Swept Away (2 page)

“Forgive me, I misunderstood,” Alex replied with a knowing smile. He held Eden’s attention with a teasing glance until she began to smile too. His gaze then strayed down the elegant line of her throat to the lush swell of her breasts. Her skin was a lovely shade, a pale creamy gold rather than the lifeless ivory so many women thought men admired. Eden Sinclair struck him as a rare beauty, glowing with the pride and spirit she seemed to find so difficult to contain.

From what he could recall of her mother, she had been a similar high-strung beauty who had spurned several titled Englishmen to marry a Virginian whose family fortune had been derived from shipping American cotton to English mills. Alex had never met the man, but was nevertheless impressed that he had sired such a lovely daughter.

As Alex studied her, Eden was observing him with equal interest for he was unlike the other Englishmen she had met. He was neither cold and aloof, nor overly friendly. His clear blue gaze held the sparkle of polite interest rather than the amused disdain she had so often observed. Her aunt had insisted she attend a near endless round of balls and parties since she was of an age to take a husband, but Eden was wise enough to know few men would consider her when they were ready to choose a wife. She had once been a pampered Southern belle, an heiress whose only care had been which of her many beaus to favor with a smile, but with the War going so badly for the South, there was too great a possibility her once highly respected family would find themselves impoverished to make her worth courting.

Her aunt had sought, without success, to squelch her rebellious spirit, to discourage all interest in the progress of the War as unladylike, but she had succeeded only in making Eden aware of a stubborn streak of defiance she had not even realized she possessed until she had been sent to England the previous fall.

“I must be more careful of what I say,” Eden admitted regretfully. “I’m afraid I frequently fail to display the elegance of manner my aunt and her friends require, much to her regret.”

“That isn’t true, Miss Sinclair. Your deportment is flawless,” Alex contradicted firmly. “I have observed you on several occasions and your aunt has no justification for complaint on any account. It should be obvious to all that you’re a young woman of refinement and breeding.”

Eden drew back slightly, uncertain whether or not she liked the idea of his watching her so closely as he had just admitted. “Leaving the ball to wander the house was an unforgivable breach of etiquette as I’m sure you must know, as is being here with you, but I could not pretend for another minute to be enjoying the party when those I love best are suffering so terribly.”

When Alex nodded sympathetically, Eden was sufficiently encouraged to continue. “Tonight, and everywhere I go, I’m surrounded by pretense. I am eager for any news from home, but all I hear is insincere flattery rather than true conversation. I prefer silence to the outrageous flirting most of the young women receive.”

Puzzled, Alex leaned forward slightly, “Most of the women, but not you?”

“No, the men are very cautious where I’m concerned. I have a sizable dowry, but it doesn’t compensate for the fact that, if the South loses the War, my family may lose all they own.”

Alex could not recall another woman mentioning the size of her dowry to him. It was a shocking remark actually, and yet, it did not seem out of place between them. A most intriguing thought occurred to him, and he could not ignore it. “What if the South were not at war? What if you were here merely to become acquainted with your English relatives, and had your parents’ permission to stay for as long as you desired? Would your opinion of the evening be different?”

Eden took a deep breath and held it a moment as she gave his question the careful consideration it deserved. “I’m sorry, but the War has been far too costly for me to pretend for even a minute that it does not exist. I’m afraid that even when it’s over I’ll have no home to which to return. It’s only the young women without such serious concerns that can find a ceaseless stream of empty compliments amusing.”

Alex knew he should escort Eden back to the ballroom, or at the very least tell her to go but he was loath to do it. It was so very pleasant sitting there talking in the cozy confines of the library that he had as little interest as she in returning to the crowded party where none of the remarks would be so delightfully spontaneous. He again took her hand and slowly drew it to his lips.

“You’re a treasure, Eden, and any man who does not see that doesn’t deserve even a moment of your time.”

