by Claudy Conn
Perhaps it was too soon for that? Perhaps she would be better served to stay in the cover of the woods and watch them. Yes, in that way she could get Maxine’s measure. Oh, but the sound of the girl’s voice made her feel … apart, made her feel excluded and dangerously jealous! Something inside her churned and … and she felt like she had felt in the beginning—all those centuries ago…
She must achieve control over herself. Control had always been the way to success. She had long ago mastered self-control. It was how she had survived. She took a long breath and got her temper under control. She would watch and be better served. She would watch and be in a stronger position to lay out her plans. One must know one’s enemy. One must know the lay of the land. An enigmatic smile hovered about her full lips. She must not be detected. Indeed, no one need see her, not if she willed it otherwise.
There, in the dimming light, tall and handsome astride his big horse, sat Talbot—Talbot who had entered her world and forever altered her life.
Lamia’s almond-shaped amber eyes ignited with intensity when Maxine came into view. She stared at the girl. It grated on her nerves to look at Maxine.
She felt an animal hiss gurgle in her throat.
Logic? Yes, she needed to rely on her logic, her good sense. She must restrain herself. She must continue to watch…to listen, but she sneered and thought derisively that Maxine was but a child, a nothing without guile and certainly no match for—
Maxine’s laughter broke Lamia’s train of thought. A nothing of a child, she told herself again. She stared with bitter hatred. How long could this chit hold him captive? Maxine’s smile was all too sweet, her cheeks all too glowing. She was naught!
All at once Lamia’s hatred grew upon itself. As her hatred festered in her blood, she felt a memory stir. Something…familiar? It was nothing. What memory could there be? She swept this aside. Yet it whispered at her ear that she was toying with danger.
Ridiculous! Some odd feeling permeated her mind and demanded she remember the past. Lamia’s lashes brushed her cheeks. She swept it away. Now was upon her, and Talbot was a prize to be won!
She smiled to herself, confident of the outcome. Maxine Reigate could not win this war. She was an amusing plaything, but soon Talbot would grow tired of her. The chit could be no more than that to a man of Talbot’s cut.
Indeed, she pictured herself kissing his hard, rippled chest, making her way with her tongue down to his belly and holding his cock to her mouth, teasing it there, licking it while she stroked it with her hand…
Her body shivered as she filled with tingling desire. There were so many things she longed to do with Julian.
She was pleased the darkness had begun to enfold, conceal, and caress her. She was pleased to think that this girl had no experience, no skills in bed. She would never be able to please a man like Julian.
Lamia had deeply probed his libido and had seen that he was an intensely passionate male. He would soon tire of a young girl’s inexperience. He would find the guileless Maxine of Reigate a bore in bed. He would find her lovemaking inept, and he would look for another. That would happen in the end and then …” And then, my love, I shall be waiting, ready to give you the world you deserve!”
* * *
Maxie and Julian slowed their horses to a stop, and he reached for her hand. What he wanted to do was dismount and take her into his arms. He was hungry for her. He knew she wanted the same thing. He could see it in her bright warm green eyes.
Then suddenly the air chilled and Maxie looked round as though startled. He asked, “What is it? Max…what’s wrong?”
She frowned at him, and he watched her tremble. “My love, are you cold?”
She looked at Julian, shook her head, and said in a hushed whisper, “Not cold, but…felt something—heard something…do you?”
He did. The air was still and strangely cold when a moment ago it had been warm and inviting. And it wasn’t what he heard, but the sudden silence, that made him uneasy. However, he wanted to calm and reassure her, so he laughed and said lightly, “Nothing, my love.”
Maxine looked around and towards the dusky forest. “I…sense…something,” she whispered to Julian. “Julian, I know it is absurd, but I feel as though someone is watching us.”
She had told him recently that she had strong instincts and that they were not ‘sometimes’ correct, but always correct; he had believed her. He believed her now, but he wanted to soothe her fear. “’Tis nothing, love.”
