Druid Temptation (A Druid Quest Novel Book 2) (20 page)

Samuel remained quiet for so long Gabriel started to feel hopeless.

When he spoke, he said only two words. “Woo her.”

Gabriel repeated it dumbly. “Woo her?”

“Yes.” Samuel nodded, his steepled fingers resting against his chin. “You kept your distance, and it did not work, now try to woo her.”

It had been years since he last tried to woo a woman, and he wasn’t sure he remembered how. He wiped his sweaty hands along his pants, unsure where to start. Samuel seemed to read his mind and freely offered suggestions.

“Your woman is trained to protect herself. She’s fiercely independent and proud. Nurture it. Don’t coop her up in a vain attempt to keep her safe. Take her on an outing and show her the fireworks. While she might be strong, she’s extremely vulnerable without her protectors to watch over her. Show her you trust her. You’d be surprised how much that means to someone when their life has been ripped away from them.”

“Woo her.” Gabriel nodded and grabbed a piece of paper to write down his ideas.

Samuel creaked up out of his chair and shuffled toward the door. “Don’t forget the importance of the usual props girls enjoy so much—flowers, candies and little gifts.” Samuel shrugged and smiled. “It worked in my day.”

As Gabriel’s list grew, he remembered her fascination on their last shopping trip. She didn’t give a fig about the dresses, but she couldn’t tear herself away from the novelty shop next door, and the window full of weapons. He folded the paper and placed it in his breast pocket.

Then he wrote another quick note asking Rand and Tallie if they wanted to join them in a small excursion. Diana needed to be seen out in society in order for their plan to defeat Williams to work. With Ashmore and Samuel along, the group would be big and public enough to deter anyone who wanted to cause harm.

A
persistent tapping
on the window woke Diana the next morning…the birds demanding payment. When she dragged herself out of bed, she was surprised to see the trees in the backyard completely covered with birds.

Diana stared in befuddlement at the twittering, darting avian mob.

The lines along her back warmed as she reached out to the winged creatures and listened to their report. Their thoughts were random and scattered. While there might be a few people keeping watch, there had been no intruders.

She tapped on the glass to break off communications, and they fluttered down the fountain to wait for payment.

Dressing in a simple black skirt and blue bodice that accentuated her tall, slender frame, Diana managed to figure out how to fit the corset correctly on the third try. By the time she arrived downstairs, Jack hot on her heels, the birds had lined the back of the fence as well, more than fifty of them all told.

The door creaked open behind her, and Diana whirled.

“Am I late?” Emilie darted out the house, her shoes on the wrong feet, only half her snarled hair tied back, the ribbons of her dress dragging on the ground in her rush to hurry downstairs. “Can I help?”

Diana knelt and carefully tied her bow. “Only if you promise never to leave the house again without telling someone where you are going.”

Emilie nodded enthusiastically, watching the birds darting around the yard. Diana poured birdseed in Emilie’s palm and watch her carefully scatter the seeds along the path, giggling while the birds swirled around her. Only when the seeds were gone did Emilie beam up at her. “You should go back inside before Milles delivers your breakfast and finds you gone.”

Emilie’s eyes widened in horror. She gave a quick wave good-bye and scampered inside as fast as her legs would carry her. The staff took turns taking care of Emilie, but she knew Milles was the one in charge of the rotation.

“I think we’re going to need more food next time.” Jack barked in agreement, then began to chase the birds. They retaliated by dive-bombing him in return, sending him scurrying for cover under the bench. Despite the playful mood, Diana could feel Williams watching and waiting beyond the gate.

The magic in her blood stirred with the need to hunt.

Danger lingered like a shadow where no amount of sunlight could reach.

An impending vision pressed down on her. She almost gave into temptation to see what would happen, but resisted. The danger wasn’t imminent. If she allowed herself to be lured out of the shelter of the house, she would only be attracting more trouble.

They needed to wait until after the ball to see if Williams would back off before they devised a counterattack.

The lack of action left her frustrated and restless, acutely aware that something bad hovered just over the horizon.

