Let Love Find You (37 page)

Ophelia had, realizing belatedly, said, “I probably should have had pillowy balls made up that wouldn’t travel so far.”

Amanda had disagreed. “This is more fun! As long as nothing gets broken, including people’s ankles!” Quite a few guests had to hop out of the way of the speeding wooden balls.

Kendall enjoyed himself and was even heard to remark, “Didn’t know parties could be so entertaining.”

Nervous about her first ride with Kendall, Amanda had been amazed that his only comment about her riding astride with him had been “Wouldn’t have suggested this if you were on your usual saddle, but would you care to race?”

Amanda had laughed and politely declined, telling him, “I’m not used to this mare yet, she’s new.”

She should have been more pleased by Kendall’s acceptance of how she chose to ride. She’d worked so hard for this, and she
did
like him. Everything about him was right, but—but what? Was it just that Devin now excited her more? It probably was, but
that
wasn’t going anywhere. He was even back to being strictly professional and rather abrupt with her during their lessons, as if he was trying to distance himself from her—or push her toward Kendall,
his
choice for her.

Tonight she wore a pale lavender gown with front closures because she knew the servants were going to be invited to join the festivities tonight as soon as the Highland musicians arrived, but rather than spoil the surprise for Alice, she just told her to take the night off.

Amanda’s father was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs and gave her his arm to escort her to the ballroom, but paused on the way. “I also want to give you a well-deserved gift, for the same reasons Devin did.” He showed her the bracelet dangling from his finger. It had a single charm on it, a white opal horse.

“How thoughtful!” she exclaimed, hugging her father, then holding out her wrist so he could put the bracelet on her. “It’s beautiful, Father. Thank you.”

“You deserve it for what you accomplished. Now, may I have the first dance?”

Amanda laughed. The Scotsmen were already playing, and no waltzes tonight! The music was lively and the dancing much more exuberant because of it. It took the servants to show the nobles how!

“Are you sure you want to try that?” Amanda asked her father.

“I’ve been to Scotland a few times in my day. This does bring back memories.”

They took to the floor. Amanda spotted Duncan MacTavish and his wife, Sabrina, standing with Ophelia. Inviting Rafe’s old friend to the party had been Ophelia’s other surprise for her husband. To go by the surprise and pleasure on Rafe’s face when he joined them, Amanda could see that Ophelia had succeeded in keeping that a secret, too. Rafe swept his wife into an amorous embrace that ended with an even more amorous kiss. Quite a few people cheered, guessing correctly that he’d just got another birthday gift.

After the dance, Amanda started toward her brother’s group to greet his friends, but was surprised to see her eldest aunt, Esmerelda, in the ballroom without a coat on and couldn’t resist
stopping to tease her about it. But Esmerelda was talking to her sister Julie, and Amanda caught the tail end of their conversation before they noticed her.

“Those two never could keep their hands off each other,” Esmerelda said with a chuckle, gazing at Raphael and Ophelia. “I knew what kind of hanky-panky was going on in my house when they stayed with me before they married.”

Amanda decided not to interrupt them after all. She wasn’t sure if her aunt meant Rafe and Ophelia had actually been intimate before marriage, but obviously Phelia had been bold enough to share something with Rafe prior to marriage, which could well have opened their eyes to how much they were in love with each other. What if she was a little more forward, even seductive, with Devin? It was worth a try when she wasn’t sure she could go forward with marriage to someone else without at least knowing what Devin’s feelings for her really were.

She went off to find him. The bracelet from her father reminded her that she’d never thanked Devin properly for his gift of Sarahtoo. She found him standing alone, his friend William just leaving his side.

She gave him a warm smile. “Sarahtoo was one of the nicest gifts I’ve ever received. I know I thanked you for finding her for me, but I didn’t know you’d—”

“You deserved it,” he cut in, obviously uncomfortable with her gratitude. “You accomplished what you set out to do. In fact, if you’re not going to tackle the sidesaddle, you don’t need any more lessons.”

