A Sanguine Gem (A Marsden Romance Book 3) Page 8

  Gemma didn't see any reason not to attend a few social events. She didn't need Liam to escort her and had no problem going on her own. There were still a few people that she could socialize with since most of her new friends were married themselves.

  She picked up the first invitation. Ironically it was from Lady Silverton. Lily had met her husband, Rand, at the Silverton Ball three years prior. Gemma believed it a fitting occasion to instill her newfound freedom as a matron, instead of a maid. She may not feel married, but that didn't mean she couldn’t take advantage of it. The more she thought about it, the more she realized marrying Liam might be the best thing that happened to her. Yes, he was a complete idiot, but she could work with that. She intended to enjoy a few social events and then make plans to visit Lily in South Carolina.

  Gemma placed the invitation to the Silverton Ball in the accept pile. The ball was for later that evening, but that didn't matter. It was well-known Lady Silverton expected everyone to be present at her ball and prepared for those that decided to attend at the last minute. After going through each invitation, she decided on three that she would like to attend. Besides the ball she had a garden party and a musical she decided to attend.

  She also had her dinner party to plan. With that in mind, she drafted invitations for her own party to Liam's parents, the Viscount and Viscountess Torrington, the Duke of Huntly, and her friend Pearla Montgomery. After Lily had left for South Carolina, she became good friends with Pearla. If not for their friendship she may have become a wallflower once again. In a lot of ways, Pearla reminded her of Lily. She had a dislike of marriage that rivaled Lily's. Lily caved when she met Randall Collins and gave marriage another look because of him. Perhaps Pearla would do the same one day.

  "Ma'am, Cook said to let you know dinner will be ready in an hour. Is there any correspondence you need me to post?"

  Gemma looked up at the butler as she sealed the last invitation to be delivered.

  "Yes, Pemberly. I have three invitations for a dinner party in two nights. Can you make sure they are delivered? Also have Janie come in. I would like to discuss plans for the dinner party with her before we sit down to our meal tonight.

  "Very well, ma'am. I shall send her in. If you give me the invitations, I will have a footman deliver them personally."

  "Thank you Pemberly." Gemma handed all of the letters to him. "I also have two acceptances to post as well." As for the invitation to the Silverton Ball, she would accept in person later that evening. Thankfully all of her trunks had arrived earlier in the day. Otherwise, she would have had to decline for lack of a ball gown to wear.

  Pemberly took all of her notes and left the room. Gemma straightened up the writing desk and pulled out a clean sheet of stationary. She dipped her quill in an ink pot and began making a list for the dinner party. A short time afterward Janie entered.

  "Lady Marsden, Pemberly said you required my assistance."

  "Yes, Janie. I am having a dinner party in two nights. I have made a list of what I would like for the meal and everything I require. Can you please make sure that all of this is completed?"

  "Yes, ma'am." Janie took the list and examined it.

  "Do you have any questions?"

  "No. This is pretty clear. I will let Cook know what you would like for the meal. If she has any questions I will let you know after I speak with her," Janie said.

  "Very well. I shall retire to the sitting room until dinner is served. "

  Janie nodded and left the room. Gemma got up and went to the sitting room. As soon as she sat down, Liam walked into the room.

  "Ah, there you are."

  "I haven't exactly been hiding." Gemma's sarcasm evident in each word she spoke.

  "I never said you were. I just couldn't locate you when I first arrived home."

  "I was in the library going through invitations. I accepted a couple and wrote out a few for the dinner party I plan on having in a couple of days. You should know I invited your parents, the Duke of Huntly, and my friend Pearla. I hope you will deign to attend, so I have even numbers."

  "Of course I will be here. I'd never be so rude."

  "Right." Gemma rolled her eyes. Liam rude? Never. That's why he was making sure she was comfortable in her new home and paying a lot of attention to her. "Anyway everything is planned. All you need to do is show up."

  "You said you accepted a couple of invitations for social events. Which one did you accept?"

  Gemma didn't see any reason not to inform him of her plans. Maybe if he knew what they were, he would leave her be.

  "A musical at the Carrington's and a garden party the Duchess of Westland is hosting. I also plan on attending Lady Silverton's ball tonight. Don't worry I can attend on my own. You have no need to come."

  She wasn't sure if she wanted him to attend or not. A small part of her hoped he would while the part of her irritated with him just wanted Liam to leave her in peace. What would be the point of escaping to a ball if he were fast on her heels? It was best to dispense with the notion of him attending at once. Gemma didn't want him to feel obligated after all.

  "Ridiculous. I can escort my wife to a ball. I will be ready when you are."

  Gemma sighed. He couldn't possibly want to attend the ball with her. From what she recalled he hated escorting Lily. She'd rather he just let her go alone. It would give her the opportunity to spend some time with her friends and enjoy herself. She didn't want to worry about the gossip mills or Liam's belligerence. He'd no doubt have an attitude all evening.

  "It isn't necessary. I'd prefer to go alone. Do whatever you had planned for the evening. I am perfectly capable of going on my own."

