The Nude (full-length historical romance) (18 page)

“And the last thing I want to do is violate your trust. So know this, Elsbeth, if I am lucky enough to succeed in seducing you, it will be for one singular reason. I will do it solely because I want you to be with me.” He paused long enough for Elsbeth to catch her breath. “Ah, we have reached the center of the labyrinth. I’ve been told that this was my father’s favorite place.”

At the center of the maze was a round clearing. A smooth marble urn seated in an oval fountain sprayed water up at least ten feet into the air. Edgeware lingered there, watching the water dance in the sunlight.

“The secret—” he said, directing Elsbeth toward a second path on the other side of the clearing. Unlike the rest of the hedge-lined trail, the path was straight and short. Within a few short steps, she found herself in the middle of an open, geometric garden from which the manor house and archery field could be easily reached. “—is revealed. We spiraled around and around to find the prize when we might have taken a short, direct route instead. But tell me, if we had taken the easier path, would finding the hidden jewel have been as satisfying?”

She wanted to touch him. Even now, even after he’d declared his intention of seducing her, she wasn’t frightened . . . she was fascinated.

He was a mystery, a puzzle as complicated as one of Dionysus’s paintings with layer upon layer of depth waiting to be discovered—a secret prize she ached to unravel.

“Tonight is the ball,” he reminded her, lifting her hand and placing a reverent kiss on the top of her knuckles. “Perhaps you will save me a dance? Perhaps a waltz?”

Ninny, that her soft heart was turning her into, had her nodding her agreement and eagerly looking forward to the coming evening and the prospect of losing herself all over again to his seductive spell.

“Lauretta, why ever aren’t you dressed?” Olivia scolded. She sounded surprisingly like Elsbeth, even to Elsbeth’s ears. But she ruined the stern image when she impatiently stomped her pretty foot. “Lord Edgeware’s ball is starting. I can already hear the guests arriving downstairs.”

Lauretta, dressed in the same gown she’d worn that afternoon, slumped on her bed, her chin cradled in her hands. “I have one of Elsbeth’s famous headaches.”

“Oh, pooh! Papa would never permit this. Elly, you aren’t going to allow her to hide up here, are you?”

Elsbeth emerged from the dressing room where Molly, her lady’s maid, had been fussing over her. She’d listened to her two cousins with only half an ear as she’d gazed at herself in the mirror. The gown, made from the sheerest pale purple muslin she’d ever seen, was cut very low. Nearly indecently so. Surely the modiste had made a mistake.

“Oh, Elly,” Olivia exclaimed, “you look ever so lovely. That gown is so much more fashionable than the ones you ordered for the season. It fits you much better too.”

“I feel like I am in danger of falling out of it,” Elsbeth muttered.

“You do look lovely,” Lauretta said rather sedately.

“Why, thank you.” She frowned at the long face Lauretta wore. “But you, my dear cousin, will not look lovely coming to the ball in that gown. You need to make a grand appearance, dazzling everyone present. You need to show Sir Donald—and everyone else—his actions have not affected you in the least.”

Lauretta gave Elsbeth a desperate look.

“It needn’t be true,” she said as she selected a white gown for her cousin to wear. “It simply needs to be believed.” She took Lauretta’s hands in her own. “Trust me, this is for the best.”

With Molly and Olivia’s help, it didn’t take long for Elsbeth to tuck Lauretta into her gown, fix up her hair, and lure her to the ball.

The guests, dressed in their most fashionable attire, lined the sides of the ballroom, chatting animatedly. Edgeware had reportedly invited gentry from as far away as a quarter day’s ride to Purbeck. Elsbeth guessed further by the number who had already arrived.

Shiny silk ribbons dyed to represent Edgeware’s family colors, dark green and rich lavender, floated across the ceiling and spiraled toward the grand chandelier in the center of the room. Matching drapes billowed in the breeze in front of the half-dozen arching double doors that had been opened to keep the room from becoming overheated. Palms potted in ceramic urns overflowing with exotic orchids marked the edges of the dance floor. Musicians dressed all in white stood at the ready on the far end of the room.

