The Lady Gambles (15 page)

‘You will cease this nonsense immediately.’ Dominic
could no longer contain his impatience with the distance yawning between them. ‘I have no more wish to discuss the weather, the garden, or the doings of the
ton
, than I believe you do.’

She raised haughty brows. ‘I thought I had just assured you that I would be only too happy to converse on either of the first two subjects—’

‘If you do not stop this nonsensical prattling, Caro, then I will have no other recourse but to come over there and shake you until your teeth rattle!’ Dominic’s hands were clenched at his sides as he resisted that impulse, a nerve pulsing in his tightly set jaw as he glared across the room at her.

She visibly bristled. ‘If you even attempt to do so, then I assure you
I
will have no other recourse but to take the letter opener from the table over there and stab you with it!’

Dominic gave an appreciative grin as his tension eased slightly. Better. Much better. Almost the Caro he was used to, in fact.

He waited until the tray of tea things had been placed on the low table in front of her, and the butler once again departed about his business, before speaking again. ‘I had thought you might be interested in hearing how Lord Thorne fares this afternoon?’ He strolled across to make himself comfortable in the armchair facing Caro as she sat forwards on the sofa to pour the two cups of tea.

She paused to look across at him. ‘He is well, I hope?’

‘Slightly better, yes. But, if I read the situation correctly, he is also being thoroughly suffocated by the
kindness of his doting aunt, as well as browbeaten by the sharp tongue of her young companion.’

Caro smiled slightly at the image this conjured up of the rakishly handsome Lord Thorne being fussed over by one lady and rebuked by another. ‘No doubt something he considers more tiresome than his injuries.’ She handed Dominic his tea before picking up her own cup and saucer and settling back against the sofa.

There was a slight pause before Dominic spoke again. ‘Caro, we should have had this conversation this morning, but…’ He gave a shake of his head. ‘Emotions were such that I did not feel the time was right—’

‘I sincerely hope you do not intend plaguing me by enquiring again after my own health, Lord Vaughn!’ Her eyes flashed deeply green as she looked across at him. ‘I have already assured you that I am perfectly well and do not wish to discuss this subject further.’ To her dismay her hand shook slightly as she concentrated on raising her cup to her lips and took a sip of the milky unsweetened tea in order to avoid meeting the probing of that silver gaze.

It was uncomfortable to sit here drinking tea together as if they were only casual acquaintances, but Caro knew she preferred even that to the humiliation of discussing the events of this morning. Just being in the same room as Dominic was enough to make her aware of the slight aches and soreness of the different parts of her body—all of them a physical reminder of their lovemaking earlier today.

As she had hoped, the bath she had taken had eased some of her discomfort. But it seemed there had been no soothing the slight redness to her breasts from the
chafing of stubble upon Dominic’s jaw as it rubbed against her tender flesh, or the slight soreness between her thighs every time she moved—a constant reminder of what had happened between them.

None of them were things Caro cared to discuss with Dominic!

Or things she should think of and dwell on, when he had already made it so clear that he considered their lovemaking to have been a mistake.

If only Caro were not still so aware of him. Of the way his silky dark hair had fallen rakishly over his brow. Of how the hand he now raised to push back those dark locks had this morning been entangled in the golden curls between her thighs—

‘Would that we could dismiss it so easily.’ Dominic’s mouth had thinned with displeasure.

She frowned as she forced her thoughts back from those memories of carnal delight. ‘I do not see why we cannot.’

Could Caro really be this innocent? Dominic wondered. If so, then it was even more important that they have this discussion. ‘You were the one to mention earlier that there may be consequences from our actions this morning.’

She stilled. ‘Consequences I recall you saying would be extremely unlikely.’

Dominic gave up all pretence of appearing in the least relaxed as he stood up to pace restlessly on the rug in front of the fireplace. Earlier, he had been too shocked by that proof of Caro’s innocence, so befuddled by the intensity of his arousal, to be in any condition
to think clearly, let alone have a rational discussion on the subject.

Even now, Dominic found himself in danger of wanting to make love to her again rather than talk, as they surely must. To kiss the vulnerability of her exposed nape, to touch and caress the firm swell of her breasts, to part the soft curls between her thighs as he stroked the sensitive nubbin there before throwing up her skirts and once again thrusting his arousal into the exquisite pleasure of her!