  Gemma fidgeted in her seat. Her lips pursed in displeasure as she looked up at him. How to get him to change his mind? It would be damned annoying to have him around all night. If he attended, no doubt he would ruin the whole evening brooding over everything she did. He had reacted badly just by her being nice to his best friend earlier that day. All she did was be polite to him and attempt to get to know him better. The Duke of Huntly appeared to be a charming and caring man.

  "I have no other plans this evening. I had hoped to spend it with you. We have a lot we need to discuss."

  "As far as I'm concerned we have talked more than I care. Keeping the peace works best if you don't open your mouth too much. I might start to like you a little better if you were mute more often."

  Liam opened his mouth to speak and closed it in a tight firm line. His displeasure evident on his face as his eyes narrowed, and his brows bunched together while his forehead crinkled.

  It was almost adorable—no, it definitely was. How cute. He wasn't happy. Too bad for him. Gemma hadn't been in the best of moods herself. She couldn’t help admiring how absolutely gorgeous he was though. It made it difficult at times to stay mad at him. Why couldn't things have gone differently? All she wanted to do was wrap her arms around him and erase his discontent. She sighed. If his feelings mirrored hers she might just do it. She knew better though.

  "Is it necessary to be so rude?" Liam asked.

  Yes, it was—it made a fine defense mechanism. She needed as many as she could muster to keep her wits about her. Liam had the ability to leave her brainless, if she allowed it.

  "I am only speaking my mind."

  Gemma stood up and walked over to the window and looked out at the busy London street. She didn't want to argue with her husband, but she had to put a wall up between them. If she opened herself up to him again, it would lead to her downfall. The more time she spent with him the more it added to her chances of falling for him all over again. Gemma refused to love him any more than she already did.

  "I am not allowing you to go to the ball on your own. If you want to attend, then expect me to be your escort."

  Gemma turned to him and pinned him with her gaze. He was being mulish on purpose. He couldn't possibly want to attend. Why was he so determined to ruin everything for her? Heat filled her cheeks and spread throughout
her body. She clenched the folds of her skirts in her hands. She gritted her teeth and took a few deep breaths.

  "If that is the only way I can go, then I will plan on you accompanying me. I don't see why you are being so difficult."

  "It's my prerogative. If you will excuse me, I have a few things to take care of before dinner is served."

  Liam damn near stomped out of the room. His cheeks were flushed red with his anger. Gemma didn't see any reason why he'd be so upset. She gave him plenty of opportunities to stay home. She certainly wasn't forcing him to go to the ball. She turned on her heels to go sit back down. Her whole body shook after the confrontation. Damn him for unnerving her. Her hand trembled as she brushed it over her hair to smooth it in place. She needed some distance from Liam if she wanted her heart to remain unscathed.

  It might prove futile because her heart and mind already headed towards a collision of uncertainty.

  One wanted desperately to love him and believe he could love her; the other only wanted to protect the already bruised emotions housed deep inside its depths. At some point, the conflict must be resolved, or an implosion would occur. Gemma didn't know how much longer she could hold off all of her unresolved feelings.

  In that moment, she decided to step up her plans to visit Lily. The plan no longer a want, it now upgraded to an urgent necessity to ensure her continued existence. If she stayed in England, she would lose a part of herself and she wanted to hold on to every piece of who she'd grown into over the past three years. Her independence and ability to stand up for herself depended on proving a point to Liam.

  The man expected her to bow down to his every command. He had a hard lesson to learn, and Gemma knew how to teach it to him. With a plan hatching in her mind, Gemma smiled for the first time since her husband barged into the sitting room. Liam didn't have a clue what she truly could make happen. He would discover the truth soon enough. She only hoped it would happen before her heart and mind collided.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Liam stomped up the stairs to his room to change for the ball his wife insisted on attending that evening. Gemma had excused herself an hour ago to prepare for the festivities. Liam decided he needed some liquid courage to get through the evening and instead of immediately getting ready for the ball, he went to his study and poured himself a snifter of brandy. He gulped down the first glass and nursed the second one for almost an hour.

  Nothing went as he had planned.

  When he left his parents' home, his intentions had been to tell Gemma exactly how much he loved and adored her. But, she turned on him as soon as she laid eyes on him. Her scathing retorts had put him on the defensive. Instead of a meaningful conversation they'd had a stilted one. It wasn't even a heated argument. He stood in front of her like a fool issuing proclamations.

  She was driving him mad.

  How could he possibly tell her what was inside his heart if she didn't even allowed him a chance to speak? So in lieu of a wonderful evening filled with love he was following her to the Silverton Ball. Every step of the way Gemma fought him, and his purpose was constantly thwarted.

  Dinner that evening had been a silent affair. She didn't say one word to him through the entire meal. She said very little to the staff serving them. If Liam were to hazard a guess, she pretended he didn't exist while she ate. His state of nerves amounted to a bundle of repressed energy. At any moment, they would explode and leave a wake of devastation in their path. If he didn’t gain control of the situation, he would not be held responsible for his actions. They had only been married a couple of days, and he was already ready to collapse from the sheer torture. He knew that not all ton marriages were love matches, far from it, in fact. Marriage in his family was different though.

