Scarlet Kisses (10 page)

He felt the list in his breast pocket burn as he spotted Alyssum beside Harry. As always, she looked beautiful. Her green gown was respectable for society’s eyes. Not a curl was out of place from her coiffure. His gaze moved to the lady beside her. Miss Lilly Darrel. He felt his heart beat faster as he stared at two of the women on his list.

“Robert,” Harry greeted him. He noticed Alyssum stiffen at his name.

“Harry. Alyssum.” He nodded curtly to her. She gave a small bob instead of a full curtsey. He couldn’t help but smile at her. “And Miss Darrel.” He bowed his head to her.

“Viscount Lambert.” She curtseyed low. Robert frowned at her sultry voice. When she looked back up at him, she wore a mischievous grin. Robert’s heart jumped at the possibility he had just found his Scarlet. He felt himself fearing the notion instead of rejoicing. Miss Darrel was lovely, but his gaze kept shifting to the lady beside her—Alyssum.

“Excuse us, ladies,” Harry said then nudged Robert to follow him.

Robert took a step back while still looking at Lilly curiously. Could she be Scarlet? His gaze landed on Alyssum before he turned and followed Harry into the card room.

He spotted Tucker, Jackson and Duke in the room, overlooking a game.

“You ready, Lambert?” Jackson grinned with a lip bruised from Harry’s fist.

“Lilly Darrel,” Robert said, after making sure no one could eavesdrop on their conversation.

“The American, what about her?” Jackson frowned.

“She grinned at me.”

“
Ooo
, scary,” Tucker laughed.

“She was acting out of character,” Harry said.

“You think she’s Scarlet?” Duke asked casually. He had been nonchalant and unconcerned about Robert finding his Scarlet.

Robert shrugged.

“He doesn’t seem very excited about the prospect,” Tucker muttered to Jackson.

“I’m going to go find out.” Robert turned around and walked back into the crush of people with a determined march. The others watched him leave.

“He won’t cause a scene, will he?” Duke asked, now standing to full attention.

They all pondered Duke’s question and then moved as one to follow Robert.

“Miss Darrel.”

Lilly turned as her name was spoken. She tried to hide her knowing grin as she raised her chin to look up at Robert. “Viscount Lambert.” She curtsied.

“May I have this dance?” he asked, ignoring the other women that were around her.

She looked around and spotted Rickton watching her with squinting eyes.

“I would be honored.” She offered him her hand. He took it and led her to the dance floor.

She stood in line with the rest of the ladies dancing and smiled as Robert stood across from her with the other men. He stared at her so intently, as if trying to solve a problem.

As the dance began, they both moved in together.

“Did you attend Lady Brook’s masquerade?” he asked as he took her hand and they circled.

Lilly felt her eyes widen. He wasn’t even going to start with light chatter. The man was on a mission. Before she could reply, they moved apart. Lilly was ready when they came together again. “Of course I did. I wore a stunning green gown my father purchased for me.”

Robert felt himself relaxing. He didn’t understand it, but he was happy that this wasn’t his Scarlet. She was still out there to be found.

“Did you enjoy yourself?” he asked.

“Yes. And it was good to see Alyssum. I hadn’t seen her in months while she was in the country.”

“You saw Alyssum?” Robert tried not to growl in annoyance as the dance moved them apart.

When they came together, she answered, “Yes, only for a moment though, she had a headache and left early.”

“Could you tell me the color of her gown that night?”

Lilly smiled sweetly at him. She took his hands and they turned. “Why don’t you ask her yourself?” She fluttered her lashes, trying to look the innocent.

Before he could push her for more information the dance ended and they stepped back into their lines. Robert bowed low as she curtsied. They clapped lightly to the musicians and Robert stepped forward and took her waiting, outstretched hand. He led her back the group he had taken her from and the ladies fluttered their fans, hiding their smiles as he approached.

“Thank you for the dance.” Robert placed a kiss on her knuckles and stepped back.

“My pleasure,” she replied.

He bowed curtly, ready to move away, but his eyes caught on a lady with midnight-black hair. Pamela Carrington.

“Lady Carrington.” He bowed to her.

She preened at his acknowledgment and lowered her fan. “Viscount Lambert.” She curtseyed low, giving him a view of her cleavage.

Robert overlooked her display. “May I have this dance?”

“It would be my pleasure.” She gave him her hand.

Lilly watched Viscount Lambert and Lady Carrington walk out onto the dance floor before she looked around the room for Alyssum. Instead she spotted Harry with his cronies. Her brow creased as she noticed them watching Robert dance with Lady Carrington intently. They watched his every move.

“
Hmm
,” she hummed in interest. She excused herself from the group and walked around the dance floor to reach Harry. On the way, her gaze caught on Alyssum standing beside Violet.

Alyssum watched the dancers while holding a glass of punch. Lilly noticed that she shifted her gaze away from the dancing couples as Lady Carrington’s laughter filled the dance floor.

Lilly moved with purpose as she rounded the room. He stood with his back to her. She reached up, uncaring of watchful gazes, and tugged on the back of his coat.

Harry turned quickly to see who had tugged on his coat. He looked down and a bright smile curved his lips as he saw a friendly face.

“Lilly.” He bowed.

“Hello, Harry. I was just curious as to why all you gentlemen are watching Viscount Lambert in such an…intent way.” She looked at each of the men who now watched her.

“And how would you know we were watching him?” Jackson stepped forward and asked.

Lilly kept her chin high as she looked up at the infamous Mr. West. She had been warned about him. “I have eyes,” she replied tartly.

“So were those pretty eyes watching Robert or Harry?” He arched a brow.

“Maybe they were watching you.” She arched her brow back at him.

