The Housemaid's Scandalous Secret (12 page)

In matters of the heart Lisette’s judgement had always been clouded, but in those moments when all her senses seemed to be heightened nearly beyond all endurance, this feeling that she had only ever come across twice before—with this man in a raging river and again on the journey to Castonbury Park—robbed her of all judgement. Mentally, she was experiencing all of a woman’s physical needs and longings and desires that could only be matched by one man—this man.

‘It’s time I returned to the house,’ she said, backing away from him. ‘Lady Araminta will be back soon and I have things to do.’

‘My sister seems much taken with you, Miss Napier,’ he said, reluctant to let her go. ‘Indeed, she cannot stop singing your praises. But I feel that her broken betrothal—which I am sure you know all about since it is in her nature to confide in those close to her—has affected her and I’m not convinced she has recovered from it, though she denies it emphatically. She cannot remain at Castonbury forever and it’s high time she had a suitable husband and a home of her own. I cannot return to India until I have seen that she is settled.’

Lisette glanced up at him obliquely, a little smile playing on her lips. ‘Why, what is this? Are you to play matchmaker, Colonel?’

He grinned down at her. ‘If that’s what you would like to call it, then yes—providing she approves of the outcome and that she is happy.’

‘Then it might be a very long time before you find you can return to India. At this present time your sister has her head firmly set against marriage to anyone.’

‘We shall see. I work fast, Miss Napier,’ he said, his gaze holding hers before lowering to her lips. ‘But I am not concerned. There are a number of distractions I’ve already noted which will, I am convinced, make my stay worthwhile.’

The warmly mellow tones of his voice were imbued with a rich quality that seemed to vibrate through Lisette’s womanly being. The implication of his words evoked a strangely pleasurable disturbance in areas far too private for an untried virgin even to consider, much less invite. As evocative as the sensations were, she didn’t know what to make of them. They seemed almost...wanton. But then, the image of her meeting with him in India had been scored into her brain and had undoubtedly heightened her sensitivity to wayward imaginings. But she was not going to be intimidated. And yet, with her heart filled with gratitude and her desire for him overflowing, he seemed completely wonderful and omnipotent—a mighty defender who had charged to her rescue and saved her from drowning.

She looked at him obliquely, a smile curving her lips. ‘I am intrigued, Colonel. I would not have thought there was anything at Castonbury of sufficient note to claim the attention of a gentleman of your...’ She stopped herself, biting her lip, suddenly realising she was about to overstep her position. But he was not about to let her off the hook.

A well-defined eyebrow jutted sharply upward. ‘Of my what? Inclination?’ The rush of colour that flooded her cheeks answered his question. He smiled knowingly. ‘Why, Miss Napier, what can you mean? Do pray enlighten me.’

Lisette met his challenging look and considered doing just that, but she said, ‘If you don’t mind, Colonel, I would prefer not to answer that. This conversation is not to my liking. It—it is not proper.’

Ross appeared to consider her words carefully, then he stepped closer so they stood shoulder to shoulder. He looked down at her sideways, a wicked gleam lighting his eyes. His lips widened leisurely into a rakish grin as his gaze ranged over her. Though she had been leered at any number of times while strolling along the streets of London, this was an entirely different matter. Those warmly glowing blue orbs gave her cause to wonder if his expression would have changed even remotely had she been standing before him entirely naked. Indeed, she could almost swear from the way he was looking at her that he did have designs upon her person.

‘Not proper? Very well, we shall speak of something else,’ he said, while his eyes gave their message of seduction and his expression told her that this was only the beginning. ‘I could be an avid pupil if you wish to teach me about plants and things in your spare time. After spending your time assisting your father with his work I expect you must have become knowledgeable about such matters.’

Despite her perfectly rigid resolve, Lisette’s lips twitched. ‘And pigs might fly, Colonel,’ she returned. ‘Not for one minute do I believe such trivia would be of interest to you. And besides, I am as ignorant of English botany as you are. I am here to take care of your sister. I have no time for anything else.’

‘For which you have me to thank.’

Lisette looked into his eyes, into his face, and felt a most peculiar shiver slither down her spine. ‘You are not, by any chance, attempting to make me feel grateful—so that I’ll imagine myself in your debt?’

