Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel (14 page)

Rich regarded him with an amused grin.

“What are you smirking at, you pompous arse?”

“Which horse died and left you his clothes?”

Drew glanced down at his ensemble. “It’s hard to believe I chased the poor wench for this monstrosity.” The threadbare gray plaid trousers sagged on his frame and the billowing yellowed shirt had enough extra fabric drooping on him to sew a sail. “I seem to have left Shafer Hall without giving much thought to anything other than catching up to you. I had nothing but the clothes on my back.”

Rich chuckled. “Welcome to my world. Love drives a man insane.”

Love?
Why, he didn’t
love
Lana. Granted, he thought about her every minute of every day. But that proved nothing. He did long to hold her, but again he couldn’t put much credence into that either. There was that warm sensation in his chest when he thought of wedding her, but—

“Devil take it.” He loved her. He loved Lana Hillary. Drew collapsed on the bed and cradled his head in his hands. “How… how did this happen?”

Rich came over and slapped him on the back several times. “You’ll survive, I promise.”

Drew suspected his brother mocked him, but only witnessed understanding in his demeanor. “But I never thought it would happen to me.”

“Bound to happen eventually. I shall loan you some clothes,” Rich offered. “You can’t court Miss Hillary in
that
outfit.”

“Does that mean you’ve reconsidered allowing me to ride in the carriage?”

Rich adopted a stern expression. “Andrew, do you swear you were not planning to bed that maid?”

“Honest, Rich. It never entered my mind.”

“Odd that I should believe you,” he responded with a slight frown. “I must explain everything to Phoebe first.”

Drew cringed. “Must you tell her everything? Pheebs doesn’t need to be privy to all my indignities.”

“It’s nonnegotiable. Otherwise, you may secure your own transportation to Town.”

“Very well.” Drew stood to follow his brother from the room.

“Where are you going?”

“Downstairs to dine.”

“Not with us. Keep your distance tonight until I have spoken with my wife. And gather some decent clothes from my room.” He pointed to a door at the end of the hall. “Until tomorrow.”

“I’m still planning to eat,” Drew grumbled.

Lana yawned for the fourth time since crawling from bed that morning. Her sleep had been fitful with her waking every half hour it seemed. The horrible scene with Drew in the corridor had preoccupied her dreams.

Thank goodness she had refused his impulsive offer of marriage. She couldn’t tolerate this type of heartache every day. To possess the knowledge that Drew was a man of the town had been upsetting, but to witness him in nothing but a towel, grabbing the young maid… She shuddered with revulsion. He should have driven a dagger into her chest instead. It would have been less painful.

The sooner her party reached London, the quicker she could forget Andrew Forest. If she was lucky, they wouldn’t cross paths this morning, and she would never have to see him again.

Last night, without intending to do so, she had scanned the main room of the inn to see if she could locate Drew when she and her traveling companions left their private dining room. The tavern stood empty except for one old man. Unbidden images of Drew in bed with the maid hit her like a punch to the gut, and Lana’s stomach had threatened to evict her dinner.

How could Drew bed another so soon? Lana’s face flushed as memories of their intimacy flooded her senses. Her body thrilled as it recalled his gentle caresses, which only made her want to cry. Lovemaking meant nothing to Drew. Lana had been nothing more than a willing partner, one of many.

She brushed away the tears she hadn’t realized ran down her cheeks until that moment when a light knock sounded on her door. “Enter,” she called in a small voice.

The door creaked open, but it was taking the person a long time to enter her room.

“I said come in,” she repeated.

The maid from the corridor debacle peered through the crack in the doorway. “Are ye certain I may enter, miss?”

Lana wanted to rescind her offer, but figured the girl had to attend to her duties. She waved her inside. She didn’t blame the maid anyway. The girl had likely been as susceptible to his charm as Lana had been.

“Um…” The girl stood inside the closed door, not moving to stoke the fire or do any of the other things Lana expected were her responsibilities.

“Is there a problem?” Irritation was heavy in Lana’s voice.

The maid scuffed the toe of her boot against the floorboards. “No, miss. I come to offer me apologies for last night is all.”

“I’m sure
you
have nothing to apologize for. Lord Andrew should be the one offering his regrets for flaunting his corrupt habits in such a public manner.”

The girl’s cheeks flamed a bright red. “About that, miss. It wasn’t milord’s doing.” She glanced up from the floor, her eyes round and as innocent as a fawn’s. “Honest, I didn’ know ’is lordship traveled with ’is intended. I never woulda—”

“I’m
not
his intended,” Lana protested, her voice rising to a near yell.

