A Rose in Winter (47 page)

The servant seemed momentarily perplexed as to what to do and finally decided to leave the matter up to his master. "This way, sir."

Christopher guided her leisurely along in the wake of the impatient servant. They were taken through a door and down a long, wide corridor until they reached a pair of gilt-trimmed doors. Bidding them to wait, the servant rapped lightly and then entered. When he returned, he held open a door for their admittance.

Dressed out in white and gold satin liberally adorned with golden braid, Nigel Talbot rose from an ornate desk as they came in. He stepped around the end of the desk and moved to meet Erienne while his eyes eagerly devoured her beauty. They briefly touched the necklace before dropping to her bosom.

Erienne sank into a polite curtsy. "Lord Talbot."

"My dear child, 'tis so good to see you again," he said. As she straightened, he took both her hands into his and bestowed a kiss on each before raising his heated gaze once again. "You look absolutely ravishing," he murmured, then glanced about. He had not been able to persuade his daughter to change her mind about inviting the Yankee and pointedly chose to ignore his presence. "But where is your husband? I thought he would be here with you."

"Lord Saxton could not come," she replied. "He addressed Mr. Seton to accompany me in his stead."

Taking a pinch of snuff, Talbot looked Christopher over with a haughtily cocked brow, well aware that the younger man had not deemed to pay homage to him.

"The favor Lord Saxton asked of me was twofold, sir," Christopher explained, withdrawing a packet from inside his coat and presenting it to the man. A slow smile touched his lips. "His lordship also asked me to bring this letter to you."

Nigel's eyes flicked over the Yankee with open distaste. Talbot broke the seal of the document and briefly scanned the contents. After a moment he raised a tightly controlled and carefully blank stare to Christopher, who was still smiling pleasantly. With a flick of his wrist, Talbot tossed the letter aside on a low table.

"There's time enough for business at a later date." His grand air had fled, and he faced Erienne, trying to force the stiff muscles of his face into some semblance of a smile. "Tonight we will enjoy the festivities. We have many guests from London and York, and they've come here to have a rare good time. I hope that is your intention, my lady."

Within reason, Erienne mused, but managed a gracious reply. "Of course, my lord."

"You may expect me to claim a dance or two later," he stated, his expression easing somewhat. "I shall insist upon it. What with your newly acquired status and your husband barely known among the blooded classes, I'm sure you have need of someone to teach you the proper decorum of these affairs. I shall be most eager to lend my assistance in tutoring you."

"Perhaps you mistake the Saxtons' heritage," Christopher responded smoothly. "If you're unaware of it, they're quite an old family, possibly older than your own."

Lord Talbot slanted a questioning look toward the man. "You seem to know a lot about them, young man. As for myself, I was not that well acquainted with them. I met the old lord only briefly before he was murdered by those cutthroats. The present lord has remained rather reclusive."

Christopher's grin deepened. "Can you blame him?"

Lord Talbot gave a low snort. "I suppose if I were scarred to the degree he is, I would be loath to present myself in public, too. But the man should learn to trust someone, and 'tis certain I mean him no harm."

"I have always found Lord Saxton to be a reasonable man, not unwilling to trust those who deserve it," Christopher replied and slipped a hand beneath Erienne's elbow. "If you will excuse us now, my lord, Lady Saxton promised me a dance."

Talbot straightened himself indignantly. He was sure the fellow had completely lost his senses or lacked knowledge of the correct etiquette with a titled lord. Why, no one dared walk away from him before they were dismissed.

Christopher opened the door and with a crisp nod to the gawking man, drew Erienne out ahead of him. They were in the hall before she dared release her breath.

"Lord Talbot will never forgive you for that," she whispered worriedly.

A low chuckle preceded his reply. "I don't think I'll miss his affection."

"You should be more careful," she warned. "He's a man of much influence."

"He's a man of much arrogance, and I could not resist deflating him a bit." Christopher looked down at her, and his eyes danced with green lights as he searched her face. "Do I actually detect some concern for me in your admonition, my sweet?"

"When you're so reckless, someone needs to try to get you to listen to reason," she said impatiently.

"I take heart that you care."

"There's really no reason for you to feel conceit," she responded dryly.

"Ah, milady pricks me with her thorns and wounds me to the quick."

"Your hide is thicker than an oxen's," she scoffed. "And your skull just as dense."

"Don't be mean, my love," he coaxed. "Give me a warm smile to soothe this heart that beats only for you."

"I've heard stories that convince me that your heart is quite fickle, sir."

"Madam?" His brows raised in surprise. "Do you give credence to gossip?"

"Perhaps I should ask Claudia if it is true that you are wont to visit her while her father is away." Erienne stared at him in open suspicion.

His amused laughter took the sting from her charge. "When I have expended so much energy on you, madam, how can you believe that I have any interest in another woman?"

Erienne glanced around to see if anyone stood near enough to overhear his words, then, assured that they were alone in-the hall, leaned forward to whisper accusingly, "You have managed to accumulate a following of twittering females in Mawbry. Why shouldn't I believe the rumors?"

"And why should you care if they are true?" he returned a question back at her. "You're a married woman."

"I know that!" she snapped.

His lips twitched with ill-suppressed amusement. "I thought you needed reminding, my love."

"I am not your love!" she protested, as much to squelch the sudden sweet pang of pleasure his endearment caused as to discourage him.

"Oh, but you are," he murmured warmly.

Those glowing eyes burned into hers, suffusing her with a growing aura of warmth. The trembling began again, and the strength in her limbs ebbed. How could she claim disinterest in the man when the very words from his mouth could so effectively stir her senses?

