Secrets of a Wedding Night (22 page)

“Good. You need to be kept guessing. Miss Templeton would never keep you guessing.”

“Now you’re speaking in riddles.”

“It’s time for some honesty.” Lily slid her hand down his chest. “Between you and me.”

Devon leaned back against the balcony, resting his elbows on it. Hmm. With that look in her eye, it might be best to give her some space. “Perfect. I’m more than ready for honesty.”

Lily swung around, her back to the French doors. “Are you quite sure you’re ready for the truth, Lord Colton?”

“Absolutely.” His dark eyes searched her face.

Her voice lowered. Her breathing hitched. “I was in love with you five years ago. I was in love with you, madly, idiotically in love with you, and my heart was broken when you took off for the countryside. In fact”—she stumbled slightly, her slipper catching on one of the stones—“you’ll never believe it.”

Devon reached for her to ensure she didn’t fall. He searched her face, watching her carefully, alertly. His eyes were wide, his breathing heavy. “Lily, what are you talking about?”

“I had packed my bags to elope with you. That’s what kind of a fool I was!” She laughed a loud clap of a laugh, but it was entirely without humor.

She pushed his hands away and turned again, another stumble. Her eyes flashed with a violet violence that frightened him. God, she was inebriated. So inebriated that she was reinventing the past. They both knew she’d sent him a letter that night, telling him she’d decided to marry Merrill. Devon reached for her again, but she pulled away.

“Leave me be,” she commanded.

He stepped back.

She laughed, a sultry laugh, shaking off all seriousness and reverie. She advanced on him again, this time with fire in her eyes. “I’ve decided you owe me a wedding night, my lord. And I intend to have it. I’ll see you in your bedchamber upstairs,” she whispered against his mouth. “In one hour.”

CHAPTER 22

Lily slipped back through the French doors that led into the ballroom. She nearly stumbled over Annie, who was standing there with a surprised look on her face. Lily smiled broadly and looped her arm through her sister’s.

“What are you doing here?” she asked in a conspiratorial whisper.

“Looking for you,” Annie replied, an inscrutable expression on her face.

“I was just outside getting some air.”

Annie glanced through the French doors and replied with eyebrows raised, “So I see.”

“Go back and dance. Have fun! Enjoy yourself.”

Annie’s eyes nearly popped from her skull. “Now I
know
you’re sick or something. You’re not my sister.”

“Whatever do you mean?” Lily asked, smothering a laugh.

“What’s wrong with you?” Annie glanced at her, looking nothing if not suspicious. “You don’t sound like yourself.”

“Nothing is wrong with me. I’m merely enjoying myself. And this wonderful, wonderful champagne.” Lily plucked another glass from the tray of a passing footman. “And this marvelous party.”

“Lily Andrews. You are foxed!”

Lily swallowed her giggle at her sister’s use of her maiden name and took a sip of champagne. “Shh. It’s a secret.”

Annie’s eyes were as round as the bottom of the champagne flute. “I cannot believe I’ve lived to see the day
you’d
overindulge in alcohol.”

Lily glanced around to make sure they weren’t being overheard and pulled her sister into a corner. They hid behind a potted palm. “Annie, look. We may be leaving for Northumberland tomorrow. This is our last night to have fun. Real fun. Now go out and dance with Jordan Holloway or your young Mr. Egglethorpe or whatever his name is. Enjoy yourself.”

Annie clutched at Lily’s hand, real fear in her eyes. “Northumberland?”

“Yes. Yes. I was going to tell you all about it on the way. But the fact is we’re destitute and I’ve asked Cousin Althea to take us in.”

“Destitute? What are you talking about?” Annie braced her hand against the wall, her eyes wide.

The haze surrounding Lily’s brain lifted momentarily. Oh, dear, she shouldn’t have brought this up to Annie tonight. Especially when she hadn’t even heard back from their cousin yet. Blasted champagne. Lily did so want her sister to enjoy her last night of Society.

She lowered her voice. “We have no choice, Annie. You must know we’ve been struggling for some time now. It’s more and more difficult for me to pay the bills. The new earl has written that he intends to take over the house. We have no choice.”

Annie’s face wore a mask of panic. “You were just going to cart me off to Northumberland without telling me? Without giving me a chance to say good-bye to my friends … or Arthur?”

