Page 12 of What A Rogue Wants (Lords Of Deception #1)

He ambled over to the far wall, where a different assortment of breads and cheeses should be laid out, but none was there yet.

His stomach growled again. A servant came through the door with a large tray lifted above his head.

The pleasant scent of warm bread wafted on the air.

Grey smiled and was just about to call out to the man when the dining hall door swung wide again, and Lady Madelaine flew through the door, in a flurry of pale green silk which contrasted quite nicely with her honey hair that tumbled around her shoulders.

The exquisite picture she presented would have stirred his lust, but her dark eyes were round with fear and her hands grasped spasmodically in front of her.

From across the room, he raised his hand to get her notice, but the door swung wide again and hard footsteps rang in the otherwise quiet room. Grey narrowed his eyes as Thorton strode toward Madelaine. What the hell was that man doing up so early? Thorton was a liar, a cheat, and a lazy ass.

Lady Madelaine shot a glance behind her, and then swung toward Thorton, her gaze darting all over the room. What was this? If the lady was secretly meeting with Thorton, Grey would toss up his breakfast. Oh hell, he’d not eaten breakfast.

Lady Madelaine backed behind a table, and lifted her skirt.

Bile filled Grey’s mouth. He’d not watch the woman he’d fantasized about being plundered by another.

He turned on his heel to go, but a long flash of metal caught his eye.

His jaw dropped at the gleaming dagger Lady Madelaine held in front of her.

He’d seen stranger games between a man and a woman, but this had to be the strangest.

“Lady Madelaine, you wound me,” Lord Thorton said, coming to stand on the opposite side of the table from her. Grey stood still and silent, not sure whether to excuse himself or hide and save her the embarrassment of knowing he’d witnessed her and Thorton.

She squared her shoulders. “I’ve not wounded you yet, you swine, but I swear if you grab me again, I’ll use my dagger.” Now that was definitely an interesting choice of words to elicit a man’s desire. Maybe they played at prey and hunter.

“Come, Lady Madelaine. Don’t make me use force. This could be pleasant for both of us.”

Grey’s heartbeat sped up a notch. Something wasn’t right.

Lady Madelaine raised the dagger higher. “If your hands are on me, I vow it will not be pleasant.”

Thorton lunged across the table, and true to her word, Lady Madelaine plunged the dagger straight down toward the man’s leg. “You bitch,” Thorton cursed loudly, causing the only servant remaining in the room to flee.

Red covered Grey’s vision. He kicked the chair blocking his path out of the way. The wood splintered as it hit the table with the force of his anger. He was beside Lady Madelaine in four long strides. Her eyes smoldered, but her body shook. Grey pushed her gently behind him and faced Thorton.

Thorton jerked the dagger out of the wood and material of his trousers. The material ripped as the dagger let loose. “You saw it, Adlard. The bloody bitch tried to stab me. You’re my witness.”

“I did not try to stab you,” Lady Madelaine spat. “I gave you a reprieve with my generous warning. If I intended to stab you, believe me, the dagger would have pierced flesh.”

Grey snatched the dagger from Thorton while studying Lady Madelaine’s grim face. Her words as well as her aim impressed him. “I saw you try to accost her.”

“The hell you say. She wants me.”

Grey glanced back at Lady Madelaine. “Do you want this man?”

She shook her head. “Unless you count wanting him dead.”

He smothered his laugh as he turned back to Thorton.

“It’s too bad she decided to be generous, Thorton.

In my opinion, you deserved a dagger in your leg, at the least.” Grey wanted to kill the man for trying to force himself on her.

Grey curled his fingers into fists. “If you ever touch her again, I’ll not be near as generous as the lady.

But take heart, I know just where to strike with a dagger to make your death quick.

” He touched the pulsing vein on Thorton’s neck.

“My father considered teaching his sons all means of self-defense of the utmost importance.”

Thorton shoved Grey’s hand away. “I won’t forget this,” the man snarled.

“Neither will I,” Grey promised.

Thorton opened his mouth as if to say something else, and Grey raised the dagger challengingly. “Shall we test my lessons?”

Thorton spat on the floor and slammed out of the room. Grey gripped the dagger, trying to calm himself and slow the blood roaring in his ears and his painful heartbeat.

Lady Madelaine rested a hand on his arm. “You can release my dagger now, Lord Grey. He’s gone.”

Grey relaxed his hold and handed the dagger over. A witty reply laced with sexual innuendo was on the tip of his tongue, but when he looked into her warm, anxious eyes his witty reply was gone. “Were you afraid?”

“Yes. Were you?”

The honest admission and question surprised him. Honesty at Court was so novel. “I wasn’t afraid for myself.”

“For me?”

“Yes.” With a start he realized he was telling the truth not merely trying to seduce her. “What if I hadn’t been in the dining hall? What if Thorton had ravished you? I’d hate to think anyone had you against your will.”

Her cheeks redden. “I do try to avoid him.”

“You need to tell the queen.”

She shook her head.

Damnation. He understood. The queen disliked her. She could very well use the information against Lady Madelaine. And the other ladies-in-waiting definitely would. “Do you have a brother?”

“No.” She seemed amused by his questions. He ran a hand through his hair, wild thoughts careening in his head.

“What of your father?”

“I cannot disappoint him.” Grey nodded in understanding. She wouldn’t be the first lady abandoned at Court with the silent or sometimes explicit orders to not fail in finding a husband. “You need a protector.”

