“Damn the man’s impudence! Anyway, why didn’t you set Mulligan on him?”
She hesitated. “I thought about it but was worried that Salik might kick him.”
“Oh, Clarissa! What am I to do with you?”
In answer to his own question, he kissed her, all his anger seemingly spent.
“Anyway, what did he want?” he asked when he broke the kiss.
“To offer me a roof over my head.”
“At what price? No, don’t answer that, I can well imagine. Are you all right? Did he harm you in any way?”
“I’m fine. I’ll admit that he frightened me with his vehemence, but nothing more than that.”
Luc examined her face and sighed. “He frightened you that much, but you still put Mulligan’s welfare before your own?”
Clarissa shrugged. “If you’d not returned when you did I might have released him after all. Salik is a very bitter man. Dangerous too. But he desperately wants people to think well of him and be admitted to society. That could be a weakness in his character which we could somehow exploit.”
“Whatever happens, he’ll never have a place within the ton. Now come here and let me make you feel better.”
Clarissa didn’t need to be invited twice. She moved into the circle of his arms, strong arms that cradled her protectively against him as his lips covered hers. His kiss was possessive, crushing, and prolonged. It was also heated and desperate, the passion that always simmered between them threatening to spiral out of control. Luc, appearing to recognise the fact, ended the kiss with obvious reluctance.
“That clipper has got to arrive soon,” he said through clenched teeth, “or I’ll go out of my mind.”
Clarissa didn’t need to ask him what he was referring to. “We don’t have to wait,” she eventually found the courage to say, looking him squarely in the eye.
“Yes, we do.” His smile touched her as gently as a tender caress. “I require your full attention, and you can’t relax now, not with everything you have on your mind.” He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “But if that damned boat doesn’t get here soon, I swear I shall lose what little is left of my sanity.”
Clarissa laughed, enjoying the power she wielded over this seasoned sophisticate. “I hear the accommodation in Bedlam is remarkably comfortable, nowadays.”
He growled at her and tweaked her nose. “I must go and deal with those two now.”
He indicated the door to the hall, behind which Simms and Bentley were awaiting his wrath.
“Oh, Luc, don’t be angry with them. It wasn’t their fault.”
He made no reply, settling for giving her another brief kiss before leaving the room. She could hear his voice bellowing to Simms and Bentley to attend him in the library — immediately!
Chapter Fifteen
Clarissa and the countess returned home late the following morning, having carried out another exhausting round of social nothingness that had nearly driven Clarissa demented. She knew her aunt meant well, but she was finding it harder than ever to endure the constant gossip and speculative glances that were cast in her direction whenever Luc’s name was mentioned.
Simms approached and handed Clarissa a note from Luc. She tore it open impatiently and scanned its contents.
Clarissa,
I’m glad to be able to report news of the Andomino at last. She put into Portsmouth last night. She was indeed caught in the violent storms that were reported, and sustained damage both to her main mast and to her rudder, thus making it impossible for her to navigate as far as the Port of London.
By the time you read this note, Felix and I will be well on our way to Portsmouth. I know you’ll be disappointed not to accompany us, but you must see that it would be impossible. Rest assured that we will conclude our business swiftly and return to you by Friday.
Try not to worry. I’m confident that we will obtain information to further our cause, and that can only lead, at last, to one conclusion for us.
I long for you and will not keep you waiting. You have my word and my heart.
Luc
Clarissa was so angry at being excluded that, at first, she ignored the contradictory emotions the second part of Luc’s note stirred within her. What could he mean by it? Well, obviously she understood what he meant, but why was he offering his heart as well as everything else? He knew she intended to return to Northumberland and they were unlikely to see one another again. She wasn’t a young girl, so unsure of herself that she required false promises.
But she didn’t dwell upon his motives. Instead she fought to control her fulminating anger. He had promised that she could accompany him when he interviewed the mate of the Andomino, but once again he’d arrogantly assumed he knew what was best for her. She supposed he was protecting her reputation, but she cared little for such matters. Besides, she could have taken Agnes with her.
