Rebellious Bride (8 page)

“She still has her sights set on Lord Sherborn?”

“She hasn’t taken her eyes off him. She’s hoping tonight she can pique his interest in her and that he will begin to court her.”

“I wish them both well. They deserve each other. Mary Beth would make the perfect obedient wife, while the lord would revel in his dominant nature.”

Holly shook her head. “Sometimes I think you’re too independent for your own good.”

“I don’t,” Lil corrected. “And about my hair, I think leaving it loose for the evening is more to my liking.”

~~~

Lil stood with her father and Holly outside the square marked off for dancing. Planks had been laid on the ground to form a dance floor, and tall torches bordered the area. The fiddlers were tuning up nearby. Long tables heavy with mouth-watering food were lined up to the right while tables and chairs sprang up wherever there was room. More tall torches were being readied for the moment when darkness fell completely. No one wanted this event to end early.

Everyone was prepared to dance the evening away.

Lil searched the crowd, convincing herself she was curious about the other women’s dresses. She refused to recognize the possibility that she was actually dying to catch a glimpse of Lord Sherborn.

Several women passed by and commented on how lovely she looked. She attributed the sincere compliment to mere politeness, never thinking they actually meant it. She hadn’t even taken her father seriously when he had seen her and told her she looked absolutely beautiful. After all, he was her father, and fathers occasionally paid such compliments to their daughters.

She never once imagined that she looked breathtaking.

To Lil her pale yellow dress trimmed with white lace and ribbons was no different from all the other stylish dresses present. It didn’t matter that hers accented her small waist and enhanced her full breasts, or that the modest neckline highlighted her slim neck. It also didn’t dawn on her that by choosing to leave her hair down, she only managed to add to her beauty. The strawberry blond color resembled wildfire, especially in the light of the flickering torches. Her hair appeared sparked by the flames, igniting further its already rare color.

Holly tugged on Sam’s arm. “Come on and try some of my venison stew.”

Sam looked at his daughter. “Want to join us?”

Lil caught the conspiratorial wink Holly sent her from behind Sam. “No, thanks. Go and enjoy yourselves. I’ll catch up with you two later.” Lil wondered if her father would ever realize just how much Holly cared for him. It was time he married again. He’d been alone too long, and Holly was perfect for him.

In minutes she was surrounded by young men asking her to dance or offering to fetch a drink. She soon stood with a glass of apple cider in her hand, conversing with Hank Slatter.

A buzz of laughter and chatter coming from the other end of the dance floor caught Lil’s attention.

“That Lord Sherborn sends all the ladies’ hearts a fluttering,” Hank commented, obviously in awe of the gentleman.

Lil felt her breath catch for just a second, and her heart started to race. The strange reaction disturbed her. She turned her attention to Hank, then caught sight of Rolfe out of the corner of her eye. She couldn’t help herself. She stared at him.

He stood at least a head taller than most of the men there. His attire was out of place, yet it looked fitting on him. He wore a dusky gray coat and trousers. A white silk shirt was set off by a silver-gray vest, and his gray cravat, so English and so out of place in the West, seemed at home on him. His dark hair was pulled back and tied at the nape of his neck as usual. His blue eyes, so haunting in their color, appeared even more intense in the dusk of the setting sun. He was simply... magnificent.

“Another cider?” Hank asked, drawing Lil’s attention back to him.

Lil thanked him for his thoughtfulness and handed him her empty glass.

“Be right back,” Hank said and hurried off.

Lil swayed to the gentle tune and smiled. She intended to enjoy herself tonight, which meant ignoring Lord Sherborn. “An easy task,” she mumbled and focused on the dancers.

Her smile faded slowly. Lord Sherborn was dancing with Mary Beth. One hand barely held her waist while his other gently cupped her hand. He held her like a porcelain doll that was delicate and fragile. They swirled to the music, floating around and around like a couple on the top of a music box.

“They look good together,” Hank said, returning with her filled glass.

Lil nodded, though she wasn’t in agreement, and took the glass.

“Word is,” Hank whispered, leaning in closer to Lil, “that Mary Beth says she’ll be planning a spring wedding by the end of winter.”

