by HELEN HARDT
“How did you come to dance with him?” Sophie asked.
“He cut in on Lord Victor, actually. I’m sure he was just being polite.”
“Dear, it’s more polite not to cut in,” Alexandra said. “He obviously wanted to dance with you.
“We only danced once. That’s hardly anything to get worked up about.”
“Of course not,” Sophie said. “But we should keep an eye on him. Maybe he has decided to court a woman honorably. He is a duke now, after all. He’ll need an heir.”
“He isn’t going to get one from me.” Lily brushed the droplets of water from her arms and torso, shaking from the chill of leaving the bath’s warmth. Or was she shaking for another reason?
Dear Lord, what have I gotten into?
* * *
Daniel was still chuckling when he returned to his stables. He should have known Lily would find the hot pool. The sight of her had been almost too much. He hadn’t been able to see her lovely body under the water, but oh, he had imagined it. If the other woman hadn’t been there, he would have stripped off his clothes and jumped in with her. And then he would have shagged her until they were both sated and exhausted.
What an amazing woman she was. Beautiful, yes, but he had never lacked the company of beautiful women. No, it wasn’t her beauty that fascinated him.
He couldn’t recall when he had been in a more pleasant mood. He hummed to himself as he put his saddle away and brushed Midnight’s coat. Midnight snorted, and Daniel grabbed an apple from the bushel basket next to his stall and fed him. “There you are, old boy.”
“Hello, Daniel.”
He turned to see Amelia Gregory holding her nose.
“My goodness, doesn’t anyone ever clean up in here?”
“This is a stable, Amelia. If the smell of horse shit offends you, I suggest you stay out of here.”
“I missed you at the luncheon today.”
“There were no men at the luncheon. Why in the world would you think I would be there?”
Amelia didn’t reply. Instead, “Why didn’t you go on the hunt?”
“I had some business to attend to this afternoon that required my immediate attention.”
“Did it go well?”
“Yes, very well.” He smoothed the curry comb over Midnight’s flanks. “If you don’t mind, Amelia, I must attend to my horse.”
“Don’t you have servants for that?”
“I prefer to take care of Midnight myself.”
“Do you mind if we talk while you groom him?”
Daniel cleared his throat. “I’d rather not. I don’t think there is anything more that needs to be said between us.”
“But there is, darling. I have wonderful news.” She reached toward him. “I have decided to forgive you.”
“Forgive me? For what?”
“For tossing me out on my arse last night, dear. Obviously something was bothering you, and I should have been able to read you better. It’s all my fault really. I want you to know that I still want to be with you, and when you’re feeling up to it, I want you to come to me.”
God. He hadn’t expected this. “I’m sorry, Amelia. I won’t change my mind. I no longer desire your company.”
“How can you say that, after all the pleasures we’ve shared? I thought we had a relationship.”
“Relationship?”
“Of course, I haven’t always been faithful to you, darling, but you’ve hardly been faithful to me, either. Still, we both knew we would end up together someday, did we not?”
“I knew nothing of the sort. I never wanted a relationship, nor did you. At least that’s what you led me to believe. Our liaison was purely physical, and although it was enjoyable, I no longer wish to pursue it.”
Amelia reached up to caress his cheek. “I don’t believe a word of that, Daniel. You and I were meant to be together.”
No spark from her touch. Nothing. “I’m afraid you’re wrong.”
She moved forward, her mouth only inches from his, her breath blowing quick puffs of air against his lips. “You know that no one else can make you feel as I do.”
Daniel grabbed her wrist. “Amelia, don’t do this.”
“I would do anything for you, you know. If there’s anything we haven’t tried in bed, although I can’t imagine that there is, I’ll do it for you. Just tell me.”
“This has nothing to do with our antics in the bedchamber.”
“Please, Daniel, don’t throw me aside. I can make you happy. Have you forgotten?” She lowered her voice to a husky rasp. “I’ll ride you hard and fast until you’re grunting and groaning. I’ll suck your cock until I’m blue in the face—”
He quickly tore her hand from his face. “Amelia, it’s over.”
