Arlie swallowed the lump in her throat. “No, I haven’t,” she replied, keeping her voice level. “I suspect he is probably still in bed.”
The dowager nodded. “He is no doubt with that brainless twit of a mistress of his.”
“Do you mean the Duchess?” Arlie blurted before she could stop herself.
The dowager nodded and released a heavy sigh. “Indeed. I often wonder if he will ever settle down. He is too much like my own son, who I had no control over. It seems it is in their blood. I hope for the day Dom realizes he needs an heir. I would hate for the title and lands to be passed on to those silly great-nephews of mine.”
“Perhaps one day he will find a woman,” Arlie said, hoping she sounded convincing, when the thought of Dominic marrying made her ill.
“When hell freezes over.” The woman laughed. “I don’t know why I agonize so. He does not care much for me.”
“Why is that?”
The dowager shrugged. “I suppose I was not easy on him when he was a child. I tried hard to be a good mother to my son, but he was so headstrong, and he always did the opposite of what I wished. I realized early on that Dominic was much like Randolph, my son and a complete rake. Dominic’s mother was a mouse, she was frightened of her own shadow and was no help in such matters. She allowed my son to walk all over her. It is such a shame.”
The dowager had been looking straight ahead, but she turned her gaze directly on Arlie. “Don’t ever let a man treat you thus, Arlie. After all, women are stronger than men. You must show them that you will not stand for such treatment. Promise me here and now that you will stand firm and never allow yourself to be treated unjustly.”
The forcefulness of the dowager’s words surprised Arlie. Obviously she was sincere and meant every word. “I promise,” Arlie agreed, smiling in the hopes to put the woman’s fears at ease.
The dowager nodded. “Good, with that said, I want to know all about Mr. Butler. How are things progressing in that area?”
The last thing Arlie wanted to do was make the woman think she really desired Daniel, but dowager would not be put off easily. “Well, I don’t know, really. Daniel is quite nice, but I don’t really feel…how do I put it?—tingly all over.”
The dowager’s laughter filled the morning air and made Arlie laugh for the first time in days. “You are quite the little tart, aren’t you? Well, perhaps in time he will make you feel…tingly. You will give him a chance, yes?”
“I shall, but only for you,” Arlie injected and sat up straight, noticing that Daniel was making his way toward them. Dressed in a somber gray suit, he smiled, and Arlie was reminded of the dry kiss they had shared last night.
How different that chaste kiss had been compared to the one she’d shared with Dominic. His kiss had stirred the blood in her veins, making her feel so alive.
“Madam,” Daniel said, bowing toward the dowager, before turning his full attention to Arlie. “Miss Whitman, I had hoped I would see you this morning. Langley has asked several of us to go for a ride, and being that he is a good friend of your guardian, he is prepared to act as our chaperone. Would you come with us?”
“Yes,” Arlie said quickly, wanting to get away from the mansion and more importantly, Dominic. “Give me but a moment to change.”
“Perhaps you can meet us at the stables?”
“That would be fine,” she replied. “I’m sorry to leave you like this,” Arlie said to the dowager.
“Think nothing of it, child.” The dowager winked at Arlie. “You forget, I’m an old woman. Already I’m in need of a nap.”
Arlie kissed the dowager’s cheek, then ran for the manor and up the stairs to her room. Not wasting any time, she slipped into her riding habit, tidied her hair, and walked quickly toward the stables, looking forward to the day ahead.
Rounding the building, she nearly missed her step seeing Dominic at Veronica’s side. To Arlie’s immense displeasure, the woman looked the picture of contentment.
“Well, here she is,” Langley said, a playful smile on his face. “Dearest Arlie, I have procured the very steed who saw to your victory yesterday.”
Veronica turned to face Arlie, her gaze raking over the royal blue riding habit. It was one of Arlie’s favorites and she was glad she’d brought it along.
Langley walked toward her. “Oh, and Mr. Butler said he would be right back.”
