The Unlikely Suitor
An
Unlikely Suitor
is
the second of my books in the Steepwood Scandal Regency
Series. It tells the story of Lavender Brabant and
Barnabas Hammond. It is available from Harlequin Direct
in July 2003.
Lavender found herself in the
rough embrace of someone who clearly wished to prevent
her from screaming again. One of his arms was tight
about her waist and the coarse material of his coat
scored her cheek. He was very tall. And broad.
Her hands were pressed against his chest and she was
conscious of the hard muscle beneath her fingers and the
steady beat of his heart.
Curiously
this discovery led Lavender to become acutely aware of
the information her senses were providing. She
could hear the rustle of the trees mingled with her
assailant’s breathing, feel the cold touch of the
breeze and the warmth of his skin as he bent his head and
his cheek brushed her hair. And he smelled
wonderful, a mixture of cold air and the faint tang of
citrus. It was this last impression that somehow weakened
her and she felt her legs tremble and his arm tighten
about her in response.
“Mr
Hammond!”
Lavender
could not have said how she knew his identity but she had
no doubts at all, and the words were out before she even
had time to think. She pushed a little shakily
against the man’s chest and he let go of her at
once, stepping back so that he was facing her, a few
steps away.
“Miss
Brabant!” Barnabas Hammond’s voice was as
slow and thoughtful as she remembered, but warmed now by
an amusement that Lavender felt was surely out of place.
She had always liked the way that Barney spoke, with
perfect courtesy but no hint of deference. His
father was always obsequious towards his upper class
clients in the draper’s shop, and Lavender found
this grated on her, particularly when she had seen his
dismissive scorn towards the poorer customers. She
had observed that Barney always treated everybody in
exactly the same way and had liked him for it.
Now,
however, she felt oddly at a loss, as though the clear
definition of their relationship had somehow been blurred.
He was a shopkeeper’s son and she was an admiral’s
daughter, and with the shop counter between them she had
allowed herself to dream a little. He might always
speak to everyone in the same manner, but there was a
decided hint of warmth when he addressed her, an
admiration in his eyes that had made her heart beat a
little faster. Then he had been so kind to her when
her father had died. He scarcely knew her and yet
his words of comfort had been so perceptive.
Caroline
was right - she had been calling in at the draper's shop
more often of late, contriving an order of ribbons here,
a pair of gloves there. She blushed to think of it
now. She had thought… But here her thoughts
became at the best confused. Was she a snob, aware
of her status and the relative inferiority of his, or was
she above such things, scornful of those whose lives were
ruled by rank and privilege? Whatever the case, she
had never met Barnabas Hammond in a situation such as
this and it made her feel strangely vulnerable.
The odd
effect he had on her caused her voice to come out with
decidedly squeaky overtones when she would have preferred
to sound authoritative.
“Mr
Hammond, what do you mean by creeping around in the dark
– and with this-” She gestured with her
foot towards the offending sack. It seemed obvious
that he had been poaching and worse, that his quarry was
still alive.
“I
would have thought better of you!” She
finished with self-righteous indignation.
“Would you?” Barney Hammond sounded
surprised and amused. “Naturally, I am
flattered, Miss Brabant, but why should you?”