“For a man who has never hosted a ball, the Marquess certainly knows how to create a fairytale scene,” Olivia said.

Elsbeth nodded in agreement. The decorations made her feel slightly unhinged, almost as if she’d stumbled into one of Dionysus’s colorful paintings. “I have never seen such a wondrous spectacle. And look, there’s a miniature fountain at the edge of the dance floor.”

Lauretta followed along as quiet as a stone beside them, her shoulders hunched and her head bowed. The poor child was destined to have a miserable evening if circumstances didn’t quickly turn.

“Oh,” Olivia sighed, as her cheeks grew flushed. “There is Lord Edgeware dressed all in black. And I believe he is looking this way. He looks so formidable, don’t you agree, Elly?”

“I haven’t taken the time to notice,” Elsbeth lied. She had, in fact, sought him out the moment they’d stepped into the ballroom. And she thought the dark lord looked disturbingly dashing tonight.

What the devil was wrong with her? She gave herself a stern mental shake. In no way should she allow her feelings to grow for him. Even if his easy manner seemed to draw her like a moth to a flame, she shouldn’t risk losing herself to his seductive charm. He was a man, naught but a man.

“Ladies.” Edgeware had wasted no time crossing the room to personally greet them. He gave a grand bow and, blast him, looked as elegant as a prince. “Please allow me to reserve a dance with each of you beauties in turn.”

He gave Lauretta a second look, and frowned. “What’s this?” he said, gently lifting the unhappy girl’s chin. “I cannot allow such a gloomy face at my ball.”

“I simply can’t muster a happier feeling, my lord. Perhaps I should—”

“Do not speak nonsense, my beautiful lady. You’ve only stepped foot in the ballroom. How can you possibly know how the night will turn out?” He was scolding her, of that Elsbeth was certain. But his tone was so light, so playful that even the sensitive Lauretta’s grim expression appeared to lighten.

“But-but, my lord,” she sputtered. “You don’t understand. You couldn’t possibly know—”

“That Sir Donald has broken your heart? Yes, I do believe your father had mentioned something of that matter to me when we were discussing this house party.” He caressed the girl’s chin as an uncle would, before releasing it. “Just say the word, my lady, and I will ban Sir Donald from ever stepping foot in my house again.”

Lauretta gave a start. More than a little distressed she waved her satiny-gloved hands in the air. “No, my lord, I beg that you don’t punish him.” She swallowed hard. “I-I couldn’t . . . I mean, he-um-he-he—”

“Ah. I understand only too well,” Edgeware said. “Please grant me the pleasure of this first set, then.” His smile brightened again as he extended his hand to her with a grand gesture. “I promise Sir Donald will rethink his earlier foolishness after seeing his competition tonight.”

Elsbeth watched with a pang in her heart as her dark lord led Lauretta away. It was foolish, really, that she should feel jealous of her cousin. She didn’t want Edgeware’s attentions, truly she didn’t. Hang it all, she didn’t want him smiling at her like he’d smiled at Lauretta. And she really didn’t want him to remind her of that morning’s passionate kiss . . . or whisper any more shocking promises of seduction.

“Wouldn’t it be grand if Lauretta went home to father engaged to Lord Edgeware?” Olivia said dreamily.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Edgeware wouldn’t propose without talking to your father first,” Elsbeth snapped.

Olivia giggled. “Oh Elly! I didn’t realize that you—”

“Now you
are
being ridiculous, Olivia. Come now.” She latched her arm with her cousin’s. “Let’s step away from the entrance.”

“Am I being silly? The Marquess gallantly presented you a flower this afternoon and placed it in your hair as well!”

“Please, Olivia,” Elsbeth said, not quite able to fight off the tender memories.

