Closer To Sin (33 page)

‘I shall see you shortly then, Lord Esselton.’ She turned back to those gathered about her, signalling his dismissal.

‘Liliane, Lady Carrick would be most displeased if she were to see you talking to that man, let alone dancing with him,’ Lady Dudley sternly cautioned. ‘He is not suitable company for a lady such as you.’

‘How is Albert, Lady Dudley?’ Liliane queried, deliberately ignoring her warning. It was a reaction she was going to have to get used to, particularly once everyone became aware he was courting her.

Sara shot a glance at her mother and smiled. ‘Actually, he’s on his way home for a couple of months. Mama and I will be very relieved to have him back with us.’

Liliane hugged her friend to her. ‘I’m so very pleased. I’m looking forward to seeing him again.’

Mrs Dudley took her leave just as a group of gentlemen arrived to join their circle. Liliane nodded politely to Freddy Parkes. Damn, the man was still pressing his suit, the one she had never agreed to in the first place. He was more determined than she’d realised. Still, Sin’s courtship of her needed to be orchestrated very carefully, so she would have to continue to tolerate Freddy’s attentions for the time being. But at least the conversation was light and congenial and her dance card had been filled. It was good to see Sara and Yvette were also enjoying the attentions of the assembled gentlemen.

Liliane let the flirtatious banter wash over her. Last Season she had been happy to accept the attentions of most of these admirers; now she couldn’t help but compare them to Sin. She took a sip of her lemonade. It was obvious Freddy considered himself to be one of the foremost bucks. His attentions towards her were studied and designed to draw attention upon himself. One or two of the other gentlemen deigned to emulate his behaviour.

She looked around the group. It was disheartening that every gentleman she’d once been happy to dance with now fell short in her assessment. The sad reality was Sin didn’t have to try; he wore an effortless combination of charm and authority like a second skin.

The musicians were tuning their instruments in the background, signalling a start to the dancing. Liliane smiled politely to Freddy as he made some comment about his visit to Tattersalls this morning. Really, his attentions were beginning to wear thin, particularly the way he intimated to the others present that he had a claim on her.

As she went to move away from him she felt the skin at the nape of her neck tingle. There was only one person who had that effect on her. Rather than have the good sense to step away, Freddy stepped closer and placed a proprietary hand upon her arm and raised his quizzing glass towards Sin. Gracious, this may not end so well. Yvette looked at her and grimaced.

‘Esselton, a bit far from your hunting grounds, aren’t you?’ Freddy challenged with a misplaced air of superiority.

Sin looked pointedly down his nose at Freddy. ‘Take care, Parkes. Lambs masquerading as wolves shouldn’t wander too far from their shepherd.’

Freddy’s mouth gaped inelegantly as he looked hesitantly between Liliane and Sin. With uncertainty he relinquished Liliane’s arm and stepped back towards the protective circle of the pack. Liliane lifted her hand to cover her mouth. As a set down, it was particularly cutting.

Excusing herself from her friends, Liliane allowed Sin to lead her to the dance floor. ‘That was unsporting of you, Sin.’

His smirk told her he knew, but didn’t particularly care. ‘He’s a pompous ass and too dim-witted to realise when he’s being insulted.’

‘One who stands to inherit a baronetcy and a considerable fortune. He has influence, Sin.’

‘Not over me.’ Liliane shivered. So this was what it was like to have Sin stake ownership over her in front a room full of onlookers.

They took their places among the other dancers and he looked her over with an appraising eye. ‘I like your dress, it suits you. What colour do you call it?’

So, they were going to talk about the banal. Liliane smoothed her hands down the panel of delicate lace that fanned in from across her bodice to trail down the centre of the gown. ‘The modiste called it rose pink.’

‘It makes your lips look cherry red, I like it.’

As far as compliments go, that wasn’t too bad. She opened her mouth to respond but the words evaporated as Sin dropped his voice.

‘Cherries are a favourite of mine in summertime. I particularly like to bite down and suck on them.’ Liliane’s mouth went dry at the thought. ‘There’s nothing more enticing than savouring the rich juice washing over my tongue,’ he continued, his voice summoning images of dark, passionate cherry-laden kisses.

Liliane cast an eye about her, but nobody could hear him. ‘I prefer lemons myself. I find the tartness cleansing.’

