Raising her glass to her lips, Lily took a sip of champagne. Sweet and ticklish. Ah, champagne was lovely, really. She should have been drinking it long before now.
“Be careful,” Annie warned, leaving Lily’s side. “That dress can be nothing but trouble for you, dear sister.”
“Don’t be impertinent,” Lily replied.
Annie shrugged, and Lily watched approvingly as her sister went off in search of a glass of that innocuous liquid, punch.
“You are as beautiful as I’ve ever seen you.” The male voice sounded behind Lily’s ear and for a moment Lily held her breath, hoping it was Devon. But she turned, instead, to see Lord Medford at her side. Medford was dressed in his dark-blue best, his brown hair clipped close, his eyes brightly shining. He was handsome to be sure, but he lacked Devon’s dark dangerousness.
“Thank you,” she responded in kind, curtsying to him.
Medford’s eyes devoured the cleavage that spilled so generously from her gown.
Lily smiled at that. Good. The dress would work after all. Though at the moment it appeared to be working on the wrong man. She quickly downed half the glass of champagne before searching about for the footman again. Oh, any footman with champagne would do.
Her eyes scanned the ballroom and quickly alighted on Miss Templeton. The young woman stood against the far wall, a tall, blond, willowy thing with far too many curls bouncing about her head. “She looks positively insane,” Lily muttered under her breath, downing the second half of her glass.
“Who looks insane?” Medford easily removed two more champagne glasses from a footman’s silver tray and handed one to Lily. “I see you’re drinking now.”
Lily exchanged her empty glass for the full one and shrugged. “What do you think he sees in her?” She tipped the newest glass to her lips.
“Who?” Medford’s eyes narrowed on Lily’s face. “How many glasses of champagne have you had?”
“Oh, not enough, I assure you.” She placed one hand at her elbow and dangled her glass from her gloved fingers. Tapping her silver slipper on the floor, she glared at Miss Templeton.
“What do I think who sees in whom?” Medford asked, taking a sip from his own glass.
“That dreadful Templeton girl. What do you think Colton could possibly see in her? He’s old enough to be her father.”
“That’s a stretch,” Medford said with a laugh.
“Well, uncle then,” Lily amended, scrunching up her nose.
“She’s lovely and she’s quite wealthy,” he replied, before quickly amending. “If you like young, blond sorts of girls, which I assuredly do not.”
“Wealthy, ah yes, that’s it, isn’t it?” Lily shot the last of the second glass of champagne down her throat.
“Perhaps it’s best to change the subject. May I have this dance, my lady?” Medford asked.
Lily turned around to tell Medford she didn’t feel like dancing.
And that’s when she saw him.
Standing only a few paces away, his back against a column, his dark eyes boring holes into her.
Devon.
She caught her breath. Time stood still. He stalked toward her, his eyes never leaving hers, and she said a little prayer of thanks for her daring décolletage. He had a cut on the side of his lip, a result, no doubt, of his earlier fight with Lord Ashbourne.
She wanted to float over to him. No, she wanted him to stalk over to her. She wanted him to take her into his arms and demand the next dance. Suddenly, she did feel like dancing after all.
Someone tapped her on the shoulder. “Lady Merrill, I have something to say to you.”
Lily jumped and turned around at the small voice that sounded like nothing so much as an angry mouse. That curly-headed Miss Templeton was there, tapping her tiny foot on the parquet and eyeing Lily as if she wanted to slap her.
“Why, Miss Templeton. I haven’t seen you in an age.”
A shadow fell across Lily’s shoulders. Devon had drawn near.
“You’ve been avoiding me, no doubt, after serving to ruin my life,” Miss Templeton squeaked.
Lily gave her her famous innocent look. “Ruined your life? Whatever could you possibly mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean.” Miss Templeton’s sky-blue eyes were narrowed. Why, the girl might peck Lily to death if she allowed her to get close enough.
