Crushing Desire (3 page)

What was wrong with him?

Chapter Two

England
1789

Reena smoothed the skirts of her dress, settling the silken material into smooth folds as she awaited her latest suitor’s arrival. She tried not to think about Joshua. The man who still, in the year since her eighteenth birthday party, had not come to call. He met with her uncle regularly, even stopping to talk with her before his meetings, but he never spoke of the intimate moment they had shared. And he never tried to kiss her again. She tried not to think of their one shared kiss.

“Mademoiselle Harrison.” A thick French accent broke her from her thoughts.

Martin Dubois moved to the bench in the gardens where she sat, leaning over her hand and turning it a little to kiss her wrist.

“Monsieur Dubois,
comment allez vous
?“
Reena asked, in her finest French, her memories fading into the background once more.

“
I am much better now that you’re here,
ma belle fille.
” Martin held her fingers for an instant too long before releasing her hand.

He winked and then straightened. Reena got to her feet, glancing at the window which led into her room.

Where was Emily?

“Did you miss me,
cheri
?” He cocked an eyebrow, stepping into her.

Reena moved around the bench, watching Martin’s hands, which could find their way into somewhat inappropriate places if not observed.

“Certainly,” Reena replied. “How was your trip? Did you enjoy France?”

“I saw Versailles. It was beautiful, all palatial cheeks, arms, and lips as sunset turned the marble pink, then red in its passion. I think I took you with me,
mon amoureux
. I only wish you had been there.” His sensuous smile unnerved her.

Reena was used to these types of comments from Martin, but still her cheeks warmed. His gaze lowered until it rested on her breasts. She wore an older style of dress with Buffons—a thin material used to cover the bosom—and modesty pieces, because they hid her somewhat boastful developments. His eyes lidded and his mouth parted. She grimaced and tugged her shawl snug over her out of fashion attire.

She cleared her throat. “Ms. Benton should be out soon.”

Emily Benton stepped from the house at that moment and saved them both the humiliation of what had just occurred. “Where are we going, my young buck?” asked the older woman as she neared.

Martin lifted her fingers to his lips, greeting her with a small bow.

“Now don’t you be trying to flirt with me, son, I’ll not let you flip these skirts,” Emily chided.

Reena couldn’t help but laugh, and neither could Martin, who offered an arm to each woman. Emily had a very open manner, which had never once presented itself in front of her father before they’d left for England. She’d been all steel and stone in front of him. So much so, she had Reena fearing that her life would be miserable with this woman her father had hired as her chaperone. After leaving her father’s side, however, she had taken Reena to the kitchen, and they had talked for hours over sweet pastries. They’d shared a lot since then.

“I shall try my best to stay my natural urges where you are concerned.” Martin bowed to her and then to Reena.

Men never did seem to mind Emily’s straightforward manner. Reena had been embarrassed the first time she’d heard the outspoken woman chastise a young man for allegedly wanting to toss her skirts. The young captain of the merchant ship they crossed on had laughed and promised to try. That seemed to be how most men reacted to her outrageous accusations. Her outlandish manner made the rather frightening post wartime voyage less fearsome.

“Well, it isn’t polite to tease a lady,” Emily said in response to some comment that Reena had missed, bringing her mind back to the present. “Now, tell me where we are going.”

“I thought that I should take my two favorite girls to the theater. I was able to get tickets to Much Ado About Nothing. What do you think about that Ms. Benton?” Martin winked.

“Why you wicked…” Emily lifted an eyebrow. “How dare you take us to such a daring spectacle? Why it’s scandalous, that play. Do you try to tantalize me now?” She regarded him with a suspicious eye.

“Always.”

9

The night was lovely…mild and fragrant. Stars shone through the curtained windows of the carriage, and the autumn moon loomed huge in the night sky. Horse hooves rang out when they struck the cobblestone streets of the city. They were more than halfway to the theater house, and Emily had fallen asleep. Reena smirked. It seemed Emily was never able to stay awake during a long coach ride, in particular when she was chaperoning Reena and one of her suitors. Yet she always seemed to be awake when Reena needed her most.

“Will you be scandalized by the play we are to see, or will you be tantalized, I wonder?” Martin whispered, scooting closer to her on the seat.

“I’m sure I don’t know,” she replied. “I’ve never heard of the play before.” A rabbit before a wolf, still she tried to keep her tone light-hearted.

Reena wondered if she should make a noise to wake Emily. She wished it were Michael who sat next to her now. Martin was without doubt attractive, perhaps the most beautiful man she had ever met in spite of the scar on his lip, which he had gotten falling from a horse during his childhood. His twin, Michael, who also courted her, was like him in every visual aspect except for the scar. In personality, though, Michael was different from Martin. Michael had grown up well behaved. He was very funny and a gentleman with her most of the time. Martin, however, was always trying to get her alone so that he could steal a kiss. Reena took a shaky breath and pushed herself up against the side of the carriage.

“I think you should like the play well,
amore
.” He slipped closer. So near now that she had nowhere to run. “It’s about a young couple that wants to marry. They have a lover’s quarrel after the villain convinces the young man that his bride-to-be has been untrue.”

Martin smiled, and Reena’s heart fluttered. It wasn’t attraction that had her pulse racing. His smoldering eyes and all too active hands discomfited her.

“I think it will indeed tantalize you,
amoureux
.” He leaned in toward Reena’s mouth.

She turned her head, and his mouth fell on her cheek.

“Monsieur Dubois,” she said, as his lips moved along her cheek toward her neck. “Monsieur Dubois, please.”

“Kiss me, Reena,” Martin whispered, his voice thick. “Kiss me the way you kissed my brother in that alley when we were young.”

He pulled her hands to his chest, holding them against him.

