Читать книгу Every Night I'm Yours - Christie Kelley - Страница 12

Banning sipped his tea and looked down at his congealed breakfast. Nothing appealed to him this morning. He dreaded his upcoming confrontation with Avis because he knew she would do anything to get out of their affair. The more he thought about it, the more certain he became that she would make a perfect wife for him. The last thing he wanted was her trying to get out of their arrangement.

“Are you unwell this morning, Banning?” Jennette’s lilting voice brought him out of his musing.

“I’m quite well, thank you.”

She sat down in the chair next to him and patted his hand with her own paint-splattered one. “Bloody hell you are. You look dreadful.”

“Jennette, how many times do I have to tell you it is completely unladylike to swear?”

“Probably a few hundred more,” she said with a laugh.

His sister might just be the death of him. At least that would spare him this valiant need to keep Avis from Emory Billingsworth. Banning had seen what Billingsworth could do when angry with a woman, but he knew Avis would not believe him…at least not yet.

He should have put a stop to her association with that bastard years ago. Not that he’d had any way of doing so. Until now.

He knew the real Billingsworth. The man who wore a mask of gentility while in truth was nothing more than a violent, cruel beast. The same man who had beaten a prostitute because she tried to take the money due her from him. Banning closed his eyes against the images that rose to the surface. Not even years could eradicate those haunting memories. That girl writhing and moaning in pain as he carried her to the carriage. The gasp from the physician when he saw Banning holding the battered woman out to him. His own blood-splattered clothing ruined over the few shillings the poor girl needed to survive.

And she wasn’t the only girl Billingsworth had beaten. But he would never lay a hand on Avis.

“I need to go out for a short while,” Banning said.

“At this hour?”

“This isn’t a social call, Jennette. It’s business.”

“Oh, well then have a marvelous time,” she drawled. “I believe Mother and I have some shopping that must be completed.”

“You might wish to use a bit more turpentine on your hands before leaving.” He stood and smiled down at his little sister. “The shopkeepers might get distressed if you touch their fabric with those hands even with gloves on,” he teased.

Jennette laughed as she stood to leave. “Followed by a course of rose scented lotion to hide the foul odor. Never fear, no one shall learn of my scandalous secret, brother dear.”

Banning shook his head. Her scandalous secret was far from scandalous and far from secret. Most people knew of her painting, though few knew she painted the most beautiful oil landscapes he had ever seen. And even fewer people knew she planned to move to Italy after she gained Grandmama’s inheritance. He sighed. Jennette’s future was an issue for another day.

He decided to skip Parliament today and rode straight to Bruton Street and the house where Avis lived. His coachman stopped a few houses away from her home. As Banning stepped down, he looked up at her white, brick home and noticed it looked no different from any other on the block.

Except an unmarried woman occupied this house.

After skirting a couple out for an early stroll, he walked up the steps to her door. Reaching for the knocker, he let it slip from his hand to bang against the brass plate.

An older man with a stern expression opened the door for him. “Lord Selby?”

“I am here to see Miss Copley.” Banning gave the butler one of his cards.

“Please wait inside, my lord. I will see if Miss Copley is at home.”

Banning entered the small receiving room and smiled. This room suited Avis perfectly—functional furniture with no frills. He strolled around the small room idly as he waited for the servant to return.

“My lord, Miss Copley will see you in the study.”

He followed the butler down the hall and into the study only to find Avis sitting behind a large, masculine mahogany desk. With her stern gray dress and dour expression, she looked as if she were prepared to transact a business arrangement, not determine the location and details of an illicit affair.

“My lord, thank you for coming by on such short notice,” she said as the butler closed the door. Once the door was firmly shut, the Avis he knew so well went on the attack. “You are such a beast. I cannot believe you think to blackmail me into an affair with you.”

“Do we really need to discuss this again?” Banning sat in a soft leather chair on the other side of the desk. He glanced around the room, impressed by the décor. “Lovely rooms, by the way.”

“Thank you, your sister helped me with the colors.” She folded her arms over her chest. “I have decided not to go through with this.”

“Oh?”

She tilted her head slightly. “I don’t believe you mean to go through with your little blackmail scheme.”

Banning gave her a half-smile and leaned in closer to the desk. “I wouldn’t wager on that if I were you.”

“Why?” Her face paled in the sunlight streaming in the windows.

“Because I have every intention of making love to you.”

