by Stacy Reid
Lucan could not identify with the pain she felt at society’s shunning. Society’s opinion had never mattered much to him. But it certainly had mattered to his sister. Marissa’s many letters of how society had treated her when it had been revealed she was Calydon’s mistress had been filled with pain and grief. Friends had stopped calling on her, her husband had beaten her and turned her away, cutting off her allowance. She’d had no one, and those letters reached him months after she had needed him. That familiar feeling of rage started to creep over him and with cold determination he pushed those memories away.
The play started and after a few minutes he found himself immersed in the raw talent of the people below. He chuckled at the irony, as the play itself revealed to be one of revenge and lost love. How apt. He was able, for almost an hour, to leave the cares of the world behind and relax into a world of greasepaint and artifice.
The lights came on as the interval was announced. Laughter and noises danced on the air. Lady Ralston announced she was visiting the ladies’ withdrawing room, and departed after giving her charge a stern look. He raised his brow at the wink he saw Constance gave her.
She glanced at him, smiling. “Charlotte fears for my virtue. I cannot imagine what she believes could happen here in a sea of people.”
He glanced around the box, and the drawn curtains. He could imagine a lot. Especially while the play was in progress. The complete darkness was an unbearable temptation.
She gave him an expectant look. “Is it not wonderful, Lucan? I am not sure where is more splendid, here or the Royal Italian Opera at Covent Garden. They are my two favorite places to visit. I love the arts, music, acting. I insist you visit both.”
“I certainty will, if you will grace me with your presence when I do.”
Her eyes glowed with obvious delight. “I have been wondering, Lucan… What is it that you do for simple enjoyment?”
He assessed the curiosity on her face. “I run a club.”
“The note you had delivered to me…the seal had the design of a pair of lips kissing an apple. I assume that is not the Mondvale seal.”
She vibrated with excitement, and he found once again he wanted to share something of himself with her.
“No, it was not. It was the seal of my club, Decadence, meant to represent the temptations to be had upon entrance.”
“What kind of temptations?”
“Vices you wouldn’t understand.”
“You would be surprised what I can understand, Your Grace,” she drawled.
He chuckled, then relented. “I give our patrons the opportunity to pursue a life of extravagant indulgence without condemnation.”
“Tell me more,” she prompted relaxing in her chair. Noting his hesitation no doubt, she touched his arm. “If you fear for my sensibilities, I will happily hear something else about you.”
She waited with an air of expectation, and Lucan was confounded as to what to say. She was too damn innocent. He had spent years in filth, in poverty, among prostitutes and swindlers. A world she could not imagine. He had gotten his first job at fourteen in the dock yards after his parents’ untimely death in a carriage accident, having the responsibility of caring for Marissa who had been one year younger. While she lived in the country, he had been working more jobs than he could remember in London, sending money back for her upkeep. By the time he had reached nineteen, his aunt had tracked him down and offered him an opportunity at life. By twenty he invested in a shipping venture, which had proven to be more than lucrative, and he had set sails away from England determined to make something of his life for his family.
He found himself wanting Constance to know about him, but damn if he knew what he could safely disclose. “There is not much to tell. My business interests are numerous. I have traveled extensively—the Orient, India, and the Americas.”
She scrunched her face in disappointment. “Is that all you have to offer?”
“I fear so,” he said drolly.
“I do not believe you,” she countered, a teasing expression on her face. “Whispers of your licentiousness are vaunted.”
“I had not thought you a young lady who would believe every piece of gossip uttered.”
She drew in a sharp breathed and flushed. “Forgive me.”
He shook his head. “No, that was uncalled for. It is not every day I am reminded of my notoriety so artlessly.”
She gave him a tentative smile. “Everyone speaks about you and your club, and I fear I was in a position to overhear a few times. It all sounds grand and mysterious. I heard how exclusive membership is and that everyone has a unique ring designed for them that gives them entrance.”
She had indeed heard a lot.
