‘Am I pursuing her?’
‘I pray you will not fence with me. You are, and I cannot think what you hope to accomplish by doing so. I can understand your desire for revenge, but I pray you will not use Chloe to accomplish it.’
‘And how do you know my purpose is for revenge? She is a lovely girl and I am in need of a wife. There is no reason why she would not make a suitable duchess.’
Her blood ran cold. ‘No. You cannot possibly consider such a thing. You would make her miserable. If your purpose is to punish me then I wish you would do so directly.’
She took a deep breath. ‘When I met you, two nights ago, you said I owed you a debt and you told me what you considered payment. I will give you what you ask if you will promise to leave Chloe alone.’
‘You do understand what I want, do you not?’ He had moved closer to her and she resisted the urge to back up.
‘I believe you wish me to…to spend a night with you,’ she said calmly.
‘A night? Not precisely. If you recall, I was to have you for a week. But of course, there is interest which by now is quite considerable.’
‘What is it you want?’ She could barely speak.
‘I want you to be my mistress until the end of the Season.’
The world seemed to spin for a moment. She felt as unfocused as if she had sustained a blow. Her vision cleared. ‘Until the end of the Season? I…I cannot do that.’
‘Then I will continue my pursuit of your sister-in-law. You might consider that although you object, Lord Ralston does not. And he is her guardian, not you.’
Dear God. She could perhaps bear one night, but how could she stand to come to him night after night? But if she did not, Chloe would pay for her debts, just as Lucien had made Justin pay for the wrong done his father. Another innocent would suffer. And that she could not bear at all.
She looked into his cool, haughty face and took a breath. ‘Very well, your Grace. I will be your mistress until the end of the Season. But I want a contract outlining the terms.’
He frowned. ‘A contract? Do you want my solicitor to draw it up?’
‘No! I…I don’t want any one to know about this. I will prepare the papers myself.’
‘Will you? If no one knows, then how do you know I won’t cheat you? Once you come to me, the advantage will all be on my side.’
‘I will trust that you won’t.’ Her gaze did not waver from his face.
‘Will you?’ An odd expression appeared in his eyes. ‘I will call on you tomorrow. We will discuss the terms then. And you must hope I will prove to be more trustworthy than you.’
She bit her lip. ‘I must return to the drawing room before my in-laws worry.’
‘Yes.’ He looked at her, his eyes darkening and her breath caught. For a moment, she thought he was about to kiss her and then he pulled away. ‘You are right, you had best go.’ His voice was cold.
She left him without looking back.
Belle stared at the paper in front of her. She usually spent Tuesday mornings in her study, answering her correspondence and going over her accounts. She supposed she was over-cautious but Lucien had never paid attention to such things. He had left behind a mound of debts after his death. The dowry she had brought to her marriage was gone; spent on gaming and horses and jewels. Even after she had sold everything she could, there had been more bills. If the former Lord Ralston had not stepped in, she had no doubt she would have ended up in debtors’ prison, for until she turned four and twenty, she had had no money of her own.
But today she had not even glanced at the business that awaited her. She had spent the morning on something else entirely. Even after wasting several sheets of paper, she still was not certain she was pleased with the results. She rubbed her neck and then nearly jumped when the footman appeared in the door of the small room. She looked up. ‘Yes?’
She did not even need to look at the calling card he carried to know who it was. ‘The Duke of Westmore is below.’
She stared at him, her heart starting to pound, and then realised he still waited expectantly. ‘Please, show him up.’
She shoved the paper aside she had been working on since she had risen far too early and, after a moment of hesitation, placed a dictionary on top of it. The last thing she wanted was to have him catch a glimpse of the contract before she presented it to him. She rose, feeling as if she waited for her executioner. Surely he didn’t plan to seduce her in the middle of the morning. Not that she knew a thing about how these affairs were arranged.
His footsteps sounded outside the door and then he stood in the doorway. Her mind suddenly went blank.
He spoke. ‘Good day, Belle.’
She started. ‘Your Grace. Please, come in.’
He stepped into the room and she knew it was a mistake to have him here. For some reason the thought of discussing such business in the drawing room seemed inappropriate, but the study seemed to shrink with his presence.
He came towards her. He was dressed in a dark coat and buff breeches, his cravat starched and tied in an elaborate knot. She backed up against the desk, her eyes on his face. He stopped in front of her and his brow shot up. ‘There is no need to look so frightened. I have no intention of ravishing you at this moment. In general, I prefer more comfortable surroundings.’
‘Oh. Of course.’ She felt a flush steal to her cheeks in spite of her efforts to remain composed. ‘Will you not be seated? Would you care for refreshment?’
‘No, refreshments are not necessary.’ He remained standing and she hastily seated herself in the chair behind her desk. He moved around the side of it to the window at her back and although he appeared to be merely observing the view, he had neatly blocked her in. And he was still standing, which gave him an unfair advantage. He looked down at her. ‘Have you changed your mind since last night?’
She stood again, hoping to feel less intimidated. ‘No. Have you?’
‘No.’
