Improperly Wed (Aristocratic Grooms #3)(33)
Author: Anna DePalo

“It’s not what you think,” Belinda said.

Tamara arched a brow. “Worse?”

How had her friend guessed? She was susceptible to Colin, more so than she had wanted to admit.

Belinda hesitated and then confessed, “Diary, I slept with him.”

Pia gasped.

Tamara laughed. “We’ve all been there and now I have a baby to prove it.”

Exactly, Belinda thought. In contrast, there’d be no baby for her—at least with Colin. She shifted in her seat.

“Just be careful,” Tamara said. “I’m afraid that Colin is cut from the same cloth as his two counterparts sitting downstairs—Pia’s husband and, much as I love him, mine. In other words, he should come with a warning label.”

She hardly needed the warning, Belinda thought, when the sensible part of her wholly agreed.

“The path of true love never runs smooth,” Pia offered.

Belinda knew Pia wouldn’t be quelled in her romantic notions, but neither would the continuing complicated history of the Granvilles and the Wentworths.

Two days after visiting Sawyer and Tamara, Belinda prepared to attend a dinner-dance with Colin on an estate near Halstead Hall in honor of a new exhibition of eighteenth-century Chinese art. The guests were to be treated to an advance private viewing.

Belinda wondered if Colin had wanted to accept the invitation to please her, because he knew art was her passion as well as her career.

She scanned the contents of her closet. She moved aside one hanger after another. Though Colin had announced she had her own funds as the Marchioness of Easterbridge, she had decided to wear a gown that she already owned.

She didn’t really have time to shop. What’s more, she already owned a small but formal wardrobe because her career required her to attend the occasional black-tie affair. She’d paid for her designer wardrobe by carefully budgeting her funds and shopping the sales.

After debating a few minutes, she chose a floor-length beige tulle and beaded dress that cleverly skimmed her curves. Its color matched and blended with her skin tone.

Later that night, Colin’s reaction didn’t disappoint.

When she walked into the parlor where he was awaiting her, his face took on an appreciative expression.

Belinda felt her pulse pick up—and not only because of the look on Colin’s face. If she thought she’d ever get used to him in a tuxedo, she was being proved mightily wrong.

He had an old-world elegance. His hair gleamed glossy dark in the light, and he looked impossibly broad and masculine in his suit.

The chauffeur appeared in the doorway. “I will await you outside at the car, my lord.”

Colin’s eyes flickered away from her for an instant. “Very well, Thomas.”

Belinda composed herself. The flower-motif tiara that Colin had previously given her was nestled in her upswept hair.

“You look…” Colin’s voice trailed away, as if he’d been robbed of words. “Ethereal.”

She felt the words like a caress. “Thank you.”

“I have something for you.”

She watched as he reached for a velvet case on a nearby table and then approached her.

He opened the case for her inspection, and her breath caught.

“Yet again, it appears we’re on the same wavelength,” he commented, his tone deep.

The velvet case contained a dazzling diamond choker. The styling marked it as vintage, probably from the Victorian or Edwardian era.

“It came into the family by way of my great-great-grandmother.” There was a smile in Colin’s voice. “She wasn’t a Granville by birth.”

Belinda glanced up at him. “It’s lovely.” She swallowed. “I’ll need a moment to put it on.”

“No need,” he said, the words falling easily from his lips. “I’ll help you.”

She searched his gaze, and what she saw there sent her heart into deep beats.

Colin set the box down and removed the diamond sparkler. It gleamed with white fire in the light.

She held herself still as he leaned close.

The cool diamonds slid against her skin, and a moment later, Colin’s warm fingers touched her as he worked to fasten the jewelry at her neck.

Belinda felt her ni**les tighten in reaction, and warmth pooled within her.

When his job was done, Colin paused, his lips hovering inches away from hers.

Her breath hitched in response.

They remained that way for only a fraction of a minute, but it seemed like forever.

“I’m looking forward to this evening,” Colin said huskily.

Yes. No, no. What was wrong with her?

He had her so confused and sexually aware that she couldn’t think straight.

Colin straightened and gave her a lopsided smile. “I believe I’ll let you deal with the matching earrings yourself.”

The spell was broken. Belinda took a step back.

In the next moment, Colin reached for another velvet box, she turned toward a nearby oval mirror and the housekeeper simultaneously walked in to announce that rain was threatening and umbrellas were advisable.

Soon after, Belinda and Colin departed for the party. The short drive was uneventful, and since this wasn’t her first social engagement with him, she soon found herself relaxing and enjoying the party when they arrived.

Two of Colin’s married cousins were present—parents of children that she’d entertained in the art room. After some awkward chitchat with her, they and their spouses appeared to lower their defenses—if only because she’d so effectively entertained the junior members of the family.

A little while later, she was turning away from a conversation with a British viscount and his wife when she spotted a familiar figure and froze.

Tod.

She was aghast.

She had no idea that he would be here tonight. She glanced over at Colin and realized that he had noted Tod’s presence, too.

Belinda stifled the impulse to bolt. She supposed it was inevitable that she and Colin would run into Tod at some point. London was not that big of a town. Still, did it have to be right now?

Tod approached her. “Lady Wentworth—or is it more proper to address you as Lady Granville?”

Within a moment, Colin had walked over to them and gave Tod a sharp nod of acknowledgment. “In either case, she is the Marchioness of Easterbridge.”

Belinda looked at Colin. Must he refer to the elephant in the room so bluntly? All three of them knew she remained Colin’s wife. Tod had asked a fair question given that she’d retained her maiden name and a number of people knew it.