Bittersweet Endeavors (33 page)

Zachary raised
Myra
’s hand and made an endearing scene for all to view.  “I shall return momentarily,
my
love.” 

As promised, she feigned her public affection with a smile and a soft caress
in
her voi
ce.  “Please, take your time,
”
she said and curtsied to him.

The moment they were gone, a crowd of prominent guest
s
approached her
, s
urely d
rawn by
their
awe of
her
pedigree
,
and
not
by
her
.
 
T
hey
were
the same people who didn’t
even
bid her
a simple
‘
how-do-you-do’
when she walked
down
the streets in town
.
 
Myra raged inwardly and thought about w
hat hypocrites they all
showed
themselves to be
.
 
She turned and looked for Seth
. 
She
wondered if
he may
have regret for denying the baby his name
, now that
she was
a person of status
.

“I’d like to speak to you.”  The voice
came
from behind
her and
startled he
r. 
The masculine whisper
drifted away
as Seth brushed passed
her
and
quickly
moved onward
as to be discreet
.  She followed him with her eyes until he disappeared outside the double doors that led to the outside gardens. 
After
a quick search of the room, she
saw that
Zachary
ha
dn’t
yet return
.  Either that,
or
out of sight,
too busy bragging about
being
a
husband to someone related to T
he King
. 
Once assured Zachary
remained
distracted,
Myra
left the room
and
descend
ed
the steps
outside
until she met th
e roses that
lined beautifully
in
their
full bloom
.

There he stood.  He was
solemn, tall, and glorious in his magnificence.  Oh, how she missed
his
broad arms holding her protectively, lovingly.
 
He took a step toward her when she approached. 

“
I should have expected that you’d lie to me when
asked
if the rumor
was
true
,
Myra
.”  He lowered his head, and in a whisper, he said under his breath, “Or should I say, Lady
Myra
?”  There was a hint of sarcasm,
even
disgust, as he
said her name
, and she wondered if it bothered him that she
was
legitimately his
better.

“
Whatever you will, Seth,
it makes no difference to me.  My status has
naught
to do with who I really am. 
You of all people should know that
.”

His head
rose
up quickly
and she saw the raw pain in his eyes
…
or may
hap
anger.  Possibly regret?  Regret for not marrying the
Lady
Myra
when he had the chance? 
Perhaps
Seth’s father finally
succeeded
and swayed
him
to
the
importance of status and social climbing
, or worse, there was no need of convincing at all
. 
She wondered if his summoning her outside was a chance to reunite now that she was a worthy subject for him. 
“Why have you
beckoned
me out here, Seth?”  She tried not to appear anxious an
d believed she accomplished the
task.

“
I’m sorry
that I ever met you
,
”
he said quietly. 

“Is there anything else you would
like to
apologize
for?” she
said mockingly
.
But
sh
e regretted the words the moment
they left her mouth.  She wanted him to a
pologize for denying his
child the chance to have a father, but an issue not to be forced, she knew.  How co
uld she
push
a child
on
to
a man who didn’t want it?
  Especially to someone who
might
push tha
t child away, as his father ha
d
done
with Lucia.

Seth didn’t answer, but by the way his hands clasped into fists
at his sides, she
saw
that
he didn’t like
her question
or her tone. 

“I didn’t think so,” she said
softly
.  “I’ll be retiring to my room for the night.  If you’ll
excuse me,
I shall take my leave.
”
S
he turned
and started to
walk away, bu
t the light touch of his hand
on her sh
oulder gave her pause.  She did
n
’t
turn around right away but inhaled a deep breath of air that mingled with his masculine scent.

Before
she had
a chance to clear her mind of the
idea
of him holding her, kissing her, making love to her—it happened.  He pulled her into his embrace, and with a passion deeper than she’
d
ever known, he kissed her.  The sweet aroma of tobacco and spices rushed her senses, and she reacted the only way her body allow
ed
when next to his—she gave in to the love and desire
that
she craved to receive from him.  She draped her arms around his broad shoulders and
leaned against
his muscular frame.
 
H
er knees felt so w
eak that she needed his support.  S
he tightened her hold and wrapped her arms securely around his neck
and returned his passionate kiss
. 

She whispered his name and trailed
kisses
down his
neck.  He fe
lt
good next to her, and moreover,
very
right.  But after a low gro
wl escaped his throat, he
abruptly ended the moment shared between them.  With a firm grasp o
f
her arms, he set her aside and turned awa
y.  Still dazed
, her hand went to her lips
which
tingled and burned from their heated kiss. 

“Seth,” she said in a soft whisper. 
She wondered if he wanted her back.
  So many doubts ran through her mind and she lowered her eyes. 
She
feared
what
might
co
me of their
passionate
moment
, but worse, what may not
. 

He whirled around an
d the expression on his face
looked
grim. 
H
e
didn’t feel
the same depths of
desire
she felt just a moment before whil
e
in his arms. 

“A
gain, I owe you an apology
. 
I shouldn’t have taken such liberties
, especially now that you are Frederickson’s wife
.”  His head raised and
he
looked upward at the stars above. 
He threaded his fingers between his long blond locks. 
The frustration that plagued his fa
ce
came
disturbingly
near
her
consternation over th
e
scenario.  When he lowered his head
and
look
ed
at her, he opened his mouth
to speak
, but no words came ou
t
and he didn’t
continue.
Perhaps
he’
d
confess his love and explain why he treated her so atrociously
since
he
return
ed
. 

Something caught his attention and he looked toward the house.  When his eyes fell again
up
on her,
a tsk came across his lips
and
a look of disgust marred his
handsome
face
.  He nodded his head toward the back entrance
of
the house.  “Your husband is
searching
for you. 
‘Twould
be best if you go to him before he discovers we
’
re
here
together,” he clipped out angrily.

With a start,
Myra
jumped and moved
away
from the moon’s glow so Zachary wouldn’t discover her
location
.  Without
saying anything further,
Seth began to make his ascent up the steps that led back to the Frederickson home.

“Wait,” she called quietly out to him.  “I must speak to you before you
take
your
leave
.” 

Seth looked
where
Zachary stood and
he
shook his head.  “
You shall hold your tongue.  I’m
in no mood to duel with your husband tonight, less you care
to see him dead.”

“Please, Seth,” sh
e urged
and
she stepped back
, deeper into the thickness of the gardens
and out
of Zachary’s view.  “It’s
of great import
,” she
urged.

After another glance toward Zachary, Seth let out a loud breath of resignation.  “Only a moment,
tis
all we can spare before he makes his way here.”

“I must ask a favor of you.”  Her voice was low, trembling.

“What favor can I supply for you,
Myra
? 
Unless
,
tis advice you seek,
” he spat
out angrily
.

“Advice?”

“
Aye
, from Frederickson’s reputation of being a
scoundrel
who dishes in a heal
thy, lust-filled appetite…
”
  He
r
a
ised his hand to her cheek and
his
fingers
gently
grazed
across
her bruise
.
  “I’d advise you to use caution when en
joying the pleasures of
his bed.”
His
eyes stared off, hard, in Zachary’s direction.

“Don’t be so foul, Seth.  This happens to be from—” She didn’t continue.  Let him believe what he
wanted
, she decided.
  There
was
conversing with him
that
night, she decided
.  He was ang
ered
and hurt
ing
and his pain
was
still fresh and too great.

“I need not hear of your bedpost adventure,” he said in a harsh whisper.

His tone and insinuation
infuriated her
all the
more.
 
Not
allowing
the darkness that surround
them hinder her disgust at his bawdiness, she swung her foot into his shin.