JORDAN Nicole (29 page)

Tess looked amused. “You expect him to make all the effort?”

“Precisely. But like you, I doubt he is the least bit interested in a real love match.”

Roslyn had little faith that Drew would change his stripes so drastically. She might wonder, wistfully and foolishly, if he could ever come to love her, but she still believed he was too cynical to let himself give his heart to anyone.

“What will you tell your sisters?” Tess asked.

“I’ll tell Arabella about the betrothal, of course,” Roslyn replied, “but not the rest…not about my wantonness. Marcus still considers himself our protector if not our legal guardian, and he wouldn’t be pleased to know that I’ve been intimate with his friend. I’ll write Belle tomorrow at Marcus’s family seat in Devonshire, although there is no hurry, since they aren’t expected to arrive there until next week. They should still be touring the Lake District at present.”

“What about Lily? You know she won’t be happy to hear you are engaged to wed a man you don’t love and who might never love you.”

“I know.” Roslyn’s mouth quirked ruefully. “I think I had best make a trip to London and tell her in person, although I will have to be discreet. Lily wants everyone to think she is visiting our old friends in Hampshire. Only you and Fanny know otherwise.”

“That would be wise,” Tess agreed. She drank a swallow of wine before speaking again. “Would you mind if I asked a personal question, Roslyn?”

“Of course not.”

Tess hesitated, looking oddly embarrassed. “Was…passion as remarkable as Fanny says it is?”

Roslyn felt her own complexion warm as she recalled the incredible interlude with Drew in the cottage. “It was better,” she said softly. “I can understand now why Fanny forsook all her genteel upbringing and let herself be swept away by desire.”

Tess sighed. “I regret that I may never know that kind of passion. I almost envy you….” With a sharp shake of her head, she squared her shoulders. “But I promised myself I wouldn’t dwell on the past. And now I feel obliged to play schoolmistress for a moment.” She gave Roslyn a stern look, although her eyes held a glint of humor. “If you mean to become intimate with the duke again, you should take precautions.”

“Precautions?” Roslyn asked.

“Against becoming enceinte. If you find yourself with child, you will be forced to wed him, regardless of your feelings for him.”

Roslyn’s cheeks turned a deep shade of pink. “I confess, I had not given the matter any thought. Fanny never worried about such things.”

“Some women, like Fanny, cannot conceive easily, but others are more susceptible to breeding. There are ways to prevent a man’s seed taking root. You should ask Fanny about them.”

Roslyn nodded at the sage advice. For all her romantic sentimentality, Tess had always been rather levelheaded and practical.

“No doubt you are right,” Roslyn said. “But my being intimate with the duke should not be a problem in the future. I am determined it won’t happen again.”

Though looking skeptical, Tess merely sipped her wine.

Roslyn took a swallow of her own wine and silently renewed her vow not to surrender to her wanton desires again. It shouldn’t be as difficult as it had been the past two days. Now that she understood what she was up against, she could better guard herself.

She had let passion sway her when what she really wanted was love—and look at the quandary she was in now.

She would certainlynot make that mistake again, no matter how irresistible the duke—Drew—was.

From the first moment he entered her library the following morning, however, Roslyn realized that Drew’s intentions were the very opposite of hers. He strode to the window seat where she was curled up reading, pulled her to her feet, and seized her mouth in an unexpected and unexpectedly gentle kiss that was no less devastating for its tenderness.

Instantly breathless, Roslyn tore herself from his embrace and retreated halfway across the room, her fingers pressed to her burning lips. “Your grace—Drew! You cannot kiss me like that simply because we are betrothed.”

He looked unchastened as he moved toward her. “I suspected you were having second thoughts and wanted to remind you why our marriage is still a good idea. Here, this is for you, darling.”

For the first time she noticed that he was carrying a flat blue velvet box. When she took it from him and opened the lid, Roslyn nearly gasped to see an incredible sapphire-and-diamond necklace with matching earbobs.

“These are Arden family heirlooms,” Drew explained. “I retrieved them this morning from the bank vault in London.”

Frowning slightly, Roslyn looked up at him. “They are beautiful but far too expensive for me to accept.”

“Nonsense. It’s appropriate for me to bring you a betrothal gift. You can wear them tomorrow evening at the dinner Lady Freemantle is giving. It will lend credence to our betrothal.”