“No, I don’t actually,” she replied in a tight voice. This little bird needed to fly away. “Miss Templeton, allow me to warn you. You couldn’t possibly have chosen a worse evening to have this conversation with me. I have every intention of drinking far too much for far too long and I’m entirely sure you won’t like anything I have to say to you. Now, I suggest you go take some smelling salts or whatever damsels in distress do when they’re overcome with their emotions. And while you’re at it, you might see to your hair.” Lily glanced up at the curly configuration atop the younger girl’s head and frowned disapprovingly.
Miss Templeton shook so hard Lily feared her curls might fall off. Her milk-white hands curled into fists. “Oh! You! Do you deny you sent me your detestable pamphlet?”
Lily glanced at Devon from the corner of her eye. “Pamphlet?”
Miss Templeton’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Secrets of a Wedding Night. I received a personal copy. It was delivered to my home a few weeks ago. Do you deny you sent it?”
Where was that confounded footman with another glass of champagne? “Now, Miss Templeton, I’ve heard it said no one knows for sure who wrote Secrets of a Wedding Night, but believe me when I tell you, anyone who sent you a copy must have had only your very best interests at heart.”
“Is that so?” More birdlike foot tapping.
“Oh, I’m sure of it. And besides, I hardly see how it ruined your life. That’s a bit dramatic, dear, isn’t it?” Lily finished on a conspiratorial whisper.
Miss Templeton pointed a petulant finger at Devon, who remained just a few paces away, watching the interaction with an interested smile on his face. So like him.
Medford stood beside them glancing back and forth between the two women as if he might be called upon to break up a physical altercation.
“I was engaged to the marquis,” Miss Templeton peeped. “And now I am not.”
Lily shrugged and took another long sip of champagne. “I hardly see how a pamphlet ended your engagement.”
“It frightened me horribly. I was scared witless.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “Did the pamphlet cry off for you, then?”
Miss Templeton’s pursed her tiny lips. “I cried off, but only because of that hideous pamphlet.”
Miss Templeton’s mother, obviously alerted to her daughter’s outburst by some caring partygoer, hurried over and grabbed the blond thing by the hand.
“Amelia, dear,” she cried. “You are making a scene.”
Miss Templeton allowed dainty tears to slip from her eyes. “I don’t care, Mother. Lady Merrill has ruined my entire life.”
“There, there, dear. You need to lie down.”
“Yes. Go lie down,” Lily said in her fake-sweet voice. “Far, far away.” With that she downed the rest of the glass.
Thankfully, Mrs. Templeton pulled the incoherent young woman away before a larger scene ensued, but not before tossing Lily a decidedly unpleasant look. Lily breathed a sigh of relief as she watched them go, but an unexpected twinge of guilt shot through her. She bit her lip.
“I’d clap if I could.” Devon’s deep voice sounded from behind her.
Lily jumped. She hadn’t forgotten he was there exactly, but she hadn’t expected him to speak first either.
Medford stepped in between them. “Colton,” he said, his voice a disapproving growl.
“Medford,” Colton replied, nodding to the viscount, his eyes narrowed.
Medford turned to face Lily. “Do you want me to make him go?”
Lily shook her head. “I appreciate it, Lord Medford, truly I do. But I’ll handle him.”
&nb
sp; Medford eyed Devon again, clearly reluctant to leave. Lily put her hand on the viscount’s sleeve. “Please, trust me. I’ll be all right.”
Medford nodded tersely. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Then, we’ll talk.” He turned on his heel and stalked off without a backward glance.
Lily watched him go before she whirled around to face Devon. They eyed each other carefully. “So, you said you’d clap. Why is that?”
He took two steps forward. His black, polished boots clicked against the parquet. “For that performance, of course. You didn’t lie to Miss Templeton, did you? Well done, actually. Quite well done.”
Lily suppressed her smile. “I don’t know what you mean.” She glanced around. Thankfully, the other guests had returned to their dancing, drinking, and conversations. They were no longer staring at her.
“Oh, yes you do, though you’ll never admit it. I must say, I underestimated you myself. I always had my suspicions that you’d written the pamphlet, but I never imagined that you’d actually been the one to send a copy to Miss Templeton personally.”
