.
Reuben sighed at Rachel’s departing back, a woman who’d just weeks ago, would have come willingly into his arms. Now, it seemed he would have to gain her favor the hard way.
“Is there something I should know, going on between you and my daughter?” Woodley asked. He stood at an average height, which made him shorter than Reuben, yet still the man was intimidating, to be sure. Cool hazel eyes watched him under fluffy white brows.
“I wronged her,” Reuben admitted. “I only wish to make it right.”
“Well then, come in. If she won’t speak to you, I will.” Woodley patted his shoulder, and the butler closed the door behind Reuben. He noticed the man grinning as he did so, and a few other maids he’d known in the past — and just so happened to have witnessed his rejection— were grinning, with their heads pointed down.
Reuben said nothing until he was alone with Woodley, in his office.
Woodley moved to his desk. “I could force her to speak to you, if you wish.”
Reuben thought about how that would go over, but then shook his head. “No. It’s best you not get involved. It’ll only make her angrier if she’s forced.”
“Have you set your sights on gaining my daughter’s hand?” the earl asked with a straight face, as he took his seat.
Reuben knew how he should answer the question, and he knew the answer, deep within his heart, would be the truth. “I have.”
The earl’s smile set Reuben back a pace. “Good.”
Reuben was surprised. He hadn’t truly known how Woodley would feel to have his former footman for a son-in-law. Reuben had suspected that with his new title, Woodley wouldn’t mind the match, but he hadn’t expected to see the open acceptance.
It was the acceptance that hit him the most. Here was a man of considerable power, who didn’t look at Reuben as though he were nothing more than a pile of dirt wrapped in ribbons. Woodley knew the man he was, and yet there was no coldness or revulsion in his eyes.
“You approve?” Reuben slowly took his own chair.
Instead of answering, Woodley asked, “Do you know why I selected you for my footman?”
Reuben didn’t know the answer to that question. He recalled being part of the apprenticeship at Woodley’s agency. He assumed in the end, that it was his height and better than average looks, and an understanding of the position that got him the job. Was he wrong?
Woodley answered, “I came to the shop one day, and saw you playing with your sister, Lady Rose, who of course, wasn’t a lady at the time. She’d come to the shop to deliver with your brother Mr. Christmas, and I watched the way you interacted with her. That was when I knew you were the one. That you’d protect Rachel.”
He wanted to ask what Rachel needed protection from, but wasn’t allowed the question, because Woodley was already speaking again.
“It’s because of you, that Susanna and Rachel became friends at all. She was so afraid.” Woodley frowned, and then smiled again. “You woke my girl up with your kindness. I’ll always be thankful for that.”
The information was entirely new to Reuben, He recalled Rachel’s closed nature, and then recalled watching her bloom. Had he done that for her? It seemed such a profound thing, that he didn’t feel comfortable taking the credit for it, and yet Woodley wanted to give it to him.
He spent another few minutes speaking with Woodley about nothing in particular, and then left preparing himself for two battles: the first against an assassin, and the other, with a woman with red hair.
RACHEL WALKED into Lady Royle’s music room and stopped. She blinked to make sure what she was seeing was real, while praying that her mind was deceiving her. When Reuben didn’t vanish from her sight, she knew then that he was very much real, and couldn’t stop herself from marching across the room in his direction. She was nearly surprised when no one stopped her. She’d arrived at Lady Royle’s house half an hour ago, and had been on her feet since. She was pulled into one conversation after another, both the men and women of the ton finding everything about her fascinating. For the first time, the wallflower was given center stage, and Rachel was nervous. She needed her aunt, and when a lull in conversation had finally come, she’d set out to find her.
How unfortunate that Lady Esther was with the very man she was set to avoid.
She stopped beside him and didn’t try to hide her anger. “What are you doing here?” she hissed. Hadn’t she just told him that very afternoon to leave her be?
Reuben turned to her, and she tried to ignore how his plum and golden waistcoat brought out the depth of his eyes. “Lady Rachel, what a surprise to see you here.”
“Surprise?” She glanced around to notice people staring at him. Aunt Esther was there as well, but unless either of them raised their voice, she’d never understand a word that was being said. “I told you I was to come to a dinner party this evening.”
“Yes, but you never said with whom.”
REUBEN COULD see how his words made color rise to Rachel’s cheeks. It was fitting color for her, making the gold in her eyes more vibrant. She was lovelier than ever, when angry. He didn’t care if she were dressed in rags. She was riveting, like a goddess who could make any dreary place seem like paradise, from her light alone.
He already regretted coming, and his decision to gain Rachel’s favor, once more. He’d asked one of his old friends, a footman who worked inside Lord Woodley’s home, what Rachel’s plans for the evening were, and then had used his connection to his brother-in-law Lord Chantenny, to gain invite. Justin and Alexandra stood on the other side of the room, and seemed to be watching his interaction with Rachel, just as much as everyone else.