‘Very well. I have drawn up the contract. If you would care to look at it.’ She reached for the dictionary and moved it, then picked up the paper.
She held it out to him and he looked at her face for a moment before taking it. He moved away from the window and she folded her arms, her eyes on him as she waited in silence for him to finish. He had changed. His shoulders were broader and tapered to narrow hips. The youthful handsomeness of his face had matured into an arresting maleness. She felt a peculiar tremble go through her. Since Lucien’s death she had never thought about lying in a man’s arms again. She had wanted to forget that part of her marriage along with the rest of it.
All last night, as she’d tossed and turned, and again this morning when she had sat and written the contract, she had tried to put the physical intimacy aside. But now with Justin standing in front of her, the full implication of what she had agreed to hit her.
She tore her gaze away. Oh, lord. Could she really do this? But what choice did she have? None if she wished to protect Chloe. Just as Lucien had wanted payment for the wrong done his father, Justin wanted payment for the wrong done to him. She was the one to pay.
‘I must compliment you.’ His voice broke into her thoughts. ‘This would put my solicitor’s contracts to shame. However, there are one or two points I would like to discuss.’
She eyed him with more than a little apprehension. ‘What are those?’
‘You stated you would spend no more than three occasions a week in my company. I want to increase that.’
Her cheeks coloured. ‘I would think that would be enough time to…to conduct our business. I cannot spend all of my time doing that and I am certain you have other things to do as well.’
For the first time, a hint of amusement crossed his face. ‘But none as pleasurable.’
‘Perhaps for you!’ Her cheeks must be on fire.
He stared at her and a rather wicked smile touched his mouth. ‘I intend to see our meetings are pleasurable for you as well.’
‘I…’ She swallowe
d and wished she had held her tongue. She did not want him to flirt with her. She wanted him to be cool and controlled. And passionless. Just as she intended to be. ‘Three times a week is enough for me,’ she managed to say.
‘But I will want your company for other things.’
‘What other things?’
He shrugged. ‘To attend the opera or the theatre. Perhaps Vauxhall. Or to drive with me.’
‘But why? I cannot imagine why you would wish to spend any more time with me than you must.’ She had not expected this. She had thought they would meet clandestinely and then pretend they hardly knew one another in public.
His expression cooled. ‘I wish to make it very clear you are mine.’
‘I see.’ She moved away from him. ‘You wish to publicly shame me. But I fear you will hurt my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law as well. And perhaps your own family. Surely they will not be pleased that I am in your company.’
‘No, but it will tell society that you do not hold me responsible for your husband’s death.’
‘Will it? And will I have paid my debt—Lucien’s debt—at the end of the Season? Because I do not want to pay forever. Nor do I want my sister-in-law or any one other person to pay as well.’
‘It will be paid.’
She took a deep breath. ‘Very well. How often do you want my company?’
‘Three nights a week and for other occasions as I demand.’
‘I will not be at your beck and call, your Grace.’ She lifted her chin and met his eyes squarely. ‘If I am available I will consider your request, but I certainly have no intention of ordering my life around your convenience.’
His eyes never left hers. ‘Then three nights a week and two other occasions at my request. Any more than that will be at your convenience.’ His voice held a note of mockery.
She had not realised she was holding her breath. ‘That will be acceptable. Do you wish to add the amendments or should I? Then I suggest we sign the contract. I have made two copies.’
He gave a short surprised laugh. ‘I had no idea your mind ran along such damnably methodical lines. How many of these contracts have you drawn up?’
She gave him a cold look. ‘None. But I have read enough contracts to know what they should contain. If it were possible, I have often thought I would like to study law.’
‘I’ve no doubt you would do admirably. I have always thought you were one of the most intelligent women of my acquaintance.’
The words seemed to surprise him as much as they did her. For a moment, they stared at one another and then she looked away, oddly unsettled. He took a pace towards the mantelpiece before looking at her. ‘You may add the amendments. We will sign them tonight when you come to dine with me.’
She faltered. ‘Dine with you? Tonight?’
‘Yes. I see no reason to delay.’
‘But…’ Her stomach had started to knot again. ‘I have promised Chloe and my mother-in-law that I would accompany them to Lady Fairfield’s rout and then there is some other affair after that.’
‘Lady Montgomery’s soirée. I assure you both affairs will be dead bores. You will be much better off dining with me.’
A little smile had touched his mouth and for a moment she was swept back into the time before he had come to hate her. Regret and a bittersweet longing shot through her. ‘Will I?’
His smile faded. ‘Yes. Can you cry off? The sooner you fulfil your terms the sooner I will fulfil mine.’
She understood his meaning perfectly. She took a deep breath. ‘Very well. I will dine with you tonight.’
‘I will send a carriage for you at eight.’
She frowned. ‘I can take my own.’
‘It will be less obvious if I send one of mine.’
She raised her brow. ‘I hardly think a carriage with a ducal crest would be less obvious.’
He scowled. ‘I have a plain, unmarked carriage.’
‘The one you always use for your mistresses?’
