Invitation to Passion (3 page)

“You underestimated him, my love. Telling him you’d given yourself to me was unlikely to see him release you from the wedding contract. It would only have made him want you more. Charles hates me almost as much as he hates Rufus Knight.”

“And me. I’m sure he hates me…” and she tried to kiss him.

Richard gently pushed her away. “I can’t do this, Sarah. I’ll always be your friend and confidant, but I cannot be more.” He watched the light leave her eyes. “I will never understand why you did not elope with me, but what is done is done. It will hurt all of us in the long run if I do not let you go.”

“So you’ll leave me to my punishment?” she cried bitterly.

“No. I shall always be your friend. If Charles hurts you in any way, I’ll protect you as much as I can.”

“
How?
” She threw her hands up and stalked over to the large window of the library, the dark night outside as turbulent as the emotions flying around the room. She stood with her back to him, straight and tall, defying all that the world had thrown at her.

The impotency of his situation made anger burn hot in his veins. “Christ, I don’t know, but we cannot carry on an affair. It will only be worse for you.”

Her shoulders suddenly slumped in defeat. “It’s hopeless, isn’t it? We’ll never be together. Ever.” She shuddered. “You know the man he is. Cold, cruel—sometimes I fear for my safety.”

“He doesn’t physically abuse you, does he?” He gripped her arms tight as he turned her toward him. “Does he hurt you?” She stared at him like a helpless puppy, her eyes big and round with dread. The muscles of his stomach clenched in hot stabs of agony. “I’ll kill him.”

During his childhood, he’d watched his father abuse his twin brother, Anthony, because he was the heir. Their father decided Anthony should be broken down and made as cold and cruel as him. Richard had been powerless to stop the abuse Anthony had received while he’d enjoyed a pain free upbringing with their mother.

Richard was no longer powerless and he would not stand idly by and let Wrentham, Marquess or not, husband or not, bully and hurt Sarah.

“Don’t do anything stupid like challenge him. I couldn’t bear it if you were hurt, killed, or had to flee England. What would I do then? He doesn’t hit me. He’s—rough—that’s all.” She took his hand and placed it on her delicate cheek. “As long as I know you are here for me, I’ll survive. He can’t touch what we share in here,” and she pressed her other hand to her breast. “My heart will always belong to you.”

He couldn’t help himself at her earnest declaration. His mouth captured hers in an anguished kiss. She moved into his arms and the familiar rush of desire enveloped them both.

When she reached lower to stroke him through his tight breeches he tried to resist but...

#

Madeline knocked hard on the door. She waited but there was no response. She pressed her ear to the door, but could hear nothing through the thick walnut.

Feeling like a thief and not wanting to be caught, she tentatively opened the door. “Richard, are you there...?”

Although there was no response to her greeting, she heard the soft, breathy cries of a lady. Sarah sounded like she was in pain. What on earth was Richard doing to her?

Not wishing anyone who happened to venture into the hall to see or hear, she stepped into the room and rather loudly closed the door behind her. Surely this would announce her presence.

The room was dimly lit, but she could make out two people on the settee. They still appeared not to have heard or seen her.

“Ahem,” she tried with an added cough. She knew she should not look at the couple, but the quest for knowledge about what went on between a man and woman overrode her sense of propriety.

She stood mesmerized. Richard had discarded his jacket and waistcoat. They lay thrown behind him on the floor, as if he’d disrobed in a hurry. His shirt was on, much to her disappointment, although Maddy was too scared to acknowledge that thought.

He was kneeling on the floor, leaning over Sarah, who lay prone on the settee. Maddy moved closer and gasped, and her hand flew to her mouth. Sarah’s gown lay in folds of silk at her waist; her breasts were bare. Her hands were clutching Richard’s thick, glossy hair, holding him indecently close. Richard appeared to be suckling her breast like a babe.

Maddy tore her gaze away from the erotic sight to look worriedly at the door. The situation was scandalous and Lord Wrentham would have every right to challenge Richard if he were to enter.

The image of Richard fighting a duel, and his possible subsequent injury or death, spurred her on. She gathered her composure, moved closer, and in a loud voice uttered, “I hate to interrupt but-”

Richard barely lifted his head from Sarah’s breast. “Go away, brat” he growled.

