Steam Guardians 01 - A Lady Can Never Be Too Curious (4 page)

“But…would it be possible…to attend a lecture…”

He tapped the gold lapel pin on his vest. “We share our knowledge only with those willing to announce their loyalty to us.”

But there was a flicker of something in his eyes; it looked like hope. The man appeared to be waiting for her to jump at his offer. He tapped his lapel pin several more times, and she ended up staring at it.

Did she dare?

“It is not your intelligence I question, Janette, but your ability to sever emotional ties. Something society will require of you if you join our order. Think about that before you take any action.” His tone was harder than any he’d used before, setting off a desire to understand him.

“Do you regret becoming an Illuminist?” She was being intrusive but couldn’t seem to feel ashamed. Something flickered in his eyes that betrayed a deep pain, and she discovered herself battling the urge to console him.

“Not enough to regret my choice. I am proud to be an Illuminist and a guardian of our order.”

Now that she was looking closer at the pin, she could see a pair of crossed swords on the top and a crystal set into it.

“Guardian…So you are a constable?”

“Closer to a Knight of the Garter. My duty doesn’t end at shift change. To become a guardian is a lifelong commitment.”

She could see there was dedication in him and even something she might describe as nobility. For certain, she had heard the word
honor
used by the men of her father’s acquaintance, but Darius was the first man she’d met who seemed to embody the quality.

“As a guardian, it is my duty to escort you off our property.”

He reached out and secured her upper arm in his firm grip while pressing on the ear device. They passed through the door and into the hallway.

“You had to leave someone behind who you cared about, didn’t you? It was a lady. That’s why you were taking such delight in needling me.”

Surprise registered on his face, shining through the stern expression of duty, but it vanished almost as soon as it appeared.

“Don’t meddle in my personal affairs, Janette. Unless you plan to become an Illuminist, we will remain strangers.” He was warning her now, but it was a personal one—and yet the man was dangling a temptation in front of her nose too. It felt like he was daring her to try living as an Illuminist.

To
try
living
near
him…

“Perhaps I will,” she countered. “But I must say, you handle me far too much for someone who continues to insist we shall never cross paths again.”

He froze, his dark eyes glittering. The grip on her arm tightened, just a fraction, betraying a reaction from him.

“My world is more concerned with facts. We do not spend our time worrying about propriety, since it changes so often.”

Just for a moment, his expression transformed into something she might honestly label roguish. The hard, judgmental security man had been vanquished, and in his place was a man who sent heat surging up into her cheeks once more. She looked away, without really thinking. It was pure response, an instinctive need to shield her innermost thoughts from him. The reason was simple; he was far more capable than any young swain she’d tried flirting with.

“Yet apparently you lack the courage to see your course through,” he accused softly. “You appear quite maidenly with your eyes cast down.”

She snapped her head back around. “I did not lack the confidence to walk past your doorman.”

“Yet you lack the nerve to witness what your barbed words kindle.”

His face hadn’t returned to the cold expression, but there was definitely judgment reflecting from his eyes. “I believe I understand you very well, Janette. You long for something you know comes with consequences. Reaching for it will cost you the security of the position you currently occupy.” He retreated behind a carefully controlled expression once more. “A facet of reality we all encounter at some point in our lives. The difference between us is how we both meet the moment of decision.”

“I stand before you, proving I am not some timid mouse, sir.” Boldness sent her chin up in defiance. “I am not afraid to seek out what I desire.”

One dark eyebrow rose, and the challenge returned to his eyes. “But do you have any idea what it is you desire, Miss Aston?”

“Yes, I believe I do—”

He tugged on her arm, and she ended up against the man. For one moment, their bodies were firmly pressed together. She was sure her heart stopped for several beats.

“As you already noticed, I am not a gentleman.” His hand smoothed down her back in a long stroke that sent enjoyment through her. “Tease me, and I will be happy to respond. Pretense is not practiced here, and I’m interesting in doing more than kissing the back of your gloved hand.”

She
hoped
so…

She shocked herself with how quickly such an impulse took control of her. It just erupted inside her mind, destroying all other principles instantly. She needed to regain her composure immediately.

“I was not teasing you. I was making my point.” She pressed her hands against his chest, but the man was immovable.

He chuckled. Amusement sparkled in his eyes, but so did passion. She stared at the raw emotion, fascinated by the thing that had been only whispered rumors until that moment. Understanding dawned with a ripple of awareness that threatened to buckle her knees. Instinctively, she knew exactly what she was looking at, and her body responded with need so sharp she gasped.

“You were testing me, Janette?”

