by Tonya Brooks
Chapter Twenty
Langford House, London, England, 1812
Knowing that Nicholas would never touch her if he knew it was her, Scarlett devised an ingenious plan. Now, she only had to rely on his reputation to pull it off. She dressed in the sweet, innocent costume her grandmother had chosen and greeted her brother and Nicholas so they'd know who to keep an eye on. Her grandmother was well pleased that she hadn't argued over the choice of costume at all.
Halfway through the evening, she used the servant’s stairs to rush up to her room, where her maid changed into the costume that Juliette had chosen. Maddy was going down to the ball in her place and since they were of a similar size, the disguise would be perfect as long as she managed to stay away from the dowager duchess.
The costume that Scarlett and Taran had chosen was scandalously revealing, and the raven colored wig hid her hair perfectly. The mask would further conceal her face from view but she'd have to make sure Nicholas didn't get a good look at her eyes. Their unusual green color would be a dead giveaway. Once the two women were dressed, she rejoined the party in a completely different guise.
Now, she just had to employ the same seduction skills that Nicholas had taught her to avoid. It hadn't been hard to catch his eye. She merely stood on the opposite side of the room and stared at him. As if he felt her watching him, he looked at her and she saw a slow, sensuous smile touch his lips when she looked him over from head to toe, as if she were undressing him.
Her own smile matched his because her plan was working so far. She saw him move toward her and began playing a game of cat and mouse with him as she maneuvered her way toward the doors leading out to the garden. Like any predator, she knew Nicholas enjoyed the chase, especially since he rarely had the opportunity, as women threw themselves at him constantly.
As she reached the open French doors, she glanced flirtatiously over her shoulder to where he should have been, but Nicholas wasn't there. Scarlett moved behind the fronds of a palm to look intently around the room for him and was vexed to discover that her prey had disappeared. Damnation. He had been right behind her. Where could he have gone? If another woman had caught his eye, she'd snatch the hussy bald.
“Looking for me?” A dark, sensual voice whispered from behind, sending a shiver down her spine.
A thrill of pleasure filled her. So, the predator had been stalking her after all. Nicholas had slipped out another set of doors and used the veranda to sneak up behind her. Instead of turning to face him, she glanced back over her shoulder and replied, “Oui, Monsieur.” In an effort to disguise her voice, Scarlett spoke French, a language he had helped her to master.
Nicholas switched to flawless French as well. “Look no more, Cherie,” he said as he took her arm and led her out into the slightly chilly night air of the garden. They walked along the balustrade until they were hidden from view by shadows. His obsidian gaze was intent on her face when he asked, “Have we met, Mademoiselle?”
“No, Monsieur,” she denied softly, a seductive smile curving her lips. “But names are not important between you and I,” she denied and boldly placed her hand against his chest, her body leaning closer to his, her face turned up for his kiss.
A decidedly wicked smile quirked his lips. “Then what is, Cherie?” He queried as he lifted her gloved hand from his chest and pressed his lips against the pulse at the inside of her wrist.
“A man. A woman. The moonlight,” she said in a husky tone brought on by his touch and her own breathlessness. Excitement was pounding through her veins heavily. She had ached to feel his lips on hers again, and tonight she was going to be seduced by the Rake of Ryder. “What more could one ask for?”
“Privacy,” he concluded and opened the French doors behind them that led into Devlin's darkened study. Nicholas's smile was practically wolfish as he hauled her flush against him and kissed her while backing her into the room and then kicked the door closed behind him. Once inside, he continued backing her to the sofa that faced the fireplace, lowered them both onto it and murmured silkily, “Now, where were we,” before he ravished her mouth with his.
Scarlett's heart had been pounding with anticipation that her plan was going to succeed, as well as a healthy dose of fear that she'd be found out, but every thought flew out of her head when his lips touched hers. She melted against him like warm honey, her arms going around him as she clung to his broad shoulders and returned the kiss hungrily.
