In the Garden of Temptation (31 page)

Daniel was the first to speak. “You do not
trust that man?”

“
He’s Edgar’s servant, not
mine. I don’t care for him. The feeling is mutual.”

She was not thinking about what she said, for
her mind was occupied with the frightful prospect of trying to
seduce her guest. She had played the “come-hither” game with Adam,
but she had been powerfully attracted to him, and her effort was
more instinctual than calculating.

The viscount proved another matter entirely.
Not that he wasn’t handsome. He was. And he appealed to her with
his kind, gentle nature and genuine concern for others. Given a
different set of circumstances, she might have been tempted. Still,
Daniel was the earl’s closest friend and it did not seem right.

Unfortunately, she must give it a go. She
peeked through her lashes at the viscount and smiled prettily.
“Let’s not talk about that awful man. There are so many more
interesting things we could discuss,” she purred.

Lord Wimberly’s jaw fell open and his eyes
glazed over. He swallowed several times, clearing his throat. “I
say, I’m not certain what you mean.”

Whether she was encouraged by his confusion
or simply had a need to get on with it, she couldn’t decide, but
suddenly she turned her face to his and kissed him directly on the
lips.

The deed was clumsily done, but Lord Wimberly
must have found the contact pleasant enough, for after a moment’s
hesitation, he drew her into his arms and took the initiative. For
several moments he held her captive then leaned away from her,
clearly taking her measure.

His breathing was ragged as he gazed at her.
Evidently satisfied with what he saw, Daniel moved to take her
mouth again and, as he did, peered into her eyes. He pulled back as
though someone had dashed cold water in his face.

“
Why?”
he whispered in a pained voice. “You don’t want to, I can see
it. So why?”

Catherine felt her cheeks burn with
mortification. Her lip began to tremble and she took it between her
teeth.

“
I can only imagine what you
must think of me.” She stared down at her hands, too shamed to look
at him.

“
I think you one of the
loveliest women I’ve ever met,” he said, and he sounded as if he
meant what he said. “I admit you’ve taken me by
surprise.”

“
I knew it wouldn’t work.
I’m no good at this sort of thing.”

“
You’re very good at it, my
dear.” His tone was rueful in acknowledgment of his recent
weakness.

She did not answer, continuing to watch her
fidgeting fingers.

Daniel leaned his head down and looked her
directly in the face. “I know we are only casual acquaintances, and
you might not feel you can trust me, but I would like to help if it
is in my power.”

“
It’s hopeless—no one can
help.” She shook her head as she raised her gaze to his.

“
Wouldn’t you at least like
to speak of it? I would be happy to listen if that is all you
require. Sometimes unburdening one’s soul can be a tremendous
relief.”

To her horror she began to cry. The kindness
in Lord Wimberly’s voice unleashed a torrent of tears, and despite
her best effort she could not stem the flow. The gentleman took her
in his arms, his manner brotherly now, and he spoke in a soothing
monotone until her weeping was reduced to a few watery
hiccoughs.

“
I’ve ruined the front of
your coat,” Catherine lamented as she pulled away from him and
surveyed the damage.

“
Never lost a coat to a
better cause.” He smiled and sat back, plainly waiting.

“
It’s Edgar—always has been,
right from the start.” She swallowed. “It’s such a long story. Are
you certain you want to hear it?”

“
I would be honored if you
would confide in me, my lady.”

Why she should trust him, she did not know.
Perhaps she wanted his understanding. She had no idea what Adam had
said about her, but Daniel didn’t seem suspicious of her conduct,
and that gave her hope. The opportunity to talk to someone was
irresistible, and she found herself pouring out years of suppressed
anguish. He listened wordlessly, without judgment, until the clock
had traveled through most of the night.

The couple emerged from the seclusion of the
parlor just as the gray of dawn lit up the shadows.

“
Come with me,” she said. “I
have someone I would like you to meet.”

