Dangerous Masquerade (Regency Masquerade)

“Refreshments, madam.” Stooping slightly, he placed the tray on a rosewood table. As he rose, Flowerday glanced at Ria’s hand, smiled, and bowed. “May I be the first to offer you my heartfelt congratulations?”

“Thank you, Flowerday.”

When the butler left, Luc put his arm around Ria’s waist, drew her to him, and leaned down slightly to kiss her.

She put her hands against his chest to prevent him. “Luc, I really need to tell you something.”

“Sweetheart, it’s been a long time since I kissed you. Nothing right now could be as important as this.” When she didn’t move her hands, he added roughly, “I need this.”

The combination of his words and the expression on his face, yearning, wistful, hungry, turned her muscles to silk ribbon, her hands dropped to her side, and she leaned into him.

She too needed this. With a groan Luc pulled her even closer and kissed her deeply.

All of a sudden, they heard noises at the door. With a muttered curse, he released her moments before the door opened.

All the ladies of the house stood in the doorway. They entered and surrounded Ria and Luc, chattering excitedly. Agatha and Agnes were so excited they were bouncing from foot to foot. Even Monty was there, beaming at them.

Ria wished she could be as carefree. Tomorrow. She would tell him tomorrow.

Ria bit her lip as she watched Luc’s mahogany bay horse canter up the drive. She left the side of the house where she had been waiting and walked toward him before he could enter the manor house. She didn’t want the ladies to interrupt them.

A brown leaf, wizened and lifeless, floated down from a tree as she walked underneath it. Brushing it off her shoulder, she noticed her hand trembled slightly. Clenching her fists, she hid her hands in the folds of her pelisse.

She looked at the sky; the pale winter sun was weak, but the sky was blue and cloudless. On such a clear day, surely nothing bad could happen?

As Luc dismounted, she studied him. He looked elegant as usual, though the ride in the chilly winter air had ruffled his hair. She thought the disarray suited him—it made him appear more approachable.

When he turned from handing the reins to a groom, he saw her, and she watched his face light up with pleasure.

Reaching his side, she suggested, “I thought as it was such a lovely day we could take a walk in the grounds.”

Smiling, he agreed. Together they walked along the side of the house to the terrace and down to the shrubbery walk.

As they walked along a gravel path, she became conscious of how many of the statues in the shrubbery were of naked men and women. She’d never noticed until today how obsessed the carvers seemed with certain elements of the male and female anatomy. Tearing her gaze away from one male statue, she realized Luc was watching her, a small knowing smile curving his lips.

He stopped walking and took her hand in his. Looking into her eyes, he slipped her glove down slightly to reveal her wrist. Tenderly he kissed it, his lips warm and soft.

Ria shivered. It was so long since they had made love in the orangery. The sparks he had ignited were still there, lying dormant, but it didn’t take much for them to be reignited. A look, a kiss, was all that was needed.

This was the first time they had been alone for an age, except for the brief incident in the morning room yesterday. That encounter hadn’t been enough, not nearly enough to satisfy either of them. She ached for more.

She glanced at the windows of the house. Pulling back her hand, she said, “I am afraid we may be seen. Let’s go to the temple.” She gestured toward the small structure at the end of the path, partially hidden from view by shrubs.

His voice husky, he said, “Not the orangery?”

Not wanting to meet his eyes, she began walking toward the temple. “The ladies have been quite assiduous in their duties lately. I am concerned they may interrupt us.”

“We certainly don’t want to be interrupted.”

She bit her lip. He obviously thought she had invited him to walk with her so they could make love. Her eyes briefly closed at the thought. There was nothing more she would rather do, but she couldn’t put this moment off any longer. She must tell him the truth.

To distract him she asked, “You haven’t said much about your visit to London. What did you do?”

“I had estate business to conduct.”

Remembering what the ladies had said about his pa

rents, she asked, “Agnes saw in the society pages that your mother was at the theater recently. Do you see much of her when you are in town?”