She
had
been.
The knowledge stung, but it also tore away the veil of innocence blinding her. She’d risen to his bait because she wanted to be closer to him. She’d wanted him to reach for her. The knowledge was scalding, and yet she enjoyed the sting. Sensation was rippling across her skin, awaking nerve endings she hadn’t noticed before. It was dark and inviting—like his eyes.

“I didn’t realize…” she murmured.

His gaze focused on her mouth, and the delicate skin of her lips tingled. She wanted to know what his kiss felt like, tasted like. Wanted it so bad she began rising up onto her toes…

She
mustn’t…

“But I do now.” She forced the words out and moved back, startled by the level of sensation coursing down her body. It was wild and intoxicating, making her both dizzy and keenly aware of every tiny detail. Part of her wanted to move back into his embrace, and that had her moving toward the door because the urge was so contrary to everything she had ever been taught.

Ladies did not seek the kisses of gentlemen.

Darius
was
no
gentleman…

The fact that he offered no words of apology for their embrace confirmed it. A gentleman always took responsibility for improper situations—at least in her world. He was trying to frighten her, she was sure of it, but the knowledge only made her want to rise to meet his challenge.

If she tasted his kiss, she would never forget it. Somehow, she was sure of that fact, and it sent her back a few more paces. Hunger glittered in his eyes, and she allowed herself only a moment longer to study it.

“Good-bye, Mr. Lawley. I have enjoyed the afternoon.”

Surprise appeared in his eyes, pleasing her. She took one last look at him before stepping out into the sunlight. Impulses should always be tempered with reason. Even when thinking was the last thing she was interested in doing—along with behaving like a lady.

“You followed her home,” Lykos stated.

Darius stiffened as his friend emerged from the shadows. The alleyway had plenty of doorways for hiding in, and a few shadowy figures chose to move on when it was clear Lykos was his friend. Together, they were far more trouble than the possible gain to be had from robbing them.

“You’re making an assumption. I might well be returning from a number of different errands.”

Lykos fell into step beside him. “True, but you are avoiding answering, which means I’m correct. You followed her home. How noble.”

“It was the right thing to do. She doesn’t know she’s a lamb crossing woods filled with wolves.”

“Maybe. Perhaps
calculating
is the better word, because I believe you did it to gather information that just might be employed to assist you in seeing the fair damsel again.”

Lykos offered him a grin Darius recognized too well. “Don’t let the fact that I sometimes consider you a friend allow you to forget I do not like being teased about the topic of the fairer sex.”

“I wasn’t teasing when I said you need to move on from the fair lady in your past.”

Darius refused to rise to the bait. “What makes you think I haven’t? I believe you observed me flirting with Miss Aston just this afternoon. No better evidence of my having moved on.”

“Point taken. Which makes me wonder if it isn’t time for you to emerge from your self-imposed mourning. Seems rather fitting, considering the pair of you were never married,” Lykos continued.

“I have no interest in signing dance cards at some overcrowded event where the matrons can point at me and condemn me for being an Illuminist. Neither do you, so stop trying to annoy me.” And tempt him with the promise of seeing Janette again. The tie needed to be severed before he went too far and found out what her lips tasted like. Before she encountered his darker side. Ladies never suffered a man like him well—he had the scars to prove it.

Lykos grinned smugly. “Ah, but you do have an interest in ensuring Miss Aston returns to her life among the unenlightened without any grime associated with us clinging to her ankles.”

“What exactly do you mean by that?” Darius stopped and aimed a hard look at his comrade. “She is not my responsibility.”

The moment the words were out of his mouth, he cursed. Lykos’s grin widened until his teeth flashed.

“You know me too well. It was my door personnel who made the mistake of allowing her in and thereby exposing her to possible detection.” He resumed walking. “I do feel responsible for her.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that.”

Darius lifted an eyebrow suspiciously. “Why?”

“Because tonight Mrs. Brimmer is holding a social gathering to which Miss Aston has accepted an invitation. Professor Yulric is not quite ready to abandon all hope of discovering a way to lure Miss Aston to our cause.” Lykos held out a sealed envelope. “The good professor procured an invitation, and I believe he promised you would attend. I suspect he is hoping you will change your mind about courting the fair Miss Aston and bringing your blushing bride back to where he can claim her as his student.”

Darius glared at the envelope. For just a moment, he suffered the impulse to smile, which annoyed him even further.

“And did the professor make it an official request that I attend?”

Lykos smirked. “Indeed he did. Insisted I set off after you immediately, so you wouldn’t chance missing the event.” His friend patted him on the shoulder. “How is your waltz these days?”

“Deplorable.” Darius paused to read the invitation in the light of a streetlamp. “Even you will likely perform better on the dance floor tonight.”