Lily’s cheeks flamed. Blast it. Unfortunate, him overhearing all of that. She raised her chin. “If someone sent the pamphlet to Miss Templeton, it wasn’t—”
Devon raised his hand. “Please. Don’t ruin your streak of not telling a lie. I couldn’t stand it. Let us both pretend it is a mystery how Miss Templeton came to be in possession of the literature.”
Lily snapped her mouth closed. Devon held out his hand to her.
“I see you’re drinking tonight … and wearing the type of gown I’ve never seen you in before, I might add. Though I must admit I cannot help but admire it.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“Dance with me,” he commanded. “Don’t let that beautiful gown go to waste. I cannot take my eyes off it.”
His gaze dipped to her décolletage and Lily’s heart beat double time.
Lily didn’t answer. She merely put her hand in his and allowed him to lead her to the dancing.
Devon escorted her to the floor. He bowed to her first, then took her hand, letting his other hand rest on her waist. Lily narrowed her eyes like a cat’s and watched him. This was a game, tonight, between the two of them. A game with the highest stakes.
“The cut on your lip looks bad.”
Devon smiled. “Jordan’s got a hell of a left hook. But you should see him.”
“So who won?”
He shrugged. “It was more of a draw. But let’s just say we worked out our … issues.”
Lily let that go.
“I thought you didn’t drink,” he said.
“Watching me, Colton?” she asked. The smell of his fine cologne made her knees weak.
“Always.” His deep, smooth voice sent chills through her insides.
“I thought you preferred to wear gray,” he said next.
“Wrong again,” she countered. “I do like to surprise you once in a while, you know?”
He raised a brow. “I thought you were angry with me.”
“Who says I’m not?”
* * *
Devon let his eyes devour Lily’s décolletage. The woman looked like a dream. Her tiny waist encased in shimmering satin, her ample breasts pushed up for his eyes to feast upon, her white, creamy skin bared to his appreciative gaze. He shuddered. Could she feel how much he wanted her right now? Had always wanted her? “Why didn’t you dance with Medford? Do I mistake my guess or had he asked you before I arrived?”
Lily’s eyes met and sparked with his. “Why didn’t you dance with Miss Templeton?”
“You sneer that name in the same manner I once pronounced your title,” he said with a laugh.
“You’re evading my question. Miss Templeton is obviously more than eager to renew your betrothal.”
His eyes slid across her skin, devouring her. “What is it you told me once? Ah, yes, souls in Hades want a drink of water.”
Lily gave him a brilliant smile.
“It’s not surprising,” Devon said, his teeth tugging at his lower lip.
“What? Miss Templeton’s desire to renew your betrothal? Ah, still arrogant, I see.” Lily twirled around him, her skirts caressing his legs.
“No.” He laughed again. “I only meant that I was right.”
“Right about what?”
He pulled her close. His cheek brushed her temple. “Come out onto the balcony with me,” he whispered into her ear.
“I thought you’d never ask,” she whispered back.
With a sly smile, Devon pulled Lily along behind him. He grabbed two champagne glasses from the nearest footman on the way out. Devon pushed open the French doors with his back. They fell shut behind the two of them. He turned to face Lily, handing her one of the glasses. She eagerly took it and drank. Thankfully, they were alone with the night. No other partygoers were on that particular area of the balcony just then.
“No doubt we’re the scandal of the ballroom,” she said, laughing and peering through the windows. She twirled around in a circle. “What with you pulling me out of there like that, God knows what they’re saying about us now.”
Devon chuckled and sipped from his own glass of champagne. “We were already the talk of the ballroom. Or hadn’t you noticed?”
* * *
Lily laughed out loud at that. Laughed and drank more champagne. She felt quite reckless and quite wonderful of a sudden. “Tell me. What were you right about?” She twirled around again as Annie was wont to do.
Devon grinned and the moonlight glistened off his white teeth. He winked at her. “The secret to catching a woman is to make her think she is chasing you. Seems to hold true in Miss Templeton’s case at least.”
