Must Love Dukes (16 page)

A silence fell over the group, with only a few giggles punctuating the awkward moment. The gentlemen who had been all too willing to hang on to Amberstall’s every word only a few minutes ago had disappeared, mixing back into society as if they’d never befriended the man. With a shake of his head and a wry grin, Amberstall turned and left the field.

“Society is fickle, isn’t it?” Devon breathed. “Who’s mad now?”

He raked the crowd with his eyes. Where was Lily?

He received one clap on the back and he smiled in return. Yet the one person he wanted to see was nowhere to be seen.

He turned and watched as Amberstall vanished into the stables where more yells could be heard echoing off the brick walls.

“What was that herb?” Lily whispered without moving her mouth.

Turning, he saw Lily had slipped from the crowd to join him at the fence. “Shadow’s Light is only feeling a bit romantic this afternoon. He’ll be back to normal in an hour or two. No worries.”

“I can see that, Your Grace. But how?”

“It’s an herb I came across a few years ago. Based on the standard rate of digestion for the average horse, I knew it would work within two hours.” He chuckled, rubbing a hand across his chin in thought. “Of course, I was beginning to wonder if it would take effect in time.”

“How do you know the rate of digestion of the average horse?”

“Doesn’t everyone?” he asked with a smile aimed at Lily. She looked lovely today with escaping strands of her blond hair blowing in the breeze. “And it was all due to your assistance.” He grazed his hand past hers on the fence rail between them.

“I hardly did anything.” Her cheeks were pink. Was it the touch of his hand or the sunshine causing it? “And I almost didn’t follow through with it, but then he compared me to livestock on my tour of his stables.”

“Compared you to livestock? Well, you are a troublesome filly.” He winked at her.

Before their conversation could continue, Lord Wellsly joined them at the fence. “Too bad Amberstall’s horse fell ill today or perhaps we could have had a proper showing of good horseflesh.”

“Ill? They looked rather
lively
to me. Perhaps a bit too much so.” Devon smiled at Lily, amusement flooding him as he watched her struggle to hide her laughter. This afternoon had gone better than he’d expected. With Lily at his side, he couldn’t keep the grin from his face. Better than expected indeed.

***

Lillian excused herself from the conversation with Sue, Evangeline, and their cousins, with complaints of a headache. Truthfully, she only wanted a minute to tick past when the embarrassing showing of Lord Amberstall’s horses was not mentioned. The evening had been filled with ridiculous speculations. From the glare of sunlight to untimely spider bites that crazed the animals, the possibilities had all been discussed at length.

She longed to scream, “I did it!” It was torturous to know she had aided in the pompous man’s comeuppance but could not gloat over the victory. At least the duke was able to smile at the results of the day. She, on the other hand, had to listen to everyone’s silly thoughts on the subject, yet say nothing. She had survived the talk at dinner, but the evening was dragging on a bit now.

She made her way across the crowded parlor, past the card table, and around the group of ladies consoling Amberstall’s mother. Rumor had it, he had been so furious at the outcome of the exhibition that he had fled the house, abandoning his guests. No one knew where he’d gone. Hopefully it was somewhere with no women he could insult with his horsey comparisons.

She offered the ladies a bland smile and headed for the door. Slipping into the relative darkness of the hallway, she stopped just beyond the triangle of bright light from the open parlor door to allow her eyes to adjust. Candles in wall sconces lit the hallway in small semicircles down the long pathway to her room. She blinked again and took a step.

“Lily.” The sound brushed past her right ear, causing her to turn with a jerk.

“Your Grace.” She put a hand to her heart in an attempt to steady it.

“Lily, when will you say my name once more?”

“You frightened me! What are you doing lurking in dimly lit halls?”

He took a step closer. She could see the hint of a smile playing about his lips. “I’m returning from the stables. I wanted to check on Poseidon. After today’s events, I wanted to ensure he wasn’t unfairly treated by association with me.”

“Yes, today was certainly interesting.” She bent her head and bit her lip to fight the laughter that was bubbling up in her throat. But when she heard the deep male chuckle in front of her, she looked up and lost her inner battle instantly. It felt marvelous to release the laughter she had kept hidden all evening.

