A sound rumbled from Frank that seemed so out of place. He didn’t answer. Instead, he piled food on a plate.
A young and handsome gentleman approached them, giving Diana a considering look before he pursed his lips, as if to speak. But a glance at Frank forced his mouth shut and, in the end, he bowed, complimented Diana on her performance, and quickly excused himself.
Diana looked over at Frank to find his look nowhere near as fierce as her brother could get, yet no less deadly. Was it jealousy, or simply him being protective? “Must you do that?”
He turned a forbidding look toward her but gave no reply. Instead, he handed her a plate.
She frowned at the meat, bread, and cheese that was piled so high, it nearly fell off the plate’s edges. “I couldn’t possibly eat all of this.”
“If you look famished, people might leave you alone as we eat.”
She shrugged. “Perhaps...” He started to guide her away again, toward a vacant table in the back of the room. She doubted it would be for long.
Then she heard a song start in the ballroom, and grinned. Diana had told Kate she would need a distraction so that she could be alone with Frank. This was it.
Moments later, a lady dashed into the room. “Monsieur Groux’s Ballet Company has begun a private show.” Then she dashed away.
Immediately, people leapt from their tables and scurried from the room.
She and Frank were all that were left, except for the servants who busied themselves with cleaning.
Frank frowned at her. “Aren’t you needed for the performance?”
Diana shook her head. “My friend Kate Kingsman is leading the dance.” And Diana thought it high time that Kate had a solo. They’d only taken a few friends into their confidence for the surprise performance that was taking place upstairs. Lord Jeanshire had allowed Diana to use his ballroom for the practice. Not even Monsieur Groux had known it would happen.
She officially had a quarter of an hour alone with Frank. She would use that time wisely. “Lord Dahl’s house was left just as it was before he left. I want to see it, Frank.” She needed to see it. She needed to get inside and study it, find the mystery he held. “There’ll be no servants. We’d be alone. Please.”
Frank shook his head. “Diana, this is not wise. You’re doing so well. Something like this could ruin all of that.”
“Then, if there exists a place that could change me to the broken woman I was, I want to face it.” That she was confident of. “I’ll not live in fear, Frank. Please.”
He leaned back and rested his hands on the chair arms. “Why did you ask me? Hit could easily take you.”
She swallowed. “I need you there. Your mind is unlike any other. You might be able to… understand whatever it is we see.” She covered his hand. “And you comfort me like no one else.” All of this was true. She didn’t lie. She simply didn’t share everything. “Please, Frank.”
“Diana.” He turned his hand over and held hers. She slipped her fingers between his. Their hold was hidden by the table. His gaze softened, though his hold was firm. “I don’t want you anywhere near that man, in any way.”
She loved that he cared for her. But did he see her as a patient, or a woman? “This may be my only chance.”
He looked away and Diana anxiously waited for a response. “Does your brother know?”
“Of course not. This would between us.”
He sighed and looked at her again. “If I say no, wouldn’t you simply go without me?”
“Yes.” No, she wouldn’t, because she needed him there. She need his mind to solve the puzzle that hers had begun to piece together, months ago.
He removed his hand from hers and leaned toward her. “Your brother will murder me if I do what you are asking of me.”
“He’d likely do worse, if he knew what took place in his kitchen.” She waited for surprise or even fear, but instead the green of his eyes became intense. Did thinking of that day in the rain bring that same forbidden desires to him, as it did her? She’d found herself fantasizing about that day, and wondering what would have happened had the cook not interrupted. Would he have taken her there in the kitchen? On the counter?
Her body grew soft. Moist.
He groaned, as if he knew what played in her head. Then he closed his eyes. “When do you wish to go?”
She smiled, as the final notes of the song rang from upstairs. Applause sounded. “Meet me at Lord Jeanshire’s home at noon. I’ll cancel my practice with Lily, which would likely make her glad.” She had been working the girl tirelessly. “Hit remains downstairs during rehearsals. If I slip out of the servants’ entrance, we’ll have two hours before I need return.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You’ve thought of this already. You’d knew I’d agree.”
She touched his cheek, wishing she could do so with her skin instead of her glove. “I don’t use the word ‘perfect’ lightly.” She retracted her hand and stood.
Frank stood as well and took her arm. Conflicting emotions seemed to war over his face before his brows settled. “I know that you feel something growing between us, but know that I can only ever offer you my knowledge and my protection.”
She pulled in a great breath and then smiled. She should have known this would come, though she’d hoped she’d have had a little more time to tempt him, before he decided. No matter. If he wanted to place barriers on their relationship, she would have to accept it. “Surely, you can also offer me your friendship?”
