Shannon's Daughter (31 page)

“No.
 
I’ll be at Brown’s the whole time.
 
I have a very nice little suite.
 
All the comforts of home.”
 

“I’m
sure.”
 
Once again, his mind refused to
absorb the implications and the teacup recaptured his focus.
 

“I
should go.
 
I haven’t unpacked yet.”
 
She stood, brushing out her skirt and turning
toward the door.
 
“I suppose I’ll see you
tonight.”
 
That tremor was back.
 
He sensed tears close behind.

Launching
from his chair, he took a step toward her, his brain kicking into gear at
last.
 
“Peg, wait!
 
Do you need an escort for tonight?
 
I could call for you, at Brown’s, say around
seven?
 
That is if you’d like, of
course.”

Slowly,
she looked back over her shoulder, her eyes shimmering.
 
“You’re being awfully proper.
 
Have I made you uncomfortable?”

“A
little bit, I suppose.
 
You have to
admit, it’s a lot to take in.
 
First I
find you here unannounced, sleeping on my couch.
 
Then you tell me you’re going to be in London
all summer.
 
I don’t quite know how to
react.”

“I’m
sorry.
 
Let’s try again.”
 
She turned to face him, holding out her
hand.
 
“Hello, Kendall.
 
Remember me?
 
I’m your cousin, Peg Shannon, from New York?
 
I do hope we can see something of each other
while I’m here in London this summer.”

He took
the hand and squeezed it gently.
 
“Cousin
Peg, it would be my pleasure.
 
Might I
have the honor of escorting you to the party this evening?”

Chapter
Twenty-eight

Kendall
stood on the street outside the imposing entrance to Brown’s Hotel, taking a
moment to grasp the fact that for the next three months, this historic building
just blocks from his own modest digs would shelter Peg Shannon.
 
How many times would he beat a path to these
doors?
 
The thought made him shiver, as
much with uncertainty as with anticipation.
 

When he
inquired at the reception desk, the clerk, after eyeing him top to toe, nodded
toward the lobby.
 
“I believe Miss Shannon
is waiting for you, sir.”

He
spotted Peg standing near the doorway in conversation with a middle-aged gentleman
in some sort of uniform.
 
Kendall’s first
thought was that she looked every inch the socialite in her champagne brocade
gown.
 
His second was that she seemed
uneasy, toying with the pearls at her throat and glancing frequently out the
windows.
 
With that in mind, he made sure
to produce his brightest smile and reach for her as he approached, dipping to
brush a kiss on her cheek as his hand settled at the small of her back.
 
Worry had no business clouding those
beautiful eyes, he thought, and accepted that his poetic bend had returned
along with staccato pulse rates and damp palms.
 

“Sorry
to keep you waiting.
 
You look stunning
as always.”
 
He was rewarded with a
slightly wary smile, before Peg turned to the older man.
 

“Kendall,
this is Hammonds, who’ll be looking after me while I’m here this summer.
 
Hammonds, this is my cousin, Mr. Gregg.
 
He’ll be my escort this evening.”
 
The man bowed solemnly as Peg went on.
 
“If you’ll bring the car around, I think
we’re ready to go.
 
Unless
you’d like a drink first, Kendall?”

Still
trying to decide what role Hammonds was meant to play, he almost missed the
plea in her question.
 
“Not a bad
idea.
 
I think we have plenty of time
still.”

Hammonds
took himself off with another bow and a soft spoken, “Miss.”
 

“He’s
nice I suppose, but I don’t quite know how to take him.”
 
Peg fidgeted with her pearls some more.
 
“Adamson hired him over the phone.
 
Dad’s one condition was that I have a driver
with me here.
 
He’s taking his duties
very seriously.”
 

Steering
her across the lobby toward the bar, Kendall detected what might be
apprehension in her voice.
 
“How did you
manage to get away from him today?”

“Oh, he
thought I was sleeping.
 
I told him after
he brought me from the airport I wouldn’t need him until tonight.
 
I took a taxi to your place.
 
I’m afraid he may be keeping tabs on me and
reporting to Adamson.
 
It’s been so
unpleasant lately at home.
 
I was hoping
to have a little more freedom here.”
 

Seated
at the bar, he ordered two club sodas.
 
“I assume you still don’t drink?”

“No,
but if you want something. . .”

“The
fact is I’ve gone off it myself lately.
 
My friends mock me to no end for becoming a health nut.
 
But you were saying that things had been
unpleasant.
. .how so?”

“Oh,
just some silly business about
someone following
me
around campus, leaving notes and pictures.
 
It started last fall, and Dad had Simon actually going to classes with
me.
 
The maddening thing about it was no
one would tell me exactly what was going on.
 
