Seducing the Ruthless Rogue

by Tammy Jo Burns

  Cassie allowed herself to be dragged by Mikala to the front of the line. Several of the men already knew her father, which made some introductions easier. There were a few women that seemed snooty, but for the most part they were all very nice. Perhaps she had been wrong about the ton in her articles. Remember, she reminded herself, this is just a small portion of the ten thousand. With that thought, she continued to greet people.

  ***

  Mack hated huge parties, but they were a necessary evil. He often found himself forced to attend them due to his position. He had met some incredible beauties at these balls, but limited his female liaisons to widows. Mack refused to touch married women and innocents, primarily due to the stigma attached to him. However, that did not stop the married women from trying to gain his interest. More than likely so they could brag to their friends they had bedded ‘The Scottish Bastard’.

  He refused to go through the receiving line and instead slipped in through the garden. Mikala’s “little party” had morphed into the equivalent of a mid-sized ball. His sister-in-law was a strange one. She felt perfectly content both in the country or in town. Even though she knew that half the ton talked about her behind her back, she never let that get to her. Instead, she faced it with her shoulders thrown back and head held high. She told Mack on several occasions, that she thought the members of the ton that despised her secretly wished they could be more like her. He thought truer words had never been spoken.

  As if thinking of her made her appear, he saw Mikala and Gabe standing at the top of the stairs waiting to be announced. She was beautiful and a free spirit. His brother was lucky to have her, lucky to be able to have a family. She looked at Gabe so adoringly, but he knew first-hand that they could also have some terrible rows. Mikala had once told him that they never went to bed angry. By the end of the day, whatever they fought about either did not matter or they had found some solution that suited them both. They were perfect for each other. If he did not have Mikala, he would be a stuffed shirt that never had any fun. Much like what you are turning into, he thought savagely.

  “May I have your attention,” the new butler, Riggs, called from the top of the stairs. “May I present your host and hostess for the evening, the Duke and Duchess of Hawkescliffe.”

  Polite applause filled the room. Gabe very solicitously assisted Mikala down the stairs. He will be driving her mad before long, Mack thought and could not help chuckling.

  “And now, for your guests of honor, Sir Graham and his daughter, Miss Cassie Graham.”

  Again, polite applause could be heard around the room as well as whispering. People were questioning who these two newcomers were.

  What Mack saw took his breath away. Cassie looked gorgeous in a red, jewel-toned gown with a sheer black overlay. Her hair. Mack’s fingers clenched tightly, because he wanted to bury his fingers in the silvery locks piled on top of her head. Her neck was regal and led to a bosom that would make a man drool like a suckling babe. In fact, he noticed himself doing just that thing. He looked around the room and noticed that there were several single, and married, men present and all of them were reacting to Cassie’s appearance in the same manner.

  He wanted to scream, Stay away! She’s mine! Instead he remained silent and observed. He had known there was a beauty hidden behind those drab, serviceable dresses that were made for a servant. Mack felt his body reacting to her as she took her father’s arm and descended the stairs into the ballroom. He could tell, even from his position across the room, that she fought nerves in facing all these people. At least Mikala had invited their friends that were in town. They would help provide a buffer.

  He desperately wanted to go over, take her into his arms, and sweep her out of the room. Preferably to the dark garden. There he could kiss her and tell her how beautiful she looked. He could show her that she enticed him. He could convince her to quit writing those articles and endangering her life. He wondered what else he could convince her to do. He shifted as the fall of his breeches tightened uncomfortably.

  For the moment, he would be merely a spectator. He would watch how she acted at her first London ball. He would savor her triumphs from afar and be on the ready to save her from tragedy, if necessary. Mack leaned negligently against the wall, arms crossed, watching Cassie as a hunter would watch his prey.

  ***

  Cassie kept looking all over the ballroom. She felt she as if someone watched her. Perhaps they were. She had heard all the whispering when she and her father were announced. Even though they seemed polite, members of the ton did not like new people. They considered them upstarts and not good enough for the likes of their society.

