Savage Deception (Liberty's Ladies) (10 page)

The gentle creak of the french door behind her announced Tanner’s presence on the piazza. He held a riding crop in his hand, a clear indication that the reason she hadn’t seen him the last few hours was that he’d taken a ride. The wind ruffled the ebony strands of his hair and caused him to appear much younger than he was. “Supper is waiting,” he informed her.

“I can’t eat until I see them.”

“You must be the most stubborn woman I’ve ever known. I told you earlier that Curtis was helping Anne pack before David was released. Cammie told me you’ve been out here all afternoon when you could have been inside, warm and with a full stomach. And by the way, you need some fattening up. Why can’t you be sensible?” He tapped the riding crop against the palm of his hand and Diana flinched, reminded of Kingsley and his assault upon her.

“I’m not a slave or a servant and not under your or any other man’s dominion. I won’t have you dictate to me!”

“I fail to see where common sense should be regarded as dictatorial.”

Diana turned and looked at him, not missing a feature on his face. Tanner had changed a great deal over the past seven years, and not just physically. Something in his bearing and attitude was different. He was no longer the simple man she remembered. His speech was greatly improved, and though he’d appeared confident at Briarhaven when he oversaw the slaves, he now reeked of self-assurance. She saw that his clothes were expensive, fashioned in the latest style, not foppish looking but extremely manly. She couldn’t remember meeting a more handsome man, and she knew that any other woman would have willingly melted if he’d smiled at her. But the smiles he’d bestowed upon Diana that day contained little warmth. The hard, angled lines that made up his face never softened, and his eyes never once expressed any tenderness for her.

But why, she asked herself, did she need to experience tenderness from Tanner? The man had tried to use her years ago and now finally he’d succeeded. Still, Tanner intrigued her more at this moment than he had at Briarhaven.

“Are you deciding if you like what you see?” he asked, half sitting on the white balustrade.

Diana flushed, aware that she must have been examining him too closely. She fingered the tassel on her cloak. “I was thinking about how much you’ve changed. You must admit that you’re quite different now.”

Tanner inclined his head. “Maybe.”

“Well, you are. Tell me, how did you become so wealthy?”

“What makes you think I’m wealthy?”

“Your clothes and the townhouse, of course. A poor man couldn’t afford such things. But what interests me is how you made your money and how you are close enough to Lord Rawdon that you can arrange David’s release from the hangman’s noose — that is, if you can do what you said,” she reminded him.

For a split second, Tanner looked quite uncomfortable. He glanced down at the garden and then shrugged when he turned his attention back to her. “Since leaving Briarhaven, I’ve not been idle, Diana. I’ve worked hard and made a number of investments that have paid off handsomely.”

“What sort of work and investments?”

“You are a curious kitten, but what I’ve done isn’t your concern. Just know that I have plenty of funds to keep you in the grand style to which Kingsley allowed you to become accustomed.”

Goodness! Tanner made it seem as if she were a fortune huntress who’d married him for his wealth. How dare he imply such a horrible thing when he damned well knew why she agreed to marry him. “Your money isn’t my…”

“There’s Curtis,” Tanner broke into her sentence and pointed as a plain dark carriage stopped on the opposite side of the street, allowing them a clear vantage point from their elevated position.     

In the fading twilight, Diana watched while Curtis went to the door and opened it. He spoke to the occupants, and when David and Anne emerged, followed by the three children, something tugged at Diana’s heartstrings. They looked rather confused, but all of them were safe.

“I must speak to them,” she told Tanner, and turned to run through the french doors. Tanner stalled her with a strong hand on her waist.

“Our agreement was that you see they’re safe, not that you speak to them.”

“But I have to talk with Anne—”

“No.”

“Tanner, please!”

“No.”

Before Diana could say anything else, Tanner whistled and Curtis ushered the Richmonds into the carriage and then they were off. The steady clip-clopping of the horses’ hooves over the cobblestones was a clear indication that her family was gone. She had no one now. No one but Tanner.