Arlie smiled at Langley and saw from the corner of her eye that Dominic watched her. Just being in his presence brought every sense to life. How could she be so aware of him? She glanced at him and he stared back, his face showing no emotion. He wore dark breeches, black knee high boots and a white shirt open at the throat. He had tied his hair back, making his high cheekbones more prominent. Never in her life had she seen such masculine beauty. How she wished he was not her guardian but a suitor instead. How she wished she had told him yes last night instead of no.
She felt a hand at her back and jumped, startled. “I’m sorry,” Daniel said, his hand lingering at her hip. “Apparently I just missed you. I didn’t want to leave without you so I raced to your room, only to find you’d left.”
“How very sweet,” she said, smiling her most charming smile, determined to have the time of her life no matter how grueling the day might be.
Daniel glanced past her and immediately his smile lost its luster. His hand slowly slipped from her hip. “It appears that your guardian is the only one allowed to act as chaperone,” he said under his breath, his voice laced with venom.
“Don’t mind him,” Arlie whispered.
“I fear that’s impossible. Even now he is staring daggers at me.”
Arlie didn’t look at Dominic but instead put a hand on Daniel’s arm. Instantly his dark eyes lit up. “He is harmless. Plus, he’ll soon be occupied with other things.”
Daniel immediately took her meaning and grinned.
For the next few hours Arlie made a valiant effort to have fun, a difficult feat since her guardian and his mistress watched her every move. Arlie didn’t want to use anyone, but she found herself paying special attention to Daniel. She smiled, listened attentively, and laughed at everything he said, funny or not. But all along she remained conscious of the blue eyes that watched from a distance.
By the time they stopped to rest their horses, Arlie had wearied of hearing Veronica’s soft, throaty laughter. Even though Arlie had a handsome man at her side, the man she craved was with another.
Dominic was an aristocrat, and the woman with him, though married, was his equal in every way. Though Arlie now rubbed elbows with members of the ton, she herself was not one of them, and never would be, no matter how hard she tried. The thought sobered her, and it must have shown in her expression because Daniel lifted her chin in his hand.
“What has put a frown on that beautiful face?” he asked, his expression full of concern.
How thoughtful…a true gentleman. Why could she not feel for him what she felt for Dominic?
As his hand drifted back to his side, she smiled reassuringly, though she knew well it was forced. “I am just a little light-headed. I didn’t eat this morning, and I fear I am paying for it now.”
He brightened instantly. “I just so happened to bring along a few things that may come in handy,” he replied, producing a basket. He unloaded apples, grapes, a variety of cheeses and two biscuits.
They ate in silence, content to take in the setting and Arlie was grateful. She had grown weary of conversation.
Veronica’s laughter reached out to her once again and Arlie turned. Immediately she wished she hadn’t. Lying on a blanket, looking as relaxed as ever, Dominic ate a berry right from Veronica’s fingers. The woman stirred another in her glass of champagne, then again proceeded to feed her lover. It was an erotic display, especially when the duchess licked her fingers, the same fingers that moments before had been in Dominic’s mouth.
To her chagrin, Arlie’s thoughts returned to the night before. She remembered the way Dominic’s lips
had felt against hers, the heat of his hands on her body, touching her like no one else had.
“Would you care for a grape?” Daniel asked at her side, reminding her she was staring.
“I would love one,” she said with renewed enthusiasm. She refused to sit and pout, especially when her guardian obviously had been well into his cups last night. So much so that he’d propositioned her. He had probably been so drunk, he didn’t even remember what had transpired between them.
Daniel handed her a small cluster of grapes and their hands touched briefly. She noticed the fire in his eyes immediately, the darkening of the already chocolate brown orbs. Though she had limited experience with men, she recognized the look in a man’s eye when he desired a woman. Something about his face changed, the way his eyes slightly lowered and wandered down her body, scrutinizing her as though she stood before him naked, as though he could picture it so.
Like the way Dominic had looked at her last night.
