“Hmm, probably so,” he said with a rakish grin.
Avis strode away from him, still looking for Emory, who had managed to disappear into the crowd. The musicians finished tuning and the dancing was set to begin. Avis moved off the dance floor, glaring over at Selby. He irritated her in so many ways she couldn’t begin to count them.
She finally located Emory in a crowd of men, which meant she wouldn’t get the chance to talk to him until later. Everything was fine. It was only a small change to her plan. She could talk to him later. Strolling out of the room, she headed down the hall to her father’s—no, Watton’s—study.
As she sat in the overlarge chair, memories of watching her father working here overwhelmed her. She glanced down at her arm and the faint jagged scar still visible after almost twenty years. Looking over at the raised hearth, she wondered if the servants had ever cleaned all the blood off the bricks. All she’d wanted was a hug from her father. Instead, she had this constant reminder that business had been more important to him than her love.
She shoved those dreadful thoughts away, picked up a piece of paper, and dipped the quill into the ink. After penning the note that would seal her future, she sanded it and waved the paper to dry.
It was done. She would give herself up to the passion she had inside of her and allay her curiosity. The only thing left to do was get the message to him before midnight.
After returning to the ballroom, she scanned the room for him. She found Emory only two feet from the man she wanted to ignore. While Emory didn’t appear to notice her stare, Selby naturally did. It seemed the wretch was spying on her tonight, though she had no idea why. Instead of dwelling on Selby any further, she waved a footman over.
“Yes, miss?”
“Bring this to the man by the terrace door,” she whispered, pointing toward Emory.
The man hesitated.
“Over there,” Avis said, again pointing to Emory.
“Ah, yes, miss.”
She couldn’t watch. Instead, she turned and walked toward Jennette knowing her plan was in motion.
Banning continued to make inane conversation with Billingsworth’s friends, wondering when Avis would try to contact the man again. He hoped he had forestalled her first attempt when he jostled her on the dance floor. Letting Billingsworth make a fool out of her…or worse was not an option. Banning would do everything in his power to make certain Avis didn’t give herself to that letch.
“I have great news to announce tonight at midnight,” Billingsworth said to his small crowd of admirers.
“About what?” one of the men asked.
“My latest novel. Walking with Emily is going to be a huge success.”
Banning smiled along with the rest of the group but wondered exactly how Billingsworth’s unpublished novel would be a success when he couldn’t find a publisher. Banning watched as a footman headed toward the group with a note on a silver salver. He’d seen Avis talking to the same footman and could only assume she meant the missive for Billingsworth. Banning moved slightly closer to him, ready to grab the note if necessary.
“Sir, I believe this is for you,” the footman said to Billingsworth.
“Actually, if the note is from Miss Copley, it would be for me,” Banning said with all the arrogance an earl could possess.
The footman turned toward Banning with a bow. “My mistake, my lord.”
“Are you certain, Selby? Perhaps the lady had an assignation with me in mind,” Billingsworth said with a coarse laugh.
The men in the group chortled, except Trey and Somerton who both gave Banning curious looks.
He slipped the paper into his jacket pocket. “It is a note regarding some business I am supposed to have with her cousin, Lord Watton.”
“Of course. The Ice Maiden wouldn’t have anything to do with assignations when she can keep herself warm with her words,” Billingsworth said, raising chuckles from his toadies.
The urge to strangle the man forced Banning’s hands into fists. How could the bastard talk so poorly about her when he greedily took her money and pretended to be her friend? And Banning hated how people called her the Ice Maiden, especially since he’d coined the term for her. But that had happened a very long time ago.
He moved away from Billingsworth’s group, found a secluded corner and opened the note.
Meet me in the study at midnight…A
He would certainly do just that. He crumpled the paper back into his pocket and checked the time—quarter past eleven.
“Lord Selby, have you forgotten our dance?” the tinny voice of Miss Olivia Roebuck sounded from behind him.
