Midnight Masqerade

by Shirlee Busbee

  As she walked up the steps to the house, a troubling thought occurred to her, causing the light to fade from her eyes. Even though he now knew that she had not trapped him, that it was by accident she had been in his room that night and that Uncle Josh had compelled her to marry him, Dominic had still been forced into a marriage he hadn't wanted-he had told her so himself. A small chill slid down her spine. Perhaps he was just a noble man who was - determined to make the best of a bad situation.

  That first heady rush of elation was ebbing, and with doubt beginning to slowly creep into her happy thoughts, Melissa entered the house and went in search of her husband. She found him in the salon, idly flicking through the pages of a newspaper.

  They had been poised on the brink of a precious moment when Josh had interrupted them, and although there was no impediment to their taking up where they had left off, it was exceedingly difficult to instantly recapture the mood that had prevailed such a short time ago. For no rational reason, there suddenly existed an odd constraint between them, each one eager to continue that most interesting conversation, but neither one quite certain how to begin.

  When Melissa hesitated in the doorway, Dominic smiled at her as he got up and went to her. "Your uncle gone?"

  "Yes. He said to tell you good-bye," she replied primly. Unconsciously her fingers tightened around the bankbook, and flushing slightly, she crossed the room to stand in front of Dominic.

  "I want to thank you for what you did . . . and apologize for misjudging your motives," she said earnestly.

  Mutely they stared at each other, the sweetness and promise of their earlier meeting suddenly swirling around them.

  His dark face intent, Dominic fastened his hands around Melissa's shoulders and pulled her gently to him. "It isn't your gratitude or apology that I want," he murmured huskily.

  Breathlessly, a quiver of renewed hope surging through her, Melissa swayed closer to him. In a voice barely above a whisper, her soft mouth just tempting inches from his, she asked, "If not my gratitude or my apology, what do you want from me?"

  Absorbed in each other, they did not hear the sound of footsteps crossing the gallery, but the sudden, thunderous knocking on the front door made Melissa jump and Dominic curse vehemently beneath his breath.

  A menacing expression in the gray eyes, he gently put Melissa from him and snarled, "If that is your blasted uncle again, I vow I shall ..."

  Striding out into the entryhall, he reached the door and angrily flung it open. His unwelcoming countenance did not change in the least when he discovered Royce on the other side of the door. "What the blazes do you want? I'm beginning to think that you damned Manchesters are deliberately trying to keep me from finding any marital harmony at all!"

  "Come at an awkward time, did I?" Royce asked with interest, apparently not the least perturbed by either Dominic's black expression or his unfriendly greeting. Ignoring his host's decidedly unwelcoming air, Royce smiled slightly and said, "It is not me you should vent your spleen on, but your brother's friend Jason Savage-he is the reason I am here."

  "Jason?" Dominic repeated darkly. "When did you hear from him?"

  "If you will invite me in," Royce said sweetly, "I shall be most happy to tell you."

  Ungraciously Dominic did so, wondering viciously why he had ever envied Morgan his friendship with Jason, or why he had ever thought that it would be exciting to be involved in some of the adventures he had heard Morgan and Jason discuss over the years. Right now, if he never heard Jason's name again it would be far too soon!

  Knowing that Royce would not have come to see him if the matter were not important and having the uneasy premonition that it would be some time before he would be able to renew the tantalizing mood with Melissa, Dominic grudgingly resigned himself to the present. Stopping at the doorway of the salon, he stuck his head inside and said to Melissa, "Royce has arrived and wishes to speak with me. I have no idea how long I shall be with him."

  Melissa nodded, having recognized her cousin's voice. Walking up to Dominic, her eyes glowing with promise, she smiled reassuringly at him and, her hand gently stroking his cheek, murmured, "Go with him. We'll have time to talk later tonight ... when we're alone."

  At the implication in both her look and her voice, Dominic was struck by an overpowering wave of love for her, and heedless of Royce's inquisitive presence behind him, his eyes dark with emotion, he jerked her to him and crushed her lips to his. Lifting his mouth from hers, he muttered, "Believe, madam, I shall be waiting most impatiently for us to finally be alone with each other."

