The Irresistible Lady Behind the Mask

by Emily Honeyfield

  As if the woman had been expecting the question, she smiled and said, “When I couldn’t find a man to love me enough to accept my career as an opera singer. Or maybe it was when I couldn’t find a man that I could love. I can’t really remember.”

  Her niece darted her tongue across her lips. “So you’re saying that had you found a man to love and who loved you in return, you would have got married and had a family.”

  Sipping from her sherry, the woman smiled. “Possibly. But you see, my dear girl, I was married to my career then. I loved singing, and I wanted to do so for the rest of my life.” She sighed with wistfulness. “Although I don’t regret my decision, but there are times I ask myself ‘What if?” What if I had allowed a man to love me and loved him in return? Those times are few and far between, but they come particularly when I’m lonely and craving for companionship.”

  Tempest nodded as fear snaked up her spine. She had been sensing it, but her aunt’s words just confirmed it. She feared that she might have made a grave mistake leaving her marriage to Hudson. Even though she still didn’t think it wasn’t a scam because she didn’t think any self-respecting vicar would have no worries about becoming a barman, she shouldn’t have left Hudson. Maybe with time they would have had a proper wedding. The paper Hudson said his lawyer would draw up still hadn’t arrived, leading credence to the fact that she still didn’t believe that they had had an actual wedding ceremony.

  But all that was by the way because more than ever now, she knew that she had made a terrible mistake. With each day that passed, it dawned on her that Hudson would have been the perfect husband for her.

  He matched her in brilliance and wit; he wasn’t after a large dowry like some of his peers out there. He was a hardworking man, and most of all, he had been her best friend years ago, and if given the opportunity, they would have become the best of friends again. But she had blown it. And for what? This establishment that no longer gave her joy? A place that reminded her of him anytime she stepped foot in it. She remembered how he had tried to seduce her here, how he had helped sort out the near duel between those drunken noblemen, and how they had sparred with words at cards.

  If there was a way she could go back to him to beg him to take her back, she would, but it was already too late. Many times she had rejected him and all he was willing to offer her. She hadn’t even allowed him to make love to her even though she had desired him. No, she had allowed pride to get in the way of love and would regret it for the rest of her life.

  Since Hudson required a wife, no doubt he would marry Valerie. After all, he had chosen her before she spoilt things for them. Her cousin had also cheekily told her a few days ago that she intended going for a visit at the manor just to take in the fresh country air. Tempest had known her cousin was heading there to try to get an offer of marriage from the man since she had recently broken her engagement with the scoundrel who had lied to her. And since Tempest had also foolishly left the man she loved, it left him open for other women who would see the quality in him and snatch him for themselves.

  “Oh, Aunt Beth, I’m afraid I have made a grave mistake,” she cried to the woman who had been watching her closely.

  Aunt Beth moved her chair closer to hers and put an arm around her. Tempest leaned into the woman’s embrace and wept like she used to do when she was a child.

  “There, there, my lass. Everything is going to be fine.”

  Tempest shook her head. “I don’t think so this time around, Aunt Beth. I muddied things with Hudson. I rejected him too many times to count. I wouldn’t be surprised if I get to hear that he’s betrothed to either Valerie or another girl pretty soon. I thought I didn’t want the things he desired. However, after spending a few days from him, I had a change of heart, but it’s too late, I reckon.”

  “My dear girl, don’t be in despair. Whatever is yours will surely come to you. You have to keep on holding on to that belief.”

  Tempest raised her wet face from the woman’s chest. “Even when I foolishly let the thing go?”

  Aunt Beth nodded. “Even when you foolishly let it go. It will surely come back to you. Don’t fret, my dear. If he doesn’t realise that he can’t live without you and come for you, then you go to him.”

  “I’m afraid that it might be too late.”

  “It might be if you don’t do anything about it posthaste instead of staying here feeling sorry for yourself.”

  “But what if he rejects me?”

  “Since when did you become a lily-livered shy schoolgirl? Has love made you so soft that you no longer go after what you want?” Aunt Beth sharply questioned her. “Had I seen weakness in you, do you think I would have bequeathed this establishment to you? And look what you’ve done to it. Why, I can boast that very soon it will be rubbing shoulders with The White’s and will enjoy more popularity than the club.”

  Tempest appreciated that her aunt was trying to cheer her up, so she giggled. Her body shuddered at the thought of going back to the manor and been humiliatingly shown the door by an irate Hudson. She recognised now how she must have hurt him and bruised his ego any time she rejected him.

