Marrying for Money Ch. 04

Amanda nodded slowly. "Really? It must come as a pleasant surprise then." Her tone implied that she didn't believe Leanna's statement.

Leanna cocked her head slightly to one side as she returned her cool stare. "Why is it that you already dislike me so, when you don't even know me? Are you afraid that I'll somehow undermine your position here, because I assure you, that is not my intention."

Amanda straightened her shoulders and narrowed her eyes slightly. It was clear that Leanna had struck a chord.

"I'm not the least bit afraid of that," she denied, although the words didn't sound convincing in the least. "It's just that I know you are not the right woman for Trevor. He will never love you the way he does Eliza."

Leanna took a step backward as if she had been struck. She felt the blood draining from her face, and she was shocked that Amanda could be so hurtful.

"You know about Trevor's relationship with Eliza?" Leanna asked carefully.

Amanda laughed. "I have known Eliza for most of my life. She is one of my oldest and dearest friends."

Leanna pretended to know more than she did. "Then you must know how much she hurt Trevor. I'm sure he will never forgive her."

Amanda merely shrugged. "I wouldn't count on that, Leanna. It is amazing what love can transcend, and I have no doubt that Trevor loves Eliza deeply. Why, everybody knows that he has been mourning over her for years. I'm sure he only married you because he thought she was lost to him forever."

Leanna took a deep breath to steady her nerves before replying. "I don't know whether Trevor could ever forgive her or not, but it really doesn't matter now. He is married to me!" She was amazed by the possessiveness in her voice, but she stared evenly at the other woman.

"Yes, he is. I don't know how you enticed him so quickly, but it will be interesting indeed to see how everything works out. Things always do, you know." With that, Amanda turned to leave but paused in the doorway. "Dinner is at seven o'clock. Oh I forgot to mention that we are having a guest, so please dress accordingly." She turned and left without another word.

Leanna crossed to the bed and collapsed onto its side. Her entire body was trembling. This unexpected attack couldn't have come at a worse time, when she already felt vulnerable and insecure. She wasn't at all confident that Trevor would ever return her love, and the last thing she needed was to be reminded that he still loved another woman. She fell back on the massive mattress and stared up unseeingly at the lace canopy overhead. She wasn't sure how she was going to coexist in this house with a woman who so obviously resented her. Hearing a knock on the door, she turned to see a young woman peeking in at her.

"Come in," Leanna bade her quietly.

The woman gave her a friendly smile and bobbed her head as she entered. She was petite and pretty, with curly red hair framing her heart shaped face. Her Scottish ancestry was readily discernible by her eyes that were twinkling blue, and her nose and cheeks were covered with a smattering of freckles. She curtsied to Leanna.

"I'm Camilla, ma'am. I'll be your maid, and I came to see if you would like to have a bath and freshen up a mite before dinner."

Leanna returned her smile, instantly charmed by the young woman's friendly manner and her lazy southern drawl. "That would be lovely. I confess to feeling quite grimy after our voyage."

"You just relax, and I'm going to have your bath ready in no time, ma'am." She bobbed her head once more before leaving.

It was only a short time later when Leanna was comfortably ensconced in the large claw footed tub in the dressing room, which connected to their bedroom. She luxuriated in the smooth, steamy water, such a pleasant change after her seawater baths during the crossing. She eyed the small vials of scented oil on a nearby stool and chose one of fragrant lavender, which she dribbled in her bath. Camilla had piled her hair on top of her head in a heavy mass, and the steam caused wisps of it to hang down, curling around Leanna's face and neck. She leaned back against the rim of the tub, closing her eyes in blissful relaxation. It was several minutes later when she heard some small noise and opened her eyes to see Trevor leaning against the doorjamb, watching her. He had a lecherous grin on his handsome face, as his eyes roamed over his wife with proprietary thoroughness.

Leanna blushed, aware that he could see everything through the clear water, but unwilling to cringe beneath his smoldering regard. She turned aside and lifted a sponge to begin washing herself, totally conscious of his eyes as they followed her every movement.

"Did you want something?" she inquired, trying to pretend indifference.

Trevor's smile was wolfishly sensual as he raised a wicked brow. "The last time you asked me that, as I recall, you got out of the bath and gave me just what I wanted."

