The Sweetest Kiss (Brothers of Worthington Series) (15 page)

“What is this I hear about you and my ward?” Trevor demanded in a deep, booming voice that nearly rattled the windows on the building.

Trey narrowed his eyes toward his big brother. What had his older brother heard now? Nobody could possibly know how Trey thought of nothing but Judith.

Or could they?

He forced himself to smile at Trevor and clapped him on the back. “Trevor. What a surprise to see you in town.”

His brother’s eyes darkened as he narrowed his gaze on Trey. “I’m quite certain it is a surprise.”

“Would you like to walk with me as I head back to my office? I fear I cannot chat long since my business ventures are waiting.”

Trevor nodded.
“Certainly.”

Nic
cleared his throat and stepped ahead of them. “If you will excuse me, I shall leave you two alone to catch up on old times.” He bowed slightly to Trevor. “
Your
Grace, it’s a delight to see you again.”

“As it is you, Hawthorne.”
Trevor smiled as
Nic
walked out the door.

With Trey’s heartbeat knocking against his ribs, he led his brother outside in the direction of his office. What did his older sibling know about Trey’s feelings toward Judith? And worse, how many others knew it, too? Could rumors about him and Judith be circling London without his knowledge?

He glanced at his older brother. Straight back, chin erect, clutching the walking stick and looking as much like a duke than Trey had ever seen. Still, there was something in his brother’s eyes that made him suspicious. The way Trevor’s mouth sloped into a frown hinted of a deep sadness. Perhaps Trey’s mother had been correct when she said Trevor was not able to handle a ward at this particular time.

“Are you going to answer my question, Trey?”

Trey grimaced, not liking the sharp tone of Trevor’s voice. Before Trey answered his brother, he needed to discover what Trevor knew. “Of course I will answer your question. So you have heard something about Miss Faraday. What would you like me to tell you, Trevor?”

Trevor’s glare pierced through Trey. “Why are you interfering with my ward?”

“
Your
ward?”
Trey snorted a laugh. “The last I had heard, you turned that responsibility over to Mother.”

“Trey.”
His brother’s voice grew harsh. “Cease this foolishness. We both know why I turned Miss Faraday to Mother’s care. Now tell me why you are interfering.”

“Pardon me?” Trey stopped and looked at his brother. “Pray, what are you talking about? I’m not interfering at all. Mother requested my help.”

“Oh, come now. You don’t expect me to believe that, do you?”

Trey scowled. “I don’t give a wit what you believe. I’m only doing what our mother asked of me.” He grumbled and marched toward his office again.

“Why would she want your help?” Trevor continued to harass. “You are a scoundrel, Trey. Why would any mother ask their son with your reputation, to assist with a young, innocent beauty?”

Trey’s steps slowed as his mind unscrambled the doubt creeping into his head. Trevor was correct. Why would his mother ask for Trey’s help? Was she playing matchmaker and trying to hook him up with Judith?
Impossible.
His mother knew what kind of man Trey was and how he followed so closely in his father’s footsteps. So why would she plan such a ridiculous scheme?

He quickly dismissed the doubt Trevor had lodged in his head and flipped his hand in the air. “She asked for my help because she’s ill.” Over his shoulder, he tossed his brother a scowl. “And because she does not dare disappoint you. What other choice did she have?”

Trevor shook his head. “Mother has certainly lost leave of her senses then.” He grabbed Trey’s elbow and stopped him. “Tell me, is Miss Faraday still innocent?”

Anger consumed Trey, different than what he’d felt with Hawthorne. He wanted to give his brother a good pounding for that comment. “Obviously, you have little faith in me.”

Finally, a grin tugged on the corners of Trevor’s mouth. “Tell me a time when I have been wrong about your character, brother dear.” He arched an all-knowing eyebrow. “What have you done in your life thus far to make me think I should trust you?”

Trey grumbled under his breath. Trevor knew him well.

