A Terrible Beauty (Season of the Furies Book 1) (7 page)

As suddenly as he’d swept her into his arms, he righted her and let her go. Arabella swayed on her feet and he reached out to steady her before turning back towards the main part of the garden. He paused briefly in the entrance between the laurel hedges and looked back at her with a derisive smile. “Now that was presumption,” he said, then left her staring after him.

Shaking, Araby righted her bonnet and lifted a trembling hand to her mouth. Oh, goodness. That was nothing like Freddy Pomeroy’s sloppy kiss at the end of last Season, all wet and rubbery. Michael Lassiter’s kisses were...fire, magic, and her body mourned the loss of feeling him pressed against her. There was a dull throb lingering between her legs in that secret place, the one she sometimes touched in the dark of night. She laid her palms against her flaming cheeks. He knew the effect he'd had on her. Damn him, he knew. Dear lord, but Michael Lassiter was a dangerous man. She heard Katherine call her name and hurried towards the opening in the hedge.

“I’m here,” she said, giving her bonnet a final adjustment before rejoining her friends. She smiled brightly at Katherine’s pointed look. “Aren’t the gardens lovely?”

“What happened to you?” her too observant friend asked.

“Nothing,” she answered quickly, “nothing at all. I was simply enjoying the little side garden here.” She indicated the entrance through the hedge.

Sarah peered at her. “You look at little scattered, Araby. Was there someone else with you  in there?”

“Iredale?” Katherine asked in a rush. “Did he propose? She grabbed her friend by the arm and steered her further into the gardens before resuming her interrogation. “Is that why your mouth looks so....satisfied?”

“Gracious!”Araby touched her mouth in alarm. “Does it look funny? Swollen?”

“Perhaps a little rosy,” Sarah offered, “and a little plumper than usual. That’s all. How exciting, a proposal!”

Araby blushed. “It wasn’t Iredale,” she murmured. “And there certainly wasn’t any proposal.”

“Who was it?” Katherine whispered.

Araby studied her feet. “Michael Lassiter,” she confessed. It was no good trying to hide anything from Katherine. She was relentless when determined to have an answer. “He heard about what I said to Drew at the Esterly’s ball and he was furious. He wanted to teach me a lesson.” She felt her cheeks turn to flame.

“Lesson! Anyone could have seen you, Araby and if they had, you’d have been ruined.” Katherine exclaimed. “Given the man’s reputation, I seriously doubt he would have offered you marriage. Not even the earl could make him do the proper thing.”

“I don’t blame him for his anger. What I said to poor Drew was unforgivable.”

Katherine, make a derisive sound. “And he’s left you alone since then, hasn’t he? The fool could have gotten himself hurt or worse. You know that. He was ready to charge in like a knight with no real understanding of the danger he poses to you, or to himself. No one comes between the baron and his plans without paying a price,” she said grimly. Araby shivered. She knew that well enough. “Remember Damaris Kingsford,” Katherine continued. “She was terribly lucky and it was only fear of reprisals from my family that kept him from striking me that day in your parlor.”

Sarah touched Araby’s arm gently. “Surely, there’s something your father’s family can do to ensure your and your mother’s safety? Perhaps if we appealed to your uncle he’d help you.”

Araby shook her head. “No, I’m afraid my uncle has been quite clear on the subject. I spoke with him last year, you see. He grudgingly offered to let me stay with them, much to my aunt’s displeasure, but he said there was nothing he could do for my mother. Not that he truly wishes to do anything. She embarrassed the family, you see, with her hurried marriage to Seaton and my uncle says that as she made her own bed, she must now lie in it.”

“That’s rot if I ever heard it. Your uncle is an ass,” Katherine stated.

“I agree,” Sarah added. “Perhaps if Katherine’s mother and my parents....”

Katherine gave a derisive snort. “If my mother knew anything about Araby’s true situation she’d forbid our association. That's why I've never said anything to her. She’d certainly never offer her help in any event.”

“Still, there are laws in this land and a man can’t continually beat his wife without answering to someone for it,” Sarah cried with feeling.

