by Dayna Quince
“Fake it. If you want your happy-ever-after we need to trick all these fools into thinking you’re as innocent as the spring rain,” Lydia said.
“I am—” Lilly froze and blushed even more.
“I knew it,” Lydia scolded as she drew back the curtain.
Olivia’s jaw dropped then snapped shut. She grabbed Lilly’s arm. “Tell me everything!”
“No,” Lilly and Lydia said in unison.
“Please, Lilly, what if I never get married?”
Lilly looked at her friend skeptically. Olivia had silky black curls, glittering emerald-green eyes, and sinfully thick lashes. She was unfashionably petite, but men drooled over her curvaceous form. She was the definition of a pocket Venus.
“I find that very unlikely.” As Lilly spoke, a swarm of admirers surrounded them. Lilly remained quiet as Lydia and Olivia bantered playfully with the gentlemen, until the beginning of a waltz could be heard over the hum of the crowd.
“May I have this dance, Lady Lillian?” A gentleman bowed before her. It was Nevil Ostecombe, a country-baron-cum-fortune-hunter, who was a notorious gossip, which earned him many invitations. He was also masterful at fueling rumors, and Lilly had to wonder at his motives. Having no adequate refusal immediately available, she gingerly placed her fingers on his arm. “I would be delighted, Lord Hughes.”
Lilly inwardly cringed as he leered at her, escorting her to the dance floor and placing his hand on her waist.
“Unusually chilly this time of year,” he stated while they began the first turn.
“Is it?” she responded noncommittally.
He twirled her rather recklessly around the floor. The people around her began to blur and the sparkling chandeliers swam in her vision. He was making her awfully dizzy, and as much as she tried to slow them, he only pushed them faster, narrowly missing other couples by a hand’s breadth. All the while, he smiled gleefully down at her as if they were sharing a good joke.
Lilly was truly beginning to feel ill, and it was affecting her good humor.
“May we slow a bit, please?” she asked.
“What?” He practically shouted in her ear.
Thankfully, the buzzing in Lilly’s ears was beginning to drown him out. “I need to stop,” she said hurriedly. “Please stop.”
He swung them to a halt at the side of the dance floor. “You do not look well, my lady.” He was speaking unusually loud again. “I will find you a place to sit and fetch Lady Seavers.”
“Oh no—” Lilly tried to protest, but the room seemed to be tilting to the left.
He pulled her through a side door into a corridor much cooler than the crowded ballroom.
“I just need to sit,” she said as he tugged her to a door that entered into a small sitting room. It was dark except for a dying fire in the grate.
“We should not be here. I must return to the ballroom.” Lilly pulled her arm from his grasp.
“You look quite ill, my lady. Please sit.”
Lilly looked skeptically at the small sofa he indicated. “I think not.”
“Please have a seat, and I will fetch Lady Seavers.” He turned to the door, but instead of leaving, he calmly closed it and turned the key, dropping it in his pocket. “Or as I’d prefer, I can take care of you myself.” He smiled eerily.
“I do not need anyone to take care of me. Give me the key.” Lilly’s motion sickness quickly turned to fear.
“I think not. If I let you leave, you will never know what you missed, and that would truly be a shame.” He stepped toward her. “I know you’re in a delicate position, Lady Lillian.”
“I do not know what you mean, Lord Hughes.”
“You’re in need of a husband who can ignore your past, and I am in need of a wife with a dowry.”
Lilly’s flesh crawled as she moved to put the sofa between them. “Let me leave now,” she demanded.
“I’m sorry, my little dove, but my very generous benefactor instructed me not to do so. Now, if you would please cooperate, we need to be caught quite compromised.”
Lilly paled. “You’re being paid to compromise me?”
“A small sacrifice, I assure you,” he sneered.
Faster than Lilly would have guessed, he lunged at her. Lilly turned to flee. She narrowly escaped his arms as she ran toward two French doors leading out to the gardens.
Chapter 23
Clarissa found Dominic standing alone, watching the swirl of dancing couples with a frown marring his handsome brow.
