Page 6 of The Villain’s Vixen (Wanton Wastrels)

CHAPTER 6

S ince his intentions to settle down and do his duty to the duchy, Dominic had joined more society events than he had been comfortable attending. But riding through the park during the hour of the fashionable set was not something he had ever contemplated. However, since he was so deprived of Miss Givenwald’s company and eager to catch a mere glimpse of her blond head, he had dared to enter the realm of the forbidden. Although he carried a respectable title, his name was besmirched to the point that his article had received very little interest. Most of the matrons that had daughters of marriageable age wanted them to make a suitable match, one that wasn’t littered with scandal and speculation as they would have to suffer the same if such a union was made.

This should have made Dominic angry that most weren’t able to see beyond their prejudices to get to know the man behind the grand estates and wealth that he carried. Unfortunately, that was the only motivation for some and how he had been able to cancel most of the interest with a flick of his wrist.

But Miss Givenwald—she was different from all the rest. From the beginning, she had seemed drawn to him in spite of his dark reputation. He had to wonder what she would think of his dealings in the East End but decided that even she might have her limits of tolerance when it came to a gang leader in London’s underworld.

As the earl’s carriage turned a bend and took the lady from his view, Dominic reluctantly turned his horse around and started to head for the exit. There would be no further opportunity for him to engage with the lady as her companion had made it quite clear that his attentions were not welcome.

Dominic’s jaw clenched in irritation. Surely Miss Givenwald wasn’t considering accepting the earl’s suit, as it would be a jest to allow someone like the seemingly straitlaced gentleman to pay her court. While he did not know the lady that well, it was obvious that she would tire of him soon enough. A man like Lindley could not keep a woman like Miss Givenwald satisfied for long, whereas Dominic would gladly accept the challenge.

Again, he reminded himself that until this nasty business with his journal had been resolved, he needed to keep his attention focused not on pursuing the delights of Miss Givenwald. Thus, he steered his horse toward his townhouse where he would secure his mount and change his attire, returning to the visage of Avalon.

As he made his way to the Crown & Sceptre, he headed for his office and paused the moment he entered. “Bloody hell,” he muttered beneath his breath as the entire space had been thoroughly ransacked. Books and papers were scattered all over the floor, his entire desk with open drawers and in a state of pure upheaval.

He scrubbed a hand down his face as a dry voice said behind him, “I just sent a messenger to fetch you.”

“Yes, well, as you can see, there is no longer a need for that,” Dominic returned evenly as he faced Amos. The eyepatch was secured over his left eye while the blue one on the right narrowed in displeasure .

“Don’t get angry at me when you are the one who has chosen to brush aside the need to correct this latest threat.”

“I haven’t brushed it aside,” Dominic snapped, and then just as quickly, he corrected himself with a scowl. “At least, not completely. I certainly don’t understand what the thief might be searching for now. They have already made off with the pages needed to secure the ease of conscience from the names written in that journal.”

Amos looked at him intently for a moment and then said, “Devon and I have a theory about that.” He reached into his jacket pocket and retrieved a letter that he passed to him. “This should offer some further insight into the matter.”

A shiver of apprehension traveled up Dominic’s spine, but it turned into rage when he read the few familiar scribbled words.

I recently discovered you in a compromising position with a member of the fairer sex. I wonder how much this individual might pay to keep this information away from the papers…

He clenched the missive in his fist. “Alert every Blue Boy that we have a blackmailer on our hands. This now extends further than me. He has threatened a lady.” Seeing red, Dominic nearly tossed the letter into the nearest fire, but then he refrained, reminding himself that it had served him well in the past not to destroy any sort of evidence that could be used to condemn anyone else. This man certainly wouldn’t receive any quarter from him.

Fortunately, while Dominic had employed secure tactics for himself, this cretin had still managed to gain enough content that it would cause undue suspicion regardless of his recent efforts to keep his name from being completely besmirched in the papers.

Amos inclined his head. “Consider it done, Avalon.”

Whenever his pseudonym had been called before, Dominic relished it, had enjoyed the sense of power and mystique that it had brought with it. Now, he only felt dread and the feeling that he stood to lose everything he might hope to gain .

Including Miss Givenwald. He had never allowed any woman to worm her way under his skin the way she had managed to do in such a short time. He didn’t know when they had gone from casual acquaintances to the verge of lovers, but he vowed to protect her name at all costs. Her reputation would not suffer because of his failure to secure it.

But in order to do that, he realized that he could not succeed without her assistance. She would have to be told of the threat and thus, Dominic might be forced to combine his two worlds for the first time. Could he trust her with such a monumental secret?

It appeared he didn’t have much choice.

Lexie could hardly contain her excitement as she walked through the front doors of the Theatre Royale at Drury Lane that evening. It had long been her desire to attend a London play and the fact that The Tempest by Shakespeare would be performed made her anticipate the evening that much more.

The only downfall was that she was attended by her Aunt Bonnie and the Earl of Lindley. Just once, she would like to go somewhere without either her aunt or a maid acting as a constant chaperone. It gave ladies little chance to get into trouble or flirt properly when they were constantly being supervised, but she supposed that was the point. Her aunt would surely make her wear a chastity belt otherwise, regardless if the practice of protecting one’s virginity for modesty reasons had gone out of fashion some years prior.

