by Olivia Drake
Laura curtsied. Her mouth felt dry, her pulses racing at the prospect of finally questioning the villain who had arranged for Papa’s arrest and possible murder. Though the circumstances weren’t ideal, she would have no better chance than this. “I wondered if I might have a word with you in private, my lord. If it isn’t too inconvenient.”
“Now? Who are you?”
“The daughter of an old acquaintance.” Laura didn’t want to reveal any more. Not yet. Pasting on a demure smile in hopes of softening his sour expression, she added, “Please, it would be a great kindness if only you would walk with me…”
Another man stepped out of the library. In the space of a blink, his cool dark gaze scanned Laura up and down, paralyzing her tongue.
“I’m afraid that’s impossible,” Alex told her. “Haversham is on his way out. He’s going to his club.” To the marquess, he added, “There, I’m claiming this lovely young lady for myself. Unless you’d rather we fight for her fair hand with pistols at dawn?”
Haversham gave a rusty chuckle. “I’m too old for such tomfoolery, Copley. I’d sooner enjoy a few rounds of hazard and a bottle of port, far away from this crush. Good evening.”
With a curt nod, the marquess strode down the corridor leading to the entrance hall. Aghast, Laura found her voice. “Wait—!”
Alex deftly caught her arm and guided her in the opposite direction, his hand at the base of her spine. “Where the devil have you been?” he muttered. “I’ve been searching everywhere.”
“You had no right to interfere in my conversation.” Laura glanced over her shoulder, but the marquess had vanished into the crowd. She turned her gaze back to Alex, who looked infuriatingly handsome from the broad shoulders in a midnight-blue coat to the white cravat at his throat. In an irate whisper, she repeated, “No right at all!”
“I’ve every right to stop my aunt’s companion from creating a scene in the midst of a ball.” His gaze pierced Laura as he drew her farther away from the prying eyes of the other guests. “I know about his feud with your father. I won’t have you accusing Haversham of theft and trickery without a shred of proof.”
“I might have learned the proof if you hadn’t interrupted!”
“Oh? I suppose you thought you could simply ask him if he’d stolen the diamond and he’d confess on the spot.”
“No! I had a plan. But thanks to you, it’s ruined.”
Crossing her arms, Laura scowled at him. Actually, she didn’t have a clear idea of what she might have found out. Perhaps a guilty look when she asked Haversham if Martin Falkner had come to call recently. A slip of the tongue might have revealed much. But now she wouldn’t have that chance.
Then it occurred to her to wonder how Alex had determined that her target was Haversham. The earl must have been poking into her father’s past in the two days since last they’d met, perhaps trying to disprove her theory. It was yet another black mark on his character.
Alex’s gaze flicked to her bosom, skimmed over her restyled hair, and then returned to her face. “Well. You’re lucky Haversham didn’t recognize you. Evelyn probably told him you were a drab with spectacles and a spinster’s bonnet.”
“I went upstairs just now and removed the disguise. It served no purpose anymore, as I’m sure you’ve heard.”
“Indeed. From at least ten different people as I walked through the ballroom.” He paused, a smoldering heat in his eyes as he regarded her. “This does alter your situation, you know.”
Laura was aware of his palm burning into the base of her spine. His touch felt stirringly intimate—as he surely meant it to be. If things had turned out differently ten years ago, Alex might have asked her to be his wife. Now she was only suited to be his light skirt.
How strange to think that her life had been the reverse of Cinderella’s. She had been a princess first before falling from grace. And her Prince Charming had proven himself to be an incorrigible beast.
“Of course I realize that things have changed,” she said stiffly. “I shall be packing my valise in the morning. Until then, however, I am still employed, and if you’ll excuse me, I must go check on Lady Josephine.”
He shook his head. “First, you and I need to talk.”
“Not now. People are watching.” A half-formed plan sprang to her mind. It was mad, it was reckless, but it also was preferable to being forced to parry another wicked proposition—this time from a man she had once loved with all her youthful heart. “What time is it?”
