. “Oh! I—uh… We—”

“I was just leaving, Lady Elizabeth.” Anthony bent over Gabby’s hand. “Forgive me, my lady,” he said under his breath. “I have been an unpardonable arse.”

He placed a kiss on her bare fingers, then smiled. “I shall endeavor to change your mind in a less high-handed manner when we next meet.”

But change her mind, he would. He’d learned while he was away that he didn’t want to live without her.

Anthony offered another smile to Gabby’s younger sister and bid her farewell. “Until tonight, ladies. His Grace has graciously invited me to dine at Talliah House this evening. I look forward to furthering our discussion, Lady Gabrielle.”

Lady Elizabeth batted her lashes. “Perhaps you could
both
raise your voices next time, my lord? It makes eavesdropping much easier.”

“Lizzie!”

Gabby’s sister smiled cheekily in response to her rebuke. “We look forward to this evening, Lord Ellis,” she said.

“As do I, Lady Elizabeth.”

Six

As soon as the conservatory door closed, Gabby collapsed on the settee. “What did you overhear?”

Lizzie performed a graceful pirouette then plopped on the settee, her deep blue eyes sparkling. “Not enough to satisfy me. Why were you arguing with Lord Ellis?”

“It’s a long, uninteresting story.”

“I doubt it’s uninteresting. Ellis is the most fascinating gentleman I know.”

Gabby couldn’t help smiling at her sister’s enthusiasm. “You don’t know many men.”

“Just because I haven’t had my coming out yet.”

When Gabby flinched, her sister’s smile faded and she took Gabby’s hand. “Katie and I will have our chance. Enjoy your Season.”

“But this should have been yours.”

“Well, next Season is soon enough.” Lizzie’s smile returned. “And then I will become acquainted with a slew of gentlemen, all of them eager to sign my dance card. I shall have so much fun choosing between them.”

Gabby chuckled and squeezed her sister’s hand. “You’re not likely to become acquainted with that many gentlemen. Our brothers have a tendency to keep them at bay.”

In truth, their brothers would have their work cut out for them. Lizzie was a beautiful young lady, as was her twin, Katie. But Katie tended toward shyness and Lizzie seemed to have none.

“Why do you find Lord Ellis fascinating?” Gabby asked, unable to deny her curiosity.

“He is mysterious, wouldn’t you agree? I never know how to read him, with his hooded eyes and reticence.” She sighed. “But how lovely it would be to unravel his secrets.”

Gabby rolled her eyes. “What you see is exactly how he is. He has no secrets.” She sounded confident in her assertion, but she felt a twinge of doubt. Why wouldn’t he tell her what he was doing in Wales, or the reason he was gone for nearly four months? “I find him as interesting as a tangled ball of yarn.”

“Like I said, he’s a mystery to unravel. What’s this?” Lizzie leaned across Gabby’s lap and snatched the edge of her sketchbook.

“Wait!” Gabby grabbed for the book, but it was too late.

Lizzie sat back against the settee and held the drawing up to examine it. “Hmm… It’s very nice.” She tipped her head to one side and then the other as she studied the unfinished sketch.

Gabby held her breath, hoping her sister didn’t recognize her subject.

“Impressive.” Lizzie dropped the drawing to her lap.

“Thank you.” Gabby retrieved the book and hugged it to her chest. “I should lie down if I’m to be rested for this evening.”

Her sister smiled, displaying an adorable set of dimples. “Yes, that is likely wise.”

Gabby excused herself and hurried toward the exit, but before she reached the door, her sister cleared her throat.

“Sister?”

With a soft groan, she turned toward Lizzie. “Yes?”

“You’ve captured Lord Ellis perfectly, but I’ve never seen that look in his eyes before. It makes me shiver in the most delicious way.”

Lud
. Gabby’s cheeks flamed as she glanced down at her sketch, mesmerized by Anthony’s smoldering gaze. She had seen that look once, and it had been branded into her memory forever. “Yes, I see what you mean. I have depicted him wrong. I will have to work on the eyes more.”