He spun away from temptation, clenching his fists so he wouldn’t rip down the thin cloth separating them. He remembered now that the mirrors were set up so a gentleman could view the proceedings, but he’d been away so long, he’d honestly forgotten until he saw her on display.
Lust blasted through him, nearly drowning out the promise he made to delay consummation of their marriage. He feared if they stared at each other even a moment longer, he would finish stripping her and take her then and there.
Her steady regard when she caught him staring was burned into his brain, but he was afraid his insatiable hunger for her would scare her away if he set it free. He dare not take the risk. He tapped his fingers together one at a time, using the rhythm to distract himself, trying to remember why he thought waiting to consummate their vows was such a good idea.
While the gaggle of women circled her and stripped her of clothing, Diana wished for her knives, hating to feel so vulnerable. Despite being practically naked, she missed Gabriel’s comforting presence.
The women took measurement after measurement, poking and prodding until she wanted to scream. When the proprietress presented her with hoops, Diana had enough. “No hoops. I won’t be trapped in such a ridiculous contraption if I need to defend myself.”
The proprietress looked completely baffled. “Nonsense. Without the hoops, the dress won’t fit correctly.”
Diana stubbornly crossed her arms. “You’re a dressmaker. The dress will fit according to your design. No hoops. No bustle.”
After an initial hesitation, the girls gathered the extra material of the dress and created a narrow, graceful fall of fabric in the back. The proprietress stood back, studying her with a critical eye, and nodded. “You were right. The style suits you far better. It gives you a sleek look that the others won’t be able to duplicate. We’ll just need to take in the slack a bit, and you’ll be free to go.”
But as she watched them tuck and tighten, Diana began shaking her head. “It’s much too tight. It will attract too much attention.”
“Oui.” The proprietress cocked her head in curiosity. “Correct. A dress is created to draw attention to the wearer.”
Which was the last thing she wanted. “I’m married. I have no need to draw more attention to myself.”
A small smile played about the dressmaker’s mouth, and she raised a brow. “Exactement! It is for your husband that you do this.”
Diana blushed and fell silent, surprised at how she longed to look nice for Gabriel.
The proprietress took her silence as acceptance and began humming as she went about pinning the other dresses. After another twenty minutes passed, Diana was ready to grab her clothes and walk out. She glanced at her image in the mirror…and froze when her gaze collided with Gabriel’s. Her breath stalled at the reverence in his expression. He stood with his legs splayed, his wavy hair in disarray, like a rogue ready for a night of debauchery. Pure hunger deepened his blue eyes to cobalt. Her stomach fluttered and every inch of her exposed skin felt scorched as he perused her from head to toe. She watched his fingers flex, and she could almost feel them skim along her body.
She took a step closer, drawn to the need shimmering in his expression, when the curtain between them closed abruptly.
“Miss?”
Diana blinked, then blushed at the grand spectacle she’d just made of herself, and obediently turned her body as they directed. Another hour of poking and prodding cooled the impulse to go to him. Anxiety skated down her spine as she redressed, and she took her time, painfully shy at the prospect of facing Gabriel again.
When she emerged from behind the curtain, she spied Gabriel standing near the window, staring out at the bustling street. His tense shoulders stretched the material of his tailored jacket to its limit, his legs spread wide, his presence filling the small space. He resembled a marauder of old, ready to stake claim on whatever he saw. The only thing missing was a cutlass strapped to his hip.
Her daft heart thumped against her ribs as she imagined that focus directed at her. She had to blink a few times to clear the image from her mind. “Gabriel?”
“Ready?” He didn’t turn at her approach, his tone brisk and stripped of all emotions…and any warmth she imagined between them turned to frost.
She immediately missed the other Gabriel, the one who looked at her with such emotion, and she wondered if any of it had been real. Diana glanced at the weapons as they passed, but didn’t ask him to stop, not in his current mood. She took note of the street, intending to visit the next time she came in this direction.
Gabriel kept his distance while they entered the carriage, his touch impersonal as he guided her into the carriage, pulling away the moment she was settled, as if he couldn’t bear to be near her.
Her heart wrenched in her chest, leaving a gaping hole behind. She missed the way he used to linger over her skin, the way he used to hover over her as if reluctant for even the smallest separation.
What had changed?
They were nearly home when she couldn’t hold her silence any longer. “Did I do something wrong?”
“What?” He asked distractedly, never once removing his gaze from the window, as if he couldn’t stand to stare at her. His dismissal wounded her.
“Look at me.” She did not think he would comply, and when he did, she wished he had not. Everything that made him the loving Gabriel had been stripped from his expression until a stranger sat in front of her. The small glow in her chest turned into a lump of coal, smothered under his cold stare. “You’re regretting your decision. I’ll collect my things and be gone by evening.”
His brows lowered, his mouth turning hard. “Absolutely not.”
“You obviously changed your mind and don’t want me here. I’ll not be a burden.” Her throat closed on the words, and it felt like she was losing everything all over again.
“If you try to leave, I will hunt you down and lock you in your room.”
Diana jumped at the growly reply. Speaking only seemed to make him angrier, but she would not allow him to dictate her actions. “I—”
“We spoke vows. Just because you changed your mind does not mean I have.”
