The Sweetest Kiss (Brothers of Worthington Series) (10 page)

Several minutes passed as they stared at each other. She stood straight with her arms at her side, her hands fisted. Lines of anger marred her beauty, and he wanted to stroke the skin and make them disappear.

Finally, she nodded and walked to her chair. As he settled in his seat, he picked up the quill. “Now, let us continue.”

As Trey wrote, he asked for suggestions, which she responded to coldly. His heart twisted, knowing he was responsible for humiliating her. But he had to know. Not only for his mother’s sake, but because he needed to know for his own peace of mind.

It surprised him that Lieutenant Cutler was such a gentleman. That man must have been immune, because Trey found it almost impossible to be near Judith without wanting to take her intimately in his arms. Even now as he glanced at her, regret for making her feel this way wrung his heart and he wanted to hold and comfort her.

Once the letter was written and sealed with his family’s crest, he leaned back in his chair and smiled. Still, her expression remained impassive, her attention remaining on the missive.

“Now what happens?” she asked.

“I will have this delivered to my solicitor. Then we wait.”

She bobbed her head, but stayed in her chair. Silence stretched through the room. In the hallway, the grandfather clock struck two. There was no light in her eyes. No lift to her mouth. It was as if the life had been sucked right out of her.

His throat tightened. What had he done? “Judith?”

Slowly, she moved her gaze to meet his. “Yes?”

“I can tell you are still put out about that question. Please forgive me for asking. I just needed to know.”

“I understand.” Her bottom lip quivered before her tongue darted out and swept across it. “But what I don’t understand is why…why…”

He leaned forward, linking his fingers across his knees. “Why I needed to know? I thought I had explained that.”

She shook her head. “No, what I want to know is why Alex didn’t try to take advantage of me when he had the chance.”

Her answer was so very soft, he wondered if he misunderstood. The tears forming in her eyes confirmed her statement. She actually thought this was her fault?

He took hold of her clasped hands again. Instead of being moist, they were cold. He rubbed his thumbs over her skin, hoping to warm her up. “My dear Judith, what are you saying? Did you want him to compromise you?”

She
hiccupped
a laugh. “I never thought of this until now, but Alex could have compromised me several times. He was not raised with noble parents, yet he was very proper around me.” She blinked as the tears continued to build. “In fact, you have touched me more than he has.”

Trey groaned. Why did she have to say that? More importantly, why did excitement leap in his chest from her confession? Seeing her emotional like this made him want to gather her in his arms, more so than he’d wanted to before. Who was he kidding? He wanted to kiss her like the dolt, Lieutenant Cutler, hadn’t been able to accomplish.

A tear streaked down her cheek and he caught it with his finger. “Judith, you should not think this way.”

“How else am I supposed to think? He didn’t even try. What’s wrong with me, Trey?”

If only she knew how much he wanted to show her nothing was wrong, that she was a very desirable woman, she’d certainly box his ears.

“No, my pet.”
He cupped her face, which brought her liquid gaze to him. “Nothing is wrong with you. However, I have serious doubts about your fiancé. What man in his right mind could resist your charm?”

“Stop lying.”

He barked a laugh. “Lie? No, my dear, I’m not lying. Have you forgotten the kiss we shared at the woodsman’s cottage?” His voice lowered. “Or the walk in the flower garden?
The gazebo?”
He shook his head. “On my word, I’m telling you the truth, Judith. You are a very charming and irresistible woman.”

She blinked several times, which dried her tears. Her hands covered his still holding her face. “So why could Alex resist me?”

Trey couldn’t believe how their conversation had turned. If he didn’t put a stop to this now, he’d take her in his arms like he’d thought about doing. “I’m a rogue, Judith. I’m drawn to beautiful women. Cutler is probably more of a gentleman than I will ever be.”

Her face flamed, heating the skin under his palms. A smile wavered as she pulled away. She swiped the wetness from under her eyes.

“Forgive me for my emotional outburst. It will not happen again.”

“Judith.” He took her hand, brought it to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “There’s nothing to forgive. You can count on me to help you in any way.”

What had he said? Good heavens, had a roaring fire been lit in the room? A window needed to be opened, and quickly to cool his ardor.

Judith pulled away from him then stood. “I thank you, Trey, for the letter you have written. I hope we hear something soon.”

“As do I.”

As she walked out of the study, he seriously prayed his solicitor found something disagreeable about Lieutenant Cutler. There was no way her fiancé deserved such a woman as the very lovely Judith Faraday.

Trey frowned. He didn’t deserve her, either. She wanted a husband, and he definitely wasn’t looking for a wife. Finding her a man to marry and getting her out of the house was top priority. He couldn’t have her under his roof any longer.

His reputation was at stake, as was hers.

Judith rushed outside. Spring’s warm wind caressed her heated face, making her stop and close her eyes. Breathing deeply, she calmed her rapid heartbeat. What a fool she’d been. Why did she allow her emotions to take over, especially in front of Trey? Now he knew her insecurities. Knowing him, he’d use them against her one day.

Just now he’d been so wonderful and caring, which was not like Trey Worthington at all. He said the right things and made her feel like a real woman. Tingles erupted throughout her from his words and his heated touch. She’d soaked it in like a withered flower yearning for water and sunlight. Those feelings should be saved for Alex. After all, she loved him, didn’t she? Only moments ago, doubts had filled her head. Her fiancé had never made her feel like Trey had.

She opened her eyes then squinted against the brightness of the sun. Had she been chasing a dream that would never come true? Had she been in love with love, instead of the man himself?