Leanna's color deepened even further as she remembered her wanton actions on that night, but she refused to meet his stare. "Yes, well, that time I wasn't so tired. Besides, there really isn't much time before dinner."

Releasing a long sigh of disappointment, Trevor came to stand over her, planting one hand on either side of the tub and leaning very near her startled face, his lips only a hair's breadth from her own. "I assure you, my sweet, were you not so tired, we could make the time."

His eyes dropped to where her nipples peaked out from the surface of the water, the soap making foaming rivulets around them, and he couldn't resist the temptation to trace those rosy crests with his finger, fascinated by the way they bobbed in the water. He heard her sharp intake of breath, and he met her gaze once again, masculine confidence written in the lines of his smile.

"As it is, I'll just have to wait until tonight." He bent and possessed her lips with a scorching kiss, stealing her breath with the heat of his passion. When he finally ended the kiss, they were both considerably aroused. "We'll continue this later," he murmured, desire smoldering in the sapphire depths of his eyes as they dipped once more to the enticing view of her bosom.

He sighed again as he straightened and strode from the room. Leanna finally released the breath she had been holding since he bent over her. Her breasts tingled from his attentions, and she longed to call him back to lift her from the bath and carry her to his bed. Instead, she finished washing and toweled dry before donning a satin wrapper.

When she entered their bedroom, she found Trevor, standing in front of a tall mirror unbuttoning his shirt. He smiled at her as she entered, and she could feel his eyes following her as she went to the tall wardrobe where Camilla had placed her clothes. Leanna turned her back to him, acutely aware that he watched her in the mirror as she dropped her robe and donned her chemise, pantalets and corset. She could feel his gaze on her, but she pretended not to notice as she kept her back turned toward him.

"Would you mind lacing me up," she asked quietly, crossing to his side and presenting her back to him.

Trevor had performed the service for her numerous times during their voyage, and she stood still while he cinched her into her corset. When he had finished, he pulled her back against him and wrapped his arms around her, meeting her startled gaze in the mirror. He placed one arm beneath her breasts, pushing their fullness up until it threatened to overflow. His other hand slipped inside her chemise to cup her breast, causing a hitch in her breathing, and he watched as her eyes darkened in response to his touch.

"You look good enough to eat, my sweet. Are you sure you want to go down for dinner?" He fondled her boldly, knowing just how to fan the flames of her passion. "We could have a tray brought up later."

He bent to nuzzle the sensitive area at the nape of her neck just as her stomach emitted a loud growl. He chuckled and met her gaze in the mirror once again with a warm smile.

"Alright, my sweet little temptress. Your hunger has won over my raging lusts, but only for now." He gave her nipple a sharp tweak before he released her. "I fully intend to have you for dessert."

Leanna skittered away, trying to ignore how her nipple throbbed from his touch as she dug through the wardrobe. She knew if he had pressed her, she would have found it impossible to deny his request. She bit her lip, realizing that she had virtually no will to refuse her husband even though she knew he didn't love her, and that realization only added to her misery. What was wrong with her? Did she have no pride at all?

As Leanna busied herself trying to decide what to wear, Trevor took a hasty bath and returned to dress for dinner. Leanna carefully kept her eyes averted, as he discarded his towel and began to put on his clothes. She finally chose an evening gown of ivory satin. Just as she withdrew the gown, Camilla reappeared to help her dress, and Trevor excused himself to wait for her downstairs.

Leanna stepped into the gown and stood patiently while Camilla did up the laces. The dress bared her shoulders and bosom sublimely, as it pressed her breasts up to form a dark shadowed valley in between their fullness. The bodice was liberally embellished with tiny seed pearls, while the skirt had been left plain to swirl around her slender hips. The sleeves were tiny puffs, designed to be worn off the shoulder, and the rich, ivory color of the gown enhanced Leanna's own creamy complexion. With her fiery hair and sparkling green eyes, she created an alluring vision in the dress, and she wondered what Trevor would think when he saw her. The gown was her very best, and she had never worn it in his presence.

Camilla combed her hair into an elegant coiffure, gathering the heavy mass into a knot that swirled on the top of her head, showing off the delicate lines of her neck. Tiny ringlets escaped the mass, framing her jaw. Camilla threaded an emerald green ribbon through the fiery tresses and finally tied a small spray of tiny white flowers in the back. With Leanna's toilette completed, she went to join the others for dinner.