Hesitating to give an answer, Trey scrambled through the cobwebs of his mind to think of something… “I have it.” He smiled. “I have managed your bets at Whites, and you have never lost. Whenever I have one of those
hair-brained
schemes—as you so call them—I have never led you astray. Have my money ventures not turned out positive?”

Nodding, Trevor folded his arms. “Indeed, I commend you on that. So let me rephrase my previous question. What have you done thus far in your life where it concerns a woman that hasn’t turned out scandalous?”

Trey muttered a curse. “Judith is innocent, you fool. She is Mother’s ward. I will not compromise her. She’s safe with me.”

“She’s
safe
with you, eh?” Tilting his head back, he released a loud laugh that droned on for many seconds. When he met Trey’s gaze, Trevor’s eyes sparkled with mirth. The dimple both brothers shared appeared on Trevor’s chin—something Trey hadn’t seen for quite a while.

Trevor shook his head. “For some reason, that sounds more like a contradiction, don’t you think?”

Indeed, his brother was correct. Trey hated how Trevor’s
holier-than-thou
attitude always surfaced whenever they argued.

“As it is, Miss Faraday is protected while under Mother’s care. Rest assured
,
I shall guard her from men like me.” Trey quickly turned. Obviously, Trevor didn’t have much faith in his younger brother. Then again, Trey had never given him reason to have faith.

They walked a few more streets in silence. Finally, Trey glanced over his shoulder. “You never told me what you are about this fine afternoon.”

“I needed some clothes repaired, so I took them to the tailor.”

His brother’s answer was too quick and sharp for Trey to believe him. Besides that, Trevor’s servants could have run the errand for him. Something was definitely amiss with his brother. Trey wanted to ask, but he and Trevor had never been one to share their thoughts and feelings, even as young boys. For some reason, they’d never been close.

“How is
Gweneth
?” Trey asked. “Is she well and blissfully satisfied in her marriage to a stranger?”

Trevor shrugged. “We are still getting to know each other, so I have not a clue to how happy she is. But she’s not doing very well with her pregnancy. The doctor has told her to stay in bed for a while.”

Trey stopped in front of his office. Worried lines added a deeper level of seriousness to his brother’s grave expression. “That doesn’t sound good at all. Does the doctor give hope for a normal pregnancy?”

“Yes. His words are still very encouraging.”

“Splendid. I shall relay the information to Mother, unless you would like to do it.”

Trevor shrugged. “I don’t know when I will see her next.”

“Certainly you will see her at Judith’s coming out ball, Friday after next.”

Trevor’s eyebrows rose.
“That soon?”

“The girl is ready, so why not get it over and done with? Personally, I cannot wait to find her a husband so I can return to my own life.”

Trevor laughed. “Always thinking about your well-being, I see. Glad to know you have not changed.” He bumped his elbow into Trey’s arm.

Rage burned through him like a torch. His brother had always made Trey feel inferior. Obviously, the titled brother hadn’t changed, either, but the reason he gave Trevor was far from the truth. Trey didn’t want to give Judith to another man. He wanted to be the one to kiss those sweet lips.
Him and none other.

Unfortunately, that was the very thing he couldn’t do, which was why finding her a husband was so essential.
Especially now that her former beloved had turned out to be a scandalous man.
Trevor would never understand how
Trey
felt. Trevor had always been a saint who did and acted the way their parents expected of him. Which was why the older brother let his parents arrange his wedding to a woman he’d never met.

“Well, I must be off.” Trevor adjusted his hat on his head. “I shall attend Miss Faraday’s ball, only to see how well you have taken care of my ward.”

Trey nodded. “And when you see how well she turned out, will I hear an apology?”

Laughter rang through the air as Trevor turned. “Only time will tell, brother.”

Yes, time would certainly tell. Trey seethed. He couldn’t wait to hear his brother grovel when Judith turned out a splendid performance. He was confident she would amaze everyone, including his mother. She would have beaus lined up at the door, just as every girl her age dreamed of having.

