Putting on what she hoped was an airy smile, she shrugged. “Oh, well, my mistake. I’m sure the lessons will continue another day.”
“He ought to have told you he was otherwise engaged,” Emma said with concern, obviously seeing through Ariadne’s false smile.
“Yes, he ought. But there’s a prince for you. Arrogance at its finest.”
Emma’s frown deepened.
“Really, it’s of no moment,” Ariadne told her. “And this way I don’t have to beg off the party with you. I love garden fetes. I hope they serve ices.”
“As do I.” Emma rocked the baby, who had dozed off again. “Arie, are you—”
“Ices! I want an ice!” Friedrich chimed, tugging on Ariadne’s hand. “Mama, may I have an ice?”
Attention diverted, Emma looked at her son. “Not right now, sweetheart. Maybe later. I’ll see if Cook can make some for you, but I can’t promise. Now, if I’m not mistaken, you and Aunt Arie were off to find Tuck. He’ll be wondering what’s taking you so long.”
Friedrich paused a moment to consider, then jumped excitedly in the air. “Tuck! Tuck! Let’s find Tuck.”
Ariadne laughed; it was impossible not to when one was around Friedrich. He was such a happy little boy.
“Yes, let’s,” she agreed, and together they set off, Ariadne determined to enjoy her day regardless of Rupert’s defection.
• • •
He came to her that night, slipping between the sheets to kiss her awake. She woke drowsily, and without thinking kissed him back. It was only as her sleepiness gradually melted away that she remembered the day just past and the fact that this was the first time she had seen him without the gap of a ballroom in between.
“I shouldn’t speak to you,” she said, as he abandoned her lips and began kissing his way down her throat.
“Then don’t,” he murmured on a low rasp. “There’s no need for conversation.”
His fingers started opening the buttons on the front of her nightgown.
She made no effort to push them away.
“In future I shall have to remember to lock my door,” she said. “One never knows what kind of—oh”—her breath caught as he cupped one breast—“intruders may sneak in without permission.”
“But I am not an intruder.” He licked the edge of her ear, then caught her earlobe between his teeth. “And I most certainly do not require permission.”
She trembled as his thumb circled one peaked nipple.
“You aren’t angry again, are you?” he asked, wetting her lower lip with the tip of his tongue before pressing his mouth to hers in quick, plucking kisses. “I told you how it would be.”
“That doesn’t mean I like it.” She thrust her fingers into his hair and kissed him harder. “Next time we’re at a ball, ask me to dance. You have done that before on occasion. It won’t look out of character.”
He smiled and pinched her nipple.
She arched and gave a mewling little cry.
“Then reserve a waltz and I’ll take you flying across the floor.” He reached for the hem of her nightgown and slid it up. “For now, what do you say if I take you flying another way?”
Breath burned in her lungs, her blood sizzling as he parted her thighs and slipped a finger deep inside.
“Wet already,” he mused huskily. “Oh, Ariadne, you’re a delight.”
He began working inside her, bringing her quickly to the edge, but not quite over.
She skimmed her hands down his naked back and dug her nails into his skin, pleased when she felt his answering response.
“I think we should conduct a little experiment,” he said in between kisses.
“Experiment?” Her voice was high and thin with passion.
“Hmm. I want to see how many times.”
“Times?” she repeated dazedly. “For what?”
“For me to make you climax tonight.” He pushed a second finger inside her folds and stroked deep, circling his thumb around another exquisitely sensitive nub of flesh in a way that drove her wild.
“Ah, here it comes, the first one,” he said knowingly.
And he was right.
Crying out, she surrendered and let the rapture take her.
Chapter Sixteen
“Excuse me, Your Highness,” Rupert said nearly two weeks later, “but are you promised for the next set?”
Ariadne turned at the sound of his murmured question, suppressing a delicious shiver at the husky tone of his voice. Luckily they stood in a far corner of the ballroom, the sheer volume of noise from their fellow partygoers loud enough to ensure they would not be overheard.
“I am now,” she replied. “But are you certain we dare to be seen together? After all, we danced the waltz only the other evening, if you will recall.”
He smiled softly. “I believe it’s safe to risk it. As you quite rightly pointed out some days ago, our refusing to stand up together is far more likely to draw unwanted attention than not. Besides, this is just an ordinary set and not the supper dance.”
No, of course not. They never shared the supper dance, just as they were careful never to engage in more than one dance on any given evening.
She sighed quietly. “I wish it was the supper dance. It would be much more entertaining to dine with you than with my usual gentlemen escorts. Remember last Tuesday’s picnic.”
A dark gleam smoldered in his eyes. “I shall never forget last Tuesday’s picnic.”
Neither would she. Her breath caught just to recall what had happened at his friend’s estate, alone once more in their secret garden.
The things he’d done to her.
The things she’d done back.
Technically she was still a virgin. Despite her continued efforts to convince him to make them lovers in all ways, he still refused to claim that final part of her innocence. The annoying thing was that she knew he was every bit as frustrated as she. Sometimes, when they made love, he had to stop and wrench himself away, his control near the breaking point.
