––––––––
By the time the evening’s dinner guests had started to arrive, Lilly had thought up a plan. Staying in the house was too dangerous. Not only was she in constant fear of meeting with that ghoul by the stables, but her senses were constantly assaulted by the master of the house, and there were only so many places she could hide from him—which were dwindling by the day. After the guests retired to the drawing room for dessert and dancing, Lilly would sneak out and find Chance. He was the only person she could trust to help her, and maybe even move her to a position in his household. Once Lilly could hear the music, she went up to the drawing room under the pretense of checking on the chocolate-glazed tarts she had personally made. She entered through a door hidden behind a massive potted palm, which stood directly behind the dessert table so the servants could enter and restock food without being seen by the guests. Lilly prayed she would be able to slip in and out just as easily.
Lilly peeked around the door to make sure that no one who knew her was close enough to spot her. She kept her head down and away from any who might be close enough to take notice. She wedged herself between the palm fronds and a pillar, and then discreetly began to scan the crowd of guests for Chance. However, her view was somewhat obstructed by the daughters of Lady Bellwort. Marguerite hovered over the dessert tray, chatting with her sister Portia, who was more slender and attractive. Lilly had never been formally introduced to the girls. They were younger than she was by two years, and Portia’s waspish tendencies excluded her from the circle of acquaintances with which Lilly associated. But now she could not help but be a little jealous. They both wore beautiful gowns and Lilly would give anything to be able to attend such a gathering again as herself and not some impoverished maid. She would give anything to have her old life back.
Portia’s words suddenly caught her attention. “That man’s eyes could burn a hole through my undergarments.”
“That’s if he would ever look at you, Portia, but you might as well not even exist to the earl,” Marguerite said as she shoved another cookie into her mouth. The blond curls piled on top of her head shook with each bite.
“That will change; all I need is to catch his attention for a moment and he won’t be able to take those gorgeous blue eyes of his off of me.”
Lilly rolled her eyes disgustedly. If that girl only knew what those eyes could do, she would run for the hills.
“You sound like you know him, Portia, what makes you think—”
“I just know, Marguerite!” Potia snapped back at her sister, and slapping a cookie from her hand.
Lilly slunk further behind the massive palm and sighed to herself. She herself had been the recipient of many burning stares from that blue-eyed devil. She could feel them now, burning their way down the nape of her neck to the small of her back, and knew he had to be standing right behind her.
“Oh drat,” she said, turning to face him. “You caught me.”
Dominic smiled wolfishly. “Not yet, Miss James, but soon.”
For a moment, Lilly’s eyes widened in alarm. Could that statement have a double meaning? No, it could not—he was only being his wicked self.
“Out of the kitchens to spy on the aristocracy, I see.” He leaned closer to her, forcing her to step back against the pillar.
“You wish.” No good ever came when he got that close to her. “I only came out of the kitchens to see if any more pastries needed to be made. As high on those horses as you and your friends sit, you certainly eat like you were born in a pen.”
He chuckled. “I think you forgot your place again, Miss James.” He took her arm in a vice-like grip and led her through the hidden door Lilly had used to sneak into the room. The hall on the other side was dark and deserted. Lilly’s body tensed with knowing she needed to be on guard with this sinful man—or maybe he was going to reprimand her for the insulting comment. She hoped.
“I should punish you for that insult to my guests. You just can’t seem to control that mouth of yours, can you?”
The angry words caused Lilly to blush in shame. She looked down contritely and immediately noticed his calm, relaxed hands. Her head snapped up to meet his eyes, instantly noting their glowing hot blue that was easily seen in the dim corridor. He was backing her against the wall, his hands lightly stroking her arms as her back collided with the wood paneling.
"My lord, I’m sorr—”
“Tsk tsk,” he said mockingly, “that mouth, it’s always getting you into trouble.” He swooped down, taking her mouth in a punishing kiss.
Her small hands clung to his forearms like anchors as her mind scattered into a million pieces.
Lilly knew to resist would be useless. If it were not for his body holding her to the wall, her legs would have given out moments ago. She clung for dear life, clung to his arms, clung to his lips that pushed her senses to heights she did not know she could reach from just kissing a man. She was addicted to the fire he created inside her and knew it was dangerous to let him get so close, but when it came to him, to this one man, she had no control. Not of him and not of herself. She had to stop it.
He abruptly ended the kiss. “I believe that will be enough punishment for tonight. Back to the kitchens with you, wench.”
Lilly narrowed her eyes angrily. She knew if she had not been leaning against the wall those words would have been followed by a slap on the rump. Wench, was she? We will see about that!
“Aye, guv’nor,” she said cheekily. Then she leaned in close to his ear. “I was right earlier. Pigs the lot of you, graceless, sloppy, pigs.” Then she turned and walked back into the kitchens using the regal walk of a duchess meant to put all lesser mortals in their place.
***
Dominic stared after her with a puzzled frown. Did she just call him ungraceful and sloppy when he was only moments ago kissing her senseless? And where the hell did she learn to walk like that? He turned and reentered the drawing room. Maybe that walk was ingrained in all women. He had seen more than a few women try to pull it off and—with the exception of his mother, who could conquer a country with a single stare—no one ever came close. There was something different about this girl. If only he could put his finger on it.