She looked quite lovely in her rose-colored gown with its pale trim, and he knew it was she who was gaining all the attention. Anyone who’d already been drawn to her was now drawn doubly so.
Except for Reuben, with his feelings for her already infinite, there was nowhere for them to go.
Her brows, nose, and lips twitched as she tried to find words to say.
Reuben beat her to it. “Your beauty had bewitched the room tonight.”
That seemed to get her mind working. She placed her hands on her hips. “Including you, my lord?”
He smiled and leaned closer to her. “I’m afraid not, for I cannot become further enthralled with a woman who has already enchanted me.”
She stiffened. In the chandelier’s golden glow her skin seemed softer and without sleeves, there was simply so much of it to see.
Too much.
Lady Esther, who held one of Reuben’s arms, tapped him and said, “Now, what have you said to my niece to put that color on her face?”
Reuben bent to the lady and spoke directly into her ear, finding that she heard best when he did so. He told her exactly what had transpired, and smiled when she laughed.
“Quite the charmer, you are,” her ladyship said.
Reuben turned to find Rachel glaring openly at him and said, “You’re creating a scene.”
She thrust her chin up, showing off the lovely column of her neck. Reuben imagined himself kissing the very spot where her pulse beat rapidly. “Causing a scene doesn’t frighten me, my lord.”
He grinned. “Yes, but it will become quite awkward to explain it to everyone, once you and I begin to court.”
She took a step back as though planning to run from his words. Her eyes flashed, and she became like a statue once more. He’d obviously riled her enough for one evening, Reuben thought.
When dinner was called, he decided to escort Lady Esther to the meal and watched as an older gentleman, Lord Quincy, moved to do the same with Rachel. The other man’s eyes were fixated on Rachel’s chest, and his gut twisted with the urge to blacken the man’s eyes.
“Do you have horses in Eastridge?” Lady Esther asked him. They’d been speaking about his lands before Rachel came.
He turned to her then, and let go of some of his tension, as they moved with the rest of the crowd. “Yes, and a breeding farm as well.” To anyone’s eye, his closeness to Lady Esther would appear as though he were flirting, but unless he wanted to shout…
RACHEL TRIED very hard to pay attention to Lord Quincy. Truly she did, but she’d never been more grateful than the moment he’d left her at her chair, and moved down to where the titled gentlemen were seated.
She sighed, and then smiled, when she found herself sitting next to Alexandra. On her other side was another unmarried young woman named Miss Scott, but she was already engaged in a conversation with the woman on her other side, so Rachel turned to Alexandra, just as her friend began to speak.
“I saw the way you marched over to Reuben.” Alexandra’s gray eyes held a smile. “With the purposeful look on your face, I wondered what would have happened, had you had a sword in your hand.” She laughed lightly. “Whatever did my brother do to anger you so?”
Rachel ducked her head so that she wouldn’t stare at the object of their conversation, and decided to share with Alexandra. “First he pushes me away, and now he claims that he wishes to court me.”
Alex’s lips parted. “Truly? My brother said that to you?”
“In so many words.” Hurtful words, she might add, when he recalled the way he’d taken her mouth, only to shove her and her feelings away, a moment later. “I don’t care what he says now. I’m through with that man.”
“Are you really?” She heard doubt in Alex’s voice.
Rachel looked at her. “I am.” She’d not risk her heart to him again, no matter how much a small part of her was willing to leap off a cliff, so long as he was there to catch her. He’d crushed her dreams when he’d pushed her away. Rachel thought it time to have new dreams and hopes. New goals for New Rachel.
The meal was served, and Rachel looked up, just in time to catch Reuben’s eyes. As a viscount, he was set a distance away from her, but it seemed the distance closed, as their eyes locked. His gaze was hard and burned her like a branding. She had to fight to tear her eyes away, and decided to focus on her meal.
“I believe we’ll be ready to send out invitations tomorrow,” Alexandra said. “Are you coming over to Reuben’s house to help?” Then she added, “I believe he said he’s work to do, and won’t be there.”
Rachel wondered at that work. Then she wondered if she should risk running into him again. She turned and smiled at Alexandra. “Must we really meet at Reuben’s home? Why not bring the invitations over to my house? My father has plenty of footmen who can be sent out to see that each invitation is personally given to each guest.”
Alexandra brightened at the idea. “Splendid idea. We may even hear word back from a few that very day. I’ll tell Rose of the change of location.”
Rachel smiled and glanced up at Reuben again, but this time she was ready. Lifting her glass, she silently toasted him in challenge. If he thought there was any hope of them courting, he was wrong, and she would prove it.