His hands clenched at his sides. ‘Consequences I said
may
be a possibility,’ he corrected stiltedly.

‘I do not understand?’

‘Much as it pains me, Caro, there is the possibility—remote, I do acknowledge—that merely by having penetrated you, you could become with child,’ Dominic explained as she looked up at him blankly.

Caro’s eyes widened and all the colour drained from her cheeks as the cup and saucer she was holding slipped from her fingers and tumbled to the floor.

C
aro could only stare down numbly at the broken cup and saucer as it was quickly surrounded by a rapidly spreading pool of milky tea that threatened to wet her satin slippers as well as the rug in front of the fire.

‘Caro—’

‘Ring for Denby, would you, Dominic?’ Caro grabbed a napkin from the tea-tray and fell down on to her knees to wipe up the worst of the tea before starting to gather up the shattered pieces of porcelain, grateful to have this diversion as a means of avoiding answering Dominic’s previous statement.

Caro was not ignorant about how babies were made; even if Diana, as the eldest, had not felt it her duty to discuss such matters with her two younger sisters once she considered them both old enough, it would have been impossible to avoid knowing about such things, when their father had often discussed the selective breeding for the deer and other livestock at Shoreley
Hall with his estate manager in the presence of his three daughters.

She had simply chosen to believe—to the point of denial—that such a thing could not possibly come about from Dominic’s brief penetration.

‘Leave it, Caro.’ He stepped forwards to take a grip of her arm and pull her effortlessly to her feet, maintaining that hold as he turned to speak to the butler who had entered the room. ‘Denby, could you see that this is cleaned up whilst I take Mrs Morton outside for a refreshing walk in the garden?’ Dominic’s expression was grim as Caro appeared too dazed to respond with her usual aversion to being told what to do, but instead allowed him to guide her outside into the sunlit garden. In truth, he was unsure as to whether she might have collapsed completely if he had not maintained that steadying grip upon her arm. ‘Caro, I realise the delicacy of this situation, but surely—’

‘Not now, Dominic,’ she managed to breathe. ‘I—allow me a few minutes in which to think, if you please.’ She stepped away from him, releasing his hold upon her arm before turning her back on him and walking over to gaze down into the murky depths of the fishpond.

She looked so delicate, Dominic realised with a frown, so very young and vulnerable, as she stood there so still and silent. Unseeing, too, he did not doubt, knowing from the stunned expression and the pallor of her face that her thoughts were troubled ones.

As troubled as Dominic’s own. ‘I have come here this afternoon to assure you, that if by some mischance you do find yourself with child, I will of course feel honour-bound to offer you my hand in marriage.’

‘Marriage!’ Caro appeared horrified by the mere suggestion of it as she turned to stare at him.

Dominic had always been aware that he would have to marry one day. As a means of providing an heir, if for no other reason. But, if he had given the matter any thought at all, then the future bride he had imagined for himself would be selected from one of the families of the
ton
, a young lady of gentleness and obedience. She would certainly not be a stubborn and forthright young woman who refused to so much as listen—worse, who wilfully went her own way no matter what advice was offered to her.

He took a deep breath. ‘It is obvious to me, despite the circumstances under which we first met, that you were obviously brought up to be a lady.’

‘Indeed?’ Caro’s tone was icy.

‘And that for reasons of your own,’ Dominic continued determinedly, ‘you have chosen to temporarily separate yourself from your family. Luckily, no one but Butler and Jackson…’ and possibly Nicholas Brown, he mentally acknowledged ‘…is aware that Caro Morton and the masked lady are one and the same person. It is regrettable that you ever associated yourself with a gambling den, of course, but it cannot be changed now—’

‘I assure you, if I have any desire to change
anything
about my visit to London, then it is that I ever had the misfortune to meet
you
!’ Caro informed him frostily.

Dominic’s mouth tightened at the deliberate insult. ‘Even so, if you should indeed find yourself with child, then I am prepared, in view of the fact that I know of your previous innocence, to accept my responsibility—’

‘I would advise that you not say another insulting word.’ Her eyes flashed in warning. ‘With child or otherwise, I would never consider even the possibility of ever marrying you,’ she continued scornfully. ‘Not even if you were to go down upon your knees and beg me to do so!’

