To Catch a Countess (3 page)

“I don’t think a gentleman should look at a lady like that,” she told him.

“How was I looking at you?”

“You looked like a hungry wolf contemplating a delicious morsel you intended to gobble,” Victoria answered, a note of disapproval in her voice.

“If you aren’t afraid of the big bad wolf, step closer so I can collect my kiss,” Alexander challenged her. “I promise not to gobble you.”

With her blue gaze fixed on his, Victoria took tiny steps forward until she stood inches from him. She caught his scent of bay and felt the heat emanating from his powerful body.

Alexander drew her closer. One of his hands held the back of her head while the other pulled her against his muscular frame. His lips hovered above hers. “Are you afraid?”

“Very worried.”

His lips touched hers in a gentle first kiss. Trembling on the inside, Victoria stood statue-stiff. She didn’t know what to do except close her eyes.

“Relax.” Alexander breathed against her lips.

His lips were warm, soft but firm. Undemanding. She began to relax and enjoy feeling them pressed to hers.

The tenor of his kiss changed. He slid his hand from the back of her head to her neck, and his fingers caressed her delicate nape.

When she sighed at the sensation, Alexander began moving his lips on hers, encouraging her to move her lips with him, to follow his lead. Victoria felt his strength, sensed his power held in tight control. A melting sensation in her lower regions caught her by surprise, and suddenly she wanted more, so much more.

Tentatively at first, gaining confidence with each passing second, Victoria moved her lips on his and returned his kiss in kind. Their kiss was long and languorous. He exuded power and skill and mastery over her senses with each movement, and she had no choice but follow wherever he would lead her.

He captured her whole being even as his lips had captured hers. The world faded away, and his lips became the center of her universe. Still, she yearned for more.

Staking his claim, Alexander sensed her surrender and brushed her lips with the tip of his tongue. In answer, Victoria inched her hands up his chest to hook around his neck. She pressed into the deepening kiss, her supple body touching his from breast to thigh.

Victoria parted her lips, inviting him to give her more, and Alexander slipped his tongue inside to explore her sweetness. Heat flowed through her veins, and she clung to him, offering herself, enjoying his possession.

And then it was over.

Lifting his lips from hers, Alexander smiled at her dazed expression. He wrapped his arms around her, keeping her pressed against his body as she floated back to earth.

Victoria rested her head against him, her cheek resting on his chest. She felt safe and protected in his arms, a feeling she hadn’t experienced since the age of five when she had basked in the warmth of her parents’ love.

Victoria smiled to herself. This man had given her the most intense experience of her life, yet she sensed no danger, only an unspoken promise of protection. Somehow, she knew no other man would make her feel this way, no other man’s kiss would affect her in the same manner.

“Tory,” Alexander murmured.

Victoria looked up, and he stared at her face. She felt vulnerable, as if she had revealed too much of herself, and dropped her gaze to his chest.

“You have just done it correctly,” Alexander told her.

“What have I done?” she asked, confused.

“You stared at me intensely and dropped your gaze shyly,” Alexander answered, making her smile. “That blush is a nice touch, too.” Then he asked, “How do you feel now that you have experienced your first kiss?”

“I tingle in places I never knew existed,” she answered, drawing a shaky breath. “Is that normal?”

“Yes.”

“Do you tingle?”

“You’ll never know how much.”

Victoria became aware of the hardness at his groin, pressing against her belly through her light muslin dress. “I don’t think we should stand this close.”

Alexander silently refused to release her. “Do you like opera?”

“Well, I love the intermission,” she hedged, making him smile.

“Would you like to accompany me to the opera next week?”

“Do you mean the two of us alone?”

He nodded.

“I don’t think His Grace will allow that,” Victoria told him.

Alexander looked down at her upturned face. “His Grace will make an exception for me.”

“In that case, would you consider taking me to Covent Garden at night?” Victoria asked, her smile mischievous.

“That isn’t a good place for a young lady,” he told her.

“I’ll be safe with you,” she said. “If not, how about Vauxhall?”

Alexander laughed. “Victoria, you are pressing your luck.”

