Patricia Potter (42 page)

He most certainly was not finished with Miss Lauren Bradley.

Adrian had kept his distance from her on the ship, but found it extremely difficult, especially when she looked at him with those large hazel eyes. Yet he knew women, and he had recognized her indisposition in Wilmington. He knew she was not with child, and he was determined not to get her pregnant, not until they settled matters between themselves, no matter how painful it was for him.

And it was very, very painful.

He planned now to court her, slowly and respectably, and coax her secrets from her; to teach her to trust him enough so that he then could trust her. He knew he loved her, could never again think of life without the adventurous fillip she gave to it, but he longed for more than that; he wanted total honesty between them.

Sir Giles would help. Adrian had often stayed at his town house in London, since Giles knew that Adrian was saving his funds to regain Ridgely. Giles had a widowed sister who was kindliness itself, who managed the house and would provide a shield of respectability for Lauren. He had to offer her that, now that he meant for her to be his wife.

Lauren was nervous about meeting Sir Giles, although he’d explained that the “sir” was an honorary title, bestowed for his efforts in the Admiralty. Even less did she relish the thought of being forced upon strangers, but he patiently explained the mores of Queen Victoria’s England. In answer, she merely clung tighter to Socrates, who was sporting a new pair of pants she had made for him on the voyage. Her list of accomplishments, Adrian often thought, was remarkable and apparently quite diverse: wrecking ships, planning escapes, nursing wounds, sewing trousers for small monkeys. The thought brought a smile to his lips.

The carriage pulled up to the Giles town house, and Adrian offered Lauren a hand, taking Socrates to his shoulder. The wound was four weeks old now, almost healed, though it still ached slightly at times. Lauren drew back slightly and then surrendered, walking with him up to the door. He knocked, and it was opened quickly, revealing a stern-faced man in austere black.

The man quickly broke into a wide grin when he saw Adrian. “M’lord, it’s good to see you. Sir Giles had heard … well … that those heathens in America refused to release you.”

“And so they did, Quigley,” Adrian said, “until this young lady interfered. Broke me out of jail. Lauren, this is Quigley. And this is Miss Lauren Bradley.”

The man gave her a bow. “Sir Giles will be most grateful. He’s been very perturbed.”

“Is Sir Giles in?”

“Yes, m’lord, and happy he’ll be. If you will wait in the library.” Quigley looked at Socrates. “And the little fellow. He made it too.” But the butler didn’t sound quite as happy about
that
salvation.

Adrian grinned. “You know what they say about a bad halfpence.”

Quigley nodded. “Yes m’lord,” he said dutifully, and disappeared up some steps.

Lauren looked at Adrian. “M’lord?”

Adrian winced. The title had seemed natural until he’d experienced American informality. Now, even to him, the title sounded pretentious. Even worse, it seemed to make Lauren more uncomfortable. “Meaningless,” he said.

The old teasing light came back into Lauren’s eyes, making them alive with humor. “Must I call you my lord too?”

He couldn’t resist her then. He bent down, his lips whispering across hers. “Am I really?
Your
lord?”

Lauren’s reply was lost in the magic that always flowed between them, its strength magnifying manyfold when they touched.

A cough interrupted them, and Adrian looked up to see a tall, distinguished man descending the stairs, a half smile on his lips.

“Quigley informs me that you and that obnoxious beast of yours bested the Yanks.”

“With the help of this young lady, who, consequently, is now a fugitive with me. Lauren, this is Sir Giles Gray. Sir Giles, Lauren Bradley.”

Sir Giles bowed deeply as a smile played around his mouth. “We owe you a debt of gratitude, Miss Bradley. We have missed Adrian, my sister and I. We heard the Federals refused to release you, although our minister in Washington tried.”

Just then Socrates jumped from Adrian’s shoulder to the floor and took Lauren’s hand. Sir Giles’s smile widened. “So you finally found a lady who could tolerate that impertinent little companion of yours.”

“Miss Bradley is a very unusual lady.”

