To Tempt An Angel (Book 1 Douglas series) (13 page)

Angelica didn’t spare a glance at Robert but felt his gaze on her. Relief at escaping his scrutinizing gaze swept through her as soon as she left the drawing room.

Sitting in front of the darkened hearth in her chamber for a long time, Angelica considered the abrupt changes in Robert’s behavior. The only thing she understood was that he’d lied about his identity. Life had seemed simpler before he became the Duke of Inverary’s son. She’d grown fond of Robert Roy and would have been happy living in poverty with him. The Campbell name, status, and wealth complicated matters.

Guilt stabbed at her heart when she glanced at the luxurious chamber. How dare she feel relieved by her father’s passing. Her father and mother had lived their entire lives surrounded by wealth like this. To have it stolen away had killed both of them.

Angelica thought of Aunt Roxie, and love swelled in her heart. Her aunt had enjoyed a life of privilege and wealth and had sacrificed it to keep them alive. Somehow, she would repay her aunt for her loyalty and unselfishness.

As if her thoughts had conjured the woman, Angelica heard a rapping on her door and then her aunt asking, “Darling, are you awake?”

“Come in,” Angelica called, rising from her chair. She hurried across the chamber and threw herself into her aunt’s arms.

“What is this?” her aunt asked.

“I love you, Aunt Roxie.”

“I knew that, darling.”

“When my revenge is complete, I’m going to marry a wealthy gentleman and take care of you forever,” Angelica promised.

“Men don’t come any wealthier than the Campbells,” Aunt Roxie said, giving her a dimpled smile. “One day you will be mistress of all this.”

“I would not count on that happening,” Angelica told her.

“I saw it in a vision,” Aunt Roxie insisted. “You handled Robert spectacularly tonight. I couldn’t have done any better. He left disappointed beyond belief. Men love challenges, you know. Keep up the good work.”

“I’ll try,” Angelica replied, confused by her aunt’s praise.

“Beware Venetia,” her aunt warned. “She’s an Emerson and not to be trusted.”

Angelica smiled. “Thank you for worrying about me.”

“I’ll say good night, then.” Her aunt kissed her cheek.

“Good night,” the macaw called.

“Good night, Jasper,” Aunt Roxie answered.

After her aunt had gone, Angelica covered the birdcage with a blanket and climbed into bed. She wanted to think about the day’s events and her aunt’s vision, but weariness claimed her in a deep, dreamless sleep.

The next morning Angelica awakened refreshed and hungry, her nervousness having stolen her appetite the previous evening. She had felt uncomfortable at dinner, with Robert sitting beside her and Venetia watching every move she made.

After completing her morning toilet, Angelica uncovered the macaw’s cage and said, “Hello, Jasper.”

“Hello.”

“Do you want to eat?” she asked, opening the cage door.

“Eat.”

With the macaw trailing behind her, Angelica walked down the corridor to the stairs. The hour was relatively early, and she looked forward to breakfasting alone and thinking about her aunt’s vision. She wondered briefly why she hadn’t missed her sisters’ company during the night but decided she’d been too tired to care about anything except sleep.

Angelica smiled to herself when she walked into the dining room. Except for the majordomo, the chamber was empty.

“Good morning Mr. Tinker,” she said, opening the door of the birdcage for Jasper.

“Good morning, my lady,” Tinker greeted her. “I have already placed Master Jasper’s breakfast in his cage.”

“Call him Jasper,” Angelica said with a smile. “All his friends do.” She closed the cage door behind the macaw.

Angelica walked to the sideboard and helped herself to a Geneva roll with butter, a slice of ham, and a spoonful of scrambled eggs. When she sat down at the table, the majordomo appeared at her side and placed a cup of coffee beside her plate’

“
The Times
, my lady,” the majordomo said, setting the newspaper down beside her.

“Thank you, Tinker.” Angelica opened the paper and read while she ate. She never noticed the newcomer.

“Good morning, angel. I was hoping you’d be here.”

Angelica looked up, though she recognized the voice, and saw Robert standing in the doorway. Her heart ached at the sight of his rugged handsomeness, but she steeled herself against him. The man was a liar and a fraud.

You are a cheater and a fraud
, an inner voice told her.

