Scarlet Kisses (3 page)

“I agree.” He squeezed her hand.

“I will write to them.”

Harry nodded then released her hand and settled back in his seat.

“How is Robert? Still up to no good?” Caroline asked.

“He’s the same.” Harry nodded with a smile. He leaned in and took a small, square sandwich off the plate that sat on the table between them.

“Will he be joining us for dinner?”

Harry nodded as he swallowed his bite of the sandwich. “Last dinner before he heads for London.”

“We will be leaving the day after,” she informed him. “You will take good care of Jaz.”

“I will.”

“Watch her. Closely.”

Harry smiled at her severe tone. “I will,” he promised.

Chapter Two

“Come along, girls.” The countess waved as she walked ahead of them on the bustling London streets. “We have a lot to acquire before the season begins.”

“Are you still going to do it?” Violet whispered to Alyssum as they walked behind their mother.

“Yes.”

Violet sighed. “You can’t be serious, Alyssum.”

Alyssum ignored her and continued following their mother.

“Liss.” Violet grabbed her by the arm with her gloved hand and pulled her to a stop. “You can’t do this. It’s madness.”

“I want to. I’m going to,” Alyssum replied firmly, her head lowered, bonnet shielding her face from onlookers. “I need your help, Vi,” she whispered desperately.

Violet grumbled then let Alyssum’s arm go. “All right. But if you get caught, I had nothing to do with this.”

Alyssum nodded in agreement.

“Come on, girls. No dilly dallying,” Caroline called back to them.

“Distract Mother while I purchase a dress,” Alyssum whispered as they began walking.

“What color did you choose?”

“Scarlet.” Alyssum smiled happily.

“We’re all going to be ruined.” Violet shook her head.

“Oh, what about this color?” Caroline asked her daughters excitedly as they stood in the dress shop.

“It’s beautiful,” Violet said, looking at the turquoise material. She felt Alyssum tap her back, signaling that it was time. With a deep breath, she stood before her mother, blocking Alyssum from her view. “Perhaps we could ask if they already have a dress made in the color, then we could see what it would look like?”

“Splendid idea. Where did that seamstress run off to?” Caroline looked around. “Where is Alyssum?”

“Oh, she’s probably getting some fresh air. She misses the country already and we’ve only been in London for two days.”

“Poor dear,” Caroline sighed.

“Let us look at more designs. I saw more samples over here.” Violet took hold of her mother’s hand and dragged her away from the front counter.

“Are you sure about this, missy?” the seamstress asked, looking at Alyssum with a stern gaze.

“Positive.” She reached into her reticule and fished out the coins for the scarlet dress that sat in a white box on the counter before her. She had seen the dress on a mannequin near the rear of the shop. It had been waiting for its owner—a courtesan—but with some bribing, Alyssum had persuaded the seamstress to give it to her. Watching the seamstress tie a bow around the box slowly and carefully, Alyssum began fidgeting. She took quick looks around for any sign of Violet or her mother, or anyone familiar.

After the seamstress tied the bow on the box, Alyssum moved to take it. The seamstress didn’t let go of the box.

“This dress was not made for a lady like you,” she said.

Alyssum pulled the box from the woman’s tight grip, handed her the coins and left the shop as quickly as possible.

Once on the street, Alyssum took a deep breath and exhaled. She had done it. She had bought the gown she needed and she hadn’t been caught. She sighed deeply again in victory and prayed the dress fit.

“Alyssum!”

She jumped and spun towards the person that had called. Seeing Viscount Lambert approach, she fidgeted in fear as she held in her arms a daring scarlet gown that no proper lady should ever be caught wearing.

“Jumpy today, are we?” Robert pulled his hat from his head and stood before her. His wicked grin in place as he stared down at her.

“What do you want?” Alyssum asked abruptly.

Robert laughed and shook his head at her sharp tone. She was always like this with him, but it never deterred him. “I saw you and thought I would say hello.”

“Well, hello.” Alyssum shifted on her feet.

“Hello,” he replied.

Alyssum shifted her gaze from his smile and down to his neck. She frowned at his low-hanging cravat. She sighed with irritation. Did the man not know how to tie a straight knot?

Tucking the box under her arm, she grabbed the lapel of his coat with one hand and pulled him down. Robert remained still and allowed her to retie his cravat with a grin on his face the whole time.

“Couldn’t help yourself?” he muttered quietly to her as she finished. He tried to see her deep emerald eyes but her bonnet hid them from him. He found himself disappointed he couldn’t see her eyes.

Alyssum looked up then took a quick step back, placing the proper distance between them.

Robert smiled inwardly when she moved away from him like a skittish mouse. “Where’s your chaperon?” he asked, looking around quieting street.

“Mother and Violet are inside.” As the last words left Alyssum’s mouth Violet and Caroline exited the dress shop with a jingling of the doorbell.

“Robert,” Caroline called happily as she spotted him.

“Countess.” He took her hand and placed a gallant kiss upon her knuckles.

“Rascal.” She laughed.

Robert gave her a wink and turned his gaze to Violet. Violet huffed with such theatrics it made him laugh and she turned her face away and presented him her gloved hand. He took her offered hand and kissed her white glove. After releasing her, he stepped back and looked to the three beautiful women before him.

“Here you are, Alyssum,” Caroline said. “We were looking for you in the store.” Her gaze lowered to the box under her arm. “You purchased a dress?”

“Umm.” Alyssum tightened her grip around the box and looked to Violet for help.

“Robert, are you enjoying London?” Violet distracted them all.

Robert’s brow creased as he noticed Violet taking their attention away from the box in Alyssum’s grip. He shrugged it off, thinking Alyssum had bought some undergarments and was blushing about it.

