Pleasure Me (29 page)

Just moments ago she’d felt so young, but she’d been pulled back down to earth by a harsh reality. She was far too old to be involved with Garrick even if the age difference was only a few years. The newspaper crumpled and crackled beneath her tight grasp.
Advancing years.
Even with her eyes closed she could still see the words.

Last night couldn’t happen again—no matter how much pleasure Garrick brought her in bed. She refused to play the role of a woman desperately clinging to her youth by being paramour to a man several years younger than her. And that was exactly how she appeared.

Desperate and old. The gossip column had bluntly made that point all too clear. The clock chimed the quarter hour, the sound piercing its way into her thoughts. She remembered her appointment with Lady Lynmouth. She couldn’t cancel at the last minute.

As humiliating as this piece of gossip was, she refused to let anyone see how much it cost her emotionally. She would break with Garrick as soon as possible. He might protest, but she would have to be firm in her resolve and not let him persuade her to his way of thinking. She bit her lip as her head filled with images of Garrick attempting to overrule her decision.

Sweet heaven, would she be able to resist him? Her walk unsteady, she headed toward her waiting bath. She had no other options where Garrick was concerned. Their current relationship would eventually end, and the degradation of another man leaving her for a younger woman was far too painful a thought.

When a reasonable amount of time had passed, she would retire to Crawley Hall. The moment the next scandal took center stage in the Society column this humiliating experience would end. Chilled by the thought of how long that might take, she made her way into the bathroom to bathe. She would have to continue as though untroubled by the gossip.

God, if only she were younger. It would be hard to part with him. Last night he’d been such a willing pupil, and she’d never enjoyed herself so much in bed before, despite his lack of experience. But even if they were the same age, it would still be a mistake to continue seeing him. She was quickly growing infatuated with the man.

When she was with him, she didn’t feel old at all. He made her feel vibrant, beautiful, and it was as if there was no question of age between them. Her eyes suddenly blurred with tears, and she blinked them away quickly. She was being ridiculous. It would be too short a jump from the passion they shared to something deeper where her feelings for Garrick were concerned.

Heaven knew she was already far too close to the edge as it was. And that was something she could afford even less than her current humiliation. Heartsick, she proceeded to bathe and dress for her appointment with Lady Lynmouth. The thought of Garrick’s sister made her flinch. There was little doubt that the woman would be quite pleased to see an end to her association with her brother.

Her thoughts continued to center around Garrick, and by the time her carriage drew up in front of the Caring Hearts orphanage, her spirits had not improved. The young maid that greeted her at the door seemed a bit rattled, and Ruth frowned at the girl’s distressed expression.

“I’ve an appointment with Lady Lynmouth. Would you please tell her I’ve arrived.”

“I don’t know that I should, my lady. Lord Tremaine arrived a quarter of an hour ago, and told us not to interrupt them.”

Ruth stiffened at the maid’s words. Was it possible Lady Lynmouth was involved with the bastard? It seemed unlikely, and she was certain Garrick would have put an end to such a relationship the moment he discovered Tremaine anywhere near his sister. But then perhaps Lady Lynmouth had kept it a secret from her brother.

Uncertainty filled her as she considered that possibility. Garrick’s sister had not struck her as a woman who would dally with a man such as Tremaine. Drawing in a deep breath, Ruth’s hand brushed across her drawstring reticule. Ever since the day she’d freed Jenny from the tyranny of the pickpocket who’d bought the child, she’d learned to carry a small revolver whenever she came to the East End.

She’d never used the weapon before, but Garrick’s description of Tremaine told her the man was no different than his father. Somehow she doubted it would take much for her to at least wound the man. Without a second thought, she moved quickly down the hall to the office and its closed door. She raised her hand to knock when she heard the sound of a chair scraping across the floor.

“Let me go.” Lady Lynmouth’s voice was sharp, but there was a note of panic behind her command.

Ruth immediately tested the doorknob. It turned easily and she experienced a rush of relief that Tremaine had not had the forethought to lock the door. She quickly pulled her revolver from her drawstring bag and entered the office. The sight of Garrick’s sister struggling to escape Tremaine’s grasp sent a chill through her. Had her father witnessed a similar scene between the viscount’s father and her mother? Pinned between Tremaine and the wall, Lady Lynmouth was trying hard to free herself from the man’s hold.

