The Sweetest Kiss (Brothers of Worthington Series) (25 page)

Lord Hawthorne bowed. “Good day, Your Grace. I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

Isabelle smiled.
“Of course not, my lord.
You are always welcomed here.” She motioned to the empty chair beside her. “Would you like to take tea with us?”

“Actually, Your Grace, I was in hopes that Miss Faraday would agree to ride with me. We have made it a habit of late to take a ride in the morning. Although it’s afternoon, I would still enjoy a jaunt around the estate.”

Judith’s heart lightened. She couldn’t wait to get out of this room.

Trey remained standing and folded his arms across his chest. “Hawthorne, don’t you think Miss Faraday requires rest after her eventful evening that kept her up most of the night?”

Once again, Trey’s double meaning caused heat to rise to Judith’s cheeks. Where was her fan when she needed it?

“My Lord,” she aimed her comment at Trey. “You need not fret. I feel well rested, thank you, and I would very much enjoy a ride with Lord Hawthorne.”

She stood and walked toward Dominic. “If you will give me a few minutes to change, I will meet you at the stables.”

He nodded.
“Of course.”

She turned back to the dowager and Trey. “Please excuse me.”

Isabelle nodded, but Trey’s hard expression told Judith he wasn’t pleased with her decision. She didn’t wait for his answer, but turned and strolled out of the room. Besides, she couldn’t let him know what was on her mind. She’d yell at him, to be sure. Maybe flirting with Lord Hawthorne would help Trey out just a bit. By the time she reached the end of the hall, her smile was so wide it hurt her cheeks.

Just as she rounded the corner to the stairs, someone called out her name behind her so softly she almost thought she’d imagined it. But hard-heeled shoes pounded on the floor, making her turn to see who came her way.

Trey walked up the hall, not looking as angry as he had a minute ago. She halted near the stairs, holding onto the railing. Her heartbeat quickened. Would she be able to hold her tongue? Or would her temper take over?

He didn’t stop until he stood right in front of her, his hand covering hers on the railing. Her breathing accelerated and within moments, his desirable spicy scent surrounded her, making her want to cuddle in his arms.

“Do you want me, my lord?”

Trey’s blue eyes darkened, just as they had last night. Her throat turned dry.

“You know I want you,” he whispered before clearing his throat and straightening as he pulled his hand away. “Do you think it wise to go riding with Hawthorne today?” he said louder.

She shrugged. “I don’t foresee a problem. Do you?”

His tongue darted out to swipe across his lips as his gaze dropped to her mouth. “Have you forgotten about last night so soon, my love?”

Her heart leapt. “I don’t think that’s something I shall ever forget,” she whispered. “However, from what I have heard so far today, I believe
you
are the one who has forgotten about last night.”

He arched a brow. “Are you jesting? I could not sleep at all because you were on my mind.”

She wanted to sigh aloud from his comment. Instead, she lifted her chin, stubbornly. “Well, you definitely have a strange way of showing it.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you enjoyed what happened last night so much, then why are you making a list of future husbands for me?”

He growled and ran his fingers through his hair. “You do not understand. It’s the way things are done.”

“Well, I certainly don’t understand, nor do I approve.” She turned to continue up the stairs only stepping on the next higher, but he grabbed her wrist. His blue eyes pleaded with her, and her heart softened, if only slightly.

“If you don’t approve, then why do you insist on going riding with
Nic
?”

“What?” She blinked, shocked of what he said. Did she detect a hint of jealousy?
But of course.
Trey had already admitted that he was envious of Dominic. “I enjoy riding with him because he’s my friend. I love to ride, as well.” She smiled and stroked the side of Trey’s face. “Tell me the real reason you don’t wish me to ride with the
marquess
.” Her heartbeat quickened as she anticipated hearing his confession. He loved her—she knew he did, if only he would say the words.

“I—I—” His Adam’s apple jumped. “I don’t trust my friend around you, Judith. He’s a rogue. Just like me.”

She arched her eyebrow. “Just like you? I think not.”

He took her hand off his cheek and kissed her palm. “You are correct. He’s worse, which is why I cannot in good faith, allow you to continue going riding with him every morning.”

“Trey, you should not fret. Lord Hawthorne has not made any improper advances toward me, nor will he ever. He respects you and your mother too much to do so.” She squeezed his hand. “So please, have faith in me that nothing is going to happen.”

Silence stretched between them, except for the occasional laughter down the hall from Lord Hawthorne and the dowager who were still in the drawing room. Trey’s expression relaxed, but his mouth dropped into a frown.

“If you believe you are safe, then I will, as well.”

She smiled. “Thank you, Trey.”

She leaned in to kiss his cheek, but just before her lips touched the mark, he turned his face and his mouth met hers instead. A gasp of surprise left her throat, but she didn’t pull away. The kiss was short, but so very sweet.

When Trey took a step back, he grinned, gave her a wink then walked back to the drawing room.

Excitement bubbled in her chest and she wanted to laugh aloud. True, he didn’t confess he loved her, but she was one-step closer to convincing him.

Grinning like a fool, she lifted her gown to her ankles and bounded up,
unlady
-like, toward her room. Her heart swelled with happiness.

Much later as she rode across the estate with Dominic, thoughts of Trey still filled her mind. Once she and Dominic left the house, she hadn’t said much as she tried to piece together her future. Riding had always helped her to think clearly, but so far it wasn’t doing the trick.

“Judith, my dear, you have been abnormally quiet today. Are you out of sorts?”

Putting her thoughts away for now, she turned and looked at Dominic. “Please forgive me. I have much on my mind.”

“Do you wish to share?”

She almost laughed aloud. Although she wished, she certainly didn’t dare. “No.”

