at a distance.
He hopedprayedshe would understand. At least once he explained
He wasnt looking forward to that conversation, but then again, Minerva knew him very well. She would hardly be shocked to learn that Helen had been his mistress, and was now his
ex
-mistress. In their world, it was the
ex
- that counted.
Even with his outward attention elsewhere, he knew when Minerva left the room. A quick glance confirmed it, and sharpened the inner spur that impelled him to follow her.
But he had to settle matters with Helen first.
And Susannah. His sister swanned past beyond Helen; she caught his eyeno difficulty as it was fixed on herand winked. Hiding his reaction behind an easy expression, he left Helen to her conversation with Caroline Courtney; reaching out he closed his fingers about Susannahs elbow and drew her with him as he strolled a few paces.
Once they were sufficiently apart to speak privately, he released her and looked down as she looked up at him.
She smiled with childlikechildishdelight. Well, brother dear, are you happier now?
He read her sincerity in her eyes. Inwardly sighed. Actually, no. Helen and I parted when I left London.
Susannahs face fell almost comically. Oh. She looked thoroughly disconcerted. I had no idea. She glanced at Helen. I thought
If I might ask, what, exactly, did you tell her?
Well, that you were here and alone, and having to make this dreadful decision of who to wed, and that if she came up, perhaps she might make your life easier, and, well
those
sort of things.
Royce inwardly groaned, then sighed through his teeth. Never mind. Ill speak with her and straighten things out.
At least he now knew his instincts had been right; Helen wasnt there to share just a night of passion. Thanks to Susannahs poor phrasing, Helen now harbored higher aspira
tions.
He let Susannah, rather subdued, go and returned to Helens side, but had to wait until everyone else finally decided to retire to take her to a place where they could speak privately.
Leaving the drawing room at the rear of the crowd, he touched Helens arm, and indicated the corridor leading away from the hall. This way.
He led her to the library.
She passed through the door he held open for her, and came to a momentary halt; she was too experienced not to realize the significance of the venue. But then her spine straightened, and she walked further into the room. He followed and closed the door.
A candelabra on the mantelpiece was alight; a small fire blazed cheerily in the hearth. He waved Helen to the wingchair to one side of the hearth. She walked ahead of him to the fireplace, but then swung to face him, hands clasped before her, fingers twining.
She opened her mouth, but he held up a hand, staying her words.
First, let me say that I was surprised to see you hereI had no idea Susannah had written to you. Halting on the other side of the hearth, he held Helens blue gaze. However, courtesy of what my sister wrote, I accept that you may be laboring under a misapprehension. To clarify matters He broke off, then let his lips twist cynically. To be brutally frank, Im currently negotiating for the hand of the lady Ive chosen as my duchess, and am entirely uninterested in any dalliance.
And if shed thought she had any chance at a more permanent connection, she now knew better.
To give her her due, and as hed expected, Helen absorbed the reality well. She was a natural survivor in their world. Her eyes on his face, she drew a long breath as she digested his words, then she inclined her head, her lips twisting in a
rueful grimace. Good Lordhow very
awkward.
Only as awkward as we wish to make it. No one will be surprised if we amicably part and move on.
She thought, then nodded. True.
I will, naturally, do everything within my power to ensure youre not made uncomfortable while here, and I hope, in the future, you will continue to regard me as a friend. He continued to hold her gaze, entirely confident she would understand the offer behind his words, and value it accordingly.
She didnt disappoint him. She was far from stupid, and if she couldnt have him as either lover or husband, then having him as a powerful, well-disposed acquaintance was the next best thing. Again she inclined her head, this time in a deeper obeisance. Thank you, Your Grace. She hesitated, then lifted her head. If it would not inconvenience you, I believe Ill remain for a few daysperhaps for the house party.
He knew about saving face. By all means.
Their interview was at an end; he waved her to the door, falling in beside her as she walked down the room.
He halted before the door, waited until she looked at him. If I might ask, was it purely distraction you came up to Northumberland to offer, or
?
She smiled. Susannah apparently believed I had some chance of becoming your duchess. She met his eyes. To be perfectly honest, I didnt think it likely.
I apologize for Susannahshes younger than I, and doesnt, in fact, know me as well as she thinks she does.
Helen laughed. No one knows you as well as they think they do. She paused, then smiledone of her gloriously charming smiles. Good night, Royce. And good luck with your negotiations.
Opening the door, she went out.
Royce watched the door close behind her; he stood staring at the panels, his mind immediately refocusing on the one burning issue dominating his current existencehis nego
tiations with the lady hed chosen as his duchess.
His campaign to ensure Minerva said yes.
Minerva lay alone in her beda perfectly good bed shed slept comfortably in for years and years, but which now seemed entirely lacking.
She knew what was missing, what lack it was that somehow made it impossible to fall asleep, but why the simple presence of a male body over a handful of days should have made such a deep impression on her psyche to the extent sheher bodyfretted at his absence, she simply could not comprehend.
If her body was restless, her mind was even more so. She had to stop thinking about all shed learnedhad to stop wondering if Helen had actually meant five interludes, or five intimacies; on both counts she and Royce had exceeded the limit. Yet perhaps he, being male, simply counted nights?
The deadening truth she had to accept was that according to his immutable ruleand she could see why he, heir to a massively wealthy and powerful dukedom, had instituted such a rule and stuck by ither time with him had come to an end.
It was just as well Helen had arrived and explained; at least now she knew.
Sitting up, she pummeled her pillow, then slumped down and pulled the covers over her shoulders. She closed her eyes. She had to get some sleep.
She tried to compose her features, but they wouldnt relax. Her frown refused to smooth away.
