Invitation to Passion (2 page)

Richard John Craven was a dead man. That’s if Charles Chesterton, the Marquess of Wrentham ever found him. Maddy watched the Marquess as he stood at the top of the stairs surveying the guests in the crowded ballroom below. His presence here at Hascombe Court meant only one thing. He’d come for his wife.

A curse was on Richard’s head.

Richard should have ended his affair as soon as his lover, Sarah, had married Wrentham, but Lady Wrentham had arrived without her husband, and it appeared their affair wasn’t yet over. Maddy had seen Richard and Sarah slip away together over an hour ago. Now, she would
have
to get involved. She hated getting involved. However, Richard was her best friend and he had looked after her welfare for years. A tremor of annoyance went through her at the obligation upon her to return the favor in such circumstances.

Madeline Knight, you are such a liar
. She
wanted
to return the favor.

Maddy blew a curl out of her eyes, and peered through the plants sheltering her from the vultures within the
ton
. She’d been hiding here for most of the evening. Rufus had organized this ball for her. She loved her brother, but he’d recently married his one true love, Rheda, and he was determined to help his young sister find the same happiness.

Unfortunately, Madeline’s idea of a suitable husband differed vastly from his. She did not wish to marry into the upper echelons of society. Due to her father’s rumored treason, she’d grown up in seclusion here at their country estate near Newmarket. She had spent her childhood scared of her shadow for fear of being made the subject of further gossip and derision. Her life was spent constantly worrying that she would do something dreadful and disgrace the family even further. She remembered how horrified her mother had been when the Marquess of Wrentham had caught Maddy swimming naked with the gamekeeper’s children. She’d only been eight-years-old, yet it was as if she had been guilty of treason herself. She’d been subjected to taunts from the local gentry’s children for weeks. She’d made a point of never doing anything that would mean having to face her mother’s disappointment again.

Now, even though she’d reached the age of nineteen, this was her first season. Society had all but shunned her.

However, all that had changed when, a few months ago, Rufus had at last cleared their late father of treason and he’d also been given an additional title, the Earl of Hascombe.

“This is where you are hiding.”

Drat, she’d been caught. “I was merely taking a minute to collect myself,” she told her sister-in-law.

“Fibber. You’ve been loitering behind this palm for at least half an hour.” Rheda’s astute gaze showed her disappointment in Maddy’s behavior.

“I can’t stand being on display, you know that. I’m bound to make a mistake.”

Rheda linked her arm with hers and drew her out to the edge of the ballroom floor. “How are you supposed to meet the man of your dreams when you insist on hiding.”

How did she tell her sister-in-law that the man of her dreams would never truly see her as anything but as a friend, and worse still, his best friend’s little sister. Besides, she dreaded having to marry a man in high society.

Due to the scandal surrounding the Strathmores it had always been expected that she would marry beneath her social standing—perhaps to a local squire, or vicar. She felt perfectly capable of settling into the quiet country life, as that’s what she was used to. Oh, she wanted a family too, with a lot of children who by having siblings wouldn’t have a lonely childhood. But she wanted to marry someone she felt equal to, a man who wouldn’t constantly judge her and find her lacking.

“No one will judge you now. Thanks to your brother, your late father is a hero, Rufus is an earl, and society is groveling to make up for their spiteful treatment of your mother over the years. You should be making them grovel harder, and walk proudly, with your head held high.”

The ‘sent to Coventry’ existence she’d lived all her life had changed with her brother’s newly elevated position, and now she was expected to embrace the
ton
, and forgive society for banishing them. Yet, being a stranger to high society, the strictures and sophistication of the
ton
frightened her to death.

“Why don’t you find Richard and get him to dance with you?” Rheda asked with a wink. “Where is he, by the way?” Rheda added as she scanned the crowded room.

“Why would I know where he is?” Maddy knew exactly where he was but the least number of other people who also did, the better.

Rheda laughed. “You may be able to fool your brother, sweetheart, but not me. You’re infatuated with Richard. And I don’t blame you, he’s utterly gorgeous.” At Maddy’s open mouth, Rheda said, “What? I may be married to your brother, but I’m not blind. Besides, there is no harm in looking.”