Tears burned her eyes and abject misery shrouded her features when she shrugged off his hold of her. “You’re a cruel man, Tanner Sheridan. Anne must wonder about me.”

“Anne knows you’re safe.” His voice sounded as controlled as he looked. Not a flicker of an eyelash betrayed the fact that he might feel remorse for not allowing her to bid her sister farewell. “Curtis is transporting them to safety tonight. You need not worry about them any longer. I promise you that no harm shall befall them.”

What could she say to that? Tanner had kept his word and had David released from prison, there was no reason not to trust him further. Yet she was alone now, very much alone and at Tanner’s mercy. Frustration and anger warred within her, her eyes shooting sparks of fire. “I intend to hold you to that promise, Tanner.”

“I have no intention of breaking it.”

“Good. I hope you don’t since I’ve lived up to our agreement by marrying you.” Diana struggled with the need to berate him but gave up, knowing it wouldn’t do any good. “I’m suddenly very tired. Tell Cammie I won’t be eating, that I’d appreciate some help in undressing for bed.”

Diana swished through the doorway that opened into the bedroom from the piazza. She thought she had closed the doors, but when she began to take off her cloak she found that Tanner was standing inside the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.

“I told you to get Cammie for me.”

“Cammie’s gone for the evening. I dismissed her.”

She was more alone than she thought. “Then I shall undress myself. Good night, Tanner.”

Shrugging off her cloak, Diana turned away from him. Her cold fingers began to fiddle clumsily with the hooks on the back of her gown, but she stopped when she sensed that Tanner was still in the room and watching her.

“I’d appreciate some privacy,” she told him archly.

“Fine, Diana, but are you prepared to sleep in your dress? It’s plain to see that Hattie still helps you disrobe.”

His comment made her feel helpless and useless. “Certainly Hattie helps me to undress. These hooks are quite difficult to manage on one’s own, but I’ll manage… .”

“Here, let me see.” Tanner strode forward and threw the riding crop on the bed. He reached out to touch her but Diana pushed his hands away.

“Don’t you dare touch me!”

“I was going to help you unfasten your gown.”

“I can do it myself,” she insisted. “I wish you a good night, just leave me alone.”

Tanner drew himself up to his full height of six feet, standing stiffly before her. “This is my room. I have no wish to leave it, and may I remind you that we are married, so you’d better stop being so modest with me. I can assure you that as my wife there will be many instances when I will see you without clothes. So you might as well get out of that hideous garment and come to bed.”

Diana watched in dread and embarrassment as Tanner took off his jacket and proceeded to unbutton his shirt. He couldn’t mean to demand his husbandly rights tonight. No, not tonight. Not ever as far as she was concerned. She’d married him so the bounder would help her family, and in turn he would claim Briarhaven through her. Well, she’d done everything he wanted, but she’d never be a true wife to him. She’d rather die first than live through such humiliation and pain again.

“What are you waiting for?” he asked when he saw that she didn’t move.

“I won’t … let you touch me.”

Tanner stood there with his shirt unbuttoned, startled into inactivity by her words. The taut skin on his hard, muscled chest gleamed a deep umber in the candlelight. Diana didn’t miss the way his ebony gaze raked over her like hot coals burning her very flesh. “You’re my wife,” he reminded her. “I have the right.”

Diana shook her head. “You forget our bargain. I promised to marry you, nothing was said about … this part.” Her eyes settled on the bed and then on him. “I’ll fight you if you try and force me. I give you my word on that.” He made a movement toward her, but Diana backed away. “I
will
fight you, Tanner.”

