The Lady Gambles

by Carole Mortimer

  Caro’s own cheeks became flushed at this reminder of her response to his lovemaking. But having come to London in the first place in order to escape the possibility of her guardian—another Earl, no less—being able to somehow coerce her into marrying him, Caro could not help but feel slighted by Dominic’s obvious aversion to the unwelcome possibility that he might have to take her as his own Countess.

  ‘I believe we have both of us made our feelings in this matter clear, Lord Vaughn,’ she dismissed. ‘And this conversation is therefore at an end. It would be better if you did not lay hands upon me again!’ Her eyes narrowed as she found Dominic was now standing far too close to her for comfort and about to take a grip upon her arm.

  His eyes glittered down at her just as fiercely as his fingers closed around her arm. ‘And if I should choose not to heed that advice?’

  Caro’s chin rose challengingly. ‘Then you will leave me no choice but to punch you upon your arrogant chin!’

  He gave a start of surprise, then the angry glitter began to fade from his eyes to be replaced by reluctant admiration as he gave a brief laugh. ‘You are without doubt the most unusual woman I have ever encountered.’

  Unfortunately for him, Caro’s own anger remained just as intense as it had ever been. ‘Because I choose to threaten you with something you would understand rather than womanly hysteria?’

  ‘Exactly so.’ His fingers relaxed slightly upon her arm, but he did not release her. ‘Caro, I meant you no insult just now when I said that I am prepared to offer you marriage should there be a child—’

  ‘Did you not?’ She tossed her head. ‘Am I to understand that you expect me to feel grateful, then, by your honour-bound offer? Flattered when you express how regrettable you consider this situation to be? Suggesting that, as you are completely assured of my innocence before today, I should be happy that you are prepared to accept your responsibility as the father of any baby I might produce in the next nine months?’

  ‘You are twisting my words—’

  ‘Indeed I am not,’ Caro denied hotly, her anger deepening the more she thought about Dominic’s so-called proposal of marriage. At the moment, she really did feel capable of punching him upon his arrogant chin! ‘Please accept my assurances, Lord Vaughn, that if I did happen to find myself unfortunate enough to be carrying your child, you would be the very last man I would ever think of going to for assistance.’

  Dominic looked down at her sharply. ‘Who else should you go to but me?’

  Caro might have behaved recklessly in coming to London in the first place, most especially by remaining to become a singer in a gentleman’s gambling club, even more so by allowing the lovemaking with Dominic this morning to go as far as it had, but none of those things changed the fact that she was in reality Lady Caroline Copeland, and the daughter of an Earl. A woman, moreover, who was Dominic Vaughn’s social equal. That he had no idea of her true identity was irrelevant—the man was arrogance personified!

  ‘I am not without friends, sir.’ Caro looked down the length of her nose at him—not an easy feat when she was so much shorter than he. ‘Good and faithful friends, who would be true to me no matter what I have done.’ Caro considered her two sisters to be her best friends as well as her family. As such, she had no doubt that both Diana and Elizabeth would stand beside her, no matter what the circumstances.

  His top lip curled. ‘And where have these friends been these past two weeks?’

  Her chin rose. ‘Exactly where they have always been.’ There had been comfort for Caro in knowing that her two sisters would be waiting for her at Shoreley Hall whenever she should choose to return to them. No doubt with a severe reprimand from Diana for having run away at all, and a whispered urging from Elizabeth to relate her adventures once they were alone together, but nevertheless, Caro had no doubt that her sisters would stand beside her come what may.

  Dominic scowled darkly as his hand once again took a firm grip upon her arm. ‘Damn it, Caro—’

  ‘No doubt, by tomorrow, I will be in possession of as many black-and-blue bruises as Lord Thorne!’ Caro protested, knowing full well he wasn’t hurting her, but the implication that he was would make him release her immediately.