His gaze lowered and lightly caressed her bosom, dipping to where the green gem twinkled between her creamy breasts. Her breath halted as the kindling fire flared brighter in those grayish-green orbs, and then they caught and held her own.

"If you're not aware of it yet, madam, I'm rather single-minded in my pursuits. You're the woman I want, and I'll not be satisfied until I have you."

"Christopher, Christopher," she groaned. "When will you ever accept the fact that I'm a married woman?"

"Only when I can claim you as my wife." He lifted his head and thoughtfully listened to the strings of the violins as they began another melody. "Lord Talbot has a penchant for waltzes," he mused aloud, "and if I know the man at all, he'll soon be here requesting your hand." Purposefully he took her arm and led her onto the dance floor.

"Perhaps I have misjudged you, Christopher," Erienne commented as he whirled her about in a wide sweep of the ballroom.

"How so, my love?" He searched her face for some hint of her meaning.

"You watch over me as closely as Stuart," she stated and grew thoughtful. "Perhaps more so."

"I have not given up hope that you will someday become mine, madam, and I choose to safeguard against those who would take you from me."

"What of Stuart?" She raised a lovely brow as she awaited his answer.

It was a long moment before he gave a reply. "In the ways of love, I do not consider Stuart as much a threat as an inconvenience."

"An inconvenience?" she queried.

"I shall have to deal with him in time, and that will be the difficult part. I cannot dismiss the man without rousing your hatred again. 'Tis a most perplexing problem."

"You amaze me, Christopher." Erienne shook her head, somewhat shocked by his casual disregard of her husband. "You truly amaze me."

"The feeling is mutual, my love." His voice came as a soft caress and sent an eddy of sensations spiraling down through the core of her being.

Lord Talbot frowned in sharp displeasure as he watched the two and grew annoyed when he heard the whispers that praised the good looks and talent of the couple. Catching the sheriff's eye, Nigel Talbot jerked his head sharply toward the direction of his study and returned there to await the man.

Claudia had also observed the blissful flight of the handsome pair about the ballroom floor, and her hatred of Erienne seethed to even greater heights. She caught sight of Allan Parker and hurried to claim him for the dance, wanting to show that milkweed daughter of the mayor a thing or two about waltzing.

"I'm sorry, Claudia." Allan gave his excuses. "Your father wants to see me."

Fire shot through the dark eyes, and she flounced from the room ahead of the sheriff, muttering beneath her breath and not caring how many stares she attracted because of her angry exit. This was her ball! And she would be damned before she would let Erienne Saxton ruin it!

She threw open the door of her father's study, and as she marched in, Talbot gave an impatient snort. His daughter would be difficult to deal with, as usual.

"Papa, you have no right to summon Allan just when he was going to dance with me!" she complained.

"There's a matter of business I wished to discuss with him," he explained.

In a huff, Claudia dropped in the nearest chair and flung up her hand. "Well, hurry up! I'm not going to wait all evening."

Talbot curbed his irritation and spoke coaxingly, "Claudia, dearest child, would you please go to my chambers and get my gold-headed cane for me? My old wound is acting up."

"Send one of the servants, Papa. I'm tired."

"Be a good girl, my dear, and do as I asked." His smile was forced.

She heaved an exasperated sigh and flounced from the room, slamming the door behind her.

The echo of its closing had barely died when Nigel Talbot caught up the letter from the table and slapped it irately with the back of his hand. "That damned Saxton! He summons me to Saxton Hall, as if I were some commoner, to discuss the rents collected while the family was not in residence."

Allan half sat on the corner of the massive desk and propped a foot on a seat of a silk brocade chair as he plucked a sweet from a nearby tray. Considering the bonbon, he commented without concern, "That should add up to a pretty penny."

" ‘Tis more than a few coppers!" Talbot tossed the letter on the table and began to pace angrily. "Why, I've been collecting the rents for almost a score of years."

The sheriff chewed for a moment. "Am I to understand that you consider this Lord Saxton a threat?"

Talbot glared about the room. "I wish he would have come himself instead of sending that impertinent Yankee in his place. We would have seen, then, if he's the one."

"The rumors have it that he can't even sit a horse," Allan interjected.

"I've heard them, too, but where else can we look? The only other stranger in the area is Christopher Seton, and he's just too convenient."

Allan lifted his shoulders briefly. "So far, that one is just who he claims to be. He owns some ships, and one, the
Cristina,
has been in and out of Wirkinton several times these past few months. It always seems to have a bit of new cargo to trade or sell."

"Just the same, we should be kept aware of the man." Talbot smirked. "Who knows? Perhaps he'll get tangled up with the night rider, and we'll find him in a bloody heap somewhere."

A smile turned the sheriff's lips. "If that should happen, do you suppose Lord Saxton would allow either of us to escort his lady?"

His lordship gave a short, sneering laugh. "The man must be naive to trust Seton. It makes me wonder if he has his wits about him."

The sheriff nodded as he selected another candy. "He set Sears and his bunch to rout easily enough."

"That peabrained lout!" Talbot waved a hand angrily. "Who knows what harm he might have done?"

Allan dusted his hands and stood to his feet. "Have you heard anything from your man in the London Court?"

Lord Talbot paced fretfully again. "Nothing. Nothing at all. Just the usual."

The sheriff pursed his lips but was prevented further comment as Claudia threw open the doors. She crossed the room in haste and handed her father a heavy silver-headed walking stick.

"This was the only one I could find. Are you sure you didn't..." She paused as she took note of the cane leaning beside the fireplace. "Why, there's the gold one. You had it all the time." She giggled as she hugged her father's arm. "You've been so forgetful lately, Papa. I do believe you're getting old."

She gave an airy laugh and turned away, missing the angry glare her sire bent upon her.