In her heart, her gut, everything felt wrong. So utterly wrong.
The click of her door latch had her opening her eyes. The door swung inwardrather violentlythen Royce was in the room, shutting the door forcefully, but silently.
He stalked to the bed. Halting beside it, he looked down at her; all she could see of his expression was that his lips were
set in a grim line.
I suppose I should have expected this. He shook his head, and reached for the covers.
He tugged. She clutched them tighter. Wh
Of course, Id hoped my edict that youre supposed to be in
my
bed might have been strong enough to hold, but apparently not. His accents were clipped, a sure indication of strained temper. He jerked the covers from her grip and flung them off her.
He stopped and stared down at her. Heaven preserve me, were back to nightgowns.
The disgust in his voice would, in other circumstances, have made her laugh. She narrowed her eyes at him, then dove to scramble off the other side of the bedbut he was too fast.
He caught her, hauled her to him, then hoisted her in his arms.
He started for the door.
Royce!
Shut up. Im not in a good mood. First Susannah, then Helen, now you. Misogyny beckons.
She glanced at his face, at his adamantine expression, and shut her lips. As she couldnt prevent him from carrying her to his room, she would argue once they got there.
He paused by the coat rack. Grab your cloak.
She did and quickly flicked the folds over her; at least hed remembered that.
He juggled her, opened her door, softly shut it behind them, then carried her swiftly through the shadows to his apartments, and on into his bedroom. All the way to his bed.
She pinned him with a stony glare. What about the countess?
Halting beside the bed, he met her gaze, his own hard. What about her?
Shes your mistress.
Ex
-mistress. The
ex
- is importantit defines that relationship.
Does she know that?
Yes, she does. She knew it before she came here, and Ive just confirmed for her that the situation hasnt changed. Hed held her gaze throughout. Any more questions on that subject?
She blinked. No. Not at the moment.
Good. He tossed her on the bed.
She bounced once. Before she could grab it, he whipped her cloak off and flung it across the room.
He paused, then stepped back. His hands going to his coat buttons, he toed off his shoes; his eyes on her, he shrugged out of his tight-fitting evening coat, then pointed at her nightgown. Take that off. If I do, it wont survive.
She hesitated. If she was naked, and so was he, rational discussion wouldnt be high on his agenda. First
Minervatake off the gown.
Sixteen
M
inervatake off the gown.
The words resonated in the dimness between them. Hed packed them with more distilled power, more direct command, than hed ever used with her before; his tone filled her female ears with primitive threat, and unstated promise.
A not-at-all-subtle reminder that he was the sort of nobleman no one even thought to deny. Certainly no woman. Of their own volition, her fingers shifted on the fine fabric draping her legs.
She realized and stilled them, then, hauling in a breath through lungs suddenly tight, sat up, curling her legs, faced him, and narrowed her eyes on his. No. She set her jaw, if not as hard, then at least as belligerently as he. You didnt so much as glance at me all evening, and now you want to see me naked?
His implacability eased not one jot. He drew his cravat off, and dropped it. Yes. A heartbeat passed. I didnt glance at youand Im well aware it was for the whole damned eveningbecause everyone, literally everyone, was watching
me
, watching to see me and Helen, my recent mistress, interact, and if instead Id looked at you, everyone else would
have, too. And then theyd have wondered whywhy instead of looking at my recent mistress I was looking at you. And not being entirely devoid of intelligence, theyd have guessed, correctly, that my distraction with you at such a moment was because
youre
sharing my bed.
He shrugged off his waistcoat. I didnt look your way once the entire evening because I wanted to avoid the speculation I knew would ensue, and I know you wont like. He looked down as he dropped the waistcoat on top of his coat; he paused, then lifted his head and met her eyes. I also didnt want my cousins getting any ideas about youand they would if they knew you were sharing my bed.
Truthall truth. She heard it ring in every clipped, precise vowel and consonant. And the thought of his cousins approaching herall the males were as sexually aggressive as hehad been the prod that had affected him most powerfully.
Before she could consider what that might mean, with a barely restrained tug he pulled his shirttails from his waistband.
His gaze lowered to her body, to the offending nightgown. Take that damned gown off. If its still on you when I reach you, Im going to shred it.
Not a warning, not a threat, not even a promisejust a pragmatic statement of fact.
He was barely two yards away. She mentally threw up her hands and turned to draw the covers down so she could slip beneath them.
No. Stay where you are. His voice had lowered, deepened; his tone sent a primitive thrill racing up her spine. He spoke increasingly slowly. Just take the gown off. Now.
She turned back to face him. Her lungs had constricted again. She drew in a tight breath, then reached for the hem of the fine lawn gown, and drew it up, exposing her calves, her knees, her thighs, then, still sitting, her eyes locked on him, she wriggled and tugged until the long gown was bunched around her waist.
The roughness of his brocade counterpane rasped the bare skin of her legs and bottomand she suddenly had an inkling of why he might want her naked
on
the bed, rather than in it.
And she wasnt about to argue.
From the waist down, she was no longer sheathed in the gown, but the folds shielded her hips and stomach, and all the rest of her, from his gaze.
Her mouth suddenly dry, she swallowed, then said, Take off the shirt, and Ill take off the gown.
His gaze lifted from her naked thighs, locked with hers for an instant, then he grabbed the hem of his shirt and hauled it up and over his head.
She seized the instantthe barest fleeting instantto drink in the arresting, arousing sight of his heavily muscled chest. Then he tore his hands free of the sleeves, dropped the shirt. His fingers reaching for the buttons at his waist, he stepped toward the bed.
