“You needn’t worry Georgie, I haven’t set my sights on anyone,” Scarlett fibbed, her amused tone suggesting that Georgie’s concern was totally unfounded. “But I have a feeling someone else may have.” She raised her eyebrows, giving Georgie a knowing look.
As intended, the comment diverted the other woman’s attention from Alec, and soon Georgie was blushing like a schoolgirl as she regaled Scarlett with a summary of Mr. Brexton’s brilliant qualities.
Alec had just donned his greatcoat and hat when Rory and Gavin appeared in the foyer where he and Colin now stood. “The boys and I were thinking of heading to Boodles for an hour or two,” Colin said, motioning toward his brothers. “Would you care to join us?”
“Yes, join us Alec,” Rory said enthusiastically. “The more the merrier.”
“Though the opportunity to lighten your pockets is tempting, I’m afraid I have a prior engagement.”
“With the Countess of Devon?” Gavin queried with a meaningful grin.
“Yes Alec, do tell,” Colin encouraged. “Are you off to visit the lovely Alicia?”
“I believe I’ll just thank you all for a wonderful evening and leave it at that.”
“Spoil sport,” Rory chided as Alec walked to the door. The others merely shook their heads, grinning as Alec adjusted the brim of his hat with a jaunty smile, refusing to confirm or deny their suspicions.
With nothing more than a parting wave, Alec strode out into the night, leaving the McPhearson brothers to their speculations. Unfortunately, and unbeknownst to them, their teasing banter had the effect of cold water being dashed in his face. If they’d had even the slightest inkling as to what his true intentions were, he doubted that he would have left the McPhearson home in one piece. Cursing himself for the deceitful bastard that he was, he realized that it wasn’t too late to put an end to his reckless folly. As he walked the short distance to his own residence, he knew he couldn’t continue to betray his friendship with Colin a moment longer. He would meet with Scarlett as planned, but instead of taking her to his bed, he knew he had to tell her it was over.
At twenty past twelve, Scarlett sat on the edge of her bed eagerly tugging on her boots. The house was silent, as the servants had already retired for the evening. Colin had insisted the party clean up could wait until morning and had sent their weary staff off to bed as soon as the final guest had departed. Her brothers were gone as well, all four having decided to spend the remainder of the evening, still relatively early by London standards, at one of their clubs.
As she made her way downstairs her heart was pounding like a drum within her chest, not from fear of discovery, but from the anticipation of spending the next several hours in Alec’s arms. Slipping out through the French doors that led from the library to the rear garden, she moved quickly and silently. Keeping to the shadows, she made her way along the tall hedge that ran nearly the length of their property. The air was cold and the wind was just starting to pick up when at last she reached the old iron gate. The sky was overcast, and with the small amount of moonlight the clouds let through she could have easily missed the narrow portal which was partially overgrown with vines and foliage. What if it was locked, or what if it had rusted and wouldn’t open she thought in sudden panic. It probably hadn’t been used since the previous owners, both members of the same family, had come and gone between the two houses.
She reached out her hand, feeling for a latch or a handle. She thought she heard a sound on the other side and quietly called out. “Alec?”
Suddenly the gate swung open with only a small groan from the aging hinges. Alec grasped her arm and pulled her through an instant later. Pushing the gate shut, he took her hand, drawing her to his side. “Come with me.”
Silently they made their way along the hedge until they reached the shadow of the house. Guiding her to a door on the east side, they entered what Scarlett soon discovered was the rear servant’s entrance. It was dark and she held tightly to Alec’s hand as he led her down the hall and into a different area of the house. Stopping outside a set of massive double doors, Alec opened one, gently pushed her inside and then shut it firmly behind them. A fire was burning in the hearth and several lamps were alit. Looking around, she realized they were in the library. It was very much like the one in their residence and certainly not his bedchamber she noted, feeling suddenly uneasy.
Pushing back the hood of her dark cloak, she turned to Alec, her expression questioning. He took her hand and led her over to a small leather sofa.
