by Claudy Conn
He didn’t have to look, she thought as her eyes met his. He already knew. He knew everything. He returned a warm smile to her, and she felt her body flush with pleasure.
“Indeed, little love, it is. Would you like me to present you?”
Felicia recoiled in horror and withdrew her hand from his. “Faith no!”
He chuckled and took up her fingers once more, this time lifting her bare wrist to his lips.
Once again it occurred to her that her life would never be the same. It had changed forever, from the moment he had entered her line of vision.
He said, “He won’t bite you, sweetheart … at least not while I am present, and I shan’t ever leave you alone when he is about.”
Once again, their gazes were joined, and it was as though she had entered a place where she was in his arms once more, in his bed, and he was making delicious love to her. Did he feel it? He did, she was sure of it from the smoldering in his silver eyes.
Their moment was sharply interrupted by the sound of a deep male voice, and she saw the duke frown as James Reinhart entered their box and bowed over Felicia’s dainty and gloved fingers.
“You beauty, you … gold silk suits you. Why, you look like a goddess!” Reinhart said, and Felicia almost giggled for she could see the duke roll his eyes.
She did, in fact, laugh and said, “Ah, James … are you looking forward to this play?”
“How can I, or any man, watch the stage when you are here, looking as you do?” he answered.
The duke choked, and Felicia laughed out loud. “James, you are too kind.”
Reinhart turned to the duke and said, “Somerset, this is selfish of you, indeed, it is. You are hogging your ward all to yourself.”
Felicia saw Becky, who had been deep in conversation with Scott, turn, open-mouthed, wait for the outcome of this confrontation, which nearly made her laugh again.
“It is a pleasant duty, sir, to guard my ward from the many dangers that lie all around her,” the duke said lightly.
Reinhart apparently was no fool. His thick brow went up. “Indeed? Rest easy then—when she takes a turn with me, she will be safe.” Without waiting for the duke’s response, he turned to Felicia once more and said, “Allow me to escort you to the vestibule, where I saw Lady Daphne a moment ago. I think you might find it entertaining, and there is time before the curtain goes up.”
The truth was that Felicia was happy right where she was. Becky and Scott were deep in conversation with their heads together like lovers, and this warmed her heart. Becky would forever be her dearest friend, and to have her and Scott make a match of it was beyond anything she could have dreamed of obtaining. The duke beside her was simply everything else she needed.
She smiled warmly at Reinhart, for she did not wish to embarrass him with rejection, but neither did she wish to be forced into doing something she didn’t want to do. She said, “Oh, thank you, James. You are most kind, but I have not seen my guardian all day, and there are things we need to discuss.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she actually witnessed an expression of gloating flit over the duke’s face, and her hand fluttered to her eyes as, and then to her mouth as once again, she nearly burst out laughing.
Reinhart put a hand to his heart and in mock accents of dismay said, “My lady, have I been sent on my way? How shall I recover?”
She beamed up at him and offered, to soften her dismissal, “No, no, you absurd man. You may sit and join us, if it is your wish.”
“It is,” he answered. He pulled up Lady Daphne’s vacant chair and sat slightly behind her but took her gloved fingers and her attention by saying immediately, “Look there, see that woman in the box directly across from us?”
Felicia’s eyes scanned the box and rested on a tall and somewhat dowdy-looking female in a gown that was far too extravagant for her plump figure. “Y-y-es?”
“That is our regent’s wife,” he offered confidingly.
“But, they are not in the same box,” she returned with some surprise.
“No, they share very little these days,” he said and chuckled.
“But they are married?” Felicia was deeply surprised. She knew that love and marriage did not always unite a couple. The gentry often made marriages of convenience, yet she believed that publically there was some consideration for one another.
“Marriage? What is that to say to anything?” Reinhart scoffed. “They heartily dislike each other, you know. She isn’t even allowed the care of her daughter.”
“But how awful for her. Why?” Felicia was shocked.
