Desperate and Daring 02 - Belle of the Ball (8 page)

Anabelle stood and waited for the other guests to file into the next room for refreshments. Draven stood behind her, and they followed the others. Instead of turning right, they went left and down a ways into the hall where they could not be seen.

“This isn’t a good idea,” Anabelle said nervously as Draven opened a few doors and checked within.

“You’d rather ask your question in front of everyone? I’m assuming this question is much like the other. Ah. Here we are.”

They entered the library and he closed the door. Anabelle didn’t move further into the room.

“Would you care to sit?” He waved to the chairs.

The room was lit and had a fire going. It was meant to be in use but was currently empty. She shook her head. “I want to get back to the others as soon as possible.”

He folded his hands in front of him. “Proceed with your question.”

Anabelle opened her mouth and then closed it again. She really should have thought this through beforehand. “Well… I thought about what you said at the masquerade and something else occurred to me. If there is something felt that surely cannot be a lasting affection, will it be appeased if it is indulged, and then go away?”

He blinked slowly. “I beg your pardon? What is this
something?”

“You used the very word yourself. You said something would be felt before anything is said or done. If that something is indulged, will it go away?”

He was silent then. His features hardened as if he were angry. She didn’t know why he should be angered by anything she said.

“You don’t understand what you are asking,” he said gravely.

Anabelle mentally balked. “I think I understand perfectly well,” she returned tersely.

He folded his arms over his chest. He looked very large when he did that. She suspected he knew that.

“So, if what you say is true, if I press you up against the door and kiss you until you can no longer breathe or remember your name, my craving for you will then simply disappear?”

Anabelle already felt like she couldn’t breathe. “Wha—what?”

“You’ve made it too simple, my dear. This
something
you are chasing, it’s with me, isn’t it? There’s no need for you to answer, I already know.” He took a step forward. “It’s called desire, Anabelle. Lust, attraction, and yes, it can be appeased, but there is no way to predict how many kisses, touches, or fevered couplings it will take before it burns itself out, if indeed it ever will. We’ve kissed twice, and yet here we are, still uncomfortably aching for the other.”

The only sound was the breath Anabelle was suddenly able to pull into her lungs. But she still had nothing to say, no ability to form comprehensible words to deny all he had said. She had nothing to deny, because it was true, and the fact that he knew and that he could read her so easily made her feel so vulnerable, naked even.

“I’m sure I’ve offended you. Torn apart your naïve dreams of love and marriage, but the truth is, what you are feeling is not wrong, its simply human nature.”

She swallowed, mentally stumbling for something to say so that she didn’t appear to be a total dunce. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“I did. But the real question is if the desire you feel for me will be indulged by fulfilling it. The answer is there is only one way to find out.” He stepped closer again, almost touching her but not quite. “If I kiss you senseless, will that be enough?”

Anabelle swallowed. Her skin felt over-sensitized, her clothing now uncomfortable. She was on the edge of a precipice, but the answer was clear. If she allowed another kiss, she would no longer want him. She was sure of it. He was the craving she wanted to fill, and then she could go on with her plans. She would forget all about him, but not what she felt. She would use this experience to further clarify what she needed from a future husband.

“Yes?”

“Yes it will be enough?”

She nodded.

He looked smugly unconvinced. “You truly think so?”

“Yes.”

He unfolded his arms, bringing his hands to her hips and pulling her against him. “You really believe that?”

She focused on his lips. “I have to.”

He brought his mouth down on hers. Anabelle was shocked at first, but then the familiarity came back and her body came to life. She brought her hands to his shoulders, as hard and strong as she remembered, and enjoyed the feel of him under her hands. He was so imposing in person, but when she was this close to him, and he was so absorbed with touching her and kissing her, she felt like the one with all the power. It made her bolder, so she slid her hands up to his neck and let her fingers tease the hair at his nape. It was softer than she thought a man’s hair would be.

She opened her mouth to him, sighing when his tongue invaded and claimed. She liked it, though she would never admit it to him. He was not the cold, aloof man that he showed the world when he kissed her. When he kissed her, he was hot and vibrant. His hands didn’t just touch, they held. His fingertips dug into her skin and gripped her. His hands moved possessively over her back, daring to traverse the curve of her derriere. Anabelle didn’t care. This is what she had been looking for, even if it was only a temporary insanity—which it must be. She wanted to let it rain over her just for this moment.

