The Husband List (23 page)

Caroline moved just far enough away to speak. “Take off your gloves.”

Jack unwound her arms and set her away from him. He looked around the conservatory. For a heart-stopping instant, she thought he was going to call an end to their kissing.

“This way,” he said.

He took her by the hand and led her to the outer wall of the hexagonally shaped room. He stood her with her back against a short stretch of solid wall where two angled expanses of glass met. Mama had not lit the lawns as she had the front. Nothing but darkness was on either side of Caroline.

“Put your hands on the glass,” he said.

“But—”

“You heard me,” he said in a mock stern voice.

Caroline did as he’d directed. The conservatory still held the day’s heat, but the thick windows were cool beneath her palms. His gaze didn’t leave her as he worked on the fingers to the first glove.

“Someday we’ll have a bed,” he said as he dropped the glove to the floor.

Caroline’s heart pounded.

He started on the next glove. “A whole bed with just the two of us, and the rest of the world be damned.” The second glove hit the ground.

Her breath was coming shallowly. She pressed more fully against the wall behind her. It was that or join the gloves.

Jack reached forward. He slipped her costume and the thin chemise strap beneath it off one shoulder. Both went without resistance. “When that day comes, I’ll start here.”

Caroline gasped as his mouth settled over the skin he’d just bared. He was hot. So hot. And now she burned, too. He kissed his way across her collarbone and down the slope of her breast. Caroline’s fingers dug for purchase against the glass.

“Jack…” she said after a minute.

He looked up at her. Even in the flickering light, she could see how much he wanted her. “Yes?”

“The other side, too.”

“You’re full of commands tonight,” he said. “So far, I like them.”

This side of her costume did not cooperate as well. Hungry to feel his touch, she reached up and tugged at the silk. It gave, but not graciously.

Caroline returned her hand to the window. She felt safe with him. They could play at her surrender, but he would never really harm her. Jack ran the backs of his fingers across the slopes of each of her breasts.

“I’m one lucky highwayman,” he said. And then he slipped his hand inside the fabric and cupped her breast. “Damn lucky.”

Skin to skin
. Caroline drew a ragged breath, tipped back her head, and closed her eyes as his fingers brought pleasure to parts she’d had no idea could be so sensitive.

He kissed her again, deeply. Caroline tried to concentrate, to capture every moment. She wanted to hold on to the newness and the excitement forever. But then something took her out of the moment. The sound was so small that she wanted to believe she’d imagined it. But she hadn’t.

She turned her head, breaking off the kiss.

“I didn’t say you could do that,” Jack said in a teasing tone.

“Wait,” Caroline whispered.

He slipped his hand from her skin and moved back a half step. She looked toward the sound she thought she’d heard and listened intently, trying to pick it up again. “Did you hear that, a few seconds ago?”

“What?” he asked in a regular voice.

She held her finger to her lips. “Shh…”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied as though she were a librarian. He did use a lower tone, though. “What did you hear?”

“I thought I heard the door. The hinges have always squeaked,” she said. “Didn’t you notice it when we came in?”

“I wasn’t thinking about the door,” he replied, then dipped his head down to kiss the upper curve of her breast.

She couldn’t fault him for that. Still, she braced her hands against his shoulders and held him off.

“Hello?” she called. “Is anyone there?”

Only silence answered.

“I’m sure I heard something that first time,” she said to Jack. “We need to leave.”

He didn’t hesitate and he didn’t ask questions. She loved him all the more for that.

He did give a shake of his head as he slipped her costume back onto her shoulders. “That bed, Caroline. It’s necessary.”

She nodded. “Maybe one day.”

He gave her a quick kiss that was about comfort. “Absolutely one day.”

Caroline was touched by his tenderness, but her sense of some sort of looming heaviness hadn’t dissipated. She didn’t want to worry Jack, so she worked up a smile. “Go on back to the ball. We shouldn’t walk in together, anyway. I’ll be right along.”

He reached out a hand and brushed a loose tendril of hair from the side of her face. “You’re okay?”

She nodded. “Fine.”

Jack bent down to pick up his gloves and then stood and looked at her for a moment. “You’re sure?”