The woman would not leave him alone. She had been after him the entire Season. Banning turned and faced the young woman. Her blonde hair styled into a halo of curls, and her big blue eyes looked angelic, but he knew better. Several times in the past few months, she had tried to get him into a compromising position. He only agreed to dance with her tonight because the girl’s mother pressed him into it.
“Of course, Miss Roebuck. I believe this is our quadrille.”
“There is a waltz coming up next if you would prefer to wait?”
“No,” he said a bit too roughly. “I would love to dance with you now.” And be done with it.
He only prayed the quadrille wouldn’t last too long. He had to keep his unexpected appointment with Avis.
Miss Roebuck droned on about some new on-dit as they walked to the dance floor, but Banning kept his eyes on his prey. Avis stood in the corner with his sister, talking about something, and he doubted it was the latest gossip.
As soon as the dance ended, Banning returned the pouting girl to her mother and searched for a corner to pass the next few moments. His gaze landed on Avis as she stood across the room. She leveled him a glare before averting her eyes to the dance floor. He loved the way her cheeks turned rosy when he stared at her. As the minutes passed, he wondered what he would say to her. Some measure of the truth, but just how much? He’d never told anyone what he’d seen Billingsworth do to those girls all those years ago.
Miss Reynard had suggested lying to Avis, and it might just come to that. He skirted the crush on the dance floor and reached the hallway just in time to see the door to the study close behind her. Standing outside the room, he stared at the door.
A rush of apprehension overwhelmed him. He suddenly felt as though he could be making the biggest mistake of his life. But he had to stop her. He’d failed the others. He would not fail Avis.
Forcing the unease away, he slipped inside.
Avis turned at the sound. Her mouth dropped open, and her amber eyes widened in surprise or shock, he wasn’t sure which.
“Wh—What are you doing here?” she sputtered.
Banning smiled. “Were you expecting someone else?”
He hadn’t thought her eyes could get any bigger, but they did. She backed herself against the large, cherry desk.
“You must leave—now!” she exclaimed, pointing to the door.
“I cannot do that, Avis.”
“Selby, get out of here!”
Slowly he advanced on her until he stood only inches away. Her chest rose and fell in quick succession emphasizing her full breasts, which she seldom exposed to this degree.
“I’m expecting someone,” she cried. “You must leave before he arrives.”
A loud cheer from the ballroom turned both their heads toward the door.
“He won’t be coming.”
“Who?” she whispered, looking up at him.
“Emory Billingsworth.”
Chapter Four
She slapped her hands down on the desk behind her as if to brace herself. “What are you talking about, Selby?”
Why couldn’t Billingsworth meet her? There had to be a good reason. Thank God, he had actually listened to Jennette’s gossipy prattle at breakfast about Lady Hythe.
“That cheer was the ton’s congratulations on Mr. Billingsworth and Lady Hythe’s engagement. He wo
n’t be coming in here.”
“His engagement?” she whispered. She blinked as if attempting to keep tears at bay. “Did he send you in his place, to inform me?”
“No.”
“Then how did you…?” Her face blanched with comprehension.
He held up the note she’d written until she grabbed it out of his grip. “How did you get this?”
“I took it from the footman.”
She pushed him away and walked around the desk. Leaning over the desk, she stared at him before saying, “You took my private message and read it?”
“Hardly private, Avis. There wasn’t even a name on it.”
“Regardless, you shouldn’t have read my note,” she retorted. “Besides, his name wasn’t on the note. How did you know it was for Mr. Billingsworth?”
Damn good question. How did he know? “I made the assumption and thought to save you the embarrassment of asking a newly betrothed man to meet you alone. Highly scandalous, Avis, and so unlike you.”
He sat down in the chair by the desk. Her emerald gown shimmered in the candlelight. But it wasn’t the lovely dress that caught his attention. Her light brown hair shined with burnished gold strands, highlighting her amber eyes and heart-shaped face. His gaze moved lower, admiring the amount of snowy skin exposed to him. For a small woman she had ample curves everywhere a woman should.