  ‘I apologise.’ As she had predicted, Dominic did indeed let her arm go abruptly. ‘Caro, put your stubborn pride aside for one moment, and just consider—’

  ‘The honour of becoming your Countess?’ she flung back at him derisively. ‘I have considered it, my lord—and as just quickly dismissed it!’ She eyed him with the disdain of a queen.

  Dominic was fast losing patience with this conversation. In attempting to be honest with her and proposing marriage if she should find herself with child, it appeared he had only succeeded in insulting her. And nothing he had said since appeared to have in any way rectified that situation. It appeared, in fact, that he could not regain favour in her eyes no matter what he did or said.

  Yet did he wish to regain favour in her eyes? Surely it would be better for both of them if he left things exactly as they were? It was unpleasant to feel the lash of her tongue and coldness of manner towards him, but the alternative would no doubt only result in another of those passionate encounters. Dominic still burned with desire for her, despite knowing how ill advised a repeat of this morning’s activities would be.

  Just to look at Caro was to remember the silky smoothness of her skin beneath his fingers. To remember the hard pebbles of her nipples being drawn into his mouth. The burning heat of her slick and yet tight thighs as she took him deep inside her… No, perhaps it would be much safer to foster this lack of accord between them!

  ‘As you wish, Caro,’ he said haughtily as he turned away to studiously straighten the shirt cuffs beneath his jacket.

  Caro was absolutely incensed as he turned his back on her. ‘I cannot imagine what I could have been thinking of this morning, allowing you to make love to me, when you are so obviously everything that I most despise in a man!’

  He turned back sharply, nostrils flared. ‘Just as your own rebellious and outspoken nature is everything that I most dislike in a woman!’

  Caro eyed him coldly. ‘Then we are agreed we do not care for each other?’

  His jaw tightened. ‘Indeed we are!’

  She gave a cool nod. ‘Then I will wish you good day, Lord Vaughn.’

  Dominic eyed her with frustration. He had never met a woman who could bring him so quickly to anger. To impatience. To fury. But most especially to desire…

  Logical thought told Dominic that if he wished to retain his sanity, then any future protection he provided for Caro’s safety must necessarily be given from a distance. Just to be with her was playing the very devil with his self-control—

  ‘Am I to remain a prisoner here, as I was at Blackstone House, until this danger from Nicholas Brown is over?’ Caro interrupted Dominic’s disturbing train of thought. ‘Or am I to be allowed out for a carriage ride, at least?’

  He refocused on her, his instincts telling him, for the sake of her own safety, to deny her even that small pleasure. However, that same instinct was quickly overridden by the memory of how flagrantly Caro had chosen to defy those same instructions only this morning and what the result of that defiance had been!

  His mouth twisted. If he denied her, she’d likely find a way to disobey him, and then all hell would be let loose. Far better that he knew what she was doing at all times. ‘I believe a carriage ride is permissible.’

  ‘How kind!’ Her sarcasm was unmistakable. ‘And am I to take a maid with me on this carriage ride?’

  ‘I do not believe that to be necessary unless you especially wish to do so. The grooms and coachmen here are also old comrades of mine,’ he added before she had the opportunity to make another scathing comment. ‘I trust in their ability to ensure that no harm befalls you.’

  ‘Further harm, I think you mean?’

  Dominic flinched as that verbal arrow of hers hit its mark. How he longed to take this rebelli
ous woman into his arms. To kiss her into submission, if he could achieve her obedience in no other way. Yet at the same time he knew he should not, could not do either of those things. ‘I will call on you again tomorrow—’

  ‘I am sure there is no need to trouble yourself on my account,’ she cut in.

  Once again Dominic bit back his frustration, knowing how badly he had already handled this situation. ‘I will take my leave, then.’

  She nodded coolly. ‘Lord Vaughn.’

  There was nothing more for Dominic to do or say. Nothing he could do or say, it seemed, that would make things as they had once been between them.

  Even if he did not know, could not completely comprehend, exactly what that had been…

  Caro was filled with a raw restlessness once she was sure that the Earl had gone from the house, aware as she was of the rest of the afternoon and the long evening alone that now stretched before her. Tomorrow, too, in all probability, now that she had told Dominic it was unnecessary for him to call on her.

