A Persistant Attraction (21 page)

“I am not one of your people.”

“Stanton would like to think that, but you know too much. You are either one of us or you are someone we should eliminate.”

“You wouldn’t really—I mean you don’t just kill people because they know too much.”

This time Farrington’s smile was cold. “Not usually.” Amanda couldn’t decide if he was serious or if he was trying to scare her. He’d certainly succeeded in the latter. Amanda took a long, slow breath. What should she do?

Rhys would never approve of Farrington’s plan, but he could be in serious trouble. She still wasn’t certain she would be safe with Farrington, but she was willing to take a risk.

Rhys was stubborn and difficult, but try as she might, she couldn’t convince herself he would have stayed away so long unless something were wrong. She’d known that since the morning after their wedding, but she had used her anger to stave off fear.

She forced herself to look directly into Farrington’s penetrating blue eyes. “I’ll go.”

“Excellent.” He reached out the window and pulled in a sack. Reaching into it, he extracted some gauzy, wine-colored material and a matching feather-covered mask.

She raised her brow, and he grinned. “Your costume for the evening.” She took the pile of material from his hand and let it unfold. The dress, if one could call it such, wouldn’t make half a decent nightgown.

“You want me to wear this in public?”

His only answer was a smile.

*

A steady stream of garishly attired guests approached the door of the only well-lit townhouse in a neighborhood that bordered on disreputable. A much deeper fear welled up in Amanda than what she’d felt at the Black Eagle. Not one for theatrics, she usually dismissed comments about sensing evil or feeling something bad in the air, but tonight, she felt it herself. Many of the guests were as evil as Cassandra’s first husband had been.

Amanda shivered as the ornately carved door swung open. The semi-transparent gown and the light cloak Farrington had provided offered little warmth; but her chill came more from apprehension rather than the night’s breeze.

A footman took the invitation proffered by Farrington and led them to a coatroom.

Farrington helped Amanda remove her cloak and handed it to the man along with his hat and cane.

Amanda shivered, feeling too exposed without her wrap. A fierce desire for Rhys’s presence washed over her. For the first time, she didn’t resent his over-protectiveness.

She wanted him by her side, warding off potential danger. Her feelings only increased when she glanced up and saw the footman ogling her breasts. Her square neckline dipped so low, he could almost see her nipples.

Farrington tensed. “I trust you remember where to take our things.” The footman gave him an insolent smile. “Of course, my lord.”

“Then see to your duties.”

Thankfully the footman turned and walked away. Farrington leaned down and whispered, “I promise to see that no one takes liberties with you. Under no circumstances are you to leave my side.” For once, Amanda didn’t mind such high-handedness.

She barely stifled a gasp when they entered the ballroom. Musicians played and people waltzed, but it was like no other ball she’d attended. The couples made no attempt to keep an appropriate distance between them. Some kissed as they danced, and a few women had their legs entwined with their partners’. Many of the women’s skirts were rucked up to give the men access to their most secret parts.

Heat suffused Amanda’s face, and her heartbeat accelerated. Shame swamped her as she realized her body was responding to the scene before her.

She glanced at Farrington. His eyes showed no emotion, but the rigidity of his arm and his back indicated that the scene disturbed him on some level.

“Shall we look for the refreshment table?”

She nodded, still trying to process the scene in front of her.

Farrington smiled. “I could use a glass of champagne, and you look like you could as well.”

“I’m sorry. I’m just a little unsettled.”

“There is no reason to apologize. I would be more concerned if you did feel comfortable here. Let me know if you see anyone you recognize. We’ll do a search of the room after we find something to drink. I do not wish to keep you here longer than necessary.”

She nodded again. As horrified as she was, she could not keep her eyes off the dance floor. She had to bite her lower lip to keep from dropping her mouth open when she noticed a woman dancing with two men at once. One stood in front of her and the other behind. They twirled her between them as she swiveled her body. The man behind her had his arms wrapped around her. He groped her breasts while the one in front held her hips and pressed her against his groin.

