Once Upon a Kiss (Book Club Belles Society) (27 page)

Suddenly she began shrugging out of her coat. “Now I’m too hot,” she muttered, glancing briefly his way. The mischievous glimmer in her eyes was evident.

After a moment he swung himself across to sit beside her. When the carriage bounced violently at the same time and she lost contact with the seat, he caught her, setting her down in his lap.

“I cannot think this very proper, sir,” she exclaimed, slipping her arms around his neck.

“I’m quite sure it is not.” He spread his fingers around her waist, holding her tight. “But I won’t tell a soul, if you won’t.”

Her eyes shone brilliantly. Darius felt himself pulled in, surrounded by her warmth and laughter, embraced by it.

The urgency of desire streaked through him, left him short of breath. Needing to adjust her teasing, restless weight on his lap, his hand swept down to the curve of her bottom. But rather than ease her to a less troublesome position, he found himself too tempted by that handful, and much too distracted as she leaned in to kiss him on the lips again.

He groaned, let the kiss deepen while his hand squeezed her firm bottom. Her bonnet slipped back, the very lackadaisical knot slithering undone of its own accord due to the rough rhythm of their ride and the carelessness of the woman who had tied it. Darius felt the hat falling and did nothing to prevent it. Neither did she.

Lust was close to consuming him in that moment, with her body pressed to his, the alluring curves suddenly his to play with. Although he knew he took too great a liberty with the lady, he could not help himself. They were all alone, and whenever that happened he didn’t seem to be able to behave himself. His fingers splayed over her bottom, traced gently upward to the small of her back, and then followed the sensual bend and sway of her spine, all the way up to her neck. There his fingers aided the escape of more tumbling brown curls, before sliding down again to the enticing swell of her breast.

Meanwhile she moved her hand under the high collar of his greatcoat and touched his cheek. “Your lap is rather uncomfortable, Darius,” she whispered.

“Hmm.” He let his thumb stray across the tiny peak that pressed against the front of her gown. It swelled further, igniting another flame of wanton need. Feeling possessive, he placed his hand over the full curve. Whenever he closed his eyes he could picture her as she was in Bath, when she leapt, naked but for silk stockings and garters, onto his bed.

“It’s getting bumpier by the second.”

“Hmm?”

“Your lap, Darius.” Justina’s hand now began a slow course back down his body, but he apprehended it before she reached her goal. That would be dangerous territory even for this intrepid and very lovely explorer.

She pecked at his chin with little kisses, her teeth gently nibbling at the rough skin. “You have not shaved today,” she observed with a heated whisper. “I have never seen you so…imperfect.”

There had not been time to shave since she interrupted him so early that day. Now he was glad of it, however, for her tone was suggestive of approval.

“Are you blushing, Darius Wainwright?” She chuckled.

“No.” He tried to be stern. “You’re making me hot.”

“Shall I get off your lap then?”

Before she could slip away he grabbed her even tighter. And that, combined with the somewhat savage nip he gave to the side of her neck shortly after, was answer enough.

“I wish we might have gone the long way to Manderson,” she gasped on a halting breath.

But Darius thought it was a very good thing for her that their journey could not last too long. He was extremely ravenous for once and had come out before breakfast. And she was quite possibly the most delicious morsel he’d ever tasted.

***

It did not take long to find Captain Sherringham and Lucy in Manderson, because they made no attempt to hide.

“Good Lord!” the captain exclaimed when confronted outside the blacksmith. “I merely gave Miss Bridges a ride when I saw her along the side of the road in the small hours. She flatly refused to go home, so I thought it best to bring her where she wanted to go until she realized she’d made a mistake. Then I could take her safely back. Poor little thing. I do believe she’s been feeling somewhat ignored, and I perfectly understand how that is.”

“Nonsense,” Justina exclaimed. “She is not in the least ignored and neither are you.”

“In any case, she seemed very glad to have company, and I could hardly leave her unguarded to wander about the town, could I?”

It seemed as if the Book Club Belles had jumped to conclusions.

