“You haven’t even met him yet,” Camille said.
Anne had, and she didn’t trust him either, or more particularly, herself around him, the physical calamity he inspired a serious detriment. And something she intended to get under control. Lest it got out of control. “We won’t allow this situation to turn into a problem.”
With resolve, Anne stalked toward the dining hall once more. Her sisters quickly fell into step. There was no other option, really. Leduc wrote the sorts of stories that needed to be written. Had to be told.
And would be published. On time.
After a few silent moments, Henriette conceded. “You’re right, of course, Anne. Among the three of us, we can entertain our two guests until the Comtesse returns—and keep them from stumbling onto our secret. Isn’t that right, Camille?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Good. Then there is nothing left to argue about and nothing to be concerned over,” Anne said, with more confidence than she felt. Why was she riddled with niggling doubts? What was the threat, really? “I doubt either gentleman has ever even heard of Leduc.” Nicolas and Thomas came from the country, preferring to live at their country estates over Paris, as some nobles did. Leduc’s popularity was for the most part contained inside the city. “And even if they know of him and his books, even if they see a few women come and go from the Comtesse’s home over the next few days, they’d never conclude Leduc is under this roof.” Anne glanced at each sister. “Right?”
“Right,” they responded in chorus.
The tension in Anne’s body eased the more she thought of the situation. Her biggest challenge in all this was to keep her distance from her patroness’s enigmatic grandson.
And how difficult could that be?
With her sisters sharing the duties as hostess, she could limit her time in Nicolas’s company—until she’d mastered her maddening reactions to him.
Anne’s next book would go to press on time without their houseguests ever knowing that the notoriously famous author—who had tongues wagging in every Salon in the city—was right under their noses. Her books of poetry had never been as popular as her Gilbert Leduc volumes.
But she didn’t write under the name “Gilbert Leduc” for the notoriety.
What motivated her pen were the women behind the stories—and their personal experiences that hit close to home and heart.
Before she knew it, Madame de Cottineau would return, deal with her grandson as she saw fit, and be delighted to find that Anne had published a new volume to titillate Leduc’s readers.
She exchanged knowing smiles with her sisters. By the look in their eyes, she knew they were in accord; Leduc was a secret they wouldn’t reveal.
Not to anyone outside their trusted circle.
There were many who’d tried to learn who was behind Leduc’s pen. None had succeeded. No one ever would.
Keeping their secret from two men who weren’t even interested in Leduc wasn’t going to be difficult.
In fact, this was going to be easy.
Chapter Three
Laughter rippled through the Salle de Buffet. The women were starting to relax. Nicolas was pleased as he chuckled along with his dining companions at the latest witty exchange.
Sweeping his gaze down the long elegant table, he glanced at each of the three sisters. Then at Thomas. Seated at opposite ends of the table, their gazes met and Nicolas could tell by his friend’s expression that they were in agreement: the night was going well. Even the rather icy Henriette was beginning to offer a smile and the occasional laugh.
In short, Nicolas was making great progress; he was lowering the ladies’ guards a charming comment at a time.
His eyes were drawn back to Anne. Repeatedly during the meal he’d caught himself watching her. Practically gawking at her. The candles on the silver torchères lined around the room cast an orange light, making the shade of her coppery curls bedazzling.
Making her skin look warm and so enticing.
He was dying to trail his fingers along the contour of her scooped neckline over the gentle swell of her breasts. He was dying to do far more than that with the enchanting poetess. Fantasies of her naked in his bed, wet with wanting, ran rampant in his mind.
Nicolas shifted in his chair, his stiff prick straining uncomfortably inside his breeches. Merde. She was seated to his right, dressed in a simple gown—hadn’t done more than offer polite conversation—and she was driving him to distraction.
Anne brought a spoonful of soup to her lips.
By God, his yearning to possess that lush mouth mounted by the moment.
“Do tell us, Nicolas,” Henriette’s voice cut through his thoughts. “What has driven such a wedge between you and your grandmother? Why the estrangement?”
“Henriette!” Camille chastised.
Anne simply met his gaze and held it. By the look in her beautiful dark eyes, he could tell she was curious about the answer.
He decided to offer an honest one. “My mother married my father—a man my grandmother didn’t care for. She disowned her when she learned of their secret marriage ceremony.”
There was silence for a moment as the women absorbed his response.
“Why would the Comtesse object to your father as a husband for her daughter?” Anne asked softly. He liked her voice. He couldn’t help but wonder at the sultry sounds she made in the throes of passion, what she’d sound like when she came. Or what the tight clasp of her wet sex around his thrusting cock would feel like …
She was staring at him. Waiting. Nicolas shot a glance at the others at the table. They all sported similar expectant expressions on their faces.
He cleared his throat. Dieu, focus. “Because my father was an ass, and he remained that way until his last breath.” By the expression on her lovely face, it was obvious he’d surprised her with his bluntness. Christ. That could have been put a little more gently.
If he didn’t bed her soon, he was going to lose his fucking mind.
“He—He didn’t treat your mother well?” Camille voiced the question that was likely on everyone’s mind.