Dominic could never envisage any situation in which he would ever go down upon his knees and beg any woman to marry him, although the vehemence with which Caro dismissed the very notion of a marriage between the two of them was insulting rather than reassuring.

She gave a delicate shudder now. ‘I knew you to be an arrogant man,
my lord
, but I had not realised you to be one so full of self-conceit, too!’

Dominic felt the angry tide of colour in his cheeks at this further added insult. ‘These character faults of mine did not seem a hindrance to the desire you felt for me earlier today!’

Caro’s own cheeks became flushed at this reminder of her response to his lovemaking. But having come to London in the first place in order to escape the possibility of her guardian—another Earl, no less—being able to somehow coerce her into marrying him, Caro could not help but feel slighted by Dominic’s obvious aversion to the unwelcome possibility that he might have to take her as his own Countess.

‘I believe we have both of us made our feelings in this matter clear, Lord Vaughn,’ she dismissed. ‘And this conversation is therefore at an end. It would be better if you did not lay hands upon me again!’ Her eyes narrowed as she found Dominic was now standing
far too close to her for comfort and about to take a grip upon her arm.

His eyes glittered down at her just as fiercely as his fingers closed around her arm. ‘And if I should choose not to heed that advice?’

Caro’s chin rose challengingly. ‘Then you will leave me no choice but to punch you upon your arrogant chin!’

He gave a start of surprise, then the angry glitter began to fade from his eyes to be replaced by reluctant admiration as he gave a brief laugh. ‘You are without doubt the most unusual woman I have ever encountered.’

Unfortunately for him, Caro’s own anger remained just as intense as it had ever been. ‘Because I choose to threaten you with something you would understand rather than womanly hysteria?’

‘Exactly so.’ His fingers relaxed slightly upon her arm, but he did not release her. ‘Caro, I meant you no insult just now when I said that I am prepared to offer you marriage should there be a child—’

‘Did you not?’ She tossed her head. ‘Am I to understand that you expect me to feel grateful, then, by your
honour-bound
offer? Flattered when you express how
regrettable
you consider this situation to be? Suggesting that, as you are completely assured of my innocence before today, I should be happy that you are prepared to
accept your responsibility
as the father of any baby I might produce in the next nine months?’

‘You are twisting my words—’

‘Indeed I am not,’ Caro denied hotly, her anger deepening the more she thought about Dominic’s so-called
proposal of marriage. At the moment, she really did feel capable of punching him upon his arrogant chin! ‘Please accept my assurances, Lord Vaughn, that if I did happen to find myself unfortunate enough to be carrying your child, you would be the very last man I would ever think of going to for assistance.’

Dominic looked down at her sharply. ‘Who else should you go to but me?’

Caro might have behaved recklessly in coming to London in the first place, most especially by remaining to become a singer in a gentleman’s gambling club, even more so by allowing the lovemaking with Dominic this morning to go as far as it had, but none of those things changed the fact that she was in reality Lady Caroline Copeland, and the daughter of an Earl. A woman, moreover, who was Dominic Vaughn’s social equal. That he had no idea of her true identity was irrelevant—the man was arrogance personified!

‘I am not without friends, sir.’ Caro looked down the length of her nose at him—not an easy feat when she was so much shorter than he. ‘Good and faithful friends, who would be true to me no matter what I have done.’ Caro considered her two sisters to be her best friends as well as her family. As such, she had no doubt that both Diana and Elizabeth would stand beside her, no matter what the circumstances.

His top lip curled. ‘And where have these friends been these past two weeks?’

Her chin rose. ‘Exactly where they have always been.’ There had been comfort for Caro in knowing that her two sisters would be waiting for her at Shoreley Hall whenever she should choose to return to them. No
doubt with a severe reprimand from Diana for having run away at all, and a whispered urging from Elizabeth to relate her adventures once they were alone together, but nevertheless, Caro had no doubt that her sisters would stand beside her come what may.

Dominic scowled darkly as his hand once again took a firm grip upon her arm. ‘Damn it, Caro—’

‘No doubt, by tomorrow, I will be in possession of as many black-and-blue bruises as Lord Thorne!’ Caro protested, knowing full well he wasn’t hurting her, but the implication that he was would make him release her immediately.

