Belong To Me (book 4) (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (31 page)

“You’re overlooking one small detail, my love.”

“What’s that?”

He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. “The police are watching the commissioner’s place constantly. I’ve tried to get into his home while he’s away, but one of his men remains lurking around.”

A sly look crossed her pretty face. “I haven’t overlooked that at all.”

Ian raised his eyebrows. “Pray, tell me how Jacqueline can figure a way to keep them all busy and drugged at the same time?”

Her lips twitched. “You know her better than anyone. I’m certain you can speculate.”

Ian sat in silence while his mind scrambled to find an answer to Charlotte’s question. He leaned forward and rested his arms on the table once again, looking straight into her beautiful face. “If I know Miss
Fonteneau
at all, I’m sure it has something to do with her considerable charms.”

Charlotte laughed. “You’re correct.”

“I see…”

“Actually, she calls it a private gala.”

His eyes opened wide in shock. “She’s going to seduce
all
of them?” The scarlet color quickly covering her face told him what he needed to know.

“Don’t be absurd, Ian. She’ll invite her friends.”

He laughed louder and shook his head. “But I can’t believe Jacqueline would use her feminine wiles to seduce those men and then drug them. I’ll have to hand it to the wayward woman, because she thought of such a brilliant folly! I wondered there for a while if she had a brain at all...” He paused, watching the color slowly disappear from Charlotte’s face. “So, where do you come into all this?”

Charlotte bit her lips in hesitation, but her cheeks darkened even more. Shock mixed with his temper shot to surface.

“Oh no, you’re not!” he shouted. “You will
not
be there, pretending to be one of her friends.”

“You’re forgetting one thing,” Charlotte replied. “The men will be half-asleep and too tired to do anything.” She smiled slyly.

“But, won’t the commissioner think it’s strange to have Mrs. Fielding suddenly accepting his advances?”

“I’ll not go as Mrs. Fielding.” She shrugged. “Jacqueline thought this one up, but you can disguise me to look like one of
those
girls. A rouged lady of ill repute…” She sat still while he studied her, but he could see she nervously wrung her hands. “Ian, if it’ll make you feel any better, you can come along in your own disguise with me until the men are under the influence.”

He gave a hard laugh. “Darling, I’m one of the best at disguises, but even I can’t pass as a harlot.”

She chuckled. “I wasn’t thinking of that. I was thinking about being our footman or something along those lines.”

He nodded, carefully weighing the plan, wishing he’d thought of it.
“All right.
That’s what I’ll do.”

“Indeed?” Her tight expression relaxed, a full smile touching her mouth.

He moved out of his chair and came around the table, kneeling by her side. Taking her hands in his, he said, “I’ll do anything to make you smile and to make your eyes light up like stars.”

* * * *

Charlotte couldn’t believe he’d agreed, but he’d been so charming lately, and his words were certainly melting her heart. Without replying, she kept her gaze on his, communicating with her eyes just what his comment meant to her.

“I’ll even dress as a concubine if I have to,” he added.

She laughed.

“Why are you doing this? Why are you willing to dress up like a soiled dove just to help me?” he whispered as he gazed into her eyes.

She shrugged.
“Because I’m tired of it all.
I want these false charges against you dropped. I want a normal life again. I want...a normal marriage.”

“Does that mean you want to be my wife? Have you finally decided it’s me you want?”

Excitement crept into his voice as his eyes searched hers. It was hard to believe, but that was exactly what she was saying. She really did want to be his wife, if only Adam wouldn’t send her heart pounding with desire like just her husband could do.

“Yes, Ian. That’s exactly what I am saying.”

A joyous expression crossed his face, and she’d never seen him so expressive. He threw his arms around her, pulling her close in a tight hug.

“Oh, Charlotte!
My sweet darling, you’ve made me the happiest man alive.” He pulled back slightly. “In fact, if I could marry you all over again, I would.”

She couldn’t stop the tears of happiness from filling her eyes. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you say that.”

She leaned in and kissed him. Just as always, the kiss was exciting and wild, and this time she actually felt the love growing within her heart. The capricious feeling brought out a giggle from her chest.

Ian pulled back and gave her a strange look. “What was that about? Do you find the way I kiss comical?”

She smiled. “No, it wasn’t that.”

“Then what is it?”

“I just couldn’t help it. I’m so happy,” she cried, feeling as though she was wrapped in a silken cocoon of euphoria.

His hands stroked her face and neck. “What makes you so certain I’m the man for you, my darling?”

“Because I’ve realized just how much I love you.”

“You...love me?” His voice broke.

“Yes. I don’t think I’ve ever loved you as much as I do right now.”

* * * *

The day of the party quickly came upon Charlotte, and she felt exhilarated, yet frightened. Could she pull it off? Would Jacqueline be able to put the drug into the men’s drinks before anything happened? Would Ian find the jewels, which would release him from these false crimes?

Ian appeared much more in control. He helped her look through her closest to find the outfit she’d wear. After sorting through two closets, he pulled out a dress, and then shook his head, chuckling.

“As much as I detest having the commissioner and Ewan ogle you, I think this is the only dress that will pass for your disguise.”

When she noticed it was the dress she’d bought on impulse the day after the masquerade ball, she groaned. “I suppose if it’s the only dress that will pass.”

“Unfortunately, it is.” He held up the garment. “Will you allow me to assist you?”

She grinned and allowed him to assist. After the gown was pulled over her head and fastened, he dipped his head and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. When he pulled away, regret stabbed at her. Anymore, she’d rather be in his arms than doing anything else.

