‘You did well, Heritage.’ Adam knelt and closed the now sightless eyes.
‘He was going straight for you, miss,’ Mr Armstrong said. ‘I had no choice like. He had a knife. I saw it in his hand. Oh, my God, I hit Lord Edward.’
‘You missed. The bullet hit the door.’ Adam’s voice held a note of great weariness. He pressed his hands to his eyes. ‘Edward Heritage pushed Daisy away and then went for Sanjay. He did it with practically his last breath. I should have checked the Indian closer. I assumed he was dead by the way he lay. Luckily, this time, Edward Heritage finished the job.’
‘I had to act like. He was heading straight for Miss Milton. I warned her to stay away, but she refused.’ Mr Armstrong stared at Adam, his whiskers bristled with indignation. ‘What do you mean I missed?’
‘Are they dead?’ Daisy whispered and she started to shake.
‘Heritage knew he was dying. They had beaten him too severely.’ Adam draped an arm over her shoulders. She leant into him, grateful for the warmth. ‘In the end, he proved his worth.’
Daisy cupped her hands about Adam’s face. ‘It is over now. We are both safe. Nothing is ever going to harm you again.’
He put his hands over Daisy’s, held her there for a moment. ‘We will have all the time in the world, Daisy. First there is duty. Someone has to tell his great-uncle that his nephew was a hero.’
* * *
Faint streaks of dawn shone in the sky giving Adam’s room a rosy glow. He stood at the window, watching the changing scene. In his hand, the necklace was a ruby-red rebuke of things he had not done. Even though he had wanted to leave with Daisy, he had stayed until Webster was brought out. Webster, despite his chagrin at being abducted by such a feeble trick, would live. Then he had gone to tell Lord Denning of his great-nephew’s heroism. To his credit, the old man had taken it better than he had hoped. In death, Heritage had redeemed himself. And now all that remained was to go to bed and to hope for a better day.
But all that he really wanted was Daisy by his side. Tomorrow. He gave a slight smile. Today, he would get a special licence and they would marry. And then he would tell her everything.
A soft knock sounded. He opened the door and saw Daisy standing silhouetted in the doorway. Her unbound hair shone in the candlelight.
Adam stepped back one step and allowed her to enter. Her green dress brushed his leg.
‘What are you doing here, Daisy?’
‘I saw a light. I thought perhaps you needed a valet.’
‘I can manage.’
She put her shoulders back and kept her head upright. ‘You promised to talk to me but you never came near me after… I also wanted to show you the box.’
‘The box?’
‘Mr Armstrong retrieved it for me. I was able to prise it open. One of the panels buckled in the struggle.’ She held out the box, crammed full of rubies and emeralds. Deep rich colours glowing in the dawn light. ‘There was a note from Tom…and his wife. They are to be my dowry. Not quite a king’s ransom, but enough to live comfortably. It seems such a waste. I had a fortune in my hands all the time and never knew it. That evil, evil man is dead. It is more than enough to start a school…for Felicity, Kammie and me to live on. But I worry. Did he steal them?’
‘Did he write how he got the jewels?’
‘From the thuggee?’
‘From the maharajah. The maharajah thought he could bribe your brother, but he wanted none of it. When he heard that Kamala was to be burnt alive, he attempted to bargain with the maharajah by buying Kamala with the jewels. The maharajah refused. So Tom acted. He took them back after he killed the maharajah.’
‘Tom, my gentle brother, killed him?’
‘And saved my misbegotten life.’ Adam shook his head. ‘Tom should have taken Kamala and run. I had arrived at the pyre a few moments too late. But Tom turned back. He joined in. Kamala fought as well.’
‘Tom was like that. Kammie will love to hear the full story about her parents’ bravery. It sounds like something out of the Arabian Nights.’ Her smile turned tremulous. ‘They are an excuse really. I waited for you. I wanted to thank you.’
He rubbed the back of his neck as the pit of his stomach sank. He had half-hoped that no matter what had passed between them, she would have no choice but to marry him, but she seemed to be intent on keeping to her ridiculous agreement.