Kissing Nicholas again, feeling his solid weight pressing down on her softer curves, his hands caressing her body through the thin silky material that separated them, was everything she had hoped it would be, and more.
“Ah, Cherie,” he breathed against her neck, his lips trailing down to the breasts his masterful hands had already uncovered. “You are magnifique.”
When his mouth closed over one taut nipple, she gasped in shocked delight, a purr of pleasure rising up in her throat. Her fingers delved into the thickness of his hair, pressing his mouth closer against her sensitive flesh, her body arching into his in sensual abandon. “Nicky,” she breathed huskily, completely forgetting to speak in French, as well as everything except his touch.
The sound of a match striking was followed by a sardonic voice saying, “Ya know, Nick. You'd think a man could expect a measure of privacy in his own study.”
Nicholas dropped his forehead against her chest in resignation. “Don't suppose you'd be willing to leave, Dev?” He asked hopefully.
~~~~~
“Don't suppose I would,” was agreed dryly as Devlin leaned forward to light the lamp on the corner of his desk. He had been sitting there all along and decided to announce his presence before his old friend got too involved in his seduction.
~~~~~
Soft light filtered across the room, but the back of the sofa faced the desk, so the couple was still hidden from view. Nicholas looked down at her beautiful breasts in genuine regret. He placed a tender kiss on each one and slowly pulled the corset and bodice back into place. “My apologies, Cherie,” he said tenderly and caressed her cheek with his knuckles. “It seems our delightful interlude has come to an end. For now.”
~~~~~
Scarlett's heart was pounding like the galloping hooves of a runaway team. At least one part of her plan had succeeded, and the moment of truth had arrived. When Nicholas levered himself off of her in one fluid movement, he took her hand and lifted her up into a sitting position. The wig she was wearing tumbled free as did the mass of fiery tresses. Both men’s shocked exclamations sounded in the silence as she slid the mask from her face and rose unsteadily.
“Thank you, Nicky,” she said with a sultry smile, the emerald eyes dark and glazed with desire. “My dear brother can now attest that I'm no longer marriageable.”
Looking every bit as fierce and menacing as the portrait of their long ago ancestor, Devlin rose slowly and walked toward them, his eyes blazing furiously. “Well, you've done it now, Scarlett,” was decreed ominously. “You'll be married as soon as it can be arranged.”
“The devil I will,” she shot back indignantly.
“You will!” He thundered, five hundred years of undisputed authority resounding in his tone.
Scarlett crossed her arms over her chest and informed him smugly, “Nicky won't marry me.”
“The hell he won't!” Her brother shot back, not even bothering to look at his friend for confirmation or denial.
“Tell him no, Nicky,” she urged in complete confidence that he would comply with her request.
“Can't do it, kitten,” he denied.
“Yes, you can,” she insisted and whirled around to glare at him.
Nicholas met her look evenly and admitted, “You're compromised and I'm responsible.”
“Don't you dare think about being honorable now, you blasted rake!” Scarlett shouted furiously.
“Don't have a hell of a lot of choice,” he reminded her bluntly. “We've been caught in the act.”
“I’m still a blasted
virgin,” she snapped and was none too pleased about the fact.
“A few more minutes and you wouldn’t have been,” he assured her bluntly.
“That is entirely beside the point,” Scarlett insisted and didn’t even bother to try to deny the claim. “Nothing happened, therefore you do not have to marry me.”
“Yes, he does,” her brother growled.
Scarlett simply could not believe the two of them were going to try to force her into marriage. Not that she'd mind being married to Nicholas. Hell, that was exactly what she wanted. But not if he'd been forced into it, dammit. Honor and pride be dammed, her heart wouldn't allow it. “I won't marry him,” she declared stubbornly.
~~~~~
“Oh, but you will,” Devlin said in a silkily menacing tone that was all the more dangerous for its softness. As long as the duke was roaring, he could be reasoned with, but when he spoke softly, it usually meant someone was going to die. Grown men had been known to quake with fear at that tone, and with good reason. Unfortunately, it didn't even faze his headstrong sister.
