Lively music could be heard through the park and the festivities were well underway by the time we arrived at nine-thirty.
I was thankful that Anna had thought ahead and prepared me a small repast to eat before I had left. My stomach had been acting up, and I didn’t know what would agree with me until I smelled it first.
A few ejected patrons trying to crash the ball had been forcibly removed and were complaining loudly as we entered the gates. If I had to guess I would say they had already imbibed a bit too much.
Jonathan had one of us on each arm and seemed to be strutting. One might even call it a swagger. I looked at Sarah and winked. She just giggled.
I was disappointed Jude wasn’t there with me, but I was determined to make the best of it.
A large table was reserved for our group replete with refreshments and fresh fruit. We were located next to the dance floor, so even though I would not be dancing much, I could enjoy watching everyone whirl by. Burney and Jones stood by the table while Smithy and Duncan were strategically placed always behind the table.
Sarah and Jonathan left for the dance floor while I waited for the arrival of the rest of our party.
I was enjoyed watching the dancers doing a minuet when a strange sensation struck me. My neck hairs stood on edge and my arms got all goose bumpy. Someone was watching me.
I tried looking around but didn’t notice anyone paying particular attention to me.
“Mr. Burns, do you happen to see anyone staring in my direction?” I asked casually, attempting to stay calm as I shivered.
“No, Lady Stewart. Is something wrong?” he asked somewhat puzzled.
“Just a feeling, I’m sure it’s nothing. Sorry to bother you,” I replied, feeling a bit stupid now.
“Jones, is anyone suspicious looking toward me, from where you stand?” Burney asked.
“No, sir,” Jones answered.
“Keep an extra sharp eye out, Jones, you’re not looking hard enough,” Burney ordered. Then he turned to me and winked. He always knew how to make me smile. I went back to eating my fruit, but I could not shake the feeling.
Mother and Father showed up with the Burgesses shortly after. I was happy to have the distraction. Eventually, Sarah and Jonathan returned from dancing to join us. That is when the real party began.
“Come on, Sis, won’t you dance at least one dance with me?” Jonathan’s eyes pleading with me to join him. I was sure Sarah had put him up to it.
“I would be honored to dance with you, Jonathan. Thank you for asking.” It was to be a group dance where you join hands and circle around each other, bow or curtsy, depending on your gender, then move down the line to repeat the steps with the person to your right, and so on, until you eventually end up with your original partner.
Jonathan and I found a spot on the dance floor as the music begun. I curtsied then joined hands and continued down the line. The music was wonderful. As I got caught up in the rhythm I let it sweep me away. I was on to my third partner when my blood ran cold.
“What a delight it is to see you out and about, Lady Stewart,” the man said, with an undertone of menace.
“Lord Montgomery, what a delight.” Sarcasm dripped from each word I spoke.
“I see you haven’t lost any of your sweetness. One might wonder why Lord Deveraux is so often absent since the announcement of your impending nuptials.” Darcy meant for his words to be cutting but two could play at that.
“Derision and ridicule are guaranteed to repel mediocrity masquerading as conventional wisdom, Lord Montgomery,” I sweetly answered him on the upbeat.
“Perhaps we will have more time later to discuss the follies of your mind set, Lady Stewart.” His ominous words left me feeling disjointed and a little cold as I moved on.
The dance seemed to go on forever after my exchange with Darcy Montgomery. I kept recalling our previous unfortunate exchange when he promised to make me sorry for them. The man gave me the willies, and I just wanted to be away from him.
Just one more person and I would be back with Jonathan.
As I came around instead of Jonathan reaching out to take my hand a much larger one was there in its stead. Grasping my hand, he spun me around and my heart stopped. I had to blink twice to be sure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me.
There he stood before me in all his splendor, Jude Deveraux. He was replete in black brocade, and black mask. But I would know those eyes anywhere. They sparkled like sapphires glowing in the light. The flame I saw reflecting back made me forget everything else. It was as if we were the only two people in the world. No words were necessary as his piercing eyes made inappropriate contact. The music ended as he pulled me to him.