Her mouth was a sweet escape he could not get enough of, and in his deepest thoughts that terrified him. Only the foulest of men debauched their maids and yet here he was, kissing this woman like a dying man. She had looked up at him timidly that night, her eyes dreamy and warm. She was so damn beautiful it nearly knocked him off his feet. He was a monster after all, and he felt like the devil for all the ways he wanted to use her body to seek the pleasure and happiness he did not deserve.
It took all his effort just to keep from reaching out to her again. Low born though she might be, she was too good for him to taint with his dirty soul. I did the right thing, he told himself. Chance was right; he was a beast to have even kissed her, and now he was hunting her like prey. If by some miracle he could purge this insatiable need for her, he would save them both from the sheer madness of the impossible attraction between them. It would take a miracle, and God did not grant miracles to men like him.
Where was his conscience, his damn honor? Did the stain of war rid him of even the smallest moral guidance? He shook his head as if he could clear it of his insanity and returned to his guests.
***
The following evening Dominic sat in his study, blindly flipping through his estate ledgers.
“So I understand Lord Douglas has contacted you again.”
Dominic looked up from his forgotten papers to see Chance idly stroll into his study. With a sigh he sat back in his comfortably worn leather chair.
“So it would seem, but how did you hear about it if the situation is as delicate as Lord Douglas implied?”
“He thought you could use my help, although he didn’t tell me exactly why. Care to fill me in?”
Dominic had no qualms about telling Chance about the investigation—in fact, he had been meaning to enlist his friend’s aid, but the enchanting Miss James had proven to be a considerable distraction. So distracting that so far, he had been completely ignoring most of his duties and responsibilities.
A scary thought. Dominic had never put a woman before his patriotic duty, and he did not want to contemplate the reasons why. She was a challenge, that was all.
“I’m looking for a duke’s daughter,” Dominic finally said. “She may know the whereabouts of her treasonous stepfather or of a necklace that was stolen en route from the King of Spain to the Prince Regent. It is worth quite a large fortune, and since you are acquainted with just about everyone in our society I could definitely use your help to find her."
“Miss St. James is the young lady you are looking for, I presume?
“Yes, how did you know?”
“I am very well acquainted with her and her absence has been quite a sensation. However, I don’t know which distant family, if any, she could have run to after the scandal.” Chance took a seat in front of Dominic’s desk and casually crossed an ankle over his knee.
There was a soft knock on the door before Fields entered and bowed. “A note has arrived for you, Lord Eddington.” He held out a silver platter carrying a small sheaf of paper.
Chance took the note and opened it while Fields excused himself.
Dominic watched a flush of red sweep his friend’s face. “Is something wrong, Chance?”
“No,” Chance snapped. He was silent for a long moment before raising his gaze. “Made any conquests lately, Dom?”
Bewildered, Dominic shook his head. He had never seen such restrained anger emanating from his usually calm and content friend, and was even more confused as to why it was directed at him.
“I haven’t touched a woman in weeks, Chance, you know that.”
“What about the maid?”
“What maid?”
“The kitchen maid!” Chance bellowed.
“What the hell are you talking about, Chance?” Dominic growled in rising anger.
“The girl Dominic, the one you told me about. I told you to leave her alone. She was... too innocent, too—” Chance stood angrily and turned away.
“Too what, Chance? And what does that damn note have to do with her?” Dominic watched him with a growing coldness in his chest.
“Nothing.” Chance suddenly turned toward him, an unemotional mask in place.
Dominic narrowed his eyes, rose from his seat, and prowled around the desk. “You don’t lie worth a damn, Chance. Now, what interests do you have in my kitchen staff after you called me a monster for even looking at her?” An odd emotion was spreading across Dominic’s insides, and it felt suspiciously like jealousy.
“Christ, Dom, I don’t have any interest in her except for her welfare. She’s a sweet girl and I don’t want to see anything happen to her.”
“Is the note from her? Let me see it.” Dominic snatched at it.
Chance smiled as he jerked it out of Dominic’s reach. “No.” He tucked it in his jacket and turned to leave. “The note is coincidental, that’s all, but I must be going, for it is urgent.”
Dominic followed him. Amongst the maelstrom of emotions now rumbling inside him, some odd pieces were beginning to fit together. A cook’s assistant with impeccable speech, butter-soft skin, and the high-handedness of a duchess. Things his lust-clouded mind tried to instantly refuse, but his instincts were pricked and on alert.
“Damn it, Chance, what is going on?” He followed him to the front door as Fields handed Chance his cloak and gloves.
“Nothing is going on, Dom, you’re just getting paranoid in your old age.”
“Tell me or I’ll beat it out of you,” Dominic threatened. He felt on the brink of madness.
Chance finally dropped his facade and looked Dominic in the eyes. “I can’t, Dom. Not yet, and that’s all I can say.”
“But you will tell me?”
“I hope that I can, but it’s not my secret to share.” Chance looked away guiltily.
“I can’t stand secrets, Chance, you know that. It just isn’t in me. I have very few people to trust in this life and I don’t want to lose one more.”
“You can trust me, Dom, don’t ever doubt that,” Chance said beseechingly.
“You’re lying to me, how can I trust you?” Dominic was breathing heavily; he felt like he was on the verge of something enormous, struggling in the dark of his emotions until someone would take pity on him and reveal the light.
“I don’t want to lie, but I have to protect... Just trust me, trust our friendship. I have to go, Dom.”
That was when it all fell into place. Dominic just stared stonily at the door as it shut behind Chance. He would need more proof to confirm it, but it was just insane enough to probably be true. A duke’s daughter, in his house, and he’d had his hands all over her.