“My brother would tell you to heed me…someone is watching us, Julian. I am not given to frights…I have a knack for ‘seeing’ things before they occur. My mother doesn’t wish me to speak of it, so I don’t…but you are going to be my husband. ’Tis only fair you be told about all my oddities.” She smiled at him. “… in the event you wish to withdraw your suit.”
“Withdraw? It is my fear that I will wake and find you don’t want me.” He chuckled as he reached over and stroked her face.
“Then believe that something is out of sync with nature…it is too quiet suddenly. Someone lies in waiting in the dark of the forest watching us. I don’t know who and I don’t know why…but I do know that we should leave…now.”
He wanted to relieve her fear immediately, but the man in him also wanted to get to the source of her unease. “Shall I investigate, love?” He started to dismount, but Maxie put out her hand and her voice was on the verge of a scream.
“No…no…please, Julian!”
“Then we are for home…”
* * *
Shock permeated Lamia’s mind and flooded her veins with ice. Impossible, her mind screeched to the wind. The notion that the girl might have sensed her presence was preposterous. Yet, she had.
Lamia had listened to their conversation with growing concern. She had seen Julian’s reaction. She was certain they could not have seen her—how then?
She had disguised even the movements of her horse. Such was the power she had acquired over the centuries. Yet Maxine Reigate had sensed her presence?
Lamia looked up at the darkening sky. She took comfort in the approaching screen of its velvet blackness. Oh, she had learned to adore the sleekness of the night!
What could that child know of such things? What excitement could she offer Julian Talbot? Soon Lamia would make him hers alone. She would have him one way or another, but first she must try and win him freely. She wanted him to come to her of his own accord. She wanted him to desire her, and then, then she would teach him about the night and all its secrets!
* * *
The handsome Prince of Dagda had watched these proceedings with growing concern. His queen had not told him that the Maxine human was so gifted. This should help their endeavors, shouldn’t it? However, the more he watched the DuLaine, the more worried he grew. She was a formidable enemy, and Maxine with all the powers he sensed in her was still no match for such as she. After all the DuLaine had been around for one thousand years—and Maxine had not yet even trained to take the position she had been born to.
The prince liked the look of Maxine Reigate. She was quite a fetching human, and her mannerisms tickled his interest. She belonged to Talbot…but still, he could make this assignment more interesting by showing himself to her. He liked her spirit and her style. He found, in fact, that he liked everything about her. By Danu she was a beauty he would like to linger over and converse with for hours … His queen would be angry and remove him from this assignment—and that he would not like, because he had quite made up his mind that the time for rule breaking would come, and it would come when Maxine needed it most.
Humans died—and each time one died before their time, it hurt him. It was an awful thing to watch them die. He hated it.
He sighed. She was promised to Talbot, but nevertheless he wondered what, just what she would taste like?
* * *
Maxine pulled the sky blue velvet gown over her head and fixed the front lacings as she prepared for dinner. She should be feeling
absolutely ecstatic—after all, she was about to spend a wonderful evening with Julian. She did not though; instead she was filled with a sense of…dread. It was silly of course. However, she couldn’t shake the feeling.
She had even confided to her mother about her experience, but her mother had attempted to laugh it off, telling her it was ‘pre-wedding jitters’. Well, she knew it wasn’t that at all. And the odd thing about it was she had immediately felt her mother was fibbing to her. Why? Just what was going on? And what would make her think she was in danger? Who in the world would wish her ill?
She could do nothing but shrug it off and try to forget it. Her father had finally returned, and she was looking forward to seeing him at dinner. And the love of her life would be waiting in the parlor for her.
In a few days they would all be headed for London for their engagement ball. That was all she needed to think about for now. Indeed, that was all that mattered—nothing else was important.
If these feelings of dread persisted, she would have to investigate—it was her nature—but not tonight. Tonight she would have the pleasure of two of the three men that mattered most. If only her brother weren’t across the Atlantic…
~ Four ~
TALBOT RAISED HIS eyes to the wide, circular staircase. He was heartily sick of the pomp and ceremony of his aunt’s receiving line.
