Forbidden (18 page)

"Thank you." Miss Montray accepted the words
with polite grace. "I'll leave you to your afternoon." She nodded
and turned, leaving them alone once more, save the maid.

"That was kind of you," Cross said as they
ambled along the path.

Essie shrugged. "It's not my place to
disclose all the details, but I felt it was wise to give her some
sort of awareness. I've always liked her. It would be a pity to be
saddled with Trighton for the sake of title."

"It would be a travesty to be saddled with
him for any reason."

Essie chuckled. "Aren't fond of the fellow,
are you?"

"I despise him."

"You always were a good judge of character,"
she replied lightly.

Cross narrowed his eyes, trying to discern if
she were goading him, but as her smile grew, daring him to return
the gesture, his irritation melted against the warmth of her grin,
so chuckling lightly, he turned his attention to the park. His eye
caught movement by one of the various trees littering the
landscape, and upon closer reflection, he recognized the man.

Trighton.

"Hmm." He led Essie off the path and towards
a grove of trees not far away, yet still in enough sight for
Trighton to see.

Gossip, not scandal.
He whispered to
himself as he pulled Essie a bit closer than was proper.

"Cross, what are you—"

"Shh, just…" he murmured and turned to face
her. Gently he raised his gloved hand and traced the smooth line
along her jaw, savoring the nearness of her body, the scent of
lilac and lemon coming from her skin. A tendril of hair had escaped
her coiffure and, giving into temptation, he drew the long lock of
butter colored curl into his fingers and rubbed it, memorizing the
texture, even through his glove. "Like thick silk, only far finer,"
he whispered.

Essie's gaze searched his, confusion
transforming to an expression of secret wonder. Her bright blue
eyes searched his, as if trying to discern if he were acting, or if
it were real.

Cross lifted her hand, gently he kissed her
wrist, inhaling deeply, closing his eyes as he memorized the warm
fragrance of her skin.

"Cross…" Essie said softly, her pink tongue
darting out to lick her lips, beckoning him to taste their
flavor.

Closing his eyes, he fought a civil war
within himself. Wanting to taste her so desperately, yet loving her
enough to restrain himself. Because now would not be to her
benefit, rather he was quite sure a kiss would do far more harm to
her reputation than good.

So reluctantly, he opened his eyes and
stepped back. Her eyes questioned him, then shifted to behind him,
widening.

Tilting her head, she glancing from Cross to
behind him once more.

He didn't have to turn to guess who stood
behind him, yet he turned anyway. "Trighton." He spoke directly
just before he saw him.

"Crossby." Trighton's tone was clipped, his
eyes narrowed.

"Have a lovely afternoon," Cross replied,
steel in his tone, dismissing him.

Trighton sneered.

Essie squeezed Cross' hand.

Cross couldn't help the victorious smirk that
crept across his face just before he followed Essie's lead.

Trighton's gaze narrowed.

"Good day!" Cross called out as he followed
Essie back towards the path,

"Just what was
that
about?" Essie
asked, her tone slightly breathless.

"What?" Cross asked, playing dumb.

"For pity's sake, one of you doesn't want me
and the other is playing a game," she replied, brushing a strand of
hair from her face.

Cross paused.

Maybe it was from the undertone of the
meeting with Trighton.

Maybe his blood was still boiling from their
almost kiss,

Maybe it was simply madness taking over.

"Essie." He paused, waiting for her to turn
and face him. Regarding her fully, he held her gaze, wanting her to
hear every word, to see it' truth reflected in his eyes. "I refuse
to discuss Trighton. He's below my mentioning. You however… were
the only one who agreed to
play
anything." He waited,
allowing his words to sink in.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, searching his
gaze, as if trying to determine if what he
said
, was what he
actually
meant
.

Women
.

Shaking his head, Cross turned them around
and headed back towards her home. "I think we've tested fate enough
for one day."

Rather, fate had tested
him
enough.

And he'd not risk taking a step too far.

He was already afraid he had.

Essie paced the
floor.
The evening sunset bathed her room in an orange glow,
but she was far too distracted by her afternoon with Cross to
observe the beauty of the light.

Just what was happening?

Biting her lip she paused before the hearth,
watching the golden flames lick hungrily at the wood. Was he
playing the part? Was he
actually
pursuing her? Was that
what he had meant when he said that
she
was the only one who
agreed to play along? What did that even
mean
? And how was
it that she had known him her whole life—or most of it—and never
felt so… she didn't know what to call it. But was a pull, an…

Attraction.

Essie gasped.

That
was the strange sensation that
completely muddled her mind whenever she was around him! It was
maddening, it was… delightful. But Cross? Of all people—rather, of
all gentlemen—
Cross
was the one to create such a powerful
lure.

But hadn't she felt attraction before? For
pity sakes, she had been betrothed not a fortnight ago! Of course,
that was obsolete now, but surely she had felt attraction for
Trighton.

Yet, with Cross it was different.

It was more, it was deeper, stronger, more
mysterious and tempting.

It was…
Desire.

Essie glanced to the wooden floor, not seeing
it, rather reliving the memory of her interlude with Cross, just
before she saw Trighton. Had Cross been about to kiss her? Would
she have let him?

She grinned shyly to herself.
Yes.
She
would have and enjoyed every second. Trighton had kissed her cheek,
even dared a quick kiss to her lips, but she had felt a pang of
disappointment. Wasn't there something more? Where was the swirling
ecstasy of falling in love, the powerful attraction and passion
that tempted ladies to risk ruin to find fulfillment in a forbidden
way?