Had Aunt Marcia not been observing her so closely she would have stamped her foot, let forth with a litany of curses, or hurled the nearest object through the window — anything to relieve the feelings of utter ineffectiveness that churned within her. Accepting that she was powerless to do anything about the situation, Clarissa resolved to address a few choice words to his lordship when he deigned to return home.
The following morning the timely arrival of Suzanna saved Clarissa the trouble of pleading to be excused from a proposed shopping expedition with Aunt Marcia. It seemed that she had some business to attend to at the orphanage and wondered if Clarissa would care to accompany her.
“With pleasure, Suzanna!”
“Ah, good. Luc thought you most likely would.”
“Luc asked you to take me along?”
“Oh no, nothing like that exactly.” Suzanna’s vague manner, so akin to her mother’s, caused Clarissa to smile in spite of herself. “He just happened to stop by with Felix yesterday on their way to Portsmouth on some escapade or other, and mentioned a meeting at the orphanage which I could attend in his stead. He said you might like to accompany me. To keep it in the family, so to speak.”
“Did he, indeed?”
What in the name of Hades did Luc think he was about? She was not part of the family, but both Marcia and Suzanna were daily treating her more and more as though she were. She mentally added this aspect of his high-handed behaviour to the growing list of grievances she held against him.
Friday afternoon brought the dreadful Emily Stokes and her friend Mary to Grosvenor Square, with the promised donation for the orphanage. Suzanna and Louisa happened to be visiting their mother at the time, and Clarissa could sense that they, too, held Mrs. Stokes in scant regard. But her donation was indeed generous, and the ladies clearly felt that whatever her motives for making it, some gratitude on their part was called for.
Clarissa watched it all with barely contained amusement. Emily was being charming to Luc’s mother and sisters and issued an invitation to the whole family to attend a party she was shortly to give. She even inclined her head in Clarissa’s direction and included her…unless, of course, she’d left London by then? Had not Emily heard that her departure was imminent? It amused Clarissa to observe the woman’s satisfaction when she confirmed that would probably be the case.
Emily’s attention, when not directed toward Luc’s mother, was constantly upon the door. She couldn’t actually ask if Luc was in the house but clearly hoped that he would join them at any moment. Eventually, though, even she seemed to realise that she’d stretched her visit beyond the bounds of politeness and began to speak of leaving. As she rose to do so the door opened to admit Luc and Felix. Emily promptly re-seated herself and offered him her sweetest smile.
“Mrs. Stokes called to make a very generous donation to the orphanage,” the countess explained.
“I’m sure the children will be grateful,” Luc said in a languid tone that implied disinterest.
“Oh, they are such darling creatures! One could hardly do less.”
Luc didn’t reply. He and Felix helped
themselves to tea, and ignoring Emily’s continued attempts to monopolise their attention, Luc turned toward Clarissa. In a low tone he advised her that their journey had been a success. The ship’s officer was indeed a native of the business district of Alexandria and knew the area exceedingly well. The street in which the advocate’s office was supposedly situated, and at which the will had been drawn up twenty years ago, had burned down more than five years before that. The mate was adamant that the advocate hadn’t recommenced trade at alternative premises. Although only a boy himself at the time, his father had helped to fight the fire and had often spoken with regret about the livelihoods that had been wiped out by the cruel destruction.
Clarissa was so overcome with relief that she exclaimed aloud, clapping her hands in delight, all thoughts of upbraiding Luc for his behaviour temporarily forgotten. So beside herself was she that she failed to notice Emily Stokes moving about the room, making no attempt to hide the fact that she was listening to their conversation.
“What does all this mean? Are we now in a position to refute the claim?”
“Indeed, we are. At our meeting with Twining on Monday we’ll make him privy to our knowledge, but before then we must decide what action we intend to take against him and Salik.”
“What are you three conferring about?” Emily asked.
