Chapter 2
6 weeks
earlier
Brook sat quiet and
wide eyed as she listened to Grams tell Lady Croft to mind her own business.
The sudden question coming from Lady Croft to Sarah concerning Devon and
Sarah’s scandal had sent Grams into the most vicious sharp-tongued frenzy.
“I shall quickly remind
you of your own daughter’s scandalous marriage to the father of her child,
which is in question though out town.”
Lady Croft placed her
hand at her chest and said, “I assure you and the rest of the ton, the marriage
is honorable and sound, as is their child.”
Grams remained seated
and said, “Yes well, I highly doubt that. Any young woman would most certainly
not jump between the sheets with that bumbling idiot, unless she was already
with child.”
Lady Croft gasped at
Grams frankness.
“Oh shut your mouth
Able. You and I are no fools and for that reason alone, I dare say it is best
to keep to your own business. Roomers coming from the right source can be very
damaging to one’s reputation,” Grams said.
Lady Croft then walked
away without another word to Sarah or Grams.
Grams took Sarah’s hand
in her own and whispered to both her and Brook, “Direct and to the point is the
best way to handle these upright gossipy woman.”
Brook smiled at how
bold Grams remained even in public. She was use to it at the Price Estate.
Grams never shied away from voicing neither her thoughts nor opinions. Brook
secretly questioned whether they were related somehow.
Sarah turned to Grams
and said, “I have given thought to remaining with Lady Wilcox until my
marriage. It is creating a scandal with Devon and me dwelling under the same
roof.”
Grams said, “Do you
honestly give weight to the tons judgment of you Sarah?”
Sarah smiled. “No I do
not. My fear is for the family.”
“Well fear not my child. I can assure you,
Devon nor do I care one bit what is said. Let them talk,” Grams said.
Brook giggled. “Touché
Grams!” Brook agreed with her.
“Touché? I am
frightened to ask to what.”
The Ladies all looked
up to see a tall young man with brown hair and large brown eyes standing before
them.
Grams burst out, “Oh my
dear Quentin! I dare ask how you have been my boy.”
Quentin smiled and
said, “Quit well thank you. When I saw you I had hoped to see Devon close by.”
“He will be along
shortly. It has had to have been five years since I last set eyes upon you,”
Grams said.
“That sounds about
right. The military keeps me moving often. I hold many regrets for not keeping
in contact with you.”
“Yes, well, all is
forgiven, now sit down. I would like to introduce Brook O’Brien and Sarah McMay,
Devon’s wife to be,” Grams said. “Ladies this is Quentin Alexander an old dear
friend of Devon and Landon’s.”
Quentin took each of
their hands and kissed them after bowing of course. He then took a seat next to
Brook on Grams left. The group remained silent for a short while. Brook noticed
Sarah was fidgeting. Brook slowly covered her hand over both of Sarah’s in her
lap. Brook continued looking forward and smiled softly. She knew Sarah had
looked to her.
“I must confess that I
was under the impression Lady Brook was to marry Devon.” Quentin moved his gaze
to Brook. “Landon had spoken so often of you I assumed it was to be you,”
Quentin said.
Brook did not look at
him at first. “I suppose one will always draw an incorrect notion when one
assumes. Next time it may serve you better to ask of things you do not know.”
Quentin chuckled. “My
intension was not to offend you Lady Brook. I happen to be merely stating-
Brook’s gaze flew to
him. “Offend? I dare say Sir, you are full of assumptions.” She could feel
Sarah squeezing her fingers tightly. “I suppose you are now going to assume
Landon and I hold interest in one another?”
Quentin began to say,
“Well-
“Well let me assure
you, we do not. And further more we are friends is all,” Brook said.
Quentin cleared his
throat. “Would you care to dance Lady Brook?” He stood up in front of her.
“Yes, yes I would,”
Brook said quickly. She suddenly grew uncomfortable at the mention of Landon.
Quentin’s offer was the perfect excuse to remove herself from the group.
Feeling her cheeks grow warm she had to do something.
Quentin held out his
hand for Brook and gave Sarah a quick wink. Sarah drew her eyebrows together in
confusion with his intentions.
As they approached the
dance area Brook said, “I apologize for my quick words with you Sir Quentin. We
had been discussing the affects of one who gossips about others.”
“Quite understandable
Lady Brook. Your advice was well taken and I do promise to be more careful in
the future,” Quentin said.
Brook smiled and
laughed slightly.
“He was right,” Quentin
said.
