A Lesson in Forgiveness (12 page)

“Yes, perhaps that would be a good idea.” She sounded strange to her own ears, fluttery and nervous. He had obviously picked it up, because he smiled knowingly.

The same hand he'd just used to brush her hair, reached up and cupped her cheek. Bending slowly, not wanting to scare her, he brushed his lips against hers. It was as gentle as a butterfly's wings. He pulled away and looked into her eyes. She stood still, looking glassy eyed. He wanted to make sure she wasn't scared.

Touching his lips to hers again, he began to nibble on the upper lip, then the lower one. His other hand cupped the other cheek and he deepened the kiss. Ginny was frozen in place, enjoying the sensations, but afraid to reveal just how much she knew about kissing. After releasing a small moan from the back of her throat, Colin felt his passiveness dissolve.

His voice was husky when he asked, “Bethany, open your mouth to me.”

Not thinking, only responding, she parted her lips. His tongue swept in and began to explore her mouth. Trying to think back to her first real kiss, she tentatively touched her tongue to his. She reached up and grabbed his arms and held on tight. Colin turned her head slightly, so he could bring their mouths closer together, extend his tongue further. Ginny finally gave in to the feeling and kissed him back. Suddenly, she wasn't at all certain if this one kiss wasn't going to lead to much, much more.

Leaving her lips, Colin began to kiss down the side of Ginny's neck. She could feel every kiss, knew when he used his tongue to taste her. It was more than just a kiss. It was erotic and captivating. Her nipples hardened against her clothing and that all too familiar warmth spread between her legs. She knew she should pull away, end this before it went too far, but at the moment, it was just too enjoyable.

The only sound was their breathing. Ginny felt like she was floating on an island, while Colin had more immediate concerns. His erection was pulsating to the rhythm of his heart. It was demanding equal attention, which Colin could not ever consider. This girl was innocent and he would not do something so heinous as steal her virtue. Still, the little voice in his head told him he could have her. The cost would be marriage, but there were less worthy girls than Miss Bethany Hamilton.

Suddenly, the silence was broken by someone clearing his throat. Ginny barely heard beyond her own heartbeat in her ears. She heard Colin say, “Go away, Clarendon.” It made her smile to think he now knew he'd lost.

“Lord Whitmore.”

Those two words were like ice water in Ginny's veins. She felt Colin stiffen and immediately stand up and turn around. She was still safely shielded from the onlookers, but knew the jig was up, so there was no use hiding. As she came around to stand next to Colin, she heard him say, “Mr. Hamilton.”

Oh, God, of all people
, she thought hopelessly.
Why the hell would Clarendon bring my father out with him
. Inexplicably, Ginny could feel tears forming in her eyes. They were only kissing, but Ginny knew from Bethany's years of training that this was bad. Bad for both of them.

“Father, please allow me to explain.”

Staying eerily calm, Bethany's father spoke barely above a whisper. “Bethany, please go back to the house.”

“Please let me explain.” The tears were falling now and she knew it made her look more guilty. Of course, she was guilty. It was her stupid plan, her need for revenge that led to this.

“Bethany, you will go into the house and tell your mother you have a headache and ask her to assist you. Go to your room and I will meet you there shortly. Do you understand?” The look on her father's face quelled any argument.

Colin, without looking at her, keeping his eyes on her father, simply said, “Listen to your father, Bethany.”

“Perhaps, Lord Clarendon, you might escort my daughter back to the house.”

“Of course, sir. It would be my pleasure.” Clarendon extended his arm to her. Ginny took it without thinking and began to walk away. Every fiber of her being told her to stay and discuss what happened. It was silly that women were so sheltered that they couldn't even defend their own honor. But she also knew that neither man would listen to her. She would be dismissed, even if she stood there. Her fight would have to come later, after her father had his say with Lord Whitmore.

Twisting her anger away from herself, she snapped, “This is all your fault, you know.”

“My fault? How so?” Clarendon spoke with his usual casualness. It infuriated her even more.

“How so? Your damn bet is how so. If it weren't for you and your cronies betting on who would kiss me first, this wouldn't have happened.” She sounded down right shrewish and didn't particularly care.

“Oh, you know about that, do you?” he said in his easygoing tone.