Playing coy, I turned my face to the side. After all, I had not heard from him in weeks and then he simply showed up.
“Not exactly the welcome home I was expecting. Isn’t distance supposed to make the heart grow fonder?” he teased, tipping my head up with his thumb.
“You, sir, have left me to fend off the slings and arrows of many on the flimsy excuse of tying up loose ends,” I informed him, my sullen tone alerting him to my mood. I turned to leave the dance floor but his hand on my wrist stopped me.
“I made a request to the orchestra and they promised to play it immediately.” His telling smile alerted me that he was up to something.
The music started and I was unsure what it meant. The dance was La Volta, a very intimate, seductive dance introduced in the courts of Elizabeth, not well known outside the courts for reasons that are self-explanatory.
One normally began with a galliard then transitioned to a closed position. The man is supposed to take one hand placing it below the woman’s waist and his other hand he would place on her back above the far hip. It is a series of steps and lifts with his knee behind the upper thighs.
Instead of coming back around to an open position with a series of hops, twirls and a lively step, Jude decided to change things up just a bit. Standing side by side, he kissed the side of his right hand then presented it to me. I followed suit. Kissing my hand on the side of my left hand, I took his hand.
He pulled me in to a closed position our eyes never strayed from each other. Then, while facing one another, we walked in a circle as dancers maneuvered around us. Coming back to a side-by-side position with his arm behind and in front of me, we again took steps around in a circle.
Coming back into a closed position his hands were on either side of my waist as he lifted me high above him slowly lowering me close to his body as he walked in a circle. Our faces came conspicuously close to one another’s as I slid down the front of his body.
“Are you attempting to seduce me on this dance floor, Lord Deveraux?” I questioned as our lips nearly touched.
“Well, I suppose that would depend, Lady Stewart.” The deep rugged tones of his voice mingled with the music.
“Depend on what, pray tell?” I asked, looking at him seductively.
“Whether or not it is working.” He laughed, lifting me in the air again.
This time I tenderly kissed his lips as he lowered me slowly down to the ground. I had never truly cared much for convention as I am certain we scandalized more than a few people with our display of affection for one another. At that moment I only saw him, and he was all that mattered to me in that brief minute of time.
We continued to dance till the end of the song, then we walked off the dance floor and headed for a path we both knew well.
“We have two interlopers intent on interrupting our interlude,” Jude said as he pointed to Smithy and Duncan sent by Burney. They followed a respective four feet behind us but followed us nonetheless. This made me laugh because his wording was terribly clever.
“It is useless to attempt to send them away. They will only take orders from Burney. I have no real authority here.”
“We could always try to lose them,” he said, raising his eyebrow, which only made me laugh again.
“I have missed you, Jude.
You can’t leave me like that again.” All the emotions of the last few days broiled up to the surface in my voice as tears filled my eyes. “I nearly died all these weeks without you.” Tightening his arm about my shoulders he gave me a squeeze.
“Jude Deveraux, what could possibly have been so important that you had to be gone from me so long? Where did you go and why are you being so secretive?” I asked, looking up into his face searching for answers as we walked. I could tell that he wanted to say something to me, but he didn’t.
“Jude, answer me please,” I pleaded, and still he kept silent. I stopped in the middle of the path refusing to move, causing people to walk around us.
“Darling, I will explain, but not here, not now.” Something in his words gave me cause to pause. I allowed him to lead me down the path and to the left, which led to a secluded spot surrounded by tall hedges.
“Smithy, Duncan, it has been a long few weeks and we need to discuss a few matters, privately,” I said, turning to the two bodyguards trailing us.
“If we take our eyes off you, Lady Stewart, Burney will have our heads,” Duncan informed me as his voice betrayed his fear.