“I still might,” she said quickly, alarmed at the thought of not seeing him after the party was over. “Haven’t made up my mind about it yet.”

He raised a black brow. “I could have sworn your father
made up your mind for you on that subject. And Kendall didn’t mind your riding style at all, did he?”

She didn’t want to discuss Kendall, sidesaddles, or that she’d gone to a lot of trouble to win a man she was no longer thrilled with. Making an effort to be a little more assertive, she asked, “Would you like to dance one of these Scottish reels with me?”

“Too rambunctious for me, I’ll pass.”

She was going to suggest a moment of stargazing on the terrace instead, but he looked directly into her eyes, and the warmth she saw in his amber gaze stole her breath away.

“But you go ahead and enjoy the dancing,” he said, then actually walked away from her! She glanced down and away to hide her acute disappointment.

William approached Amanda and, apparently, noticing her hurt expression, said, “Devin’s abruptness can sometimes seem insulting, but it’s not intentional. He’s a fine man, he just had a hard time as a child growing up with no parents. He resists getting close to people. I used to wonder if it was because he thinks they’ll leave him as his parents did.”

She was amazed by William’s insight. She’d felt sorry that Devin had grown up without parents and had felt closer to
him
when he’d told her about it. But it hadn’t occurred to her that his unusual childhood would make him afraid to risk loving someone.

Wanting to assure William that she wasn’t as hurt as she must have appeared, she said with a smile, “Thank you. Would
you
like to dance?”

He grinned widely. “It would be my honor.”

Robert found her for the next dance, then Kendall after that, though he seemed quite uncomfortable dancing a reel. John Trask gave it a whirl, though she could tell by the fumes
coming off him that he’d been drinking a bit heavily with his gambling cronies tonight, so it was a wonder he didn’t trip them up. But she did spend the rest of the evening trying not to think about Devin and managed to have a fun if exhausting time. She even danced with the butler!

But by the time the Highlanders proved they could play a waltz, Amanda didn’t feel like dancing anymore. Despite the early hour, she decided to slip away, letting her father know that the Scots had worn her out and she needed a little extra rest tonight.

The lamp that had been left on in her room had burned out, and the fire in the fireplace was down to just embers, but the moonlight streaming in was bright enough that she didn’t need more light simply to prepare for bed.

She stood in front of the fireplace, and after removing her gown, she tossed it onto the nearest chair. She was reaching for the ties on her chemise when she felt the draft on her bare shoulders and thought Alice had followed her upstairs to help her. She swung around to scold her maid and send her back to the party, but sucked in her breath instead. It wasn’t Alice who’d opened her door. . . .

“T
HEY
’
VE JUST TOLD ME
you won’t have me. I’d been willing to wait, to win you fairly. But now they want to push drabs on me instead. I won’t have it!”

Farrell Exter stood just inside the door. He sounded so foxed, he probably didn’t realize the door was still open. If she screamed now, it would carry down the hallway, but none of the family’s personal servants were in their wing tonight, they were all at the party! And her screams weren’t likely to be heard downstairs over the noise of a hundred conversations. The realization made her blanch.

She was paralyzed with indecision. Would screaming spur Farrell to action or frighten him away? If he didn’t sound furious, too, she could probably talk sense into him. But inebriation and anger were a lethal combination. It had given him the foolish courage to show up in her room. For what? Just to complain because she wouldn’t have him? Yet the fear that was upon her warned her he wanted something she’d never willingly give him. She opened her mouth to scream, but he laughed.

“Go ahead, and find out how quickly we get rushed to the altar.”

Oh, God,
that
was his plan? She began to tremble, so terrified now that her voice cracked. “Get out.”

“No, I don’t think so,” he said in a smug slur. “It occurs to me I can’t lose here. We get discovered, you’re compromised. I bed you, you’re compromised. Either way, I win. So I might as well have a taste of what it’s going to be like having you for a wife.”