“Lord Grey, are you offering to protect me?” A look of disbelief crossed her delicate features.

“Certainly not.” He couldn’t seduce her if he vowed to protect her. But he couldn’t very well leave her to the likes of Thorton. He scratched at his head, trying to bring some semblance to his thoughts, but it was a lost cause. “I must admit I was surprised and gladdened to find you at Court.”

“Were you?”

The way her blush deepened like a cherry ready to be picked made him hard as stone.

So deceptively innocent yet complex. He loved the puzzle she presented.

“I was.” He moved closer and brushed a hand across her collarbone.

She jerked in response. For a seductress, that was an odd response.

Maybe this was the game she played? “You made an appearance in my dreams more nights than I should admit.”

Her lips parted as if his statement surprised her.

Her acting abilities were superb. He ran a finger up her arm, gliding over fine silk and a gentle curve of muscle she must have developed from the sports she spoke of loving.

His blood pounded thickly in his ears. “That was very naughty of you not to return to meet me in Golden Square as you promised, but I’ll forgive you since I realize you must have slipped away without asking. Is that true?”

She nodded, her pulse hammering at the base of her neck. Good. She was just as excited as he was.

“Will you keep my secret?” Her tongue wet her upper then lower lip causing him to harden further.

This state had to be dangerous to his health.

He needed release. Where could they possibly meet.

Perhaps the stables? He could pay off the stable boys to disappear for a while.

They would simply have to think of an excuse for her to slip away.

“I’ll keep your secret, for a price.” He pressed closer and reached to grasp her, but she skittered away and went around to the other side of the table. Her hands splayed against the dark grain as she stared at him.

“How disappointing, Lord Grey. For a moment, I thought you to be different from all the tedious men I’ve met at Court, but I see you are exactly the same.”

“Bite your tongue. I’m the same as no man. Meet me in the stable and I’ll prove it.”

Her eyebrows knitted together. “I’m afraid you have the wrong impression of me.”

“You don’t like the stables?” Blazes, he was having more fun bantering with her than he’d ever had talking to any woman. “I assumed since you loved sports you wouldn’t mind a tumble in the hay.”

“You assume wrong on many counts, Lord Grey.”

Her words held an iciness that doused a chill over his desire. There was a critical piece to her puzzle he was missing. “I beg your pardon, Lady Madelaine, if I was crass. I was simply bantering with you.”

Her eyebrows arched high. “So you didn’t just invite me to a tumble in the hay?”

“Oh, I did. Rather poorly done of me. I assumed a lady such as yourself who loved sports and adventure would like the idea of a tumble in the stables. But I understand now. You prefer a bed over the stables. I can accommodate you, but you’ll have to give me time to figure out where we can meet privately and how to get you there. ”

She slapped her palms against the wood, her frown turning beautifully thunderous. “Lord Grey, you’ve misunderstood every word I’ve said. I don’t wish to be pursued or tumbled.”

“You don’t? But at Golden Square—”

She held up a palm. “You were correct in assuming I slipped away without permission. Which I had never done before that day. I knew I was to be deposited at Court the next day. A situation that didn’t please me.

I wanted one last adventure to see things I’d never seen.

The adventure never included bed sport.”

“That’s not much of an adventure.”

“I seek a husband, Lord Grey. The adventure of marriage will be quite enough for me.” Her blush burned bright on her face.

Blazes. He’d misjudged her character by leaps and bounds.

It was strange he didn’t feel as surly as he should about his mistake, considering his state of arousal.

Rather, he was glad to have finally met a woman who was a true surprise in a good way.

Under the circumstances, his honor now demanded he offer his services as protector, even if his loins wanted otherwise.

“I suppose, given this enlightening conversation, I’ve no choice but to protect you from Thorton. ”

Lady Madelaine walked to the side table and picked up a roll. “And here I was certain the tales about you were true.” She took a bite of the roll and chewed but the corners of her mouth tugged upward into a smile.

“What tales?” He came to stand beside her and get a hunk of bread for himself.

“Well.” She swallowed. “The other ladies-in-waiting likened you to Casanova, but if this is you at your most charming, I’m afraid you fall short.” She grinned.

“I’m glad I can amuse you. But I vow I can be extremely charming.”

“In that case, I’m happy you understand turning your immense charms on me is pointless for what you are after.”

“Come.” He offered his elbow. “In case Thorton is lurking, let me walk you where you are going.” He had enough time to do that and still get to the king’s chambers at the appointed hour.

She slipped her arm through his and a jolt of awareness shot through him.

He’d held many women before, during and after the heat of passion, but none had ever made his body hum with a simple chaste touch.

It occurred to him as they walked, and her warmth heated his side and her floral scent filled his nostrils, he had not promised to protect her from himself, only Thorton.

A small tug of conscience reared its annoying head to pose the question of which was worse—a wolf in sheep’s clothing or simply a wolf.

“I’m no wolf.”

She stopped and glanced at him. “What did you say?”

“I said I’m no wolf. I’m not at all like Thorton.”

“Lord Grey, no one has accused you of that.”

“Yes. I’m sorry.” By God, he was rambling. He’d never rambled because of a woman in his life. It was almost a relief when Lady Madelaine disappeared with a quick goodbye into the queen’s chambers. Now if only his conscience regarding the lady would disappear.