To Tempt An Angel (Book 1 Douglas series) (27 page)

“I see that my nieces look spectacular,” Aunt Roxie said, beaming at them. “I feel that tonight will be special.”

“Hopefully, Charles Emerson will lose his fortune tonight,” Angelica said, making her sisters smile.

Aunt Roxie patted her hand and replied, “Perhaps the time has arrived to think about something other than revenge.”

“Nothing is more important than ruining the villain,” Angelica said.

Duke Magnus cleared his throat. “My barrister has completed the document making me your legal guardian,” he said, holding up the document. “It’s a mere formality.” He passed her aunt the quill and set the paper down on the desk in front of her, saying, “Roxanne, you sign first, and then your nieces.”

Without reading it, Lady Roxanne took the quill and signed her name. She passed the quill to Victoria, who signed it next, and then Samantha. Angelica took the quill from her sister and started to read the document.

“Darling, just sign the paper,” Aunt Roxie said. “We’re already late.”

Angelica signed her name. Then she passed the quill and the document to the duke, who walked around his desk.

 Duke Magnus offered Aunt Roxie his arm. They followed the three sisters out of the study and walked down the corridor to the ballroom, located on the same floor.

Their group gathered at the top of the ballroom, opposite the musicians at the other end. Two violins, a cornet, a cello, and a piano comprised the orchestra.

No sooner had they entered the ballroom than Venetia walked in and, smiling, crossed the room to them. She looked especially lovely in a sky-blue gown.

“Good evening, Your Grace,” Venetia said, ignoring the Douglases. “I came early to act as your hostess.”

“That won’t be necessary, darling,” Aunt Roxie drawled. “I am His Grace’s hostess.”

Venetia appeared ready to explode, but Duke Magnus said, “Do not even consider creating a scene. Why haven’t you visited Colin?”

“I didn’t think I would be welcome here,” Venetia answered, an expression of hurt appearing on her face.

“You are always welcome in my home as long as you behave civilly,” Duke Magnus told her. 

The arrival of their first guests precluded Venetia  answering. She stood beside the duke, pasted a gracious smile on her face, and pretended to be the duke’s hostess.

Swallowing a smile, Angelica turned away and spied Robert walking into the ballroom. She turned her back and whispered to her sisters, “Remember, no more than two dances with any gentleman.”

Samantha and Victoria looked at each other and rolled their eyes.

“I mean it,” Angelica warned. She shifted her gaze and found her aunt watching her, a knowing smile flirting with the corners of her lips.

Sacred sevens
, did her aunt know how Robert and she had passed the other afternoon? Angelica wondered. Where should she look? If she turned one way, her aunt and Venetia were there; but if she turned the other way, Robert—

“Good evening, Countess.”

Angelica turned around and smiled coolly at Robert. “Good evening, my lord.”

“I hope you will save a dance for me,” he said, a devastating smile on his face.

Angelica felt her heart wrench. The man was too handsome for her peace of mind. If he really cared for her, he would have shown his face before now.

“Countess?”

“I will be happy to save you a dance,” she said. “If you will excuse me?”

Angelica tried to brush past him, but he grabbed her arm, asking, “Where are you going?” She shifted her gaze to the hand on her arm. When she raised her gaze to his again, he dropped his hand.

“You aren’t leaving on my account?” Robert asked.

“You flatter yourself if you think your presence affects me,” she answered.

Angelica walked away from him and left the ballroom. She went to the ladies’ resting area and sat down. Her stomach churned, and she longed to return to her chamber. She felt comfortable with the children and out of place with society. Oh, why couldn’t Robert have left her alone that day at the fair? She didn’t belong with these people, who had never known a day of poverty; she didn’t know how to play these aristocratic games. She was the penniless Countess of Nowhere.

Society was not to blame for the way she felt, Angelica knew, pinching her cheeks to retain some color. She had created her own problems by spending an afternoon in the marquess’s bed and professing her love for him. Aunt Roxie had always said that men loved challenges. She should have listened to her aunt.

Returning to the ballroom, Angelica saw Robert in private conversation with his father and her aunt. Her sisters were dancing, as was Venetia, and Angelica wondered uncomfortably what she should do.

