Susan Johnson - Seduction in Mind

By early afternoon, consensus had been reached on combining the best of classic golf with the most brilliant of technical subtlety. The two young designers left with the plans under their arms and the approval necessary to begin excavating.

Sam and his brother, Marcus, enjoyed another drink from the bottle of brandy they'd opened to toast their new endeavor.

"You seem in good humor today. But you've been wanting to build this course for a long time and now, finally-" Marcus raised his glass in salute.

Sam smiled. "We'll have some championship golf in our own backyard."

"The boys are beginning to learn how to play with the clubs you had made for them."

"I'll come over tomorrow and give them some pointers," Sam offered. His nephews were a source of great pleasure to him.

"Evelina is having her reading group over tomorrow. You might prefer meeting us at the Blackheath course. Hedy Alworth will be at the house."

Sam dipped his head. "Thanks for the warning."

"She still thinks you're going to marry her someday."

"For no plausible reason."

"Her mother keeps telling her the Lennoxes and Alworths have always made marriage alliances."

Sam's brows rose. "Not in recent memory."

"Reason has nothing to do with female notions of romance and marriage."

Sam's gaze narrowed. "You and Evie are still getting along, aren't you?"

"Oh, perfectly. You know I adore her, and she's the sweetest of wives. Not to mention the best of mothers."

"Thinking of having more children, are we?"

His brother turned red. "Actually…"

"Congratulations!" Beaming, Sam rose from his chair and shook his brother's hand. "I'm pleased for you."

"I'm damned lucky. Especially after… well-"

Dropping back into his chair, Sam laughed. "You can say it. After my fiasco."

Marcus looked uncomfortable, but then, he always did when there was any mention of Sam's marriage. "Mother and Father shouldn't have insisted."

"And I shouldn't have married for no good reason. Or at least," Sam said with a fleeting smile, "I should have taken a better look at my fiancee."

"I'm not sure a closer look would have mattered. She was-"

"Deceitful… and manipulative?"

"So Evelina has always maintained."

"But Mother was looking at all those Sutherland acres with great longing, and Father, I believe, particularly liked Penelope's blond hair."

"Well, that's over with," Marcus said with feeling, the years of Penelope's presence in the family still a highly explosive subject.

"And now I'm depending on you and your boys to keep the title in the family."

"Surely you'll marry again someday."

Sam shrugged. "I doubt it. Although…"

Marcus smiled. "Does your 'although' pertain to Miss Ionides? Everyone saw you at Ascot and then not again last night."

Sam grimaced. "My Lord, this town is small."

"And you have a high profile for your-dare I say-profligacies? "

"They're no secret." The viscount's mouth curved faintly. "But Alex is very nice-very nice indeed."

"When will you be seeing her again?"

Sam shrugged. "Who knows?"

His brother scrutinized him for a moment. "Do I detect a female who isn't in hot pursuit?"

"We just politely said good-bye."

"For which you're no doubt grateful."

"Mostly."

"But not completely."

"Apparently, she's as casual as I about friendships."

"No, she isn't. No one's as casual about 'friendships,' as you so euphemistically put it, save you. Evelina knows Miss Ionides and likes her. In fact"-he pursed his mouth-"I think she's a member of Evelina's reading group."

"You don't say?" Sam slid up from his lounging sprawl. "Perhaps I'll come to the house to play golf with the boys after all."

"Don't forget Hedy will be there."

"But more important, so might Miss Ionides."

"How important?" Marcus asked, enjoying the spectacle of his prodigal brother intrigued enough by a woman to brave an afternoon of female readings. Sam grinned. "Tell Evie to set another place for lunch."

"Look what Sam brought us, Mama!" Six-year-old Jeremy Lennox waved his new golf club in a wide arc over his head, narrowly missing the Meissen shepherdess group on the drawing room table.

"And me too, Mama!" his four-year-old brother screamed, running in behind Jeremy, his club held high. "We been shooting golfs all morning."

The ladies sitting in a group around the tea table reacted in a variety of ways. Those who had children of their own smiled in understanding. Hedy Alworth drew back in distaste. Mariana Monteque said, "Not shooting golfs, playing golf, young Benjamin," because she ran a seminary for young ladies and prided herself on her scholarship. Alex smiled and held out her hand. "Show me your new clubs. I love golf."

"See!" Ben shrieked, smashing his club against the carpet. "It won't break no matter what!"

"They're from Watson's and made for us," the elder brother said, politely offering his club to Alex.

"He makes the very best, doesn't he?" Alex balanced the weight in her hand. "I think that might work for me."

"You could try our putting green in back." Jeremy spoke with a grown-up seriousness. He glanced at his mother. "Couldn't she, Mama?"

"Of course. Feel free, Alex. Perhaps after lunch," Evelina offered. "Now, you boys run along and wash your hands, because lunch will be served soon and you and your papa are going to join us."

"And Sam too!" Ben piped up. "He's sitting by me!" he proudly proclaimed.

As the boys ran from the room, Hedy Alworth leaned forward in her chair. "Sam is here?" she asked Evelina.

"Yes, he's been helping the boys with their golf this morning."

Alex could feel her cheeks become warm and eased back into her chair so no one would notice. But as quickly, she reminded herself that she was bound to meet Ranelagh on more than one social occasion and she would have to respond with suitable composure-not like some young girl just out of the schoolroom.

"Why didn't you say he was coming?" Hedy complained. "I would have worn something more fashionable."

"I'm sure your gown is quite lovely enough, Hedy," Evelina replied graciously. "And Marcus didn't mention Sam was coming over until this morning."

