The Infamous Bride (7 page)

With a quick glance of warning to his sister, he grasped Juliet by the elbow and said, "I have a sculpture that I believe you would enjoy viewing." He nodded to the openmouthed girls and said, "Excuse us just a moment, please."

Juliet thought briefly of refusing to follow him. The grip on her arm did not allow her the option, however.

Juliet found herself in front of a realistic but otherwise rather unremarkable carving of a tiger before she could formulate an objection. "Really, Mr. Hopkins, I do not see this as being worthy of your dragging me across the floor like this."

"Miss Fenster, I remember from our last meeting that you do not mince your words, so I will not mince mine."

She was caught by his eyes, which shared the same cold ferocity as those of the carving by which they stood. Juliet could see that she would not like to hear whatever it was he felt compelled to say. She attempted to disarm him with a smile. "Why Mr. Hopkins, I — "

He leaned in toward her slightly, exhibiting, as he moved, a menacing grace that quite took her breath away. "I do not wish for you to make a friend of my sister."

"Surely — "

He did not wait for her to finish her thought before he growled, "I do not wish for you to speak to my sister again."

Her heart was beating erratically, and her thoughts were jumbled by his barbaric candor. Still, she knew she must protest. "It would be rude — "

Yet again he interrupted. "I would rather you cut her than use her for whatever scheme your clever mind is hatching at this very moment."

She did not like his accusations at all. Carefully, she stepped away from his suffocating closeness before she retorted, "I would much rather cut you, Mr. Hopkins."

His gaze, which had not left hers, narrowed. "I assure you, I will not mind one whit, Miss Fenster. I warrant that even in London a cut from you would be no more substantial than one I might receive from mishandling a sheaf of paper." His eyes dropped to linger on her buttons again — only until she took a deep breath to answer him — and then he raised his eyes to capture hers once more.

The protests bubbling within her died. There was something powerful in the dark glare of his eyes that scrambled her very thoughts. The silence between them stretched long, but she could not seem to tear her gaze away from his, could not seem to speak, could not even turn and flounce away, as his appalling behavior deserved.

At last, he looked toward where their sisters stood ostensibly admiring a painting of some sort. "I believe we are missed." The girls were sending puzzled glances over their shoulders, which suggested that their attention was not fixed on the painting in front of them.

Once again he took her arm without so much as asking permission. As they crossed back over to the girls, he said sharply, "I do not wish to be rude to you in front of my sister — or in front of your own. Please let us pretend you were indeed interested in that statue."

"Of course," she agreed, wondering if she still might somehow spirit his sister aside.

As if patiently instructing a child, he said, "I will then take my leave, and you will wish us a pleasant good-bye."

Juliet tried one more time to change his mind. "Your sister will wonder — "

In the same patronizingly paternal tone, he cut over her objections to say, "I will tell my sister that she is not to speak to you again, Miss Fenster. So may I suggest you not approach her again if you would find it unpleasant to be cut by an American."

"As you wish." Juliet could see no benefit in challenging him. She had never had a man so angry at her before — except perhaps her brother Valentine. She did not know how to deal with him, how to make him see how unreasonable he was being.

Quickly, politely, but clearly, the Americans said their good-byes and departed from the museum. Juliet was no more informed about the subject closest to her heart than she had been before. She wanted to stamp her foot but, noticing that she was attracting the attention of other patrons, decided to control her natural impulse in such a public place.

"I think you are outmatched, Juliet," Rosaline said with a wicked smile as they walked home. "For once, there is a man in London who does not fall at your feet."

"It had to happen sometime," Helena said in answer.

Juliet did not care that Mr. Hopkins treated her as if she were a snail to be stepped on. She did, however, seethe with fury that he would deny his sister her company. "Stuffed shirt!" She looked at her gleeful, mocking sisters and said recklessly, "I will ooze charm until I have him at my feet if it's the last thing I do."

Helena frowned doubtfully. "He doesn't look vulnerable to anyone's charms, Juliet. Not even yours."

Rosaline shook her head. "You've just thrown oil on the fire, Hellie."