Lily’s heart fell a bit, but the champagne was making her deliciously carefree. “You admit you want Miss Templeton to chase you?” She advanced on him, hoping her décolletage was still working the magic it was meant to.
“I admit no such thing.” His free hand went around Lily’s waist. She drank more champagne. “The one woman I’ve been trying to catch is only just now in my arms.”
Lily couldn’t help it. She closed her eyes and nearly melted against him. Oh, fine, she should have been offended. She should have been shocked, outraged, or any other number of overused terms that sprang to mind, but instead she was … pleased. Yes, that was it. Nothing but pleased. She turned around in his arms. He enfolded her into his embrace. If anyone were to walk onto the balcony at that moment, she would be entirely ruined of course. Perhaps it was the moonlight, or the champagne, or the man, but she … Did. Not. Care.
She craned her neck and looked up at him. “You’re only trying to catch me so you can turn me in like a voucher.”
He winced. “Now, that stings.” He ran his fingers up the sides of her arms to the dip in her bodice, his forefinger edging along the trim that framed her neckline. The heat of his fingers drew fevered patterns on her skin. “And it’s entirely untrue.”
She turned in his embrace, wrapped her arms around his neck, and breathed her champagne-scented breath against his neck. “You deny trying to seduce me then?”
Devon pulled her against his rock-hard body. “Never.”
“Why were you fighting Lord Ashbourne?”
Devon cleared his throat. “Because Ashbourne was responsible for that damned bet at the club.”
Lily narrowed her eyes at him. “Really?”
“Yes, really. I told you it wasn’t me.”
Her face softened. “You fought your friend over me?”
“Yes. He damn well deserved it.”
“Are you still angry with him?”
“No, we’ve moved past it. Besides, he should be in the ballroom right now, dancing with your sister, as part of his amends.”
Lily giggled. She let her arms drop from Devon’s shoulders and moved over to the French doors where she glanced into the ballroom. There they were, Annie and Jordan Holloway, dancing. The two actually cut a striking figure together. “Well, it
seems Lord Ashbourne has managed to distract her from Arthur Eggleston for five minutes. Even with that black eye of his. Most impressive.”
“A very well-deserved black eye,” Devon said. “Ashbourne’s apologized for the damage he’s done, but I told him it remains to be seen if you’ve forgiven me.”
Lily turned back to face him, a sly smile on her lips. “Very well. I’ve forgiven you. Is that what you want to hear?”
“Is it true?”
She nodded, biting her lip. “Everything’s changed.”
“What does that mean?”
“Perhaps I am the master of seduction after all,” she breathed.
He moved toward her and reached out, his finger tracing her jawline. “Is that so? What do you know about seduction?”
She pulled out of his reach and turned in a circle. Around and around. “Seduction? Let me think.” She tapped a finger to her forehead. “Let’s see. There are nice men, shy men, mysterious men, and all-out lovers.”
He reached for her again, but she eluded him. “What are you talking about?”
Lily laughed. She set her empty glass on the balustrade. “Everyone knows. Everyone knows about seduction. Everyone but me.”
His voice was a husky, interested whisper. “What do you mean, Lily?”
She advanced on him, with half-hooded eyes. “Perhaps the tables have turned. Perhaps I’m not waiting for you to seduce me anymore. Perhaps I’m planning on seducing you now.”
He looked at her as if he feared she’d lost her mind. “Lily, you don’t know what you’re saying.”
Lily didn’t answer. Instead, she stepped forward again, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled his mouth down barely a breath from hers. She would make sure she sounded serious. Very serious. “Yes. I. Do.”
His eyes flared. “When did you come to this conclusion?”
She smiled a cunning smile and silently asked herself the same question. Was it the champagne or the moonlight?
“I came to this conclusion when I saw you with your shirt off.”
* * *
What had got into Lily? The last time he’d talked to her alone, she was hurling accusations at him at the theater, then her strange behavior this afternoon at the boxing match, and now she was telling him she meant to seduce him. It was enough to confuse the hell out of him.
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