Her face twisted into rage. “You are a scoundrel, Daniel.”
“My lady, I’ve been called worse by better women than you.”
* * *
Amelia flounced out of the stables, seething. Oh, she’d show him, one way or another. He was hers, and by the end of this wretched house party, he would bloody well know it.
Chapter 6
Lily and Rose returned to their chamber, sneaking up the servants’ stairway to avoid Lily being seen with wet hair and slightly damp clothes.
Rose yawned. “I’m incredibly sleepy. We were up so late last night at the ball, and now all this ruckus this afternoon. I do believe I will nap for hours. I don’t know how you were able to drag yourself out of bed so early this morning, Lily.”
“My love of art knows no bounds.”
Rose yawned again, stretching herself out on her bed. “My love of sleep knows no bounds.” She closed her eyes.
Lily lay down on her own bed. She couldn’t ever recall being quite so content as she was at this very moment. Life was too short not to extract out all the pleasure one could. Should she reconsider her decision not to go to Daniel tonight? He obviously wanted her, and she wanted him. They had no future, but she didn’t want a future with him anyway. Carpe Diem, as her Latin tutor used to say. Seize the day. And the night, she thought, giggling to herself.
She padded to the door when she heard a soft knock. A maid stood there, holding a large leather case. “Shh,” Lily said, holding her finger to her lips. “My sister is sleeping.”
“His Grace bid me bring this to you. When you’re done with it, you’re to leave it outside your chamber door.”
“His Grace? What in the world?” Lily said, as the maid scurried quickly away.
Lily sat down on her bed and opened the portfolio. Inside was the seating arrangement for dinner. Each name had been inked with a quill onto a small square of parchment that stuck without adhesive to a felt surface. It was an ingenious system. Seating could be changed at a moment’s notice. But why had Daniel sent it to her? Surely he didn’t mean for her to prepare the seating arrangement for the entire population of the house party. What would the duchess say? There were four tables, each seating fifty.
Flabbergasted, she studied the arrangement as it was. Well, there was certainly room for a lot of improvement. Rose was seated next to Wentworth. That would have to go. She moved the small name cards around. Daniel did send this to her, after all. He had said he would take care of it. Perhaps he really didn’t remember everything she had asked. She had been speaking rather quickly.
First things first. Amelia Gregory had to be far away from Thomas. Lily sat her at the outer table, the one farthest from the Duke’s. On one side she placed Wentworth, and on the other she decided on Lord Ludley, Wentworth’s bachelor uncle. He was bald and portly and he tended to salivate excessively. He was known to frequent brothels and debauch unwilling women whenever possible. Perfect.
Turning to the next table, Lily arranged Rose next to Xavier. She sat Thomas on Rose’s other side and Emma next to him. That would keep Thomas and Rose both focused on their own choices. At the next table, she maneuvered Alexandra next to Lord Victor Polk and Sophie next to Van Arden.
That is t
hat. She closed the portfolio, but opened it again quickly. She had almost forgotten to look at her own situation. She was seated at the same table as Ally, between two men whose names she didn’t recognize. Hoping the duchess knew what she was doing, she left it as it was.
She took a quick glance at the duke’s table. Her parents and Aunt Iris were seated there. She closed the leather case, quietly opened the door of her chamber, and set it against the wall outside. Rose was snoring lightly, and Lily’s eyes blurred. She lay down on her bed and closed them. Visions of Daniel appeared in her mind, and she smiled as she drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Rose and Lily awoke in time to wash and dress for dinner. Rose chose an off-white gown that highlighted her fair skin and peachy complexion. Lily wore soft plum satin, with a plunging neckline that drew attention to her ample fullness.
“Why you have your gowns cut so low is beyond me,” Rose said.
“Because it looks good on me. It’s stylish too. You’re always telling me I should follow the dictates more closely.”
“You might try leaving a little more to the imagination.”
