Passion's Series (36 page)

Chapter Two

Raven leaned one shoulder against the mantle and looked with singular attention across the crowded ballroom. The grand ball arranged in honor of his birthday had become the vehicle to introduce Dawn to the cream of London society. Great Spirit, how he hated these tedious affairs.

Dawn's golden curls danced with her graceful movements. She appeared unaware of Raven's close appraisal. That, of course, was not true. He knew she enjoyed his discomfort this evening as much as William.

She pushed the point home when she turned in their direction, spread her lips in a smile that would dazzle her namesake and wiggled her fingers in what must appear to others as an innocent little wave.

William laughed out loud and returned the gesture.

"Put your hand down, William. You look as foolish as all the other sops here," Raven growled irritably. He flexed his broad shoulders and tugged at his cravat. The nagging chill raced down his spine and the hairs on the back of his neck prickled as he looked around the brightly lit ballroom.

William cleared his throat and Raven gifted him with his most piercing glare.

"No needs to turn that look on me, friend. It doesn't bother me in the least," William remarked casually.

"No, I'm sure it doesn't," Raven muttered and returned his gaze to his former point of interest. "At least, it never seems to matter to you."

"Oh, poo, Raven," his companion chided.

"Oh, poo? Did you actually say poo?” A black brow arched questioningly, but the piercing eyes remained locked on Dawn.

"I am your friend, you know. You should be nicer to me." William grinned with obvious pleasure.

Though spoken in jest, Raven knew William spoke the truth. Thanking the Great Spirit for one true friend in this terrible time, he considered the gala taking place around him. Dancing couples whirled by. William's grandmothers had spared no expense for the occasion. They would settle for nothing less than the best musicians and the most aromatic scented candles. The three chandeliers hanging from the tall ceiling had been polished until they sparkled like diamonds.

Servants in neatly starched uniforms moved back and forth between heavily laden tables. There was enough food in the room to keep all of London's wharf rats and their families fed for a year. Lord knew they needed it more than anyone here did.

Raven shifted slightly when his line of view was obstructed.

William laughed again as he roughly elbowed his friend. "Dawn is beautiful. Is it any wonder she has the attention of every male here?" He glanced at Raven and then back to the guests. "You shouldn't frown so. You know the affect that expression has on others. Ah, but then I think you quite enjoy being able to jangle the nerves of those around you."

Raven shrugged. "My expression doesn't seem to be jangling your nerves, or Dawn's."

"No, my friend, it isn't." William raised his glass in salute, "I suppose you have just met your match in the two of us." He lowered his glass and sipped his drink.

"You really should stop glaring at Dawn," he teased. "Someone might get the wrong idea. Besides, it's Marguerite you should be watching."

"I have been watching Marguerite." Raven's irritation surged as the bad wind swelled around him.

"Then you've seen the daggers she's shooting in Dawn's direction."

Raven fought with a premonition that he should in some way protect Dawn. "Marguerite hates any competition." Damn, now his palms were sweating. Something was definitely about to happen. He could feel it billowing around him, gathering like a great black cloak about his shoulders. Damn this half-baked insight of his!

"Exactly, old man," William agreed. "You're going to start a catfight that all of London will notice. Oh no! Here come my grandmothers." He turned, panic-stricken. "Let's pretend we don't see them and make a timely retreat to the garden. As much as I love those two, they can be trying at times. Can you imagine? They actually made me change at the last minute."

This caused Raven to turn his full attention on William. "Yes, I can. Now stay put. They're coming over to speak with you."

"I know that," William huffed. "You wouldn't feel so accommodating if they had insisted you change."

"But then, my taste in clothes is impeccable, while yours is comical at best. Where did you drag up that awful orange striped thing anyway?"

"I will have you know that vest and waistcoat are the latest fashion." William's green eyes darted about the room, searching for a plausible route of escape.

Raven halted his friend's retreat with one word. "Stay."

"Willie, dear," Lady Victoria Gaylord called out as they approached.

Raven grinned as William flinched.

"Don't call me that, Grams," William whined. "It's either William or Gaylord. I would think that you, of all people, would prefer to call me Gaylord."

"Nonsense. Willie suits you." The plump matron dabbed at her naturally rosy cheeks with a lace handkerchief and then fanned it up and down delicately before her face.

"How are you doing, Willie?" Lady Wilhelmina Montgomery asked, as if unaware of the proceeding remarks.

Raven didn't try to suppress a chuckle that brought a dagger-laden glare from William, a glare as well known to herald danger as Raven's own. It was Raven's turn to witness William's discomfort and he enjoyed it immensely.

"Fine." William sneered through clenched teeth, only to receive a loving pat on the cheek from his grandmother.

Lady Montgomery glanced disapprovingly at Raven, then back at William. "You two young men look as if you are taking a nap on my mantle. I assure you it will not fall from its place upon the wall if the two of you are not there to hold it up."

Both men obediently shifted away from the mantle. Lady Montgomery showed her approval by slipping a thin, blue-veined hand under Raven's elbow and patting his arm affectionately.

"Your new ward is a beautiful young woman. And she's causing quite a stir." Lady Montgomery pulled her shoulders up like a child contemplating some new mischief. "I like that. She's bringing life back into this old house and joy to this old woman."

"Not so old a woman. And sometimes Dawn can bring a bit more excitement than one might want." Raven placed his larger hand over the frail aged one and squeezed gently. Lady Montgomery beamed with pleasure.

The much shorter and plumper Lady Gaylord, not to be ignored, firmly captured his other arm and won for herself an equally warm greeting.