  And then, leaving Melissa standing there with a dazzled expression on her lovely face, he spun on his heels and disappeared with Royce. Fingers on the lips Dominic had kissed, she stared at the empty doorway, willing him to reappear, willing him to continue kissing her in that same deliciously ferocious manner. Thinking of the sweet promise of the night to come, she felt a flutter of anticipation stir throughout her entire body. Wrapped in a rosy haze, she fairly floated from the salon and up the stairs to her room.

  There was no rosy haze to cloud Dominic's thoughts as he showed Royce into the tiny study at the rear of the house. Flinging himself down into one of the three chairs the room contained, he snapped, "Now what brought you here in such a hurry? I would have thought that after our late night last night you would have decided on a better way to spend your afternoon than badgering me!"

  "But you know how much pleasure it gives me to annoy you," Royce returned serenely. "And, of course, we both know that I have nothing else to do with my time than to think up ways in which to irritate my friends."

  A reluctant laugh was dragged from Dominic and he said more politely, "Oh, have done and tell me what Jason wants now."

  Extracting an envelope from his coat pocket, Royce handed it to him, saying, "I believe I know what your letter from Jason contains. In addition to yours, there was one waiting for me when I returned home from town this afternoon. I suspect that your letter will reveal the same information as mine."

  It did. The letter was brief, but the news substantial.

  Dominic, A spy for the British, a fellow named Anthony Davis, has been captured here in New Orleans. He was reluctant to talk at first, but after a while with some persuasive gentlemen I know, he was induced to do so. Roxbury, he told us, had sent him here and he was to meet with Julius Latimer on the fifth of December. Apparently, during his travels Latimer has been preparing a list of various men who would be inclined to deal with our spy. I want those names! But you must obtain them without alerting Latimer. Do nothing about him yourself-we will be waiting for him when he arrives in New Orleans. In the meantime, find that list and copy it. Either you or Royce are to bring the copy to me here in New Orleans, as soon as possible.

  It would seem that you were right-Latimer is not our spy. His task for Roxbury was merely to observe and to select those men he judged the most likely to turn traitor. Armed with the list of names, our spy would do the rest.

  In light of what we have discovered, once you have your hands on Latimer's list, you may cease your agreeableness to the fair Deborah-which I am certain will delight you!

  I have sent this letter to Royce's address, as I was not certain if you would still be domiciled in Baton Rouge or if you had left for Thousand Oaks. I have written Royce a letter that duplicates this one almost exactly. I hope that you and he will be able to strike quickly and that you have no difficulty in finding that most important list of names.

  My best to you and your bride.

  Jason In silence Dominic handed the letter back to Royce, and Royce quickly scanned the contents. "Hmm, there is nothing in this that is any different from mine," Royce said when he was done reading.

  Dominic remained silent for a long moment; then, running his hand tiredly over his face, he said, "I suppose the first place to search for that list would be among Latimer's personal possessions. I can't say that I relish going through his things, but for my own sanity and to comply with Jason's req
uest, the sooner we do it the better. " o "I agree," Royce said as he settled his long length in a chair across from Dominic. "From my regrettably close association with him, I happen to know that Latimer and his sister are to dine this evening with the Richardsons out at Rose Mount. It should be quite late before they return home. Richardson is an avid gambler but an unlucky one, and after last night, I'm sure that Latimer will be trying to recoup some of his losses."

  Dominic threw back his head and stared gloomily at the ceiling, his delectable visions of recapturing those enthralling moments with his wife vanishing. Ruefully he murmured, "It would have to be tonight!" Not yet willing to relinquish all hope, he glanced across at Royce. "I don't suppose that we could do it tomorrow evening. A day or two shouldn't make that much difference."

  "What if we don't find it tonight? It's conceivable that it may take us several days to discover where he has hidden it. Besides," Royce added in a reasonable tone, "he may have plans to remain at home tomorrow night, and Friday night is my father's little celebration, which we both must attend. If we strike tonight and luck is with us, I will be able to leave for New Orleans on Saturday morning."

