Rory (5 page)

S
hannon’s heart plummeted.

Unfortunately, Rory was not asleep, but sitting beside the fire, wearing Lord Graston’s silk robe that Edward had brought to him, along with other clothing just in case he “desired to get up and around.”

He glanced at her as she shut the door. His dark hair was still not brushed, but she could tell he’d finger-combed the dark tresses back off his face, which only served to draw more emphasis to his striking features. He was like a Michelangelo statue brought to life.

“You should be in bed, my lord,” she said, her voice sounding suspiciously husky.

“I’m tired of being in bed.”

“But you only just woke up.”

He shrugged. “Perhaps, but I want to sit now.” His voice broached no argument, and he motioned to the chair across from him.

Playing the obedient servant, she sat down and opened the book. Clearing her throat, she began to read.

People said that some of Burns’s poems were about his many lovers, and this particular one was about a woman named Jean.

“Have you ever had a lover, Shannon?”

She looked up from the book and laid her hand flat on the pages. “Excuse me?”

“Have you ever had a lover?” He said the words slowly, as though she were an idiot.

Her insides twisted. Never in her life had she been asked such an intimate question. “It’s none of your business, my lord.”

His brilliant blue eyes widened a little. “Ah, I’ve hit a nerve.”

“I believe you are
trying
to unnerve me, my lord,” she said, straightening her shoulders and lifting her chin high. She would not allow him to make her squirm.

He smiled wolfishly. “Perhaps I am.”

Damn him for getting under her skin.

Edward appeared at the door, and Shannon was grateful for the interruption, though she was surprised she hadn’t heard him. Rory glanced at him. “Yes, Edward?”

“My lord, you have a visitor. I told her that you were most likely sleeping, but she did not seem to care. I fear she’s quite insistent on seeing you.”

Her?
Why should Shannon be surprised his first guest would be a woman?

His brow furrowed. “Might the woman in question be Lady Anna?”

“Indeed, my lord.”

Rory gave an exaggerated sigh. “Well, I know she will not relent unless you show her up.”

Shannon remembered the beautiful young woman coming to Lady Graston’s townhouse to visit Marilyn. After her departure, a few of the servants had whispered about her scandalous reputation. They had said that she had many lovers, among
them Lord Ambrose. Indeed, another said that she had made love to both Lord Graston and Lord Ambrose at the same time, but she could not see her master doing such a thing, even if it was before he met Lady Graston.

“I can serve her tea in the parlor until you are dressed and ready to receive her,” Edward said. “Shall I assist you?”

“No, Shannon can assist me, and I am not up to leaving my chamber. I can receive Lady Anna here … but please give me a few moments first.”

He was receiving Anna in his chamber? Lady Graston would be horrified, for she did everything by the book. Well, Shannon did not have to wonder why he wanted to receive Anna in his room. No doubt they would take up where they had left off.

What a scoundrel.

“Of course, my lord, if that is what you would prefer,” Edward said, looking uncomfortable. “I will leave you in Shannon’s capable hands.”

Shannon could feel her cheeks turning hotter by the second and was relieved when the butler left the room. She wondered why she should even bother to help Rory dress when he would probably end up removing those clothes within seconds of Lady Anna entering the chamber anyway.

She walked to the wardrobe, opened the doors, and pulled out a freshly laundered shirt and a loose-fitting pair of trousers. Rory stood and dropped the robe. She swallowed hard, trying with difficulty to keep her gaze above his chin.

Good gracious, he was certainly proud of his body.

Mentally reciting the alphabet backward in an effort to avert her wicked thoughts, she had to balance on the tip of her toes to get the shirt over his head, a difficult task when she trembled like a leaf. He shook his head when it came to the drawers. Not questioning him, she assisted him with his trousers, and he
grabbed her shoulder to keep steady. This, too, proved difficult considering she had to do the majority of the work. For the love of God, she knew he was weak, but how hard was it to lift one’s leg?

Even worse, he made no move to button his trousers, and instead watched her with lifted brow. Did he think she wouldn’t? Steadying her hands, she reached for the fastenings and managed to close the bottom two buttons.