With no other choice, Angelica walked slowly in the direction of her aunt and the duke. Their conversation ended abruptly when she reached them.

“I hope this is our dance,” Robert said.

Angelica inclined her head and stepped onto the dance floor with him. Though her smile remained placid, she felt a hundred butterflies winging through her stomach.

What could she possibly say to him? Angelica wondered. What would she do if he mentioned their tryst?

Robert held her closer than he should have, though she tried to keep her distance. Slowly, she relaxed in his arms as they swirled around the ballroom.

“Making polite conversation is expected while dancing,” Robert said. “Unless you want the guests to think we are not in accord?”

“You dance divinely,” Angelica told his chest.

 “I believe you complimented my chest the last time we danced,” he teased her.

Angelica raised her blue gaze to him. “Where have you been these past five days?” she blurted out, losing control of her tongue.

Robert smiled. “Did you miss me, angel?”

“Not bloody likely,” she snapped with a smile on her face.

“I’m relieved to see you are your normal ornery self and suffered no ill effects from our activities the other day,” Robert said.

Angelica felt embarrassment heating her cheeks. She could only imagine how red her face must be. “Never mention that day again,” she whispered.

“I have fond memories of it,” he told her.

Of course he had fond memories, Angelica thought. She’d given herself to him completely and professed her love. What had she to show for it? Nothing.

You rescued Daisy
, an inner voice reminded her.

“Daisy has been asking for you,” Angelica said, changing the subject. “Do you think you could possibly show her a little kindness and pass an occasional hour with her?”

“I can’t do that.”

“She’s only a baby—”

“My gift to Daisy was allowing her to remain with you,”’ Robert interrupted. “She will need to be content with that.”

What a pigheaded lout
, Angelica thought, her smile never faltering. She inclined her head, accepting his statement. Arguing with him tonight would only harm her new cause, fostering a relationship between father and daughter.

“What are you planning, angel?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I don’t trust your ability to capitulate so easily,” Robert said.

The waltz ended. Angelica turned to leave the dance floor, but Robert stopped her, saying, “I believe this is our dance, too.”

“I prefer to sit this one out,” she said.

“Are you ill?” Robert asked, his hand on her arm. “Do you feel tired or queasy?”

“I am perfectly well.” Angelica couldn’t imagine why the marquess was so interested in her health. He didn’t even like her.

“I’ll ruin Drinkwater or Mayhew tonight,” he whispered, close to her ear.

“Don’t bother,” Angelica said, shrugging out of his grasp. “Ruining them is my responsibility.”

“That won’t happen tonight,” Robert told her. “You aren’t wearing sleeves or pockets.”

Angelica arched a blond brow at him. “So I’ll lose a few coins, which will make them eager to dice against me when I am wearing sleeves.”

“I forbid you to dice wearing that gown,” Robert said, a scowl appearing on his face.

“You aren’t my keeper,” Angelica informed him, unable to credit what she’d heard. “And what is wrong with this gown?”

“That gown doesn’t cover enough of your skin,” Robert answered.

So he
had
noticed her gown, Angelica thought with satisfaction. Imitating her aunt, she drawled, “The most interesting parts are covered, darling.”

“Don’t
darling
me,” Robert said in a harsh whisper. “Every man in this room is ogling you.”

“You really should smile, darling, lest these guests believe we are not in accord,” Angelica said, glancing around. No one appeared to be paying any particular attention to her.

Drawing their attention, the orchestra stopped playing. The duke stood with her aunt at the bottom of the ballroom. “May I have your attention, please?” Duke Magnus called out holding her aunt’s hand.

Angelica and Robert looked at each other. She shrugged, indicating that she had no idea what was happening.

“I have excellent news,” Duke Magnus announced. “Lady Roxanne has honored me by accepting my proposal of marriage and will become my wife, the Duchess of Inverary.”

Angelica dropped her mouth open in surprise.

She glanced at Robert, who looked as surprised as she felt

Everyone in the ballroom clapped in approval.

Duke Magnus raised Aunt Roxie’s hand to his lips. Looking infinitely pleased with herself, her aunt smiled at the duke.

“I’ll be damned,” Robert said, a smile touching his lips. “After all these years, the old fox has finally done it.”