“Now what did you wish to speak with Billingsworth about? A problem with your current story? Did you need him to assist you?”
“It is none of your concern.” She stood upright and crossed her arms over her chest.
Slowly, Banning stood and then leaned in closer to her until only a desk kept them apart. Avis stood her ground, but her breathing increased.
“I’m quite certain I can help you,” he whispered with a ghost of a smile.
Her mouth dropped open. “Oh my God! Did Jennette tell you?” Her voice raised an octave. “Did she?”
Heat crept across his cheeks. He felt like a damned schoolboy accused of cheating on his exams. His sister had told him nothing of any consequence, but he could not tell Avis about his conversation with Miss Reynard. “No. I overheard my sister and Miss Reynard talking.”
She paused as if taking in his words. “What exactly did you hear?”
“I believe you decided to have a love affair with Mr. Billingsworth. I’m here to stop you from making the biggest mistake of your life.”
Her face grew pallid. “This is none of your concern, Selby.”
“I’m making it my concern.”
“Why?”
Banning sighed. “Emory Billingsworth is the worst kind of man—”
“Unlike you,” she interrupted. “You’re simply an angel, are you not?” Her eyes, normally a soft amber, hardened as she glared at him.
“I never claimed to be an angel, Avis. But nothing I have ever done can compare to Billingsworth. He will rip your reputation to shreds. Why? Because he shall think it a great joke.”
“I don’t believe you. I have known Mr. Billingsworth for the past three years, and he has been nothing but a gentleman to me. Unlike you.”
Banning clenched his fists. “Avis, he is not the man you think he is.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“I was at Eton when he was there. I know things about him that he has been able to keep quiet—things that could ruin him if they became public.”
“That was years ago when he was barely a man. I would be surprised to find a man who didn’t have some slight scandal to his name, even you,” she whispered the last two words.
“Avis,” Banning said, trying to contain his frustration. “You cannot do this. At least not with him, think of Lady Hythe. She would be devastated if she discovered her betrothed with another woman.”
She closed her eyes and stood still. After what seemed like minutes, though in truth was only a few seconds, she opened them again. “Very well then. I shall have to find another man.”
“No!” The words tumbled out before he could stop them. “If you want someone else, choose me.”
Damn! Where had that come from?
He walked slowly around the desk with his fingers sliding across the smooth wood. He took two more strides and then drew her against his chest.
“Let me go, you—”
“Dear God, please stop calling me an oaf.”
Her lips twitched. “I will not do this with you, Selby. And you know why.”
His head dipped toward her ear. “That was eight years ago, Avis. And I was a fool.”
“No. Not you,” she said with a slight catch to her voice. She pulled out of his arms, walking only a step backward before she stopped.
“I wasn’t?” He’d felt like one back then. Kissing the Ice Maiden had been a prank, but the joke had been on him when he realized he might have lost control if she hadn’t backed away.
She poked her finger at his chest. “Yes, you were a fool. And I was an even greater one for thinking I was anything but a wager to you. Melt the Ice Maiden and win the bet. I won’t be that foolish again.”
“I never meant to hurt you.”
“Well you did and on more than one occasion.” She walked toward the door. “I believe we should leave.”
“One kiss.”
She whirled around with a swish of green silk. “What?”
“One kiss to convince you that I am the man you want. If after one kiss you decide not to accept me, I shall leave you in peace. And I won’t speak of your plans.”
Her face screwed into a multitude of emotions as she contemplated his request. “That’s all it would take to be rid of you—one kiss?” she asked hesitantly.
“That is it.” Say yes…say yes, he silently urged as he walked closer to her. He wanted her kiss like a drowning man wanted saving.
“Very well then. Let’s get this over with.”