“Who was right?” Brook
asked.
“Landon. He told me
your smile could change the mood of a room. And that your laugh was
contagious,” Quentin said.
Brook’s expression held
but her mind was racing. I wonder what
else Landon had to say about me and why, why was he speaking about me?
“Are there
any warnings before we begin?” Quentin asked.
Brook smiled and said,
“I favor most men’s left feet, but if you prefer for me to step on your right,
I will make an effort towards it.”
Quentin chuckled. “No,
the left is fine with me Lady Brook. Am I allowed to lead or will it be a case
of you decide as we dance?”
At that moment, the
music began. Brook smiled devilishly at him and said, “I think I shall surprise
you Sir Quentin.” She placed her hand in his. “Did Landon tell you I dance like
a mule on ice?”
Quentin reframed from
smiling at her chose of words. “He actually said you were flawless. That is why
I was teasing you.”
“I suppose he did not
happen to mention I have only danced with him. I do not attend balls on a
regular basis. Grams had us practice to refresh my memory, but other than that,
nothing,” Brook said.
Quentin began to move
with Brook. “Well you seem to be doing outstanding thus far.”
Brook was looking down
at her feet. As she did, she stepped on Quentin’s right foot and then bumped
her head into his when she looked down again.
“I am sorry,” Brook
said.
“We agreed it would be
my left foot, remember?” Quentin said. “Relax and allow me to guide you. It
will not help if you keep staring at your own feet.”
Brook gazed up to
Quentin and said, “I have forgotten all the steps. Perhaps it is better if you
just escort me back to Grams and Sarah.”
“Nonsense you can do
this,” Quentin said as he smiled at her.
Landon and Devon
approached Sarah and Grams. Devon took a seat next to Sarah. He gave her a long
kiss on the cheek and then whispered something in her ear, which caused her to
blush.
“Where is Brook?”
Landon asked.
“Dancing my dear boy
with your friend Quentin,” Grams said and then giggled.
Landon looked towards
the dance area to see Quentin trying to dance with Brook. “What are they
doing?”
“I am not certain.
Perhaps they are both attempting to lead,” Grams said.
The group and everyone
else in the ton watched as Brook repeatedly stepped on Quentin’s feet and a few
other peoples’ in close proximity.
Brook crashed into Lady
Marcy Croft when Quentin said go to the right and Brook moved left. Lady Croft
glared at her fiercely with disgust. Brook immediately offered an apology. Lady
Croft did not respond. She just scowled at Brook.
Brook released her hand
from Quentin’s and started to move towards Lady Croft.
Landon stepped in front
of Brook’s path right as she was going to come face to face with Lady Croft.
“Good evening Red.” Landon scooped up Brook’s hand and placed his other hand
about her waist. “OK, here we go and one, two, three.” Landon gave Quentin the
ok to leave.
Quentin smiled and left
to join the others.
Brook and Landon
finished the dance flawlessly. Neither of them spoke as they gazed into one
another’s eyes. After the music had ceased, Brook went to leave the dance area.
Landon took a hold of
her hand and pulled her back to him. “I believe I was cheated out of a dance,
Red.”
Brook said nothing as
the music began again. He drew her close to his body. She could not turn away
from his gaze on her.
Landon gave Brook’s
hand a small squeeze and he watched Brook’s lips part slightly. The rush of the
memory of their kiss a month ago flooded his mind. He still remembered how soft
her lips were. The taste of her mouth on his. Somehow, every time he thought of
the kiss, it felt as though it had just happened. You are trouble wrapped up in a voluptuous fiery red package. I find
myself wanting to get into trouble right now. Why do your eyes always say yes
to me? It would be far more helpful if they offered some kind of resistance
instead of agreeing with my every devilish thought. Landon did not move his
gaze but he did clear his thought the best he could.
Quentin took a seat
next to Grams on the chaise lounge. Grams patted his leg and said, “Do tell us
where you have been hiding.”
“I have just returned
from China. At present time, I am on leave for three months. I suppose you have
all heard of my sister’s passing?” Quentin said.
Devon said, “We did and
are truly sorry. Theresa will be missed. How is your mother holding up?”
“She is not dealing
with it well. I was told the first two weeks she did not leave Theresa’s
bedchamber,” Quentin said.
“Oh dear,” Sarah said.
Quentin looked to Grams
and said, “I was also told you and Lady Wilcox were the ones to get her to
immerge from it.” He took up Grams hand and kissed it. “I do not know how I
will be able to repay you for your kind friendship to my mother.”
