The Letter (30 page)

Michael glanced at Diana. The blank look on her face worried him. This had gone on far too long. Most everyone in the ballroom knew something was afoot and were pushing against each other trying to get close enough to hear. He was debating the wisdom of throwing Serena over his shoulder and carting her out when Marlowe did just that.

“Hell’s fires, enough of this.” Marlowe picked her up and slung her over his shoulder. “You’re a real spitfire, darling. I like that in a woman.” He somehow managed a perfect bow and then walked out with Serena screaming and beating on his back.

The crowd went silent as they stared in astonishment at the American until he disappeared from view, then their gazes swung back to Michael. What the devil did they expect him to say? There was only one thing to do, and Diana was going to hate him for it.

“My apologies for the scene you just witnessed, but my temper got a bit away from me.” He smiled at Diana. “But to hear such lies about the woman who has graciously agreed to marry me, well…” He slid his glance over the people hanging on his every word. “Can you really blame me?”

Several of the men and women shook their heads. He thought, hoped, tonight’s scandal would fall more on Serena’s shoulders. Marlowe hauling her out like a sack of potatoes should also help. No one moved. Were they waiting for him to say more? He was out of words. If they would only leave, he could slip Diana away and take her home.

Aubrey raised a hand, swooping it through the air like a conductor. The orchestra immediately began to play. He glared at those milling around them. “Go dance.” Like well-trained troops, they rushed to obey His Grace.

Michael knelt in front of Diana and took her hands in his. “I am so sorry, love. Come, let me take you home.”

“No, you cannot sneak her out like she has done something wrong. The two of you must take a turn on the dance floor first,” Lady Kensington said. “Look at me, Lady Brantley.” She put her hand on Diana’s chin and turned her face. “My husband was killed in a duel over another woman, so believe me, I know how badly you want to crawl under the covers and hide. However, you cannot behave as though you bear any guilt for your husband’s misdeeds. Take Daventry’s arm and with your chin held high, go out on that dance floor and pretend as if none of the past few minutes happened.”

“I can’t,” Diana whispered.

Lady Kensington was right. Michael glanced at the dance floor to see the couples exchange partners. “No, not this dance, but the next one.” He looked up at Aubrey and Derebourne. “Would one of you see that it is a waltz?”

“I will take care of it,” Derebourne said.

Turning back to Diana, he said, “Lady Kensington speaks true, Diana. We must do this. It will be a waltz and you will not have to see anyone but me. Listen. We have talked about this and I thought you finally understood Leo’s shame is not yours to bear.” He gently squeezed her hands. “Tell me why you can go out on that floor and show the bastard what you are made of.”

For the first time, she met his gaze. “Windows in hell?”

“Precisely.” He stood and included the friends surrounding them in his next words. “I need to find Lady Marcus-Holmes. Would you stay with Lady Brantley until I return?”

“Your Grace, Lord Rotharton, I must go and apologize to our hosts.”

“I will come with you,” Lord Rotharton said.

“As will I,” Aubrey added.

He left Diana surrounded by all those who would protect her. As they searched for the earl and countess, Michael kept an eye out for the viscount, but did not see him. “Where did Dangler disappear to?”

“He crept away like a chicken that learned it was on the menu for Sunday’s dinner. I wager he will retire to the country for the remainder of the year,” Aubrey said.

Michael was sorry to hear that. “If he wants to live, he would be wise to remain in hiding for a very long time.”

They found Lord and Lady Marcus-Holmes and approached. Michael bowed deeply. “My lord, my lady, I beg your forgiveness for that unfortunate scene.”

“My heart goes out to our poor girl,” the countess said, “but as for worrying about me, you must not. My ball will be the talk of the Season and all will be vying for invitations next year.”

She gave the duke a sly look. “You and your lovely duchess have never attended one of my events and are only here tonight because Lord Daventry asked it of you. I hope I can count on your presence next year. It would go far in smoothing my feathers.”

Aubrey quirked a brow. “Correct me if I am wrong, my dear lady, but you just said all would be vying for an invitation, thus your feathers are far from ruffled and you have no need of me and mine.”