Diana blinked in confusion. “I didn’t change my mind. You—”
“What?” He snapped out the one word.
Diana tightened her mouth against the urge to argue further.
He was right.
Neither of them could afford the distraction of becoming involved, not when their lives were at risk. The future she had begun to imagine for them evaporated, and a dull ache spread as the lovely fantasy she’d built for the two of them vanished.
When the carriage drew to a stop, she didn’t wait for him to escort her, but threw the door wide. Without bothering with the steps, she jumped, landing lightly on her feet, and fled inside.
“Diana, wait.”
Ignoring his command, she mounted the stairs swiftly, not allowing herself to be seduced back under his spell. Upon entering her room, she slammed the door behind her, then reached for the lock.
“As ucht de!” For heaven sakes! She’d forgotten there wasn’t one.
“Diana.” He knocked on her door, the wood vibrating against her hands. “Open the door.”
Like a rabbit, her heart thumped so rapidly she went lightheaded. The voice was demanding. He wouldn’t be denied. If he came through that door, he would know how foolish she had been. She couldn’t bear for him to learn that she’s stupidly begun to fall in love with him. “Go away. I have a headache. All the excitement must have been too much for me.”
“Diana…” His voice softened, her name a plea, and she cursed when she felt her resolve beginning to weaken.
Wolf jumped down off the bed, calmly walking toward her and plunking himself in front of the door, becoming the world’s largest doorstop. Even if she wanted to open it, there was no way she could budge his bulk. Wolf watched her with sad eyes, and rested his head on his paws.
“It’s getting l
ate. We’ve had a long day. I’m going to rest a bit before supper.”
The silence on the other side of the door was deafening. She pressed her hand against the wood, wishing she could ease the ache building in her chest and touch him one last time.
“As you wish.” Her insides hollowed out at his softly spoken words.
Diana dropped to her knees next to Wolf. “How could everything go so wrong so quickly?”
He whined, covering his face with his paw, and Diana snorted. She couldn’t read the minds of animals, but frequently caught random images they projected if they felt strongly enough about something. “I don’t understand that man. One moment we’re fine, the next he’s furious.”
Wolf flopped to his side with a grunt. His yellow eyes met hers, and her soul shriveled at the truth in them, and Diana reluctantly nodded. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have allowed him to get so close. It’s much too dangerous.”
Even though she knew it was the right decision, she’d never felt so alone.
Chapter 9
Gabriel strode into his room, yanking on his collar, cursing the colossal mess he’d made of things. One look at Diana’s bare skin, and he’d barely resisted the urge to take her there at the store, be damned if they were caught or not. It was all he could do to shut her out and not give in to the impulse.
He eyed the connecting door to their room, tempted to enter and demand that she listen.
He’d fucked up.
He allowed his emotions to get the better of him, and he’d frightened her.
Women were delicate creatures and needed to be handled with care.
They didn’t like to be pawed at like a whore on the street.
They needed to be wooed and pampered.
In one second of inattention, he’d made a fool of himself, and alienated her so badly she would no longer even speak to him.
He threw his jacket across the bed and groaned at his own idiocy. Needing to clear his head, he headed toward the washstand. He tipped the pitcher, splashed cold water on his face and groped for a towel.
Only to find a pile of soggy strings littered across his floor.
“Hell and damnation.” He un-tucked his shirt and scrubbed his face. He picked up the shredded remains of his towel, easily able to distinguish the work of her demonically clever mutt thanks to the fang marks left behind.
He wanted to grouse, but he knew he deserved much worse.
He stripped off his shirt, plotting ways to win back his wife’s affections.
No matter how much he wanted to go to her, his body flatly refused to obey when he knew she was just beyond that door.
Near a bed.
Possibly on it.
Naked.
One look, one touch and he turned into nothing more than a randy buck, the indifference that had plagued him for years had well and truly vanished.
Needing to get out of the house and clear his head, he dressed quickly and headed toward the stables. He saddled his horse and rode off with one last lingering glance toward Diana’s room, comforted by the glow of her light.
He navigated the streets by memory. Not much had changed in the years he’d been gone. Even the people of the upper crust remained the same. A good portion of them were pretentious snobs, but he was too wealthy for them to snub completely. After his wife died, rumors ran rampant that he had a part in her death, no doubt due to his mother-in-law. Instead of ostracizing him, the scandal had the opposite effect.
People loved juicy gossip.
Riding through the streets, almost by rote, he found himself outside the home of an old friend. He hesitated to knock, wondering how he would be received since he’d disappeared from London over five years ago with scarcely a good-bye to those closest to him. He did not deserve to ask for their help now. He was reining his horse around when the front door opened.
He stiffened, watching his onetime friend tromp down the front steps. The man paused mid-stride when he spotted him. He and Rand had decided to marry the same year and competed for the affections of some of the same women. While his friend had ultimately married his childhood sweetheart, Gabriel fell into Meredith’s trap, and his life became a living hell.
They had since grown apart.
Coming to town had dredged up a lot of old emotions, and he’d forgotten that not all of them were bad.
