Scandalous Intentions (5 page)

Lady Jane situated herself. “Thank you, Lord Luvington.”

Now, only two seats remained. No matter which one Lady Sarah chose, she would be near him, and more importantly, separated from Shillington. Thank providence for small favors. Julian turned back to the little minx. “Lady Sarah, do have a seat.” He put on his best grin when she glanced his way.

Her gaze smoldered. “I would rather stand. My legs require stretching after the carriage ride.”

Stubborn, feisty, and beautiful, all qualities he admired. But damn, the chit made this difficult. He never designed to believe she would be easily won, but must she be so resistant to his charms?

He stared up at the mural on the ceiling. Nothing he could do would cause her to sit if she did not wish to. Julian exhaled and snuck a glance at her. Perhaps a new approach.

“Lady Havenshire, if it pleases you, you are welcome to come join Lady Jane in the front row. The view is much improved up here, and I would like to sit with the gentlemen.”

“A splendid idea, thank you.” She stood.

He moved to the back and claimed a spot with the other gentlemen. As it were, he would be directly behind Lady Sarah. Still close enough to interact should the opportunity arise. He watched her for a moment, then joined in the conversation Lord Havenshire and Lord Shillington engaged in.

The limelights came on, illuminating the stage. Lady Sarah moved to the open seat as the theater fell silent. She stopped in front of it and looked at him for a moment before glancing at her father and Lord Shillington. Julian’s chest tightened when she offered them a breathtaking smile, then turned and took her seat, ignoring him.

The minx was miffed indeed and intended to make him pay for it. He closed his eyes. She put him in mind of a wild filly, graceful but full of spunk at the same time. He did love a challenge.

Julian’s attention roamed from the actors on stage to the alluring chit in front of him. What he would give to reach out and run his hand through her pale curls, down her back, and across her rounded bottom. He leaned forward and inhaled, his senses filling with her exotic scent.

Lady Jane whispered something into Lady Sarah’s ear. When Lady Sarah turned to answer, she peeked at him from the corners of her striking eyes. He winked, then gloried in the sight of her blushing before she jerked her gaze back to her friend.

Julian averted his attention to the stage as applause filled the space. Several actors stood in a line bowing. The limelights went dark before the plush velvet curtain closed for intermission.

He pushed himself up to a standing position and stretched his legs, stiff from sitting. Perhaps Lady Sarah suffered in the same way. He leaned toward her. “I am badly in need of a stroll through the saloon. Would you like to join me, Lady Sarah?”

She tipped her chin in his direction, her eyes widened. “I--”

“She would be happy to,” Lady Havenshire answered.

Lady Sarah glanced at her mother, her jaw tightened, but she accepted Julian’s offered arm. He gave her a rakish grin. Lady Sarah shot him a heated look, and he stifled a chuckle.

“I think I would rather enjoy a stroll as well.” Lord Shillington offered his arm to Lady Jane.

Julian sighed. Was there no escaping the siblings? He swallowed his aggravation. “Marvelous.” He led Lady Sarah from the box, the siblings trailed behind them.

“I am quite parched. Let us get a drink,” Lady Sarah said.

Julian glanced at her, but she stared straight ahead. “As you wish.” He turned them toward a refreshment table. Perhaps he could use the opportunity to get to know her better.

“Do you truly care a whit for my wishes?” She sighed.

Julian patted her hand. “Of course I do.”

“Then cease this…this…what you are doing. Just stop it.” She glared at him. “Return me to my parents.”

He stilled, and she removed her hand from around his arm. Julian met her stare. “You are requesting that I stop what exactly?”

Her eyes flashed as she narrowed them on him. “Do not pretend you do not know what it is I speak of. You are pursuing me for some nefarious reason, and I will not stand for it any longer.”

He chuckled. “Nefarious you say? Pray, do go on.”

Lady Sarah placed a hand on her hip. “You are an impossible scoundrel.”

“And what if my intentions are honorable?”

“Then you are a scoundrel wasting them on me.” She glanced furtively around the room. “We will soon be the talk of the ton. Give me your arm.”

He gave her his best seductive grin. “You just told me to stop spending my energy on you.”

A deep scowl overtook her lovely face. “Do so after you return me to my parents.” She stepped closer to him, taking his arm.

His body ached to pull her close and capture those tantalizing lips beneath his. “The day will come when you will appreciate my energy.” He watched as a delicate blush crept across her cheeks.

“Do not speak to me again this evening.”

“Very well, I shall save my words for tomorrow.” He tightened his arm over her hand and angled them back toward his box.

She exhaled louder than was proper.

The lady did not seem the least bit interested in being courted by him, but her constant blushes told him otherwise. He needed an ally to help him secure Lady Sarah as his future Marchioness. Perhaps he could get Lady Havenshire to help his cause. Hope burned in his gut. He would speak with her tomorrow.

SCANDALOUS INTENTIONS

CHAPTER FIVE

Lady Sarah paced
across the Duchess of Abernathy’s drawing room as she waited for Grace to join her.

