With her whispered plea, he plunged within her, to her very womb, sending her to yet another pinnacle. Her body thrummed, every nerve ending aware of the power poised over her. With a groan, Dominic filled her with his seed and collapsed onto her. She ran her hands over the muscles of his strong back, marveling at his power and what a wonderful lover he was.
For a long time they lay in silence, neither saying a word. But when he sat up, the sheets draped around his loins, Arlie felt a stab of regret, wishing for once he could stay with her the entire night. Yet, he wouldn’t. He never did, and he never would.
He kissed her, silencing any questions. And as he closed the door behind him, she fell back on the mattress, wishing for an end to her madness—yet dreading it all the same.
Chapter Eleven
“I’m sorry, I don’t believe I heard you correctly?”
“Lord Rochford, I am asking Miss Whitman for her hand in marriage. I would have her for my bride, sir…with your approval, of course.”
Dominic glanced past Daniel’s shoulder, to Joseph, who stood as still as a statue. The only indication that he listened was the lifting of a gray brow, along with the slightest curve of his lip.
It was no secret to anyone in his household, particularly his most trusted butler, that he and Arlie were intimate, though he doubted many knew to what extent.
“Sir?”
Dominic returned his attention to the young man who looked uncommonly pale considering the heat of the day. Daniel, had been “courting” Arlie for weeks now. Those visits had always been chaperoned, and not once had Dominic thought the man would actually get around to asking for Arlie’s hand. In fact, he’d had high hopes Daniel would return home to America.
“I don’t know.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Dominic shrugged. “I can’t give you an answer right now. Perhaps after I speak with my ward, I’ll have a better idea as to how she feels about it.”
“Do I have your permission then?”
How could he give permission for Daniel to marry his lover?
Joseph coughed, though it sounded suspiciously like a laugh.
“I…would prefer to discuss this another time. I have matters—”
“Lord Rochford, please forgive me for my abruptness, but there are distressing rumors circulating about Miss Whitman, and I feel I must question you about them.”
An unsettling silence fell over the room as Dominic stared at the younger man.
“Such as?”
“I mean no ill will, and I beg forgiveness for being so blunt, but they are saying she is the daughter of a fisherman and her mother was…a woman of ill repute.”
Dominic knew the ton well. Any gossip, true or not, could ruin Arlie. Daniel shrugged indifferently, but Dominic knew otherwise. Her background made all the difference in the world. “I know not what to believe. I thought perhaps—”
Dominic sat back in his chair, the blood roaring in his ears. “Mr. Butler, I was under the impression that you cared for Arlie.”
Daniel’s hesitation said more than any answer could have, and Dominic knew he had been right about the young man all along—he expected a healthy dowry. “You are an American. Why should you care if your bride is of the gentry?”
“Well…”
“You were wanting a dowry?”
Daniel’s cheeks turned red under Dominic’s harsh stare. “I would have her without the money, though I have to say it is a nice enticement. But there are also rumors that the two of you…” Daniel shifted on his feet. “How can I say this as not to offend…that you and Miss Whitman are lovers,” he blurted.
Dominic’s stomach dropped to his toes.
“Rochford, I have told others that nothing could be further from the truth. Granted, you never allow us any time to ourselves, and you choose to serve as chaperone, rather than hire someone else, yet—”
“Enough,” Dominic said with a calm he did not feel. “Though you say you don’t believe these lies, there’s something in your voice that tells me you’re not certain.”
Dominic knew he should feel relieved the rumor was out, but he wasn’t. For so long he had tried to hide the affair. In the meantime, he had hoped everyone would forget about Arlie’s history. A nerve in his jaw twitched. He knew exactly who to thank for the rumor. “And what do you believe?”
A bead of perspiration formed on Daniel’s upper lip, and his hands trembled as he wiped it away. “Of course, I don’t believe the gossip. I should have kept quiet. Forgive me for saying anything. I will not speak of it again.”