“I wish her luck.”

Hank stumbled in his speech some before his courage returned enough for him to speak. “I-I-I’m glad you’re not taken with the lord like all the other women.”

Lil smiled at Hank. She liked him. He was a harmless young man of sixteen who was always nice to her, unlike the abrasive Doug Tanner, who was heading her way.

“Let’s dance, Hank.”

She deposited her glass on a nearby table, grabbed Hank, and pulled him out onto the dance floor. Her smile was wide as she swirled past Doug, who was standing at the edge of the dance floor watching them.

The evening wore on without incident. Lil kept much to herself and danced often with Hank, feeling comfortable and unthreatened by him. She caught up with her father and Holly while Hank was dancing with Sue McPhearson, a pretty young girl of fifteen.

“Enjoying yourself?” Sam asked.

Lil fanned her warm face with her hand. “Having a wonderful time.”

“And you, Lord Sherborn? Do you like our dance?” Sam asked, directing his attention past Lil.

Lil stiffened at the sound of Rolfe’s response. “It’s much more entertaining than I expected, Sheriff.”

Holly hooked her arm with Sam’s. “You promised me another dance.”

Sam looked at his daughter and then turned to Lord Sherborn.

“May I have this dance, Lillian?” Rolfe asked.

He felt obligated, damn it. Holly did this on purpose. She knew if she asked Sam to dance, Rolfe would have no choice but to ask her out of politeness. Wait until she got her hands on her.

Lil turned. “I’d be delighted to dance with you.”

Rolfe escorted her to the dance floor. She expected his touch to be feather-light, the way it had been when he danced with the other women. Instead his hand was firm on her waist, his fingers biting snugly into her. His other hand clasped hers firmly. He pulled her closer, keeping her at an appropriate distance, yet daring that imaginary line. His possession of her was solid and confident. There was no doubt he was in command. She followed him easily as they circled the dance floor. His steps were skillful, his hold on her possessive, and she delighted in the curious feeling it induced in her. Her breath quickened, and his hold on her tightened. For a brief moment she was assaulted by the crazy thought that she belonged to him and him alone. She submitted to her wild imaginings and enjoyed the dance, enjoyed his possessive grip on her, enjoyed the insane notion that she was his.

The music ended all too quickly. Rolfe glanced down at her, nodded, and left her standing on the dance floor. Lil walked in the opposite direction, calling herself a million kinds of fools. She continued right past her father and Holly, needing to be off by herself. She had allowed Lord Sherborn to ruffle her feathers, and that had disturbed her.

Not to mention her strange reaction when he had held her so possessively in his arms.

Rolfe tried to ignore the way Lil faded into the shadows of the night. Her father should be more careful about allowing his daughter such freedom, especially when a daughter was as beautiful as Lil.

He had always thought her attractive, but tonight she went beyond attractiveness. Bloody hell, she was stunning, eye-catching, and stole the breath right out of a man. He had watched the way the men, young and old, salivated over her. The amazing part of it was that Lil seemed unaware of their interest. The young man she had spent so much time with this evening, Hank, wore his heart on his sleeve, yet she hadn’t noticed it.

Her innocence of her beauty made her all the more appealing. It brought out a protective male instinct that was hard to control. He should know; he was having a devil of a time controlling it.

He scanned the area with a quick glance but caught no sign of her. It had been impolite of him to leave her standing on the dance floor. He should have escorted her back to her father, but his abrupt departure was best for them both. At least now he could breathe without drawing in the rich scent of her. Her flowery lavender fragrance intoxicated his senses, and her skin was as soft as the petals of a newly opened blossom.

He searched the area for her once again. A shake of his head betrayed his concern. He casually walked in the direction of her disappearance.

Lil strolled over by the livery. The light from the torches cast a gentle glow, leaving part of the building in the shadows. She often sought solitude when troubled. Since she had spent much time alone as a child, she still cherished her solitude. It had brought her an inner peace that followed her through to maturity. It was this peace she sought to soothe her troubled thoughts.