‘There was much to do.’ He kept his words calm while his mind raced. There had to be a way of keeping her here with him and convincing her of the necessity of their marriage. He needed her and it frightened him. ‘Someone had to tell Lord Denning. Heritage’s part in the affair will be hushed up. It is for the best.’
‘You sound upset.’
‘He died saving you.’
‘He was a bad man.’ Daisy turned her head, but not before Adam saw the shadows in her eyes. He willed her to understand. If she could understand and forgive Heritage, maybe she could forgive him for what he did all those years ago. ‘But I can’t fault your logic. You owe something to people who save your life. I think you are right to keep quiet about his involvement. It will not serve any purpose.’
‘The governess is prepared to bend the rules?’
‘A balance needs to be struck.’ Daisy pushed the hair from her eyes. ‘Mrs Blandish will be praising Miss Blandish’s lucky escape. If she had been engaged to Lord Edward, she would have had to go into mourning but now she will be able to have a proper London Season.’
Her grey-green gaze met his. ‘Did you allow the doctor to look you over? Or did you simply pretend you were fine?’
‘Me?’ Adam stared at her in astonishment. ‘I will live.’
‘I was worried about you.’ She reached up and touched his cheek.
Adam forced a tight smile. He was a coward. He knew they should speak about her brother and Kammie, but right now all he wanted to do was to hold her. Selfishly he wanted her to love him and stay with him because it was her desire to, and not because she felt an obligation. He had once thought she would be his redemption, but now he knew that he had no right to her. ‘Daisy, you should go.’
‘Because of my reputation?’ She gave an arched laugh. ‘What reputation do I have left? I went tearing after you, demanding people follow me.’
‘The heroine of the hour.’
Adam put his hand on her shoulder and her flesh quivered underneath his fingers. He barely retained control over his desire to crush her against him.
Some day he knew he would have to tell her about what had happened in India, but right now he was not ready. He would have to explain. Some might call him a coward, but he needed to see her as she was now. Right now, he wanted Daisy to love him, but he was afraid to ask her. For a man who had never been daunted when confronted with terrible odds, who took instead of asking, this was beyond him. For once, he would do the right thing.
‘Why are you here, Daisy?’ His voice sounded hoarse to his ears. ‘I asked you to go.’
‘Hold me, Adam. I need to be held by you. We shared something precious earlier…’ Her voice quavered slightly. ‘I thought I had lost you.’
Adam gave a groan and pulled her into his arms, settling her yielding curves against his hard planes. He gently kissed her temple. Her hand curved around his neck and pulled his face down.
‘I thought you were dead,’ she whispered against his lips.
‘I should never have left you. I should have said goodbye.’
She placed a kiss on the corner of his mouth. ‘That is an understatement.’
He gave into the impulse, lowered his lips and drank from her mouth.
‘I want you,’ he murmured against her mouth. ‘You can leave now, but if you stay…we will make love. No seduction. It will be us two meeting.’
‘I’ll stay.’ Daisy curved her arm tighter about Adam’s neck and held him there. She had waited in her room, hoping that he would come to her, but when he didn’t, she knew she had to try. She wanted to be with him and only him and she was so fri
ghtened that he would reject her. ‘Please let me stay. I insist on it.’
‘Never let it be said that I refuse a lady.’
She buried her fingers in Adam’s crisp hair and pulled him close.
Their tongues met and retreated and then met again.
Furious fingers worked at his shirt, parted it and then her hand encountered his silky skin. She stroked it and felt the warmth under her fingertips grow red hot. Her fingers traced his flat nipples, feeling them tighten.
He captured her hands, holding them against his skin, and she saw the red marks on his wrists.
‘Your wrists,’ she gasped.
‘They are nothing. You are everything.’
He lifted her up and carried her into his bedroom. Like hers, it was furnished in the hotel style, but there was also something undeniably masculine about it.