“If you don’t want to take me,” Victoria said, giving him a flirtatious smile, “Prince Stepan will be happy to accompany me.”

“Is that so?” Alexander smiled at her practicing her wiles on him.

“Prince Stepan has already taken me to Drury Lane,” Victoria told him. “I sneaked out of the house one night.”

Alexander lost his humor. “Your reputation could have been ruined.”

“I’m joking.”

Alexander seemed to relax. “Tell me why you wanted to flirt with me specifically,” he said, changing the subject. “Did anyone encourage you?”

“My sisters said you would make an excellent husband.”

“What do you think? “ Alexander asked, running a hand up and down her back.

“I thought I was having fun until I saw you and my body began acting strangely.” Victoria changed the subject. “Are you very smart?”

Alexander gave her a puzzled look. “Smart enough, I suppose.”

“I admire intelligence,” she told him, gazing into his hazel eyes. “I bet you read lots of books.”

“I thought young ladies admired titles, wealth, and good looks,” Alexander teased her.

“Titles, wealth, and good looks are easily lost,” Victoria said. “Intelligence is something a man can keep forever.”

“Your philosophy impresses me.”

Victoria smiled, preening at his praise. She had no idea what philosophy meant, but if he was impressed, then she was proud of it. After all, she possessed very few talents to make her proud.

“Let’s return to the house,” Alexander said, releasing her.

Victoria didn’t want to return to the house. She wanted to be alone with him. She also didn’t want to be put in the position of looking for the mark on the bottom of her shoe.

“Walking barefoot in the grass tickles my feet,” Victoria said. “I’ll carry my shoes.”

Alexander lifted the flute case off the ground. With her in the lead, they started down the path.

Victoria stopped short before they left the woodland and turned to face him. “I want another kiss.”

“I’ll kiss you tonight,” Alexander said.

“Why don’t you want to kiss me?”

“I want to kiss you,” he answered, “but if I do, I will embarrass myself.”

“No one is watching,” she said. “I don’t understand.”

“I will explain it tonight,” Alexander said. “Will you trust me in this?”

Victoria nodded, relieved that he wasn’t rejecting her. Alexander put his arm around her shoulder, and together, they continued down the path. Emerging near the gazebo, Victoria noted her brothers-in-law still practicing their golf.

“I want to speak to Prince Rudolf,” Alexander told her. “I’ll see you later.”

Ignoring her brothers-in-law in an attempt to avoid their teasing, Victoria continued walking toward the house. And then she heard Prince Rudolf, calling, “Tory, have you been kissing Alex?”

Victoria quickened her pace. That only made her brothers-in-law laugh.

Chapter 2

Intense and sophisticated. Definitely not boring and old.

Since returning to the house that afternoon, Victoria had closeted herself in her bedchamber and daydreamed about Alexander Emerson. She replayed the scene of his inspiring kiss over and over again in her mind. Her excitement grew to a feverish pitch until she burned with anticipation.

Victoria primped in front of the cheval mirror for more than an hour. She had chosen a silk gown in the palest shade of yellow, its color complementing her fiery curls, cascading almost to her waist. The gown’s squared neckline hinted at cleavage instead of exposing it, and she wore matching slippers on her feet.

“How do I look?” Victoria asked her sisters when they slipped into her chamber.

“Like a pretty buttercup,” Angelica said.

“Actually, you look more like a pagan princess with that mane of fire hanging loose,” Samantha said.

“How did your flirting work?” Angelica asked.

“Alex kissed me,” Victoria answered, a blush staining her cheeks. “I liked it when he put his tongue in my mouth. Would any man affect me like that?”

“Only Alex would have such a profound effect,” Samantha said.

“I wanted to let him touch me,” Victoria admitted in a whisper.

“Since he did give you your first kiss and your attention seems fixed on him,” Angelica said, “letting him touch your breasts would be permissible.”

“That would still be within the bounds of propriety,” Samantha agreed.

Victoria gave her sisters a doubtful look. “This morning you said my reputation would be ruined if I let him touch me.”

Angelica waved her hand in dismissal. “Only in general terms.”

“Rudolf touched me before we married,” Samantha said.