Jack went another two rounds with the birds, until they pecked him into submission and chased him into the house. Diana followed more slowly, not looking forward to another day trapped inside.

As she made her way upstairs, she noticed the door to her room was partially opened.

A door she had shut firmly behind her.

Jack looked at her, waiting for a command.

Diana pulled the knife from her boot and nodded.

Jack took the door first, and Diana rushed in after him…only to stumble to a stop.

Flowers filled every available surface, a rainbow of colors and fragrances. The bouquets enchanted her, reminding her of home and her aunt’s gardens. Unable to resist, Diana touched one silken petal lightly so not to bruise them and bent forward to sniff.

The beautiful fragrances filled the room, and Jack sneezed as he jumped on the bed to survey the change to his domain.

Then she noticed the small, colorfully wrapped box in his mouth.

She lunged for the dog, and managed to snag the box. They played tug-of-war for a few seconds until he slipped and toppled off the back of the bed. She studied the once-pretty but now mauled gift, and carefully lifted the lid.

Nestled inside was the beautiful black blade she’d been coveting when she stopped outside the dressmaker’s the other day. She lifted the small throwing knife, testing the weight, pleased to find it fit her hand perfectly.

Then she noted the little crescent moon stamped on the hilt and stared at in shock.

It was her personal rune, the one she chose when she first began her training as a Druid. Her heart warmed that he would notice the talisman she used and have it engraved on the weapon.

“He didn’t know what type of flower you liked, so he selected a little of everything.”

The masculine voice startled her, and Diana whirled to find Samuel standing in the doorway, his barrel chest filling the space. “Who?” Her mind went blank as she watched him.

Eyes twinkling, Samuel entered the room. “Gabriel, of course.”

Diana shook her head. “Yes, but why?”

A snort erupted from the old man, which quickly turned into a wheeze. “He’s courting you. It has been years since he tried, so he’s a little rusty.”

She plopped inelegantly on the bed, completely baffled, still clutching the small blade in her hand. “What utter rot. We’re already married.”

“You have that boy tied up in knots. He is afraid of losing you, so he is trying to make you
want
to stay.” He shook his head, and chose his words more carefully. “He wants you to
choose
to stay with him.”

Diana tumbled the knife end over end on the tips of her fingers and marveled that he knew her well enough to pick out something so utterly perfect for her. “What should I do?”

She didn’t want to ruin everything.

Somehow the big lug had wormed his way into her heart, she was on the verge of falling in love with him, and it scared the living daylights out of her. She’d lost everyone she ever loved, and she couldn’t bear for something terrible to happen to him, too.

Samuel came over and patted her hand. “Give him a chance. If you trust him with your heart, he will guard it with his life.”

That’s what terrified her.

She watched Samuel leave, feeling more conflicted than ever. At the bottom of the box she found a small sheath with a strap that was intended to fit her upper arm.

Diana paced her room, lost in thought, when a knock interrupted her chaotic thoughts. “Enter.”

A young woman, not more than eighteen, bustled into the room. “My name is Kathy, and I’m to be your new maid. Your man Milles thought we might suit.”

She bobbed a quick curtsy, her shining young face peering up at her. Diana smiled at the bright copper hair that seemed to run amok on her head. Freckles marched across the bridge of her nose, and her bright green eyes gleamed with curiosity and an eagerness to learn. “My name is Diana.”

The young girl beamed. “I know we’re going to get along swimmingly. Come sit, and let me do your hair and get you ready for luncheon. Your man downstairs has something special planned and wants me to get you spiffied up.”

Diana was bemused as the girl expertly sat her in front of the mirror and took charge of her hair, chattering a mile a minute. Something about the sweet innocence, and the fierce intelligence in her eyes, reminded her of Brighid—a fellow Druid and her closest friend. The comparison was bittersweet.

Kathy blatantly snooped around the room, humor lurking in her eyes as she took in the many flowers. “You have an admirer.”

She sounded titillated by the prospect, and Diana watched as a blush crept into her cheeks. “My husband.”

