Wicked Wager (16 page)

There she was, thank god!
Relief flooded Marcus, but instead of easing his anger, knowing she was safe made him even more furious. “Where the devil have you been, Penny? I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

“I…uh, I went out for some fresh air.”

“With Lambson?” he asked, incredulously.

Her flushed cheeks and the guilty look in her eyes told him it was true.

Bloody hell! She’d been alone with Lambson!
He gazed at her in shock for a moment, not trusting himself to speak.

When Lady Dunnett had informed him rather gleefully that his fiancée had left with Lambson, he’d been certain the shrewd old tabby was lying. It would be just like her ladyship to try to stir up trouble. But if it was true, then Penny had deliberately ignored his warning!

He continued to stare at her, trying to figure out her reason for doing such a thing. Did she seek to humiliate him in front of London society? Did those innocent blue eyes mask a manipulative and cold-hearted nature? Perhaps she was much more like her cousin than he’d guessed. But if she’d deliberately set out to disgrace him, then he didn’t think she’d look as she did now, flushed and trembling.

He had to know the truth. Find out her true motivations.

But not here, where anyone might see them. He was probably already the laughingstock of the party. No need to seek out further embarrassment.

“I think it’s time to leave.” He grabbed her arm and led her down the hall.

He expected her to protest, or perhaps give him some excuse for her actions. But she said nothing. Realizing she wasn’t going to defy him, he relaxed his grip. They would pretend that all was well between them. If they left on obviously cordial terms, perhaps it would dispel the worst of the gossip.

Their departure proceeded smoothly. They said goodbye to their host, then waited in the foyer for their carriage to be brought around. Marcus sought to regain his usual detached manner, but inside his emotions roiled. This woman had the most astounding—and troubling—effect on him. He considered himself calm and levelheaded. But around Penny he always seemed to be on the verge of losing control. She made him furious…and almost mindless with desire.

Even now, he wondered if he would be able to restrain himself once they reached the privacy of the coach. He didn’t know what he was more likely to do: Rage at her like a crazed maniac or seize her and ravish her senseless.

Chapter Eleven

Penny took a deep breath, trying to quell the anxiety building inside her. Revington hadn’t said a word since she’d encountered him in the hallway. Although obviously furious, he quickly regained control. He led her back to the ballroom and said goodbye to their host, then escorted her out to the waiting carriage. Now he sat across from her in the vehicle. Although she couldn’t see his expression clearly in the faint light filtering in through the coach windows, his rigid posture suggested he was still beside himself with anger.

She wasn’t certain what to do, whether to try to explain or hope his anger would cool. Somehow it didn’t seem right not to make some comment. She didn’t want him to think she’d defied him out of spite. Nor did she want him to believe anything had happened between her and Lambson. She had to make that clear.

But what could she say? How could she explain things in a way that would ease his anger? She could hardly reveal that she’d hoped to make him jealous. Or could she? Not only was it a logical explanation but it would indicate to him that she cared what he thought about her.

Clearing her throat she said, “I’m certain you’re angry with me, and I can’t blame you, but you should know that I—”

Revington leaned across the coach and pressed his mouth to hers in a savage kiss.

Her body seemed to explode with delight, as if to say,
Yes! Yes! This was what you were waiting for! This is the man you desire!

She wrapped her arms around his neck, giving in completely. Their lips and tongues mated and danced. Eventually he drew away so they could both catch their breath. He moved to sit beside her and pulled her onto his lap. His lips were warm against her neck, licking and nuzzling, making her shiver and sigh. He tore away the pelisse and sucked and nibbled at her shoulders and cleavage. Then he pulled down her gown and mouthed the nearest breast. His lips encircled her nipple, drawing in the tender flesh. Kissing. Sucking. Until she was limp and moaning with pleasure.

She felt she was drowning, pulled under by a wild tide of passion. A piercing need built in her core. A yearning so deep it almost hurt. Just when she thought she would die of it, he rucked up the skirt of her gown and fondled her private parts through the thin fabric of her pantalettes. She writhed and twisted, lifting her hips to press herself against his tormenting fingers.

