Strictly Forbidden (20 page)

* * * *

“I’m leaving to visit my friend, Mr. Burgess, in Yorkshire,” Darius announced suddenly
the following afternoon as she sat in the withdrawing room. He clutched a well-worn
piece of paper in his hand. It looked to be a letter of some sort.

As she wondered who sent it, Kira peered at him, incredulous. Had he gone mad? “I’m
to be married in six days. Can it not wait until after the wedding?”

Contrition and anger tightened her brother’s face. “No. He’s issued me a most important
invitation. His father has also invited Mr. Farrow to spend several weeks at their
estate as well. He is a very important barrister with high connections. Perhaps with
his help, I will be able to study law.”

His reasoning made no sense. Anger and confusion assaulted her. “If Mr. Farrow is
to be there for several weeks, certainly you can join him after my wedding.”

“Kira, you are very nearly settled. You must allow that I have the same need for my
life.”

She did. Of course she did. But now?

It was selfish and cowardly to be so opposed to his leaving. Still, she could not
stop from wishing he would stay just a few days more. “Who will stand beside me on
my wedding day?”

Darius averted his gaze, seemingly fascinated by the old Chinese fashion mantle clock.
“You have James now. He will stand beside you for the rest of your days. Your pesky
brother will only annoy you occasionally after your marriage.”

“You are never an annoyance. Darius, I—
”
Kira grappled for words, torn between releasing him to seek his happiness and keeping
him near out of comfort— “Do not leave me, please. I will likely never see Mama again,
and Papa is God knows where. But you,” she grasped his arm, “
you
have been my constant in life. I do not know if I can make it through my vows without
your support.”

He grabbed her hands, hazel eyes fierce. “You must and you will. Kira, Mama and Papa
are largely of your past. Do not dwell upon them. Instead, walk down the aisle toward
Mr. Howland with a smile on your face and peace in your heart. I will be thinking
of you with much love.”

“You’re truly leaving?”

As he rose from the pale green chaise, incredulity bombarded Kira. Darius had never
left her so abruptly or at such an important time. He had always been beside her,
protective, a constant pillar of strength and a helpful ear.

“I must. But I will visit you in a few weeks, once you’ve settled into Tunbridge Wells.
And I hope to have very good news for you then. I wish you well, sister.”

With that, Darius brushed a kiss across her cheek, then exited without hesitation.

Two days after Mrs. Howland’s small gathering, Kira received an invitation to attend
a garden party at her uncle’s town house. Actually, the invitation was addressed to
she and Darius, as well as the rest of James’s family. Kira had accepted
,
albeit reluctantly without her brother at her side. His sudden departure still bewildered
her.

The early May sky captured the essence of a perfect spring day in England. The lovely
blue afternoon was unmarred by wind or rain, while flowers bloomed in a riotous profusion
of which Lady Westland had every reason to be proud. Even better, James had occupied
his disapproving mother’s attention while Gavin strolled at her side in the sunshine.

“You seem pleased today,” he observed, smiling.

He walked in stride with her, hands clasped behind him. The tall hat upon his head
shaded the masculine angles of his face from the sun. He seemed at ease, his dark
eyes so full of… care. Kira wished she could edge closer to him, but did not. Others
at the party would likely receive the wrong impression
and
believe that she had designs on him. Darius’s warning floated through her mind, and
a nervous twitter danced in her stomach. Was it possible Gavin thought of her as more
than his cousin’s fiancé
e
? His pleasant gaze gave her no indication.

“I am pleased,” she said finally. “I did not expect an invitation to my uncle’s home,
much less so soon. He even spoke in very civil tones to me when I arrived.”

“Perhaps he is enchanted by your social grace and wishes to include you in his circle.”

Certainly, he was teasing her. “Social grace? I’m certain I stammered and murmured
my way through our introduction and did little better just now. No, if I possessed
any social grace, I’d be making my acquaintance wider as we speak, rather than hiding
in a corner of the garden with someone I already consider a friend.”

Gavin’s gaze settled on her then and warmed. Kira felt something in her stomach flutter.
Her palms turned damp. She did not understand it, but when he looked at her in such
a manner, she could scarcely think.

“Thank you.” His gaze touched her face, lingered there. “It’s good to see you smile.
You do it most beautifully.”

She sent him a stare of mock suspicion. “Are you practicing to be England’s most fluent
flatterer? If so, may I say you’re doing a marvelous job?”

“Me, flatter?” He looked genuinely astounded. “When I tell you that you sing like
the heavens and smile like an angel, I speak only the truth.”

“Nonsense,” she returned. But her stomach fluttered again, as did her heart. Gavin
could be so terribly charming when he chose. “Perhaps I should seek out the company
of others who won’t fill my head with such rot.”

“And you would leave me here? In this corner of the garden, all alone?” Distress tugged
his brows downward, though his mouth still held a mischievous smile. “You wound me.”

“I doubt that very seriously.”

Moments later, Lady Litchfield took the decision from Kira’s hands with her arrival.
The perfect English rose sauntered her way across the cobble and brick paths, seemingly
impervious to the fragrant air and swaying blooms bursting around her. Instead, she
greeted a few acquaintances and avoided Lord Darehurst before heading to Gavin’s side.

“Good afternoon, Gavin,” she greeted. Displeasure dripped from her voice. “I waited
for you inside Lady Westland’s parlor for some minutes. I did not realize you were…occupied.
Miss Melbourne.”

The incline of her head should have been a greeting, but with the sharp gesture, Lady
Litchfield made it clear that she disdained Kira completely.

“Hello, Lady Litchfield. How good to see you.” Kira used her most cloying voice, unable
to resist irritating the woman.