If only he weren’t so deuced stubborn.
Then again, so was she.
It would be interesting to see which one of them proved victorious in the end.
“Wipe that look off your face before someone sees,” he warned softly, taking her elbow to angle her away from prying eyes.
“What look?”
“The one that makes me want to drag you off to the nearest private room so I can tumble your skirts up around your waist and kiss you until you’re senseless with desire.”
Tingles chased over her skin, her body heating at his suggestion.
I wouldn’t mind that either.
“Which,” he added in a chastening tone, “is the reason I don’t dare take you in to supper. A few more of those looks and we’d be on the wagging tongues of every gossip maven from here to the Continent. Talking to you like this is temptation enough.”
She arched a brow. “I’m not the one who mentioned kisses and tumbled skirts. But maybe we should find a room and skip the dancing. It would be a lot more fun.”
He growled under his breath. “You’ve turned into a dangerous seductress, Your Highness.”
“All thanks to your exceptional tutelage, Prince.”
He laughed, the sound moving through her like a caress. Then he groaned. “I don’t know if we should take to the dance floor now. I don’t trust either one of us at the moment.”
“Then let’s not.”
“Ariadne—”
“No one will notice if we slip away for a little while.”
“What about my sister?”
“She’s busy flirting with her husband at the moment, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
She watched him survey the room, his golden brows sweeping down when he located Emma and Nick. “They are far too familiar with each other in public,” he complained. “Married people aren’t supposed to behave like that.”
“Oh, don’t be so stodgy and conventional. I think it’s romantic.”
“You would. And I am neither stodgy nor conventional.”
“Oh? Then why don’t you prove it and sneak off with me?”
He locked eyes with hers, his own as deeply blue as the midnight sky outside. “I’ll come to your room tonight.”
She shook her head. “No, now. When I was returning from the ladies’ withdrawing room earlier, I noticed an empty room at the end of the corridor near the ground-floor library. Why don’t I meet you there in fifteen minutes? I’ll leave first and you can follow.”
He paused, his scowl deepening. “What about the set after this one? Are you not promised?”
“No, I refused offers from the two men who asked. They’re both dreadful bores, so I decided I’d rather sit out than endure either one of them. Which means we’ve got an hour together at least.”
Her heart pounded as she waited for his verdict, encouraged by his silent consideration.
“This breaks all the rules, you know,” he said at length.
She barely hid her triumphant smile. “Fifteen minutes.” Reaching out, she gave his hand a quick squeeze. “Don’t be late.”
His eyes smoldered again. “Don’t worry. I won’t.”
• • •
Ten minutes later, Ariadne wandered idly through the small room in which she had agreed to meet Rupert, her nerves humming with anticipation. She’d lighted a single candle to dispel the darkness, and the flame provided just enough illumination to make the interior visible without attracting undue notice should someone happen by.
The room looked to be a study of sorts, complete with a pair of comfortable-looking old armchairs and a short but well-sprung sofa; she knew, because she’d tried it, bouncing on the cushions a couple of times experimentally. Shelved books lined the walls, the bindings smelling of leather and aging parchment. A narrow keyhole desk stood against one wall, with an equally narrow chair pushed beneath. The grate was bare and didn’t look as if a fire had been lit for some while, giving her confidence that she and Rupert would remain undisturbed.
She walked the length of the room, then turned back, wondering how much longer he would be. Finally she heard a footfall at the door.
At last.
Smiling, she turned.
But her smile vanished when she realized it wasn’t Rupert who had entered the room. “Lord Selkirk,” she said with a frown.
He strolled farther inside. “Good evening, Your Highness. I saw you come this way and wondered at your being in this part of the house. I thought I would make sure everything was all right.”
She made no reply, her mind racing as she considered a response. Selkirk had suspected Rupert’s interest in her once before, and if Rupert showed up, the other man would realize he had stumbled upon an assignation. Then again, Rupert could be astonishingly intimidating when he chose. She was sure he would make it clear to Selkirk that nothing was to be said about their out-of-the-way meeting.
Besides, Selkirk hadn’t caught her and Rupert doing anything, so it would be an easy matter for Rupert to claim that he had come in search of her in order to escort her back to the ballroom. If neither of them panicked, they could surely brazen out the situation regardless of initial appearances. In the meantime, she supposed she would have to speak to Selkirk, regardless of how much she wished he would take his leave.
“Of course all is well,” she said with an unconcerned smile. “I was curious and a bit bored, if you must know. I thought I would sneak away from the ballroom for a few minutes and do a little exploring.”
“Ah, I ought to have realized,” he mused, moving closer to her. “Ever the adventuress, are you not, Princess?”
“Just so. You have caught me out.”
“I must say it has been some time since we had an opportunity to talk like this.”
She linked her hands. “You are right. It has been a while.”
Actually they hadn’t spoken since the night she had turned down his marriage proposal. Given that she’d begun her intimate relationship with Rupert that same night, she had to admit that she had barely given Lord Selkirk so much as a passing thought in the interim.