Lykos lost his smirk, and Darius felt his lips rising at his friend’s expense for a change. “I’m sure the professor would want us to take the matter very seriously, considering she is a Pure Spirit,” Darius observed drily. “What sort of friend would I be to exclude you from a matter so vital to our order?”

“A good one,” Lykos growled before shrugging off his ill humor. “Mrs. Brimmer’s husband’s factory benefits from our inventions a little too much for her to turn her nose up, even if many of her neighbors do. I believe she’s hoping to gain an edge against the competition by issuing invitations to Illuminists. It would be callous of me to ignore the lady’s attempt to charm my brethren.”

It was risky. The Helikeians blended into society very well; no one knew that better than Darius did. Anyone might notice their interest in Miss Aston, but the Professor was on the council and had the right to command a Guardian in cases of Pure Spirits.

“You can escort Decima,” Darius suggested smugly. “She’ll be delighted.”

Lykos choked, earning a grin from Darius.

He forced himself to consider the saving grace of the invitation. Watching Janette among her high-society compatriots would no doubt place her in a position to join them in their disdain of his Illuminist allegiance. Once she sneered at him or turned her back on his offer of a dance, he’d be able to sever the connection he felt. The fact that he didn’t like the way that made him feel sent him home in search of his evening attire. He would pay her court and recall just what happened when he forgot what ladies thought of him.

***

The Brimmers’ home was impressive, and the lady of the house knew how to ensure her neighbors were talking about her party the next morning. The ballroom was lit with Illuminist lamps, the lack of smoke welcome. Servants kept the long buffet table looking as though no one had touched it, while butlers offered drinks in crystal goblets. But tension filled the guests as Illuminists were admitted.

“I simply cannot believe it,” her father sputtered.

Janette bit her lip to maintain her silence. Her father removed his spectacles, cleaned them with a handkerchief, and put them back on before squinting at the Illuminists standing so calmly inside the Brimmers’ home.

“We should leave immediately,” he announced firmly.

Janette’s mother gasped. “We will do nothing of the sort. Mr. Brimmer does plenty of business with you, and we cannot afford to upset his wife. She might well complain, and who knows how tender their relationship is? Appearances, dear, we must maintain appearances.”

“Perhaps you’re correct, my dear,” her father grumbled. “I know little of how to deal with the sensitive side of women’s emotional natures. I much prefer our civilized union, but I understand there are many couples who embrace a more emotional condition. We shall stay.”

Janette almost wished her father would order the carriage brought around.

Coward.

She didn’t care for just how true her inner voice was. Forcing a smile onto her lips, she called upon every ounce of self-discipline she had to look across the room at Darius Lawley.

The man could look like a gentleman when he chose to, she noticed as she drew in a deep breath. But that didn’t ensure that he’d act like one.

Is
that
a
fact
or
a
hope?

She felt heat rise to her cheeks as her thoughts ran wild. All because of Darius Lawley, once again. He triggered something inside her, something she discovered she liked too much.

She tried to focus on his attire to bore herself. He was dressed in a formal black overcoat and pants. His vest was the only garment setting him apart from the other guests. Instead of formal white silk, his was a robin’s-egg blue. He was accompanied by another man and a woman, both wearing their Illuminists pins proudly. Darius still wore the ear device, and there was more than one guest attempting to look at it without being caught staring.

Oh no, not a one of them might commit the sin of looking curious about the Illuminists. Such an action was unforgivable among high society. Fools.

The woman looked the most uncomfortable, as if the dress she wore was something she found cumbersome. It was very similar to Janette’s, with a fan-type front formed with smocking and a full skirt held out with a taffeta petticoat. She flipped her blond curls back when she felt them on her collarbones, but she’d pinned her gold Illuminist pin to the front of her dress to ensure no one missed it. For the moment, her dance card dangled from her wrist, no gentleman reaching for it.

“Do you see who is here?” Janette asked as Sophia arrived.

Sophia hurried up, her petticoat rustling from moving too quickly. An older lady turned and looked down her nose at them.

Janette wrapped her fingers around her friend’s wrist—their hands hidden by the volume of their skirts—and tugged her down into a curtsy.

“Good evening, Miss Garret.”

“Ladies should never scamper like nursery-age children.” Miss Garret delivered the slight in a tone full of arrogance.

Sophia tugged Janette away. “Sour old spinster.”

“And you said I’d be the one getting us sent to the Highlands,” Janette whispered. “Be overheard saying things like that and we should go home to pack our trunks tonight.”

“Go home? So early?”