  “What’s wrong?” her father queried.

  “I feel like everyone’s watching me.”

  “They are, my dear. That’s what happens when something new and beautiful enters the fold.”

  “Your father is right,” Mikala added. “The women are sizing you up. They are trying to determine if you are competition. The men are figuring out how they can get an introduction to you. You, friend, are the beau monde’s new plaything.”

  “I don’t want to be anyone’s plaything.”

  “Oh, but it is so much fun,” Mikala laughed, her husky voice caused men to turn and look at her, lust in their eyes. “See what I mean? I am happily married, and yet all I have to do is laugh, and I have men falling over themselves to come to me.”

  “Mikala, control yourself, or I will lock you in the bedroom,” Hawkescliffe whispered in his wife’s ear. Mikala said something back that made the man blush and appear feral all at the same time.

  “Now, come with me,” Mikala took Cassie’s hand and began to weave through the crowd. “There are some special people I want to introduce you to.”

  “Surely I have met everyone. Besides, my head is spinning with names.”

  “You can forget everyone else. These people are very special to me. You will enjoy them. Here we are,” Mikala said, stopping at a group of women. “Ladies, I have someone very special I would like you to meet. This is Cassie Graham. Her father is Sir Graham, the famous inventor.”

  Cassie studied the group and realized she had met most of these women before. One of the women must have came to the same conclusion because she said, “We have met before.”

  “You have?”

  “Yes. Aunt Gertrude gave a dinner party about a year ago. Miss Graham and her father came.”

  “That’s correct,” Cassie said, feeling just a bit more comfortable. “I met your aunt at a lecture on archaeology.”

  “How did I miss this event?” Mikala demanded.

  “I believe Diana might have had something to do with it.”

  “Ah,” she sighed, a madonna-like smile curving her lips.

  At that time, an older woman entered the group. When she saw Cassie, she exclaimed in excitement. “Miss Graham, it is so wonderful to see you again. I have missed seeing you at the lectures I attend. And how is your dear father?”

  “Good evening, Lady Greenwood. It is good to see you as well. Papa is well. In fact, he is here tonight.”

  “Did you just get here, Aunt Gertie?”

  “Yes. I was running behind, as usual.”

  “Then you don’t know. Sir Graham and Cassie are Mikala’s guests of honor.”

  “Oh, how perfectly splendid.”

  “Mikala, you go make your rounds, I’ll make certain introductions are done,” Lady Southerby said.

  “Are you positive?”

  “Yes.”

  “If you start to feel unwell.”

  “Justin is watching me like a hawk. The same goes for you.”

  “Yes, mother,” Mikala winked before leaving the group and mingling with her guests.

  “Now, I am Lady Southerby, but everyone calls me Clarissa. This,” she placed an arm around the woman standing next to her, “is Tessa Simmons, the Countess of Blackburn. She is married to Mikala’s brother, Derek.”

  “It is wonderful to meet you,” Tessa sai
d, and held out a hand for Cassie to take. She had a Scottish brogue that reminded her of another Scotsman. “I still don’t feel comfortable at these gatherings. I much prefer being in the country with the children.”

  “How many children do you have?” Cassie asked politely.

  “Twins—a boy and a girl. And we will have a new little one towards the end of the year.”

  “It must be catching,” Clarissa said, laughing.

  “Not you, too?” Tessa queried.

  “What did you think Mikala was referencing when she said if I started to feel unwell?”

  “I wasn’t really paying attention,” Tessa said, guiltily.

  “Every one of you is expecting a child?” Cassie questioned.

  “It would seem so. And the newest couple that has been added to our group is not present for that very reason. Rebekah has entered her confinement. Besides, she doesn’t care for this type of thing. She would much rather be in the country. She and her husband, Sir Thorn Wulfe—he was just recently knighted for service to the Crown, are the guardians of twins.”

  “My, it seems like quite a group.”

  “It is,” a very regal looking woman walked up to the group. Cassie had difficulty judging her age. She had some fine lines around her eyes and mouth, but that did not detract from her beauty.

