Wicked in Your Arms

Page 24

She read the hunger in his gaze, felt its echo inside her, and wondered how on earth she was going to tell him they needed to end this thing between them.
“Grier!”
At the sudden sound of her name, she jerked as if caught committing an offense. She snapped her gaze around the room, searching for the source.
And that was when she saw him.
Her mug slipped from her fingers, cracking into jagged pieces on the stone floor. Others exclaimed around her, but she could say nothing, could offer no explanation. She could only stare at the man bearing down on her with long strides. Her heart hammered, her mind reeling with a single question.
What was Trevis doing here?
Chapter Nineteen
“Grier, my dear girl! I can’t properly express my relief to find you at last!”
She stared up at the boy she’d known all her life. He was a man now—the very one she had thought she would wake up with in her twilight years. It was with some bemusement that she studied him with fresh eyes and felt . . . nothing.
He seemed smaller than she remembered. His eyes were rather beady, his gaze slitted with a cagey look to them. The color? A bland shade of blue. His hair? An equally bland brown. Strange how none of it made an impression on her now.
He seized her hand with no care for their audience. “I’ve been looking for you.”
Horrified, she shook her head and attempted to tug her hand free. She had to look. Her gaze slid to Sev. He no longer watched her. His stare fixed with deadly intent on Trevis. She shivered at the ruthless glitter in his gold eyes. She’d never seen him look such a way, and she felt convinced she had an image of him in war, the battle lust bright in his gaze.
Trevis’s voice intruded, pulling her attention. “I’ve searched everywhere for you.”
She shook her head. “Why?”
At this question, he glanced around them. Grier managed to free her hand and bury it in her skirts.
“Miss Hadley?” the dowager demanded from where she sat, perking to life at the sudden drama unfolding. “Who is this—this person?”
“Your Grace.” Grier waved a hand toward Trevis, seeing no way around the introduction. “This is Mr. Powell. We were . . . neighbors in Wales.” She sent Trevis a warning glance that urged him not to announce himself as her former employer.
At that moment Jack arrived, his gaze immediately landing on Trevis hovering near her. Sharp suspicion flared in her father’s eyes. “Grier, what is the meaning of this?”
Jack swept a measuring gaze over Trevis, doubtlessly noting his fine cloak and Hessians. Grier sensed his barely checked aggression. The fact that Trevis was a gentleman was likely the only thing stilling Jack from leaping upon him.
“Mr. Hadley.” Trevis dipped his head, greeting her father with the confidence of a man accustomed to getting his way. Not always. He couldn’t get me. “A pleasure, sir. I’ve heard a great deal about you.” He had? Liar. “So glad to finally make your acquaintance. I hope you do not mind me tracking you down like this. I called upon you in Town and they told me how I might find you.”
“My staff told you where I went?” He frowned slightly. “Seems my people aren’t as loyal as I thought.”
Trevis cleared his throat awkwardly. For the first time, unease flickered over his face. His hand slipped back on her arm as if seeking to reclaim his confidence.
Grier shook her arm free from his grip, beyond irritated. “What are you doing here?” She did not bother to hide her annoyance. Or bewilderment.
He turned his attention back to her and gave her a slow, deep smile, followed with a quick, smug wink.
Grier blinked, her nerves bristling with agitation. She remembered that smile and that wink, remembered how they had affected her before. And how they failed to affect her now.
She shook her head once, wondering what had ever possessed her to think so highly of Trevis.
Instead of answering her question, he turned back to her father, “Mr. Hadley, might we have a word in private?” He slid Grier a knowing look as he said this—and again that infernal wink. She frowned, utterly baffled. Why was he here? Why would he want to speak with Jack?
For a moment Jack looked as though he might demand an explanation right there and then, but then he glanced around at their captivated audience. “I suppose so,” he said gruffly. “I’m sure we can find someplace private to talk.”
Jack motioned a servant forward and spoke to her in low tones. Grier could only stare at Trevis, grappling with the collision of past and present before her very eyes.
Suddenly Jack and Trevis were moving. Not about to let them depart the room without her, she lifted her skirts to follow.
Jack hesitated, gauging her with a look. She lifted her chin and gave him a very determined stare, conveying that he would not be conversing about her with Trevis while she was not present. She would know what was afoot.
Jack motioned for her to precede him and she fell in line behind the maid leading them to the small back parlor. It took every ounce of will not to look behind her for a glimpse of Sev.
Was he still watching her? Watching Trevis with that killing gaze? She imagined he was. Thanks to Trevis’s mysterious arrival, every member of their party watched her. She shivered. Attention she did not want or need.
Arriving in the cozy parlor, the maid left them alone, closing the door and closeting the three of them in.
Crossing her arms, Grier faced Trevis. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here for you, of course.”
She dropped her arms and looked at him in utter incredulity. “What for?”
Trevis looked uncertain. “Grier,” he said softly, sounding pathetically hurt. “I thought you would be glad to see me, my love.”
She cringed. “Don’t call me that.”
He pouted as though her words wounded him.
“What makes you think I would want to see you? I left home. Did my resignation not convey that I wanted nothing more to do with you?”
