The Desires of a Countess (15 page)

He pursed his lips as if having this conversation
were a trial. “Well, of course you wouldn’t be courting! But you
could make a few appearances, visit your friends. I’ve heard your
sister is expecting her first child soon and I know you weren’t
able to attend your brother’s wedding last year.”

Her vision blurred with tears. How did he know all
those things? She’d never discussed Audrey or Noah with him. With a
shake of her head, she turned away. Of course, he’d had her
researched before he arrived in order to have a plan when they met.
But he obviously hadn’t researched enough or he would know that she
preferred the distance between her and her family. Her mother had
preached propriety and suitable match to her, then smiled while her
sister and brother had each married for the kind of love she’d
never been allowed to pursue.

“You look furious.”

Ginny turned her glare at Simon, who stood waiting
for her response to his suggestion. She drew in a deep breath. She
had to remain calm.

“I have no interest in seeing my family,” she
managed through clenched teeth.

“That’s silly.” He shook his head. “Jack should have
the privilege of knowing all his relations.”

The panic she’d been trying so desperately to keep
at bay washed over her in an irrepressible wave. This was exactly
the kind of control she had feared from Simon since the day she was
informed of his impending arrival. Now it was a reality.

“You don’t know,” she whispered.

Her protest fell on deaf ears.

“I’ve met your brother a few times. Lord Woodbury
seems like a good fellow. I’m sure-”

“You’re
sure
? You don’t understand anything.”
She couldn’t control her voice as it went up a notch. “I’m not
going to London and I’m not seeing my family. You don’t know what
my son needs. And you certainly don’t know what I need!”

A muscle worked in Simon’s jaw as he took a step
toward her. Now they were nose-to-nose, and she could feel his
anger through every fiber. Yet, it didn’t frighten her as much as
it made her knees go weak when he leaned into her.

“It is exactly because I
do
know what you need-”
His eyes raked over her from head to toe. “Far too well, that I
propose this solution. And I’m not asking you to go, I’m telling
you that you
will
go.”

She clenched her teeth harder and fought the urge to
break their gaze. This was a battle of wills and she couldn’t show
how weak she was to his proximity and body heat. “No, I shall
not.”

Though she wouldn’t have claimed it to be
impossible, he moved even closer. Now they were less than a breath
apart.

“Oh, yes you will. If you’re unsure about being
alone, bring Harriet. But in two days time, you and I and your son
will be on our way to London. Even if I have to drag you there.” He
took in a deep breath and turned away. “I’m sorry you’re unhappy
with the way things are, but the decision has been made. I’ve
already sent word for your London estate to be readied. I suggest
you go prepare yourself, as your time is very short.”

Ginny felt the urge to let out a string of curses
and stomp her feet like a child. But she didn’t. She had to
maintain her dignity. So she glared at him one last time, then
gathered her black skirt into her hand and swept from the cottage
with her head held high.

At the bottom of the gate, she caught a shuddering
breath as she took Jack’s hand. Adam looked up from his planting
with a half-smile. “You all right, my lady?”

“Your friend is a lout!”

And with that, she stomped down the path toward the
house. But with each step she took away from the cottage and Adam’s
good-natured laughter, the more she fought to hold back her tears.
She couldn’t go to London. She couldn’t see her family. She
couldn’t start over.

Chapter Eleven

Ginny paced across Harriet’s parlor, twisting her
gloves in her hands. Her friend watched with arched eyebrows as she
pivoted for the tenth time. As much as she tried to control it,
Ginny had no doubt her frustration was clear.

“Can you think of any way I can avoid this mess?”
she asked as she threw herself back into a chair.

“Thank goodness. I was beginning to worry my rug
wouldn’t survive this latest upset,” Harriet said with a small
smile. When Ginny stared back at her without even a twitch of a
grin, her friend sighed. “I have to wonder what brought on this
sudden command. Why would Simon demand you quit the country side
for London?” She gave a shrug before she lifted her teacup for a
lady-like sip.

