Dare to be Mine

by Allison, Kim

  Looking about quickly, Elyssa searched for a sign of Daniel, but there was none. She saw Sophie discreetly wave at her from afar, and Elyssa smiled back. Her smile faltered when she saw Catherine glaring at her from across the huge room. Elyssa was pleased to at least note that Catherine was with someone other than Daniel. Perhaps she'd jumped to conclusions after all.

  The ball was as magnificent as it had promised to be. There were easily a few hundred guests there. Within short moments William led Elyssa to the immense dance floor and she smiled up at him as they glided together perfectly.

  Stormy gray eyes watched the handsome couple smile into romantic onslaughtthough secondeach other's eyes, his heartbeat quickening at the disturbing thought. She was spending entirely too much time with Harrison. Once again, Daniel's thoughts warred over Elyssa and he was torn over whether to hate her or to fall on his knees and beg her to love him again. How could he even ponder the idea of loving her, knowing that she was capable of murder? The woman had most likely killed his father! Who’s to say she wouldn’t do the same to him?

  The lush breast pressing intimately against his arm gave Daniel pause in his thoughts and he returned his attentions to the pretty piece he'd brought to the ball. He had only asked Angela to come because she reminded him of Elyssa. Her hair was long and dark, although not nearly as black as Elyssa's. Her eyes were green, though they lacked the vibrant luster in Elyssa's emerald orbs. Daniel looked forward to the coming night when he knew he would take Angela to bed and close his eyes, imagining it was Elyssa he was inside of.

  What was wrong with him, that Elyssa continued to plague him even now? He knew he had crushed her ego when he'd last been with her. Had scorned her desperate and needy in her amorous desires, when he had been the one who'd seduced her. And it killed him as he watched Elyssa dancing with William, to know that Harrison had made love to her, probably many times. That he was enjoying what she'd learned beneath Daniel's eager tutoring.

  For all that Daniel despised what Elyssa had done to him, he was finally coming to understand just how immensely she'd been hurt. He knew Elyssa had loved him, even though he'd not been able to return those cherished words at the time. She had been greatly pleased when she thought Greystone had been willed to him, was genuinely happy for Daniel.

  It was only now becoming obvious, for he'd striven over the last year to blame Elyssa rather than facing responsibility himself. She had not been irate because of Percy's home and money, but had been crushed to find that the man she'd fallen in love with could be so callous and deceitful. If only she hadn’t come across that damned will before the wedding!

  He must still question Elyssa about Percy's death, though fearing the answers he might receive. He prayed she was not guilty, and knew that even if she were, he would protect her, keep her safe. He found himself wishing, as he continued to watch Elyssa and William dance, that he was the one with her. That it was his eyes she was gazing up into with such fondness. Daniel had been entranced from the first moment he'd ever seen Elyssa. Had wanted to possess her from that first night.

  Shocking himself, Daniel decided that very moment, even as Angela whispered an especially naughty sentiment in his ear, that he wanted Elyssa back. With a fervency. He had to have her. And he would be romantic onslaught fingers hi d fgin his plan to win her back that very night.

  Leading Angela to the dance floor, Daniel made it a point to get closer to Elyssa and William, though the large number of people made it difficult. Daniel ignored the subtle whispers, had always done so, for he still had many good friends in London. Too, he knew from experience that gossip and rumors eventually died down and turned to a new victim after a while.

  Finally Daniel and Angela were dancing in the same proximity as Elyssa and William. Elyssa's eyes were drawn to the tall figure nearby and her eyes widened as she looked directly into Daniel's face. Her traitorous heart fluttered at the handsome sight he presented, warring with hurtful thoughts of the way he'd seduced her then scorned her the last time she had been alone with him. She quickly took in the sight of Daniel's dancing partner, a beautiful, voluptuous woman who was completely enraptured by Daniel.

  He must be trying to make me jealous, Elyssa mused inwardly, thinking that it was working. She would always have a weakness for Daniel. Indeed, it was insanity to feel that way, for he might well be after her very life. Circling in for the kill. He was certainly staring at her as if he had something wicked on his mind. Elyssa felt a blush rise to her cheeks as Daniel's gaze boldly remained upon her. Daniel slightly jerked his head to the right, his eyes trying to convey a hidden message to Elyssa. Her eyes narrowed in confusion. His expression almost comical with exasperation, Daniel once again motioned with his head.

