Miss Quinn's Quandary (7 page)

It was heavenly. More than she had remembered a kiss should be.
She felt the same thrill in addition to a closeness and a desire to lose
herself to the pure pleasure enveloping her. All warm and soft.

Soft as velvet.

Larissa ran her hands up the front of his coat. Under her fingers
lay the soft lapels.

Velvet?

She leaped back. “Oh, my heavens … you’re Sir Randall!”

Miss Quinn!” Randall exclaimed. Larissa’s face took form in the
darkness once he heard her voice. “You have a talent for appearing in the most
unfortunate of places.”

“It is you, sir, who apparently possesses the uncanny timing,”
Larissa returned. “For it was Lord Fenton I wished to surprise, not you.”

“It is Lady Dorothea I seek. We somehow managed to lose one
another.” He glanced around, squinting to aid his vision.

“If you will be so kind as to release me, I shall be on my way
and you can be on yours.”

“Indeed. For this is not a place for the innocent, or they should
not be innocent for long.” Jumping from the bushes and assaulting him was not
the act of an innocent. His initial shock had melted into a complacent ardor.

The feel of Larissa’s softness, her scent, arose from his dreams
and now penetrated his senses. She was like a dream. He caressed her face with
a look. “Are you quite sure you wish to leave so soon?” Randall caught
Larissa’s arm when she turned to leave.

“If you’re trying to f-frighten me, it’s a rather p-poor attempt,”
Larissa said, holding her chin high, pulling free from his grasp. She knelt and
retrieved her shawl that had slid to the ground.

Randall had the urge to show her exactly what there was to be
afraid of. He wanted to pull her into his arms and make her breathless with
kisses. Instead he watched her gather her skirts and run down the darkened path
into the brightly lit area beyond the temple.

Randall glanced up and stared at the crescent moon, which alone
kept him company. Larissa had surprised him. And, unlike Larissa, after the
first few seconds he knew exactly who he held in his arms.

In place of the innocence he had sensed on their first kiss, he
felt something different. She did not respond as an experienced woman, he felt
a hunger, a searching need in her kiss.

Climbing the temple steps, he returned to the gardens. Shrouded
under the shadow of an arch stood Lady Dorothea. Randall waved, catching her
attention, and made straight for her.

“Where have you been, Sir Randall?” Dorothea cooed.

“Where have I been,
indeed.
Where have
you been? I thought you had disappeared.”

“Disappeared? Such nonsense.” She laughed. The wide smile faded
and her voice grew soft into a whisper. “Are you wanting me, then?”

Randall’s eyes shot open in surprise. His breath caught in his
throat, almost choking him. Dorothea could not have meant what Randall thought
she meant.

How easy it would be to step behind the triumphal arch with her.
Hidden from public view, he could take her into his arms and …

He stopped his thoughts from continuing down that lascivious
lane. If it were not for his amorous predisposition, no doubt caused by the
incident with Larissa, Randall would not have interpreted Dorothea’s statement
in such a suggestive fashion. How could Randall think a lady such as she was
capable of such duplicity?

Larissa collapsed against one of the columns at a distance from
where she had discovered Sir Randall. Why, of all people, did it have to be
him? She should have known who he was the moment their lips met. The familiar
touch of his hand on her cheek, the familiar smell of spice, the familiar feel
of his body brought back such pleasant memories.

She walked down the nearest path. After several minutes she
arrived at the supper boxes. Larissa pulled up short upon hearing her aunt’s
voice pierce the surrounding music.

“You want us to marry tomorrow? Why, Rushton, that’s impossible.”

The earl chuckled. “Not so impossible, my dear. I secured a
special license the day I met you.” Larissa moved closer and saw Rushton press
Ivy’s hands within his. “I need not tell you I am not a young man. But I can
assure you, the love I feel in my heart for you is not diminished by age.” The
earl gazed into Ivy’s face, his eyes twinkling.

“Oh, Rushton,” Ivy blushed. “You are far too hasty in your
actions. I cannot think.”

411 enjoy it when you do not think,” the earl replied, playfully.

“Please … I have no doubts for myself. However, I do have Larissa
to consider.”

“What of her? I find her a lovely girl.”

“I can’t just leave her alone,” Ivy replied.

“Alone? My dear sweet, your Larissa will be much better off.
Related to an earl, her chances of a match will increase twofold. Oh yes, a
very positive alliance for her. She’ll have a new family … she’ll be far from
alone.”