As she descended the stairs, Leanna could hear the deep rumbling voices of her husband and Steven. They were laughing over some shared story, but they both turned to stare with appreciation when they heard the rustle of her gown. She descended the last few steps beneath Trevor's heated regard and glided across to his side, keeping her eyes lowered demurely. Trevor tucked her arm through his and placed a kiss on her temple.

"You look beautiful," he murmured huskily.

She flushed. "Thank you. You look quite dashing yourself," she murmured sincerely.

His eyes dropped to where her necklace dipped coyly between her breasts, and he gave her a wolfish smile. "Oh, what I wouldn't give to be that pendant," he murmured for her ears alone.

He chuckled when she blushed. Making Leanna blush seemed to be Trevor's favorite pastime. They joined Steven and Amanda in the parlor. Leanna accepted a glass of sherry from a coolly polite Amanda, and she had just begun to sip her drink when there was the sound of a coach pulling up the front drive. She and Trevor turned in curiosity as the housekeeper opened the front door to admit their guest. Amanda hadn't mentioned who their dinner guest was, and Leanna turned to see who entered. A pale haired beauty walked through the door, her slender form swathed in an elegant red silk gown and wrapper. She turned to let the housekeeper take her wrapper, and her eyes locked instantly with Trevor's.

Leanna glanced between the two of them, aware of an undercurrent of tension suddenly in the room. Amanda swept forward to greet the woman and clasped her hands, placing a warm kiss on each cheek.

"Eliza, you look simply ravishing, as usual," she exclaimed, pulling her into the room. "And look! Our dear Trevor has come home!"

Leanna's eyes flew to Trevor, as she recognized the woman's name, and she felt as if a dagger had pierced her heart, noticing that he was frozen in place. Only the muscles in his cheek were working as he stared at his former fiancée. When Eliza stepped before him and gave him a charming smile. Trevor gave her the barest of nods and a cool smile in return.

"Trevor, darling," she murmured in a husky, feminine voice as she reached to brush a warm kiss on his mouth. It was only because he turned at the last moment that her kiss ended on his cheek. "If it's possible, you have grown even more handsome since the last time I saw you."

Given that the last time she had seen him had been on the night before she eloped, Trevor couldn't help but marvel at her thoughtlessness in bringing it up. He cocked one dark brow and gave her a sardonic smile.

"Indeed? I was fairly sure you didn't even remember that I existed."

Leanna cringed from the bitterness in his voice. If she could, she would have melted into the woodwork, for she wished she were anywhere but there to witness this moment. Eliza looked contrite, and she reached to grasp his hand and hug it to her bosom.

"Oh Trevor, dearest, nothing could be farther from the truth. I have thought about you every day!"

Trevor pointedly withdrew his hand from her grasp before replying. "I'm sure that must distress your husband," he replied coldly.

Eliza had the grace to look sad when she responded, shaking her head sorrowfully. "It is a pity, but my poor husband passed away two years ago. But as you can see," she murmured while running a hand down one shapely hip clothed in brilliant red silk, "I'm no longer in mourning."

She gave Trevor a seductive smile, pleased to see that his eyes were assessing her body. Leanna gasped from the audacity of the other woman's obvious ploy, and Trevor turned toward her, as if remembering her presence for the first time since Eliza's arrival. He drew Leanna to his side and placed a proprietary arm about her shoulders as he gave the other woman a cold smile.

"Allow me to present my wife, Leanna."

Eliza looked briefly startled, "Your wife? I didn't realize you had taken a wife!"

Trevor smiled coldly. "Yes, we were married just prior to leaving London." He turned to Leanna but didn't meet her eyes. "My dear, this is Eliza Marshall, an old acquaintance."

Eliza quickly regained her composure and gave Leanna an icy smile. "Oh surely more than an acquaintance. Trevor and I were engaged once. I'm pleased to meet you."

Leanna nodded but couldn't bring herself to smile in return. "Yes, he did mention that he had been engaged once before," she mumbled.

