Tainted
By M. G. Morgan
Copyright 2011 by M. G. Morgan
Smashwords Edition
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Prologue
Stepping from the carriage she waited to see him appear but there was no sign of his tall presence. Making her way forward she glanced down the deserted driveway and shivered.
The hired carriage rumbled away down the road. Why wasn’t he here to meet her as he had promised? She had taken a huge risk to meet him; did he not realise this? But she loved him and she would have done anything he asked.
Her dainty booted feet crunched down the gravel drive. It was a short walk to the bottom steps. Glancing around she walked up to the door. Her hand reached out and she rapped smartly on the door. Silence rushed in like the sea on the beach and she strained trying to hear anything. She shivered in spite of herself, her flimsy muslin dress no match for the fresh breeze that blew against her. Nothing happened. She waited and still silence filled the air. Where was he?
Turning around she began to step away from the door only to hear it swing open and a pair of strong arms grab her. She struggled and kicked and opened her mouth to scream but his hand clamped her lips shut.
Pulling her backwards into the darkened hallway he shoved her hard against the wall on the inside and kicked the door shut with his foot. Grabbing her dress he bunched it up high around her waist and slipped two fingers inside her dripping slit. She moaned against his hand and sagged against the cold wall. He had come for her after all. The relief almost made her dizzy as her now free hands began to fumble at the front of his breeches to free him from his constraints. Gripping his hard shaft in her hands she stroked him once and then again before he pushed her back and lifted her leg high, thrusting his shaft into her open body.
“You’ll do anything I want won’t you my love?” His whispered voice made her shiver as he thrust into her over and over, holding her there like a perverse butterfly on a pin.
“Yes master; I’ll do anything just tell me and I’ll do it.”
“You know which girl I want you to get?”
“Please not that. Please I don’t want to do that.” Her voice became strained as he pumped his body into hers, his hands roaming over her as his lips murmured against her neck.
“You know what I want and if you want this then you know what to do; get me the girl.”
He pulled free of her warm body just seconds before she felt him shudder against her. Warmth trickled down her legs as heavy, creamy cum spurted from his shaft.
“If you’d been a good girl I’d have let you have it in your mouth but you know what I want and then you’ll get what you want.” Pulling away from her he buttoned up his breeches once more and dropped her dress back down. He crushed his lips against hers in a punishing show of dominance.
“Now come along; I want you to bring some food to the other girls before you leave.”
Shame burned high on her cheeks but she nodded. Tears trickled down her face as she felt his cum and her own arousal mingling and coating her thighs as she followed him deeper into the house.
1825
Chapter One
Standing near the wall, Isabella fanned herself furiously. Why was her mother so insistent she attend these functions? Bodies pressed together in such a confined space always made her feel light headed.
The curtains from the French doors fluttered and she gulped in the small amounts of cold air that blew in her direction. Her mother sat with the other gossip mongers discussing whatever new scandal happened to pique their interest.
Lately all the ladies seemed to be talking about the spate of aristocratic young girls who were going missing. No seemed to have any idea where they were being taken to or even what was happening to them. The rumour mill had gone into over drive ever since the very first girl, Lady Anne Farley, had disappeared. It was said she had gone for a walk and had simply never returned. Her chaperone had never been found either. Her mother was so distraught by the whole affair it was said she had been confined to her bed on doctor’s orders. Since Anne, seven other girls had also vanished. The town was in an uproar.
Glancing at her mother once more to ensure she was engrossed in whatever juicy bit that was being spoken about, she turned and made for the French doors. Earl Braxton lightly stepped in front of her blocking her escape.
“My dear sweet Isabella, what luck to find you here. I do hope you’ll do me the pleasure of being my partner for dance six?”
Isabella glanced down at her empty card and sighed. Number six was the waltz; the first of two scandalous dances, the last of which rounded up the evening.
“It would make me very happy and I’m sure your parents would agree...”
She stared up into his cold dead blue eyes and feigned a smile,
“I’d be delighted Sir. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m feeling a little light headed.”
She hurriedly tried to brush past him but his hand on her arm prevented her. His grip was too strong for idle concern but not a trace of anything more than worry could be detected in his voice. “Oh dear, shall I escort you? It can’t be safe for a lady such as you to simply be wandering the gardens alone. Who knows what might happen, and with all the abductions?”
His words chilled her to the bone for reasons she couldn’t fathom.
“No, no don’t trouble yourself sir I shall be fine, I am simply going to stand out on the terrace for a few moments and then return.”