For his part, Selkirk hadn’t seemed to mourn the loss of her hand for long; from what she had heard, he’d begun dancing attendance on a wealthy squire’s daughter. If she wasn’t mistaken, bets were currently being laid as to whether he would propose.
She smiled, not wishing there to be any hard feelings between them. “So, how have you been, my lord? Enjoying the Season?”
His mouth twisted. “Not especially. It would seem I’m not having much luck with marriage proposals. I recently offered for another young lady, you see, and she turned me down as well. Or rather I should say she was willing enough, but her father forbade the union. Some concern about my lack of finances.”
Her forehead drew tight.
Where is Rupert? He ought to be here by now.
“I am sorry to hear that,” she offered.
“Are you? Were you warned off as well? Or did you truly think we would not suit?”
She studied him, seeing the lines of unhappiness on his attractive face. Whatever his demons, she didn’t like knowing she had added to his woes. “Sadly, my lord, I think we would have made each other quite miserable as husband and wife. You are well quit of me.”
An odd light flared in his eyes. “Then that is most unfortunate indeed.” He held out an arm. “Come. Allow me to escort you back to the ballroom.”
She shook her head. “I believe I shall remain here a while longer. Do go on. Don’t trouble yourself over me.”
“I am afraid I cannot do that. I must insist that you come with me.”
A queer shiver chased over her spine, hearing something unsettling in his voice. “Thank you, but no.”
Where is Rupert? she thought again. He must be delayed.
Selkirk sighed. “I didn’t want to resort to such tactics, but you’re not an easy kind of woman to convince.”
“What?” she said, confused. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Suddenly he pulled something from his pocket—it was a knife. The blade glinted wickedly in the low light. He locked a firm hand around her arm. “Come with me now, and not so much as a word.”
“And what do you intend to do with that? Put that thing away immediately and unhand me.”
“I said not a word,” he hissed. “Believe me, you don’t want to test me, Princess.”
“I am meeting someone here. He will wonder where I’ve gone.”
He smirked. “Then we had best be on our way. I wouldn’t want to hurt your companion.”
“He is the one who will hurt you.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Now come, unless you want to start bleeding.” He pressed the blade against her side just firmly enough to emphasize his threat.
Surely Rupert is somewhere in the corridor? The moment they were through the door, she would yell for him, knife or no knife.
But instead of forcing her toward the doorway, Selkirk hurried her toward the back of the room. Only then did she notice a false door in one wall, no doubt used by the servants. With a click, he opened it and pulled her through.
She began to struggle, opening her mouth to scream. Before she could make so much as a sound, he clasped his other hand over her mouth. She wrestled against him, but he was too strong. Before she knew what he meant to do, he shoved a handkerchief in her mouth, then bound it with another to hold it in place.
“Sorry, Princess, but it’s the only way. Now, you can come with me easy or you can come with me hard. Your choice.”
Screaming against the gag, she kicked him with as much force as she could muster. Sadly, her slippers did little damage.
He sighed. “Hard it shall be, then. Forgive me.”
Putting away the knife, he pressed another handkerchief to her face, one that smelled of fumes. She tried not to breathe, but it was impossible. Her head swam as she was forced to draw the vile concoction into her lungs. Uncontrollable weakness stole through her li
mbs, along with the helpless dread of knowing she could not fight him. She made one last weak struggle anyway, refusing to give in. But the drug was too strong, darkness closing over her like the waters of an icy winter lake.
• • •
“Well, that is all most fascinating,” Rupert said with barely concealed impatience, “but now you must excuse me.”
“Oh, but I haven’t told you the most interesting part of all,” the other man insisted with a wave of his hands.
Rupert couldn’t recall for certain, but he believed the chatty young man’s name was Hodges. After Rupert had left the ballroom, he had been about three-quarters of the way to his destination when he happened upon Hodges standing at the turn to the last corridor. The other man asked him for the time; reluctantly Rupert withdrew his pocket watch from his waistcoat in order to reply.
Before he could walk on, Hodges asked him a second question—this one about the weather—then the man launched into a long story about his latest visit to Tattersalls and the team of horses he had purchased.
Ordinarily, Rupert would have shaken him off, but with the man showing no signs of returning to the ballroom, he had been reluctant to continue on to the room where Ariadne was waiting, knowing he was being observed. He was at least ten minutes late and realized that Ariadne must be wondering what was keeping him. He supposed if Hodges was still there when he reached the room where she was waiting, he and Ariadne would have to postpone their assignation until later that night. No matter how much he desired her—and his loins kept reminding him exactly how much that was—it wouldn’t do to get caught, especially not by a blathering fool like Hodges.
Really, though, it was deuced annoying. Once Ariadne had put the idea of an illicit rendezvous in his head—and turned him randy as a green boy as a result—he’d been anticipating their secret interlude with rapt eagerness. Then, just when he was mere yards away from reaching her, he’d been waylaid by this puerile jackanapes.
The Trouble With Princesses Page 15