“My lord!” Clarissa panted dramatically. “Lilly has taken ill, she is asking for you.”
“Where is she?” Dominic scanned the ballroom.
“I escorted her to the library. Here, I will show you.” She took his arm.
Dominic followed willingly. After their arrival, he had left them to meet with some contacts, and when he returned, Lilly had been with her friends talking in an alcove, and then he had watched her on the dance floor before losing track of her. Lydia and Olivia were making their way to Lady Olivia’s side followed by a flock of beaus, but Lilly was nowhere to be found.
“When did she become ill?” he asked as Clarissa emphatically towed him out of the ballroom, through the main hall, and up the main stairs.
“I’m not sure when she became ill. She said she felt lightheaded and weak. Maybe her dinner was off?” Clarissa smiled sweetly before opening a door and tugging him through.
The moment Dominic stepped through he knew he was in trouble. The library was completely empty except for a hound snoring before a cheerful fire. He turned to face Clarissa and scowled as the lock clicked.
“What is going on?”
“Nothing,” she said as she dropped the door key down her bodice. “If you want it, you will have to find it.” She smiled.
“Open the door, Clarissa,” Dominic demanded.
“No.” She pouted prettily and sauntered over to a chaise to lounge seductively. “Your mind has been clouded by that tart, and I’m going to change it.”
“What are you talking about, Clarissa? Where is Lilly?” He stalked to her, his fists clenched.
“I am sure she is having a better time than I am,” Clarissa mumbled. She stood and stepped before him. “Mama and I only want to preserve the good name of Redwick. If you throw it away on that hussy—”
“Watch your tongue,” Dominic growled.
“No!” Clarissa stomped her foot. “Why is everyone always telling me what to do!” She threw her arms around his neck and tried to kiss him, but Dominic held her at bay. He unwound her arms as she struggled and huffed in indignation.
“Mama said if I just let you kiss me, you wouldn’t be able to control yourself.”
“What are you talking about, Clarissa?” he said. Turning away, he strode to the door and tested the lock. It was solid, and breaking it down would cause too much noise. “We’re bloody first cousins!”
Clarissa paled. “No we’re not, Mama told me so.”
Dominic stilled. He walked back to Clarissa and pulled her nose to nose. “What do you mean?”
“Well…” She faltered. She was truly scared now. “I don’t think…”
“You don’t think.” Dominic sneered. “Why am I not surprised?” He let go of her and turned away. “Tell me everything, and don’t you dare lie.”
Clarissa returned to the chaise and wrung her hands. “Mama isn’t your mother’s sister, she is her first cousin.”
“What?” Dominic bellowed.
Clarissa cowered under his rage and began to cry. “It was all her idea. Your father wouldn’t marry her, he only wanted an aff-affair, and when you returned, she thought I could marry you and then we could have everything.”
“You and your mother are insane. What did you think to gain by trapping me like this? Do you think me an imbecile, a lapdog to lead by the nose?”
“No.” Clarissa cried into her hands.
They both froze when they heard voices outside the door.
“I just l
ove Shakespeare,” Lady Goodswell trilled to her cohorts. “You simply must see the painting of Romeo and Juliet that Lady Carrington has acquired.”
Dominic bolted for the window. He was one story up, but at the moment he didn’t care. He would rather be crippled for life than be caught alone with Clarissa Seavers. He slid the window up, swung a leg over, and leaped. He hit the ground with a painful crunch and rolled.
Chapter 24
Lilly slammed into the doors and they gave way. She bolted down the terrace steps, knowing he was right behind her.
“Lady Lillian!” he hissed angrily as he pursued her.
She looked back but never lost pace until her slipper slid on a pebble as she rounded a hedge, and she fell forward onto her stomach, knocking the breath from her.
Nevil landed on top of her and subdued her arms, then he covered her mouth and hauled her to her feet. She tried to struggle, but he wrapped his arm around her like a steel band.
“Shhh, this is supposed to look like a lovers’ tryst, not rape. Try to play along.”
