With His Ring (Brides of Bath Book 2) (9 page)

Gregory's gaze swept over his three
companions to settle on Elvin. "We go to Mrs. Starr's tonight after
this dull affair."

Elvin's glance flitted to Glee, who was
still dancing. "Will your betrothed allow you such freedom?"

So he had heard, too.
Was there
anyone left in Bath who was unaware of his forthcoming nuptials?
"Of course she will, and my freedom shall extend to my married life
as well."

Elvin mournfully shook his head. "Blackest
day in me life. Blanks bespoken for. Whatever shall we do?"

Melvin nodded his agreement. "Dare say it's
a pity."

Gregory shot his friends a stern look.
"Everyone here tonight has offered felicitations, except the three
of you."

"Sorry," Melvin said. "Wish you all the best
and all that sort of thing."

"Naturally we want the best for you,"
Appleton said. "That goes without saying."

"'Tis just that we'll miss the good times
we've shared," Elvin said.

"I've been telling Appleton that nothing has
to change just because I'm getting married. Miss Pembroke has no
desire to usurp my friends. She's a great sport. Says it's
perfectly acceptable with her that I continue on as I always have."
It was the least she could do.

"So the gel is to call the plays?" Elvin
challenged.

"Never," Gregory snapped. He was aware that
the orchestra had quit playing and looked to see Glee making her
way across the ballroom toward him.

* * *

If only I'd stayed in Warwickshire
another day
, Glee lamented. Then she might not have learned the
sad news about Carlotta nor would she have had to endure Blanks's
wrath for robbing a day of his precious bachelorhood. He had been a
positive ogre since visiting her at the hotel late that afternoon.
Was he comparing her to Carlotta, bereft with disappointment that
she was not the lovely raven-haired widow? No doubt he was wishing
Glee to the devil.

Were she truly benevolent, she would release
him of obligation to marry her. But she was not benevolent. And she
was as stubborn as he. Nothing would prevent her from marrying
Blanks and being given the opportunity to earn his eternal love.
And nothing would ever quench her thirst to love and be loved by
Gregory Blankenship.

She smiled and greeted Appleton, then the
twins, whom she was forever getting mixed up. George, too, had been
unable to determine which twin was which. The only person who could
tell them apart was Blanks.

Glee moved to Blanks's side. "I had hoped
for a dance with you tonight."

"You've not lacked for partners," he said
with an air of indifference.

"But none of them have been the man I'll
wed," she countered. "We simply must satisfy all the wagging
tongues, my dear Mr. Blankenship."

His dark eyes flashed with some emotion she
could not name, then he excused himself from his friends and
offered Glee his arm as the violins signaled a waltz.

Though she had danced with Blanks many
times, she had never waltzed with him. She was completely
unprepared for her reaction to being held so closely to him. It was
as if the dance floor were a cloud. She felt so light and utterly
feminine. And so wholly aware of his masculinity as he lightly held
her, his sandalwood scent rushing to her blossoming senses. Her
heart accelerated and she hoped she would not be called upon to
speak, for she feared her trembling voice would betray her.

She need not worry that he would address
her. Mechanically conducting the dance steps, he had no desire to
converse with her. She wondered if he was thinking of Carlotta.

With mere inches separating the length of
their bodies, Glee unexpectedly drew the parallel that their
position in relation to one another was not unlike that of two
lovers sharing a bed. She fleetingly wondered if a man and woman
could perform the sexual act standing up. Then she thought of
Blanks making love to Carlotta. Had he enjoyed Carlotta's body
today? The thought brought pain. For the virgin Glee hungered to
feel Gregory inside her.

"You're not pleased that I came early," she
said.

"Why would you say that?" he asked in mock
outrage.

"Because I've known you all my life."

"Then your knowledge extends to
clairvoyance?"

"Not to clairvoyance. To reality. I know
you, Blanks, as no other woman ever will. I vow to make your life
as happy as I possibly can."

"You have a most peculiar way of doing
that."

Her heart sank. Of course he was referring
to her entrapment of him.

They spoke no more for the rest of the
dance.

