Secret Pleasures (28 page)

“A few pews have wood rot and there is a leak in the ceiling
.
The stained glass is broken
,
but I suppose it is passable if you care to visit the sanctuary.
”
Robert ignored Darien, who glared at Maddox from his side.

“I hope you have a uniform or robes for the ceremony.
”
Maddox eyed Robert’s perfectly tailored black eveningwear as if he wore beggar’s rags.

“I have
all the appropriate
vestments
.
I assure you, I am quite capable of performing your daughter’s ceremony.”

Henry nodded, not noticing
—
or caring
—
that Robert practically ground out his words
.
Mrs. Maddox, on the other hand, paled considerably
.
She no doubt knew where her daughter’s true affections lay.

“Very well, then
.
There has been a change in plans.
”
Maddox cleared his throat and Darien realized that Henry was ignoring him, too.

“Oh, no, Henry,” Mrs. Maddox cried
.
“The printer will not have time to make any further changes to the program.”

“Better that than not to see your daughter properly married
.
The wedding will take place tomorrow.”

Robert’s face reddened and his lips paled.

“But Arianna’s dress needs two more fittings, at least.
”
Mrs. Maddox’s agitated voice rang like a bell over the sudden hush that fell over the room.

“I don’t give a bloody damn about the dress
.
I have had enough putting up with this riff-raff.
”
He nodded at Darien and then jerked his head in Ivy’s direction
.
“Arianna will be Lady Westhaven before noon tomorrow and that’s the end of it.”

There was a sob from a gaming table and to Darien’s shock, he discovered Lily wrapping her arms around Arianna
.
Robert’s gaze was pulled in their direction
.
He blinked, then turned stiffly back to Maddox
.
For the briefest of moments, Darien thought Robert was going to punch Maddox in the face.

Maddox must have thought so, too, because he braced himself
.
When Robert stood motionless, his face completely blank, Maddox sneered then strode away to pour himself a drink.

Robert remained frozen in place, no doubt hearing Arianna’s soft cries in the far corner
.
Mrs. Maddox had slipped in
to
the chair recently occupied by Lily
.
Melodic female chatter and wide satin skirts surrounded Arianna
.
The women closed ranks, blocking the miserable bride from further speculation
.

Darien poured himself a whiskey, his first one tonight, and eyed Maddox
.
When Maddox could no longer ignore Darien’s obtrusive presence, Darien toasted his nemesis
.
“Weddings are such joyous occasions.”

“How would you know?
”
Maddox slammed back the contents of his glass.

“True that the Blackmores haven’t been very successful in the matrimony arena in recent years
.
Except for my dear sister, who eloped, but I suppose that doesn’t count
.
It was rather a scandal.”

Maddox returned to filling his glass
.
His dismissive glance to Darien proved he found his person of no consequence, much less worthy of conversation.

“Which leads me to wonder why you’re so damned determined to break into our ranks, Henry
.
There are less troublesome nobles for someone of your prestige and style to align yourself with.
”
Darien studied Henry’s finely tailored suit and expensive boots
.
“Your eldest daughter was engaged to Philip for perhaps a month at the most
.
He’s been dead for ten years
.
You are
a
man of business, Maddox
.
When is it time to call that small investment of time a bust
?
It was an accident
—
”

“Accident?
”
Maddox actually had the bravado to laugh
.
“Philip enjoyed the lads a bit too much
.
That was his real downfall.”

“What the hell are you saying?
”
Darien took a step toward Henry, but only advanced enough to pin Maddox against the bar.

Maddox did not seem intimidated in the least
.
In fact, he leaned against the bar and gazed up at Darien in a relaxed manner.

Robert was suddenly behind Darien
.

“Just what everyone else has been saying for years.
”
Maddox grinned.

“Which is?
”
As much as Darien wanted to wipe the smile off of Maddox’s thin lips, he’d waited too long for someone to speak openly about what happened to Philip.

“Which is that your father did not shoot your brother in a hunting accident
,
but in a fit of rage.”

Robert tried to pull Darien away but he flung off his grip.

“Westhaven caught him with his male lover under this very roof,” Maddox continued
.
“And his stark raving mad younger son could not tolerate the truth so he invented talk of murder to hide his shame.”

“I’m not ashamed.
”
Darien shook his head and tried to return Maddox’s sickly smile, but his mouth was too dry
.
“Nothing could ever make me be ashamed of Philip.”