Every seduction skill he had ever learned would be needed for this one moment. With exacting precision, he drew her against his chest. Slowly, he lowered his head until his lips touched hers with the briefest of contact. It took every ounce of self-control not to drag her even closer to him. Instead, he sucked her lower lip into his mouth and slid his tongue across it. She whimpered—one battle won.
He pressed her closer to him and deepened the kiss. The light scent of her jasmine perfume infused him. He wanted her. Damn. He wanted her more now than he had eight years ago. Touching her warm skin and tasting the hint of wine on her tongue sent his pulse thrumming.
Her whimper turned into a soft moan as she responded to him. One more battle down but the war was far from over. He skimmed his hands down her back and squeezed her derrière tightly against his rising erection. She started to draw away but he refused her. He bent his head over her mouth again and played with her tongue until she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her warm body closer to him. This time, he moaned.
His lips trailed a path to her ear. “Say yes, Avis,” he whispered. “Say yes.”
“One night, Selby.”
Banning pulled his head back—one night? “A month wouldn’t be enough time to teach you everything you want to know.”
“One week—”
He cut off her protests with another passionate kiss. Lifting his head, he said, “Three weeks.”
“One—”
Again, he kissed her until he hoped her protests would cease.
“Two,” she said breathlessly. “That’s my final offer.” She thrust out of his arms and walked unsteadily toward the door. “Call on me to finalize the details tomorrow,” she said with a quiver to her voice. The door shut quietly behind her.
What the bloody hell had he done?
He was only supposed to prevent her from having an affair with Billingsworth, not exchange places with the man. Banning pressed his palms against the desk. He had made the situation even worse. The quiet, reserved woman he had known for years was suddenly doing everything in her power to ruin herself, and he was helping her.
&
nbsp; It wasn’t as if he needed a lover. Any number of married or widowed women in that very ballroom would jump at the chance to be his mistress. But with Avis, he was playing with fire. There was every possibility that someone would discover their liaison and as an innocent, she would be ruined. If he didn’t marry her to spare her name, he’d be an utter bastard. Not that he would ever let that happen. If this insanity was ever discovered, he would live with the consequences.
He thought about the word consequences for a moment, weighed it in his mind, and released a heavy sigh. It wasn’t too late to stop this madness. But no matter how hard he tried to think about consequences and logic and morals, he knew one thing for certain. He wanted this. Consequences be damned. He wanted Avis. If someone discovered them, he would marry her.
Marriage to Avis…he waited for the usual aversion to strike him. And yet, it didn’t. After years of avoiding marriage, he’d expected to feel repugnance, not the quiet, warming calm that spread over him.
Marry Avis Copley?
He slid into the chair behind the desk and examined the idea from all sides, searching for flaws. Other than the possible exception of her hating him, he couldn’t find any fault. And after that passionate kiss, he was inclined to think she didn’t hate him as much as she professed.
He did need to wed. That had been the plan for this Season, after all—find a bride. Because of their past history and the fact that she was Jennette’s best friend, he had never considered her a candidate for his wife. He tapped his fingers on the desk. She wasn’t a silly girl like Miss Roebuck or Lady Anne. Avis had a maturity and intelligence he admired. She had her writing to keep her busy when he became embroiled with the estates or Parliament. She had a body any man would love to keep in bed for days.
This was truly a mad idea.
Still, she was the daughter of a viscount, wealthy in her own right, and from an excellent family with no scandals. She would have met all of his father’s requirements for a wife. Except she had no interest in marrying…anyone. The thought made him smile.
He so loved a challenge. Women had thrown themselves at him since he was an adolescent. Most just wanted the title and money he brought to a marriage, while Avis had no desire for either. The other women were easy conquests. But in all the years he’d been with women only Avis rejected him. Only Avis would respond to him with cutting remarks. Only Avis argued with him in front of any number of people. Only Avis could respond to his kisses and make him forget everything, including his own control.
Christie Kelley Page 3
