The Reluctant Suitor

  Her hesitant smile was brief enough to seem terse. “If I appear rude, my lord, I suppose one could say I’ve learned from my betters.”

  Colton winced again, feeling as if she had just sunk her fangs into him. “Aye, I was rather rude to you back then,” he admitted in a hushed tone, “and for that, I must make amends. I never intended to hurt you, Adriana. You were an innocent, and I brought shame upon myself by wounding you as I did.” He studied her at length, saying nothing more until he became aware of a blush invading her cheeks. With a charmingly wayward grin, he stepped forward, once again invading the forbidden boundaries she had mentally erected around herself. Leaning his head near until his cheek almost brushed the brim of her top hat, he murmured above her ear, “But let me assure you, my dear, you have no betters. You have become a rare jewel, the very finest I’ve ever seen. The sight of you definitely makes me wish I hadn’t acted so foolishly and left home in such a fretful temper.”

  Adriana’s head snapped up, and for a moment she searched those dancing gray eyes for what they would reveal. Thoroughly confused, she accused breathlessly, “You jest with me, my lord.”

  Colton laughed softly, pleased that he had put to flight her aloofness. “Perchance I do, Adriana.” A long interval passed before he leaned forward again, barely breathing above her ear, “Then again, perchance not.”

  Though Adriana stumbled back a step in sudden confusion and made a desperate attempt to respond in an intelligent vein as she opened and closed her mouth several times, she realized the futility of her effort, for he had disconcerted her to the point that she could manage no adequate rejoinder.

  Colton reached out and, gently laying a hand alongside her cheek, placed a lean thumb across her softly enticing lips, stilling her attempts. “Have pity upon me, Adriana, I can bear no more holes in my hide right now. My wound has yet to heal.”

  Turning from her without further adieu, he moved away, leaving the lady clasping a trembling hand to her burning cheek, that same cheek that his palm had caressed in a strangely provocative way before he had drawn back. In spite of the wayward racing of her blood, Adriana became certain of one thing. Colton Wyndham had not changed one whit since his departure, for even now, with nothing more than a word or a warm touch of his hand, he seemed able to scatter her wits in a thousand different directions. He had done it countless times by teasing her when she was a child, and then, more devastatingly before his departure, by his angry refusal to entertain their future marriage. As much as Adriana would have denied her susceptibility moments earlier, she realized that he had disconcerted her once again, only this time by creating peculiar little bubbles of delight she couldn’t seem to hold in check.

  Two

  * * *

  Samantha, my dear sister, do you intend to do the honors, or must I introduce myself to your husband?” Colton demanded with a chuckle. “Delay no longer. Acquaint me with this new member of the family.”

  “Gladly!” Samantha replied with buoyant eagerness. Accepting her commission, she fell in beside her brother and considered his proficiency with the cane as they progressed across the great hall. “ ‘Twould seem you’ve become quite handy with that stick.”

  Colton lifted his wide shoulders, casually dismissing his skill as anything worthy of praise. “ ‘Twas either that or trip over the blasted thing, and I wasn’t willing to endure that disgrace again . . . or the pain associated with a fall. I was enormously put out by the experience the first time it happened and became firmly dedicated to the idea that it shouldn’t happen again. So far, it hasn’t.”

  Tucking her arm within the crook of his, Samantha stroked a hand over the scarlet fabric of his sleeve and was wont to admire the muscular firmness she felt beneath it. Heretofore she had thought her predilection in the area of men’s physiques slanted only one way, unequivocally toward the tall leanness of her own husband, which in truth bordered on thinness. But her brother’s physique definitely caused her to rethink her stance on the matter, for her former preference now seemed unfairly biased. Although Colton’s tall, broad-shouldered form was sleek enough to complement any garment, it was also hard and muscular, attesting to his immense physical prowess.

  “Was this the first injury you ever suffered?”