Amanda remembered a picture in her secret book. One where a woman stood between two men, both of whom seemed to be using their shafts to pleasure her, though Amanda did not understand how that was possible.

She tried to make herself look away, but she could not. Heat rushed over her. She felt the tightening between her legs that always came when Rhys touched her. She wanted his hands on her so badly she ached for it.

A hand clamped down on her shoulder. She jumped.

“Are you all right?”

Farrington stood behind her, holding two glasses of champagne.

She drew a quick breath took one glass from him. “I’m fine.”

He too watched the dance floor, but when she followed the line of his gaze, he was not watching the threesome who’d so embarrassingly enthralled her. He was staring at a short man who danced with a nearly naked blond woman. It was Mouton.

She laid her hand on his arm, and he glanced down. “That’s him. That’s the man who’s after me.”

“Stanton said he would look familiar, and he does. Let’s see if we can place ourselves near him.”

Amanda glanced at the dancers again. “I don’t think—”

“I promise I won’t take any liberties beyond holding you closer than would be allowed at Almack’s.”

“Touch her and you die.”

Amanda whirled around. “Rhys?”

Relief washed over her when she saw Rhys standing behind her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her through a door leading to a deserted corner of the terrace. Farrington followed.

“So you’re alive after all,” Farrington said, his voice so low it was barely audible.

“I am, but I may not be for long thanks to your imbecility.”

“We needed to find out if you were in danger,” Amanda said, making no effort to hide the anger in her voice.

“Farrington could have done that on his own. He knew better than to involve you in this mission.”

“You discussed this with him?”

Rhys groaned. “He wanted me to ask your assistance in the investigation. I told him I would never involve you in something so dangerous.”

“How dare you make such a choice for me?”

“This is not up for discussion. I’m taking you home and locking you in your room before you get yourself killed.”

“There’s no need for that,” Farrington said. “I will see her home now that your whereabouts are known.”

“You will go home and await my official challenge.”

“Stanton, you’re overreacting. I will be accepting no challenges from you.”

“Then you’ll damn well accept my resignation which I’m giving you as of this minute. You’ve ruined my chances of completing this investigation. You can find someone else to manage this disaster from now on.”

“Go back inside and continue your work. I will see your wife home, and I will not bother her again. In fact, she and I will pretend we’ve never met.”

“You will do nothing of the sort. Do you really believe Mouton failed to witness our conversation?”

“So you spoke to a few party guests.”

“Mouton is obsessed with Amanda. No mask is going to hide her identity from him.

If he’s seen her here, then my whole plan is blown straight to hell.” Farrington ran a hand through his hair. Amanda remembered the look of true concern and desperation she’d seen on his face when he’d told her Rhys was missing. “You knew, didn’t you?”

“Knew what?”

“That if we found him, we would likely ruin his investigation.”

“Yes, I knew.”

“Do you hear that, Rhys? He risked the investigation because he was worried about you. That’s why he came to see me and why—”

“Don’t be taken in by his charm. He does only what benefits him.”

“As if you’re any better. Three days I’ve worried about you, and you couldn’t once send word to let me know you were alive? You humiliated me and left me wondering if you were dead. Then I find you here enjoying yourself at a party.” He grabbed Amanda’s arms and hauled her against him. “You have no idea what I’ve been through—”

She struggled in his grip, finally managing to wrap her fingers around his forearms.

He gasped, and the color drained from his face. She released him immediately, and he stepped back.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’ll be fine.”

Sweat beaded on his face.

“You are not fine.”

“I sustained a small wound on my arm. It’s nothing to worry about.”

“I know you like to pretend you don’t feel pain, but—”

“Amanda, this is not the time.”

“I—”

Farrington interrupted them. “Langley intended to look for you too. Have you seen him?”

Rhys took a deep breath and backed away from Amanda. “Yes, we spoke earlier. He managed to be more discreet than the two of you.” Rhys grabbed Amanda’s wrist and pulled her toward a set of steps that led to the courtyard below. “I’m taking my wife home now. I will find you once I’ve seen to her safety.” Farrington ran after them. “Until we sort out the mess we’ve made, both of you will be safer at an alternate location. Go to Location B and wait for further instructions.” Rhys nodded. “In this, at least, you are right.” Farrington nodded and turned to reenter the ballroom.

