Invitation to Passion

by Bronwen Evans

  Slowly, don’t scare her. “That’s bold, even for you.”

  “Lady Denning owes me a favor. We won’t be disturbed. And since your wife doesn’t appear to want to be near you, I’m more than content to offer comfort.”

  As if on automation, he offered, “It would be my pleasure, sweeting.”

  With a smile, like a gambler who had just won at high stakes, she glided off, leaving Richard decidedly unsettled. Anthony was soon by his side.

  “Why the frown?”

  “The more I observe her actions, the more I think Sarah is guilty.” He glanced at his twin. “How could I have been so sadly lacking in judgment?”

  It was Rufus who replied. “The first woman I loved stuck a knife deep between two of my ribs and laughed as she did so.” He took a large gulp of his drink. “Men tend to think with their cocks instead of their brains when it comes to beautiful women. I’ve learned it’s far better to love what’s inside a woman rather than desire the beauty on the outside. It’s a camouflage that can hide a myriad of evil.”

  The men nodded. “She wants me to meet her upstairs.” He turned to Rufus. “Since I’m now far more suspicious of the female sex, can you ensure Stephen stays with Madeline? I don’t trust Sarah or Timothy. Tell Madeline what is afoot.”

  “Be careful. Vipers strike without warning and if I let anything happen to you, my sister will cut my balls off.” Rufus didn’t have to say it, but Richard was warmed by his concern.

  He hesitated before leaving the ballroom. “Part of me hopes she’s simply after a romp, and that Timothy is the killer. So, while I’m gone, Rufus, keep an eye on Chesterton. We still don’t know who organized Charles’s demise.”

  Anthony complained, “I’m sick of all this skulking around. Let me have a few moments alone with Chesterton and I’ll learn the truth.”

  The men laughed at Anthony’s disgust of the cat and mouse game they were playing. Rufus patted him on the back. “It may well come to that, my friend. But to abuse a Marquess without proof will not endear you to the ton. Best we exhaust all other avenues first.”

  “Speaking of avenues, if you excuse me, gentlemen, I have a liaison to attend.”

  With that Richard slipped away from the crowded ballroom and climbed the stairs, his heart heavy thinking of the task ahead. If Sarah was innocent, he was playing with a pregnant woman’s heart, and he would feel the guilt for years. However, if she had murdered her husband, he’d still feel guilty. He should have stopped her wedding to Charles and married her. He had known she was simply honoring her father’s wishes.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Dear Madeline Knight,

  Let me assure you immediately that I have no plans to marry in the immediate future. I’m not sure where you got this idea from, but be at ease.

  As to terminating our friendship, I was merely being a gentleman by offering to let you out of your promise to write to me, as it was given when you were a still a child. It has not gone unnoticed that my friend is blossoming into a beautiful young woman. Soon I shall be forgotten, as many beaus will fight for your favors and eventually your hand in marriage. My only consolation is that as you are only seven and ten, I shall have the joy of your friendship for a few years yet.

  Your friend always,

  Richard

  Once upstairs the music faded as he moved down the corridor counting doors. At the pre-arranged bedchamber, he stopped and he let his eyes sweep the corridor before he slipped inside.

  The room was dimly lit with one candle and a banked fire. He waited just inside the door until his eyes adjusted. A rustle of fabric alerted him to Sarah’s presence.

  “I wasn’t sure you’d come. I wasn’t sure you wanted me enough. I remember waiting for you at my wedding. I half expected you to ride in and save me, but it seemed you didn’t love me enough.” Richard fixed his gaze in the direction of Sarah’s muted tones. He stepped toward to where she stood at the end of the large four-poster bed, bracing himself for the role of lover he had to play.

  “I regret that. I should have stopped your wedding to Charles.”

  She laughed gaily. “Why?” She shook her head. “Things have evolved as they should have. I’m the widow of a Marquess, and I could be carrying the heir.”