Larissa moved back. She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop. On the other
hand, she felt relieved she had not intruded upon their privacy. Not that the
earl’s action was unexpected. Sir Randall had warned her of his intentions
earlier that night at the opera. But to marry tomorrow? Aunt Ivy was right, it
was far too soon.

Stepping farther away from the supper box, Larissa wandered down
one of the paths, which delivered her to the stone bench where she had last
seen Lord Fenton. She moved toward the unoccupied bench and sat. He still stood
there among the very same men. How could that be possible? She was sure he had
seen her at the temple before she left for the dark walk. Why had he not
followed her?

Not more than a moment after she’d sat, he left his colleagues
and was at her side. “It’s the funniest thing,” he said, raising his quizzing
glass and examining her. “For a moment, I thought I saw you standing by that
far temple.” “

“Nonsense.” She lied and forced a small laugh. “I haven’t dared
move from this spot.”

“Just as I suspected,” he replied, laying his glass to rest on
its chain. He offered her his arm. “Shall we join your aunt at the earl’s
supper box?”

Larissa pulled her shawl tight around her and accepted his arm.
“I imagine they might have some happy news to welcome us when we arrive.”

“Imagine that,” he commented, leading her away.

Larissa decided it would take more than a quizzing glass for
Fenton to see what was going on under his own nose. No doubt he would miss Aunt
Ivy and the earl smelling thoroughly of April and May.

“Our trunks are loaded onto the coach, and Katherine waits below
stairs,” Larissa informed her aunt.

“Very punctual my Katherine,” Ivy praised. “I am sorry to do this
to you, my dear. I had no intention of marriage when I came to London.”

“Do not be sorry.” Larissa was very happy for her aunt.

“How my life has changed since you came. I thought we’d have such
fun coming to Town. Attending all the parties, balls, and such. Little did I
imagine I would be the one to fall in love and
marry.
”
She held out her arm and asked, “Fetch my wrap, would you, dear?”

Larissa lifted the blue Norwich shawl from the bed and handed it
to her aunt. “In love?”

“Oh yes, my dear.” She covered her shoulders. “I should never
have remarried unless I was.” Her voice grew serious. “I do believe it is time
we leave.”

Ivy took a last lingering look at her reflection in the pier
glass. Her eyes were radiant, almost glowing. She fingered the folds of her
gown and ran her hand over her hair, admiring the neat chignon. She regarded
the satisfied smile and the high color on her cheeks.

Obviously, blushing was not limited to the young for her aunt
flushed the most becoming pink. Some things, Larissa thought, never change.

Arriving at Rushton townhouse, Ivy and Larissa were immediately
greeted by the earl.

“There she is now,” Rushton announced, rushing to the dowager’s
side. “My lovely bride.” He took both her hands and drew her near, placing a
kiss on each cheek. “Have you ever seen any more beautiful?”

“Rushton, shame on you,” Ivy sighed. “You put me to the blush,
and I am too old for that nonsense.”

“Ah, no, my love.” He placed a kiss on her hand. “You shall see.
Life has just begun for us.” Rushton gave an all-encompassing look before
announcing, “Let us not waste a moment longer.” He released one of her hands
and reached out to one side. “Laurie,” he called.

The butler appeared, handing the earl a nosegay of white roses
with small green ivy threaded through. The earl inhaled its fragrance before
presenting the love token to his bride.

“For you, my dear. Ivy for the most delicate Ivy of all.”

She accepted the flowers. “Why, thank you, Rushton.”

“Let us remove to the blue parlor and proceed.” Laurie led the
way with Ivy and Larissa following. The clergyman, Rushton, and Sir Randall
brought up the rear.

Larissa immediately noticed the parlor was not blue, but yellow.
She glanced at the others. No one else seemed to have observed the incongruity,
it seemed, except for her. She would certainly not bring up such a trivial fact
on such an important day as this.

The clergyman indicated where the bride, groom, and witnesses
should stand, then proceeded. The ceremony was short, lasting no more than
fifteen minutes followed by a brief celebration.

“I told Larissa I have asked one of your maids, Abby, to attend
her since I am taking Katherine with me. I am still concerned about her, though,”
the new countess confessed to Rushton.

“Did you not send for a chaperone for Larissa?” the earl queried.

