Duchess by Chance (22 page)

“It is merely a gentle waltz, my dear Berengaria - nothing overzealous, I assure you.” He smiled at her, although the gesture failed to reach his eyes.
 

If she refused him would he cause a scene? Eva could not afford that to happen with so many eyes upon her. Perhaps she could dance and return to Claire before Daniel noticed she was with Lord Huxley.
 

“Eva, if you - ”

“I’m going to dance with Lord Huxley, Claire. I shall return soon.”

How could she suddenly feel so alone surrounded by so many people? Lord Huxley swung her into his arms, his fingers gripping hers so hard, she wanted to wince. But Eva knew how to hide what she felt.

“I knew you would dance like an angel, my dear. I hope to have the honor of partnering you often.”

Eva tried to keep the correct distance as he pulled her closer. It was the second waltz she realized, the dance she had promised to Daniel. If only her husband had come sooner to claim her then Huxley would not have approached and she would now be in the duke’s arms.
 

“I have no wish to dance with you again, Lord Huxley, and would ask you to keep your distance in the future.”

He laughed in her face. “I think not, Berengaria. In fact, you and I will be spending a great deal of time together. Otherwise, I may have to tell your husband how you gave away his grandfather’s ring.”

“My father told you what I gave him?”

“Of course. We are partners, your father and I, and you are now our most prized investment. We have quite a few plans for you.”

Eva tripped and Huxley pulled her briefly into his chest before setting her back on her feet.

“I will not allow you to threaten me, Lord Huxley, my husband will hear of it if you do,” Eva bluffed.

“Now, Berengaria, we both know that you will tell your husband nothing or I will slice him into pieces and return them to you in a small box, and that goes for your youngest brother, too.”

“You will never touch them!”

Her words were a venomous hiss, which made Huxley’s eyes widen briefly and then he chuckled. “Don’t tell me you actually care for your husband, my dear. How terribly uncivilized of you.”

Fear for Daniel’s safety had forced her to hand over that ring and she knew that in doing so there was no way to turn back now even if she had wanted to. Daniel would never understand why she had done it and he would see it as a betrayal, especially as he had told her he would protect her from her family.

“Now, in future, Berengaria, you will be a very good girl and do exactly what we tell you.”

She didn’t speak again and was relieved when the music finished. Looking to where Claire stood, she saw that both Simon and Daniel were now at her side. The duke was scowling but not at her; his eyes were directed at Lord Huxley.
 

“Your Grace, your wife dances like an angel,” Lord Huxley said when they drew near.

Daniel said nothing, instead taking her fingers from Huxley’s arm and replacing them on his.

“I will call for you tomorrow, Berengaria, and we shall take my carriage for a jaunt around the park.”

“I fear there you are to be disappointed, Huxley. My wife drives solely with me.”
 

“Perhaps we shall go for a walk then, your Grace.” Lord Huxley looked from Daniel to Simon and his smiled slipped.

“Of course - ”

“I think not.” Daniel interrupted his wife, impaling Lord Huxley with his eyes until the other man lowered his.

“Until next time then, Berengaria.”

Eva watched the loathsome man turn to leave.
 

“In future, Huxley, you will call my wife by her correct title.”

He didn’t stop at Daniel’s words but Eva knew he heard them.

“The man is a pig.” Claire came to stand in front of Eva and ran her eyes over her friend to ensure she was unharmed.
 

“Did he upset you, Eva?”
 

“No, Daniel, Lord Huxley was everything he should have been. Please, there is no need to worry.”

“I told you to alert me if he approached you, yet instead you danced with him.”

She knew he was angry and could read the disappointment in his eyes. Yet how could she have done anything differently, her hands had been tied.
 

“Surely he was no harm to me here in front of so many people?” Eva said.

“We will discuss this no further here. We are leaving.”
 

Eva didn’t argue with Daniel’s words. She was exhausted, and dancing with Gilbert Huxley had unsettled her. She hugged Claire, then kissed Simon’s cheek and allowed Daniel to lead her from the ballroom.
   

Eva was sitting on the rug before the fire when Daniel entered her room later that night. She was staring into the flames with an intensity that told him she was deep in thought. Closing the door loudly enough for her to be aware of his presence, he walked barefoot toward her. Her hair hung like ropes of silk around her shoulders and she wore a pale cream nightdress with a sheer wrap over the top that hinted at the sweet body that lay beneath. He could see the arch of one slender foot crossed over the other, and her hands were wrapped around her knees.

“Did you enjoy your first ball, Eva?” Daniel moved to sit in the chair to her left. He was still angry over her dancing with Huxley therefore he did not follow through with his first impulse - to lay her backwards on the rug and lose himself in her soft curves.
 

“Yes and no.”
 

“Care to elaborate?” Daniel enquired, striving for calm when all he wanted to do was ease the ache in his loins. He studied her profile: the sweep of her spine, the sweet curve of her nose, the thrust of her chin. Every inch intrigued him and she belonged to him. No other man would ever have her, he vowed silently. Just thinking about it made his fists clench. He knew after tonight that other men would want her but he’d never allow that to happen. Sometime in the past few weeks she had come to mean something to Daniel. He wasn’t sure what, yet they were now bound together.

“Yes, I enjoyed dressing in that beautiful gown and talking to my new friends and yes, I enjoyed dancing…with some of my partners.”

She still would not look his way and Daniel wanted to see her eyes as she spoke and read the expression in their blue depths.

“No, I did not enjoy being the focus of so many prying eyes.” Eva dropped her chin to her knees. “And no, I did not like the loud whispers I heard behind my back, or the men who leered at me.”

The hiss of flames was the only noise for several seconds. Daniel sighed as she finally looked at him and he saw the confusion.
 