Her eyes darkened but he doubted it was anger causing the change. Whether or not she wanted to admit it to herself, he knew she was attracted to him.

“What?” she sputtered.

Banning stood and leaned over the desk. “I am going to make love to you, Avis. I’m going to touch every inch of your body. Taste your skin with my lips. Fill you completely and then I will watch your face as you cry out in release. And then,” he paused, leaned closer and whispered, “then…”

“What?” She whispered with wide eyes.

“I’m going to do it again.”

Avis whimpered.

Banning sat back down into his seat and watched the play of emotions cross her face.

She gaped at him and finally blinked. As if realizing any more arguing would be futile, she cleared her throat and said, “Shall we get down to business, then?”

“That may be your first problem, Avis. An affair such as ours has nothing to do with business.”

She cocked her head and raised a tawny brow at him. “When blackmail is involved, I believe it becomes a business arrangement.”

Banning casually leaned back in his chair and laughed. “I hardly think what I did was blackmail.”

“And what would you call it?”

“Getting my way.”

“And what about my way?”

He glanced at her and almost laughed again. Her amber eyes glared at him. But even from his seat, he could smell the sweet fragrance of her jasmine perfume. The scent gave her a totally feminine air that was in direct contrast to her masculine study and stern clothing.

“I believe my solution lets us both get our way,” he finally replied.

“I chose Emory Billingsworth for a reason.”

“Are you in love with him?”

“No,” she mumbled.

“Then what reason?”

She looked away from him. “He’s a writer like myself. I believe he would be able to help me with more than passion.”

“Being a writer doesn’t qualify him as a lover,” Banning retorted.

“He can also help me with my characters…to make certain they have enough depth and—”

Banning’s chuckle cut her off. “Sounds like you want a reader, not a lover.”

“Well I don’t want you,” she retorted.

She had issued a challenge. He rose from his seat and rounded the desk. Avis scrambled out of her chair but couldn’t move fast enough to avoid him. Pulling her up against his chest, he smiled down at her.

“You do want me, Avis.”

She struggled against his grip. “I do not!”

He brought his lips to the outer shell of her ear and whispered, “Yes, you do.”

He moved his lips down her jaw until he reached her full mouth. She trembled slightly as he lowered his head to kiss her. Dear God, he wanted her. He deepened his kiss, letting his passion run free for a moment, imaging her naked against him. With only a slight hesitation, she kissed him back.

He kissed her until he moaned from the simple pleasure of his tongue caressing hers. Knowing she would be his was a heady aphrodisiac. He pressed her back until she was stuck between the desk and his chest. Slowly, he trailed hot kisses down her slender neck until the idea of making love on a desk in her study overwhelmed him. He could lift her up onto the desk, strip her of all those damned layers of clothes, and find her sweet warmth.

He wanted to forget her innocence, but could not. If he didn’t stop soon, he might not be able to stop until she surrendered to him.

He drew away from her, trying to catch his breath. “Seems we have a penchant for kissing in studies,” he said lightly.

She turned away from him, but not before he noticed her high color. “So we do,” she whispered.

“Still believe you don’t want me?”

She only shook her head.

“All right. Shall we finish our arrangements?”

This time she nodded.

He smiled, satisfied anew with this decision.

“Parliament should be done in a week, so I will be free to leave London then. I have a place near Southwold we can travel to and have some privacy. My family won’t think of going there because they don’t care for the place. Since I tend to take a holiday there every summer, it won’t seem odd to them.”

“You don’t wish to meet here, after the servants retire? Surely you could find a way to sneak in?”

“Too risky. Southwold is more secluded.”

Her eyes widened and color tracked across her cheeks. “Shall I meet you there?”

“Meet me at the Wayside Inn in Chelmsford next Tuesday. You can tell your servants you are meeting Lady Elizabeth and going away with her for a few weeks.”

“What if someone discovers the truth?”

“No one will. And who would suspect the two of us going away together?”

“Very well.” She glanced down at her desk before continuing, “Selby, just how many servants do you have at this estate?”

He smiled down at her. “Only two and they can be trusted to keep quiet about who I bring with me.”

“Only two?” she whispered with a frown.

“Would you prefer more?”

“No—no, I just assumed a large house would have many more servants,” she said in a quick odd tone.

“For the most part it will just be the two of us. Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway stay in a cottage on the estate.” Banning circled back around the desk and picked up his hat. “I must be off. I’ll see you in a week then.”