“Then I propose a compromise. One of you go to this end of the path that leads into the hedges and the other at the other end of the hedges where the trail ends. Lord Deveraux and I will be somewhere in the middle having a private conversation,” I said very matter-of-factly. “How is that?”
Smithy and Duncan looked at each other trying to decide what to do next.
“It is settled,” I announced. Taking hold of Jude’s arm, I pulled him deeper into the hedges. “If I need you, I will give you a shout.”
“Start talking, Jude.” My words sounded harsh even to my ears.
“Is it an explanation you really want, ma amour?” he asked, taking hold of my wrist to pull me close.
“Jude Deveraux, I am wise to your tactics and will not be played. Now answer the question.” Frustrated by his stalling, I removed my mask.
“There is time to answer all of your questions but right this moment, I require proper motivation.” His hand reaching out taking me by the back of my neck, he drew me closer until our faces nearly touched. “It has been a long journey, and I have dreamed of nothing else but the very moment I could hold you close, tasting of your soft sweet lips.” His lips so close to mine caused a ripple of delight. I shivered with anticipation as the mere thought of his sinfully tempting lips against mine caused a thrill to shoot through me.
“But of course. If it is answers you wish instead of a reunion, I will be obligated to comply,” he said, suddenly pulling away from me. A devilish smile played on his sumptuous lips as my heart skipped a beat.
“You truly are without scruples,” I whispered.
He removed his mask while I wrapped my fingers through his hair. He drew my lips to his. Weeks of pent-up longing and need came flooding back all at once. I didn’t care that we were in the middle of a park with men standing guard just feet away. I needed him.
The taste of his lips and the smell of his skin drove me crazy. His hands wrapped around my waist lifting me up. I wrapped my arms around his neck. The taste of him was enough to make me lose all concept of propriety. My moan of pleasure seemed to ignite his passion even more as his lips trailed down my throat.
“I have dreamed of holding you in my arms every night since I left.” Jude’s passion-filled words making me feel dizzy with desire.
One arm was wrapped around my waist as the other hand found its way under my skirts.
“Jude, we have to talk about something,” I said breathlessly between passionate kisses.
“Yes, yes, of course, ma chere.” Capturing my mouth with his again, he answered without really hearing what I had said.
“I need to tell you something, my love,” I whispered near his ear.
Looking around I spotted a bench and pointed. A wicked grin came to his face as he carried me in that direction. Sliding me down to the ground, I could feel his need solid and bold.
“What I have to say is important, Jude, but you might want to take a seat first,” I said as I began to worry how he would take the news of our impending arrival. I chewed at my lip as I paced in front of him wondering how I was going to tell him.
“This is serious, Jude,” I said, feeling desperate.
He finally took hold of my hand in his as I paced in front of him.
“Come now, it can’t be that bad, my love,” he said, pulling me into his lap. He lifted my head so that my eyes were looking into his.
Taking a deep breath, I summoned my courage to say what I needed to say. “I am carrying your child,” I said quietly while looking directly at him. His reaction was difficult to gauge. So many emotions seemed to cross his face all at once.
“Say something, Jude.” I mistook his silence for disappointment.
Climbing from his lap, I walked a couple of feet away with my back to him. “You are angry, aren’t you?” My words vibrated as I tried to hold the tears back.
Coming up behind me, he wrapped his arms around me. “No, I am not angry or disappointed.” Turning me around in his arms to face him, he wiped a tear from my face. “I am thrilled, darling. We are not the first to marry after we have conceived, and we will not be the last,” he said, placing his hand on my stomach. He bent to kiss my lips again.
His tempest-filled eyes sparkled clear and dark in the moonlight. Kissing my mouth and eyes, his ardent passion only seemed to lay momentarily dormant, as if any sudden movement would ignite him once again.
“I have never known such desire with anyone as I have for you, ma amour,” he rasped trying to catch his breath. “Fou d’amour, I am madly in love with you.” Taking my face in his hands, he forced me to look directly into his eyes. “I will love you until the day I die and when we both reach heaven, I will love you there too.” Raw emotion filled his words as tears welled up in my eyes. “I cherish you with all my heart, mon le grand amour, my one true love.” My heart was so full in that moment I felt that it would burst.
