To Tempt An Angel (Book 1 Douglas series) (7 page)

“I’ve brought you a gift,” Robert coaxed.

Payment for services rendered, Angelica thought. Then, she called, “The only gift I want is for you to go away.”

“Away, away,” Jasper mimicked her.

“What about your revenge?” Robert asked.

“I don’t need you for my revenge,” she answered.

“Angelica, open the door,” Robert ordered in a stern voice, his growing frustration apparent. “Or I’ll—” He let the implied threat hang in the air.

“Or you’ll do what?” Angelica challenged him. “Steal my virginity?”

“I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house down,” he called.

Angelica burst out laughing. She opened the door. No longer dressed in elegant evening attire, Robert Roy smiled with boyish charm. He held out two roses, one red and one white.

“Love and unity?” Angelica asked, referring to the language of flowers as she lifted the roses out of his hand.

Robert shrugged. Nailed to the wooden door-frame above his head was a plant. “What is this?” he asked.

“Wolfsbane to keep you away,” Angelica answered, and gave him a sunny smile.

Robert grinned. “It didn’t work.”

“Neither did this,” Angelica replied, reaching into her pocket for a bit of rolled leather.

“What is that?”

“Wolfsbane seed wrapped in lizard’s skin is supposed to empower its bearer with invisibility,” Angelica told him.

Robert burst out laughing. “May I come in?”

Angelica inclined her head. She stepped aside to allow him entrance.

“Hello,” the macaw called.

“Hello, Jasper.”

“Great grunting shit,” the bird said. “Drink, drink, drink.”

“Jasper learned vulgar expressions from my father,” Angelica said with an embarrassed smile, a high blush staining her cheeks. She gestured toward the table, saying, “Sit down here.”

“Where is the earl?” Robert asked.

Angelica placed the two roses in a glass and sat down opposite him, saying, “My father hasn’t returned yet.”

“Where are your sisters and aunt?” he asked.

“They’ve gone out to discover whether there’s been any gossip about Mr. Lewis today.”

“So we’re alone,” Robert said, relaxing visibly.

“What happened between us this morning will never happen again,” Angelica told him, her blue gaze narrowing on him. “Do you understand?”

“Would you leave me without hope, angel?”

“Yes, I would.”

Robert lifted the cards off the table and shuffled them. “What will you do with the winnings from your revenge?” he asked, changing the subject.

“I intend to move my family to Scotland,” she answered.

“Scotland?” Robert echoed in obvious surprise.

“My father owns Sweetheart Priory” Angelica told him. “He’s forbidden by law to sell it.”

“I thought you would move to Park Lane and flaunt your riches,” Robert said with a smile.

Angelica laughed at the idea. “What do you do for money, sir?”

“What do you mean?”

“How do you earn your keep?”

“Oh, this and that,” he answered with a shrug.

“I almost forgot.”

Robert rose from the chair and walked outside. Returning a moment later, he held up a green apple. “For Jasper.”

“Hold it out to him,” Angelica said.

Instead of returning to the table, Robert sat on the settee in front of the hearth. “Come, Jasper,” he said, holding out the apple.

The macaw approached him cautiously. Quickly but gently, the bird lifted the apple out of his hand.

Then it shifted the apple from its mouth to its claws and begun crunching away.

“Mmmmm,” Jasper said.

“He appears to be eating by hand,” Robert said with a smile. He glanced over his shoulder at her, saying, “We’ll be more comfortable on the settee.”

Angelica did not want to sit beside him on the settee. There was danger in being so close to him. And yet, the man was so incredibly handsome.

Reluctantly, Angelica rose from her chair and crossed the room like a woman going to the gallows. She sat down, her body stiff and poised to bolt if he tried to touch her.

“Relax, angel,” Robert said. He drew her back against the settee, but his arm remained around her shoulders.

Angelica fixed her gaze on Jasper, the sight of the green apple reminding her of Daisy Dubois. “I would like your advice,” she said, turning to him.

“About what, angel?” he asked.

“One of my aunt’s clients brought her little girl with her yesterday,” Angelica explained. “The poor child had bruises on both arms.”

“And?”

“I’m certain the mother inflicted them on her,” Angelica continued. “What would you do?”