She collapsed back down on to the bed and looked up at him. With impatient fingers he took off his shirt. In the dawn light, his skin seemed tinged with rose, truly a Greek god.
He picked a tendril of hair off the pillow and smiled. ‘Lavender. The smell of your hair enchants me. I kept thinking about it when I was in the hut.’
‘It has never had that effect on anyone else.’
‘That’s because you’re mine. All mine.’
His lips nuzzled her neck trailing down to her shoulder. This time her body knew what to expect and arched off the bed towards his questing mouth. His fingers began to undo the little buttons at the front of her dress, pushing aside the material to reveal her breasts. His exploring fingers stopped.
‘You did not wear a corset.’
‘You told me to take advantage of my maid,’ Daisy reminded him. She reached up and wound her arm about his neck, pulling his face next to hers. ‘And so I did.’
He groaned and recaptured her mouth. Teasing her. Taking the time to explore until her body thrummed with desire.
His mouth travelled slowly down to her bared breasts. He captured each dusky-rose nipple in turn and feasted on them, licking round and round. Then he moved inexorably lower. His mouth touched the apex of her thighs and then began to explore her inner folds.
With each sweep of his tongue, she felt more alive. Her body trembled on the brink of an abyss. She heard a cry and knew it came from her throat. But it was not enough.
This time she wanted to take an active part.
‘Lie back,’ she whispered.
He raised his head and looked at her with blazing eyes. ‘As you command.’
Her hands undid the buttons on his trousers and pushed away the fabric to reveal his arousal. Her hand reached out and stroked him as she had done before, revelling in the soft velvet firmness of him. She heard the swift intake of breath.
‘We can take this slowly,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘We have all the time in the world, but not if you touch me like that.’
All the time in world? She swallowed hard. It was not what she had. She had nearly lost him today, before she had had the chance to say how she felt about him. But now, looking at his magnificent body, she found no words came. She had to show him what he meant to her.
‘I am not sure I can last that long,’ she said with a shaky laugh. She touched him again, her fingers encircling him. She bent her lips, testing the heat of him.
‘I need you,’ he growled, pulling at her shoulders and turning her on her back.
She looked up at him, golden skin gleaming over her and knew that this was what she wanted. This man with her now.
With one hand, he parted her thighs, positioning himself.
Their joining was fast and furious. The tenderness of before was not there. This was a celebration of life. Everything he asked, she gave; everything he gave, she took. Until she trembled on the brink. He thrust once more and she shattered.
* * *
In the aftermath, Daisy lay in his arms. She had really and truly fallen. She could no longer deny her nature. She should feel wicked lying here in his arms, but instead she felt reborn.
She had gone to his room to explain about the box and to show him that he should not worry about her. She would more than survive. But this had happened. She had wanted his touch; more than wanted it, she had craved it.
A small movement made her glance over and she saw that Adam was watching her with intent eyes, eyes of caramel, eyes like Kammie’s. Daisy’s breath caught. The words echoed round and round her brain. Eyes like Kammie’s. Then they combined with another thought—the maharajah gave everyone a gift; he was good at finding their weakness; someone had stood next to him on the first morning and told him about the monkey. Kamala?
What if Heritage had not lied at the ball? What if Tom had fallen in love with Adam’s mistress?
‘What are you thinking about with your storm-tossed eyes?’ His velvet voice slid over her skin and enticed her to forget her troubles.
She shook her head to clear it. She had to know now before it started to eat away at her soul. ‘Was Kamala your mistress?’
He sighed and flopped down amongst the pillows. For what seemed like an age, he stared up at the ceiling. ‘Yes, she was, Daisy. It all happened a very long time before I met you. We do not have to speak of this now. We have the rest of our lives to discuss such matters. You are tired and I have had a long day.’
‘Why did she give you the necklace?’ Daisy hated how sharp and needy her voice sounded.
‘She gave me the necklace so I would have proof to show the authorities.’
‘Why did you keep it afterwards?’
‘I gave it back to her, but your brother threw it at me. Told me to keep it. That he had purchased her freedom with it and she would be beholden to no one now.’
