Crystal Gardens (25 page)

“I suppose that when the truth comes out we can explain that our engagement was merely an act that we both put on in order to trap your uncle’s killers,” she said, struggling to hang on to her composure and her powers of logic. “We can tell people that you hired me to play the part of your fiancée and that we wanted to give a convincing performance.”

“I have news for you: The performance was extremely convincing. My sister, my aunt and the villagers will never believe that last night was an act. What’s more, you and I know that it was all quite real.” He paused. His eyes heated. “Don’t we?”

“Lucas—”

“Did we or did we not make love last night?”

“Well, yes, but that is not the point.”

“What is the point?”

“Last night we were under the influence of all that energy emanating from the bathhouse pools,” Evangeline said, breathless now. “And there is no knowing how that explosion in the maze affected our senses.”

“You and I are not the type to resort to excuses. We made love because we both wanted to and I, for one, do not regret it. Do you?”

The power of his aura was overwhelming her. She simply did not have the strength to fight him off any longer.
No, the truth is that I do not want to struggle against this glorious sensation
. She might have other
lovers in the long, lonely future that awaited her, but she knew in her heart that she would never experience this incredibly intimate connection with any other man.

“You’re trying to confuse me,” she whispered.

“Am I?”

“Oh, bloody hell,” she whispered. “You’re right, I’m overreacting. You are more than capable of looking after yourself, Lucas Sebastian. If you are not concerned about your own reputation, why should I fret about it?”

“My thoughts precisely.”

“It is not as if engagements are not terminated from time to time,” she added, trying for a positive note. “Generally speaking, it is only the woman’s reputation that is shattered when that happens.” She brightened. “Unless, of course, she is the one who ends the engagement.” Her spirits drooped again. “But that only works if her family is of equal or higher social status.”

“Evangeline—”

“But that doesn’t apply in our situation. The thing is, a wealthy man from a good family has nothing to fear, socially speaking. As for me, I can go back to my old life with no one the wiser.”

Lucas tightened his grip on the shelving behind her. “I think it’s time you stopped talking, Evangeline. You did say that you were getting confused.”

“Yes, I did say that, didn’t I? I can’t seem to think clearly just now.”

“Neither can I. Maybe it’s time we both ceased trying to make intelligent conversation.”

He kissed her before she was obliged to come up with a response. His mouth closed over hers in a ruthless assault that sent shock waves through all of her senses.

Why was she fighting him? she wondered. The recklessness that had taken possession of her last night once again rose to the surface, pushing
aside common sense and logic. She clutched his shoulders and abandoned herself to the embrace. Heat and energy shimmered in the atmosphere.

She did not hear the door open. But Lucas evidently was aware of it because he reluctantly broke off the kiss. He did not release his grip on the bookshelves but he turned his head to look over his shoulder.

“What is it, Molly?” he asked, icily impatient.

Horrified, Evangeline peeked around Lucas’s shoulder. Molly stood in the opening. She looked petrified. An attractive lady dressed in a fashionable traveling gown and hat stood behind her. A young man who looked a great deal like Beth was at her side.

“I’m s-s-sorry, sir,” Molly stammered. “I did knock. There’s a Mrs. Sebastian and a Mr. Sebastian here to see you, sir.”

“This day just keeps getting more and more irritating,” Lucas said. But he said it very quietly. He let go of the bookshelves and turned around. “Evangeline, allow me to introduce Judith Sebastian, my stepmother, and my brother, Tony.”

A
n hour later Lucas confronted Judith alone in the library. She sat, rigid with tension, in one of the reading chairs. He faced her from behind the desk. It was not the first time the two of them had met like this, Lucas thought. The encounters never ended well for either of them.

“What are you doing here, madam?” he asked. “I was under the impression that you detested Crystal Gardens.”

“I hate this place.” Judith glanced toward the vine-covered windows and shuddered. “Your uncle’s dreadful botanical experiments should be destroyed. Those gardens are unnatural in the extreme.”

Shortly after her arrival Judith had been shown upstairs to one of the bedrooms. She had changed into a dark green gown. Her blond hair was pinned into an elegant chignon that emphasized her delicate features and blue eyes.

“Crystal Gardens is not Kew Gardens,” Lucas said. “I’ll allow you
that much. Nor would I suggest holding a garden party on the grounds. But the plants and flowers out there are entirely natural. It is just that they thrive on the paranormal elements in the waters here.”

Anger and an old, familiar look of fear flashed in Judith’s eyes.

“You know I do not believe in the paranormal,” she said.

He smiled coldly. “Which is one of the reasons you and I have never had much in common to talk about.”

Judith flushed. “I did not come here to quarrel with you, Lucas.”

“Then why did you arrive unannounced? And why drag Tony with you?”

“I didn’t send a telegram because I knew you would probably send one straight back telling me that I would not be welcome. When Tony learned that I was coming here, he insisted on traveling with me. He finds this dreadful place quite interesting, I’m afraid.”

“I am not here to entertain a houseful of guests. I am engaged in two very serious projects here at the abbey. Believe me when I tell you that I would prefer no guests at all. But I seem to be acquiring a houseful of relatives, all of whom travel with a great deal of luggage and a maid or two. At this rate Molly will have to open up another wing.”

“You’re the one who sent that cryptic telegram to Florence. It is not my fault that Beth chose to accompany her to the Gardens.”

“And you’re here because of Beth, is that it? You don’t approve of the young man who has caught her fancy.”