Hell and fire! Damn, smile and bow, and bow and smile!
He wished he could just pick Maxie up in his arms and ride off into the night with her. He wished he were holding her, kissing her luscious lips, touching her full breasts…he wanted to find a comfortable chair and pull her on top of the hard-on he always had when he was in her presence. He wanted to see her breasts move as she rode his cock!
Damn! And where was he instead? Not driving himself into his woman, but here at this blasted ball! Bloody hell. All he wanted was a quick, quiet little wedding. He knew Maxie didn’t care for all this pomp and ceremony. Leave the revelers to revel…all he wanted was to whisk his Maxie off, marry her, and start their honeymoon.
All this grumbling to himself went on and on since Maxie had not yet appeared on the scene and relieved his mood. Finally, he was shaking hands with the last of the arriving guests and watching them safely herded towards the huge ballroom. He heard his future mother-in-law whisper that everyone due at the ball was present. And then, all that mattered to him in the world stood at the top of the stairs smiling anxiously and yet saucily (a most enchanting combination) down at him. Finally, Maxie!
He laughed out loud, and his aunt rapped his arm lightly and called him a scamp.
She was stunning. What a beauty…
Her black hair had been piled in a waterfall of curls from which a dazzling array of small white flowers protruded. Wispy, dark bangs winged her forehead. Sparkling diamonds and pearls glittered from her delicate ears and hung around her shapely neck. He moved towards the foot of the stairs and put out his white-gloved hand as she came towards him.
She chattered giddily as she descended, not at all in keeping with the quiet, regal entrance that was expected of her, and he laughed again. He could hear his aunt and his future mother-in-law whispering affectionate instructions at his back, but all he could see, all he could hear, was Maxine.
Suddenly and all at once she was within his grasp, and he did in fact break with protocol as he drew her far too close and raised her white, satin-gloved fingers to his lips. She giggled and said she wished he could kiss her full on the mouth, and he threw his head back with laughter. He adored her—with all that he was and ever would be.
Somehow the couple found themselves ushered towards the entrance of the ballroom. No one at that point save the butler noticed that one last guest had quietly arrived.
This guest stood unsmiling as she watched Maxine and Talbot’s affectionate display. She watched the family encircle them and take them along to the ballroom entrance. It served her purpose to wait quietly.
Talbot and Maxine whispered and laughed, their eyes locked on one another as the ballroom doors were opened and the butler arrived to make the announcement.
Maxie sighed. “How I wish Danny and Lisa were here to share this time with us.”
“If Lisa were not expecting so soon, I have no doubt that your brother would have dragged her across the Atlantic to be here with you.” His lordship dropped a kiss on her nose. “Never mind, monkey-girl, you will write to them in the morning and tell them every detail of your adventure tonight.” He grinned wickedly. “…well, perhaps not every detail.”
Naughtily, Maxie looked up into his sparkling blue eyes. “La then, sir, if you have something in mind, I am well pleased to say let my letter be empty…”
He roared with laughter. “You are the devil, my girl, a beautiful devil.”
“’Tis my father’s belief that you are right in that.” She giggled back at him before she got on her toes to kiss his lips. She longed to really kiss him, to feel that tongue he had given her earlier in the day. She wanted to feel that hard body pressed against hers. She wanted to take out her breasts and lower his head there, feel his lips lick at her yearning nipples, and oh…she wished everyone were gone and that they were somewhere alone.
He was feeling exactly the same, and so as their lips met, so did their passion. They were lost for the moment in that kiss, in that promise of more to come.
They never noticed that his aunt’s butler had already announced their names to a most interested audience awaiting them in the ballroom.
The assembled company broke out with laughter and applause. Many held up their champagne glasses. For the moment, their world was suspended in perfection. They were each other’s and the reigning Haute Ton’s sweethearts!