Angelica wasn’t as pleased as the marquess. Though she approved of her aunt finding happiness, Angelica realized that now she and her sisters would be forever linked with the Campbells. The thought of facing Robert and whomever he eventually married made her stomach churn and breathing became almost painful.

“Excuse me,” Angelica said, needing to escape.

“Aren’t you going to wish them well?” Robert asked.

“I’ll speak to them later.” Without another word, Angelica left the ballroom. Instead of going to the ladies’ resting area, she wandered into the gaming room.

Charles Emerson sat at a table with Henry Drinkwater, Mungo Mayhew, and James Armstrong. Sipping a drink, Adam St. Aubyn stood nearby and watched the four men dicing.

Ladies and gentlemen filled several other tables. Some people diced, while others played cards.

“Lady Angelica, perhaps you would care to dice with us?” Charles Emerson asked, his smile ingratiating.

If only she was wearing sleeves, Angelica thought. “I’d love to dice, if you’re certain the others won’t mind,” she answered.

 Angelica glanced at Drinkwater and Mayhew. Except for James Armstrong, the others were staring at her wolfishly. Did they think she was an easy mark, or was her gown too daringly cut, as Robert had said?

“Join us, Countess,” James Armstrong said. “You are so much prettier than these fellows.”

James stood and brought an empty chair from another table. Angelica sat down and smiled as winsomely as she could.

“How much are we betting?” she asked.

“Ten pounds per throw,” James answered.

That didn’t sound too bad to Angelica, even though she was unable to cheat without pockets or sleeves. Besides, she would never try to cheat four men at the same time. If she lost a small amount of money, each of them would be eager to dice with her again.

Adam St. Aubyn placed twenty chips in front of her, saying, “You can reimburse me later.”

“Thank you, my lord,” she said.

“Gentlemen, shall we say ladies first?” James asked.

The three other men nodded. Everyone, including Angelica, put a chip aside.

“What’s your main?” James asked.

“Seven.”

Angelica made a show of closing her eyes and shaking the dice in the palm of her hand. She tossed the dice and opened her eyes. A four and a three showed up.

No one was more surprised than Angelica. She clapped her hands together, exclaiming, “I’ve won.”

Each man gave her a chip worth ten pounds and then set another chip aside. She tossed the dice again. This time a four and a two showed up, giving her another chance to throw. The third toss came up three and two, and the fourth showed a six and a one.

Smiling as the four men handed her three chips each, Angelica couldn’t believe her good luck. Too bad her father hadn’t enjoyed this luck ten years earlier. Life would have been different for her and her sisters.

Thirty minutes later, Angelica had won two hundred pounds from each man. She looked up to see Tinker standing beside her.

“Excuse me, my lady,” the majordomo said, passing her a folded piece of paper. “This is for you.”

Angelica opened the paper and recognized the handwriting. It said:
Need to speak with you privately. Meet me at the gazebo.

Angelica stared at the message. It seemed urgent, but what could have happened in the preceding thirty minutes?

She was beating her enemies without cheating. Granted, ruining them would take a long, long time if the bets remained at ten pounds a throw. Still, there was nothing more exhilarating than beating someone you hated.

Torn between staying to gamble and rushing to Robert’s side, Angelica didn’t know what to do. She hesitated for a moment and then rose from her chair.

“I’m sorry, gentlemen,” Angelica said, glancing with regret at the pile of chips she’d won. “I’m needed elsewhere.”

“Aren’t you going to give us a chance to recoup?” Charles Emerson asked.

Angelica knew these men would never dice with her again if she didn’t give them the chance to recoup their losses. She turned to Adam St. Aubyn, asking, “My lord, will you take my place?”

“I would be honored to represent you,” Adam said, stepping forward.

 “Good evening, gentlemen,” Angelica said, smiling at each in turn. “I hope we can do this again sometime.”

Angelica quit the gaming room. She walked downstairs to the first floor and then headed down the corridor that led to the back of the mansion. She stepped outside into the duke’s garden.

Accompanied by hundreds of glittering stars, a crescent moon hung in a black sky. Ground fog swirled around her legs up to her knees. Though torches had been lit, no couples walked about, and Angelica hesitated. The night was quiet, eerily quiet.