“I won't do it, Dev, and there's not a damn thing you can do to make me.”
“You think not?” He demanded implacably. “I can exile you to that moldering old castle of yours on Montvale Island. The one with no horses, no children, and no friends to wreak havoc with. Just you and a handful of servants trapped on that chunk of rock surrounded by ocean.”
~~~~~
“You wouldn't,” she gasped in shock, horrified that he'd even threaten her with such a thing. The worst part was that he had the power to do it. As her guardian, Devlin had the legal right to dictate where she lived, as well as complete control of her fortune until she turned twenty-one or married. No one could override his decisions about her. Not even their grandmother.
His smile was a mere baring of teeth. “Try me.”
“Damn you,” Scarlett choked and sank miserably onto the sofa, her hands fisted in her lap as she fought the tears that she refused to shed. Devlin had her backed into a corner with no way out. Her only hope was that when his temper cooled down, he'd relent and not hold her to this ridiculous decree.
“Now that we've got that settled, we'll join our guests and make the announcement,” he informed her.
Her head snapped up and huge green eyes were imploring as she exclaimed, “Tonight?”
~~~~~
“Most definitely tonight.” There was no way he was going to let the little minx think she could wiggle her way out of this. Scarlett had to learn that there were consequences for her rash actions and he couldn't think of a better way to accomplish it.
“You can't parade me in front of the ton dressed like this.”
Devlin had to give her credit for that. As a stalling tactic, it was one he could not argue with. The provocatively designed dress was barely decent and nowhere near proper for a chaste young woman of virtue to be seen in since it left damn little of his sister's voluptuous figure to the imagination. But that didn't mean he was going to let her get away with it either.
“I'll escort you up to your room so you can change and then we'll make the announcement.”
“Grand’Mere will have a fit,” she pointed out in desperation. “You know she'd much prefer to arrange an engagement ball and announce it there.”
“I don't give a damn what Duchy's opinion is,” he snapped. “Stop stalling, Scarlett. The announcement will be made tonight.”
She surged to her feet and pleaded, “Dammit, Dev, at least wait until you've calmed down so we can discuss this rationally.”
Having said all he intended to, Devlin rounded the sofa, took her by the arm and led her up the servants stairs to her room where he commanded, “Send for your maid. You have fifteen minutes.”
“She's... in the ballroom. In my costume,” Scarlett confessed miserably.
Devlin muttered a curse, walked down the hall and opened the door to his grandmother’s room. “Beatrix. Come with me,” he commanded the startled maid. He ushered her into his sisters room to order, “Have her dressed in less than fifteen minutes.” That said, he snapped the door shut, sat down in a chair in the hallway and waited impatiently.
When the door opened again, his sister stood there wearing a sullen expression and a beautiful pale bronze gown, her hair artfully arranged in a simple yet elegant style. All evidence of the provocative seductress was gone and in her place was a woman filled with sensual innocence.
He rose, took her arm and said, “I suggest you smile, minx. You're going to be the Duchess of Ryder. There's not a woman in that ballroom that wouldn't trade places with you, and you know it.”
~~~~~
Scarlett bit back a scathing retort as Nicholas was waiting for them on the landing. Even as angry as she was with him right then, she knew it wasn't his fault. She was the one who had tricked him, and thoroughly, albeit unintentionally, trapped them in this hellish fix. Now they were both going to suffer for her foolishness. Unable to meet his eyes, she allowed Nicholas to take her arm and lead her back toward the ballroom.
~~~~~
The Duke of Langford made his way to the orchestra dais and stood before his guests to make the announcement guaranteed to leave shock waves reverberating through the ton before dawn. “Ladies and Gentlemen. It is my great pleasure to share with you a betrothal that will not only unite two very old and revered families in marriage, but astound everyone present.”