“Let her go, my lord, or I shall be forced to shoot you.” The moment she spoke, Tremaine jerked his head in her direction.

Garrick’s sister didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the man’s distraction and jerked free of his hold to put several feet between them. A feral smile on his face, the viscount offered Ruth an arrogant bow of condescension.

“My dear Lady Ruth, this is a surprise.”

“One you should be grateful for, my lord,” Ruth said quietly. “I feel certain that had I been Lord Stratfield, it is unlikely you would still be alive.”

“Ah, but you are not Stratfield, my dear lady.” The man arched an eyebrow at her, clearly not intimidated by her weapon. He took two steps toward her, and Ruth cocked the small handgun. He immediately froze in his tracks.

“I have no wish to shoot you, Tremaine, but I will if necessary.” She saw him weighing his options before he bowed again.

“It appears I’ve outstayed my welcome.” He glanced at Garrick’s sister. “I look forward to our next meeting, Lady Lynmouth.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the other woman pale. Angered at the way the viscount was threatening the woman, Ruth eyed the man coldly.

“I would advise you not to come anywhere near Lady Lynmouth in the future. I doubt her brother will be as generous with your well-being as I have been.”

“Stratfield?” The viscount raised his eyebrow in contemptuous amusement. “I am quite certain the man’s secrets will ensure his dealings with me are quite generous.”

“Then you’re a fool,” she snapped. “The man won’t hesitate to kill you if provoked.”

The viscount’s beady eyes narrowed as he assessed her. After a long pause he shrugged. “Stratfield doesn’t strike me as a man capable of murder and mayhem.”

“Stratfield might not be, but when it comes to my wife, I am more than capable of violence.” The deep voice behind her startled Ruth, and she jerked her head to look over her shoulder at the tall man standing in the doorway. The room suddenly seemed much smaller as he entered the room, and as she glanced back at Tremaine, she saw the man’s face had gone gray.

“Ethan,” Lady Lynmouth gasped.

Her husband didn’t look at her, keeping his eyes fixed steadily on Tremaine. The scowl he sent the other man made the viscount clear his throat nervously. Edging his way forward toward the door, Tremaine watched Lord Lynmouth warily.

“My apologies, Lynmouth. I had assumed you were done with the lady.”

“What’s mine, I keep.” There was something dark in the earl’s voice, and it said the words weren’t intended for Tremaine alone.

The tension in the room took a sudden, accelerated leap forward, and it was evident she wasn’t the only one to feel it. The viscount jerked his head in a placating gesture and abruptly headed toward the door. As the man disappeared from the room, Ruth sagged with relief. A large hand gently took the revolver from her and released the firing pin before returning the weapon to her.

“Are the two of you unharmed?” Although his question seemed calm and nonchalant, the tension vibrating off the man said he was far from either of those things.

“I am fine, my lord.” Ruth nodded her head as she returned her revolver to her drawstring bag. “Although I am grateful for your arrival.”

She glanced at the woman across the room and drew in a sharp breath. Garrick’s sister seemed on the verge of collapse. Without hesitating she hurried to the woman’s side and guided her to the office chair.

“Come, sit down. You’ve had a horrible fright.”

“Thank you, Lady Ruth.” The countess’s whisper barely reached Ruth’s ears, and she noticed the woman’s gaze had yet to stray from her husband.

“I, too, owe you a debt of gratitude, my lady. If you hadn’t intervened, I might have arrived too late.” The man’s deep voice resonated with gratitude, and beneath her hand, Lady Lynmouth’s body grew rigid.

“Why are you here, Ethan?”

There was a harshness to the question that made Ruth immediately cast a glance in the earl’s direction. She almost didn’t catch the flash of emotion that flitted across the tall man’s face, but the brief glimpse told her the earl was in deep torment. When he didn’t answer his wife’s question, Ruth glanced first at the countess then at the earl. The sign of a battle brewing was visible on both their faces, and the last thing she wanted was to be caught in the middle.