A warning bell sounded in Lily’s brain at her sister’s use of Mr. Eggleston’s Christian name. “Keep your voice down,” Lily insisted, patting Annie’s hand. “You can post letters from Northumberland. Annie, listen, this isn’t my first choice either. But there’s nothing else for us to do. Once I sell a second pamphlet, perhaps—”

“I suppose you’re right, Lily. I should go enjoy myself. For one last night.” Blinking back tears, Annie pulled her hand from Lily’s grasp and stalked away.

Lily winced. Guilt clawed at her. The last thing she wanted was to hurt Annie, disappoint her. But it was time for Annie to grow up. Her sister wanted to be treated like an adult, well, she’d just have to accept adult information, adult responsibility. And the fact was they had no money. No place to go.

She watched Annie’s retreating figure until she saw her dancing with Eggleston, a smile on her face. That was the spirit.

Lily sighed. She’d handled that episode poorly. She knew it. The champagne was to blame. She would make it up to Annie in the morning. Explain everything more clearly. Tonight, she had a new pamphlet to research.

Lily glanced back out the French doors. Colton was gone. Had he reentered the house through another set of doors? Or was he hiding from her? Well, she’d thrown down the gauntlet. Now she must be brave enough to see it picked up.

She must play out this little drama, whether it proved to be comedy or tragedy. She hurried upstairs to ask Mary to help her remove her stays. She knew from experience that Devon Morgan was quite adept at such things, but it would still be preferable to wear more easily accessible clothing if a seduction was her intention.

She rushed into the bedchamber and called for Mary. The maid popped her head out from the adjoining room.

“Mary, quickly, I must put on my night rail.”

Mary scurried out. “What? Why, me lady?”

Hmm. Lily hadn’t quite thought that far.

“If I told you, you would not believe me,” Lily replied. There was one good thing about having a maid who could not remember anything. Mary would not judge her for her indiscretion in the morning. She wouldn’t remember.

Mary helped Lily shed her lavender gown and stays and soon Lily was wearing her filmy white night rail. She pulled on her robe. “Thank you very much.” She hugged Mary quickly and sneaked to the door. Lily examined the darkened hallway carefully. She must wait for the right moment to make her flight.

She already knew exactly where Devon’s bedchamber was.

CHAPTER 23

Lily paused outside of Devon’s room, her entire body quaking. What if he wasn’t inside? What if he’d locked the door? Rejected her again? She took a deep breath. She couldn’t risk standing in the hall in her night rail, wringing her hands and biting her lip. This was the path she had chosen and she would follow it.

She placed a shaking hand on the cold brass knob, turned, and pushed.

Unlocked, thank heavens.

Expelling her breath, she pressed the door open and swung inside, her night rail swishing about her ankles. She closed the door and leaned back against it, closing her eyes. Her heart raced at what was surely a nearly fatal speed.

Lily opened her eyes again and blinked rapidly. Only a few candles burned intermittently about. One on the mantelpiece, one on the far wall near the window, and one next to the … bed.

She straightened her shoulders. Devon stood beside the bed. The look on his face told her he’d made his choice. He wanted her. He still wore his black trousers and white shirt, but he’d removed his boots. He walked barefoot toward her. His cravat was gone too, and his stark white shirt was open at the neck to reveal a tanned, muscular expanse with a shadow of dark chest hair.

Lily squeezed her hands to keep them from shaking. Oh, my, the man was handsome. In that moment, she no longer cared about the bet or the money or even her nerves. All that mattered at the moment was the six feet two inches of pure lust-inducing male headed toward her, the dark eyes boring into her as if they could read her thoughts, the dark hair her fingertips ached to touch.

“You’re two minutes late,” he drawled, a sensual smile on his face.

He took her hand gently and led her to the bed. Lily walked with him on legs that felt like water.

“You’re sure about this, Lily?” he whispered against her hair, his strong arms enveloping her.

She nodded, once.

“Please tell me you’re not thinking of the bet right now.”

She turned her head to the side and pressed it against his hard chest. “I’m not.”

Devon’s shoulders relaxed a bit. “Good. You know I never would have made that bet myself and I don’t give a damn about it.”

Another nod.

“If you’re uncomfortable at all, or frightened, say the word and we’ll stop.”

One more nod.

