Wicked (19 page)

She sighed, wondering what would ever become of her now.

“Let’s walk in the garden.”

“No.”

James flashed a tight smile at Veronica.

She was at the house again, invited to supper this time so she had every right to be in the parlor. The meal was ended, and there were a dozen ways she could entertain herself, but she was stuck to James like glue. Ever since he’d learned of Lucas’s shenanigans, his interactions with her had been incredibly awkward.

He wanted to say,
Look, I’m not about to propose,
but that would make the situation even more awkward.

Obviously, she’d believed Lucas. Whenever she and James were together, she’d grin at him as if they were friendlier than they actually were, and he was particularly careful to not be caught alone with her.

There was a sneaky facet to her character that he’d never liked, and he wouldn’t put it past her to engineer mischief.

“Then would you escort me to the buffet table?” she asked. “I’m starving.”

“I already promised I’d eat with Miss Ralston.”

“Miss Ralston! Miss Ralston!” she snapped. “It’s the only name I ever hear.”

“Well, she is Stanley’s guest, and everyone is talking about her.”

“Do you think she’s pretty?”

James peered across the room where Rose was chatting with a group of young ladies. His expression blank, he said, “Yes, she’s pretty.”

Veronica frowned. “Prettier than me?”

“How can a man answer that question without getting himself into trouble?”

“It’s not difficult to choose. You think I’m prettier or you think she is.”

“I think it’s a tie,” James judiciously responded.

“You can’t mean it.”

“You’re both marvelous.” He tipped his head. “Now then, if you’ll pardon me, I’d like some fresh air.”

“Are you going out to the verandah? I’ll come with you.”

“No. I’m tired of the socializing. I need a few minutes to myself.”

He hurried off, and as he stepped outside, he could barely keep from glancing back to see if she’d followed him. He leaned on the balustrade, and to his great relief, she wasn’t there. But she was watching him through the open doors. She was pretending she wasn’t, but she couldn’t hide her keen interest in his whereabouts.

He sighed and slid further into the shadows so he wasn’t visible to her.

He could wring Lucas’s neck. The entire fiasco proved that he should proceed to London—sooner rather than later—but he wouldn’t. He was beginning to suspect he
couldn’t
go.

Rose had intrigued him to the point where he didn’t know up from down. Their forays into passion had left him disturbed in ways he hadn’t thought possible. She was just so refreshing, so pure and unsullied, and her innocence enchanted him.

He’d been in the army too long, he realized. Trollops went with the territory, so he was used to women who were rough and tumble, who viewed sexual conduct as a business transaction: money paid for services rendered.

He never crossed paths with virtuous females, and even on those rare occasions when he did, it would have been the height of impropriety to seduce any of them.

Rose shouldn’t have let him, either, and he shouldn’t have tried, but where she was concerned his common sense had fled.

He was struggling to figure out his plan. How far would he take his flirtation? Would he ultimately relieve her of her virginity? She craved that ending, but she didn’t understand what she was truly requesting, so she couldn’t be the one to decide.

If he pushed the issue, if he deflowered her, she could wind up with child, which was the conclusion Stanley had sought. Would James give it to him?

He had no intention of carrying out his bargain with Stanley. At least, he didn’t expect he would. But whenever he looked at Rose, his masculine instincts flared, and he couldn’t convince himself that discipline should be exercised.

Over by the doors, a group of guests surged onto the verandah. Rose was with them. She espied him in his hiding spot and waved him over.

“It’s such a warm night,” she said. “We’re walking to the pond to cool down. Will you join us?”

“Yes, certainly.”

People were laughing, pairing up, and they promenaded down the stairs and into the garden, with Lucas leading the way. Rose very shrewdly arranged herself so she and James were the last down, so she could slip her arm into his. It was all very proper, very correct.

“Whose idea was this moonlight stroll?” he asked.

“Mine. I needed to get outside.”

“What if I’d refused to accompany you?”

“I’d have had to pick another fellow to escort me.”

He snorted. “If you require
escorting¸
I am at your service.”

“Of course you are. That’s why I came to fetch you.”