  “Cassie, this is Drucilla Rochester, the Duchess of Thornbrook. She is Mikala’s aunt. Dru, this is Cassie Graham,” Clarissa introduced the two women.

  “It is very nice to meet you, Your Grace,” Cassie curtsied low.

  “Let that be the only time you curtsy to me. Now we are friends and shall greet each other as such.” Dru went up to Cassie and hugged her warmly. Astonishment coursed through Cassie at the way these women treated her. It was not what she had expected at all.

  “Dru, I think you’ve shocked her,” Tessa teased.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

  “I just never expected member of the ton to be so nice and welcoming, most especially a duchess,” Cassie replied honestly.

  “Oh, my dear, most of them aren’t. What you see here is very unique. You see, we are the ones that are talked about by other members of the ton,” Drucilla said. “One day we will explain it to you, but for now, you should be filling up your dance card and enjoying yourself.”

  “May I have your attention,” the butler bellowed from the top of the stairs.

  “Mikala will be having a fit,” Dru said when she looked towards the staircase.

  “May I present His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.” Thunderous applause erupted.

  “That’s the Prince?” Cassie asked.

  “Yes,” Dru replied.

  “I just never expected…”

  “Quite,” Dru agreed. “Well, Mikala’s party will now be a resounding success, and those that didn’t come that were invited shall be wishing they had.”

  Cassie observed how people treated the Prince. Some rushed over to try to garner his attention, while others tried to avoid him. She felt a burning tingling on her neck and quickly turned to find no one there. Was someone watching her, or was it simply her imagination?

  She turned back around in time to see the Prince making his way towards the group of women she stood with.

  Chapter 15

  “Drucilla, you must introduce me to your friend,” the Prince said once he approached their group and after all the women had respectfully curtsied.

  “Of course,” she replied with an insincere smile plastered on her face. “Your Highness, this is Cassie Graham. Her father is Sir Graham, the inventor.”

  “Yes, yes,” he waved the last bit away. “Cassie. Is it short for Cassandra?”

  “If only that were true, Your Highness. My mother loved astronomy. My name is Cassiopeia.”

  “Ah, a mixture of mythology and stars. Well, Cassiopeia, would you join me for a dance?”

  “I haven’t danced in a very long time, Your Highness. I would not want to embarrass you or myself.”

  “If we begin with a waltz, then all you must do is follow my lead. A waltz if you please,” he called out, took Cassie’s hand, and led her to the dance floor. Where people had once stood milling about and talking, there now lay a vast openness reminding Cassie of the ocean. As the first strains of the music began, the Prince whispered in her ear, “They are just curious about who caught my eye. Just do as I do.”

  Cassie looked at him and received a wink. Flustered, she flubbed slightly at first then found she quite enjoyed dancing. Perhaps not with the Prince Regent as much as she would with someone else. She would greatly enjoy dancing with Mack, being taken into his arms and held close while they floated about the room.

  “And who has put a look like that on your face, my dear Cassiopeia?”

  Cassie blushed as she met the Prince’s gaze. Other couples had finally begun to join them on the dance floor, so now they were not being gawked at quite so much.

  “Come now. You have piqued my curiosity. Who is this young man that you are imagining sweeping you around the dance floor in his arms?”

  “Director McKenzie,” she muttered.

  Prinny let loose a hearty laugh. “The Scottish Bastard. Oh, my dear, that is just wonderful.” He continued to swirl her about the floor. “Let’s see if we can’t make him jealous?”

  “No, Your Highness, please don’t. He cannot stand me, and truthfully I find him quite irritating most of the time I am around him.”

  “Why, this is even better. I am going to have some fun with Mack.”

  “He will just take it out on me,” Cassie said, shaking her head sadly. “He’ll accuse me of seducing you.”

  “Little does he know that you need not do anything to seduce a man, young woman. You are a beauty beyond measure. He is going to be damn lucky if someone else doesn’t leave here with you on their arm. Mack has become too staid. He is good for our country, but he has forgotten how to live. You can show him that.”

