by Starla Kaye
She didn’t mean to mention it, but she found the words slipping from her mouth. “I heard what you did today, that you spoke with that awful Lady Pendergast.”
A hint of color appeared on his handsome face. “She behaved badly.” His gaze met hers. “As did you.” He deepened his look. “There will be no such misbehavior tonight, though. By anyone around you, or by you. Do I make myself clear?”
She bristled, the crack closing once more at the firm demand in his tone. Before she could respond in annoyance Lady Burlington stepped next to her nephew. He inched back several steps but his expression remained cool and in charge.
“I believe we should go in now, Your Grace.” Lady Burlington looked up at Blaine. “The Duke of Claymore is already heading for the entrance.”
Ashlynn attempted to stride after her family and leave both Blaine and his aunt in the dust behind her. It was not to be. His Supreme Annoyance caught up to her and snagged her arm, forcing her to walk with him. At his stern glance and silent message, he released her arm. She gritted her teeth and slipped her hand in the crook of his arm.
“Very good, Lady Remington,” he stated casually and nodded in greeting at the uniformed young man standing at the open doorway.
Over an hour of misery passed and Ashlynn was desperate to find a way to leave as inconspicuously as possible. Blaine had found a spot to stand with her father and brothers near the front of the ballroom. Then while the music swirled around the large room and finely dressed members of the ton danced the Quadrille, a seemingly endless line of guests stopped by to pay their respects to the two highly respected dukes. She had been introduced to countless Earls of Somewhere, Barons of Elsewhere, Viscounts, and far too many Lords and Ladies. They smiled at Abigail, who stood beside their father. They nodded greetings and shook hands with her brothers. They all but bowed and kissed Blaine’s feet. Yet the smiles she received were cautious, tolerant at best.
“I need to sit down,” she said finally, glancing up at Blaine. “Or at least get a breath of air outside.” She had been watching enviously as some of the couples had gone outside across the room to a well-lit terrace. She thought perhaps if she could…
“We shall dance first,” he countered, spoiling her hopes. He moved in front of her to take her hand as the music from the current dance ended.
She had no desire to take part in the lively Quadrille. Her feet hurt from standing in one place so long. “I am not particularly good at the Quadrille, with its many parts.” She nodded toward her sister. “Abigail, I’m sure, would love to take the floor with you.”
Clearly overhearing, Abigail shook her head, her blond curls swaying about her shoulders. “No, I am perfectly fine here beside Father.”
Their father looked worriedly down at Abigail. Ashlynn had heard her sister turn down several offers to dance already and wondered what was going on. Normally her sister enjoyed dancing. But she didn’t have to think more about it or about their father’s concerned expression.
The music had changed and the strains of a waltz filled the air. She froze, her stomach quivering nervously. While she had danced the waltz on several occasions with Gerald, she wasn’t sure she could handle it with Blaine. Where the Quadrille and the Cotillion were lively, they had very little actual physical contact. Even from the way he repeatedly took her hand for this or that reason she had experienced rushes of tingles at the touch. This would be far worse, she imagined.
She glanced at her father. “I really should stay here with my family.”
To her irritation, her father nudged her forward. “Nonsense, daughter. If His Grace wishes to spin you around the dance floor to the waltz, then you will do so.”
“But…”
Blaine took her by the elbow before she could protest further. He smiled in amusement down at her as he moved her into position on the edge of the dance floor. “I have been waiting for the musicians to switch to a waltz. I made the request of Lord Amhurst a while ago.”
Her heart raced and she could barely make the correct steps. It took her several seconds for her to realize what he had said. Prickling, she glowered at him. “You asked for this dance? So you could have an excuse to put your hands on me, I suppose.”
His grin was her answer and she huffed. “You should know that I do not feel the same way. I have no desire to touch you in any manner.” Her heart continued to race, her stomach trembling.
“Such a little liar you are, my sweet.” The look in his dark eyes was devilish. “I suspect you would like to put your hands all over me.” He leaned his head closer and whispered, “Like those very bold women do in the lusty novels you read behind your father’s back.”
She missed a step as she gaped at him. “You think much of yourself, of your attraction to a woman.” As he put them into motion again and grinned even more, she snapped quietly, “I have no idea what you’re talking about as far as those…those lusty books go.”
“Liar.” For just a second, he shifted one hand down to cup her bottom, giving a slight squeeze before moving it higher again.
Her breath caught at his daring; her face heating. “Do that again and I will slap you, Sir.”
He had maneuvered them to the far side of the room, near the doorway to the hall. To her mortification, he boldly cupped and squeezed her bottom once more. His eyes danced in challenge.
Before she could think it through, she pulled her hands from his hold and slapped his face with a gloved hand. “You dare far too much!”
His brow pinched in disapproval and he stiffened, narrowing his eyes.
She heard several shocked gasps and a couple of obviously amused male chuckles. Horrified as whispers grew louder and louder as news of what she had done quickly spread around the room, she dashed from the ballroom. She could only imagine what her father would say—or do—this time when he found out about her inappropriate behavior. But it wasn’t inappropriate! Blaine had no right to touch her that way.
