Page 5 of The Villain’s Vixen (Wanton Wastrels)

CHAPTER 5

D ominic had matters that required his attention elsewhere, namely who was responsible for the theft of the information in his journal, but rather than assisting Amos and Devon in trying to track down the culprit, he found himself at this blasted musicale, searching the faces of everyone who walked in the door and hoping he was correct that Miss Givenwald would be attending that evening.

It was rather annoying that he was so eager to see one particular woman when he could have his pick of any number of ladies who didn’t require this much effort. But somehow, quite without his knowledge, Miss Givenwald had managed to bewitch him with her cunning wiles and her devastating beauty. She was a siren, sent to destroy him, and yet, he couldn’t seem to stop the downfall that he knew was inevitable. All he wanted to do was run headlong into the flames of disaster and become consumed by the fire.

He knew it wasn’t wise to engage in any kind of flirtation with the threat of his own ruin so close at hand. What currently stood between him and Miss Givenwald was categorized as anything but innocent . Every time he recalled the events from their brief interlude at Vauxhall, lust shot through his body. It was a dangerous game he was playing because if his enemies discovered his interest in the lady, they wouldn’t hesitate to use it against him and put her in peril.

He should leave. Now. Make his excuses to his hostess and walk out the door and join his future successor.

Dominic was considering doing just that when a flash of pale pink muslin caught his attention. He knew in an instant that it was Miss Givenwald because of the flash of her light hair and the broad smile on her perfect lips. What he didn’t care for was the man at her side. In truth, they seemed rather familiar with one another and considering the way her companion glanced down at her enticing bodice, Dominic had no doubt that his thoughts about the lady were as licentious as his own.

His fists tightened as he remained along the edge of the room and tried to pretend as though he was listening to what his host was saying about his recent hunt in the country when he couldn’t have cared less.

He prayed that he’d caught the man in a break from his recounting as he asked abruptly, “Who is that man who just arrived? I don’t recall seeing him in society before.”

Then again , Dominic corrected himself, I don’t recall bothering to notice him until he began to covet something that belongs to me.

His older companion raised his quizzing glass and narrowed his eye to assumably, gain a better perspective. To Dominic, monocles had been a useless invention. Why bother with one glass when the eyes were obviously made for two?

“I believe that is Francis Marcomb, the Earl of Lindley.”

Dominic absorbed this information. “His father passed just recently, did he not?”

“I believe it was a few months ago, yes.”

Deciding he would look into Lindley’s circumstances a bit further at a later date, Dominic was about to take a seat in close enough proximity to keep his focus on Miss Givenwald and her companion who had taken their seats with her chaperone, and yet, retain a firm distance until he could catch the lady alone.

“Odd that Lindley hasn’t been in society much before now, but then it was rumored that his father was mad.”

Pausing, Dominic wondered why his host chose to add that particular bit of knowledge. “Was he? I’m afraid I can neither concur nor deny the accusation as I have not always been faithful about moving about society until recently either.”

His host shrugged. “It would not surprise me if all of us discovered we were a bit unhinged at times, especially under the influence of drink.”

As he chuckled, Dominic had to quirk his mouth. “That is certainly a theory I could stand behind. Too many spirits have been known to make fools of us all.”

As they parted ways, Dominic took a seat toward the back of the room, but where he could keep Miss Givenwald’s graceful neck in his perfect line of vision. He had never cared for the shade of pink on any lady, believing it appeared too innocent when experienced women were more to his liking, but with the material draped on her form, everything was designed for seduction.

He clenched his jaw, deciding it was going to be a long evening, especially if he had to continue to observe the earl’s interest in her. He leaned over more than once to whisper in her ear, and Dominic did not approve of the action.

Mine.

The word reverberated through Dominic’s head until he wished he had thought to bring a flask of brandy to the entertainment. But then, he would have likely imbibed too much and allowed his annoyance to become public and that would not do. He might want Miss Givenwald in his bed, but that did not mean he had to announce his intentions to everyone present. Besides, Avalon would be disappointed that he couldn’t contain his baser urges any more than that. The master of the East End would never allow himself to lose his composure.