Catherine took the viscount by the hand and
led him to the staircase. They attained the second floor landing
and, putting an index finger to her lips to signal the need for
quiet, she pulled him to a little room at the end of the hall. A
plump nursemaid dozed in an overstuffed chair in one corner of the
nursery, and she jumped as they entered.

“
My lady, you surprised me,”
the nursemaid whispered, coming to her feet. “Is there something I
can do for you?”

“
No, Mary, I want to show
Lord Wimberly our little darling. Please, give us a
moment.”

“
Aye, my lady, I’ll be close
if you need me.”

Catherine nodded absently and turned to the
crib that occupied one wall. Daniel peered over her shoulder as she
looked down into the small bed at the tiny person who lay nestled
there. A great pair of shining blue eyes stared back at them in the
semidarkness, and the baroness smiled in pleasure.

“
Why you little scamp, I was
certain you’d be asleep,” Catherine said in hushed tones, and she
reached into the crib and plucked the warm, sweet-smelling infant
from the blankets. “Since you’re awake, come and meet our guest.
Lord Wimberly, I would like to introduce you to my daughter,
Annabelle.”

“
Charmed, I’m
sure.”

Daniel clicked his heels together and bowed
slightly, and after a moment’s hesitation, the baby rewarded him
with a toothless, dimpled grin. The viscount beamed hugely in
return.

He sobered then and turned his gaze on the
child’s mother. “She has her father’s coloring—his eyes for
certain.”

“
Yes,” Catherine said after
a moment.

Even if she had not said that Annabelle was
Adam’s child, how could Daniel not be aware of it? The evidence was
right in front of him.

“
He has the right to know of
her existence, Catherine. You do him a grave injustice to leave him
ignorant.”

For the first time, she noted censure in his
voice. “Why do you think he would want to know? If he were to care,
it would only make him miserable. And to be honest, I don’t think
he would care. He hates me, you see.”

“
He doesn’t hate you,” he
stated impatiently. “He’s angry and rightly so. You’ve not let him
make his own decision.”

“
Lady Ashworth told me it
would be the kindest thing not to give him a choice.”

“
You spoke with Adam’s
mother?”

“
Yes, I did.”

“
Did she know there was a
child?”

Catherine nodded. “I think that’s what upset
her most. She called the baby a bastard.” She swallowed.

“
My God!” He shook his head.
“No wonder you gave up. She’s a formidable old witch when she wants
her way.”

“
I still think it would be
best not to burden Adam with all this—after all, what can he do
when all is said and done?”

“
Perhaps nothing, but he is
a grown man, and I believe he should be given the
facts.”

She turned from him and placed the baby in
the crib. “I don’t know what to tell Edgar,” she said over her
shoulder.

He looked confused. “About
what? Oh, you mean regarding our
tete-a-tete
of this evening? You tell
him all went swimmingly.”

“
Do you really think I
should?” She straightened and faced him again.

“
Absolutely. Don’t give it a
second thought—self-protection and all that.”

She shrugged. “It only grants me a little
time. The snare is loosened for awhile, but it doesn’t release
me.”

He took her by the shoulders as he searched
her features in the growing light. “I’ll not desert you, I promise.
I will come back. We’ll keep the pretense up as long as we can, and
then we’ll think of something else. You must not give up hope. It
is your most unswerving ally.”

Catherine felt the ever-present tears sting
her eyes. “Why would you do this for me?”

“
Because the man who is like
a brother to me is in love with you, and I know he would want me to
help. And,” he admitted in a wry voice, “I think I’m a bit in love
with you myself.”

Taken aback, she could think of nothing to
say.

“
No need to worry.” He
grinned engagingly. “Adam and I always did have the same taste in
women. You take care now, do you hear?” He dropped a kiss on her
cheek. “I will not forget, trust me.”

And then he was gone.