“You might want to tuck in the shirt, else it will be too bulky once the trousers are fastened.”

Nodding obediently, Shannon shoved the shirt tails in, her hands brushing over his bare buttocks. This was altogether too intimate. His masculine scent enveloped her, the heat of his body, the
strength
of his body when she touched him made her pulse quicken and her entire body feel flushed.

She buttoned his trousers and smiled triumphantly. “Would you like me to assist you with your stockings?”

“There is no need.”

“Shall I brush your hair?”

“Yes. Where would you like me?

“At the vanity, please.”

He sat down on the small bench before the vanity, his long legs before him, which he crossed at the ankle. She stepped behind him and ran the brush through his dark, thick locks. He was watching her in the mirror … closely.

She refused to meet his gaze, afraid of what he might see in her eyes. No doubt he could tell when a woman wanted him. Was there a woman alive who didn’t? Certainly she knew what it felt like to be admired. She’d had her share of suitors before her parents’ death, but her father had been extremely protective. He felt that she was too young to be courted, despite the fact that he had begun courting her mother when she’d been just sixteen.

The door opened abruptly and Shannon turned to find Lady Anna, dressed in an exquisite turquoise gown with elegant lace trimmings. “Well, isn’t this a lovely spectacle,” she said coyly.

Rory stood and Shannon set the brush on the vanity.

“I thought you were waiting in the parlor,” Rory said, hands on hips, looking not in the least surprised by the interruption.

Anna’s lips quirked as she glanced from Rory to Shannon and back again. “When the butler went to get tea, I snuck up here to see how you were.” Her gaze flicked to Shannon. “I now understand why you are convalescing at your brother’s home instead of your parents’ townhouse.”

“Mother gave Sinjin and Katelyn the townhouse for a wedding present, and they are renovating it while they’re away.”

“So I realized when the servant opened the door. Katelyn, or Lady Mawbry, is a lovely woman, but I have to say after catching a brief glimpse of the new foyer, that I question her taste in décor.”

“Careful, that is my brother’s wife you speak of,” Rory said in a cautionary tone.

Anna shrugged. “And she really might consider having the servants wear uniforms. The butler was dressed in a hideous suit from at least four seasons ago.”

Her gaze slid slowly over Shannon. “What quaint little uniforms. See, now Lady Graston knows how to run a household efficiently. Lady Mawbry might take a few lessons from her. But then again, Lady Mawbry probably does not have such beautiful help.”

The flirtatious manner of the other woman put Shannon on guard. And Lady Anna’s mention of her being a servant only reminded Shannon of the day when she had worn beautiful, expensive gowns, much like the one Lady Anna now wore. Her mother had always enjoyed taking her shopping, and she had been allowed to buy what she wanted, when she wanted, with
no thought of consequence. But those days were long behind her.

Shannon glanced at Rory and reached for the bowl of water she’d used to cool him earlier. “If you need anything, my lord, please let me know.”

“Thank you, Shannon,” he said, his eyes soft.

Anna’s lips quirked as she watched them.

Shannon couldn’t get out of the room fast enough, and she felt Rory’s gaze on her the entire way to the door. As she exited, she could swear she heard the other woman laugh beneath her breath.

What a horrible, mean-spirited woman. If this was the company the young baron kept, then she would be wise to keep a distance from him in the future.

Cheeks burning, Shannon shut the door slowly, despite the fact she ached to slam it.

Rory turned to his guest. “So, what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

Anna’s lips curved into a mischievous smile. “I heard that you had been injured, and I wanted to see for myself how you were faring.”

“As you can see, I am alive.”

“Thank God for that,” she said in a silky-soft voice. “I had thought I had lost my lover for good.”

He rolled his eyes and took a seat in the nearest chair, surprised at how tired he was from the bath. The lavender was quite effective.

“Plus, I have missed you.”

“Missed me? Come, I’ve heard it on good authority that you are sleeping with a tailor on Bond Street. You couldn’t miss me that much.”