“My father won’t give me to you no matter what!”

“No? Then he’ll have to pay me off, won’t he? To keep my mouth shut that you’ve been ruined. Sounds to me like I still win, with you or without—”

Farrell didn’t get a chance to finish. Someone whipped him around and Amanda heard the crack of bone before Farrell hit the floor. But with him down, she now had a clear view of who had come to her rescue. Relief washed over her so quickly, she sank to her knees.

“Sounds to me like you just lost,” Devin snarled as he bent to one knee to smash his fist into Farrell’s face twice more. “Come near her again and I’ll kill you.” Then Devin yanked Farrell to his feet and tossed him out into the corridor. “Get out of this house now while you still can. Tonight! Tomorrow will be too late!”

Devin stood at the door, apparently making sure Farrell left the wing. He was facing the servants’ stairs, which was probably the way Farrell had snuck up here.

“Sounds like he’s tumbled down the stairs, he’s in such a hurry. Good. Hope he broke his bloody neck!” Devin turned back into the room, drew in his breath sharply at the sight of her in her underclothes, and didn’t move another inch. He seemed as transfixed as she was.

Then Devin pushed the door closed behind him and quickly strode over to her. He gently took her by the arms and lifted her to her feet.

Amanda clung to him, trembling. “Hold me, please, Devin. Don’t let me go.”

His arms immediately encircled her tightly. “I won’t leave you, Mandy. I’m here. I won’t let anything hurt you.”

He held her like that for a long while. Her fear was fading, yet she didn’t want him to let go of her, didn’t want him to leave either, now that she was safe. So she squeaked in protest when she thought he was stepping back from her, but it was only to lift her in his arms and carry her to the bed. He tossed back the cover before he sat down with her in his lap, then pulled the cover over her. A blush showed up. She had been completely unmindful of her scanty attire, but he wasn’t. But at least he was still too concerned over what had just happened and its effect on her to leave her yet.

Cradled in his arms, he began slowly picking the pins from her coiffure. Such an odd thing to do for her under the circumstances.

“You saved me,” she said in a small voice.

“I think you could have done that on your own, he was so foxed. I doubt he’ll remember this in the morning.”

She would, but what she would also remember was that she was in Devin’s arms again and it was the only place she wanted to be. But his gentle touch was making her feel a little too—oh, God, were those passionate feelings showing up again? She’d soon be squirming, and he’d think he was making her uncomfortable and try to leave!

“What were you doing in the family wing of the house?” she asked.

He was massaging her scalp with his fingers, now that her hair was tumbled back over his arm. “I saw you leave, but then I noticed Farrell leave right after you. I had a feeling he might be up to no good, so I came up here just to make sure it was all quiet—and found that it wasn’t.”

That’s when his eyes met hers. A moment of exquisite combustion. She knew he’d wanted to soothe her and comfort her, which was why he’d covered her. But his desire to be chivalrous seemed to be overpowered by his real desire—ignited by hers.

The kiss was explosive. Her arm slipped from under the cover and went around his neck. She wasn’t going to let him back off this time as he’d done twice before. My God, this is what had been driving her crazy, she’d been waiting for this again, to touch him, to taste him, to feel his passion.

He laid her back on the bed. Slowly and carefully, he removed the little she was still wearing. The cover that had shielded her no longer covered anything, she was lying on top of it now, watching him literally fight with his own clothes, he was removing them so fast. She held her breath, avid in her scrutiny, fascinated as he revealed more and more of that magnificent body to her. First, the thick muscles in his arms she’d seen before, then the wide chest, skin so taut it had no give. When he started to unbutton his pants, her maidenly senses reared and she turned her eyes away, looking quickly back up at his handsome face. Her breath caught yet again. It was there in his eyes, how much he wanted her. No, he wouldn’t leave her this time. Whatever scruples had stopped him before were gone, and the very thought made her want to cry out with joy.