Crushing Desire (6 page)

“He has already made at least one bastard, devil hang him,” he muttered.

“Excuse me?” said a matronly woman who turned, a permanent frown creasing her aristocratic features. “Oh, Mr. Sinclair…” Her eyes lit when she recognized him. “How good to see you!”

Joshua ran his tongue over his teeth to keep it from running off with him. His gaze moved to the dance floor and then back to the woman. “And you as well.”

“I have heard much from the little birdies that whisper in my ear.” She lifted a bejeweled hand to her ear as if to cup in the sound of the very birds of which she’d spoke. “They’ve mentioned that your morning is long over. You are once again ready for marriage.”

Joshua closed his eyes for a second to hide their rebellious roll and inclined his head amicably. “I really must—”

“Why I have a niece, a darling thing… A title too, dear. Your son could be heir to a dukedom.” She tapped the side of her nose and winked.

“That sounds wonderful, my dear lady, but I really must—”

“Fine then, I shall find her immediately. Don’t move from this spot. She’s going to be so terribly happy to meet you.” The woman disappeared into the crowd as she spoke not allowing him another syllable.

Joshua shook his head. He caught another glimpse of Reena who’d risen from the final curtsy of the dance. He would try to talk to her about the unprincipled man who now clutched her elbow, leading her in Joshua’s direction. Though he wondered, not for the first time, on what grounds he could insist that Reena not see Martin any longer. Perhaps he would speak with the man and warn him off her instead?

Joshua moved forward, meeting the advancing couple. The music faded, and Martin retreated with a hesitant step, glaring at Joshua as he went.

“Miss Harrison.” Joshua bowed deeply.

Reena curtsied low and took her place in the dancer’s line. The music began, and she glanced up as he drew her gently toward him. Gloved fingers touched his as if a bird lit on a branch. Delicate slippers never missed a beat while they moved through the dance. Golden hair and bright eyes distracted him. Joshua almost missed a step from studying her movements but regrouped in time, covering his lack of focus on the dance.

She’s perfect.

He clamped his jaw tight against the familiar stirring in his heart. He pushed it down, ignoring its draw.

9

When the last note played, Reena was sure that her cheeks were the color of the roses in her uncle’s gardens, but she was too excited to care.

“Can I escort you outside?” Joshua motioned with his hand in the direction of the open French doors. “You look like you need to take the air in the garden.”

Reena wondered if her skin had pinked from his commanding touch as they’d danced and wished she had applied more powder to her face.

“That would be lovely.” She fanned her face.

The cool night air caressed her warm cheeks, and she closed her eyes for a moment. The night smelled of fragrant lilies and jasmine. She breathed deeply and opened her eyes. Joshua gestured toward a bench. She moved to the bench and sat, waiting for him to join her. He did not. His rigid body remained where she had left him, unmoving.

“Miss Harrison, I simply must tell you something for your own good.” Joshua’s voice took on the tone that her father’s did when he wished her to follow instruction without question. Reena leaned forward on the bench.

“What is it, Mr. Sinclair?” She brought her hand to the ribbon at her throat.

“I have to ask you to be careful with…” He paused and turned to the statue of Venus behind him. “You shouldn’t…”

“Is something wrong?” Reena stood and shifted instinctively to touch his shoulder, but he swiveled back, facing her, his arm brushing her body as he did. She quivered, a rush of pleasure filling her. His eyes searched hers, and she stiffened, holding her breath. His lips were so close. Joshua nodded, drawing her farther into the stormy core of his gaze. Her chest filled to bursting as his stare lowered to her mouth. She thought back to another night when they had been alone in the gardens and gently bit her lip. He leaned in, the heat of his body warming her. Her lips parted. She brought her hand to her bosom and her riotous heartbeat. His fingertips touched her elbow, and his head lowered toward hers. Reena closed her eyes in anticipation.

“We must return to the party.”