  Sending him a sardonic look, Dominic drawled, "You're not planning on having me deliver the list to Jason?"

  "Oh, no!" Royce replied angelically. "You are newly married and your time is far too valuable to be taken up with having to traipse down the river to that wicked city."

  "Hungering for a little excitement and some new vices, are we?" Dominic asked with a grin.

  The two men began to seriously consider the distasteful task that lay ahead of them. Since it was already gone six o'clock, Dominic invited Royce to stay and dine. The meal that followed was not unpleasant, Melissa fulfilling her duties as hostess admirably, Dominic being the friendly host and Royce acting the part of the polite guest, but it cannot be said that it was the most enjoyable repast that the three had ever shared-especially since two of the trio were violently wishing the third member in perdition!

  Leaving the gentlemen to their port and cigars when the meal was over, Melissa wandered into the salon, her warm, rosy thoughts dwelling bemusedly on the evening which was surely to follow Royce's departure. It was only when the gentlemen, having hastily finished their liquor, joined her that she received the decidedly unwelcome news that Dominic would be going out ... again. Looking at her husband with bewildered disbelief, she repeated stiltedly, Shirlee Buabee

  "Leaving? You're going out with Royce this evening? But , I thought that . . . "

  Royce glanced from one unhappy face to the other, and quickly plumbing the situation, said instantly, "I believe that I shall step outside and enjoy a cheroot. Join me when you are ready to leave, Dominic."

  The other two hardly noticed his passage from the room, Dominic swiftly striding over to where Melissa was sitting. Grasping her hands tightly in his, he pulled her upright and, his eyes pleading for understanding, said urgently, "Melissa, I must go with him! But I swear to you that this will be the last time that I leave you like this."

  Bitter and mistrustful, her dreams blackened and fading, she stared stonily at him. "It seems to me that we have played out this scene before. There is always someplace that you must go, some incident, such as your shocking behavior with Lady Bowden, that I must overlook." Her eyes full of pain and anger, she spat, "Well, it has gone against my nature, and I have tried very hard to be a meek and biddable wife, but I am afraid that you have tried my patience for the last time. Go tonight, if you wish, but do not expect me here when you decide to come home!"

  Dominic's face went white and he said tightly, "Don't be a little fool! I want to be here with you more than anything else in the world, but'there is a pressing circumstance that requires my immediate attention-and I don't like it any more than you do!"

  Her eyes burning with golden fire, Melissa said jealously, "Lady Bowden, I presume? She has suffered another crisis of some sort that requires your instant presence?"

  Thoroughly enchanted by this satisfying display of jealousy, Dominic grinned, his teeth flashing whitely against his dark face. "No, my green-eyed darling, it is not Lady Bowden! There is nothing that she could do or say that would ever take me from your side!"

  Melissa regarded him suspiciously, one part of her wanting very much to believe him, another part full of distrust. She could not help but be charmed by his words, but she was not willing to let matters end there. "If it is not Lady Bowden, then who or what is it that is so important?" she demanded sharply.

  Dominic hesitated. In the beginning he had been unwilling to tell Melissa of Jason's request because he had not really known her, had been uncertain if she could be trusted. It occurred to him rather forcefully now that his love for her would be a paltry thing if it did not also entail trust. By refusing, for whatever reasons, to tell her what he had been about these past months and why he was so intent upon leaving with Royce this evening, he was both insulting Melissa's intelligence and tarnishing his love for her. Love, he realized, was a powerful emotion able to withstand incredible adversities, but without trust it would neither grow nor endure; instead, the golden future he envisioned for them could very well turn to common dross. Profoundly aware that he had come unexpectedly upon a fundamental crossroad in his relationship with his wife, Dominic did not hesitate any longer. Almost with relief, he bluntly and succinctly told her of the suspicion surrounding Latimer and of the reasons behind his apparently indulgent manner toward Deborah.