The two women stood for a long moment, carefully assessing one another as they mentally squared off to do battle. Eliza was petite and very beautiful, and it was easy to see why Trevor or any man would be attracted to her. Her hair was the color of wheat in the sun, and her eyes were large, dark brown pools, full of mystery and sultry promise. Her features were delicate, full lips, pert nose, high cheekbones, and although she was several years older than Leanna, she looked about the same age. Her figure was superb, and the red dress clung to her curves like a second skin. Her breasts had been pushed up by her corset, and the generous creamy swells were displayed to perfection. While Leanna had been unsure whether her own gown was too daring, she now considered it to be quite demure in comparison to Eliza's. The red silk barely concealed the other woman's nipples, and there was a possibility of them being revealed at any moment. Leanna felt ravaged by the claws of insecurity as she faced her adversary, and she couldn't help but wonder what Trevor was feeling at that moment.

It was Steven who finally cleared his throat to break the tension. "Shall we go in to dinner? I believe everything is ready."

He swept an arm toward the dining room, inviting them to precede him. Amanda slipped a companionable arm through Eliza's and led her to the dining table, their heads close together as they whispered to each other. Trevor escorted his wife, and she noticed that his arm was rigid beneath her hand. Amanda had arranged the seating with Steven and Trevor on the two ends, Eliza sat to Trevor's right, with Amanda beside her, and Leanna was seated on Trevor's left, alone on her side of the table.

Leanna found that she had very little appetite for the delicious foods that were placed before her. She felt as if her stomach were tied in knots. She hadn't been prepared to confront her husband's former fiancée on her first night in his home. Amanda and Eliza seemed unaware of any underlying tension, as they kept up a steady stream of conversation, reminiscing about old times, and doing their best to draw Steven and Trevor into the discussion.

Trevor was polite, if reserved, and he seemed oblivious to the fact that Eliza was flirting with him shamelessly. Leanna found herself in a humiliating position, feeling like an outsider in her husband's home. It was painfully obvious that Eliza wanted nothing more than to reconcile with Trevor, and she shot Leanna several venomous glares from beneath her sooty lashes while appearing outwardly friendly. She met Leanna's eye and smiled brightly.

"So Leanna, however did you and dear Trevor meet?"

As she asked the question, Eliza reached over to stroke Trevor's hand, reminding everyone of her familiarity with him. Leanna stiffened as she watched him remove his hand from the table, and she had to take a deep breath to calm her anger before answering. Before she could manage a polite response, Trevor interjected.

"We met in London. I had met Leanna's brother before, and there was an opportunity for me to invest some capital in a business venture with him. In the process of our discussions, I met Leanna. I realized right away that she would make a perfect wife for me, and luckily, she agreed to marry me."

Leanna looked at Trevor, barely able to conceal her surprise and gratitude. While he hadn't exactly lied, by leaving out the most pertinent details, he had made their meeting sound so romantic. Leanna's relief was short lived, as Eliza launched another verbal barb.

"So Leanna, your family was in need of Trevor's money? Oh, how dreadful to have to marry someone just for his money."

There were audible gasps from everyone except Trevor as they reeled from her insult. Even Amanda appeared embarrassed by her friend's tactless statement. The muscles in Trevor's cheek were working, as he gave her a cold answer.

"Actually Eliza, unlike some other women I've known, Leanna was not interested in marrying for money. I had decided to invest in her brother's business aside from my interest in Leanna. In fact, it required all my persuasive abilities to convince Leanna to marry me. I'm most gratified that I spent the effort." He turned to place a warm hand over Leanna's cold one. "The rewards of my investment have proven to be very . . . satisfying," Trevor drawled, staring intently into his wife's eyes as he gave her a roguish grin.

She knew that the others wouldn't mistake his meaning, and Leanna returned his smile, grateful for his outward show of support. Meanwhile, Eliza secretly seethed over the couple's exchange. She didn't like the way the two of them were looking at each other, as if they were the only ones in the room. Clearing her throat, she laughed rather awkwardly.

"Doesn't Leanna ever speak for herself?" She pinned Leanna with an expectant stare.

Leanna's gaze broke away from Trevor's and she returned the other woman's regard calmly, her confidence boosted by her husband's defense of her. "Occasionally," she replied curtly. She gave Eliza an icy smile and turned her attention to her soup.

Finally, the dinner was concluded, and they retired to the parlor once again. The men indulged in brandy and cigars over a good natured game of chess, while the women sat facing each other and trying to make conversation. It was clear where Amanda's loyalties were, and Leanna felt very alone as she faced the other women. Amanda eventually turned to Eliza and patted her hand affectionately.