And yet, Dominic was beginning to discover that his heart had never been in danger before now. While he was a long way from being in love with Miss Givenwald, she was the sort of woman who could turn him inside out and beg for her hand before he quite knew what had happened. Already he was more disturbed by her presence than he felt comfortable. Women had always been a pleasant and delightful diversion and nothing more. It might sound crass, but that was the way he had always preferred things. He had enjoyed the separation of the proper side he showed to the world as well as the darker nature that he allowed to roam free in Whitechapel.

Although he’d told himself he wanted to settle down with a nice, biddable wife, Miss Givenwald was the sort of woman who tempted him to embrace his villainous side. And he could tell she enjoyed it.

As the first lady took her place at the front of the room and began to showcase her talents at the piano, Dominic told himself that he should keep his focus elsewhere and forget about troublesome ladies in pink that tested his resolve.

But he doubted he would have much luck.

He was here.

Lexie had yet to spy the Duke of Cuthbert, but she could feel his gaze upon her because the fine hairs on the back of her neck stood on end in warning. Or anticipation. It really could be either.

When she had arrived at the musicale that evening, she hadn’t expected to greet the Earl of Lindley quite so quickly. It was as if he’d been waiting for her arrival because almost as soon as she’d walked in the door he was bowing over her hand and offering a polite greeting to her chaperone. Of course, Aunt Bonnie was more than happy to encourage his attentions and as he escorted her toward the front of the room to gain the best seats for viewing the entertainment, Lexie tried to imagine him in the same role as the duke, pressing her up against a tree and ravishing her with passionate kisses.

She tried desperately to feel the same swirling heat in the center of her belly, but unfortunately, the same emotions fell a bit flat. However, with just the prospect of the duke’s presence in the air, her heart had begun to race and a bead of perspiration had broken out on her upper lip. It was as if she was burning up from the inside out.

Gathering her fan from her reticule, she lightly waved it in front of her face.

“Are you feeling warm?”

She waited for the shiver to crawl over her skin at the soft whisper from the earl’s breath, but again—nothing. Frustrated, she exhaled heavily and paused her fan. “It would seem so.”

Rather than appearing insulted by her sarcastic tone, the earl chuckled lightly. “You are more entertaining than the current performers.”

She decided that his statement needed no reply, so they fell silent. However, as the minutes wore on, Lexie was starting to feel as though she might expire on the spot. A trickle of perspiration trailed down her spine, and she was surprised that for such a cool autumn evening she could be so hot. Perhaps she was coming down with some sort of illness?

But then, when there was a break for the guests to engage in some refreshments, Lexie stood with the excuse of stretching her legs and turned to look behind her.

Immediately, her gaze locked with that of the duke and a fresh wave of heat slammed into her.

She wavered slightly on her feet, the impact so great.

“Are you quite well?” the earl asked at her elbow .

She watched the duke slip toward the terrace doors, and her pulse instantly sped up. “I think I’ll just get some air…”

She started to go but he grasped her arm. “I shall join you?—”

“That’s not necessary,” she said almost too quickly, because he frowned slightly. She glanced at her aunt who was engaged in conversation with another matron and was grateful she hadn’t been overheard because her aunt would have surely considered her refusal as rude. “I would appreciate a bit of punch, if you don’t mind?” she added gently.

“Of course.” He smiled, and as soon as he left her side, Lexie made her escape.

Walking out onto the dark terrace, Lexie scanned the area, thrilling when the shadows separated and she was staring into the handsome visage of the duke.

He didn’t give her a chance to speak, he merely crushed her to him and set his mouth on hers in an almost bruising kiss that caused her toes to curl in her slippers and her fantasies to soar. She clutched his broad shoulders and could tell that there was no need for padding in his jacket. She was feeling nothing but hardened muscle.

Just as quickly as the kiss started, he was setting her back from him. “We have to quit meeting like this,” he teased in a husky voice.

“Must we?” The words had escaped her before she had time to reconsider such a bold query.

His dark eyes caught the light from inside the house behind them and flickered with a wicked gleam. “I suppose that depends on how far you want to take these little interludes.”

“I—”

Lexie wasn’t sure what she had been about to say because it didn’t seem that any sense was functioning at this point at all. Not only that, but in the span of a single blink, the duke had melted back into the shadows just as the earl appeared at her side with a glass extended to her. “How are you feeling now? ”

Her lips still tingled from the duke’s kiss. “Better,” she murmured and forced herself to sip on the punch. It slid down her throat and pooled in her stomach with a sour comparison to the excitement of being with the duke.