She ran faster, looking frantically around, speeding away from the crowd in the ballroom, seeking some place she could hide. No doubt her father and possibly her brothers would soon be coming after her.
But it was Blaine who caught up with his brazen betrothed as she fled the scene of her minor crime: daring to strike a peer of the realm.
He snagged Ashlynn’s hand and tugged her with him. He didn’t say a word but frustration rolled through him. He was upset with her, but more upset with himself. What had he been thinking? Obviously he hadn’t been thinking beyond his growing need to touch her. He had spent too long a time standing next to her, drawing in her siren’s scent, watching other men ogle her breasts in a dress that needed a much higher bustline…right up to just under her chin would have been best.
“I’m sorry, Your Grace,” she said suddenly and tried to pull free of him. Outrage sparked in her eyes and he was fairly certain she wasn’t the least bit sorry.
He spotted the door to Lord Amhurst’s library and drew Ashlynn inside with him and then closed the door.
“I suppose you intend to spank me,” she snarled, jerking away from him. “It was your fault for what happened!”
In truth, he didn’t know why he had dragged in here, other than they needed to be alone, needed to be away from far too many eager ears. “Yes, I would enjoy putting my hand to your backside, Lady Remington.”
She sucked in a breath and glared murderously at him. “It would be unfair of you.”
He leaned against the side of his host’s elaborately carved desk. She was a true beauty when riled. Those amazing breasts puffed out even more. Her eyes flared with green fire. and her lips, thinned in displeasure, made him ache to kiss her and kiss away her anger. He felt the stirrings of arousal and knew that soon she would see his reaction to her. He didn’t care. She needed to see what she did to him, learn how she affected him.
“You struck a peer of the realm,” he stated calmly. “In front of witnesses.”
She curled her hands into fists at her sides. “I defende
d myself.”
“Yes, you did.” He held her startled gaze. “I am sorry for taking such liberties. I should not have done so, but I find I can hardly keep my hands off of you.” He grinned crookedly, unashamedly. “I am weak when it comes to desiring you, in needing to touch you.”
Her eyes rounded and her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink. Yet annoyance continued to tighten her expression. “Why are you so drawn to my…my bottom? Why must you constantly be finding a way to touch it?”
He shrugged. “I have no logical explanation. I just find it irresistible.” He swept his gaze up and down her slight body. “I imagine once I have seen you completely naked, I will find every inch of you irresistible.”
Her mouth opened and closed without words of chastisement at his boldness coming out. And then he saw the way her breasts were moving in a slow rise and fall as she took in shallow breaths. Next he noticed how her nipples had beaded and he fought down a need to walk over and free her breasts, pull each of the nipples into his mouth one at a time. He desperately wanted to savor her…every inch of her.
“Come here,” he said huskily, motioning her to him.
She didn’t move either toward him or to flee the room. Instead she swallowed hard and slowly shook her head.
He went to her and she still didn’t move. Except he heard her breathing grow harder and smelled her arousal. He pulled her into his embrace, holding her against him, knowing she had to feel his erection throbbing between them.
Still she didn’t move.
“I have never desired a woman more.” He gently toyed with the curls dangling over her shoulder. He wanted to pull the soft mass of her hair free from its curls and pinnings. He wanted to thread his hands through it. “You are exquisite, My Lady.”
She shivered and looked up at him with a heated gaze. She licked her lips and that was his undoing. He claimed her mouth, wanting to claim all of her now. The idea of having to wait another three weeks was almost more than he could stand.
Her arms slid around him and now he shuddered. His erection thickened even more. To his surprise, she moved against him, rubbing him, tormenting him. And then she purred like a contented kitten.
A knock on the closed door had them jerking apart. Braden called out, “I assume you have matters well in hand, my friend.”
Ashlynn looked mortified, furious, too. All hints of longing for him were gone.
Blaine cursed under his breath at her brother’s timing. He could only hope Braden didn’t open the door and see things he shouldn’t see. He needed his arousal to fade away. He needed his nearly uncontrollable desire to take his bride-to-be wildly, roughly, desperately to fade as well.
“I wish to go home. Now.” Her words came out tightly, laced with anger.
“I imagine it is for the best.” Not “the best” for him, but for her. He would be suffering another hellish night of longing. How was he going to survive until their wedding night?
She strode to the door, head held high. But she stopped before opening the door to look back at him. “I intend to find a way out of this marriage.”
She opened the door and brushed past her obviously eavesdropping brother. “Good Lord, but that sister of yours is a trial.”
Braden merely grinned. “I warned you.” Then he turned back to follow after Ashlynn, chuckling.