Lucy reluctantly admitted that she had planned to run away for some excitement of her own at last, but Captain Sherringham had been trying to talk her into going home again. It would not have taken him long to persuade her, as it turned out. She had brought all her savings with her on this journey, but since half was now spent on a new fur tippet already, her adventure was bound to be cut ruthlessly short.

The captain confessed to Justina that he had been on his way to Newmarket when he encountered Lucy on her ill-advised flight astride her father’s mule.

“I’ve suffered some losses lately,” he confessed dourly. “I hoped to recoup some coin at the races.” Then he glared at Justina. “Surely you did not think me capable of eloping with Lucy Bridges? I hope you, at least, believed in me.”

She had to be honest. “Apart from my sister, who would never say a bad word about anyone, I’m afraid only Diana defended you wholeheartedly.”

This seemed to bring him some cheer. His shoulders went back, and he took a breath. “Diana? Really?”

Darius spoke up. “Miss Makepiece, it seems, holds you in high regard despite the way you have treated her.”

Nathaniel looked away, his jaw grinding. Justina placed a hand on his arm. “We’ll take Lucy back to Hawcombe Prior. Will you come?”

“No,” he muttered. “I have things to do.” Then he shook his head. “Before I bury myself forever in debt, I must find a way to pull myself out of it.”

“By gambling more money on the horse races? Surely there are other ways?”

“You don’t understand, Jussy.”

“You’re always saying that! But I am not a child anymore, Sherry.”

He finally looked at her again. His eyes were sadder than she’d ever seen them, but they were determined too. “I want to be worthy of her,” he said simply.

Justina knew, of course, that he did not refer to Lucy, who was now showing her new fur tippet to a hugely disinterested Mr. Wainwright.

“When will you come back home?” she asked the captain.

He took a breath. “When Diana can no longer say no to me.”

“But she is marrying another.”

Briefly he covered his eyes with one hand. “I do not believe she will. I know her. She can’t marry without love, whatever duty she thinks she owes her mama. I will wait for her.”

She did not know what to say. The captain was a broken man today, but perhaps this was what he needed in order to rebuild himself. Sometimes one had to fall to the lowest point before improvement could be made.

Oblivious to the panic she’d caused, Lucy wanted to stay longer and finish her shopping, but Darius insisted they return immediately to calm her anxious parents and friends. Justina agreed.

“One fur tippet does not seem much to show for my adventure,” Lucy complained.

“You should be thankful that is all you have to show for it,” Justina replied swiftly, pushing her friend up into the carriage while Darius secured the mule’s reins to the back of the barouche.

The journey home was much less interesting since she and Darius had to keep their separate seats a very proper distance apart. Lucy was no longer shy in his company and chattered away almost without pause, but Justina did not feel the urge to talk in any case. How odd it was, she mused, that Lucy—once so timid in Wainwright’s presence—should now make all the noise, while
she
had nothing to say to the gentleman. Nothing for the ears of other folk, that is.

And how ironic it was that the couple who caused a stir of concern that morning were perfectly innocent, whereas the couple of whom nothing could be suspected were, in fact, perfectly wicked.

***

When they arrived back in the village, Lucy responded with airy surprise to the concern of her friends. “I did not think any of you would notice I was gone.” There was no apology for having upset them all and made them imagine terrible things, but then she had always been a self-absorbed young lady, thought Justina.

“Fancy assuming I had eloped with Captain Sherringham.” Lucy chortled. “As if I am foolish enough to do that!”

Justina explained to Rebecca that her brother was attempting to get his life somewhat in order.

“I shall believe that when I see it,” Rebecca replied.

Diana quietly asked where he had gone and Justina, feigning ignorance of all the facts, would only say, “He plans to return one day. When the time is right.”

“I wish him every good fortune.” Diana turned away, her head bowed. It was several minutes before she was recovered enough to show her face again, and even longer before she could speak.

As for Lucy’s parents, they were so relieved to have her back again and in one piece, that she was not to be punished. Instead, she was pampered like a returned princess for several days. Anyone might think she’d sailed to China, not ridden halfway to Manderson on a mule, been transported the rest of the way in a curricle with Captain Sherringham, stayed for a few hours, bought a fur tippet, and come right home. At last she had the attention she’d always sought. It seemed likely she would talk of the event as “the time I ran away” until something more dramatic occurred to her. Which might well be never.

