Page 21

Moreland

M irabelle’s parting words had rattled me. She was more astute than I’d imagined. She’d overplayed her hand with Kendrick, but she could read people. It left me wondering how many others could see that Victoria and I were putting on a show.

Needing time to think, I dragged Victoria into one of the alcoves.

But once we were safely away from prying eyes, my thoughts blanked.

She was too close. I was supposed to protect her, but somewhere along the way, the pretense had ceased being about helping Rexford.

Instead, I was fully focused on the young woman in front of me.

And I was very aware of the fact that I was failing her.

She waited for me to speak, but I was powerless to move. Finally, the only thing I could manage was a quick apology as I spun away. I needed to get myself under control.

I didn’t expect to feel Victoria’s hand on my arm. She wasn’t strong enough to move me, but she didn’t need to use force. Her light tug had me turning to face her.

Her voice was low. “Miss Devereux knew what we were about. Do you think everyone out there does?”

Somehow I refrained from cursing. “I don’t know.”

“But you’re afraid she might be right.”

I nodded. “I’ve failed you.”

Her smile was soft. “There are two of us here, and clearly, neither of us is putting on an adequate show.” She looked away, her voice hesitant. “I thought dancing might have been enough.”

When her lower lip wobbled, I pulled her into my arms. She took a few deep breaths as she settled into me. Just as she did when we danced.

“If I ever do anything that makes you uncomfortable, let me know, and I will stop.”

She looked up at me, her wide, shadowed eyes holding mine.

“I think we both know the failing is on my part. Anyone who looks at Miss Devereux knows at a glance that she is what she claims to be—a woman looking for a protector. But with me…” She released a soft sigh that held more than a hint of sadness.

“I fear my father has shaped me all too well. I am prim and buttoned-up…” Her mouth twisted to the side, and she glanced down. “A proper young woman.”

I tilted her chin up so she was looking at me again and allowed my hand to rest there, softly stroking the line of her jaw. “I don’t want to hear any negativity from you. We are in this together.”

She took a deep, shuddering breath, then nodded. “What are we going to do?”

I stared down at her. “You’re still willing to continue? Rexford can take you away. I’m sure he’s still out there.”

She shook her head. “No, absolutely not. I’m staying with you.”

If any other woman had said those words, I would flee.

But for some reason, they had the exact opposite effect coming from Victoria.

I wanted to drag her home and never let her go.

Nothing was stopping me from acting on that desire.

I was supposed to be her protector. Her lover.

No one in our group would fault me for doing whatever necessary to ensure she was ruined.

I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. I had to find my self-control.

“I think we need to rumple you up a little bit.” My eyes roved over her hairstyle. It was already half down.

She blinked in surprise but remained still as I weaved my fingers through the mass and plucked out the few pins that were holding a portion of it up.

I hummed in approval when her hair tumbled down. “That’s a good start.”

Victoria reached up and pulled at my cravat. I let her. When she had it undone, she pulled aside the opening of my shirt and stared at my throat.

“I’ve never seen a man’s throat before,” she admitted softly. “Even when my brother was at home, many years ago, Father insisted that he dress appropriately.”

Her words sent a wave of heat coursing through my body.

She’d never seen a man’s throat. I closed my eyes as images filled my head of all the things I could show her, all the delights we could discover together.

I’d vowed that I wouldn’t actually ruin her, but at that moment, my restraint was razor-thin.

It would take very little to tip me over the edge.

“Can I kiss you?” My voice was unexpectedly rough.

I’d never had to ask a woman’s permission before. But my previous lovers had always made it clear that they would welcome my advances. With Victoria, I couldn’t be certain.

Her hands moved to my lips, and I captured a finger in my mouth.

Her eyes widened, and she nodded. “I think I would like that very much.”

That was all the invitation I needed.

The first touch of our lips was tentative, the fabric of our masks a soft whisper in the darkened space.

I could tell she’d never been kissed before.

The fact that I was the first man to touch her made me almost wild with the desire to rip the cursed dress from her body.

But I needed to remind myself that I had to show restraint. We weren’t here for that.

I tried my best to ignore the little voice that whispered, You can do a lot just shy of making love.

She sighed, and when her mouth opened, I deepened the kiss.

I kept enough of my wits about me to watch for any sign of reluctance on her part.

But instead of trying to pull away, she wrapped her hands behind my neck, just as she’d done while we were dancing, and lifted herself onto her toes so we were better aligned.

I cupped her backside and lifted her against me.

She made a soft sound of surprise, but then she returned the kiss with equal fervor.

I didn’t know how long we indulged in that simple exploration, but it wasn’t long enough. The curtain rattled, followed by a muttered apology, then Victoria and I broke apart.

She was still in my arms, staring up at me, her eyes almost black in the darkness. My baser instincts urged me to finish it and make her mine. She was acting the part of my mistress. Nothing would prohibit us from crossing that final barrier and making it a reality.

