To Tempt An Angel (Book 1 Douglas series) (11 page)

Reaching up, Robert let one long finger glide down the valley between her breasts, nearly exposing them. He heard her sharp intake of breath and felt her, almost imperceptibly, press herself against his hand.

“Lucille, I am
not
continuing our relationship,” Robert said, his hand dropping away from her body.

“You miss my bed,” Lucille said, pouting prettily. “And I yearn to feel you inside me again.”

“Are you wet for me now?” Robert asked, his voice husky.

Wearing a feline smile, Lucille suggested, “Slip your marvelous fingers up the front of my gown and find out for yourself.”

“No, thank you,” he refused in a clipped tone.

“Daisy is four years old and wants to meet her father,” she said, her irritation apparent.

“Be thankful that I take responsibility for my sins, and I’m rich enough to be generous,” Robert replied.

“But you’ve never even seen her,” Lucille argued.

“I have no intention of seeing the child whose existence caused Louisa’s suicide,” Robert told her.

“Do you blame Daisy for your wife’s death?”

“No, I blame myself.” At that, Robert closed the cottage door behind himself and headed for his horse.

“Oh, I must speak to Madame Roxanne about this,” Lucille exclaimed, and knocked on the door.

“Madame Roxanne doesn’t live here anymore,” Robert called. He reined his horse away and rode in the direction of London.

*    *    *

Angelica slept through tea but awakened in plenty of time to prepare himself for her first dinner at the Duke of Inverary’s mansion. Opening her eyes, she felt momentarily confused by the unfamiliar chamber but then remembered the day’s events. She sat up, pushed her blond hair away from her face, and inspected the chamber, which had been decorated in white, gold, and shades of blue.

The bed was larger than her whole chamber at home, its canopy curtains, and counterpane matched and complemented the room’s wallpaper and paintwork. A thick blue, gold, and ivory carpet hugged the floor, and an upholstered chaise in a flowered print and two matching winged-back chairs perched together near the hearth. Following her instructions, a servant had set Jasper’s cage near the privacy screen on the opposite side of the room from the windows.

Angelica rose from the bed. She wandered across the chamber to see the view from the windows, a rear garden and courtyard.

“Hello,” Jasper called from inside his cage.

Angelica crossed the room to let the macaw out. “Hello, Jasper,” she said. “Are you ready to eat?”

“Eat,” the bird shrieked.

Angelica rinsed her face at the washstand. Crossing to the dressing table, she saw that her brush and toilet articles had been placed there. She brushed her golden hair, weaved it into one thick braid, and then circled it into a knot at the nape of her neck. After donning her black gown again, she gazed at herself in the cheval mirror and decided she looked too pale. Pinching her cheeks gave them a hint of color.

She’d lost her old life, her mother, and her father, Angelica thought. Now she’d lost the only hope she’d spied in years, Robert Roy. Oh, how that devious Campbell must have enjoyed his prank on her.

There was one thing she would never lose—her desire for justice. She must never let others make her doubt herself or distract her from her revenge. She needed to hold on to the hatred. Here, at the Duke of Inverary’s, she was merely days or weeks from completing the task for which she’d prepared herself all these years. Neither Robert Roy Campbell nor anyone else would stand in her way. She’d come this far and would go the rest of the way.

Angelica turned slowly in a circle and realized what was missing. Without her sisters, the chamber seemed empty. Thankfully, she still had Jasper to keep her company.

“Come in,” Angelica called, hearing the knock on her door. She smiled when she saw her sisters.

“Hello,” the macaw said.

“Hello, Jasper,” Samantha and Victoria said in unison, and then laughed.

“I was just thinking how much I missed you,” Angelica told them.

“We missed you at tea,” Samantha said.

“Isn’t this exciting?” Victoria exclaimed, pushing a fiery curl out of her eyes. “I never imagined that people lived in such luxury.”

“My bed is bigger than our chamber at home,” Angelica said. “If you get lonely, don’t hesitate to crawl into bed with me.”

“How hard the past ten years must have been for Aunt Roxie, who lived with this luxury until she used her money to keep us alive,” Samantha remarked.

Angelica nodded and added, “Don’t forget Father and Mother.”

“Strange, but I have trouble remembering what Mother looked like,” Samantha said.

“I understand,” Angelica said, reaching out to touch her sister’s hand.

“Aunt Roxie’s chamber is at the far end of the corridor near the duke’s,” Victoria said. “You don’t think that she and the duke—?”