His hand dropped from her arm and with a chilling smile he let her pass.
Slipping through the opened doors she stood out on the stone steps. Breathing in deeply she could smell the late blooming jasmine. The gardens really did look lovely at night. Stepping lightly down the steps she strolled to a bench concealed near the rose bushes and sat down. Straightening her blue satin skirt, she closed her eyes and simply drank in the peace of the night.
She could just make out the faint strains of the orchestra from here; the waltz would be up next she realised. Being engaged to dance with Earl Braxton was the one thing she had hoped to avoid tonight, although her parents seemed to hope there would be a match. She however knew at all costs she would avoid being near him. Perhaps, she thought to herself, if she simply told him she had been feeling more unwell than she had first thought, he would accept her apologies.
If she was frank the Earl gave her chills; he was too cold and unfeeling and even his eyes had the appearance of something dead. And yet, when he looked at her she felt as though his mind was filled with thoughts beyond those a gentleman should have towards a lady.
Raised voices drew her attention to the entrance to the maze and as she watched she could make out the dark silhouette of a man and the smaller form of a lady. She knew she could not be seen where she was seated so she watched with interest as they argued quietly.
It wasn’t until the man reached out, grabbing the lady’s arm before beginning to drag her towards the dark recesses of the maze, that Isabella decided to intervene.
Standing up, her blue skirt flowing out beneath her as she strode towards the couple, she recognised the tearstained face of the lady as her friend Miss Susan Morley. She quickened her pace. They were almost lost to the darkness when she caught up to them.
“Susan is that you?” Her voice rang out clear in the quiet night air and she heard the man cursing under his breath as they both re-emerged from the dark arm in arm. The only indication of something being amiss was her friend’s blotchy face.
“Isabella is that you?” Her friend’s voice ended on a hiccup.
“Of course it is, your mother sent me to look for you and then I saw you with...”
Isabella stared up into the face of Earl Alexander Craven Treymane; one of the town’s most notorious rakes. She had known him many years before but their families had lost contact and now she stood before him once more awaiting the proper introductions. Dropping his arm away from Susan’s he sketched Isabella a deep bow.
His voice when he spoke murmured across her skin like a cold wind and she shivered in spite of herself.
“Earl Alexander Craven Treymane and you are?”
“Lady Isabella Stuart, Lord John Stuarts daughter,” her voice was clipped and icy and she dropped him a shallow curtsy.
The way he had behaved towards Susan made her deeply uncomfortable. She knew from personal experience how cruel he could be. Not only that but the stories the ladies whispered amongst each other was enough to make any lady wary of his motives and character. Susan should have known better than to be alone in the garden with him. A lady’s reputation was a fragile thing and so easily destroyed.
“Ahhh John Stuarts daughter, my, my you have grown up to be quite the beauty, haven’t you?”
The familiar manner he used to speak of her and her father caused her deep seated fear of him to resurface. He was the older of the Treymane brothers. who people referred to as twins because of their likeness. .
Many years before when Isabella had been a young girl of ten and five she had spent the summer in the country with her family.
It was there she had met the Treymane brothers for the first time; Alexander being the older of the two always seemed to be more of a bully. However, Christopher as she remembered had been caring and kind, and she had never laughed as much since spending time with him that summer.
Of course both brothers had been much older than her, being ten and seven and yet Christopher never seemed to mind her tagging along.
Her memories of the last night she had spent in their company was a happy one but it was that night, that had sealed her fear of Alexander.
The Treymanes, being a very well connected and respected family, often threw parties. That final evening a grand ball had been thrown in the Treymane country house. Isabella could remember vividly all the high society ladies in stunning dresses. Her mother had allowed her to attend but only because it was being held in the country; she was not allowed to attend balls in town because she had yet to debut. Both her and Christopher had grown bored with the serious conversations and many people ignored her because of her age so they had snuck off to steal treats from the kitchen.
It was the later events of that night that she always tried to block from her mind. But because of those events, she owed a great deal to Christopher. Since that summer she had never forgotten him and he never seemed to be far from her thoughts.
She often lay in bed at night and thought about him. At first she thought it was simply a childish crush but her feelings had never gone away. Perhaps even after all this time she was still in love with him.
She snapped back into the present and smiled thinly at Alexander, “And I see you haven’t changed a bit sir.”
“Oh dear, acerbic as always I see. It seems it’s just your body that has grown up, my dear Isabella. Your mind has not extended any further than the playground. However I will allow you your childish victory if you will allow me a dance later, perhaps the last waltz?”
