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explain her reasons to you!" Giles paused and looked at Anthea. She did not speak, however, and he went on, pain evident in his voice, "Since it is my presence that is the problem, I shall withdraw, and then perhaps, Miss Calandra, you will be allowed to continue your tete-a-tete with your pretty friend." So saying, the viscount bowed and strolled without haste from the room. No one, seeing his mild expression, could have guessed the rage he felt. No one except Anthea. Her own face was held so taut that Letty forbore to ask any questions. Weylin was not so perceptive. "That was a dashed rum way to treat him!" he protested hotly. "You might at least have told him what was wrong!" Castor Marwood had joined the group just in time to hear this. "Young man," he said sternly, "that is none of your affair. I consider my sister to have acted most properly. If his lordship chances to be offended, all the better. He will be less likely to approach my sister or my daughter again." For a moment it looked as though Weylin would speak, but he had been too well brought up to say what was on his mind, and so he bowed instead and walked away. Marwood watched him go, then turned to Anthea and said with a frown, "He is not, I hope, here making a cake of himself over Calandra? I should never countenance that match, you know." Rather to everyone's surprise, it was Cal who answered. "Neither should I," she said. "However, as Weylin hasn't the slightest such interest in me, there is no question of such a thing." Marwood snorted, but Anthea said slowly, "She's right, Castor. I did think, at first, he had a tendre for Cal. But now . . . well, I think he feels a responsibility toward her, and friendship, of course." "Very well," Castor answered heavily. "But remember, Anthea! I hold you to account for my daughter's welfare!" At this point, Letty intervened. With the gentlest of hints and very much to the relief of the rest of the party, Mrs. Balder contrived to send Marwood to the other end of the Pump Room in search of a mutual acquaintance. The ladies then settled back for a comfortable discussion. Anthea's composure, however, was shattered almost immediately as Calandra asked with a sigh, "I wonder where Lord Radbourne has gone?" It was a question Maggie Taggert could have answered quite easily. Viscount Radbourne left the Pump Room in a rage. Anthea Marwood's actions were must have been! prompted by that idiot Castor Marwood! But that made the matter no better. Worse, in fact! Giles had not thought Miss Marwood the helpless sort of female to blindly obey anyone's commands, least of all her brother's! Nor had Radbourne missed the agony evident in her eyes. She wanted to see him, speak to him, and yet she had let herself refuse even to exchange the briefest of pleasantries with him. How dare she be such a coward? It was in this foul mood that Giles arrived at the White Hart. Mrs. Taggert? Why, yes, she was here. He wished to see her? A servant would instantly be sent up with the gentleman's card, if he cared to leave it. The lady would no doubt descend to greet him. One must understand the White Hart's responsibility to protect its guests. The viscount bowed, extended his card, then took a seat. He did not have long to wait. The boy who had taken up the viscount's card soon returned with a note. Radbourne gave the boy a coin and unfolded the brief missive. It was evident that Maggie had written in haste, and the note merely gave directions to her room. Trust Maggie to see to it that no servant need escort his lordship! Giles waited a few moments, then strolled toward the stairs without haste. His rage, by now, had almost burned itself out, but not his determination to show Miss Marwood that there were other ladies who would not dream of spurning his attentions. When Giles tapped on Maggie's door, it was immediately opened by her maid. As the woman took his hat and gloves, she contrived to indicate with the nod of her head that the viscount should go right on into the bedroom. There he found Maggie seated before her dressing table, a silver-blue wrapper half off her shoulders. Languidly she said, "Oh, hullo, Giles. You are up and about early, aren't you? Forgive me for not being dressed, but I was certain you wouldn't mind." Radbourne merely nodded politely. Maggie shrugged and said a trifle petulantly, "Well? Are you going to tell me why you're here? Or did you just come to stare?" This last was spoken provocatively. Giles smiled and approached Mrs. Taggert, a slight swagger in his step. "Scarcely!" was his reply as he set his hands on her shoulders and planted a kiss on her neck. A moment later she was in his arms, her hands exploring his body hungrily. His hands slid under her elegant wrapper, caressing the breasts and hips he knew so well. Impatiently Maggie's fingers tugged at the viscount's neck cloth, and she might have ripped open his shirt had Giles not placed a restraining hand over hers. "Careful!" he warned her with a husky laugh. "Both of us will find our reputations in shreds if I cannot contrive a creditable appearance when I leave here! Improvident of me, I know, but I did not think to bring an extra shirt along. As it is, my man Foster will cry when he sees the state of my neck cloth!" Maggie laughed, a trifle breathlessly, and stepped back a pace. "Very well," she agreed. "You do it, then. Just don't take forever!" And as the viscount watched, Maggie shed the last of her few garments and climbed into the nearby bed. Giles contrived to undress in little more time than it would have taken Maggie to do the job; then he too slid between the sheets, reaching eagerly for her. But Maggie was in a mood to play. She held him off with her hands and laughed as she said, "Not so fast, my lord! Lie still." With an appreciative grin, Giles did as he was told, allowing Maggie to stroke her skillful hands over his face and chest and stomach. Then, when she came too close, he suddenly grabbed her and pulled her across him. Radbourne's hands were quite adept, and in a few moments Maggie was eager for him. Together they crested, and afterward Giles gently gathered Maggie into his arms. But she would have none of it. Instead, Maggie sat upright and looked down at the viscount. "Well?" she said coolly. "Why have you come? Do you expect to go back to where we were before? Or is this in the nature of an accident? Perhaps you'll tell me you couldn't help yourself but that I'm not to expect it to happen again?" With a toss of her head, Maggie turned her back on the viscount. "Never mind," she said softly."I don't want to know if you're planning to go back to your fine lady." "I'm not," he said shortly. A gleam of triumph lit Maggie's eyes, but she was careful not to let the viscount see it. The face she turned to him was soft and hopeful, as was her voice. "Oh, Giles!" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
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