“No, Camille, he did not.” And despite her reservations, his coldhearted grandmother had never once inquired about her daughter’s well-being—from the day she married until her death two years ago.
Camille lowered her head.
“Husbands seldom do—treat their wives well, that is,” Anne said. “Your mother was not alone in that regard.”
“Oh?” This was a direction he definitely wanted to go. Thanks to the forward Vignon sisters, they were making it easy for him. “And why do you say that?”
“Because it’s the truth,” Henriette interjected.
He dragged his eyes away from Anne. “Is it your truth, madame?”
She cocked a brow at him.
“Forgive me, but since we’re being candid with each other, I thought you wouldn’t mind my inquiring,” Nicolas added.
Henriette set down her spoon. “I do mind—not about you asking questions, for we have nothing to hide here. But about discussing the subject of my late husband. He had a lot in common with your father, you see. He, too, was an ass.”
Nicolas briefly glanced at Thomas.
Henriette rose. “If you will excuse me, I shall return to my chambers now. Good night.”
Nicolas and Thomas were on their feet immediately. Henriette stalked out of the room.
Camille was the next to rise. “I should make certain she’s all right.”
With his eyes, Nicolas motioned Thomas to follow Camille out.
“Camille,” Thomas called out, halting her steps. “Please, allow me to escort you.” He offered his arm. Together they walked out of the Salle de Buffet.
Nicolas turned his attention to Anne. She was standing and he knew she was about to offer her excuses to leave.
“I have ruined the evening. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause distress.” This was not how he’d intended the evening to end. Distracted by Anne,
he’d blurted out his question to Henriette when he should have taken more care to ascertain the answer.
“Henriette will be fine. She is still sensitive about the late Baron and doesn’t like to be questioned about him.”
“I gather theirs was not a marriage filled with wedded bliss?”
She shook her head. “No, hardly that. Like your mother, my sister fell in love—and suffered for it.”
He walked around the table and stopped before her. A light floral scent emanated from her beautiful hair, tantalizing his senses. “You sound as though you don’t care for love.”
From the moment he drew close, her cheeks took on a pretty blush, and Nicolas noted the rapid beating of her pulse along the side of her slender neck. Telltale signs of his heated effect on her.
These were exactly the reactions he wanted from her. And they were more than inciting his own carnal responses—her proximity causing his blood to flow faster. Making his cock feel harder and heavier than ever before.
She glanced at the door, and then at his mouth. Her desire was evident, but so was her unease at being alone with him. His greedy cock twitched. Easy now. If he moved too quickly, she’d bolt from the room. He’d already made mistakes tonight. He wouldn’t make another. This mission was too important to him.
The matter required finesse. Patience. For the first time ever, he struggled with both—thanks to the bewitching writer with flame-colored hair.
“No, I don’t believe in love,” she stated firmly. He was disappointed in her answer, and he had no idea why he should be. He wasn’t much of a believer in the fickle emotion either, but he’d read her works. They were filled with romantic sentiment. Romantic sentiment she’d clearly lost. Was it her sister’s disagreeable marriage that had jaded her? Or Anne’s own personal experience?
“But I’m told you write poetry. Love poems, to be precise.”
“I do … rather … I did … two volumes of love poems … a while ago.” Anne mentally cringed. She sounded like a babbling fool.
He was standing so close—too close—trapping her between the table and his tall sculpted form. From the moment she’d walked into the room and saw him standing in the dining hall with Thomas, her blood had warmed. Now it raced through her veins white-hot.
If he’d step back, she could think. As it was, it took every effort just to keep her breathing even, so that she didn’t humiliate herself by panting in heat. How in heaven’s name did she end up alone with him? This wasn’t supposed to happen. Her sisters weren’t supposed to abandon her in his company, but then, they had no idea how he ignited her senses.
“What do you write now?” he asked, his voice low. It reverberated inside her, making the ache between her legs grow fiercer. The very ache that had started from the moment he’d escorted her to her chair and then sat so near. She resented the way he was affecting her—worse—that she couldn’t curb her responses to him. He was a nobleman. She didn’t trust his kind, preferring poets and dramatists. She knew what the upper class were capable of, and yet, he’d still managed to sweep into the Comtesse’s home, and awaken her long-dormant body with no effort at all.
“I … I’m working on …volumes…various ones.” Another imbecilic response.
He tilted his head slightly to one side. “Volumes of what?”
“They are stories of intrigue and adventure.” She didn’t lie well when the most disarming pair of gray eyes was on her. Well, actually it wasn’t a complete lie. Gilbert Leduc’s stories did have intrigue, and getting the volumes published was an adventurous venture, to say the least.
A slight smile teased his lips. “Adventure?” He dipped his head, bringing his most kissable mouth closer to hers. “Excitement …” His warm breath caressed her lips. “That appeals to you, does it?”
Not this kind of excitement. This kind of excitement could only lead to trouble and heartache. And at the moment, she’d rather not be quite as excited as she felt.
Uncharacteristic thoughts of what that mouth would feel like against her skin were rushing through her mind.
“I should go.” Now. Quickly. Before she did something foolish.