  A soft chortle wafted from Colton’s lips and seemed as pleasing to Samantha’s ears as a burbling brook. The childhood memories of her brother, which she had stored in her heart as something immensely precious, had abounded with recollections of his warm, melodious laughter. Until this very moment, she hadn’t realized just how great a void that its absence had actually left in her everyday existence.

  “Indeed, no, my dear, but it was the only one that ever became tainted. ‘Twas a very chilling experience indeed to come to the realization that I’d either lose my leg or die from gangrene poisoning, the initial evidence of which set me back upon my heels. It was my first real experience with fear. On the battlefields where I fought, there was always the chance I’d never leave them alive. The square formation, which Wellington often used, held solid in most cases, even against cavalry, but the outcome could never be predicted. Thus, I fought with every measure of skill and wit at my command to preserve my life as well as my company of men. I was too busy to think much about that cold, menacing dread called death, but it came upon me with devastating precision when I realized there was very little that could be done to stop the spread of tainted flesh other than chopping off a limb. In many cases, the amputation of a limb often speeded that event. My goading fear spurred me to try the good sergeant’s remedy in spite of how loathsome and foul it seemed. You see, maggots eat only putrid, not healthy flesh—”

  “Oh, please! I’m feeling sick! Say no more!” Samantha pleaded tremblingly as she clasped a handkerchief over her mouth. A distressing coldness swept through her as she was brought once again to the realization of her brother’s narrow escape. “However the cure came about, I’m immensely relieved it was effectual.”

  The dark, manly brows flicked upward in agreement. “So am I, of that I can heartily attest.”

  Samantha preferred not to dwell on what might’ve been had he not found the means to control the spread of the infection. Purposefully she changed the subject, for her own sake, as well as his. “Tell me, Colton, do you recall the Earl of Raeford?”

  “Of course. Father and he were good friends, were they not?” At her nod, he continued, “Mother sent a letter describing your wedding soon after it took place. I assumed at the time that your groom was the younger of Lord Raeford’s two sons. As I recall, I was several years older than the elder brother, but I’m afraid I missed the opportunity to become better acquainted with either of them while I was still at home since my own friends were usually here, demanding my attention when I wasn’t at my studies.”

  Sweeping a hand toward the far end of the hall, his sister indicated the tall, sandy-haired man who, with the young woman upon his arm, had been the last to enter the manor. Presently, the couple were engaged in a muted exchange liberally punctuated with confident grins and coy, flirtatious smiles. “Stuart . . . or Major Lord Stuart Burke, as he is known in more formal circles, or even Viscount, if you prefer, is an honored guest of our riding party today. For that distinction, Stuart was given a choice of the area in which we rode. ‘Twould seem the rolling countryside is his preference. Adriana knows it as well as her own reflection, but I fear I’ve never been as adventuresome on a horse as she . . . or you, for that matter. Going up a hill while sitting in a sidesaddle is bad enough, but coming down leaves me wondering if I’ll arrive at the bottom with or without the horse.” She smiled as her brother responded to her wit with amused chuckles, and then veered astray of the main topic long enough to interject, “It always puzzled me why, with your vast equestrian skill, you refrained from joining the cavalry, Colton, but, of course, that is now neither here nor there. You certainly proved your worth many times over in the infantry.” She patted his arm affectionately before returning to the original subj
ect. “Actually, today’s ride was Stuart’s first since surgeons pronounced him fit to carry on with normal activities. It also happens to be his birthday, which we’ll be observing here at dinner this evening. Now that you’re home, ‘twill surely be a threefold celebration.”

  “ ‘Twould seem I couldn’t have chosen a better time to return. Your planned events will allow me to get reacquainted with everyone, but, as yet, the only person I’ve been able to recognize since my arrival is Mother. She’s still as elegant as she once was. On the converse side of that, Adriana was definitely the most befuddling. Even after she told me who she was, I had difficulty believing it was true.”