  He should not have made her so angry! Should not have said those insulting things to her. Insults, Caro acknowledged ruefully, that she had more than returned.

  How different things could have been, if instead of offering her marriage in that insulting manner, Dominic had first made a declaration of having fallen in love with her.

  And if he had? Caro asked herself. What would her answer have been then to his marriage proposal? Would she have returned that declaration of love before accepting his marriage proposal?

  The thought that she might have done both of those things was so disturbing to Caro that she found herself hurrying from the drawing room, pausing only long enough in the entrance hall to instruct Denby to have the coach brought round, before hurrying up to her bedchamber to collect her bonnet and pelisse. The afternoon seemed to have grown chilly since Dominic’s abrupt departure…

  Quite where she intended going on her carriage ride Caro had no idea, aware only that she had to escape the confines—the memories!—of Brockle House, if only for a short time.

  She instructed the coachman to drive through the same park as yesterday—perhaps with the hope that she might once again catch a glimpse of the young girl with the dog that had so achingly reminded her of Elizabeth. But if that was her wish then she was disappointed, and after only a short time she was also a little tired of the curious glances being directed towards where she travelled in the black carriage so obviously bearing the crest of the Earl of Blackstone.

  Feeling in need of sympathetic company, Caro knocked upon the roof of the carriage and instructed the coachman to take her to Nick’s; Drew Butler and Ben had been delighted when she had called to see them this morning, so surely a second visit would not be too unwelcome?

  But they had not gone far in that direction before Caro looked up and noticed a huge black cloud billowing up into the sky, her attention fixed on that black haze as she once again tapped on the roof of the coach. ‘What is that about, Daley?’

  ‘I believe it might be smoke, Mrs Morton,’ he answered respectfully.

  Smoke? If there was smoke then there must be a fire. And fire was a dangerous thing in a city the size of London. ‘Perhaps we should go and see if we can be of any assistance, Daley?’

  The middle-aged man looked uncertain. ‘I doubt his lordship would approve, madam.’

  Dominic.

  Smoke?

  Fire!

  Quite why Caro was so convinced those three things were connected she had no idea—she only knew that she became more convinced of it by the second!

  Chapter Fourteen

  ‘You have to stop now, Drew; there is nothing more we can do,’ Dominic instructed the man wearily.

  The two men were blackened from head to toe from having several times entered the burning building before them, thick black smoke now billowing out of every doorway and window of the building even as the flames and sparks shot up through a hole in the burning roof.

  Butler’s eyes glittered wildly in his own soot-covered face. ‘Ben is still in there!’

  ‘There is nothing more we can do,’ Dominic repeated dully, his own expression grim beneath the soot and grime as he stared up at the inferno that had once been Nick’s.

  ‘But—’

  ‘He’s gone, Drew.’

  The older man’s arms fell helplessly to his sides, his weathered face echoing the defeat both men felt as they could only stand now and watch the fire blaze out of control despite their own efforts and that of the men who had arrived a few minutes ago to help put it out.

  The fire had been well under way when Dominic himself had arrived some half an hour or so ago. Nowhere near as fierce as it was now, of course, but even so he had quickly drawn a halt to Drew and Ben Jackson’s efforts as they rushed in and out of the building salvaging what they could.

  Unfortunately Ben had decided to return one more time to collect some personal belongings and the account books from the desk in Drew Butler’s office.

  He had not come out again…

  Drew’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. ‘I’m going to kill the bastard!’

  Dominic’s jaw tightened. ‘Brown?’

  The older man’s eyes blazed with fury as he turned. ‘Who else?’

  It was a conclusion that Dominic had come to himself the moment he saw the fire blazing and so easily recalled Brown’s air of quiet satisfaction when he had left the gambling club earlier today.

