Four
Grey didn’t want to release Lady Madelaine’s hand, but when she tugged on it for a second time, he relinquished it. His mysterious Miss Prattle was quite the lovely blusher. Was the blush out of anger or embarrassment? He could assure her he had no intentions of seducing her, but that would be a lie and could, in all fairness to himself, make her discomfort worse.
Fate had delivered this lady back into his life and he had every intention of unwrapping fate’s gift. Especially after being awoken in a state of frustrated arousal many times since meeting her. Add to that excellent reason the ribbing he’d taken for weeks from Gravenhurst when the lady had failed to reappear in Golden Square and seemingly disappeared into thin air, and Grey was not about to just let her walk away from him again. Now he knew where she was and why. Far be it for him not to use the knowledge.
What the devil had a proper lady been doing in Golden Square shooting a bow and arrow? Unlocking that secret, and whatever else Lady Madelaine was hiding behind her dark eyes and deceptively delicate appearance, would be a pleasure. A lady who claimed an affinity for riding, archery and daggers was a lady with mettle. Strong women were so much better in bed than weak, simpering misses who refused to tell you what she craved and exactly how she wanted it.
The fact that she had never met him as promised no longer bothered him. No doubt she’d only been in Golden Square by trickery. He smiled. If the chit sought more than the constraints life offered her, he’d gladly introduce her to other, more exotic constraints. Lady Madelaine studied him with her slumberous gaze the color of a chestnut flecked with black. She pulled her cape tighter around her, her fine-boned hands white as cotton clutching the dark material, and her honey-colored hair bunched up under the cloth. Right now, she looked more like a trapped fox than a potential bed partner who was assessing him.
He had the unusual desire to assure her he’d never led a woman to his bed by force or trickery. Yet, now in others’ company was not the time to say such a thing. There’d be time enough later to tell her he may be known as a seducer, but he’d never seduced a single lady who didn’t wish the seduction and willingly participated in the game. No doubt she was probably worried about his keeping her secret and would seek him out. He could practically see her worry in her lovely eyes. Maybe she was even considering how they could rendezvous or if it would be too dangerous.
Her tongue darted from her mouth and she nervously licked her plump lips. She definitely recognized the perils of a private meeting. His muscles tightened in awareness of the invisible gauntlet that had just been thrown. Of course, he would pick it up and show her there were ways to meet privately even at Court.
“It’s gotten cold suddenly, hasn’t it,” she said.
It hadn’t at all, but he nodded. “If you want to go inside we can postpone our walk.”
The relief that made her body relax amused him. He didn’t wait for her answer, he already knew it. “Gravenhurst, will you see Lady Madelaine and Lady Cecelia inside? I don’t want to deprive Elizabeth of our walk, and I know how much Lady Grace likes exercise.” From what he had been told, the woman had a voracious appetite for vigorous bed sport.
Lady Madelaine slipped her arm through Gravenhurst’s but focused her dark eyes on Grace. “I wasn’t aware you enjoyed anything that required you to breathe heavily.”
Grey bit back a laugh. Lady Madelaine did indeed have some steel in her spine and perhaps a bit of gossip regarding Lady Grace stashed.
“As usual, you know nothing,” Lady Grace snapped, before schooling her features into a syrupy smile.
“I know more than you think,” Lady Madelaine said. “Shall we go, Lord Gravenhurst?”
“By all means.” Gravenhurst rested his gaze on Grey. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
Grey nodded and as the three walked toward the castle, he wished he were Gravenhurst. Then he would be leading the beguiling Lady Madelaine inside instead of dealing with a jealous harpy. Since he had to see the king soon, he couldn’t afford to delay his duties, and setting Lady Grace straight was a must to protect his sister. Pursuing Lady Madelaine would wait, and if it didn’t then the seduction wasn’t meant to be or was meant to be accomplished by someone else. He hoped not Gravenhurst. The thought didn’t sit well.
“I’m so glad you wanted me to stay and walk with the two of you,” Lady Grace said.
He studied her. He’d never liked the woman, suspecting she had a viperous streak hidden behind the angelic façade she presented. His sister’s letter and Lady Grace’s nasty treatment of Lady Madelaine confirmed his suspicion. What was surprising was the queen’s open dislike of Lady Madelaine.
There was an interesting mystery. Queen Charlotte was usually kind to all. Grey stared off into the distance as an idea formed. He would uncover what tension lay between Lady Madelaine and the queen, and he would disarm the hostility and earn Lady Madelaine’s trust and favor. He smiled, pleased with the possibilities his idea would bring and with the fact that he had once again proved his father wrong. Father thought him uninterested in politics. It wasn’t that at all. It was that his father had never bothered to discuss a damned thing with him, only Grey’s older brother.
He was perfectly happy to discuss politics. He did so quite frequently in bed with a beautiful lady in his arms. If soothing the queen’s anger without her even realizing what was occurring wasn’t a perfect example of the political savvy his father loved to point out that Grey’s brother possessed, Grey didn’t know what was.
A discreet cough brought him back to the present, unpleasant task. “I did not want you to walk with my sister and me.”
“I beg your pardon?” Lady Grace stammered.
“You force me to speak plainly, Lady Grace. A situation I’ve learned most women dislike.”
“Grey!” Elizabeth hissed and clutched at his arm. “You said you received my letter. I assume you read it since you’re here.”
He squeezed his sister’s cold hand. He’d die to protect Liz, but he did wish she were more like him than just the looks they shared as twins. While he was a devil, she was an angel. It didn’t serve to be an angel, especially at Court. People turned other’s kindness to weakness. “I read your letter, poppet, don’t worry.”
“Then you know I’ve recommended Lady Grace to you.”
Lady Grace smiled. “Did you forget the contents of your sister’s letter, Lord Grey?”
“I never forget anything. Ever. You’d be wise to remember that. Let me explain something to you. Men talk amongst themselves a great deal.”
Lady Grace’s eyes widened.
“I see you understand. Or I think you do. Yet I find the need to be perfectly clear since you threatened my sister, who is the one person in this world I hold dearer than myself.”