So intense was her lust that when he drew away, she almost cried out. She waited, breathless and horrified as he thumped on the roof of the carriage. As the vehicle rolled to stop, she scrambled to cover herself.

“No need for that,” he murmured. The next moment, he cracked open the window and called out, “Jeremy, we’re not ready to go home yet. Take the route through the park.”

He shut the window, and the carriage started forward, Penny let out a sigh of relief. The next moment, he was kissing her again and lightly stroking her breasts. Her desire surged back, as strong as ever. He raised the hem of her gown, pulled off her pantalettes, and tossed them aside. She waited breathlessly as he adjusted his own clothing. A part of her was aghast at what they were about to do—having sex in a carriage! But as soon as the heated flesh of his phallus pushed against her own desperate wet opening, every vestige of doubt vanished. She welcomed him, urging him deeper and deeper still.

He filled her to the point of pain, and she moaned helplessly as he moved inside her. Gradually her taut flesh yielded, and she leaned back against the carriage squabs and tried not to scream from the pure pleasure pulsing through her. He clutched her, thrusting wildly. Their bodies were so close. Their sweat mingled. His mouth found hers as they climbed the precipice together. Then thundered off the cliff…falling into mad, swirling ecstasy.

Marcus disengaged himself from her exquisite, cushioning flesh and adjusted his garments. A sudden rush of emotion made his hands tremble as he buttoned the placket of his trousers. He’d never felt like this way about a woman before. This poignant, yearning…tenderness.

As she dressed herself, the realization of his own vulnerability filled him with panic. He’d always prided himself on being in control. But with this woman, he most certainly was not. She beguiled and suborned him. Around her he was helpless. At the mercy of his own feelings. He didn’t know what to do. How to deal with this. He wanted desperately for things to return to the way they had been. Maybe if he pretended not to feel anything, this gnawing ache inside him would go away.

Yes. That’s what he must do. It was unthinkable that he let this crack in his defenses deepen any further. He had to squash these feelings. Shove them aside. Bury them deep.

He moved back to his side of the carriage, thankful it was dark and he couldn’t see her. If he looked at her beautiful face right now, he would waver. The most basic courtesies of lovemaking demanded he appear pleased and content with what they’d shared. For him to draw away and coldly proceed as if nothing had happened was bound to hurt her. But it couldn’t be helped. If he weakened even a little, he would be lost.

He thumped on the roof of the carriage again. This time, when it halted, he opened the window and called out, “Take us home, Jeremy.”

The ride to the townhouse seemed interminable. The silence, heavy and suffocating. He held his hands tight against his thighs, struggling against the urge to reach out for her. He could hear the sound of her breathing and smell the lingering scent of their shared desire. What was she thinking? Had their lovemaking affected her as profoundly as it did him? What did she feel for
him?

All at once he remembered what had brought him to that state of agitation.
She’d gone off with that bloody bastard Lambson!
His anger returned, gradually banishing the pathetic longing that had overcome him. He wanted to grab her again, but this time instead of kissing her, he longed to shake her and demand to know why she’d deliberately defied him. She was so headstrong and stubborn. Such an independent, aggravating woman.

And he was going to marry her and bind his life to hers. The thought of it filled him with anxiety. Maybe he should get out while he could. Break off the engagement and give up Horngate.

But he could hardly do that now. He’d taken her maidenhead and introduced her to all of London as his fiancée. For him to cry off now would be unforgivable. If he did such a thing, Withersby would have every right to call him out.

Of course, the puling coward would never do that. Withersby would be more than happy to slither out of the arrangement. He would get to keep Horngate, which is exactly what the bastard wanted. But Penny would be ruined and humiliated. No doubt she would feel hurt and angry, but would she also be disappointed? Marcus wondered if she felt anything for him. Was it merely lust that made her respond so passionately?

He couldn’t understand her. How could she melt in his arms and surrender so completely only a day ago, then turn around and go off with Lambson? Was she no different than Elizabeth? Now that Penny had discovered sex, was she willing to do it with any man she found attractive?