“I think I would like to visit one day. I am sure the opulence and the splendor I have heard spoken about in hushed whispers are true.”
Lucan laughed. “I assure you if an innocent like you were to visit, you would find yourself without any virtue before the night finished.”
Wariness flared in her eyes, and he thought it was about time he saw it. The little minx was too reckless. Then her lovely brow arched and the caution melted away. “I believe you are not as unprincipled as you would have me believe. I am confident you would not allow anyone to take such advantage of me.”
He stared at her in amazement. “I am the one you would be in danger of, Lady Constance, not any of my patrons.”
“Oh!”
Instead of the blush he had expected, he got a slow smile that dazzled him.
“Then I positively must visit one day, in secret of course.”
He wondered fleetingly if he had heard correctly. But from the challenging way she stared at him, he knew she had really said such words.
“As you are without a ring, and I assure you, it would be impossible for you to obtain one, I must give you the secret code.”
As expected, she straightened. “There is a secret code to gain entrance? I have not heard of this, and I now believe you are simply jesting with me.”
Lucan smiled at her excitement. “There is such a code. Once you mention it, it gives you carte blanche. Only five people know that word, my lady.”
She grinned in apparent scandalized delight. The way he watched for the laughter to shine in her eyes and the curve of her lips was damnably irritating.
“And what token must I give to learn this code?” she asked archly.
His gaze dipped to her lips, which she was biting worriedly between her teeth.
“Are you thinking of kissing me, Lucan?” she blurted.
He snapped his gaze to meet her curious stare. “No,” he answered tersely.
“You have been looking at my lips,” she pointed out. “And I would happily surrender a kiss for the secret code, not that I will ever be able to use it.”
As if on cue, his gaze dropped back to her lips, and he had to forcibly glance away from their beckoning lushness. Lucan smiled at the humor dancing in her eyes. The minx was teasing him. What was it about her that was so enticing?
He was only eleven years older, but the gap in their experience made him feel ancient, like a despoiler of innocence. He gritted his teeth. That was exactly what he was setting himself up to be, even though he wanted nothing more in life at this moment than to kiss her again.
He felt doomed.
…
The play restarted and Constance’s fingers laced with Lucan’s, her heart beating in anticipation. She held her breath, hoping he would kiss her and uncaring that Charlotte would return at any moment. Constance had spied her stopping at Lady William’s box, several rows below their balcony, and had prayed Charlotte would stay there for a while. Lucan spoke so freely when they were alone, and Constance wanted nothing to interrupt it.
“Will you ignore my assessment, Lucan, or do the gentlemanly thing and confess the truth of my statement? Or is it possible you are afraid for me to have the secrets to Decadence?”
Subtle challenge lit his eyes. “You are a fearless little
thing aren’t you?”
Before fear could rule her and common sense won out, she spoke. “I only thought you might want to kiss me again.” She had caught him several times glancing at her lips, and each time tension had seemed to tighten his frame. It had occurred to her after a while, that maybe he had been thinking about their kiss in the conservatory as much as she had.
“You play a very dangerous game, Lady Constance.”
She faltered at the undercurrent in his voice. “I am being too bold, aren’t I? Young ladies do not tease gentlemen about kissing them.” She hesitated and then pressed on. “I never figured you to be so prudish; you are after all the Lord of Sin.”
He threw back his head, and she loved that she made him laugh. Was she insane? This was the second time she had made such inappropriate remarks. It was as if he brought out the worst in her, or was it the best? She only knew she was certainly behaving in a most scandalous fashion. A voice in her heart whispered that it was because of her illegitimacy. She was not proper at all, so why should she pretend?
She searched for a safe topic before she did something as reckless as pulling his head down to hers to kiss him. She wouldn’t be able to bare the hurt when he rejected her. “Isn’t Her Majesty’s theatre grand? I think your cousins would be thrilled to be here.”