“With society comes both good and bad, Eva. There are some I count as friends and others who are not and in time you will learn the difference.”

“And I must learn these differences myself with no help from you?”

He knew she had been confused when he walked away but he had done so for her own good. Holding out his hand toward her, Daniel was pleased when she placed hers in it and moved to kneel before him. “Married couples are not supposed to spend too much time together or show undue interest in each other.” Daniel opened her hand and traced the fine lines of her palm.
 

“I do not yet understand society. It is filled with nuances and intrigues, all carefully masked behind a smooth, polished façade.”

“Very aptly put, Duchess.”

“But I think any rule that does not allow a husband and wife to spend time together is a very foolish one, indeed.”

“As do I,” Daniel said, realizing he meant every word. Leaning forward he touched his lips to hers. “In future, I think we shall forgo that particular rule and make up our own.”

“I would not have you change just for me, Daniel. It will take me time to understand all the rules, but I am sure with guidance from you, Grandmother, Simon, and Claire I will catch on.”

“I do not want you to change, Eva” Daniel said, knowing it was the truth. “And I do not want to spend the night avoiding you, either, so we will create our own rules.”

“Yes, I would like that.”

Her skin was beautiful in this light. So smooth, he thought, running a finger down her cheek.

“We need to address the issue of Huxley, Eva. I do not want him near you again, not after his behavior at Stratton. He is a threat to you and if he does not keep his distance I will take measures to ensure he does.”
 

“Please - ” she pressed a finger to his lips “ - I do not want to talk of Lord Huxley tonight.”

Usually he could read her like a book; every thought that came and went through her head was there for Daniel to see. However, as she lowered her lids and a soft smile formed on her lips, Daniel realized he was at a loss to understand what was going through her head.

“Very well we will leave it for tonight, but we will talk further soon.”

Eva wanted to forget about Gilbert Huxley and her father and the things they would demand of her. Tonight she would think only of Daniel and how he made her feel. She knew he was naked beneath the black robe because he slept that way. She’d felt the heated planes of muscle on his chest as she kissed him. The contact with her breasts made her shiver. But he made no move to touch her. His hands lay on his thighs - big fingers splayed on the fabric of his robe.

Eva had never taken the lead in their lovemaking; he had always made sure she found her pleasure before finding his own. She had never seduced him, touched him as he had touched her, kissed him as he…dear Lord, she thought, keeping her gaze on his. Did she dare kiss him…everywhere? Still on her knees she touched her lips to the strong line of his jaw. Slowly she kissed and nibbled the length of his ear, tracing its shell with her tongue.

“Christ, Eva!” Daniel moaned as she blew softly on his now damp lobe, as he had often done to her. Ignoring his words, she moved to his neck and down to his chest. Pushing his robe aside, she kissed the small indentation under his throat.

He was burning alive. Each touch of her lips made his body tighten. She was a siren, a goddess of pleasure sent to torment him, and she’d only started on his neck. He would be dead by the time she reached his… Dear God, surely she wouldn’t...

Stroking the heated flesh, Eva moved her lips to his nipples, then took one into her mouth. His body was clenched beneath her. She felt bold as she touched and stroked him, her body responding to his as he became more aroused. Untying the belt at his waist, she then pushed the material aside.

“I… It would not be wise to… Mother of God!” Daniel groaned as she took his aching length into her hands and began to kiss her way down his stomach. Her fingers enclosed him softly, and then she started to stroke him. Her tentative touches drove him to the brink. “I think that is enough...”

Eva kissed the smooth tip between her fingers, stroking her tongue over the swollen flesh and around the silken head.
 

Daniel couldn’t see; he was sure for the first time in his adult life he had blacked out, so exquisite was the pleasure of her mouth on him. He was going to disgrace himself if he didn’t find the strength to take control soon. Her mouth eased over the throbbing head and down the shaft where she glided her lips up and down the taunt length, once, twice…it was pure pleasure bordering pain. Daniel bore it as long as he could then reached for her.
 

“But, Daniel…” Eva cried as he lifted her to stand before him.

“But Daniel, nothing, woman! You would have found little enjoyment this evening if I had let you carry on.”

“But I was enjoying myself.” She looked coy and sensual, glancing up at him beneath her lashes.
 

“Where the hell did you learn that look?” Daniel demanded as he stripped the clothing from her body.

“What look?” Eva pouted.

“I’ve created a jezebel,” he hissed. Pulling her into his arms, he crushed her mouth with his.

He ravaged her, his heated body urging him to find his fulfillment. He would terrify her if he did not pull back. Holding himself still, he tried to slow things down, give her some room, but she was having none of it. Her hands tugged at his hair, pulling him closer, urging him on.
 

“Easy, Duchess.” He rested his forehead on hers while he struggled to fill his lungs with much needed air.

“I don’t want to go easy, Daniel.” Only he could ease the ache inside her, make her writhe and scream in ecstasy and banish the horror of Gilbert Huxley and her father.

He needed no further prompting. Cupping her breasts, he kissed the swollen flesh, then took one aching peak deep into his mouth. The small noises she made in her throat told Daniel she was as deep under this sensual spell as he. Slipping one hand between her thighs, he stroked her damp flesh. She was ready for him, but he wanted to hear her beg. Dropping to his knees, he lifted one of her legs. Draping it over his shoulder, he then set about tormenting her, stoking her fires, bringing her again and again to the brink, only to ease back. Eva was sobbing his name, her fingers tugging handfuls of his hair, begging him to release her. Finally he did, plunging his fingers inside her as his tongue swept the small swollen bud. She shattered above him, her body arching toward him. Regaining his feet, he clasped her waist and lifted, then lowered her onto his shaft.