Chapter Four
The town house appeared to be empty when Ashlynn finally went down to the ground floor late the next morning. All she heard as she descended the staircase were the quiet sounds of maids moving about doing their chores. She had purposely stayed in her bedroom and missed breakfast with her family. She wasn’t ready to face any of them. Once again she had disgraced them by striking Blaine in front of many in attendance at the ball. She didn’t regret slapping him. No, he’d taken liberties he shouldn’t have. Even now as she walked, she remembered how his hand clasped to her bottom had felt. More than that, she remembered how he had felt as she’d stood in his embrace in Lord Amhurst’s library.
Her heart raced and warmth built like a simmering fire in her woman’s place. Heat seared her face. She had done little to resist him. In truth she had been quite bold. She had put her arms around him, felt the thickness of his erection between them, and then she had dared to writhe against him like some wanton woman. She had wanted to…
“Daughter, we need to have a talk,” her father’s voice reached her from the foot of the stairs.
She nearly slipped in her surprise, barely managing to catch herself on the railing. “I…I thought you were going back to Devonshire today.”
His tension-filled expression didn’t bode well for her. “After you and I discuss last night.” He waited stiffly as she continued down the stairs. “Abigail and your brothers have gone riding in Hyde Park. We can use Braden’s library.”
Her stomach fluttered with nerves. This would no doubt not be a pleasant discussion. She really was weary of being in trouble with him all the time, which certainly seemed to be the case lately. If she had only been allowed to remain in Virginia… If she hadn’t been introduced to Blaine… If her father hadn’t accepted the duke’s proposal of marriage… She drew in a trembling breath and followed her father.
They walked into the dark paneled room lit by several gas lamps scattered about the space. Most of the walls were completely covered by shelves filled with books. She knew this had once been her father’s home in London, but he had given it to Braden, his eldest son from his first marriage. He had left behind his enormous book collection and most of his household furnishings when he decided to make his estate in Devonshire his main home a few years back. While Braden had added some of his own touches, the room still felt as if it were her father’s.
Her gaze immediately landed on the foot-long wooden ruler lying on the massive cherry-wood desk. Her heart raced again in apprehension. At least it wasn’t the dreaded strop.
She waited while he closed and locked the twin doors, insuring their privacy from servants as well as any family members should they return before this “discussion” was finished. When he faced her, she wiped her sweaty palms on the sides of her day gown. “I suppose this is about what happened last night,” she stated warily.
He nodded and then moved to the desk. “You struck a peer of the realm in public, Ashylnn. The man you are to marry in less than three weeks time.”
Tilting up her chin, she protested, “He behaved inappropriately first.”
“How so?” His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t look as if he believed her. After all Blaine Wellingsworth was a respected, powerful duke.
“You didn’t see…” she started and stopped when his brow furrowed in confusion. He hadn’t seen what Blaine had done.
His next words confirmed that. “What we saw was you slapping the Duke of Ashcroft’s face. After which you ran from the ballroom.” He looked in puzzlement at her. “Was there more to it than your usual not wanting to be with him? You had been trying to shy away from him all evening.”
Her gaze slid to the ruler near his hand and her stomach tightened. She could probably say enough to get out of this punishment, tell him what Blaine had done. But for just a second she hadn’t truly hated him touching her bottom and for that she felt guilty. How could she like such an experience? And then she’d been alone with him in Lord Amhurst’s library, something forbidden by the rules of society. And she had enjoyed that, too, when she shouldn’t have. Until her brother had interrupted. Until they had both jerked apart and realized how wrong the situation was. At least she had known the wrongness. Still, she had gone with him when she shouldn’t have.
“No, I had simply tired of his—and your—not listening to my arguments against this marriage.” She would take this licking rather than mention Blaine’s boldness with her person. A stinging bottom would soon heal.
Oddly, her father looked disappointed, as if he wished she had a better excuse for what she had done. She almost changed her mind. Then she recalled how she had accused Blaine of wanting to
spank her, to which he had admitted his strong need to touch her, to his finding her bottom irresistible. Her heart had pounded at that. And when he had spoken of imagining her completely naked… she had grown warm with desire and felt the stirrings of it even now.
All of that was wrong! She cared not whether Blaine was attracted to her, whether he longed to touch her in intimate ways or in any other way. He was a highly sensual man. He probably felt that same way about any woman he was drawn to at the moment. His saying he had fallen in love with her at their first meeting was no doubt a line of seduction.
Her father picked up the ruler. “You embarrassed yourself and the family with your action, Daughter. If you were already married, it would be the duke’s place to discipline you.” He nodded toward the desk. “Since I am still responsible for you, it is my task to do so.”
She turned but didn’t bend over as expected. Instead she countered, “There was more to it than…” Then she heaved a resigned sigh and leaned across the desktop, reaching her hands to the other edge. “Do as you believe you must.”
He hesitated and then lifted her gown and shift over her back and she held her breath about whether or not he would open her pantalets. He didn’t and she breathed a small smile of relief. The relief was short lived because in the next second her father began swatting her bottom with the ruler. Although small and light in comparison to the strop, it delivered a painful sting. When applied steadily and firmly, she was quickly squirming and kicking up her legs.
“Papa, I’m sorry,” she gasped, gripping the desk tighter. “Please…I’m sorry.”