They slowed, the others farther and farther ahead. No one noticed their sluggish pace. No one glanced back to learn why they weren’t keeping up.

“Is there always so much socializing here at Summerfield?” she inquired.

“No, there’s never any.”

“So it’s all for my benefit.”

“Yes.”

“I hate to sound rude, but I’m weary of meeting the neighbors.”

“They all like you.”

“I’m a likeable person.”

He chuckled, his torrid gaze wandering down her body. “You definitely are. I like you more than anyone.”

“Would you be serious? And don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you want to gobble me up.”

He leaned nearer and whispered, “I
do
want to gobble you up.”

“Well, don’t let the others see you. They might wonder about us.”

“Heaven forbid.”

“Yes, heaven forbid. I’m determined to get through this escapade with no damage to my reputation.”

“Good luck.”

“Luck isn’t involved. Moral behavior is necessary, but I’m suffering from an enormous lack of it.”

“I don’t mind.”

She grinned impishly. “I wish I could tell them all to go home so I can have you all to myself.”

“I wish you could too.”

“Instead, I’m reduced to organizing innocent strolls in the garden.”

“It’s not so bad, is it?”

“No, but when Mr. Oswald returns, if I asked him to stop throwing all these soirees, would he be offended?”

“No. He doesn’t like entertaining any more than you.”

“Since I’m leaving in a few weeks, it seems so pointless.”

He gestured to the couples up ahead. “They’re happy you’re here. They like the excuse it’s furnished for them to make merry. It can be a dreary place most of the time.”

“So I’m providing a community benefit?”

“Absolutely. The younger people are especially grateful. Occasionally, months drag by with no amusement at all.”

“I’m a blessing in disguise.”

“Yes.”

James peeked over his shoulder, saw no one behind them. They were passing a dark stretch of bushes, and he clasped her wrist and stepped off the path.

“What are you doing?” she hissed.

“What do you think?”

“We can’t disappear.”

“We already have.”

“They’re bound to notice.”

“I doubt it.”

“They will! We can’t—”

He laid a finger on her lips, silencing her. “Rose?”

“Yes?”

“Did you enjoy yourself last night?”

“Yes, you wretched libertine.”

“Will we get to do it again?”

“Perhaps.” She tormented him by saying, “I’m still deciding if I like you enough.”

“Vixen,” he muttered.

“Me? Am I?”

“Yes. You’re too damned fetching for your own good. I can’t stand it.”

“How fascinating. I’ve always viewed myself as being very plain and ordinary. I never believed I had any loose tendencies at all.”

“Trust me, you’re a natural at this.”

Very quickly, she was learning the skills of a coquette. She looked pretty and flirtatious, displaying a refreshing and humorous mix of bravado and charm that made him yearn to throw her down and have his way with her in the grass.

He settled for sliding an arm around her waist, and he kissed her thoroughly, keeping on and on until she was leaned against him, her knees weak, her balance affected.

As he drew away, she was smiling, her beauty rattling him, annoying him.

He didn’t like her to be so marvelous. He wished she was a tad more average as she deemed herself to be. He wished
he
wasn’t quite so enchanted by her. It couldn’t lead to any beneficial conclusion.

“We’d better catch up with the guests,” she murmured, but she didn’t move.

“Do you suppose they’ve noted we’re missing?”

“No. I’m sure Mr. Drake has entertained them with his chatter. Their entire focus will be on him and his antics.”

“We can only hope.”

He stole another kiss, then he guided her onto the path. They started off, sauntering along as if they hadn’t a care in the world.

“James!” a female suddenly called.

He glanced over to see Veronica hurrying up.

“There you are!” she said. “I’ve been searching everywhere.”

“Why?”

“When everyone left for the pond, I knew you’d want to go. I tried to find you.”

She stopped, and while it was dark and a bit difficult to discern her expression, it was clear she was evaluating them in a manner James didn’t like.

“Where were you?” She was acting as if she had the right to question him.

Rose saved him. “I stumbled on him just as we all came outside. He was on the verandah.”

“Oh,” Veronica slowly mumbled.