“My dear boy I care
very deeply for your mother. She did the very same for me when I lost Roy,
Devon’s father. As her and I had done the same when Clare, when Sarah’s mother
passed,” Grams said.
“You had?” Sarah asked.
“Yes we did Sarah. I
know Lady Wilcox is your Mother’s aunt, but she had raised her as a daughter,”
Grams said.
“I never knew that,”
Sarah said.
“Yes well enough sad
stories. I shall like to invite everyone to my country estate next week,”
Quentin said.
“My boy, we could all
use a change of scenery. Who else is to attend?
The music ended and
Landon held Brook in his embrace a several counts longer than needed. Brook let
him and did not pull away. He finally slowly released her hand from his and
felt Brook’s hand begin to slide out of his hand. Instinctively he squeezed her
hand at the last second before it slipped away completely. Landon gently rubbed
Brook’s finger tips with his. The dance area was now empty and all eyes were
upon them. Lord knows how long they had been standing there like that. For
them, time did not exist. A sudden high pitched shriek came from one of the
violins. Landon blinked out of his trance as did Brook.
Brook felt a rush of
air leave her lungs as Landon released her fingers. She didn’t want him to let
go. The comfort of his embrace felt warm and right to her. She smiled up to him
trying to hide her own thoughts from him as if he could read her mind. Which at
times she believed he could. He always seemed to know what she was going to do
or say before she did.
Landon smiled then
bowed. “Shall we, Red?” He held out his arm in the direction of the group.
“I am not certain when
you began to call me Red, but I do not care for it.”
As she walked past him,
Landon said to her back, “But I do.” He could hear Brook’s soft giggle. Her
tone was deep and seductive sounding. Flirtatious even.
“Hello Landon,” Marcy
Croft said as she stepped in front of their path. She looked at Brook and said,
“I was relieved to see you figured out which of your feet are left and right.”
Brook glared at Marcy
with pure hate. “Yes, well your bottom seemed to occupy most of the space
around me. It was hard to view my feet.”
Marcy threw her head
back and gave Brook a mocking laugh.
“Please excuse us Lady
Croft we have friends waiting for us,” Landon said.
“Oh, I see. Now it is
Lady Croft?” Marcy said.
Landon took Brook by
the arm and led her away from Marcy.
“What did she mean by
that?” Brook asked.
“She is always jealous
of new woman to the ton and does her best to intimidate them. Pay her no
attention no matter what she says to you,” Landon said. Beats of sweat were
forming on his forehead.
As they arrived at the
group, Landon offered to get everyone a drink. Quentin stood and said he would
assist him.
As they walked far
enough away from the group Quentin said, “Brook is more amazing than you had
led on. Irish tongue does not do her justice from the way you had described
it.”
Landon laughed. “Yes
well Brook is hard to describe with mere words.”
“If you were hoping we
might hit it off, I have to be honest and tell you, she is too much to handle.
As entertaining as she is, I would be tongue tied with her every statement. She
is more your type than mine Landon.”
Landon stopped and
said, “I do not believe she is. Brook is a friend Quentin.”
Quentin smiled and
said, “I was only pointing out that-
“Well don’t because you
are wrong,” Landon snapped at him. “I am going to get the punch now.”
“I will get the drinks
from…the bar.” Before he had a chance to finish his sentence Landon had walked
away.
While Landon poured the
punch into the three cups, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned slightly to
see who it was. Good God I wish you would
find yourself kidnapped woman.
“So, do tell me Landon,
are you in the habit of slumming now?” Marcy asked.
“Marcy why do you always
have to be so unpleasant? It is as if you aim to be malicious every morning
when your feet hit the floor.”
Marcy turned her head
away from Landon and gazed out over the crowd. “Perhaps I am plain-spoken and
blunt with my words.” She crossed her arms over her stomach. “It is what makes
me who I am.”
“Cruel, unkind, and
wretched is what makes you, you,” Landon said. He started to walk away from
her.
Marcy hollered out a
little too loud, “I propose your new friend does not know all about you
Lord…Charming.”
Landon turned back and
faced her. “I am sorry you are hurt but that gives you no right to hurt others
around you. Stay away from her Marcy.”
“Why, because you don’t
want her to know the truth about us?”
“And what truth might
that be Marcy? The truth that being this close to you draws up feeling of
repugnance or nausea?” Landon said in a hard whisper.
Marcy glared at him and narrowed her eyes.
“The truth about the broken engagement and our baby Landon.”
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