Ginny sunk her teeth into her lip. Well, the time
had come to confess. No matter how embarrassing it was, Harriet
could only help if she was made aware of the whole truth.

“Simon and I… made love.”

With a choking sound, Harriet spit tea across the
room. Ginny dodged the hot liquid before she covered her head with
her hands. Her friend coughed for a moment while she wiped tea from
her chin. Finally, when Harriet had pulled herself together, she
cleared her throat.

Ginny raised her eyes with aching slowness to see
her friend of many years staring at her with expectant eyes. Her
arms were folded across her chest and one slippered foot tapped
beneath her gown.

“Explain,” she ordered with little fanfare.

Ginny nodded. Yes, that little declaration did
demand an explanation. “There has been an attraction between us
from the start and as you know, we have kissed more than once.”

Harriet smiled and Ginny glared.

“No need to gloat. At any rate, we were alone in the
house late last night. I offered to help him go through Henry’s
books. One thing led to another, and we-we gave in to our mutual
desire.”

“Oh my.” Harriet’s eyes grew wide. “How was it?”

“Harriet!” Ginny gasped with a blush. It wasn’t
proper to talk about such things, even to a friend.

Except she wanted to tell someone. To try to explain
these feelings that had been growing inside of her since she’d
first felt Simon’s touch.

“It’s an entirely reasonable question.” Harriet
tilted her head.

Ginny stared at her feet as she tried to express how
making love to Simon was. But how could she put the heat, the
passion, into words that would fully explain? All she had to do was
think of Simon running his hands down her body and she tingled with
desire again. There was no way to make another person understand
that with mere words. Finally she whispered, “It was lovely.”

“What was that?”

She lifted her eyes with a purse of her lips.
Harriet had heard her perfectly well.

“I said it was wonderful. With Henry there was fear
and pain and ultimately… nothingness.”

Harriet flinched and Ginny rushed to continue.

“But last night… well, I’ve never felt anything like
it. Simon was tender and passionate and it left me feeling…” She
searched for a word. “Magnificent. Are you happy now?”

Harriet’s expectant gaze softened to a smile. “It
was always like that for me with Richard. I’m glad you finally felt
the same.”

“Before Simon… Right before he… He said something to
me in a foreign language.” Ginny frowned at the memory. “I didn’t
understand it, but it still affected me.”

“Do you remember what it was?” Harriet asked.

She shook her head. “No. How is that possible, to be
affected by words you don’t even understand?”

“Perhaps it was the way he said it? Or perhaps the
meaning was so primal that you didn’t need to understand it with
your mind.” She arched an eyebrow. “Your body understood.”

Ginny could only shiver in response. Perhaps. But
she still wanted to know what those words meant.

Harriet’s expression fell a fraction. “But I don’t
understand why making love would make Simon want to force you to
London.”

A stab of guilt shot through her heart. That was her
doing, wasn’t it? Her words, her rejection and blame had made him
offer London as a solution. Her manipulation.

She hated herself for it.

“Because I-I used our making love as a reason to ask
him to leave Westdale. But Simon feels that his departure would be
deserting his duty to Jack. So he offered going to London as an
alternative. That way we won’t be in such close quarters, but he
can continue to perform his duty. And he believes my return to
Society and seeing my family will somehow help my son.”

To her surprise, Harriet tilted her head back and
let out a peal of laughter.

“It isn’t funny!”

“But it is.” Harriet shook her head. “I told you
manipulating him would only backfire and cause more problems for
you.”

“Well, you were right.”

With a sigh, Ginny covered her face again. This
entire situation was spiraling more and more out of control. Her
life had been orderly before Simon had arrived. In the months since
Henry’s death, her nightmares and fears had begun to subside. She’d
started to hope for a future for her son and herself that only she
would control.

But in the span of a few weeks, Simon had crashed
into her world, bringing doubts and new feelings to her heart and
mind.

Worse, Robert had somehow gotten it into his head to
investigate Henry’s death. Everything could easily collapse around
her. Yet she felt… excited. She anticipated her time with Simon as
much as she was apprehensive about its consequences.