It was no wonder to Raven that these two lifelong friends chose to share the Montgomery home after the death of their spouses. Lady Montgomery's only child, Walter, had delighted both women by marrying Lady Gaylord's only daughter Diana, and the couple had produced William. Though Raven had known them for many years, he had never seen the ladies quarrel or show anger toward each another. He was equally fond of both, and they in turn adored and pampered him, much as they did William.

William fidgeted again, adjusted his waistcoat and then crossed his arms tightly across his chest. "The man has not smiled all evening and you two come over and he's all flashing teeth. I just don't understand it."

Raven turned his most notorious grin at William. "Why, Willie, the Ladies Montgomery, and Gaylord are our hostesses. Show some respect."

"They are my grandmothers, Raven," William whispered harshly, as if revealing a great secret.

"Exactly, Willie. I only wish I had such loving grandmothers."

Both ladies giggled and each squeezed his arm.

"But I am your grandmother, Raven," Lady Montgomery scolded with a brisk pat to his arm. "I say it is so, so it is."

"Quite so," added Lady Gaylord. "The same goes for me."

William groaned.

Raven knew that William loved his grandmothers and understood their affection for Raven, but at times William allowed their doting to annoy him. And their meddling! Raven smiled again. They were the most notorious meddlers in all of London.

What appeared to be an attempt to relax, William uncrossed his arms and reached into his pocket for a pair of Baoding Balls.

Recently Raven had gifted his friend with the unusual little metal spheres. He remembered when presenting the plain wrapped box to William he made an off-color remark about William's inability to cover his nervousness. William had scoffed at the remark, now he was quite taken with the gift.

As for Raven, his reputation bestowed him with an uncanny ability to remain cool under pressure. His apparent knack for calmly meeting and solving crises set him apart from even the most polished and discreet Englishman. No one could guess how hard-won that ability was, or that it hid a barely controlled inner turmoil. Then Dawn arrived. Her appearance had rocked him to his foundations.

Raven watched William roll the spheres in his hand. He had tried them himself and had to admit that he liked the way they glided within his palm and the tiny chiming sound they made. The exercise calmed the mind and soul. Apparently they helped his friend, because William appeared in control of his temper when he turned his attention back to his grandmothers.

Raven looked down at each lady in turn. "I can tell that you two have cooked up something. You might as well tell me about it."

"Well, Raven..." Lady Montgomery began then paused.

Lady Gaylord took the opening to jump in. "We wanted to speak to you about Dawn."

"Yes," Lady Montgomery took up when the other stopped to take a breath. And so the discussion continued as it always did with these two; one starting and the other finishing the thought, leaving Raven with no recourse but to glance from one to the other.

"She is becoming quite popular, dear." Lady Montgomery watched several young men vie for a dance with Dawn.

"We know you are making arrangements to send her home, but she deserves a proper coming out," Lady Gaylord added.

"It would be a shame to send her home so soon," Lady Montgomery finished. "Her father has promised us for years that he would allow her a visit as soon as she was old enough. James knows what good care we have taken of you. This is the perfect time. "

"Yes, of course. Just look at her. And to think she arrived just in time to attend this ball in honor of your birthday." Lady Gaylord placed a plump hand to her bosom and sighed.

William no longer pretended indifference to his grandmothers. The Baoding Balls slid more rapidly within his palm, the chiming increasing with his agitation.

"Yes, you must allow her to stay longer, at least until the Golden Lady returns."

"She will occupy a room upstairs. It will remain hers for as long as she likes."

"She likes the room." Lady Gaylord nodded and added, "And she and Sara get along well."

"Yes, they did. Sara can be her personal maid while she is here. I think they will both like that very much."

"Yes, I agree."

Lady Montgomery patted Raven's arm. "And, of course, your room is always ready any time you want to visit, same as Willie's."

Out of habit, William softly choked out, "Don't call me that, Gram."

Lady Gaylord laid her hand over William's. "Put those annoying balls away, dear. They are only going to get you into trouble." William blinked in confusion, but did as he was told.

Raven ignored his friend's discomfort. The ladies' suggestion presented a perfect answer to his immediate dilemma. There was no ship seaworthy enough or captain trustworthy enough in port to be allowed to transport Dawn home at this time. Dawn's extended stay was a necessity for the time being.

Raven's appreciation was genuine. He expressed his sincerity by placing a hand on his chest. "I thank you both from the bottom of my heart. I know of no one in London who Uncle would have more faith in to see to his daughter's well being."

William, however, was becoming more agitated by the moment. "Little good it does me to be Lord of the Manor." He reached out to take a glass of wine from the tray of a passing servant, and downed it in one gulp. "No sooner had I arrived this evening then I was informed I had to move out."

"We must think of what is best for Dawn at this time." Lady Gaylord took one hand from Raven's arm to pat William's reassuringly. "And you must limit your visits while she is here."

William stiffened, "What? Maybe I would like to get to know her better," he sputtered.

"Enough now, my dear." Lady Montgomery waved a delicate hand in dismissal. "She is not for you, you know."

"How do you know that?" Raven could see William was genuinely angry now. "Why do you two always think you know who is for whom?"

Lady Gaylord's rosy, dimpled cheeks puffed in a wide grin, and Raven knew that she gloried in her role. He imagined that his friend had inherited his mischievousness from this grandmother.

"We are always right, are we not? As soon as we see who is right for you, we will be there to work on it," the old dear announced happily.

"Of that I'm certain!" William grumbled under his breath.

Raven covered his amusement as he scanned the dance floor for Dawn. Locating her and satisfied she was engaged in conversation with another young woman, he turned back to the Ladies. "Who is Dawn right for?" he asked.