*****

CHAPTER 11

Daniel did not sleep after he left Catherine.
As the sun came over the horizon, he slipped from the castle and
headed for the stables. He was grateful that he didn’t have to bid
his host farewell for, he was so repulsed by all he had seen and
heard, he did not know if he could be civil to the man. Daniel
consoled himself with the hope that his furtive departure would
lend credence to the suggestion that Catherine and he had commenced
an affair.

He stepped into the murky stable and signaled
his horse with a short, sharp whistle. The animal whinnied nearby.
Within moments the horse was saddled and, grasping the reins in one
hand, Daniel strode out of the building.

“
Lord Wimberly?”

Daniel jerked his head up and his gaze lit on
an elderly man who stood a few feet away. “Yes—who wants to
know?”

“
I’m Brown, my lord, Lord
Bourgeault’s groom.”

“
What can I do for you,
Brown?”

“
Word came from the house
that you paid my lady a visit yesterday.”

Daniel eyed the man curiously. “This is
true.”

“
Do you wish my lady
well?”

“
Of course, I
do.”

“
I would ask that you take a
message to the Earl of Ashworth. He said he would help if ever I
feared for my lady’s safety. Do you know of him?”

“
She’s in danger?” Daniel
asked in sudden alarm, ignoring the man’s question.

The groom took a moment to answer. “The
master, he’s strange in the head. Most times he seems right enough,
other times I’m not so sure. He’s been having ‘spells’ of
late.”

“
Spells?
Explain.”

“
Starts with drinking,
actually. He works himself into a state and can’t be reasoned with.
And then he turns on her.”

“
Lady
Bourgeault?”

Brown nodded. “He’s mighty jealous of her.
I’m afraid one day he’s going to hurt her and the babe.”

“
I thought the baron had an
affliction which kept him from getting physical.”

The groom snorted in disgust. “It don’t take
nothing to pick up a poker or hurl an object, my lord.”

“
You make a good point,”
Daniel admitted. “I do know Lord Ashworth, and I intend to see him.
I also sense a threat to your mistress, and if the earl does not
come I will return. I’ve no intention of allowing anything to
happen to Lady Bourgeault.”

The hour was advanced when the viscount
reached London. For the second night he had gone without rest, but
worry kept him from seeking the comfort of his bed. He turned his
horse in the direction of Berkeley Square.

Ames answered the door and, though he
obviously had been sleeping, his usual unperturbed dignity was
firmly in place.

“
Lord Wimberly, it is good
to see you,” the butler greeted, his affection unmistakable after
long years of association.

“
How do, Ames? I’m sorry to
barge in so late, but I really must see your master. Is he
in?”

“
His lordship usually does
not arrive home until daylight. Perhaps he came home earlier and I
was unaware. Make yourself comfortable in the library, and I will
see if he has returned.”

Daniel wandered down the hall. Upon entering
the library, he spied the brandy decanter resting on a mahogany
table next to the sofa. He poured himself a measure. Probably a
mistake considering his extreme fatigue, but he was wound as tight
as a spring and needed to relax. He took a big slurp, and the
alcohol burned a trail all the way to his unsuspecting stomach. It
was an amazingly fine feeling, and he sighed with pleasure.

“
Lord Ashworth has not yet
arrived, my lord.”

The viscount turned to the butler who had
reappeared in the doorway. “I’ll wait,” he said in resignation.

“
I will direct him to you
when he arrives.”

Daniel waved him away. “Go back to bed, man.
I’ll listen for him myself. I apologize for disturbing your
sleep.”

Daniel made himself to home in an old leather
chair, clearly kept for its comfort and not its beauty, in
preparation for how ever long it might take. The brandy made the
inevitable interlude tolerable. Three glasses of the fine liquor
found him slumbering, his snores echoing about the empty corridors
of the bottom floor of the mansion.

*****

“
My God! It sounds as though
a herd of cattle has decided to make its way through my house. No
wonder you’re not married yet—no woman could sleep with that
racket.”