Dad said it was nothing I needed to worry about, but as I tried to tell
him, I was the one who had to suffer the embarrassment of my chauffeur standing
guard outside all my classes.”
 
  

“Was it
ever resolved?
 
Was the man caught?”
 
The memory of the man called Brendan O’Hara
raised the hair on the back of his neck.
 

“As far
as I know, he just stopped whatever he was doing.
 
And I told Dad, I’m sure he’s not going to
follow me to England.
 
No sooner do I get
here, and Hammonds seems to have orders to stick to me like glue.
 
I’m going to have a talk with Dad as soon as
he gets in, you can bet on that.”
 
Her
eyes sparkled over the rim of her glass.
 

“When
is he getting in, by the way?”

“Not
until next week.
 
He’ll just make it in
time for the wedding.
 
He was in Greece
for two weeks, and now he’s tied up in Rome.
 
But I don’t want to talk about him.
 
While we’re alone, I want to tell you how glad I am you showed up.”

“But I told
you I’d be here.”
 
He scowled in
confusion.

“I
know.
 
But then I thought maybe you’d
changed your mind.
 
I guess I’d
understand if you had.
 
It may be awkward
walking into this party together.”

“Ah.
 
I have that all worked out.
 
You see, Reggie told me earlier that you were
here.
 
So I thought I’d just let drop
that I called to see if you needed an escort tonight.
 
That should do the trick, don’t you think?”

Grateful
was hardly the word for her smile.
 
“That’s perfect.
 
I have to admit,
I’m nervous about seeing everyone without Dad here.
 
I know they’re family, but I feel funny
suddenly being included like this.
 
You
really know all of them better than I do.”

“You have
nothing to fear, love.
 
They don’t eat American
cousins for breakfast, I can guarantee.
 
If you’d like, I’ll stick close until you get reacquainted.
 
I seem to recall you helped me sort things
out that summer in Ireland.
 
It’s the
least I can do now.”

The
smile took on a different quality, closer to affectionate.
 
“I’d love for you to stick close, as close as
you like.
 
I’ve missed you so much.
 
I don’t want things to be weird between us
now.”

He
grinned at the way her nose twitched on the word ‘weird.’
 
“Not sure just what constitutes weirdness,
but since I’ve missed you as well, I doubt there’ll be a problem.”
 

She
glanced away, her face unreadable.
 
“Have
you?
 
Missed me, I mean?”

Taking
her hand, he pressed it between his.
 
“Peg, nothing has changed.
 
My
feelings for you are just what they were three years ago.”
 
She looked up, the light in her eyes bringing
a catch to his throat.
 
“
But.
. . other things
have
changed.
 
Our lives have gone on and
we’re different people now.
 
Don’t you
think it would be wise to get to know one another again, before we try to pick
up where we left off?”
 

“I
don’t feel different.
 
Oh, I’ve learned
lot, and I’ve probably grown up a little bit, but Kendall, I still think of you
as my Galahad.
 
And here you are tonight,
saving me again.”
 
Once again she looked
away.
 
“Maybe you’ve changed.
 
Maybe you don’t want me the way you did
then.”

He let
out a groan, dropping his forehead to their clasped fingers.
 
“You’re going to force me to have that
drink!
 
Here I am trying to do the proper
thing, not just toss you over my shoulder, haul you up to your ‘nice little
suite’ and forget all about this wretched party, and you’re making it nigh unto
impossible.
 
What would you have me say?”
 
He heard her laughter, soft and throaty, and
drew a deep defensive breath.
 

“I
think you’ve said enough.
 
For now.”
 

“Good.
 
Then let’s find your guard dog and get on
with it.”
 
He tossed some coins on the
bar.
 
“And just for the record, I’m not
planning to carry you up any stairs this time around.
 
You’ll have to walk.”
 

Chapter Twenty-nine

“It
wasn’t so bad really.”
 
Raising the hem
of her dress, Peg bent down to rub her foot.
 
“But my big toe’s going to be black and blue tomorrow.
 
Nice to know some of us haven’t changed.
 
Seamus is as big an oaf as ever.
 
Well, bigger really.
 
How much do you think he weighs now?”

“Oh, at
least ten stone.
 
The boy obviously never
misses a meal.
 
Did he crush your foot badly?”

“Couldn’t
you see me discreetly wiping away tears?”

He
chuckled.
 
“And I thought you were just
overjoyed to see him after all these years.”

“Surprisingly,
it was nice to see them all.
 
Not as
awkward as I expected, except for Seamus practically falling into my arms.
 
Here, hold these.
 
I’ll just walk into the hotel barefoot.
 
I can’t stand putting my foot back in that
shoe again.”
 
She passed him her pumps,
the toe of the left one wearing a black smudge of a battle scar.
 
