Caressed by Moonlight (6 page)

Once the meal was finished, Victoria allowed Margaret to lead the way upstairs. A small bath awaited the child in her room.

Victoria busied herself with tidying up the room as her younger sister stepped into the tub.

“Scrub good, you no doubt have flour all over you.”

“Tory,” she asked, her voice low and unsure.

“Yes?” Victoria answered as she pulled down the covers of the bed.

“Have you found a husband yet?”

Victoria abruptly straightened and slowly turned to face her sister.

“I over-heard Aunt Nelly talking to another lady about how you needed to find a husband or you would never be able to see me again. Is it true?” Margaret’s eyes filled with tears.

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“Oh, darling.” Victoria hurried over to the tub and wrapped her arms about her sister. The water soaked her gown but she did not care. “Don’t worry, we will be with each other for always.”

“Did you find a husband?”

“No not yet, but I have time.” She kissed Margaret’s forehead. “Everything will be fine, I promise.”

“I don’t want you to go away. Mother and Father already went away,” she wept.

“I will always be here. Don’t fret. I will find a husband and I will take you with me.”

“Aunt Nelly won’t let you.”

“She has to let you come with me.”

“If you’re supposed to take care of me then why are we living here? Why aren’t we at home?”

Victoria closed her eyes at the sound of the small quivering voice.

“Because I have no money and no way to support us,” she answered. “If I fail to provide for you then you will be given into Aunt Nelly’s care, but that won’t happen. I will find a very nice man and we will live happily ever after, you’ll see. Now stop your crying,” she said wiping the tears from the young girl’s cheeks.

“It’s your birthday and I have a present for you. But you need to get washed first.”

Margaret nodded and splashed water on her face. Victoria slowly walked back to her bed and sat.

Time was dwindling.

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Chapter Ten

“Lord Shillmend must be taken off your list,” Lana whispered. “He proposed to Ms. Gable yesterday.”

Victoria nodded as she made the mental note. She had crossed three other men off her list earlier that week. Ben, Lana’s brother, had turned over a few rocks the three gentlemen would have preferred to remain covered. Mr. Tavish, a younger man, who she was not particularly interested in, had an enormous gambling problem coupled with enormous debt. Lord Albert, the older yet very handsome and rich confirmed bachelor, was a bachelor for he had interests in younger men. The week before she was able to draw a line through Baron Fraser’s name, he had left for France and was not due to return for months. Her list now was down to Lord Rogers, Sir Millings, and Sir Wendell.

“I am glad that we are narrowing it down. I’m running out of time.”

“You have almost two weeks left.”

“Yes and in two weeks I must lock a man into marriage.”

“I wonder if an engagement will satisfy your aunt,” Lana mused.

Victoria frowned, “I seriously doubt it. One of these men in this very room has to marry me.”

“Ben is still looking into Sir Millings and Sir Wendell’s back grounds. He is also putting together a list for you. I will be leaving to visit him tomorrow. I am an aunt now; my father received the news this morning. I will be gone for at least four days. Until then, you can flirt your way about to see if any more of these fellows strike your fancy.”

“I think I will choose between the three remaining on my list.”

Lana nodded. “That’s a wise decision and one of them is heading this way.”

“Good evening ladies. I trust that you both are having a splendid time.”

“Indeed, we are enjoying ourselves,” Victoria said with an easy smile. Sir Millings straightened his shoulders, sticking his chest out like a stag.

“Would you care to dance, Ms. Kingston?”

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“I would love to.”

Sir Millings was only slightly taller than her and a bit thick around the middle. His graying brown hair could use a trim, but she was grateful he was one of the older men that kept up with his hygiene. He was not devilishly handsome like the man who stood at the edge of the dance floor. Dorian gave her a wink as Millings led her out to the floor.

The music began and she tried to keep her focus on Millings, but with every turn her eyes would land on Dorian, who did not move an inch from his spot.

Dorian watched Victoria with careful eyes as the other male twirled her about the floor. She looked beautiful, completely angelic. Her face lightly flushed and her lips slightly parted. He growled low in his throat when Millings’ hand slipped from her waist to her hip. He wanted to rip the man’s arm off. He had to struggle to keep the vampire within under control. That was his woman and no man could touch her in such an intimate manner.

Dorian took deep breaths as he fought to calm himself. He had not fed recently and the beast within him was becoming more powerful.

He was relieved when the music ended. Victoria curtsied to her partner and made an excuse to find Lana, leaving Sir Millings on the dance floor. Dorian smiled as he noticed her limp, it would appear that the oaf had clumsy feet.

