The Devil You Know (7 page)

ing escape from her disquieting ruminations. She discovered a

leather-bound volume of John Donne and opened it at random to

The Dream,
an unfamiliar work, but one whose theme she hoped

38

Victoria Vane

might induce sleep. By the end of the first stanza, however, Diana

realized her error. The erotic message of the poem was clear.

Unbidden, her mind conjured Donne’s lovers. The man asleep

and dreaming of his love only to be awakened by the object of his

passion took the form of DeVere. She cast the book aside with a

listless sigh before her mind’s eye could invoke what she knew

would be the intimately familiar features of his lover.

Her footfalls w

***

ere lost in the plush Turkish carpet of DeVere’s bed-

chamber. Behind the shield of her hand, the flame of the lone candle flick-

ered as she padded across the room to the massive tester bed. The cur-

tains were drawn back, but the bed was cast in the obscurity of shadow.

She wondered briefly if one body or two would be revealed in the faint

light of her fluttering flame, yet she moved closer still with bated breath

that expelled from her lungs in a soft rush to find him alone. She snuffed

the candle, waiting for her vision to adjust. She stood there, pulse rac-

ing and heart hammering a rapid tattoo against her breastbone at the

thought of him waking to find her there.

He was sprawled on his back, arms outstretched in the confident re-

pose of a king or some other invincible being. A sheet draped over a thigh

and a portion of torso left the other half of him bare to her ravenous gaze.

She devoured the vision of lean, sculpted muscles that closely resembled

a god manifested in all his masculine splendor.

“Enter these arms, for since thou thought’st it best not to dream

all my dream, let’s act the rest. You are called forth from my dream,” he

whispered. “I knew you would come.”

She stepped back with a gasp. “But how could you know that?”

“Because this is ineludible, you and I. You can’t escape it.” He

reached out a hand, his voice husky with desire. “Come to me now, my

magnificent huntress.”

The words were an irresistible magnetic lure that drew her to him.

Untying the sash at her waist, the silk wrapper slithered from her shoul-

ders to pool softly at her feet.

His pupils flared beneath sleep-heavy lids as she stood before him,

unabashed in her nakedness. She let him look his fill, his lazy inspection

sending mixed anticipation and trepidation washing over her in tiny

waves. He peeled back the sheet and sat up. Her gaze was riveted at once

to the jutting proof of his arousal. She licked her lips, the wicked promise

of unknown delights filling her with a sharp-edged hunger.

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The Devil You Know

He drew her into his arms, and the game began. Their mouths met

and melded, his tongue darted over her lips, his teeth grazing them light-

ly. He pulled on the lower, sucking it into his mouth and then urged her

to open to a hungry, breath-stealing match of capture and release that

heated her blood. Their tongues met in a simulated lovers’ dance that

became an explosion of sublime sensation, sending blazing jolts to her

belly and a hot pool of moisture between her thighs.

He cupped her breast, teasing her nipple with his thumb. His mouth

broke away from hers to ply hot, open kisses to her throat that left her

gasping. Of their own volition, her hands engaged in a tactile explora-

tion of his body, reveling in the erotic abrasiveness of his coarse hair

against her own smooth skin. She roamed his hard chest, the rigid plain

of his stomach, the powerful thigh muscles that now encased her hips,

pulling her closer, tighter, and anchoring her against him until she could

feel the hot pulse of his jutting manhood against her most private place.

He took her hand in his, guiding her to his rigid staff and enclosed

her fingers about it. It was thick and hard and hot and pulsing. “I make

no secret of how much I want you,” he said, low and hoarse. “Tell me you

do, too, Diana. Say you want to take me into your body.”

“But I’m here,” she whispered. “Is that not proof enough?”

“No.” He released her hand, but his probing gaze kept her captive.

“Though I would worship you with my body, only you are in control of

your pleasure. You must tell me you want this.”

She licked her lips, her breathing coming in ragged puffs.

“You have only to say yes, Diana, and I will lay paradise at your

feet.”At last, a reply sounded from her throat. “Yes.”

He caught the whispered exhalation with his mouth. His hands slid

down her back to palm and squeeze her buttocks. He lowered his head to

her breast, kissing, gently biting, his tongue rasping her nipple, sending

racking rivulets of pleasure to her womb. As her arousal rapidly esca-

lated to a blinding need to feel the hot, hard length of him in her passage,

she writhed and ground against him with a fierce cry.

Diana awoke with a sob, her body fevered, her sheets dis-

carded, and her night rail tangled about her waist. She lay in this

heightened state of arousal, panting, disoriented, and aching to

her very core, until at last, she sought her own release.

40

Chapter Five

Diana returned to her apartments after breakfast, appalled at

the state of her bedchamber. Stockings, fans, and various other

personal articles were strewn about the room. The clothespress

hung open, and the drawers of the highboy appeared to have

been ransacked. In growing panic, her gaze darted to the dressing

table, only to discover her jewel case was missing. Certain she’d

been the victim of robbery, she called for Polly to alert their host.

“But ‘tweren’t no robbery, my lady.” The maid wrung her

hands.

“What on earth do you mean? My jewel box is gone missing!”

“’Twas my Lord Reginald, my lady,” the maid sobbed. “He

came shortly after you went down to breakfast. He was frantic to

know where you kept your coin, and then he saw the box.”