Hammonds slowed the car to the curb in front
of Brown’s and Peg said softly, “You are coming up for a while, aren’t
you?
 
It’s still early.”
 

“Just
for few minutes.
 
I have an early student in the morning.
 
But I suppose I’ll have to help you to your
rooms, considering your injury.
 
I
was
joking about carrying you,
remember.
 
You’ll have to hobble along on
your own.”

Linking
her arm through his, she rested her cheek on his shoulder briefly.
 
“I’ll manage.”
 

They
made their way rapidly to the elevator, Peg giggling and holding up her skirts
to keep them from dragging the floor.
 
“I
suppose they see people doing sillier things than this all the time.
 
The staff here is really very nice, which is
a relief.
 
I was afraid they’d be stuffy
and look down their noses at me because I’m just an American college girl.”

He shot
her an incredulous scowl.
 
“You’re hardly
any old American college girl.
 
If memory
serves, you’re that rich and famous American banking heiress.
 
I’m sure they were thrilled to learn you’d be
gracing the halls here at Brown’s this summer, barefoot or not.”

“I
doubt that.
 
But they have been awfully
nice.
 
Did I tell you I have my own
personal maid?”

“Do you
now?
 
She doesn’t double as a bodyguard, does
she?
 
I’d hate to find myself looking
down the shaft of a feather duster some morning.”

Peg
eyed him from beneath her lashes as she unlocked her door.
 
“Does that mean you’re planning to stay
over?”

“Would
I be welcome?”

As she
dropped the key on the little console by the door and switched on the lights, he
had the feeling she was playing out the moment for effect.
 
When she turned to him, her eyes were
glittering
.
 
“What do
you think?”
 
Before he could answer,
she’d slipped her arms around his neck and risen on tiptoe, stopping just short
of a kiss.
 

“I
think I might be.
 
But
only after we’ve had a little time to get reacquainted.
 
I meant what I said, love.
 
We should take things slower this time.”

Sliding
her hands down his chest, she made a little face.
 
“Fine.
 
We’ll do things your way.”

She led
him into the sitting room, dropping down on the couch and lifting her
skirts.
 
Extending her injured foot for
further examination, she displayed a wealth of nylon-clad leg, not
unintentionally, Kendall felt sure.
 
“As
long as I know you’re still interested, I’ll try to be patient.
 
At least until this wedding’s over, it would
probably be better if they didn’t all suspect we’re more than friends
anyway.
 
I’d hate to draw any attention
from Maeve and I think that just might get their attention, don’t you?”

He
chuckled, keeping his eyes on her face despite the tempting view.
 
Those legs of hers might be as stunning as
ever, but he was determined not to succumb to their lure.
 
“It might.
 
And this should be Maeve and Reggie’s big moment.
 
What did you think of old Reggie, by the way?
 
I thought he at least held his own among all
you Shannons.”

“I
think Maeve is a very lucky woman.
 
She
probably doesn’t deserve such a nice guy, but I can see he loves her.
 
And I can see what good friends the two of
you are.
 
That was nice, seeing you with
your friend.
 
I’ve only seen you with my
family, which I guess didn’t give me a true picture of the real you.”
 
Tucking her legs under her, she turned to him
with an innocent smile.

“Why,
Miss Shannon, how insightful of you.”
 
When she
playfully punched his arm, he chuckled.
 
“Perhaps while you’re here, you’ll have the opportunity to finally get
to know me, see me against the dingy backdrop of my boring, middle-class world.
 
Might tarnish my armor a bit, but then
perhaps you’d see why I keep telling you I’m not the man for you.”

“I
doubt that very much.
 
But I’d love to
see you in your world.
 
Will I get to see
you perform?
 
Does the orchestra play
during the summer?”
 
She idly began to
remove her jewelry, slipping off her earrings and reaching over to drop them on
the table behind her.
 

“Not
here.
 
We go out to Glyndebourne, in East
Sussex.
 
We’re the orchestra for the
opera festival all summer.”

“You
won’t be here in London?”
 
She looked up
sharply.

“In
and out.
 
I’m a busy man, my love.
 
I have to eke out a living you know.
 
No slacking.
 
The quartet has a pretty full schedule as well, I’m pleased to say.”

“When
will I get to see you?”
 
He took perverse
pleasure in her pout.
 
“You won’t have
any time for me.”

“Considering
you just showed up without any warning, it would serve you right if that
were
the case.
 
But
never fear
,
I’ll have a few spare hours here and
there.
 
Of course, I do have my students,
and the quartet rehearses at least once a week.
 
Then there are a number of gigs scheduled, weddings, teas, and in August
we’ll play the Proms, twice this year.
 
A
real coup for us, I must tell you.”
 