After a few cleansing breaths, she turned and strolled back inside the house. From down the corridor, the dowager stepped out of a room, spotted her and waved.

“Judith? Come quickly.”

Forcing herself to smile, she hurried to the older woman. “What is it, Your Grace?”

“Your dance instructor is here. Is that not exciting?”

“Extremely.”
Judith tried not to dampen the dowager’s enthusiasm, although Judith had been taught by her mother and father how to dance.

The reed-thin man in the center of the ballroom stood a good two-heads taller than her. His long face, and equally long nose, would be hard not to stare at. She bit her bottom lip, forcing herself not to laugh. He reminded her of a pelican.

“Judith dear, this is Mr. Henry
Teethers
. He’s one of the best to instruct young ladies in dance. I’m quite certain you will learn much from him.”

Judith curtsied slightly.
“Pleased to meet you, Mr.
Teethers
.”

When the man spoke, his voice squeaked like a young boy’s in the years before becoming a man. Once again, she tried not to giggle. Instead, she followed his instructions, pretending this was the first she’d been shown the dance steps.

The dowager duchess sat on a cushioned chair against the wall, carefully poking the needle through the cloth sampler before pulling it out. Would she notice how quickly Judith caught on?

“Splendid, Miss Faraday.
Now, let me put some music to it and try again,” her instructor said.

Judith scanned the room, wondering where the music would come from since there was no orchestra much less a harpsichord on the premises. Within seconds, Mr.
Teethers
cleared his throat and began humming a tune. His squeaks and squawks were worse than birds outside in a fierce hailstorm.

Since she didn’t have to concentrate on her steps, she looked around the room again, noting the size and grandness, and especially the many chandeliers that hung from the ceiling. A few tapestries hung on the wall to give it more decoration. The dowager still looked engrossed in her sewing with her creased forehead and narrowed eyes. When Judith moved her glance toward the doorway, a familiar figure caught her attention and held it.

Trey.

He leaned his shoulder against the frame, his arms crossed over his muscular chest. Dreamy eyes followed her around the ballroom, and she couldn’t stop from looking at him. Shivers of delight cascaded over her, making her limbs weak. She couldn’t understand the affect he had on her.

Heavens, he was handsome. Why couldn’t she think of him as the swine she’d met that first day? Was it because he’d admitted he was attracted to her? She couldn’t allow that to enter her mind. Her head was already full of doubts about Alex.

Instead of listening to her instructor, she kept her attention on Trey, recalling every time he’d touched her and made her tingle. Would Alex be able to accomplish such a feat? And why in the world was she comparing Trey to the man she was going to marry?

Her mind was in such a whirlwind of confusion that she didn’t notice she’d stepped on Mr.
Teethers
foot until he yelped and stopped humming. She snapped out of the spell Trey’s mesmerizing gaze had put her under. She focused instead on the man making hissing noises under his breath. “Please forgive me, Mr.
Teethers
. I should have been more aware.”

A deep chuckle came from the doorway as Trey walked in, slowly clapping. “I see your pupil has learned quickly, Mr.
Teethers
. Indeed you are an excellent instructor.”

The older man bowed. “Thank you for the compliment, my lord.”

“Oh, Trey.”
The duchess put her sampler aside and stood. “I’m thrilled to see you here.
Now Judith will have someone else to practice with instead of Mr.
Teethers
.”

“What?”

“Pardon me?”

Both Judith and Trey exclaimed their surprise at the same time. The dowager wanted Judith to dance with
him
? Her heartbeat quickened and her mouth turned dry. No. She couldn’t get that close. Not now.

The older woman motioned Trey closer. “Come dance with Judith to see if she’s ready for her ball.”

Panic gushed through her, yet Trey’s tight lip and wide-eye expression mirrored how she felt. Didn’t he want to touch her, even after what he’d told her earlier? Had he indeed, lied?

His gaze darted between her and his mother, but finally he smiled and stepped closer to Judith and held out his hand.

“Would you do me the honor, Miss Faraday?” He mocked a bow.

She swallowed the cotton that had formed in her throat before curtsying. “Yes, my lord.”

The moment he clasped her hand in his, heat consumed her very being. Her heartbeat pounded as excitement shot through her. She held his stare, and nothing could tear her away from his amazing blue eyes.

His eyes darkened. Although he might have panicked a moment ago, his gaze now told a different story—that he indeed enjoyed this as well as she.

Mr.
Teethers
hummed another tune, but the sound faded quickly, only leaving the beat of her heart as it tapped the rhythm she and Trey were dancing. Every nerve in her body came alive and spun out of control, especially when his thumb rubbed her skin.

“You are a remarkable student, Judith.” Trey’s deep voice caressed each word.

“Thank you, my lord.”

“Trey,” he encouraged. “I wish you to call me by my given name.”

“Trey.”
Oh dear, had she sighed his name? Hopefully, her ears were playing tricks on her—as well as her breathing.

He grinned. “You shall make my mother proud when she presents you at your ball.”

“That’s the plan, is it not?”

“Indeed, it is.”

“When is the special day? I do not believe you have told me.”

“Friday after next.”

She nodded. “I shall be ready.”

His arm tightened around her waist, drawing her closer to his chest. She feared he’d be able to hear her pulse beating from her bosom.

“My mother is planning to take you to the dress makers in Town and have your wardrobe made. Unless…”

“Unless what?”

“Unless you’d like
me
to take you.”

Her heart jumped to her throat. “That’s not necessary. My parents saw to my welfare before they died.”

He squeezed her hand. “You are forgetting my mother wants to do this. She never had a daughter. Pray, do not spoil her excitement.”