Katie Rose (11 page)

It was all because of her, that hellion, that she-devil Appleton. Gabriel swore there must be something to her witchery, for he couldn’t get her out of his head. He’d gone to dinner the previous night with Allison, and even her intelligent conversation couldn’t dispel the image of Jennifer hiding amid his draperies like a stowaway, confessing innocently to being in awe of his nakedness.

It seemed that he couldn’t escape, no matter how hard he tried. If Allison hadn’t shown up when she did … Gabriel knew exactly what would have happened. He would have pulled Jennifer into his arms and made passionate love to her in his own bed, regardless of the consequences.

Even now his flesh still burned at the memory. He thought of her story about getting lost, and wandering into his town house for help. It was just ridiculous enough to be true, and totally in character. That no one took her in hand appalled him, and he realized the task might well fall to him. He was half tempted to put her in her place once and for all, and paddle her so hard she couldn’t sit for a week, but he also acknowledged that he wanted her so badly he couldn’t think of anything else. Jennifer Appleton had become a bad habit, and he found himself wishing he’d never laid eyes on her.

At least here he could be alone. Gabriel had walked this park every afternoon for the past few years, even in bad weather, for it never failed to have a soothing effect
upon him. So when he turned a bend and found himself face to face with Jennifer, he was almost convinced he was still imagining her presence.

She was a wood nymph, a delicate creature sprung from a flower. Unaware of his presence, she bent over a particularly beautiful rose and deeply inhaled its fragrance. Dressed in a simple cotton gown with her hair pulled loosely back and a few burnished curls escaping, she looked like a woodland fairy. Only he knew she was the devil in disguise.

She straightened, sensing his presence, then turned to him with a smile full of delight. He could have sworn that she was happy to see him, even as she cast her eyes demurely down to the ground.

“Miss Appleton. What a surprise to see you here. Is it your habit to frequent this place, unescorted?” A sneaking suspicion flooded his mind that her presence wasn’t accidental, that she’d somehow learned of his habit of walking in the park. Gabriel recalled that he had misplaced his calendar. Surely, she couldn’t have … he dismissed the notion as the utmost conceit. Still, the suspicion would not go away, especially in light of finding her in his town house the previous night.

Her cheeks flushed with color, making her look even more attractive. “A pleasant surprise, I hope,” Jennifer said politely. “I’m not unescorted. Penelope was with me. I told her to go ahead.” She smiled shyly at him. “I apologize once again for startling you at your house. I deeply appreciate what you did for me, and only hope you can forgive me.”

Gabriel stared at her for a moment, as if trying to make sense of what she was saying. He hadn’t done nearly what he would have liked to for her, and he wondered if she was deliberately teasing him. Deciding it was better not to even open up that line of conversation, he stared straight ahead, trying to sound as unconcerned as possible.

“I think it best if you don’t mention that again. Should anyone discover that you were alone in my house, unescorted and unprotected, your reputation would be ruined. That would be a scandal that even an Appleton couldn’t dismiss.”

Jennifer nodded somberly. “I understand, and am grateful for your confidence. You are truly a gentleman, Mr. Forester.” Before he could react, she gestured to the beautiful grounds. “Isn’t the park lovely? I do so enjoy a leisurely stroll. I come here quite often, you know.”

“Do you?” Gabriel made no attempt to hide his irritation. “You know, Miss Appleton, I find that statement extremely interesting, since I’ve never seen you here before. I’ve come to this park every afternoon, and not once can I recall ever running into you. Yet in the past few weeks, I feel that I have seen you constantly. How would you explain that?”

“It’s really quite simple,” Jennifer said casually, though her eyes twinkled with merriment. “You didn’t know me until recently, and as such, would not have taken notice of me.”

He couldn’t imagine ever having walked past her and not seen her. “I suppose that is possible, but I still find it odd. Especially since I don’t think I would have overlooked you.”

He wished he could have taken the words back as soon as he uttered them, for Gabriel realized he’d just complimented her. Jennifer looked up at him and her eyes brightened, making him curse beneath his breath. She was so damned pretty, with those mischievous eyes, and her lips were so soft and pink. He wanted to taste them once more, and as the unbidden thought came into his head, he couldn’t banish it. No, he had never seen her here, of that he was certain.

He tore his eyes away from hers and determinedly
continued walking, intending to complete his stroll as if he’d never been accosted.

Jennifer fell into step right beside him. Gabriel could smell the sweet scent of her, could feel her presence like warmth on a chilly day. His icy dismissal didn’t affect her the way he’d hoped; Jennifer just chattered on as if they were old friends.

“Isn’t it all so beautiful? I really love the way the sunlight reflects on the water, and the way the moss grows on the sides of the trees. I’ve always liked summer so much, though Aunt Eve says I run like a vagabond, wanting to see and do everything, but it doesn’t last that long and you have to make the most of it, don’t you think?”

He tried to resist her, but couldn’t. She was Diana, Artemis, and Athena, all in one. Stiffly, he found himself replying.

“Yes, it is lovely here. I hear it is getting so crowded on Sundays that it looks more like a promenade. That’s why I prefer to walk here during the week.”

“And have tea with your mother on Sunday,” Jennifer remarked. There was a curious tone in her voice, almost as if she was reciting his schedule. Before he could think about the implication of that, she stopped and looked earnestly up at him, laying her hand on his arm. “I do so admire and like your mother. If nothing else, I want you to know I think the world of her. None of us would ever do anything to harm her.”

He wanted to believe her, especially since it hadn’t escaped his notice that his mother was happier since Jennifer Appleton came into her life. The two women had become friends, which should have provided some consolation, since his mother was no longer seeing Jennifer for séances. Yet he couldn’t get past the fact that Jennifer was a fraud, and that she had taken money from his mother for a service she couldn’t possibly have rendered. No one
could. He withdrew his arm from hers, fighting the almost uncontrollable urge to pull her close.