He didn’t move. Instead, his light gray eyes held her gaze, then moved to her mouth, and for a moment she thought he might … would he … kiss her?
Her heart pounded. She held her breath. Waiting. Anticipating. Frozen with expectation.
His gaze met hers once more, and after a long drawn-out moment, he took a step back. “Good night, Anne.”
She let out a breath and tamped down the disappointment that surged inside her.
“Yes. Good night.”
Her heart still thundering, her limbs shaky, she stepped around him and proceeded toward the door.
“Wait.” He caught her hand, surprising her.
He stepped closer and gently brushed a lock of her hair from her cheek. The light caress sent a rush of liquid heat from her core. What was it about this man that made her react this way? She was shamelessly vulnerable to him in a way she’d never been with any man.
Not even Roland.
“Anne, I hope I can count on your help,” he said softly.
“Help?”
“With my grandmother. You know her better than I do. I want to learn everything I can about her. I need your help to do that. I want to understand her mind. Her heart. If you don’t help me, I fear I’ll fail in my attempt to forge a relationship with her. My mother went to her grave never having reconciled with the Comtesse. She isn’t getting any younger. This may be my only opportunity to form a bond between us.”
Anne forced a polite smile, her insides still in a frenzy. “My sisters and I will do what we can, but I can’t promise results.”
“I doubt Henriette will want to have much to do with me after tonight, and Camille seems far more interested in spending time with Thomas. You’re the only one who can help me. Please, say you will.” His expression was beseeching.
If her thoughts hadn’t been so heated, she might have chosen her next words carefully. Instead, she said, “Well … I suppose—”
“Excellent!” Nicolas pressed a kiss to her hand, his mouth lingering a second or two longer than necessary. His warm lips against her skin felt sublime. A hot tremor shivered through her. “You can begin enlightening me on everything I should know about the Comtesse tomorrow.” He flashed her a bedeviling smile, then turned on his heel and left the room.
Oh, God …
Chapter Four
Nicolas clenched his jaw. Thomas stood near the hearth—one hand on the mantel and the other clutching his side—laughing, the irritating sound reverberating in Nicolas’s chambers.
“Let me see if I have this right …” Thomas said, fighting back a snicker. “You manage to get the comely Anne de Vignon alone, and though there is mutual physical attraction between you, and you could tell she wanted—hungered,” he emphasized theatrically, “for a kiss, you denied her, and purposely left her wanting more.”
Nicolas crossed his arms and sat back in his chair. “There is nothing wrong with that approach,” he responded tightly over Thomas’s new bout of laughter.
Thomas sobered up enough to say, “But wait, that’s not all. Then, you—le Loup—a man with a reputation for being irresistible to the finer sex and having uncanny shrewdness in all situations—cleverly cornered her into helping you forge a relationship with your grandmother, which would, of course, give you an excuse to be in her company …” Thomas was laughing again, unable to continue.
Nicolas uncrossed his arms and rose. “What is wrong with that? It was a solid tactic to take.”
Sobering, yet still chuckling, Thomas walked over to the small side table. “Yes, and for the first time since I’ve known you, my friend, le Loup miscalculated. While you were convinced she would be spending endless hours acquainting you with facts about the Comtesse, offering up promiscuous pleasures, and divulging information about Leduc, your ‘solid’ tactic got you this instead.” He swiped up the note.
Nicolas,
I know how much you want to get to know your grandmother. I have thought of how best to help you with the Comtesse and what I could offer that would aid you in that regard. After much consideration, I believe I know just what you require.
Sincerely,
Anne
Thomas gestured toward the open trunk that accompanied the note. “Stacks of old dusty books.” Thomas pulled one out, held it up and wiggled his brows. “All your grandmother’s favorites.” He laughed. “Not nearly as good as a tumble and a confession, but you might discover that you and your grandmother have some common literary preferences.” Thomas roared.
Nicolas approached Thomas and snatched the note from his hand. “I’m glad you find this amusing. Perhaps you’ve forgotten that we are doing all this on behalf of the King.” He stalked to the window and stared down at the courtyard below, clutching the note in his fist.
He’d thought he had her eating out of the palm of his hand.
It had taken enormous will not to kiss her when she’d looked at him so expectantly last eve. He’d left the room burning for her, certain that he’d be rewarded for his efforts with her company today. Not to mention her heightened desire.
Instead he got a trunk full of books.
He cared not what his grandmother read, nor to learn any more about her. What he already knew was more than enough. He needed to spend time with Anne. Alone. He needed to sate the untamable hunger he had for her. Clearly, it was beginning to seriously cloud his judgment. She was occupying his waking thoughts and, last night, his erotic dreams.
As soon as he’d received the books and the note, he’d gone to find Anne. Even went so far as to go to her private rooms, but was stopped by the somber servant, Vincent, who informed him that the Comtesse never allowed anyone to disturb the sisters when they were sequestered in their rooms writing.
“Oh, come now, Nicolas. Allow me to enjoy your misstep. You make so few.” Thomas pulled another book from the trunk. “Are you going to read any of these?”
“Put the damned books down. What success have you had?” he snapped. “Have you obtained any information from Camille?”
Little Red Writing Page 3
