Devon strolled into the parlor as nonchalantly as possible. No man alive could possibly claim to be the greatest brother after kissing his little sister’s dearest friend. Especially if said brother liked it.
Like was an understatement.
Devon planned to relive that kiss morning, noon, and night until the burn of it wore off. Guilt would put a damper on that, but only if Olivia knew he had kissed Lydia. Otherwise, the forbidden fruit aspect of it only added fuel to the fire.
Olivia turned to look at him, one eyebrow raised. “I trust you apologized in a satisfactory manner?”
Bloody hell, she knew.
“I can explain.”
“I don’t need you to explain, Devon. The entire world knows you are a rake, and such behavior is to be expected, but to a friend Devon? Our friend?” she scowled at him.
“Lydia is not my friend,” Devon responded. “She can hardly tolerate my presence.”
“You thought forcing yourself on her would change that? Dear God in heaven, is that how all men think?” Olivia stood before him and shoved his chest.
“I did not force myself upon her, Livie. Did you even see us kiss? Both of us participated to equal satisfaction.”
“Ugh.” Olivia made a disgusted face at her brother. “I wanted you to apologize, Devon, not anger her more. You should have seen her run through here. It was as if she were escaping bedlam. How could you do that?”
“You wouldn’t understand, Olivia, it just…happened.” He turned away from her and stared out through the French doors.
Olivia came to stand before him. “Do you love her?”
“Heaven above, Livie, you don’t fall in love with one kiss.” Devon rolled his eyes.
“I know that, you weasel. You can fall in love with someone over many things—their laughter, smile, charm, intelligence, kindness. I was just wondering if maybe you had feelings for her before this moment, or if you’re just a careless rogue.” The last was said with scorn.
“Paint me as a careless rogue,” he replied.
“Then shame on you, Devon Garrett Brentton. I will no longer defend your actions.” She turned to leave the room.
“Livie, I’m sorry,” he called after her.
“You certainly will be,” she called back.
The next evening, Lydia and Olivia stood watching a country dance in the overcrowded, overheated Dolltram ballroom. Lydia fanned herself while Olivia sipped watered lemonade in an attempt to prevent herself from fainting.
“We must go outside. I need air,” Olivia panted.
“It is just as crowded, and it will take us a full hour to get to the terrace doors.” Lydia watched as the dancers parted and came together in rhythm. The poor souls looked fit to expire, and while it was true that most of the guests were not dancing, an optimistic few graced the floor.
“Then I want to leave. Where is your mother?”
Lady Covington had agreed to chaperone Olivia tonight so her mother could tend to her father, who suffered a benign cold but acted as if he were dying of the plague.
“It would be very impolite to leave this early, Olivia.” Lydia stated
“I think it would be very impolite if I collapsed and died on Lady Dolltram’s floor. Which do you think she would prefer?”
“Don’t be so dramatic. It’s a trifle warm, at most.” Lydia sighed. Even she didn’t believe her own words.
“Said the ice queen.”
Olivia and Lydia turned in unison, finding Devon standing behind them.
“Devon!” Olivia gasped. “That is abominably rude.”
Lydia held silent. She was in total shock at facing him again. She had talked herself into complete denial over the enjoyment of that kiss just the night before, and now seeing him here tonight, she knew she was an utter fool. She could never look at Devon Brentton again without the memory of his lips on hers forever at the forefront of her mind. She needed to pull it together and be able to remain herself in front of others. No one could know she was affected by him. It would ruin her reputation forever.
“It’s all right, Olivia. I have grown accustomed to your brother's crass behavior, believe it or not.” Her tone was ice cold, even to her own ears. She mentally applauded herself.
“I couldn’t resist, given the conversation I overheard. I apologize, of course, it was only meant in jest.”
“Eavesdropping. Another one of your charms, I dare say,” Lydia continued.
Devon smiled. “As much as it pains me to do so, I come to be of service to you. There is a private terrace off the conservatory if you are in need of some cool air. I would gladly escort you there.”
“That sounds lovely!” Olivia cried in relief.