“They are too content with learning the secrets of Woodbury Park for anything in London to appeal.”
“The Woodbury Park?”
“Yes.”
It was a magnificent estate, and well known to her, possessing some of the finest acreage in Hampshire. Sitting on two hundred acres of prime grounds, with one hundred rooms, and with a lake revered for its wealth of fishes, the estate had been coveted. The earl that had owned it before had had to sell it to cover his debts. Her brother Anthony had a love for purchasing old estates and restoring them and had wanted Woodbury Park, but someone had purchased it before he had been able to make an offer. “It is a beautiful home. I certainly understand their happiness to stay in the country. I feel most relaxed and unburdened when I am surrounded by nature and such effortless beauty.”
His eyes dropped to her lips, and his sliver orbs blazed with an indecipherable emotion.
“Indeed,” he murmured.
“I really do believe you are thinking of kissing me, Your Grace,” she said on a whisper, heat curling through her at his soft chuckle and intent regard.
“You are a danger to yourself,” he muttered, then drew her to him.
The heat of his hand burned her shoulders. His gaze locked with hers and desire shimmered in the air. Something shifted over his face, and she trembled. He wanted her. Constance was sure of it. So why did he hesitate? Her lips tingled with the need to kiss him; did he not feel the same? “Why are you waiting?”
He tensed, then released her.
The hurt that pinged inside switched to annoyance when he chucked her against her chin as her brothers did. She did not want him to possess brotherly affections for her. It could not be so after how he had ravished her mouth before. Was he trying to put distance between them? After all, she was the one who suggested they kiss—twice! Shame scorched her and Constance sucked in a harsh breath. “I…I…misread the situation. I am mortified, I…I thought us being here that—”
Lucan leaned forward and his lips swallowed the rest of her inarticulate stammer. Relief eased the tension from her frame. He wants me. The sensual thrust of his tongue into her mouth set her body alight with wanton desire, and she eagerly responded. He kissed her slowly, deeply, without the raw passion of their first kiss, but somehow it was sweeter, more thrilling.
It was over before it even started as he gently pulled away from her. His breathing was ragged as he spoke. “Behave yourself.” Then as if he could not help himself, he placed another quick kiss on her lips and then whispered. “Revenant.”
The curtain to the box parted as he leaned back in his seat and Charlotte swept inside. Constance could feel her friend’s gaze on her, and she was thankful the box was darkened enough to hide her flushed face.
She had felt a sliver of doubt earlier that she could really make him fall in love with her. Her illegitimacy was always in her mind, though she promised herself she would not dwell on it. She had seen her brother Anthony ravaged by similar doubts when he had fallen in love with Phillipa. Who would really want to align themselves with the Thornton’s bastards? The stain on the person’s reputation and honor would be irreversible. But Phillipa had still fought for Anthony, and Constance slowly started to realize Lucan could not want to take advantage of her perceived inferior connection. Many of the young men from last season had wasted no time in being improper, but Lucan had only behaved like a gentleman. He had made no lurid suggestions, and it was at her teasing he’d relent and kissed her. She wished she knew the reasons he had not declared his intentions, but for the first time she considered her illegitimacy may truly not matter to him. She thought of all the signs Phillipa had told her that indicated a man’s interest.
He couldn’t stop staring at her. Check.
He smiled whenever she smiled. Check.
He laughed when she was being silly. Check.
He kissed her. Check twice.
She frowned in consternation. Phillipa’s exact words had been “when a man is falling in love with you, he won’t be able to stop himself from kissing you”. Constance steadfastly discounted the fact that she had hinted for Lucan’s kisses. What mattered was that he had been unable to prevent himself from kissing her.
And best of all, he had given her the secret code. She was sure that was the word he had whispered against her lips. Revenant. He was a charming rogue who made her head spin and her heart giddy with excitement. Constance resolved then that she would not be the one to initiate an intimate embrace between them again. She wanted to be without illusion of Lucan’s regard for her. But she certainly would discreetly allow for ample opportunities if Lucan wanted to steal kisses after he declared himself. She sighed and sank into the cushions, pleased with herself. She was determined to plan her siege of his heart carefully, for she feared she was already losing hers to him.