He growled and hurried inside his office. How could he deal with this sudden feeling of possessiveness? Finding a titled, wealthy man for Judith was exactly what her parents would want, God rest their souls. Yet, how could
Trey
give her away so easily when he wanted her himself?

He mustn’t give into temptation. He needed to remain strong. Judith would not be compromised by him. Her husband would be very pleased.

For some reason, that thought left a disgusting taste in Trey’s mouth, and an ache in his chest. The ale he’d sipped must have been bad, he reasoned.

~*~*~*~

It had been quite a while since Judith took the time to visit the shops along Bond Street. As a young girl, she’d gone with her mother, excited to be holding her parent’s hand as they strolled from venue to venue. Although she wasn’t with her mother now, the thrill returned as enthusiasm bubbled in her chest.

When Trey had first mentioned training her for her ball, she’d found the mere idea distasteful. She didn’t want another person besides her mother doing that. Even though she missed her mother greatly, deep inside her heart Judith knew this was what her parent wanted for her, to enjoy herself to the fullest.

So perhaps going shopping was indeed a wise idea.

The dowager giggled like a schoolgirl at the hustle and bustle of the shops. Judith smiled and hid her laugh from the older woman. Remarkable what an outing would do for someone’s spirits.

A cluster of the king’s sailors stood in front of a shop, and Judith’s heartbeat raced with anticipation. Would Alex be here? She eyed each one carefully, their red coats with silver buttons shining in the sunlight. When Alex wasn’t among the men, her hopes plummeted. Thankfully, the dowager didn’t remark on the way Judith studied each one, because she didn’t know how to explain Alex to her yet.

The first establishment they entered was the dress shop where the owner, Mrs. André greeted them by shaking both Judith and the Isabelle Worthington’s hands. One of the helpers insisted Judith
remain
firmly on a stool while she draped colorful silks over her to see which colors Judith would look best in. Standing still, she had nothing better to do than gaze through the mirror as each silk lay across her shoulders and bosom. Isabelle and the shop owner stood behind her nodding their approval or the negative shake of their head. If the dowager had her way—which she would—Judith would receive only the best gown for her ball.

Judith heaved a disheartening sigh.
My coming out ball.
She’d made a deal with Trey. She held up her end, but would he? Would he be able to find Alex before she made her debut into society?

Boredom overcame Judith quickly, and her gaze wandered out the window at the people walking by, and the fancy dressed horses pulling the elaborate carriages up and down the cobbled streets of London. With a frown, she sighed heavily in defeat. Coming out balls were for girls who sought marriage. She already had an agreement, so why did she continue with this farce? Until she knew for certain why Alex hadn’t come to the woodsman’s cottage, she must have faith he still wanted to marry her.

For the past few months, she’d dreamed of marrying only one man, Lieutenant Alexander Cutler. Even if Trey’s actions confused her and his kisses set her on fire, she would remain steadfast in her decision to marry Alex. It wasn’t fair to give up on him so soon. After all, he wanted her for herself, and not for her inheritance. Once her worth became known, every fortune hunter around would be sniffing her skirts like animals in heat.

Alex was different. He’d fallen in love with her before her parents
died,
never knowing how much her inheritance was really worth. She smiled. That put him at the top of her list.

Judith convinced herself that once she was in Alex’s arms, he would make her forget Trey completely. Alex would erase all the limb-trembling times she’d been in Trey’s embrace, and especially all the heated times he’d kissed her. She closed her eyes and let her mind wander back to yesterday afternoon, a place where she shouldn’t be. Yet staying away was out of the question. How could she ever forget the way Trey had made her feel?

Shaking away the pleasurable memory, she reminded herself Trey wasn’t interested in marriage. She was a pathetic fool for believing he would change. She opened her eyes and forced herself to pay attention to what was happening around her. Isabelle and the shop owner giggled over the sketches, and the young girl continued to drape Judith with colors. She switched her gaze to the window again as people scurried along the walkway. She glanced across the street, resting her eyes on a familiar figure as he crept between two buildings.