Lynette Vinet - Emerald Trilogy 02 (18 page)

Perhaps she should forgive him; perhaps it was time to start over again. Half-deciding to go to him, after an hour’s hesitation, she went to open the window and saw Paul skirting across the meadow on his horse in the direction of Ballysheen Hall. She stood quietly watching. Her eyes fixed on his back until he had disappeared. Then, before she pulled the window shut, she tossed the bouquet onto the soft, wet grass below her,

~ ~ ~

Paul hadn’t intended to ride towards the Grangers, but he had waited for some time after he’d left the flowers and note outside of Allison’s room. When she didn’t appear, he grew edgy, realizing that she wouldn’t forgive him. He snapped at his mother when she inquired what was wrong with him; his father, seeming to guess, only grumbled that Allison was a spoiled child, and if she were his wife, he’d show her who was master.

“Well, she isn’t your wife!” he had shot back and headed for the stables. He rode with no direction across the countryside but was surprised to see Constance galloping towards him. She was dressed in a low cut, red riding habit which emphasized every curve and valley of her luscious body.

He smiled as she reined in, her dark curls escaping from under her matching hat. “Let’s race!” she challenged. Constance whirled her mount around, taking the lead immediately and heading for a small pond enclosed by overhanging trees. She stopped and slid off the horse, her lilting laughter echoing across the countryside. “I won, Paul!”

He laughed with her as he reined in and dismounted. “You’re the best horsewoman in the county by far.”

She peered at him, her eyes lighting up. “I’m good at other things, too.”

Her look left no doubt as to what she meant. “I’m certain you are.”

She came closer, her arms going around his neck, her body pressing against his. “Let me show you how much I love you. Right here! Now! I admit I’ve been with other men, but never a man who makes me
feel
the way you do.”

He looked down at her and knew he could take her here on the grass, that they could give one another immense pleasure, Constance was more than willing. He could feel the heat of her body, smell her womanly scent. He made a move to kiss her but stopped. Allison’s face flashed before him, and no matter how she felt about him, no matter what had happened, he loved his wife. Slowly he disentangled himself from Constance. “You better go home,” he told her.

Her stunned disappointment gave way to rage. “No man has ever turned me down but you! Why don’t you want me? I care so much about you. I can’t imagine what hold Allison has over you. “

“Love.
Just love.”

Constance sighed as he walked to his horse and mounted. She looked up at him, her eyes misty. “I only want someone to love me.”

In that moment he saw a side of Constance he had never expected to see. For all her rantings and flirtings, she was lonely and wanted someone to care about her. Don’t we all?
he
thought. “One day you’ll truly fall in love with someone,” he assured her.

She shook her head. “But I want you, Paul, and I’ve never been denied anything in my life. We could run away together.”

That caused him to laugh aloud. “Constance, don’t be absurd.” He turned his steed, about to start back home, when Constance tugged at the reins.

“Will you be at the ball this evening?”

He nodded and rode away.

Constance’s mind overflowed with plans. If only Howard would help her, she could break up Allison and Paul by having Howard wheedle himself into Allison’s affections, She laughed merrily and headed home, never realizing that she didn’t love Paul—only the challenge of claiming him as her own.

Beth finished attaching to Allison’s hair the last of the ornamental butterflies which matched the deep plum shade of her gown. Allison, barely gazing at her own reflection in the mirror, was unaware of a deep sadness in her maid’s eyes. She herself felt so miserable and was so totally self-absorbed as to be oblivious to anyone else or their problems.

“You look lovely,” Beth complimented her.

This finally forced Allison to regard her reflection. “Each day I grow heavier with child and feel like this pregnancy shall never end.”

“Just thank the good Lord that you’re able to carry a babe, Miss.”

This comment did cause Allison to turn her attention to her maid, and immediately she felt ashamed, knowing of Beth’s loss. “How are you doing, Beth?”

“I’m fairly well.”

Beth’s downcast look caused Allison to appreciate her own good fortune, for she truly did want her child. She reached for Beth’s hand and clasped it warmly. “You’re strong. One day you’ll have another child. Patrick will be a caring father.”

Beth made no reply. How could Patrick father any children by her when he was never home? Beth had heard through her mother that Patrick was spending much of his free time with Annie Donahue who worked in the manor kitchen. She could still hear her mother’s warnings that she’d lose Patrick if she didn’t invite him into her bed. But as yet, Beth couldn’t do that. She had received a note from Howard begging her to see him, telling her she was the only woman he’d ever love. She cherished his words and even now kept the note in her apron pocket. She wouldn’t admit to herself that she was jealous of Annie. When she imagined Patrick kissing the girl or making love to her, she filled with an unreasonable fury.

A knock interrupted any further conversation, and Dera entered the room. Allison observed a noticeable coolness in Dera’s once warm attitude towards Beth. When Beth left the room, Dera smiled at her daughter-in-law. “How beautiful you are, my dear. I know now why Paul loves you so.”