“Yes, I did come to discuss Beth’s future with you,” Judith said. “But before we get to that subject, I must ask you what on earth is going on around here. Florence told me that last night you had a tryst somewhere on the grounds with Miss Ames and that the two of you were caught coming back to the house at dawn. You were both in a state of dishabille and now you claim to be engaged.”

“Miss Ames and I
are
engaged.”

“Surely you cannot mean to marry the woman. Florence says she
makes her living as a paid companion, for heaven’s sake. I comprehend that you feel there is a matter of honor involved. Nevertheless, the proprieties would hardly seem to apply in this situation. It is not as if Miss Ames moves in society.”

“When have you ever known me to give a damn about the proprieties?”

“Are you saying that you actually do intend to marry her?”

“In a word? Yes.”

“I cannot believe that. I know you too well, Lucas. You are involved in some complicated scheme.”

He picked up the sterling silver letter opener and balanced it on two fingers. “I strongly suggest that you tell me why you came here today. If you do not get to the matter at hand, you will find yourself on the next train back to London.”

Judith pressed her lips tightly together. “Very well, I suppose your engagement is your business.”

“Yes, it is. A word of advice: You will treat Miss Ames with respect. Is that understood?”

Judith clasped her hands tightly together. Her jaw twitched. “Of course.”

“Say what you feel you need to say. You can stay the night and return to London tomorrow.”

Judith’s mouth curved bitterly. “Gracious, as always.”

He called on his willpower and managed to control his temper. “Come now, there is no need for false politeness between us, Judith. We have both understood each other very well, right from the start.”

The blood drained from Judith’s cheeks but she held on to her composure. “You are right. I came here because of Beth. The very last thing I want to do is plead with you, Lucas, but I will get down on my knees if it will do any good.”

“What do you want from me?”

“You know as well as I do that she has refused three very fine young men of good families in the past year.”

“What of it?”

“She has declared that if she cannot marry Charles Rushton, she will not wed anyone.”

“She did say something to that effect. I believe he is an expert on antiquities and dead languages. You know she has always been interested in such matters.”

“Beth is interested in a great many subjects. What does that signify?”

“I believe Beth feels she and Mr. Rushton are intellectually compatible and that they have a great deal in common.”

Judith’s hand tightened into a small fist. “Such things have nothing to do with marriage.”

“I realize that you feel that marriage is a business arrangement.”

“Don’t you dare patronize me. For a woman that is precisely what it is, a business arrangement.”

It was pointless to try to conduct a civil, rational conversation with Judith, Lucas reminded himself. He should know that by now. Nevertheless, he had to make some attempt, if only for Beth’s sake.

“Beth is an intelligent, sensible young woman,” he said. “I suggest that you let her make her own decision because I am sure that she will do so, regardless.”

“Young women are rarely sensible when it comes to marriage.”

“Is there something specific about Charles Rushton that you find objectionable?”

“For heaven’s sake, he hasn’t got a penny to his name,” Judith said, exasperated.

“Are you certain of that?”

“Yes, of course I’m certain. I had Miller look into his finances when I realized that Beth was starting to spend far too much time in museums in Rushton’s company. The man is barely squeaking by on a small
income from some investments left to him by his grandfather. He can scarcely support himself, let alone a wife, and he has no prospects whatsoever. It is obvious that he is a fortune hunter.”

“Even if what you say is correct, what do you expect me to do about it?”

“You must make it clear to Beth that you forbid the marriage.”

“Do you really think that would stop her? If anything, it would probably have the opposite effect. She is far more likely to make a runaway marriage if she concludes that we are all against her.”

“Then you must speak to Rushton.” Judith rose from the chair. “You control the money in this family. He knows that. If you make it clear that you are opposed to the marriage and that Beth will be cut off if she marries against your wishes, I’m sure he will disappear.”

Lucas got to his feet. “What if you are wrong about Rushton, Judith? What if he does love Beth and she loves him?”

“I doubt very much that I’m wrong. But even if it transpires that I am, it makes no difference. Love is a frail, fleeting and unreliable thing. It cannot be relied upon to sustain two people for a lifetime. I do not want Beth to discover that the hard way.”

“As you did?” he asked.

Fury mixed with old pain glittered in Judith’s eyes. “How dare you, Lucas?”

Regret welled up inside him. He found it difficult to feel deep sympathy for Judith, but there were lines that should never be crossed. He had just done that and he did not like himself very much for it.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. He crossed the room to open the door. “That was uncalled for.”

“Yes, it was,” she said. “It is quite unnecessary to remind me of my own past. You may believe me when I tell you that I have never forgotten it. Indeed, I think about it every day of my life.”

“I am well aware that your marriage to my father did not bring you
much in the way of happiness. But do you really want to force Beth into the same sort of loveless match?”

“No, of course not. But with her advantages there will be other suitors. She will find another, more suitable young man. Unlike me, she will have a choice.”

Judith swept past him through the doorway and out into the hall.

He closed the door and went back across the room to contemplate the gardens through the vine-clad windows. Judith’s words seemed to echo in the silent room.
Unlike me, she will have a choice
.

He stood there for a long time, thinking of what he had done that morning. By announcing the engagement to the crowd that had awaited them outside the maze, he had effectively taken away Evangeline’s right to make her own choice. Now it seemed that she was in something of a panic. She had gone through an extraordinary series of dangerous events in the past few days, events that had taken a toll on her nerves.

She needed time, he thought, time to see that marriage to him was the right thing for her, for both of them.

He ought to woo her. She deserved that much. But how did a man accomplish a proper courtship when he was trying to keep his lady from being murdered?