Kathy nodded, a certain wistfulness to her expression that made her appear older. “You’re lucky to have a man so attentive. Most of them can be such bounders, they need a good proper kick in the backside to get them to act all proper-like in front of a lady these days.”

The dark mood that had clouded Diana’s morning evaporated with Kathy’s good-natured chiding. She touched the short blade she strapped to her arm like a talisman. Gabriel intrigued her with his gifts, and she couldn’t help wondering what he had planned next.

* * *

G
abriel paced his study
, glancing toward the ceiling, wondering how Diana liked her first gifts. He stopped in front of his desk, straightening the other two boxes he had prepared, just waiting for the perfect moment to give them to her. He pulled a creased paper from his pocket, unfolded it carefully, undecided about what should come next.

The ball was scheduled for tomorrow. Privy to the color of her gown, he ordered a necklace to match. Removing the velvet box from his pocket, he lifted off the lid and peered inside, admiring the pale blue diamond suspended by an intricately crafted scroll design that reminded him of the marks on her back. The color would bring out the blue in her eyes. Small diamonds were encrusted around the stone, and even in the dim light, they sparkled in the box’s dark interior.

He marveled that Diana had never seen him as a brute. She never once backed down from him or flinched from his anger. If anything, she seemed almost fascinated with his body. Everything about her was perfect, and no matter how long it took, he was determined to claim her as his own.

As he secured the lid, he slipped the box back into his jacket. Then he studied his list again, frowning, until he folded it and replacing it back in his breast pocket. The time for the appointed luncheon was only twenty minutes away. He hesitated over the two boxes on the desk, and then chose the slim, narrow case on the left and headed toward the kitchen to ensure that everything was going according to plan.

* * *

D
iana moved carefully
down the stairs, afraid to ruin all Kathy’s hard work. The new dress was a pale peach, and draped her body in a way that made her feel beautiful instead of gangly and awkward. She paused near the balcony, spotting Gabriel as he paced the foyer. He was dressed in a crisp black suit, his hair was in perfect order, his boots polished. He shouldn’t be handsome, conservative men normally weren’t to her taste, but there was something deliciously sexy about seeing all that power contained.

She continued down the stairs, drawn to the man by more than just attraction. He was so perfect, she wondered if she’d somehow conjured him from her dreams.

As if he sensed her, Gabriel stopped and glanced up, the heat in his gaze making her skin tingle. His throat moved as he swallowed, then he ran his hand down the crisp linen shirt, drawing her attention to his broad chest.

A gold watch hung from his pocket and a blood red pin was nestled in his cravat. The jewel sparkled, and Diana looked up into his eyes.

Unable to smile, she spoke softly. “You look very dapper.”

Gabriel slid a finger beneath his collar as his glance dropped to the cleavage Kathy had somehow managed to find and put on display. “You’re beautiful.”

His husky voice sent heat to her cheeks.

She felt beautiful when he stared at her like that.

“Shall we go?” He offered her an arm, and her fingers tingled in anticipation of touching him again.

When she placed her fingertips on his arm, nothing could’ve prepared her for the way her body craved more. Desire scorched along her veins while he led her to the dining room. Instead of stopping, he pulled her along and guided her out back into the small garden.

He’d transformed it into a tiny oasis.

A small table and chairs had been set out with a tablecloth and candles. He guided her closer and seated her. When he turned away, she couldn’t help but admire the way his muscles flexed as he moved, and she sighed when he sat in the chair next to hers and lifted a small basket at his side. “I thought, since we didn’t get to enjoy our last picnic, that we’d try again.”

Diana was completely charmed.

The birds picked up the mood and began to sing to them.

Gabriel played the butler and served her. She reached for her utensils when their etiquette lessons came to mind. She wanted to prove to him that she could fit into society. With careful deliberation, she picked up the soup spoon and ate slowly and methodically, concentrating so she didn’t slurp.

After only a few tastes, she noticed Gabriel had finished and sat watching her with bemusement.