  Dominic had gone into the lion’s den the evening before, with the intention of ascertaining whether Brown truly was the one responsible for the attack on Osborne. The slickness with which the other man had denied all knowledge of that attack—when he was a man known to boast that he was aware of everything that happened in what he regarded as being ‘his city’—had seemed to indicate those suspicions were correct.

  That Brown had himself arrived at the gambling club earlier today, supposedly to pay a visit on his old friends, Butler and Jackson, as well as the guarded conversation that had transpired between Brown and Dominic in Caro’s presence, was simply a measure, Dominic was certain, of the other man’s audacity.

  A fire in that building, only hours after Brown’s visit, was to Dominic’s mind tantamount to a direct challenge…

  He frowned darkly. ‘The law will need evidence before they will agree to act.’

  The older man gave a scathing snort. ‘I don’t need any evidence to recognise Brown had a hand in this.’

  Neither did Dominic. ‘Be assured, I feel exactly the way you do about this, Drew, but nevertheless I must seriously advise against taking matters into your own hands—’

  ‘So I’m to sit back and let him get away with murder, am I?’

  Dominic had already experienced one slight on his honour in the past two days; he was not about to suffer another one. He put his hand on the older man’s arm. ‘I am hoping you will trust me to ensure that will not happen.’

  Drew barely seemed to hear him. ‘I worked for the man for almost twenty years. Had my suspicions before this of what a low-down cur he could be, but—’ He gave a disgusted shake of his head. ‘Brown did this as surely as my name is Andrew Butler.’

  Dominic drew his breath in sharply. ‘And I have assured you that I will ensure he will be made to pay for his crimes—’

  ‘Dominic! Drew! Oh, thank goodness you are both safe!’

  Dominic turned just in time to catch Caro as she launched herself into his arms.

  Caro had barely been able to comprehend the sight that had met her eyes as the carriage turned into the avenue and she saw the blazing remains of the club where she had worked until two evenings ago. The whole building was ablaze, with that heavy black smoke billowing everywhere, and dozens of men hurrying back and forth as they threw water upon the blaze to prevent it passing to the vulnerable neighbouring buildings.

  Her relief when she spotted Dominic, standing to one side in conversation with Drew, had been immense. So much so that she had briefly
forgotten her earlier disagreement with Dominic, and simply thrown herself into his arms out of the sheer relief of seeing him safe.

  Her cheeks now felt hot—and not from the effects of the fire!—as she gathered herself together and extracted herself from Dominic’s embrace before turning to face the older man. ‘How good it is to see that you are unharmed, Drew—’

  ‘Never mind that now, Caro,’ Dominic was the one to answer her as he pulled her firmly back from the danger of the hot timbers now starting to fall from the top of the blazing building. ‘Explain what you are doing here, if you please!’

  She frowned up into his dark and disapproving face. ‘I had gone out for a drive, as I told you I intended, when I saw the smoke…’

  ‘And decided to investigate,’ Dominic recognised with barely restrained violence. ‘Did you not realise that by doing so you might have become caught up in the blaze yourself and possibly been injured?’

  She waved an airy hand. ‘I hope I have more sense than to have gone close enough so that—’

  ‘And yet here you are!’ Dominic glared down at her, very aware that she was as yet unaware of Ben Jackson’s absence. That when she did realise he would have another crisis on his hands; Caro’s affection for the gentle giant had been obvious from the first, and once she discovered that Ben had disappeared into the blazing building some minutes ago, and not returned, she was sure to react. In truth, Dominic had no idea which direction those emotions would take, tears and cries of anguish, or anger that her friend might have perished in the fire…

  She gave a pained frown. ‘I was concerned—’

  ‘And now that concern has been satisfied I want you to get back into your carriage immediately and return to Brockle House,’ Dominic instructed firmly.

  ‘But—’

  ‘Caro, do not argue with me over this, as you seem to feel you must argue every other point in our conversations.’ Dominic’s jaw was as tightly clenched as Drew’s fists had been minutes ago. ‘You can be of no possible help here,’ he added.