Sir Giles’s face, worn by weather and sea and responsibility, softened slightly. “Quigley said she helped you escape. I would very much like to hear of it.”

“You will, sir,” Adrian promised, “but I was hoping that Lauren might stay here several days … until I can find respectable and more permanent lodgings.”

“Of course,” Sir Giles said. “My sister will be delighted. My niece and her husband were visiting and left three days ago, and she’s been moping ever since. This is just what she needs.” He looked over to Lauren, the sharp gaze of his dark eyes meeting hers directly. “You are very welcome, my dear.” He rang a bell, and Quigley appeared again. “Please ask Mrs. Featherstone to prepare a room and tell my sister we’ll be having a guest.”

“And now, may I offer refreshments while a room is prepared?” Sir Giles continued.

“I’ll have to send to the ship for our luggage,” Adrian said. “I’ll engage some rooms nearby.”

Sir Giles nodded. It would not be proper for two unrelated, unattached people to stay in the same house, even with Sir Giles and his sister in residence. And it was very obvious to Sir Giles that Adrian, for once, was concerned about appearances. It was singularly unusual for his friend, and thus very revealing.

When Quigley returned, he brought with him several bottles and glasses. Well acquainted with Adrian’s taste, Sir Giles filled two glasses with port and then turned to her. “Some sherry?”

Lauren nodded. “Thank you.”

Sir Giles poured her a glass and turned to Adrian. “What are your plans now?”

“I intend to see Redding. I thought I might make him an offer. He might be tired of being a country gentleman.” The words were said with wry hope.

Sir Giles shrugged. “He might well be. He’s been in London this past month … frequenting the gaming tables. I saw him last week at White’s.”

Adrian stilled, tension invading his body. The estate required constant attention, not an uncaring, absentee master. “I’ll seek him out.”

“You don’t have to,” Sir Giles said. “I think I might know where he’s going to be tomorrow night.”

Adrian felt the tempo of his pulse increase.

“Lady Caroline Sutton is having a party. It’s one of the few homes open to him,” Sir Giles continued. “I think he expected Ridgely would, open many more to him, but he’s still considered little more than a soldier of fortune and gambler.”

Adrian looked surprised. “I wouldn’t think Redding would give a sniff for that.”

“We were both mistaken in that regard. I think he cares very much, though he pretends not to.”

“Why is he welcome at Caroline’s?”

“He is still a fine figure of a man, if not a gentleman,” Sir Giles replied, but then his glance caught Lauren’s fascinated face, and he looked momentarily chagrined. “I’m sorry, Miss Bradley,” he added, his face crimsoning in a way that amused Adrian. If only he knew about Miss Bradley …

Lauren flushed prettily, making Adrian think again what a fine actress she was. “Perhaps,” he said slowly, “if you can gain us an invitation, Lauren could attend too. I assume that would be acceptable.”

“Oh yes,” Sir Giles said. “Caroline is still very much in good standing; her family name and wealth assure that. And I’m sure she would be delighted.” There was a shaded note in his voice that Adrian hoped Lauren didn’t hear. He, like many in the ton, had had a brief, and discreet, flirtation with Caroline, who had a good heart and as a widow for five years was often forgiven indiscretions that would have tainted others. Her event would be a good introduction into Society for Lauren; she was not cold and merciless like some other hostesses.

But Lauren had blanched. “I have no dress,” she said.

Sir Giles appraised her quickly. “I think you’re the same size as my niece. When Annalise married, she left some of her gowns here. My sister can help you choose one, and alter it if necessary.”

“That’s very kind of you,” Adrian said, closing the subject.

“But …” Lauren started, only to be interrupted by the library door opening again. Now another stranger stood there, a slender woman with graying hair and a sweet face. “Adrian!” she cried with delight.

She turned and beamed at Lauren. “And this must be our heroine!”

CHAPTER 24

Lauren had never felt so much a fraud, or so uncomfortable.

She hated every moment of the evening at Lady Caroline’s, including the gown, which was much too fussy for her taste. She was toasted, praised, and tittered over until she wanted to scream.