She straightened in preparation to leave the couple alone.

“I think we should reschedule our appointment for another time, Lady Lynmouth.”

“Oh no, I am—”

“I believe you’re correct, Lady Ruth. I’ll take my wife home and see to it that she rests.”

“Then if you’ll excuse me, my lord. Lady Lynmouth,” she said as she quickly headed toward the door. She’d almost reached it when she heard the sound of running feet. Tension drew her muscles taut as Garrick shouted for his sister from the corridor.

“Lily. Lily, are you all right?” The moment he barreled through the doorway, Garrick slid to a halt in amazement and stared around the room in angry confusion. “They told me Tremaine was in here.”

“He was, but Lady Ruth prevented the man . . . then Ethan . . . arrived.” The countess’s stammering explanation made Garrick frown darkly as he looked at Lily’s husband.

“Stratfield.” The earl nodded in his brother-in-law’s direction.

“What the devil are you doing here, Lynmouth?”

“I’ve come for my wife.” The earl’s stoic reply prompted a stubborn look to harden Garrick’s face, and he shook his head.

“Lily has made it quite clear she wants nothing to do with you.”

“Nonetheless, as my wife she will come home. Now I’d like a word with her. In private.”

Lord Lynmouth turned to his wife, his expression harsh and unrelenting as he silently demanded she acquiesce. He was an intimidating man, and it surprised her that Garrick’s sister didn’t flinch in the face of her husband’s obvious determination. Still not looking away from her husband’s face, she gave her brother a slight wave of her hand.

“It’s all right, Garrick. I’ll listen to what he has to say.”

Eager to escape the volatile emotions flooding the room, Ruth didn’t wait to hear him argue with his sister. As quickly as she could, she slipped past Garrick and hurried down the hallway. At the front entrance to the orphanage, she released a quick breath of relief that Simmons was exactly where she’d left him. She took a step forward only to have a strong male hand prevent her from leaving the orphanage.

“Is there a reason you didn’t wait for me?”

“You were occupied with family matters, and I had no wish to pry,” she murmured.

Before she could protest, he pulled her back into the orphanage and into a small storage room off the main entryway. He closed the door behind him and leaned against it with his arms folded across his chest. She shuddered at the memory of her hands caressing his bare chest. She quickly glanced away from his penetrating gaze in an effort to quiet the desire curling in her belly until it sped downward and made her ache to feel him between her legs again. Her entire body pulsed a primitive rhythm at his nearness, and she tried to quiet the rapid beat of her heart.

“Have you seen the morning paper?” he asked.

“Yes.” There wasn’t much else she could say, even if she wanted to.

“It won’t work, Ruth.” The emphatic note in his voice sliced into her like a carving knife. The fact that he’d come to his senses made her stomach churn. She had hoped she’d be the one to walk away this time, but like others before him, he was finished with her. She winced.

“I understand.” Even to her the words were stilted.

“Do you?” Garrick’s voice was firm. “When I say it won’t work, I mean I will not give you up simply because people choose to gossip.”

Startled, she jerked her gaze toward him. The determined expression on his handsome features tightened her throat. He was serious. A knot swelled in her throat, and she shook her head.

“You make it sound so simple when it’s not.”

“Damn it, it
is
simple.” He sent her a fierce glare. “I’ll not let a few narrow-minded half-wits dictate who I should or shouldn’t see.”

“It’s not the gossip.”

She winced at how her awkward response made him slowly push away from the door to stand tall and rigid in front of her. Her gaze flitted down to where his hands had fisted at the side of his legs before she looked back at his stone-cold features.

“So I was little more than one evening’s entertainment to you. An amusing tale to share with others.” His icy statement appalled her.

“
No
.” She quickly stepped forward to wrap her hand around his hard fist. “Last night was wonderful.”

And it had been, more wonderful than she’d ever thought possible, and that was part of the problem. She was frightened that if she were to continue seeing him, her age would only ensure heartbreak. The tension making him hard against her slowly abated as his fingers unfurled to grasp her hand, and he bent his head to kiss the inside of her wrist.