“You are so very beautiful, Miss Whitman. Your hair is like spun silk. Your light eyes exotic.”
She had never heard words so flattering, except of course in novels, but this was the first time someone had said anything like them to her face. “Daniel, you are too kind,” she replied, lifting her hand and running the backs of her fingers along the length of his jaw. His mouth opened slightly and realizing his shock, she dropped her hand, then her gaze, and proceeded to eat despite the fact she wasn’t hungry.
What was she doing? Good Lord, she might well be two different people: one good, who wanted desperately to win this young man over; and the other bad, who acted scorned by her guardian and his lover.
* * * * *
Dominic glanced in Arlie’s direction. His ward still busily made conversation with the young American. How could they find so much to talk about? He stared at her profile, mesmerized by her soft beauty, her innocence, her excitement at all things he took for granted.
He had told himself when she had come into his life that he would waste no time finding her a suitable man to marry. By all appearances it was happening before his eyes, and now he wanted nothing more than to stop it.
By the besotted expression on Daniel’s face, it appeared Arlie’s fate had been determined. Daniel would ask for her hand, and she would soon leave Dominic’s home and join Daniel in America. Things couldn’t have worked out more perfectly if he’d planned it himself. Which in essence, he had.
He regretted the plan now, almost as much as he regretted coming to the party. If Arlie were home at Rochford Manor now, no one would even know of her, save Langley. The two of them could still have their time together where no one besides the servants could intrude. But that time in his life was gone, and there could be no going back.
He hated the thought of what would happen when they returned home. The peaceful life he had once known would be nothing but a savored memory.
Veronica’s fingers skimmed along his spine, bringing him out of his musings. “Darling, you must give her the space she needs. You are becoming paranoid. You haven’t been able to take your eyes off her since we left the house.”
“She is my responsibility. I’m all she has.”
“For now.”
His gaze moved to his mistress. He saw the victorious gleam in her eyes having said aloud what he himself feared these last few days. It had been obvious from the beginning that Veronica was jealous of Arlie, as were a majority of the women at the party. He’d witnessed firsthand the envious glances as Arlie danced with man after man, especially the highly coveted Mr. Butler.
“Come now, darling, you mustn’t look so grim. Mr. Butler is a gentleman through and through. He would never take advantage of someone as innocent as Arlie.” She glanced past his shoulder to the two she spoke of, and her smile widened. “How very sweet, he is feeding her grapes. See, she is learning the ways of seduction already. Before you know it, you will be walking her down the aisle.”
Dominic looked over to find Daniel grinning while he fed Arlie a grape, his fingers lingering longer than necessary on her full, pink lips. Dominic’s blood boiled in his veins. Arlie’s color was high, her eyes sparkling with merriment as she smiled at the younger man. Her laughter reached out to Dominic, mocking him.
He should have known better than to have given into his feelings last night. Good Lord, what could he have been thinking? Lust had overpowered him, and he’d made a spectacle of himself. Even worse, he remembered only bits and pieces of their conversation. However he recalled vividly that she had refused him.
All day he noticed how she avoided his stare. No doubt she was terrified by his open display of affection toward Veronica. More than once he’d been tempted to walk over and request a moment of her time. He would tell her it had been a mistake to go to her room and wait for her, and deplorable to have told her he desired her. But the opportunity never arose, and in the space of hours they had become strangers.
“Look, Dom, they’re coming over.”
He glanced up to find Arlie and Daniel, hand-in-hand, looking down at them. They looked so happy, so perfectly suited that he wondered if he hadn’t ought to give the young man a chance and help him in his pursuit of his ward. The thought fled a moment later when he met Arlie’s gaze.
“Would you care to join us?” Veronica asked, motioning to the small space of blanket remaining.
Daniel cleared his throat and looked at Arlie with a charming smile. “Actually, Miss Whitman and I wanted to ask if you would permit us to take a stroll down by the lake. It is not far.”