Avis slid into the leather chair as Selby closed the door behind him. One week to prepare herself for a fortnight with only him. She could not stop the shiver from enveloping her. What if he was like her father?

She knew she wasn’t like her mother and would never allow a man to strike her, but with no one there to protect her….

When she had planned this affair, she knew she would have to spend some time alone with a man. Only she had assumed it would be a night or two in her home and the man would leave during the day. She could always call up on her servants if she needed them. Selby’s arrangement meant two weeks with him, and him alone. All day and all night.

Perhaps she should bring a pistol with her. Not that she imagined she could shoot him, but at least she might threaten him with it. She laughed aloud at the image of her holding a gun to Selby’s head. He was several inches taller than she and outweighed her by several stone.

She was being ridiculous. He was Jennette’s brother. Selby wouldn’t do anything that might make Jennette angry with him.

Avis pushed aside all her negative thoughts and concentrated on positive things. Which brought her back to Selby’s kiss, definitely an optimistic thought. She had never imagined kissing could be so—so intense. Today, he could have taken her right here on her desk, and she might not have stopped him.

A light knock sounded on the door to her study.

“Yes?”

Grantham opened the door. “You have callers, ma’am. Your friends.”

“Show them into the salon, Grantham. And set out some tea and biscuits.”

She hadn’t expected a visit, but knowing Sophie, she wanted to discover what happened at the ball last night. With a deep breath to steady her frayed nerves, Avis walked to the salon.

All four of her friends were seated in the room, waiting expectantly for her.

“Well?” Sophie said before Avis even sat down.

Avis leveled Sophie a glare.

Sophie waved her hand at Avis. “Oh, of course I told them. They are our dearest friends and would never tell any soul. We all care about you, Avis.”

“Mr. Billingsworth is otherwise occupied this summer,” Avis replied as she dropped onto the settee.

“Good. Now you can forget all this nonsense and get back to your writing,” Victoria commented.

Avis looked away but not before she noticed Sophie’s prying stare. “Perhaps I shall do just that, Victoria.”

“Of course, this is God’s way of telling you it is wrong,” Victoria added. Leave it to the daughter of a vicar to bring God into this mess.

Avis knew she had to get this discussion on to an ordinary topic. “What is everyone doing during summer?”

“Father has decided we should leave for the summer,” Elizabeth said, thankfully changing the subject. “Apparently, even though it has been a cool summer he’s packing us off to the Lake District.”

Thankfully, it worked. “I have decided to start a new book to put this whole plan out of my mind. So I will need some time alone.”

“Oh?” Jennette murmured. “What will you write about this time? I would love to hear more.”

“It’s too soon to talk about it. I am not certain where it is heading yet and besides, I’d rather get a bit of it on paper before talking it out. Emory is always telling me I shouldn’t diffuse the muse. When I see you in a few weeks, I shall let you know more.”

“At the Kesgrave summer party,” Jennette said. “You promised me you would pay no heed to your sickness and come. I’m certain Mother will want to go to Talbot Abbey for a few weeks this summer so I will be there with her.”

Avis had forgotten about the country party, and her dreadful motion sickness. She seemed to forget everything with Selby near. How would she manage in a carriage with Selby for hours? She would have to do what she always did, sleep. Assuming she could sleep with him so near.

“Avis?”

She glanced up to see Jennette giving her a peculiar look. “Yes?”

“You are attending the Kesgrave party, are you not?”

Selby was friends with Lord Kesgrave so he would certainly be there. She wondered how awkward it would be to see him so soon after they parted ways. Of course, they were bound to run into each other at balls and parties so she’d better get used to the idea. Had she chosen Emory, they could have remained friends. Since she and Selby were not friends to begin with, she had no idea how thing would end between them.

“Yes, I will be there,” Avis answered.

“Well,” Victoria said, looking into her teacup, “I have to admit, I’m happy to hear everyone will be busy this summer. I had an offer to assist a dear friend of mine who is starting an orphanage. I’ve been hesitating to accept, but now I shall.”

“Good, so we will not have any regular meetings until we all arrive back in town?” Elizabeth asked.

Sophie bit her lower lip. “I suppose not.”

Avis wished there was something she could do for Sophie. She wasn’t completely accepted in Society, so she had very few friends. Most summers while the ton departed for their summer homes, Avis and Sophie and Victoria stayed in the city. But for at least two weeks, Sophie would be alone.

And Avis would be alone…with Selby.