  Elyssa had no idea what Daniel was doing, other than attempting to fluster her during her dance with William. He was much too sure of himself, and too distractingly gorgeous. Managing to turn herself a bit more into William's arms, Elyssa temporarily blocked the sight of Daniel.

  A moment later William twirled Elyssa about and when she looked about again a faint feeling of disappointment settled at the realization that Daniel was gone. He and his partner had apparently danced off in another direction. It angered Elyssa that she was bothered by his abrupt disappearance, and she strived to shower William with the attention he deserved.

  Once the dance ended, William escorted Elyssa across the room to socialize with Sophie and Blake. Elyssa envied her cousin the mutual admiration and enjoyment of each other that Sophie shared with Blake. They seemed truly smitten with one another. How Elyssa missed that feeling, although in all honesty she did know that William was already enamored of her.

  Sophie and Elyssa excused themselves to go to the ladies' room, Sophie chaqllhi d ftting excitedly about what a marvelous ball it was and what a splendid dance partner Blake was. The ladies checked their appearance and Elyssa suggested that Sophie go on back to the men, that she would be out soon.

  "I just need a few moments alone. I seem to be fighting a headache," Elyssa said.

  "Alright," Sophie replied, "but hurry back. I daresay William will have a flock of female admirers surrounding him before long if they note your absence."

  Elyssa smiled and watched Sophie's departure. In truth, she didn't really have a headache, but merely needed a short reprieve from the festivities. Everyone was having such a grand time, and Elyssa knew she should also, yet for some reason there was a dark shadow hanging over her head with everything she'd heard spoken between Will and Catherine. Besides the uncertainty of Daniel's involvement. And no matter that she’d hoped to see him at the ball, actually seeing him in the flesh had turned her inside out.

  Finally leaving to return to the ball, Elyssa's thoughts remained troubled. As if conjuring up his haunting image, Elyssa started at the dark sight of Daniel suddenly standing before her. He gently grabbed her arm and led her quickly down the corridor. Elyssa struggled to loosen her arm from his grip, but Daniel was determined to get her alone. “Did you not see me motioning you to meet me out on the terrace?” he asked in aggravation.

  “Is that what you were doing?” While Elyssa knew a confrontation with Daniel was inevitable, part of her dreaded what she might be told. What if he was involved in the plot to murder her and had simply wearied of waiting for Catherine and Will to accomplish the feat? He might be getting her away from everyone else to easier execute her murder. They rounded the corner to another endless hallway. Reaching an open door, Daniel pulled Elyssa in though she remained steadfast in the doorway to prevent him from closing the door.

  Her emerald eyes flashing in fear and uncertainty, Elyssa said, "I refuse to stay any longer if you try to close the door." Holding his hands up in surrender, Daniel was quick to accede.

  "Fine. I had only hoped to have complete privacy, but I don't suppose anyone will wander down this far anytime soon."

  Elyssa was ready to run down the hall and downstairs escaped her lips a18en the did Daniel give the slightest sign of harming
her. Her eyes were wide and her breathing shallow. Daniel wondered why Elyssa appeared so wary of him. But then again, hadn't he given her reason enough to be anxious of his motives with no one else about?

  "Elyssa, I assure you I have no intentions of coercing you into doing anything untoward," he said. Glancing about the well lit room, Elyssa was comforted to note the sparse furnishings, only a settee and a desk. To all appearances, the room was rarely used and at least it didn't contain a bed, she mused.

  Exhaling a steadying breath, Daniel closed his eyes for an instant before continuing. While he was still warring over whether to start by telling Elyssa how he'd missed her or that he suspected she was a murderess, Daniel's male ego briefly took over. "You certainly seem to enjoy being in Harrison's arms."

  A sarcastic chuckle escaping her lips, Elyssa replied, "You went to the trouble of getting me completely alone to make that observation?"