Clarissa looked at her in annoyance, wondering how much she’d heard. She had no wish for her affairs to become a matter for public discussion.
“A business matter,” Luc said when it became apparent that she had no intention of leaving them.
“Oh, don’t speak of stuffy business dealings now, I beg of you. Let’s discuss more pleasant matters. Are you to attend Lady Sinclair’s soiree this evening, Luc? I do hope you will save me a dance.”
“Unlikely on both counts.” Luc smiled intimately at Clarissa. “I have very different plans for this evening.”
Felix, ever the peacemaker, stepped in. “Were you about to leave, Emily? No chance of a lift, I suppose?”
“Yes, of course, Felix.” Stony faced, Emily took her leave, looking daggers in Luc’s direction as she did so.
Luc did escort Clarissa and his mother to Lady Sinclair’s that evening, but ignored Emily Stokes to the point of rudeness. He danced with no one but Clarissa and didn’t leave her side once throughout the evening. They discussed at great length all that Luc had learned from his visit to Portsmouth and agreed upon their strategy for their visit to Twining on Monday.
In spite of Luc’s most earnest entreaties however, Clarissa couldn’t be persuaded to bring charges against Twining and Salik. She maintained that word of mouth would be sufficient to damage Twining’s business beyond repair and that Salik would have no choice but to return to Egypt empty-handed. She was so deliriously happy that her fears for her future were at an end that she felt she could afford to be magnanimous.
Knowing her as well as he was beginning to, Luc wasn’t surprised by her attitude. Besides, tonight there was an indefinable air of anticipation smouldering between them that made it impossible for him to concentrate on his reasons in favour of prosecution. Somehow he didn’t seem to be able to formulate his arguments with his customary logic. He organised his thoughts carefully enough, but the moment he looked at Clarissa’s lovely face he drowned in the depths of her translucent eyes and was lost to all reason. Her expression was expectant, trustful, and intimately enticing, causing him to forget exactly what it was he’d been planning to say and why he’d deemed it so important in the first place. Instead, he simply wanted to hold Clarissa in his arms and kiss those enchanting lips, to punish her for that innocently flirtatious look that promised so much and was slowly driving him out of his mind.
Upon returning to Grosvenor Square at the end of an evening that seemed to last forever, Marcia and Clarissa retired immediately. Luc partook of a final glass of brandy in his library, having bid Clarissa an innocent “goodnight” in the vestibule. He savoured his drink in contemplative silence, prolonging the moment, allowing his household time to settle. He enjoyed the solitude which this nightly ritual afforded him, but tonight it took on a special meaning. Finally he could allow his feelings of anticipation the freedom to run riot. At last their time had arrived, and in a few moments he would experience that which he had come to desire so very much.
But still he delayed, and only when the anticipation became too much to endure did he finally drain his glass and ascend the stairs two at a time. He tapped lightly on her door and entered the room, only to freeze on the spot, temporarily deprived of the ability to move his limbs. His breathing was reduced to ragged gasps as he looked at her, propped up in bed, her hair cascading about her shoulders, gleaming like a golden halo in the soft candlelight. She somehow managed to look innocent, sensual, and provocative all at the same time, and Luc knew that if he lived to be one hundred he was unlikely to ever experience another moment like it.
“I knew you’d come tonight,” she said, softly.
He set his candle down on the small table beside the fire. “Wild horses couldn’t have kept me away any longer.” He reached out a hand to her. “Come here.”
Without hesitation Clarissa threw back the covers and ran straight across the room into his arms, her functional muslin night gown billowing about her like a sail. Luc caught her and kissed her passionately, his hands burying themselves in her lovely hair, just as he’d dreamed of doing for so long. But this wouldn’t do. In her haste and inexperience she’d plastered herself against him, totally unaware how completely the pressure of her body was arousing him. The occasion was too important to be rushed. He would take things very slowly and ensure that for Clarissa it was unforgettable. His own needs were a secondary concern.
