Serena (7 page)

“Well, at least she is out of their clutches for the moment,” Freddy pronounced dramatically.

“You mean … she is with her female friends and not the reverend or Warren?” he returned lightly. He had to be careful with Freddy. He did not wish to be too pointed in anything to do with Serena.

“Aye.” He shrugged. “Not that I should worry. They are both too old for her, don’t you think, Uncle?”

“No, I don’t think that at all,” his uncle answered.

This appeared to surprise Freddy. “Don’t you?”

“No, as I understand it, Serena is, what … three and twenty? I think she should be looking at someone mature enough to care for her,” Lord Pendleton told his nephew pointedly.

Freddy frowned darkly. “If you mean to be disagreeable, Uncle Danny, I might as well take myself off.”

“Disagreeable be damned.” His uncle chuckled. “I’ve done my bit for your mother. You won’t return to school—
so be it
. There is only one thing we now can do.”

“And what is that?” Freddy asked suspiciously.

“You want Serena Moorely—well then, my lad, have at her. Or don’t you mean to make a push to dance with the lady?”

Freddy’s face brightened, and he was moved to exclaim, “Knew you would help me in the end. You’ve always been a right’un.”

His lordship watched his nephew rush off in pursuit of the lady and couldn’t help but grin at the zeal Freddy showed as he worked his way into the group of ladies with whom Serena was in deep conversation.

His lordship then cast an eye towards the minister and saw that he watched Serena almost obsessively. It was disturbing.

No doubt there—the good minister meant to have the lady in question. His lordship then turned his gaze towards the other young men in the room, many of whom were staring at Serena and her group of friends.

Warren Beverly was at that moment leading a plain-faced and staid young lady into the country dance. The young lady had a sweet smile and was obviously infatuated with the rogue.

His lordship noted with interest that while Warren’s attentions towards the chit he had led out onto the floor were marked, his eyes often strayed towards Serena, who was also being led out onto the dance floor by Freddy.

Pendleton watched Freddy and Serena as they came together and parted during the steps of the country dance. She smiled and laughed but showed no marked preference for his nephew, nor did she make any romantic overtures towards the lad. She did nothing that he could make out to encourage the boy to attend to her. What was this? Just what was this?

The dance ended, and as Freddy led Serena away, his lordship made up his mind.
It was time to do something
.

As he passed by them, he heard Freddy say he would fetch her a Negus. Lord Daniel Pendleton made his move. A coin changed hands, and a waltz was struck.

His lordship had Serena’s lacey gloved fingers, and before she had the opportunity to refuse, he led her onto the floor.

Serena didn’t look pleased and said, “What are you doing?”

“Waltzing … do you not know the steps? Don’t worry. Just follow my lead, and try not to step on my toes.”

“Oh, you … you … of course I know how to waltz. We are not that backwards here in the country!” she answered sharply.

He realized at once that not only did she know how to waltz, she did so with perfect grace. The feel of her small waist in his large hand sent exquisite sensations through him. He was for a moment reduced to a man bewitched. He decided just to enjoy the moment. He could not blame Freddy for being swept away. He certainly would be if he weren’t on guard, and he was on guard, wasn’t he? Indeed, he was.

He looked down at her and said softly, “Your lips are pursed for a kiss.”

“Are they? Well then, the wonder is that you haven’t tried to kiss them.” She cocked a look at him, and he very nearly did just that.

* * *

Serena knew what he was doing. He wasn’t interested in her in any way. He merely wished to secure her attention on himself and away from Freddy. She was not a fool, but knowing this did not dissolve the hurt that rushed through her. Well, if he meant to dally with her, so be it. She would give as good as she got.

Her banter was meant to startle him, and she was pleased when it did just that. However, she was aware that flirting with him, looking up into those sapphire gems of his, filled her with certain excitement; that excitement, that feeling, flitted through her blood and played havoc with her good sense. The challenge she offered him had made her blood rush to her head. Butterflies in her stomach? Oh no, they were huge blackbirds picking away!

His blues were filled suddenly with interest, and that interest made her quiver with anticipation. Would he actually dare to kiss her? He couldn’t. They were surrounded by people.

His hold on her tightened, and he lowered his head and put his lips just inches away from her ear. Her knees began to weaken. She glided through the steps of the waltz, but she felt as though she were flying. What was happening to her? It was as though a strong wind named Lord Daniel Pendleton had blown in and was all around her. She felt as though she were being swept away.

He murmured, “Should I, Miss Moorely, break all the rules and do just that?”

He was daring her,
absolutely daring her
. She would call his bluff, for he would not do such a thing in front of his nephew, in front of all the world.

She eyed him boldly and said as softly and saucily as she could, “Do I call your bluff, my lord, or are you trying to call mine?
Kiss me then, and we shall see
.”

His brows rose, for as she thought, he had been calling her bluff; however, instead of being angry, he laughed out loud and said with a shake of his head,
“
Refreshing
—that is what you are. But do not tempt me further, Miss Moorely, or I shall find a way to squirrel you off to some corner where I
will
steal a kiss.”

It was her time to laugh. She looked him straight in his blue eyes and said, “Why do you say it as a threat—are your kisses not what a woman might want?”

He appeared thrown off balance, as though he had not expected this, and chuckled before he told her, “
For that
 … I mean to show you just what a kiss from me feels like.” So saying, he held her hand and hurried towards the garden doors.

She did not try to stop him, but willingly went along and admitted to herself that she had challenged him on purpose. Something inside her had wanted him to kiss her. Something had demanded she kiss him.