Victoria sat and let out a slow grateful sigh. Sir Millings had danced all over her feet and she was almost certain he had broken one of her toes.

“A little sore?”

Relief fled and irritation quickly set in as she answered,

“Yes, if you must know.”

“I assume Sir Millings is another contender for your hand.”

“He is and you’re not, so go away.”

He chuckled. “I have an odd feeling that you would rather dance with me than with that lout. He is heading this way and I promise I will not stomp on your feet.”

She glanced over her shoulder and groaned inwardly.

Dorian was right; her jolly suitor was making his way over.

“I have other methods of avoiding him. I could go to the powder room.”

“And hide in there all night?” he teased.

Her scowl would have made a normal man back away in fear but Dorian just smiled, which irritated her even more. The
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man was persistent. He clearly desired her in his bed, but he was willing to wait for her to make the decision to join him. Unlike most of the gentlemen she had met. They had flirted and danced with her, and seemed to be polite, honorable fellows only to turn around and beg her to sneak off with them. Dorian had never asked her to meet him in a dark corner or tried to drag her there. She had to give him applause for that, though he was a cad like the rest. She needed a husband. Lovers could possibly come later.

“Will you pleasure me with the next dance?” Dorian asked.

Victoria’s eyes shot to Tabitha and her mother who stood by the refreshment table, their eyes on her and Dorian. She sighed.

She would never find peace in this city. She was constantly watched and rumors already were being whispered about her.

Victoria looked down, her eyes on Dorian’s polished black shoes.

According to the gossip, she was having an affair with Dorian and could possibly be spending some of her nights with Lord Rogers.

A dance is harmless
, Lana’s words echoed in her mind and at the time she had agreed. Things had changed thanks to the squawking pigeons. She glared at them for a moment. A dance with sinfully handsome Dorian Vlakhos was far from harmless. It would most likely confirm the rumors that were waltzing on the tongues of the gossips. She was thankful that Lord Rogers had left for the country the day before. His mother had summoned him; therefore he would not be present while the lies circled. However, he assured her he would return by the end of the week.

“No, my feet are aching and I would rather give them a rest. And,” she paused as she searched the crowd of guests for Sir Millings, “it appears that my suitor is occupied in conversation.”

“The next song,” he stated as he took the seat beside her.

Victoria inched as far away from him as possible, without falling off her chair. Dorian gave her a peculiar look.

“Why do you scoot away? I’m no leper.”

“It’s not proper.”

“What isn’t?”

“We are sitting too close to each other,” she clarified.

Her eyes were back on Tabitha and Dorian followed her gaze. Nodding his head in understanding, he slid his chair to the side, creating a respectable gap between them.

“Does that make you feel more comfortable?”

“Yes, thank you.”

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“Although,” he said, leaning back and stretching out his long legs, “I couldn’t help but notice how close you were sitting next to Rogers in his buggy yesterday morning.”

“He smells better than you,” she replied, trying to hold back a smile.

Dorian chuckled. “I doubt that. The man practically lives in the stable with his horses.” He held up a hand when she began to make another comment. “And I will not believe you if you say he is a winning conversationalist. The man is a bore.”

Victoria snapped her mouth shut. She could not protest that last statement. Lord Rogers was a good man and one of the most insipid men she had ever met. But she knew if she did choose him she and Margaret would lead very peaceful and safe lives. He was wealthy and came from a good respectable family. Surely Aunt Nelly could find no fault in the man, though she would try.

Dorian had called this one, she grudgingly admitted. He had stated plainly that the man talked only of horseflesh and weather. Lord Rogers was clearly an intelligent man; he just did not have anything of interest to say. She prayed that if she did marry him their conversations, if nothing else, improved. Victoria feared that this match with Lord Rogers would be a loveless one.

She knew she would grow fond of him but she also knew that their bond would never blossom. She disliked the idea of a marriage without love. She had always dreamed of having a relationship like her parents. They never hid the feelings they had for each other.

Dorian’s voice shattered her thoughts and she turned to see whom he was speaking with. A man handed him a piece of paper, bowed slightly, and quickly headed back to the refreshment table to continue serving the drinks.

“Lana has left,” he declared as he read the message.

“What?” Victoria demanded, snatching the small paper from his hand. “How could she leave? She was to take me home.”

Dorian shrugged. “It appears that Ms. Richmond has shirked her duties and passed them on to me. I am to be your escort home.”

Victoria crumbled the tiny paper into a ball. Lana had done this on purpose. She must have seen her talking with Dorian and took it upon herself to play matchmaker. Only this man had absolutely no interest in marrying her and every interest in bedding her. Lana had been pushing her to consider Dorian as a potential husband. She had even taken Victoria’s list of suitable men and added Vlakhos’ name to the very top, in large, bold print. Victoria
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knew that Dorian could have her with just one kiss and she was positive he knew it too. His mere presence was lethal to her purpose and she would box Lana’s ears for this.

