Velvet Embrace (51 page)

Dominic appeared not to have heard. Denise watched in amazement as he turned away to accept his evening cape from an attendant footman. She had never before known Dominic to allow anyone to use that tone of voice with him.

"By God, Dominic—"

"This is hardly the place to discuss our differences," he said calmly.

Julian clamped his mouth shut, saying nothing further until they were out on the street and Denise had been handed into Dominic's carriage. Then he repeated his accusation in a voice that was taut with suppressed fury.

Denise had no trouble hearing the exchange through the open carriage door, and by parting the curtains slightly, she could also see. Dominic stood with one foot poised on the carriage step, his expression inscrutable, but when Julian reached out to grasp his arm, a dangerous gleam flashed in his eyes.

At his warning, Julian released his grip, although he retained
his belligerent stance. "I'll not let you get away with this, Dominic. Did you think she had no protectors? That I would stand by and let you make a mockery of her honor?"

Dominic's reply was cool, but his voice held a savage undertone. "You are mistaken. Miss
Carringdon
needs a keeper, not a protector. Now if you will excuse me?"

He turned away, making to enter the coach, but when Julian spoke again to demand satisfaction, Dominic froze. "I will pretend I did not hear that remark, my friend," he said softly.

"You would ignore a challenge?"

"I have no wish to put a bullet through you, Julian—and certainly not because a scheming little witch has you blinded with her beauty. I leave for the Continent tomorrow. I trust that by the time I return, you will have come to your senses." Dominic climbed into the coach, then, slamming the door behind him.

As the carriage pulled away, Denise managed a final glance out the window. Julian stood there, glaring after them, his face white with fury.

Denise hid her triumphant smile as she settled herself comfortably against the cushions. She had no desire to see Dominic engaged in a duel over another woman, particularly Brie
Carringdon
, but this last exchange convinced her she had nothing to fear. Even if her wide experience with men had not made her a competent judge, one look at Dominic's brooding features would have told her that he held no love for her beautiful rival. For whatever reason, the
Carringdon
chit had incurred his wrath, and then Julian had added fuel to the fire by defending her.

Wisely, Denise was silent for the short trip to her home. She fully intended to capitalize on Dominic's violent mood, but she knew better than to draw his attention while his fury was still at its peak. His strong profile was barely visible in the darkness as he lounged negligently in his seat, staring out the window, but Denise could sense the unleashed tension in his body. He was like a powerful, savage beast, tightly controlled but primed
for attack, awaiting the slightest provocation.

Her pulses leapt when at last Dominic turned to look at her. His eyes were hard and glittering, holding no trace of gentleness. The banked fires of his passions needed a release, she knew, and she hoped he would find it in her body.

When the carriage drew to a halt before her house, she murmured his name and in her husky voice, invited him to come inside. Dominic merely leaned over to push open the door.

"You aren't leaving now!" she exclaimed in bewilderment.

His gray eyes raked her body. "I'm not feeling particularly amorous at the moment, if you hadn't noticed."

"Dominic, about what happened this evening—"

"I don't wish to discuss it, Denise."

When she realized he was serious, Denise flounced down from the carriage and whirled to face him. "Damn you, Dominic! What do you want from me? You practically command me to attend the ball with you this evening, but when we arrive, you completely ignore me. Then you whisk me away while everyone is staring at us, without so much as a by your leave, and
then
you have the temerity to drop me on my doorstep like a piece of unwanted baggage!"

"I've no interest in sharing you with half the men in London,
chérie
."

"Well! I never expected you of all men to act the prude. You and your little Miss
Carringdon
are well matched, I must say!"

"Leave her out of this," he said savagely.

Denise's smile was a perfect imitation of Dominic's usual sardonic one. "Did that touch a nerve, milord? She put those scratches on your handsome face, didn't
she.
Poor
darling.
It must rankle to know that not every woman leaps at the chance to bed the great Lord Stanton!"

Dominic's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. Denise stood there a moment longer, glaring at him defiantly, but then she bit her lip. "Please forgive me for saying that, darling." Letting tears well in her eyes, she held out her arms to him.

Dominic looked at her with cool contempt.
"Enough of your tricks, Denise.
I'm not coming in. If you wish, however, I shall stop the first gentleman I pass and send him to you. It would be a pity to let your lovely charms go
untasted
."

Denise uttered a shriek and tore her reticule from her wrist, intending to throw it in his face, but Dominic closed the door and rapped on the ceiling. The coach pulled away, leaving her to vent her fury on the hapless cobblestones.