“Yes, but Mrs. Rutledge will not arrive until tomorrow.”

“It is not even one full day. Surely we can entrust her care to
my nephew until then,” Rushton suggested.

“But won’t that seem odd?”

Rushton sighed and eased into his chair. “My nephew has the most
upstanding character, high morals, and sense of what is right of anyone I know.”

Having Larissa in his care was the last thing Sir Randall wanted
as well. Above all, he did not want to compromise his developing romance with
Lady Dorothea.

“Not to worry, my dearest,” the earl said to his new bride’s
hand. “Larissa and Randall are connected now. Randall is a gentleman beyond
reproach.”

“Dash it, Uncle Cyrus, I wish you wouldn’t talk about me as if I
were not here,” Randall grumbled, hoping someone would include him in the
conversation.

“Who knows what sort of scoundrel lurks about in the shadows and
sits ready to pounce,” Ivy said in imaginary horror of fiends and seducers
after her niece. “I must check on her.” She flustered with this unpleasant talk
and left the room.

“Pounce? Scoundrels?” Randall repeated in alarm after the
countess left. “I think this is all a bit far-fetched don’t you, Uncle?”

“Perhaps, but it shall keep her aunt happy.” Rushton sat forward
and shook a finger at his nephew. “And I need not remind you, if she’s plagued
with worry over Larissa’s welfare,” the earl took up a coquettish falsetto and
did his best imitation of his new wife, “whether she’s happy or whether she’s
safe, I shan’t—” He coughed and resumed his normal tone, “We shan’t have any
kind of bridal trip at all. I hope I don’t make myself sound too selfish about
all this. I do care about Larissa. She’s a fine girl and I won’t mind that
she’ll be moving in with us after the Season. I’m really quite fond of her.”

“She’s to reside at Rushton Manor?” Randall remarked, outraged.

“Unless she can manage a marriage soon, she will have to.” The
earl gazed at Randall with a pleading look he had never seen before. “Please
say you’ll agree. If not for sweet Larissa’s sake, then for mine.”

Sweet Larissa? The chit had them fooled. All of them. It was
clear, at least to Randall, he was the only one who knew what the real Larissa
was all about.

“Of course I shall, Uncle. You know all you need do is ask.”

“I knew I could count on you.” Rushton smiled and clapped his
nephew on the back. “Always have. You will, of course, attend to the social
obligations I have already accepted in my absence.”

“Of course,” he agreed. Rushton gave a great roar of laughter,
exuding happiness beyond belief and pranced out of the drawing room. Randall
had never seen his uncle so happy. His uncle knew Randall would have promised
him anything. And what more could there be after taking on the responsibility
of watching over Larissa?

It was a momentous undertaking, and perhaps one that only Randall
could comprehend. He’d need to keep careful watch on her and on her
unrestricted mouth. Those lovely lips could spout the deepest of lies. They
could also curl into the most sumptuous of smiles and lay waste to a man’s
willpower with a single kiss.

Kiss?

He shook the image from his head. What was he thinking? He had
Dorothea to consider. What would she think if he spent so much time playing
chaperone to this brat?

From out of nowhere Laurie appeared. “It was his lordship’s wish
I remind you of the approaching events he has informed me you are to attend in
his absence.”

Randall sighed. There was no escape. He had Larissa to watch over
and his uncle’s social commitments to keep. In Rushton’s absence, the butler
would see to it Randall attended.

“All right, Laurie, I’m listening,” Randall gave in.

“May I remind you that only a fortnight of the Season remains,
sir.
”

“Thank you, I shall keep that in mind.” That didn’t make the
burden any easier to bear.

“Tomorrow evening, there is a soiree at Lord and Lady Pringle’s.
The following afternoon at three, the Earl of Westmont is holding a Water
Party. That evening, of course, his lordship has vouchers to
Almacks
.”

Randall would have done anything for his uncle. Anything but…
“I’m not stepping one foot inside that place. I’ve had enough of its giggling
girls and meddlesome marriage mamas to last me years on end. I don’t care what
Uncle Cyrus says, I’ll not be attending that melee.”

“My lord understands your dislike of the public assembly and has
expressed that you need not attend if you do not wish,” the butler replied
without reacting to Randall’s emotional rebuff.

“Oh? Well.” Randall felt a bit embarrassed at his outburst, but
quickly composed himself. “Then I do not wish to attend.”