The girl’s face scrunched. “But I ’eard the older gent’lman talking ’bout yer marriage to Lord Andrew.”

So, Lord Richard thought to interfere in her life again and insist Drew marry her. What role did Phoebe play in the whole affair? As well-intentioned as her host and hostess might be, Lana wouldn’t allow her companions to force a match between her and Drew. Forcing him into marriage would be nothing but a disaster, and she would be the casualty.

“Obviously, this will not come about,” Lana answered curtly.

“Oh, miss. Please don’t break yer betrothal ’cause of me. I shouldn’t ’ave teased his lordship. I just thought… Sometimes…”

“Say your piece and be done. I haven’t the patience to listen to any more.”

Lana hadn’t thought it possible the girl could turn a darker shade of red, but she managed it until her face almost appeared purple. “You see, miss. Sometimes I make a few extra coin by… Um, I thought his lordship might be game for a little… Well, the gent’lman was dressed all fancy like ’e ’ad money. But ’e wasn’t biting, so I shoulda known ’e wasn’t avail’ble.”

“Lord Andrew turned down your…
offer
?” Had she heard the girl correctly?

“The gent’lman never gave me a second glance.”

Lana crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “Did Lord Andrew request you speak with me on this matter?”

“No.” The maid’s appalled expression told her Drew wasn’t involved in this particular encounter.

“Nevertheless, he didn’t appear to be pushing you out the door,” Lana said. “As a matter of fact, he was pulling you back inside.”

The girl wrung her hands. “I told ye I was teasing ’im, miss. I took ’is only clothes. The gent’lman ’ad nothing with ’im like ’e left in a rush. I’m terribly ashamed.”

Lana studied the maid. Although she believed in the girl’s sincerity, Drew couldn’t be trusted. The likelihood of him perpetrating some distasteful act remained high, so Lana wouldn’t lose more sleep just because she had arrived at the wrong conclusion about him.

“You may go about your duties,” Lana said. “I must dress for the long journey.”

The maid curtsied then hurried to stoke the fire and add another log. She walked out of the room but returned within five minutes with warm water for the basin before disappearing again for good.

Lana met Lord Richard, Phoebe, and Stephan in the private room for breakfast before they continued their journey. She sank onto the chair in relief when she saw no sign of Drew.

“Good morning, Lana,” Phoebe greeted. “Did you sleep well?”

She offered a smile rather than lie to her friend. “And you?”

“Not so well.” A worry line creased her brow. Was something wrong with the baby? “I have something I must tell you—”

“Good morning.” Drew’s annoyingly cheerful greeting made Lana cringe.

“Uncle Drew.” Stephan bounced up and down on his seat in his excitement. “Ride with me today.”

Lana gaped at Phoebe. “You wished to inform me Lord Andrew will be joining us?”

Her friend blushed prettily.

Drew slid into the seat beside her. “Come now, peach. No need to stand on formality,” he murmured.

Lana glowered, but adopted a sweet tone for Stephan’s sake. “Yes, Uncle Drew. I believe you should ride with your darling nephew in the
other
carriage.”

Drew laughed good-naturedly, as if he found her greatly amusing, and then addressed Stephan. “Maybe later in the day, little one. But I promise to play with you when we stop to change horses.”

This seemed to pacify the boy, but his answer disturbed her.

Lana sat with her back rigid. Although she had been hungry when she came downstairs, she found nothing appealed to her anymore. Five days in a carriage with Drew?
This
has
to
be
the
worst
punishment
ever.
Her cheeks heated again as she remembered they would be in the
same
carriage where they had been intimate.

“I beg your pardon, but I no longer have an appetite.” Lana pushed from the table and hurried upstairs to gather her wits before being forced to endure Drew’s company.

***

Drew stood beside the carriage waiting for Lana and grinned. He had five days to press his suit. With his brother lifting the ban on her, Drew would court her with vigor. He’d win over his little peach before the first day ended, and Lana would share his bed that night.

His heart faltered a moment when she stepped outside into the sunshine. She wore her auburn hair knotted at the nape, a jaunty yellow bonnet framing her pretty face. A strip of creamy skin peeked out from her collar and begged for his kisses.

He winked as she whisked to the carriage with her head held high. “Miss Hillary, you look ravishing this fine morning. In fact, I would go as far as to say you are more radiant than the sun itself.”

Rich and Phoebe moved at a slower pace behind her. She ignored the hand Drew offered to assist her into the carriage and clambered up the stairs. Rich handed Phoebe inside and followed, leaving Drew to climb in last. He sighed as he dropped onto the bench beside his brother. Setting off down the lane, he glanced at Rich and found him gazing at Phoebe, never taking his eyes from her.