We didn’t need to pretend.

But then I became all too aware of the laughter and music still playing outside, and for the first time in my life, a wave of shame washed over me.

I couldn’t do this to Victoria. Not here, at any rate.

If we did make love, it wouldn’t be here, in an alcove at an assembly. This woman deserved better than that.

I lowered her to her feet and stared down at her flushed face. Her lips were swollen from our kiss, and it took me a few moments before I found my voice. “I think you might be rumpled enough.”

Her laughter held an edge that made it clear she was still trying to gather her wits. Her hands moved to my throat, and I swallowed thickly. Her fingers deftly undid the buttons of my waistcoat, but she paused at the fall of my trousers.

I held my breath in anticipation of her touch. Somehow I forced myself to take another deep breath and covered her hands with mine. “It will be enough.”

One thing was clear—I could no longer trust myself to be alone with Victoria. I was as hard as a rock, and I wanted to take her, consequences be damned.

Instead, I tugged her into my side and escorted her from the alcove. Anyone watching us as we made our way to the exit would know we hadn’t been conversing in private. And it would only take a glance to see my obvious arousal.

The first clap of a hand on my back as I passed a group of men, accompanied by their bawdy remarks, would normally have been enough to distract me from my desires.

But my thoughts were filled with the way Victoria had looked up at me and the way she’d touched me.

When she’d hesitated at the fall of my trousers, everything inside me had stilled as I’d waited to see if she would move lower.

I bundled her into the carriage, for which we thankfully didn’t have to wait long.

Then I had to force myself to remain on the opposite bench from the woman who looked like sin itself.

In the dim interior of the carriage, the skin above the very low neckline of her dress seemed to glow in the dark. It beckoned me to touch her.

When she licked her lips, I let out an audible groan. “I shouldn’t have brought you here.”

Her gaze held mine. “Tell me, my lord, what do you think Lord Heddington would have done to me after we were married?”

Her question lodged in my brain, and I hated the image it called forth. She might be a gently bred young woman, but her father had been on the verge of giving her away to someone who could have done anything they wanted to her.

I’d never given serious consideration to it before meeting her.

All those gently bred young women, escorted to all manner of balls, routs, and musicales, carefully protected by their chaperones.

Yet many of them were gleefully handed over in marriage to lecherous old men.

I had no doubt that most of them were ill prepared for what would happen in the bedroom.

The best they could hope for was that it would be quick.

Victoria had escaped that fate, yes, but she wouldn’t remain innocent forever. At some point, even if no one would marry her because she’d been thoroughly ruined, she would take a lover.

I could see it all too clearly. She’d told me her plans that first evening over dinner.

When this was all over and she was free from her father’s control, she wanted to move to a small town, set up her own household, and live quietly.

Rexford would help her achieve that goal and ensure she wanted for nothing.

But Victoria was too beautiful to remain alone, and I’d caught a glimpse of the passion that lurked within. Men would flock to her. And it wouldn’t matter whether they sought an illicit liaison or offered her an honorable marriage. I hated them all on principle because she was mine.

Somehow, I managed to keep my hands off her during the ride home. I escorted her inside, and a footman assured me that the household had seen no activity in our absence. After dismissing him, I turned to Victoria and inclined my head toward the drawing room. She followed me without protest.

“Do you think it went well tonight? After what Miss Devereux said…” She bit her lower lip.

I laughed. “Trust me, everyone thinks we’re lovers.”

She let out a shaky breath as she reached up to undo her mask. I’d already removed mine in the carriage. “Because I undid your cravat and the buttons of your waistcoat? Or because my hair was down?”

I shook my head. Lust had me reaching for the hand that wasn’t holding the mask and bringing it to my still-hard erection. “No. Because it was clear to everyone that I couldn’t get you out of there fast enough. They think I’m bedding you right now.”

I expected her to snatch her hand back when I released her. Instead, she curled her fingers around me, and I had to close my eyes. Never in my life had I been so tempted by someone I knew I couldn’t have.

“We could still do that.” Her voice was low and melodious, a siren’s call. “I am your mistress, after all.”

Cursing, I dragged her into my arms and ravished her mouth. I poured every ounce of frustration and desire into our kiss, welcoming the way she returned my ardor. Then I pushed her away.

“I know what I want,” I said, a low gravel in my voice. “But you need to be certain you want the same thing.”

“I do,” she whispered.

I shook my head. “No. Not tonight. You should go upstairs now. You’ll sleep in your bedroom, and I’ll sleep in mine. We can talk about this tomorrow.”

She wanted to protest. I could see it in the stubborn tilt of her chin and the way her lips pressed together in that delicious line that tempted me to coax them apart. But after a moment, she nodded.

I watched her walk away, her back ramrod straight, her long, dark hair swaying with every step. And I cursed myself for behaving like a fool.