His mouth broke away from hers, trailing liquid fire to her ear and then the sensitive skin of her neck. She gasped, the sensation so wild and new that she was lost in it. He backed her up to the door, her shoulder blades pressed to the wood and his hands pressing her hips against him. She could feel the ridge of his manhood against her stomach. It frightened her and thrilled her. She was now clinging to him at the mercy of her body’s response to him. Everything felt so delicious and wicked, his lips and tongue against her skin, her breasts pressed against his chest, and the friction of her hips against his as she struggled for breath and to keep her wits in place. His mouth returned to hers, and she moaned in his mouth as her own tongue eagerly met his.

He groaned in response, his hands becoming rougher, and his kiss harder and more demanding. It was too much and not enough for either of them. He tore his mouth away, his breathing just as labored as hers.

“That’s enough,” he rasped.

Anabelle didn’t think so. Her body still hummed with heat and desire. He slowly let her go, the door thankfully there to hold her upright. He looked as she felt, which pleased her. She smiled a little.

“Don’t smile like that,” he warned. He looked very dangerous.

Anabelle tried to stop, but she couldn’t. She pushed away from the door and turned away from him. She touched her hair, which was still in place and inspected her gown for wrinkles. Amazingly, though she was rattled and feverish on the inside, she looked untouched on the outside. Except for her lips. Those felt swollen and raw.

“You should go first,” he said

She nodded. She needed no further instruction. She entered the hall and it was empty. The guests had returned to their seats and Anabelle merged with the last cluster of people and hurried to her seat.

“Where were you?” Hazel asked. Lord Rigsby was no longer present.

“The ladies’ room.”

“All this time?”

“My hair was too tight. I felt a headache coming on so I asked a maid to help me redo it.”

Hazel looked up at her hair. “Remarkable. Though it is a little mussed.”

“It is?” Anabelle whispered in alarm.

She felt Draven take his seat beside her. “Where is Rigsby?” he asked Lucy over their heads.

“I thought he was with you?” Lucy frowned with worry.

“I was having a cigar. I thought he was with you.” Draven shrugged.

Lucy shook her head. “I guess we will know if he’s been shot by morning.”

Draven muttered something as he quickly left his chair before the next performance was announced. He didn’t return, which relieved Anabelle, but then again, it made her worry for Lucy’s brother.

The next few days, Anabelle was in a constant state of anticipation. The only time she wasn’t thinking of Draven, was when she was in direct conversation with someone else. She didn’t expect to see him daily, not during morning calls or teas, at the park or even that night at the theatre. But it was always a possibility and that kept her nerves stretched taught. She wasn’t sure how she would feel when she saw him, if she would blush unexpectedly or feel that rush of emotions she always felt at his presence. Would it be different now? The craving she had for him had been fed, so did that mean she would feel nothing when she saw him?

This is what held her attention whenever she was alone with her thoughts. Thinking about him still evoked many warm feelings, desire he had called it. Perhaps it would take time for them to dissipate but certainly, she wouldn’t have the urge to kiss him again. She already spent far too much time reliving their last kiss in her mind. She needed distraction, she needed to focus on her immediate goal, and that had nothing to do with Lord Draven and his lips.

She was presently sitting in her parent’s box seats waiting for the play to begin. The theatre was something her family enjoyed together and it was almost a weekly habit. For others, it was another avenue in which to see and be seen, but since Anabelle was a child, it was strictly a time for family. Her father insisted upon it.

Hazel touched her arm to get her attention. “Lucy did write that her brother was fine.”

“What a relief.”

“He seems none the worse for wear.” Hazel used her fan to point to another box across the theatre.

It was Lucy’s family including Draven. Anabelle took a deep breath and turned her gaze to the stage and was determined not to be effected by him. “Does she know where he got off to?”

“Well, she wrote that
that
Lord
had confronted him at his club and Lord Draven put him in his place.”

“Why was Draven involved? When did this happen?” Anabelle whispered.

“Well, Lucy wrote that her brother left the musicale to avoid Lord whatever his name was from causing a scandal. It seems he went to his club, where this lord later arrived and they had a row. Draven was already there, having left the musicale in search of Rigsby. Lucy didn’t say exactly what Draven did or said to the lord, but it’s clear he was the hero of the day.”

Anabelle wasn’t sure she could believe Draven to be the hero of anything. “You should not be using their names so informally.”

“You do it. Besides, it seems like we’ve come to some sort of friendship after the events of the house party. Why not?”

“Father and Mother wouldn’t like it.”

“I suppose.” Hazel shrugged.

“I will make an effort to not be so familiar with either of them,” Anabelle stated. “It could be detrimental to my plans.”

Hazel didn’t respond, but Anabelle felt her glance. Anabelle ignored it and gave her attention to the stage as the lights dimmed and the curtain parted.