“On the contrary I’m glad that you told me. Rumors can do horrible damage to a young lady’s reputation, as you can see. If you, a true friend, thinks that the lies are true, then what must others think?” Dominic felt like an invisible vise tightened around his heart. ”Perhaps it is time Arlie considers marriage. Maybe then it will put an end to these nasty rumors—which are completely absurd.” Dominic carefully schooled his features and looked directly at Daniel. “I want you to know that there is nothing going on between my ward and myself. I suppose my reputation has done us both harm in this matter.”
“I apologize, Lord Rochford.”
Dominic sat down and stared at the young man. “Please sit.” He motioned to a chair and Daniel sat on the very edge, looking ready to bolt. “You have my permission to ask for Miss Whitman’s hand. In fact, of all the men who’ve been calling on my ward, I like you the most,” Dominic lied, knowing damn well he hated Daniel most of all.
“Now, tell me who has started this ugly rumor.”
Daniel blanched. “Lord Rochford, I cannot—”
“Come now, Daniel—we are practically family.”
Although the words were meant to reassure Daniel, he looked increasingly uncomfortable. Loosening his cravat with a finger, he sat back in the chair, looking like a sheep being led to the slaughter.
“I heard it from an acquaintance, who in turn heard it from Duchess Banfield,” he said, two bright spots appearing on his cheeks.
Dominic shook his head. “Well, there you see.”
Daniel frowned. “See what?”
“The duchess—come, don’t act surprised. You know Veronica and I were more than friends. I saw the disapproval in your eyes at the ball.” Dominic cleared his throat. “I’ve had to make a lot of adjustments in my life since having a ward, Daniel, and breaking off my relationship with a married woman was one of them. I don’t want my ward believing that’s what married people do. So, you see, Veronica is simply trying to extract revenge—a silly lovers game, that I’m afraid has hurt my ward far more than myself, the intended target. I normally would not entrust you with this information, but I know that you will keep it in the strictest of confidence.”
Comprehension slowly fell over Daniel’s features. Immediately he looked more at ease. “Certainly…I understand completely and am most grateful to you for telling me the truth. I also think it’s admirable of you to realize your behavior with the duchess could harm your ward—we wouldn’t want Miss Whitman thinking it is the way of married people to take others to their bed. I mean no ill toward you, Rochford. But I could never stand for unfaithfulness in my marriage.”
Dominic thought the man better think again—because Dominic wasn’t about to give Arlie up.
A knock at the door stopped further conversation. A moment later Arlie stepped in looking irresistible in her breeches and white shirt. Her long hair flowed free down her back, curling at her slender hips accented perfectly by the tight pants. Dominic noticed Daniel’s brows raised considerably as she came toward them.
“Mr. Butler, I didn’t know you were here.”
Daniel looked her up and down. “You are dressed…differently.” His tone was clearly disapproving.
She lifted her chin. “These are my riding clothes.”
“Do you not have proper riding attire?”
“I prefer breeches,” she said matter-of-factly, as she straightened her spine. “I alwa
ys have, and I always will.”
The young man seemed to sense her mood, and sat up straighter. “Which is fine, Miss Whitman. I just…am not accustomed to seeing a woman dressed in such a way.” He turned to Dominic. “May I have a word with Miss Whitman—alone?”
Dominic glanced at Arlie. She stood, her arms crossed over her chest watching him. He nodded, stood slowly and walked to the double doors.
His heart beat in double-time. All he would have to do is tell Daniel the truth.
Without looking back, Dominic walked out of the room, and closed the door. He wondered if he’d just made the biggest mistake of his life.
* * * * *
Dominic glanced at the auburn beauty at his side. Veronica had met him at the park shortly after he’d sent the message. He never doubted she would show. After all, it had been months since they’d last slept together. He knew she had another lover, but she had a voracious sexual appetite and by the expression on her face, she was counting on a rendezvous.
