To Tempt An Angel (Book 1 Douglas series)

by Grasso, Patricia;

  Robert held her closer than he should have, though she tried to keep her distance. Slowly, she relaxed in his arms as they swirled around the ballroom.

  “Making polite conversation is expected while dancing,” Robert said. “Unless you want the guests to think we are not in accord?”

  “You dance divinely,” Angelica told his chest.

  “I believe you complimented my chest the last time we danced,” he teased her.

  Angelica raised her blue gaze to him. “Where have you been these past five days?” she blurted out, losing control of her tongue.

  Robert smiled. “Did you miss me, angel?”

  “Not bloody likely,” she snapped with a smile on her face.

  “I’m relieved to see you are your normal ornery self and suffered no ill effects from our activities the other day,” Robert said.

  Angelica felt embarrassment heating her cheeks. She could only imagine how red her face must be. “Never mention that day again,” she whispered.

  “I have fond memories of it,” he told her.

  Of course he had fond memories, Angelica thought. She’d given herself to him completely and professed her love. What had she to show for it? Nothing.

  You rescued Daisy, an inner voice reminded her.

  “Daisy has been asking for you,” Angelica said, changing the subject. “Do you think you could possibly show her a little kindness and pass an occasional hour with her?”

  “I can’t do that.”

  “She’s only a baby—”

  “My gift to Daisy was allowing her to remain with you,”’ Robert interrupted. “She will need to be content with that.”

  What a pigheaded lout, Angelica thought, her smile never faltering. She inclined her head, accepting his statement. Arguing with him tonight would only harm her new cause, fostering a relationship between father and daughter.

  “What are you planning, angel?”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “I don’t trust your ability to capitulate so easily,” Robert said.

  The waltz ended. Angelica turned to leave the dance floor, but Robert stopped her, saying, “I believe this is our dance, too.”

  “I prefer to sit this one out,” she said.

  “Are you ill?” Robert asked, his hand on her arm. “Do you feel tired or queasy?”

  “I am perfectly well.” Angelica couldn’t imagine why the marquess was so interested in her health. He didn’t even like her.

  “I’ll ruin Drinkwater or Mayhew tonight,” he whispered, close to her ear.

  “Don’t bother,” Angelica said, shrugging out of his grasp. “Ruining them is my responsibility.”

  “That won’t happen tonight,” Robert told her. “You aren’t wearing sleeves or pockets.”

  Angelica arched a blond brow at him. “So I’ll lose a few coins, which will make them eager to dice against me when I am wearing sleeves.”

  “I forbid you to dice wearing that gown,” Robert said, a scowl appearing on his face.

  “You aren’t my keeper,” Angelica informed him, unable to credit what she’d heard. “And what is wrong with this gown?”

  “That gown doesn’t cover enough of your skin,” Robert answered.

  So he had noticed her gown, Angelica thought with satisfaction. Imitating her aunt, she drawled, “The most interesting parts are covered, darling.”

  “Don’t darling me,” Robert said in a harsh whisper. “Every man in this room is ogling you.”

  “You really should smile, darling, lest these guests believe we are not in accord,” Angelica said, glancing around. No one appeared to be paying any particular attention to her.

  Drawing their attention, the orchestra stopped playing. The duke stood with her aunt at the bottom of the ballroom. “May I have your attention, please?” Duke Magnus called out holding her aunt’s hand.

  Angelica and Robert looked at each other. She shrugged, indicating that she had no idea what was happening.

  “I have excellent news,” Duke Magnus announced. “Lady Roxanne has honored me by accepting my proposal of marriage and will become my wife, the Duchess of Inverary.”

  Angelica dropped her mouth open in surprise.

  She glanced at Robert, who looked as surprised as she felt

  Everyone in the ballroom clapped in approval.

  Duke Magnus raised Aunt Roxie’s hand to his lips. Looking infinitely pleased with herself, her aunt smiled at the duke.

  “I’ll be damned,” Robert said, a smile touching his lips. “After all these years, the old fox has finally done it.”

