Devil Disguised (32 page)

A man followed him and said, “Please, gentlemen, move aside, I am a doctor.”

The doctor moved forward, felt Lily’s pulse, and then touched her forehead. He stood up and said, “We need to take her out of this crowd.”

Charles moved in and gently took her from Richard as he lifted her into his arms.

Eleanor came forward and said, “We can take her to the library.”

Charles nodded and carried Lily off the stage while Duncan followed along with Richard. Rushing forward Duncan walked next to Charles so he could see Lily’s features. She looked deathly pale and very fragile as Charles carried her into the library.

Eleanor entered the library with the doctor as Charles turned around and said, “The two of you need to stay out here.”

Duncan glared at Richard and neither man spoke to the other as they paced outside the library door.

After some time, Richard said, “What in the devil is taking so long?”

Duncan replied, “I have no idea, but this is ridiculous. I thought Lily fainted, but would recover quickly.”

“So did I,” Richard murmured.

The library door opened and Eleanor came out as she glanced between both men before she said, “Lily is on her way home with Charles. They left a short time ago and I was asked specifically to wait before I let you both know. She is weak, but is expected to recover once she gets some proper nourishment. She has not been eating well and was slightly dehydrated when she fainted. Charles asked that neither of you check on her tonight, but have the decency to wait until the late afternoon tomorrow.”

Both men glanced at one another and started to walk away, but Eleanor said, “Duncan, wait.”

He turned and said, “I need to know if she is all right, Eleanor.”

Eleanor wrung her hands together. “I think she will be fine, but after the doctor roused her with smelling salts, she simply fainted away again. Her pulse was weak, but the doctor insisted she will be all right once she gets some rest and something to eat and drink. Charles left with her from the terrace and the doctor followed.”

“And you could not come tell us sooner?” Duncan asked bitterly.

“The shock of your words even struck me hard, Duncan. I think you need to give her a few hours to absorb what you said and to recover.”

Duncan stepped away, but Eleanor gripped his arm. “Duncan.”

He turned to look at the concerned face of his sister. She said, “I am so happy you finally told Lily how you feel, but please think on what you just did. You told her along with the entire ton that you love her while another man was about to announce their engagement.”

He nodded and said, “I am surprised by my own actions, but I just realized that I cannot lose her, El.”

“You need to make sure she is truly yours before you can worry about losing her.”

Duncan paused and thought about telling his sister of Lily’s declaration of love, but he had just told everyone what he had thought on that account. He nodded at his sister as he turned to leave. He left with only one thought on his mind; he had to see Lily.

Duncan waited until the Montgomery house was dark before he went along the side terrace and climbed up the trellis to the second story. He knew the downstairs of the home well, but had no idea of the order of the bedrooms upstairs. He could just as easily walk into Charles’ bedroom as into Lily’s, but he doubted that either one of them would call the authorities.

Deciding that Lily would probably be in the corner room that overlooked the garden, he went to the door and opened it. He stepped into the room quickly and shut the door quietly when he heard a gasp. Moonlight bathed the room in a soft glow and he saw Lily stand up next to the bed. She whispered, “Duncan! What in heavens are you doing here?”

He rushed forward and gripped her hands as he looked over her form. “I had to see for myself that you are all right. I could not wait until tomorrow.”

Pulling her hands from his grasp, she looked down and said, “I am fine.”

“Are you? I was worried when Charles left with you and the doctor in tow.”

“I needed something to eat and drink, but I feel much better now.” She paused and then met his gaze. “Duncan, did you mean what you said?”

He took her hands again and kissed her fingertips before he said, “Yes, Lily. I meant every word. I am a damn fool for not telling you sooner and for letting Lord Hastings court you. I should have come to London immediately after you left instead of wallowing in doubt and regret.”

Gently, she pulled her hands from his and stepped around him. “But, you did not come here now just because
you love me and now Richard has courted me and wants to marry me.”

“When you left I thought you wanted to go. I thought you wanted him to court you! The letter I did receive from you thanked me, but I was not certain if you wanted it to say more. In all fairness, you never responded to my letter either.”

“I never received your letter,” she whispered harshly.

“And I never received another one of yours.”

She shook her head. “Maybe it is a sign.” She shook her head and she looked down. “I think you need to leave.”

He exhaled sharply when she opened the door. Stepping into the dark hallway, he turned to face her. “Go ahead, Lily. Slam the door in my face, just like you used to do. It will give me one last memory of you.”

Looking down and away, Lily shut the door. He stood in disbelief as he tried to push away the anger and disappointment coursing through him. He glanced down the empty hallway, but his feet would not move. Clenching his fists, he took a deep breath and stepped forward reaching for the doorknob when the door opened.

Lily gasped as she met his gaze and whispered, “Duncan.”

In one fluid motion, he wrapped his arms around her and moved with her back into the room as he pushed the door shut behind him. Her arms wound around his neck and he kissed her open mouthed. She tugged at his jacket and he shrugged it off without breaking their kiss. Removing his vest and shirt, he kept his lips pressed against hers. Without hesitation, her delicate hands travelled over his chest while she returned the passion of his kisses.

