To Tempt An Angel (Book 1 Douglas series) (15 page)

“That is illogical,” Robert said with a smile, heedless of the warning signs in her expression.

Angelica lost the battle for control of her emotions. She slapped him hard, surprising him. Without another word she turned away and walked down the corridor.

When she neared the stairs, she heard James Armstrong saying, “You have the lady where you want her?”

“I can hear the wedding bells now,” Adam St Aubyn remarked.

“No, no. That’s the sound of crashing crockery,” James replied.

Angelica smiled to herself. She walked up the stairs, out of earshot, and began to worry about how the marquess would retaliate for striking him.

Sacred sevens
, why had she done it? Certainly not because he’d managed to beat her at dice.

She was jealous, Angelica realized in surprise. She loved Robert Campbell in spite of his lies. Well, her love for him was something he would never know. After her revenge was complete, she would leave London. Eventually, she would find another man to love.

Thank heavens for her aunt’s example. Aunt Roxie had loved three men enough to marry them, proving there was more than one love in a woman’s life.

*    *    *

Angelica refused to speak to the marquess for a week. Keeping her silence wasn’t easy, though. If nothing else, the man was persistent.

Robert arrived to breakfast with her the morning after she slapped him and kept up a ridiculous one-sided conversation. When he invited her to ride in Hyde Park, Angelica left the dining room and retreated to her bedchamber.

On the second day Robert came to tea and the third day saw him at the dinner table. When the fourth day dawned, Angelica breakfasted alone in her chamber. Fearing she’d meet him, she skipped afternoon tea and pleaded a headache at the dinner hour.

When she awakened on the fifth day, Angelica knew two things for certain: She was hungry, and she had never felt so confined in her life. Her bedchamber was a luxurious cell. Why should she be imprisoned because the Marquess of Argyll was a womanizing liar?

“Darling?”

Angelica heard her aunt call and the soft rapping on her bedchamber door. “Darling, are you awake?”

“Come in, Aunt Roxie,” she said.

The door opened. Her aunt carried a bouquet of royal blue and soft azure forget-me-nots.

“The marquess sent you these,” Aunt Roxie said, handing her the flowers.

His message was obvious. Lifting the bouquet out of her aunt’s hands, Angelica asked, “What marquess?”

“Give over, darling,” Aunt Roxie said. “You cannot believe how distraught with remorse Robert is about your misunderstanding.”

“You are correct,” Angelica replied. “I cannot believe Robert is distraught with remorse.”

Aunt Roxie gave her a dimpled smile. “Don’t make him wait too long,” she advised, and then left the room.

When teatime arrived, Aunt Roxie returned to her chamber. This time she carried a bouquet of crimson-tassled love-lies-bleeding blossoms surrounded by greenery.

“The marquess sent you these,” her aunt said.

Angelica lifted the bouquet out of her aunt’s hand, a reluctant smile flirting with the corners of her lips. Did the marquess actually want to make amends, or was his pride merely hurt? If only she knew the truth.

“In the language of flowers, love-lies-bleeding means ‘hopeless, not heartless,’“ Aunt Roxie told her.

“Thank you, Aunt Roxie.”

“I never noticed how stubborn you are,” her aunt remarked. “No offense, darling.”

“None taken.”

“If you refuse to speak to him,” Aunt Roxie warned, her exasperation apparent, “you’ll never become mistress of all this.” For emphasis, she gestured around the richly appointed chamber.

“I’ll never become mistress of this even if I do speak to him,” Angelica replied.

“We’ll see about that,” Aunt Roxie said with an ambiguous smile.

“Auntie dearest, the marquess has a mistress and plans to marry Venetia,” Angelica informed her.

“Who told you that?”

“Venetia.”

“I warned you not to trust her,” Aunt Roxie replied. “That extends to listening to her lies.” Her aunt put her arm around her and said, “Darling, dangers surround us in every direction now that we’ve taken our rightful place in society. Never remove that diamond pendant I gave you. Its magic will protect you from those who seek to do you harm.”

“What do you mean?” Angelica asked as her aunt crossed the chamber to the door.

Aunt Roxie smiled at her and said, “Understanding is unnecessary; believing is everything.” And then she vanished out the door.

