Wicked Intentions (Maiden Lane #1)(29)
Author: Elizabeth Hoyt

Temperance caught a flash of silver out of the corner of her eye, and her head turned to follow the movement. Her breath caught. The elegant young lady from the retiring room was strolling toward the chairs. She seemed to be all alone, her pale green and silver gown a perfect foil for her bright red hair and graceful, long white throat. All eyes were upon her as she neared the chairs, but she seemed unaware as she sank into a seat.

“Who is that?” Temperance whispered, forgetting for the moment that she wasn’t talking to Lord Caire.

“Who?” the impossible man drawled.

How could he not know? Half the room was gawking at her. “The lady in silver and green.”

Lord Caire twisted his neck to look and then leaned unnecessarily close. Heat seemed to radiate off his body. “That, my dear Mrs. Dews, is Lady Hero, the sister of the Duke of Wakefield.”

“The sister of a duke?” Temperance breathed. Goodness! What a very good thing she hadn’t known that when the lady had been helping her.

She’d once stood on a corner for three hours just to catch a glimpse of His Majesty’s carriage in a procession, but that had been years ago. Besides, all she’d seen was a bit of white wig that may have—or may not have—been the king’s head. Lady Hero was right here in the same room.

“Aye.” Lord Caire sounded amused. “And the daughter of a duke as well, don’t forget.”

She turned and opened her mouth to set him down, but he placed a warm finger across her lips. “Hush. They are about to begin.”

And she saw he was right. A gentleman in a splendid white wig and gold-trimmed coat had seated himself before the piano. A younger man stood by his side to turn the pages of the sheet music.

Lady Beckinhall stood at the front of the room and made some type of announcement, no doubt introducing the pianist, but Temperance hardly paid her mind. Her gaze was fixed on the gentleman at the piano. He sat quietly, unsmiling even when Lady Beckinhall gestured to him. He merely nodded once curtly and waited as she seated herself. He stared at the piano keys before him, seemingly oblivious to the guests who still chattered behind him. Then abruptly he began to play.

Temperance caught her breath, leaning slightly forward. The piece was unfamiliar to her, but the fine chords, the flying notes, lifted something inside of her. She closed her eyes, savoring the sweet swelling in her chest. Moisture pricked at her eyes. It had been so long since she’d heard music like this.

So long.

She drifted, her entire being focused on the music until at last it drew to a close. Only then did Temperance open her eyes and sigh.

“You liked it,” a deep voice said next to her.

She blinked at Lord Caire and realized that her hand was grasped in his. She looked down at their intertwined fingers, puzzled. Had she taken his hand or had he reached for hers? She couldn’t remember.

He tugged gently. “Come. Walk with me.”

“Oh, but…”

She glanced at the piano, but the pianist had already left. Around them the other guests were standing or strolling, none of them appearing at all affected by the music.

She turned back to Lord Caire.

His blue eyes were intent, his high cheekbones ruddy. “Come.”

She rose and followed him silently, paying no attention to where he led until he opened a door and ushered her into a small sitting room, lit by a fire.

Temperance frowned. “What—?”

But Lord Caire closed the door behind her, and she turned to see him advancing toward her. “You liked the music.”

She looked at him in confusion. “Yes, of course.”

“There is no of course.” His sapphire eyes seemed to glitter in the firelight. “Most who come to a musicale pay little or no attention to the music. But you… you were entranced.”

He was so intent upon her that she backed up a step and found herself against a settee.

Still he came closer, heat blasting from him like a furnace. “What did you hear? What did you feel in that music?”

“I… I don’t know,” she stuttered. What did he want of her?

He caught her shoulders. “Yes, you do. Tell me. Describe your emotions.”

“I felt free,” she whispered, her heart beating hard. “I felt alive.”

“And?” His face was angled, his eyes examining her.

“And I don’t know!” She placed her palms on his chest, pushing, but though he stiffened at her touch, he didn’t budge. “How can one describe music? It’s an impossible task. One either feels the wonder or one doesn’t.”

“And you’re one of the few who does feel it, aren’t you?”

“What do you want of me?” she whispered.

“Everything.”

His mouth was on hers. Hot, insistent, working as if he meant to draw from her bodily what he couldn’t in words. She gripped his arms, unable to defend herself from this onslaught so soon after the ecstasy of the music.

Eagerly she opened her mouth, wanting to taste, wanting to feel without guilt, just this once. He thrust his tongue into her mouth, withdrawing and thrusting again until she moaned and caught his tongue, sucking on it, tasting wine, tasting him. She wanted to pull the coat from his shoulders, to rip off his shirt and feel again the smooth skin beneath. To place her mouth against his nipple and lick him.

Dear God, she’d lost her mind, her balance, and her morals, and she no longer cared. She wanted to be free again, to feel without thought or horrible memory. She wanted to be born anew, pure and without sin. She ran her hands up his arms, squeezing, testing the hard muscles beneath until she reached his shoulders, then—

“Damnation!” The word was a groan as Lord Caire ripped his mouth from hers.

“Oh!” She’d forgotten his injured shoulder. “I’m so sorry. I’ve hurt you.”

She reached for him, not sure what she could do, perhaps only wanting to offer comfort.

But he shook his head, beads of sweat on his upper lip. “Don’t worry yourself, Mrs. Dews.”

He straightened from where he’d leaned against the settee back, but then swayed.

“You need to sit,” Temperance said.

“Don’t fuss,” he murmured irritably, but his voice was weak. Something dark stained the shoulder of his coat.

Temperance felt a thrill of fear. His face was too red, the heat of his body too hot. She swallowed, keeping her voice calm. In her experience, gentlemen never wanted to admit weakness. “I… I find myself weary. Would you mind terribly if we left?”