Gentleman's Guide 01 - His Impetuous Debutante (15 page)

He pasted a pleasant expression on his
face, crossed his legs and cradled his glass in his hands on his
lap, hoping to hide the desire building as he watched her struggle
to unhook the clasps at her back. Arching her back so her hand
could reach the tapes, she forced her full breasts against the
fabric of her camisole. Obviously she didn’t realize the display or
she didn’t know that her blanket had slipped. Abruptly he put his
glass down and approached her. She was showing much more than he
needed to see at the moment. “Cover yourself,” he bit out and
quickly undid the fastenings as she hastily pulled the blanket to
her chin.

“
Thank you,” she offered
quietly as he sat back down. Beneath the blanket she fussed a
little more, and then finally the offensive object she referred to
fell to the floor from beneath the blanket. Taylor quickly picked
up his glass and refilled it, as he watched her struggle some more
and drop the skirt much in the same manner. Finally she settled
back, with the blanket to her chin, picked up her glass and began
to sip. He waited for a reaction, but it didn’t come.

“
You have had brandy
before I see.”

“
Yes, I became familiar
with it the day we buried my father.”

Taylor quickly regretted his question,
seeing the sadness in her eyes. Needing to erase visions of burials
from both their minds he changed the subject. “You seemed indignant
earlier when I suggested you fell from your horse.”

Phoebe gave him a half smile. “I am an
excellent rider. Surely you know our family breeds
horses.”

“
That doesn’t mean you
know how to ride,” Taylor reasoned, wanting to tease her and
lighten both their moods.

“
When I recover, I’ll show
you just how well I do ride,” Phoebe declared, taking on a haughty
air. Taylor covered his reaction by drinking. If she had any clue
as to the riding he had just envisioned, she would be
scandalized.

He lifted his glass to her in toast.
“I will take you up on that offer. Provided it is daylight and we
are surrounded by people.” He tried to return his own mood to a
light one.

Phoebe lowered her eyes, staring into
her drink. “I am really sorry I have become such a
problem.”

“
We have been over
this.”

“
No. You are just being
polite. I have ruined your Season. If you didn’t have to keep
rescuing me, you could be looking for someone yourself.” She took a
drink before continuing. “Then last night, I ruined your… ah,
interlude, I suppose you might call it. Now I am keeping you away
from her again.”

“
Phoebe, first of all, I
would not be able to find a wife amongst the
ton.
Second, I have had more fun
rescuing you, though it has been irritating at times, than I have
had in years.” He smiled warmly at her and deliberately left the
widow out of the discussion.

She looked up at him hesitantly. “You
aren’t just saying that?”

“
No.” Standing, he poured
more into her glass. Perhaps he could make her fall asleep. Then
she wouldn’t be looking at him so trusting with those big green
eyes.

“
Why couldn’t you find a
wife? It seems to me there are hundreds of beautiful girls just
waiting to be asked?”

“
There are hundreds, I
agree. None of their fathers would ever allow me to take one off of
their hands.” He relaxed back in the chair, beginning to mellow as
the liquor warmed his blood, and more open than he
should.

“
Surely you are
mistaken.”

“
Obviously your brother
has kept my past from you. There is a very good reason.”

“
What is the reason?” Her
voice was full of concern.

For a minute he considered not telling
her. Why not? After tomorrow, there was a very good chance she
would find herself betrothed to him and she had a right to know the
truth, so she could escape while she still could. “I have been
married before.”

She straightened, mouth open in
surprise.

“
Twice.”

“
Oh.” She took a quick
drink. “So you
are
a widower?”

She must remember him telling her of
his marital state at Vauxhall. “Twice over.” He drained his
glass.

“
I am sorry.”

“
That is not the half of
it.” He decided she might as well know the entire sordid
tale.

Phoebe waited, blessedly silent for a
change. She was probably praying that there were no consequences
from their actions tonight.

“
My grandfather’s will
states that I have to be married and produce a legitimate heir by
the time I am thirty.” Raising his head he looked at her. “That is
less than two years away in case you are wondering.” He leaned his
head back, having caught the sympathy in her eyes and not wanting
to see it. “If I don’t, I lose lands, funds, everything, become a
simple pauper while keeping the title.”

“
How dreadful for
you.”

“
Not only me, but the two
ladies I married. To go along with my grandfather’s dictate, they
have suffered a worse fate than I.” He was not willing to tell her
everything just yet.

“
I am so sorry.” She
trailed off as they lapsed into silence. “I still don’t understand
why you haven’t secured another wife?”

He raised his head and gave her a half
smile. “Nobody wants to risk their lovely daughters facing the same
fate. I am not a lucky man to be married to.”

“
That is utterly stupid,”
she retorted. “It is not like you killed them, did you?”

Taylor laughed. “No, Phoebe. I did
not. Thank you for being the only one to have nerve enough to
ask.”

Taylor wondered what she would think
if she knew both wives had been carrying his child as well. It was
just as well he hadn’t mentioned that small fact. She was a girl of
deep feelings, unlike anyone he had met before. Maybe he should
warn her not to show her emotions so clearly in her face. Yet, he
couldn’t do that. Then she wouldn’t be Phoebe. Her openness was one
of her more charming qualities.

“
What about you,
Phoebe?”

Startled, she raised her head to meet
his eyes. “What do you mean?”

“
You made reference last
evening to someone you have developed an affection for. Who is he?”
If Taylor wasn’t mistaken, she began to blush.

“
It makes no difference.
He would never consider me,” she whispered, giving him a small
smile.

