The Langley Sisters Trilogy Boxed Set (84 page)

“Is it not amazing, Bella?”

She pulled her head back as Thea spoke and quickly turned away from him, and in doing so released his hand. Luke took a deep welcoming breath and fought the urge to take it back. He wanted to feel her small fingers nestled against his, her body close, her breath brushing his face, and he knew that he would always want her as long as he lived.

The risks he’d taken had been for her, for the life they would lead, but they were not working out as he had planned. He had lost no money, but his name was being blackened, which would mean he could not ask her to share it with him, unless he found a way to clear it.

He sat beside her, barely aware of the show, only her and his thoughts. He had to find a way out of his mess. He knew three powerful men. With their help, they could surely find who was doing this to him? Perhaps it was time to ask.

They escorted the ladies out and back up to the street once the show had finished.
 

“Well, good day to you, gentlemen,” Thea said when they reached the path.

“Where is your carriage?” Luke said, looking up and down the street.

“We are to meet our maids over there in that teashop. The carriage will be there shortly,” Bella told him.

“Then I shall see you soon.” He bowed, then rose, his eyes catching and holding Bella’s before she moved away. He and Ace stood and watched them until they had walked into the teashop.

“The thing about women, I’ve found, is they can tie you in a knots before you even realize they have hold of the rope.”

“Amen.” Luke’s reply was heartfelt as he started to cross the street behind Ace. The carriage came from nowhere; it was traveling fast and bearing down on him. He saw it from the corner of his eye just in time.

“Run!” Calling to Ace he followed, and as the carriage swerved toward him, he dived out of its way.

“Luke!”

He struggled to fill his lungs with the much-needed air as he heard her cry.
 

“A-are you hurt?”
 

Opening his eyes, he saw that Bella had dropped to her knees at his side, her hands reaching for him.

“Talk to me, damn you!” Her fingers were on his head, pushing his hair aside to see if he was hurt, then moving to cup his face as, finally, he inhaled a large relieving breath.

“Are you cussing, Miss Langley?”

She threw herself at him, grabbing his neck and hugging him into her soft, sweet-smelling body.
 

“Th-that carriage was aiming for you, Luke.”

“No, Bella. It was just an accident, love.” He held her until she stopped trembling, and then lifted her back to her feet, before regaining his. “It did not see me. Therefore, when it did, it was too late to swerve.”

“Are you hurt?” She started to pat his shoulders and back.
 

Looking around, he saw Thea and Ace watching with interest and that they had drawn a few other spectators.
 

“Enough now, Bella. I am well.” Taking her hands, he pushed them back to her sides. “Go now, and have your tea, and I shall see you later.”

“Are you sure?” She didn’t want to leave him, her eyes filled with worry, and he had to battle the need to stop himself reaching for her.
 

“Thea, come and take Bella to the teashop and make her drink a cup of something sweet.” Thea did as he asked.

“Goodbye, then.” Bella gave him one final look as Thea began to lead her away. Forcing a smile onto his face, he raised a hand, and minutes later it was just he and Ace alone on the street once more.

“That carriage was aiming for you.”

“Yes,” Luke said, looking down the road the carriage had come from. “I believe it was.”

***

The morning of Lord Anthony’s picnic dawned clear and bright. Bella was traveling to the venue with Livvy, Henry, Hannah Wooller and Phoebe in the carriage, while the others went on horseback. Bella’s skills in the saddle were better, but she feared her leg would not yet cope with too long a journey. Phoebe, of course, moaned about this, but as she was not allowed to ride, there was little she could do.

Looking out the window, Bella wondered where Luke was. She hadn’t seen him since that day, when he was nearly run down by the carriage, and that was over two weeks ago. She had sent a note around to his new house to ask him to call upon her, but he had not come. It was not like him to stay away from her, to stay away from any of them. She had asked Will after him, and he said that he had seen him only briefly also, and the frown on her brother-in-law’s face told Bella that something was not right, but no one was telling her what.

“Could you not drool a bit and look green, Phoebe? If I were carrying, I bet my bosom would decrease and I would look like a haggard crone.”

Pulling her eyes from the scenery, Bella tried to push Luke from her mind. She could do nothing about him today, especially as today was the day she had chosen to tell Lord Anthony that she no longer wanted his attentions as she loved another.

“Such a petty nature you have, Hannah Wooller, to speak in such a way to your dearest friend in her time of need,” Phoebe said sweetly. “But I must own that now the sickness has gone I do feel back to myself. In fact, I’m now looking forward to the next two months.”

“If I didn’t love you so much you would be the person I loathed the most, simply because you never look ugly like the rest of us,” Hannah added. “Even with that large stomach you look beautiful and elegant.”

“I didn’t look ugly, surely?” Livvy protested, patting Henry on the back.

“You did when you were carrying. Sometimes you actually looked green, Livvy,” Bella pointed out.

Phoebe roared with laughter.
 

“But never fear, Livvy, she will look ugly when she’s giving birth. No one could go through that looking pretty,” Bella said, patting her elder sister’s hand.

“True, and we shall be there to witness her downfall.” Livvy looked far too happy at the prospect of her sister’s pain.
 

“And yet I will never witness this ugliness, which hardly seems fair,” Hannah declared. “Perhaps when next she falls ill, you could call me. Red nose, swollen eyes, anything like that.”

“I don’t get sick, Hannah.” Phoebe looked smug.

“I give up,” her friend sighed.

The chatter continued for the entire journey and Bella was still laughing as the carriage door opened after their arrival.