  Samantha giggled. “ ‘Tis a wonder she didn’t send you reeling for daring to take hold of her. Adriana can be quite standoffish when it comes to men trying to handle her. In the past she has come close to blackening the eye of many an overeager swain before Father banished them from her sight. I’ve seen them leaving here with their tails tucked between their legs. Once they regained their footing, however, their hackles rose, and they ceased to be gentlemen, blaming her when it was really their fault for being so free with their hands.”

  Colton rubbed the back of his forefinger across his mouth as he sought to subdue the grin that seemed wont to manifest itself. Had he known the identity of the beauty to begin with, he’d have likely been more cautious. Considering what she had managed to do to him, he’d have definitely had cause to reflect upon the possibility that she had been trying to exact revenge for past offenses. “Well, if you’re at all curious, she left me wondering if I’d ever be the same man again.”

  Samantha peered up at him in growing bemusement, but Colton didn’t care to explain his witticism. The fact that his privates still felt as if they had been caught in a clothes-press right along with his trousers made him wonder if it would be safe to approach the lady again without donning a full suit of armor.

  Leaving his sibling still puzzling over his statement, he approached the sandy-haired man who had entered hard on his sister’s heels and whose presence had recently been discovered by the wolfhounds. It was evident that this was one young man the animals enjoyed having around, for he was now squatting on his heels beside them, stroking their long coats.

  Colton grinned and stretched forth his hand as he neared. “I think after two years it’s about time I welcome my only brother-in-law into the family. What say you, Perceval?”

  The low, throaty, canine moans of appreciation ceased abruptly when the younger man jumped energetically to his feet. Readily accepting the proffered hand, Perceval chortled at the unexpected exuberance exhibited by the other and responded with equal fervor as he pumped his brother-in-law’s hand. “Thank you, my lord. It’s good to have you home.”

  “None of that my lord stuff, do you hear?” Colton protested, his chuckles doing much to soften his gruff reprimand. “We’re brothers now. Call me Colton.”

  “An honor I gladly accept,” Perceval replied jovially. “And if you’d reciprocate in kind, I’d be especially pleased if you’d called me Percy. All my friends do.”

  “Henceforth I shall consider myself among them,” the new marquess avowed with a slanted grin. “Percy it is then.”

  Joining them, Samantha settled her hands on her narrow waist, as if sorely put out with both men. “Well, it’s obvious you two don’t need me to make the introductions.”

  Colton grinned at her girlish antics. “Mother filled me in on the details of your nuptials in her letters and did much to refresh my memory during our visit this afternoon.” Arching a brow, he looked down his handsome nose at his younger sibling, simulating a lofty manner. “ ‘Twould seem, m’dear, that our mother is thoroughly delighted with your marriage, but she’s beginning to wonder if she’ll ever have a grandchild.”

  Witnessing the swift descent of his wife’s jaw, Percy threw back his head and roared in hearty amusement. “ ‘Twould seem, m’dear, your brother comes right to the point.”

  Samantha tossed her head saucily in the air. “M’dear, m’dear, m’dear. If I were at all a suspicious sort, I’d say the two of you have already been tippling Papa’s port or else his favorite brandy in the drawing room.”

  “We’ll get to that after dinner, m’dear. I’ve come to enjoy a glass of the latter myself before retiring in the evening,” Colton assured her with a brotherly pat upon her shoulder.

  Percy turned to him in a more serious vein. “You can’t imagine how relieved we all are to have you finally back, Colton. Samantha insisted I keep her abreast of the battles in which you were engaged almost as soon as the couriers arrived at the palace with the outcome. It certainly helped that we had a town house nearby, so I could get a message to her posthaste and she could then expedite the news to your mother. The awareness that you were constantly in the midst of conflicts wherein so many lives were being lost on both sides filled us all with enormous dread. Your name was on everyone’s lips, especially your father’s while he was yet alive. Although you may not be entirely aware of it, your parents were very proud of you and your accomplishments.”

  Percy tossed a grin toward his older brother, causing that one to arch a brow warily. “I’m afraid you put poor Stuart to shame with your many exploits and daring-dos.”