Breaking the kiss, he reached down to collect the bottom of her nightgown and pulled it over her head. Moonlight danced along the curves of her body and he took a moment to simply admire her. Her shape was sheer perfection. In a reverent whisper, he said, “Lily, you are so beautiful.”

She stepped forward and pulled his head down as her lips met his. Pulling her against him, he slid his hands along her sides, skimming the outside of her breasts before he cupped her buttocks. Caressing every curve of her body, he deepened the kiss as she moaned. He lifted her and carried her to bed laying her down gently. Even in the dim light, he could see her lips were swollen from their kisses and her eyes held unmistakable desire. He removed his trousers and moved above her on the bed. She rose up to meet his lips, but he pressed her down into the bed. She moaned as her legs beneath him opened wider. He broke the kiss and nuzzled her neck before he licked her ear lobe and then started to trail kisses down to her chest.

Threading her fingers through his hair, she pulled, stopping his movement. His gaze met hers as she said, “Duncan, please. I want to feel you inside me.”

His breath left him at the sound of desperation in her words. Moving forward, he kissed her and brought his tip to her entrance. A sound escaped his throat when she rocked her hips forward, her sex slick as he eased forward. Moving slowly, he felt her body stretch to accommodate him as her breath quickened while she ran her hands along his back.

She moved her hips forward again and he was nearly undone. He shifted and moved over her, thrusting deeply
as she cried out in pleasure. Slowly he pulled out and then pushed back into her heat. She was moaning loudly and he kissed her before increasing his pace. Her breath came in shallow gasps as he felt her tighten around him. Thrusting her head back, he reached to kiss her again to stifle the sound of her pleasure as they climaxed together. Breathing hard, he pulled back and moved next to her.

She smiled and touched his face as he leaned over and kissed her. He grinned before he said, “You have become quite demanding since I saw you last.”

She giggled and then covered her mouth with her hand as if just realizing they were in her home. Shoving his shoulder she said, “You entered my bedroom in the middle of the night. I was merely taking advantage of the situation.”

He felt his smile fade before he said, “I am not taking advantage of you now. I am truly here for you.”

Lily moved away from his embrace and sat up, pulling the sheet to cover herself. “But, you did not come here for me. Not exactly.”

“I told you, I was a fool. I thought you did not want to be with me, but when Charles came and thought there was a chance you might be carrying my child, I could not stay away.”

“So Charles knows that we -.” Even in the dim moon light, he could see her blush.

He touched her hand. “That we did what we just did, yes. But, he guessed our situation even then.” He held her hand a little tighter. “Lily, are you really not?”

She shook her head slowly. “No. At one time I was very concerned, but not now.” She pulled the sheet with
her and stepped out of the bed. “It seems a lot has happened in a very short time. I was surprised at my initial reception when I returned here, but Richard helped me. He has been very supportive and kind.”

“I see,” he scoffed, unable to keep the bitterness from his tone. Sliding off the bed he dressed as Lily turned away from him.

“You said you do not love him, but do you want to be with him?”

She was silent and he forgot to breathe as he waited for her response.

Slowly, she shook her head and said, “I thought you did not want me. That we could never be.” Tears welled in her eyes. “But, no one has ever made me feel the way I do when I am with you.”

“Lily.” Stepping forward he reached for her, but she put her hands up stopping him.

“I wanted you with me tonight, Duncan, but I cannot deny that am still hurt by your reason to finally come here. How can I know that you truly want me?”

“I admit that the thought of your condition is what finally pushed me to come here, but the moment I saw you again I knew I never wanted to be without you. You make me feel whole and when you left, I was lost and incomplete. I realized that it does not matter where I am as long as I am with you.”

“I want to believe you, Duncan,” she murmured softly.

“Believe me, Lily,” he whispered, roughly. “Think about what I have done. I came to this city to see you; to this place I swore to never return to and then, in front of the
entire ton, I announced that I am madly and deeply in love with you.”

“No, you did not.”

He stepped back and gaped. “Beg pardon?”

She shook her head. “You said I loved you and you loved me too, but there was no mention of madly or deeply.”

Exhaling in relief, he reached forward and pulled her to him as he wrapped his arms around her small waist. “You dare tease me now?”

“I dare, just a bit.”

He smiled as her gaze locked with his. “Please give me a chance to be with you. Do not marry Lord Hastings.”

Nodding, she said, “I will speak with him tomorrow.”

He embraced her and kissed the top of her mussed hair before he said, “Thank you. I will wait until the late afternoon to call on you.”

He stepped back and picked his jacket off the floor. Kissing her hand, she giggled quietly and said, “Goodnight, Duncan.”

Grinning, he kissed her cheek and snuck out of the room.

Lily paced in the salon nervously. How would she say what she needed to say? There was a soft knock as Richard was announced and he came into the room.

He rushed forward and took her hands in his. “Lily, are you all right? I was terribly worried yesterday.”

She smiled. “Yes, Richard. I am fine, thank you.”

He reached forward and embraced her, holding her tightly. She stiffened and did not wrap her arms around him in response. He sensed her hesitation and pulled away from her, his face holding an angry expression she had not seen before. “I see that you seem hesitant around me again. Should I guess that Lord Cavanaugh’s arrival has caused you some distress where we are concerned?”