Chapter Six #2
But Dan guessed those harsh sounds reminded his brother of the sounds of battle, and he could have cursed his guests to kingdom come for their thoughtlessness. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said grimly. ‘I’d no idea this was going to happen. I’ll go outside and halt the racket immediately.’
He was on his way when Oliver stretched out his hand to stop him. ‘Dan, I’ve told you this before. But do you really think you’re doing yourself any good by playing host to those drunken idiots?’
‘It’s my house. My choice.’
‘Then make better choices! God knows, you’re blessed with more opportunities than most men can dream of!’
More fireworks crackled outside, and Dan, after gripping his brother’s shoulder, headed for the door.
By the time he got out into the garden the explosions had stopped and there was nothing to be seen of his guests, so Dan spoke to a footman collecting empty wine bottles from the lawn. ‘Where are they all?’
‘I believe, my lord, that they are playing some kind of game.’
Dan could guess what kind of game. No doubt the women had run off into the woods so the men could hunt them down, and there would be no prizes for guessing how that would end. He stood there thinking, my brother is right. This kind of life is not doing me one earthly bit of good.
Just then Gascoyne and two other men emerged from the trees and staggered drunkenly across the lawn towards him.
Gascoyne called out, ‘Here’s the funniest thing, Dan!
We were chasing around in the woods after the ladies when we came across a peculiar old house, and that woman was there.
You know, the female who came here and scolded you like the blazes not so long ago. ’
Another man chimed in. ‘She didn’t give us much of a welcome. In fact, she was bloody furious with us, so we beat a hasty retreat. Damn, but it was thirsty work, running around after the girls like that. Hey, you there!’ He beckoned the footman. ‘Some wine here, and look sharp about it!’
Dan experienced a rush of pure anger. He said, ‘Do not speak to my staff like that. And do you mean to say that you intruded on Miss Summerby’s land? You actually went right up to her house?’
They looked at him then at each other. ‘Well, there was nothing to stop us,’ said Gascoyne. ‘We were looking for our lady friends and just found ourselves there. We explained it was only a bit of fun, but she was damned awkward about it. Have a drink with us, Dan, and loosen up a little…’
Gascoyne’s voice trailed away as Dan said, slowly and clearly, ‘I do believe that I’m wasting my time with all of you fools. And maybe I’m the biggest fool of all, for putting up with you.’
Leaving them standing there, he set off along the path that led through the trees to Clematis Villa, and as he walked, he reminded himself that he had wealth and an ancient, prestigious title.
He had also built what many said was the finest new mansion in all of Sussex—yet how was he spending his time?
He was hosting decadent parties for people who indulged in riotous nonsense, that was what, and it was time to call a halt.
Kate Summerby was still out in the garden when he arrived, and when he saw her, something caught in his chest because her eyes were wide and apprehensive and her fair hair spilled in delicate strands around her pale, fine-boned face.
And what was that dress she wore? It made him catch his breath.
It had full skirts and had to be years out of fashion, but it looked almost ethereal on her slim figure.
She looked quite enchanting in fact, yet when she saw him, her eyes expressed pure despair, though she spoke calmly enough. ‘Tell me, my lord,’ she said, ‘is it part of the evening’s entertainment to come here and torment me outside my own house?’
He braced himself. ‘It is not my intention to add to what you have already suffered, Miss Summerby. I heard what had happened here, and I gather my guests have behaved abominably. I’ve come to apologise. I’m sorry.’
‘Sorry? Really?’ She raised her eyebrows. ‘Oh well, I suppose I should try to appreciate the thought. You may return to your friends and tell them you have made excuses of a very mild kind for their atrocious behaviour. Then you will all be free to laugh about me before you resume your partying.’
Instead of replying he gazed at the remains of the fallen urn nearby. ‘Did my friends do that?’
‘One of them knocked it over, yes.’
‘Then I shall replace it with a new one.’
‘No!’ she exclaimed. Then she spoke more quietly. ‘No, my lord. I want no reminder whatsoever of tonight’s happenings.’
Or of you, she might as well have added.
She was looking at his green velvet coat, and only then did he remember that earlier, some flighty female had threaded her scarlet hair ribbons through its buttonholes in return for a kiss.
