Scarlet Kisses (24 page)

“You love her?” Harry scoffed. “You ruin the women you love?”

“I’ve only ever loved one woman.”

“Phft, one huh? Have you forgotten how to count, Robert?”

Robert growled and shoved Harry off him. They both got to their feet quickly.

“You loved Scarlet.”

“She is Scarlet,” Robert yelled.

“You didn’t know that,” Harry argued. “Scarlet was a wager you won.”

“What?” Alyssum asked quietly.

Both breathing heavily, Harry and Robert turned to her as she spoke.

“He didn’t tell you that part?” Harry asked. “That kissing you on the balcony was for money. Oh, and your garter.”

Alyssum turned her stunned gazed to Robert. He shook his head at her with a guilty look in his eyes.

“You kissed me for money?” Alyssum asked numbly.

Robert raked a hand through his already messed hair. “I—”

“He made a wager with the men, as he does every year. What did you do last year, Robert?” Harry asked. “Stole a lady’s shoe?”

“No one got hurt.”

“Well, this time someone did. You got your hundred pounds while Alyssum lost her virtue. Congratulations.”

Alyssum turned to leave.

“Alyssum,” Robert called out but she had left the room.

She looked to Violet then her mother who stood just outside the door. She hadn’t missed the way they had jumped away from the door when she’d opened it.

“Excuse me.” She walked passed them and climbed the stairs.

Staring at the closed door, Robert then slowly turned to Harry. They stared silently at each other for a moment then Robert turned and moved to leave the room.

“Just stay away from her, Robert.”

Robert swung around and walked back to Harry. “I’ve been in love with that girl for ten years. Not you nor anyone else is going to stop me now.”

Harry eyes narrowed with surprise and shock. “If you’ve loved her for ten years why haven’t you done anything before now?”

“For this exact reason.” Robert waved his arms around, indicating to their anger, their bruised faces. “You’re like my brother, Harry,” he snapped then stormed back to the door. He paused before he opened it, took a deep breath and turned and walked back to Harry.

“Forgot something,” he muttered in a harsh voice before letting his arm swing hard. His fist connected solidly with Harry’s jaw. Harry grunted under the blow then watched Robert leave the room.

Robert stormed back inside his house, the front door banging shut behind him. He marched back into his office and around his desk.

“Didn’t go to well?” Jackson asked as he stood in the doorway.

“No,” Robert clipped out.

“Did you see Alyssum?”

“Yes.” He remembered seeing the flash of hurt in her eyes as she found out about the wager. He was not losing her. Not over a stupid wager. Not when the wager had helped bring them together.

Robert dug into the bottom drawer and pulled out a black velvet purse. He opened it, pulled a wad of notes out, counted some and then shoved them into the inside pocket of his coat. He placed the rest of the money back in the purse then dropped it back in to the drawer. He walked over to the chaise, picked his coat off the floor, reached inside and pulled out a black garter.

“Going out again?” Jackson asked.

“Yes.” Robert placed the garter with the money then walked passed Jackson, into the foyer and out through the front door.

After escaping the confines of her bedroom, Alyssum paced over the lawn at the side of the house. She couldn’t handle her mother and Violet’s curious, watchful gazes.

Now in the fresh air, she slowly walked back and forth, staring at the grass beneath her walking boots. When she heard the sound of approaching footsteps, she sighed at the intrusion. She wanted to be alone. Turning around, she was about to tell whoever it was to leave her be. She paused when she saw it was Robert. His strides were quick as he walked towards her. She spotted Jackson a few steps behind him.

Robert said nothing when he reached her, but caught her face in his hands and fused their mouth together. She gasped in surprise and held onto his shoulders as he kissed her desperately. Slanting his mouth over hers, he stole her breath, over and over again.

He slowly released her mouth and let his hands slide away, but she pulled him back. Robert sighed into her mouth as she kissed him. His hands came back and cupped her face.

Jackson cleared his throat and Alyssum stopped the kiss and laid her forehead on Robert’s. She kept her eyes closed and rested her hands on his chest.

Her eyes opened as he pulled away. Looking up at him, Alyssum raised her hand and touched his bruised cheekbone softly. Her hand dropped as he reached into his coat. She watched with a frown as he pulled out money and a black garter.

Alyssum shook her head, but Robert took her hand and placed the money and her garter in her hand.

“I don’t want them if I can’t have you,” he told her quietly.

Alyssum stared at the money in her hand. “I don’t want it.” She looked up to him. “I want you.”

A smiled spread over Robert’s lips.

“What am I suppose to do with it?” she asked.

He shrugged. “Give it Lilly for her help in your ruin.”

Alyssum tried to glare disapprovingly but found herself smiling.

“Ah-hem, and what about me?” Violet asked.

Robert and Alyssum turned their gazes and found Violet standing beside Jackson. And beside Violet stood their mother and Harry, and by the looks on their faces, they had been standing there for a while.

Robert watched Harry carefully, waiting for any sudden attacks.

“I was an excellent secret keeper,” Violet said.

“So was I,” Jackson put in.

“Here.” Alyssum offered Violet the money. “Take it.”

Violet scooted forward and took the money, but slipped Alyssum the garter back.

“Violet,” Harry said disapprovingly.

“It was a gift,” Violet replied and looked through the notes. “You can’t give back a gift.” She smiled up at Harry while shoving the notes inside her skirt pocket.

Robert chuckled then turned his gaze back to Alyssum. Her eyes met his and he squeezed her hand. “I may have kissed Scarlet for a wager, but I fell in love with her because she was you.”