“Scarlett, we need to talk,” he said, pulling her down to sit beside him.
Damn! Scarlett could tell what was coming by the tone of his voice and the look on his face, but she wasn’t about to give in without a fight. Her mind raced as she sought a means to keep Alec from saying what she very much feared he was about to say. She had to act quickly. “Is it warm in here,” she asked, rising suddenly from the sofa. Grasping the clasp at her throat, she undid her cloak and slid it from her shoulders, letting it pool onto the floor. “Oops,” she said, bending over to pick it up, her motions deliberate and unhurried. She had always been a quick learner, and Alec had taught her well. Seduction now came as naturally to her as walking, and she intended to make good use of the newly acquired skill.
Alec’s mouth went dry at the sight of Scarlett’s body, clad only in a thin, white lawn shirt and a pair of skintight breeches tucked into a set of tall riding boots. As she bent over to retrieve her cloak, the shirt gaped open at the neck and the pants molded to her petite derriere like a second skin. The last time he’d seen Scarlett dressed like that, she had been little more than a child. Seeing her now, with her lush feminine curves boldly outlined by the clinging fabric, was a sight to behold.
Taking advantage of his momentary surprise, Scarlett moved to stand in front of him. She hesitated for one brief moment, and then putting her hands on his shoulders she lowered herself onto his lap, straddling his muscled thighs. I can’t let you send me away, she thought to herself. I’ll die if you do.
Instinctively, Alec’s hands came up and grasped her waist. He sucked in a ragged breath as she moved deliberately against his groin. “Scarlett…”
“Make love to me, Alec,” she whispered, as she leaned forward, pressing her breasts against his chest, her faint breath tickling the skin just below his ear. “Please.”
As he felt the tip of her tongue skim ever so lightly along the edge of his jaw, he knew he was helpless against her intoxicating allure. Their coming together was almost frantic in that moment, each of them having been too long without the other. Their clothing was shed in record time, and in a matter of seconds Scarlett was astride him once again, this time in all her naked glory. There were no preliminaries, for they were both too impatient. Scarlett was already hot and wet when Alec slid into her. Their breathing soon became shallow and erratic as their bodies moved together in perfect symmetry.
Scarlett arched her head back as Alec’s hands guided her hips up and down, while his mouth suckled greedily at her breasts. She rode him in reckless abandon, clutching desperately at his shoulders as she felt her release coming. It was too soon. She tried to prolong it until finally, unable to hold back a moment longer, she fell against his chest and spiraled into oblivion. I love you, she thought, her head falling limply against the side of Alec’s throat as he pulled from her, finding his own release.
As their breathing gradually returned to normal, Alec tangled his fingers in Scarlett’s hair and drew her lips to his own. They kissed with the unrestrained passion of lovers who’d been parted for years, rather than weeks, unable to get enough of each other now that they were reunited. Finally Alec drew away, moving Scarlett aside as he stood and pulled on his trousers. With a rakish grin, he picked up her cloak, tossed it on top of her and then scooped her up into his arms. “Let’s go, you sultry vixen.” Barefoot and bare-chested, he carried Scarlett, her own nakedness covered only by her heavy cloak, up the stairs, down the hall and into his bedchamber, where t
hey spent the remainder of the night reacquainting themselves with each other’s bodies in the comfort of his enormous four-poster bed. They spoke very little, content to simply lie quietly, their limbs intertwined, gently brushing their fingertips lightly along each other’s skin when they weren’t lost to the throes of their passion.
It was sheer bliss, and Scarlett never wanted it to end, but unfortunately dawn would soon be approaching, and she knew she had to return home while it was still dark. She wasn’t sad however, for she now knew without a doubt that there would be many more decadent nights ahead with her hot-blooded duke. Of that, she had made certain.