  Angelica wasn’t as pleased as the marquess. Though she approved of her aunt finding happiness, Angelica realized that now she and her sisters would be forever linked with the Campbells. The thought of facing Robert and whomever he eventually married made her stomach churn and breathing became almost painful.

  “Excuse me,” Angelica said, needing to escape.

  “Aren’t you going to wish them well?” Robert asked.

  “I’ll speak to them later.” Without another word, Angelica left the ballroom. Instead of going to the ladies’ resting area, she wandered into the gaming room.

  Charles Emerson sat at a table with Henry Drinkwater, Mungo Mayhew, and James Armstrong. Sipping a drink, Adam St. Aubyn stood nearby and watched the four men dicing.

  Ladies and gentlemen filled several other tables. Some people diced, while others played cards.

  “Lady Angelica, perhaps you would care to dice with us?” Charles Emerson asked, his smile ingratiating.

  If only she was wearing sleeves, Angelica thought. “I’d love to dice, if you’re certain the others won’t mind,” she answered.

  Angelica glanced at Drinkwater and Mayhew. Except for James Armstrong, the others were staring at her wolfishly. Did they think she was an easy mark, or was her gown too daringly cut, as Robert had said?

  “Join us, Countess,” James Armstrong said. “You are so much prettier than these fellows.”

  James stood and brought an empty chair from another table. Angelica sat down and smiled as winsomely as she could.

  “How much are we betting?” she asked.

  “Ten pounds per throw,” James answered.

  That didn’t sound too bad to Angelica, even though she was unable to cheat without pockets or sleeves. Besides, she would never try to cheat four men at the same time. If she lost a small amount of money, each of them would be eager to dice with her again.

  Adam St. Aubyn placed twenty chips in front of her, saying, “You can reimburse me later.”

  “Thank you, my lord,” she said.

  “Gentlemen, shall we say ladies first?” James asked.

  The three other men nodded. Everyone, including Angelica, put a chip aside.

  “What’s your main?” James asked.

  “Seven.”

  Angelica made a show of closing her eyes and shaking the dice in the palm of her hand. She tossed the dice and opened her eyes. A four and a three showed up.

  No one was more surprised than Angelica. She clapped her hands together, exclaiming, “I’ve won.”

  Each man gave her a chip worth ten pounds and then set another chip aside. She tossed the dice again. This time a four and a two showed up, giving her another chance to throw. The third toss came up three and two, and the fourth showed a six and a one.

  Smiling as the four men handed her three chips each, Angelica couldn’t believe her good luck. Too bad her father hadn’t enjoyed this luck ten years earlier. Life would have been different for her and her sisters.

  Thirty minutes later, Angelica had won two hundred pounds from each man. She looked up to see Tinker standing beside her.

  “Excuse me, my lady,” the majordomo said, passing her a folded piece of paper. “This is for you.”

  Angelica opened the paper and recognized the handwriting. It said: Need to speak with you privately. Meet me at the gazebo.

  Angelica stared at the message. It seemed urgent, b
ut what could have happened in the preceding thirty minutes?

  She was beating her enemies without cheating. Granted, ruining them would take a long, long time if the bets remained at ten pounds a throw. Still, there was nothing more exhilarating than beating someone you hated.

  Torn between staying to gamble and rushing to Robert’s side, Angelica didn’t know what to do. She hesitated for a moment and then rose from her chair.

  “I’m sorry, gentlemen,” Angelica said, glancing with regret at the pile of chips she’d won. “I’m needed elsewhere.”

  “Aren’t you going to give us a chance to recoup?” Charles Emerson asked.

  Angelica knew these men would never dice with her again if she didn’t give them the chance to recoup their losses. She turned to Adam St. Aubyn, asking, “My lord, will you take my place?”

  “I would be honored to represent you,” Adam said, stepping forward.

  “Good evening, gentlemen,” Angelica said, smiling at each in turn. “I hope we can do this again sometime.”

  Angelica quit the gaming room. She walked downstairs to the first floor and then headed down the corridor that led to the back of the mansion. She stepped outside into the duke’s garden.