“You disgust me.” Maddox’s
grin
faltered. “Philip would be ashamed of you
.
So run along and play house with your whore
,
and all will be well
.
You can keep your miserable little crofter’s hut and bugger your sheep to your heart’s content.
”

Ivy stood and watched Darien from across the room
.
She had taken several steps in their direction
,
but hung back, obviously concerned
.
Darien would accomplish nothing here
.
And he would not risk upsetting Ivy in public
.
Not again
.
He had to prove to her that she could depend upon him
.
Flying into a blind rage over a rumor he already knew would not accomplish that.

“So shall you be at the hunt tomorrow?
”
Darien said, shocked and somewhat pleased with himself for sounding so reasonable in the face of Maddox’s hostility.

Maddox poured himself another scotch
.
Darien noted that the usually sober Henry Maddox swayed on his feet.

“Your father could not be bloody talked out of riding with his band of merry old men at morning’s first light
.
The earl loves to kill small rodents and run with his hounds,” Henry said with disgust.

“Then I shall see you at dawn where I hope we have a chance to speak on this subject again.
”
Darien bowed and went to collect Ivy as he imagined a gentleman who cared not to upset his lady might.

Maddox followed their every move from a red-eyed haze of hatred
.
At the moment, he appeared to hate everything in his sight
.
Truly, it was a wonder Henry was so set into marrying into a family he clearly despised.

“I am known to be a good shot, too, Lord Blackmore,” Maddox slurred upon their exit.

“I shall look forward to the hunt then.
”
Darien paused to bow
.
He strolled out the door with the beautiful Ivy Templeton upon his arm, enjoying being the heir to Westhaven for the first time since the position had been rudely thrust upon him.

…
my life, my family, my very identity.

Arianna tried to control her shivers while Ivy tightly laced the gown’s satin corset
.
The carriage’s wheel hit a rut and nearly knocked them both off the seat
.
A lantern swung, casting light over
her
bare arms and thighs
.
The gauze
,
rose-colored skirt hardly covered her backside
.
Despite the warm summer night, a draft tickled Arianna’s secret folds
.
She shuddered and tried to keep her knees together
.

“Mind the road, driver.
”
Ivy beat on the roof of the carriage
.
“Dressing for seduction is a delicate thing.”

A panel slid open in the carriage’s wall
.
“Might I be of assistance?” Lord Blackmore called from the driver’s seat
.
“I should think a male perspective could add much illumination to the subject.
”

Though he could not gawk at them while he handled the
reins
, Arianna clutched her hands over her breasts
.
Surely Lord Blackmore was not serious about evaluating her appearance
.
Even allowing Robert to witness her in nothing but gauze
—
meant to seduce
—
unnerved her
.
Honestly, she was not sure she would be able to drop her cloak at all.

“Just drive more carefully, Darien
.
You are not hauling sheep to market.
”
Ivy stood and shut the panel.

Ivy landed on the opposite seat when Darien unexpectedly sped up
.

“Oh, you have goose bumps.
”
Ivy studied her creation in the wavering light cast by the lantern
.
Arianna followed her gaze to the deflated gauze at the top of the bodice, little cut out slots covered by sheer cloth where her breasts should be
.
“Let me finish the lacings. We shall bundle you in your cloak while we change your stockings.
”

“I put on a fresh pair before I snuck from my room.
”
Arianna forced her arms by her sides
.
Ivy had gone to great lengths to help her tonight
,
and she didn’t want to act like a shy schoolgirl
.

“You must wear the ones designed for the gown
.
They are as sheer as the skirt
.
And do not worry about returning them
.
If they accomplish their purpose, the silk will be properly ruined afterwards
.
As will you.
”
Ivy’s laugh was sweet and wicked like liqueur-laced chocolate
.
A flavor she did not appreciate fully until now.

“Lord Blackmore must think I’m a terrible wanton
—
”
Arianna broke off her words, not wanting to offend Ivy, the only actual fallen woman she knew
.
The sort of woman most mothers preached against seemed so much more appealing than cold duty and chaste resignation
.
“I know they have their differences, but I
am
supposed to marry his father.”

“Exactly why we have no time to waste
.
Drastic measures had to be
taken
. I
t’s
tonight or never
.
Darien is too much of a gentleman to allow us to go traipsing around in the dark alone.”

Arianna had been told otherwise and Robert’s infamous uncle made her nervous
.
No matter how many dead men she had sliced from sternum to groin, live men could still be terrifying.

“I fear my union with Robert might be never unless you can give me the secret to a man’s desire before we reach the rectory.”

“I think this gown should do the trick.
”
Ivy settled on the seat next to Arianna
. 

“I fear I do not quite fill it out.
”
Arianna stared down at the loose fabric that gapped open
,
clearly reveal
ing
her dark nipples.