Miss Summerby probably guessed they resulted from some frivolous game and her disapproval should mean nothing to him, yet once again he was struck by the defiance in those amazing green eyes of hers.
He realised too that her tight-bodiced pink dress was cut low and the moonlight was gleaming on the swell of her small but shapely breasts, though he guessed she would hate him for noticing that.
He said levelly, ‘I have made my apologies. I will make sure such an intrusion does not happen again.’
‘Spare me your apologies.’ She spoke wearily now.
‘Anyway, they are pointless, since not only your friends but the whole town appears to have turned against me. You’ll tell me, of course, that it’s my own fault for having the presumption to express my hostility to you.
You’ll also remind me I was even more foolish to take part in the protest in town, when you were forced to come to my rescue. ’
‘Nobody forced me to do anything! I helped you because you were in obvious difficulties. But you have made several unwise assumptions since arriving in the district, chiefly about me.’
‘Yes! Yes, so foolish of me!’ Her small hands were clenched. ‘After all, who am I, to doubt the honour of an earl?’
That was the moment when yet another firework exploded, and it was the loudest of the lot. Dan saw her take a step back before she stumbled and bit back a low cry. Instinctively he moved to support her. ‘You are hurt. What happened?’
He held her firmly round her waist, because otherwise he guessed she would have fallen.
He felt the warmth of her as well as the fragility; he inhaled the faint scent of lavender on her skin, and he was reminded also of her damn obstinacy, because although her face was white with pain, she was already trying to break free of his grasp.
Reluctantly he let her go, but when she put her weight on her right foot, she closed her eyes in fresh pain, and this time she didn’t refuse when he helped her hobble over to the bench.
She lowered herself to sit, wincing as she did so, then she said defiantly, ‘I sprained my ankle earlier. That’s all. ’
That’s all? ‘Was it the fault of my guests?’
‘Not directly. I moved carelessly and did the damage myself. I don’t know, my lord, why you are here or what you can possibly have to say, so please—just leave!’
He thought, she hates me. She hated most men, he guessed, and that was why her Season had failed, but even with that warning in mind, holding her even for a brief stretch of time had alerted all his basest male instincts and sent a rush of desire through his veins.
She was a totally disturbing mixture of vulnerability and downright courage, and he had never met anyone who unsettled him so.
‘I shall only leave,’ he said, ‘if you’ll first allow me to get you safely into your house.’
‘I’m quite capable of doing so without your help.’ She gazed up at him defiantly. ‘But before you go, my lord, it might interest you to know that I am thinking of selling Clematis Villa and moving elsewhere.’
‘That’s impossible!’ His strong reaction was genuine.
He sat beside her on the bench, not too close because he was still disturbed by that moment of physical intimacy, and said, ‘Listen, although I knew your aunt only briefly, it was clear that she held you most fondly in her thoughts, and I believe it was her dearest wish for you to take care of her home after she died.’
She was shaking her head in distress. ‘No. No, I cannot live here in isolation!’
‘You have problems indeed, but some have been of your own creation. Whether you like it or not, the general public are not going to take the side of an unknown newcomer against an Earl.’
‘Of course,’ she said bitterly. ‘Stupid of me.’
Instead of meeting his gaze she was staring into the distance, and he wondered, wherever would she go if she did leave? Back to London? But she’d hated it there! He said, ‘If you sell up, what will you do next?’
‘I haven’t decided yet. Even if I had, it’s hardly your business, my lord. Is it?’
He felt ridiculously angry. He told himself, she has brought all this on herself. But she looked so damned lonely!
He heaved in a breath. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I have acknowledged that my guests behaved badly and I have apologised. Did you not hear me? I’m asking you to think again—’
He broke off because she’d risen from the bench a little unsteadily. ‘Did you not hear me, when I said that what I did was none of your business? Are you going now, my lord? Your guests will be missing you. Especially,’ she added, ‘your female friends.’
He stood up too and towered over her, feeling angry, frustrated and lost for words. Then he uttered something so unexpected that he could hardly believe it himself. ‘I would like,’ he said, ‘to offer you my help, Miss Summerby.’