“I do feel as though I have been a little compelled into this situation.” Lady Allanthorpe accepted the dance card back from Lord Anderton with a gracious smile. “It is not often that I dance at any ball, so you both must think yourselves to be very fortunate indeed.”
Phillip replied only with a bow, whilst Lord Anderton assured her that yes, they did feel very lucky to be able to stand up with her. As they both stepped away, Phillip could not help but cast a glance over his shoulder. Lady Allanthorpe was beautiful, yet respectable and a very pleasing lady. He had not anticipated that she would be so pleasant to speak with, and there were now the first strains of guilt in his heart that he would now be seeking to do something both improper and forward to such a pleasant woman. But yet the wager was made, and therefore there was nothing he could do now but act upon it.
“I shall lead her out to the gardens once our dance is at an end.” Lord Anderton nudged him again. “You must be ready.”
Nodding, Phillip turned his gaze away from Lady Allanthorpe.
“Be assured that I will be more than prepared. The wager will be won this evening inmyfavor, Lord Anderton. You can be sure of that.”
* * *
Phillip moved quickly,his eyes on Lord Anderton and Lady Allanthorpe. A small crowd pressed between himself and the gentleman, but he was still able to keep him in sight. His heartbeat sped up rather quickly, a surge of energy running through his frame. Something held him back, slowing his steps, telling him to forget the wager – and into his mind came the warnings of Lord Marchmont.
He knew that what he was about to do was not right. He knew that it was not wise, but pride would not allow him to pull back. He either did what he had wagered to do, certain that he would gain a great deal of coin from Lord Anderton - money which he did not necessarily need, but which he wished for nonetheless- or did not even attempt to tug Lady Allanthorpe into his arms.
The latter option would mean that he would lose the wager immediately, for Lord Anderton would win by default. He would be forced to hand over his coin to Lord Anderton, having never had the opportunity to prove himself. Should he do so then, no doubt, Lord Anderton would tell all of his acquaintances precisely what had happened. Phillip would be mocked, laughed at, and even scorned for, of a certainty, Lord Anderton would speak with glee over the fact that the scoundrel who was Lord Brookmire had stepped back from this challenge - and that was something which Phillip had no desire to be faced with. Straightening his shoulders, he followed Lord Anderton and Lady Allanthorpe out into the dark evening. The gardens were well lit, but there were plenty of shadowy places for him to linger should he desire it.
He saw Lord Anderton looking at him over his shoulder, and Phillip merely nodded, watching carefully as Lord Anderton let go of the arm of the lady. The gentleman wandered a little to the left and the lady followed him, stepping away from the path and under a few trees – and out of sight of the other guests. It was a little surprising to Phillip that Lady Allanthorpe would be so indiscreet, particularly after what Lord Anderton had told him about her… but then again, mayhap Lord Anderton had embellished that somewhat. Pushing aside his concerns, Phillip hurried forward until he came upon the lady. Lord Anderton laughed loudly, turned swiftly, and stepped away. A small exclamation of surprise at Lord Anderton’s behavior came from the lady, only for Phillip to step closer, sweeping his arms around Lady Allanthorpe’s waist and lowering his head.
This was the moment when he would either prove himself to be just as was believed – a scoundrel and one who could steal a kiss from any lady, should he wish it – or when he would fail. Would Lady Allanthorpe pull back from him, slap him hard across the face, and leave Lord Anderton to win the wager?
The shock of his actions had her first instinct held back for, initially, she remained frozen and fixed in his arms. Thereafter, however, she began to soften and much to Phillip’s surprise, leaned closer towards him. Her hands went to his chest, then pushed up to his shoulders whilst he wrapped his arms a little more around her so that she was pulled tight against him. When it wasshewho angled her head, Phillip jolted in astonishment at her boldness, before breaking the kiss. Something was warning him that all was not well. He had been told by Lord Marchmontandby Lord Anderton that Lady Allanthorpe was someone who would pull back from a gentleman, who would not want to be drawn into his embrace, and now here she was, behaving as though she had long desired such a kiss from him. How could such a thing be? He could not understand it.
“Excuse me.”
Phillip cleared his throat, feeling somewhat abashed and not at all certain of what he ought to do next. Peering at the lady in the flickering darkness, he caught his breath when she reached for him again, one hand out to catch the lapel of his jacket.
Phillip’s alarm grew like a whirlwind. Something was clearly wrong, yet he could not place what it was. This was not how he had anticipated Lady Allanthorpe would act, and Lord Anderton would surely not have placed such a wager if he had expected Lady Allanthorpe to be so willing to accept Phillip.
“Lady… Lady Allanthorpe?”
Someone chuckled near him, and Phillip rolled his eyes, just as Lord Anderton’s hand fell on his shoulder.
“Lady Allanthorpe?”
The lady he had been kissing only a moment ago repeated her name, sounding rather astonished as if she had not expected him to say her name with such clarity. Before Phillip could ask her anything more, Lord Anderton was slapping him on the back and laughing aloud.
“My hearty congratulations. It appears as though you have won our wager.”
Lord Anderton’s voice was loud and booming and, before Phillip could reply, the lady in question let out such a gasp of either horror or dismay, that Phillip was startled at her response. Surely a lady such as Lady Allanthorpe, who was widowed and knew all too well of his reputation, would not be surprised that he had done something as stupid as to accept a wager from Lord Anderton over kissing a lady. There was no time to speak of it, for the lady let out what sounded like a sob before hurrying away, leaving guilt to wind its way slowly through Phillip’s veins.
His head dropped, his eyes squeezing closed as his stomach began to swirl this way and that. He felt no pleasure in winning the wager, and immediately made to go after her, only to be held back by Lord Anderton’s surprisingly strong grasp. Frustrated, he looked sharply at the man.
“The lady is upset.”
Lord Anderton snorted and shrugged his shoulders, finally lifting his hand from Phillip’s shoulder.
“What care you for that? You must have expected it! Surely you did not think that Lady Allanthorpe would be pleased that you stole a kiss from her, even if it was done in the very dark recesses of the gardens?”
Phillip rubbed one hand over his eyes, still feeling distinctly uncomfortable about what had just taken place.
“But you have won the wager.” Lord Anderton shook his head and turned to walk back towards the path with Phillip following after him. “I suppose I should not have placed a wager with a gentleman with your reputation, but I could not help but try. I wanted to see if you could be proven wrong, but alas, it seems in this case you shall win a great deal of money from me.”
Phillip licked his lips. He wanted very much to say that he cared nothing for the money, that the wager ought never to have been undertaken, and that he deeply regretted all which had taken place, but instead he said nothing. Lord Anderton continued to speak about some matter or other, but Phillip barely listened. Instead, the warnings from Lord Marchmont about Lord Anderton continually rang in his mind. Even though he had won the wager, his thoughts were even louder, as though somehow, deep within him, he knew that this matter was not entirely resolved. There was a shadow over him now, a threat of something more to come, though what it was waiting for him, Phillip could not know. All he could do was wait for it to fall upon his shoulders and crush him where he lay.
Chapter Five
“Ido wonder if Lord Brookmire will be present this evening.”