“Will someone tell me what this is all about?” Jack blustered. “I’ve a fine bowl of venison stew growing cold as we stand here.”
“Jack, this is Trevis Powell. You may recall that when your man located me, I was working on his estate as his game master.”
“Oh. Powell. That’s right.” Jack grunted, thoroughly unimpressed as he looked Trevis over. “Thought the name was familiar.”
Trevis snapped his heels together, standing tall and erect as though he faced a firing squad. “Yes, Mr. Hadley. I quickly realized my mistake in letting your daughter go. I should never have let her leave my life.”
“You didn’t let me do anything.” Her hands opened and shut into fists at her sides. “I chose to leave because I had no wish to remain on as your mistress. You do recall that, do you not, Trevis? You refused to marry me, but wished to take our relationship to a more intimate level.”
Faint color stained his swarthy cheeks. His eyes darted nervously at her father. “That was wretched of me, I confess. My apologies.”
Jack snorted. “You’ve gall calling upon me after you propositioned my daughter. I should put a bullet through you.”
Trevis visibly swallowed.
Grier rolled her eyes at what sounded like actual fatherly protectiveness . . . and for Trevis doing nothing more than what Jack did to her own mother. Still . . . the notion did curl warmly around her heart.
Trevis held out his hands in supplication. “I’ve come to make amends.”
Grier crossed arms once again. “Is that so? And how do you intend to do that?”
“By marrying you, of course.”
Grier dropped her arms. “Marry me?”
Jack laughed roughly, shaking his head side-to-side. “Too late on that score, lad. Grier’s destined for bigger fish than you.”
Trevis’s features reddened. “I’m considered quite the catch back home.”
“Aye, back home . You’re in a different pond now.”
Trevis slid angry eyes from her father to Grier. “This is up to you, Grier. We don’t need his approval.”
Jack sobered instantly, all laughter fleeing his voice as he said, “Actually you do, you little bastard. If you think you’ll get one coin of mine, you’re mistaken.”
Trevis blinked in such an astonished way that Grier instantly understood. It all made perfect sense. Somehow, someway, he’d learned of her sudden turn of fortune. He was here for one reason and one reason only.
Grier was an heiress now and worth his time. That’s what brought him sniffing about now.
“So. How’d you find out?”
Trevis stared at her for a long moment, not understanding. Or feigning to not understand.
She asked again, her voice a snapping bite on the air. “Come now, the truth. How’d you find out?”
He pulled back his shoulder and stared at her coolly, the lovesick swain gone. “The Reverend and Mrs. Hollings returned from their trip to Town. It seems they saw you at the opera.”
Grier smiled mirthlessly, nodding as she recalled bumping into the couple. Especially memorable had been their sagging mouths when they’d seen her in her fine silks. “Ah, the lovely Hollingses. Carried tales of me, did they? Let everyone know the bastard of Carynwedd found herself a fortune. I should have guessed.” It was actually difficult to say who gossiped more—the reverend or his wife.
“She’s too smart for the likes of you, lad. Best return home,” Jack advised. “You’ll not snare yourself an heiress here.”
Trevis flushed. “Grier,” he began. “What about everything we’ve shared?”
“You know . . . it’s all a bit foggy.”
“That’s not true,” he denied, his chest swelling. Clearly he did not believe any woman could forget him.
Grier glared at Trevis. “You’re unbelievable. Did you truly think I would toss my arms around you with gratitude?”
He shrugged. “You wanted me then—”
“That was then, Trevis. This is now.” Grier moved toward the parlor door. Pulling it open, she turned to face the boy she’d spent the better part of her life pining after—and felt nothing. “Good-bye, Trevis. Sorry you made the journey for nothing.”
Trevis’s face grew splotchy. “This is your last chance. I shan’t ask again, Grier.”
She cocked her head and smiled sweetly at him. “I truly hope not.”
With his face burning brighter, he stormed past her and out the small parlor.
Once he was gone, her shoulders slumped and the smile slipped from her face. Suddenly she felt very wearied.
“You all right?” Jack asked gruffly.
She stared at him, surprised that he should even care to ask, that he still stood here and had not rushed back to finish his stew.
Grier nodded. “I’ll be fine. Just need a few moments.”
Jack tugged on his cuffs as if suddenly uncomfortable. “I expect you can do a lot better than him, Grier. Fortune or no fortune.”
Grier looked at him sharply, quite certain he had not meant to compliment her. “Thank you.”
“Forget about him. You’ll find yourself a better man.”
“I know, I know.” She sighed, the weariness back. “Someone titled.”
“Well, yes. But perhaps someone who can appreciate you, too . . . and not be so bloody obvious about the fact that he’s after your dowry. You’ve a lot to recommend you besides my fortune.”
Grier blinked, unsure what to make of the fact that Jack Hadley was actually being kind to her . . . as a true father would be.
“Yes,” she agreed, a smile twitching her lips. “He could at least possess intelligence enough to disguise the fact that he only wants your money.”
With another nod and tug on his waistcoat, Jack cleared his throat. “I’m going to return to my dinner.”