He
ran out of fingers as he ticked off the list.
 
“Of course, there are your lectures, too.
 
We should be able to manage breakfast on
Sunday mornings or tea now and then.”
 

He
watched her face fall, her eyes darkening.
 
“Breakfast and tea are not what I had hoped for, Kendall.
 
I thought in three months, we
could.
. .well, I was hoping. . .”

“What
were you hoping, Peg?”
 

“I
don’t know exactly.
 
I guess I wanted
what we had in New York.
 
We’re not going
to have that, are we?”
 
Her shoulders
slumped and she dropped her head.

He
couldn’t keep up the pretense, not in the face of her disappointment.
 
“We’ll have as much as I can manage,
love.
 
I promise.
 
You’ll have to be a little bit patient,
that’s all.
 
Now don’t look so down.
 
Don’t you think I want that, too?
 
I’ve thought of little else since I found you
on my couch, you know.”
 
Leaning closer,
he cupped her chin gently.

Her
eyes brightened instantly.
 
“You
have?”
 
Just as instantly, she scowled
and set her lips in another pout.
 
“Kendall
Gregg, you’re just being mean!
 
Why are
you teasing me like this?”

“Because,
my darling, I had to be sure you’re not teasing
me
.
 
As I recall, I let you
down rather badly last time, and you have every right to seek revenge.
 
It would be just like a woman to tempt a man
into revealing his vulnerabilities, only to remind him what a cad he’s been in
the past.”

“Were
you a cad?”
 
He was aware of her eyes
scanning his face, coming to rest on his mouth.
 
He knew that look all too well, and where it could lead.

“I’d
say so.
 
I took full advantage of your
generous affections and then chose a seat with an orchestra over you, or at
least that’s how it must have seemed to you.”
 
Dropping his hand, he drew away slightly.

“I
suppose it did.
 
I was pretty unhappy for
a while.
 
But I knew it was best for your
career.
 
And I had things to do,
too.
 
I don’t think I hold any grudges, if
that’s what you’re afraid of.”
 
She slid
closer, resting an arm along the back of the couch.
 
He caught a whiff of her perfume, watched her
lips part as if to say more.

“I’m
glad to hear it.
 
It’s getting late.
 
I really should be going.”
 
He’d fully intended to get to his feet, but
before he could move, Peg deftly wound her arms round his neck.
 
With a rustle of brocade, she turned across
his lap, leaving him no choice but to cradle her closer.

Words
would have been wasted.
 
Peg would have
her say without uttering a syllable, and he was lacking a plausible argument
anyway.
 
If he hoped his resistance to
her might have strengthened over time, all hope vanished in that embrace.
 
He managed to stop himself from taking
advantage of the zipper pull conveniently beneath his fingers.
 
He did not however, succeed in curbing his
instant arousal beneath the sweep of Peg’s fingers as they slid inside his
collar to caress hyper-sensitized skin.
 

“Peg,
please, we can’t do this, not tonight!”
 
He tore his mouth from hers with a gasp.
 
“The last thing I want is to begin again this way.”

“Why?”
 
She seemed undeterred as she teased at his
tie.
 

“
Because.
. .!”
 
He
disengaged her fingers, pressing them against his lapel.
 
“Because we’re supposed to be getting
reacquainted, remember?
 
And there’s no
need to rush.
 
We have time to do things
properly now, if you’ll just be patient.”
 
Seeming to ignore him, she resumed her assault on his tie, which had
become stubbornly knotted.
 
“Peg!
 
Will you please stop?”

Pulling
back with a stunned expression, she moaned softly.
 
“You really want me to?
 
Kendall, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s
wrong.
 
I just don’t want to fall into
bed at ‘hello.’
 
Well, truthfully, that’s
precisely what I want to do, but it would make better sense to take our
time.
 
I do have an early day
tomorrow.
 
I’d have to rush out of here
at the crack of dawn.”
 
Her hands fell
away to her lap, her eyes dropping to study them.
 
“Peg, look at me.
 
You deserve better and this time around I
mean to give it to you.”

A slow
smile raised the corners of her mouth.
 
“That’s very sweet.
 
As long as
you’re sure it’s not that you’re aren’t attracted to me anymore.”

He
shook his head slightly at the double negatives and the absurdity of her doubts
given his current raging arousal.
 
“Oh,
no, love.”
 
Tenderly, he raised her
chin.
 
“Attraction has never been a
suitable word for what you bring to my mind.
 
I adore you, Peg Shannon.
 
Can’t
you let me court you a little, wine and dine you, even if only on my meager
budget?
 
I’d like to show you my London,
introduce you to some of the people in my life.
 
Now that I know we have this time to spend together, I want to make the most
of it.”