Reena stepped back, eyes going wide. Her throat thickened, and a low mewling sound escaped when her lips first parted. She took a deep breath and tried again.

“Yes, of course,” she finally managed to force past the constriction. “We wouldn’t want Emily to come looking for us.”

“Reena…”

She stormed past and into the Ballroom. Reena flounced all the way over to the refreshment table before she stopped, confident he hadn’t followed. The very instant she stepped up to the table, a trio of squeals filled her ears, and her friends rushed in around her. They cooed while Lily told them of her proposal, fanning herself from time to time. Reena wondered if she would ever know that kind of joy. The feeling of elation that came from marrying a man who cherished you as much as you treasured him. She gritted her teeth. At that moment, she decided to enjoy herself tonight. Reena forced a smile and lifted her chin a little higher. She would show Joshua Sinclair that she didn’t need his kisses.

The next few dances were a blur of whirling men, women, and music. After her dance with Dan, Martin returned. He was witty and charming, making jokes that kept her smiling as he sang his own praises.

“You don’t wish to dance with Michael anyhow. He is a bore. Come and visit the gardens with me instead.”

“I’m so sorry, Martin, but I do believe I have the next dance,” Michael interrupted, holding a hand out to Reena.

Martin jerked his chin toward the door that led to the garden, eyebrows raised. Reena laughed and turned toward Michael.

“I’m ready for our dance, monsieur
.
” She took his hand.

“Oh come now,” Martin said in a final attempt, and then slumped off into the crowd when she made no move to join him.

Reena walked to the dance floor with Michael, then whirled into the first steps of the dance.

Michael kept a respectful distance, never trying to push the contact within the dance to the level of impropriety. When it was over, they moved to the side of the room. Michael seemed amused that his brother had tried and failed to get her to abandon her dance with him.

“I wonder if you would accompany me on a picnic.” Michael fiddled with the watch fob in his waistcoat. He glanced up, and she followed his gaze to her approaching uncle. “I’ve heard that the weather is expected to be sunny for quite a while yet,” Michael went on to say, his attention swinging back to her.

“I should love that.”

He bowed, relinquishing her to her uncle for the next dance.

Reena had finished dancing with Uncle Howard when Martin came to her once again. Martin was obviously too far into his cups, judging by the smell of spirits on his breath. He pulled her hand to his lips, standing a bit closer than he should. She glanced at the crowded room, noting the sea of society matrons on watch for the most recent scandal. Grasping her arm below the elbow, he towed her toward the garden.

“Monsieur Dubois, we shouldn’t.” She swallowed hard. “I must stay at the ball.”

Martin said nothing, dragging her by the arm through the open doors which led to the tryst veiling greenery beyond. Once they were completely alone in the small gazebo at the center of the gardens, Reena’s mind filled with the possibilities. She wasn’t safe here with Martin. He wouldn’t hurt her, but his roaming hands would be difficult to halt. Reena wished that she’d dug her slippers into the floor and refused to budge, despite the scene it would have caused.

“You’re so beautiful, Reena.” He heaved her close.

She pushed at the encircling arms. “Martin, we should be inside. Emily is inside, and I’m not chaperoned. What will people think?” she asked, trying to bring some sense into his drink and passion filled brain.

“Bah, Emily, she is always there. I wanted you to come out here with me to be alone.”

She twisted her head away, avoiding his oncoming mouth.

“You’ve been drinking, Martin, you aren’t thinking properly.”

His hands slid lower and lower down her back. Reena pushed against the wall of his chest.

“I was watching you dance and flirt with the others,” he snapped.

Reena pushed harder. She considered the kick to the shin that she and Lily always teased about, but truth told, Reena didn’t want to hurt him if she didn’t have to. He was drunk, and she was sure he meant no harm. Gathering her forcefully to him, he trapped her hands between their bodies. His mouth moved down her cheek toward her neck until his lips found her pulse. She gasped.