Then Devon smiled at her, and the sensual curve of his lips banished all doubt from Lily’s mind. All she could think about was where his lips had been the last time they were alone together in a bedchamber. Her face heated.

And Devon made it so easy for her with his soft words of love and his lazy caresses. There was no fear here, none at all, just anticipation, sitting like a knot in her belly, spreading its spirals into her arms and legs and making her shiver.

“You’re beautiful, Lily,” Devon whispered against her mouth, and then he held her away from him, pulling her to the side and obviously enjoying the sight of her shadowy body beneath the flimsy night rail.

“So beautiful,” he whispered. He seemed to know she’d feel more at ease if he allowed her to keep her gown on. He tugged her hand and pulled her to the bed. He turned around and pulled his shirt off over his head using both hands.

His shoulders flexed, his arms flexed, his whole back was rigid and muscled and … perfect. She couldn’t stand it. Oh, she wanted to see more. The candlelight glinted off his smooth skin and Lily bit her lip.

It was lust. That’s what it was. Pure, unadulterated lust. And it was … powerful. Magical.

“We’ll go slowly,” he whispered. “Very slowly.”

Lily agreed. Only she wanted him to go slowly for another reason. Not because she was frightened, but because she was fascinated.

“Mmm-hmm,” she answered with a measured nod. “Devon, may I have a drink?”

A half-smile played around his sensual lips. “I’m not sure you need more to drink.”

“Just one glass. You have one too.”

“Very well.” He crossed the thick carpet with his perfect bare feet and pulled a wine bottle from the top of the sideboard. He plucked up two clean wine glasses and crossed back over to her. His eyes stared into her soul. Their dark brown depths mesmerized her. Her heart skipped a beat. The fluttering in her chest unnerved her. But in such a good way.

“Do you do this for all the ladies who come to your bedchamber?” Lily asked.

“I’m only interested in one lady in my bedchamber,” he whispered. “And you must allow that you did notify me of your intent to pay me a visit this evening. What sort of host would I be, were I not prepared?”

“You have a point,” Lily replied through dry lips.

The fire in the hearth across the room crackled. The spicy scent of burning logs filled the room. Lily watched with wide eyes as Devon removed the cork from the bottle. He poured two glasses of rich, red wine and handed one to her.

Lily closed her eyes and sucked down the sweet liquid. It tasted delicious. Its fortifying strength was just what she needed. The champagne from earlier was already wearing off. Wine was a delight, but she knew without a doubt, she wanted to make love to Devon and it had nothing to do with wine. She took another sip and crossed back over to the bed with Devon.

He reached to take the glass from her hand and she hesitated, tipping it back and swallowing its entire contents before handing it to him. He raised a brow and she gave him a sheepish grin.

“More?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Not yet.”

Devon tossed his own wine into the back of his throat and set his empty glass on the bedside table next to Lily’s. Then he took her hand and pulled her onto the bed. He still wore his breeches. She still wore her night rail.

The smooth glide of the sheets against her back made Lily relax. She looked up to see Devon hovering over her, his dark, slightly curly hair mussed, the most sensuous smile she’d ever seen on his firmly molded lips. But there was something else there, in his eyes. Something indefinable. Something that told her he was looking out for her, caring for her, wanting to make this special. She felt it with every touch of his hand, every whisper in her ear.

They lay on their sides together on the bed. Devon kissed her mouth first. So gently, she could almost cry. His lips touched hers and they were firm and wonderful. They probed her mouth, asking how much she was willing to give. Lily wrapped her arms around his broad, square shoulders and pulled him close.

Devon groaned when she fitted her body against the length of his.

His hand moved down to play with her breast through her gown. He cupped her fullness and rubbed his thumb back and forth across her nipple, driving her insane. She fitted herself closer to him to force him to touch more of her, and it was her turn to groan softly when he lightly squeezed, then pinched her.

His palm worked against her nipple, rubbing it, never letting go, and Lily wanted more, more, more. She pressed her mouth against his and let her tongue probe his lips. His tongue met hers and then went further, moving into her mouth and ravaging her, making her his. And in that moment, Lily knew without a doubt this was what she wanted. What she’d always wanted. The past didn’t matter. The future didn’t matter. All that mattered was this enigmatic, handsome man whom she’d loved as long as she could remember making love to her tonight. And it would be wonderful.