She had no idea how she appeared to him at that moment. With her dark dress shrouding her figure and the way she clutched at the neckline of the ugly creation, she looked small and frightened. And repulsed, an inner voice nagged him. Tanner felt hope die within him at that second. All of his plans, all of the finagling to free Richmond and help Diana’s family had been for nothing. She wouldn’t come to him on her own and he wouldn’t force her. What would be the sense in taking a woman who didn’t want him, a woman who loathed him? And Diana should loathe him. He hated himself for the things he’d done in the past, things he couldn’t think about without dying a little inside at the memories — some things he could never tell her. But he wanted her regardless of the lie she’d told about him seven years ago. He’d never admit to her just how much he still wanted her and was unable to tell her how much her rejection of him stung.

“You’ve bested me,” Tanner said with a hint of smile. “You’re quite correct about the bargain we struck. Nothing was said about your performing a wife’s duty. I took that aspect of the marriage for granted. I’m sorry, Diana.”

Did she hear Tanner correctly? Was he going to give up so easily without an argument? Though she should have felt relief when he retreated to a seat in the large chair by the fireplace, she couldn’t deny she felt slighted. Evidently Tanner didn’t desire her at all, and she’d been correct in her original assessment that he wanted Briarhaven and not her. God, how humiliating all of this is! she thought to herself, and was at a loss as to what to do now.

“I need to undress,” she stated inanely.

“Go ahead.”

“But the hooks, and you’re sitting here…”

“Come here this instant, you silly wench!” His command caused her to jump, and for whatever reason, whether fear or something else, she found herself waiting in front of him before he turned her roughly around and pulled her down on his lap. “Don’t even think of wriggling away until I get these damned hooks undone,” he demanded, his hot breath wafting across her naked back, which wasn’t concealed by the thin chemise she wore. When he’d finished with the dress he surprised her by holding her head in place and pulling the pins from the knot at her neckline. Her heavy dark tresses fell into the palms of his hands. A tiny surge of shock coursed through her as his fingers stroked and settled the silken curls into place at her waistline.

“Diana.” His voice sounded thick and husky. “You may get up now.”

Standing up, she nearly stumbled toward the bed, very much aware of how the warmth of Tanner’s body still clung to her backside. She faced him, all too conscious that her cheeks were flushed from the intimate way he’d attended her. “I can manage on my own,” she said stiffly, believing that Tanner would be on his way. She needed time to think about all that had happened to her today, to drive away the feel of his fingers on her flesh, in her hair. But Tanner only lifted an eyebrow.

“I’m quite content here and won’t leave my own room so you can ready for bed, if that’s what you’re implying, my sweet.”

“Well, you can’t stay here and watch me undress. It isn’t proper.”

“We’re married, Diana, remember.”

“But our bargain…”

“Our bargain was that you agree to marry me, and I told you that you bested me and I won’t demand my husbandly rights. However,” his black eyes danced with amber sparks of devilment, “I don’t think our bargain would be broken if I watch you undress, do you?”

“I won’t!”

Tanner considered her and indolently tapped the crop upon his knee. “I think you’ll do as I say, Diana. Curtis isn’t too far away for me to stop him from his destination.”

His threat was clear, and it caused Diana to shudder. “You’re blackmailing me again.”

“Call it whatever you like, but you will step out of that horrid gown you’re so valiantly clutching to your breasts, and I’ll watch while you do so. It was no small feat for me to convince Rawdon to release your sister’s husband. Rawdon wasn’t receptive to the idea at all, but I convinced him.” Tanner leaned forward, the strength of his massive shoulders not to be denied, and the clenching of his jaw an indication that he’d brook no further outbursts of temper from her. “I’m eager to see what I bought in exchange for obtaining Richmond’s freedom.”

God, he was a merciless cad, and the words to deny him nearly slipped past her lips. But he leaned back and tapped the crop in the palm of his hand, almost if he were waiting for her to refuse. Diana stared hypnotically at the beastly thing, so thin and seemingly harmless, but so very damaging when applied to tender flesh. Even now, after more than a year, the faint scars on her back seared like pinpoints of fire. She’d never be able to survive another such attack as the one by Kingsley. A quivering coward, that’s what she was, unable to tear her gaze from the fearsome, black instrument.