“Good morning, my lord,” Angelica said, watching him cross the dining room to the sideboard.

“Call me Robert,” he told her, filling his plate. “Nothing has changed.”

A great deal has changed
, she thought.

When he sat down beside her, Angelica gestured to the forty-foot dining table and said, “There are a dozen seats. Why must you sit so close?”

“I want to speak to you without shouting.”

“Speak about what?”

“I want to invite you to ride with me in Hyde Park,” Robert said.

“No, thank you,” Angelica refused, her gaze on the newspaper. “I have an appointment with the dressmaker this morning.”

“Look at me, angel.”

Reluctantly, Angelica turned her head and gazed into his dark eyes. There was as much danger in his intense gaze as there was in sitting so close to him.

“I apologize for my behavior yesterday,” Robert said. “Your presence in my father’s house surprised me.”

A smile flirted with Angelica’s lips, but she wasn’t about to forgive him so easily. “I don’t believe Mr. Tinker heard you as well as he did yesterday in your father’s study. Isn’t that right, Mr. Tinker?”

“I beg your pardon?” the majordomo asked. “I wasn’t listening.”

Angelica smiled at Robert.

Robert inclined his head, but his expression told her that he’d prefer to throttle her. He cleared his throat and said in a loud voice, “I apologize for my behavior yesterday.” Then he called over his shoulder, “Did you hear that, Tinker?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“You haven’t apologized for lying,” Angelica said. “Nor have you given me a reason for your lies.”

“I wanted to become acquainted with you without my name getting in the way,” Robert told her.

Angelica arched a brow at him. She lowered her voice to a whisper and blushed when she said, “I believe we are intimately acquainted.”

Robert gave her a wolfish smile. “The Campbells are one of the wealthiest families in Britain,” he said. “I needed to be certain you liked me for myself and not my money.”

“I don’t like you at all,” she told him.

“You don’t mean that, angel.”

“I see the Campbells are long on money and short on modesty,” Angelica replied.

“All I meant was that a man in my position needs to be careful,” Robert said. “Besides, your intention to rid the world of Campbells held my tongue.”

Angelica didn’t know whether to forgive him or not. She was attracted to him, and other than his lying and one lapse into pigheadedness, he had been kind to her.

“I will consider forgiving you,” Angelica told him.

Robert inclined his head. Lifting the newspaper off the table, he said, “Let me know when you have decided.”

“I was reading that paper,” she told him.

“A marquess takes precedence over a countess,” he replied, and returned his attention to the newspaper.

Angelica resumed eating but shot him an occasional sidelong glance. Was he just going to ignore her until she forgave him?

When he burst out laughing, Angelica rounded on him. “Are you laughing at my expense?” she demanded.

“Yes, I am.” Robert dropped the paper on the table and pointed to an article.

Angelica leaned close and read:

Recently arrived from the Continent, Russian Prince Rudolf attended Lord Murray’s ball last night and captured the admiring eye of those ladies in attendance. Perhaps the dashingly handsome prince will take an English bride?

*    *    *

“
Sacred sevens
,” Angelica exclaimed in horrified dismay.

“What were you saying about lying?” Robert asked with a smile.

“Very funny.”

“Give over, angel,” Robert said. “Let’s retire to my father’s study and practice our strategy. You do want revenge, don’t you?”

Angelica inclined her head but asked, “What will I do about Prince Rudolf?”

Robert couldn’t contain his smile. “With any luck, angel, your paths will never cross.”

“I’ll get my dice and meet you in the study,” Angelica said, rising from her chair.

Robert stood when she did. He crossed the dining room and opened the macaw’s cage.

“Come, Jasper,” Angelica said.

The macaw followed them out of the dining room. When they reached the second floor, Robert said, “Come, Jasper.”

Angelica watched in amazement as the macaw followed the marquess down the corridor to the study. The bird had never obeyed any stranger before. Turning away, Angelica hurried upstairs to fetch her gambling paraphernalia.

Walking into the duke’s study a few minutes later, Angelica saw Robert sitting in his father’s chair. Beside him on the desk perched Jasper.

Angelica left the door open to discourage any advance he might be plotting. Robert had pulled another chair close to the front of the desk.