Surprised by his quick turn in the conversation she searched for a suitable way to decline before blurting out, “I don’t want to.”
Shocked at her own lack of manners she sought to rectify the situation, “I’m simply not feeling well sir, it is why I came out here in the first place.”
He smiled and it reminded Isabella of the look a cat would give a bird before it ate it,
“I thought you said Miss Morley’s mother sent you to look for her?”
Damn him, she thought to herself before answering,
“Well I was feeling unwell and Mrs Morley asked me to keep a look out for her daughter when I came out here.” The lie slipped out so smoothly she almost believed it herself.
“Ah well then I shan’t bother either you or the delightful Miss Morley any longer.” As he turned to leave them, Isabella couldn’t resist asking him the one question that burned in her mind.
“Is Christopher here too?”
His face became dark and Isabella took an involuntary step back.
“I believe he may be somewhere around here or else he has already left. He finds these tedious events amusing since he returned from abroad.”
With that he turned on his heel and strode across the lawns, leaving the two women standing on their own in the chill night air.
“You know him?”
Susan’s quiet voice made Isabella jump; she had forgotten Susan was standing behind her, Turning back to her she spoke. “Yes, from when I was younger. Our fathers know one another and I met him when our families holidayed in the same area. I never liked him. I found him to be quite cruel when it suited him. Susan what happened? You were crying. That’s why I came over. What did he do?”
Susan simply shook and dropped her head choosing to stare at the ground instead.
“He did nothing wrong, I was just afraid of the dark.”
“Susan you can tell me, we are friends and you were sobbing. We all know what type of man he is; you to know the stories about him and his rakish ways. He grabbed your arm and dragged you into the maze. Why?”
“Do not always be so nosey Isabella! Not everything is your concern. He simply wanted to show me something of interest and I became afraid like some stupid child. I’m sure he hates me now. And then you simply had to swan in here and send him away.”
Isabella was shocked and hurt by the venom in her friend’s voice,
“Susan I did nothing wrong, I thought he was hurting you.”
“That’s always your problem, you always think too much of yourself. Well one of these days you’ll get your due.”
With that final comment she turned and hoisted her skirts, stalking away over the lawn, leaving Isabella to stare after her long time friend with an open mouth.
Why did Susan say all those things to her? Was she really as bad as she claimed? Isabella made her way dejectedly back towards the terrace as the questions swirled unanswered in her brain. She really had only been trying to help her friend. And Susan had not been behaving like someone who had simply been afraid of the dark. What exactly did she hope to gain by saying such horrid statements?
A black shadow fell across Isabella’s path as she slowly trudged up the stone steps towards the French doors. Startled she looked up and almost lost her footing from the steps, but a strong arm caught her before she did take a tumble.
“Isabella!”
His voice made her heart beat a little faster and her breath catch in her throat. True it had changed a little over the years, growing deeper and huskier but the way he said her name had not.
Their eyes met and Isabella felt a frisson of excitement pass through her.
“Christopher?”
His laugh felt like warm honey trickling down over her bare skin, felt more intimate than it should have.
“Izzie, it’s been what? Five or six years?”
“Much closer to ten.” She smiled back at him; his enthusiasm always had been so contagious, “you remember me?”
“Remember you? Of course I do, how could I ever forget the girl with the most wicked sense of mischief? We always were getting up to something or other... My god Izzie you’ve grown up so much.”
His eyes raked over her and she couldn’t stop the blush from creeping up over her cheeks.
“That’s what a decade will do for you; I’m not a girl anymore.”
“I can see that.”
His words hung there between them and it wasn’t until she looked away that the spell broken.
“I’m sorry that wasn’t very polite, it’s just that I overheard Alex talking to Earl Braxton. You remember Alex don’t you?”
“Yes; I met him earlier.”
“Just like him never to tell me anything important. So what have you been doing hiding yourself away all these years? You never replied to the letters I wrote you after that summer. I presumed you were busy?”
“Father travelled quite a lot after that summer but me busy?” She laughed, “busy with embroidery is it? But you wrote me letters? Christopher I never got them, if I had I’d have written back and my father just never went back to the country. Mother prefers now to take the waters in Bath. I simply get dragged along.”
“You never got them? That’s strange. Well I’ve found you now again.”
“Whatever have you been doing with yourself Christopher; it has been many years since I have seen you out in society?”
“Ah, I now own my father’s shipping business, he willed it to me before he died and it often takes me far from England. In fact I have only recently returned from abroad.”
The first strains of the waltz could be heard through the French doors and Christopher held his hand out to her.