Frowning, he consulted his pocket watch. “Eleven. It would be wise if we collected my aunt and left here directly after the supper. There are matters to be settled between us.”
Matters! He wanted to lay his claim on her person in the most shameful way possible. Let him think he had her won!
Laura curved her lips into a sensuous smile. “Why wait until we leave, my lord? If you’ll go to the end of this corridor, you’ll see a back staircase. At the top, there’s an empty bedchamber on the right. I’ll meet you there in an hour’s time.”
His eyes darkened, his gaze searching her face. Heat radiated from his body as he bent his lips to her ear. “Laura,” he said in a caressing murmur. “This is hardly the place for an assignation.”
An illicit tryst had been his first thought, just as she had known it would be. A wild fury gripped her heart. At least he had dispelled any doubts lingering in her. His colossal conceit needed to be taken down a notch or two.
Gazing up at him through the screen of her lashes, she lightly ran her fingertips over the back of his hand. “Just be there,” she murmured. “At the stroke of midnight.”
Chapter 18
The rest of it proved simple to arrange. After parting from Alex, Laura went in search of paper and pen. She found those items in a quiet morning room off a deserted passageway. There, by the glow of a candle, she sat down at a small desk to compose a note. The message took her a few tries before it was perfect; then she sanded and folded the paper and sealed it with a bit of red wax. Tucking it into her sleeve and out of sight, she returned to the ballroom.
People didn’t seem to notice her so readily now that the cap and spectacles were gone. Laura was able to slip through the maze of guests without attracting undue attention. She spied Evelyn chatting with a group of gentlemen. From her animated expression, it was clear the duchess was enjoying her popularity as the herald of salacious gossip.
She, too, deserved to be knocked off her pedestal.
Laura stopped a harried footman carrying a tray of champagne glasses. She handed him the note. “Pray give this to the Duchess of Cliffington. She’s the auburn-haired lady in the green gown over there.”
From a grouping of ferns, Laura watched as the footman delivered the missive and then proceeded on his rounds. The duchess stepped to the side and opened the paper to peruse it. When she returned to the group, the secretive smile on her lips told Laura the dupe had been a success.
Now, if only the final piece could be arranged, her hasty, improbable plan might just succeed.
Laura approached the group of matrons where Lady Josephine was sitting. Thankfully, her ladyship’s wrinkled features held a cheery smile. These busybodies must have heeded Laura’s warning.
Hovering at the edge of the group, she gave a little wave to catch the attention of the bulldog-faced woman. Mrs. Dorcas Grayling scanned her without recognition; then her eyes widened and she rose from her chair in a hurry.
“My word, you have tarted up your appearance already,” Mrs. Grayling said disapprovingly. “Have you no shame?”
Laura strove for a woebegone expression. “Please, ma’am, I am not feeling quite well. I only wanted her ladyship to know where to find me. I shall be lying down for a short while. If I’m needed, pray send someone to take the back staircase to the first bedchamber on the right.”
“I hardly think you should trouble Lady Josephine if you’re indisposed.”
“Well, at least assure her not to worry, then. A certain gentleman
has very kindly promised to stay with me … in case I am in want of anything.”
The woman’s face turned apoplectic. “A gentleman—? In the bedchamber with you—? Who—?”
Pretending not to hear, Laura set off through the crowd. Mrs. Grayling would not be able to resist confiding this latest outrage to the other matrons. They would stew over it for a little while. Then Laura hoped—though she couldn’t be certain—that a bevy of them would take it upon themselves to go upstairs and expose the disgraceful conduct of the notorious Miss Falkner.
Instead of her, though, they would find Alex and Evelyn.
Laura wouldn’t let herself feel any qualms. Yes, her plan might be spiteful, but at least those two might think twice next time before taking advantage of someone who lacked their standing in society.
Out in the reception hall, she spied a casement clock that marked a quarter hour before midnight. There should be just enough time for her to find a hidden spot from which to observe the results of her handiwork.