Despite Alec’s earlier qualms, the past hours had convinced him that despite his best intentions, he was simply incapable of resisting Scarlett’s potent allure. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her, and for a moment he wondered if he ever would. It was a ridiculous notion of course, for he was rational enough to understand that whatever it was between them wouldn’t last forever. Once the novelty wore off, their passion would undoubtedly cool and they would gradually lose interest in one another. Though he couldn’t foresee it happening any time soon, he knew that at some point it would. It was inevitable. But for now, his desire for Scarlett was simply too powerful to fight, and he was no longer going to try, his conscience be dammed.
“What are you thinking?” Scarlett asked, tracing her finger down to his navel as she rested her head on his chest, listening to the gentle thud of his heart beneath her ear.
“Nothing of consequence,” he murmured, pulling her up to capture her lips in one last kiss before the night’s end.
Chapter 7
The following evening as Scarlett prepared for the Minton’s ball, she could think of little other than Alec. The previous night had been all she could have hoped for and more. Months ago, she never would have believed she could act with such daring audacity and bold confidence, but now, she knew she would do almost anything to garner the love of her decadent lord. As a child, and with her brothers, she had always been self-assured and full of bravado, and now with Alec, she knew she had to be nothing less. She couldn’t risk losing him, for if she did, her heart would surely break in two.
In deference to Georgie’s wishes, Scarlett had agreed to wear white on her first social outing. They had agreed upon a design several months ago, before Georgie had returned to London. However, Georgie hadn’t seen the fabric that Scarlett had selected, and it was anything but ordinary. Not a true white, the material was a lustrous cream-color, shot through with glimmering silver threads that caught and reflected the light whenever it moved. Even Scarlett had been somewhat stunned when she’d seen the finished product. The bodice was heart shaped and fell off the shoulder, the fabric caught in intricate rosettes at the tops of her arms, while the overskirt was spilt down the center and held back with additional, matching rosettes. Tiny iridescent beads had been generously adhered to the gown, making it look as though it had been sprinkled with fairy dust. It was breathtaking. She couldn’t have been more pleased.
She had decided to leave her hair down, and had simply pulled it back from her face with a set of diamond-encrusted combs that she had inherited from her grandmother. Her auburn curls were a stunning contrast to the color of the gown, and as Scarlett surveyed her appearance in the mirror, she couldn’t help feeling like a princess. Grabbing her matching reticule, she left her bedchamber and went in search of her brothers.
When she reached the top of the stairs, she saw all four of her brothers waiting for her in the foyer below, each of them impeccably dressed in their black super-fine coats, matching trousers, crisp white shirts and perfectly tied cravats. She loved each of them so much that her heart was near to overflowing as she looked at them. Her parents would have been so proud of them, for they had all grown to be such fine, wonderful men. She felt so incredibly lucky to have them in her life.
As she descended the stairs, Gavin was the first to notice her. He had been speaking to Rory but stopped in mid-sentence when he saw her, his eyes widening in wonder and admiration.
Noting the direction of Gavin’s stare, Colin, Conner and Rory immediately turned toward the stairs and watched as Scarlett made her way down.
Scarlett stopped a few steps from the landing, somewhat taken aback by the incredulous expressions she saw on her brothers’ faces. “What’s wrong?” she asked anxiously, afraid suddenly that she had committed some terrible mistake with the design of her gown or the style of her hair.
Colin was the first to recover from his temporary stupor. Moving toward the stairs, he smiled up at her, his eyes filled with love and an immense amount of pride. “If you had wings I would swear you were an angel,” he told her honestly.
Holding out his hand, Colin assisted her down the final steps, his tender expression nearly bringing tears to her eyes. As she glanced between her four brothers, it was as if they all sensed that this night was a turning point in their lives. She could see it in their faces. Their little sister, the incorrigible hoyden they had all helped raise was no more, and in her place was a mature young woman. Words weren’t necessary, their faces said it all and she was touched beyond measure. Fortunately the sudden sound of Georgie’s voice kept her from breaking into tears.
“Scarlett, you forgot your gloves,” Georgie called. She descended the stairs with Scarlett’s gloves in hand, looking lovely in a gown of ice-blue silk.
