Midnight Kisses (Midnight Series) (9 page)

Danielle nodded. Perhaps Eliza was right. For once in her life, why shouldn’t she just go ahead and take advantage when such a wonderful opportunity presented itself?

She continued down the sidewalk so she could take a look at the back of the house, when she noticed an acquaintance from Essex on the opposite side of the road.

“Mr. Foster? What a coincidence!” she called out, waving, and hurried across the street to greet him. Mr. Foster seemed startled at first, but quickly regained his composure and smiled. He lifted his hat.

“Milady,” he bowed, kissing the back of her hand.

“How nice to see you here. What brings you to London?” Danielle asked and motioned for Eliza to join them. “May I present Lady Eliza Bosworth, an old friend of mine, and this gentleman is Frank Foster. He’s been such great help these past few months. Mr. Foster took care of a lot of things for me. He helped clean out the laboratory, and return the instruments to Oxford University. Oh, he would have done so much more, but in my sentimental state of mind, I was able to part with only very few of Matt’s devices. Mr. Foster has been a godsend.”

Eliza gave him her most charming smile. The fact that this gentleman seemed a little uncomfortable after she ended singing her praises completely escaped Danielle’s attention.

“Maybe,” Eliza suggested enthusiastically, “Mr. Foster would like to join us tonight at the opera. There’s always room in our box for an extra guest.”

Frank paused for a moment before responding to the offer.

“Lady Bosworth, thank you so much for your kind invitation. I feel much obliged and would of course love to accompany you,” he thanked them after a moment of hesitation.

“How lovely,” Eliza crooned. “Lord Weston will be joining us again, too, and
 . . . 
”

“He will?” Danielle interjected, and the obvious joy in her voice was unmistakable.

“Oh, didn’t I mention? Well, Colin thought it imperative to apologize for last night. Which is why he had the invitation couriered first thing this morning.”

Foster, whose face had drained entirely of color, slapped the flat of his hand against his forehead and shook his head apologetically.

“I just remembered that I have a prior engagement for tonight. So sorry! But let me thank you once again for the invitation, and I hope you ladies have an enjoyable evening. Lady Langston, so nice to see you again. If you need any further assistance regarding your husband’s effects, please do not hesitate to call on me.”

Danielle, who was secretly relieved that she wouldn’t need to entertain Foster all night, politely said her goodbyes and gave him a smile as he hurried off.

She was already completely absorbed in the idea of seeing Devlin again. When she looked down at herself, she realized that the color black was not what she had in mind for the opera. Besides, after the way she had spent last night, it would have been hypocritical of her to still be wearing a mourning dress.

Chapter 8

Danielle was standing in front of the mirror, hesitating. Eliza had taken a seat behind her on the edge of the bed and smiled a satisfied smile.

“You look terrific. The green satin makes you look very mysterious. Are you sure you prefer wearing your hair down? Even though wearing it up is the latest fashion right now?” Eliza pondered.

“I’m sure!”

Determined to no longer let life pass her by, and, most importantly, to not let Devlin Weston get away again, she smoothed down her shiny locks and pinched her cheeks. But it was unnecessary, for her looking forward to seeing him again was enough to bathe her face in a rosy glow.

“Danielle, sweetie, are you really not going to tell me what happened last night?” Eliza asked woefully, since Danielle had been avoiding her questions all day.

“No, my dear, I really won’t! But, if it helps, rest assured that I have forgiven Lord Weston for his inappropriate behavior from the night before.”

Eliza clapped her hands.

“How wonderful! Just imagine I could set the two of you up!” she exclaimed, and Danielle fought hard to suppress a smile.

“Well, good luck with that!” she quipped, and made her way downstairs. Her pulse quickened with every step that she took.

Colin and Devlin were already waiting for them down in the foyer.

“
 . . . 
and so in the end, he lost his entire fortune at the gambling table, the poor sod,” Colin finished his tale about a distant acquaintance of theirs. Devlin listened with only one ear.
I’m as giddy as a schoolboy on his first date
. This annoyed him greatly, for he had been no schoolboy when he kissed Danielle for the first time. Still, that innocent kiss had haunted him all these years. Perhaps it would explain his overzealous interest in this woman, and why all these years he’d been wondering what had become of her. The fact that she exceeded his every expectation only made it harder. In the end, he had to admit that she had been on his mind all day.