“Did you ever get any better at dancing then? The last time we tried the waltz I was sure you had broken my foot.”
His smile was broad and filled with warmth and Isabella could feel her heart doing tiny summersaults in her chest.
Slapping him with her fan she couldn’t help but smile back at him. He always did know how to make her happy. Accepting his hand she let him lead her back into the large ballroom.
He swept her out onto the floor and straight into the rhythm of the waltz, never losing a step. He held her at the appropriate distance but she could feel his heat through the fabric of her dress.
“So you have been practicing then?”
“Naturally, it is only right that a high society lady should practice such things you know.”
She could feel eyes boring into her and as they did another turn on the floor she caught sight of Braxton and Alexander staring daggers from the edge of the floor.
“Your brother doesn’t look too happy.”
“Neither did Braxton.”
“Well I think that is my fault he was supposed to have the other waltz with me but I escaped to the gardens instead.”
“Ah and then you return with a handsome devil like me, well I can understand why they would seem unhappy.”
She couldn’t stop the laughter that bubbled out from her lips.
“God Izzie it’s been so long since I’ve seen you laugh like that.”
His eyes stared at her in a manner that unsettled her, as though he could see into her. It felt so right being in his arms.
The music came to an end and he escorted her from the floor and back towards where her mother was sitting.
“Perhaps I could call on you tomorrow and we might take a stroll out, catch up on everything we have missed? Well that is if the weather holds.”
“I’d like that Christopher, you and I had such fun. I missed being able to simply laugh with someone; everyone around me is so serious.”
“How about eleven then? Or is that too early?”
“No that’s perfect you can take tea with us if you’d like and then perhaps we can take a turn about the park?”
“Wonderful, eleven it is, your family still has the same house here in town?”
Smiling she answered him, “yes.”
“Well then until tomorrow Izzie I shall bid you a goodnight,” leaning in closer to her ear he whispered, “I missed you and your mother is staring.”
With an easy swagger he turned and bowed deeply to both her and her mother before adding, “Ladies.” He easily strolled away through the crowds.
“Who was that?” Her mother quizzed her the second she sat beside her.
“Lord Christopher Craven Treymane, we used to holiday with them years ago.”
“Oh.” Was all her mother could manage until later. When they sat together in the carriage, the tirade of questions began and Isabella fended them off as best as possible. All she wanted to do was sit in silence and bask in her own thoughts of Christopher.
Later that night as she lay in her bed she finally allowed her mind to wander back over her thoughts and memories of Christopher.
The way his skin turned a delicious honey colour in the sun and his dark brown hair always seemed to have more red in it in the light. She remembered the feel of his hand on hers as he would help her alight from a carriage or his hands on her waist as he lifted her from her mount. All the memories of him that she had stored and treasured tumbled into her mind because of their meeting.
The memory she treasured the most was her first kiss with Christopher all those years ago. It had simply happened the night of the grand ball. Christopher’s father had called him away for some type of business he had left unfinished and he had left her with Alexander.
Alexander had spent his time alone with her making snide comments about her and Christopher and how soon they wouldn’t be able to carry on the way they did. He had even tried to tell her that, that very night her father was finalising a contract for her to marry him, Alex, when she turned sixteen.
She never could believe that her father would be so cruel; even if Alex would be Earl when his father died she would not believe her father would simply marry her off without her consent. She remembered slapping him as hard as she could muster and the red imprint of her palm had risen quickly on his pale skin. Fear buzzed through her as the rage trembled through his body.
“You little bitch!” He spat at her causing her to flinch and step away from him.
“I’ll make you pay for that.” His hand had moved so quickly she didn’t have time to react as it simply smashed into her cheekbone and sent her reeling backwards into the desk.
The pain that ripped through her face had almost caused her to faint but she struggled to remain conscious as he advanced on her. Christopher had walked in on them then, his usually happy demeanour somewhat more subdued but he had quickly come to her aide.
“What happened? Izzie are you alright, can you hear me? What happened to her face?”
The last question was directed at Alexander who stood by; his rage just simmering below the surface.
“I fell...” Isabella’s voice was soft and quiet in the large room and yet it had seemed more like a shout. Alexander simply stood staring at her a cruel smile curved his lips before he agreed with her story.
“I think, Christopher, she must be feeling faint. She took quite the tumble. Should I go fetch her parents?”
“No. I think you should just leave, you’ve done enough.”
Christopher’s voice was icy as he spoke to his brother and Alexander strode from the room with a smirk on his face.
“Izzie, what really happened, you can tell me.”