  The sober woman wished she could undo all she had done. Alas, that was wishful thinking.

  “Perhaps a game with one of the patrons will cheer me up,” she said to her aunt as she pushed herself to her feet. Grateful that she would wear a mask, and it wouldn’t be known that she had been weeping, Tempest wiped her face with her handkerchief and put on her mask.

  Aunt Beth rose to. “You do that, dear. I’ll head on home now. Do come for tea tomorrow. Now that my ailment is gone, possibly I might come with you in your quest to get your man back.”

  Tempest placed a kiss on her aunt’s cheek before the woman departed. She took a moment to comport herself and then left her office. Her steps came to a halt, and she froze when she saw the man seated at one of the gaming tables looking directly at her.

  Hudson Danvers!

  Chapter 32

  “Care to join me in a game, Mrs Danvers?” Hudson questioned while she continued to stand there with parted lips.

  What is he doing here?

  Bolts of pleasure and joy shot through her body at Hudson not only being there at the gaming parlour but also calling her by her supposedly married name. Belatedly noticing that Anthony was giving her a queer look, she forced her legs into movement and nodded her head in the direction of one of the private gaming rooms.

  Her mind roamed all over the place as to what Hudson was doing there. Although she was bursting with happiness, she was also afraid that he might have come to serve her the annulment papers personally and maybe tell her he had found another woman to marry. Dread consumed her.

  She led the way to the room, preceded him and stood there looking. He brushed past her and went to sit on one of the chairs. Reluctantly, she moved forward and sat down on the chair opposite her supposed husband.

  “What shall we play for, Madame?” he questioned as he shuffled the cards.

  Tempest shrugged. The shock and pleasure of him being there had kept her tongue-tied. She shook off the numbness, recalling Aunt Beth’s words of being a strong woman and not a weakling.

  “What do you suggest?” she questioned, avoiding his face because she was afraid that if she looked into those clear blue eyes of his, she might just fall on her knees and beg him to take her home with him.

  Reaching below, Hudson threw out a bag of gold coins and tossed it on the table.

  “Let’s begin with this. I wager you twice its weight in gold,” he informed her.

  Tempest nodded. Disappointment flowed through her. She had hoped he would wager on something more interesting. Perhaps a kiss that would lead into other things. She could only hope.

  As if he read her thoughts, he raised his brows and said, “Maybe we should make it interesting.”

  Flicking her tongue across her lips, she asked, “What do you have in mind?”

  “Our marriage!”

  Not expec
ting such a reply, Tempest’s head shot up. The solemnity in Hudson’s eyes made her concede that he was here for a purpose. She opened her mouth to tell him since their marriage was a sham, they couldn’t use it as a wager.

  “And if you dare open that lovely mouth of yours to call our marriage a fake one more time, I’m going to place you across my lap and teach you to stop doubting my words. I don’t care if Anthony and your other guards come for me as well, I won’t stop until you accept that what I’m saying about our marriage is true,” he warned ominously.

  Tempest paled beneath her mask. The determination in his eyes caused her to fear that he might just carry out his threat. She swallowed thickly and lowered her eyes.

  “I repeat, I married you before God and man. We signed a registry, so it’s legal and binding.”

  For some reason, Tempest believed him. It gladdened her heart that they were definitely married and that he wanted them to play with it as wager. She was so delighted that she almost blurted to him that they didn’t need to play because she was prepared to go back to Strombridge with him. But since she didn’t want to appear eager, she kept her eyes impassive. It was surprisingly difficult to do when she had mastered the act of using a poker face when she played cards with her patrons. She struggled to keep a straight face.

  “What are the terms?” she questioned as he began sharing the cards. She raised her eyes to his deeply penetrating ones. The words died in her throat for some minutes before she cleared it and tried again. “Or aren’t there any?”

  “Oh, there are. I’ll let you know as we play on,” he remarked, placing some cards before her.

  Tilting her head to the side, she said, “I don’t know if I should play when I don’t know the rules of the game. The last time I played such a game with you unknowingly, I found myself kidnapped from London to Strombridge!”

  Hudson chuckled. The sound was so welcome it was like music to her ears.

  “I dare say it’s what you deserved, dishing out cards in a game that you were ill-equipped to take part in.”

  She giggled. “Oh, I was very much equipped alright. Unfortunately, I had no idea the dealer was a louse.”

  “Well, the dealer saw what he wanted and took it. All is fair in love and war, they say,” Hudson returned with a smile.