  They married for love even if it didn't appear to be on the outside looking in. The world thought his parents' married because his father had forced his mother to in his pirating days. On a small scale, they were right. He did force her, but not entirely for the revenge everyone believed. He married her because he loved her and couldn't imagine a world without her by his side. That was how Liam saw his marriage to Gemma.

  When he looked at her, he saw exactly how their life could be if only she would allow them a fraction of happiness. Instead, she fought him every step of the way. Liam didn't blame her entirely. This path had been created two years prior when he foolishly pushed Gemma away. It was his mistake, and he needed to rectify it. If he couldn't fix things, his life would fracture and he would never again be whole.

  He wasn't about to give up on them. She would listen to him. Tonight he would make her hear the words he'd found it difficult to assimilate. Liam loved Gemma. It had just taken him longer to see what was right in front of him. Gemma was his. She'd always been the one woman meant for him. It was time to stop being nice and stake his claim in every way possible.

  Liam finished dressing without the aid of his valet. With the state of his current mood, he thought it best to not inflict it on anyone else unnecessarily. After he tied his cravat, he walked out of his room and strolled back down the stairs. Gemma hadn't yet emerged from her bedroom, so he found himself fidgeting at the bottom of the stairs awaiting her arrival. He didn't have a whole lot of patience for anything.

  Finally, he caught sight of her at the top of the stairs. She was a vision. Her emerald green ball gown fit her curves and cascaded down her hips to her ankles. The bodice was draped in lace and silk organza. Tiny green beads wrapped around her waist in an intricate pattern depicting a belt of flowers that trailed down the side of her overlaying skirt. Gemma's crimson hair were twisted around her head and plaited into a long braid that coiled at the nape of her neck. Tiny ringlets were curled framing her face with a small emerald hair adornment twinkling on the left side of her head.

  Watching her descend the stairs Liam was breathless with anticipation. He wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and kiss her. The only thing that would be better was to turn her back around and march her upstairs to his room. Once there, he could slowly undress her as he savored every inch of her delectable body.

  Why couldn't he kiss her? He should—it would be a start in the direction he hoped to head.

  "I hope you haven't been waiting long. I had quite a bit to do to prepare myself for the ball."

  Liam stepped toward her and caressed her cheek with the tips of his fingers. Her gaze locked with his. Her breathing became ragged as she gulped in air in short fast bursts.

  "What are you doing?"

  Liam didn't answer her with words. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. Her mouth opened up as she gasped. It gave him an advantage, and he saw no reason not to take it. The tip of his tongue touched hers as he pulled her tighter in is embrace. Liam coaxed her with his mouth—wanting to fill her with every inch of desire coursing through his veins. She needed to be with him every step of the way. This was only the beginning of his fight to own every inch of her soul. Her body relaxed against him, and he took it as a sign. She wasn't as immune to him as she wanted him to believe. Gemma still wanted him. He could use that and he would.

  Liam took a step back, pleased with what he saw. Gemma's eyelids were closed, her lips slightly parted and moist, and her cheeks a pretty pink. Her eyelashes fluttered up, and irises of green fire met his—she looked both a little dazed and well pleasured. They could move forward now. He'd managed to get her exactly where he wanted her.

  "The carriage awaits us outside. I think it is time for us to depart."

  Gemma looked a little dazed, but in a good way. She looked well pleasured. A confident arrogance took root deep inside her. He'd done that—built a craving in her she'd never experienced before. Soon he'd make sure she got a taste of it all.

  Gemma cleared her throat and shook her head. She looked up at him and nodded. "Very well."

  Liam hooked her arm over his and for the first time that evening believed that they may have a chance. She hadn't once snapped at him since she walked down the sta
irs.

  "You look lovely; by the way. I love the color green on you."

  "I didn't dress to please you, Liam. This just happens to be one of my new favorite ball gowns. I haven't had a chance to wear it yet, and this seemed like the perfect time to do so."

  Maybe she hadn't—somehow he doubted it though. His lips tilted into a half smile as his gaze traveled over her.

  "Doesn't make you any less beautiful to me. I quite enjoy how it looks on you."

  Gemma didn't respond to his compliment—just stared at him in silence. He meant every one of his words. The dress enhanced her beauty and made her even more exquisite. Maybe going to this ball wasn't an entirely bad idea. Dancing would give him the chance to hold her in his arms and stare into the depths of her light green eyes. Perhaps it would remind her of the times they danced previously. He needed all the help he could get to help her realize she still loved him.

  They exited the townhouse and walked over to the awaiting carriage. Liam helped Gemma inside and hopped in after she took her seat. Once the door closed, the driver nudged the horses into moving and they were on their way to the ball.

  "I haven't been to a ball in quite a while. I don't socialize unless I am required to do so," Liam said.

  Gemma's gaze was off to the side as she looked out the window of the carriage. She was doing her best to ignore him. Liam didn't want her to forget the heat between them. He needed to draw her back into his circle of warmth.

  "I remember you always hated escorting Lily to all of her social events," she said, still looking outside.

  "When did you start attending social occasions again?"

  A distance was starting to form again. Liam didn't like it one bit.