Her eyes widened. “Where on earth did you hear such a dastardly rumor, and one that could not be farther from the truth?”

“It’s a lie?”

She shrugged, which essentially meant she was guilty. “Perhaps, but I did not come here to talk about me. I’ve come to see that you are well, and to tell you the latest.”

Rory could not help but smile. She was not here because of concern for him, but rather she had gossip that involved him.

“It seems the newly widowed, thanks to you, Lady Cordland has gone on record that you are not only a scoundrel who seduced her, but a murderer to boot.”

Rory flinched, shocked by the allegation.

“First off, she had her hand down my pants within seconds of our first greeting, and as to murder, I didn’t pull the trigger until
after
her husband got a shot off. Unfortunately for him, he missed.”

Her gaze shifted to his shoulder. “So says the rumor mill, but still, Rory, did you have to kill the man?”

Her tone was flippant and sarcastic, and Rory didn’t appreciate it. He wasn’t proud of the fact he’d killed anyone, and despite the fact the man had been a letch of the first order, Cordland’s death would haunt him the rest of his days. “Where did you see Lady Cordland?”

“Actually, I didn’t see her, but the duel was all that anyone could talk about at tea this afternoon. Lady Cordland’s best friend was in attendance, and she is vigorously circulating the news, and naming you as the villain and she the victim.”

“Let’s face it … I did her a favor. Cordland was humiliating her by taking up with her cousin. Everyone knew it, and now she has license to take up with as many lovers as she chooses.”

Anna sighed heavily, as though she truly cared. “This will probably ruin her. You know, she did have an excellent reputation before you got a hold of her.”

“Are you trying to make me feel worse than I already do?”

Her mouth dropped open. “Of course not. I just wanted to share the news, and let you know what is being said about you. Plus, I missed your company. There is no one else in London who makes me laugh the way you can.” She walked toward him and leaned in, her hands sliding up his thighs. “Not to mention, you are one of the best lovers I’ve ever had.”

“One
of the best?”

“All right, the best,” she said, kissing his cheek. “Though I admit, Victor could come in as a tie.”

Anna and he had been lovers for some time, and though they were far from monogamous, they did have a certain compatibility that worked for them. But oddly, even as he thought about making love to Anna, he saw Shannon’s face.

“I am exhausted,” he said before he could stop himself.

She laughed loudly. “My God, the little servant has gotten under your skin.”

Was it that obvious?

“I haven’t touched her.”

The smile disappeared from her face. “But you want to.”

Yes, he did … desperately. But he didn’t want Anna knowing any more than she did already, especially since she was incapable of keeping a secret. “So, why did you really come here, Anna, aside from being the bearer of bad news, that is?” He was wise enough to know she had more on her mind than just sex.

She straightened, lifted her chin, and looked him in the eye. “I understand Lady Graston is having a soiree very soon.”

“Yes, a housewarming of sorts.”

“I had not received an invitation and I was hoping you could speak with her on my behalf.”

“Why do you wish to attend?”

She licked her lips. “Let’s just say that there is someone who I would very much like to see.”

There was a rare vulnerability in her eyes that surprised him, and he knew immediately whom she spoke of. “And would that certain someone happen to be related to Lady Graston?”

“Rory, you are too wise for your own good.”

“Correct me if I am wrong, but I recently helped you gain an audience with Marilyn, and that did not go at all well, from what I understand.”

The smile faded from her lips. “Perhaps time has changed her way of thinking.”

Her expression had changed, and he could tell he had struck a nerve. “Marilyn is engaged, Anna. Let her be.”

“I cannot let her be,” she said abruptly, dropping her hands back to her sides. “I don’t like how we left things. I just want the opportunity to talk to her.”

Anna’s reputation was slowly coming unraveled, but rather than save herself, she went out of her way to cause scandal. Sadly, there was little he could do to help her, save remain her friend and confidante. “Very well, I shall speak to Lily, and if she agrees and you do attend the soiree, you are not allowed to make a scene.”

Her grin returned in force. “Thank you. What a dear friend you are. I promise you that I shall be as good as gold.”