She could not stop her thoughts from returning to the previous night, to Lord Luvington’s pursuit of her. How dare the rake so openly flirt with her, and in public nonetheless. A shiver ran through her, and she shook her head. Another scene the likes of that and her reputation would be lost forever.

“Good afternoon, Lady Sarah.”

Sarah spun and forced the corners of her mouth up. “I am not so sure it is.”

Grace nodded toward the door. “Let us walk in the garden and discuss what weighs on you. The fresh air may be a benefit.”

Sarah sighed. “It is a lovely suggestion.”

She followed Grace into the foyer as the duchess accepted her parasol from the footman, before stepping out into the warm air. The bright late morning sunlight washed over her as she walked with Grace into the garden. Her gaze landed on a cluster of pink flowers at the base of a lime tree. “I have always been quite taken with your garden.”

Grace stopped walking, and Sarah moved to stand beside her.

“It does my heart good to hear such a complement. Which path would you prefer?”

Sarah looked ahead at the spot where the path split. A cluster of yellow daffodils stood tucked into the intersection. “The one on the left.”

“I am fond of that one as well.” Grace began to walk the path.

Sarah strolled beside her, focusing her attention on what she had come to say. How to approach the subject? What if Grace found her conundrum silly? After all, what lady would be put off by the attentions of a handsome future duke?

“Duchess, there is a matter I wish to consult you about.”

“Do go on.” Grace twirled her parasol, eyes intrigued.

Sarah glanced at the sky. “I fear you will think me a silly goose once I tell you this.”

“Come now, it cannot be all that bad.” Grace chuckled. “You are the least silly person I know.”

“You recall Lady Vivian’s ball and how Lord Luvington kept watching me?” Heat crawled across her chest and up into her cheeks.

“Have you taken a fancy to the scandalous yet dashing lord?” Grace glanced at her.

“Not at all,” Sarah focused on a squirrel playing nearby. “But it seems he is determined to spend time with me. Last evening, he invited my parents and I to the opera. I tried to make it clear that I am not interested in the least, but he failed to comprehend my signals.” She glanced at Grace, whose eyes twinkled.

“It seems he wishes to court you.”

Sarah rubbed her gloved hand across her cheek. “He is a rake of the worst caliber. Can you imagine what the ton will say if I allow it?”

Grace moved to a carved stone bench and sat upon it. “They would say you are being courted by a dashing lord who also happens to be in line for a duchy.” She patted the bench next to her. “Come, sit, and we will talk this out.”

Sarah sighed as she seated herself on the cool bench. “I do not see what else there is to discuss. I am not interested in being courted by a notorious rake. On the contrary, I am determined to find a way to beg him off” She folded her hands in her lap, concentrating on a little brown bird flitting in the grass nearby.

“Many lords are rakes before they settle into the marriage bed. You may well be throwing happiness away with both hands.” Grace stared at her, her warm brown eyes somehow comforting.

“You may be correct, but the fact remains, I am not willing to partake in this…this courtship.” She nibbled her bottom lip.

“I recall you saying last year at Amelia’s wedding that you intend to marry for love. What if this is your opportunity and you fail to give it a go?” Grace reached over and patted Sarah’s hand. “Just consider it for a moment, dear.”

“It would be quite impossible to fall in love with a man I am certain I could never trust.” Sarah’s chest tightened as her face warmed. “I would forever be wondering what other ladies knew him intimately and whether he still spent time with them.”

“What makes you so positive he is untrustworthy?”

Sarah met Grace’s gaze. “Have you forgotten what he did to that poor chit three years hence? Lady… I cannot recall her name, but you know the one.” Her gaze dropped to the scrolled design on the edge of the bench, tracing it for a moment before frowning. She jerked her head up. “It was Lady Claudia. He ruined her and refused to marry her.”

Grace closed her eyes for nary a moment. “If age has departed any wisdom, it is that one should not judge a situation unless they have all of the facts. Only Lord Luvington and Lady Claudia know what transpired between them.”

“He compromised her. She was utterly ruined and moved away as a result. I need not know all of the facts to make a wise decision on the matter.” Sarah stood and strolled back toward the path.

Grace followed. “You are not some silly debutante, Lady Sarah. He would not be able to compromise you without your consent and participation.” She held Sarah’s gaze. “I only mean to say you would not get hurt by consenting to his courtship. Not unless you allowed it. And you might find the two of you are compatible.”

Grace made good arguments in his favor. Lord Luvington was shockingly handsome, with regal features, strong jaw, a healthy physique. Maybe he could fall in love with her, but if so, could she trust him?

She shook her head. No. She must be going daft to even consider it. “I grow weary of this topic. Might we discuss something else? Perhaps my theory in regards to Lord Luvington’s attentions. It is my conclusion he wishes to use me in an attempt to salvage his reputation.”

“If so, you are safe in his company. He would not do anything to compromise you if he is indeed attempting to repair past damage to his character.”

Sarah nibbled her bottom lip, considering. It was true, he could not very well repair his reputation by ruining hers. She ran a hand over the top of her skirt. “Mores the pity for I have no way of knowing what his purpose is.”