Lilly squealed in anger. He tried to pull her toward the terrace, but she struggled as hard as she could. He changed directions and pulled her into a topiary garden, which was walled with ivy-covered stone. In the center was a gravel courtyard, shaded by a large willow overhanging a stone bench.
He carried her forward, cursing and grumbling until he dropped her before the bench.
“Why are you doing this?” Lilly cried.
“I told you. I will be paid very handsomely. Although our scenery has changed, I have every hope of collecting. However, permanent damage must be done first.”
“No.” Lilly’s eyes widened. “You can’t mean to—”
“Absolutely my love, I have wanted you for some time.” He laughed. “Half the men in that ballroom do.”
“Stay away from me or you will regret it.” Lilly used the bench to get to her feet. Her knees were shaking terribly.
Lord Hughes smiled and reached for her. Lilly instinctively struck him. Her small fist hit his nose with all the strength she could muster.
“Son of a—” Lord Hughes grabbed his nose and cursed as blood began to pour. “Where did you learn to hit like that?”
“Devon Brentton, thank you very much.” For a moment, Lilly smiled at her small victory.
“I’m going to get you for that.” He lunged to grab her.
“Don’t touch her,” a voice said.
Lilly nearly screamed in joy as Dominic stepped into view.
“This is a private conversation. Find your own,” Lord Hughes growled.
“If you wish to keep living, I recommend you leave now.”
“I saw her first,” Lord Hughes bellowed angrily, and charged Dominic.
Dominic sidestepped Lord Hughes and laughed when he hit the ground. He stood to face Dominic and swung his fists wildly. Dominic dodged the hits and placed a well-timed uppercut to his opponent’s jaw. Lord Hughes dropped like a stone on the gravel path.
Lilly bolted into Dominic’s arms as soon as Lord Hughes hit the ground.
Dominic caught her in a fierce hug. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she cried into his neck.
“Did he…?”
“No, nowhere near,” Lilly said frantically. “You saved me again.”
Dominic held her tightly against him. “I was ready to kill him,” he admitted.
“I was ready to let you.” She pulled away and looked into his eyes, smiling.
“You have dirt on your coat. What happened to you?” She stepped back and looked him over.
“I’ll explain later, something—” He stilled. The crunch of gravel was their first warning, then came the chatter echoing off the enclosing walls. Dominic pulled Lilly into the shadows behind a large shrub shaped like a giant blooming flower as a small group of ladies entered the topiary garden. Lady Seavers led the group, talking excitedly. They all gasped at once when they came upon Lord Hughes crumpled on the ground.
“Oh my! Is he dead?” Lady Carrington shrieked.
Lady Brewstone stepped closer. “No, he’s breathing. Let’s go.”
“We can’t leave him!” Lady Carrington cried. “Oh, why my ball! This will be all over the papers.”
“I’ll stay with Lord Hughes,” Lady Seavers finally said. “You two can summon help.”
The two ladies happily agreed to leave as Lady Seavers knelt beside him.
“Nevil,” she whispered. “Nevil!” She shook his arm. When he didn’t respond, she slapped him across the face.
Lord Hughes woke up swinging wildly, barely missing Lady Seavers.
“Calm down, you oaf!” she snapped. “What in God’s name happened to you?”
He looked around, somewhat dazed, before his gaze focused on her. “That bitch hit me,” he snarled. He winced and rubbed his rapidly bruising jaw.
“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me,” Lady Seavers sneered. “But where is she? Did you do the deed? I was severely disappointed when you were not in the morning room, but the open doors led us straight here. Why?”
“She ran and she fought hard.” Nevil grimaced. “I caught her, but then her damned warrior found us.”
“What!” Lady Seavers screeched in alarm. “He saw you forcing her?”
“I didn’t get anywhere near her before he laid me out.”
“How did he—how!” she sputtered in rage.
“Do I still get my blunt?” Nevil slurred.
“No, you imbecile. She wasn’t compromised, therefore you get nothing. Where do you think the money would have come from? If my daughter does not marry Redwick, we have nothing!” Lady Seavers turned and strode away, leaving Nevil to stumble after her.