*

Two days later, Anabelle was in a carriage with Lucy, Dorothea, and Hazel followed, by a carriage with their parents. Given the restrictions of riding in the city, Lucy had the brilliant idea of taking their mounts out to Hampstead Heath for a day of riding and picnicking. Surprisingly, Lucy’s father took to the idea and it turned into a grand outing for the two families. Lucy’s brother was also along and invited a few friends. Naturally, the younger gentlemen chose to ride.

“Today is going to be splendid,” Lucy began. “Thea, I’ve brought my old mare for you since I know you don’t sit a horse well.”

“Thank you.” Thea smiled.

“Who are these other gentlemen?” Hazel asked.

“Well, Draven, of course. He is mad for horses and anything to do with horses. The Earl of Bainbridge, a fellow I’ve been introduced to, but never see at any function, and then some chap from university, who usually eschews the ton. I don’t remember his name.”

“He eschews the ton?” Anabelle said in curiosity. “Whatever for?”

“You know? I don’t exactly know. He isn’t scandalous or anything, at least not enough to earn my parents disfavor. He is just rarely in town. I can’t even recall his name?” Lucy put a finger to her chin.

Hazel looked out the carriage window, but the four gentlemen had already ridden far ahead of the carriage.

Anabelle poked her in the side and smiled broadly when Hazel turned to her. “Did you hear that, dear sister? You will be reacquainted with the Earl of Bainbridge.”

This earned the eager attention of Thea and Lucy.

“Reacquainted?” Lucy brightened. “Have you met him before?”

“I’ve had the pleasure of a dance with him. That is it,” Hazel stressed the words. “I find him to be a complete bore.”

Anabelle was still smiling at Hazel. “A complete bore, you say? Is that why you ran away when you saw him at the musicale? You were afraid he would bore you to death?”

The three giggled and Hazel glared them all into silence. “Hold your tongues or I will toss you from the carriage,” Hazel warned, but her cheeks were blushing.

The giggles stopped, but still, her friends smiled. Anabelle squeezed her hand. “I won’t let him bore you to death.”

They soon arrived at their destination, taking a side road away from the cluster of shops and Inns of the main road. Coming to a stop, they departed from the carriage. The gentlemen joined them, having ridden ahead, but not out of sight of the carriage. The boot was emptied of its cargo and blankets and baskets were set out. The gentlemen dismounted and introductions were made where necessary.

Rigsby’s mysterious friend was demystified as Dean Warren, Earl of Winchester. He had a full beard covering half his face.

“He looks positively savage,” Lucy whispered to Thea.

The group stretched their legs and then sat for a light lunch. Once finished, their mounts were readied, and the ladies and gents parted ways. Two lawn chairs had been brought atop the carriage for the mothers to remain behind in the shade of a tree.

Anabelle felt light and free. She saw Draven, and he saw her, even meeting her eyes briefly, and yet she felt… well, far from nothing, but none of the uncomfortable heated fuzzy feelings she had before. She felt reasonable once again, and free of the
something
that had plagued her. She let her mare have her head as they ate up the land and luxuriated in the feeling of the wind on her face. Her smart little riding hat lost its moorings and flew from her head.

There was a shout behind her and laughter.

“I caught it!” Lucy whooped triumphantly and Anabelle laughed exuberantly. She slowed just enough until the four women were galloping side by side, smiling and laughing with joy, free against the constraints of the formal London parks where a lady could only ride earlier in the morning and at a sedate gait. Here they could run, here they could toss their hair in the wind, and no one could wag a finger at their mischief—as long as neither pair of parents were in sight of them.

It was a glorious day. The sun was radiant and warm, unusually so, and only a few clouds dotted the serenely blue sky. It was a day to take advantage of because very rapidly, it could decline to good old English weather.

The women practiced jumping a low wall, cleaning the cobwebs off their unused riding skills. Once bored with that, they found a beautiful pond with a bank of trees to one side and dismounted. Tethering the horses, they took to the shade and relaxed.

Anabelle took her riding jacket off and hung it from a branch. She walked down to the water and watched little fish dart away from her shadow. There was a commotion behind her. She turned to see Lucy had removed her boots and was removing her stockings.

“What on earth are you doing?”

“I’m hot. I want to put my feet in the water.”

“Someone will see you,” Thea warned.

“Who?” Lucy looked around in exaggeration. “Who is here to see me, besides you three?”

Anabelle watched as Lucy lifted her skirts well above her ankles and tentatively stepped into the water.

Lucy made a face. “Ew. It’s slimy.”