  Accompanied by hundreds of glittering stars, a crescent moon hung in a black sky. Ground fog swirled around her legs up to her knees. Though torches had been lit, no couples walked about, and Angelica hesitated. The night was quiet, eerily quiet.

  Robert needs me, Angelica told herself, and forced herself to step forward. In less than five minutes, she was entering his garden.

  In the distance, Angelica could see a figure sitting in the gazebo. “Robert?” she called, her voice sounding loud in the stillness of the night.

  And then Angelica realized the figure was the woman she’d seen there before. “Hello,” she called. The woman turned in her direction and then vanished.

  Frightened, Angelica stopped short. Her heart beat rapidly, her breathing came in shallow gasps, and the hairs on the back of her neck rose up like hackles.

  Sacred sevens, the woman was a spirit. Oh, she needed to speak with her aunt.

  Intending to return to the duke’s town house, Angelica whirled around and ran straight into an immovable object. She screamed, and a hand covered her mouth.

  “It’s me.” The voice belonged to Robert.

  Angelica threw herself into his arms and hid her face against his chest. He put his arms around her and held her close, though the safety within his embrace failed to keep her stomach from churning.

  “What is wrong?” Robert asked, lifting her chin. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  “I have.”

  Robert kissed the crown of her head and said, “Angel, ghosts do not exist.”

  “That’s easy for you to say,” Angelica replied, her voice muffled against his chest. “You didn’t see her.”

  “I wanted to explain my behavior and speak to you about the girl,” Robert said, “but I think you need this more.”

  Robert tilted up her chin and kissed her. The warmth of his lips seeped into her, calming and exciting her at the same time.

  “I’m glad we followed her, Roxanne. “ This voice belonged to Duke Magnus.

  Angelica whirled around. Seeing the duke and her aunt standing there, she dropped her mouth open in surprise. Of all the bad luck—

  “Your behavior is unseemly, Angelica,” Aunt Roxie reproved her.

  “You have placed the lady in an untenable position,” Duke Magnus told his son. “You will marry her posthaste.”

  Angelica was stunned. “But nobody knows I’m here.”

  “You were seen leaving the ball,” her aunt told her.

  “What do you have to say for yourself, son?” Duke Magnus asked.

  “I have already proposed marriage,” Robert answered. “The lady refused.”

  Duke Magnus shifted his dark gaze to Angelica. “I intend to announce your betrothal to Robert tonight.”

  Angelica felt trapped, a mulish expression on her face. “I will not—”

  “Roxanne, tell her and be done with it,” Duke Magnus said, sounding irritated.

  Aunt Roxie smiled. “Darling, your tiredness and queasiness can only mean that you are with child.”

  Her words shocked Angelica. Suddenly dizzy, she swayed on her feet, but Robert steadied her and kept her from falling.

  “That is impossible,” she whispered.

  “Have you been intimate with my son?” Duke Magnus asked.

  Angelica couldn’t seem to find her voice through her humiliation. She looked from the duke to her aunt but no words came out.

  “We have been intimate several times,” Robert told his father. “Five days ago we passed the afternoon in my bed.”

  Angelica swayed on her feet again. She wished she would swoon to escape this whole situation.

  “It’s settled then,” Duke Magnus said. “You will marry after a short betrothal. I will tolerate no scandal attached to the Campbell heir.”

  “You have no control over me,” Angelica countered, accustomed to giving orders, not following them. “I am a countess.”

  “I am your legal guardian,” the duke reminded her.

  Angelica knew when she’d been trapped. It seemed as if the three of them had conspired against her, but she refused to surrender to their wishes so easily.

  “I am willing to bargain with the marquess,” Angelica told the duke.

  Duke Magnus inclined his head. “Do whatever she wants,” he ordered his son. “This marriage needs to take place almost immediately.”

  Robert turned her to face him and asked, “Angel, what is it you want?”

  When she raised her gaze to his there was no mistaking the battle lines etched across her face.

  “I will marry you only if you promise to form a relationship with Daisy.”