“I set this up so Whitmore would win, you idiot. Which, by the way, he still did. I was trying to teach you a lesson about abusing other people's feelings. I can now see you are incapable of learning anything.” With that, Ginny removed her hand and walked the rest of the way alone. She was angry at Clarendon, but not nearly as angry as she was with herself. Before getting too far, Ginny turned and remarked in an icy tone, “If I find out that anyone knows about this, I will make you pay, Miles. Trust that I'm not someone you want as an enemy.” With that, she turned and ran up the stairs to the upper terrace, disappearing inside.

She did exactly what her father told her to do. Bethany's mother looked put out by the request, but didn't want to appear uncharitable to the other ladies. When they reached her room, Eugenia said, “Let me ring for Tabby.”

Before she could pull the bell, Ginny stopped her. “No, mother. I don't have a headache. Father told me to retire and bring you with me. He needs to speak to me in private.”

“Whatever for, darling?” Eugenia truly looked concerned, only now seeing the look on Ginny's face and realizing something had happened.

Hedging at first, she finally decided it didn't matter. Her mother would find out her side of the story, or hear only her father's version later. “Father caught me kissing Lord Whitmore in the garden.”

Instead of being angry, Bethany's mother looked ecstatic. “Really? Oh my. You will be married to an earl. It is beyond my hopes.” Her mother came over and hugged her tightly. The situation was taking on a surreal quality, which is pretty amazing considering the fact that she was a 21
st
century girl living in the early 1800's in a body not her own.

Pulling away from her mother, Ginny tried to explain. “Mother, there will be no wedding. I'm not marrying Lord Whitmore. He was only kissing me as a favor to me.”

Scrunching up her face, Eugenia looked confused. “A favor. Men do not kiss women as a... favor. Bethany, I know we haven't discussed relationships much, but he did not kiss you because you asked him to.”

Ginny knew she was right. If it was just a kiss to win a bet, it would have been short and sweet. There would not have been any need for “practicing” as Lord Whitmore had suggested. And there certainly wouldn't have been tongue. They both got caught up in a moment, a moment created by Ginny. She wasn't going to marry him over a moment. She should force Clarendon to marry her instead.

Knowing her mother was right, but still needing to explain, Ginny told her the entire story, including Whitmore's plans to travel and wait to marry. When finished, Bethany's mother, a seemingly cold and uncaring woman, took Ginny in her arms and cradled her comfortingly. For reasons she still couldn't understand, Ginny was crying. Part of it was Bethany, feeling like she'd let her parents down. But part of it was Ginny, for having mucked up another perfectly contrived love story with her own arrogance and stupidity.

When her tears finally abated, her mother got up and pulled the bell pull. Tabby appeared a few minutes later. Seeing the look on Ginny's face, she immediately asked, “Miss, whatever is the matter?”

Before Ginny could answer, her mother said, “Tabby, fetch some cold compresses for Miss Hamilton. Oh and bring something for us to drink. Something strong.” Eugenia's eyebrow hitched up in explanation and Tabby nodded knowingly.

“Right away, madam.” Out the door Tabby went, quick as a bunny.

“Now, you need to lay down for a few moments, try and regain your composure.”

Yeah, sure, whatever
. Ginny knew this was make believe, but she had hoped that if she could just follow the story this time, she could get her ticket home. Of course, that was just another theory that might not pan out, like alchemy or the four humors. The truth was, she had no idea how to get home.

After a few minutes, Tabby returned with her load and casually mentioned that she passed Lord Whitmore and Mr. Hamilton entering the study. Ginny heart dropped to her feet. She may not be all that familiar with her time period, but that smacked of deal making. And the only deal they could be making was her marriage.

Eugenia took the wet compress and pressed it against Ginny's eyes. Tabby poured two glasses of golden liquid and handed them to Eugenia. “Tabby, you may go. Bethany will ring you again when she is ready to retire.”

Before the little maid could leave, Ginny asked, “Tabby, see what the talk is, if there is any.”
“Of course, miss.” Then the door closed and they were alone again, waiting for news from her father.

“Sit up dear and drink this.” Ginny sat up against the headboard and took the glass from her mother. One sniff told her it was strong liquor, but she couldn't identify which one. So, using a talent born of too many college parties, Ginny tipped her head back and swallowed it in one big gulp. The burning sensation told her it was brandy.