“I may have misspoken, Your Grace.”

“Amanda, leave His Grace alone,” Lord Marcus-Holmes said.

Her ladyship swatted her husband’s arm with her fan. “Hush, Malcolm. His Grace and I are doing a bit of horse trading here.”

Michael started to intervene, but the amusement in Aubrey’s eyes stopped him. He just wanted them to get their horses traded so he could return to Diana.

“Under one condition—no, make that two,” Aubrey said.

Lady Marcus-Holmes leaned forward. “What would those be, Your Grace?”

“First, Lady Hartwell is not on your guest list and second, you save a dance for me.”

“Done and done!” She held out her hand.

Aubrey looked at it in puzzlement, then laughed and shook her hand.

Lord Rotharton stayed with the earl and countess when Michael and Aubrey left them. “My apologies, Aubrey,” Michael said.

“For what?”

“That you were put in the position of having to commit to her next ball.”

“You have known me long enough to know I don’t agree to anything I don’t wish to. Besides, you will earn my appreciation when you get in the ring with me.” His laugh was fiendish. “Yes, indeed you will.”

“Sometimes, Your Grace, you are truly terrifying.”

A large, heavy hand came to rest on his shoulder and squeezed so hard Michael’s knees almost buckled. Sweet Jesus, he did not stand a chance in a match with Aubrey.

When they arrived to where he had left Diana, the only ones there were Lady Kensington, and Derebourne and his wife. Had she left?

“Before you fall into a panic, Lord Daventry, she has gone to the lady’s retiring room for a few minutes,” Lady Kensington said. “She is with her mother and Her Grace, so she is safe.”

Michael breathed easy again. This had been a long and trying night. He was ready to end it and take Diana home, but first they had to perform one last time. It was how he had planned to end the evening, with a waltz being their third dance and his statement to all that he was courting her. Damn Serena for ruining his plan.

Michael inhaled the scent of vanilla as Diana approached. Although his heart merrily bounced in his chest, she looked everywhere but at him.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Shamed, Diana could not look at Michael. Leo had wagered her at cards, a game he lost more often than not. Regardless of how Michael and Mr. Marlowe had tried to deflect the truth, she knew it was so. Why hadn’t the American tried to collect on his win, and why hadn’t Michael warned her? He obviously knew as he hadn’t been surprised when Lord Dangler made the claim.

She shuddered. Merciful heavens, what if Dangler had won? She wasn’t sure she could have gone on living if he had gotten his hands on her. How did they expect her to go onto the dance floor and pretend her husband hadn’t thought her so useless he would hand her over to someone as debauched as the viscount?

She wanted to go home. She pressed her feet into the floor to keep from running out the door. It was time to waltz with Michael while everyone stared at her.

He put his hand on the small of her back. Diana closed her eyes and drew his strength into her body, not doubting he would help her get through this. She leaned close to him. “Let’s get this done.”

His warm breath drifted over her neck as he leaned close. “Look at me and only me.”

She nodded, put her hand on his shoulder and lost herself in his eyes. If people were staring at her, she refused to take notice. He was all she wanted to see. As for his announcement they were to marry, she understood why he said it, but she wouldn’t hold him to it.

“Smile, love. You look as if you might bolt at any minute. Think of Jamie and his pony with a Latin motto and smile. There you go. Did you know there is not a more beautiful woman in this world than you? No? Well, it is true. Did you know there is no woman in this world I want but you? No? That is also true.”

He waltzed them down the floor while keeping up a constant prattle. She listened to his every word and kept her lips curved in a smile. All the while, Lord Dangler’s words haunted her.

“How long have you known about the wager?”

He squeezed her hand. “Hush. Not here. We’ll discuss it when we return home. The dance is ending and we are going to collect my mother and leave.”

“I would like to tell my parents we are going.”

“That will be an easy thing to do as they are standing with Mother. I know this was difficult for you, but you did well, love.” He tucked her hand under his arm and smiled. “You truly are beautiful tonight.”

She lifted her fan to her face, covering all but her eyes and batted her lashes. “Are you implying I am not beautiful on other nights, my lord?”

He laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Minx. I imply nothing of the kind and well you know it. Now, let’s go home where I will soothe your poor feet.”

****

Her eyes closed, Diana groaned. Michael’s hands, drenched with warm oil, were doing amazing things to her feet. His low chuckle rumbled over her skin, slipping into her pores where it traveled to all parts of her.

“Like that do you?”

“I should not be allowing this, but I cannot bring myself to make you to stop.” She lifted her lashes and peered at him. Wearing a deep blue dressing gown, he sat on the stool, her feet resting on his lap. A strand of black hair had fallen over his forehead. If she were close enough, she would brush it back.

His hands slid over her ankles to the backs of her legs, kneading her calves.

She moaned in ecstasy. “Oh, dear God, that feels wonderful.”

Ink-blue eyes turned glittering black. “I want to hear you say those words when I am buried deep inside you. I want you so desperately, Myana, I hurt.” He took the heel of her foot and pressed it over his erection.

“Michael—”

“Hush. Don’t tell me to stop. I’m not going to do anything you don’t want, but I am going to do as much as you will allow. Consider yourself warned.”

He turned his attention to her toes and the bottoms of her feet, sending sensual tingles shooting up her legs. She should respond to his warning, should tell him nothing was going to happen between them. She should not even be in his room, but she felt too blissful to care about anything but the magic of his hands.

He brought a foot to his mouth and sucked on her middle toe. Heavens! She squirmed and squeezed her thighs together. Other parts of her body responded even though he had not touched her in those places. How did he do that?

“Stop fighting it, love. Let the desire come, reach for your pleasure. Touch yourself, Myana.”

His voice, low and husky, compelled her. She wanted to obey, but she had never pleasured herself. Ladies didn’t do such things, did they? Men did it to themselves as she had recently learned. Watching Michael with his hand wrapped around his erection had nearly stolen her breath.

“Diana, stop thinking.”

“I’ve never touched myself before. I don’t know what to do, much less if it is proper.”

He danced his fingers up her legs to behind her knees and lightly pinched her. The feeling was so intense she jolted while her private place dampened.

His smile of satisfaction was pure male. “Do it for me, Myana. I want to watch you touch yourself.”

Picking up her wine, she drained it. Though embarrassed to do what he asked, the hunger in his eyes called to her. She would give herself this night with him.

He had announced to all they were to marry, but he still didn’t know. Would he change his mind if he saw her body? She was beginning to hope he might not care.

The last thing she wanted was to fall back in love with him, but it was too late. She had probably never stopped loving him, only convinced herself she had. And when had she decided she did want to marry him?

“You are thinking again.”

“We should talk,” she said.

His eyes had that determined look she had come to recognize. “I will talk until I am blue in the face…after. I promised to teach you how to pleasure yourself, and I am of a mind to do it now.”

He slid his hand under her nightdress and caressed her inner thigh, his palm touching the scars from Leo’s knife. He must feel them, but he gave no sign. She resisted the urge to clamp her legs together.

“Do it, Myana.”

“Where?”

“Wherever you wish.”

She put her hand under her throat and spread her fingers over her skin. Sliding them down, she stopped at the V of her nightdress and stared into his eyes. The heat swimming in them gave her courage. She moved her hand lower and cupped a breast. It felt good, but she wasn’t sure what to do next.

“Put your hand inside,” he said.

“Like this?” She slipped her hand inside her nightdress and touched her left breast, the one not marked by Leo.

Michael reached up and unbuttoned her, pushing the material aside. She slapped her other hand over her right breast to keep him from uncovering it. He made no comment, only focused his gaze on the exposed breast.

“Pinch your nipple. I think you will like how it feels.”

Her eyes slid closed as she did as he asked. It did feel good. Very good. “Do other women do this?”

“Yes.”

She shouldn’t have asked. How many women had there been in his life since Leo stole her away? Had he done this with Lady Hartwell? Jealously was not a good feeling. It made her want to smash things.

“You are thinking again. Look at me.”

She opened her eyes.

“From the first time I saw your face, there has only been you where it counts.” He tapped his fingers over his heart. “Here. You have always been here. No one else but you.”