Chapter 25
Lilly was pale and shaking with disbelief. “They planned it all. He was going to be caught compromising me!”
“And I was supposed to be caught with Clarissa. Thankfully I am not so easy to catch,” Dominic growled.
“Why is she doing this to us?”
“Money, social standing. She wanted my father and now she wants me. She is not even my real aunt, but my mother’s cousin.”
More voices were heard coming, and three more people entered the garden.
“Lilly, where are you?” Olivia whispered.
“Shhh, Livie, we don’t want people to know we’re looking for Lilly.”
“We’re over here.” Dominic stepped out of the shadows.
Lydia rushed over, followed by Olivia and her brother.
“What happened, are you hurt?”
Both Lilly and Dominic were rather mussed. Dominic’s coat was smeared with dirt and leaves, while Lilly’s dress was horribly wrinkled.
“We were both trapped. He with Clarissa and I with Lord Hughes. I escaped through a set of French doors, but he caught me and dragged me here.” Lilly shuddered.
“Oh, Lilly!” Olivia cried.
“How did you get so roughed up, Redwick? Did Clarissa ravish you?” Devon laughed.
“I jumped out the library window,” Dominic grumbled.
“Really?” Lilly asked in astonishment.
“You don’t believe me?”
“Oh, I do.” Devon smirked. “A man will do anything to avoid an unwanted marriage.”
Lydia frowned at Devon. “An unwanted marriage, or marriage in general?”
“Depends entirely on the woman.” Devon winked at her.
“We need to think of a plan,” Olivia said.
“How are we going to get out of this? The ball is in full swing,” Lydia said. “Lilly cannot be seen as she is, and now that we’re all together we shouldn’t leave anyone alone.”
“All right—Olivia and Devon, return, tell your mother that Devon and I are going to escort you ladies to Vauxhall Gardens. Then Lydia and Olivia will return to inform Lydia’s mother and we will all meet at…?” Dominic paused for ideas.
“Our parents can catch a ride with the Lord and Lady Donald, and we can take our carriage,” Olivia sai
d.
“What about Lady Seavers?” Lilly asked.
“I’ll just pen her a note. She’ll understand if I don’t include Clarissa.” Dominic smiled.
“I’ll have the coachman pull up beside the side gate so we can spirit Lilly away,” Devon stated. “In no time, we should be on our way.”
Chapter 26
The Brentton carriage stopped before Dominic’s townhouse and let Lilly and Dominic out.
“This is highly improper,” Lydia scolded from inside the carriage. “They should not be alone together.”
“Relax, Lydia.” Devon stroked his finger along the line of her jaw. He was rewarded with a swat.
“Do not tempt her, Devon—she will murder you one day,” Olivia warned.
“I have no doubt.” Devon’s eyes lingered on Lydia’s stubbornly pursed lips.
“It will be fine, Lydia—no one will know we’re here. I really do not wish a trip to Vauxhall tonight. The events that already occurred were enough to thoroughly exhaust me.”
“I think lying low is the best option until our ball has finally come and gone. Better not to tempt the beast, and by beast, I mean my aunt or whatever she is to me,” Dominic growled.
“I still don’t like it,” Lydia grumbled.
“Leave it alone, Lydia. Good night Redwick, Lilly.” Devon nodded and closed the carriage door as Lilly and Dominic turned to climb the steps. Dominic had told the staff not to wait up, so he used his key to open the door and ushered Lilly inside. Only a single candle lit the hall, throwing flickering light into the deeper shadows of the sleeping house.
“Alone at last.” Dominic pulled her close.
“I thought we did not want to tempt the beast.”
“You’ve been tempting me all night.” He nuzzled her neck.
Lilly tried to push away from him, even though she was dying to pull him closer and bring his lips to hers. “Dominic, we said we wouldn’t do this.”
“I think an exception can be made for tonight—after all, I was almost ravished by Clarissa,” he said in mock terror.
“And I by Lord Hughes.” Lilly giggled.