Leaning heavily against him, she smelled of expensive perfume—too strong, compared to the light scent of lavender that Arlie wore.
Veronica’s fingers traced circles on his pant leg. “Dominic, don’t tell me you’ve lost interest in your little ward already?”
He lifted a brow. “What has Arlie to do with anything?”
Her throaty laughter filled the carriage. “Oh, Dominic, you think I’m so naive. You forget I play this game as well as you, or any man. You’ve bedded her. It’s obvious. But I don’t care.” Her hand moved to his crotch. “I still want you.”
Just last night he had experienced unparalleled passion in Arlie’s arms. The thought of having sex with Veronica had lost all appeal. But he had some convincing to do, not just to Veronica, but to himself. Arlie had taken hold of his heart and as the days passed, he felt himself falling further under her spell. The knowledge unsettled him. He grabbed the bottle of port that Veronica always kept stuffed under the carriage seat, and took a long, steady drink.
When Daniel had asked for Arlie’s hand, he had considered for a heart-stopping moment marrying her himself, but he knew far too well it would be impossible. His grandmother could and would cut him out of the family fortune immediately. He would be stripped of his title, his estates, his wealth…everything.
Plus, in time the novelty would wear off…it always did. Even as the thought entered his mind, his body renounced it. Arlie had set his blood on fire from the moment he’d met her, and from the first touch he had been consumed. Every time they made love he gave a little more of his heart.
Despite that knowledge, thirty minutes later Dominic was in a rented room, flat on his back, his naked ex-mistress kissing a trail from his chest, straight down to his penis. Try as he might to put Arlie from his mind, he found he could not. Sitting up abruptly, Dominic gently pushed Veronica aside.
“What is it?” she asked, falling back on the bed, irritation marring her features.
“I can’t do it,” he said, finding his breeches and pulling them on, never so anxious to leave a naked woman than at that moment.
“I should have never come here.”
“Don’t be silly,” she said, trying to pull him back down.
He stepped away, ripped his shirt off a nearby chair and quickly put it on. “I would ask that if you care for me at all, that you stop the rumors. Arlie doesn’t deserve to be ruined by them,” he said, knowing he said it for naught. Veronica would stop at nothing to have her revenge.
She glared at him. “You’ll be back, Dominic. I know it, just as I know that it is impossible for you to be faithful to any one woman.”
Having no desire to argue, he headed for the door.
“Dominic, please reconsider. She is, after all, a whore’s daughter.”
Dominic stepped dead in his tracks. His gut twisted in a knot as he heard Veronica’s throaty laughter.
“Everyone knows the truth, Dominic. Everyone knows that she is not the daughter of a baron—or whatever pathetic fabricated tale the two of you came up with. I won’t ask if you knew all along, because it’s obvious that you did by your reaction.”
He said nothing as he continued for the door. The minute he reached his carriage, self-loathing came over him in waves. He had very nearly made love to another woman. How could he have done this to Arlie?
When he walked into the manor, his self-loathing grew by leaps and bounds. Joseph took one look at him and frowned. “I’ll draw a bath,” he said, his voice a mixture of disgust and impatience. “You reek of perfume.”
A bath was exactly what he needed. He wanted the scent of the other woman off him. He wanted nothing more than to take Arlie in his arms tonight. He wanted to tell her how much he cared for her, how much she meant to him, and then show her.
As he headed for the stairs he stopped short, seeing Arlie coming down, her hand resting on the banister.
Dressed in a cream silk robe, her hair fell around her like a veil. Her beauty stunned him and he realized he wanted her now, as always, perhaps even more, since he was terrified at the next words he would hear.
When would I ever get over her? He wondered. Never echoed in his mind. She took a few more steps then stopped, her gaze focused on his lips before slipping to his neck. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You were with her, weren’t you?”
His heart missed a beat. How did she know? He’d been discreet.