“Believe me, I’d love to but-”

“Christ, not now, Maddy. What the hell are you doing in here?” Richard sat back on the balls of his feet, while still on his knees at Sarah’s feet.

All Maddy could see was a very angry and gorgeous Richard.

She couldn’t seem to get her lungs to work. Her breath caught in her throat as she soaked up the beauty of the naked expanse of rippling stomach and muscled chest displayed through the flaps of Richard’s open shirt.

He rose to his feet, anger scoring his handsome features. “This better be important or, by God, I’ll put you over my knee. Do you realize how inappropriate it is for you to be in here?”

Maddy’s temper flared. “It’s not as inappropriate as seducing another man’s wife.”

Her barb hit its mark as she watched Richard’s fists clench at his sides and heard Sarah give a cry of distress.

Maddy tore her gaze from Richard and looked at Sarah. She’d covered herself, drawing her gown back on. Her face was filled with misery and Maddy felt a stab of regret at her words. Sarah loved Richard, but had been forced into a marriage with Charles. Maddy did feel genuine pity for her. She knew first-hand what a bully all the Chestertons were. Marriage to Charles would be a nightmare. However, she would not let Sarah’s terrible life-choice destroy her only friend. Sarah should have stood up to her father. She should have chosen Richard and had faith in him.

“I’m sorry, Sarah, that was unkind.”

“Damn right. This is none of your business.” For the first time in her life, Richard looked at her with something akin to hate. She swallowed back tears.

“Charles is here. He’s looking for Sarah. He thinks she’s with you. And, of course, he’s right,” she couldn’t help adding.

Richard swore and Sarah jumped to her feet. “He can’t find me with you. He’ll kill me.” Sarah stood quaking, looking helplessly at Richard for assistance.

This time it was Maddy who clenched her fists. Once again, Sarah’s only concern was for herself.

“I won’t let him hurt you,” Richard vowed.

Maddy didn’t see how Richard could ever promise that unless he killed Charles. Oh, no, kill Charles! He’d do it—for Sarah.

Maddy’s insides went cold, and at that precise moment she hated Sarah more than she had ever hated anyone or anything before.

She simply would not let Richard throw his life away on a selfish woman. Sarah had been too weak and stupid to trust in love. Richard had offered to elope with her, and save her from Charles. Instead, this woman had preferred to honor her father’s dictate, and then had decided to carry on an affair with Richard, placing her purportedly one true love in acute danger.

Maddy would never have been so selfish. Sarah should have called off the affair as soon as she had married. She’d made her choice. Sarah should honor the vows she had made with Wrentham.

Richard moved to the door and cracked it open. “Christ, it’s Wrentham walking this way.”

Sarah’s face turned ashen and Maddy instantly comprehended the extent of the peril the two lovers were in.

“I have a plan. Sarah can slip through the secret door to the study, and then make her way down the west corridor back to the ballroom. You will stay here with me so Charles has no proof you were with Sarah. If you’re found here with me, Wrentham might believe you couldn’t possibly have been with his wife.”

“Then what are you and I doing here?”

She swallowed hard at Richard’s question. “I’ll pretend your assignation is with me.”

Richard’s face reddened. “I don’t think that’s wise...” Sarah let out a wail at his hesitancy.

“Charles would take great delight in torturing me if he sees me with you.”

“I can’t see any other choice. If we all escape through the secret door, then his suspicions will be truly raised. He’s looked everywhere for his wife. If anyone has already told him she was with you, we had best disprove that concept immediately.” Maddy clapped her hands. “Quickly, we don’t have time for dramatics.”

Richard finally nodded his assent and hurried Sarah to the bookcase. He pulled the secret lever and the wall of books slid back revealing a narrow corridor. He kissed Sarah and pushed her gently inside. “Go. Tidy yourself and make your way back to the ballroom. I’ll send word later.”

The false wall of books slid back into place, leaving the library filled with thwarted silence. Richard ran a hand through his hair.

Maddy whispered, “You can thank me later.”

“I ought to wring your bloody neck for risking your reputation on this stupid stint. I’m perfectly capable of confronting Wrentham.”

“Oh, yes. That would be the perfect answer. Kill Wrentham and be hung for murder. Then who would protect Sarah?”

“Bloody hell. What a mess,” the anger in his voice had gone, now replaced with sadness.