“Allow me to help you down, Miss Langley.” Lord Anthony appeared at the carriage door.

“Thank you, my lord.” She took Eddie’s lead in one hand and his arm with the other, and they were soon making their way to where the blankets were set on the crest of a hill beneath the shade of three large trees.
 

“The journey was no doubt tiring for one of your delicate constitution, Miss Langley. Please sit while I organize things and I shall come back and escort you to luncheon when it is ready.”

“I am quite capable of making my own way there, Lord Anthony,” Bella said, annoyed that he viewed her as too pathetic to handle a carriage ride. The sooner she dissuaded his attentions the better she would feel. He was starting to annoy her now. She had once thought him a pleasant companion, but now she found him stifling. Always speaking for her, acting as if she were an invalid and, loathe as she was to admit it, Thea was right. There was something about him that she was beginning to dislike.

“Please, Miss Langley. There is no need to be strong with me.”

Before she could snap back that she was strong he had left, leaving her frustrated and petty for thinking badly of him.

“He’s a foolish man,” Thea said, arriving. “Dismiss him from your thoughts and we shall walk that silly dog of yours for a while and see if we can tire him enough so upon our return he will sleep.”

“I’m going to tell him today, Thea, that I no longer want his attentions.”

“Well, it’s about time!”

They looked up as the thunder of hooves sounded the arrival of more guests. Both Thea and Bella waved as the Hetherington twins rode up.
 

“By Jove, what a jolly affair!” Ben called as he dismounted.
 

“Will you allow me to walk with you, Miss Langley, while our lunch is being set up?”

Thea gave her hand a squeeze and then released it as Lord Anthony moved to take her arm.
 

“Of course. Thank you, Lord Anthony.”
 

They walked slowly down to the lake below and began to make their way towards a small stand of trees. Eddie kept dashing back to check Bella was near and then he would run off again, following some scent.

“We have not known each other long, Miss Langley, but I feel we are fast becoming friends.”

“Friends, yes, but I’m afraid there can be nothing more between us, Lord Anthony.”

He patted her hand. “I understand, my dear, and that you do not feel ready to make a decision yet, but I’m sure you know that my feelings for you are growing deeper than friendship with each passing day.”

“Oh, well, I—”

“No, don’t say anything until you are ready to do so, Miss Langley. It was merely my wish for you to know how I felt. I expect nothing in return.”

“But I have no wish to think beyond friendship, Lord Anthony, nor will I ever feel that way about you. There is another I care for.”

His fingers tightened on her arm briefly and then released.

“Speak no more on the matter, my dear. We shall discuss it again when you are ready. Such are my feelings for you I am willing to wait.”

Blowing out a frustrated breath, Bella tried again.

“Lord Anthony, I don’t think—” Her words turned to a squeak as he kissed her. She tried to push him away but he was too strong, so she kicked his shin instead.

“Forgive me, my dear Miss Langley. But my feelings overcame me.”

“Well, you had better pray they do not overcome you again, my lord, as next time it will not be just your shins that will bear bruises.”

“Beautiful day for a picnic, my lord, and I have to commend you on the location.”

Bella made herself smile at Ben Hetherington as he appeared before them. Lord Anthony took her arm again, and she could do nothing to stop him with Ben standing before them. She wanted to wipe her lips to remove all trace of him. How dare he kiss her? She did not speak to him again as they made their way back to where the blankets had been set out. Bella allowed Lord Anthony to help her down onto one beside Livvy and Henry. It was the last time he would touch her; she would make sure of that.

“Thank you, Lord Anthony. I wish to spend time with my sister and nephew now.”

If being polite hadn’t worked, then she would try rudeness. So with a flick of her wrist, she dismissed him. Turning to give Livvy a silencing look, she did not turn to see if he’d walked away.
 

“What was that about? I thought you liked Lord Anthony.”

“Hold that thought in your head until you help your sister, who is carrying a baby elephant in her stomach, down onto the blanket.”
 

Bella regained her feet and lowered Phoebe, then propped several large pillows behind her until she was comfortable.

“Now begin,” Phoebe said, waving her hand about as if she were the queen commanding an audience.

“You were discussing Lord Anthony,” Livvy said.

“He kissed me,” Bella crossed her eyes at Henry.

“The cad,” Livvy hissed with no real heat.

“Bounder,” Phoebe added.

“It was horrible.” Bella used her sleeve to scrub her mouth. “And he did it after I had told him that I did not care for him in any way but as a friend.”

“Was it your first kiss?” Livvy asked.

Bella started to shake her head before she thought better of it and quickly stopped.

“Oh, no you don’t, little sister. You have been kissing someone else, and not telling your big sisters.”

“Sssh, Phoebe, I have no wish for anyone to hear this conversation,” Bella whispered.

“Who kissed you?” Livvy looked curious but not angry, which told Bella that motherhood had mellowed her as she would not have tolerated such a thing before.

“It matters not who.” Bella waved her hand about and concentrated on Henry’s little foot where it poked out from beneath the blanket. It was so small and pink.

“Luke Fletcher.”

Bella looked up as Livvy said Luke’s name, and saw a look pass between her sisters.

“How did you know it was him?”

“You gave your heart to him when you were a child, Bella, and I have seen no evidence to suggest that has changed over the years.”

“But you never said anything?”

“We had planned to talk to you about it after your first season. We,” Livvy pointed to Phoebe, “wanted you to have this time to think about what you would be giving up to marry him, Bella.”

“I love him so much that it almost hurts.” Bella rubbed a hand over her heart. “It would be no sacrifice to give up anything for him.”