His manner was too sincere for Eden to think he was merely trying to flatter her, but before she could thank him for that compliment, the door opened and a strikingly handsome young man strode into the room. He was tall and dark, with eyes so deep a brown they appeared as black as the unruly ebony curls that dipped low over his forehead. While he was as well dressed as Alex and the other male guests, there was a wildness about him his splendid evening clothes could neither disguise nor contain. The boldness of his entrance shattered the calm mood of the library as surely as the first bolt of lightning announces the coming of a storm. His piercing glance frightened Eden and she was relieved when he dismissed her quickly and spoke to her companion.

“I’m ready to go now if you are,” he announced confidently to Alex.

Alex rose, and after helping Eden to her feet, he introduced the young man as his nephew. “You must forgive Raven’s rudeness, but he shares your view of tonight’s guests. Only in his opinion, it’s the women who speak nothing but flattering lies.”

Eden’s eyes widened at that jest and she suddenly felt very foolish for having confided such private thoughts without any assurance Alex would keep them to himself. Terribly embarrassed to have made so potentially disastrous an error, she returned Raven’s brief greeting then excused herself and hurriedly left the library.

Raven turned to watch Eden depart, his stare mocking as it swept over her fair curls, narrow waist, and the long, graceful stride the fullness of her skirts didn’t hide. “Have you taken to seducing comely virgins?” he asked as he turned back to face his uncle.

“That I prefer a beautiful woman’s company to my own shouldn’t surprise you,” Alex responded readily, but he was puzzled by the sudden aloofness of Eden’s manner when she had been so delightfully open, and he could not dismiss her from his mind. “I know I said I’d like to leave early, but I’ve decided to stay awhile longer.”

“Why? You can sleep at home in your own bed far more comfortably than you can in here.”

Alex moved toward the door. He was almost as tall as his nephew, and his build was also lean. In finely tailored evening clothes his every gesture displayed the elegance to which he had been born while as usual Raven’s motions showed only the tension of his mood. “I’ve no intention of sleeping. It’s been a long while since I felt like dancing so just go on ahead and send the carriage back for me if you can’t wait.”

“You want to dance?” Raven gasped incredulously. “But aren’t you afraid that—”

Alex raised his hand in a demand for silence. “My heart isn’t that weak, Raven. A dance or two won’t kill me. Of course, if it does, I’m afraid the Carlisles will be so angry with me for ruining their ball they’ll refuse to attend my funeral.” Amused by that macabre thought, he began to laugh to himself. “Please convey my apology should it be necessary.”

Raven quickly caught up to Alex as he left the library and walked with him back to the ballroom. “You mustn’t make jokes about your death. It isn’t in the least bit humorous to me. How can you even imagine that it is?”

“Forgive me. I know that comment was in poor taste, but even if my attempts at humor fail to cheer you, they do serve to keep me in good spirits.” Alex smiled far more frequently than his dark-eyed companion, but the subject of his own demise did not depress him. In his opinion he had lived a full life, but as he scanned the guests looking for a certain fetching blonde, he was filled with a poignant longing for time enough to replace the sorrow in her golden eyes with the warm sparkle of happiness.

“Where have you been?” Lady Lawton scolded crossly as Eden returned to her side.

Lowering her voice to a discreet whisper, Eden provided the first excuse that occurred to her. “My hair needed attention, Aunt Lydia. I feared it would come loose and went to arrange it more securely.”

Lydia’s sharp eyes quickly assessed her niece’s golden curls, and finding them neatly arranged, she gave her an approving nod. “Your appearance is perfection, but you mustn’t wander about alone. It might cause speculation that you’re meeting someone, and your reputation must remain above reproach.”

Eden turned away to hide her smile, but she thought her aunt’s fear truly ludicrous. The music ended then and her cousin, Stephanie, joined them for a few minutes. Petite and dark like her mother, she never lacked admirers, and when the musicians began the next tune, she was again invited to dance while Eden was left standing by her aunt’s side. It was one thing to know why she was seldom asked to dance, but quite another to smile bravely as though she did not care when she had once been the most popular girl in Richmond.