Avis tried to ignore the strange sensations that overwhelmed her every time she saw Selby, but she couldn’t. Each night she attended a different function and there he stood, against the wall, staring at her. Only with each passing night, the looks he gave her bordered increasingly on scandalous.

Tonight was no different.

Even from across the room she could feel the hot looks he sent her. Everyone else melted away until there was only the two of them, hungering for each other from across the room. She endeavored to look away but found it impossible not to stare at his handsome face. Her reprieve finally arrived when Mrs. Roebuck brought her daughter, Olivia, to Selby. Avis couldn’t help but smile as he took Olivia to the dance floor with a deep scowl on his face. He looked completely irritated with the interruption.

Lady Bolton’s ball was the culmination of the Season. The young women in their pale pastels searched desperately for a mate before they left for their summer estates, while the single men tried their best to avoid them. And then there were the married couples who, after one quick dance with their spouse, spent the rest of the night flirting with others. Was it any wonder she had no desire to marry?

“Oh dear, why is Olivia Roebuck dancing with my brother again?” Jennette asked then sipped her lemonade. “The poor girl is quite pretty, but have you ever tried to talk to her?”

“Unfortunately, I did. She proceeded to tell me all she knew about the greatest authors from history.” Avis looked up at Jennette and shook her head. “She could only come up with Shakespeare and she called him Hamlet.”

Jennette stifled a grin then frowned. “What if she ends up as my sister-in-law?”

“If your brother falls for her trap then he deserves what he gets.”

“True. She would bore him to tears.” Jennette sipped her lemonade again. “But I know he is serious about getting married.”

Avis choked on her drink. “He is?”

“He’s spent most of the Season searching for a wife.”

“Well, there certainly are enough eligible ladies. Why hasn’t he chosen one?”

Jennette shrugged. “I believe he finds them all as dull as Miss Roebuck. He needs a strong woman. One who will stand up to him, a woman with some brains in her head. You have to admit there are not very many of those here tonight.”

“I take exception to that,” Avis said with a grin.

“Indeed you should. I meant, there are not many intelligent women who wish to marry here tonight,” Jennette said with a laugh.

Elizabeth came up to them. “What are you two giggling about?”

“Giggling?” they asked together.

“Well, perhaps cackling is the better word,” Elizabeth said with a smile.

“We were discussing the lack of intelligent women my brother has to choose from,” Jennette replied.

All three women shook their heads. Avis went still as she realized Selby was walking right toward them and staring directly at her.

“Ban, please tell me you shan’t marry that girl,” Jennette pleaded when he finally reached them.

He smiled, causing his dimples to deepen. “You have nothing to worry about there.” His gaze slid to Avis. “What are you all discussing tonight?”

“Watching the young women panic as they realize the Season is complete and they haven’t won their husbands,” Elizabeth replied.

“Must be dreadful,” Selby said, rolling his eyes. “I came over because there is one dance left, and I have no partner.” He held out his arm. “Anyone care to save me from another dance with a woman like Miss Roebuck?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “I have danced enough for one night.”

Avis looked away as Selby tried to coax her with a smile.

Jennette spoke up, “I shall save you from all the vapid young women hoping for a final dance with you.” She linked arms with her brother and they headed for the dance floor.

A stab of envy struck Avis’s heart as she watched Jennette go off with Selby. She should have taken his offer but could not. It would appear far too odd if she suddenly decided to dance with him after all these years.

“Now there is a good man,” Elizabeth mused, watching them dance.

“Selby?”

Eizabeth nodded. “Yes.”

“Then why don’t you marry him?” Immediately she wished she hadn’t said that in such a spiteful tone.

“Oh come now, Avis. Even you would have to admit he is a Corinthian, even if he isn’t into the sporting life.”

“Not into the sporting life? Selby has always been an avid hunter.”

Elizabeth blinked as if in surprise. “Really? Last year he refused my father’s invitation to join him at the hunting lodge. He said he had too many other invitations. Then I found out from Jennette that he’d been at the Abbey the entire time.”

“Oh,” Avis replied. While she didn’t mention any more about situation, she did find it odd because she knew Selby loved the hunt. At least he had years ago.

Elizabeth stared at the dance floor and sighed. “Still, with those dark looks and bright blue eyes, it’s a wonder no woman has caught him yet. A man such as Selby might even make me think twice about marriage.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say that,” Avis replied. Not even his potent kisses would change her mind on marriage.