She kept a sharp eye out to make certain that no one was watching her too closely. Only then did she hasten up the back staircase. In the upper corridor, the glass-globed lamps still burned on tables here and there, and the faraway music of the orchestra drifted from the ballroom.
Otherwise, the place was silent, deserted.
Instead of turning to the right, Laura went to the door on her left. It was not completely closed, so she rapped lightly. When no one answered, she slipped into a gloomy bedroom. Elongated shadows flickered on the high ceiling from the coals that glowed on the hearth. There was enough just illumination for her to see the black outline of a four-poster bed and other furnishings. The banked fire indicated that this room was in use, but the occupant wasn’t likely to come upstairs during the ball.
Ever so quietly, she closed the door while leaving it open just a crack. Peering through the slit into the corridor, Laura satisfied herself of the view. The opposite door could be seen easily and now she need only await the arrival of her quarry.
A pair of hands circled her waist from behind.
Her heart jolted against her ribs. Gasping, she lashed out at her captor, bumping against the muscled body of a man. She struggled without success to dislodge his firm grip. The alluring scent of dark spice washed over her even as she parted her lips to cry out for help.
His hand clapped over her mouth. “Calm down, Laura. It’s only me.”
That deep voice dispelled her panic and she went limp in his arms, breathing hard against his fingers.
“Do you promise not to scream?” he asked.
As she gave a jerky nod, he removed his hand and swiveled her around to face him. She found herself facing his tall dark shadow in the gloom. Her fingers convulsed around his upper arms. “Alex!” she gasped. “For mercy’s sake, you frightened me half to death!”
“Sorry. I thought you were expecting me.”
“Yes!” Quickly she amended, “But not here. I told you to meet me in the bedchamber across the corridor.”
“I’m well aware of that. And I suspected you had some scheme in the works. What did you write in that note to Evelyn?”
A quiver ran through Laura. Blast him, he must have been watching her. How had she not noticed? She thrust up her chin. “I don’t know what you mean.”
He chuckled softly. “Jade. You most certainly do.”
He went still, his fingers still loosely holding her by the waist. All of a sudden he let go and paced to the door to peer out. A thin wash of lamplight from the corridor illuminated the hard angles of his face. The scar made him appear to be a pirate embarked upon a wicked mission.
Laura crossed her arms. “I’ve changed my mind,” she said stiffly. “I don’t wish to talk to you anymore—”
“Shh. Someone is coming up the stairs.”
Struck silent, she joined him and looked out. Just in time to see Evelyn approach the opposite door and then disappear inside the bedchamber.
Alex closed the door. “I begin to see,” he murmured. “Such a diabolical mind you have, Miss Falkner. Instead of your beauteous self, I was to find the gossipy duchess awaiting me. No doubt you had some plan for us to be discovered together, hmm?”
She said nothing. The acid of resentment burned her throat. Why did Alex always have to ruin everything?
He took a step closer. “Now tell me, what exactly did you write to convince Evelyn to come up here?”
Laura couldn’t bide her tongue a moment longer. “I imitated your penmanship and said that you were impressed by her cleverness in exposing Miss Falkner. And that you wished to celebrate by having your own private supper dance with her in that bedchamber at midnight.”
He laughed aloud. “If only you knew Evelyn, you’d realize just how ingenious that is. She’s been trying to seduce me for ten years.”
Laura stared at him through the darkness. “You can’t mean that you and she have never…” Feeling the rise of a blush, she stopped. It was just too scandalous to speak aloud—especially since she had absolutely no interest in his intimate affairs. None whatsoever.
While she was distracted, Alex pulled her into his arms. “I can assure you, I’ve never made love to Evelyn. So there’s no need for you to be jealous.”
“Jealous!” A plethora of emotions churned inside her, the chief of which was fury at him for assuming she still viewed Evelyn as a rival for his affections. With a shove to his chest, Laura thrust him away. “Is that what you think this is about? Jealousy? After you told Evelyn that I was in disguise—and where she could find me?”