“Martin… Let me…”

“Am I interrupting something?”

Reena’s lips parted, and ice chilled her veins. Joshua stood half in shadow with his shoulder leaning against the gazebo pillar. He’d crossed his arms over his chest, his legs at the ankle, as though he were watching a game of cricket. His eyes were the solitary thing that betrayed the image. They were aflame.

Even if she hadn’t already been trying, Joshua’s stare would have been enough to make Reena want to wrench from Martin’s arms. His touch felt wrong somehow, like a betrayal. And this was worse than a hand on her elbow or an arm on her back. Martin held her too close, and his embrace seemed to claim that she was his. Even a husband wouldn’t hold his wife this close in public without raised eyebrows and whispers.

Martin let her go, and she all but sighed with relief as he stomped past Joshua without a word to either of them.

“You shouldn’t have come out here with him.” He pushed off from where he leaned and stalked her, his eyes still lit with a strange fire. “People will talk.”

Her head swam as he closed the distance between them. “I…”

Joshua reached out and grasped her forearms, pulling her toward him. His eyes burned into her, melting her insides.

“I didn’t want to come, but I didn’t want to make a scene,” she whispered. The contact of his fingers, though firm, wasn’t painful.

“I suppose that you were letting him hold you so intimately, because you didn’t want someone inside to hear your complaint?” Joshua shook her slightly.

“I was—” His lips crashed into hers. The kiss was hard, crushing her mouth beneath his. Her bones became water at the exquisite feel of his body against hers. She flowed against him and he moaned, his lips softening as they slid with gentle pressure over hers. He released her arms, his hands slipping around her and roaming her back. The excruciating pleasure of his caress filled her with a longing that begged to be fulfilled. His tongue slid along her lips, encouraging her to open for him, and with a whimper, she did. Her fingers surged up to his neck and into his hair. The firm demands of his hands drew her into his body, fingers slipping lower on her back. His fingertips grazed her hip sending tremors through her body. The pleasure of his caresses overwhelmed her, and she gasped into his mouth.

A loud groan tore from Joshua’s throat, and he thrust her from him. He stood motionless with his gaze rooted to the floor, his arms apart, and his breathing ragged. Reena’s fingers flew to her lips and the still moist flesh.

Did he really just kiss me?

“You see what can happen now? You need to be more careful who you retire to the gardens with, Miss Harrison,” he grated out, his eyes still on the floor.

Without waiting for a reply, not that she could form one, he strode off in the direction of the party. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the cool post of the gazebo.

Mrs. Whitmore had said that balls were the most important social occasion for a young girl, but Reena was having a terrible time of it. Already she had been in the garden twice, but neither experience had come out as she had wished. She wanted to kiss Joshua again. To have him slide his arms around her and assure her that she would be all right. To assure her that they would both be all right so long as they were together.

Reena clung to the beam, her muscles still jelly from the powerful kiss.

Who wants a simpering fool that only wishes to talk about embroidery and the marriage market?
His words flew unbidden around inside her head and mingled with the ones he’d spoken after they’d kissed. Her chin trembled, and she pressed her lips together at the bittersweet memory of his mouth on hers.

“It was a lesson,” she said to the trees. “He was trying to teach me a lesson.”

The realization snapped her out of the strange spell. She shook her head when her body had calmed some and moved to the bench. They would never be together, not truly. He’d never shown her any real interest. Reena had to stop thinking of childish fantasies and start thinking realistically. She had to grow up, learn to enjoy their friendship and expect nothing more, for there would never be more between them.

Chapter Six

Reena stood in the tiny shop, examining all the delicate hair ribbons and lace that filled the tables and shelves. Not quite a week had passed since the ball, and she and Emily had taken Lily out for one last day of shopping before she returned to school. She would be gone until her wedding day in four months time. The next months would be hard without her. Reena had become even closer with her over the last few months and would miss her terribly.