  Evidencing nothing more than a minor hitch in his gait, the elder brother approached as a lopsided grin slowly made its way across his lips. “One day, Percy, you may experience for yourself the hazards of being on a battlefield while cannonballs are being lobbed all around you,” he warned, doing his best to present a sober demeanor as he made much of chiding his younger brother. “For too long now you’ve been allowed to serve as a wet-nosed whelp of an emissary to the Prince Regent, but let me assure you, much more will be required of you should Napoleon return yet again.”

  “God forbid,” Colton muttered, as if in a muted prayer.

  Percy exaggerated shock at his sibling’s repartee. “What’s this? My own brother belittling my valiant attempts to keep his majesty apprised of our troops’ activities? Wet-nosed whelp, bah!” Rising to every degree of his slender, lofty height, he looked the elder Burke up and down as if highly offended. “You have no idea how difficult the riggers of diplomacy can be, else you’d refrain from such malicious slander.”

  Samantha patted her husband’s arm cajolingly. “Don’t vex your poor brother, dear. He has suffered considerably after that leaden ball shredded a tree and sent huge splinters flying into his flesh. I wouldn’t doubt the roar of cannons makes him quake in terror after the endless torment he suffered at the hands of surgeons who took their time prying all those pieces out. ‘Twill be a miracle if Stuart doesn’t box your ears for claiming anyone can put him to shame.”

  Her brother-in-law gave her a bow, abbreviated rather harshly by a sharp reminder of his past wound, which at unpredictable times caused painful twitches. “Thank you, dear Samantha. ‘Tis immensely gratifying to realize my brother married above himself when he took you to wife. Obviously you have the intelligence he has been lacking all these many years.” He ignored Percy’s spluttering protests and dryly digressed into difficulties associated with his injury. “Though the wound has mended to a goodly degree, I doubt my pride ever will. Blasted luck, what with so many thinking the worst, and my own brother chortling like a village idiot over the precise location of my injury. Though I’ve tried time and again to explain how I came to be wounded from the rear and have repeatedly given my pledge that I was charging to the fore rather than retreating, my companions . . . and brother . . . still hoot in disbelief. Callous oafs, that’s what they are. ‘Tis sure they’re no friends of mine.”

  When the mirth finally subsided, Stuart faced his host in all sincerity. “I’m especially honored by this opportunity to renew our acquaintance, my lord. Wellington sang your praises so often during our latest campaign, we entertained no doubt that you did a great service for our country, not only at Waterloo, but on other battlefields you’ve traversed throughout your illustrious career. F
rom all reports, your regiment proved itself as valiant in battle as any in the British army.”

  “I was fortunate to command men of exemplary courage,” Colton assured the major. “Whatever tribute has been bestowed on me, I owe the greater part of it to them, for ‘twas their valor that helped us win the day over the enemy.”

  “They did indeed prove a shining example of a well-disciplined force,” Stuart agreed, “but I also heard in the ceremony wherein your men were being honored that they vowed to the very last man that whenever there was ground to be gained and they had to charge into the ranks of the enemy, you led the way into the thickest of frays and inspired them to accomplish daring feats of their own. They were dreadfully disappointed that you were not there to receive your medals, but I can understand how your injuries might’ve prevented your appearance. May I say, my lord, that few officers have received such glowing accolades from their men as yours bestowed on you that day.”

  Uncomfortable with such praise, Colton murmured his appreciation but otherwise remained mute until the lengthy silence made him glance about for some other avenue upon which to turn the subject. He noticed that the young man who had voiced some outrage at his familiarity with Adriana had taken himself to the far end of the hall. It was just as well, for the hothead seemed well out of harm’s way there, at least from the wolfhounds. His host would be another matter entirely if the lad didn’t mind his manners, which he seemed incapable of doing. In spite of the distance between them, Colton could feel the heat of the glare that smoldered in those pale green eyes. It hinted strongly of an unreasonable jealousy that revolved around Adriana, but then again, Colton mentally smiled as he mused, not so unreasonable when a lady was as exceptional as she obviously was.