She answered him as he helped her to the couch,
“I told you I fell, I must have gotten too warm and my head felt a little light and the next thing I knew I was slumped against the desk and you were here.”
Christopher’s warm fingers gently traced against the mark on her face before he carefully tilted her chin upwards.
“Christopher?...”
Her sentence was lost as he pressed his lips against hers in a feather light caress, his lips were soft and as he leaned in towards her she could smell his scent of clean citrus and leather. His hand slipped up to the back of her neck and he brushed his thumb against the nape of her neck. Shivers raced down her skin and he pulled away, a look of uncertainty crossing his face.
“Izzie, I’m sorry... I don’t know what came over me. God you must think me a complete rogue, you’ve almost passed out and I’m taking advantage of you.”
“No... I..” Her own answer was lost in the foray as her mother burst into the room quickly followed by Lady Treymane.
Lying there in the bed Isabella pressed her fingers against her own rosy lips as though she could still feel his kiss there after all these years. After that night she had never seen Christopher again, at least not until tonight. Her father had never given a reason as to why all contact was severed so abruptly.
Tossing in the bed she pulled her quilt higher up over her body and wished for sleep so that tomorrow might come all the quicker. She really was excited about seeing Christopher again, she realised. Closing her eyes she prayed for dreams of him.
Chapter Two
Christopher fidgeted with his cravat, tying and untying it over and over before his valet finally stepped in.
“Christopher, you’ve ruined the material with all your tugging, what has gotten into you this morning?”
“I’m not sure Steven; I think I’m just a bit nervous.”
The valets laugh filled the small dressing room.
“You nervous, oh it has to be about a woman so, who is she?”
“Am I truly that transparent?”
“Yes... but I have a feeling it’s because I’ve been your valet for the past ten years.”
“Aye I suppose it is, I really don’t think my brother knows me as well as you do.”
“With all due respect to the Earl I sometimes wonder if he even knows the true depths of himself sometimes. There is something dark inside that man and ever since you won the shipping business away from him he has it in for you. Although I suspect it was within him the entire time.”
Christopher stared at his valet, true he had been with him for ten years but Christopher really couldn’t believe his brother would have anything malicious inside him. There had always been some rivalry between them and his brother did seem to be jealous of his easy charm and happy nature. Surely though he wasn’t capable of such hateful feelings towards his own blood?
“I don’t believe that Steven, Alex isn’t capable of such feelings. Yes we have our moments but then don’t all siblings? He is my brother, blood connects us and I will not think ill of him.”
“I know all that, but you have been away for many years, time changes people greatly. I just can’t shake the feeling that there is something he buries deep within himself and that part of him despises everything you are. Jealousy is a terrible thing after all.”
He quickly finished the complex knot in the cravat and stepped back observing his handiwork.
“Hmmm I do believe she will find you tolerable.”
Christopher laughingly nodded his head in approval whilst observing his reflection,
“You don’t give up do you?”
“Not a chance but then it’s what makes me so good at my job; so who is she?”
Christopher fell silent for a few moments before answering,
“She is just the first girl I ever lost my heart to. Back when we were teenagers our families would spend holidays together, she and I were very close. I’d never known a girl like her; I still don’t if I am honest. We met again last night at the Robinson ball for the first time in ten years. She is every inch the lady but I can still see that familiar sparkle in her eye that tells me she is still the girl I knew. She’s grown into quite the beauty.”
Steven observed his friend and employer; he had never spoken about a woman in such a way before. Yes he had had his affairs and yet each one had ended amicably, his heart had never been ensnared.
Yet he meets this woman whom he hasn’t seen in ten years and he talks of her like a man in love. Well, he would think that if he didn’t know any better.
Steven rolled his eyes and brushed the lint from Christopher’s dark blue day coat.
“Some ladies can be quite the beauties; if I didn’t know better I’d say you had feelings for her.”
Christopher began to laugh and turned away from the mirror.
“She is simply an old friend of mine who also happens to be quite beautiful; I have simply missed her company is all. That is the reason for my nervous behaviour earlier.”
Pulling his watch from his pocket he glanced at the time ten thirty, if he didn’t leave now he would be late.
“I bid you and your imagination a good day Steven.”
Strolling to the door he left the valet laughing.
A few moments later he stood on the front steps of his town house, the sky had a look of rain but he decided to walk. The air would do his head good no doubt. He began to stroll down the pavement when a familiar voice drew his attention.
“Christopher where are you off to so early in the morning? I was just coming to talk to you.”