“I’m enjoying it very much,” he replied.

“I’m sure you’re glad to be making more scandals,” Alyssum muttered under her breath, but they all heard. Robert turned his gaze down to her.

“Alyssum,” Caroline chided her quietly.

“Good afternoon, ladies.” He gave them a small bow then placed his hat back on his head and turned and walked down the street.

“Alyssum, why do you have to be so rude to poor Robert?” Caroline asked.

“Poor,” she sputtered. “The man’s richer than us.”

Caroline huffed and shook her head. “I’ll never understand it. You two used to be best friends.” She walked by Alyssum. “Come, girls, we still have lots to do.”

Violet and Alyssum walked two steps behind her.

“Is that it?” Violet looked to the white square box under Alyssum’s arm.

“Yes,” Alyssum whispered.

“I thought you were going to have it made?”

“I was, but then I saw this on a mannequin near the back of the store and it was perfect.”

“I hope it looks awful on you.”

Alyssum smiled. Tightening her grip on the box, she continued following her mother from shop to shop.

That afternoon, Caroline sat exhausted in the parlor while embroidering. Violet was by the window reading a book of poetry and Alyssum…she was outside in the garden, lying in the grass.

Alyssum stretched her legs with a sigh. She wiggled her bare toes in the grass. Her shoes and stockings were by her side, along with her bonnet and her hair pins. She stretched her arms out, glorying in the feel of the sun against her face. Her long raven locks were spread about her head, the curls sinking into the green grass. Here, with her eyes closed, she could pretend she was back home in the country. She was at peace.

“Careful, you’re going to freckle,” a man’s voice reached her through her haven. “Apparently, it’s very unbecoming on a woman.”

Alyssum groaned and remained still with her eyes closed. It was a nightmare, that’s all. Robert wasn’t here.

“Alyssum, can you hear me?” he called in a laughing tone. Suddenly the warm sun vanished.

With a tortured groan, she opened her eyes and sat up. She glared at Robert, who stood blocking the sun with his back.

“Why, why are you here?” she demanded.

“Your mother invited me to dinner.”

She sighed and turned her gaze away from him. She pushed her heavy hair back from her face, knowing she must look completely unladylike. She returned her gaze to him as he suddenly sat on the grass beside her. Bright rays of sun warmed her again.

“Ahhh.” Robert sighed as he dropped onto his back and placed his hands behind his head. “This is nice.” He closed his eyes and settled into the grass.

Alyssum looked around the small, secluded garden. She looked to her bare feet then saw her clump of stockings and shoes beside her. She blushed in embarrassment and grabbed them. She shoved her stockings and hairpins in her bonnet then slipped into her shoes.

“Are you ready for the season?” Robert asked as he kept his eyes closed.

Alyssum turned her gaze down to him. “Yes.”

“Ready for Lady Brook’s Masquerade?” he asked with a twitch of his lips.

Alyssum felt her heart leap. He didn’t know her plan. Everything was fine.

“Yes, I acquired my costume today,” she answered calmly.

“What are you going as? Maybe I’ll find you.”

“You won’t find me,” she said.

Robert opened his eyes and gazed up at her. He felt himself grumble in annoyance. Alyssum was a pain in his ass with her stiff, proper demeanor, but did she have to be so beautiful. He practically had to catch his breath every time he was around her. It helped when she would snap at him, then he was too busy thinking of quips to stare at her. But now, with her long midnight hair shining in the sunlight, curling about her shoulders, it was hard to think. The sun made her face glow. She looked like she had just been tumbled thoroughly and was glowing from satisfaction.

With that shocking thought, he sat fast and patted the grass off his coat. He kept his gaze from her, knowing it wouldn’t be a good idea to look at her. Sex and Alyssum were never allowed in the same frame of thought.

“Why won’t I find you?” he asked as his eyes grew strained from not looking at her.

“Because.” She shrugged.

Robert’s lips parted to speak, but he shut them when Alyssum stood. He turned his gaze to her and stared up at her. He squinted against the setting sun.

“Will you save me a dance?” he asked with his blasé grin in place.

“No,” she replied as she scooped up her bonnet then turned and walked back to the house.

Robert chuckled lightly. Alyssum was the only woman who had never fallen for his charm or smile. It frustrated him, made him doubt his charm sometimes, but he always reminded himself to be grateful. For if she did fall for his charm, if she ever swayed near him and turned her lips up to him, he feared he might not be able to resist her. He quickly shook these dangerous thoughts drifting through his head and stood from the grass. He dusted himself off and made his way to the house, telling himself firmly to keep his mind clear of his best friend’s beautiful sister.

“Dinner was wonderful, thank you for the invitation.” Robert leaned down and placed a kiss to Caroline’s knuckles.

“You must come by and visit whenever you wish,” she told him.

“I will.” He nodded and turned to Violet. He grinned devilishly. Violet laughed and raised her hand to him. He placed a kiss to her knuckles then stood straight. He turned his gaze to Alyssum. He arched a brow, as if daring her to give him her hand. The four of them stood quietly by the door in the foyer. The butler held Robert’s coat and hat in hand, waiting.

Robert remained waiting, standing before Alyssum. Violet leant over and nudged her.

Feeling her family’s gaze on her, Alyssum raised her right hand to Robert. She kept her expression nonchalant, but on the inside her stomach fluttered wildly. She wasn’t wearing her gloves. His mouth would touch her skin. She felt her cheeks warming at the thought and prayed it wasn’t noticeable.
Why?
she cried silently. Why did she have to react to
this
man?

With a grin curving his lips, Robert reached out, took her hand…and shook it.

Violet smothered her laugh behind her hand. Alyssum stared at Robert with fire in her eyes.