They moved into the ballroom and began greeting friends.
Talbot’s aunt, Lady Margaret, turned and saw that there was one more arrival. It was as though a sudden darkness had swept the room. She felt a chill in the air and looked towards the new arrival. Ah, she said to herself with concern, the Lady Lamia DuLaine.
Maxine’s mother shivered. “Margaret—she makes me feel…”
“Yes, I feel it as well. Never liked her, don’t travel with her set, but there was nothing for it—she is part of the Prince Regent’s set. Had to give her the invitation. You know, she asked the Jersey for the invite.” Margaret shivered.
Lady Margaret put on a false smile and touched her friend’s hand. “Careful now—it would not do to insult her.” She saw Mrs. Reigate exchange a worried glance with her husband and said under her breath, “Steady.”
Lady Margaret glided towards her new guest. The DuLaine was rumored to be one of the richest in all of England, and both her extraordinary wealth and her title gave her a position amongst the Haute Ton.
Lady Margaret greeted her new guest with a slight frown hovering over her eyes.
Lamia gave the slightest inclination of her head as Lady Margaret greeted her, saying, “I am sorry to be so late…” Her tone was soft, and she gave no further explanation. She smiled and turned towards Mrs. Reigate, who had come forward to greet her as well. Lamia nearly passed over Mrs. Reigate as her amber eyes immediately found the squire Reigate’s face and lingered there for a flirtatious moment.
It was long enough for her to receive an odd sensation. The squire seemed repulsed by her and took a step back. Why should he feel that way? And he did, for she had felt it when he took her fingers. He had almost dropped them as though he were touching hot iron!
Lamia’s eyes narrowed with concern. What was this? Her touch had warned him of danger. She saw it clearly in his eyes. It had passed between them like the shout from a blow-horn. How was that possible? Her shields were in place. No one could detect anything dangerous about her when her shields were up. All a man should feel was warm attraction.
She saw out of the corner of her eye that Mrs. Reigate seemed thoughtful when she looked her way. They had not touched, and yet everything about Maxine’s mother set Lamia on edge. And then she looked f
or and found Talbot, who happened just then to glance across at the open ballroom doors.
* * *
Talbot looked away from the DuLaine almost immediately; however, Maxine could not. She stood transfixed by the woman. Maxie stared across the crowded room at the beautiful new arrival, and her body went rigid with dread. No—it was a feeling that was worse than dread. It was out and out fear!
A bolt of sudden cold terror shook her composure and made her want to run. She had never felt anything like this before. Logic came to her rescue. Breathe, she told herself, breathe and think how silly you are. To Julian she whispered, “Faith, she is stunning, isn’t she?”
“Now, how does a man who means to stay in the safety zone of his woman’s sphere answer that?” Talbot’s eyes twinkled.
He was slapped for his trouble. “Why, my love, he should shrug and say he does not care for yellow-haired women of that sort!”
He tweaked her nose. “Truth tell, I don’t, and I don’t care for that one in particular. Now waltz with me, my devil.”
Lamia watched them glide around the room even as she gave her hand to an attractive young nobleman and entered the steps of the new dance. She tried to catch Talbot’s eye during the movement of the waltz, and when she could not she tried something else.
Talbot felt warm, uncomfortably warm all over, and all at once. The room hazed to a mist of suddenly unfamiliar faces. He attempted to focus and could not. He could hear a delicate whisper, a woman’s whisper in his mind. His name … she called his name over and over. The sound of her voice made him feel disoriented. Suddenly, he knew he had to look towards the beckoning call. He knew that he had lost all will to do otherwise…
“Sweetheart?” Maxine’s voice brought him sharply home. “Julian, are you all right?”
Maxine’s voice splashed through his brain, dousing the fire there, icing the fog until it shattered and all was crystal clear again. Maxie. Maxie had saved him. Odd that this was his first reaction—that Maxine had saved him.