Roslyn refrained from mentioning that she would likely be returning the jewels to him since she doubted the wedding would ever take place.

“I admit,” Drew added when she was silent, “they are something of a bribe, since I must ask you to perform a distasteful task.”

“What task?”

“As much as I regret it, I will have to introduce you to my mother.”

“The Duchess of Arden?”

“Yes. She spends the summer at Arden Castle in Kent. I’m on my way there now to inform her about our betrothal.” His mouth curled. “She would be outraged if I merely sent her a message announcing our engagement, and I would rather not get her back up since I want her to fully support you. I will take you to meet her later this week, if you are free.”

“Must I meet her?” Roslyn asked reluctantly.

Drew grinned. “I fear so. If she is seen to give her approval of the match, your acceptance in society will be assured. My mother holds significant sway over her peers.”

“I suppose you are right.”

Roslyn started to close the lid to the jewel box, but Drew stopped her. “No, try it on.”

“Very well,” she said after a moment’s hesitation. The neckline of her green muslin morning gown was too high and the color wasn’t right to do the beautiful piece justice, but it didn’t seem polite to refuse.

“Allow me to help,” Drew offered, lifting the necklace from the velvet bed.

Roslyn turned so that he could slip the necklace around her throat, but when he fastened the clasp, she found herself recalling yesterday when he’d helped her don her corset. This was much less wicked, yet she felt a tingling shock where his fingers touched the bare skin of her nape.

To distract herself, she asked him about his promise to search for Winifred’s thief. “Did you have the chance to speak to Bow Street yet?”

“Yes. I have two Runners investigating the color livery our thief wore. For now we will leave the search to them.”

Drew turned her around, his gaze surveying her. “Sapphires look lovely on you,” he said softly. “They complement your beautiful eyes.”

Roslyn felt her heart warm at his praise, yet she still felt uncomfortable at his flattery. “Drew…please—”

“I know you don’t care to hear how beautiful you are, but it’s true.”

His tender look affected her even more than the words. He did make her feel beautiful—

Which no doubt was his calculated intent, Roslyn suddenly realized.

She stiffened with renewed resolve. Pulling back, she managed a light laugh. “I know what you are about, your grace, but your tricks are wasted on me.”

“What tricks?”

“You are employing the same techniques of seduction you taught me.”

“Is that so?” Drew asked innocently.

“You know it is. You bring me expensive gifts and attempt to flatter me. You look deeply into my eyes and make me the sole focus of your attention. You touch me in order to arouse my senses…. Shall I go on?”

Flashing her a slow smile of irresistible charm, he held up his hands. “Guilty as charged. But can you blame me? I know I must use every means at my disposal to convince you to wed me.”

“I don’t want you to shower me with jewels or empty flattery, Drew.”

“My flattery isn’t empty. Come here, sweeting. I want to show you how much I desire you.”

Reaching for her, he drew her into his arms. Discomfited, Roslyn exclaimed in protest. “I don’t want you to kiss me, either.”

“Now that I know isn’t true.” His green gaze intimate, knowing, he smiled softly. “Let me prove it to you, sweet Roslyn….”

Bending his head, he kissed her with controlled expertise while his hands drifted lightly over her body. Every movement was laced with mastery and kindled sparks wherever he touched.

To her dismay, Roslyn soon stopped resisting and surrendered to the clever explorations of his mouth and hands. When he finally pulled back, he left her hot and breathless and dazed.

“The next time we make love,” he murmured in a husky voice, “will be much better than the first.”

She couldn’t imagine how it could be better, but that was hardly the point.

“There will notbe a next time,” Roslyn said shakily, moving over to a chair and sinking down. “Not unless we are actually wed.”

“I can see I will have to change your mind.”

She narrowed her gaze on him. “That is just what I would expect of you, you grace, using your sexual prowess to try and sway me.”

“Why shouldn’t I, since it is one of my chief talents?”

“I know.” Roslyn sent him a disgruntled look. “Fanny says you can make women weep with rapture.”

His eyebrow arched. “How could Fanny possibly know? I have never patronized her.”

“She is merely repeating rumor.”