Maddy stuttered, “You best not let Rufus hear you talking like that, he’s very jealous of you.”

Rheda sighed and looked across the room to her husband. “That’s why I look. A little reminder for him not to take me for granted, and that he is now a married man.” Her eyes narrowed. “To remember for instance, that when women like Lady Capperel come flirting, it is not wise to respond.”

Maddy followed Rheda’s gaze and bit back a laugh. Lady Capperel was flirting outrageously with Rufus and Maddy saw that her brother was in an absolute flap about what to do. “I think you best go and rescue him.”

Rheda sighed. “Sometimes it’s annoying having such a handsome husband.” She hugged Maddy and whispered in her ear, “Except in the bedroom of course.”

Maddy smiled. Her brother would never betray his wedding vows, and neither would Rheda. She’d never seen a couple so much in love, well, except perhaps for Richard’s brother, Anthony, the Earl of Markham and his beautiful wife, Melissa.

That’s what
she
wanted, a man who loved her as much as Rufus loved Rheda.

It had taken some getting used to, having her brother residing permanently at home again; however, she did not wish to leave his household any time soon. Due to the differences in their ages, and the many years he’d spent away from home on his mission to clear the Strathmore name, she was relishing this time getting to know him. She was just beginning to have a real relationship with him.

Witnessing Rufus living back at home, married and in love, had made Maddy realize that settling for marriage with a man she didn’t love was no longer on the cards.

Unfortunately, only one man filled her dreams and he was in love with another. Speaking of which, with growing unease, Maddy watched Lord Wrentham scanning the ballroom, then begin to make his way across the crowded floor. Luckily, the room was packed. Tonight it seemed that all London society were in attendance, with many making the journey to Newmarket to witness the black sheep being welcomed back into the bosom of society. They definitely weren’t here to meet her.

Her eyes followed the Marquess’s path through the guests. Lord Wrentham was definitely looking for someone, and she was sure it was his beautiful wife, Sarah. It was up to Maddy to warn the lovers.

She straightened her shoulders and stepped out into the crush. The music drowned out the sound of her determined stride. She circled round until she was able to locate her brother, flirting with his wife. At Maddy’s arrival, Rheda glided away to speak to other guests. Rheda made it look effortless and given she’d also lived her life outside of society, Maddy envied her way of fitting in as if she’d lived within the bosom of the
ton
all her life.

“Lord Wrentham has arrived. You should go and greet him. Now would be the perfect opportunity to put the past behind you. He carries at lot of influence in the House of Lords. Lord Wrentham could be a valuable ally.” This was not really a lie. Rufus had decided to take a special interest in the rights of workers, a result of his wife’s influence, and he was chasing the Marquess’s vote on labor law reform.

Her brother kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Don’t think you can distract me by mentioning politics.”

Maddy’s heart stilled. Had Rufus seen Richard leave with Lady Wrentham? “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

“I’ve seen you hiding behind the plants. I should have made you stand center stage, but Rheda told me to leave you alone.”

All the while as her brother talked, Maddy was guiding him ever closer to Wrentham.

“Your wife is, as always, a gem. What is this rush to get me to the altar? I’ve only just got you back in my life. Now you are married, don’t you want me here?” She couldn’t disguise the hurt in her voice. Her brother’s determination to see her quickly wed made her feel as if she was a nuisance once again.

Rufus halted, and, oblivious to their guests, he pulled her close. “Is that what you think?” He hugged her tight. “Never think for one moment I want you to leave my house. If I could, I’d hold onto you forever, but that would be selfish. I just don’t like seeing you stuck here in the country, on your own, like Rheda was. You deserve more.”

Relief flooded through her. She lightly cuffed his shoulder. “I do not intend to marry any time soon, so stop pushing me.” Before Rufus could argue, she added, “There’s Lord Wrentham. Go and bore him with your talk. You can lecture me tomorrow at breakfast.”