Allison stiffened. “He has no feelings for me whatsoever. You, above everyone, know the reason he married me.”

“I’m pleased you’re attending the ball at Ballysheen Hall with Paul tonight. You really should get out more and socialize.”

“I’m carrying a child, Dera.”

“Yes, but Paul needs your company at times. Otherwise, I’m afraid where his loneliness will lead him.”

Exasperated Allison threw down a ruby necklace she had been contemplating. “Please don’t warn me about my husband’s infidelities. I’m quite aware he is visiting Constance again.”

“And you don’t mind? Don’t you want to fight for him?”

“No. He isn’t worth the trouble.”

“If I hadn’t fought for Quint, we’d have never married.”

“Perhaps you’d have been better off. He insists on staying here though you would rather return to Louisiana. How can you love such a stubborn, unyielding man?”

“I didn’t fall in love with just his attributes but with the whole man. Perhaps you should accept Paul as a whole person instead of dwelling on his faults.”

“His deceptions, you mean.”

Dera sighed. “Yes, he did deceive you, but he loves you, Allison. And I believe he’d do anything to prove it to you.”

A part of Allison wished to believe Dera, but the hurt went deep. Instead of feeling relief, she felt as if Dera had rubbed salt into the wound. She didn’t want anyone reminding her about her marriage. Suddenly she stood up and reached for her cloak. “I must hurry. Paul is waiting.”

She practically flew down the stairs despite her expanded waistline. When she reached the landing, Paul exited from the library, and her heart caught in her throat. In his dark brown frock coat he cut a dashing figure, the deep color enhanced the blond of his hair.

His dark eyes danced with pleasure when he beheld her. For an instant she felt as if she were meeting him for the first time and fervently wished it were so. Oh, to start over again!

He crooked his arm.
“Ready, my dear?”

She nodded, and he escorted her to the waiting carriage in which they rode in silence to Ballysheen Hall.

~ ~ ~

The ball was a celebration. The burned portion of the house had been rebuilt, and the Grangers decided to show everyone that they could not be driven away. Once before they survived an arsonist attack, and they had done so again. However, Allison noted that Lord Granger looked older, thinner, and that his once laughing eyes were serious. She hoped he wasn’t in ill health, because of all the Grangers, she liked him the most and Constance the least. This fact was driven home to her when the brunette beauty sidled up to Paul and possessively took his arm.

“Paul, you are so handsome that my poor heart is all aflutter. How can such a good-looking man be so brilliant also?”

“I agree that Paul is brilliant,” Allison said, peeved at the captivating smile her husband beamed at Constance. “How else can one account for all he has accomplished with such little effort in such short a time? He is now lord and master of Fairfax Manor.”

Paul took Constance’s slender hand and planted a kiss on it. “I should like to speak with Allison alone. Do you mind, my dear?”

“All right, my pet. I shall see you later and you too,
dear
Allison.”

With fire in his eyes, he ushered Allison onto the terrace. “I do not wish your vicious tongue to ruin this evening. I had hoped you’d relent at least for one night and enjoy yourself. Otherwise, I shall be forced…”

“Forced to send the wayward child-bride home?” Allison interjected. “Shall I be locked in my room without supper, too, Paul? Isn’t that what you wished to say?”

He shook his head. “No, my love,” he said gently. “I shall be forced to kiss your sweet lips each time you make an unkind remark. Then you shall know I love you despite your obstinacy.”

She hadn’t expected such tenderness, and it shook her to the very core of her being. She longed to throw herself in his arms, to kiss his lips which were only inches away, and if Howard hadn’t sauntered over to them at that moment, she would have.

Howard looked handsome in a dark blue silk jacket with matching trousers. Allison hadn’t forgotten the day he had admitted his love for her, and though he hadn’t said anything since and was the perfect gentleman as he now kissed her hand, she felt uneasy. He had never been anything but kind and considerate. She should be grateful for Howard’s love and concern.

She fairly gushed at him, aware of Paul’s unyielding silence by her side.
“How wonderful to see you again, Howard.”

“Allison, you’re beautiful. Having a child agrees with you.”

At that moment Constance returned and possessively clutched Paul’s arm. “Dance with me, darling.” Before he could reply, she had steered him onto the dance floor.

Allison watched disdainfully as Paul dissolved into laughter at a comment Constance made. Prickles of jealousy shot through her like buckshot. How dare he tell her he loved her only moments before and now he openly flaunted his mistress in this manner! Why Constance had actually called him darling! But she really couldn’t blame Paul. Constance was dazzlingly beautiful in a golden silk ball gown while she lumbered around like a huge, fat toad, heavy with Paul’s child.

Howard touched her arm. “Don’t let them see how offended you are, my dear.”

She shot him a devastating smile. “I don’t care a whit about them.”

He stood back on his heels. “Good! How about some punch?”