The last dance of the night Glee granted to
William Jefferson. It was a waltz. When he placed his hand to her
waist, she felt none of the raw emotion she had felt when Blanks
had done the same thing. Mr. Jefferson was much shorter than
Blanks—and though not as handsome as Blanks—he was considered one
of the finest looking men in Bath. It was said that his dress was
all that was fashionable in Paris and London. Whatever was the
latest rage from the Continent, Mr. Jefferson eagerly adopted. He
was the first man in Bath to sport long, white pantaloons. He
flaunted his costly snuff boxes as some women did their bonnets.
And the man prided himself on the fact he wore a different colored
waistcoat every day. Tonight's was kelly green.

Glee preferred a man with more subtle taste.
A man like Blanks.

"Mr. Blankenship is a most fortunate man,"
Jefferson said.

Glee feigned ignorance of what he spoke.
"Pray tell, why?"

"Because he has stolen the loveliest girl in
Bath. You must know you have broken many hearts."

"Fie, Mr. Jefferson, you will turn my
head."

"I speak the truth. I'm one of the men who
would wish to do harm to Mr. Blankenship."

Even though she knew the man jested, his
statement caused her heart to trip. "I beg that you not say
that."

"I would never knowingly distress you, Miss
Pembroke."

With surprise—and not without a trace of
disgust—she suddenly realized the man was flirting with her, even
though she was engaged to be married to a man standing no more than
twenty feet away.

Perhaps she could use his flirtations to her
own advantage. After all, Mr. Jefferson was possessed of some
social standing and attractiveness. Let Blanks know that
other
men found her desirable. Knowing that Blanks avoided
dancing tonight—except the one dance with her—she decided to play
up to Mr. Jefferson while Blanks watched.

She tossed her head back and laughed
playfully. "Really, Mr. Jefferson, you are much too kind."

"Truthful, not kind."

"Since we are being truthful, you must tell
me why it is
you
have never married. You are older than my
betrothed, are you not?"

He nodded. "I'm two and thirty."

"Two and thirty!" she exclaimed. "How is it
you have avoided matrimony for so many seasons?"

He tightened his hold on her and spoke in a
low, husky voice. "It seems all the women who appeal to me are
someone else's wife."

"Oh, dear."

"I'm giving you fair warning that I will not
let a wedding ring stop me from showering attentions upon you."

"Oh, dear."

* * *

Though he continued to chat with his
friends, Gregory never let Glee stray from his vision. He did not
at all like what he saw. The dandy and Glee looked good together.
He showered her with the attentions Gregory had failed to give her.
And he held her far too tightly. And why did the bodice of Glee's
blasted dress have to be so wretchedly low?

Gregory decided it was a very good thing,
indeed, that he would not allow Glee to escape his scrutiny. Glee
was far too innocent and trusting for the likes of William
Jefferson. Gregory would have to be her protector.

Oddly, it was a role he was not adverse
to.

Chapter 8

During the well-lit walk from the Assembly
Rooms to the hotel, Gregory had few words for Glee and Diana.

"Does the location of the Harrison House
suit you, Blanks?" Glee asked, looking up into his inscrutable
face.

He nodded. "It's a very fine location. Most
convenient. But you must stop calling it the Harrison House. It
will be our house in a matter of weeks."

Our house
. This was the first time
she had thought of anything as
ours
. Her heart tripped.
"Yes, the Blankenship House. I like the sound of it very much," she
said. "Have you begun to make the necessary arrangements for its
purchase?"

"I'm talking with my solicitor tomorrow. I
shall tell him we desire to occupy it immediately upon our marriage
in three weeks’ time."

Our marriage
. At least he was no
longer afraid to say it. "Then I take it there's to be no
honeymoon." She stated it matter-of-factly, hoping disappointment
did not creep into her voice. She should have known there would be
no honeymoon, since the marriage was not to be a real marriage in
the accepted sense. Of course Blanks would be anxious to return to
his friends in Bath. After all, she had encouraged him to continue
as he always had. Hadn't she told him their marriage would alter
nothing?