The duke touched her chin and said softly, “Don’t be distressed, my dear.” He frowned at Reinhart. “The regent does allow them to dine together once or twice a week, but, for reasons of his own, he doesn’t allow Caroline to raise Charlotte.”
“That is so very sad.” Felicia frowned over this information. She looked across at the woman who would one day be queen and felt a stab of pity for her. The duke’s hand went comfortingly down her arm and took her hand.
Reinhart, Felicia saw, had opened his eyes wide to stare at them, but at that moment Freddy appeared at the box, laughing amiably at something his wife had said as he stepped aside to allow her to enter.
Reinhart bowed himself off, and when Freddy made an odd sound his wife remarked, “Dearest … you don’t like Reinhart, do you?”
Felicia knew that Freddy, a large and jovial man of few words, would not really respond to this, and he didn’t, saying only, “Who said I didn’t like him?”
Daffy said, “I know you, and I know you don’t seem to like him.”
“But why doesn’t Freddy like him?” Felicia asked and laughed at Freddy’s expression.
“Quite another story, and even I don’t know the whole,” Daffy said.
“Let us hear it,” the duke stuck in. “I know I am much interested, for Freddy has a good sense of things.”
“Not now,” Freddy stuck in. “It is my story, and I don’t mean the young ladies in our care to know it.”
“Nonsense, Freddy,” his wife said and laughed. “It is time you told me the whole as well, especially if he is going to be forever hanging out for our Felicia.”
“No, it ain’t the time,” Freddy returned and set his lips.
* * *
The curtain started to rise, which saved Freddy some verbal battering. However, the duke, for one, resolved to have an answer on this score. If Reinhart meant to foist himself in Felicia’s way, he would know more of him. Not that Reinhart stood a chance. In the end, there was only one man he meant for Felicia to have, and once she had a choice … well, he hoped it would be him.
~ Twenty-Seven ~
THE EVENING HAD been perfection, Felicia thought as she slipped off her cloak and let it drop on a library chair.
“Do you stay, Glen?” Daphne asked lightly.
“For a moment or two,” the duke answered and followed Freddy to the sidebar where he was pouring two snifters of brandy.
He took the glass and a sip as he turned, and Felicia purposely found his gaze and held it. What was he thinking, she wondered. Did he want her? Was he thinking of the night they shared? Did he love her?
He was ever so attentive and protective, but was it because he was her guardian? Or was she correct in thinking it was more, so much more?
A servant bobbed a curtsy and asked if her lady needed refreshments brought in. Daffy smiled and told her no but asked if Cook was still up and about.
“Aye, she is,” said the young maid.
“Then I will go to the kitchen. I need a word with her. There is so much we need to do before Miss Felicia’s ball … there, run along and I will be there presently.”
“I’m coming to the kitchen with you,” announced Freddy, throwing down his drink. “Always something good to bite into there, and I’m hungry. That rubbish they serve at Almack’s leaves me famished.”
Daffy smiled at her husband but eyed her brother with a raised fine brow. “I t
hink I will turn in after I speak with Cook … and suppose you won’t keep your ward too long?”
Felicia watched their exchange of facial expressions and laughed out loud. “Are you worried that your rogue of a brother will seduce me in your library?”
“Felicia!” Daffy said in shocked accents and turned back to her brother. “You won’t, will you?”
He laughed. “As much as I want to, no … I won’t.”
“Now, Daffy, you have gone and ruined my fun,” Felicia said.
Freddy barked a laugh and put an arm around his wife, saying within earshot, “He may be her guardian, but I’ll warrant he means to be more.”
Felicia felt her cheeks burn and wished for a moment that Becky had returned to Waverly with her instead of allowing Scott to escort her to her father’s home. Now, here she was all alone with the duke, which is just what she wanted, and yet … she felt absurdly and suddenly shy.
To compensate she began chattering about nonsense, about her youth, about absurdities, and all at once he said, “Guardian be damned!”