“Rudolf made you pregnant before you married.” Victoria looked at her oldest sister. “Robert made you pregnant before you married, too. I don’t think you are the best people to advise me.”

“Don’t be so prudish,” Angelica said.

“A little groping never hurt anyone,” Samantha added. “If God didn’t want men and women to touch, He would never have given us skin or hands.”

“Did Alexander say anything to you?” Angelica asked.

“He invited me to the opera next week,” Victoria answered. “I doubt His Grace will give me permission, though. How should I behave toward him at dinner?”

Before her sisters could reply, a knock sounded on the door. Then it opened to reveal their aunt.

“Hello, my darlings,” Aunt Roxie called, walking into the chamber. Her smile slipped when she turned her gaze on Victoria. “Tory, His Grace wants to speak with you in his study. Now.”

Victoria felt an inkling of fear. Apparently, the duke had caught her in some infraction of his rules, but she could not recall what she had done.

Descending one flight of stairs, Victoria walked the length of the corridor to her uncle’s study. She paused outside the door and wondered what she had done this time. It seemed she never did anything right, and her uncle’s scrutiny had grown since her sisters married and now were considered their husbands’ concerns.

She hoped His Grace wouldn’t reprimand her in front of Alexander. That would be too humiliating to endure.

Summoning her courage, Victoria knocked on the door. Almost instantly, she heard the duke’s voice.

“Enter,” he growled.

Victoria hesitated when she heard the anger in his voice, thinking whatever she had done must be terrible. Should she make a run for it? If she bolted, her uncle would catch up with her at the dinner table, and then Alexander would witness her humiliation.

Striving for an innocent look, Victoria wet her lips and pasted a smile on her face. She opened the door, stepped inside, and stopped short. His Grace stood behind his desk. Prince Rudolf and Alexander stood nearby.

Relief surged through her at this unexpected reprieve. The duke was in the midst of a business meeting.

“I’m sorry for interrupting,” Victoria said, her smile sunny. “I’ll come back later.”

“Come in, Victoria.” Duke Magnus gestured to her. “Sit down.”

“I don’t mind waiting.” Victoria started to close the door again.

“I said to sit down here,” Duke Magnus ordered, sounding irritated. “Close the door behind you.”

Victoria glanced at Alexander and Rudolf. Their expressions were grim. Had Alexander told His Grace that she let him put his tongue in her mouth? Was her brother-in-law there as a witness to confirm they had been alone in the woodland?

Victoria knew she should have bolted. She glanced at the door and wondered how far she could get before one of them caught her.

“Close the door and sit down,” Alexander ordered in a voice that brooked no disobedience.

Victoria took more time than necessary to close the door. She decided to brazen out the oncoming conflict. And deny, deny, deny.

After crossing the study like a woman going to meet the executioner, Victoria sat in the chair in front of the duke’s desk and wasted several moments arranging the skirt of her gown to buy herself time to gather her wits for battle. Looking up, she faltered at the duke’s expression of disapproval.

Long moments passed. Victoria began to squirm as the three men stared at her.

Duke Magnus spoke finally. “Have you gone out in the evening without my permission or knowledge?”

Victoria put a finger across her lips in a gesture of trying to remember. Then she raised enormous blue eyes to him. “I can’t recall going out without your permission or knowledge.”

Duke Magnus banged his fist on his desk. “I will not countenance your lies.”

“I am not lying,” Victoria said, her tone affronted. “I had considered going out but changed my mind.”

Duke Magnus looked doubtful. “Where had you planned to go and with whom?”

Victoria leveled an accusing glare on Alexander. He had betrayed her trust.

“I am waiting for your answer.” The duke’s voice mirrored his irritation.

“When I asked him,” she answered, “Prince Stepan offered to take me to Drury Lane.”

Victoria heard her brother-in-law cursing in Russian, but she refused to look at him. She fixed her gaze on the duke. “Becoming upset never helps, Your Grace.”

“You arrogant chit, do not speak to me in that condescending tone,” Duke Magnus shouted, frightening her. “I ought to take you across my knee and give you the spanking of your life.” He flicked a glance at the earl and said, “I will, however, leave that satisfying task to a younger man.”