Part 11 (1/2)

”No, I refuse to remember because I'm rather angry with you at the moment. If I admit to remembering, then you'll tease me endlessly. You'll remind me over and over that I enjoyed you touching me, kissing me, oh, dear. My tongue is moving again. I will change my tongue's direction. I can do it. Now, I don't wish to hear about all your mistresses.”

He arched a dark eyebrow at that. ”But you brought it up, Evangeline. I was just trying to explain matters to you.” She was red in the face. He wanted very much to catch her up against him, perhaps whirl her about, then slowly bring her down the front of him, then kiss her until she was silly with it. He drew a deep breath. It was enough. It was too much. After a few moments he managed to remember something to say that wouldn't draw her, that wouldn't have her calling him an a.s.s, that should, in fact, please her. ”Now as I recall, we began dinner with me telling you about how Bunyon shows me his displeasure.”

”Very well. You wish to change the topic. It is probably wise of you. I am calm now. What did Bunyon do?”

”He threatened to strangle me with my cravat.” ”Goodness. Why did he do that?” The duke swirled the deep red Burgundy wine about in the crystal wine gla.s.s. ”He doesn't think I should leave you here. In charge of Edmund. Quite alone, in charge of Edmund.”

She didn't like where this could be heading. ”I don't understand.” Surely he wouldn't particularly care what his valet had to say, would he? ”Bunyon believes that Edmund is old enough to accompany me to London. He also believes he's old enough to have a male tutor. He doesn't believe that you should allow Edmund to shoot you in order to have him learn his letters. In short, he believes you're far too kind and far too young to have my strong-willed son in your charge.”

She felt panic well up inside her. Oh, no, this couldn't be. She sat forward. ”But if you take Edmund with you to London, there would be no reason for me to stay at Chesleigh.”

”That's true enough. Therefore, Evangeline, both you and Edmund will come with me to London tomorrow. There's no need to wait until Friday.”

”No!”

He blinked. She was both pale and flushed at the same time, half standing, her palms flat on the table. He arched a black eyebrow. ”I beg your pardon?”

”It was but one word. Surely you can understand one word. I yelled it, after all.” This couldn't be happening. She couldn't leave Chesleigh, she couldn't. Bunyon had done her in and all for the most n.o.ble of motives. What was she to do now? She was to meet John Edgerton in just under two hours. She'd been told in no uncertain terms that she was to remain at Chesleigh. Houchard would kill her father.

”Perhaps,” he said slowly, ”you'd best explain that simple one word to me, Evangeline. That simple one word that you yelled so loudly you nearly brought the chandelier down.”

She was desperate, but she couldn't let him see that. It wouldn't make sense to him. ”I didn't mean to scream it at you. It's just that I don't want to go to London. Please, your grace, let me stay here. I can deal well with Edmund. I won't fail you. He doesn't need a male tutor. I don't care if he tries to shoot me. I shan't allow him to shoot me unless and until he manages to catch me. I'm not slow. It will be difficult for him. I must make it difficult for him so that he will have a challenge. I know how to deal with little boys. Please, I must stay, I must.” ”You have said quite a lot there, Evangeline.” ”I know and I'm sorry. But what I really want is to remain here at Chesleigh, with Edmund. I won't fail you, your grace. He will be reading the family Bible within a month. I will have him write you a letter every day, and each letter will be at least one sentence longer than the last one. Please, your grace.”

This was all very strange. Why should she care about remaining here or going to London? Surely anyone would prefer London. He didn't understand her at all. Her reaction was extreme. Not natural. He'd honestly believed her initial refusal to go to London the result of her embarra.s.sment at thrusting herself, a poor relation, upon his mother. He had actually felt pleased at his decision, for he realized that despite his thinking of the night before, he did want to take her to London, to show her the sights and introduce her to his mother. He wasn't at all certain of his intentions toward her. For G.o.d's sake, he'd only known her for two days. But he did know that he'd never met a woman like her before, that she fascinated him, that he wanted her more than any female who'd ever come into his...o...b..t. She appealed to his senses, all of them. And the l.u.s.t, dear G.o.d, the l.u.s.t she evoked so effortlessly in him.

To put a better face on it, he reminded himself that he didn't want her to stay by herself at Chesleigh, her only companion his young son. And, he admitted to himself, although it was difficult to do, he didn't like having anyone go against his wishes, particularly when they were benign, well thought out, and really quite nice.

”I would worry about you,” he said finally. ”No, I won't allow it. Both you and Edmund will come with me to London tomorrow.”

She was desperate. She'd pleaded with him, and it hadn't worked. She drew a deep breath and said in a cold voice, ”I see. The lord's orders. Well, your grace, if you won't allow me to remain at Chesleigh, with Edmund, then I must leave. I won't go to London.” ”You don't have anyplace else to go. Of course you will do as I tell you.”

”You've become a blockhead, your grace. It no longer will concern you where I go or what I do.”

He rose, facing her down the long expanse of table. ”I've had quite enough of this, Evangeline. I don't know why you're being so stubborn about this. Tell me why, right now.”

”I hate London. I refuse to go there.” ”You've never been to London.” ”It doesn't matter. I won't go.” ”Sit down and eat your dinner. You're distraught. You're becoming hysterical. It isn't appealing. I will speak to you of this later.”