“Aunt Roxie has been without a husband for a long time,” Angelica replied. “Perhaps she’s lonely, too.”

“Even dukes must get lonely sometimes,” Samantha said. After a moment of silence, she added, “We are supposed to pretend that we’re newly arrived from Europe. Our father died recently, and we’ve spent the past ten years traveling between Italy and France.”

“We are exceedingly wealthy,” Victoria informed her. “Father recouped his financial losses.”

“Unfortunately, our ship was pirated,” Samantha told her, “and we lost all our clothing and jewels.”

“What a wonderful story,” Angelica said, laughing. She became serious when she told them, “Robert Roy is actually the duke’s son.”

Victoria nodded. “Aunt Roxie told us. Shall we go downstairs now?”

We’re meeting in the small drawing room before dinner,” Samantha said, already limping toward the door.

“Come, Jasper,” Angelica called.

“You’re taking Jasper to dinner?” Samantha asked in obvious surprise.

“Jasper dines with us at home,” Angelica replied and gave her sisters a mischievous smile.

Victoria giggled. “I can hardly wait to see Aunt Roxie’s expression when Jasper takes his place among the Quality.”

The first thing Angelica noticed when she walked into the drawing room was an enormous birdcage, complete with perches, food dishes, and toys. The second thing she saw was the chamber’s understated opulence.

The small drawing room was bigger than the entire Douglas cottage. Crimson Spitalfields silk hung on the walls to the dado, complemented by diamond and octagonal shapes on the gilded ceiling. The carpet had been designed in large octagonal patterns of crimson, gold, and blue. The furniture was oversized mahogany, and there was an elegant Grecian couch upholstered in crimson velvet. A settee and chairs sat in front of the hearth, above which hung a portrait of a distinguished gentleman.

“Hello,” Jasper shrieked.

Aunt Roxie appeared scandalized. “You’ve brought Jasper to dinner?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Duke Magnus told her. “Macaws need companionship.” He turned to Angelica, saying, “Tinker has purchased several cages. Jasper will be pleased and you, too, I hope.”

“Thank you, Your Grace,” Angelica said with a sunny smile. “I appreciate your generosity.”

“I want you to meet my daughter-in-law, Venetia, and hope you’ll be friends,” Duke Magnus said. “Venetia, this is Lady Angelica, the Countess of Melrose, and her sisters, Ladies Samantha and Victoria.”

Angelica turned her attention to the young woman who stood beside him. Venetia Emerson Campbell was a curvaceous brunette with a flawless face.

“We are pleased to make your acquaintance,” Angelica said, speaking for her sisters. She had the sudden feeling that the other woman was eyeing her critically, looking for flaws.

“I’m terribly sorry for your loss,” Venetia said.

“Thank you, Lady Venetia,” Angelica said stiffly, noting that the other woman had failed to call her
my lady
, as befit a countess. “Losing our father was an unexpected shock.”

“The earl’s death was sudden?” Venetia asked.

“Riding accidents
are
sudden,” Duke Magnus said, giving Angelica a pointed look.

Venetia blushed prettily. “Oh, I’d forgotten what you’d told me.” She looked at Angelica, asking, “And then your ship was pirated?”

Angelica inclined her head in the affirmative. She didn’t like this woman but felt uncertain whether the dislike stemmed from her being an Emerson. The woman’s questions seemed designed to catch them in a lie.

Venetia shuddered delicately. “I cannot begin to imagine how frightened you must have been.”

“I understand you have a young son,” Angelica said, changing the subject. When the other woman nodded, she added, “I love children and look forward to meeting him.”

“Hello,” shrieked Jasper.

“I’m positive Colin will be intrigued by a bird that talks,” Venetia said.

“Never put your hands near Jasper,” Angelica warned. “Macaws can bite the finger off a man.”

“Is it safe to be near him?” Venetia asked, taking one step back.

“Yes, of course.”

“Wherever did you get him?”

I won him in a card game
, Angelica thought. “Prince Rudolf purchased Jasper for me when we visited a carnival near Lake Como,” Angelica drawled, recalling a name she’d once read in
The Times.

“Prince Rudolf?” Venetia echoed, clearly impressed.

Lying is fun
, Angelica decided. “Rudy was such a sweet man, but I knew I could never be happy living in Russia.”

Angelica glanced at Aunt Roxie.
Bravo
was etched across her aunt’s features.