“What is this?” he asked with a smile, breaking the kiss and putting her away from him, his fingers running over the long sleeve of her nightgown.
“The nights are cold in Northumberland,” she retorted defensively.
“I dare say.” He struggled to loosen the prim lace at her neck. “But they wouldn’t be so if you had someone to keep you warm.”
“I do. My dogs sleep with me.”
“Hm, not quite what I had in mind.” He was untying her sleeves now. “Besides, you should be wearing silk in bed, if you insist upon wearing anything at all, that is.”
“Oh, very practical!”
He chuckled. “Practicality wasn’t what I had in mind either.”
“Luc!” She pulled away from him, suddenly looking very vulnerable. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can do this after all.” She pulled her gaping nightgown about her and paced in front of the fire.
“What is it, Clarissa?” he asked. “What are you doing?”
“Pacing, of course.”
“I can see that, but why?”
“Because I always pace when I’m nervous. It helps me to think.”
“There’s no need to be nervous, sweetheart. I’ll give you nothing but pleasure. On that I give you my solemn word.”
“It is not that…well, not exactly.” Pace, pace. “It’s just that, well, no one’s ever seen me naked before. Is it really necessary to go that far?”
Luc forced his lips to remain straight. “Absolutely.”
Pace. “But what if I disappoint you?”
Luc offered up a silent laugh, his relief palpable, caught her by her wrist in order to put an end to her damned pacing and pulled her close. “You won’t disappoint me, of that I can assure you.”
“But how can you be so sure? Besides, I don’t know what to do or how I’m supposed to respond.”
He chuckled. “But I do. I know exactly what to do in order to drive you wild and make you forget all about being nervous.” He whispered the words into her hair, caressing her back with long, practised strokes until he felt her rigid limbs relax against him. “And as for responding, just do what you feel.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know, I — ”
“Do you trust me, Clarissa?”
She nodded, her eyes still fastened to the floor.
“Then look at me and tell me so.”
After what seemed like an eternity she lifted her eyes to his face. “Yes, Luc, of course I trust you.”
She spoke so quietly that he barely heard her. But it was enough.
“Then just relax and allow yourself to feel.” He held out his arms. “Come here.”
She took his outstretched hand, and Luc took control.
Afterwards, he was almost as surprised as Clarissa by what had happened between them. Hardened and cynical, he’d never before imagined that it was possible to feel such a fierce and possessive love. He watched her as she lay dozing in his arms, a satiated smile on her lovely face. But sleep was beyond Luc. He lay propped on one elbow, gazing at her, full of wonder at the indescribable pleasure she’d given him. The whole act had become mundane for Luc over recent years, but Clarissa had just made sense of it all again, and he knew, with an unshakeable certainly, that this was the woman he’d been seeking for his entire life.
Clarissa opened her eyes, smiled at him, stretched her arms above her head, and wriggled into a more comfortable position.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“Oh, I don’t know. That I’ve been waiting for this moment for my entire life perhaps?”
The fact that her thoughts so closely mirrored his didn’t somehow surprise Luc. “That for the first time in my life I actually feel beautiful.”
“You certainly look it.” He tweaked the end of her nose. “I think I’ve been waiting to see you wake up in my bed en dishabille like this for days now, silk or no silk.”
“It’s not your bed, it is mine.”
“Don’t be pedantic.”
“Sorry.” She tilted her head. “Thank you for showing me, Luc.” She sounded ridiculously formal, given that she was lying totally naked beside him. “I can return home now, secure in the knowledge that I’ve experienced it all.”
What it the name of Hades was she talking about? Surely she didn’t imagine that he wanted to be rid of her now that he’d bedded her? She would become his wife. It was as simple as that. But somehow he knew better than to say so at that moment. Knowing her, she’d undoubtedly mistake his proposal as an act of chivalry. It would be better to wait for the morrow and tackle the subject when they were both fully clothed and as far away from the delightful distractions provided by a bed as possible.
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