Alone again, Angelica sat in front of the darkened hearth and considered her aunt’s words. Could she be correct about Venetia? Had the other woman lied in order to discourage her?

Robert had been kind and generous to her family. Perhaps she would send him a note in the morning, asking him to call upon her. She would make him squirm and then forgive him.

Angelica knew one thing for certain. She couldn’t spend the rest of her life hiding in her chamber.

“Come in, Aunt Roxie,” she called a short time later, hearing a knock on her door.

Carrying a long box, her aunt breezed into the room. “How did you know it was me, darling?”

“I have the Sight “

“What a tease you are,” Aunt Roxie said, passing her the box. “The marquess sent you this.”

Angelica opened the box. Inside lay one perfect red rose entwined with one perfect white one.

“A symbol of unity?” Angelica said laughing.

“The marquess adores you.”

“The marquess adores
all
women.”

“Give the man another chance,” her aunt advised.

“I’ve already given him another chance,” Angelica said. She sighed, adding, “I will consider it just for you.”

The next morning Angelica went down to breakfast and helped herself to eggs, ham, and a roll. Then she sat down alone at the table. The wonderful thing about rising early, she decided, was enjoying a leisurely breakfast and reading
The Times
without having to make conversation.

A footman appeared at the door and handed an envelope to the majordomo who, in turn, delivered it to Angelica. He told her, “The courier has instructions to wait for an answer.”

“Thank you, Mr. Tinker.”

Angelica knew whom it was from before she opened it. The message said:
Will you meet me in my father’s study at noon to dice? If you win, I’ll leave you alone; if I win, you’ll speak to me again.

“Tell the marquess I said yes,” Angelica called to the courier.

“Very good, my lady.”

Angelica had a second cup of coffee and thought about Robert. His ploy was so transparent. He thought she would be unable to resist a challenge at the gaming table. Obviously, he planned to use his loaded dice and win their game. She planned to let him.

When she descended the stairs to the duke’s study at noon, Angelica left her loaded dice behind in her chamber. She needed to pretend to play in earnest. The man had his pride, and she had no wish to injure his feelings. Angelica cared deeply for him and believed the marquess cared for her, or he would not have been so persistent.

Robert was waiting for her. Heartbreakingly handsome in his crisp white lawn shirt and waistcoat, he sat behind his father’s desk, reading some documents. He smiled when she entered and rose from his chair, saying, “Good afternoon, my lady.”

“Good afternoon, my lord,” Angelica said, and then closed the study door to give them privacy. She walked across the study, saying, “Thank you for the flowers.”

“You are welcome. But where is Jasper?”

“I left him upstairs,” Angelica answered, halting in front of his father’s desk. She suffered the sudden feeling that more than the furniture separated them.

“You wanted no distractions?”

“Precisely.”

“Where would you like to sit?” he asked, gesturing around the room.

She pointed to the chair behind the duke’s desk and answered, “I want to sit there.”

“I’ve already set up a table in front of the settee,” Robert said. “I believe we’ll be more comfortable there.”

Angelica inclined her head like a young queen granting a favor. She crossed the study and sat on the settee.

“Do you have anything up your sleeves?” Robert teased, sitting down beside her.

“Your suspicion wounds me,” Angelica said.

“Then you know how I feel,” Robert replied. “But I forgive you.”

“
You
forgive
me
?” she echoed in disbelief.

“I forgive you for believing Venetia’s lies,” he told her, “but I understand that my previous lies contributed to your lack of faith.”

Angelica gave him a long look and then said dryly, “How generous of you to forgive me.”

“Shall we play?” Robert asked, and gave her a boyish grin. He produced the dice and handed them to her, saying, “You throw first.”

Angelica lifted the dice out of his hand. Ever so slowly, she turned each die over and over and carefully inspected them to be certain they hadn’t been loaded.

“Don’t you trust me?” Robert asked with laughter lurking in his voice.

Angelica gazed at him from beneath the thick fringe of her golden lashes. “No, I don’t,” she answered.

“Your distrust hurts me deeply,” Robert told her, touching his heart. “The winner will be two out of three games?”

Angelica nodded in agreement. “My main is seven,” she said, and tossed the dice. A two and a two showed face up, giving her another chance to throw.