“Will you allow me to escort you home?”

“Why do you bother asking? Arguing with you didn’t do me any good the last time, now did it?” she snapped. She had done her best to avoid him this past week after rumors began to circle about them, but tonight would be the end of her campaign.

“No,” he said with a smile and light chuckle.

The music stopped, the crowd once again clapped, and the dance floor cleared. Dorian offered his hand to Victoria who did nothing but glare down at it.

“Sir Millings is coming.”

Victoria looked up in panic. The man finally broke free of the people who had snared his attention earlier and was heading straight toward them. She quickly took Dorian’s hand and stood.

“Ms. Kingston, are you free for a dance?” Sir Millings asked, ignoring her and Dorian’s laced fingers.

“No,” Dorian snarled.

Sir Millings gasped and stumbled back. The fieriness of Dorian’s voice sent fearful shivers up and down his spine. He stood immobile as Vlakhos led the beautiful Victoria away.

“Did you have to snap at the poor man?”

He shrugged. Slipping an arm about her waist, he drew her against him. Victoria’s breath escaped her as their bodies met. She retreated a few steps only to have him snatch her back. She could feel his heat through her gown and gave a sigh of relief when the music started. She glanced about the room and grew weary of the many disapproving looks that were sent her way.

“Don’t worry about them,” Dorian whispered. “Look at me.”

His voice was so enchanting, so soothing and she did exactly as he asked. Their eyes locked and held as they twirled.

The rumbling voices of the fellow guests faded into silence. Sweet music was all Victoria could hear and Dorian was all she could see.

His eyes cast a spell upon her, one that she did not have the strength or the desire to try to escape. She was his captive, locked in his embrace. She could no longer feel the floor beneath her feet, she was almost positive they were floating.

“Close your eyes.”

His lips brushed her ear and his warm breath tickled her neck. She allowed her eyes to drift closed and surrendered. He
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brought her flush against his chest and sparks of desire electrified her body. Her mind swam with lustful yearnings as his arm tightened about her waist.

The music ended too soon for their liking. Her eyes slowly fluttered open. His gentle gaze touched her very soul; their mouths were scarcely an inch apart. She gasped and pushed herself away.

His fingers grasped her wrist. His eyes jumped with excitement as he felt her pulse skip a beat beneath his fingertips.

“I think that’s enough dancing,” her voice was low and ragged.

“Perhaps you’re right.” He reluctantly released her and glanced about the room. Damning whispers pricked his ears and he groaned inwardly. Her reputation was taking a huge hit.

“I’m ready to leave,” she stated. She felt the eyes upon her and knew what people must be thinking. Sir Millings stood in a circle with a few other gentlemen, his face twisted in an appalling scowl and it was apparent that he believed the lies that were circling the room.
Well, I can cross him off the list
, she thought.

“We mustn’t leave together. It would surely harm–”

“My Reputation,” she finished, her lips curling back in anger. “My very name harms my reputation. Every gossip in London had their minds made up about me the instant I set foot in this God forsaken city. They all believe my mother to be a whore and therefore I must be. Well they,” she motioned to the group of women standing in a corner franticly whispering, “can all go to the devil. I am tired of trying to please those old crones.”

Dorian could not help but smile. She was absolutely stunning when angry, her eyes dancing with bright green flames.

“I will meet you outside in a few minutes. I will be waiting just beyond the gate.” With that she brushed passed him and out the door.

Another dance began and Dorian headed to the refreshment table, he needed a drink. The weak liquor had no effect on him but its taste was comforting.

“You are one lucky bastard,” a young man declared as he clapped Dorian on the back.

“Excuse me?” Dorian asked, turning toward the richly dressed aristocrat.

“Victoria Kingston,” the man clarified. “I know plenty of fellows who have been trying to get under her skirts and they all
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have failed. She is a pretty piece; one I wouldn’t mind taking a bite of.”

“I would greatly appreciate it if you did not talk about her in such a distasteful manner.”

The man shrugged and sipped his drink. “She’s no different from any of the other women who are willing to lift their skirts and spread their legs for a chance at a title and wealth.”

Dorian’s temper had reached its boiling point. He wanted nothing more that to tear the snob apart with his bear hands. But he had already made one scene this evening; he did not need to add to the rumor mill. If he punched this bastard the gossips would make it seem like a love triangle. Instead Dorian slammed his glass down on the table and pinned the man with an evil stare that promised death.