Taffeta & Hotspur (8 page)

“
Taffeta, Taffeta…” Her aunt
touched her cheek and turned to Tarrant. “We need to find her a
chair…”

He watched as she snapped herself out
of whatever was wrong, and he saw that it had taken extreme effort.
She pulled away from him and looked up at his face, blushing until
even her lovely neck went pink.

Just what happened? he
wondered.

Chapter Five

Taffy sat back and thought about the
moment when Tarrant had been returning her to her aunt. What must
he have thought?

She had suddenly been overtaken by one
of her visions, and it had been so real. Usually they unfolded
before her like a play on a stage, but in this one, she wasn’t
there as an observer, she was just there as the
participant.

They were in a hayloft, and she was
naked, lying back against a wool knit blanket. She was looking up
at him, at his huge throbbing staff, and it wasn’t the first time
they had been together like this. They were lovers!

No. She wasn’t going to allow this to
happen. Even if she had to give herself to him to keep him quiet
about her uncle and brother … and her; it would be that one time
only…

There with Tarrant, she knew she had
to get out of her vision, and she had managed to do that, but not
before he lowered himself to her, brushed her mouth with his warm
sensual lips, and whispered, “Sweet sunbeam…”

Her aunt had called to her, helping
her to break from the vision, and they had found her a chair. She
had been filled with heat, not because of her vision, but because
in her vision, she had welcomed his touch…

Now, the morning after the ball, Taffy
tried to vanquish this memory as she watched her aunt preen and
compliment herself on the success of her ball. She found herself
squeezed as her aunt hugged her and declared jovially, “La, but all
of London will be talking about it for weeks to come. I was so
proud of you. Taffeta, imagine, dancing with the Hotspur … twice!”
She clucked and went to the fireplace, poked at it, and turned to
Taffy to add, “It bordered on indecent … twice with the same man,
and that man, Lord Tarrant! La, my dear, well done.”

“
Aunt Sissy, you make too
much of it.” Taffeta laughed at her antics and bit into a
biscuit.

“
La, but I do not. You two
whirled around the dance floor. It was Tarrant’s second waltz with
you—and they are calling you the new beauty! You have become the
talk of the season.”

“
Oh aunt, it is all
nonsense.”

Her aunt eyed her, “You are a
diamond—la, child and your taste in clothing is perfection. That is
a very fetching morning gown. The blue draws on the gray color of
your eyes … and the fit is very alluring. Fetching, very fetching,
for I suspect we shall soon have morning callers.”

Taffy laughed and waved this off,
“Thank you, but I do hope not. It is so pleasant just to sit
quietly about this morning. I hardly slept last night.”

As though to prove her aunt a fortune
teller, Jarvis, their butler, appeared at that moment and
announced, “Miss Catherine Frome asking to see Lady
Taffeta.”

“
Cath? Here…” Taffy jumped
up with excitement and said, “Yes, Jarvis … do show her in. Thank
you.” She turned to her aunt, “Of all the wonderful
things…”

“
A school friend, dear?”
asked her aunt.

“
Yes, my very dearest…” And
then Catherine entered the room.

Taffy’s excitement took over the room
as she rushed to embrace her friend, and the two squealed with
obvious affection for one another. It was a moment before Taffy
remembered her manners and turned to her aunt to say, “Aunt Sissy,
Lady Marble, this is my dear friend Catherine Frome.”

Taffy adored her friend and was proud
of her. She was tall, graceful, and sedate, and Taffy often giggled
about how opposite they were. She bounced, but Catherine glided.
Even as she stood making introductions, she squeezed her friend’s
hand and said, “Cathy, you can’t know how much I have missed
you!”

Taffy often thought the two of them
were like hot meeting cold and creating warm. After the
introductions, Taffy pulled on her friend’s hand, led her to the
sofa, and inquired, “Cath, what are you doing in London? I thought
after your season last year, you had decided never again would you
allow your family to launch another?”