“
What makes you so sure?”
Lounging back, he studied her. He was very curious about the man
who had held her affection.

“
He doesn’t need anything
from me.” Phoebe kept her eyes averted, the crimson in her face
deepened.

“
By that do you mean
titles, dowry and the like?”

“
Of course. Why else
marry?”

Giving her a half smile, Taylor
agreed. “I see your point. By any chance could this gentleman
actually care for you?”

“
I have no idea how he
feels about me,” she answered with irritation.

“
You care for him don’t
you?” Taylor persisted.

Raising angry and hurt eyes, she
admitted it. “Yes, I care for him very much, but the feeling is not
returned. Of that I am certain and I would rather not discuss it
further.”

He was surprised by her reaction. It
was more than caring. She had fallen in love with this man. Who in
his right mind wouldn’t return the feelings? Oh, to be loved by
Phoebe, he thought. Then quickly dismissed the idea. Part of him
wished he hadn’t persisted for on the morrow all her hopes of
gaining the man’s affection would be hopeless. Setting his glass
aside, he turned down the lamps. “If we are to go sneaking to the
house before dawn, we will need to get up early.”

Phoebe pulled the blanket up to her
chin and turned her face to the back of the couch. He would need to
apologize tomorrow. It really had not been his intention to upset
her, but he couldn’t begin to fathom what gentleman she cared
for.

In the darkness he sipped the whiskey
and went over every outing in his head. Which gentlemen were
consistent in their pursuit and which had taken Phoebe on walks and
drives in the park? In the end, he had a short list and he couldn’t
imagine why any of them would reject her affection.

Taylor sat in the semi-darkness, with
only the light from the fire, drinking, watching her slumber . She
was so beautiful. To hold her affection would be an incredible
gift.

Early morning sun began to lighten the
cabin and Taylor waited. At the most he barely dozed last night. He
certainly did not get any sleep. And now, Noah was here. He heard
the horse then footsteps a moment ago. He was just waiting to see
if Noah would speak to him or simply shoot him first. Noah looked
into the window and his hard, cold eyes met Taylors before he
opened the door and stepped inside.

“
Does your appearance here
mean we might as well not bother hiding our return?” Taylor asked
dryly.

Noah shot him a look, still angry. His
facial features softened when he looked at Phoebe. Her exposed arm
was wrapped in a blood-soaked bandage, which Taylor would need to
change before they returned to the house. The blanket had also
fallen away from the elevated foot and he could see that it was
still painfully swollen with bluish grey bruising along the side.
By the time Noah’s eyes shifted back to Taylor, he was already
standing, walking toward him. Silently they walked outside and
Taylor busied himself looking after the horse.

Unable to bare the silence any longer,
Taylor spoke. “If you are here to call me out, I had better warn
you that I was to act as your second this week. I am not sure I can
do both roles. Perhaps I should just shoot myself and be done with
it.” He patted the horse and straightened.

A smile pulled at Noah’s mouth. “That
would be too easy. Besides, you need a wife and Phoebe needs a
keeper.”

“
What about your promise
to Phoebe?” Taylor asked.

“
Whatever promise I made
is moot due to her behavior.”

Taylor nodded his head. Noah was right
and there was no point arguing, so he might as well get to the
point.

“
I haven’t touched her.
Not even last night.”

Noah dismissed the statement. “It
doesn’t matter. It is what is believed.”

Taylor grabbed his friend’s arm. “It
matters to me what you believe.”

Noah stiffened and met his eyes.
“Thank you. I appreciate that.”

Taylor let his arm drop to his side.
“You should. I have never been so tested in my entire life.” Noah
raised both eyebrows and Taylor took his warning
seriously.

Taylor sobered in response. “I will
take care of her. I’ll protect her with my own life if need
be.”

“
I know you will.” Noah
moved toward his horse but stopped and turned back. “You actually
care for her don’t you?”

Taylor’s face warmed, which
embarrassed him even further. “More than I have ever thought it
possible to care for another.” He turned to return to the cabin. He
didn’t want Phoebe to wake up and find herself alone. Heaven knew
she would probably try to walk or something.

“
Why didn’t you say
something before?” Noah asked as he studied his friend.

He turned back to Noah and shrugged
his shoulders. “Actually I thought about it a number of times, but
I didn’t think you would appreciate my attention.”

“
Why the hell would you
think a thing like that?”

Taylor was taken aback by his tone and
volume of his voice. “Noah, you know my marital history as well as
anyone. Could I actually ask a friend for his sister, knowing what
could happen?”

“
Those were all accidents,
and I am insulted you think I would feel otherwise.”

“
I know you feel that way,
and I appreciate it. However, it is one thing to believe one way
and another to betroth your sister to the unlucky man.”

Noah nodded his head. Taylor knew Noah
had to acknowledge his point. “Would you like me to get a special
license, or have you thought that far ahead?”

“
Let’s tell the blushing
bride and see what she thinks?” Noah grinned and met Taylor at the
foot of the two steps leading to the cabin door.

Taylor stopped short. “I am not sure
Phoebe is going to be happy with this turn of events.”

“
She should have thought
about that yesterday. This could have turned out much worse, as you
know. We tried to warn her.”

“
I know but she is in love
with someone.”

“
Who?”

“
She won’t tell me. She
mentioned the fact last night and the night before. She hasn’t
admitted she loves him, but it is in her eyes and you know she
can’t hide a thing.”

“
How do you feel about
that?”

“
I am not overjoyed, but I
am hopeful she will eventually feel something for me other than
brotherly affection.”