For the first few hours, the Earl of Stanton's well-sprung travelling coach made good time on the road from London to Dover. The coach's occupants travelled in comparative comfort, although there was little conversation to lighten the tedious miles.

Jason, finding Dominic uncommunicative, settled back to watch the passing scenery from the coach window.
After a time, though, his thoughts strayed from the rolling Kentish landscape to the ugly rumors that had reached his ears before leaving London that morning. According to the reports, Dominic had behaved outrageously at the
Copely's
ball and had torn Brie
Carringdon's
reputation to shreds in the process. Jason would have liked to know just how much truth was in those rumors, but Dominic had refused to discuss the matter.

He didn't appear to be too concerned now, Jason thought with a glance at his friend. Dominic was dozing in the forward seat, his arms folded across his chest, his long legs stretched comfortably before him. Jason shrugged. One could never tell about Dominic. The man had a well-developed talent for keeping his thoughts hidden .His success as a spy had depended on it. It was only because they had known each other for so long that Jason was able to sense the simmering anger behind the enigmatic mask.
Something
definitely had happened
yesterday, Jason knew. But he also knew the subject would remain closed until Dominic chose to open it.

Jason was about to follow Dominic's example and get some sleep when the horses suddenly slackened their pace. He could hear the coachman's voice raised in altercation, and when he glanced out the window, he could see a lone, caped horseman riding beside the box.

"I think it would behoove you to wake up, Dom," Jason said as the coach ground to a halt. "I do believe we are being held up.

Dominic raised one eyelid. "Jacques has dealt with highwaymen before. He can be counted on to handle it."

"Is that so?" Jason replied, watching as the rider dismounted. "Then why do you not tell that to our uninvited guest? He appears to be coming this way."

Dominic sat up then, and as a precaution, checked to see that the pistols in the carriage side pockets were primed and loaded. Jason kept an eye out the window, relaxing somewhat when he realized the horseman was but a mere youth. The boy had a slender figure, and although his hat was pulled well down to cover his face, his exposed chin was smooth and beardless. He was hidden from view as he handed his reins to one of the footman, but a moment later the door was flung open. To his astonishment, Jason found himself staring directly into the lovely blue-green eyes of Brie
Carringdon
.

She seemed surprised to see him as well, but as she took the seat next to Jason, she recovered her poise. "I beg your pardon, Lord
Effing
," she said with an aplomb that would have done credit to a diplomat. "I did not expect to see you here." With a faint smile, Brie indicated the pistol in her hand. "You needn't worry. I don't intend to shoot
you.
Your friend, however, is another matter entirely. Hello, Dominic."

Jason, knowing Dominic well, expected any number of reactions from him: surprise, scorn, anger, even caution. But neither Jason nor Brie anticipated Dominic's amusement. "Ah,
chérie
," he said, his gray eyes narrowing with laughter.
"You never cease to amaze me. I thought I had gotten rid of you, yet here you are, pointing a gun at my head after holding up my coach in broad daylight. What will you do next, I wonder?"

Brie shrugged indifferently, keeping a firm rein on her temper. She would never have let Dominic know what it had cost her pride to arrange this meeting. His cruelty last night had hurt her beyond feeling—or so she told herself. "I am sorry to disappoint you, Lord Stanton," she replied, "but I did not hold up your coach. Your coachman recognized me and allowed me to board."

"I did not think Jacques was so lacking in sense. Tell me, dear girl, what do you intend to do now? Kidnap me?"

His tone held the familiar mockery, but Brie had braced herself for it. "Not at all," she replied coolly. "And in any case," she gave Jason a brilliant smile, "I doubt Lord
Effing
would allow such a thing."

Jason returned her smile with one of his own. "Probably not, Miss
Carringdon
, but I expect it would depend on your reasons." He leaned back in his seat, beginning to enjoy himself. "Why did you,
er
, join us in such an unorthodox fashion?"

"I want to know where you are going."

"Why?" The question came from Dominic, and Brie tried not to flinch at his savage tone.

"Yes, why, Miss
Carringdon
?" Jason asked more gently.

She turned pleading eyes to Jason, finding it easier to look at him than Dominic. "Lord
Effing
, I assume you have heard by now of the
Durhams
? Are you also aware of my relationship with that family? Suzanne Durham was my mother. I . . ." Brie faltered,
then
took a deep breath. "I have several reasons for wishing to accompany you. First, Lord Stanton believes that my mother was responsible for the arrest of his father. I do not. My mother was simply not the kind of person who could send someone to a certain death. I intend to find out what happened."