His brows quirked, his mesmerising lips curved. His eyes—blue, intent and oddly challenging—held hers. ‘It seemed the natural place to start to undermine your defences.’

Lisette felt her nerves vibrate to the velvety softness of his voice, felt her senses quiver as she registered his words. Her eyes locked on his as she struggled to think of some sharp retort, but none came.

Ross’s features relaxed and he shook his head slowly. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel indebted to him in any way. From the very beginning he had been concerned by her situation and he had seen that there was more to her than met the eye. The undercurrents that surrounded her were considerable, running inexplicably deep. He had wanted to aid her, without letting on he was doing so. Pride was something he understood—he was sensitive to hers.

‘I like you, Lisette. I desire you—which you already know.’ His tone was softly earnest. ‘And you know I mean that seriously.’

His words put her thoughts in turmoil. They looked at each other, neither of them speaking, their glances locked, speaking words which could not be heard but which both understood. Lisette’s mouth was dry and immodest sensations were beginning to fill her body. She felt the heat in her face, and then the heat spread, filling every part of her at that nakedly desirous look. It was a look that was at once an invitation, a need and a certainty. He was as sure of her as that. But it could not be so. The feelings that assaulted her frightened her. She wanted him, desired him, but she also feared him—but more than that she feared herself.

For a while she had been carried away by the sheer pleasure of his company and by the soft aura of the night and the stables, and for that time she had allowed herself to forget the reality of her situation, but it was over. She was painfully aware of the gulf between her status and his—a maid was a servant, noble blood was noble blood. She did not belong there. Men of Colonel Montague’s ilk were not for the likes of her.

She hesitated, searching for words, then she said, ‘I know what you are saying but I have got to be sensible. We both have to be. I may be a maid, a domestic servant, but I am the daughter of a gentleman. You are a nobleman, successful, a man of wealth and position. With all that entails in time you will make a good marriage. It would be most unwise for us to form any kind of alliance. I could never be anything to you but your mistress. I am not looking for a protector. I may not have much, Colonel Montague, but the little I have I value. I have strong feelings for you—you know that—but I have too much self-respect to be any man’s mistress.’

He considered her apace, then nodded slowly. ‘I could promise you ease and comfort.’ He paused and tipped his head without releasing her gaze. ‘Would that be a kindness or a curse?’

‘Kindness or curse?’ Lisette scoffed. ‘Your wisdom escapes me. What you are asking of me is a sin. My upbringing, meaning the teachings of my parents, taught me the difference between right and wrong and I will not go against that. I will not be your mistress, nor anything else you think is appropriate for a servant girl. I’m worth more than that.’

‘Along with everything else that draws me to you, I applaud your sincerity, Miss Napier.’

‘I mean what I say. I don’t like being made sport of, Colonel, but you obviously enjoy causing me discomfort. I am employed by you to take care of your sister’s needs. My duties end there. It has to be that way.’

He nodded slowly, his blue eyes sparkling with humour. ‘I can see you are a highly intelligent female, Miss Napier.’

‘I’m glad you think so,’ she answered, wondering where this unusual conversation was going to take her next.

‘That was not a compliment,’ he corrected.

Lisette looked at him with curious displeasure that silently demanded an explanation for his remark. He answered as he reached out and touched her cheek with his forefinger, tracing its smooth, delicate texture.

‘Were you less intelligent, you would not spend so much time considering all the possible consequences of belonging to me, and you would simply accept our situation along with the benefits attached to it.’

‘Benefits? What benefits might they be?’

‘Think of all the things I could give you. I would take good care of you.’ Her eyes widened with indignation, but Ross continued with imperturbable masculine logic. ‘Were you a woman of ordinary intelligence, you would be concerned with matters of normal interest to a woman, not torturing yourself about such subjects as the differences between us. Accept the situation now. It is inevitable.’

Lisette stared at him in disbelief. ‘
Situation?
Accept my
situation
?’ she repeated. ‘I am not in a “situation,” as you so nicely phrased it.’

His eyes softened. ‘I would never hurt you, Lisette. I promise.’

‘Don’t,’ she said quickly, liking the sound of her name on his lips but she must not let it be. ‘My name is Miss Napier and please don’t make promises.’

Aware of her discomfiture Ross smiled, amused by it. One brow lifted arrogantly. He stood very close, totally commanding her vision.