Making their way to the private box the earl had secured for their use, Lexie was about to walk through the private curtain when a flash of movement at the edge of her vision caught her attention. The towering figure could not be mistaken. As her suspicions became correct when the duke turned his head and pinned her with an intense stare and then disappeared down the hall opposite, she found she could not ignore the summons.

“If you would excuse me,” Lexie said to her escort. “I think I should like to visit the retiring room before the performance begins.”

Without waiting for her aunt to say that she would join her, Lexie hastily made her way out of the box and toward the hallway where she had last seen the duke. Her heart was pounding in time to her footsteps as she turned a corner and expected to see him standing there, ready to pull her into his arms for another devastating kiss, but of course, that was not what happened. The hallway was nearly deserted, other than a few patrons who had not yet taken their seats to watch the show.

Disheartened, she wondered if she had mistaken the silent signal the duke had offered to her. However, she noticed the sight of his dark cloak whipping near the edge of the stage entrance.

Glancing behind her, Lexie warily moved forward, grateful that there was a barrier to keep her from being seen heading down to the lower level of the theatre. Her hand was shaking as she lifted it to hold on to the wood to peer behind the stage. Suddenly, her waist was grabbed from behind as a hand moved to clasp over her mouth.

“Don’t scream,” came the husky command.

She nodded, and he jerked her into a secret alcove beneath the stairs that led backstage. It took Lexie a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim light. She blinked a few times, striving to get the duke’s face into better focus, but it was still a menacing shadow, the hard lines of his face looking more pronounced than before. But as he removed his hand from her mouth, she thrilled when the one about her waist remained.

She wondered if he would kiss her now, and lifted her chin slightly in the hope that he would understand her invitation. “How do you always know where I’m going to be?”

His dark eyes glittered for a moment, but then he spoke and his tone was far from seductive. “I need to speak with you about an urgent matter.”

That was a bit disappointing, and she had the impression that what he was going to say wasn’t something she would care to hear. “What is it?”

The hand on her waist moved to encompass her upper arm. His other hand gripped the opposite side. “There could be danger to your reputation.” He paused, as if waiting for a shocked gasp. When she did nothing, he continued, “Someone has discovered us and has threatened to reveal us.”

Lexie waited for more, but when he fell silent, she asked, “Is that all?”

He frowned. “Isn’t that enough?”

Her lips twisted. “If I cared that much for my reputation, do you think I would have allowed your attentions in the first place?” He seemed to consider that, so she moved a bit closer to him. “The truth is, Your Grace, that I don’t care one whit about scandal. I actually encourage it if it will get me what I want.”

She could tell that her bold words had surprised him. “Every woman has a care for their reputation. It is the one thing that will secure them a prominent match.”

She shrugged. “I’m not most women. I don’t care about marriage, but I do want to enjoy all the pleasures that life has to offer.”

He stared at her. “How does one so innocent know of such things? Or is it too much to presume that you are an innocent?”

“To that end, I am, but I don’t intend to return to my boring life in the country without experiencing passion and all those things I’ve heard whispered about in the servants’ quarters when no one thought I was around.” She closed her eyes momentarily. “When I heard the maids talk, I felt… something burst to life inside of me. Like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon.” She glanced back at the duke and found him looking at her oddly now. “I do apologize for speaking so boldly. But while every ot her lady in society prefers to remain proper and perfectly staid, I am not afraid to speak plainly.”

He shook his head slowly. “You are unlike anyone I have ever met. The most practiced courtesans aren’t as bold with their words as you are.”

“Does that turn your head aside?” she asked softly.

“On the contrary,” he returned with a whisper. His hand lifted and he slid it along her smooth cheek. “I am held quite fascinated. It has kept me from trying to find this villain that dares to threaten me. Instead, I am continuously drawn to where you might be.”

“Are you?” Lexie could not believe her good fortune. To hear that her desires might be reciprocated by this man was infinitely more pleasing than the finest gowns or jewels that she might acquire.

“Yes.”

Her breath left her lungs in a rush at his freely given response. “Then perhaps we should make a plan to meet in a more… quiet setting.”

At that moment, the opening instruments began to ring out, as well as the muffled voices of the actors and actresses who had taken their place on stage. Although it had promised to be one of Lexie’s favorite performances, she was willing to forgo one dream for the passions of another.

His focus dropped to her parted lips. “Indeed.” When Lexie thought he was going to kiss her, he stepped back and released his hold. “But not yet.”

Disappointment shot through her, but she tamped it down and focused on the promised interlude to come. Patience had never been her strong suit, but she felt the duke would be worth the wait. The way her body responded to him with a simple caress told her that it would be aflame with more.

“Do you have so many enemies that you must walk with such caution? ”

His jaw clenched and he turned away. “You have no idea the limits of my depravity.”

Oh, but she hoped to find out. “Is that so? Tell me what could be so terrible that they would not only wish to destroy you, but me by association as well?”