Juliet gave them both her most quelling look. "I must find out what Pendrake feels for me. It would be a tragedy to find too late that he and I were made for each other."

Rosaline made a most unladylike sound. "So, you will show your undying love for Pendrake by making Mr. Hopkins fall in love with you?"

Juliet blinked. The thought of Mr. Hopkins's face suffused with affection and love was a bit much for her imagination despite her assurance that she could win him over. "I said I would have him at my feet." She suspected that he was more the tiger than she had earlier supposed. Not a creature it was safe to drop one's guard around. "But I will win him as my friend and admirer, nothing more."

Her sister's voice was ripe with disbelief as she asked, "And how will you do that?"

For a moment Juliet could think of no answer. And then she realized what she must do. "I will find out what kind of woman he desires, and then I will be that woman, of course."

Helena frowned. "You musn't set out to win his heart if you don't want it, Juliet. That would be wrong."

Rosaline laughed. "Never tell Juliet she musn't, Helena. You know that only makes her more determined. Now, no doubt, she'll have him proposing to her."

Juliet felt a twinge of unease. "Nonsense." She didn't want the man to propose to her. She just wanted him to look past her fancy buttons to see a woman who would not harm his sister. Perhaps then he might even help her win Pendrake.

She continued, "I will ensure that Miranda invites them to the duke's annual house party."

Rosaline, as usual, raised an unpleasantly acute question. "What makes you think they will accept the invitation? If Miss Hopkins honestly wishes to snag a husband quickly, why would she leave London for two weeks?"

"Every year there are two or three engagements that come about between those who spend a quiet fortnight in the country with the duke and his fairytale bride." Juliet smiled. "Susannah Hopkins's mother will not resist."

"And no doubt you hope that you will be one of the engaged couples this year?" Rosaline shook her head in wonder. "Do you suppose Pendrake will come?"

"I know it." Juliet smiled. "He has never missed a year. He told me himself a month ago that he looked forward to winning the lead role in the play we will perform."

Helena said hesitantly, "A month ago he was not engaged to Elizabeth Forsdyke."

"You worry too much, little sister. We shall let fate decide who Pendrake shall marry." Fate would bring them all together, and she could not doubt she would end up with Pendrake. She would simply have to find someone else to console Elizabeth Forsdyke.

* * * * *

"Do not be a fool, R.J." His stepmother was thin lipped with exasperation. "Everyone who is anyone will attend. I refuse to allow you to lower Susannah's chances to make a match."

R.J. regretted that he had been so vague when telling her that Miss Fenster would not be a good companion for Susannah. He was still reluctant to reveal his own bad manners, which would be necessary were he to tell her the details. So he merely said, "I have explained — "

Annabel sailed over his objections. "And quite sensibly, my dear. Juliet Fenster is much too much of a flirt, and I don't want Susannah emulating her. But this is a different matter. The earl of Blessingham will be in attendance. You know his interest in your sister is very serious."

"Blessingham will be there?" He had known the man fancied Susannah, but he did not know if Susannah returned the interest. No wonder Annabel wished to accept the invitation. Blessingham was the Holy Grail to her. The earl could make Susannah a countess.

Suspicion tickled at the back of R.J.'s mind. He wondered if Miss Fenster had known — but no, even she was not capable of such deviousness. He could not believe it of her. There was more vulnerability than malice in her scheming, he was certain of that. Although he remembered the look in her eyes as he took his leave of her in the museum. It had not been a look of defeat.

Annabel nodded, wearing the satisfied expression of a cat who'd caught a bird. "Indeed he will. There will be no better venue for Susannah to attach his feelings more permanently."

"Does Susannah favor his suit?" He asked the question cautiously, wondering whether Annabel had somehow divined her daughter's reluctance to marry.

"How could she not?" Annabel looked momentarily puzzled, and then her eyes lit with enthusiasm. "He is an earl, after all. And he has a lovely castle — with turrets." Turrets in disrepair and debts that Susannah's settlement would take care of, but he did not say so aloud.