  Oddly enough, Melissa believed him without question. What he was saying explained so many of his seemingly contradictory actions. And perhaps simply because she loved him and wanted to believe, she did. Her eyes grew very round, her mouth opening and shutting several times as the implications of his measured words sank into her brain. It was indescribably gratifying to learn that, far from being entranced by Lady Bowden, Dominic had only tolerated the other woman's demands in order to learn of Latimer's activities. It was also exceedingly fascinating to discover that in addition to being a thoroughgoing scoundrel, Latimer was also involved in spying! Melissa was as patriotic as the next person, but it must be said that the part of the conversation she found the most riveting was Dominic's explanation for his apparent absorption in the other woman. Pushing aside Latimer's part in the situation for the moment, she lifted shining eyes to Dominic and asked wonderingly, "It was only to find out what she knew about Latimer's objectives that made you act so mesmerized around her*"

  The gray eyes smiling, he nodded. "Can you really believe that having you as my wife, I would willingly endure her company longer than necessary?"

  Melissa's gaze dropped, and assailed by the shyness that could overtake her at the most inopportune times, she muttered, "You didn't really want to many me . . . Josh forced you to do it."

  "Oh, Lissa, you little goose! " Dominic said half impatiently, half laughingly. "The situation that Josh found us in was unfortunate, but no one could have made me marry you if I hadn't been willing to do so in the first place. The incident in my room at the inn was shocking and regrettable, but there was no irreversible harm done. If I had held firm, Josh would have had no choice but to hustle you down the back stairs and think me the worst sort of blackguard. I would not have been happy or pleased with that reputation, but there is no way in hell he could have forced me to marry you if I hadn't wanted to!"

  Her heart thumping wildly in her breast, she glanced up at his lean, intent features. "You wanted to marry me?" she got out breathlessly.

  Honesty made Dominic admit, "I don't know that I wanted to marry you exactly. I just knew, at first, that I wanted you in my arms and bed and that I didn't find the idea of being your husband at all objectionable." He smiled crookedly. "It was only as time went on that I knew I most desperately wanted and needed you and that whatever the reasons behind our hasty marriage, I could not imagine life without you."

  Demurely Melissa confessed, "I didn't mind being married to you either."

  "Mind?" Dominic questione
d teasingly, one heavy brow flicking upward. "Is that the best you can do when I have just laid my heart at your feet?"

  Her eyes wide and questioning, she asked softly, "Have you really laid your heart at my feet?"

  Mindful of Royce waiting, no doubt with increasing restlessness, Dominic exclaimed almost despairingly, "Jesus, Lissa! I adore you! You have to know that! Why else would I buy Folly from you at that utterly ridiculous price? Why else would I bestow this cottage and land, the gifts and everything else I have, on you if it wasn't because I was mad about you and wanted you to have anything you wanted?"

  Smiling dreamily at him, Melissa drew his face close to hers. "I never wanted anything," she murmured tantalizingly against his lips, "except you!"

  Dominic's response was swift and ecstatically satisfying to both of them. His arms tightened fiercely around her and his mouth sought and hungrily found hers. With ardent eagerness Melissa met his powerful embrace, her body arching seductively against him as his tongue darted ravenously into the warm recesses of her mouth. Arms locked around each other, they swayed together in a passionate embrace, the emotions they had both fought so hard to hide and control suddenly bursting forth.

  The blood thudding in his brain, his arms full of warm and yielding flesh, Dominic forgot everything but the sweetness of holding his wife. He kissed her with increasing urgency, the desire to lose himself in the silken heat he knew awaited him relentlessly driving him as his arms dropped and his hands cupped her buttocks and he pressed her even closer to his swollen, aching manhood. He had wanted her in the past, but never like this, never knowing fully that it was love that drove him, love that made the wanting and hunger so sweet, so intoxicating.

  Drowning in the honied warmth of his kisses, her body on fire to know his touch once more, Melissa was helplessly caught in the same elemental maelstrom of emotion, her body straining frantically against his, her hands running feverishly over his broad back as Dominic's kisses grew wilder and more passionate. Her breasts were full and heavy, her body boneless with wanting, the pressure of Dominic's thrusting, rigid flesh rubbing against her, exciting and arousing.