“I would mind my own business,” Robert told her.

“But the child—”

Robert placed one finger across her lips and said, “Angel, you have enough problems without borrowing another’s.”

“I cannot bear to see children suffer,” Angelica told him.

“You have a good heart,” Robert said. “Perhaps when your revenge is complete, you’ll have enough money to take the child away from the mother. Until then—”

“I suppose I am in no position to feed another mouth,” Angelica replied. She stared into the darkened hearth, and her thoughts traveled through space and time to her own childhood. “You may not believe this, but my father was kind and sensitive and sober before my mother died.

“Every night my father would tell me a story. My favorite was the one about whom I would marry.” She smiled with remembrance. “He said I needed to content myself as a duchess instead of a princess. He and his so-called friend, the Duke of Inverary, had decided that I would marry the duke’s eldest son. Why are you looking at me so strangely?”

“I had no idea I was in such exalted company,” Robert answered.

“The higher one flies, the further one falls,” she replied.

“I am sorry for your loss, angel.”

“I don’t mind not becoming a duchess,” Angelica said with a sad smile, her blue eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I only miss my father and . . . and feeling safe.”

Robert lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. His kiss was long, slow, and healing. Loss and the need to feel loved made Angelica yield to his advances. She entwined her arms around his neck and returned his kiss in kind. Only the exquisite feeling of his touch on her breasts brought her back to reality.

Angelica drew back “I told you this would never happen again,” she said, and there was no mistaking the anger in her voice and her gaze.

“Listen to your body, angel,” he said in a husky whisper.

“I want you to leave now,” Angelica said, though her heart ached for him to stay.

 “I was married briefly,” Robert said, ignoring her words. “Louisa was carrying my child when she—” He hesitated. “—when she died.”

His revelation surprised Angelica, her heart wrenching at his obvious pain. No wonder the man was reluctant to marry.

“I am sorry for your loss,” she said.

“Thank you, angel.” Robert gave her a sad smile. “Shall I leave now, or would you like to sit at the table and teach me how to cheat?”

“Let’s sit at the table,” Angelica answered, trying to cheer him.

Together, Robert and Angelica returned to the table. When he helped her into her chair, Angelica felt like a Park Lane lady.

Again, Robert sat in the chair opposite hers. He lifted the cards and started to shuffle them.

“Cheating at dice is easier,” Angelica said, reaching out to stay his hands. “Besides, hazard is played for high stakes at Crockford and White’s.”

Angelica stood and disappeared into her chamber. When she returned a moment later, she carried a small wooden box and set it down on the table between them.

With a mischievous smile, Angelica lifted the top off the box to reveal two-dozen pairs of dice. “Loaded dice have heavy metal inserted into the dots, while crooked dice land on certain faces more often.”

Angelica knew from his expression that she had surprised him. “I prefer loaded dice,” she said, and lifted several pairs out of the box. “Dice can be made from ivory, wood, stone, glass, amber, or metal. I always carry several different kinds so I’ll be prepared, no matter what.”

Robert grinned at her. “Angel, you amaze me.”

“Thank you.”

“How do you introduce these into the game?” he asked.

“Sleight of hand.”

“How does one cheat at cards?”

“Ah, that is a bit more difficult,” Angelica told him. “You must remember what cards have been played and always keep extra cards on your person. Sleight of hand is also useful.”

“How unfortunate that you were born female,” Robert said, laughing. “If you’d been born male, you’d be the richest man in London.”

“Or England,” she added.

The door crashed open. Her father staggered into the cottage, muttering, “Great grunting shit, I need a drink.”

Angelica bolted out of her chair. “Papa, where have you been?” she asked, hurrying to his side.

“Looking for peace,” Graham Douglas answered.

“Let me help you to your room,” Angelica said, taking hold of his arm.

Her father paused at the table and looked at Robert, who’d stood when the older man had entered. “You haven’t aged a day, Magnus,” the earl said.

“My lord, you mistake me for another,” Robert replied.

“Ah, Magnus, you can’t fool me,” Graham said, and then turned to Angelica. “I’m tired, little girl.”

“I’ll help you to bed.” She put her arm around him and guided him to the bedroom.

“I’ve a mighty thirst,” he told her. “Is there anything to drink?”