When she saw Alex across the room, Eden quickly directed Lydia’s attention to him. “I can’t recall the name of that silver-haired gentleman. Do you know him?” She had not realized she still held his handkerchief until she had left the library, and not wanting to return and intrude upon Alex and his nephew, she had quickly slid the damp square of fine linen down her bodice. She could feel it now, touching her left breast in a shameful reminder of how foolish she had been to speak her mind so freely.

Always well mannered, Lydia nodded, but did not reply until none of the dancing couples was near enough to overhear her words. “He is Alexander Sutton, Earl of Clairbourne, my dear. He’s a widower who spends most of his time in the West Indies. In fact, I can’t recall when he was last in London. It’s been several years since I’ve spoken with him although his late wife was at one time a dear friend.”

“Lord Clairbourne,” Eden whispered softly so she would not forget the name but her heart fell at the realization Alex was not someone she would be likely to meet again. When he and his nephew began making their way toward them, Eden felt the heat of a bright blush fill her cheeks but it was her aunt Alex invited to dance, not her.

While he had reluctantly agreed to seek a wife, Raven found himself hating every minute of the search. He felt on that night as he had all the others: like a prize stallion on display before an auction, and he was eager to leave. When his uncle invited Lydia Lawton to dance, he had no choice but to escort her niece out onto the floor; however, he made no attempt to make the experience enjoyable for either of them.

Eden searched her mind for something amusing to say, then recalling Raven had apparently found his other partners’ conversation wanting, she gave up the effort and remained silent. He was so tall the top of her head barely reached his shoulder so she knew it would have been difficult for them to converse even if she had been able to think of something witty to say. She winced as he stepped on her toe, and only nodded in reply to his mumbled apology.

As Alex and her aunt moved into view, Eden saw them laughing together and wished she and Lydia could trade places, for Alex was clearly an accomplished dancer while his nephew moved like a lumbering ox. She greeted the end of the number with a sigh of relief, and when she looked up at Raven, she wasn’t surprised to find he appeared equally grateful. When he thanked her, neither his deep voice nor his dark eyes held the slightest hint of warmth, and she thought it a great pity he possessed none of his uncle’s remarkable charm.

When Alex Sutton failed to invite her to dance, Eden was more disappointed than she had thought possible. He smiled at her after he had escorted her aunt to the edge of the dance floor, again brushed her hand with a light kiss, but he had then excused himself. Still thinking him quite the most interesting man she had met in a long while, Eden watched him call greetings to others as he walked away. He was obviously a friendly fellow and apparently popular but his nephew looked every bit as uncomfortable as she felt as he trailed along behind him.

“Well, what do you think of him?” Lydia asked excitedly.

“Think of whom?” Eden responded with forced calm, silently praying that despite his earlier lack of discretion, Alex had not revealed how they had met.

“Raven Blade, of course, who else?” Lydia shook her head impatiently. “Lord Clairbourne is childless, so his nephew is his heir. He was raised on Jamaica and his manners are not what they should be, unfortunately, but he will be enormously rich when he inherits his uncle’s wealth.”

“That can’t possibly be soon enough to make marriage to that brooding oaf worthwhile,” Eden mused aloud.

“Hush!” Lady Lawton hissed sharply. “Lord Clairbourne has asked to speak with me privately tomorrow afternoon. I think he may want to suggest a match between Stephanie and Raven. While I shall promise to do no more than consider it, I’ll admit the prospect is a tremendously exciting one.”

“Does Stephanie even know who Raven is? I’ve never heard her mention his name.”

Lydia favored her niece with a triumphant smile. “If she doesn’t know who he is tonight, I can assure you she most definitely will by tomorrow.”

The following afternoon, Eden and her cousin strolled about the well-tended garden of the Lawton townhouse while Lord Clairbourne met with her aunt. Stephanie had indeed known who Raven Blade was but Eden found her cousin’s enthusiastic praise for him difficult to understand. She tried to keep in mind the difference between their prospects for making a good marriage, but even that bias failed to change her view of him. He was remarkably handsome, she could not deny that, but his manner was too forbidding for her to focus on his appearance as Stephanie so easily did. She simply did not like the dark-eyed young man and she did not understand how her cousin could admire someone so lacking in warmth.