This time his face was a mask of cold indifference as he approached her. “What I am about to say cannot be repeated under any cost. Do you understand?”

She would have considered his harsh words to be exaggerated, except she knew him well enough already to be aware that he was not the sort of man who made more of something than what it truly was. “I understand.”

He studied her for a time, as if trying to discern her loyalty. He must have decided he believed her, or else had no other option, as he said, “I am the Duke of Cuthbert to high society, but to the outer parts of London that do not belong to the ton , I go by the title of Avalon, the leader of one of the most notorious gangs in the East End underworld.”

At this, Lexie did find her lips curving into a smile, thinking for certain this was a terrible jest. But when his eyes did not even change from the same serious mien, she realized that this was no joke. He was telling the truth. Immediately, her interest toward him was piqued even further. “That is remarkable,” she breathed. “What an exciting life you must have led.”

If he hadn’t already understood that she was different from so many other ladies, he might have shaken his head in disbelief at her reaction. Instead, he merely said, “It has been a rewarding occupation, more so than a birthright I never wanted and didn’t earn.” He glanced away and then returned his attention back to her when he had recovered whatever mental hurdle he’d just encountered. “But those days are behind me now. Or, at least, I am trying to leave them in the past, but someone is determined to make my withdrawal from that position a bit more difficult than I had hoped. ”

“Avalon.” She said the name and nodded her head. “I like it. You must take me with you when you return to the East End.”

He snorted. “Absolutely not. It’s no place for a lady. It is filled with thieves and cutthroats eager to rid someone of their finery, or worse.”

The implication was not lost on her. “If you are with me, I shall not have to worry, would I? That is, if you are as powerful as you claim?—”

He shoved a hand through his hair. “Have you not heard anything I said? You are in danger now because of a brief encounter with me. If you are recognized, the threat would undoubtedly grow exponentially worse.”

“The danger doesn’t scare me—”

“But it should,” he returned firmly.

Her blue eyes widened almost innocently. If he didn’t know better, he might have believed her actions were genuine. As it stood, he was starting to realize that she was destined for trouble. “You are reported to be dangerous, and yet, I’m not afraid of you.”

Dominic couldn’t stop a chuckle. “Then you would be the first, and also, quite mistaken. I have dismissed men for much less.”

She gave a small pout, but instead of annoying him, he found the action sent lustful imaginings to his nether regions where he pictured that tempting mouth doing other things. “You said it yourself I’m not like most women. I can handle my own.”

A little demon suddenly appeared on his shoulder and whispered in his ear. Let’s put that theory to the test. He lowered his voice. “Is that so?” Then he reached out and brought her flush against him. Pushing her until her back was against the wood frame of the stairs, he lowered his mouth to her ear. “And what if I wanted to have my wicked way with you? How would you defend yourself against someone stronger?”

She didn’t seem fazed as her blue eyes regarded him steadily. The only indication she gave that she was disturbed at all was the slight flutter at the base of her neck. “If I have to tell you what I need to do to turn a man’s interest aside from lust, then you have never been the recipient of unwanted attentions.”

He lifted a dark brow. “Touché.” He tried another tactic. Reaching stealthily into his jacket, he had the blade of his dagger pressed against her pulse. “And what if I were to attempt something more sinister?”

He had to admire her spirit, because again, there was no visible sign of any inner struggle other than the fact that her breathing had turned harsher. “I would call out for you.”

He tilted his head to the side. “And you think I would immediately rush to your aid like some daring knight of old?”

“No. Your appearance would only serve to distract the assailant so that I could retaliate.”

As his gaze flickered, he was impressed by the fluid motion of her hand when she easily captured his blade and held the point against the center of his throat.

“Is that convincing enough for you to take me with you?”

Dominic allowed a smirk to steal across his lips. “I admit that not many people surprise me, but it is apparent that someone has taught you the art of self-defensive tactics.”

She handed him the blade and he slipped it back into his jacket. “I can also shoot a pistol and a bow if the occasion calls for it.”

His focus drifted down to her bodice where the gentle swell of her breasts tempted him beyond almost all rational thought. “You are a remarkable woman, Miss Givenwald.”

Her lips twitched, bringing his focus to her mouth. “I am glad you noticed, Your Grace.”

Still standing ever so close together, he knew that should they remain in such a compromising position for much longer, they had the risk of being caught. As it was, her absence was likely already noted. Reluctantly, he moved back. “You should rejoin your party.”

“If you insist,” she returned coyly.

A low growl emanated from the back of his throat, and for a moment, he hardly recognized it as his voice. “You are a vixen.”

“Only with you,” she whispered lightly and then brushed past him.

When she was gone, it was as if the air had been sucked out of the alcove. Dominic almost collapsed against the wood, although he did reach out a hand to try to gain control of the raging lust that was coursing through his body. He wondered if Miss Givenwald understood the effect she had upon him and how dangerous her abilities could be to anyone else.

When he imagined her offering the same flirtations to another man, he didn’t like it. At all. In truth, it made him see red, and that was a hazardous reaction to anyone who knew what Avalon was capable of doing.

Dominic left the alcove, but rather than remain for the play, he took his leave, knowing it was best for all involved that he did so.