As the instruments began to signal the start of the next half of the entertainment, the earl held out his arm to her. “Shall we?”

She inclined her head and accepted his proposal, although it was all she could do not to glance back at the terrace as they departed.

Thankfully, the second half of the musicale passed with less discomfort, but she figured out why when it had concluded. The duke was no longer there.

It caused her no end of annoyance that he should kiss her with such wild hunger and then abandon her after things were starting to get interesting. But then, she supposed it would have been rather difficult to find another excuse to part ways with her aunt and the earl without being too obvious about her intentions. While she claimed she didn’t care about her reputation, she had yet to defile herself thoroughly and until that happened, she had to be mindful of her actions. She couldn’t be too defiant.

As the earl’s coach came to a halt at their townhouse, her aunt bid the earl a good evening and glanced at Lexie in a meaningful way before she disappeared up the stairs. It seemed to be a silent warning to be on her best behavior if she wished to snag a titled gentleman for a husband, and it was apparent that her aunt approved of this one, which meant Lexie should as well.

Forcing a pleasant smile on her face, she looked at the earl and again, wished that he stirred some sort of fiery sensation within her that could rival that which the duke flamed inside. But there was nothing beyond a calm acceptance of his presence. “I should like to call upon you tomorrow to go riding, if that is amenable to you?”

Lexie inclined her head. “I should like that.”

He lifted her gloved hand and pressed a gentle kiss on top, but by the glimpse of determination in his gaze, she knew what was coming next. “Might I kiss you goodnight, Miss Givenwald?”

She swallowed the regret that rose in her throat but pushed it down firmly. Perhaps this was her chance to say for certain she felt nothing for the earl. In answer to his query, she stepped closer to him and lifted her face.

He bowed his head and as she closed her eyes, she waited for the spark, the electricity to flow through her veins. But other than a brief pressure to alert her that he had done the deed, he pulled back and her eyes fluttered open. She tried to hide her inner disappointment and she must have succeeded because he smiled broadly, as if he had pleased her greatly and touched a hand to his forehead. “I shall await tomorrow with renewed vigor upon seeing you again.”

As he entered the coach and it rambled away, Lexie knew she was in trouble.

“I daresay you shall have a proposal from the earl before month’s end,” her aunt chimed up proudly the next morning at breakfast.

Lexie’s head was pounding from a sleepless night, making her a bit more irritable than usual. “What if I don’t wish to marry him?” she countered.

“Of course you shall,” her aunt immediately contradicted. “He is as good a choice as anyone else who has shown interest in you.”

Lexie picked up her toast and her knife, slathering the bread quite liberally with jam as she spoke. “What of the Duke of Cuthbert?”

The older woman instantly set down her fork with a decided clatter. “We have already discussed this, Alexandra. He is not a suitable match.”

Lexie cringed. “Because he is a duke? I can understand your hesitation.” She knew that sarcasm would not help her case, and yet, she had been unable to resist goading her aunt further.

This time the chair was scooted out with a scrape against the wood floor. “I can see you are in a disapproving mood this morning. I shall retire to my room a bit early.” Tossing down her serviette, her aunt quit the room in a huff.

When she was alone, Lexie pushed her barely touched food aside and sat back in her chair with a sigh. She told herself time and again it wouldn’t do to get on her aunt’s bad side, but neither could she understand how a duke’s attentions might be considered less than those of an earl when titles were all anyone in society seemed obsessed with.

Pushing back her chair, Lexie decided to take a walk in the gardens. Although there was a chill to the air, she welcomed the clarity she hoped it might bring. She had no idea why she continued to think about the duke when they had done nothing more than share a couple passionate kisses. Perhaps that was all he was willing to give and Lexie had set out with the intention to gain nothing more, but now things were starting to get complicated. With her aunt’s interference, she would surely push this union between herself land the Earl of Lindley, which Lexie had not yet decided if she liked or not. He had definitely paled in the shadow of the duke the night before. But then, there was no fiery embrace from Lindley in which to compare. She might be thought too bold to make the first advance, but it would be the best way to decipher which man she might wish to pursue. If he was just as intriguing as the duke, then she could, hopefully, set aside this current interest in him and the harmony between her and her aunt would be restored.