Lydia frowned. “I don’t think Lady Dolltram would approve of guests wandering about her house.”
“Normally, I would agree with you, dearest, but at this moment, I am sweating through my dress. Are you coming or not?”
“Not.” Lydia could feel her brow glistening, but surely, this putrid ballroom was better than going anywhere with that rogue Olivia called a brother.
“Please, Lydia, ’twill be no fun without you. I would never forgive myself if I returned to find nothing but a puddle on the floor,” Olivia begged.
Lydia looked from Devon to Olivia and then back to Devon. He smiled. At once, she felt feverish, and to her horror, she could feel a bead of perspiration form and roll from the hollow of her neck and disappear between the valley of her breasts. That blasted man watched the whole journey with avid attention, and when he looked up and met her eyes again, his had widened and darkened to a deep hunter green.
“Oh all right, lead the way.” Lydia desperately needed cool air now.
Devon led them to a side door a few feet away along the wall, as he held it open for them before following them through. It was dark, and blessedly cooler, on the other side of the door. Moonlight streamed in, illuminating exotic fruit trees, fragrant flowers, and thick fanning palms. The trickle of a fountain could be heard but not seen, and among the scent of tropical blooms was the musk of a cigar.
“This way, if you please.” Devon led them down a narrow path to a set of doors standing open to reveal the dark silhouette of a man smoking a cheroot.
Lydia halted as she pulled Olivia to a stop. “There is someone out there!” she whispered frantically. Olivia wriggled out of her grasp and raced past Devon.
“I know that smell anywhere!” Olivia shrieked and launched herself at the shadow man.
Said man turned and caught her with a playful twirl. Devon remained with Lydia in the shadows of the conservatory and chuckled.
“Who is that?” Lydia was puzzled.
“Surely, you have met Captain Colton? He is away much of the season but has attended many of my family’s informal gatherings, which you have also attended,” Devon replied.
“Oh yes, the name is familiar. She should not be so familiar with him. What if someone sees?” Lydia stepped forward as Olivia did a spin in front of Colton, and he remarked how much she had grown up.
“Oh Lydia, you remember Colton, don’t you?” Olivia was breathless with joy.
“How nice to see you again, Captain.” Lydia smiled politely.
Colton bowed and smiled broadly. “It is my pleasure, Lady Lydia. I get the feeling you did not know I would be out here.”
“It is a pleasant surprise, I assure you captain, but no, I was not aware.” Lydia pierced Devon with a glare.
“My apologies, once again. He asked for female companionship, and there you were. Two beautiful wilting flowers in need of rescuing and cool air,” Devon stated charmingly.
Captain Colton coughed and Lydia’s cheeks burned red. Olivia missed the exchange and drew Colton’s attention to the radiant moon.
Lydia stepped closer to Devon. “Somehow, I doubt that Olivia and I were the companionship the captain was seeking.”
“I could have left you disintegrating in the ballroom. Instead, I chose to rescue you. Colton can find distraction later. Olivia is like the kid sister he never had and is rarely in town to visit. He has known her longer than you have. If you wish to distract me, please do so.” He smiled that slow smile that addled wits.
Lydia stepped away from him for self-preservation. She was not ready to engage in that kind of banter with him, not yet. “Captain Colton, have you been anywhere exciting lately?” Needing to regain her composure, she decided to ignore Devon. Instead, she drew Captain Colton into banal conversation while Olivia listened intently, and Devon stood silently beside her. She tried to gauge his mood. She was puzzled when he folded his arms over his chest—but at his height, his face was out of view. He looked impossibly large when he folded his arms like that. Lydia was dying to see his expression. Was he annoyed? Did he care that she was giving her attention to Captain Colton and not to him?
Captain Colton’s gaze kept darting from her to Devon, and his expression grew puzzled. Lydia couldn’t take the anticipation any longer, so she glanced at Devon. He wore a completely relaxed expression with a carefree smile.
She was alone in her torture, apparently.