Drew shrugged. “My efforts are not entirely calculating. It makes a man swell with pride, knowing he can please his lover.”

“Not according to Fanny. She says it is extremely rare for a man to consider his lover’s pleasure before his own.”

Drew’s smile was rueful. “Well, I confess I have cultivated my amorous skills so I would be wanted for something other than my wealth and title.”

Roslyn was struck by the odd look in his eyes. It was almost…vulnerable. She found it difficult to believe so powerful nobleman as Drew would have any kind of vulnerability, but she could understand why he wanted to be wanted for himself, not his material assets.

“You certainly succeeded—” Roslyn shook herself abruptly. “How did we stray to this scandalous subject? Yesterday you said you would call on me this morning to further discuss our betrothal.”

“And I meant to. But then I realized I would do better to work on my mother, since she could prove to be a thorn in my side. I intend to stay the night at Arden Castle, by the way. While I’m making my duty visit, I have some estate affairs that need tending. But I’ll return here in time to escort you to the betrothal dinner tomorrow night.”

“You needn’t trouble yourself, Drew. I plan to attend with my friend, Miss Blanchard. It would be best if I am not always seen in your company.”

“Is that the real reason?”

Roslyn flushed. “To be perfectly honest, I don’t want to be alone in a carriage with you.”

“Because you don’t trust yourself with me.”

“Exactly.”

His smile was rather smug although still charming. “Very well, love, but I won’t allow you to avoid my company altogether. I want the chance to court you properly.”

“If you mean to be proper, you will have to abandon your plan to seduce me.”

“Now,that I won’t promise. I will see you tomorrow evening.”

Crossing to her chair, he bent and placed a brief kiss on her lips, then turned and exited the library, leaving Roslyn with her pulse racing wildly.

She pressed her hands to her overheated cheeks and frowned unhappily. She fully comprehended Drew’s idea of a courtship. He meant to woo her ruthlessly, using every ounce of charm and every skill at seduction he possessed to overwhelm her senses. And she knew it would be devastatingly effective.

Or would it?

Absently, Roslyn reached up to finger the glittering jewels at her throat. She might be unable to resist Drew’s expert physical overtures, but his assault on her senses was not likely to touch her heart. Indeed, knowing the cold, calculating techniques he was employing would make it easier to protect herself from falling in love with him.

Drew Moncrief might be a splendid lover, but he knew almost nothing about real love, and love was the only thing that could convince her to wed him.

The gathering for Winifred’s dinner on Monday evening was small and intimate, with only the betrothed couple’s closest friends attending.

When Roslyn arrived with Tess and was shown into the drawing room, Winifred welcomed her with a hearty embrace while whispering in her ear, “I’m afraid Fanny could not come, Roslyn dear, since she had a prior engagement. And I did not invite Lord Haviland. I decided it would not be appropriate, considering he is the duke’s rival for your hand.”

Roslyn refrained from arguing that Haviland was no longer a possible suitor and merely smiled.

Drew was already there before her, but his greeting was surprisingly tame. He merely took her hand and pressed a chaste kiss to her cheek. “There, are you satisfied? I intend to behave with consummate circumspection tonight.”

“Thank you,” Roslyn murmured wryly.

Miss Jane Caruthers, a spinster and teacher who managed the day-to-day affairs of the Freemantle Academy, greeted her next, embracing Roslyn with sincere warmth. “Your betrothal is certainly a surprise,” Jane said, “but I am very happy for you, my dear.”

Marcus’s sister, Lady Eleanor Pierce, had also been invited, along with Drew’s close friend, the Marquess of Claybourne. Lady Eleanor expressed her delight to Roslyn, while Claybourne offered felicitations. “Marcus thought you might make this old fellow an admirable duchess.”

“Did he indeed?” Roslyn responded with skepticism. “I never expected Marcus to be a champion of matrimony.”

“He wasn’t until he met your sister. He became a convert only then.”

As soon as the butler supplied Roslyn with a glass of wine, Lady Eleanor pulled her aside for a private moment. “Drew tells me the announcement of your engagement will be in all the society pages tomorrow. The ton will be astounded to learn he came up to scratch, since he has been so staunchly resistant to marriage, but I am truly delighted by your betrothal, especially for Drew’s sake. And I know Marcus will be as well.”