It was strange, because she had so enjoyed the Governor’s Ball in Nassau, but that dance had been free and easy next to this event, where nearly everyone was a marquess, or viscount, or baron. There was even an earl. It was “my lord this” and “my lady that” and she couldn’t get the titles straight; everyone, she was sure, thought her a barbarian. She did not enjoy being the center of attention, especially under such false pretenses.

She thought again of the dance at the Governor’s House in Nassau, and how magical it had been. She should feel the same way now, the adventurous part of her enjoying the novelty of English nobility. But at the Governor’s Ball, she hadn’t yet learned the full extent of this terrible yearning for Adrian. And though he stayed close to her, a quiet, indefinable distance hovered between them, which seemed to yawn even deeper tonight.

He had engaged rooms away from her, and she had not seen him after their arrival at Sir Giles’s town house until tonight, when he had called for her, and the four of them, Sir Giles and his sister, Adrian and herself, came to Lady Caroline’s together.

This night Adrian seemed a handsome, reserved stranger bent on making her accepted here out of gratitude. His hand had done little more than brush hers. There was no hint of the kiss they’d started to share yesterday.

His reserve had been chipping away at her heart, piece by piece, during the last few weeks, and now she was near total despondency. No matter how many times she told herself she must make the break, the reality was almost beyond comprehension. She stood with a smile on her face while being introduced as a courageous friend who had assisted him, but his tone was impersonal and implied nothing more than gratitude and friendship.

And she understood. She felt awkward among these superbly dressed people with their precise accents and witty conversation. She would never, could never, fit in. She saw the appraising gazes even as complimentary words were said, and she felt the superficiality of the sentiments. She was a woman who had traveled alone with a man, and had none of the fine manners of those here tonight, nor a lofty background like theirs or great wealth. She was, quite simply, an oddity.

She was asked for dances and reluctantly accepted, for she did not wish to humiliate Adrian, but she had little to talk about with her partners, and merely tried to smile. It was a strained smile, one that belied her true feelings.

Late in the evening a man almost as tall as Adrian arrived, and he was so dominating in appearance that Lauren couldn’t help but note his entrance. He was strikingly handsome, boldly so. His hair was black and his eyes almost obsidian, and a mocking smile played around his mouth as he glanced around the room.

She knew instantly that he did not belong in the room, and it was obvious that he also knew it. She felt a sudden empathy with him. His wandering glance seemed to catch hers, and it lingered for a moment before traveling on and finding the hostess, Lady Caroline. He moved with an easy quickness, not with the grace that Adrian did, but more like an animal in an unfamiliar place: wary but defiant.

He had come alone and, remembering the pieces of information she’d absorbed about the infamous Rhys Redding, Lauren wondered whether this was the man. She looked toward Adrian and saw him stiffen, and she knew it was.

The newcomer bowed low to the hostess. Then both of their glances turned to her, and they started in her direction.

At the same time she saw Adrian move toward her, reaching her side an instant before Lady Caroline and the newcomer.

Lady Caroline smiled slowly, her gaze going from Adrian to the man beside her. But all Lauren saw was her beauty, and she knew she paled beside it. Lady Caroline had the most lovely blond hair Lauren had ever seen, and huge violet eyes that had to be irresistible to men. She also had a nice smile, and throaty laughter, and intelligence.

“Miss Bradley,” she said now with a friendliness that Lauren had no reason to doubt, “I’ve been commanded to introduce you to this scoundrel. Lauren, this is Rhys Redding, and Rhys, Miss Lauren Bradley. And of course you know the hero of the hour, Lord Ridgely.”

Lauren felt tension radiate from Adrian, as his title was used in front of the man who now owned his estate, and she saw the mischief in Caroline’s eyes. Lauren also felt all other eyes on them and realized that Caroline was making the meeting into an event for the amusement of her guests. Her liking of the woman receded, but when she looked up at Adrian, she saw only the smiling mask in place.