Love Letters (9 page)

Cynthia laughed. “What? No…no…”
Was
she?

“Merely a thought.”
Her attention slid to the area beyond Cynthia’s shoulder and Belle sighed. “Your aunt is coming, which means it’s my time to leave.” She dropped into a quick curtsey then scurried away.

“Cynthia,” Auntie hissed. Suddenly she was there, grasping onto her arm and jerking her forward. “I told you not to talk to that servant.”

Belle was hardly a servant, but she knew it was pointless to argue that fact.

“Two dances only, understand? No matter how persuasive he may be, only two dances. Then have him escort you back to me and we’ll take our leave.”

“Yes, Mum.”

She paused and looked directly into Cynthia’s eyes; the woman’s hatred was almost palpable. “You owe me this much. If not for us, you would have been sent to an orphanage. We took you in, of our own good will.”

“Yes, Mum,” Cynthia replied, ignoring the burn of shame that twisted her gut.

What else could she say? That at times she would have preferred the orphanage to the hatred she’d found with her family?

Her aunt smirked.
“Wonderful, because he’s coming this way.”

Cynthia spun around, the skirt of her dress flaring wide. Sure enough, Gabriel was strolling toward her, guests scurrying out of his way. He was lean, elegant, and his confident pace spoke of an arrogance only a man who’d been titled his entire life could hold. He was completely and utterly above her station.

Those silver eyes shone through his black mask and pinned her, like an animal stalking prey. Instinct told her to turn, to hide,
to
flee. But she couldn’t. She would stand her ground. She would lie about who she was, and she would savor every moment.

Cynthia had loved Gabriel Baston after reading that first letter and she knew, without a doubt, her heart would break because of it.

********

There was one thing Gabriel Baston was sure of; he couldn’t trust bloody anyone. That included his soon to be fiancé. Oh, he’d trusted her for the past couple years; she’d given him hope through her sweet and emotional letters that they’d have a marriage of more than just convenience.

But since he’d arrived in London, after traveling abroad for years, he’d come to the conclusion that Helen was completely and utterly different from the woman she’d portrayed herself to be. Helen annoyed and fascinated him.
But mostly annoyed.

He never knew what he’d find when visiting the woman; sweet and shy, or flirtatious and silly. For some men, he supposed the mystery would be exciting. But for him, it was bloody exhausting. Even tonight, across a crowded ballroom, he could tell that once again, Helen was acting oddly. That arrogant tilt of her chin was missing.
That smugness gone.
She seemed like a deer at the end of a hunting rifle.

Usually, she adored attention.
But not tonight.
Tonight she was attempting to hide behind a potted palm, although her mother was doing her best to pull her onto the floor. Earlier he was sure he’d spotted her spying on him from behind a marble column. Spying, for God’s sake!

Gabriel frowned and snatched a glass of champagne from a passing tray. He nodded his appreciation to the footman and then downed the disgusting, bubbly liquid. Steeling his resolve, he set the empty flute on a tray as another servant swept by.

She was up to something. Yes, he’d be a fool to trust her. He still couldn’t quite comprehend what had happened between that last letter and his first visit with her. For two years now she’d written him wonderful, beautiful letters. She’d bared her soul in those missives. He thought he knew her. He’d bared his soul in his as well. He’d discussed his feelings toward his father.
The admittance that he hated the city.
He’d completely and utterly destroyed his reputation as an uncaring cad.

When he’d arrived in London only a few months ago, he’d expected to connect with her immediately. Instead she’d been cold, aloof,
silly
. Hell, he’d more spark with that quiet and demure companion of hers. Cynthia. She was the complete opposite of Helen. And after a half an hour of silly chatter from Helen, she was a breath of fresh air.
  

Bloody hell, he didn’t understand women in the least.

“Kennwick!
Lad, how are you?”

Gabriel resisted the urge to sigh. He’d wanted to dance the required two dances with Helen and leave, retire to his townhome where he could think about his soon to be fiancé and his confusing feelings toward her. Lord Roberts slapped him on the back, nearly sending him stumbling forward. The robust man acted the fool with too many drinks, like most men. Roberts usual pale face was ruddy, his hair messy. He gave Gabriel an irritating wink.

“Going to visit your fiancé?” He patted his belly, bloated with age and too much whiskey. “Aww, now she’s a looker, she is.” He leaned closer, his foul breath fanning Gabriel’s neck. “But you know who I’d like to get my hands on? That quiet companion of hers. I have a feeling she’d be a tigress in bed.” Annoyed, Gabriel started forward, but not quick enough to avoid the second slap, a loud whack to his shoulder. “See what you can do about that, won’t you lad?”

Gabriel curled his fists, his anger boiling.
Bastard.
He wanted to hit the man. Instead he merely gave him a tight smile and continued on. Cynthia certainly deserved better than Roberts. He’d only seen her three times, always sitting quietly while he talked with Helen. But he knew enough to know she was a sweet girl, kind, shy. She deserved a nice farmer…no.
A Vicar?
No, he had a feeling she had some fire underneath her quiet façade. She deserved…perhaps a baron. Someone who would respect her, dress her in fine things.

He wasn’t an idiot, he’d noticed the few times he’d visited Helen that Cynthia wasn’t treated well. It certainly wasn’t uncommon for companions to be ignored. But he’d see an end to it once they married. He wouldn’t have her treated as a servant, as he’d been treated as a child, forgotten, invisible. No one deserved to be treated that way.

The closer he got to Lady Hogar, the more suspicious he became. She was angry with her
daughter, that
was obvious. Was she actually pinching her? How very odd! Disgusted, he almost turned to leave. He felt no connection to the woman who would be his mother-in-law. He supposed she wasn’t bad to look at, but she was flamboyant, annoying,
greedy
.
Completely opposite of his mother’s cold demeanor, yet just as bad.
A woman to be endured until he and Helen were married,
if
they married.