His brother’s voice drew his attention to the other side of the street where he stood. His usually cold manner was even frostier than usual, Christopher thought, waiting for him to join him.
Alex sauntered to his side his cane clicking ominously against the pavement, he looked as though he had not yet returned home. His clothes were rumpled and his face looked as though it had not yet seen a razor.
“Alex it’s a surprise to see you here so early? It must be something terribly important if you want to talk to me at this time.”
“It depends on what you thought was important little brother, I saw you with Miss Stuart last night.”
“And?”
Christopher’s voice held a note of impatience as he waited for his brother to continue.
“Would you really have us discuss it here in the street Christopher, I thought you more of a gentleman than that.”
“Fine then Alex but make it quick I have a prior engagement.”
Christopher strode ahead of his brother who strolled along behind him, his cane clicking against the concrete with each step.
Bounding up the steps and in the front door he made it into his study a few paces ahead of his brother.
Sitting down at the large oak desk he watched as his brother threw himself down onto the leather couch across the room. Alex closed his eyes and lay there for a few minutes until Christopher cleared his throat.
“Alex you said you had something to tell me?”
“Hmm, oh yes. Who were you off to see this morning?”
“I really don’t see how that is any of your business Alex or that it has anything to do with the reason for you being here.”
“Ah, but you see there now you’re wrong. A little birdie told me you were going to see her.”
Christopher chose not to rise to his brothers goading.
“I really don’t know who ‘she’ is Alex? I don’t know any lady who could simply be described as a ‘she’.”
“Ah but the one I am referring to cannot really be called a ‘lady’. Isabella Stuart. You were off to see her this morning were you not?”
“Alex I won’t have you call Isabella anything less than a lady, you know perfectly well that she is a lady through and through.”
An anger that Christopher had never known existed within him bubbled to the surface, he couldn’t bear to think that his brother would refer to her in such a manner.
“Ahh, well now it all becomes clear doesn’t it little brother; I see she has you ensnared. A short hour in her company and she has you wrapped up like next year’s Christmas present.
My, my but she doesn’t waste time, but then she never did. A few years ago she propositioned me; begged me to take her under my wing. And now she has been doing the same thing to Braxton.
She’s not the girl you knew all those years ago Chris; though if I am honest I suspected something amiss in her even then. And you dear brother have been away; how would you know what she had now become? I have been here in the thick of it; ask Braxton if you don’t believe me, your brother.”
“Alex you are talking in riddles; I refuse to believe she has been doing all these things. And she has not done anything to me, she is simply a friend I had years ago. A friend that I was going to call upon this morning.”
“Yes, you keep telling yourself that Christopher but you can only bury your head in the sand for so long. I am telling you the truth Chris and this woman is bad news; don’t fall for her charms.
Braxton and I are not the only men she has tried to trick you know; and I saw her for what she was, a gold digging Miss. I refused her I didn’t want anything to do with her ilk.”
Christopher sat back against his leather chair, stunned into silence by his brother’s words. It just didn’t seem possible, that Isabella would be like that after all these years but then why would his brother lie to him?
“Perhaps I should go talk to her about it?”
He watched as his brother idly picked at his nails his body sprawled across the leather couch every inch the gentleman at leisure.
“And do you really think she’s going to admit to all of this? Don’t be so naive Christopher she’s going to tell you it’s all a pack of lies and you will probably believe her. She’s good at what she does.
Why do you think she has never married in all the years she has been on the scene. By all accounts her debut was a massive success, she was one of the season’s sweethearts and yet still not married.
Don’t be foolish, I think you’ve had a damn lucky escape if you ask me. She’ll get her comeuppance and it would be better if the family name had no associations with her. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Christopher heard his brothers words but he wasn’t really listening, he still couldn’t fathom how she could be all the things his brother was saying she was.
“Well I’ll leave you to think about it and I’ll see myself out. Don’t fret too much Christopher, you’ll be alright.”
“Fine.”
Was all he could muster to say to his brother’s retreating back, sitting in the silent study he checked his watch eleven o’clock. It seemed a little early to reach for the brandy decanter but he found himself with a glass of the ruby liquid in his hand anyway.
He wouldn’t go to see her just yet, but when he had time to think over what his brother had imparted to him then he would confront her.
Gulping the brandy down he poured another glass but no matter how many he drank he couldn’t quell the disappointment and the strange hurt he felt about the whole situation.