He saw her coming down the staircase now, and swallowed hard.

Didn’t she know what she was doing to him by wearing her hair down? How could she expect him not to bury his hands in her lovely, luscious locks for the whole world to see? How could he possibly work up the self-control to stop himself from carrying her back upstairs to muss that delightful hair of hers? His self-control was already virtually non-existent ever since he met Danielle that first time. When he thought back to last night, he had to reluctantly admit that she had almost driven him out of his mind. And when she had raised her hips up to him, invitingly, lustfully, he had been unable to hold out any longer.

“Danielle, my sweet, I can’t take it much longer,” he had whispered as her hot juices were running over his fingers and she was panting his name, full of lust. Quickly, he had torn down his breeches and, when she scrutinized him, even holding out a hand for him, he had almost made a fool of himself.

He had to have her, now. With his last ounce of self-control he came over her, kissing her while parting her thighs. Danielle moaned when his swollen manhood touched her, and she pressed herself up against him. He had raised her hips and held on to her waist as he slowly entered her tightness. Danielle stiffened when he broke through the barrier of her virginity, and Devlin struggled not to spill all of his seed at once. With slow, tender moves, he took away her pain and, when she opened her eyes again, he saw the fire of lust and desire burn in them. She raised herself up into his every thrust, seeking to be ever closer to him.

When the wave of lust broke over her and her glistening, convulsing body closed around his, he had finally abandoned his hard-earned self-control and found release in the feverish heat of her pulsating belly.

“There they are,” Colin noted and helped Eliza into her coat while Devlin, still mesmerized, couldn’t take his eyes off Danielle.

“The carriage is waiting,” Colin explained and escorted Eliza outside.

“Lady Langston, you look ravishing.” Devlin bowed and, after their hosts disappeared outside and he was helping Danielle into her coat, added in a muffled tone: “Almost as ravishing as last night.”

Danielle blushed.

“Lord Weston! You shouldn’t
 . . . 
”

“Shhh, Milady! It is you who are stirring these wicked memories within me, for you are surely teasing me today. You look positively bewitching with your hair down!”

Danielle bit her lip. Yes, it had been her intention to be provocative, but now she wondered whether that was such a good move. His eyes burned with overt desire, and the way he grabbed her waist as he escorted her to the carriage almost gave their shameful secret away.

“Devlin, please
 . . . 
” Danielle tried in vain to squirm free of his grip.

Even as they were climbing into the carriage, his hand was still firmly on her hip, but fortunately, neither Eliza nor Colin paid any attention to them.

Once inside, Danielle didn’t quite dare to meet Devlin’s eyes for fear of being undressed by them. No, that wasn’t quite it; he seemed to be
seducing
her with his eyes. She suddenly felt very hot and tried to concentrate on her girlfriend’s cheerful chatter until they arrived at the opera house.

Colin led the way, guiding them through the crowd and up to their private box. Devlin held both his elbows out for Danielle and Eliza to hold on to, and followed his friend, here and there nodding a greeting to a face he recognized. Every single pair of eyes followed them.

Finally, he breathed a sigh of relief when the dark, heavy curtain closed behind them and the muted light inside their private box welcomed them.

“Weston, you’re causing quite a stir,” even Colin noted.

“That’s only because I’m not in town much. People are coming up with wild speculations as to what brings me here,” Devlin explained, even though he assumed that the speculations were, in part, aimed at Danielle as well.

Eliza, on the other hand, beamed.

“Surely everyone assumes you are courting the widow Langston,” she pondered out loud.

“That’s one possibility,” he agreed, winking at Danielle. “I have been accused of worse things.”

The curtain was unexpectedly pushed aside, and a woman appeared before them.

Her shiny raven hair had been piled up on top of her head in an opulent hairstyle, and her purple gown was cut so low that it almost failed to cover her nipples. With brightly sparkling eyes, she gave Devlin the once-over.