  "So you don't deny it then?"

  "No more than you can deny enjoying that trollop draping herself all over you." Cursing himself inwardly for starting off so clumsily, Daniel was unable to begin anew before Elyssa spoke again. "Let me save you the trouble here and now, Daniel. I am not the same timid creature that was wed to Percy and I will never allow myself to be bullied by another man. Rather I think you might find me a force to be reckoned with." She hoped her words sounded more confident than she actually felt.

  Such cynical words. They betrayed a bitterness at the hands of men. Had Percy truly been such a bastard toward Elyssa that she simply couldn't take it anymore? Daniel had been used to his father's cruel methods, but had never fully considered how a gently reared young lady like Elyssa would stand up beneath the pressure of a marriage to Percy, the lack of love an even more intolerable thing in an already disastrous situation.

  A faint smile of sympathy hovered about his lips. Daniel took a step closer and gently closed his hands over Elyssa's arms as she continued speaking. "And if I want to spend all of my time with William Harrison, that is no concern of yours."

  His voice serious, Daniel said, "You know I am the only man for you, qllhi d fdarling."

  Her mouth dropped open in astonishment, although her traitorous heart quickened at the truth in his words. His lips were far too close to her own. Indeed, the feel of his arms on hers started a heated tingling deep inside her body. Wanting Daniel to have no power over her, or to think she could so easily be manipulated, Elyssa replied, "Perhaps in your dreams, Daniel, but we both know I could have any man I want here tonight."

  Daniel's eyes narrowed at her words and his grip tightened about her arms. "You little whore," he rasped, unable to suppress his astonishment. Was she merely seeking to torture him, or had she truly become a tease since her time in Paris? Her daring words were one thing, but to actually imagine Elyssa encouraging the intimate attentions of other men made Daniel see red. Impulsively he grabbed her against his chest.

  Elyssa struggled to escape his angry grasp, knowing she’d gone too far in taunting a man like Daniel, but it was too late to take the words back. Daniel bent his head to capture her lips in a frenzied kiss. Her soft body felt so right in his arms though she clearly wanted to be anywhere else but. Daniel's intent was to brand her his own, to force her to see reason. He knew that somewhere deep within, Elyssa had to feel the same savage passion they'd shared so long ago. And Elyssa slowly melted against him, remembering too the way it had been.

  In between kisses, their breathing harsh, Elyssa managed, "Why are you doing this?"

  "Believe me, it is beyond my control. This inexplicable need to be with you. My God, we should have already celebrated our first wedding anniversary, do you realize that!"

  Elyssa fought the tears back at that thought....their anniversary. Or would she have already been dead? Elyssa wanted answers. Needed to make him stop such nostalgic talk and sidetrack her from the probing questions and doubts.

  "I suppose you would do anything for us to take up where we left off last year?" she asked.

  Faint hope pricking his doubts, Daniel whispered, "Just about anything."

  "Including murder?" she softly asked. Daniel set her away from him, his eyes darkening as he stared at her. His fears resurfaced, and Daniel suspected Elyssa wasqllhi d f on the verge of confessing Percy's murder. And Daniel suddenly found that he really didn't want to know the answer. Didn't want to face the fact that he'd fallen in love with a murderess if indeed Elyssa had committed the grave sin.

  "Why the bloody hell would you ask something like that?" he demanded, his unease apparent. Elyssa could see that Daniel wanted nothing to do with the subject. And it scared her more than a little.

  "Why don't you ask Catherine and Will?" Elyssa snatched herself loose from Daniel and took a step backward toward the open door.

  "Will?" Daniel asked in confusion. "The stable hand at Greystone?"

  "Yes, why don't you ask Will and your lover about murder?"

  "What are you ranting about?" Daniel demanded, reaching out for her, but Elyssa took another step back. She was in the doorway now and her heart was beating furiously. The wild look in his eyes sent a shudder down Elyssa's spine.

  Breathlessly, she asked, "Didn't you know I would have signed Greystone over to you? You didn't need to murder Percy, nor is it necessary to plot my own demise".