Drew suppressed a chuckle. Lana didn’t stand a chance against both of them. Rich would find a way to sit beside his wife before noon, and Drew would be that much closer to winning Lana.

Approximately two hours later, they stopped to change horses. Phoebe had been squirming and looking uncomfortable for quite some time. Rich assisted her outside and hovered like a mother hen. Drew resisted the urge to roll his eyes. His brother’s worry was for naught. Nothing could happen to Phoebe and the baby. Drew refused to believe otherwise.

His gaze settled on Lana’s middle. What if she carried his child? Similar thoughts would have sent him into hiding not long ago, although he had taken precautions never to leave any woman with child; at least he had until now. A slow smile spread across his lips.

He fell into step with Lana as she strolled around the outer perimeter of the coaching yard. “Do you fancy children?”

She gave him the evil eye and kept walking. “I have nothing against them.”

Drew chuckled. “Such enthusiasm speaks for you, Lana. Do you truly want no children
and
no husband?”

“I don’t see how this is of interest to you, my lord.”

He blew out a deep breath, moving the hair on his forehead. “It’s quite ridiculous to revert to addressing me in such a manner. You had begun to call me Drew even before we were intimate.”

She gasped and hurried her step, but Drew whirled her around to face him. “I’m not going to pretend it never happened, peach.”

“If you were any kind of a gentleman, you would.”

“I believe I established from the start of our association that I was no gentleman. And it
is
my concern if you like children or not since you could be carrying mine.”

Lana’s pallor drained of color, and he caught her around the waist to keep her from crumpling to the ground when her knees buckled.

“I insist upon taking the honorable path. Marry me before anyone is the wiser.”

She recovered enough to bear her own weight, but he kept his hand on the small of her back.

“I believe I have established I am uninterested in becoming your wife. Nothing has changed.”

Lana’s stubborn streak ran deeper than he’d thought.

Drew’s hand brushed over her round little bottom before he stepped away. “I refuse to give up, Lana.”

Lana supported her weight against the rough bark of an old oak, waiting for the driver and footman to change horses before continuing their journey.

What
have
I
done?

Her legs trembled as she contemplated the possibility of carrying a child. She would never forgive herself for being so foolish. How would she raise a child alone?

If she found herself with child, she would have to reveal her compromised state to her parents. A hard, icy knot of shame settled in her belly. She would disgrace her entire family.

She would need to hide away until the babe was born, and the prospect of being away from everyone she loved destroyed her. But what other option would she have if she remained unwed?

In the distance, Drew played with his nephew, the lad joyfully squealing as he chased his uncle. Drew allowed the youngster to tackle him to the ground, where they wrestled, and Stephan hopped up and down on his uncle’s back with delighted screams. Lana giggled at their antics in spite of herself.

Perhaps she should consider Drew’s proposal, even if he only made his offer to save her reputation. Lana might be able to cope with the shame associated with an illegitimate issue, but asking a child to bear the stigma seemed exceptionally cruel. Yet, Drew was little more than an overgrown child himself. He’d likely make the worst of husbands and fathers.

With fresh horses hooked to the carriage, the party readied for departure. Phoebe wobbled down the stairs of the coaching inn with Lord Richard’s arm around her waist. Fine lines of discomfort formed at the corners of her lips. Once she had safely navigated the stairs with her husband’s assistance, Phoebe drooped with exhaustion. Lord Richard hurried back inside the coaching inn for a moment to conclude whatever transaction required his attention.

Lana sighed with resignation. She couldn’t ask her friend to endure such obvious suffering because of Lana’s injured pride. “Phoebe, you should seek comfort from your husband. Perhaps you should sit beside him for the remainder of the journey.”

“No, I couldn’t ask you to—” Her friend bit her lip and regarded Lana with troubled blue eyes. “Really, I’ll be fine.”

“Please, I insist.” What difference did propriety make now? Lana was ruined.

“You should pay heed to Miss Hillary,” Drew said from behind Lana. “This journey is taking a toll on you, Pheebs. If nothing else, think of my brother.”

Lana glanced back to see if he gloated, but Drew’s expression seemed sincere, as if he too had noticed the hardship on Phoebe. She looked uneasily between them, but at their encouraging nods, she consented. “Thank you, Lana.”

Lana threw a grateful smile Drew’s direction, unsure if her gratitude stemmed from his part in convincing her friend to see to her comfort or for not making Lana feel like a cake for her concession.