“Later.”

“Great grunting shit.” Her father lay on his bed and then called out to her, “Child, leave the door open. Magnus has an eye for the ladies, and I don’t want him dishonoring you.”

Angelica left the door open. When she looked at Robert, she was startled by his forbidding expression. Was he angry with her? She couldn’t help the fact that her father had returned. He did live here.

“What is wrong?” she asked.

“It’s a little late for the earl to think about protecting your virtue,” Robert answered, his cold gaze fixed on the doorway to his room. “Your father had an obligation to protect you. His neglect of his duty has left you and your sisters vulnerable.”

“That’s unfair,” Angelica protested, coming to her father’s defense. “My father has troubles.”

“Everyone has troubles,” Robert replied. “I didn’t drown myself in alcohol when my wife died.”

“Perhaps you possess more inner strength.”

“Perhaps you are correct,” Robert said, his gaze on her softening. “I’m leaving now.”

Angelica nodded but was unable to hide her disappointment.

“I promise to return tomorrow,” Robert told her. He produced a leather pouch and emptied its contents, twenty pounds, on the table.

“I don’t want your money,” she said.

“Take it,” he ordered. “I want you to promise me you won’t gamble today.”

“I promise.”

Robert leaned close and planted a chaste kiss on her lips. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Angelica nodded and walked outside with him. She smiled when he whistled for his horse.

“Remember, angel,” Robert said after mounting his horse, “no grave robbing tonight”

Angelica watched him ride down the dirt road toward Primrose Hill. She knew she shouldn’t have let him kiss her again. Her duty to her family was more important than her desire for love. What power did this Robert Roy possess that his mere touch made her forget both her duty and her revenge?

Too bad they hadn’t met under different circumstances. Angelica sighed. As long as she was wishing, she might as well wish her father had never lost his fortune, her mother was still alive, and the duke’s son had come courting and fallen in love with her.

With a heavy heart, Angelica walked back inside the cottage. Playing her harp would make her feel better.

“What are you doing?” Angelica cried when she spied her father lifting the twenty pounds off the table.

“I need a drink,” her father answered.

Blocking the door, Angelica stood her ground. She refused to let him steal their money and kill himself with drink

“Papa, put the money back.”

“I need a drink,” he repeated. “It dulls the pain.”

“You do
not
need a drink” Angelica insisted. “That won’t bring Mother back from the dead.”

“Stand aside,” he ordered.

“No.”

In one swift motion, Graham Douglas reached out and shoved her so hard she fell to the floor. Instinctively, Angelica drew the dagger she kept strapped to her leg.

“Would you murder your own father?” the earl demanded, standing over her. “You have the look of your mother but none of her gentleness.” And then he disappeared out the door.

Angelica lay on the floor where she had fallen. Suddenly, the burden of her life seemed too heavy to endure a moment longer. She rolled onto her stomach and wept . . . for her father, for her family, for the fairy-tale life with a duke’s son that would never be.

Her aunt and her sisters arrived home a few minutes later and found her there. “Angelica darling,” her aunt cried. “Are you ill?”

Angelica rolled over and looked at them through tear-swollen eyes. She shook her head and tried to explain. “R-Robert—”

“Did Robert dishonor you?” Aunt Roxie asked.

“Yes, but that was this morning,” Angelica answered, rising from the floor with the aid of her sisters.

“Why, that’s wonderful news,” Aunt Roxie gushed with excitement.

“What did it feel like?” Victoria asked.

“Don’t be a twit,” Samantha scolded her younger sister. “Lovemaking with a man like Robert Roy would be paradise on earth.”

“This subject is unseemly for girls your age,” Aunt Roxie told them. She smiled at Angelica, saying, “You’ll marry, of course. Events are progressing as I saw in my vision.”

“You had a vision?” Samantha echoed.

“What did you see for me?” asked Victoria.

Aunt Roxie gave them a quelling look.

“The man does not want to marry me,” Angelica told her aunt. “He asked me to be his mistress.”

Aunt Roxie dismissed that with a wave of her hand. “Darling, watch what a man does, not what he says.”

Angelica gave her aunt a skeptical look. Robert had certainly seemed emphatic about his desire not to marry her.