Sin chuckled. It was deep and throaty and edged with naughtiness. She felt herself responding as sweet warmth spread between her legs. He leaned in closer. ‘I think cherries will sweeten your disposition. Besides, I doubt you would want to cleanse away the taste of me. The way you just licked your bottom lip, the way your eyes just hazed over, tells me you remember all too well how good we taste together.’

Low in her belly, muscles clenched deliciously. Be that as it may, there was no way, especially in a crowded ballroom, that she was going to confess to that. Regardless of how urbane he was being, of how attracted to him she was, it didn’t change the fact she was angry at him. He had betrayed and misled her, and a few sweet words were not going to resolve the matter. With a sniff she sought to remind him of that.

‘While I have consented to a faux courtship, my Lord, I don’t believe that more than the most cursory conversation will be necessary. We are not, after all, attempting to secure a long term alliance.’

‘Really? But I understand it’s entirely acceptable to discuss one’s culinary preferences.’

The music commenced, relieving her of the need to respond to that particularly outrageous comment. As she progressed through the dance, changing partners, returning to Sin and changing partners again, she found herself back to comparing each of them with the elegant panther who continued to eye her like she was his next meal. The dance seemed interminable with the torture of each fleeting contact and whispered provocative comment. Surely everyone would comment about her unusually flushed cheeks. As the last note faded away she turned and curtsied, eager to return to her small circle of friends. ‘Thank you, my Lord, I shall see you for the supper dance.’

As Sin made his way to the card room Sara grabbed her arm. ‘Oh my goodness, you must have been so nervous. Did he talk to you at all? I can’t imagine that he’s ever had a proper conversation in his life. Whatever induced him to dance with you?’

Liliane adjusted a ribbon in Sara’s hair. ‘Well, I expect he did it out of politeness to my uncle, they’re close friends after all. Apart from complimenting my dress, we talked about the usual sort of thing. He told me he enjoys cherries in the summertime, I told him I preferred the refreshing quality of lemons.’ She gave a casual shrug. ‘It appears we both like fruit.’

Sara looked nonplussed. ‘Was that all? He has such a naughty reputation. Didn’t he say anything just the littlest bit wicked?’

‘No.’ Well, certainly nothing she was going to repeat to Sara.

‘How disappointing.’ Sara turned to Yvette. ‘And what about you,
sweetie
, did Lord Harte’s wicked smile make you feel all melty?’

Yvette pressed her hand hard against her lips, trying hard to appear elegant while she choked on lemonade. ‘You are outrageous, Sara, how do you get away with saying such things?’

Sara grimaced ruefully. ‘I expect it’s the wayward influence of three older brothers.’

Turning aside from the conversation, Liliane glanced surreptitiously around the room to see where Sin had gone. He was across the other side talking amiably with a group of gentlemen. And a blonde haired woman with a barely concealed bosom who was running her hand up and down his arm. A jolt of electricity raced through Liliane. So, that’s the way it was going to be. As she watched, Sin excused himself from the group and moved to join Nate by the stand of ferns. She must remember to ask Sara who that woman was.

Deciding a refreshment would be appreciated, Liliane started to move towards the punch bowl when Freddy materialised before her. Bother, her next dance partner, and certainly not the one of her choice.

‘Miss Desailly, it is my pleasure I believe.’

‘Certainly, Mr Parkes.’ She glanced at her dance card. ‘Oh good, it’s to be a cotillion.’ Liliane gave him her arm and accompanied him to the dance floor.

As they stood waiting for the set to form Freddy propelled her to face him. ‘Miss Desailly, I feel it behoves me to advise you, as only someone who has your utmost interests at heart would—’

Goodness, how much time did he spend in front of the mirror practicing that particular expression of sanctimonious condescension?

‘—I do not believe Lord Esselton is a suitable companion for a lady of such delicate sensibilities as you. I shall—’

Was he serious? ‘Mr Parkes, I—’

He grasped her hand. ‘Freddy, Miss Desailly. Please call me Freddy.’

‘Freddy—’

Ignoring her attempted interruption, he continued. ‘I shall of course take it upon myself to ensure he is appropriately edified, and you can be assured the bounder won’t trouble you again.’

Until now, she hadn’t believed it was possible for one’s blood to actually boil, but Freddy was seriously testing her tolerance levels. ‘Freddy—’

‘No, no, Miss Desailly, there is no need to thank me. Any true gentleman would advise you accordingly.’