Chapter Three
Isabella paced the floor. Not even a note explaining why he hadn’t come. This wasn’t like Christopher at all. The morning had come and gone and evening had now begun to set in and still no word from him. Perhaps something had happened to him but surely if it had she would have heard by now. That type of news would burn through town like a wild fire and everyone would have heard of it within an hour of it happening.
No, he clearly just didn’t want to come see her and last night had been little more than his way of being polite. She slumped into a heap on the chaise lounge and lay back just as her mother swept into the room in a cloud of heavy French perfume.
“Isabella! Why are you not ready? We are due at the Rice’s house for their soiree at eight and it is now six, it takes time to get ready as you should well know!”
“I’m not going, I feel quite unwell and it is not as though I shall be missing the highlight of the season.”
Her mother’s face was filled with outrage at her announcement and her voice was clear and commanding. “You will get up those stairs and get changed immediately. Even if I have to drag you there myself you will go and you will put a smile on your face and engage Braxton in polite conversation if he is in attendance. And no more of your silly games, avoiding him and then insulting him. Don’t think I didn’t notice how you walked away from him and slipped off to the gardens. Sometimes I wonder do you ever want to get married.”
“But, mother I...”
Her mother shot her a withering look which froze the words on her tongue and sent her to her room to get changed.
Well even if her mother did force her to go she still would not encourage that odious man, as a matter of fact if she could avoid him completely she would. Perhaps Christopher would be there and if he was how would she react? She liked to think she could be distant and cool, if he did not want to have anything to do with her then she could do the same to him.
Melissa bustled into the room and began unbuttoning the soft green day dress Isabella had worn in anticipation of his visit.
“He didn’t come?” Melissa asked her voice filled with sympathy. Although she was her maid the two women had grown up together and had become close friends. They had dispensed with formality years before and now knew each other as well as one could expect from best friends.
“No.”
Isabella’s voice spoke volumes and Melissa squeezed her shoulders in an act of understanding.
“Perhaps he got waylaid by business or family matters; I don’t think he did it on purpose.”
“But what if he did, what if last night was simply his way of being polite to a girl he knew years before. But he really had no interest in seeing me, why could he not even have sent a note telling me he wouldn’t be able to make it or that he didn’t want to. That way I would have something more concrete than this... this nothing.”
The air puffed out of her and she leaned back against her friend. “Perhaps he’ll be there tonight and you’ll get your answer, I really don’t think it was because he didn’t want to see you. Wouldn’t it have been more polite not to say he would call on you? I remember how you two were together all those years ago, like two peas in a pod and I doubt it’ll be any different today. Just you wait and see.”
Melissa helped her slide out of the dress and slip into the evening gown of dove grey silk, her quick deft fingers made short work of the intricate buttons along the back. It wasn’t long before she had completed her toillete.
Melissa had rearranged her dark brown curls into an elegant chignon with several tendrils of dark silky locks falling onto her creamy skin.
“Thank you Mel, I think you must have magic fingers for I couldn’t do that with my hair if you left me here for a week.”
Melissa’s laugh was warm and vibrant as she gathered up the stray hair clips and folded away the morning gown.
“Do you really think he didn’t mean it?”
Melissa’s voice was soft in her answer. “Do you really care if he did or did not?”
Isabella thought for a few moments running her mind back over her thoughts from the night before and their impromptu reunion.“I suppose in a strange way I do. I want him to want to spend time with me, I think.”
Melissa smiled before pulling her into a tight hug. “Well then you go give him what for and demand your explanation. After all it’s the least you deserve.”
“I suppose I shall have to but I am afraid I won’t like the answer.”
“Well that is just a risk you shall have to take but don’t be too disappointed if he isn’t there tonight. You will have other opportunities remember that.”
“I would be lost if I didn’t have you as my friend Mel.”
Stepping away from her she gave her reflection one more glance and patted the curls down into place before making her way to the door. “Don’t wait up; I don’t know how long this will go on for.”
“You know I will anyway if only to hear the gossip.”
Melissa winked as Isabella left the room smiling and made her way down the stairs, checking the time on the grandfather clock. It was just half past seven.
Her mother stood waiting impatiently in the hall for her. “If you took much longer I was going to send a search party up looking for you. Come along, you know how antsy Marion Rice gets when her guests are late, we’ll never hear the end of it.”
Her mother swept out the open door, down the steps and into the waiting carriage as Isabella lifted her cloak on to ward against the chill night air. Walking swiftly she followed her mother and soon they were on their way in uneasy silence.