As though reading his mind, she replied in a solemn voice, “You smell of her perfume. Plus her rouge is on your jaw and neck.”
He glanced down and saw the telltale signs of makeup on his white cravat. “I swear we did nothing,” he said, desperate to have her in his arms again, needing to have her tell him she would never leave him.
Her mouth opened in disbelief. “You liar.”
“Daniel knows about us. Everyone knows… Veronica started the rumor and I had to put an end to it.”
“So you slept with her?”
“No, I didn’t sleep with her. I swear it!”
“Yet you were with her. And you did more than talk,” she accused, her voice unsteady.
There was nothing he could say. He had been with Veronica, and he’d had every intention of making love to her in the hopes that she would not only stop the rumors, but would help him prove to himself that what he felt for Arlie he could feel for anyone.
For a moment time stood still as she watched him. Her green eyes were stormy with anguish. Her pink lips trembled, before she bit down on her bottom one. Tears swam in her eyes and he reached for her, but she swatted his hand away. “Don’t touch me. Don’t ever touch me again!”
Without another word, she turned and ran back up the stairs. He flinched when her bedroom door slammed behind her. He closed his eyes and fought the yearning to go to her.
“My lord?”
“Yes, Joseph?
“Could I interest you in a glass of brandy?”
“Do me one better, will you? Get me the bottle.”
* * * * *
Arlie pretended not to notice Dominic, who watched from his study. Smiling up at Daniel, she took his hand in her own, entwining her fingers with his strong ones. How she wished he could make her feel the same way Dominic did.
“Kiss me,” she whispered.
“Pardon me?” Dominic asked, his eyes widened, obviously surprised by her question.
“I thought it was time we truly kissed.”
His frown quickly turned into a grin. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more certain.”
His hands moved to either side of her face. Gently, he leaned forward, and touched his lips to hers. She lifted her chin a fraction to be more accommodating. “Again, Daniel. Kiss me again.”
His eyes brightened. This time, he pulled her up against him, while his mouth covered hers. She parted her lips in invitation, hoping he would take the initiative and deepen the kiss. He slipped the tip of his tongue in, and Arlie waited for the fierce pounding she always experienced with D
ominic to begin. After a few passion free moments, Arlie realized to her great disappointment, that “the tingle” wouldn’t happen.
Not with Daniel anyway.
Unable to meet his gaze, she instead glanced at the button on his waistcoat. “It’s time for my piano lesson,” she said, hating herself for the lie. She wanted to get away from everyone and everything. It wasn’t Daniel’s fault. She liked him, and he would make someone a wonderful husband…but that someone wasn’t her.
It was all Dominic’s fault. Dominic had ruined everything.
“Until tomorrow,” he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
“Until tomorrow,” she repeated.
He left her standing in the garden. She kicked a pebble, lifting her face to the gray sky that matched her mood so perfectly. How dare Dominic give Daniel permission to marry her? She knew the only reason he had given permission was because he had tired of her and wanted Veronica back.
When she heard steps on the path behind her, she didn’t have to turn to know who they belonged to.
“Did you enjoy it?”
She turned and met Dominic’s cool stare. “You mean the kiss? Yes, as a matter of fact, I did.”
The nerve in his jaw ticked double-time.
“I’m tired and I don’t want to fight. I’m going to my room now.”
“He’s talking of putting an announcement in The Times, you know.”
She shrugged. “So be it.”
“Is that what you want? To be Mr. Daniel Butler?”
“It does have a nice ring, doesn’t it?”
He cleared his throat. “Do you want him?”
“What do you care?” she replied, barely above a whisper, finding it hard to believe he had finally got around to asking her how she felt.
He grabbed her wrist. She tried pulling away, but his hand was like a steel band. His eyes were piercing, staring all the way into her soul. “I want you now more than ever. It kills me to see you with him. Especially when you won’t listen to me. I swear to you Veronica means nothing to me. When I’m with you I—”
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