The next thing she knew she was in his arms.
She responded by putting her hands to his shoulders to receive his kiss. It was tender, it was ferocious, it was erotic, and it completely swept her into a wave of emotion.
“Glen!” Daffy said boldly, and the two broke guiltily apart. She eyed them. “I won’t ask the ridiculous. I won’t censure. I am not a fool. However, you will not do this in my home, under my eye.” She nodded to Felicia, who saw a sure twinkle in her ladyship’s eyes as she told her, “Time for er … bed.” She turned to her brother. “I should like a word with you, Glen.”
Felicia lowered her head and then raised it again as she stepped up to Daffy and whispered, “Did you never kiss Freddy like that before you were … committed?”
“Of course I did—what is that to say to anything?” Daffy answered, her lips twitching.
“Everything,” Felicia twinkled, not at all remorseful or ashamed. She looked back at the duke and added, “And, yes, guardian be damned!”
He burst out laughing, and she heard him say, “Daffy … there is nothing for it, you know but to admit that, yes, I am taken with my ward.”
She hesitated just outside the door, out of sight to hear, “Well, that may be, but now we must end your guardianship officially and make sure no scandal is instigated that would hurt Felicia. Are we clear?”
“I have been clear on that point for the last two months!” her brother snapped.
On that last, and smiling brightly, Felicia made her way up the stairs to her room. Ah, yes, she thought. The night had been perfection.
* * *
James Reinhart looked quite dashing, what Felicia had learned was called de rigueur when he walked into the morning room and bowed a greeting.
Scott, who had been attending Becky stared for a moment, his eyes narrowing, and Felicia saw at once that her friend did not care for the newcomer. Not one bit. She was surprised by this, for although she was not taken in by Reinhart, she did find him an entertaining and pleasant person.
She smiled a welcome while Becky merely nodded at him. What was this? Did Becky not like him either? To compensate for her friends’ coolness to Reinhart she said warmly, “James. Good morning to you.”
He took her ungloved hands into his large ones and brought her fingers to his lips as he bent. He whispered for her ears, though she rather thought both Scott and Becky heard him, judging from their expressions, “You ravish me with your eyes and make me your obedient servant.”
Felicia laughed. “Nonsense. Hoyden is what they call me around here, not ravishing, but do sit … I will pour you a cup of tea.” She reached over and removed the warmer from the teapot and did just that.
“Hoyden? Now that is nonsense.” He turned to Becky and said, “Good morning, Miss Wilson.” He nodded at Scott. “Hanover.”
Each murmured the same in return, but Felicia was uncomfortably aware that both her friends did not approve of the gallant.
He sipped his tea while standing and said purposely, “Felicia … I rather thought you might join me this morning for a ride in the park. My curricle and four are outside, and I don’t like to keep them standing too long. Do say yes.”
“Your matched four?” Felicia was excited about this; she had heard about Reinhart’s famous matched four. “Yes, I should like that above all things.”
Becky said softly, “You know Lady Daphne will be down soon and means to take us shopping.”
“Yes, yes, but we won’t be that long, will we?” she asked of Reinhart.
He laughed. “If you like, I shall just take you for a turn about the square.”
“Your tiger, no doubt, is with you?” Scott asked on a reserved note and Felicia turned a glare on him. Was he playing at guardian as well? Just what was this?
The duke stepped into the morning room at this point, and Felicia advised him that she was going out for a turn around the square. He made no objection as she ran out of the room to fetch her cloak, but he then turned to Reinhart and asked, “Tell me, James, you don’t often take out your grays this early in the morning, do you?”
“No,” agreed James, “I don’t.”
“I take it this is a special occasion, then?”
“Indeed, any moments I can steal with … er … your ward, are special to me,” Reinhart replied glibly.
“That too, is not like you,” the duke returned quietly and gritted his teeth. For no discernable reason he wanted to plant Reinhart into the ground. Odd that, since they had often enjoyed a wild evening in one another’s company.
