Part 14 (2/2)
”After that,” she said, ”my mother saw to it that I focused on what she considered proper feminine matters such as clothes and dancing and preparing me for the Season. She wanted me to make an advantageous marriage, you see.” She gave a self-deprecating shrug. ”Well, I hardly need discuss how that turned out.”
Hampered by the sling he was still wearing, he'd wrapped his good hand around her elbow, then slid it through so their arms were hooked. She hadn't resisted, returning to their discussion of the horses up for auction as they strolled along.
Once the sale began, he'd settled for bidding on the grays, while she had seen a beautiful little mare that had made her sigh with longing. Despite his encouragement, she'd refused to bid. She'd also refused to let him bid on her behalf.
”You ought to have let me buy that roan filly for you,” he said now as they began to make their way back to the coach. ”It would have been my pleasure.”
She paused. ”Thank you, but I do not accept gifts from gentlemen.”
Does she not?
Most women adored gifts, particularly from lovers. But in spite of her lurid reputation, he was beginning to wonder if there were any lovers. He certainly hadn't seen evidence that he had rivals. And now that he had gained access to her house and spent some time alone with her, he found himself questioning the stories he'd believed about her when he'd started his pursuit.
So who precisely was the real Lady Thalia Lennox? And what was the truth of her past and the circ.u.mstances that had led to the demise of her marriage?
”If not gifts, then would you at least allow me to buy you a hot chocolate at Gunter's? I trust you can have no objection to that?”
Her dark brows furrowed. ”Not to the chocolate, no, but Gunter's is . . . well, I no longer frequent that establishment.”
Because of her divorce, she meant. Because she didn't feel welcome among the members of the Ton who gathered there to eat ices and sip tea.
He knew that she was ostracized by Society. Realized that she wasn't invited to parties and entertainments with the people who had once called themselves her friends. Her former husband had suffered no such harm and was warmly greeted at all manner of Society events. Supposedly, Thalia had had an affair: the justification for her disgrace. In the Ton's eyes, Gordon Kemp was the wronged party. But Leo wondered now if he really was.
Whatever Thalia may or may not have done, Leo couldn't believe that the blame lay solely with her. There had to be far more to the story than what was readily visible on the surface.
But for now, he wanted to take her out for a simple cup of cocoa. And the idea that she wasn't ”allowed” in Gunter's, well, it made him angry. He didn't bother pretending not to understand her hesitancy.
”The last time I checked, Gunter's was a public establishment. If we wish to dine there, it is n.o.body's business but our own.”
Her eyes widened slightly before they took on a look of sad resignation. ”Yes, but it is not somewhere that a woman such as myself goes.”
”I fail to see why not. They serve ladies and gentleman and you are a lady. You have every right to visit their premises. I presume you have never been refused service?”
”No, but I have not gone there in years.”
His jaw tightened in what his family would have recognized as his mulish streak. ”Then it is long past time you did.”
”It will cause an uproar-”
”Let it. What do either of us care for the opinions of a bunch of staid old harridans and disapproving ape leaders?”
”It is more than old harridans and ape leaders. Believe me, I know.” She laid her hand on his sleeve. ”Leo, it is most kind of you to defend me in such a way, but I reconciled myself to my particular situation ages ago. To be honest, it is wearisome being snubbed and stared at. I would much rather drink chocolate with you at my town house. Let us just go back there.”
He looked into her eyes. ”I don't believe in taking the coward's way out.”
”No, there is nothing of the coward in you, Lord Leopold. As for me, I have learned to choose my battles. Besides, Mrs. Grove makes better hot chocolate. Ices are Gunter's specialty. If we want to stage a rebellion, we ought to do it in the summer.”
He studied her for another moment, then relented. ”I am going to hold you to that, you know. You and me and ices at Gunter's and Society be d.a.m.ned.”
She smiled, but said nothing further.
With her hand still on his arm, he started them toward the coach once more.
”You know,” he said, ”it just occurred to me that perhaps you don't want to be seen with me in public.”
Her eyes flashed up to meet his. ”If that were true, I wouldn't have come out with you this morning. I am sure someone noticed us together.”
”Of course they did. It's not every day I escort the most beautiful woman in London to a horse auction.”
She shot him another look, the caramel hue of her eyes turning warm. ”Trying to flatter me, Lord Leopold?”
”If it will help win your favor, then undoubtedly.”
As she had done the day before, she laughed. The sound made his chest swell with pleasure. Maybe drinking hot chocolate alone with her at her town house was the better plan, after all.
”You are right,” Lord Leopold said nearly two hours later. ”Mrs. Grove's hot chocolate is better than Gunter's.” His china cup made a faint clink as he set it onto its saucer.
He'd positioned the saucer on a nearby tea table so he could drink using only one hand. Still, he looked decidedly uncomfortable at times as he dealt with all the restrictions to his movements.
She'd asked him earlier how his injury was faring. He'd given her a curt smile and said only that it was healing. She'd decided to prod no further on the subject, since men could sometimes be touchy about such matters.
”I shall once again convey your compliments to her,” she said, setting aside her own cup. ”Mrs. Grove beamed like a girl yesterday when I told her how much you enjoyed her sandwiches and sweetmeats.”
”Well, the praise is entirely genuine,” he said. ”You don't suppose she could make up nuncheon for us, do you? It's been hours since breakfast.”
”But you just ate chocolate and biscuits.”
”A delicious appetizer.” He laid a hand on his flat, waistcoat-covered stomach. ”Are you not hungry?”
”No, not terribly. But I would be a poor hostess if I did not feed a guest who is in need of a meal.”
She rose and crossed to the bellpull.
She was making her way back to the sofa when she heard an odd cracking sound. Without warning, her ankle slid sideways as the heel of her half boot collapsed beneath her.
”Oh!” She reached out instinctively to steady her balance, and stumbled, catching the edge of her gown beneath her other foot. She pitched forward, her muscles tightening instinctively as she began to fall.
A pair of strong arms reached out and caught her. She pulled in a gasping breath and looked up into Leo's eyes as he held her safe and secure. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were pressed tightly against his chest, her arms curved around his shoulders as if it were the most natural thing in the world. For a long moment she could think of nothing but him and how right it felt to be held in his embrace.
”My heel broke,” she said weakly.
”Is that what happened? I thought maybe you'd tripped on the carpet. Are you all right? Are you injured?”
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