"Ranelagh's always had a tendre for me." Hedy touched her blond curls with a coquettish gesture.

"You and a thousand others," Susannah Dudley noted dryly.

"Well, he never looked at you at all."

Unlike Hedy, Susannah knew better than to throw herself at someone like Sam Lennox. She'd selected her husband for his wealth rather than his looks. "I'm happily married, Hedy."

Hedy sniffed and Evelina said diplomatically, "I'm sure lunch is nearly ready. Why don't we move into the dining room." Susannah and Hedy both considered themselves great beauties and their bickering rivalry could be trying. "And we have to decide what we're going to read for next week," she added, rising from her chair. "What does everyone think of Dostoyevsky's new Diary of a Writer?"

As the ladies moved down the corridor, they discussed various books while Alex wondered how she was going to deal with the sight of Ranelagh in so public a venue.

After last night.

A shiver raced down her spine at the recall of their heated passion.

But she forced her thoughts onto more temperate ground; it would never do to appear wistful or yearning or in full chase like Hedy. Ranelagh had enough females pursuing him. She had no wish to be added to those numbers.

She took a steadying breath, however, before entering the dining room. She experienced a moment of relief when she found the room unoccupied save for the servants. Maybe he wouldn't appear after all. And the quiver in the pit of her stomach would go away.

"We're informal, as you know," Evelina remarked, ushering her guests toward the table. "Please sit where you like." She waved toward one end of the table. "We'll save those chairs for the men."

Hedy insisted on taking her seat closest to the indicated chairs, as did Mariana Monteque, Alex noted with some surprise. Mariana wasn't a young woman, although the designation spinster had always annoyed Alex. It seemed an unfair label. Why shouldn't Mariana have an interest in Ranelagh if she wished, Alex charitably reflected. Surely she had as good a claim on him as anyone.

When the men and boys arrived, Sam and his brother greeted everyone in a general salutation and then seated themselves with a casualness that calmed Alex's apprehensions. Ranelagh had set the tone; surely she could be as blase.

As it turned out, Mariana and Sam were friends of long standing, their common interest a marked enthusiasm for golf. Much to Hedy's annoyance, Sam and Mariana spent a considerable time discussing the game.

Sam was equally gracious to his nephews, who obviously worshiped him, Alex observed, surreptitiously watching their easy companionship. Who would have thought London's most celebrated libertine would turn out to be so warm-hearted toward children?

Of course, she'd had her own heady experience with his kindness.

He was the most unselfish of lovers.

"Really, Mariana!" Hedy exclaimed as dessert was being served, vexed at being so long ignored by the object of her pursuit. "You have completely monopolized Lord Ranelagh. There are those of us who have things to discuss with him as well!"

"Forgive us." Sam smiled politely. "Mariana's a better golfer than I, and I can always use some instruction."

"Me too!" Ben declared cheerfully through a mouthful of charlotte.

"Indeed," Hedy replied, casting an annoyed look at the boy before turning an expression of adoration on Sam. "Lord Ranelagh, let me congratulate you on your horse's win at Ascot. I couldn't help but notice, he was sired by Fernie Bey, who is related to my jumper. Have you had Invincible long?"

"Three years. And he's been a sweet goer from the beginning."

"Sam let me ride him, didn't you, Sam?" Ben cried. "And I went really, really fast on him, didn't I, Sam?"

"Faster than anyone," his uncle agreed pleasantly.

"Yes, I'm sure you did," Hedy noted curtly. "I was wondering, Lord Ranelagh, if you might ride in the park with us when my brother comes to town. Oliver has the most wonderful black out of Bright League." The Alworths were all first-rate riders, and Hedy wished to show off her equestrian skills.

"If my schedule allows," Sam replied politely.

Hedy offered him a winning smile. "I'll have Oliver send you a note."

Sam nodded in a clearly evasive way.

Coming to his brother's rescue, Marcus glanced down the table at his wife. "If you'll excuse us, Evie. Sam and I still have some work to do on our course plans."

Sam caught his brother's eye. "It can wait."

Hedy preened.

"Can we play some more golf after lunch, Sam?" Jeremy asked, not wishing to miss out on his uncle's time.

"In a few minutes," the viscount replied quietly, pushing his chair back and rising. As he walked down the length of the table, every luncheon guest followed his progress with rapt interest.

Alex stiffened at his approach.

He spoke very softly when he reached her, but the room was so expectantly quiet, his words were clearly audible to all. "Miss Ionides, might I impose on you for a moment?"

Uncomfortable as the center of attention, and uncertain how to deal with such brazenness, Alex glanced at her hostess.

After her husband's comments concerning Sam's interest in Alex, Evelina had anticipated something audacious from her brother-in-law and she quickly stepped into the breach. "Sam was hoping you could give him some information on Sir Leighton," she improvised.

"If you wouldn't mind, Miss Ionides." His voice was bland.

"No… of course not," Alex stammered.

He was already reaching for her hand as a footman leaped forward to pull out her chair. "Excuse us," the viscount said to the table at large, pulling Alex to her feet. Tucking her hand under his arm, he drew her away, the silence in the room so oppressive, even the boys fell mute.

Once the dining room door closed on them, Alex cast him a sardonic glance. "Hedy will be annoyed."

He gazed down at her. "You look wonderful in green and you were sitting too far away and Hedy Alworth is as insipid as usual, so please don't waste your breath."

"She said you have a tendre for her."

"But then, she's an idiot, as you must have noticed. This isn't your first time at the reading group, Marcus tells me."

"And what else did Marcus tell you?"