Page 2 of Tamed By a Passionate Lady
A fierce stab of anger tore through her, which she restrained with difficulty. Mr. Reuben Montgomerywasone of James’ closest, dearest friends; they had grown up alongside each other in Liverpool. They had known each other since they were lads. That was the only reason that she did not order him out of her home, now, and had not done so the moment that he had arrived at Birkenhead Lodge.
He had arrived three weeks ago, with his younger sister, asking if they could stay indefinitely on account of the young lady’s health. Miss Isabel Montgomery, only eighteen years of age, had always been a fragile girl, apparently.
She was as pale as wax, and coughed constantly, sometimes appearing quite out of breath. Her doctor had advised a long rest by the sea. James had been sympathetic and told them that they might stay as long as they wished.
She liked Isabel, who was sweet and gentle, and good company. But her brother, Reuben, was another kettle of fish entirely. From the moment he had arrived, he constantly sought Adaline, growing bolder with each encounter. He always made sure that James was not around when he harassed her.
She took a deep, calming breath. These people were her guests. She had been brought up to honour guests. Besides, the presence of his old friend pleased her husband greatly. And since she could not do much to please James at all, then the little shecoulddo was tolerate Reuben Montgomery for his sake.
But that did not mean she had to tolerate his advances. Not at all.
“How long do you mean to keep up this charade, Adaline?” he said, in a low, caressing tone, which made her skin crawl again. “How long do you intend to deny your feelings for me, and deny yourself the love and affection that is your right?”
“You are not my husband,” she said stiffly. “And I am not the sort of woman who seeks affection with other gentlemen. I took marriage vows, Mr. Montgomery, which are binding.” She took a deep breath. “Besides all of that, I do not hold the affection for you that you seem to believe. I beg you, once and for all, to not persist in this manner; to respect my wishes, for my sake, and for the sake of James, who is your dear friend.”
He scoffed, his small hazel eyes as hard as nuts. “Adaline, can you even remember the last time that James paid any attention to you at all?”
Her eyes widened, stinging with tears. She felt as if he had reached over and slapped her clean across the face.
He didn’t seem to notice how much he had hurt her, or didn’t care if he had. He blithely carried on in the same matter of fact tone.
“James would not care,” he declared. “He would not even notice, my dear, if you had an indiscretion here and there. You cannot deny it…”
She flinched. It took all of her effort to still sit here and listen to him. To listen to his insolence. But it was the fact that he believed that he was able to talk to her in such a way, without any consequence, which saddened her the most, almost causing her to burst into tears.
“James spends most of his time in his study,” continued Reuben. “Or when he does not, he walks alone along the cliffs. We would not even have to hide it, Adaline, and that is the truth of it. You are well aware that I am right.”
She fought back the tears. She did not know what was worse: hearing this awful man say this to her, or the fact that she was very aware how true the words were. How very much aware she was that James was completely indifferent to her, despite her continual efforts to be a good, loving wife to him.
“Please, Mr. Montgomery,” she said, in a strangled voice. “Please, I implore you to leave me alone. I am very well aware that my husband and I do not have a lover’s connection…not that the state of my marriage is any ofyourbusiness.” She took a deep breath. “I have promised my heart to him and I will not betray him, even if he never returns my love.”
The words tasted like ashes in her mouth. To even talk about her marriage with this man wounded her deeply. To admit that this man spoke the truth about how James was towards her, and felt about her, was even harder. The only reason she had finally decided to was in the effort to dissuade him, once and for all.
Reuben Montgomery had her pegged as a lonely, neglected wife. He thought that she was vulnerable, and ripe for the plucking. He must realise that even if she was indeed that wife, it made no difference.
Shedidlove James. She loved him fiercely, with her whole heart, and had loved him almost from the moment that she had set eyes upon him. The fact that he did not reciprocate her affection was beside the point. She wouldneverbetray him. Even if the man sitting beside her was charming, and handsome, and took her breath away, shestillwould not do it.
But this man was none of those things. This man made her skin crawl, with his slimy advances, the deliberate way he spoke to her behind her husband’s back, and his disloyalty to his friend.
WhatwouldJames think, if he knew about it?
She tightened her lips. Perhaps Reuben Montgomery spoke the truth when he said he simply would not care. And that was perhaps the saddest thing of all, in this sorry state of affairs.
Reuben gazed at her steadily. “We are in the middle of nowhere, Adaline,” he said slowly. “If it is judgement you fear, you need not. We are so isolated here, on this forlorn coast in Lancashire, that gossip is not a concern.” He paused. “And my sister and I shall be here for an indefinite period, do not forget. Isabel’s health is unlikely to improve dramatically, and her doctordidrecommend a long stay, after all.”
She shook her head in disbelief. It was simply as if he had not heard one word that she had uttered. The man was so totally on his own course it was as if he was deaf to her. As if her will was almost an obstacle that stood in his way of getting what he wanted.
She had felt his eyes lingering on her from the very start, almost from the minute that he and his sister had arrived at Birkenhead Lodge with their array of luggage. Isabel had been apologetic, saying that she was sorry to inconvenience them, and how grateful she was for their hospitability until she was well enough to return home. Reuben had accompanied his sister as her chaperone and had acted as if it was his right to be here.
He had surveyed the house and the grounds in an almost speculative way, too. Almost insolently. It had angered her, but there wasn’t much that she could do about it, was there? He was James’ dear friend, and it wasn’t as if her husband would listen to any of her concerns about him. Or if he would even care.
She glared at him. His tone was insolent, now, almost threatening her, with his extended stay. Telling her that he was ensconced here, and there was nothing that she could do about it. Reuben knew as well as she did that James was oblivious, and even if hewasaware, he simply would not care.
She had no way of stopping this man. No way at all, if he did not respect her wishes and leave her alone.
It was simply intolerable.
Abruptly, she stood up, quickly placing her things back in her bag.