“You played your part beautifully,” he said after a moment of shared humor. Reaching up, he brushed a fallen strand of her hair from her face, his gaze becoming more thoughtful. “Of course, you play every part beautifully.”

His fingers skimmed the rim of her ear as he tucked her hair there. Their eyes locked in the darkness.

Lillian didn’t know what to say or do. He was paying her compliments in shadowed corridors now? For a moment, it was a year ago and they were simply alone together. Her breaths grew shallow under his gaze. She stood frozen as his hand slipped over her shoulder.

Was he going to kiss her? It had been so long since those lips were on hers. Would they feel the same now? Would he taste the same today as he had last year? Would he make her feel as she did before?

His hand slowly drifted down her arm, his warm grasp lingering on her wrist before falling away.

Perhaps she’d misread the past few minutes entirely. He must not want to kiss her now as he had then. Yet he didn’t move away once the contact was broken with her.

She blinked and cleared her throat, forcing her mind to work so he would not guess at her thoughts. “Um, thank you,” was all she could think of at the moment, but he didn’t seem to be listening anyway.

His eyes were dark as he moved closer to her, gazing down into her face. “Do you know the part I would like to see you play most?”

“What is that?” she asked on a breathless whisper.

“This.” His lips descended on hers in a kiss built on anger and forged in tenderness. Her eyes fluttered shut as she melted into him, into the moment. The warm, spicy taste of him on her lips was not enough. She wanted more. She slipped her tongue past his teeth, as she recalled him doing to her a year ago, tangling her tongue with his. One of his hands slid into her hair, while the other circled her waist, pulling her closer. She slipped her hands under his coat, clinging to his hips to hold herself steady. His fingers tightened across her back in response.

He took a step forward, then another, backing her into a darkened alcove off the main hall. They were by no means in a private location, but now they could not be spotted if someone decided to leave the parlor. She could feel his heartbeat through his chest where it was pressed against her. She rose to her toes and leaned farther into him, needing the connection, needing more of him. He all but growled as he broke their kiss to trail his lips down her neck to the line where her pearl necklace lay across her throat.

Her head fell back and her lips made one word, the only word in the entire world, for there was only him. “Devon.”

She could feel him smile against her skin at the sound of his name as his mouth came back to hers. His kiss seared her with the heat of the moment and had her winding her arms farther around his back, grabbing at the thick muscles under her hands.

Devon’s hand slid down the back of her neck and moved over her shoulder, making her shiver in his embrace. He palmed her breast and she made a small whimper caught by his mouth. She leaned into his touch, into his kiss, wanting all he would give her.

Suddenly, he broke their kiss. A sense of loss washed over her. He stepped forward, pressing her against the wall of the alcove.

“Shhh,” he murmured, his lips close to hers.

Her brows drew together with confusion over what he was doing, and then she heard the voices. She stilled, listening as two ladies made their way down the hallway. She recognized them as part of the group that had been consoling their hostess in the parlor. She sucked in a breath as they passed by. Devon’s hand tightened on her shoulder.

“Clearly the horse had some ailment. They should have rescheduled the exhibition.”

“Oh, I quite agree. It was all the doing of the Mad Duke. Taunting poor Amberstall over dinner last night.”

“And now Amberstall has vanished.”

“Truth be told, it’s his mother’s fault for inviting that duke.”

“Yes, all because she is on friendly terms with the duchess of Thornwood now. He would never attend my events. Did you see the gleam in his eye at dinner tonight? I see why he is called the Mad Duke.” The ladies disappeared around a corner, their voices trailing into the distance.

Lillian slipped her hand from Devon’s back, raised it, and caught the side of his face in her soft grasp. The slight scratch of his beard stubble tickled her hand. She had lived with insults and degrading talk about herself for years and felt a pang of sympathy for Devon at the ladies’ callous words.

He turned into her hand for a moment, pressing his cheek into her palm, before leaning back into her and capturing her mouth in a tender kiss. It was quite possibly the sweetest moment of her life. Her heart was breaking for the man before her. Kissing him back with her entire body, she vowed to remember this moment for the remainder of her life.