“I’d feel better if we got out of here quickly,” she admitted.

“I’m out the door,” he said.

Caroline took a second to repin the few pieces of hair that had come down. Slight rustling sounds came from the front of the conservatory as Jack stopped to pick up his hat and mask.

“Don’t forget your weaponry, Artemis,” he said before leaving. “Not that you need it to vanquish men.”

And then, as she’d expected, the conservatory door gave a tiny squeak on his way out.

Caroline walked to the front of the conservatory and gathered her costume parts. She’d just finished slinging the bow and quiver over her shoulder when the door opened.

Bremerton walked in. He looked unperturbed, unruffled … all things calm. For a moment, Caroline held on to hope that he hadn’t been in here a few minutes earlier. But then she saw him glance at the spot on the bench where Jack’s hat and mask had been.

“Your mother told me I’d likely find you in here. It’s nearly time for dinner,” Bremerton said in a conversational tone.

“I’m ready. I just needed a few moments away from the crowd,” she replied.

He smiled, but it stopped short of his eyes. “I’m sure you did.”

He reached a hand toward her throat, and Caroline flinched. Bremerton made a
tsk
ing sound. “Your necklace is askew. Hold still while I straighten it. We can’t have you at dinner looking less than the beauty you are.”

Two could play at this charade. She swallowed her nerves and said, “Thank you.”

“There,” he said. “The virgin huntress is as she should be.”

Caroline could almost breathe again.

Bremerton looked more closely at her. “Or nearly as.”

Before she could make a sound, his hand shot out. She felt a tug at her bodice, and then he held up the lace that Annie had added to Caroline’s costume. He dropped it at her feet.

“It had come loose, somehow. But no loss,” he said. “You shouldn’t hide the bounty nature has given you.” He held out his arm. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” she said with a calm that wasn’t even skin deep.

They were out of the south wing and nearly to the dining room when Bremerton spoke again. “I’m sure you recall our conversation from last week. What is the only thing you need to do before I give you the world, Caroline?”

“Ask,” she said.

“Correct. Ask.” She could feel him looking down at her. She kept her gaze forward and her face serene. “But I’m sure even you are sophisticated enough to realize that you cannot ask for a lover until you’ve given me an heir.”

SIXTEEN

“I still don’t understand why Lord Bremerton failed to propose last night,” Mama said to Caroline as their carriage neared the Newport polo grounds. “Let’s hope he’s feeling more inclined today.”

“He’ll be playing polo,” Caroline said. “I don’t think he’s going to pop out a proposal on horseback.”

“Don’t use that tone with me, young lady,” Mama said. “And improve your posture. I’ve had no more sleep than you, yet I’m managing to look rested and content.”

“Yes, Mama,” Caroline said, though to her, Mama looked more driven than content. She sat ramrod straight with her dark green parasol held rigidly above her head like a fireworks rocket ready to launch. Since Caroline couldn’t work up the energy to hide her exhaustion, she brought her parasol down to better shield her face.

“I wish you’d have worn pink,” Mama said. “Your yellow is making you look sallow.”

Small wonder. The whole family had been awake until seven this morning, when the last of the guests had departed Rosemeade after a dawn breakfast. Caroline had been allowed a three-hour nap before Mama had started drilling her about the night’s events. According to Mama, the lack of a marriage proposal had marred what would have been a perfect evening. From Caroline’s perspective, that had been the night’s saving grace.

“Are you certain Bremerton didn’t broach the subject of marriage in your conversations?” Caroline’s mother asked yet again.

“I’m sure.”

Mama shook her head. “I simply don’t understand this.”

Caroline had no intention of illuminating her mother, when she’d worked so hard to keep her in the dark. From dinner on, Caroline had stuck by Bremerton out of self-defense. They had appeared to be the perfect courting couple. Only Jack, who’d left just after dinner, had reason to know differently.

“It was right of me to insist that we arrive early,” her mother said as they pulled onto the polo grounds. “We’re going to be in the front row, and Lord Bremerton will be sure to see you.”

It was a Newport tradition for lady spectators to stay in their carriages while they watched a match. The view was better, and they stood less chance of injury if the play left the field.