‘I apologise.’ As she had predicted, Dominic did indeed let her arm go abruptly. ‘Caro, put your stubborn pride aside for one moment, and just consider—’

‘The honour of becoming your Countess?’ she flung back at him derisively. ‘I have considered it, my lord—and as just quickly dismissed it!’ She eyed him with the disdain of a queen.

Dominic was fast losing patience with this conversation. In attempting to be honest with her and proposing marriage if she should find herself with child, it appeared he had only succeeded in insulting her. And nothing he had said since appeared to have in any way rectified that situation. It appeared, in fact, that he could not regain favour in her eyes no matter what he did or said.

Yet did he wish to regain favour in her eyes? Surely it would be better for both of them if he left things exactly as they were? It was unpleasant to feel the lash of her tongue and coldness of manner towards him, but the alternative would no doubt only result in another of
those passionate encounters. Dominic still burned with desire for her, despite knowing how ill advised a repeat of this morning’s activities would be.

Just to look at Caro was to remember the silky smoothness of her skin beneath his fingers. To remember the hard pebbles of her nipples being drawn into his mouth. The burning heat of her slick and yet tight thighs as she took him deep inside her… No, perhaps it would be much safer to foster this lack of accord between them!

‘As you wish, Caro,’ he said haughtily as he turned away to studiously straighten the shirt cuffs beneath his jacket.

Caro was absolutely incensed as he turned his back on her. ‘I cannot imagine what I could have been thinking of this morning, allowing you to make love to me, when you are so obviously everything that I most despise in a man!’

He turned back sharply, nostrils flared. ‘Just as your own rebellious and outspoken nature is everything that I most dislike in a woman!’

Caro eyed him coldly. ‘Then we are agreed we do not care for each other?’

His jaw tightened. ‘Indeed we are!’

She gave a cool nod. ‘Then I will wish you good day, Lord Vaughn.’

Dominic eyed her with frustration. He had never met a woman who could bring him so quickly to anger. To impatience. To fury. But most especially to desire…

Logical thought told Dominic that if he wished to retain his sanity, then any future protection he provided for Caro’s safety must necessarily be given from a dis
tance. Just to be with her was playing the very devil with his self-control—

‘Am I to remain a prisoner here, as I was at Blackstone House, until this danger from Nicholas Brown is over?’ Caro interrupted Dominic’s disturbing train of thought. ‘Or am I to be allowed out for a carriage ride, at least?’

He refocused on her, his instincts telling him, for the sake of her own safety, to deny her even that small pleasure. However, that same instinct was quickly overridden by the memory of how flagrantly Caro had chosen to defy those same instructions only this morning and what the result of that defiance had been!

His mouth twisted. If he denied her, she’d likely find a way to disobey him, and then all hell would be let loose. Far better that he knew what she was doing at all times. ‘I believe a carriage ride is permissible.’

‘How kind!’ Her sarcasm was unmistakable. ‘And am I to take a maid with me on this carriage ride?’

‘I do not believe that to be necessary unless you especially wish to do so. The grooms and coachmen here are also old comrades of mine,’ he added before she had the opportunity to make another scathing comment. ‘I trust in their ability to ensure that no harm befalls you.’

‘
Further
harm, I think you mean?’

Dominic flinched as that verbal arrow of hers hit its mark. How he longed to take this rebellious woman into his arms. To kiss her into submission, if he could achieve her obedience in no other way. Yet at the same time he knew he should not, could not do either of those things. ‘I will call on you again tomorrow—’

‘I am sure there is no need to trouble yourself on my account,’ she cut in.

Once again Dominic bit back his frustration, knowing how badly he had already handled this situation. ‘I will take my leave, then.’

She nodded coolly. ‘Lord Vaughn.’

There was nothing more for Dominic to do or say. Nothing he could do or say, it seemed, that would make things as they had once been between them.

Even if he did not know, could not completely comprehend, exactly what that had been…

Caro was filled with a raw restlessness once she was sure that the Earl had gone from the house, aware as she was of the rest of the afternoon and the long evening alone that now stretched before her. Tomorrow, too, in all probability, now that she had told Dominic it was unnecessary for him to call on her.