The thought made him grit his teeth. Confound her! He wasn’t the jealous sort. How dare she make him feel like this!

Marcus repressed a sigh. Here he was, back where he started, wondering how he’d ever gotten himself into this mess. Somehow he had to figure things out. And soon. He wished he could discuss the situation with James, but that was out of the question. If he revealed how he felt about Penny, James would accuse him of being in love with her. And that couldn’t be true. Love didn’t make a man feel as he did now. This doomed, sick feeling in his stomach couldn’t be love. Love was supposed to make a man happy and content, not turn him into a raging lunatic!

****

Penny heaved an inward sigh of relief as the carriage halted. In another few moments, she’d be able to escape this hellish situation. Get away from Revington, escape to the bedchamber and give in to her emotions. But what exactly was she feeling? Did she want to cry? To scream? Or to hit something very hard, over and over?

She felt as if she was losing her mind. Once again, Revington had drawn away from her, becoming that cold, infuriating nobleman she encountered that first time at Horngate. It had to be a false persona. She simply couldn’t believe it was his true nature. Someone so cold and haughty wasn’t capable of making love with such passionate abandon.

Or was he? She knew little about men, but she had been led to believe that when it came to sex, they were significantly different than women. Maybe Revington really was able to demonstrate such tenderness with his body and yet keep his emotions completely in check.

As he helped her out of the carriage, his demeanor was as distant as ever. If only she could do the same. It seemed like every time he touched her, another piece of her defenses crumbled away and she was left exposed and vulnerable. Try as she might, Penny could no longer hate him, or even dislike him. Her resolve to escape this marriage was weakening. Even though she knew she would lose everything she cared about if she didn’t win this battle of wits, she no longer had the will to fight him.

Bowes met them in the foyer. “Good evening, sir. Miss Montgomery.”

Revington didn’t respond, but strode down the hall and into the library.

As he helped her out of her pelisse, Bowes asked, “Did you enjoy the party, miss?”

“Yes,” she answered automatically. “The house was beautiful. And the food…the music…everything was exceptional.”

“Very good, miss.” Bowes bowed to her, and Penny started up the stairs. At this moment, she felt like screaming. No. What she actually felt like was turning around, following Revington into the library, and forcing him to speak to her. But the problem was, she had no idea what to say. She must untangle her own feelings before confronting him.

In the bedchamber, she went to sit on the bed. A moment later, there was a knock on the door. “It’s me, miss,” Maggie called. “Do you need help?”

“Yes. Come in.”

Maggie hurried in, copper curls bobbing, blue eyes bright with curiosity. “How did it go, miss? With Mr. Revington, I mean.”

Penny let out sigh. “I have no idea. None.” Seeing Maggie’s questioning look, she continued, “I followed your advice. There was a man who seemed interested in me. I left the ballroom with him, hoping to make Revington jealous. I don’t know if I succeeded, or simply made him angry. He scarcely spoke to me on the way home.”

Maggie moved behind Penny and unhooked the back of her dress. “Sounds as if it worked. Revington’s the sort to turn silent as a statue when he’s upset.”

Her gown slipped to the floor and Penny stepped out of it. “The plan may have succeeded, but I don’t see how it’s going to aid me. Revington was distant and difficult before. I don’t see how anything is improved.”

“Give it time.” Maggie picked up the gown and frowned. “It looks as if something got spilled on your dress. I’ll have to see if it will wash out.”

Penny felt an acute wave of embarrassment. She’d tried to use her handkerchief to clean herself before putting on her pantalettes, but… “It must be punch,” she responded quickly.

Maggie folded the gown and left it on the bed, then went to fetch a clean shift from the bureau. As she helped Penny into it, she said, “I do think our plan will work. As Mr. Revington sees other men are interested in you, he’ll realize he’s quite fortunate to have you. He might be angry now, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t coming to care for you. And if we succeed, Mr. Ludingham will lose the bet, and you’ll be able to get out of the marriage…if that’s what you still want, that is.”

“Of course, it is,” Penny answered. But inside, she knew it was a lie. She no longer had any idea
what
she wanted.