Between his throbbing arm, his anger and his body’s inevitable reaction to Amanda in the damnable dress Farrington had put her in, Rhys feared he might explode. At least combustion would keep him from having to deal with problems that seemed to be multiplying by the hour.

“You’re making a scene,” Amanda snapped as he forced her to follow him through the garden where several couples had retreated for a bit of privacy. Most of them paid no attention to their surroundings, but a few of the men stared at Amanda with open lust.

“Anyone who is watching simply thinks I’m taking you deeper into the gardens for a bit of rough sport. They either don’t care, or they envy me my luck.”

“So if I screamed, none of them would save me from you.”

He stopped and spun her to face him. “They might ‘save’ you so they could drag you into the gardens themselves and rape you until you could no longer stand. Is that what you want?”

Even in the partial dark, her face was pale. She practically glowed in the moonlight.

He should have been ashamed of his harsh words, but he’d lost the ability to be civil long ago. “Despite what you may think, you’re better off with me.” Amanda made no reply. Rhys clamped his hand around her wrist, giving her no choice but to fight him or follow.

When they reached the road, he summoned a waiting hack. As soon as they were settled inside, Amanda started to speak. He pressed his finger to her lips, imagining the tirade she would launch against his behavior. “I’ve had a hell of a day. Save it for later.” Her eyes flashed a deep anger, worse than any he’d seen on her face, but she remained silent.

He rubbed his hands across his face, wishing he could find something, anything encouraging in his situation. Farrington’s rash actions had likely cost him all he’d gained with Les Centimes. And Amanda’s fuming countenance indicated the odds for convincing her that their marriage was salvageable were a hundred to one at best.

Moments later, the carriage stopped at the safe house Farrington had chosen for them. Rhys alighted and paid the driver before helping Amanda descend. He assumed Farrington had at least given her a cloak to travel in, but their unorthodox exit had left her without it. The light from the streetlamp illuminated her body, and for a brief second, he forgot the horror of the afternoon and thought only of how much he wanted her.

The blood-red fabric brought out the auburn highlights in her hair and made her skin appear as pale and perfect as marble. The fabric was so thin her skin was visible through it, and the double-layered bodice was tight enough to gather her full breasts and push them upwards, showing them to their greatest advantage. Damn Farrington for knowing her figure well enough to pick this out.

“I wish to return to my aunt’s house.”

“Doing so would put your aunt and sister at risk. It will be best if we are not seen for a few days.”

“Fine.”

“Fine? No long-winded argument about how I have no right to make such decisions for you?”

“In matters of espionage, I can only assume you know what is best. I will stay here to protect my family. But once it is safe to leave, I wish to be taken home so I can begin the procedure for an annulment.”

Her cold, distant tone unwound the reins on Rhys’s temper. He picked her up and slung her over his shoulder.

“Let me go!”

Rhys knocked insistently. A footman he recognized opened the door. “Do you need assistance, sir?”

“No, thank you. I can take care of the situation. This lady and I will be residing here for the next few days. Please see that the house is properly stocked. I will call on you later with further requests.”

The man nodded and disappeared down the corridor.

Rhys kicked open the first door he came to and found himself in a study. He dropped Amanda onto the sofa. She struggled to sit up, but the skirts of her ridiculous gown tangled abut her legs. He wanted to rip it off of her and give in to the lust building rapidly inside him. He turned away to pour them both a brandy before he gave into his urges.

“Am I permitted to speak?” Amanda’s voice remained cold. He far preferred her anger to this layer of ice.

Downing half his brandy in one swallow, he turned to face her, holding out a snifter.

She shook her head in refusal. “I would rather not have my judgment clouded.” He nodded and set the glass down on a side table. “I would prefer to explain where I’ve been for the last few days before you say anything else.” Amanda exhaled loudly. “Get on with it, then. I should like to retire as soon as possible.”