“Devon has stated you’ve known Olivia for quite some time, is that true?” Lydia changed the subject while moving closer to Captain Colton. Men loved to compete, and if Devon could flirt shamelessly with her for entertainment, she could do the same with another gentleman and watch Devon squirm.
“That is quite true,” Colton replied.
“I have known Colton for as long as I can remember. Colton’s family seat is not far from ours, and they just somehow found each other one day. Is that not right, Devon?” Olivia turned to her brother.
“When I was about the age of ten, I was riding my old horse, Bacas, and I came across a rider-less horse with a single boot dangling from one of the stirrups. Curious as boys are, I took his reins and backtracked from the direction he had come. Low and behold, I came across a scrawny looking lad limping across the heath missing a boot.”
“Scrawny, eh?” Colton quipped. “As I remember it, I was two stones heavier and a few inches taller.”
“If you were ten years of age, then Olivia was just a babe.” Lydia smiled. “How adorable you must have been.” Lydia tweaked one of Olivia’s curls.
“Not so. She tossed her accounts, quite a bit.”
“Devon!” Olivia glared daggers at him. All laughed good-naturedly except for Olivia, who swatted at her brother.
Lydia moved out of harm’s way next to Captain Colton. “Have they always been like this?”
“Always,” he replied, and watched them fondly as brother and sister quibbled lovingly.
Lydia watched him and noticed how his gaze subtly returned to Olivia. Knowing men as she did, she wouldn’t test Olivia’s virtue against Captain Colton’s brotherly affection. Devon was blind if he couldn’t see it.
The siblings stopped fighting, and once Devon’s attention returned to Lydia, she turned to Captain Colton and placed her hand on his arm. It was an utterly scandalous move in Lydia’s mind, but she would never best Devon in a fair fight. If he were armed with kisses, she would need to advance her weaponry as well.
“Captain Colton, would you kindly escort me back to my mother? There is a chill in the air, and we must be getting back to the ballroom.” Lydia looked to Olivia, and her gut clenched. Olivia was staring at her hand on the captain’s arm as if it were a venomous snake. Clearly, Olivia harbored feelings for Captain Colton. Lydia pulled her hand away.
“My, how the tides have turned. Never did I think I would live to see the day when I would correct the great Lydia Covington on proper etiquette. Colton, do the honors and escort Olivia, and I shall educate Lydia.”
Blessed be the darkness for it hides blushes. Lydia was certain she was as red as a ruby. Olivia exuberantly took Colton’s proffered arm as they went into the conservatory. Devon smirked as Lydia grudgingly accepted his arm and they followed, but Devon halted when they reached the dark shadows of the interior.
“Do not be offended if I gloat, but it is to be expected.” Devon turned to face her.
Lydia watched the retreating forms of the captain and Olivia fade into the darkness. “We should not leave them alone,” Lydia said.
“Don’t worry about them.” Devon touched her chin with his index finger.
“I don’t believe your captain friend is as immune to your sister’s charms as you think. In fact, I think they both—”
Devon’s lips fell upon hers, silencing her words. All at once, Lydia was enveloped in his arms and completely under his spell. Thoughts flew from her head like bats from a cave, and her body curled into the warmth of his body. He ran his hands along her shoulders, caressing where her silk ball gown gave way to skin and sliding his fingers underneath. Lydia instantly had visions of him undressing her and she shivered.
Devon pulled away and stared down into her eyes.
“I thought we had agreed not to do this,” Lydia whispered as her heart thudded painfully, and she fought against the urge to lean against him. What was happening to her?
“I don’t want you to forget me. I didn’t like seeing you touch another man, and I have the sneaking suspicion you should be mine.”
Lydia took a deep shaky breath. “How can you say that?”
“I don’t know. I don’t understand any of this yet, but I don’t want to fight it. I want to explore it.”
“I won’t be another one of your conquests, Devon.” Lydia stepped back. Her mind was reeling. This was Devon, the charming rogue of the ton, the rake who loved to irk her.
“That’s not what I want, Lydia. This is different... You’re different.”
Lydia was silent. She didn’t know what to say, and there wasn’t time to think here. “We should get back to the ballroom.” She turned away from him and was relieved when he said nothing more and followed her.