“Mummy approved all of our gowns, Rose. What more do we need?”
“Mummy wants you to catch a husband, Lily. I’m sure she flaunted her own charms in her day.”
Lily giggled. “Yes, she may have. I had no idea that Papa was so enamored with her that he jilted the duchess.”
“You heard Auntie,” Rose said. “Papa didn’t court Mummy until several years later.”
“Just the same, perhaps he saw something in her when she was young. It’s possible.”
“I suppose.” Rose sighed. “The romance of it all… I do hope I meet someone like papa or the duke someday.”
“The duke?”
“The old duke, of course,” Rose said. “Lord Evan is charming, but he’s a second son. He’ll never come into a title of his own.”
“That’s silly, Rose. The title doesn’t make the man.”
“Of course, you’re right. I suppose we had better go down now.”
“I’m right behind you.” Lily snatched her reticule and followed Rose out of the chamber.
Downstairs they met their parents in the main parlor. Thomas was there also, beaming as he conversed with Emma. He looked up as Lily entered and frowned slightly at her neckline. She rolled her eyes and strode toward him.
“Thomas, how was the hunt?” she asked.
“I enjoyed it very much. But it sounds like you had an equally enjoyable day. Miss Smythe was just telling me about it.” He winked.
“Emma?” Lily said, her voice wavering.
“I ran into Lady Alexandra earlier.” Emma smiled. “Don’t worry. I left out the good parts.”
“What good parts?” Thomas asked, turning back to Emma.
Lily laughed. “Oh, Thomas, some things are between girlfriends only. Shall we go into dinner?”
“It would be my honor to escort you both in,” Thomas said. “I’ll be the envy of every man here, with two such lovely ladies on my arm.”
Thomas found his seat next to Emma and held out her chair for her. “I’ll be back. I need to escort Lily to her seat.”
“I think I’m over at that next table, Thomas.” Lily gestured. “Across from Ally.”
They said a quick hello to Alexandra and Lord Victor as Thomas guided Lily to her seat.
“I don’t see your name here, Lily. You must be at another table.”
“That’s impossible,” Lily said. “What on earth?”
“Let’s look around then,” Thomas said. “Maybe you’re at my table.”
Lily’s name was nowhere to be found there, so they moved to the outer table. I suppose it would serve me right to have to sit at a table with Amelia Gregory. Thank goodness, her name wasn’t there.
“Thomas, I don’t know what’s going on.” Lily feared for a moment that she might have forgotten to put her own name card back on the chart, or perhaps it had slipped out of the portfolio when the maid fetched it from outside her chamber.
“There’s one table left,” Thomas said.
“But that’s the duke’s table. I couldn’t possibly…”
He took her arm and led her over. Her mother and father were already seated, as was Aunt Iris, the duchess, her sister, and several others. Lily gawked when Daniel entered. He looked absolutely magnificent in full ducal regalia, a deep red velvet jacket, black silk cravat, and black trousers that highlighted the tight musculature of his legs. His beautiful hair was pulled back in a queue. Her heart leaped.
He approached Lily and Thomas. “Good evening, Jameson, my lady. Jameson, may I have the honor of escorting your lovely sister to her place?”
Thomas’s smile was fake, but he nodded. “Of course, Your Grace.”
Daniel smiled down at Lily. “I think this is the first time I’ve seen you with clothes on today,” he whispered.
Lily’s skin blazed. “I had clothes on when I was painting,” she whispered back. “What have you done? I’m supposed to be at the other table.”
“Did you really think I would let you have total control of the seating?” He smiled. “You’re sitting next to me.” He led her to the head of the table.
“What will people think? This is highly”—she searched for the right word—“controversial.”
“No one will notice. Or care, for that matter. My mother and Aunt Lucy approved the seating arrangement after you and I both improved it. You’re the daughter of the Earl of Ashford. It’s perfectly proper for you to sit at my table.”