As she suspected, Lady Litchfield provided no further acknowledgement.

“I apologize, Cordelia,” Gavin said into the awkward silence. “Would you like to take
a turn about the gardens?”

Cordelia?
So they were on a first name basis as well. Nuptials would certainly follow soon.
Kira really hated the thought. Lady Litchfield was all wrong for him.

“Of course,” said his soon-to-be duchess.

Gavin turned to Kira, as did Lady Litchfield. He would either invite her to join them
or ask her to excuse them, and Kira found either proposition unpalatable.

“Enjoy yourselves. It’s a lovely garden. I think I shall
visit with some of the other guests.”

Before either of them could reply, Kira turned away and meandered along the edges
of the gathering. She sought out James, but found he had become engrossed in conversation
with another clergyman. She could always speak to him later, when she wasn’t interrupting.

A glance over her shoulder proved Lady Litchfield anchored to Gavin’s arm. They both
wore very serious expressions that made Kira grimace. She looked away to find Mrs.
Howland on a wrought iron bench under the shade of an oak. She clutched a parasol.

Her attempt to protect her skin from the sun made Kira very conscious of the fact
her own blue crepe bonnet provided more opportunities to show off blonde lace than
to shield her face. As well, she had doffed her gloves some minutes ago to feel one
of her uncle’s perfect blooms. She might not care for Mrs. Howland’s company, but
the woman had a good idea. More sun only darkened Kira’s already olive skin, exacerbating
the differences between herself and English roses like Lady Litchfield.

Donning her gloves as she walked, Kira rushed inside to retrieve her own parasol.
Small as it was and trimmed in fringe, it would nevertheless help protect her from
adding further color to her face.

Armed again with all the accompaniments of a lady, Kira stepped outside and wandered
for a bit, still wishing Darius was with her and wondering why he had left her so
abruptly. She and James, along with his family, would return to Norfield Park in just
three days so they might exchange vows there in the parish. And she still could not
believe Darius had no intent to be with her. Certainly her father would not be there;
it would take her letter months to reach him. And though she wanted her brother happy
and settled, she also wanted him with her on the day she became James’s wife.

Sighing, Kira espied three ladies perched on the bench Mrs. Howland had previously
occupied. Kira could not see the faces of the ladies, as their backs faced her, but
their hats and dresses told Kira that Lady Litchfield, Lady Westland
,
and a woman whom Kira had not yet met sat there. And from their animated gestures,
the conversation was a lively one.

For lack of anything better to do
,
or perhaps to avoid further introductions to strangers
,
Kira wandered toward the bench, approaching from behind.

“I am mortified that my husband demanded I invite Miss Melbourne to my gathering,”
said Lady Westland. “I have no notion why he wants the ill-bred strumpet here.”

Kira paused, not particularly surprised. Lady Westland’s greeting had been reserved
to the point of icy when she’d arrived.

The third woman lifted her handkerchief in a dramatic gesture. “She is quite shocking.
Certainly he invited her only because they are relations. Perhaps your dear Lord Westland
merely takes pity on her.”

“I am sure that is the case, but how am I to bear the strain?” She sighed. “My husband
has a caring heart
,
and I would not want him any other way. Would that he did not pity Miss Melbourne
so much that he felt the need to invite her, though.”

“Indeed,” murmured Lady Litchfield.

Kira winced. Perhaps her uncle did pity her, but he also did not know her well. Pity
could certainly become pride, if he gave himself the opportunity to learn more about
her.

“I am surprised he wished you to invite her. Did he not always disapprove of the half-breed
children?” asked the other woman, whose high-pitched voice was altogether grating.

“Of course,” affirmed
her
uncle’s wife in an indignant voice. “Though he claims now that he objected mostly
to his brother’s constant travels and lack of responsibility.”

Kira leaned against the tree that separated her from the women. She should simply
leave, walk away and eschew their opinions. But their talk of her mother rooted her
in place.

“I do not recall meeting his wife,” claimed the high-pitched voice. “If her mother
was anything like Miss Melbourne, I can only imagine how common she must have seemed.”

Lady Westland made a sound of disgust. “You missed very little. She was indeed like
her daughter, only darker of skin. Same sulky countenance and pouty mouth. And all
that black hair hanging about. The ladies of the
ton
knew her for the jade she was, though
a gentleman
or two with poor taste found her exotic, I’m told.”

The third woman said, “Miss Melbourne looks like a jade.”

“It would not surprise me if she used her engagement to Mr. Howland so that she might
ensnare the Duke of Cropthorne,” said Lady Litchfield. “She looks at him as one does
a confection. I hardly call that exotic.”

At that moment, Kira disliked the English rose even more. In fact, her rudeness mitigated
any beauty she might possess. What did Gavin see in her? And had the woman really
noticed her blossoming partiality for her fiancé’s cousin?

“Shameful!” Lady Westland dug into the gossip with relish.

Lady Litchfield nodded her perfectly coiffed blond
e
head. “And did you see her rushing inside to fetch her parasol? Does she believe
that shading herself from the sun will fool anyone about her mixed breeding
?”

“One wonders why she bothers,” murmured the third woman.

Lady Westland
pinched her lips in distaste.
“Who knows what people of her descent will do? Why, I saw her with her brother at
Mrs. Howland’s dinner party. Their behavior was most odd. Did you notice the manner
in which Miss Melbourne and her brother huddled together in a corner for most of the
evening?”

Kira frowned. Darius had stood beside her that night in an attempt to ease her discomfort.
She and her brother were close. Out of necessity, they’d become each other’s parents
and friends. What could be wrong with that?