  “Indeed. You intrigue me, my sweet. What is it you wanted to show me?”

  She moved to meet him as he made his way to stand in front of the fireplace. In light of the flames, he noted the sheer silk wrap she wore. She caught his stare and with a seductive smile, slipped the garment from her shoulders. He was not surprised that the sight failed to arouse him. Not so long ago, he’d known intimately every inch of her beautiful body, yet now all he wanted was Maddy.

  Her breasts were apple sized, not large, but they were pert and her nipples peaked under his stare. He roamed lower over her perfectly curved waist, his eye immediately drawn to her midriff, where he was surprised to note her stomach looked as flat as it had ever been. He mentally did his sums; she should now be almost four months pregnant if it was his child. A spark of hope engulfed him and he must have let his joy show on his face because Sarah took his hand, saying, “You always did love my body. You thought my skin was as soft as silk.” She placed his hand on her breast.

  He fought off his automatic recoil and left it where she’d placed it. He’d always had a man’s healthy sexual urge, and sharing intimacies was as necessary as breathing. He’d also found the emotional connection with his lovers more than satisfying, hence the reason why he rarely used courtesans.

  But now his heart was full of Maddy and the idea of making love to Sarah, even though she was a stunningly attractive woman, turned his stomach.

  With absolute certainty, he knew he did not want Sarah ever again. But images of Maddy beneath him in his bed, the way she tasted, her loud, satisfied moans when he moved within her, saw him grow hard.

  It was unfortunate that at that precise moment Sarah’s hand rubbed the front of his breeches. “I see you remember how good we were together. Charles never satisfied me in the way you did and I’m sure it must be the same with Madeline.”

  Before he could think of a reply, her arms wrapped round his neck, and she pushed her naked body against his, rubbing herself up and down his length like a cat.

  Christ, how far was he expected to go? He’d thought he could instigate a slow seduction to ascertain the truth they needed. There was nothing slow about where Sarah was heading.

  He felt her hands fumble with his cravat as her lips met his and her tongue snaked its way into his mouth. His jacket and waistcoat quickly followed and he was beginning to panic. How was he to slow this seduction down enough to get the information he needed from her?

  “What’s wrong, lover?”

  Richard sent his hands down her back to grip her buttocks, intending to lift her away. But she wrapped her legs around his hips and he had no choice but to cup her buttocks and hold her against him.

  #

  Meanwhile, Christopher had sidled up to Madeline, and all eyes had turned her way. Good. This could only make Richard’s pretense of renewing his relationship with Sarah seem more convincing.

  “It seems you’ve had quite enough of your husband this night.”

  She knew exactly what Christopher was talking about. “I assume you are referring to the mark on my husband’s face.”

  “I would think you could not afford the slightest indiscretion, since everyone was watching your marriage with such interest.” When Madeline sent him a sharp glance, he smiled warily and added, “However, if you look closely you will note there is someone missing from the room along with your husband. Gossip is rife.”

  As the two of them continued to converse, the crowd seemed to move in closer and closer, obviously trying to hear what they were saying to each other. If it wasn’t enough for society to think that Richard was still having an affair with Sarah, now they were assuming she had taken Mr. Hindsworth as her lover. Half the women there would most likely envy her, for he w
as the best-looking man in the room. His jet-black hair was swept off his face and his blue grey eyes seemed to bore straight into your soul. Tonight, rather than being wolfish in appearance, he had the look of a heartbroken poet. The crowd in the ballroom was now only too willing to believe that Madeline was consoling him, for he didn’t pay the slightest attention to any of the other females in the room. He focused solely on Madeline. For just one second, she wished that she could confide in him, so that he didn’t think she was weakly putting up with a husband who was straying. But the fewer people who knew about Charles’s death, the better.

  “Do you think you had better go and find your husband before all of the guests decide to play find-the-lovers?”