Again, Angelica tossed the dice. This time they landed on four and two. She tossed once more. A one and a one showed, which meant she gave up her throw to him.

Robert lifted the dice off the table. He shifted them back and forth in his hands, saying, “Seven is my main.”

The dice landed on six and three, giving him another chance. The second toss landed on four and two. Three and four showed on his third toss, giving him a one-game lead.

Smiling broadly, Robert lifted the dice and shook them in his hand. Then he passed them to her, saying, “Try again, my lady.”

“You’re certain?” Angelica asked. Technically, the winner tossed again.

Robert inclined his head. “I want to be fair.”

Angelica paused and inspected the dice again. When she tossed, they landed on five and four. She cast the dice three more times before they showed six and six.

“
Sacred sevens
,” Angelica muttered. Winning without cheating was difficult in the extreme. Oh, how her poor father must have suffered as he lost his fortune to Emerson and the others.

Robert lifted the dice off the table and shook them in his hands. He tossed three times before the dice landed on four and three.

“And now, my lady, will you honor me with a victory kiss?” he asked, pocketing the dice.

“You’ve won the honor of speaking to me,” she answered, and gave him a sunny smile. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

“As you wish, my lady.” Then Robert asked, “Are you enjoying your new life of luxury?”

Angelica paused for a brief moment and then sighed. “If it weren’t for my revenge,” she answered honestly, “I’d pack my belongings and return to Primrose Hill.”

His expression registered surprise. “Tell me why,” he said.

“Life before Campbell mansion was infinitely more interesting,” Angelica told him. “I’m bored to tears.”

Robert laughed. “Thankfully, you’re not bored to death.”

“Who will you ruin tomorrow night?” she asked, leaning close.

“I think Alasdair Trimble will be easiest,” Robert told her, leaning back and resting his arm on the settee behind her.

Angelica smiled with anticipation. “Alasdair Trimble, it is.”

“I’ll catch Henry Drinkwater at the Emersons’ ball next week,” Robert said. “I suppose I can catch Mayhew at White’s.”

“I can’t watch if you do that,” Angelica complained. “I want to see these villains squirm.”

“Bloodthirsty, aren’t you?” Robert stood then, saying, “I do have paperwork waiting for me at home.”

Angelica was unable to keep the disappointed look off her face. Reluctantly, she rose from the settee.

“Would you care to accompany me and tour my house?” Robert invited her. “I live two doors down from here.”

I would love to tour your house,
Angelica thought. Instead, she said, “No, thank you. The Countess of Melrose has a reputation to protect.”

“Will you walk me to the foyer?”

“Yes, of course.”

Arm in arm, Robert and Angelica left the duke’s study. They walked slowly down the corridor to the stairs as if neither wanted to separate.

“Why didn’t you use your loaded dice on me, angel?” Robert asked as they reached the foyer.

“I left them in my chamber.”

“By design or accident?”

“Design.”

“Are you implying that you wanted me to win?” Robert asked.

“Well, I thought I’d use yours,” Angelica answered, giving him a flirtatious smile, “but you kept switching them on me.”

Robert burst out laughing.

From the corner of her eye, Angelica spied Tinker opening the front door and heard the majordomo saying, “I hope your ride was—”

“I’ve changed my mind about that kiss,” Angelica said. throwing herself into Robert’s arms. She drew his head down to hers, pressed her lips to his, and kissed him as if she would never let him go. Robert put his arms around her and returned her kiss in kind.

“Are you certain you won’t accompany me home?” he whispered against her lips.

“I’m positive,” she answered, albeit reluctantly.

“Until later, my lady.” Robert stepped back and lifted her hand to his lips. Turning away, he crossed the foyer to the door, saying as he passed her, “Good day to you, Venetia.” And then he disappeared out the door.

Seeing the murderous gleam in the other woman’s eyes, Angelica gave her a sunny smile and said, “Don’t send those wedding invitations out just yet.” Without giving the brunette a chance to respond, she hurried up the stairs.

“Bravo,” Aunt Roxie said, watching from the first landing.

“I learned my tricks from an expert,” Angelica said, and winked at her.

“Thank you for the high praise, darling.”