  Robert stared into her eyes for a long moment and then, surprisingly, smiled. “I promise to form a relationship with the child if—”

  “Dairy is her name,” Angelica interrupted him. “Use it.”

  Robert inclined his head. “Daisy, then. However, you must promise to forget your revenge.”

  Conniving bastard, Angelica thought. He knew that giving up the prospect of revenge would be impossible. She had an obligation to her parents.

  “No deal, my lord,” Angelica said, wiping the smile off his face. “Prepare yourself for another child born out of wedlock.”

  “Robert, I’m warning you . . .” the duke growled.

  “I will not allow my wife to jeopardize her health and her reputation, as well as the health of our child, by proceeding with this scheme for revenge,” Robert told his father.

  “Darling, be reasonable,” Aunt Roxie pleaded with her. “You will become the Marchioness of Argyll, the future Duchess of Inverary. Think of the status, the jewels, the glamour. Your every wish will be granted.”

  “All but one,” Angelica replied.

  “You misunderstand me,” Robert amended himself. “I will take revenge on Drinkwater, Mayhew, and Emerson in any manner I think expedient. I promise their crimes will not go unpunished.”

  Angelica knew that was the best she would get. “You have won a bride for yourself,” she said.

  Robert lifted her hand to his lips. “And a loving wife, I hope.”

  “Don’t press your luck,” Angelica said, and brushed past him, intending to return to the duke’s town house.

  Robert caught up to her and grabbed her hand. When she tried to pull out of his grasp, he said, “We need to play the loving couple, angel.”

  Angelica made no reply but allowed him to escort her back to the duke’s town house.

  “I knew they would be fabulous together,” she heard her aunt say to the duke.

  “Humph,” the duke snorted, mirroring her own feelings. “I’ll announce their betrothal before supper so she can’t change her mind.”

  Ten minutes later, Angelica stood with Robert at the foot of the ballro
om. For the second time that evening, Duke Magnus instructed the orchestra to stop playing. A sea of faces turned to look at them.

  “I have additional good news,” Duke Magnus announced, beaming with pride. “The Countess of Melrose has accepted my son’s proposal of marriage.”

  A murmur of surprise swept through the crowd. Responding to it, Angelica pasted a bright smile on her face and fixed her blue gaze on Robert instead of their guests. She hoped she looked adoring.

  Duke Magnus held up his hand in a gesture for silence. “I realize this is a bit unorthodox, but Robert and Angelica have agreed to marry in three weeks so that my own marriage to Lady Roxanne will not be delayed.”

  The crowd erupted into conversation. Someone in the crush of people applauded with approval, and others followed suit.

  And then the well-wishers surrounded Angelica and Robert. Adam St. Aubyn stood in front of her and lifted her hand to his lips. He winked at her and whispered, “I beat the others. I’ll send you a banknote in the morning.”

  “You keep it,” Angelica said, looping her hand through Robert’s arm. “I have just caught myself an exceedingly wealthy husband.”

  When Adam stepped away, Angelica scanned the ballroom and noted Venetia’s venomous glare, as well as Charles Emerson’s nauseatingly insincere smile. That smile frightened her more than his daughter’s expression of hatred.

  Chapter 16

  The bride wore a frown.

  “Angelica, darling, do stop frowning,” Aunt Roxie said. “What will our guests think?”

  “Would you prefer growling?” Angelica asked, making the duke smile.

  “Don’t encourage her,” Aunt Roxie told the duke. She turned to Angelica saying, “Today is the happiest day of your life. You should be smiling.”

  “The happiest day of my life?” Angelica echoed. “You tricked me into marrying a man who hasn’t exchanged one word with me in the past three weeks. No visits, no gifts, no notes.”

  “Perhaps the marquess feared you would cancel the wedding,” her aunt said.

  “Is that why the marquess didn’t bother with a betrothal ring?” Angelica countered. “More likely, the marquess wanted me to cancel the wedding.”

  “Be quiet,” Aunt Roxie snapped, losing patience. “I am tired of listening to you, which is probably what kept the marquess away. You’ll need to be more agreeable if you want a successful marriage.”