The little boy ran up to Drew and tugged on his jacket. Drew scooped the lad and swung him over his shoulder, prompting more squeals from the youngster. “Allow me to return this monkey to his cage, and we may resume our journey.”

“I’m not a monkey, Uncle Drew.”

“Quiet, little monkey,” he teased as he carried him to the second carriage to rejoin his nanny. “Are you aware monkeys don’t speak?”

More peals of laughter floated on the air. “I’m
not
a monkey.”

When Drew jogged back to their carriage and offered his assistance traversing the stairs, Lana accepted his help. He graced her with one of his heart-stopping smiles and sent her senses reeling. How was she to remain strong when he unscrupulously used his arsenal of seductive weapons against her? If she grew weak in the knees from a simple smile, what would happen if he chose to employ more persuasive means?

Drew squeezed her fingers before releasing her hand. Joining her on the bench, his firm thigh pressed flush against hers. The contact inspired vivid images of her straddling those thighs in this same carriage. Scooting away, Lana flattened herself against the side of the coach and scowled her displeasure. Drew rewarded her efforts with a wicked grin, inflaming her even more.

Phoebe grunted as she settled against the squads. The poor dear had grown large with child over the last couple of weeks, although she had hid it well with billowing high-waist gowns. Lord Richard’s arm went around his wife, and she rested her head against his shoulder. A short while later Phoebe slumbered as her husband rested his cheek against her hair and closed his eyes. Their affection caused a pang of envy.

Lana shifted uncomfortably and averted her gaze out the window, watching the passing landscape until her eyelids grew heavy. With the road proving uncommonly smooth, the carriage swayed gently, lulling her.

***

Drew watched Lana with amusement. Her eyelids had finally dropped, and her head bobbed every so often, startling her into a brief semiconscious state before she surrendered to sleep again. After the fourth head bob, he inched closer and cradled her against his chest.

He sighed with relief when she didn’t wake and push him away. Grazing his lips across her silky hair, he breathed in her sweet scent, a hint of lily of the valley with an added trace of Lana’s unique essence. Her fragrance was irresistible, and he hugged her closer. Drew could hold her like this for the rest of his life, if only she would allow him.

He couldn’t say he regretted bedding her. In fact, he anticipated making love again—soon. Yet, he hated how their relationship had changed, how guarded she had become. Over the last few weeks, he’d grown fond of Lana’s tendency to blurt whatever thoughts skittered around her charming mind. Her quick wit proved razor sharp and challenged him unlike any woman he had ever encountered. He missed her carefree spirit and laughter, and part of him feared they might never regain the intimacy they had shared as friends.

Lana snuggled against him but still didn’t wake. His arms tightened around her as a smile pulled at his lips.
So, this is love.

A moment later Rich woke, took in their intimate embrace, and raised an eyebrow. Drew simply grinned like a besotted fool and cared not what his brother thought.

***

“Lana, wake up.”

Warmth pressed against her forehead, and she nestled her cheek against her pillow, breathing in the light fragrance of sandalwood-scented sheets. She didn’t want to abandon the warmth of her bed or her wonderful dreams just yet.

“We’re arriving at our next stop, peach.”

Peach?
Her eyes flew open. She wasn’t lying comfortably in her own bed, but rather in Drew’s arms.

Oh, dear Lord.
Her whole body sagged with disgrace. Shoving away from his cozy embrace, Lana smoothed her skirts while keeping her gaze on the floor. She didn’t dare sneak a peek at her traveling companions for fear she would crumble if she saw censorship on their faces.

“They are still sleeping,” Drew whispered, his breath warm against her neck.

Her gaze flicked to Phoebe and her husband, relieved to discover them both sound asleep. Turning to Drew, she whispered, “Did—did you just kiss me?”

A smirk played about his lips. “Were you having naughty dreams about me again?”

Lana crossed her arms and slumped low on the bench. “More like a nightmare.”

Her sharp retort only served to widen his smile and deepen his dimples. “Ah, there’s my little peach. I’ve missed you.”

Familiar warmth infused her body despite Lana’s determination to remain immune to Drew. She could easily have inappropriate dreams about the scoundrel, although one typically referred to them as fantasies while still awake. A fleeting memory of Drew buried inside her made her center pulsate with excitement. Her body seemed ready to surrender, but Lana willed herself to stay strong. Neither her body nor her heart could be trusted, as history had shown. She needed to rely on her common sense, although even it had failed her most times in Drew’s presence.

To hide her embarrassing state of arousal, she wrinkled her nose and frowned. “I asked you
not
to call me peach.”