Dominic lifted a brow. “You are wanting to take Arlie there without a chaperone?” His gaze shifted back to Arlie, who stared back at him, a fair brow lifted.
Daniel smiled tightly, proving he preferred to go alone. “Of course not…I wondered if perhaps you and the duchess would like to join us.”
Veronica jumped to her feet and exclaimed, “What a wonderful idea.”
Outnumbered, Dominic had little choice but to join them.
At the lake, Daniel took off his shoes and stockings then proceeded to wade into the water. “Come, Miss Whitman, the water is not too cold. Actually it is rather refreshing.”
Arlie glanced in Dominic’s direction as though waiting for approval. Their gazes locked for a moment. He saw the hurt and vulnerability there. What a letch he was. He had thought there had been a mutual attraction. Instead, she probably felt nothing more than adulation for taking her from a depressed surrounding into one that offered limitless opportunities. What a depraved fool.
Veronica kicked off her shoes and pulled off her stockings. With a wicked grin, she lifted her skirts to mid-thigh and walked into the water after Daniel.
As the pair in the water became more daring and walked out further, Dominic noticed Arlie had slipped out of her boots and was now peeling off her stockings.
“I’m sorry about last night,” he said, his gaze slipping to her firm calves that were exposed to him.
“We both said things we didn’t mean,” she said with a forced smile.
She didn’t give him a chance to try and explain himself. She stood, bunching up her skirts as she waded into the water.
He swallowed hard, his gaze taking in the long, silken legs, and slim, creamy thighs. Blood rushed to his already engorged cock. She was so ripe for the taking…
“Dom, aren’t you coming in?” Veronica asked, bringing his attention back to where it should be.
He needed to cool off. He felt on fire, his desire for Arlie mocking him as a fool. Even now as she took the young American’s hand, he wondered if he hadn’t ought to leave and let nature take its course. That, or perhaps he should send her to stay with his grandmother at Whitley. Some time away from each other could only do them both good. Perhaps if she wasn’t constantly underfoot, he could forget about her.
And perhaps he could quit breathing, too.
Chapter Seven
Dinner that evening was torturous. Arlie sat beside an elderly couple with Dominic directly
across from her, conveniently right beside Veronica. Arlie couldn’t help but think how daring the duchess was placing herself next to her lover while in full view of her husband. But the duke seemed blissfully unaware of his wife’s cheating. That, or he turned a blind eye to it.
Time and again visions of the two as she’d seen them that morning raced through her mind. The image haunted her, to the point where she couldn’t concentrate on the conversation going on around her. When the dowager’s quick-witted humor couldn’t bring her out of her bad mood, Arlie excused herself and went straight to her room.
At first, she attempted to read, but the story of the prince had suddenly lost its appeal. When there was a knock at her door, her heart raced. Could it be Dominic? But it was only Daniel, stopping by to see how she felt. She told him she’d been exhausted by the long day, and he left, but only after she gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek.
In a misery of her own making, Arlie sat on the edge of her bed. Sleep was out of the question. She glanced around the elaborate room and yearned for her quarters at Rochford Manor. She wanted to be home. Only one day left…she could stand it.
Preparing for bed, she sat at the vanity brushing out her hair when she heard the door to Dominic’s room open then close. A moment later she heard giggles, then a masculine voice, his voice, silencing the laughter. Her heart sank like a stone and she pressed her hands to her ears.
Tears burned the backs of her eyes as she lay back on the bed staring up at the ceiling. She swiped at the tears, cringing when she heard the soft moans on the other side of the wall. How tempted she was to knock on the wall to silence them. How desperately she wanted to go over there, throw open the door and slap her guardian’s wickedly handsome face. How she hated him!
Another peal of laughter invaded the room, and Arlie sat up. With a curse she pulled a valise from under the bed and began throwing her things into it. She couldn’t stay in this place a single day longer. Throwing on her gown, she marched out of her room, past her guardian’s door, and out the front door, thankfully unnoticed by anyone.
Dangerous Desires Page 9