“Keep an eye out for him and see if you can draw his attention before the match begins,” Mama instructed after she’d made sure the coachman had negotiated their way into a prime viewing spot.

“Yes, Mama,” Caroline said while willing herself to be inconspicuous.

The polo club was fielding two teams this afternoon, one led by Mr. Carstairs and the other by Eddie. Mama, naturally, had chosen Carstairs’ side of the enormous field, since Bremerton played for him. Directly opposite them, Harriet Vandermeulen sat in a barouche with Alice Hayes. Harriet happily waved. Caroline figured she must have been dropped from Harriet’s adversaries list after Harriet had seen her with Bremerton last night.

Eddie and five other men stood on Harriet’s side of the field, with their grooms and ponies behind them. Eddie’s string of ponies were his pride. He’d had them shipped in from England. Caroline spotted his two favorite mounts—tall, matching bays who were proof that polo ponies were not ponies at all. Both horses were saddled and ready to play.

Caroline smiled as she watched her brother talk to his teammates, who all wore bright blue-and-white striped jerseys. Only three of the men would play with him, and two would stand as reserves. She easily picked out Charles Vandermeulen from the group. Two were the Arnott brothers, and another looked to be Robert Conable. She wasn’t positive who the broad-shouldered player with his back to her was, though he looked markedly like Jack. But Jack wasn’t a polo regular, so that was unlikely. Caroline willed the man to turn or at least move so no one else stood in her line of vision.

Bremerton was riding up. He wore the black-and-navy striped jersey of Mr. Carstairs’ club team, along with the obligatory white polo jodhpurs and brown riding boots.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Maxwell … Miss Maxwell,” he said with nods to both of them.

“Good afternoon, Lord Bremerton. Caroline and I are looking forward to seeing you play,” Mama said with a bob of her parasol that made Bremerton’s mount shy.

The Englishman easily reined the horse in. “It should be an interesting match. Field conditions are rough after the showers that passed though this morning.”

“I am sure it will be no challenge to you, and that your team will win,” Mama said.

Caroline bit back a sigh. Mama had fully switched her allegiance.

“Thank you,” the Englishman said. “While I’ve gotten to know my teammates better in the few days I’ve been here, both the greatest challenge and greatest reward lies in playing as a unit.”

“That’s so true,” Mama said, nodding approvingly.

Caroline kept her eyes downcast so she wouldn’t roll them.

“I regret today will be my last time to play here,” Bremerton said. “It’s a gray day in more than just the weather. I received some unfortunate news this morning. My father, who has been in ill health for some time, is doing poorly. I’ll be leaving Newport tonight and sailing Saturday on the
Lucania,
from New York.”

Caroline kept a composed face, but inside she danced a jig. “I’m sorry to hear about your father.”

“That
is
a shame,” Mama said. “But if you don’t sail until Saturday, surely you can stay in Newport at least another day?” She hadn’t even bothered to hide her panic.

Bremerton shook his head. “I’m afraid I also have business I must see to in New York.” He paused. “Is there any possibility your family will be in London soon? We had little time to get to know each other, and I’d like to extend our acquaintance.”

Caroline’s happy music stopped.

“What a wonderful coincidence!” Mama said. “Mr. Maxwell and I were talking just this morning about making a visit to our London residence.”

Her mother was lying, and even Bremerton knew it. He had no other reason to look so self-satisfied.

“But Mama, Helen and Amelia have commitments well though August,” Caroline said. “It doesn’t seem fair to make them leave Newport when nothing is as special as a summer by the sea.”

“They’re very excited at the prospect of travel,” her mother replied without looking Caroline’s way. “I take it, then, that you will be in London, Lord Bremerton?”

“Yes. I will be staying at my father’s home until I can assure myself that he is on the mend.”

“Perfect!”

If Caroline hadn’t already heard about Viscount Bellingham’s poor health, she would have been certain that Bremerton had manufactured it to force her away from Jack. And she had her suspicions, just the same.

“Would you mind, Mrs. Maxwell, if your daughter and I spoke a moment in private?” Bremerton asked.

Mama rose as though ready to spring from the carriage. “Of course not.”