Chapter Eight
Lucan was dragging his feet. His plan to ruin Calydon had not allowed for him to be in Constance’s presence so much. A few days at most should have been sufficient for him to determine how he would use her to destroy Calydon. And that was the problem. Lucan knew how exactly, but he was reluctant. She had sent him a thank you note after the theatre. To which he had responded with an invitation to the Royal Italian Opera, and teased he held more secrets of Decadence to which she held the bartering chips. That had started a written banter between them, which had now become the norm for them between outings. He had seen her a few times since the opera, and she only drew him further into her spell. They had visited the splendid Kew Gardens and the Royal Academy of Music, where she hoped to attend one day. He learned the lady’s interests were vast and that she spoke several languages. She was refreshingly honest, and kind to a fault. Strong, too. Many young ladies would have already buckled under the disparagement of society.
Erotic visions of taking her also tended to keep him restless deep into the dark hours of the nights. The ones that scared the hell out of him weren’t the sexual visions of her riding him slowly, of seeing Constance on her knees, her lush hips and back arched in the most sensual manner to take him. No, those visions tied him in hot chains of lust and need. The ones that petrified him were when he dreamed of laughing with her, reading a book and having a lively discussion before the fire, of seeing her swollen with his child, strolling by the lake. He imagined her green eyes challenging him, teasing him, and the feelings that encompassed him had been more intense than what filled him when he thought of making love with her. The lady was dangerous. Lucan needed to keep a safe and emotional distance. No more touching, and certainly no more kissing, despite the cravings in his body and soul. He needed that damn distance if he ever hoped to succeed in ruining Calydon.
It is not your sin.
Lucan closed his eyes against the words he had uttered to Constance. He had not known he would say such a thing to her until they spilled from his lips. But they had slapped him with the truth, and it was an ugly truth he had forced himself to consider over the past few days. The sins of Calydon were not hers to bear.
Marissa’s life had been forfeited way before her time, at the tender age of twenty-two, and Calydon had been the one to execute it surely as if he had put the rope around Marissa’s throat. But was it Constance’s sin? Lucan could not seem to pacify his growing disquiet. He had been so sure of his path of vengeance, so undoubting. Now a mere slip of a girl was enough to shake his resolve. It angered him that he could be so easily swayed from years of plotting. And for what? Pleasure? To taste her lips again?
“Please, Your Grace, I beg of you. Have some mercy,” the sobbing voice pleaded. “I will find means to pay my debts, I swear to you, Your Grace.”
Lucan gazed at the pitiful form of William McFarlane, Earl of Stanhope, his late sister’s husband. Several months ago Stanhope had not been pitiful. Far from it. He had been living a lavish life style, one of wild decadence. He had gambled heavily, certain with a roll of the dice, he would regain his fortune. Lucan had extended credit to the man for months, despite his mounting debts. And when Lucan owned all of Stanhope’s non-entailed properties—his lands, horses, and possessions—Lucan called in the debts, and revoked Stanhope’s entrance into his club. Lucan had ensured Stanhope would never see wealth again.
Nothing Lucan could do would atone for his sister’s death. Nothing would bring her back. But each man that contributed to her downfall would surely pay, and Stanhope was the guiltiest of them all. He had brutally beaten Marissa until she had taken her own life to escape. Lucan held Stanhope’s gaze. “Marissa Alicia Wynwood,” Lucan said without an ounce of emotion.
Understanding was slow in coming, but when it came, all the blood leeched from Stanhope’s face, and he sunk to his knees. With a twist of his lips, Lucan turned and walked out of the man’s townhouse, deaf to his wails and pleas for forgiveness. He had only visited because he wanted the man to understand the reasons for his downfall.