Diana’s hand flew instinctively to her neck, relieved to find

the double strand of pearls with the diamond clasp, a family heir-

loom that she usually wore only on special occasions. She sup-

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The Devil You Know

posed she had the duchess’s arrogant disdain of her to thank for

their safety. She would never have worn them otherwise. But for

Reggie to have taken her money and jewels was indefensible.

In her mortification, Diana felt the spots of color staining her

cheeks. “I am certain Lord Reginald had good reason for his ac-

tions. He was likely seeking some personal effect he had given me

for safekeeping.”

“If you say so, my lady.” The maid looked dubious.

“Do you know where he is now, Polly?”

“No, my lady. He’s left his chamber, but he was dressed in

riding clothes.”

Diana made a strangled sound.
Let hell and a thousand furies

strike him!
He’s done it again!
This time he’d stolen every penny and all but the pearls about her neck just to go back for more? Diana’s

eyes burned, and her body shook with rage, yet she refused to

break down in front of a servant. “Do you know if Sir Edward is

in his rooms?”

“I also saw him depart earlier, my lady.”

Diana frowned. “Then perhaps they are both only gone down

to watch the training runs. If not, mayhap Sir Edward or Hew

knows Lord Reggie’s whereabouts. Pray help me into my riding

habit. Then I would be grateful if you would put the room back

in order.”

Diana followed the w
***

ell-travelled, gravel path from the back

of the house through the impeccably landscaped park to the first

of a set of low brick, slate-roofed buildings that comprised the De-

Vere stable block. An undergroom rushed out to meet her. “Have

you come to watch the training runs, milady? Master Hew has

challenged my Lord DeVere to a match race out on the down.”

“Has he? I presume Sir Edward and my husband Lord Regi-

nald are there as well?”

“Sir Edward for a fact, but Lord Reginald did not accompany

him. Instead, he called for his saddle mount and rode out an hour

ago.”Diana fought the rise of panic in her voice. “Did he perchance

say where he might be going?”

“I’m afraid not, though he did go off in the direction of Clay

Hill.”

42

Victoria Vane

Damn him!
It was just as she had suspected. Was there no

end to this madness? She felt suddenly unsteady on her feet. The

groom reached a tentative hand to her elbow. “Are you all right,

my lady?”

She took in a restorative breath, willing herself to calm. “Yes.

I’m fine, thank you.”

“Will you be needing a mount saddled?” he asked.

“No, I don’t think I’ll be joining them after all,” she said.

“I’m to take another horse down there directly. Is there any

message?”

Diana considered what she should do. She knew she needed

assistance but hesitated to reveal even to Edward and Annalee the

depths of her predicament. At the same time, she knew she was in

way over her head. Reggie had spiraled completely out of control.

“Please,” she said. “If you would let Sir Edward know that I

wish to speak with him on a matter of great import.”

“I’ll do so directly, my lady.” The groom tugged a forelock

and trotted off.

Diana entered the building that stabled the racehorses in a

state of discomposed abstraction. She wandered blindly past the

first few empty stalls that housed the mounts currently out on the

down seeking that of her own mare, Cartimandua, and would

have walked right by had not the mare greeted her with a low

nicker. Moving mechanically, Diana entered the mare’s box only

to collapse in the straw, face buried in her hands. “He has ruined

us,” she cried. “He has gambled away everything! And worse, the

fool doesn’t even know what he has in his own stables.”

As if in sympathy, the mare lowered her face to her mistress,

tickling her cheek with warm, grass-scented breath. Clutching the

mare’s neck, Diana sobbed into the silky mane. The mare snort-

ed and pawed the straw. And suddenly Diana knew what she

must do.

“What is it, Diana?”

***

Annalee asked, her face full of concern as

Diana paced the room.

“Reggie has taken everything and returned to Clay Hill.”

Edward was grim-faced. “I’ll go and get him at once,” he said,

already rising to his feet.

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The Devil You Know

“Don’t you see it’s futile?” Diana stifled a sob. “There is no

controlling him. Besides, the damage is done. I know he’s already

ruined us and has wagered what little we have left on the race.”

Annalee put her arms around her cousin. “But surely there is

something that can be done.” She looked plaintively to her hus-

band, who raked a hand through his sandy hair.

“I wish to God I knew what,” he said. “Just how did it come

to pass, Diana?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “He has always gamed, but for the

past few months, perhaps even the past year, the race meetings,

cockfights, and who-knows-what-else have become almost an ob-

session. I hardly see him anymore. He’s had no care for the estate

and doesn’t tell me anything he does.”

Ned and Annalee exchanged glances.

Diana paced the room, wringing her hands. “You think he has

a mistress, don’t you? I have suspected as much myself.”

“Perhaps there is another reasonable explanation,” Annalee

suggested.

“I can’t imagine what it could be, and to be truthful, I don’t

miss his attentions in the least. He can bed every woman in Eng-

land for all I care,” Diana replied dispassionately. “But the es-

tate—he had no right to do what he’s done.”

“But what can you do?” Annalee asked.

“There’s only one thing, and I would have done it long ago

but for my pride and fear of social ostracism.”

Annalee gasped. “You don’t mean to petition for a divorce?”

“Not quite,” Diana said. “I have no proof of adultery and

therefore, no legal grounds for divorce. However, given the cir-

cumstances, I think I should be able to at least achieve a legal

separation. It is the only way I can become free of him. Is it not,