  She didn’t need anyone to go and find Richard for she knew exactly where he was. For the first time in her life, she hoped he was with Sarah. She hoped he was gaining all her secrets and that Sarah was letting down her guard and would somehow reveal the truth. They needed to find out who had killed Charles and soon too, before the whole of society thought they merely had a marriage of convenience.

  “Would you like me to go and find him for you?” he whispered in her ear.

  “No”, Madeline murmured. “Thank you, but there is no need to go looking for Richard. I’m quite sure I know where he is.”

  She could see by the look on Christopher’s face that he couldn’t understand why she was taking this situation so calmly. “There is no point in making a scene. I will deal with my husband when we get home”.

  He shrugged. “As you wish,” and then he offered her his arm. “Can I have the honor of this dance then?”

  She looked around the room at all the faces staring at them and decided to put on a show. If word of this got back to Sarah it would only strengthen their cause and make her less suspicious of Richard. She nodded her head regally and took Christopher’s offered arm.

  #

  The action in the bedroom was building up like a geyser ready to blow.

  Richard didn’t know how else to convince Sarah that his marriage to Madeline was not to his liking, except to show his enthusiasm for her seduction. There was no way he could make love to Sarah, and yet, by God, that that is what she was wanting, her nakedness and sultry caresses a clear indication no man could miss.

  Sarah was beginning to sense his hesitation and that would not be good. He took her lips in a bruising kiss and walked her slowly towards the bed, lowering her down on to the silken sheets. He sat down on the end of the bed and pretended to be taking his boots off. Think man, how to question her? She came to sit beside him, her hands sliding round him and going to the placard of his trousers. This was quickly heading into the eye of the storm. Just then there came a knock at the door, a heavy, persistent knock.

  Before either of them could reply, the door flew open and Anthony burst into the room, slamming the door behind him.

  “I can’t believe you would do this to Maddy, brother. Especially as your wife is downstairs and the whole of the ton is watching this drama unfold.”

  Sarah had pulled the sheet up over herself to hide her nakedness and she looked warily at Richard.

  “This is none of your business, brother so why don’t you turn round and close the door after you when you leave?”

  Anthony moved over to the bed and picked up Richard’s shirt and waistcoat and jacket and threw them at him.

  “No. I’m taking you back downstairs and you are going to stop this silliness. I won’t let you disgrace this family or Madeline. Think of Rufus; he is your best friend and Madeline’s brother. What do you think he would do if he found out what you were doing up here?”

  “I’m not concerned with what Rufus thinks; he is not my keeper. If not for his interference, I wouldn’t have had to marry Madeline in the first place.”

  “If I have to drag you out of here naked and dress you myself, I will.” Anthony threw Sarah a look of disgust and addressed her. “Once I take Richard out of here, I suggest you get dressed and go home to my house. This is not to continue. You are not to have an affair with my brother.”

  By this time Richard had his clothes back on, and Anthony was trying to tie his cravat for him.

  Sarah finally roused herself to say, “You are not going to let your brother order you round like this, are you?”

  “Perhaps it is for the best tonight. Anthony’s right, we risk the ton’s censure.” Richard said, “This is not the right time, nor place.”

  “Well, when is the right time and place? I need you, Richard. I can’t go on without you, with the stress of Charles’s death and my pregnancy. I need you!” She crawled to the end of the bed and looked at him with tears in her eyes. “Let’s go to my house. It was only the kitchen that was destroyed. Why don’t we meet there, please? Even if it’s only to talk.”

  He turned his back and gave Anthony a secret smile. “Why don’t you send me a note and I will meet you at your convenience.”

  She nodded her head enthusiastically. “I’ll look forward to it.” She got out of bed with the sheet wrapped around her and approached him. She put her hand to his cheek and rose up on tiptoes and kissed his lips. “Soon, my love, soon we will be together. And nothing,” she scowled at Anthony, “and no one, will stop us.”

  With that, Richard and his brother slipped out of the room and made their way back down the stairs, Richard completing his dress as they went.