Her lips bent as a smile teased them, she was
certain that Cross would provoke those sensations.

For pity sakes, when she was waltzing with
him she was practically breathless. What would it be like to kiss
him?

She wasn't sure.

But she
was
sure about needing to find
out.

She still was uncertain if Cross' actions
were in earnest attraction or the valiant effort of a friend. But
with their current agreement, perhaps she could somehow get him to
kiss her.

Or maybe she'd simply kiss him.

Grinning, she giggled as a plan began to form
in her mind.

Another
plan. Only this one was
beginning to be far more brilliant than her first.

"Anna?" Cross tugged
distractedly
at his cravat as he scanned the drawing room
for his sister. Anna's gloved hand waved from above the back of a
couch facing the opposite direction.

"Here," she mumbled distractedly.

Cross frowned and strode over to the couch
and looked over the back. "Mother would have your hide if she saw
you in such an unladylike manner," he scolded, but without
heat.

"Which is why I'm here,
not
somewhere
conspicuous. This is a very good book, you know. I do not wish to
be disturbed." She glanced up from her lounging position and raised
a dark eyebrow.

"Far be it for me to interrupt…" Cross tilted
his head to read the title from the spine of the book. "Miss
Laken's final mystery." He gave her a wry expression.

"This is utterly captivating and I'll not
have you slander it. What in heaven's name do you need anyway?"
Anna huffed and sat up, glaring at him impatiently.

"I was wondering, that is, I was curious as
to if Essie mentioned why she wished to meet with us." He rolled
his shoulders slightly, trying to distract himself from appearing
too
interested in his sister's answer.

"Hmm, no. All her missive said was that she
wished to meet at two p.m." Anna shrugged and glanced back to her
book.

Cross furrowed his brow.

"Oh! And she didn't wish to meet with
us
, it was you, I think, that she wished to see. She sent
the missive to me because, well, she couldn't very well send a
missive to
you.
That would be scandal for sure, so she asked
me to pass it along. Sorry, I must have forgotten to mention that."
Anna smiled and returned to her book.

"She wanted to meet with me? Alone?"

"Yes." Anna dragged out the word, eyeing him
curiously.

"And she didn't say why?"

"I believe I mentioned that." Anna regarded
him shrewdly, studying him.

Cross glanced away under her scrutiny.

"Cross…"Anna's tone was curious; curious and
contemplative. As if she were slowly putting a puzzle together and
finally gaining an insight to the full picture.

Damn it all.

"Yes?" Cross cleared his throat and gave his
sister a direct gaze.

"There's… I mean… you don't actually…" Anna
started, her eyes burning through him, trying to lift the truth
from his mind.

"Me? You mean…" Cross pointed to himself,
chuckling.

The sound was decidedly unconvincing.

"Heavens!" Anna gasped. Standing from the
couch. She proceeded to walk around to face her brother.

Bloody hell.

"How long have you been in love with her?"
Anna asked, her voice far louder than Cross was comfortable.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Cross turned and strode toward the fire.

"Cross… I honestly… I had no idea." Anna's
tone was softer, almost pitying.

Brilliant.
Just what he wanted.
Pity.

"It's nothing you should concern yourself
over," Cross heard himself say, his tone resolute.

"Cross…" Anna's voice was closer and he heard
the tell-tale whisper of her muslin day dress just before she
placed her hand on his shoulder. "I… I can't believe I didn't see
it."

"I didn't
want
you to see it."

"Why?"

"Why? Honestly?" Cross gave a humorless laugh
as he turned to face his sister. "Because when, in all of our
friendship with Essie, has she ever given you or I the slightest
indication that she felt anything for me other than
friendship?"

"I—"

"She hasn't. Ever. Believe me! I've waited
and watched and studied every emotion, every nuance of her face. I
have every smile, every laugh memorized and they haunt me, taunt me
every moment of the day. Before I even had a chance, she belonged
to another."

"Trighton," Anna whispered, watching him as
if seeing him for the first time.

"Yes, bloody bastard that he was for hurting
her, at the same time I was thrilled that finally I'd have a
chance."

"She asked you to court her… to pretend to,"
Anna murmured, her eyes narrowing as if deep in thought.

"Yes, and I agreed but vowed that I'd play…
but for keeps." He released a pent-up breath. "And I think I might
actually have a chance, Anna… but I have no idea…" He paused,
dropping his gaze to the floor. "She thinks I'm playing the part.
I'm simply being myself… but what if that's not enough?" He slowly
raised his gaze to meet his sisters.

"Then she's a bigger fool than Trighton,"
Anna replied with a warm smile. "She might be my best friend, but
you…" She shrugged and reached out to lightly punch his shoulder.
"You're my brother. And as much as it pains me to admit it—" She
heaved a dramatic sigh. "—you are quite the fine fellow."

"High praise." Cross chuckled.

"Take what you can get," Anna teased. "So…"
She drew out the word. "What are you going to do about all this? I
mean." She held up her hand to keep him from interrupting. "I get
that you're trying to have her fall for you… and, if I may add my
opinion, I think she's doing exactly that—"

"Wait. How so?" Cross listened eagerly.

"If you could have seen what I saw at the
ball, you'd agree with me. She watched you, searched for you and I
don't think she even realized she was doing it."

"Truly?" Cross felt his grin widen with
hope.

"Yes I—"

Just as Anna started to speak, their butler
knocked on the door. Anna quirked a knowing smile and bade the
butler to enter.