Before her friend could answer, the
butler appeared once again, and was amiably set aside as he tried
to announce their names, and Seth and Nigel strode jovially into
the room. Seth proclaimed, “There, there, Jarvis, no need to
announce us—family you know.”

Jarvis inclined his head, “As you
wish, your Grace.”

“
Much you know…” said Nigel
to his nephew in an aside, obviously continuing the discussion they
had been engrossed in during their arrival.

“
I am telling you, that
ain’t the way to handle it,” answered the young duke. Taffy smiled
as she saw him suddenly notice Cathy.

He put out his hand and went toward
her, as a very genuine smile lit up his fair face. “Catherine …
dear Catherine Frome.” He then surprised his sister by taking Miss
Frome’s hand and placing a gallant kiss on her knuckles. “Lord…” he
exclaimed as he came up from her hand, “you’ve quite grown up, and
your eyes … such a blue—”

“
You must forgive him his
rare form.” Nigel interrupted, appropriating her hand from his
nephew. “He hasn’t yet given up his lease of infancy.”

“
Cath—ignore these fools,”
cried Taffy on a laugh. She had never really seen Nigel and Seth
make up to a woman. “Come on, Cath, take off your bonnet and be
comfortable, for I don’t intend to let you leave till we have had a
nice long visit.”

Catherine took off her pretty straw
bonnet and placed it to one side of the sofa while Seth drew up a
chair and kept her engaged in conversation. Taffy found she
couldn’t fit in a word as Nigel seemed to vie for Catherine’s
attention as well.

Taffy rolled her eyes and said,
“Gentlemen, the lady is here to see me, not to be badgered by you
two…”

Miss Frome laughed and patted Taffy’s
hand, “Oh, it is so good to see you, and them as well. You three
are always so lively!”

Jarvis looked weary as he appeared
once more and announced, “Lord Thurston Tarrant.”

In spite of herself, Taffy felt a wave
of anticipation. She knew she was dangerously attracted to the
devil and meant to purge herself of this attraction somehow. She
had to or own herself lost.

However, when he stood in the doorway,
a giant of man, and his piercing dark gaze found hers, she felt
herself neatly conquered and very nearly speechless. Perhaps,
Taffeta, her inner voice whispered, ‘tis too late, and you are
already lost to the rake?

Another voice could be heard behind
Jarvis who had not yet left the arched doorway of the morning room.
Taffy’s smile grew as everyone looked toward the sound to see who
next would appear when Jarvis pronounced, “And Lord James
Fenmore.”

Taffy glanced at her Aunt Sissy who
whispered, “Both here…” This seemed to take her aunt’s breath away
momentarily, and then she added. “At the same time—Fenmore …
Tarrant … the two most sought after bachelors in London? Why this
will be the talk of the haute ton for the entire
season.”

Tarrant made his way directly to her
aunt and bent perfunctorily over her hand, “Lady Marble, I am
delighted to find you looking so well this morning, and after such
a strenuous night.”

“
It was perfect, wasn’t it,
Tarrant?” she asked conspiratorially.

He winked, and it was obvious to Taffy
he liked her aunt. “You know it was.” With this he moved on to bend
over Taffy’s hand and audaciously kissed her wrist.

“
You are a ravishing minx …
even in the morning,” he whispered as his dark gaze swept over
her.

She felt her cheeks burn. She had
purposely donned a pretty, if somewhat low cut, yellow day gown
that fit her well. Why? She had hoped he might stop by. Why? She
didn’t want to think about why.

However, as she looked into his bright
hungry eyes, she rather thought she knew … she was falling for the
scoundrel. No … I must not. She would have to do something to get
him out of her thoughts, but how could she? She had a debt to pay …
where … when, she didn’t know, but it was hanging over her head.
The idea of him taking her into his arms and making love to her
both frightened and thrilled her in the same moment. She had to
scold herself silently, he is a cad and a rake, a heartbreaker a…
She said softly, “Thank you.”