Janette gasped as Mrs. Brimmer turned around to peg them with a shocked look. “I simply will not hear of it. In fact, you two are exactly who I require at this moment. You shall assist me in breaking the ice that seems to have formed. I have been planning this event for a year, and I will not suffer this tension, I tell you.”

“Of course,” Janette muttered. Mrs. Brimmer frowned at the evident lack of enthusiasm in her tone.

“Come now. You two are young and full of vigor, much too young to be prejudiced.” She snapped her fan shut against her gloved hand. “At least I was more open-minded when I was your age. I shan’t have my guests glaring at one another. No, indeed, I shall not. Why do your parents insist on trying to act as though they did not court during a time that was so much more fun?” Mrs. Brimmer actually winked. “We had summerlong parties in the country, flowing gowns, and none of these long stays. Those cotton gowns would let the summer breeze right up your legs.” Her eyes twinkled with something that looked a lot like naughtiness. Janette found herself staring at the woman because that sparkle was in such contrast with the prim and formal-looking hostess Mrs. Brimmer presented in her evening matron gown, which was buttoned precisely at her neck. She lifted a hand that sported a white glove, and motioned to Janette and Sophia. “Follow me.”

Janette hung back. Sophia gave her a jab in the ribs, but Janette still refused. “That’s him. Darius Lawley.”

“You’ll just have to suffer through it. We can’t be frozen here when Mrs. Brimmer turns around. She’ll be insulted,” Sophia warned. “So come on.”

Janette stepped forward. Sophia was correct; they didn’t dare insult the woman by refusing her request, but Mrs. Brimmer was heading straight toward the Illuminists. Janette felt the assembled guests turn their attention to her and Sophia. If Mrs. Brimmer noticed, the formidable lady never allowed it to show. She maintained her perfect poise and unhurried pace until she was standing in front of her Illuminist guests.

But the twinkle in her eyes brightened, betraying just how much she enjoyed playing with her guests’ priorities.

“Good evening, Miss Decima. I am delighted you could attend. Gentlemen, may I present Miss Sophia Stevenson and Miss Janette Aston, two ladies of keen intelligence. I have complete confidence in their ability to recognize what suitable gentlemen you both are.” Mrs. Brimmer didn’t raise her voice, but she didn’t need to. The conversation in the room had almost stopped as she made her formal introductions. She turned to Sophia and Janette.

“May I present—”

“Janette has made Mr. Lawley’s acquaintance already.” Sophia’s eyes widened when she realized she’d spoken her thought aloud.

“She has? How fortuitous.” Mrs. Brimmer tapped her fan against her gloved hand. “Mr. Lawley, would you do me the honor of starting off the first dance set with Miss Aston?”

“Quite delighted, Mrs. Brimmer.”

Darius offered her his hand, but there was a flicker of challenge in his eyes that made Janette hesitate. She recalled too well her lack of ability to maintain her poise when she was near him. Sophia jabbed her in the side with a sharp elbow to jolt her into action. Darius clasped her hand, and the connection sent a tremor across her skin.

Fans opened as they passed, whispers filling the room. She and Darius stood alone in the middle of the dance floor for a moment that felt endless. At last someone cleared their throat, which prompted other men to offer their hands to the nearest lady before Mrs. Brimmer was offended. Silk petticoats rustled and heels hit the floor too hard as couples rushed to join the dance set.

The musicians struck up a lively tune. Janette curtsied and moved forward for the first close turn of the dance. A shiver shot down her spine the moment she tipped her head back to maintain eye contact.

“You might at least wipe the smirk off your face,” she snapped. “I’d have danced with a leper to avoid displeasing Mrs. Brimmer.”

She swept away, grateful for a chance to catch her breath. But when the steps called for her to be turned about with him close behind her, he took the opportunity to reply.

“As would I.” She gasped as his words teased her ear. “But you’re dancing with an Illuminist, somewhat the same in your father’s eyes.” His tone wasn’t dark and teasing, but somewhat expectant.

“Do you ever get tired of warning people? I thought you felt returning to my father was the best action I might take.”

The steps took her away, and his demeanor changed. A flicker of amusement entered his eyes and his lips curved, but the expression wasn’t pleasant. She faltered when it came time to move close to him once more. Her feet felt stuck to the floor. Darius covered her hesitation, cutting in with a longer step to make sure he was flush against her back for the next turn.

“Yes, but you cannot stand in the middle of the road, Janette. I doubt your father will have anything nice to say about our dancing together.”

“I agree.” She felt satisfied for some reason. Oh, her father would no doubt be quite angry with her, but the look of surprise on Darius’s face was worth it. “You really need to accept the fact that I am not frightened of you.”