The crowd began to buzz loudly with excitement at this titillating claim and Devlin's smile became quite devilish. “I see I have your complete attention now,” he teased and the guests in the ballroom below him tittered even louder. “So, without further ado, I am honored to announce the engagement of...” he paused for dramatic effect and the crowd literally held their collective breath in expectation. “...my lovely sister, Lady Scarlett.”
This time he had no choice but to pause, as the ladies began gasping and exclaiming, while the men howled their displeasure at the news. “To the only man I would entrust with such a treasure.” Every person in the room waited with bated breath to find out who the lucky bastard was that had won her hand. “His Grace, Nicholas, Duke of Ryder.”
~~~~~
A collective gasp of shock went up as every eye in the room veered to the couple slowly descending the staircase. And what a striking couple they made. With that black hair and midnight eyes in what could only be described as the face of a fallen angel, Nicholas Branvill was quite possibly the most handsome man who'd ever lived.
His bride-to-be certainly equaled him in looks. That flaming mane of hair was swept up on the sides with ornate combs while fiery curls cascaded down her back, and the exotic emerald eyes flashed with an inner fire.
The announcement had indeed astounded everyone present. The men could scarcely believe that Ryder was willing to give up his bachelorhood, or that Langford was actually going to allow his sister to marry such a rakehell, even if they were the best of friends. Of course, not a one of them had any doubts as to why he would want her. Lady Scarlett was simply stunning, and he was a connoisseur of beautiful women after all.
The women were vexed that the handsome young duke had chosen a bride and dashed their own hopes that one of them might catch his eye. Naturally, any woman in her right mind would be overjoyed to marry such a handsome man, with or without the title, but the lady in question didn't look exactly pleased with the deal which was even more confusing.
One of Scarlett’s suitors pompously informed another guest that as a trusted member of the lady’s inner circle, he had been privy to the betrothal days ago. He went on to explain that the pair had been betrothed since she was a child and the gossip and speculation flew like wildfire around the crowded ballroom.
~~~~~
Juliette met the couple at the foot of the stairs, thrilled to her very soul that all of her efforts had finally come to fruition. She smiled happily at the young man and said warmly, “Welcome to the family, Nicholas.”
“Well, if I couldn't have you,
Duchy, how could I resist your granddaughter?” He teased and kissed her cheek.
“An excellent choice, Scarlett,” she said approvingly as she embraced the younger woman.
“But not mine, Grand’Mere,” Scarlett hissed angrily. “Dev is forcing me.”
Juliette was truly shocked at that announcement. There was only one reason why Devlin would force his sister into marriage against her will. It looked like her plan to leave them alone together had worked and the minx had managed to get herself compromised. “Oh, dear lord. Scarlett, what have you done?” She asked with a worried frown and fought to hide her glee.
~~~~~
Taran hadn't needed to ask any questions. One look at her cousin’s face had told her everything she needed to know. Scarlett's plan had worked, and Nicholas had discovered who she was. As honor dictated, he was insisting that they marry. The odd thing was that neither he, nor Devlin, looked terribly perturbed at the idea. In fact, both men looked rather pleased with themselves, while Scarlett looked fit to be tied. Oh, dear. This was not good.
~~~~~
Nicholas couldn't have been more pleased with the outcome of his little tryst, but he knew his bride-to-be did not feel the same way. However, he was confident that he could sway Scarlett to his way of thinking once he turned on the charm and began courting the lady. She was finally his, and in the end, that was all that mattered.
Chapter Twenty One
Devil's Keep, England, 1804
The ten-year-old girl was sprawled across the floor of the study, patiently stacking blocks for her nephew to jump with his wooden horse. Alasdair's aim wasn't all that great yet, so he kept galloping the much loved toy into the barricade instead of over it. “Come on, Dare. You can do it,” Scarlett encouraged.
“Remind you of anything?” Nicholas asked his old friend in amusement.
“Like it was yesterday,” Devlin agreed as he poured them both a glass of brandy.