The smile returned again, but this time didn’t reach his eyes. “Of course.” He was growing more distant by the second, becoming more ‘Dr. Lockwood’ than Frank.
She decided it was time to leave, and departed from the dining room, forbidding herself from looking back, or overthinking his gift of bluebells.
* * *
19
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CHAPTER NINETEEN
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Frank watched as the servants’ door opened, and Diana appeared. He saw immediately that she held no fatigue from the long night before. She wore the clothes of a woman far below her class, a plain white blouse and dark skirt, but again, nothing could detract from her beauty. She looked like a woman who’d slept through the night, though he knew that wasn’t true. He’d left shortly after their meeting, but had known Diana would have to stay until the very end. How she could commit to such stressful hours, he didn’t know.
They were like night and day in that sense. Frank enjoyed working early mornings, while Diana’s usual hours were in the evening. They could never make it work. Though why he needed to remind himself of something he already knew, he didn’t know.
Her blue eyes smiled up at him. “Are you ready?”
He offered his arm. She wore no gloves, and he noticed how lovely her slim fingers were. “You said we had two hours, so we’d best make haste.”
She looked toward the sky as they made their way through the alley. “It’s beautiful today. Do you think we’ll get rain?”
He had to force himself to look away. The sky was brilliant, matching her eyes. “Likely not.”
“Living in the country nearly ruined me for the city,” she announced, as he saw her into the carriage. She sighed. “It was so peaceful there. Quiet. We lived in our own little world, did we not?”
The carriage was moving, but Frank found his mind slipping away from the present and returning to that moment in the kitchen when he’d anticipated Diana’s kiss. She’d rested on his lap, vulnerable to anything he could have ever wanted from her. His senses had been heightened. The brush of her breath across his mouth stirred to life one fantasy after another.
And then he’d felt her lips.
How many times over the last few months had he envisioned them being completely alone? He’d even thought to take her to his own country estate. There was a separate cottage on the proper
ty that had once housed his grandmother; but had since been renovated for guests.
He’d send the servants away, and attend to her every need himself.
Across the carriage, she bit her lower lip and looked away, a small smile growing at her lips.
Frank closed his eyes, pained. “Diana.”
“I love it when you say my name.”
He looked at her again. Her hands rested at her sides. Her head was tilted to the side. “You say my name with true conviction.”
She’d said those words before. She’d also claimed to enjoy it when he called her goddess. He frowned. “Are you… playing with me?”
She lifted her brows. “What?” She straightened her neck. “No. I don’t think so.”
“You don’t think so?” He crossed his arms. “But you’re not sure?” Was this all part of her act as a dancer?
She looked away and then, when her eyes returned, she was grinning. “I know now. I’m not playing, Frank. I want you.”
His body tensed, just as his blood started south. “I believe we agreed—”
“I’ve changed my mind.” She leaned back in her seat. “There’s no reason I can’t have you. Especially considering that you want me, as well.”
Frank was not used to lying; but tried to, at that very moment. “I don’t see you that way. You’re my patient.”
“Former patient,” she corrected him. She leaned forward, and her body took on a very sensual position, her face, the mirror of all his desires. “And I think you do want me, Frank. I can prove you wrong.” Her hand settled boldly on his knee. “Shall I prove you wrong, Frank?”
He struggled to breathe, and his vision blurred. His shaft pressed against his breeches as if stroked by her bold words.
Her eyes held his and her hand inched up.
He grabbed her wrist. He was stronger than his baser needs. “Anything between us would be wrong.”
“Why?” A simple question that had complex answers.
The carriage stopped.
She took her hand from his and smiled. “We’ll continue this later. Now, let us go solve a mystery.” Then she leapt from the carriage, leaving Frank confused, aroused, and harder than ever.
* * *
Diana wasn’t sure what had come over her, but the moment she’d seen Frank on the other side of the servants’ door at Lord Jeanshire’s home, and seen the warm look in his eyes, she’d known she’d wanted him, and would tear down any reservations he’d had against it. Unless something had changed on his part, he was unattached, and so was she. Therefore, there was no reason either should deny the other. She was not some delicate lady who needed to wait on her father, or even her brother’s approval. She had her own wealth and, thanks to the man who walked beside her, she had her life and the career of her heart.
And she desired him, not only because he’d saved her— though she saw no reason that shouldn’t be an issue— but because he cared for her. Here he was now, walking down the road that led to her kidnapper’s home, helping her face a hard part of her past, and likely willing to give his life to keep her safe.
