Part 23 (1/2)
He blinked. ”Of course. Someone will be by soon, and-”
”No, I need onenow,” she said breathlessly. ”Should we go to one of the footmen and fetch one?”
”They will bring it here. Wait a moment.” He lifted a finger, catching the attention of a footman, who
obediently rushed to their side. Campbell took two s.h.i.+mmering gla.s.ses of champagne from the tray and handed one to her. ”Here you are, my lady. To what shall we drink?”
Sparkling bubbles rolled up the side of her gla.s.s, gathering on the surface. The candlelight reflectedthrough the gla.s.s. ”It's almost too pretty to sip.” Campbell's gaze darkened. ”All the more reason to do it quickly.”
Fiona glanced past him to Jack.
He paused, his own gla.s.s halfway to his mouth, and frowned when he saw the champagne in Fiona's hand.
Never breaking his gaze, she lifted the gla.s.s. And drank it all. At first nothing happened, but then a slow, lazy flush moved up her b.r.e.a.s.t.s to her neck. ”Oh, my!” Jack's brows lowered. Lucinda, realizing she'd lost his attention, glowered at Fiona. Campbell laughed. ”I see you enjoy champagne.” ”I love it.” She tossed her head. ”In fact, I will have another gla.s.s.” Jack's frown grew as Campbell ordered another gla.s.s. Fiona took the second gla.s.s and looked directly at him. His expression hardened; he lifted his gla.s.s and tossed back his drink, every move a challenge. Fiona steeled herself, then lifted her gla.s.s to Campbell. ”Here's to the end.” ”The end of what?” ”Of everything.” She lifted the gla.s.s and quaffed it as she'd done before, but this time, the champagne refused to go the way it was intended. She sputtered a moment, then sneezed so violently two pins
dropped from her hair, a thick tress falling to one shoulder. Campbell laughed. ”My dear, I hope you don't take this wrong, but champagne does not seem to be your drink.”
”I am not going to drink ratafia. Old women drink that.” The two gla.s.ses of champagne so close together were taking their toll; she felt frothy and light and completely free. Which she was, thanks to Jack Kincaid. She was unfettered, free, and d.a.m.ned happy. She lifted her empty gla.s.s. ”Another toast!”
Campbell laughed and gestured to a footman, saying something to him in a low voice. ”There,” he said when the footman had nodded and scurried off. ”I believe I have solved your problem.” ”I don't have a problem,” Fiona said, tossing more markers onto the table without caring where they landed.
Campbell took her hand and brought it to his lips. ”I never argue with a beautiful woman.”
Fiona peeked past him to Jack. His face was like a thundercloud. Good. It was time someone besides her made a little rain. She turned back to Campbell and smiled at him sweetly. ”I appreciate your help, but please do not think this means I will allow you any liberties.”
He turned her hand over and peeled the glove from her wrist, then placed a kiss on her pulse. ”I wouldn' t dream of it, my dear. If you want me to stop, just say the word.”
The footman returned, a single gla.s.s on his tray. Campbell handed it to Fiona, who sniffed it gingerly. The gla.s.s was warm; the scent of cloves and cinnamon and a dozen other delicious spices curled through the steam that rose over the cup.
Fiona took a sip, smiling as the taste caressed her tongue. ”This is delicious!”
Campbell smiled. ”Drink it up. Then we will dance.”
She did as he said, setting the cup down with athunk . ”I am ready.”
”Good. I promise to hold you much too tightly and make it seem as if I'm whispering sweet naughties in
your ear.”
”Just do not whisper real ones, for I would laugh, and that would not help matters.” She was almost giggling now, and she had no reason to. ”What was in that drink?”
”A little of this. A little of that.” His eyes darkened. ”Did you like it?”
”Oh, yes. Wayyyyy too much.” She pushed her markers to Lord Penult-Mead. ”I think I am through.”
She turned to Campbell and started to stand but fell back into her chair.
He swiftly caught her elbow and pulled her hard against his chest. ”Easy, my sweet! You don't want to fall.” Fiona realized her chest was pressed against his, his hands holding her intimately. She pushed away from him and smoothed her gown, aware that though many watched, no one seemed shocked. All behavior was accepted and expected here. Of course, that would not keep anyone from gossiping about what they saw. Fiona put a hand on a nearby chair and forced a smile at Campbell. ”Shall we dance?” ”Of course.” ”Good. Just try not to step on my new shoes.” With that unromantic rejoinder, Fiona allowed Campbell to escort her to the dance floor.
They never made it.
One moment, they were walking out of the card room. The next, Jack was standing before them, his face furious.
”Ah,” Campbell said smoothly. ”I wondered how long it would take you to reclaim your wife.” ”She is going home now.” Fiona snorted inelegantly.”She is doing no such thing.” Jack's gaze burned into hers. ”You don't know what you are doing; you've had too much to drink.” ”Nonsense! I only had two gla.s.ses of champagne”-she held up three fingers-”and one gla.s.s of...what was that?”
”Rum punch,” Campbell said succinctly.
Jack's face darkened. He grasped her arm and pulled her forward.
She stumbled against his chest, and he caught her firmly.
”No,” she said, pus.h.i.+ng away from him. ”I am going to dance with Campbell, and he is going to whisper
to me and not step on my new shoes.”