They reached the door where Olivia and Captain Colton waited. “Anything amiss?” Olivia asked.
“No.”
“Yes.”
They both answered in unison.
“I stubbed my toe on a pot. We need to leave, Olivia,” Lydia stated.
“Oh dear, that must hurt!” Olivia was instantly all concern.
“It’s not bad at all, but I certainly don’t want to stand around a crowded ballroom the rest of the evening with the ever present threat of it being stepped on.”
“Certainly, once inside I will find Lady Covington, and we will leave straight away.”
Devon was confused by Lydia’s sudden subterfuge and her wish to leave. When they re-entered the ballroom he was no longer puzzled. Lydia was clearly in no mood for a ball and looked upset. He felt like a wretch for being the cause of her state, but what could he do? The words had been as spontaneous as the kiss. They had just erupted from him as if his heart had something so urgent to say that it bypassed his brain.
With Lydia and Olivia gone, Devon and Colton quit the ball and headed for White’s, a gentleman’s club. He had never realized how much time he spent in their company until now. Without them, there were few people Devon called friends, and thus no reason to remain in that musky overcrowded ballroom. Colton hailed a hack, and as they rolled down the cobbled street, Colton raised a speculative eyebrow.
“Yes?” Devon asked.
“Have you decided to take on a wife, then?” Colton bubbled over with mirth at the mere idea.
“Have you gone mad, old chap?”
Colton wiped a tear from his eye. “I could not help but notice your attention to the lovely Lady Lydia, or the lull before you met us in the conservatory.”
Devon deflected, “Lydia thinks you have impure notions toward my sister.”
“What man wouldn’t?” Colton deadpanned.
“That is not the reassuring answer I was looking for.”
“There seems to be energy between the two of you. I can’t tell if she wants to hurt you or throw herself into your arms. Very peculiar…”
“I would say that is a very good description of my relationship with Lydia Covington.” Devon stared out the window at the passing buildings.
“You both address each other rather informally. Has it always been that way? I don’t remember it being this awkward last Christmas.”
Devon shrugged. “Olivia and Lydia took to each other at Olivia’s come-out ball. Lydia is an only child and spends much of her time with our family. We dispensed with formality some time ago, as it grew tedious. But something has definitely changed between us—this stays between you and I, right?” Devon met his friend’s gaze.
“Of course.” Colton nodded. “I just want to have time to order a new coat for your wedding.”
“You’re not as witty as you think you are.” Devon glared.
“Olivia laughs at all my jokes, and that is all I care about.”
Devon sighed in exasperation. “We’ve kissed twice now.”
Colton sobered. “That’s rather serious, Devon. You’ve had your pick of beautiful women. I can certainly see why she would tempt you, but what game are you trying to play with a lady of her ilk?”
“I’m not playing a game. ’Tis true, the first kiss was born of pure want, simply to irritate her, but something happened.” Devon shook his head in bafflement.
Colton laughed. “You kissed a woman to irritate her? Tell me, how did that work out?”
“Like a bloody blow to the head. Have you ever had your world turned upside down in a single moment? One moment, you are completely sure of who you are and what you want, and the next…”
Colton leaned back against the squabs and shook his head. “I do, unfortunately.”
“One moment she was just Olivia’s friend—a frigid, bristled woman I enjoyed pestering, hence the kiss to irritate her.”
Colton nodded sagely. “I would expect nothing less from you.”
Devon threw him a glare. “It was all innocent but then… I did kiss her and… It no longer felt innocent.”
“Kisses given to beautiful women rarely do, Devon. You’re in over your head,” Colton warned. “So you wish to court her now?”
“I haven’t gotten that far.”
“But you got far enough to kiss her again?”
“She baited me. If she hadn’t been flirting with you, I never would have had the compulsion to do it.” Devon ran his fingers through his hair in agitation.
“You sound smitten. I’d be careful, old man. As your friend, I should warn you to stay away from her. Find a woman who can ease your suffering, and forget about Lady Lydia. She is not a woman to be trifled with.”