“It’s a pond, Lucy.” Hazel smirked.

“But it feels wonderful at the same time.” Lucy smiled encouragingly.

Anabelle bit her lip. She was so tempted. She stepped back from the wet bank and sat to remove her boots and stockings.

“Anabelle!” Hazel squeaked in shocked delight.

Anabelle shrugged. “Live a little, Hazel. What could possibly go wrong?”

Hazel and Thea shared a glance and then began to remove their boots as well.

Soon, there were four pale pairs of ankles wading into the peaceful pond.

“Mother would faint if she saw us.” Hazel grinned.

“I might faint if another fish comes close to me,” Thea said in alarm.

“Don’t do that. You will fall in the water and then the fish will swarm you like flesh-eating piranha.” Lucy teased.

Thea scowled at her then kicked water at her.

Lucy screeched. “You wench!” She laughed, and then kicked water back at Thea, which splashed Hazel.

Hazel gasped. She turned a thunderous glare on Lucy and then smiled evilly. Anabelle took a slow step away from her. The three-eyed each other like a quick draw duel and then suddenly, splashing erupted violently followed by screams and laughter. Anabelle couldn’t escape in time and all at once, her friends turned on her, so she joined the fracas.

Anabelle was laughing so hard her sides hurt. Her feet kept losing purchase in the muddy bottom of the pond so she retreated to the bank.

“Get back here, you coward. If I—Oh!” Lucy put a hand over her mouth.

“What is it? Did a fish touch your foot?”

“No.” Lucy hurried out of the water. “Everyone out. We have company coming.”

Hazel’s arms cartwheeled as she nearly lost her balance hurrying out of the water. Four riders were quickly approaching.

“It must be the gentlemen of our party,” Thea observed.

“Most definitely. But that won’t stop my brother from ringing a peel over my head and informing Mother and Father that I was brandishing my ankles on the heath.”

“Your brother is hardly the one to lecture of proper behavior,” Hazel muttered.

“I agree, but that won’t stop him. Believe me.”

Anabelle got both stockings on, but then the riders were upon them. She tossed her skirts down and stood. Hazel bunched her stockings in her hands and thrust them behind her back.

Lord Rigsby had pinned his sister with a furious stare while the other gentlemen were doing a poor job at hiding smirks as they dismounted.

Lord Rigsby threw his reins at Draven and stalked towards his sister. “I can only assume that it was you who thought it an acceptable idea to bare your ankles on the heath. Is my assumption correct?”

Lucy bit her lip to keep from smiling before answering. “Possibly?”

Rigsby put his hands on his hips and just stared at her.

“It depends on how much you saw. We were fully naked at one point.” Lucy boldly met his stare.

Thea gasped and covered her mouth, two limp stockings dangling from her fingers. Hazel started to breathe erratically, which Anabelle knew to be a sign of impending laughter. Anabelle had stepped towards the tree and used it for balance as she stepped into her boots. There was no point in ruining her stockings further by standing on twigs and leaves. She looked up and Draven was smiling at her. She quickly looked away from him. The other men were equally as amused, even boring Lord Bainbridge. He was actually biting his thumb in what looked like an attempt to not laugh and staring intently in the direction of her sister. Anabelle’s gaze shot to Hazel, but her eyes were cast down in an effort to remain composed. She was doing a very poor job. Her shoulders were doing an unmistakable jerk every time she tried to smother a giggle.

“Well?” Lucy went on. “Did you see us in the all together?” Lucy looked past her brother to the other gentlemen. Lord Winchester boldly smiled at her. It was only then Lucy lost her bravado and blushed. “Get on with it, Jonathan. Shout, lecture, threaten to have Father lock me away, just get it over with.”

He only shook his head and turned away. He mounted his horse. “We will escort you back. The clouds are thickening.” The other gentlemen turned their backs to them and angled their horses away to give them privacy. Anabelle quickly fastened her boots while the others struggled to put on damp stockings. Once finished, they led their horses away from the tree to mount. The gentlemen obligingly assisted.

Anabelle was surprised when Draven came to her side. She knew he couldn’t resist some sort of sordid remark regarding their behavior. She decided she wouldn’t let him have the first word.

“Well, what did you see?” She tilted her head coyly.

“Four nude sprites frolicking in the water. It was very enchanting, but I can’t be sure exactly what I saw. Their magic is very powerful.” He smiled wickedly.

Anabelle felt a rush of excitement. “Nude? Are you sure?”

He shrugged. “Could have been a dream.” He linked his hands to give her a boost.

“It must have been.” She laughed quietly. “But, in all truth, what did you see.”