No sooner had Richard walked back to stand at Maddy’s side, than the door crashed open. Lord Wrentham stood in the doorway, a towering mass of wrath.

Richard, his clothes in disarray, moved to stand in front of Maddy to shield her from Wrentham’s view.

“Get your hands off my wife.” Charles’s bellow shook the room. The music in the ballroom was all that saved them from having the entire household hear his allegation.

Wrentham wasn’t stupid. She would have to play the part of Richard’s paramour if this ruse was to be believed.

Madeline reached round Richard’s body and slipped her hand inside his shirt, fingers tingling as she found his bare chest. She pulled her gown off her shoulders, exposing more of her bosom than was decent.

However, she had not expected the feminine gasp that accompanied her maneuver. Her sister-in-law was with Lord Wrentham. She peered round Richard’s wide shoulders and tried to catch Rheda’s eye.

“Richard, how could you? Rufus will kill you.” Rheda’s anguished cry saw Maddy drop her hand from Richard’s heated skin.

There was no point in hiding. Maddy stepped out from behind Richard, but she couldn’t explain the situation without putting his life in danger.

“Not content to bed other men’s wives, it now appears you’ve lowered yourself even further. Have you no honor? Now you’ve taken to bedding your friend’s sister.” Lord Wrentham turned to Rheda. “I apologize for exposing Mr. Craven’s salaciousness. I’d love to stay and watch your husband kill him, but I need to find my wife.”

Maddy put her hand on Richard’s back willing him to hold his tongue. She could feel the muscles beneath her hand knot with fury.

Just when she’d thought the situation couldn’t get any worse, she heard a voice that made her senses scream
flee.

“Rheda, Lord Wrentham, what are you doing in the library?”

Rufus.

“Is there another party going on in here?” Another woman’s voice joined the conversation. She stood unseen in the corridor. Maddy didn’t recognize the voice but the speaker sounded elderly.

Silence greeted the newcomers.

Maddy took a step backwards. She watched as Rufus took in the scene in front of him and, in dismay, saw his face turn purple with rage. “Maddy,” he yelled and everything that followed became a blur.

She heard Rheda scream, “Rufus, no,” while Richard put his hands out and stated, “Let me explain...”

Her brother did not wait for any explanation. He let out a string of curses before he launched himself on Richard, tackling him to the ground and nearly knocking Maddy off her feet.

“I’ll kill you, you bastard.”

Wrentham laughed and added, “If you do, I’ll owe you my thanks,” before turning and walking back toward the ballroom.

Rheda looked at Maddy over the men slugging it out on the floor, and shook her head. “I’ll get Anthony.” She too dashed off, determined to fetch Richard’s twin brother, leaving Maddy facing a very grim and disapproving Lady Horsham, the absolute ruler of the
ton
.

“While I approve wholeheartedly of your choice in men, my girl, I do not condone your methods of getting him to the altar.” With that, she turned on her heels and left Maddy alone with the two men, with one apparently trying to kill the other. As she loved them both, she didn’t know what to do. She tried to pull Rufus off Richard, as he laid shielding himself and not fighting back.

Thankfully, Anthony, Richard’s twin brother, and Rufus’s friend, Lord Stephen Milton, Marquis of Worthington, arrived to separate them. It took both men to hold Rufus back.

Richard, his lip bloodied, stood breathing heavily. “How could you even think I’d touch Maddy? She’s the sister I’ve never had.”

“How? Look at you. You were alone in the room with her. Half undressed with your shirt hanging open. What the hell was I to think?”

“But you didn’t think, did you?” Richard spat the words out. “You simply accused.”

Anthony’s wife, Melissa, followed Rheda back into the room and closed the door. She calmly said, “Can you please keep your voices down? We do not need the rest of the guests to hear this.”

Rheda looked toward Maddy. “I’m sure Richard has a very good explanation for his behavior.”

“He better or I swear to God I’ll kill him.” Even Maddy was shocked at the violence in her brother’s voice.

She stamped her foot. She’d had enough of all this male bravado. Avoiding a duel was exactly why she’d risked this scene in the first place. She hadn’t saved Richard from Wrentham, to have him fight a duel with her brother.

“Stop it.
Just stop it.
This situation is my fault, not Richard’s. I was the one who butted my nose in. Richard was here with Lady Wrentham. I interrupted their liaison. I knew Lord Wrentham was looking for his wife.”