He was handsome. Wealthy. Unwed.
She’d have been a fool to not want him.
And he clearly wanted her. She recalled the way he’d forbidden that man from speaking to her at the party last night. The look had promised a silent death. Then, whenever he looked at her, she saw the desire in the doctor’s eyes, no matter what he said.
No more fear is what she’d told herself, and she’d let no man or thing stop her from being happy. Not even Frank’s conscience.
He avoided looking at her as they walked around the wall that encompassed Dahl’s gardens. A walk around the terrace proved there to be a single locked gate with high iron spikes.
They’d left the carriage a few blocks away, so that no one would know their destination. That also meant that using the front door, along the open street, was not an option.
Surrounding them were gardens of Dahl’s other neighbors. It was still early for anyone of society to be awake, and if anyone saw her, they would think her a servant. Frank, on the other hand, was dressed like the gentleman he was, and would draw attention in or out of, an alley.
The cobblestone wall to Dahl’s yard was not high and Diana didn’t think before she jumped up and grabbed the edge. She was glad she wore boots, because they easily found purchase in the gray grooves of the wall and gave her the leverage she needed, to hoist herself on top.
She looked down to find Frank staring up at her as though she’d lost all common sense. But instead of reprimanding her, he shot up from the ground. A single leap was all it took for him to gain a seated position next to her.
He wasn’t winded in the least. “I’d wondered why you’d dressed that way. Now I see.” He frowned. “Woman, you’ve made me a criminal.”
“I’ll make it up to you,” she purred, before turning and jumping down onto the other side.
He joined her only a half second later; and straightened his jacket. “Shall we?”
Dahl’s garden was impressive, and though his brother Mr. Grayly had claimed that no servants lived in residence anymore, it was clear that the gardeners still came.
She couldn’t help but feel some apprehension as they moved through the tall hedges.
This was the home of a man who’d kept her caged for a month, only allowing her out when he wished to torture her.
Frank’s hand on her arm stopped her. “You don’t have to do this.”
She saw his concern. She placed a hand on his chest. “I do.” She turned away.
Frank snatched her and pulled her behind a hedge. His large body settled into hers, and she watched from the corner of her eye as a gardener passed. Long hedge cutters dangled from his hand. He was older, and walked at a gentle pace. He stopped to speak to another man who’d approached from the direction she and Frank had come.
In the distance, there was shouting from other men and the sound of digging.
“We’re going to be caught,” Frank whispered savagely.
She kept herself still. Her heart raced, but her worry didn’t stop her body from feeling just how very hard Frank’s chest and arms were. Nor did it keep her from wondering how they’d fit, if they were horizontal.
His head whipped to her. “What are you doing?”
Her eyes widened, and she realized her arms had gone around him. She hadn’t even known she’d moved.
But she didn’t release him. Instead, she burrowed closer, recalling how it felt to be against him all those months ago. They fit perfectly.
His breathing grew labored and he tried to pull her away, but she could tell he didn’t use all his strength. Just as she’d suspected, he wanted her as well.
Suddenly, he ceased moving, and Diana knew why. She could feel his hardness resting against her belly. Wicked thoughts filled her mind. What could they get away with, behind the hedges?
He lowered his head to speak against her ear. “Surely, you’ve not brought me here to be seduced.”
She hadn’t, but the very thought of doing so made her wet. She licked her lips. “Are you a quiet man?” She looked up to meet his eyes.
His eyes were a hard green with gold streaks. “What?” He stared bewilderedly, yet she felt his stiffening member leap within his breeches.
“Can you be quiet, or are you a moaner?” She smiled and allowed her hands to trail to the front of his shirt. Just the feel of the cloth on her fingers made her shiver. “Shall we find out?”
He grabbed her hands. “You’re upset with the earl and likely trying to find a way to violate him, the way in which he violated you. Sex in his garden. Revenge.”
Was that what she was doing? “Maybe you’re right.”
He stilled.
“Or maybe you’re overanalyzing me, because you’re scared.”
When he opened his mouth to speak, she cut him off. “But even if you’re right, it doesn’t mean I don’t want you.”
He swallowed.
> Diana had to press her lips together to keep from laughing. Teasing Frank was likely the most fun she’d had in months. Though, she wasn’t truly teasing.
If he let go of her hands...
“You don’t know what you’re doing or saying,” he told her. “You don’t actually want me.”
Diana Sensational Spinster's Society (The Spinster’s Society) (A Regency Romance Book) Page 12
