The Sweetest Kiss (Brothers of Worthington Series) (27 page)

Judith squealed and spun around, ready to defend herself with shaky fists. Trey stood before her, so close his spicy scent filled her senses, calming her.

He glanced from her balled hands up to her face before a grin broke out on his face. “My dear, this is a very awkward way to greet me, do you not agree?”

She sighed heavily and relaxed her arms.
“Oh, Trey.
I was so worried.”

Immediately, he grasped her shoulders as his gaze narrowed. “Judith? Where’s my mother?”

“She became ill and we took her to one of the back rooms. That is why I’m out here looking for you.”

She grabbed his hand and led him through the eating establishment to the back room. When they reached their destination, Trey walked ahead and entered first. He knelt beside the bed and took his mother’s frail hand in his strong one.

“Mother?
Can you hear me?”

Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled weakly.
“Trey.
You are finally here.”

“What’s wrong?” He swiped his hand across her forehead. “You don’t feel feverish.”

She shivered. “Exactly opposite, I’m afraid. I’m very cold. I think we should return home now.”

He shook his head. “Not with you feeling like this. I will take you to my townhouse, instead. It’s only a few minutes away.”

Isabelle’s eyes widened and her gaze flew over Trey’s shoulder and landed on Judith. “But…” She looked back at Trey. “We cannot go there. That’s a bachelor’s residence.”

“Mother, I refuse to hear any arguments.” He stood, but the older woman kept hold of his hand.

“What about
your…
mistress,” she whispered.

Judith sucked in a quick breath. Trey glanced over his shoulder and looked directly at her. Guilt dulled his eyes before he turned back to his mother.

“We will not talk about such nonsense, Mother. I’m taking you there and that’s final.”

Judith’s heart plummeted to the pit of her stomach, crumbling into a million pieces. He’d practically confessed. She sank against the wall as tears stung her eyes. The room became smaller and suffocating. Anger built inside her also, and that made her strong.

The man wearing the apron who worked here opened the door and walked in. “Is everything all right?” He directed his question to Trey.

Judith took the opportunity to leave since the door was open and Trey was slightly distracted. She pulled away from the wall and hurried out of the room. A tear slipped down her cheek before she realized she was crying. Angrily, she wiped the moisture away. She wasn’t going to cry!

Within minutes, Trey walked out of the room with his mother on his arm. The older woman sagged weakly against her son as they made their way to the front door. Judith ran to her side, holding her other arm as she and Trey helped Isabelle outside and to the coach.

Once everyone sat inside the vehicle, Isabelle slumped against Trey and closed her eyes. Judith gasped and reached for the older woman. Trey shook his head and patted his mother’s hands as he met Judith’s gaze.

“Do not fret, my sweet,” he said softly. “She’s going to be all right.”

Nodding, Judith sat back, clasped her hands in her lap and looked out the window. Hopefully, they’d make it to his townhouse or somewhere soon. She was out of sorts, and she didn’t enjoy this confused feeling.

“Judith?”

Her heart beat faster. Now was not the time to talk to Trey. “Yes,” she answered without looking at him.

“What happened this afternoon? What wore Mother out?”

She shrugged and focused on her fingers. “I have not a clue. She was fine, I thought, until after we partook of tea and crumpets. Then she felt ill and nearly lost consciousness a couple of times.” Judith breathed slower, hoping to calm her anger. “I’m relieved you arrived when you did. I didn’t know what to do.”

Silence lasted only a few minutes before Trey cleared his throat. “Judith, look at me.”

Taking a deep breath for courage, she lifted her gaze. His frown tugged on her heart, and she scolded herself for caring.

“I know why you are upset.” His voice was low, probably for his mother’s sake. “Mother was mistaken. I don’t have a mistress.”

Confusion filled her head even more, especially when her heart leapt with excitement. Why was she so willing to believe? Was it because all rogues had mistresses? Or was it because she’d once trusted Alex and was greatly deceived?

She pulled her shoulders back and lifted her chin.
“How very decent of you, my lord.
I’m quite certain your confession will ease your mother’s worries.”

The corner of his mouth lifted.
“And what of yours?”

She shrugged. “I don’t have them any longer.”

“You are not a very good liar, Judith.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Neither are you.”

“Are you saying you don’t believe me?”

“I’m saying I will believe whatever I may, but I cannot take anyone’s word any longer. I have been burned by doing that, or have you forgotten?”

He shook his head. “I have not. But why don’t you believe me?”

Oh, how she wanted to, so much her chest ached. “If you please, I would rather not talk about this now.” She turned her gaze to out the window again.

The clip-clop of the horses’ hooves and the rattle of the coach filled the silence. Just as the vehicle came to a stop, Trey touched Judith’s knee, and she looked at him.

“We will finish this conversation today. I assure you.”

She gulped. Was that something she wanted? Although she desperately needed to hear the truth, she knew how Trey’s charming conversations progressed with her ending in his arms while he kissed her passionately. And heaven help her if she wasn’t looking forward to it.

~*~*~*~

Trey splashed water on his face, hoping to relieve the tension of the trying day he’d had. The physician had checked his mother, telling Trey she just needed rest and would be back to herself in a few days. Now that one worry was out of the way, he needed to reassure Judith he had not kept a mistress since before she came to stay with his mother.

Before leaving his bedroom to find Judith, he removed his cravat and waistcoat, feeling more relaxed without them. A grin tugged at his mouth when he remembered the time he talked to Judith wearing a towel. Now that had been very enjoyable.