‘You should have told me.’ Daisy felt a great space open within her.
‘I wasn’t aware you needed a complete list of my mistresses. I have had a number, Daisy. I do not deny it.’ He touched her cheek with his hand. ‘Know that they are in my past. You are my present and future.’
Daisy forced her body to get out of bed and begin to dress. When she was clothed, she looked at him again. He had not moved but watched her with eyes of rich caramel. ‘Is Kammie your daughter?’
‘Kamala was pregnant when I left the hill station with the necklace. Her pregnancy gave her the strength to steal the proof I needed. I believe I am your Kammie’s father.’
‘Did my brother know?’ Daisy whispered.
‘Yes, he knew.’ Adam ran his hands through his hair. The red marks of the rope burns stood out. Her heart twisted at how brave he had been and how modest. ‘It is not a time of my life I am particularly proud of. Kamala was the best thing to happen to me until I met you. But I refused to listen to her pleas. If I had taken her with me, she would never have been on that pyre. I knew she carried my child and I left her in danger. All because I cared about the wrong things.’
‘And while you were gone…’
‘While I was gone, Tom and Kamala fell in love. I had asked him to watch over her. He never touched her because he felt she belonged to me. After the battle, Kamala pleaded with me to free her. I behaved badly like the spoilt aristocrat I was.’
Daisy concentrated on the coverlet. She did not dare look at him. She wished she’d known this before she’d given herself to him. ‘What did you do?’
‘I beat your brother to a bloody pulp. I would have killed him, the man who saved my life if Kamala had not intervened. She begged me for the sake of our child. I very nearly hit her.’
‘It was then that my brother threw the necklace at you.’
‘Yes. He married her. He gave his name to my child.’
‘And you loved her.’
‘More than anyone else in the world at the time. I told her so, but it did not make any difference. She told me that I didn’t have a heart and there was a great wickedness within me. She loved your brother. In time, I came to realise that she was a wise woman, but by then it was too late. They were all dead.’
Daisy hugged her arms abou
t her waist. He had loved Kamala more than anyone. The fact hurt far more than she thought it would. She could not compete against a dead woman. ‘But why didn’t Tom send Kammie to you? Did Kamala fear you would neglect her?’
‘When my brother died, I was happy to depart India and all its darkness. But I had left Kamala and Tom in no doubt of my sincerity. If they had any need, they were supposed to come to me. They never did. I assumed Kammie had died. Children often do in India.’
Daisy looked up at the ceiling and tried not to let the blackness overwhelm her. What would Felicity do when she learnt the truth about Kammie’s parentage? What would Adam do about the falling sickness? And worse, he had only seduced her after he had known that Kammie was alive. He was wicked and selfish. ‘Why not tell me before we…before I lay in your arms? Why not tell me when I first confided about Kammie? Surely I had a right to know. I could have decided.’
‘What would you have decided?’
‘I don’t know,’ Daisy replied truthfully. ‘You did not give me that choice.’
‘I meant to tell you earlier, Daisy, I swear it, but I needed your touch far too much. I wanted to show how much I care for you. How I could take care of you. I wanted you to see the best in me before you learnt the worst. I wanted a second chance with you. Can’t you see how hard I have tried to be good?’
Care for her? And he could not even tell her this simple truth? Daisy’s heart shattered into a thousand pieces. He had wanted to live a lie and in the background would be his passion for Kamala. ‘Why are you telling me now?’
‘So you will understand the worst about me and how I have changed.’ He leant forwards with eager eyes. ‘You and I could give my daughter an excellent home. She—’
‘You want to claim Kammie as your own.’ Daisy stared at him; the words tasted like ash in her mouth. Her entire being trembled. He did not know anything about Kammie. Would he be so eager when he knew she was ill? So many people were frightened of the illness.
‘I can give her a good life, Daisy. She will want for nothing. I owe that to her mother. We will be the perfect family.’
Compromising Miss Milton Page 22