“A Russian prince proposed marriage?” Venetia echoed again.

Angelica opened her mouth to embellish her lie, but Jasper shrieked, “Hello.”

“Hello,” said a familiar voice.

Angelica turned to see Robert, magnificent in evening clothes, walking across the room toward them. Her heart ached at the sight of his dark handsomeness.

“I’m surprised to see you,” Duke Magnus said.

Robert inclined his head at his father but walked directly to Angelica. “I wanted to attend the countess’s first dinner in England,” he said smoothly, raising her hand to his lips.

Angelica was stunned. Not only was Robert behaving exactly the opposite of what she’d expected, but he was lying on her behalf.

“You’ve already met?” Venetia asked.

“We met this morning in my father’s study.” Robert kissed Aunt Roxie’s hand and nodded at her sisters.

Sacred sevens
, Angelica thought, watching him perform. If the scoundrel thought to take up where he’d left off at the cottage, he had better think again.

“Look at the beautiful bird Prince Rudolf gave Lady Angelica,” Venetia said.

With laughter lurking in his dark eyes, Robert looked at Angelica and said, “Prince Rudolf must be a generous man.”

Angelica shrugged. “Unlike other men of his ilk, the prince had no ulterior motives.”

Robert raised his brows and asked, “To what ulterior motives do you refer?”

“Prince Rudolf wanted Lady Angelica to marry him,” Venetia spoke up. “Can you imagine she passed up the chance to be a princess?”

“Moscow is very cold in the winter,” Angelica said.

Robert fixed his black gaze on her. Slowly, almost leisurely, he let his gaze slide down her body, perusing every curve. “Ah, but cold nights incite warm cuddling beneath the furs,” Robert said in a husky voice, his gaze returning to hers.

Angelica blushed a vivid scarlet. Flustered, she glanced at Venetia and was surprised to see the other woman staring at her, an angry glint in her eyes.

So, Venetia wanted Robert? Full-bodied jealousy swelled within Angelica’s breast.

The duke cleared his throat and said, “I believe it’s time for dinner.”

Robert grabbed Angelica’s hand and hooked it through the crook of his arm. “Allow me the pleasure of escorting you, Countess.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Angelica said. With Venetia in mind she gave him a sunny smile. “Come, Jasper.”

Angelica was at a loss for words as they descended the stairs to the first floor. Robert had gone from seducing her to accusing her of entrapping him in marriage to kissing her hand. Trying to understand him was giving her a headache.

And then Angelica spied the enormous birdcage in the grand foyer. “Another cage for Jasper?”

“I believe you’ll find cages all over the house,” Robert said. “Father wanted your pet to feel at home.

Angelica was surprised to find another birdcage in the dining room. From behind her, she heard Venetia saying, “We’re dining with a bird?”

“We want the countess to feel at home, don’t we?” the duke said.

Venetia did not reply.

The dining room was like nothing Angelica had ever seen. The forty-foot table had been created in solid mahogany, as was the sideboard, and three, crystal chandeliers hung overhead.

With place settings for seven, the dining table held a soup tureen and covered dishes. The service was Wedgwood, and there were silver knives and forks and spoons with ivory handles. A silver tea urn graced the mahogany sideboard.

“Ah, seven place settings,” Angelica remarked, glancing sidelong at Robert. “My lucky number is seven.”

“The bird isn’t actually going to sit at the table with us?” Venetia asked.

“Of course not,” Angelica answered. She opened the birdcage and placed Jasper inside, where there were bowls of nuts, chopped green apples, and fresh water.

Dinner at the Campbell mansion was a feast. First they were served tomato soup enriched and garnished with a swirl of cream and chopped green herbs. Cool raw cucumbers contrasted with cayenne pepper sprinkled on top. Next arrived mushrooms stuffed with garlic, shallots, parsley, and breadcrumbs and doused with olive oil. The two main courses consisted of succulent salmon cakes on a bed of sorrel, enriched with cream and beaten eggs and grilled lamb chops served with new potatoes, cauliflower, and carrots.

“Your son isn’t joining us for dinner?” Angelica asked Venetia, trying to keep her mind off Robert sitting beside her.

“Colin always dines with Mrs. Honey,” Venetia answered. “Mrs. Honey has been the Campbell nanny for years and years. As a young girl, she cared for Robert.” She was silent for a moment and then added, “Colin has begun to think of Robert as his father.”