  “Maybe you should join your peers in the warfront.”

  “Will you come with me?”

  “Certainly not.”

  “A wife’s place is by her husband.”

  “Then I pity the enemies there. Imagine how the warfront would be with all the satin, silk, and petticoats, why, the enemies would lay down their weapons for a glimpse of a well-shaped ankle clad in stockings.”

  Hudson guffawed. “Maybe putting on the velvet robe you wore on our wedding night would win the war.”

  A giggle escaped from Tempest’s lips, but she didn’t say anything. A blush crept up her face as she recollected the stimulating kiss Hudson had bestowed on her before he left the room.

  Hudson and Tempest continued to banter and flirt with each other as they played on.

  Hudson won the first hand. “I want to see you in that velvet robe again.”

  Tempest didn’t mind. As a matter of fact, if he wanted to see her nude, she was ready to oblige him.

  “Done,” she simply said.

  The play continued. Tempest won the second hand.

  Smiling, she said, “I want to keep this establishment.”

  Hudson frowned. He began to shake his head, but Tempest tapped at the cards she had won. He hesitated before he reluctantly agreed.

  “On one condition, though,” he demanded, holding her eyes with his.

  “What is it?” Curiosity and trepidation filled her voice.

  “That Anthony runs it,” he proclaimed firmly.

  “But—”

  “No buts. He runs it or no deal.”

  Sighing even though she was joyous inside, she agreed. “Fine.”

  When she won the next hand, her heart went to her throat at the question she was about to ask. When he had told her those previous times, she hadn’t believed him, but now that she desperately wanted to be with him, she hoped she hadn’t killed the feeling with her pigheadedness.

  Rubbing a nervous hand across her face and worrying her bottom lip as well, she cleared her throat.

  At this time, Hudson’ curiosity had heightened because he sat back and regarded her with wary eyes.

  “What is it, Temp? You know you can tell me anything,” he invited softly.

  His fond name for her was almost her undoing. She nearly blurted her feelings for him right there, but instead she hastily asked, “Do you love me?”

  Without a moment’s hesitation, he answered, “Forever and always. I never stopped loving you, Temp.”

  Dear God, she was going to make an utter cake of herself by bursting into tears. Why did they have to be in a public place trying to save their marriage? Couldn’t Hudson have come to her father’s house?

  Maybe he had been scared she would reject his proposal. But she had changed. She now realised that love was more important than anything else she held dear. Even the establishment she had grown to love and cherish paled when compared with her love for Hudson.

  “Do you love me?” His question rang in her musings.

  Grateful that she had her mask on, she blushed. This was the moment she had been waiting for ever since she realised she was in love with him. She had desired to tell him and the whole world that she couldn’t live without him.

  “Temp?” he called when she paused and didn’t say anything, unable to meet his eyes. “Do you love me?”

  This was the telling moment of her life. Making her feelings known to him would mean putting her heart in his hands, giving up her freedom and independence to be with him. Since she wanted that more than anything else in the world, she replied him with a winsome smile playing at her lips.

  “Yes. I fell in love with you the first time we kissed. I fought it really hard. Eventually, I just had to admit it.”

  The intense love that filled Hudson’s eyes at her declaration got her tossing her cards on the floor. There was no need to play for anything anymore. They loved each other, and that was what mattered. Besides, she was prepared to lose if it would avail her the opportunity of being in his life again.

  “I’ve lost the hand,” she announced albeit without regret.

  Hudson sighed and showed his cards. He had one match. When they looked at the cards on the ground, Tempest had a full house. She giggled helplessly when Hudson groaned. Her hilarity faded when Hudson, in a grand gesture, rose and went on a bended knee.

  “Tempest Haddington Danvers, although we’re already married, I need to do this properly. Would you do me the greatest honour of becoming my wife?”

  Tears fell from Tempest’s eyes at the happiness that was pulsing through her body. When she rose from her bed that morning, missing Hudson and wishing she could go back in time to rectify the wrong she had done, she hadn’t thought for a second that Hudson would not only come back to her but also desire to marry her again.

  “My legs aren’t as strong as they used to be,” Hudson teased still on his knee. “So please let me know if the answer is in my favour or not.”

  Laughing she stated joyously, “Yes, Hudson Danvers, I’ll marry you.”

  Hudson rose and took her into his arms. Tempest went without any delay. When he bent his head to capture her lips, she opened her mouth in readiness for the kiss she had been aching for ever since she saw him in the main parlour.