He took her hand and led her into his room to the small corner where he kept his disguises. He opened a large case full of wigs and pulled out a long black one. The tresses were pitch as night with long tendrils of curls.

“Have a seat, my love.” He pointed to the chair.

She did, and once she was seated, he began his work, fitting the wig over her head until all of her hair had disappeared. He took a comb and fluffed up the black hair, making it wave all over her head and down her shoulders, seductively. He deftly attached a pair of diamond-studded combs at each side. She tilted her head toward the mirror, watching the stones catch the light.

He then took out some colored powders and began painting her eyes, cheeks, and lips. When he turned her toward the mirror, she couldn’t believe the difference. She was the prettiest harlot she’d ever seen.

“They’re never going to believe this is me,” she exclaimed.

“That’s the whole idea.”

“I look too high priced to be seen with the likes of those who will be at the party,” she teased.

Ian’s laughter filled the room. “Oh, my darling, you’re going to be just fine. Just remember, though, I don’t want you acting the part. You can talk seductive, but do not let any of those men touch,” he warned. “I won’t allow it.”

She studied him in the mirror with a scowl. “You’re the only man I want touching me.” She leaned back and looked at her reflection pensively. A grin crept onto her face as she realized she’d finally banished Adam from her mind and heart. She was free to give her heart and soul to Ian now, for her heart did indeed belong to him.

He moved behind her and pulled her up against his body. “I’m glad you feel the way I do.”

Laughing, she pulled away. “Come, let’s get you ready now.”

She moved to his make-up case and rummaged through the disguises. “Who are you going as today?”

“I don’t know. Help me decide.”

She couldn’t believe the selection of facial hair and wigs. She picked up a gray wig and placed it on his head. “How about the one you wore when you were the old man who rescued me three years ago?” she suggested.

He nodded. “I’m surprised you remembered.”

“How could I forget? That’s when I realized I wanted to be with a man like you…forever.” Their eyes locked and a sigh escaped her lips. She picked up another wig, curly and blond. “Oh, and this was what you wore when you were the haggardly old woman.” She laughed. “Now that’s an image I’ll never forget.” He laughed with her. She picked up another wig, grayer than the first. “Do you want to be an old man today?”

He chuckled. “I’m going to have to be. Any younger man who is a footman to someone as beautiful as you is going to have to be immune to your body, and I’m definitely not that.”

She picked up some matching sideburns and held them to the sides of his face. “Yes, I think these will work just fine. So, how do you put these things on?”

“See this jar? It has a sticky substance that will help keep the hair to my face.” He took a small spatula and dipped it into the jelly. With great patience, he placed the film on his skin where the sideburns would go before carefully putting the facial hair in place.

She pulled her attention away from him and back to his crate of disguises, wondering what else he should wear. Her fingers brushed against a black mustache that looked more used than the others, so she picked it up. Although the mustache wasn’t the same shade as his wig and sideburns, she turned and stuck it over the top of his upper lip for fun. “Here, put this one on.” She chuckled.

After a few moments at looking at his mismatched reflection through the mirror, he joined in her laughter. She smiled at him as she admired his tempting mouth. Suddenly, she received the strangest feeling, almost as if she had seen this particular mustache before. In her mind, a picture formed of Adam. His mustache was like this one. In fact, Ian’s lips were…

With shaky hands, she turned quickly and put the mustache back in the crate. Numbness spread through her body the longer Adam’s image remained branded in her mind. It wasn’t his face that she thought about, but the lips. She closed her eyes and tried to fight away the feelings of deceit consuming her very soul.

It couldn’t be! But Ian was the master of all disguises. When he’d been the old man who saved her from kidnappers, the only thing that gave away his character was his lean fingers. And Adam always wore gloves…to hide his hands. Why?
Because they were scarred?
And even when Ian had played the part of the old haggardly woman, his eyes were the only thing that looked familiar.
But what about Lord Adam Thatcher?
She thought there was a resemblance in their eyes, but Adam had explained that it was because they were related. Now she doubted Adam’s story. She doubted Ian’s story, too. Who could she believe? There was only one way to tell.

Fighting for control over her twisting emotions, she turned back toward Ian and watched him put on the gray mustache. The more she stared at his lips, the more unease washed over her. Those lips were just like Adam’s. The realization struck her in the stomach like a fist, and she released a long sigh.

“If you keep looking at my mouth the way you’re doing,” Ian said, bringing her out of her confusing thoughts, “I’m going to think you want to be kissed good and hard.”

Her gaze flew to his eyes. “I do,” she blurted out.

His eyes widened, but he drew her into his embrace and lowered his head. She pressed her mouth to his, moving her lips over his softly and seductively, which made him groan. He tried to turn the kiss wild, but she wouldn’t let him. She kept the kiss gentle just the way Adam had kissed her until Ian responded the same way. She didn’t have to open her eyes to know who was kissing her right now. Even the tender caress of his hands was Adam’s!

Once she was satisfied, she pulled away, and looked into his eyes. Why hadn’t she caught on before now? But then, the question was, why did Ian have to play the part of Adam at all? Her eyes narrowed suspiciously on his ruggedly handsome face.

Ian grinned. “What was that all about?” he asked as he stepped back to the mirror.

“I just wanted to see how it felt when I kissed you wearing a mustache,” she said slowly, trying to read his expression.

He laughed. “And how did it feel, my love?”

“It felt like Adam,” she said, unable to contain herself any longer.

His head jerked around quickly, his eyes met hers then quickly diverted elsewhere. As she studied his reaction, her first thought was she’d been mistaken, but the way he glanced at everything but her, said it all.

“So...do you go by Ian...or do you prefer to be called Adam?” she asked sarcastically.