“Well, well, well, and I didn’t want to believe it! The Earl of Windham is honoring London with his esteemed presence.”

She reached out a hand to Devlin, anticipating his kiss, and gave him a scathing smile.

Danielle knew right away who she was. She could never forget the soft and velvety voice of the woman who’d had her carnal desires fulfilled in Devlin’s arms. Her legs almost gave out when Devlin greeted the woman.

“Lady Winther.”

The dark eyes of the woman briefly stopped on Danielle’s face, and she grimaced.

“What brings you to London, Weston? Business, or are you perhaps looking for
pleasure
?” she asked, placing her hand on his arm in an all-too-familiar gesture—an obvious invitation.

“Sometimes
 . . . 
” Devlin started, wrenching his arm free of her hand and with a smile at Danielle, “
 . . . 
business and pleasure can be one and the same thing.”

The raven-haired beauty did not seem to like his answer much, for she snorted with contempt.

“So you have found a new favorite, I see?” she wondered out loud, unashamedly looking Danielle up and down.

Annoyed, Devlin pressed his lips together tightly.

“Lady Winther, I ask you to remember your manners and stay courteous,” he retorted coldly.

“If I may introduce
 . . . 
” he now turned to Eliza and Colin. “
 . . . 
Lady Winther, an old friend—Lord and Lady Bosworth. And this is Lady Langston.”

With obvious irritation at Devlin’s reprimand, the raven-haired beauty pulled a face.

“I know who your companion is. Her husband’s
 . . . 
how shall I put this
 . . . 
embarrassing
passing helped her gain a questionable fame.”

Danielle gasped for breath, shocked and appalled, but unable to respond. But what could she say?

Devlin planted himself in front of Lady Winther, and the expression on his face clearly showed his disapproval. But his former mistress was not to be dissuaded. On the contrary: she didn’t like Devlin taking a stand for his new lady friend.

“Doesn’t the widow Langston know that Windham men are incapable of love? We wouldn’t want her to meet the same fate as so many other poor creatures who had the misfortune of crossing your path, now would we.”

“Claire!” Devlin snarled, but the triumphant smile on Lady Winther’s face proved that she had already accomplished her goal.

Danielle was hurt by the fact that Devlin used the woman’s first name so carelessly and with obvious familiarity. Also, what did Lady Winther mean when she said that Windham men were incapable of love?

“Lord Weston, should you grow tired of the widow, don’t bother seeking relief in a brothel. Apparently, that’s bad for your health. Come see me instead, and we’ll pick up where we left off,” Lady Winther proposed before disappearing as quickly as she had come.

“Despicable!” Eliza stomped her foot. “That was shameless! The insolence!”

Devlin was full of remorse, and with his most sincere apologies he tried to make good for Lady Winther’s behavior.

Luckily, the dimming of the lights finally ended the awkward situation, and the curtain was raised for the first act.

Danielle had the overwhelming feeling that all eyes were glued on their private box. She could just sense everyone staring at her, and even the comfort of the relative darkness didn’t really calm her. Devlin, who was sitting behind her at a slight angle, bent forward. His breath caressed her neck when he whispered:

“Danielle, I’m so sorry about what just happened. Lady Winther wanted to hurt you; that was the only reason she came. Please don’t take her words to heart.”

Danielle straightened up. She was furious. Really, truly furious! Sally would probably recommend that she punch something. And surely that would provide some sort of relief. But because she didn’t want to embarrass her good friend Eliza in public, and was, at the same time, unable to stand being surrounded by all these people any longer, she got up and walked to the curtain.

“I’m afraid I’m feeling a little unwell. Lord Bosworth, Eliza, thank you for the invitation, but I have to make my excuses. Please enjoy the play. I will find my own way home.”

“Danielle, wait!” Devlin called out, signaling the Bosworths that he would look after Danielle before he started running after her.

He grabbed her arm and forced her to stop. They were out in the hallway with tall, marble pillars lining their path, and thick, dark carpeting cushioning their steps. Burgundy-colored curtains covered the entrance to each of the private boxes, and muffled singing wafted through the entire opera house.