She abruptly turned and schooled herself to walk away slowly, and in the opposite direction from the library, where she assumed Richard had taken Sarah.

Richard knew every square inch of this house intimately. Over the years, he’d spent many nights under this roof and many nights teasing her, teaching her, talking to her.

She
had
to warn him. Richard was her only true friend, and she didn’t wish to see him killed in a duel, or sent fleeing from England for having killed Lord Wrentham. Most of the young ladies her age whom she could form friendships with were aloof and kept their distance, scared that a friendship with her would sully their reputations.

Once out of sight of the guests, Maddy lifted the hem of her dress and rushed toward the library. Sliding to a halt outside the door, her courage momentarily fled. What would she observe when she opened this door? Was she prepared to see
her
Richard in the arms of another?

Her Richard
! She acknowledged her claim was a monumental fantasy. Richard was her friend. That was all. He still saw her as the thirteen-year-old girl he’d rescued from the Chesterton bullies.

Just a friend,
she silently scolded herself. Yet Maddy couldn’t understand the riotous inner feelings she’d developed over the last eighteen months. Whenever she looked at Richard, her heart beat harder, her stomach knotted, and her body warmed in certain places she was too embarrassed to even think about, let alone mention.

A stab of jealousy hit hard in her chest. Madeline secretly hoped Richard was doing nothing more than talking with Lady Wrentham. But she knew Sarah was the love of Richard’s life, and realized it was unlikely they were simply conversing.

But a girl could dream…and she’d been dreaming of Richard a lot lately.

She shook her head, cleared her confusing thoughts, and knocked hard on the door. She waited, but there was no response. She pressed her ear to the door, but could hear nothing through the thick walnut.

#

“Sweetheart, we shouldn’t be in here alone. You’re recently married and the
ton
is watching our every move.” Richard Craven’s chest ached at the pain he saw in Sarah's eyes. He’d not seen Sarah for over a month, not since her wedding to Charles Chesterton, Marquess of Wrentham.

She stood before him in a swathe of gossamer silk, a vision of beauty and now another man’s possession. Her pale-gold ball gown hugged every sensuous curve. Her fair hair, elegantly piled on her head, waved in curls, which draped over her bare shoulders like jewels. He itched to run his hands through the silky, soft tresses.

She reached out and placed a gloved finger on his lips, halting his words of caution. The glove outlined slender fingers he wanted to kiss, and to feel wrapped around his….

Sarah knew how to dress in that innocent, yet alluring, way that sent a man’s pulse racing.

Now Richard drank in every inch of her, and damn it, grew hard. He should have more self-control. She was no longer his lover, but like any red-blooded man, he wasn’t immune to a beautiful and willing woman, or at least his body wasn’t. If he’d only known how things would turn out, he would never have taken her to his bed. They had planned to marry, but had not foreseen the objections of Sarah’s father, the Duke of Martinborough.

His heart still clenched in his chest every time he remembered that she now belonged to Wrentham. When the Duke had denied his suite, he’d begged her to elope, but her father had held all the cards and had played his hand accordingly.

In the end, it had been Sarah’s choice. She wasn’t strong enough to go against her father’s wishes and now they were all paying the price. She'd married Wrentham and destroyed any chance of them being together.

So, as he had watched from the sidelines, the woman he loved had married another. It still ate him up and at the same time, showered him with guilt because a small part of him was relieved.

“Don't desert me, please, my love. I can barely stand my life as it is. When he touches me...,” she gave a half sob. “I close my eyes and dream it’s you.”

He couldn’t bear looking into her pain filled eyes, so he pulled her close and soothed her as he would a small child. His voice echoed in despair. “I don’t know what more I can do. You refused to elope with me and thwart your father. What did you think would happen if you went through with this wedding?”

He hated how harsh his words sounded, but there was little else he could say. She simply clung harder as if he had the power to save her. He didn’t and it was almost destroying him. If anything, his getting involved would make things worse. “I have to let you go, just as you must try and make a good life with Charles.”

“That’s impossible, especially as he knows you were my lover.”