Later Howard escorted her to supper, making her feel warm and even desired by his attention. Paul sat on the farthest end of the table, Constance at his side. Whenever Allison glanced his way, Constance’s head would tilt near to his. But his eyes weren’t on Constance but Allison, and despite her anger with him, she was thrilled by his persevering stare.

When supper ended and the dancing began again, Constance immediately commandeered Paul onto the dance floor. At first Allison sat on the side with Howard in attendance, but soon he suggested they take a stroll in the garden to which she readily agreed. The ballroom had grown stuffy, and she was feeling a little ill, watching Paul and Constance continually swirl around the floor.

“I wish I could dance with you,” she said, as they walked through the garden, stopping at an arbor filled with trailing vines of ivy. “I fear I’m pitiful company in my condition.” A slight sob caught in her throat as she thought of Paul and Constance. She wondered if he would send her home to Fairfax Manor while he stayed the night with the gorgeous brunette. She couldn’t help but think that the bouquet of violets he left her that morning was only a way of assuaging his guilty conscience.

Howard took her slender hand in his. “I hadn’t noticed. I think you’re beautiful.” He kissed her hand, his mouth lingering on its pale beauty.

A crimson blush suffused her face. “How sweet you are.”

Still holding her hand, he pressed it to his chest. “I want to be more than sweet, Allison, I want to kiss you.” And he did. It surprised him how much he wanted to feel her soft, yielding mouth beneath his. Never mind that she was large with child. He always found pregnant woman enticing, their bodies more rounded and voluptuous than usual. He wondered just how far Allison would let him go with her. His loins ached to think of her in his bed, but he knew he must go slowly. She thought she loved her husband still, but he was content to wait. He had waited years for her to grow up. If only Constance could somehow get Paul into her bed, then Howard felt certain that Allison would consent to be his.

Allison’s large eyes glinted like sapphires in the moonlight, her lips pink and soft. The thought of kissing another man was heady to her, but she had known Howard all of her life and never thought of him as a lover.
So when Howard drew her gently into his arms, she went willingly, but it was the hard possession of his mouth which roused her to push him away.

“No, Howard.
Stop!”

“Let me make love to you, Allison. We could sneak away to my room. No one would know and no one would care—especially not your husband.”

How true,
she thought, but she struggled and freed her hands. “No!”

He pulled her closer to him and plundered her with his tongue. Her struggles only seemed to inflame him further, but seconds later he was gruffly pulled from her by Paul.

In the illuminated darkness, Paul resembled a titan with eyes black and ominous. Paul thrust Howard aside and positioned Allison near to him. “I think our visit is at an end. Thank you both so kindly for such an entertaining evening.” He bowed formally to Howard and Constance who stood in the shadows. Then he dragged Allison along with him to the waiting carriage at the front of the house.

“What a strange bloke,” Howard said, not realizing how lucky he had been to escape with his life.

Constance came forward. “You dim wit! Paul was mad enough to kill you when he found Allison in your arms. And he would have, if he had thought you were a threat to him. I think you had better think again about taking Allison from him.”

Howard straightened his jacket and grabbed his sister by the arm, hurting her and leaving a red mark on her otherwise unblemished skin. “Perhaps you better be the one to think again, dear sister. Paul isn’t so easy to get, is he?”

Constance trembled. She had never been frightened of Howard before, but something evil gleamed in his eyes, and she shrank away. “He will love me. You’ll see. “

Howard laughed. “If you haven’t gotten him to bed by now, you never will. I fear your charms are slipping.”

“What about you and Allison? I don’t see her begging for your kisses. In fact, she was protesting quite a bit.”

Her taunt unsettled him and he dropped her arm. “Allison is like a little filly. She must be handled with care. Paul may love her, but there’s strife between them. All I must do is
wait
for an opening. It will come in time.” He looked hard at his sister. “I suggest you try harder to win Paul. Allison is already jealous of you.”

For the first time in her life, Constance felt unsure of her beauty. Paul might like and find her amusing, but so far, he always refused her overtures. She didn’t know if it was possible to lure him away from Allison, but she didn’t admit this to her brother. Sometimes she didn’t know if she wanted to come between them. They seemed to really love one another for all their problems, and she envied them. She wanted someone to love her so very much. “I’ll try,” she said and headed inside for a calming glass of champagne.

Howard waited outside, peeved with the way things had gone. Constance had botched things by allowing Paul to leave the dance floor when she should have been doing her job. He decided that if she had kept Paul in the ballroom, he may have been able to convince Allison she desired him. He was a good lover. Beth had told him so.

He pictured Beth with her sensuous body writhing beneath him. He ached for her, but since she no longer came to him and Allison was still beyond his grasp, he contented himself by remembering that a pretty little parlor maid would be waiting in the barn for him after the ball. He wondered if she was there now. He shrugged. If she wasn’t, he’d simply find her. She might not be Allison or his Beth, but she was a woman. And when his loins ached, any woman would do.