Lil hugged her arms, not from a chill but to feel the tingling warmth Rolfe’s touch had left upon her. She had not expected to react so femininely, so like a woman—a woman attracted to a man.

She kicked at a pebble and sent it skidding across the dry dirt. Rolfe was not the type of man she thought would strike her fancy. She had always assumed a rugged man would be more to her liking, a man who was familiar with the West and could hold his own in this untamed land. Certainly not a fancy-pants lord who carried a cane, couldn’t ride a horse, and expected others to protect him. Rolfe was not for her.

Definitely not.

“Lil, you out here all by yourself?”

Lil jumped and turned all in one motion at the unexpected voice of Doug Tanner. “I needed to get off for some peace and quiet. All that music and chatter can turn a person’s head.”

“I know what you mean. Could use a little quiet myself. Mind if I join you?”

The last thing Lil wanted was for Doug to join her, but politeness made it hard for her to refuse. “Please do.”

They strolled over nearer to the livery and more into the shadows. Lil stopped and leaned against the building, uncomfortable with the darkness that surrounded them.

Doug stopped next to her, closer than she preferred. She inched away from him, but found the deeper shadows even more consuming in their darkness.

“Enjoying yourself?” he asked, sliding his shoulder over until his arm rubbed against hers.

“Very much,” she said, realizing his boldness would grow if she lingered.

“I haven’t had a chance to dance with you all evening, and I was hoping for more than one dance.”

She silently thanked him for her chance to escape. “Then what are we doing here wasting time? Let’s go back and dance.” She moved to step forward.

His arm swung out like an impregnable barrier and stopped her. “Hold on a minute. Don’t be in such an all-fired hurry. It isn’t often I get to talk to you alone.”

Lil felt trapped. The dark closed her in on one side. Doug’s hand, braced against the livery wall, blocked the other side, and his arm, stretched out in front of her, completed her confinement.

“I like being with you, Lil,” Doug said and shifted his position so that his large, brutish body blocked all avenues of escape.

“Mr. Tanner,” Lil said, her temper really riled. “I don’t appreciate being trapped here.”

Doug smiled. “Now, Lil, I don’t have you trapped. No man can trap you. You’re free and
wild.”

Lil didn’t like the emphasis he placed on “wild.” It was as though the word excited him. “Then move out of my way.”

Doug paid no heed to her demand. He moved in closer, forcing Lil to press her back up against the wall of the livery. “Kiss me first. I’ve wanted to kiss you for a long time.”

“You’re crazy, Doug Tanner.” Lil’s voice, as usual, sounded controlled. Her legs, however, were trembling like spindles on a spinning wheel.

“I’m crazy about you, Lil,” he said and moved in to kiss her.

Lil moved her head just in time to avoid his lips.

“I like women that are fiery.” Doug rubbed his rough cheek against hers.

Lil winced as his unshaven cheek scratched her face. She caught the scent of liquor on his breath, and it disturbed her. A drinking man was unpredictable and sometimes dangerous.

“This has gone far enough, Doug. Let me go!”

“One kiss, Lil, just one, and I’ll let you go,” he insisted, keeping his cheek next to hers.

Lil wasn’t foolish enough to think he’d stop at one kiss. One kiss would be a signal to him that she was interested, and she definitely wasn’t interested. “No, Doug.”

“Come on, one little kiss,” he urged and rubbed his cheek more forcibly against hers.

Lil pushed at his chest, but he was planted firmly. “Let me go, Doug. Now!”

“After you kiss me,” he said and attempted to capture her lips once again.

She moved her head quickly from side to side.

His laugh was rough, as were his actions when he grabbed her chin, locking it still. “Now I’ll show you what it’s like to have a real man kiss you.”

His look softened for a minute and Lil thought he was about to release her.

Instead, he said, “I promise you’ll like it, Lil. You’ll really like it.”

His mouth descended on hers, and in a last-minute effort to protect herself she drew her lips in and squeezed her eyes shut.

Lil heard the crunch of knuckles slam against jawbone. Her eyes popped open to view Doug sprawled out cold on the ground. Rolfe stood over him, looking down.

“Who hit him?” Lil demanded.

Rolfe couldn’t believe her words. Nobody else was in sight, but she assumed he hadn’t knocked Tanner out. Once again she had doubted his manhood, and it drove him to the edge. He reached her in two strides. “Looking for excitement in the dark? I’ll be glad to oblige you.” He grabbed her around the waist, lifted her effortlessly, and carried her into the deep shadows of the night.