James Fenmore pushed Tarrant aside as
he took Taffeta’s fingers and bent over them. “Ravishing. How
pleased I am to see you this morning…” He looked to Catherine, and
Taffy quickly introduced them, noting his eyes lit up as Cathy’s
lashes lowered.

She smiled and looked to Tarrant who
had pulled up a chair to sit neatly at her knees.

“
Your hair … loose and all
about your shoulders … is very fetching…” Tarrant said.

She felt a fool and answered all she
could think of, “Thank you.”.

“
Do you braid it for bed or
leave it … loose like this?” The look in his eyes teased
her.

She looked around and noted everyone
was involved in hearty conversation and not looking their way. She
snapped a look at him. “I like it loose … and I sleep with only my
covers to keep me warm…” she whispered. “Is that what you want to
know?” Her eyes flirted outrageously. It was as though only she and
Tarrant were in the room.

A maid arrived with a tray of
refreshments, and Taffy laughed to herself as she watched her aunt
make certain everyone was served something as the jovial banter
continued.

Tarrant continued to sit close to her,
and looked deeply into her eyes whenever the opportunity
arose.

“
Why do you keep doing
that?”

“
Doing what?” he asked with
amusement.

“
Looking at me like that …
like you … want to devour me. ‘Tis not seemly—especially in my
aunt’s morning room.”

“
Would it be seemly
somewhere else?”

She giggled. “Nooo, but do
stop…”

“
I can not,” he answered. “I
was not aware that was how I was looking at you.”

“
Oh, downright fib…” She
gasped.

He laughed and took a pinch of air
between his thumb and forefinger, “Just a little one, sunbeam…” He
chuckled and leaned back against his hardwood chair, “Right then,
tell me, are you enjoying London? I seem to remember you declared
you would not, could not…?” The twinkle was back in his
eyes.

She dimpled up at him. “Ah, apparently
I am more superficial than I thought, for I am enjoying London so
far … immensely.” She then eyed him quizzically and said, “Have you
brought your high perch phaeton to town, my lord?”

“
So you have already heard
about my phaeton?” He grinned ruefully and touched her
nose.

She found she liked his touch far too
much, even on her nose. She regarded him playfully and added,
“Indeed, and the matched dapple grays to draw it. I am told you are
the best whipster in the land.”

“
For once I am thankful for
rumors if it wins me your company in my phaeton.”

She laughed sweetly, “Oh yes, I would
love a ride…”

“
We can go right now.” He
encouraged her with a grin.

“
No, how can we just leave
everyone and go? Impossible.”

“
Impossible? Not at all—we
will just excuse ourselves.”

“
Oh, my lord,” she objected
with a laugh. “I am persuaded you don’t have your phaeton standing
outside. That would never do for such high stepping
horses.”

“
You are correct, but I can
have them hitched and ready in no time … shall I leave and return
for you?”

She pushed at his arm, forgetting
herself, forgetting what lay between them, forgetting that very
soon he would call her to his bed.

“
Ah sunbeam, when you look
at me like that, all I want to do is…”

Jarvis appeared in the doorway, and
because no one paid him the least heed, he cleared his throat and
loudly announced, “The Marquis of Bruton.”

All conversation seemed to float into
the atmosphere and die as though a sudden fog had descended, and
Taffy heard her aunt say under her breath, “Oh no, oh
dear…”

Taffy noted her aunt’s reaction, but
what she found more worrying was her friend Catherine’s response to
his name. Miss Frome went white, and sat quite rigidly beside her,
and Taffy bent to her to ask, “Cath… Cathy, what is it?”

“
Naught.” Her friend’s voice
was shaky at best.

Taffy watched the marquis with
interest. He was certainly elegantly dressed. His dark green
superfine had been molded to his lean form. His pale cream breeches
looked as though they had been painted onto his long legs. His
boots sported gold tassels at their heart shaped tops. His face
conveyed an expression of boredom, and dissipation, of fast, hard
living, but even so he was a handsome buck much in his heyday—or so
it seemed to her.