Robert’s chest expanded as he took a deep breath then asked, “Will you marry me?”

Alyssum gasped in shock while her mother squealed with excitement.

“You want to marry me?” Alyssum asked.

“He better,” Harry muttered and their mother smacked his arm.

“Yes, I want to marry you,” Robert answered and shifted his gaze to their audience.

“Why?”

“What?” Robert looked back to her confused.

“Why do you want to marry me?” she spoke quietly.

“I think you heard me in the parlor while Harry was pummeling me.”

“You told Harry, not me.”

Robert exhaled. “I love you,” he whispered to her.

“What was that?” Jackson called out.

Robert glared at him before looking back to a smiling Alyssum. “Happy?”

Alyssum shook her head.

“What now?” he asked. “You want me to get down on my knees and beg?”

“Yes.” Alyssum smiled. With a groan, Robert lowered to his knees. He ignored Violet’s giggle and looked up to Alyssum from the ground.

“Alyssum Rosewood?”

“Yes?” she asked sweetly.

“Will you marry me and make me the happiest man? Please.”

Alyssum tilted head and hummed in thought.

“Say yes,” Violet advised.

“Hurry up,” Jackson called out.

“You better marry that boy, Alyssum Rosewood,” her mother’s voice chided her.

Alyssum laughed and nodded. Robert raised his brows in question.

“Yes, I’ll marry you,” she answered.

Robert stood. “Harry,” he called while smiling at Alyssum.

“What?” Harry grouched.

“You better look away because I’m about to kiss your sister.”

Chapter Thirteen

Robert and Alyssum were married two weeks later. Harry had demanded a quick wedding.

They were pronounced man and wife in the town’s small chapel. Mr. Potting, the vicar, had performed the ceremony.

Robert had sealed their vows with a strong kiss that had made Alyssum’s toes curl inside her white slippers. He had then, to everyone’s astonishment, lifted her in his arms and carried her down the aisle and into the carriage.

All the guests traveled to the Lambert estate where the wedding luncheon was being held.

As Alyssum, Violet and Lilly stood to one side chatting happily, the men stood next to each other, watching them.

“Congratulations, Robert. You found your Scarlet and married her,” Duke said.

“Well, I’m glad you were able to leave the herd of the ton and join us.” Robert raised his flute of champagne to his friend and then took a sip. His gaze traveled over to Alyssum, as it did every few seconds.

“Wouldn’t have missed it,” Duke replied. “But it seems I missed quite a lot.” He noted Robert’s bruises.

Jackson laughed. “You missed a whole lot. You should have seen it, Harry and Robert rolling around on the grass. Harry trying to kill him. Robert half-dressed and running for his life.”

“Yes, it was all good fun,” Robert replied sarcastically.

“Well, it was enjoyable hitting you,” Harry said then stopped a passing maid to take a drink off her tray.

“So, one of us is married,” Duke sighed.

“And it better stop at that,” Tucker said emphatically.

They all laughed at Tucker’s seriousness.

“I’m so excited.” Caroline beamed then reached over to pinch Alyssum’s glowing cheeks. “I’m going to have some grandbabies.”

Lilly and Violet laughed.

“It may take some time, Mother,” Alyssum whispered and blushed. While Alyssum had been planning her wedding, her mother had been planning the nursery.

“Oh tosh, Robert will take care of that for me.”

Violet and Lilly laughed.

“Ah, here are my boys,” Caroline exclaimed with a bright smile as Harry, Robert, Jackson, Tucker and Duke stepped into their circle.

Robert moved to stand by Alyssum’s side and brushed the back of his hand against hers. Alyssum, uncaring of watchful gazes slipped her hand into his. Robert curled his fingers around her hand with a happy smile.

“Countess, your beauty shines brighter than any star in the sky,” Jackson announced as he pressed a gallant kiss on Caroline’s gloved knuckles.

Caroline chuckled and beamed

“I would like a dance with my wife,” Robert said and looked down to Alyssum.

“But no one is dancing,” she replied with a soft smile.

“And?” He arched a brow.

A smile curved Alyssum’s lips as she nodded. Lilly took her glass of punch and Robert led her to the centre of the room.

Alyssum hadn’t worn gloves for this exact reason. She wanted to feel his hands in hers. Skin to skin. As the violins played and the guests watched, Robert swayed them into a waltz. His hand branded her back as he held her closely and turned her about the room.

 
Robert lowered his lips to her temple and whispered, “I prefer you in the scarlet gown.”

She smiled with a soft laugh and her body relaxed into his hold. Her white wedding gown swished around her legs.

Lilly escaped the watchful eyes of Rickton and her parents. She took solace in these few precious moments when she was alone. But she was only free for a second before someone else entered her haven, the library. She turned from the window and stiffened as she watched Jackson West close the door behind him. Much to her annoyance, her heart skipped a beat then began beating wildly as he stared at her. He approached her, coming closer and closer, making her body come alive in awareness. She frowned at her reaction to him. Her body had never done this before.

“Miss Darrel,” he drawled as he came upon her, his height making her tilt her head back. To be more precise, it was her small stature, rather than his height.

“Mr. West,” she clipped back, glad her voice was steady.

“So what are we going to do about this?” he asked, slipping his hands inside his pockets.

He shifted closer and she stiffened as his coat brushed against the bodice of her dress. Her breasts suddenly felt swollen and her nipples ached for touch.

“About what?” she snipped, angered that her body responded to his close proximity. Her gown was now too tight and the room too warm.

“This…” he waved his hand between them, “
…
heat.”

“Heat.” Lilly scoffed as her belly fluttered with nerves. “You must be mad.”