“We fell behind the others,” Rose said.

“Did you?” Veronica mused, and James could almost hear her thinking,
How convenient.

“Will you walk with us the rest of the way?” Rose asked her.

Veronica paused forever, studying Rose, studying James. Then she forced a grin. “I’d be delighted to walk with you. Thank you for inviting me.”

Rose dropped James’s arm and took Veronica’s instead. In a smooth move, she steered Veronica past James and kept on down the path.

* * * *

“You’re a liar.”

“Am I?”

Veronica glared at Lucas and fumed, “James hasn’t said a word to me.”

“About what?”

“About anything! You claimed he was smitten, but he’s behaving no differently than he’s ever behaved.”

“Perhaps he’s waiting to surprise you.”

Lucas smirked, silently wishing the unpleasant girl would leave, but he didn’t have the energy to toss her out.

They were in a rear parlor, and it was very late. The guests had left an hour earlier, and James had gone to bed, so Lucas was sitting and drinking by himself.

Veronica had departed with everyone else, but she’d crept back.

She was dangerous and reckless, and heaven help the oaf who was with her when her bad end arrived. The vicar would marry her off to the first fellow who was snared in her web, and it wouldn’t be Lucas.

“Do you know what I think?” she jeered.

“No, but I suppose you’re about to tell me.”

“He’s sweet on Miss Ralston.”

“Miss Ralston? What gave you that idea?”

“He’s always watching her—when he believes no one is looking.”

“Is he? I hadn’t noticed.”

“That’s because you’re a man. Men never focus on what really matters.”

“I’m sure that’s true.”

“What should we do about it?”

“About what?” he asked again. She was so annoying he could barely listen to her prattle.

“About James and Miss Ralston.”

“What about them?”

“Should I mention it to Stanley? After all, he brought her to Summerfield so he could marry her himself. I don’t imagine he’d be too keen on James snatching her up.”

“Trust me, Veronica. James isn’t in the process of snatching up Miss Ralston. They’re scarcely acquainted.”

“What do you know? You weren’t even aware that he stares at her all the time.”

“So he stares at her. So what? She’s very pretty. Every man stares at a pretty woman.
I
stare at her. It’s not unusual.”

“When people were busy at the pond, they sneaked off into the bushes. I saw them with my own two eyes.”

He scowled. “You were following James?”

“I wasn’t following him,” she indignantly huffed. “I was simply trying to catch up with the rest of the group, and they appeared right in front of me.”

“What is your point?”

“He can’t be sweet on Miss Ralston! She belongs to Stanley, and James belongs to
me.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t count on it.” He was sincerely regretting the idiotic lie. He hadn’t realized she’d take it so seriously.

“I am counting on it,” she replied. “I’m absolutely counting on it.”

He’d finished his drink, so he went over to the sideboard and poured himself another. He returned to the sofa and had plopped down when she ludicrously said, “May I have a brandy too?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re a child. Because you shouldn’t be drinking with a man like me.”

“I’m not a child. I showed you the other day.”

Defying his edict, she marched over and helped herself, neatly ignoring his command that she not. Lucas’s sympathy for Vicar Oswald soared. What must it be like to live with such an unruly, recalcitrant female?

Lucas would slit his wrists rather than endure such agony. How did the vicar stand it?

She blatantly sipped the liquor, coming over and sitting in the chair across. From her ease with the strong liquid, it was obvious she imbibed often, that this wasn’t a new experience for her.

He was fairly certain the vicar didn’t keep spirits at the vicarage, so she probably skulked around, peeking into peoples’ liquor closets and stealing bottles for herself.

What a menace!

“Why are you here, Veronica?”

“I had to ask you about James and Miss Ralston. I couldn’t wait until tomorrow.”

“You’re being ridiculous, and it’s very late. You need to go home before your stepfather discovers you’re not there. I can’t have him storming over and demanding to know where you are.”

“I can’t go until you tell me how we should handle this. Should I speak to Stanley?”

“About James and Miss Ralston?”

“Yes. I have to get her out of my way. As long as she’s distracting him, he’ll never pay attention to me.”