"Turrets would sway any young woman's head," he agreed, certain that Annabel would not understand his undertone of sarcasm. He saw no indication in his stepmother's satisfaction that she harbored any doubts that Susannah would indeed soon be a bride. It seemed his sister had said nothing more of her unhappiness.

"The duke's estate is said to be magnificent, R.J. It is not everyone who is invited." Her voice firmed. "We must go."

"I suppose we must," he said hesitantly as he cast about for an irrefutable reason to refuse.

As if she did not hear the reluctance in his voice, she said happily, "Just imagine — boating on the lake, walks through the gardens. I hear they are stunning."

He groaned inwardly at the thought of more idle days and nights spent in pursuit of amusement. He could see her there. Juliet Fenster. She would look as if she belonged, perched on a marble bench surrounded by blooming rosebushes. He wondered if Pendrake would be there? If she were wise, his fiancee would find an excuse to keep him away.

He sighed. "Do you think this party will make that much difference to Susannah's chances?"

She nodded. "I have it on good authority that several marriages are made there each year. It seems the duchess has a penchant for bringing about happy endings."

He forbore to mention that Susannah's happy ending would not involve an offer of marriage from the earl of Blessingham. Annabel would not understand. But he tried one more time to dissuade her from the idea. "I have it on good authority that scandal seems to shadow that family."

She looked up, her nostrils pinched in distaste. "I am not speaking of ill-formed unions. I speak of good marriages, made with honor and not a blemish caused by scandal. The place is perfect to bring Susannah's earl up to scratch."

"Still — "

"R.J. — " She hesitated a moment, as if unsure whether she should give her worries voice. But then she said quickly, "Have you formed an attachment to Miss Fenster that I should know about?"

He was shocked speechless for a moment. "Of course not."

"I know you say not, but you were huddled in that alcove for much longer than was proper." She looked at him as if she had a question she was unsure of asking. So very unlike Annabel that he dreaded her next words. "I know that your father would not approve. He wishes you to have a quiet, biddable wife. Miss Fenster seems the sort who might cause a great scandal if she does not find a husband strong enough to keep her in check."

"I assure you I do not harbor any sentiment at all regarding Miss Fenster. I simply think it unwise to expose Susannah to someone with her rather flighty nature."

An expression of relief flitted across her features. So his father had sent her to make certain his son did not do something reckless in London. The thought was unpleasant but not surprising.

"Well, then. As long as you are not falling under her spell." His stepmother stood up, signaling that she was tired of the argument. "Between us we will have no difficulty making certain that your sister is not influenced by the frivolous Miss Fenster."

R.J. could see that the matter was settled as far as his stepmother was concerned. He had the authority to refuse the invitation, but to do so would only cause her to put her back up in a fury and find a way around his dictate. "As you wish."

"Perhaps you will find yourself a bride there as well." She added absently, "As long as we are both agreed that Miss Fenster is not to be considered."

"On that we are agreed." Upon his finding a bride, he would not emphasize that he would rather choose from the women in Bedlam. She would not understand, and she might relay his sentiments to his father.

"I shall have to accept at once and make the preparations for the journey, then." She left, an air of determination about her. When it came to Susannah's future, there was nothing she would not do, he reflected. And he supposed she was right. Susannah was close enough to an engagement that it would be foolish to throw away this chance.

He felt a touch of guilt at his easy acceptance of the pressure put upon Susannah to make a match. He had refused to allow it for himself. But he could not help think their two situations very different. No doubt, once the time came, his sister would see the sense in accepting Blessingham. Women were made for marriage, after all. As long as, he reminded himself, she had told him the truth and there was no man waiting for her back in Boston.

Restless, he gazed out the window. He wanted to be home again. London was full of idle and frivolous rich people. Not one of the men and women he saw each evening spent a moment in honest toil.

No, he forced himself to be charitable. Their system of aristocracy not only encouraged, but lauded them for idleness. He had met with men who wanted to grow their fortunes, who watched over their lands and riches with care. But they fled from any taint of "work" because their society would then treat them like fallen gods. He was grateful he was American.