He hurried downstairs to the drawing room, hoping that’s where Judith waited for him. When he entered, he immediately noticed her sitting behind the harpsichord, lightly stroking the keys as if she wanted to play.

He stopped inside the room, softly closing the door so she wouldn’t hear. Leaning against the barrier, he folded his arms and grinned. “Please play something for me.”

She jumped and spun around, her eyes wide and mouth agape. “What?”

He motioned to the instrument. “Play for me, and don’t tell me you don’t know how. I’m quite certain this is another thing your parents taught you while you were young.”

“Although I do know how to play, my heart is not in it tonight. Forgive me.”

She moved away from the instrument and walked past him to the sofa. Her flowery scent moved with her, reminding him how he loved that smell.
 

Trey walked around the couch and sat next to her. He turned and brought his arm across the back of the furniture, facing her. Still, she hesitated on meeting his eyes. His heart clenched. How could he prove to her he didn’t have a mistress?

He exhaled deeply.
“Now, about that misunderstanding.”

She arched her eyebrow. “What misunderstanding?”

“About my mistress.”

Judith’s shoulders squared and she lifted her chin a notch. A trait he had always admired in Judith—her stubbornness.

“My lord, I thought you told me you didn’t have one.”

“I don’t. Not now.”

“But you did at one time?”

He nodded. “I’m not going to lie to you.” He moved his hand and caressed the lock of hair near her ear. “I had a mistress, but our relationship ended about a week before I received my mother’s letter informing me about her new ward.”

The tightness around Judith’s lips softened, as did the gleam in her emerald eyes. She was enchanting.
Irresistible.
And to think he had to resist her.

“Truly?”
Her voice was soft.

“Yes. If you want me to prove it to you, I can. I will have my secretary tell you the very day I sent the missive to dissolve our relationship.”

Her whole body relaxed and she shook her head. “That will not be necessary. I believe you.”

He scooted closer and placed his hand over hers resting in her lap. Using his other hand, he slid it across her shoulders to pull her closer. Thankfully, she didn’t resist.

“Now, I want to know why you care if I have a mistress or not?”

Her tongue slipped out and moistened her lips as the blush in her cheeks darkened. “Well, you see—” Her throat jumped as if she swallowed hard. “I have come to have deep feelings for you, Trey.”

He stroked her cheek.
“As a friend?”

Her chuckled sounded uneasy. “Well, of course. We are friends, are we not?”

“I certainly hope so.” He drew his thumb along her jaw line, heading toward her sensual mouth. “However, due to what happened the night of your ball, I feel we have become more than friends.”

Her skin turned hot under his touch. He wanted to laugh, but refrained.

“Yes,” she whispered. “I feel we have become more than mere friends.”

Excitement drummed inside his chest and he cursed the affect she had on him. Although he wanted to hear the words from her mouth, he knew nothing could come of it. Perhaps this was the time he needed to tell her so she didn’t fall completely in love with him.

He couldn’t bring the words forth. They wouldn’t form on his tongue. Instead, the need to kiss her, hold and touch her overrode everything.

She took his hand from her jaw and brought it to her mouth, placing a sweet kiss on his palm. “Trey, I want to be more than just your friend.”

Groaning, he cupped her face and brought his mouth to hers. He kissed her gently at first, then raw hunger took over and he wrapped his arms around her and crushed her against his body. Her deep sighs thrilled him, and he wanted nothing more than to bring back the passion they’d shared in her bedroom not long ago. Her hands slid over his chest, wandering. His muscles clenched wherever she touched.

“Oh, my love.
You know how much I want you,” he muttered.

“Trey,” she sighed. She cupped his face and brought his attention to her eyes. “Trey, I have no desire to be your next mistress.”

Pain exploded in his chest, suffocating him. Her confession wasn’t a surprise. He’d suspected she was in love with him.

“I know you don’t.”

“Then why…” She took a deep breath. “Why are you still trying to find me a husband?”

Cursing under his breath, he pulled away and leaned his head back against the sofa, closing his eyes. This wasn’t what he’d wanted to discuss. Yet, he needed to bring his past out in the open no matter how hard it was.

“Oh, Judith.
You don’t understand.”

“Help me understand,” she pleaded, grasping his hand.

After inhaling deeply for a couple of minutes, he finally opened his eyes and looked at her. She wore her heart on her sleeves, because the love illuminating from her eyes nearly shredded his heart to pieces. Why did love have to hurt so much? This was exactly what his father had warned him about falling in love.

“I’m incapable of love, my sweet Judith.” There. He finally confessed. So why didn’t it make the pain in his chest disappear?

“How do you know?”

Her question made him want to laugh. She was so innocent. “Believe me, Judith, I do know. I have the same blood as my father. I’m following in his footsteps. But I will do one thing he never did.”

“What is that?”

“I will not break a woman’s heart and ruin her life by marrying. My mother had a miserable marriage. Were you aware of that?”

She nodded as her eyes moistened with tears. “Lord Hawthorne told me about it the other day.”

“I grew up watching the way my father treated my mother. I could never do that to my wife. So in order to keep that from happening, I will not marry.
Ever.”

She leaned toward him and stroked his face. “Your father didn’t love your mother. That’s why he was able to treat her so unkindly.”

“I know.”

“So are you saying you will never fall in love?”

He wanted to take her in his arms and let her show him all about falling in love. But he didn’t dare. He knew too many men that had given their heart to a woman only to have it ripped out of their chests later. His brother, Tristan, was a prime example that men shouldn’t give away their souls like trinkets.

He took her hands from his face and kissed her fingertips. “I cannot…I will not allow myself to fall in love.”