  “Thank God, you came,” Richard said to his twin. “I wasn’t sure how far I was going to have to go.”

  “How far did you want to go?”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  “It was looking pretty cozy in there. Are you sure that you still don’t have any feelings for Sarah?”

  “No. The one thing I do realize now is I do not have any feelings at all for Sarah anymore.”

  “Good. However, I think she is now convinced you are unhappy in your marriage. It may make her open up if you hoodwink her by explaining how trapped you feel. You know what to say, and don’t forget to bemoan the fact there is no solution. She might offer up one. Next time, let’s do less kissing and more questioning.”

  Richard laughed at his brother. “That was the idea. How is Madeline? I should collect her and take her home now. We have given the ton enough entertainment for one night, and if Sarah is the killer, then Maddy could be in danger.”

  The two men entered the ballroom together and all heads swiveled their way. Richard looked round the room trying to find his wife. He found her deep in conversation with Mr. Hindsworth.

  Their heads were close together as they earnestly conversed. The pair made a striking couple, both of them with dark hair and youthful looks, and Hindsworth had his hand on her arm, a signal of familiarity. Hindsworth glanced up and their eyes met in a stony glare. For one fleeting moment, Richard thought he saw something deeply disturbing within Hindsworth’s eyes, something that disturbed him greatly. It was a look of utter hatred. Perhaps it wasn’t such a coincidence after all that Hindsworth had been able to step in and save Madeline from Chesterton. Did Hindsworth have an interest in his wife? A wave of possessive jealous flared in Richard’s heart. And just what was Hindsworth’s interest in his wife?

  Just then, Madeline raised her head and saw him. A look of worry flashed across her features, but he quickly nodded his head. The frown relaxed and her face broke into a beautiful smile that took Richard’s breath away. But then she quickly remembered she was supposed to be angry with him. She deliberately turned her back on him. Richard hated how they had to put on this show just for the ton. He hated them thinking that he and his wife were estranged, and that he was the sort of man who could be so cruel as to have a liaison right in front of his wife.

  He made his way casually across the ballroom pausing to greet some of the few people who were not smirking behind his back. When he reached Madeline’s side, he took her hand off Hindsworth’s arm and placed it on his.

  “Mr. Hindsworth, you seem to be consoling my wife quite readily lately,
” Richard acknowledged him with a polite nod of his head. “Thank you for taking good care of her. Madeline, it is time we left. If you can drag yourself away from Mr. Hindsworth long enough to say your goodbyes, I’ve summoned the carriage.”

  Richard noted the firming of Hindsworth’s jaw and how his hands formed into fists.

  “If you paid your wife more attention, I wouldn’t have to step in and offer her my assistance quite so often.” Mr. Hindsworth’s words were spoken roughly.

  Richard heard Madeline’s gasp.

  “How I treat my wife is none of your business, Hindsworth. Perhaps I have been remiss to let you pay so much attention to her.”

  Hindsworth said, “Better me than someone else. There are plenty of men here who think your wife is very attractive”.

  “I am quite aware of that.” Richard gave Madeline a gentle push towards the far door. “I’m very possessive of what’s mine. You’ve been warned. I won’t warn again.”

  Madeline looked at him in confusion. All eyes followed their departure.

  “Fabulous performance, Richard. However, won’t it work against us if you start acting too husbandly, and Sarah sees or hears about it.”

  “Bugger Sarah. Hindsworth seems overly attentive to you, my love. Perhaps you are enjoying the fact that I’m leaving you on your own so often”.

  “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “He is quite a handsome man, even if he is a young impertinent pup.”

  Madeline’s chin lifted stubbornly. “You can’t possibly be jealous. He is the man who saved me from Chesterton. You should be grateful to him.”

  “I’m grateful, but not that grateful.” Richard’s annoyance grew at Maddy’s seeming defense of Hindsworth.

  “I gather things with Sarah didn’t go as planned.”

  Richard signed and ran a hand through his hair. “You could say that.”