  “I don’t know that I want to, Your Highness.”

  “You, my dear, are going to lead him on a merry chase indeed, whether you intend to or not. Now, let us show these other couples how to truly dance a waltz.”

  ***

  “You look angry, big brother.”

  “Bugger off,” Mack said.

  “Prinny is…”

  “Dancing with Cassie. All of London can see what he is doing. Too closely, if you ask me.”

  “Mack, are you jealous?”

  “Her father should be stepping in and stopping this. She is an innocent dancing with the most lecherous man in London.”

  “You best watch what you say if you want to keep your neck in one piece. What has gotten into you?”

  “Nothing,” Mack said, pushing off the wall. He headed towards the garden, refusing to watch Cassie make a spectacle of herself; however, he found himself standing so he still had a view of the dancing go on. After Prinny finished dancing with her, man after man took her in their arms and led her in one dance after another. Some of them she stumbled through the moves at first, but she would just laugh her way through. The men would laugh with her, and they would continue on.

  A servant walked by with a tray of glasses and Mack hailed him to a stop. “See if you can find me some whisky.”

  “Yes, sir.” The man returned a short time later with a glass of whisky. “Here, sir.”

  “For your trouble,” Mack pulled out a coin and passed it to the man.

  “Thank you, sir. Let me know should you need anything else.”

  “Aye,” Mack said as he tossed back the contents of the glass. “Another one,” he held out the glass to the man. The servant took the glass and disappeared. When he reappeared, everything was repeated, including Mack holding out his glass for more.

  “I brought the bottle this time, sir,” the servant said, knowing that if he neglected his other duties anymore tonight, Riggs would sack him.

  “Good man. This is for your trouble,” Mack said and gave the man more co
ins.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Mack stood, intently watching Cassie and the men that swarmed her. Married and single alike vied for a chance to talk to her, get her to laugh, or take her out onto the dance floor. Dammit, didn’t they know she belonged to him? he thought. That brought him up short. Did he want her? He lusted after her, that was certain.

  “What are you doing out here?” His sister-in-law’s husky voice intruded on his thoughts.

  “Watching,” he said before taking a sip of the whisky. “And you?”

  “I needed some fresh air.” Mack took another drink. “Are you drinking whisky?”

  “It isn’t water,” Mack jauntily replied.

  “Stuart McKenzie, are you drunk?”

  “Far from it.”

  “Good, and it had better stay that way. Now, why are you out here watching and not in there watching?”

  “Out here I don’t have to mask my thoughts at someone making a fool of themselves.”

  “And who would that be? Prinny? I cannot believe he actually came. Quite irritating. He has made Miss Graham quite popular this evening.”

  “Hmph.”

  “Ah, so that is how the wind blows. She is quite a beauty.”

  “When she’s not wearing those brown dresses that most servants wouldn’t be caught dead in.”

  “You’re concerned with how she dresses?”

  “Not at all.”

  “Hmmm.”

  “Don’t go believin’ you know what I’m thinkin’, sister dear.”

  “Now, Mack, would I ever do that?”

  Mack guffawed as a reply.

  “Stuart McKenzie, I take offense in that.”

  “You can do whatever you wish, sister dear, but the fact still remains that you too often put that cute little nose of yours where it doesn’t belong.”

  “This is all I will say on the subject of you and Cassie. If you are so concerned about her, why don’t you do something about it? Quit standing on the outside looking in. Think of yourself and your happiness for a change instead of everyone else’s. You have spent too much time cooped up in that office of yours trying to impress people enough that they forget your background and accept you into their welcoming bosom. Well, Mack, I’m here to tell you, as an expert, no matter what you do or what title you hold, you will never be welcome. You might as well come to terms with that right now. If you don’t believe me, ask Dru. My advice is to find someone to make you happy. When you do, make her your whole world, otherwise you are going to end up growing old alone. Do you really want that?”