The carriage drew to a halt outside the Rice’s townhouse and her mother grabbed her arm in a vice-like grip. “You had better keep in mind what I said earlier about the earl. I want to see you making more of an effort. He is too good a match to simply let him slip through your fingers and I won’t watch you waste your life. Girls at your age should be married with families of their own and you should be grateful that he is paying so much attention to you.”
Isabella tried to shift out of her mother’s grip but it became tighter. “Mother it is my life and if I do not wish to marry Braxton then I won’t.”
Her mother’s bitter laugh filled the small confines of the carriage before once more her face grew serious. “Child you have been given long enough to find yourself a suitable husband and so now you will marry whoever your father and I say you will marry and that is an end to it.” With that she lifted her hand free and signalled for the footman to open the door.
Isabella could feel the colour burning in her cheeks. How dare her mother treat her like an ignorant child? Why had it become so desperately important for her to marry?. The humiliation and the questions burned in her mind as she followed her mother inside.
She drifted through the initial introductions curtsying where necessary and smiling and nodding. Glancing around she breathed a sigh of relief that Braxton was nowhere to be seen. That, however, didn’t mean that he wouldn’t turn up. She hoped that this type of soiree would be far too boring for a man such as him.
Her relief was to be short-lived when Alexander appeared at her elbow. “Ah so you are here too, small world wouldn’t you agree Isabella.”
Her mother shot dagger looks at her before turning back to her conversation with Lady Marion Rice. It seemed her mother would be happy if she snared just any earl.
“Not particularly sir. Tonight’s event is marked out on the social calendar as one of the main parties to attend. I would be expecting everyone to be here though I had thought it might be a little tame for some.”
“Are you waiting for Braxton?”
His question caught her off guard and she fought hard to retain her false smile. Did everyone know her mother had high ideas? “And why would I be waiting for Earl Braxton, we have no prior arrangement to meet here?”
“Well then you won’t mind taking a turn about the room with me then will you?”
Holding his arm out to her she was forced to smile politely and loop hers over his as they began the slow walk around the room.
“I see you found Christopher after all last night. Quite the pair you two make.”
A blush swept up across her cheeks and disappeared into her hair. “Yes as I was on my way back inside we bumped into each other on the terrace. I can’t believe how much time has passed.”
“Well you wouldn’t really know any time had passed between you two, you seem to have picked up where you left off. I really would be careful how public you make your... relationship. It would be very damaging to both of your reputations but yours more so than Christopher’s; he is after all a notorious rake.”
“I really don’t understand what you are insinuating, nor do I wish to. I find what you have just said to be very insulting.”
Isabella wanted to pull her arm away from Alexander and slap him, how dare he say such things to her.
“Ah Isabella don’t react that way, you know it is just some friendly advice I am giving you, it is for your own good. Truly what you do is your business but when it involves my brother I feel the need to protect him. I do not want our family name to be dragged through the mud.”
The smile on his face never faltered but his voice had dropped to just above a whisper and Isabella could feel it run through her blood like ice.
“I can assure you sir I have no intention of dragging anyone’s name through the mud as you so aptly described, least of all Christopher’s.”
“Good then it is settled, I do however have an idea that you may feel inclined to accept. I happen to know for a fact that Braxton would love to see you as his, be that in marriage or in another way.
He is seeking to be married but the man is a scoundrel and I am his friend saying that. Now if you were to become my paramour I could protect you from that. We would of course be discreet and you would simply retire from society to a house in the country that I would provide.
I could give you everything you ever wanted and in return you would give me what I require.”
Isabella’s face could no longer hide her shock and disgust and this time she did pull her hand from his arm as though he had burned her. “Sir you have gone too far, I am not nor shall I ever be that type of character, I am a Lady and I would beg you to remember that when you speak to me!”
Alexander’s laugh lit up his face and for a split moment she could see how he and Christopher were twins but it disappeared as quickly as it arrived. “I like the passion that it evokes in you; I wonder would you be as passionate to my touch? However as you say you are a Lady and perhaps one day you shall reconsider my offer. Alas, as much as I would love to continue our debate I cannot; if you will excuse me sweet Isabella I must leave you to your own devices.”
Taking her hand in his and bowing low over her in a mocking gesture he pressed his lips to the back of her hand; lingering just a moment longer than was polite. And then he was gone weaving through the crowd leaving Isabella to stare after him in mute shock.
How could he say such things to her? How did he have the nerve to say it in a room filled with people? However, he had said it so only she would hear it.
The man changed so quickly; one second warning her away from his brother and the illicit affair he suspected them of having and the next propositioning her for that very same thing. The only difference being, that he would play the leading man and not Christopher.