“Yes, he can,” Araby and Katherine answered in unison.

“As long as he never uses anything thicker than his thumb,” Araby continued faintly. “The baron has very thick thumbs.”

“Someone powerful enough....” Sarah began, but Katherine cut her off.

“Araby's uncle is a earl. He knows and he won’t do anything for fear of causing a scandal. No one wants to believe this sort of thing happens and if they do run across it, they turn the other way. It’s easier to believe that a man’s wife and children are being justifiably chastised than to accept that a gentleman of the realm is in reality an absolute monster.”

“Elkhorn has seen the baron strike my mother. He merely laughed and when Lord Ambrose saw the baron strike me, he smiled.” Her friends startled by her last disclosure. “It was after a rout where I’d brought Damaris to tears,” Araby explained. “He probably thought the baron was punishing me for my behavior. He was actually punishing me for failing to secure Jules Wentworth for the supper dance. Drew is the only one who’s noticed that I occasionally wear an over jacket on a warm day. He figured out the cause and look how I’ve rewarded him for his concern.” Araby felt tears of shame prick her eyes.

Sarah wrapped on arm around her shoulder as Katherine took her hand. “You’ve kept him out of harms way, Araby,” Katherine said. “If he tells his suspicions to anyone, even his brothers your stepfather will make certain Drew suffers even more than you and your mother. He’s promised it. That boy can’t keep you safe. As much as we all hate this, your best solution is to marry Iredale, or someone even richer and more powerful than him, someone who can keep the baron in line.” Araby nodded bleakly. Her friend was right. There was no other answer.

“To that end, my dear,” Katherine continued, “you must stay away from scoundrels like Michael Lassiter. I have it on good authority that he never forgets a slight.” She arched one eyebrow and looked at Araby meaningfully. “He’s also left a trail of broken hearts behind him.”

“You’ve nothing to worry about on that score,” Araby said, hurriedly, “I have every intention of staying out of his path.”

“Good,” Sarah added. “We have enough to worry about with Rafe Kingsford skulking around.” She reached up and cupped her friend’s face. “Let’s go and join the others at the lake and forget all these worries for today. Iredale will make an offer. If not today, then soon.”

Araby smiled gently, drawing in a deep breath to steady herself. Yes, he would propose because she was prepared to do whatever was necessary to ensure the match.

***

Michael scowled at the swans skimming gracefully over the surface of the lake. The situation with Drew infuriated him, however, the memory of kissing Araby Winston angered him far more – correction, his response to her kiss and to her lush body angered him more. She was a passionate piece, he’d give her that. Michael threw a pebble into the lake. It had taken all his will power to stop himself from doing more with the girl. Had she been more experienced she would have seen how their kiss had effected him and understood the near desperation in his retreat.

“Careful, Lassiter, you’re likely to bean one of Delafield’s swans with your next stone and kill the thing. Then they’ll be the devil to pay.” Rafe Kingsford leaned against a tree smoking a cheroot and watching him with mild curiosity.

“Hello Kingsford. I didn’t know these sorts of affairs appealed to you.”

Kingsford ground out the cheroot on the tree trunk and gazed around at the assembled guests. “They don’t.”

“Care to tell me what brings you here then? I doubt you’ll find any of the demimonde in attendance. There’s nothing but virtue and marriage-minded mamas as far as the eye can see.”

“If that’s the case, Lassiter, why are you here. I don’t think you’re angling for a wife any more than I am.”

Michael grinned. “Very true. I’m here for business reasons, and you?”

Kingsford’s sweeping gaze came to a complete halt and narrowed as if he’d spied his quarry. “As am I – personal business.” Michael didn’t like the coldness that came into the man’s face and when he turned to see who had garnered such a look he wasn’t surprised to find the Furies standing on the bank surrounded by a sea of gentlemen.

“I imagine they were most unpleasant to your sister,” Michael said blandly.

Kingsford jaw clenched. “As I said the other day....”