“I never should have given him that kiss.” Her words came in a rushed whisper. “It was a juvenile child’s game.”

“I’ve wanted to kiss you many times since that day. You must allow it.”

Reena kept her face turned away. “Monsieur Dubois,” she began.

“Martin.”

“Martin, I can’t. It’s not proper. And what about Emily?”

He nuzzled her cheek, his mouth kissing a small trail toward her lips. “She’s asleep Reena, and it’s only improper if you’re caught. Besides, propriety never stopped you in that alleyway.”

Reena swallowed hard. It was true. She had always had a wicked curiosity about the flesh.

The truth was she would have to marry, even if it wouldn’t be to Joshua. Reena had to protect her reputation and her virtue. Her eyes misted, and she swallowed hard at a lump in her throat. His hand caught her chin. He moved his mouth to cover hers, but the instant his lips touched hers, Emily jerked and mumbled in her sleep, kicking Martin hard in the shin. He yelled and grabbed his shin.

Only Reena saw the fleeting smirk on Emily’s face before she sat up.

“Oh my! Did I hurt you?” Emily’s eyes went wide, and she blinked sleepily. “I do get a bit carried away when I dream.”

Martin’s eyes darkened for a moment, but then one corner of his mouth lifted. “And what, or should I say whom, were you dreaming about?” He sat back.

 
“Oh you!” Emily’s hand flew to her throat. “A lady never tells. Not that there was anything to tell, mind you.”

Emily swatted the air playfully, and Reena couldn’t help but laugh at their banter, though her insides still quivered.

9

The theater was crowded when they entered through the huge double doors. Martin had rented one of the balcony boxes and led Emily and Reena to it.

“I believe that you should truly enjoy the play,” Martin whispered in her ear.

“We shall see.” Reena gazed up at him.

Martin winked in reply and seated Emily on one end of the box and Reena in the middle, next to him. Glancing at him a moment later, she again found his eyes on her bosom, lips parted and breathing shallow. She eyed Emily, wishing she could tug at her modesty piece.

Emily met Reena’s eyes and then looked in the direction of Martin’s ardent gaze. “Why if you keep staring at me young man, people will begin to think you’re in love with me,” she said. “What a scandalous sensation we would cause.”

With wordless thanks to Emily for rescuing her, which Emily often did, Reena forced a laugh. Peeking back, she noted that Martin’s head hadn’t moved, but his gaze had shifted toward Emily as though he’d been watching her all along.

“I don’t understand why you insist on hiding it, my lady, but I shall keep my eyes to myself this evening.” Martin nodded, sitting back.

“You’d just better do that, you sly dog.” Emily shook her fan open and waved it before her face.

Looking over the crowd below, Reena watched the men and women taking their seats. The expensive balcony seats across from theirs were empty. In the theater below, the seats in front held the middle classes, those that were well off but not rich enough to afford the balcony. Behind them was a small section for the masses. Seats that were cheap in price and comfort. Reena grinned, watching as a young man in meager clothes escorted a woman to her seat, pointing out the features of the theatre to her. Her smile faded when a gentleman in a fine greatcoat and hat pushed past the young couple, not even sparing a glance for the toppling pair as he went.

Movement in the balcony across from them drew Reena’s attention. Joshua stepped into the empty balcony box, and her world froze. Martin’s voice droned on in the background, but she heard nothing. She held her breath, waiting for him to turn. Joshua’s gaze met hers, and he stilled as well. The intensity of his stare made her pulse race, and the air seemed to charge around her. After what seemed like an eternity, but surely had been no more than moments, Joshua averted his eyes. Reena’s breath expelled in a soft whoosh.

“They think he may need to be destroyed, but we will not know yet.”

In her peripheral vision, Reena watched as Martin rubbed the top of one fisted hand with the other. She blinked, realizing that he had been telling her a story.

“Oh dear,” she said, thinking it the correct response.

Martin’s arm stiffened against hers as he straightened, but Reena’s gaze never left Joshua.

“If you’ll excuse me, I see someone that I must speak with.” Martin pushed from the chair. He bowed over Reena’s hand, kissing it quickly and then turned and kissed Emily’s. She tapped his cheek lightly with her fan and called him a rogue.

Reena’s gaze returned to Joshua and found he was watching her. Their eyes met for a moment, and she glanced away. Still, even after all this time, she couldn’t cease her body’s reaction to him. Her mind filled with images of their kiss, and her body tingled with the memory of his caress. Closing her eyes, she willed herself to forget him. To let go of the childish fascination with a man who had proved many times over that he held no interest in courting her. She needed to focus on what was happening around her.

“What was the story that he was telling?” she asked Emily quickly.

“I thought that a certain gentleman might have drawn your attention from the conversation,” Emily raised an eyebrow at her, grinning.

Reena’s cheeks were so warm she didn’t doubt her face glowed brighter than the sun.

Emily told her about Martin’s horse, achille, who’d had a fall, and the precarious health problems that had followed. It was a sad thought that the horse might have to be destroyed if the injuries were too severe, but even that thought couldn’t hold her mind with Joshua sitting in the box across from them.

His dowager aunt had joined him now, and Joshua whispered something in her ear. He hadn’t brought a young woman with him tonight. The very idea sent a thousand butterflies taking wing inside her stomach. And they seemed to grow every time his gaze turned her way. He looked so handsome. His dark blond hair shined in the theater lights, and his deep black greatcoat and maroon waistcoat were a dashing combination.

Martin returned then, bringing Reena’s attention back to their box. “Did you miss me?” he asked in her ear.

Reena turned to him, and the happy gleam in his eyes made her smile. “Of course. Your business went well?”

“I saw the veterinarian. I told him that I should be here for the evening, and he came to seek me out.”