He chuckled and brought his horse to a stop, so she followed his actions.

“You know, Judith, if I didn’t know better, I would say you look quite smitten.” He cocked his head. “Did something happen at last night’s ball that I don’t know about?”

Oh, did it ever
. But once again, that was something she couldn’t share. “You think I look smitten? Pray, what made you come to that conclusion?”

“The faraway look in your eyes. The soft smile on your lips, and especially the dreamy sighs I have heard repeatedly since we left the house.”

Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she couldn’t turn away quick enough. She realized when he noticed her blush because his grin widened and eyebrows rose.

“See. You are indeed, smitten.”

She shook her head and urged her mare into a trot. “I shall never tell, my lord,” she said over her shoulder.

He laughed and caught up to her, taking her reins and bringing her horse to stop again. His friendly gaze stayed on hers as he clasped her hand. “I believe I know who the man is.”

Holding her breath, she didn’t dare make a sound or a movement. He couldn’t possibly know. If he did suspect, how could she keep it a secret?

“Do you think I’m blind, my dear? I notice the way you gaze at Trey. I have watched the way you act whenever he’s near.” He nodded. “You were in love with him before you knew the truth about Mr. Cutler. Am I correct?”

Oh, good heavens. Dominic did know her well. Then again, he was her friend, and friends should notice things like that. Relief swept over her. Finally, someone she could talk to about her feelings. “You are correct. It’s Trey.”

Dominic pulled back and chuckled. “Have you told him?”

“No. I have no desire to scare him.”

“You believe it will?”

She arched a brow. “You are his friend, my lord. I think you know that answer as well as I.”

He scratched his chin and nodded. “Correct. Telling him right now is not a good idea. We must wait until he’s ready.”

“We?”
She leaned forward and touched his arm. “Are you saying you wish to assist me?”

“Why of course. I have known for several days that you are the right woman for my friend.”

Tears of joy stung her eyes as excitement grew in her chest. “You don’t know how pleased I am to hear that. I feared you would chase me away for trying to steal your friend.”

“You are not doing that. Worthington and I will always be friends. You are the first woman I have approved of, and I have no desire to see him lose you.”

She straightened and wiped away a stray tear. “Thank you. I worried I would not be able to do this alone.”

Dominic winked. “My dear, I shall help you more than you anticipate, but you have to agree to work with me on this. I have a plan, and I believe it will work.”

“What’s your plan, my lord? I’m most eager to hear.”

Dominic threw back his head and laughed. Enthusiasm bubbled inside her until she almost couldn’t stand it. But she would be patient, because having Trey’s love was the only thing that would make her happy and complete.

~*~*~*~

Trey paced the floor of the drawing room while his mother looked through Judith’s prospective
husbands
checklist for the tenth time. She jotted down notes of what she knew about them. He passed the window and stopped to
gazed
across the meadow, watching for Judith and Hawthorne to return. They’d been gone a good hour.

Surprisingly, Judith looked more refreshed this afternoon when she entered the drawing room than he figured she should.
Especially after last night.
She didn’t have dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep. Instead, her eyes gleamed with luster when she’d first glanced his way.

Had he been the only one who’d lain in bed, tossing and turning, wondering why they could never be together?

Trey stopped by the window and looked out again. His life was torture, and knowing she was out with his best friend didn’t help matters, either. Although Judith tried to assure him she was in good hands, Trey knew the way his friend worked. Hawthorne courted the women he wanted to make his mistress, making them think they had a chance to become the next Lady of the manor. Hawthorne didn’t have a heart when it came to women. He used them for the same reasons Trey did.

Yet, somehow, he believed Judith didn’t have those feelings for the
marquess
. Not when she looked at Trey with adoring eyes, and stroked him with a lover’s touch like she had by the stairs earlier.

Groaning silently, he rested his forehead on the glass pane. He knew that look. It had been on Judith’s face for a few days now. The same look most women gave him when they were infatuated. Judith didn’t have a reason to love another man now. Could he have replaced Mr. Cutler in her heart already?

Although the idea caused excitement to stir in his chest, he tried to convince himself he didn’t want her to think of him in such high regard. He didn’t want her love, and to be sure, he didn’t deserve it.

Or did he?

“Trey, dear?”

His mother’s shrill voice jerked him out of his thoughts. “Yes, Mother.”

“Do you think Lord Hawthorne would like to court Judith? He has been coming around quite often, but he has not made his intentions known.”

Inwardly, Trey seethed. “I would not know, Mother.”

“Well, I think Lord Hawthorne and Judith suit very well. I think he will make her a perfect husband. Do you not agree?”

He balled his hands into fists and shoved them into his pockets. Taking deep breaths, he tried to calm his ire. Why couldn’t his mother see how wrong it would be to pair Judith with
Nic
?

“Mother,” he began through clenched teeth, “I think it has slipped your mind that Lord Hawthorne is a titled rogue. Therefore, pairing him with Judith is out of the question. She does not need a man like that.” He took another deep breath. “She requires a man who will stay faithful to her, who will love and cherish her forever.”

He turned to look at his mother. Her frown deepened as she sank onto the sofa, her shoulders drooping. He closed his eyes and cursed his inability to think before speaking. His mother had also deserved a better husband than the one she married. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a thing his mother could have done about her marriage, short of divorcing, anyway.

“Mother, forgive me.” He walked to her and touched her shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze. “I didn’t think—”

“No need to apologize, my dear,” she said softly. “You are absolutely right. Judith is a very special young woman, and she deserves only the best.” She patted his hand and looked up at him. “However, whether you have heard this or not, I have been told reformed rakes make the best husbands.”