“Gabriel?” A grin split the man’s face as he rushed forward. His blond hair was perfectly groomed, his clothes fitting him to perfection, though he had gained a few pounds of muscle since Gabriel had last seen him.
Gabriel used to be able to take him in a fair fight, now it appeared they were more evenly matched. He dismounted in time to be engulfed in a giant bear hug, accompanied by a hearty slap on the back for good measure.
“Rand.” Gabriel gripped his friend back just as fiercely.
“Come.” He grabbed Gabriel’s arm, doing his best to drag him up the steps. “Tallie would love to see you again.”
A servant ran forward to take the horse, and Gabriel allowed himself to be pulled into the house. The family mansion was the pinnacle of fashion, having been passed down through the generations. Though stylish, everything was a tad too polished for his taste. He preferred chairs able to hold his weight when he sat on them. A hum of pleasure warmed the pit of his stomach to know Diana preferred his simple tastes.
As soon as the doors closed, Rand set in with the questions. “What have you been up to? When did you get back? How long will you be staying?”
“Rand, let the man get a word in edgewise.” Tallie laughed as she glided down the stairs and engulfed him in her fragrant embrace. Compared to his size, she was a petite angel, despite all her curves. Her dark curls were pulled back in an intricate twist, her kind green eyes softening as they studied him. She leaned back, her voice quiet. “It’s good to see you again.”
Gabriel kissed her proffered cheek. Rand placed his arm around Tallie’s waist and guided them toward the parlor. “Come and sit. Tell us everything.”
His good mood dimmed at their obvious affection for each other, and his resolution firmed. He would have that with Diana. He ignored the spindly chair and leaned against the mantle. “Emilie and I are in town for a few weeks.”
“You hated town. You wouldn’t come back unless…what happened?” Tallie stiffened, concern darkening her eyes. She leaned into Rand, and he automatically gathered her close.
“I’ve remarried, and I need your help.” Pride straightened his spine. He might have messed up selecting his first wife, but he’d chosen wisely with Diana. He refused to believe otherwise.
“Oh, Gabriel.” Instead of congratulations, compassion lit Tallie’s eyes.
Gabriel frowned, his protective instincts roaring through him. He needed them to understand that Diana was his now. He would do whatever it took to protect her. “No, nothing like that. She saved Emilie’s life. Diana is…unique, and it’s landed her in a spot of trouble.”
If she hadn’t been in a bind, she would never have agreed to marry him, and the knowledge was a blow to his ego.
Tallie’s eyes widened, misconstruing his words, and Gabriel’s mouth went dry, struck dumb at the image of what Diana would look like swelled with his child. Not that she’d allow him anywhere near her after this disastrous day. He swallowed hard before he could speak. “Not that. For close to a year, Diana has been chased across England by a man who calls himself a pastor. The bastard exploits his position and has been blackmailing people. Diana caught him in the act, found proof of his misdeeds. He now claims she’s a thief and a witch, and wants her under his protection. He’s obsessed with her.” He rubbed his chin wearily. “I doubt she’ll survive to stand trial. Williams is a vindictive bastard. He will find out that I am protecting her and will retaliate. I want to make it difficult for him to abscond with my wife without raising an alarm.”
“Gabriel—”
Rand grabbed Tallie’s hand, cutting her off, and they exchanged a look. “What do you need?”
<
br /> “That’s it?” Tension crept through his gut.
Tallie leaned into her husband. “She must be someone very special for you to go to such lengths to protect. What would you have of us?”
“The hardest part was getting her to agree to marriage. I want to introduce her to society. Since she is my wife, once she’s established, her disappearance would cause a stir.”
Tallie narrowed her eyes. “Is that why you married her?”
“Tallie!” Rand stood and held his hands out as if he would physically toss her over his shoulder and carry her from the room.
She shot to her feet and waved her husband off. “Hush. We lost him once to a harpy. I want to know that this Diana didn’t trick him into marriage.”
Gabriel glared down at them, wanting to leave them with no doubt that Diana was his. “She didn’t trick me.” Gabriel snorted at the very thought. “I would bet my fortune that, if given half an opportunity, she would never have married me in the first place.” He should feel remorse for trapping her into marriage, but he refused to feel guilty about protecting her. Rand and Tallie would understand how special Diana was when they met her.
“If society accepts her, it will be harder for the pastor to prove his case. It’s the best line of defense, one that should be impossible for him to penetrate.”
“You want our help to launch her.” Rand slipped his hand around his wife’s waist.
“I know it is a lot to expect—”
“Nonsense.” Tallie practically rubbed her hands together at the prospect. “When do you want to start?”
The constriction coiled around his chest eased. Diana was smart and wily. If he didn’t do something soon, she would slip through his grasp, and he wouldn’t be able to stop her.
“We’ll be out riding tomorrow morning at Hyde Park. I’ll introduce you then.”
Diana paced her room as the walls began to close in on her inch by painful inch. Needing air, she thrust open the window and sucked in a deep breath. The claustrophobia threatening to suffocate her slowly retracted its claws from along her spine.
Druid Temptation (A Druid Quest Novel Book 2) Page 12