Suddenly out of nowhere, I felt someone grab me from behind. As Jude reached for me, he crumpled to the ground like a rag doll. Two men dressed completely in black stood behind him, their faces hidden by masks. I tried to scream, but a large hand covered my mouth as an arm lifted me off the ground by the waist. My attempts to kick and claw at my assailant resulted in a tightening of the arm around my waist until I couldn’t breathe. I feared I would pass out.
My heart was beating so fast, I imagined it would give out any second. Terror filled my veins. My mind could not process what was happening. Jude’s lifeless body lay before me on the ground. Was he dead? I couldn’t tell. The only thing I knew for sure was he didn’t move.
I caught movement out of the corner of my right eye, and I prayed it would be Smithy or Duncan coming to help. But instead, it was another man dressed head to toe in black with a gold and black mask covering his face.
“Lady Stewart, we meet again. How lovely you look by moonlight. I am terribly sorry to interfere with your little tryst with Lord Deveraux, especially at such a touching moment,” Lord Montgomery said, his words sugary sweet as he gestured to Jude’s crumpled lifeless form on the ground. Dramatically, he stepped over Jude’s listless form. “It appears that he isn’t feeling well at the moment.” Darcy removed his mask. A sympathetic look plastered on his face as he looked at Jude and pretended to be sad. Just as suddenly, his face changed.
Darcy’s menacing smile made him appear slightly unhinged. “My associate is going to remove his hand from your mouth now. But if you scream I will be forced to slit the throat of your beloved fiancé.” He pulled a knife from his waistband for emphasis.
“I don’t understand why you have done this.” My confusion seemed to bring amusement to him as he chuckled sardonically.
“It really is quite simple, Angelina. Oh, you don’t mind me using your given name, do you?” chuckling again, finding the entire situation amusing. “Of course you
don’t. As I was saying, it really is simple, Angelina. I have long admired your loveliness, but you have rebuffed and disrespected me publicly. I simply cannot abide with such deceitful behavior from a woman,” he said, bringing his face only inches from mine. “So you will be dealt with.”
“What does that mean?” My voice shook as I spoke.
“I intend to teach you your place in the great plan of all things, Angelina.” The putrid smell of his breath in my face caused me to gag and turn away.
Grabbing my cheeks between his thumb and fingers he turned my face back so that he could leer at me. “You will learn how to treat a man with respect, Lady Stewart, or I am afraid your future won’t be very bright,” he snarled at me. Bringing his other hand up, he covered my face with a rag that smelled nauseatingly sweet and pungent.
I began to struggle with real earnest, but my muscles went slack and my head began to spin. I couldn’t breathe. I tried to voice my protests as the bitter sweetness of dark enveloped me in her folds and I went limp.
Then nothing.
18
MONSTERS ARE REAL,
AND THEY WALK AMONG US
HAT WAS THAT AWFUL NOISE? And why couldn’t I see anything?
Palpable darkness so cold, damp and eerie it filled my lungs. These were my first recollections and thoughts.
Then realization hit me like a brick wall. That awful sound I was hearing was coming from me. “Hello?!” I cried, then lay still in the damp cold dark, moaning and shivering. Silence greeted me, except for the sound of tiny scurries of rodents. “Help!”
I tried to clear my head and remember how I got here but my head felt dull and fuzzy. I couldn’t remember what happened. Squeezing my eyes tightly shut, forcing down the rising panic, I tried to slow my panicked breathing. I swallowed several times to keep the bile down as nausea overwhelmed me.
I struggled to remember. Where was I? Things started coming back to me in bits and pieces. Jude had been on the ground, beside me, his lifeless body crumpled. Was he dead? Hot tears of anger flowed at the sudden recollection of Jude’s distorted form unmoving on the ground.
Angelina's Secret Page 19