Of all the boys or men she had ever dreamed of kissing, this one man was the most fascinating, the most desirable, and she was heartily sick of all the rules. She was not getting any younger. Just what would his kiss be like?

He had her in the garden, and she found the night air was downright cool as he led her behind a tall evergreen bush. He didn’t hesitate; he didn’t stall or whisper sweet absurdities. He simply took her into his arms, which in itself made her feel as though she might crumble, and then his mouth was on hers.

The cold night air was forgotten. The garden was forgotten. The people in the ballroom vanished. There was only him
. Oh—just simply oh
, but she had never been kissed like that before. Not even Warren’s kiss could compare to what his kiss felt like.

His lips had met hers with a brushing motion so gentle she wasn’t sure his lips had really touched hers, and then he managed to part them, and his tongue slipped inside. It was a velvet teasing; it found and tasted her, insisted she taste him, and she did.

She responded like a tart, throwing herself into the kiss with abandon. She wanted him, in every imaginable way. He had been arrogant and judgmental, and she didn’t care. His kiss was delicious—
the moment was delicious
—and she was not about to make any excuses for herself or feel remorse for taking this moment and making it hers. She had gotten just what she wanted.

Just as she had forgotten the cold, she forgot the proprieties, she forgot everything except the feel of his arms around her body and the taste of his tongue teasing hers with his intentions. Those intentions excited her imagination.

He was dangerous, and if she were honest with herself, she would have to admit she wanted that danger, wanted him. He pulled away and stared at her as though he could not believe what he had just done, or what she had just allowed.

“I must get you back. I … I am not such a cad that I would expose you to censure. Come.” He took her hand and quietly led her into a crowded part of the ballroom so expertly that none were the wiser about where they had come from.

The waltz had been requested again, and the music floated in the air as he turned her into his hold. Serena objected but only found the voice to do so mildly. “We must not. People will talk. You must know we cannot waltz twice in the same evening with one another. This is the country, and people would look our way and raise their eyebrows.”

He laughed. “People will always gossip and stare.” He inclined his head. “If you like, however, I can lead you off the floor, and we can go find something to eat.”

She smiled mischievously. “No, oh no, I really do love this dance. I suppose I can weather the storm of a little ‘talk’. This is just too beautiful to forgo.”

He gave her an arched look and said softly, “You do that so well that I cannot help but wonder, Serena, how is it my nephew hasn’t already whisked you down the aisle?”

“I do what so well?” she asked, ignoring the rest.

“Innocence,” he answered glibly.

She stiffened and took a moment to collect herself before she said sharply and with a measured taunt, “Are you saying that I am not innocent?”

He was fractionally taken aback but recovered. “No, I am saying that your smile, your glittering eyes, your manner of speaking should have seduced a more innocent man than me.”

She pulled a face at him. “Somehow you have found a way to offer me insult.” She shook her head, “Allow me leave to tell you, my lord, that first of all, I have not flirted or tried to seduce your nephew in any way. And as to walking down the aisle, my lord, I have a very strong opinion. And it is this—in my estimation, it takes two willing individuals to take that journey. It is a journey that will last them a very long time and should not be taken lightly. I am fully aware of that fact and, thus, very determined to only take that walk with the man I love.” As soon as the words were out, she bit her lip. What had she just done? She shouldn’t be telling him such things. Who, when, and why she would marry was her own business.

He frowned. “Yet my nephew remains completely attached to you. Why, he hangs on your every word.”

He had not heard or perhaps had heard but not believed her. It was her turn to frown, and she answered, “If he hung on my every word, he would presently be up at school.
You
mistake. Very thoroughly,
you mistake
.”

“It is difficult to believe that the lad would stay at your side without encouragement,” he pursued scathingly.

She broke from his hold. She would not listen to more of this from him. She thought it was to her credit that she held back the hand that twitched to slap his face. He seemed to bring out all the ire in her. Why?

She started to turn away and said nothing to him. Why should she bother? Why should she be put in a position to defend herself? The truth was the truth. In the end, it would force itself to be seen. If he could not see it now, then he was not really worthy of her company. She turned back to give him a hard glare and wondered how he could have kissed her if he believed what he had just said to her.

She was spared making a scene by the good reverend, who appeared at that moment to offer her his bent arm. “My dear, you looked … displeased. I have come to take you to dinner.”

“Oh, Eustace, thank you, but …” She hesitated. If she went to dinner with him she would be trapped into listening to his prosy conversation. She said, “I would so much rather wait for the next country dance.” She totally ignored Lord Arrogant.

Daniel Pendleton’s eyes narrowed, and she saw by the look on his face that he was displeased with the outcome of their conversation as well as with Eustace’s interference. She smiled to herself and tried to ignore the fact that he was bowing himself off and moving away. Even an unpleasant argument with Lord Arrogant was better than a quiet conversation with almost anyone else. However, she was still seething, and it took her a moment or two to collect her temper.

A country dance was struck up, and the reverend said, “Look there, Serena. You are acquainted with that young woman, are you not?”

“Yes, I am. Sarah is a lovely person.” She eyed him, and both her expression and her stiffness challenged him to say otherwise. She knew the rumors. She knew what people were saying. She had bumped into Sarah in town only last week and had offered her support and friendship.

“Then you know, of course, what she has done … and—”

“Stop, Eustace. I will not hear a word against her,” Serena said.

“That is because you are so good … so innocent—”

She cut him off again. “I am neither, but I am her friend and won’t listen to anything anyone has to say that is not complimentary to her.” She eyed him disapprovingly. “Eustace, I should think a man of the cloth would not either.”