Justina could not even be annoyed with the girl, for the ride to Manderson had given her relationship with Darius a new level of intrigue and intimacy. They might never have had the chance to be alone again without fear of interruption. In that barouche he had, in fact, been her prisoner and utterly at her mercy. Hopefully she had persuaded him to stay a little longer.

***

He kept his promise of smiling more and she, in turn, kept hers of calling him Darius in private. As well as granting him kisses at every sly opportunity.

The thrill of their secret bargain was such that she almost burst at the seams with it. Her friends had all noticed that Darius Wainwright was seen out and about in the village much more than usual, but no one could guess why. Or rather, Justina did not think anyone could. She imagined she hid it rather well, exhibiting her new and improved discretion.

But one day at the haberdashers, when Justina was admiring a new patterned taffeta with the ladies of the Book Society, Darius and his stepsister came in, and it soon became apparent that at least one of her friends had noticed the deepening attraction between the two acknowledged opposites.

“Oh look, Jussy,” the cunning redhead, Rebecca Sherringham, whispered, “there is your special friend.”

“I cannot think of whom you speak, Becky,” Justina replied.

“Of course you can. I’m sure he only came in here to catch sight of you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I expect he’s hoping for a chance to kiss you again while he thinks no one is watching.”

Alarmed, she glanced over at her sister and the other young ladies, but they were all absorbed in admiring a length of plaid now and comparing it to the other pattern. Justina grabbed her friend by the sleeve and hauled her across the shop to look at a display of buttons. “When did you see us?” There was little point in denying it. Her main concern now was containing the damage.

“Let me see!” Becky put a finger to her lips and rolled her sparkling gold-sprigged eyes. “Yesterday in the lane by the oak tree. This morning behind the Pig in a Poke—”

“I hope you haven’t told anyone else.”

Becky laughed. “Of all the people to fall for Mr. Wainwright, I suppose it just had to be you. Poor thing! Although I don’t know which of you to pity most.”

“Hush.” She quickly turned the button display, pretending to study it with great interest. “I have not—” Oh, no, he was coming toward them, his long stride echoing across the wooden boards.

“Good afternoon, Miss Justina, Miss Sherringham.”

They both greeted him, Justina mumbling and Becky being very loud and cheery. “You’re out shopping, Mr. Wainwright?” she said brightly.

“My stepsister is shopping. I am merely her escort.”

Justina knew he was looking at her, but she couldn’t raise her own gaze from the buttons, still recovering from Becky’s sudden accusation.

“I must thank you, Mr. Wainwright, for acting so swiftly the other day and going after Lucy and my thoughtless brother before rumors could spread. It was most kind of you to help us. I don’t know what we can ever do to repay you. Do you, Jussy?”

Darius fidgeted. In the corner of her eye, Justina could see his gloved fingers twitching at his coat cuffs and then hanging at his sides awkwardly. He was uncomfortable with gratitude, it seemed, or perhaps it was merely Becky’s boldness that made him shy. Justina swayed to one side quite casually and let her hand brush his little finger.

“It was my pleasure to help, Miss Sherringham.” His hand moved against hers more firmly, hidden by the pleats of her coat. Just from that touch her heart sped and she felt a smile pulling persistently on her lips.

His forefinger swept up and tickled her wrist. She swallowed a giggle, and Becky looked at her oddly.

Across the shop Lady Waltham began to bellow like a cow overdue for milking.

“Excuse me, ladies.” He gave a smart bow and walked quickly away.

Immediately Becky closed in. “You had better tell me what’s been going on, Justina Penny,” she whispered in a menacing fashion, one brow arched high and determined.

But Justina replied, “I could not possibly.”

And then her friend surprised her. “If you tell me your secret, I shall tell you one of mine.”

From the guilty paling under Becky’s freckles it was plain she had something burning to be let out, and the possibility of learning a juicy secret was more than Justina could resist. The two women moved behind a mannequin.