Starting to shiver, Lexie decided to make her way back inside and get ready for the earl’s arrival later that afternoon.

A few hours later, with her aunt out on more calls, Lexie received the earl in the front parlor. He turned upon her entrance and she had to admire the way his light hair was brushed back from his forehead, as well as the green eyes that crinkled slightly at the corners and lit with approval when she walked in.

He took her gloved hand and brought it to his lips. “You look enchanting. That shade of blue is an admirable choice, although I have no doubt you can wear any color and make it appealing.”

Lexie inclined her head. “Thank you for the compliment.” She took note of his charming manner and admitted that he was starting to rise in her esteem.

“Shall we?” She accepted his arm and he led her outside to his high-perch phaeton. He glanced upward at the cloudless sky. “I realize that it might be a bit cool to ride without a covering, but I have ensured every effort has been taken with your comfort in mind.”

She spied the warming brick on the floor and the heavy fur coverlet in the seat and nodded her approval. “That was very considerate of you, my lord.” She dared to lean toward him slightly. “I am sure with your presence beside me to keep me warm I shall be well enough.”

He seemed pleased with her comment, rather than shocked or annoyed, so she took that as a positive sign.

Helping her alight, he sat beside her and with a flick of the reins, they began to meander through the traffic on the road.

Lexie had always enjoyed the sound of horses’ hooves striking the cobblestones and with the ease with which her companion held the ribbons, she decided she would like this outing more than she might have anticipated.

As the earl steered them into Hyde Park, she marveled at the trees that were still trying to cling on to their autumnal leaves, some of which hadn’t lost all of their color. The towering branches created a canopy of beauty as they joined the line of carriages and riders out to enjoy the nice weather before winter set in and travel would become a bit less enjoyable due to the cold.

As the afternoon wore on and she and the earl chatted about mundane topics, she decided she was quite enjoying herself. A natural smile had started to cross her face, and she found the earl conversed quite openly and with a wit she had not expected during their short acquaintance.

She was laughing at something he said when a movement brought her attention around to the opposite side of the carriage.

Immediately, her breath caught and the merriment froze on her face.

“A lovely afternoon, is it not?”

The Duke of Cuthbert cut a dashing figure atop a black stallion. He wore a black beaver hat and a three-caped greatcoat. He seemed larger than life, overwhelming her senses like some dastardly villain from a Gothic novel. At first glance, she had to wonder if her aunt was right and she would do well to steer clear of him, but she could not ignore the sudden pounding of her heart nor the increase of her pulse which, sadly, did not occur with the easy conversation she’d had with the earl. The two men were like night and day and she found herself drawn toward the darkness.

After staring in silence for a moment, the earl finally responded. “Good day, Your Grace.”

By the tight way he spoke, it seemed as though it was more of a dismissal than a greeting, but as Lexie finally found her voice, she managed to ease her companion’s direct comment. “It is, indeed. But then, autumn is my favorite time of the year.”

“As is mine,” the duke returned with a glimmer in his dark eyes that caused her hands to clench in her lap. “There is nothing quite like the end of an era to await the chance for a rebirth in the spring.”

Her lips quirked. “How very poetic of you, Your Grace. Is society aware of your hidden talents?”

He mirrored her expression. “I have many talents, Miss Givenwald, although most I choose not to reveal. ”

She was quite enjoying this flirtatious banter, and when the earl attempted to interject, she smoothly spoke over him.

“I suppose we should be?—”

“Whyever not, Your Grace? Are you afraid that they shall be rejected? I can’t imagine you having any such insecurities.”

He lifted a brow. “Everyone suffers from some form of doubt, Miss Givenwald.” His gaze boldly traveled up and down her frame, and she found that she was no longer feeling any sort of chill from the air. “Surely there is something that even you might fear?”

As his focus hesitated on her mouth, her lips parted in invitation. Her body went so far as to sway slightly toward him. “I cannot think of anything at present,” she returned breathlessly, finding that with him so near, she wasn’t coherent of thought.

“We have taken up enough of your time.”

Lexie had to hold out a hand to steady herself as the earl abruptly set the carriage into motion. She told herself not to look back at the duke, but she made the mistake of doing so, only to find that his intense stare continued to follow her.