“No, not like me, and, I might add, Felicia is not like any other woman I have ever encountered. She is a breath of fresh air.”
“You must remember she is still young and not quite up to snuff,” the duke cautioned, his fingers folding into his palms as they formed fists.
“I am aware … the question is, are you?”
Right then, the swine was looking for a facer. The duke nearly brought up his fist but managed to control himself.
“Hallo!” Felicia said, tying her blue velvet cloak with its pretty white ribbon at her neck as she stood in the open doorway.
The duke thought her the most beautiful woman he had ever clapped eyes on. Whenever she entered a room, everything glowed. Her smile absolutely took his breath. Her eyes twinkled and took his thoughts and got them all coiled into a knot, and her lips … made him hard, made him remember their night together in his bed.
Reinhart bent his arm for her gloved fingers, and as the duke watched the devil lead her away, he cursed under his breath.
“I don’t like him,” Scott said as soon as they heard the front door close and the duke turned to walk over to the coffee pot at the sidebar.
“He may be a good sort of fellow,” Becky said. “But he is not at all the thing for Felicia.”
“No, he is not,” the duke agreed.
“The trouble is,” Becky added. “I do think Reinhart is in earnest. He may be smitten with her, and Felicia, when she discovers this, will feel very badly and worry that she led him on.”
Lady Daphne came into the morning room at this juncture and with a teasing eye said to her brother, “Well, as to that, Reinhart is a perfectly wonderful match for our girl. Don’t you think, Glen?”
He missed the tease and the twinkle in her eyes and snapped, “No, no I do not.”
“It is of no matter,” Scott put in reasonably. “She won’t choose him. I know her, and while he may be smitten with her, she is not smitten with him.”
“I am not so certain,” Becky said gently while regarding the duke. “She could have her head turned, for he is the most sophisticated and exciting of all her suitors.”
“He shan’t have her as long as I have something to say!” the duke snapped irritably.
“Ah, but you won’t have much to say … your guardianship will soon be at an end,” his sister provided and turned away.
“Bloody hell!
” the duke said and stomped out of the room. “I’m off for Whites’.”
~ Twenty-Eight ~
THE DUKE RETURNED to his sister’s house a few hours later and asked Jeffries, the Waverly butler, where his sister was.
“Ah, her ladyship advised me that since Miss Felicia was late, she was taking Miss Rebecca with her shopping.”
“And Miss Felicia?” the duke’s ire snapped to attention. What the devil? Had Felicia been with Reinhart all this time?
“She came in a few moments ago. She was distressed when I gave her Lady Daphne’s message, and she hurried off to the library to await her ladyship’s return.”
He stomped off, opened the library door, and stood staring at Felicia, who was on tiptoes and thumbing through a shelf of ancient books.
His heart stopped.
She was a sprite of a woman forever throwing convention to the wind. She was a rough and tumble girl, unafraid of breaking rules, taking on life just as she should, and he adored her. Did she want Reinhart? Was that it? If so … what would he do?
She turned, and the smile that immediately curved her lips warmed him as he stepped forward and said, “In the suds once again, my girl?”
“Yes, I am, and I am so sorry for it, but you know, I had so much more fun that I would have had going from shop to shop with dear Daffy. I have never enjoyed shopping.”
He laughed and then grew serious, but Felicia was already going to him, her hands outstretched for his. He took her fingers and met her earnest gaze as she said, “What is it, sir? Surely not because I was late?”
“Why were you late?” he asked quietly.
“James took me first just around the square, but said, if we were in the park, he would let me have the reins for a straight go, and of course I simply had to take the driving reins, you see …”
In spite of his irritation, the duke laughed. “Of course you did.”
“We did go to the park, and it was glorious. His four are exquisite to look at and absolutely wondrous to drive. At any rate, on our way back …” She moved in closer to him and was looking up into his eyes. “We hit a great deal of traffic, and that slowed us.”