‘Why
there
you are!’

They both turned and beheld Nancy Cooper descending on them like a galleon in full sail. Ross frowned. The entire East India fleet wouldn’t have been more unwelcome, but to Lisette, the maid’s interruption was a godsend and saved her from replying to Colonel Montague’s question.

‘You are looking for Miss Napier?’

Despite his politeness, Lisette sensed his irritation, his annoyance, that Nancy’s appearance had caused.

Nancy, a red-haired, white-faced kitchen maid, bobbed a curtsey, a rather sly, knowing smile on her thin lips. ‘Indeed I am, sir. I’m sorry to drag you away,’ she said to Lisette, ‘but Miss Araminta has returned from the Assembly Rooms early and is asking for you.’

At that moment the carriage that had deposited Araminta and Phaedra and Aunt Wilhelmina at the door to the house swung into the stable yard.

‘Then I shall come at once.’ Bobbing a little curtsey, she uttered, ‘Goodnight, Colonel Montague.’

Ross met her eyes. His smile still in place, he inclined his head. ‘Miss Napier.’

Walking swiftly back to the house, Lisette sighed. Having left his presence the night seemed quieter, less colourful, less alive.

Nancy had to run to keep up with her. ‘The colonel seems to have an eye for you, Miss Napier. It’s not gone amiss.’

Her words and what they implied brought Lisette to an immediate halt. ‘What on earth are you talking about, Nancy?’ she asked crossly, not liking one bit what the maid was implying.

‘I expect the colonel’s like most men in that he’s just as susceptible to a pretty face as the next man. I know this is your first position in a big house and I’m only saying this for your own good, but a handsome man like the colonel can pose a hazard to an innocent girl. They know the right words to entangle a gullible female mind, and I feel I should warn you about the risks you could encounter if you go on meeting His Lordship as you have tonight.’

Lisette almost staggered back, shocked by what Nancy had said. ‘But I didn’t arrange to meet him. We met purely by chance.’ She put her hands to her burning cheeks, astounded by Nancy’s insinuation. ‘Oh, Nancy, I hope you don’t think—but that’s dreadful. I—I didn’t think...’

Having worked in service since she was a girl and knowing what was what in a ‘big house,’ as she called Castonbury Park, Nancy scoffed at her naivety. ‘’Course you didn’t. I know you like to see the horses, but be careful. With a face like you’ve got it’s hardly surprising that you’ve caught the colonel’s eye. But if you become entangled with a titled gentleman, you may well come to regret it. You could easily be sullied and then tossed aside, leaving you in a delicate condition with little hope of attracting a respectable husband. Affairs like that have a way of ruining lives. No man wants spoiled goods.’

As Lisette continued on her way, Nancy’s words had made one thing clear. To protect herself from Colonel Montague’s corrupting influence she would endeavour to stay out of his way. There was no chance she’d succumb to a handsome face and a devilish smile.

And yet if she had been in the privileged position of Miss Araminta, the sparring and fencing humour he deployed would have been most enjoyable. What fun that would be. But as she entered the house her frown deepened at the road down which her thoughts travelled.

Oh, yes, Colonel Montague was definitely corrupting.

* * *

As soon as Lisette entered Araminta’s room she heard the wrenching sound of grief being poured into a pillow. Her young mistress lay in a crumpled heap of chiffon and silk on the bed sobbing her heart out. Alarmed by the distraught girl, immediately she went to her, sitting on the bed beside her.

‘Miss Araminta! What’s this all about? What on earth is the matter? What has happened to make you cry like this? Oh, you poor girl.’

‘Oh, Lisette,’ she wailed, turning her tear-washed face up to hers. ‘You can have no idea. Antony was there—at the assembly. I couldn’t stay. I couldn’t bear it. I just wanted to come home. I told Aunt Wilhelmina I wasn’t feeling well.’

‘You still love him, don’t you?’

Araminta confessed that she did and that she had made a terrible mistake when she had broken off their betrothal, that it had all been a horrid misunderstanding. Lisette pointed out that the fact that Lord Bennington hadn’t married anyone else might well mean that he still loved Araminta. Her eyes filled with renewed hope, Araminta said she would write to Antony and ask him to meet her.