He took her hands in his. “Laura, listen to me,” he said, his voice turning serious. “When she came to call yesterday with her new puppy and wanted our dogs to play together, I had to tell her that Charlie had been a gift to my aunt. I swear it never occurred to me that she’d seen you on the street with him. I was only trying to get rid of the woman. I never imagined she’d visit Aunt Josie for the purpose of exposing you to society.”
His words held the ring of truth, but Laura didn’t want to be pacified. “Well! You still can’t mind very much that the truth has come out. Now that I’m known to be a ruined woman, you’re intending to make vile advances toward me—just like Mr. Stanhope-Jones!”
“What?” Alex tightened his hands around hers. “What did that miscreant say to you?”
“Nothing worse than what you’ve been planning to say.” She tried to pull her hands free, but the endeavor was futile. Maybe it didn’t matter, anyway, because she preferred to tell him off straight to his face—if only she could see him through the gloom. “That’s why I wanted you to be caught with Evelyn. I wanted the both of you to know exactly what it feels like to be involved in a horrid scandal. To know that everyone is staring at you. Judging you. Scorning you.”
Much to her chagrin, her voice caught on the last two words and spoiled the effect of her righteous tirade.
At once, Alex enclosed her in the circle of his arms. He molded her to his solid body while his lips nuzzled her hair. “Darling, has it been so dreadful for you tonight? Never mind, I know it has been, and I should have been here to offer you my protection. If it hadn’t been for my stupid pride…”
“Stupid pride, yes. That’s the perfect description of you. I would also add depraved and arrogant, as well!”
He had the audacity to laugh softly, his breath stirring her hair. “Let me finish, minx. When you refused to see me this afternoon, I assumed you’d decided against allowing me into your confidence. It was a blow, I’ll admit, and I left in a fit of anger, vowing never to darken your doorstep again.”
“Didn’t Lady Josephine tell you that Evelyn had come to call?”
He shook his head. “You know the state of my aunt’s memory. She never mentioned a word. I wouldn’t have known, either, except that my valet heard through the servants’ grapevine what had happened and told me this evening. I made haste back to my aunt’s house, but the two of you had already left for the ball.” His fingers gen
tly rubbed the nape of her neck, sending warm shivers down her back. “I came here as swiftly as I could. Alas, the damage had already been done. And I was beginning to panic because I didn’t see you anywhere. I was afraid you might have run off.”
Panic? Over her? Laura intended to scoff, but his deep, mesmerizing voice had a softening effect on her anger. So did his soothing touch. She wanted desperately to believe that Alex truly cared for her, that she was not just another warm female body for him to conquer.
Foolish though it might be, she laid her head on his shoulder. His coat felt smooth against her cheek, and his familiar scent both comforted and thrilled her. “You must have arrived while I was upstairs here removing my disguise.”
“And was that when you concocted your devious scheme, hmm?” His hands drifted downward to massage the tension from her back. “The one that I have so cleverly foiled?”
She tilted her chin to scowl at him through the darkness. “Stupid prideful man,” she said without rancor.
“Prideful, yes. After all, I did end up with the right woman.”
He brought his mouth down on hers, lightly at first, then with an escalating ardor that Laura felt powerless to resist. Rising on tiptoes, she fully participated, parting her lips to welcome the intimacy of his tongue. It was a fierce, intense, exhilarating kiss and she wrapped her arms around his neck, the better to savor the compelling sensations that swept through every inch of her.
The right woman … did he truly regard her that way, or was he just employing his famous charm? She yearned to believe he had suffered from their abrupt separation ten years ago as much as she had. Alex had been very attentive during their whirlwind courtship, though he had never declared his love in so many words. She’d thought that the many stolen kisses they’d shared had conveyed the depth of his devotion to her.
But those memories paled in comparison with the womanly passion he aroused in her now. Laura could not recall ever feeling such a fire in her body. It consumed her, weakened her, frightened her.