“I don’t think you’re mad,” she murmured against his lips a minute later.

He pulled back, looking into her eyes, to whisper, “Lily, don’t let their words bother you. I’ve lived surrounded by such talk for years.”

“That doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.”

“Their comments don’t bother me. Not anymore. I’ve earned the reputation I now have.” The bitterness in his tone negated his words of strength.

She shook her head. “Earned or not, how can comments like that not bother you?”

“Because they are society. That is what they do. It’s the
ton
’s self-appointed job to degrade and cast out those who step out of line. Apparently, I’ve spent a great deal of time stepping out of line.” He traced the line of her jaw with one finger. “And I have the winnings of a nice little bet placed on the outcome of the exhibition to assuage my anger.” He chuckled.

She pulled away from him a fraction. “You gambled on today’s events?” Her voice raised an octave.

“Of course I did. I knew what the result would be today, thanks to your help.” He grinned.

Her hands fell to her sides. “I should have known you were underhanded, just like my brothers. Gambling everything away without a care for those you hurt in the process. I suppose you don’t have an issue with wagering on ladies either…or forcing them into marriages for your financial gain! I can’t believe for a moment I thought…but you’re the same. All men are the same. And I assisted you in your winnings!” She shrugged free of his embrace.

“I’ll give you half, if that’s the problem.”

“No, that’s not the problem!”

“Lily, I’m sorry if I offended you. That wasn’t my intention. The bet was just a bit of fun with some of the gentlemen here.”

“I can’t believe you involved me in a scheme that would make you a profit! You’re no better than Solomon and his despicable wager over who will marry me. I thought you were different.” She took a step away from him and was running before she knew it.

“Lily, wait! Lily!” She heard Devon’s calls but ignored him.

Betrayal. The word rolled around in her gut, twisting her insides and making her eyes sting. How could he do such a thing? She reached her room and disappeared inside. The door closed with a thud at her back as she slid down its surface, collapsing in a heap of skirts on the floor. Her perfect tender moment with Devon—destroyed.

***

“I don’t understand them, Steelings,” Devon said as he stared down the dusty road leading back to the city.

“Who?” He shot Devon a confused look while adjusting his seat on his horse. Steelings had offered to ride with the duke on the return journey to London. If he were to be honest, Devon was glad of the company on the ride home, especially after last night’s argument with Lily.

“Ladies,” Devon grated.

“Ha! And you think I do?”

Devon shrugged as he glanced sideways at his friend riding at his side. “No, I suppose not. After all, you never even found your Suzanna.”

“Suzanna was an illusion, it seems,” Steelings replied with a smile.

Why was he so pleased? With Steelings, one could never tell. Devon shook his head, problems weighing heavily on his mind. Why had he participated in that damn bet? Lily had been in his arms last night, but now she wouldn’t speak to him. She avoided him all through breakfast this morning and then left abruptly to return to town.

“I saw you speaking with Miss Phillips yesterday after the exhibition,” Steelings led in, jarring Devon from his thoughts.

“Yes, Lily and I were discussing…”

“Ah, so it’s Lily now, is it? How very interesting.” Steelings chuckled, clearly enjoying Devon’s difficulties.

“It’s not so amusing at the moment, if you must know, since she’s angry with me.”

“It’s difficult to keep them happy, isn’t it?” Steelings smirked.

“Who?” Devon glanced at his friend, so wrapped up in his thoughts of Lily that he struggled to keep the conversation going.

“Ladies,” Steelings supplied.

“Yes, quite.” Devon fell into silence as they passed into a wooded area, the sunshine hitting them in patches through the trees.

How could he get back into Lily’s good graces after the gambling incident? Flowers? A gift of some sort? He did owe her a pair of gloves. But that didn’t seem appropriate for their tangled relationship. He could cease in blackmailing her. Yes, that would make her smile. At this point, her debt was paid anyway. He couldn’t take advantage of her anymore. He smiled as he increased Poseidon’s pace. Surely, this would make her let go of her anger. Then, perhaps, she would again say his name.