“So tell me this.” Harriet interrupted Ginny’s
thoughts by placing a soft hand on her forearm. “Do you want what
happened between you to ever happen again? If Simon came to you
tonight and asked you to join him in his bed, would you go?”

Ginny swallowed hard as heat flooded her face. Just
the thought of that made her knees go weak. She could almost
picture the scenario exactly, and it made an ache begin in her very
core.

“Yes.” Her voice broke and it took a moment for her
regain her composure. “I don’t think I could stop myself. Simon is
like an opiate. I come near him and I can’t change the desire I
feel. It was all I could do to keep from touching him this
afternoon, even when I was furious with him for trying to force me
to London.” She shook her head. “What the hell should I do,
Harriet? Tell me, because I don’t know.”

Her friend smiled. “Take the passion. Not many
people get a chance at love and desire.”

Ginny shook her head vigorously. “But it is so
complicated with Simon.”

“Because he’s Henry’s cousin?”

“Yes. But also because of-” She stopped. “Because of
what I did. Because I can’t have a future with him. Or any other
man.”

Harriet arched an eyebrow. “I thought you didn’t
want one.”

Ginny frowned. She didn’t. So why had she brought
such an idea up, especially when it came to Simon? She couldn’t
think about that anymore. Obviously her wantonness had clouded her
mind. Just one more reason to avoid the man as much as
possible.

“Will you come with us to London?” She turned
pleading eyes on her friend. “You can stay in my home with me and
Jack. Perhaps your presence will keep me from doing anything more
foolish than I already have.”

With a smile, Harriet leaned over and gave her a
brief hug. “Of course I’ll come with you. If you need me, you know
I’ll be there.” She released her. “And if you don’t want to do any
more damage, I have another suggestion.”

Ginny nodded. “Please.”

“Let Simon have his way this time without a
fight.”

Ginny’s shoulders sagged even as she nodded.
Suddenly she felt very tired.

“I suppose it won’t hurt,
especially since he isn’t giving me much of a choice. I’ll find a
way to stay away from my family and the
ton
. And maybe I can even convince
Robert to halt his investigation while I’m gone.”

Harriet’s lips thinned at the mention of the other
man. “I still don’t think you should trust Robert.”

Ginny sighed as she rubbed her forehead with one
hand. “I don’t know who to trust or what to believe anymore. The
only thing I’m completely sure of is that I’m confused.”

“And that you still want Simon.” Her friend’s voice
was quiet and solemn.

Ginny turned away to look at the low fire. “Yes. And
that I want Simon.”

***

Simon opened the door to the house and peered
around. The foyer was strangely quiet. Not a servant scrubbed a
floor or arranged flowers, and the ever-present Ingram didn’t
appear to hustle him away, even after a few long moments.

The quiet made him nervous, just as Ginny’s silence
had been making him nervous for a day and a half. After her angry
reaction to his order, he had been prepared for her to come to him
with threats, accusations or even bribes. He’d even readied several
speeches in response. One was very sweet and understanding. Another
was harsh and no-nonsense. A third was angry.

But all his planning had been for nothing. She
hadn’t come. He was beginning to get suspicious. The woman had put
up one hell of a fight only to surrender.

God, surrender. Just like she had in the office.

No. He wasn’t going to relive those heated memories
again. How many times was it already? Too many, and he’d come to
the house for business, not pleasure.

With a sigh, he took the stairs two by two.
Somewhere in this house, Virginia Blanchard hid and he intended to
find her and discover what plot she was hatching against him.

He heard her before he saw her. Her laugh, to be
more specific. It was a sound he’d never heard before and it struck
a place deep within him. It rose above the chatter of a few other
female voices just as he turned in the direction of her
chamber.

When he rounded the corner and had a clear line of
vision into the open door, he saw Ginny surrounded by trunks. Three
maids folded and sorted her wardrobe. All the women seemed to be
talking at once and would dissolve into giggles from time to time.
Including Ginny. He’d never seen her looking so young, so carefree.
Her years of unhappiness with his cousin had melted from her eyes
and her face.