Evangeline didn't move a hair. ”No, you will not. Listen to me, you cannot give me orders. I'm not one of your servants. However, like Bunyon, perhaps I would like to strangle you with your cravat.” He was seated again, his arms folded over his chest, unmoving. ”Very well,” she said. ”I can see from that cold, set look on your face that you won't change your mind.” She tossed her napkin onto the plate.

”I bid you good-bye, your grace. It has been something of an experience, albeit a very short one.” He bounded from his chair, toppling it to the carpet. ”d.a.m.nation, Evangeline. You're not going anywhere. You take one step and I'll take a birch rod to you.”

She laughed at him. ”Go to the devil,” she said, turned on her heel, and walked toward the door. She wondered if Ba.s.sick, all the footmen and all the maids, were waiting outside the door, wondering what was going to happen. She said over her shoulder, her voice cold and contemptuous, ”If I had Edmund's gun, I'd shoot you.”

She didn't make it. He caught her, grabbed her by the arm, and whirled her about to face him. She didn't struggle. She wasn't about to waste her strength. He was furious. She could see the pulse pounding in his throat.

He shook her, leaned close to her, and said right in her face, ”You won't go anywhere. Do you understand me?”

His eyes were on her mouth. Then his eyes were on her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He forgot instantly every dollop of anger at her. He couldn't bear it. He pulled her roughly against him, and cupped her chin in his hand, forcing her to look up at him.

Evangeline felt suspended in time. She stared up at him, all that she felt in her eyes. He kissed her, his tongue probing against her closed lips.

”Open your mouth, d.a.m.n you.”

She tasted his anger, then she tasted only him and his mad desire.

It was as if he didn't know what to do first. He kissed her, kissed her again and again. Then he pressed her back over his arm and his mouth was on her throat, her shoulders. He moaned, then jerked her beautiful altered blue gown down to her waist. He stared at her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, then was on her, his mouth and tongue hot on her flesh.

She was overwhelmed.

This was pa.s.sion, she thought. It was nearly painful, this need in her that she recognized but didn't understand.

Abruptly he let her go. He stared down at her blindly, trying to control himself. He buried his face in her hair. ”Oh G.o.d,” he said, ”I'm sorry.”

She forced herself to straighten, to move away from him. She stood there in front of him, detached, naked to the waist. It was her only chance. She had to remain at Chesleigh. She had no choice.

She looked at him as if he were nothing more than a minor annoyance to her. She looked to be utterly indifferent. She said in a light, amused voice, ”I begin to think, your grace, that you have gone too long without a woman. Perhaps that is why you wish me to go to London-because there is no lady currently seeing to your pleasure? Is it that you see me as only a defenseless woman, without protection, a woman who is therefore yours for the taking?”

He drew back from her as if she'd struck him. His l.u.s.t was dead; she saw only slowly building rage. She felt ill, but knew that she couldn't back down, no matter what the outcome. She wondered, stiffening, if he would strike her.

He said finally, in a voice so soft and deadly calm that she strained to hear him, ”Some women are teasing b.i.t.c.hes. Is that what you are?” He added, his voice going lower, deeper. ”You surprised me, I admit it.

”You may stay at Chesleigh if you wish. I will expect reports from you on Edmund's progress. I bid you good night and good-bye.”

He left her standing there, her gown bunched at her waist. He didn't look back, just quietly closed the door behind him.

She stared at that closed door. She knew in that moment, simply knew that she couldn't betray him. She would tell him the truth. He would believe her. He and Lord Pettigrew would arrest John Edgerton. They would help free her father from Houchard. Surely it could be done.

It took her some time to get her gown back into place. She had to hurry. She had to tell him that she was meeting Edgerton in but an hour. They had to make plans. She ran out of the dining room, down the long corridor to the entrance hall, only to see Ba.s.sick standing at the great front doors, shaking his head.

She stopped, drawing a deep breath. ”Is something wrong, Ba.s.sick?”

He looked at her standing there, shaking his head slowly, back and forth. ”No, Madame, there is nothing wrong that either you or I can fix.” ”I don't know what you mean.” ”His grace,” Ba.s.sick said. ”He's gone. Just gone, not three minutes ago.”

Chapter 19.

She nearly ran out of the castle but stopped herself. Perhaps it was better this way. She would see firsthand how the operation worked. She would have proof that Edgerton was a traitor. Then she would send a messenger to the duke.

Yes, that would work. She just had to keep her nerve with Edgerton. She couldn't allow him to suspect what she was going to do. It was difficult to wait to go to the cove, and she did sneak out of the castle early, pulling her cloak more closely about her. The summery weather had disappeared. It was cold now, not bitterly cold, but soon it would be. She walked carefully down the long path to the cove, a half-moon guiding her. When she reached the cave, she turned for a moment to look out at the sea. The waves built slowly, then tumbled gently forward, rolling over and over, like a huge bolt of cloth unfolding, until they reached the sh.o.r.e, there to lap softly over the sand, just a whisper of sound.

She didn't want to step into the frightening, dark cave. She walked to a rock near the entrance and sat down, waiting. Perhaps Edgerton wouldn't come. Perhaps he had been discovered and her father would be safe. Of course he hadn't been discovered. It was just a futile prayer. She knew she wasn't a good actress, but she had to be tonight with John Edgerton. He mustn't suspect that she was anything but obedient to him.

Tomorrow, she thought, tomorrow she would send a message to the duke. He would come back. He would help her.

She wanted to see John Edgerton in h.e.l.l.

She also felt the huge weight of guilt lifted off her.