“My Lord!”
The older woman chimed at his approach, giving him an overly wide smile that ate up half her narrow face.
“How wonderful to see you.”
She nudged her elbow into Helen’s side.

The girl dropped into a quick curtsey. Her bosom practically popped from the low neckline of her garish red gown. From what he could tell, simplicity was not Helen’s choice of fashion. Yet, still, he remembered Helen being rather flat in the chest area. Amazing and wonderful, what corsets could do. He lifted his gaze to her face, but could see little through the black veil posing as a mask.

“My lord,” she muttered, her soft voice barely audible over the music and conversation surrounding them.

“Have you come to dance?” Lady Hogar asked
,
pushing her daughter forward before Gabriel had a chance to answer.

Helen fell into him, her body soft and warm and wonderful. He forced his thoughts to remain pure, forced his body not to harden at the contact. His opinion would not be swayed by a lovely body. His hands clasped her upper arms, holding her steady.

Her shimmering red hair caught the candle light and practically glowed. Lighter in color than he remembered, but then he hadn’t seen her in months.

“Of course.
I would love to dance,” he said. She was staring at his jacket, acting the timid mouse. What was her game?
“If she’ll have me.”

Lady Hogar laughed an annoying shrill, nervous sound. “Of course she’ll have you.”

Helen smelled different, he realized. Not the heavy, suffocating French perfume she usually wore, but something soft, sweet, natural.
Something that quite stirred his blood.
Perhaps he’d been too quick to dismiss their relationship.
 

“What say you,” he whispered to the top of her head. “Will you have me?”

She looked up briefly through the lace, her eyes a flash of blue like a cloudless summer sky, and he felt her glance like a torch, burning his skin.

“Yes,” she whispered.

He swallowed hard, forcing down the warning heat that taunted his body. Something was odd. Something was different. Something was wrong. Yet, he couldn’t seem to care at the moment. All he cared about was touching her. She was a beautiful woman and from the first moment he’d seen her, he’d been interested. But tonight, tonight with her lush body in his arms, he suddenly felt as if he
must
have her. He slid her arm through his and led her toward the dance floor. Her steps were soft beside him, soft and hesitant.

Why did he feel as if he was a wolf leading a lamb to slaughter? He pulled her close, one hand resting on her back, the feel of her silky gown making him think all sorts of lustful thoughts, the other hand clasping her gloved fingers in his. She didn’t look at him, but continued to stare at the buttons of his jacket. The music started, giving him an excuse to pull her closer, twirling her into a waltz. Closer than was appropriate, so close, those soft breasts brushed against his chest in an erotic way with each step they took. Suddenly the entire world fell away and only they were on that floor, dancing.

“There’s something different about you.”

She started and missed a step. His grip around her waist tightened as he pulled her closer, chest to chest, hips to hips. His cock stirred to life, desire pulsing through him. Blast, but how he wished he could see her face. Rip that ridiculous lace mask from her features. As it was, her eyes were shaded, her lush mouth barely visible. He had no idea what she was thinking.
 

“Nothing different,” she blurted out.

“Nonsense, you’re acting odd.”

She looked down, left, right, anywhere but at him. Like a newborn kitten, the woman actually trembled in his embrace.

Any desire he felt turned to pure annoyance. He was tired of her games. She either wanted him or not and he’d be damned if he’d wait until after marriage to find out. He twirled her into a particularly dizzying spin. With her balance off, he took the opportunity to lean close, his lips brushing the delicate shell of her ear. “When our dance is over, you’ll meet me in the garden.”

She gasped, finally looking up at him. “But…but it’s raining!”

“Barely a drizzle.
There’s a folly. Go to it.”

“But…but my silk gown will be ruined.”

He smiled briefly. “I shall buy you a new one.”

She continued to frown. And her frown was not a good sign at all. She didn’t want to meet him. She didn’t want to be alone with him. Had he mistaken the connection in their letters? He watched her as he
twirled,
her fine figure elegant. She was made to dance. Would she be just as elegant in bed?

The thought sent his heart racing, his breath coming out in harsh pants that he couldn’t seem to control. Since he’d arrived in London, he’d been unsure about Helen. But now, at this moment, there was no doubt that he wanted her. He wanted her more than he had ever wanted her before. And tonight, he would find out if she wanted him as much.

Chapter 2

Cynthia couldn’t stop trembling. She never should have agreed to this nonsense. Not only could it ruin what little reputation she held, but it was wrong! Bloody wrong! Gabriel didn’t deserve this. How badly she wanted to tell him the truth. But then what? Lady Hogar would toss her from the home
without a pence
and even worse, Gabriel would hate her for lying.

And now…now she was sneaking out the French doors like a trollop, while everyone else was dancing in the warmth of the ballroom. The weather only added to her unease. The night sky overcast, the clouds stripping the stars of any chance to display their light. The very air had seemed to change with his presence; vibrating, pulsing with a steady energy. She paused on the veranda, the slate slippery with rain. A mist dampened her hair and covered her exposed arms and upper chest in a chill kiss.

Spotting the Greek looking folly of marble, she hesitated. Anticipation thrummed through her body, tempting her to move down the steps until her slippers sank into damp grass. Halfway there, she paused, her hands fisting in the fine dress that was supposed to be Helen’s. A brilliant burst of lightning streaked across the sky. Cynthia lifted her skirts and rushed forward, finding cover under the domed roof.

The round space was empty but for shadows. He wasn’t there. Her heart squeezed painfully. He hadn’t come. He hadn’t bothered. Or had his request been a jest meant to humiliate? Perhaps he knew her secret and meant to punish her. Part of her was relieved he wasn’t here.
Part of her miserable.