  Ignoring Daniel's urgent demand to come back, Elyssa fled down the corridor and downstairs until she finally reached William. She drank a glass of brandy, its warmth blazing a welcome path down her throat. Her fingers shook and Elyssa did her best to hide her overwrought nervousness from William. She vaguely answered his questions of concern and they danced a few moments later. Elyssa's eyes darted about in fear that she might see Daniel coming after her, but thankfully he was nowhere to be found for the remainder of the evening.

  Daniel took Angela home early. He didn't go upstairs with her as she'd sweetly begged, but rather left her with a quick good night and a chaste peck on the cheek.

  He still couldn't get past Elyssa's confusing words. Had she truly accused him of murder? Of Percy's murder, and now her own? Why would she do that, unless to confuse him, for he'd seen the murder weapon in her things himself! Surely she couldn't mean to frame him for the heinous crime.

  He should have run after her before she'd fled. Should have forced every answer out of her treacherous mouth but he had been too stunned. Too disappointed at the way things had turned out once again. Daniel finally decided he would visit Greystone the next morning and get some answers once and for all.

  CHAPTER 20

  Elyssa spent the entire morning confiding in Sophie. After breaking down in tears over breakfast, Elyssa was unable to leave the table without her cousin insisting on hearing everything. They went up to Elyssa's bedroom to speak in private. romantic onslaught4C found d

  By the time the whole sordid story had been told, Sophie was convinced Elyssa must contact the authorities at once and have Daniel, Will, and Catherine taken into custody for suspicion of murder. At Elyssa's reluctance, Sophie insisted that Elyssa might be the next victim if she hesitated any longer, no matter that she was still in love with Daniel.

  "Is it that obvious?" Elyssa moaned.

  "Painfully so," Sophie replied. "It is in your eyes when you speak of him."

  "I still can't believe that Daniel is involved in any way. I would never have him arrested without proof." Her voice softened as her eyes teared up. “Even if he is guilty, I don’t think I can destroy the rest of his life.”

  "But it makes no sense that Catherine would have done this on her own,” Sophie commented. “Not without something to gain. And she obviously has Daniel and all his worldly possessions to gain by participating in such a plot."

  During Elyssa's silent thoughtfulness, Sophie told her not to worry, that she would take care of contacting the constable. Elyssa barely heard her, muttering something about having to discover the truth.

  Elyssa donned her riding habit and went outside to the stables. She checked the sa
ddle’s leather strap before putting it on her mount, satisfied that nothing was amiss. She turned about at the sound of footsteps behind her. It was Will, and he appeared to be very nervous and more than a little suspicious.

  "Lady Fredrickson, what are you doing?" he asked, stepping closer toward her.

  Nervously, Elyssa replied, "Going for a ride. I saddled her up myself."

  "May I accompany you? To ensure your safety."

  "I am as fine a rider as anyone else. You know that, Will. Now please get out of my way."

  Elyssa tried walking forward, guiding her horse by the reins, but Will refused to budge from her path. "Milady, I must insist I follow you. There have been reports of rash robberies in the area lately."

  Exhaling a sound of disbelief, Elyssa said, "I have heard nothing about robberies. Talk of murder I have heard, but nothing about robberies." She cursed her foolishness the second the words were out of her mouth. Prayed Will didn’t comprehend what she meant.

  The look in her eyes, the set of her jaw, and Will realized that somehow she knew. Elyssa knew that he and Catherine were involved in something so dark, so sinister, that he wanted nothing more than to flee Greystone and never come back. But of course that had to be just his overactive imagination assuming she knew anything. He must find out or Catherine would have his head. Forcing a smile, Will asked, "And what exactly have you heard about murder, Lady Fredrickson?"

  Pointless to deny anything now, Elyssa forced herself to confront Will. She was tired of the uncertainty, weary of wondering when they would put their plan into motion. "Does Daniel know about you and Catherine, and the diabolical acts you are involved in?"

  Will was momentarily stunned at Elyssa's bluntness. She seemed utterly calm, though if she really did overhear their recent conversation about her murder, she should be anything but. He didn't like this. Not one bit. Had never even wanted to be a part of it.