“You look lovely Georgie,” she said, reaching for the forgotten gloves.
Her brothers politely confirmed Scarlett’s observation, causing Georgie to blush prettily.
It wasn’t long before their coach was brought round to the front of the house, and within minutes they were off.
When they arrived at the Earl and Countess of Standshire’s residence, there were still several coaches queued up along the street, their occupants patiently waiting to disembark in front of the Minton’s grand home. They were running late and Scarlett was thankful to see that they weren’t the last to arrive. She couldn’t help wondering if Alec was already inside.
Entering the grand foyer several minutes later, Scarlett and Georgie were directed to a room set aside for the women to divest themselves of their cloaks and tidy their appearances, while the men were directed to a different part of the house. Georgie informed her that Colin would return shortly to escort her into the ballroom. Georgie would be making her entrance with Conner, a few minutes prior.
While they waited for Colin and Conner, Georgie whispered frantically into Scarlett’s ear, hastily going over the rules of etiquette that she and everyone else must adhere to at a formal ball, for only the third time that evening. Such a lot of ridiculous nonsense, she thought to herself, but she was more than aptly prepared and had absolutely no intention of letting Georgie down.
Nevertheless, when Colin arrived to fetch her, Scarlett felt a flutter of nervous anticipation. Taking his arm, she took a deep fortifying breath, then remembering what Georgie had told her she forced her features to reflect the confidence and self-assurance of someone who wasn’t the least bit intimidated by anything or anyone, even if she was secretly trembling inside.
“The Earl of Kenston and Lady Scarlett McPhearson,” the Standshire’s butler intoned.
Heads swung instantly toward the archway where they stood and Scarlett’s hand tightened imperceptibly on Colin’s arm as they made their way down the steps and into the midst of the elegantly adorned assembly. Within an instant, the air around them was literally humming with the sound of murmured voices. Be brave, Scarlett, she told herself, and was glad to feel Colin’s hand move reassuringly over her own. She could do this.
To her surprise and relief, the Duke of Worthe was announced not more than a few seconds later. Scarlett turned, having had no idea that Alec had come up behind them just as they were being announced. Their eyes met for the merest second, and in that instant she felt her confidence soar. Just the brief glimpse of him boosted her spirits and her courage. With Alec nearby, she felt as though she coul
d take on the world and most certainly a room full of pompous aristocrats.
As people eager for introductions quickly surrounded her and Colin, Scarlett forced herself to relax and did her best to behave naturally. It wasn’t nearly as difficult as she had feared. The names and faces quickly began to blur, but she didn’t let it bother her. She knew Georgie would help her get all of the names and titles straight. Besides, after spending the night with Alec, and knowing he was nearby even now, she didn’t think anything could dampen her good mood.
While she and Colin became immersed in the ever-shifting throng of people, Scarlett found that her dance card was quickly being filled. She was thankful that she had taken Georgie’s advice and purposely marked out a quadrille, a minuet and a waltz, otherwise she most likely would have been on her feet the entire evening. She had already penciled in a dance with each of her brothers, though she assumed they would most likely be spending more time in one of the card rooms than in the ballroom.
She had just added a handsome young viscount’s name to her dance card when Alec appeared at her side. He was dressed much like everyone else, but he stood out nevertheless. He was so tall and so strikingly handsome, it would have been impossible for him to blend in with the crowd.
“I hope you saved one for me,” he said, glancing at her dance card.
“Good evening, Your Grace,” Scarlet replied with a polite smile.
“Alec, good to see you,” Colin said. “Are you planning on treating the ladies to your rare presence this evening or are you going to hide out in the card rooms for the majority of the night?”
“What do you think?” Alec responded to Colin’s teasing with a sardonic grin, knowing Colin would much rather have accompanied him to play cards, than to remain in the ballroom all night. “However, I did promise your lovely sister a dance, and I am a man of my word.”
The Hellion and The Heartbreaker Page 13
