Near him, a woman purred.“Sir Wilde, is that you?” Perfect timing. He steeled his face against the grin that was threatening to show itself and slowly turned.
“Ah, Lady Montgomery, how do you do this fine evening?” He purposefully lowered his gaze to her bosom, pausing for a brief second before meeting her eyes and winking. “Beautiful as always, I see.”
Lady Montgomery pulled out her fan and giggled. “We are familiar, are we not? Please, call me Alice.”
“Then allow me the same. I imagine Colin would sound lovely across those lush lips of yours.”
“Colin.” Her eyelashes fluttered, and for some reason Colin found himself slightly irritated. He shook his head to focus.
“I was just thinking what a lovely evening it would be for a walk.” He held out his arm. She looked at it then behind her.
“And what of the fireworks?”
“Ah yes, the fireworks at midnight.” Colin tilted her chin with his free hand and smirked. “Shall we make our own?”
With one last look behind her, Alice nodded and took his arm, following him deep into the dark garden trails.
“Oh dear, my fan!” Alice exclaimed the minute they were past the first few trees.
“Allow me.” Colin backtracked and located the fan immediately; she must have dropped it. He brushed it off with his gloved hands and stood, just in time for his head to hit the low-hanging branch. With a curse he fell to his knees.
Devil take it! His eye throbbed with pain as he continued cursing into the night air. Where was Alice? He tried to open his eye but failed. Stumbling to his feet, he walked in the direction she had gone, trying his best not to allow his one bad eye to stop him from this seduction. After all, true rakes could seduce a woman if they were blind. Surely he could do the same! Resigned to his mission, he marched down the path and noticed Alice sitting on a bench near the middle of the trail.
He covered his eye and sat down next to her. “My lady, your fan.”
“Thank you.” Her throaty reply somehow made the pain dissipate in his eye, but it was only a brief reprieve, for the next minute, as he leaned in to kiss her, the fireworks went off, causing Alice’s head to slam against his in surprise.
Make that two black eyes. Perhaps he could shoot for a third bruise? After all, the night was young!
“Oh! Oh dear! I’m so sorry, Colin. I—”
“—Lady Montgomery!” a voice shouted.
“Oh no,” Alice wailed. “You must hide me!”
“Hide you?” Colin sputtered. “Why the devil would I hide you? Need I remind you, you are an adult, a widow to be exact, and you are able to—”
“Oh, do shut up!” Alice smacked Colin on the shoulder. “I am newly engaged! If Hawke finds me, I will be ruined!”
“Hawke?” Colin repeated. “Do you mean the Marquess of—”
Alice put her hand over his mouth. “It was just arranged! It is a smart match. My money and his money will—”
But she did not finish speaking. Instead, she ran into the bushes headfirst and stayed there while Colin was left alone on the bench, nursing two black eyes and a headache at his temples.
“Oh, it is you,” Van Burge said once he came into view. “I thought I heard a woman’s voice.”
“Yes, sometimes I speak higher in order to amuse myself.” Colin rolled his eyes. “Good evening, Van Burge.”
“Say…” Van Burge stood in front of Colin, blocking his path of escape. Perhaps he would get lucky and find himself knocked out? “Have you seen Lady Montgomery?”
The bush next to Colin’s boots moved erratically.
He sighed heavily and cursed. “Can’t say that I have. Tell me of whom you are speaking again? I find the women I spend my time with begin to have the same needy face. It is often difficult to tell them apart.”
“If you touch—”
“I haven’t.” Colin glared. “Now, run along. It seems you are missing your fiancée.”
“Yes, well… good evening.”
Colin shook his head and made his way toward the main path. Of course he would try to seduce Gemma’s brother’s fiancée. It did nothing but affirm his original fears. He would be joining Anthony in the Lake of Fire.
The walk back was interrupted by yet another snag. Gemma’s voice. Without thinking, Colin hid. A man was speaking to her about the fireworks. She laughed her musical laugh that, unfortunately, did nothing for his headache or his heart. Deciding he’d had enough pain for the evening, Colin turned to go back a different way, when his head hit yet another branch.
He fell to the ground cursing. “Are all trees united against me now? Has nature taken a vote and decided I am no longer deserving of respect?” He threw his fist into the air and continued yelling at the offending tree, when all of a sudden his blurry eyes focused on Gemma and her escort, Mr. Everett, as well as Gemma’s maid.
“Are you unwell?” Mr. Everett asked.
“I am perfectly fine, just having a conversation…”
“With a tree?” Gemma asked, her eyes widened in either horror or amusement — he wasn’t quite certain which, considering he was seeing at least six sets of eyes at the moment.
“Has the tree… offended you, Sir Wilde?” This from Everett, who was now coughing with disapproval behind his hand.
“Yes.” Colin cursed again. “For it is erect, while I am on the ground suffering from a headache.”
“Well, we shall leave you to it, then.” Mr. Everett chuckled. “Come along, Lady Gemma.”
“But…” She looked down at Colin and frowned. “He might have a head injury.”
“Then perhaps he should stop living his current lifestyle of debauchery and try to keep himself from consuming his weight in whiskey. After all, his eyes are bloodshot, and he looks completely foxed! He’s speaking to trees, for heaven’s sake! Come along, my lady, you are in my care, and I will not have you ruined.” Everett wrapped his fingers around Gemma’s arm and gestured toward the path.
Gemma pulled her arm from his grasp and took a step toward Colin. Was she going to stay? Nurse him back to health? Kiss his wounds and… Colin had to stop daydreaming, lest he become aroused. That was the last thing he needed, for rumors to spread that not only did Colin talk to trees, but they affected him in ways… he could not even complete the thought. It was too horrid to dwell on. He closed his eyes.