More likely only an utter nod-cock would advise her accordingly. She held a hand helplessly to her forehead. ‘Oh,
sweet daisies
, how shocking. I had no idea. If you would please excuse me, Freddy, I fear I must adjourn to the ladies’ retiring room, I’m a little faint. Gracious, this has been a very unsettling conversation.’

She hastily navigated the couples preparing to take their place for the cotillion, not stopping to hear Freddy’s concern-laden advice. Sweet daisies, indeed. Who talked like that anyway? Biting hard on her lip, she ran smack in to a wall of masculine heat.

***

‘Whoa there.’ Sinclair caught hold of the dark-haired virago as she made a hasty departure from the dance floor. ‘That was a short dance! What did the doltish Parkes say to send you packing?’ Not giving her time to answer, he pulled her to a nearby doorway and led her along a corridor that opened out upon a secluded part of Lady Longton’s gardens.

Lanterns were decorously placed along the walkways and hung from trees to invite guests to stroll and enjoy the ambiance. Standing where they were, behind a trellis of weeping rose, they were just far enough away from the ballroom that the music floated to them on delicate strains, but they wouldn’t be overheard. Releasing Liliane, he watched as she fanned her face and tried to control whatever emotion had its grip on her.

‘Would you care to share?’

Liliane snorted indecorously and clasped her hand over her mouth. ‘I believe you are to expect a call from Mr Parkes so that he may ensure you are
appropriately edified
in… in all matters p-pertaining to your s-social interaction with me.’ She grasped her stomach and started to laugh.

Sinclair shifted as his gut clenched in reaction to the sound. Despite the revelations of the past two days, her laughter cleansed him like a spring rain, but he’d be damned if he would give her the power of that knowledge. She had entrapped him once already.

‘Oh this is too much. He-he said you were an unsuitable companion for a lady of such delicate sensibilities. And he called you a
b-bounder—
’ She laughed until she was breathless from the effort. She tried to straighten up, but couldn’t and laughed some more. ‘Oh my Lord, you really are to be put in your place.’ She removed her gloves to swipe a hand across her cheeks and dry the tears.

‘Am I to assume you issued your gallant knight a few well-placed words of encouragement?’ It was good to see that he was the object of her mirth.

‘I just couldn’t. I summoned the
sweet daisies
and told him I was indisposed. He is such an overbearing weasel.’

Ah, so it was Freddy that she was laughing at. Well, he certainly had no argument with that. He removed a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the remaining tears from her eyes. ‘You do realise, generally speaking, daisies stink?’ He pulled her closer. She smelled of roses and vanilla and something else he couldn’t put a name to.

‘Yes, but so did his pompous rhetoric.’ She put a hand upon his chest and Sinclair gritted his teeth. Her touch would brand his soul if he wasn’t careful. Liliane took a step closer. ‘How did you know he had said something to me?’

He placed a finger under her chin and lifted her gaze to meet his. And bent down and grazed a gentle kiss against the corner of her eye. He felt her relax against him. ‘I’ve noticed you have this habit, when something is irritating you, you ever so slightly square your shoulders and lift your chin.’ He kissed the corner of her mouth. ‘You press your lips together, just a little, but enough that they don’t appear so plump and luscious.’ He slowly ran his tongue the length of her bottom lip. She tasted faintly of lemonade. ‘And when you’re really irritated, your nose twitches, ever so slightly.’ He closed his mouth over hers and kissed her deeply. Damn him for a fool, but he still couldn’t get enough of her.

‘I can’t believe you noticed all of that,’ she murmured. Her voice vibrated through him until his balls tightened in painful response. He groaned in answer and drank in her exotic fragrance and ran his hands over the tantalising skin at the back of her neck, memorising the silkiness of it against his fingertips.

‘I notice,’ he whispered into her mouth and was rewarded with the hot glide of her tongue against his, infusing her taste with his. He dragged a hand down and palmed one luscious breast. Her nipples were hard and she rubbed against him, asking for more.

Ah hell, there was no way he could deny her. There was no way he could deny himself. He dropped his mouth to her throat and kissed the delicate point at the junction of her collar bone, igniting a million goosebumps across her body as he gently grazed his whiskers against the delicate skin and then soothed the area with hot, open kisses.