“But…”
He pulled out her chair. She looked around the room before she sat down. He was right. No one glanced their way. Except for one person seated at the outer table. Lady Amelia Gregory was glaring at her. Lily smiled tersely in Amelia’s direction and sat down to the right of Daniel’s place at the head of the table. On her other side was the Earl of Madison, his wife, and then her own parents. Madison was well known to be hopelessly devoted to his wife, so he would likely pay no attention to Lily. Seated on Daniel’s other side was the dowager Countess of Bourough, an elderly woman who was hard of hearing, and next to her was her companion, Viscount Pomeroy, a widower ten years her junior who acted as her escort in return for her generously lavishing her fortune on him. Interesting choices. If Lily hadn’t known otherwise, she would have thought Daniel had arranged the seating so that he would have no choice but to focus his attention on her.
Appetizers of pâté de campagne and foie gras were followed by a clear beef consommé, which was light but tasty. As Lily ate her soup quietly, the Earl of Madison spoke over her to Daniel.
“We missed you on the hunt today, Your Grace.”
“I’m sorry to have missed it,” Daniel replied. “I was otherwise engaged.”
“Business, I suppose?”
“Yes, but after my business concluded early in the afternoon, I took Midnight out on a ride. It was a most pleasant excursion. I saw some splendid rare wildlife.”
Lily swallowed a spoonful of soup and nervously choked back a giggle. She reached for her napkin.
“Are you quite all right?” Madison asked her.
“Yes, thank you, my lord,” Lily said into her napkin. She reached for her goblet of claret, took a sip, and looked sideways at Daniel. His beautiful eyes gleamed at her, and his full lips were curved into a puckish grin. Madison had turned his attention back to his wife
She couldn’t help herself. “Tell me, Your Grace, could you describe the wildlife?”
“Such rare and exotic creatures are seldom seen in these parts, my lady,” Daniel said. “Had I a sketchbook on my person, I would have stopped and tried to put the beauty to paper.”
Lily nearly jumped out of her seat. “You sketch, Dan—Your Grace?”
“I do indeed, my lady. Do you?”
“Yes. But I prefer painting.”
“So you are interested in art, then?”
“I’m utterly passionate about it, Your Grace.�
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“Then it would be my honor to show you the art here at Laurel Ridge. We have a marvelous collection. Would you care to accompany me after dinner?”
She smiled. “You know I would.”
“Fine then. I’ll come fetch you after my cigar and port.”
Lily started on her second course, a poached salmon with a creamy dill sauce, and looked around the table. Daniel had been right. No one seemed to notice their conversation. Daniel engaged her, asking about her life in London and at the Ashford estate in Hampshire. The subject somehow came to the previous Christmas, and the kiss Wentworth had stolen.
“It was awful, really,” Lily said. “I didn’t think I wanted to kiss anyone again after that.”
“Have you changed your mind?” he asked, his voice low.
She nodded, smiling. “Tell me a little about your family, Your Grace.”
“Well, you know my father and brother are gone now.”
“Yes, I’m so sorry about that. It must have been very hard on you and your mother. Were you close to either of them?”
“Not especially. I was closer to my mother. My father spent most of his time with Morgan, because he was the heir. Morgan was completely educated in the management of the estate and the affairs of the House of Lords and would have made a fine duke. Now the title has been thrust upon me, and I’m wholly unprepared for it.”
Lily stared at Daniel’s handsome face. Worry lines creased his forehead. Odd that she hadn’t noticed them before. How could such a formidable man sound so unsure of himself?
“You seem to know what you’re doing,” she said.
“At least my bankers and stockbrokers do, and that’s encouraging. And my mother is very intelligent and was always involved in the affairs of the estate. I’ve learned quite a bit from her. You remind me of her, actually.”
“Do I?”
“Yes, she defied convention herself in her day. No woman should have been involved in such business affairs, but my father valued her opinion and sought her advice frequently.”
“I always knew I liked her.” Lily smiled. “Did you know that her sister and my Auntie Iris were best friends when they were girls?”
