The Arrogant Duke (19 page)

But this was too much. With a groan, he gathered her close against him, and once more she felt the passionate pressure of his mouth parting her own. Only this time when his mouth dragged itself away from hers it sought the soft curve of her neck, the smoothness of her ears and cheeks, and the fluttering moistness of her eyes, before burying itself on hers again, destroying any defences she might have tried to sustain.

At last he leaned his forehead against hers, and she could feel his body trembling when she slid her arms round him, wriggling inside his jacket against the hard warmth that she, incredibly, had the power to arouse.

'Does that make it a little plainer?' he muttered, a trifle thickly. 'It is as well your good father is outside, for I am only human and I confess I want you very badly.'

Juliet blushed becomingly, drawing back a little.

'But Estelle—' she began, shaking her head.

'Estelle means no more to me today than she did ten years ago when she married my cousin,' said Felipe firmly. 'Any ideas she might have had were purely illusions.
^'

Juliet sighed. 'But you never gave me any indication,' she exclaimed. 'I thought I was a nuisance!'

Felipe half-smiled. 'You were - you are - but a nuisance I personally cannot live without.
Pequena,
I adore you.
^'

'Felipe!' she gasped, only slightly delaying his kiss. 'Tell me about this. I want to know. When did you find me - well, attractive?'

He smiled charmingly. 'When did I find you attractive?' he repeated lazily. 'Well, I suppose I found you attractive, right from the start, right from the moment you stood so slim and scared on the staircase of the
quinta
. As to when I fell in love with you - that took a little longer. Two days, to be precise. Two days in which my whole world was shattered. I couldn't believe it. I had to go away on business, and I stayed away, endeavouring to rid myself of this painful affliction that was disturbing my sleep. But it was no good. When I came back, it was worse than ever. When I saw you with Francisco Valmos I could have killed him.' He smiled. 'I think I must have had some very violent ancestors. I find my emotions almost uncontrollable where you are concerned.' He kissed the nape of her neck, twisting her hair round his fingers. 'I wanted to tell you, but you always seemed to be avoiding me. Whenever our hands or bodies touched, you flinched. I was afraid you did not like me very much, and I was afraid I might scare you away. Then when you met - your father, that day in Barbados, I wanted to kill you, too. I hated you, believe me. Because I thought you were not the person I believed you to be, the woman I loved to distraction. When I found out who he was, I was incensed. The idea that you might be his daughter never even entered my head. Why should it? You had never hinted at such a thing, even though now I recall little things, like your driving through the Alps, and the awful mess you made of pretending you didn't know how to skin-dive.'

Juliet allowed herself a small chuckle. It was such
a
marvellous, marvellous day!

'Go on,
^'
she said, and he laughed. 'You are vain, Juliet,
^'
he said, frowning. 'You want me to abase myself.
^'

'Entirely,
^'
she answered mischievously. 'I thought you were so arrogant, so cold, so cruel!'

'Cruel, maybe,
^'
he agreed, sighing. 'That day in my study I wanted to hurt you, but when I had done so, I was horrified. When I kissed you, I began to believe you cared for me too, and then Teresa interrupted us, and you fled away as though you despised me, and I despised myself for doing what I had always planned not to do - frighten you !
^'

'You only frightened me because I loved you so much,
^'
whispered Juliet weakly.

'Is that so? Is that really so?
^'
He gathered her closer. 'Finally, yesterday, when I discovered you had gone, just when my anxieties about Robert Lindsay had been dispersed, I was almost out of my mind. Estelle can be in no doubt as to my feelings for you. Our last meeting was anything but friendly. I do not think she will stay long on Venterra.'

'Wait, though,' said Juliet suddenly. 'Did you - did you discuss our - our embrace in your study with her?'

'No I' He swore softly. '
Deus!
What do you think I am?'

Juliet shook her head. 'It must have been Nurse Madison. Why didn't I think of that? Of course!'

'Yes, they must both leave,' said the Duque, his voice suddenly cold, and Juliet shivered a little. 'Nurse Madison has attempted to ingratiate herself once too often. Besides, Teresa tells me she feels confident she will walk again in time. She seems to get along incredibly well with your father. In fact, I think you may find that your father will take Teresa away with him when he returns to England, after our marriage.'

'Our marriage?' echoed Juliet, in astonishment.

The Duque smiled down at her, his eyes tender. 'Of course. Did you think I could wait much longer?'

Juliet buried her face against his chest. 'Did I say I wanted to wait?' she murmured, and the Duque gave a lazy, triumphant laugh, as his mouth sought hers again.

Then there was an apologetic cough, and Juliet turned in the Duque's arms to see her father leaning against the door jamb.

'I don't like to be an intruder,' he remarked, smiling, 'but after combing every hotel in St. Lucia, not to mention the waterfront, I could do with a drink, and I don't mean coffee!'

Juliet looked up at Felipe. 'I feel intoxicated already,' she said unsteadily, and Felipe, putting an arm across her shoulders led her across to her father.

'I take it you will be staying
for
the wedding,' he remarked, smiling.

Robert Lindsay frowned. Tell me,' he said, 'is there a stock exchange in St. Lucia?' and Juliet linked her arm with his, laughing merrily.