Page 54 of The Trouble with True Love

Clara stirred on the seat, her lips tingling, some of Galbraith’s more improper attentions becoming even more vivid in her mind. “I don’t see that he’s been so very attentive,” she said, hoping to heaven lightning didn’t strike her dead for such a bold-faced lie.

“Don’t you, my dear?”

Desperate for a distraction from this topic, Clara looked past the other woman to the carriage behind them. “Lord James shall have his hands full today, I think, for his boys seem in even higher spirits than usual. Colin is climbing out onto the boot of the carriage, and Owen is sitting on the back of his seat. Your husband does not look happy, Carlotta, riding with them. I told Lord David I would take his place, so that he could sit up here with you, but he declined.”

“My husband can hold his own with his nephews, I assure you,” she answered without turning her head to look. “And if Jamie’s sons are hellions, it’s his own fault. As for you riding in the other carriage, that would not have been appropriate. Jamie is a widower, and you are unmarried. Speaking of single men,” she added, making Clara groan, “as you are in my charge for the season, my dear, I am obligated to point out that Galbraith’s attentions to you were made plain at Covent Garden. A single man who was not interested in you would never have allowed himself to be seen tête-à-tête with you at the rail of his father’s box, in full view of all society.”

“It was hardly tête-à-tête,” she objected. “Lady Petunia was less than a dozen feet away.”

“But the conversation wasintime, so I’ve been told.”

This confirmation that gossip was already circulating about Galbraith’s interest in her made it even more crucial that she don the veneer of polite tolerance she and the viscount had discussed. She pasted on a dismissive smile and braced herself to tell more lies. “It doesn’t have the significance you impart to it. Nothing intimate was said. And anyway, it’s common knowledge that Galbraith would never seriously consider courting any girl.”

“All the more reason he would take pains to avoid speculations on the subject, then,” Carlotta said and leaned back, still smiling.

“And perhaps his views about courtship have undergone a transformation,” Sarah put in. “At least since he danced with a certain girl we all know,” she added with a wink.

“This is absurd,” Clara cried, even as she reminded herself that this sort of thinking was just what her arrangement with Galbraith was supposed to bring about. “Even if what you say is true, Sarah, my opinion of the man hasn’t changed.”

But as she spoke, her body proved her a liar not only to herself, but to all the ladies riding with her, for she blushed as she spoke. The other three women giggled—including Carlotta—and Clara jerked her chin, turning her head to the side and her attention to the view of Hyde Park as she struggled to regain her composure. “Any young lady,” she said through clenched teeth, “would be a fool to want Galbraith’s attentions.”

Her own words made her grimace, for she was well aware of how shamelessly she’d responded to some of those attentions. And now, as she thought of that kiss, all the heat, shame, and exultation she’d felt that afternoon came roaring back and underscored the galling truth that Galbraith was not nearly as low in her estimation as she’d previously believed. Either that, she thought dismally, or he had awakened her to her true nature as a strumpet.

Clara wasn’t quite sure which possibility was worse, but as the carriage turned to enter the park, she knew one thing for certain. It was going to be a long and awkward afternoon.

Chapter 12

Despite his driver’s prediction, Rex did not catch a cold after his walk in the rain, and even if he had, it would have been worth the sacrifice. His drenching in that storm did the trick, and by the time of his aunt’s picnic, he had managed to shove any erotic thoughts about Clara down into the darkest corners of his imagination. And he knew it was best if they remained there.

Now that he had managed to wrestle the dragons of lust into submission, however, Rex still had to deal with the scorched earth left behind. There was no acceptable excuse for what he’d done, and he owed Clara an apology for his conduct. In addition, it was quite likely his actions had led her to expect more of him than what he could offer. Most young ladies would, understandably, expect a marriage proposal after a man had taken the liberties he’d taken the other day, and if Clara was no different, if the mutual passion of their kiss had led her to develop expectations of that sort about him, it would be best if he extinguished them straightaway.

By the time of her arrival, he’d managed to compose a speech that detailed everything he needed to say, but as he watched the Duke of Torquil’s carriages turn at the Stanhope Gate, he was tempted to abandon speeches and apologies and plans to atone and just hurl himself into the path of an oncoming train instead. The latter course seemed far easier than the former.

Nonetheless, as the duke’s carriages rolled toward their party, Rex excused himself from the guests he’d been speaking with, and he crossed the turf toward them as the duke’s drivers assisted the passengers to alight. Lord James St. Clair’s twin sons needed no assistance, for they both vaulted over the side of the open landau before the doors were opened and, kites in hand, they raced past Rex hell-for-leather across the lawn. Their father followed them, giving Rex a wave of greeting as he ran by. Lord David Cavanaugh came toward him at a more leisurely pace than his brother-in-law and nephews had done, escorting the ladies.

“Cavanaugh,” Rex greeted the duke’s younger brother with a nod as they came abreast.

“Galbraith.” The other man gestured to the redhead in green beside him. “You know my wife, of course?”

“I do, indeed.” He removed his hat with a bow. “Lady David, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”

“And you as well,” she replied. “Though seeing you moving in society is rather a surprise, I confess. How has your great-aunt managed to drag you out? I don’t recall her having much success there in the past.”

“Even I have been known to enjoy the pleasures afforded by good society, ma’am.”

“Yes,” she murmured, giving him a knowing little smile in return. “But more so this season than usual, it seems.”

That remark evoked stifled giggles from the dark-haired girls beside her, and Rex decided that until he could ascertain just what Clara’s expectations were, his best course was to downplay his attentions toward her and keep mum.

When he slid his gaze to Clara, however, she gave him no clue as to what she might be thinking or feeling. Her head was tilted down as she occupied herself with refastening the pearl button of one white glove, and the brim of her hat—an enormous concoction of straw, white feathers, and blue ribbons—prevented him from seeing her eyes. What he could see of her face, however, appeared as smooth as polished marble, with nothing to give her away, and he wondered if perhaps she had chosen to overlook the events of a week ago.

Even if she had, it would not relieve him of his obligations as a gentleman, however, and he knew he had to find a way to speak with her alone.

“Sarah, Angela,” Lady David said, gesturing to the pair of giggling girls, “may I present Viscount Galbraith to you? Lord Galbraith, the duke’s sisters, Lady Angela Cavanaugh and Lady Sarah Cavanaugh. And you know Miss Deverill, of course?” she added as he bowed to the girls.

“I do, indeed.” He turned to Clara. “It is a pleasure to see you again, Miss Deverill.”

Faced with his direct attention, she was forced to leave off buttoning her glove. She lifted her head, and when he looked into her face, all his efforts to bury that kiss were obliterated in an instant. Her dark eyes were like a mirror, reflecting all the desire he felt and was working so hard to suppress. The sight threw him strangely off-balance, as if the world had just tilted a bit sideways. Any apologies for his conduct suddenly seemed like lies because he wasn’t sorry, and any reassurances that she would be safe from further improper advances on his part seemed laughable and absurd.

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