He turned to her. "I had not given any
thought to a honeymoon. Does that disappoint you?"

"Of course not," she said cheerfully. "I'm
looking forward to setting up
our house
. It will be great
fun." She must never initiate anything—even a desired
honeymoon—that would be unpleasant to Blanks. She'd already heaped
enough unpleasantness upon him. Now she would spend her life making
it up to him.

When they reached the hotel lobby, he said
his farewells, then met Glee's gaze. "Will you do me the goodness
of meeting me at the Pump Room in the morning?" Then as an
afterthought, he glanced at Diana. "You and Lady Sedgewick, that
is."

Glee looked at Diana, then back to Gregory.
"We should love it. Nine o'clock?"

He grimaced. "Nine o'clock it shall be."

Glee turned to Diana. "I'll have a private
word with Blanks, if it does not offend you."

Diana gave the couple a knowing smile. "I
should be offended if the two of you do not have a private moment
together." She turned and entered the hotel.

Blanks shot Glee a quizzing look.

Her heart drummed. "I just wanted you to
know I saw you with your mistress today. You don't have to hide
anything from me." Her seeming acceptance took a good deal of
bravado she was far from feeling.

"Bloody hell, Glee! I know ours is not to be
a real marriage, but really you can hardly expect me to discuss so
delicate a subject with you." Frowning, he added, "Nine in the
morning." Then he spun on his heel and departed.

* * *

Once he left the hotel, Blanks angrily
stormed the two blocks to Mrs. Starr's establishment, where the
twins and Appleton were just walking up.

"I say, Blanks, we've made a wager which
involves you," Appleton said.

Gregory came abreast of them and stopped,
lifting a single brow.

"Elvin wagered five quid you could sample
the new dealer's charms this very night."

Gregory leveled a gaze at Appleton. "And
you?"

"I said fleeting trysts weren't your style.
Always concerned about disease you are."

That much was true. One unpleasant
experience at Oxford had taught him to be careful. "I cannot
possibly answer your challenge until I see the lady in
question."

"She's blonde. You used to be partial to
blondes before. . . Mrs. Ennis."

"Have you not noticed my affianced is
possessed of red hair?" he asked with a smile.

A liveried butler let the four of them into
Mrs. Starr's parlor, where play took place at five different
tables. Elvin elbowed Blanks and spoke softly out of the side of
his mouth. "She's at the faro table."

"Then it's faro I play first," Gregory said,
strolling up to the table, where the buxom dealer was playing with
an older, bald-headed gentleman. While Gregory watched and waited
for the hand to end, a servant soon brought brandy, which
Gregory—like his friends—consumed quickly. Mrs. Starr, apparently a
wise businesswoman, made sure her servants kept her customers plied
with liquor.

Gregory used the idle time to study the
dealer. Though she was fair like Glee, she was a good bit larger
than Glee—especially in her bosom. He decided the woman must have
had the neckline of her gown cut even lower than the current
fashion in order to display her most notable feature. Or
features.

Substitute purple for the peach dress color
and view her only from the neck down, and there was no difference
whatsoever between her and Carlotta.

He thought back over his meeting with
Carlotta that afternoon, remembering her words.
Because I
allowed myself to be your mistress, I've lost your respect.
He
had vehemently disagreed, but now he wondered if there was some
truth to her charge. Carlotta was not a woman he would choose to
marry. He would never wish to bring her home to his father, were
his father still alive.

Yet she had been the perfect mistress. He
even cared about her as one would a friend. And he would see to it
she received a generous settlement.

Perhaps the dealer would make a good
mistress. Her face was pretty. Her voice was melodic, though not
quite cultured. Her taste in clothing suggested she knew quality.
Though she was pretty, she was not as pretty as Glee. And for some
unexplainable reason, that bothered him.

Why had he gone and thought of Glee? He had
the rest of his life to be saddled with her.
Damn it!

When the game was finished, Gregory pulled
out a chair and sat down in front of the dealer. She looked up at
him and smiled coyly. "I'm Sheila. I don't believe I've seen you
here before."