“I’m sure that you don’t think you’re doing anything to harm her. However, in the long run, it most certainly will. I realize, though, that you must be under considerable financial pressure. I know that it isn’t easy for young ladies to sustain a living on their own. Therefore, I thought perhaps I could help you a bit with investments. Maybe then, you wouldn’t need to perform the spiritualism nonsense.”

Jennifer’s face fell. Disappointment was clearly evident in her tone and manner as she paused in the center of the path. “I see. Then your offer of help is conditional upon our giving up the séances?” When he nodded, she sighed. “I must decline, then.”

“What?” It was his turn to be surprised.

“You have to understand,” Jennifer said softly. “I am responsible for them all. We were orphaned at a young age, and Aunt Eve, unfortunately, can’t do much to help us financially. Penelope wants to make her debut in society, and that costs money. Winifred’s ambition is to go to law school, and Aunt Eve thinks the heavens rain manna. I have to make sure we always have an income, and the spiritualism is the best way I know how. I’m sorry.”

Gabriel stared at her, as if suddenly seeing her for the first time. The monster, the “Appleton creature,” was a poor, frightened girl who’d had enormous responsibility thrust onto her shoulders at far too young an age. That she should manage that burden, and succeed in spite of it, said something about her character, as did the fact that she’d refused to lie to him. She could easily have taken his investment advice, still continued her fraudulent act, and there would have been nothing he could have done about it. Yet she’d told him the truth.

Life grew more incredible and complicated by the moment.

“Miss Appleton,” he nearly choked, the words galling. “It appears that I may have misjudged you. I …” He dropped his gaze, aware that it was too bewildering to look at her, especially when she stared at him as hopefully as she was at this moment. His vision fell to her feet, and to his amazement, he saw that she was clad in cloth slippers that, although pretty, were extremely impractical for walking outdoors. His frown grew thunderous as the meaning of that sank in, and he indicated her footwear.

“Miss Appleton, if you are so accustomed to strolling through the park, why are you so unsuitably shod? Those slippers will dampen and you will catch cold.”

Jennifer lifted her skirt a mere inch, but it was enough to set his blood pounding. A frothy bit of lace petticoat peeped from beneath the light cotton, and white silk stockings were scandalously exposed. She examined her slippers as if she’d just seen them, then shrugged nonchalantly, dropping her dress once more.

“Aunt Eve is always scolding me for running out of the house on a whim. I didn’t think to change my shoes. I just felt I needed some fresh air.”

“I see. Then where is your carriage? Surely you didn’t run all this distance in house slippers?”

“I—” Jennifer started to explain, then stepped into a huge puddle. Gasping in dismay, she withdrew her foot and gazed at the sodden shoe. The soft, supple cloth was soaked through, and the mud stained her stockings.

Gabriel muttered an oath. He was forced to put his arm closely about her, to support her while she hobbled on the wet shoe. He tried to ignore the subtle scent that filled his nostrils, the wonderful feel of her in his arms, and to not notice how incredibly small her waist was or how well she fit against him. He clenched his teeth, aware that his body was responding to her closeness, arousing him to a degree that he wouldn’t have thought possible.

She looked up at him, and for a moment, he thought
he saw an answering warmth. She didn’t seem at all displeased with this arrangement, and snuggled more firmly against him, affording him a wonderful view of her small but well-formed bosom. That led to more thoughts he couldn’t entertain, for if he did, he’d be compelled to pull her into his arms and kiss her until she moaned. He was fully aware that she was alone and at his mercy in this glade, and that, for all the aggravation she’d caused him, he wouldn’t really be to blame for taking his own back. Would he? Yet he had the feeling that he would not be the victor if he gave in to her—and his desire.

Practically dragging her to the entrance of the park, he called for a cab, hailing one from across the street. He helped Jennifer inside, then magically, the missing Penelope appeared. She hopped in with them, seeming unaccountably gleeful about the situation. Sliding as far away from them as he could, he stared sullenly out the window, more than a little put out by this latest encounter. When they reached Twin Gables, he was compelled as a gentleman to help Jennifer from the carriage and up the steps.

Gabriel even caught what he thought was a smug expression, which quickly became solemn when she saw him watching her. Jennifer leaned fully on him, appearing more than content to wrap her arm around his as if they were waltzing up the staircase. Scowling, Gabriel waited for Penelope to open the door, and he entered with Jennifer hopping beside him on one foot.

“My Lord! What is going on here?” Aunt Eve dropped her hand from the parrot cage and glared at the young people before her. When she realized it was Gabriel, her mouth rounded into a perfect
O
. “Mr. Forester! I thought I made it plain that you aren’t welcome in this house!”

“Now, Auntie, I had a little accident. Mr. Forester was kind enough to escort me.” Jennifer displayed the shoe, which was ruined from the mud and water.

“Her slippers are just ruined!” Penelope cried plaintively. “If it wasn’t for Mr. Forester, I don’t know how we would have gotten home!”

“How terrible! You must be soaked through, poor dear. We’d better get you straight to bed.” She took Jennifer’s arm from Gabriel, sending him a look that impaled him more cleanly than an embroidery needle. “I’m sure you had something to do with this situation, young man. Thank you for returning my niece. Good day.”

Gabriel stared at her in astonishment. He was about to protest his innocence, but when Jennifer turned and gaily waved to him behind her aunt’s back, he simply closed his mouth and shook his head.

No one would believe him anyway.

The following day, Jennifer looked up as Aunt Eve came into the house. Her elderly relative appeared more tired than normal, and the twinkle in her eyes had dimmed considerably. She removed her bonnet, then rubbed her temples, wincing from the pain.