“I do believe you are blushing, Elly. Oh la, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. He is an eligible bachelor, is he not? Ah, Mr. Waver, how do you do?”

George Waver inclined his head and smiled. “Good evening ladies. Please allow me to present to you Reverend Sirius Waver.” The handsome young man with features strikingly similar to Mr. Waver’s tugged nervously on his waistcoat. “Siruis is my younger brother as well as the local vicar,” Mr. Waver added with considerable fondness, which only seemed to make the vicar look more uncomfortable.

Mr. Waver hurried on, presenting Elsbeth and Olivia and detailing their family connections, Elsbeth puzzled over the young vicar’s agitation until she noticed how pink his cheeks had become when George Waver had spoken Olivia’s name. Once the introductions were completed, Mr. Waver turned and gave his brother a nod.

“L-lady Olivia.” Reverend Waver cleared his throat a couple of times. “Lady Olivia, I would be honored to lead you in the first set. That is, if you haven’t already accepted an invitation from another gentleman. Which in that case, I’d hardly expect you to agree to dance with me.”

Olivia giggled, her pink cheeks brightening even before she latched on to his arm.

“And would you, Lady Mercer,” Mr. Waver asked, “be available to dance the first set with me?”

“No, I’m afraid she would not,” Charlie said, nudging Mr. Waver out of the way. “The first set is beginning and
Lady Mercer
has promised it to me,” he said, using her proper title for the first time since they’d been reaquainted. But despite that courtesy, he took possession of her arm as if he owned it.

“Perhaps later, then?” Mr. Waver said with a frown.

“Yes, later would be nice,” Elsbeth said. She allowed Charlie to tow her along with him, even though the thought of being with him made her whole body tremble with fear. This was no time for cowardice. If Charlie was indeed Dionysus, she needed to gather evidence in order to expose him. Besides, she reminded herself, she had no reason to be frightened of Charlie. He wouldn’t dare harm her in the middle of a crowded ballroom.

The small orchestra began playing a minuet, the traditional opening set. The dancers lined up, waiting for their turn to whirl down the line with their partners. Lauretta, looking worlds livelier, was the first to dance in front of the other guests. She turned toward Edgeware for the lead-in. They did a right-hand turn, a left-hand turn, and then a two-hand turn before starting the sequence again until they had glided to the end of the line. Edgeware had given Lauretta a wonderful gift. By choosing her to partner him in the opening dance of the ball, every man present would now look at her in a new light.

Charlie kept Elsbeth by his side as he lagged back in the line of guests. “I know who you are,” she said, in hopes of tricking him into a confession, “and what you’re up to.”

“You do?” he said and raised a brow.

“Of course I do.”

He snarled at her confidence. “You’ve won my cousin as a champion and it makes you grow bold. He turned on me this afternoon because of you,” he whispered with a ragged breath in her ear.

Elsbeth tried to pull away, but Charlie only clamped down on her arm. “No,” she said, feeling a tremor of alarm. “No, you have no power over me.”

“I may not. But be warned.” Fire flashed in his eyes. “I won’t let you come between me and my cousin.”

“And I won’t let you harm him!” she spat with a passion loud enough that several heads turned. But she didn’t regret a word, realizing suddenly she would fight to protect Edgeware from this bounder. She simply could not let Dionysus ruin anyone else’s life. Especially not Edgeware’s.

Charlie’s face bloomed red. He glanced around, smiling benignly. “Very well,” he said though his lips were pulled tightly into a sharp grin. “Very well,” he said again and stalked off.

As Elsbeth watched him retreat, her bravery wavered. She feared her little act of rebellion would not go unpunished.

* * * * *

Severin prowled the ballroom, keeping a keen eye peeled for scheming young ladies that might be lurking behind a potted palm or a Doric column. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at his heated brow. Edgeware’s welcoming ball was brimming with young, innocent, unmarried ladies all hoping to put the matrimonial hook into some poor, unsuspecting sot.