“I know, ‘it’s a private matter.’ Lord Ambrose has asked me to meet with him concerning Lady Arabella. I may be wrong, but I think he believes that I might have a grudge of my own against her.”

Kingsford looked at him with real interest. “Because of your younger brother.” It was a statement, not a question.

“I believe he thinks so.”

Kingsford turned back to look at Araby. “That one is no lady. She’s vicious clear through and you’d do well to send your brother as far away from her as possible before she destroys him.” He turned back to Michael. “You are a close friend of my new brother-in-law, so you will no doubt learn all there is to know about what happened to my sister, but for the time being let me just say that while I’ve never caused harm to a woman in my life, I intend to make an exception – correction, three exceptions.”

Michael came to stand by the tree, his own eyes narrowing as he took Kingsford’s measure. “I’m sorry to hear that. Though I’ve no particular love for any of them, I’d remind you that they’re just girls. They are young and very foolish, but that’s all. They can easily be controlled without doing harm to anyone.”

“Speak to Jules and then tell me your opinion, Lassiter. In the meantime, watch your brother.” He eased away from the tree and headed for the group. Michael watched as the Furies and their chosen escorts headed down a path that ran along the bank towards a Grecian-style folly. He knew remembered it folly quiet well having met Amanda Deering there on a number of occasions. Kingsford headed the same way and Michael wasn’t certain why he decided to follow at a discreet distance. Perhaps it was the other man's ferocity when it came to Araby Winston, or perhaps it was the memory of her ripe, full mouth and her luscious breasts luring him. In any event, Michael knew himself to be a fool for getting involved.

***

Sarah Jane Melbourne was a dawdler, Rafe thought, and her escort was remarkably inattentive. He smiled coldly. This was going to be much easier than he expected. She’d already succeeded in separating herself from her group without any assistance from him. He watched her as she paused to look at this, or that flower, or to listen to a bird sing. Her mouth was curved in a pleasant smile as if she hadn’t a care in the world. He noticed how the sunlight streaming through the trees dappled her mahogany-colored hair, bringing out streaks of copper and gold. She really was a fetching little piece. When she arrived at the fork in the path he acted quickly, rushing towards her, swiftly capturing her arm and covering her mouth with his other hand. He pulled her down the fork that led deeper into the woods and away from her friends. Sarah struggled against him, but he held her firm until he knew it would take time for someone to come to her aid should she cry out – time enough to create a scandal.

“Forgive the intrusion on your constitutional, Miss Melbourne, but I wanted to have a word with you in private.” He released her and Sarah spun away from him.

“You,” she said flatly. She didn’t ask what he meant by snatching her off the path. She didn’t plead, nor did she run screaming at the sight of him. Rafe was impressed by her fortitude in spite of himself. He was even more impressed when she stood her ground and raised two fists in true pugilistic style, thumbs lying curved on the outside of her fists and one fist raised slightly higher than the other. “Touch me and I will plant you a facer,” she hissed. “I’m quite capable of doing it too.”

Rafe chuckled. He couldn’t help it. “Did you really think I brought you here to box with you, Miss Melbourne. I can assure you that was not....” His words were cut short by his howl of pain as he walked straight into her very fast and very powerful right jab. He took the hit square in his nose. Rafe doubled over, his hand covering his face as he hollered a string of curses. Damn the chit. She’d drawn blood and now it gushed through his fingers. He turned to glare at her as he tried to prevent the mess from spilling onto his cravat and coat. The girl looked stricken. She should. In short order he’d tear her head off.

Miss Melbourne covered her mouth in horror. “Oh, Mr. Kingsford I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to punch you, truly – at least not before you’d actually done something to deserve it. Here, let me help you.” She rushed forward with a handkerchief. Rafe looked at her in disbelief. Had the girl a lick of sense she’d be running as fast as she could. Instead, she stood beside him with her hand resting tentatively on his arm, her lovely face, a study of genuine concern as she offered him help. In that moment Rafe Kingsford smiled to himself behind his hand, because he knew to a certainty that he’d won and that Sarah Melbourne’s days of innocence were numbered.