Jackson found himself smiling at the brazen minx before him.

“Miss Darrel,” a stern, whip-lashing voice broke their gaze.

Lilly groaned before turning her gaze to Rickton. Grey hair pulled back tight, stern lips twisted in disapproval and a grey itchy-looking gown, Rickton flicked her hand towards her, indicating for Lilly to come with her. Lilly took a deep breath then faced the men before her. She curtseyed and then strode over to Miss Rickton.

“I’m going to get some air. It’s really crowded in here,” Alyssum told Violet.

“Okay,” Violet replied, but Alyssum was already heading for the terrace doors.

Outside in the cool air, Alyssum took a deep breath. Her chest had hurt as she had watched Robert hold Lady Carrington, dancing with her, making her laugh.

Needing to be far away she strode down the stairs quickly and walked over the grass. She walked behind the rows of hedges. No longer able to see the house, she dropped down and lay out on the grass. The skirts of her green gown fanned out. She could hear the distant music and laughter. She sighed and looked up at the black sky. She missed the country. When she lay beneath the night sky at her family’s country estate she could see the stars. Seeing something so beautiful usually washed away her anger. Now, with no stars in the sky, she only wanted to go back in time, stand on Lady Brook’s balcony and knee Robert again.

She sat bolt straight as she heard a giggle over on the other side of the hedge.

Oh, please no
.
Please, please—

“Viscount Lambert, you naughty man,” Lady Pamela Carrington gushed.

Alyssum closed her eyes and groaned quietly.

“This will only take a moment and then I’ll get you back inside,” Robert’s clipped voice reached her.

Alyssum snorted in an unladylike manner.
Only a moment
? He had spent longer than a moment with her. Two or three at least. Alyssum stood with a huff as she heard Pamela giggle.

“You are a skilled kisser,” Pamela breathed.

Alyssum rolled her eyes. “Tart,” she muttered under her breath.

“Let’s get you back inside,” Robert said.

“No, let’s stay here,” Pamela urged.

Alyssum waited, almost pressing her ear to the prickly hedge to hear Robert’s reply.

“I’m going inside,” Robert said offhandedly. “You can stay out here if you want.”

Alyssum felt a smile tug her lips as she heard his footsteps and Pamela’s huff of outrage. Pamela stomped over the grass as she returned to the
soirée
. Alyssum dusted off her dress
 
and waited a few minutes before making her return.

Robert walked straight over to Harry and the others when he reentered the gathering.

“Report?” Tucker ordered then laughed. He lightly swayed on his feet and Duke grabbed his arm and held him steady. Robert arched a brow at Tucker’s drunkenness.

“Not her,” he informed them.

“So it’s not Lilly and it’s not Pamela,” Harry said.

“Are you sure it’s not Lilly?” Jackson asked. “She seems like a minx under those prim clothes.”

“I’m sure. When I was dancing with her she was too short to be Scarlet.”

Jackson nodded. “And Pamela?”

Robert exhaled. “She wore a yellow gown to the masquerade.” Pamela had been the easiest to question. She had had no problem talking about herself and what she had done that night at Lady’s Brook’s masquerade. She had been seductive though. In case she was toying with him, he had led her out into the gardens. She had scurried behind him in excitement. But he had felt nothing when his mouth had touched hers. She had kissed him back teasingly, wanting more. He had felt no heat, no passion in her kiss. His heart had not raced and he hadn’t been overwhelmed with the urge to have her. She was not his Scarlet.

“So we keep looking for this mysterious woman?” Duke asked, still holding Tucker upright.

Robert exhaled and looked over the crowd. His gaze caught on midnight black hair and a green gown. Alyssum. He felt his heart jump at the sight of her. He cleared his throat, paying no attention to his reaction to her.

“Excuse me, gentlemen.” He nodded to them and moved away, heading for Alyssum. But as he nudged by the group, a hand clamped onto his upper arm and pulled him to a stop.

Robert turned with a frown. He looked down to his restrained arm and then up to Harry who held him. “Yes, Harry?”

Harry must have seen which lady Robert’s gaze was on. “Alyssum—” Harry nodded in her direction, “—isn’t your Scarlet. You remember that. She’s my sister.”

“I’m not going to forget that anytime soon.” Robert patted Harry’s hand and his friend released his grip. Harry stepped back but still watched him with a stern expression.

Robert cleared his throat before he spoke. He never liked having heartfelt conversations so he spoke quickly. “I would never harm Alyssum, or any member of your family.” He then turned and walked across the room to Alyssum, feeling Harry’s eyes on him as he went.

“Hello, beautiful.”

Alyssum felt herself freeze. Turning slowly, she faced Robert. He grinned down at her.

She lowered her gaze to his cravat and quirked a brow at its straightness.

“I had my valet do it,” he whispered to her as he noticed her attention on his cravat.

“You should always let him do it.”

“But I like when you do it.”

“What do you want?” she snapped.

Robert laughed and shook his head. After being miserably foxed for the last week he’d found himself missing Alyssum’s sharp wit. “I’m saying hello,” he answered.

Alyssum shifted her gaze around them as a few curious onlookers watched them.

“Well say it and leave.”

“No. I find myself wanting more.” His grin was back in place.

“What do you really want?” she demanded quietly.

“A dance.” When Robert saw she was going to say no, he added, “I’ll make a scene.”

She glared. “You wouldn’t.”

“Oh, I would.” He laughed. “Well?” He offered his black-gloved hand.

Alyssum stared down at it. She sighed deeply then slowly raised her hand.

Robert’s grin disappeared, a smile taking its place. She was going to dance with him.

His hand reached farther, wanting to whisk her up quickly before she changed her mind. He was just about to grasp her hand when it was suddenly snatched away from him.