‘No.’ His voice had lost all trace of warmth and he moved towards her. ‘I will see you tonight, Belle.’ His gaze went to her face and then strayed to her lips. For a moment, just as she had last night, she thought he would kiss her. Instead, he backed away. ‘Goodbye.’
She watched him leave the room and heard his footsteps echoing down the hall. She had no idea what to think. None of it made sense at all.
Chapter Three
Belle followed the housekeeper into the drawing room. The lamps had been lit and cast a warm glow around the elegant room. The housekeeper, a stocky woman with greying hair and a brisk manner, regarded her with a not unkind expression. ‘His Grace will be with you soon. Please be seated, my lady.’
Belle managed a thank-you and took the nearest chair. She pulled her cloak more tightly around her and watched the stout woman bustle away. She took a deep breath and tried to force herself to be calm, but her heart was beating as fast and loudly as the clock on the mantelpiece.
She had told Chloe and Maria that she feared she was developing the headache…which was not exactly untrue, for an acute attack of nerves was doing just that. A particular spot at the back of her neck had started to ache, a sure sign of an impending headache. She had not even considered using that as an excuse to avoid Justin tonight for she doubted he would believe her and for the most part her headaches were infrequent and usually not very bad. So, promptly at eight, she had climbed into the comfortable coach and after an all-too-brief ride through the streets of London, had arrived at his townhouse.
She rubbed her neck and closed her eyes for a moment. What was she doing here? No, she knew exactly what she was doing. She was paying off the enormous wrong Lucien had done Justin. And she was protecting Chloe. She had tried to tell herself that surely she could endure his touch. She could endure anything after marriage to Lucien where she had learned to shut her mind far away from what happened to her body. She opened her eyes. It would not do to think of such things now.
The ticking of the clock only increased her apprehension. She finally rose and went to look at the landscape over the mantelpiece.
‘Good evening.’
Her heart slammed to her throat. She whirled around to find Justin behind her. ‘I did not hear you!’
Slight amusement showed in his face. ‘You seemed to be engrossed in the painting.’
Her mouth suddenly went dry. ‘It is fascinating. Is it of the Yorkshire moors?’
He looked a little surprised. ‘Yes. Have you been there?’
‘Once. With my parents when I was twelve. They wanted to tour some of the more remote parts of the kingdom and so we went to Yorkshire and even to Northumberland. I especially remember the moors. They looked so wild and I instantly thought of Udolpho.’ It was the last trip she had taken with her parents before they died and she went to live with her grandmother.
‘You were allowed to read such a work then?’
‘Well, no. Mama was very strict about such things. A young lady on the neighbouring estate loaned me her copy and I read it in great secrecy whenever I could manage. As well as several other romances.’
His mouth curved in a smile. ‘I had no idea you were a secret romantic.’
‘I was. Once.’ The smile made her catch her breath. Oh, lord. The last thing she wanted was to feel some sort of attraction towards him.
‘But no longer.’
‘No.’
The smile faded. ‘We can dine in my apartments.’ His voice was impersonal. She nodded. The coolness had returned to his face, thank goodness. He made no move to touch her as they left the drawing room and passed through the hallway. They went up the tall winding staircase to the floor above. The house was quiet and their footsteps were a soft pad on the rugs. He pushed open a door to a room and allowed her to precede him. She stepped in and saw it was a large sitting room. In one corner was a long table covered with papers. A sofa flanked one side of the fireplace.
She stood in the room, having no idea what to do. He ca
me up behind her and his hands were on her shoulders. Belle jumped and then froze.
‘I am only intending to take your cloak,’ he said. ‘Don’t run.’
She stood perfectly still as he removed the garment from her shoulders. His fingers brushed her nape and she shivered. But she had no idea whether it was from fear or something else.
He draped her cloak over a chair. Despite the modest cut of her gown she felt exposed. But his expression was still polite when he looked at her.
‘Would you like something to drink?’ he asked. ‘Wine?’
She almost refused and then decided that perhaps it was exactly what she needed. She watched as he strode across the room to the wine, which sat on a table. He poured two glasses then came back and gave one to her. Her hand was not quite steady as she took it.
‘I wasn’t certain if you would come tonight,’ he said.
‘Why? I told you I would be here.’
‘You must be very fond of Lady Chloe.’
‘She is like a sister to me. I would not see her hurt for the world.’ She looked at him. ‘Or Lady Ralston.’
He was silent for a moment and then his gaze moved to the papers she still held in one hand. His brow rose slightly. ‘The contract?’
‘Yes. I would like you to sign it before we…we…’
‘Dine?’
‘Yes.’ Colour tinged her cheeks.
‘Come and sit down, then.’ He held out one chair at the table. She sat down and he took the chair across from her. She gave him the paper then took a nervous sip from her wine, watching him as he perused the document. He finally looked up. ‘It seems to be in order.’
‘Should we sign the contracts, your Grace?’ She attempted to keep her voice detached as if the papers merely contained the terms for the sale of a piece of property.
‘Yes. Although I am beginning to think we need to clarify that you are to call me by my given name. Under the circumstances, “your Grace” does not seem appropriate.’
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