“My goodness, Bethany, you were meant to sip that.” Her mother looked horrified, but Ginny felt the warmth spreading and was enjoying the effects.

“Sorry, mother, I needed the courage.”

Eugenia took the glass from her daughter and put it back on the tray with the bottle. Part of her was thrilled that Bethany had landed an earl, but another part was concerned. After listening to her daughter's story, she realized that this might not be a good match after all. It would pain Eugenia if her only daughter, her only child, was ill treated because a stubborn earl was forced to marry her. She also knew that Whitmore would not have agreed to the plan if he didn't truly want to kiss Bethany. God knew they spent enough time together that most of the guests figured he was courting her.

Eugenia paced about the room, busying herself with straightening items on the vanity or staring out at the gardens. After a few minutes of watching her mother, Ginny laid back down, put the compress on her eyes and enjoyed the effects of the shot of brandy.

After what seemed like forever, there was a light knock on the door. Eugenia immediately opened it and Bethany's father walked in. His face was drawn and he looked tired. Ginny felt more awful about how her plan had gone awry.

“I have spoken to Lord Whitmore. We have decided that it would be in everyone's best interest that the two of you should marry as soon as possible. He will speak to a bishop friend of his to obtain the special license. You will be married by the end of the week.” His speech came as no surprise, but it still irritated Ginny to have her life, or Bethany's life, decided for her.

Ginny stood up and began to pace just as her mother had. Finally turning to look at her father, she said, “I don't wish to marry the earl. Didn't he explain what happened? Why we were kissing?”

“Bethany, do you think me so old that I do not know exactly why he was kissing you or where that kissing would have led if I hadn't arrived with Lord Clarendon?” His voice was exasperated and he was touching on topics Ginny didn't want to broach. Talking about sex with one's own father was creepy, even if he wasn't exactly her real father.

“He didn't mention the bet?”

“What bet?”

“The bet Lord Clarendon made with all the eligible men here. Fifty pounds to the man who got me to kiss him first.”

“What!?” William Hamilton looked close to murder. “Are you certain?”

For the first time, Ginny felt some hope. It was, unfortunately, short lived. “Yes, Tabby heard of it first and told me. Then, when we were walking back to the house tonight, Clarendon admitted it. That was what I was trying to explain to you in the garden.”

“So, Lord Whitmore wanted to win the bet?”

Uh-oh
. “No, he didn't even know about it until I told him. He was going to talk to Lord Clarendon, but I persuaded him to... let me kiss him to win the bet. I wanted to rub it in Clarendon's face for being so insensitive.” Ginny turned to her mother and gave her a pleading look. She needed an ally and Eugenia was the only one available.

“Perhaps we are being too hasty, darling. It seems that Lord Whitmore was only trying to help Bethany right a wrong.”
Way to go, Mom!

William turned his gaze directly on Ginny and said, “Right a wrong, was it? I must say, Bethany, you must think me quite gullible. I saw how Whitmore was kissing you. If you needed only to kiss him to win the bet, why was he...” Ginny didn't think that Bethany's father was capable of finishing his sentence.

Instead he walked to his wife and whispered in her ear. Ginny knew all was lost when she heard her mother gasp.
That's it, game over!

“Bethany. How could you?” Both her parents gave her their most practiced stern looks.

As Ginny opened her mouth for one last appeal, her father cleverly nipped it in the bud. “If it was to win a bet, why did Lord Whitmore tell Lord Clarendon to go away? Why did he not stop and collect his winnings?”

Ginny had no answer and her father very well knew it. He would then place the final nail in her coffin. “You will meet with Lord Whitmore tomorrow morning. He has something to ask you. My suggestion to you is that you answer in the affirmative. Do I make myself clear?”

Bone tired, confused and annoyed, she simply replied, “Yes, father.” Both her parents took their leave, and Ginny sat down on one of the chairs by the fireplace. Staring into the dark space, blackened by countless blazes, she wondered if this was how it was supposed to be. Something didn't feel right about it. Perhaps she drove the story this way because she preferred Whitmore to Clarendon. Clarendon was far more handsome than Whitmore, but in the end, she was far more compatible with Colin. He made her think, challenged her beliefs and listened to her opinion. She didn't think a relationship with Miles would be so fulfilling.