“Sit down,” Robert said, gesturing to the chair.

Whoever sat in the duke’s chair had control, Angelica decided. “I want to sit behind the desk,” she said.

“I’m already sitting here,” Robert replied.

“I liked you better when you were Robert Roy,” Angelica told him.

Robert grinned. “I liked you better before you became a countess.”

Angelica gave him a grudging smile. She looked around and then suggested, “Why don’t we call a truce and sit in front of the hearth?”

“An excellent idea.”

Robert pulled a table close to the settee and gestured to her. Angelica sat down and then realized he was going to sit beside her. The chair in front of the desk would have been safer.

“Who is she?” Angelica asked, looking at the portrait hanging over the mantel.

“My mother.”

“She was very beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

Angelica gave him a sidelong glance and said, “Too bad you resemble your father.”

“Are you implying that my father is less than handsome?” Robert asked in an affronted tone of voice.

“No, I didn’t mean—”

Robert laughed. “I know what you meant.”

“Who are all these men?” Angelica asked, gesturing to the portraits covering the walls above the bookshelves.

“Every Campbell laird since the beginning of time hangs in this chamber,” Robert told her.

“A rogue’s gallery?”

He nodded. “An intimidating sight for a young boy.”

“I cannot imagine you being an intimidated young boy,” she said.

Robert shrugged. “We’ll start with unloaded dice,” he said, producing his own and passing them to her.

“Shall I throw first?” Angelica asked, inspecting them out of habit.

When he inclined his head, Angelica shifted the dice back and forth in her hands, as if getting the feel of them. “Seven is my main,” she said, and threw the dice. A two and a two showed up, her chance to continue.

Again, Angelica tossed the dice. This time a six and a six showed up.

“Winning is more difficult when you don’t cheat,” Robert said, scooping the dice off the table.

“What’s your main?” she asked.

“Seven.”

Robert shook the dice in his hands and tossed them on the table. A six and a one appeared face up.

Again, Robert tossed the dice. They landed on four and three.

“My luck seems to be changing,” Robert remarked. “How about a kiss if I win again?”

“Winning is its own reward,” Angelica said primly.

“A kiss would be a wonderful incentive.”

“Oh, very well.”

Robert tossed the dice. A five and a two appeared.

Angelica grabbed the dice off the table and inspected them. “These dice are loaded,” she said in surprise. “How did you make the switch?”

Robert smiled. “I listened carefully during my last lesson.”

“I had a feeling you were going to do this,” Angelica lied, too proud to admit she’d been bested at her own game. “Cheating successfully in a situation like this is easy. It becomes a bit more difficult when your opponents are alert and bound to call you out if they catch you.”

Robert leaned close. “Are you angry because I beat you?”

“You did not beat me,” she said, refusing to meet his gaze.

“I never would have taken you for a poor loser.”

“I am not a—”

Unexpectedly, Robert drew her into his embrace. Mesmerized by his intense gaze, Angelica was caught by the gleam of desire in his dark eyes. Robert’s face hovered above hers for the briefest moment and then descended as one of his hands held the back of her head. Their lips touched in a kiss.

When she relaxed in his arms, his lips on hers became demanding, stealing her breath away. His tongue persuaded her lips to part and then explored the sweetness of her mouth.

The intoxicating feel of his mouth on hers made Angelica melt. She reveled in these exciting feelings and returned his kiss in kind.

“Hello,” Jasper shrieked, startling them.

Robert and Angelica turned toward the open door. Looking none too happy, Venetia walked across the study toward them.

“There you are, my lady,” Venetia said.

With a high blush staining her cheeks, Angelica rose from the settee and faced the other woman.

Robert stood when she did.

Venetia looked from one to the other and then said, “The dressmaker has arrived.”

“I’ll take my leave,” Robert said to Angelica. “I’ll see you this afternoon for tea.” And then he left the study.

Silently cursing him for leaving her to face Venetia, Angelica started to leave the study. Venetia put her arm out in a gesture for her to stop.

“I met a friend of yours last night,” Venetia said.

Angelica stared at her blankly.

“Prince Rudolf was at the ball.”

Knowing she was caught in a lie, Angelica did the only thing she could do. She stared at the other woman and tried to outface her.