Elise (15 page)

“Here. Doona’ cry, Elise. I think I’ve made you do that enough for one day.”

“I’m sorry.”

“As you already said that, and in a convincing enough tone, I have nae choice but to believe it. Here.”

He was handing her his handkerchief again. Elise pulled one hand from her mouth and took it.

“I’ll have to stock more at the rate you’re starting to go through them.”

“I’m sorry for that, too.” She mopped at her face as she spoke, and then sniffed. She hadn’t resorted to any cosmetics. With the amount of emotion Colin was raising in her lately, it was a very good thing, too.

“Doona’ be. I’ve an army of seamstresses to sew more, if need be.”

“It’s a good thing, too. I’ve not much talent with a needle.”

“So I noticed,” he said wryly. “You’re very talented at some things, though, I must admit.”

“What things?”

“Human conditions. Hardly worth mentioning.”

“Human ... conditions?”

“Lust. Desire. Want. Need. Heat. Those kinds of things.”

Each word made her eyes widen further, and the sob caught in her throat. He sighed heavily.

“Come along, Elise. The night is na’ getting any longer, and we’ve a full day ahead of us. Quorn has promised me a grouse hunt on the morrow. If we’ve any luck, we’ll feast on them for supper. He’s also scheduled a ball in our honor. Surprisingly generous of him, considering how much he dislikes us.”

“A ball? I can’t attend one.”

“Why na’? I’ll bet if you were in town, you’d be attending several.”

“I don’t have enough wardrobe for a ball.”

“Spoken like a true woman. Na’ to worry. I’ve seen to it already.”

“I’ve more luggage arriving? Perhaps my maid . . . uh, Daisy, has arrived?” Elise tried not to stumble over the name but failed.

“Na’ to my knowledge. I’ve simply arranged for a gown for you. It should be ready afore you are.”

“You—?”

“Got you a gown? Yes.”

“Of all the nerve! You don’t know my tastes, you don’t know my accessories, and you don’t know my measurements.”

“Oh, please, Elise. I’ve seen almost all of you and envisioned the rest. I know the width of your waist is less than my hands can encircle, and you’ve got softness and womanliness right where you’re supposed to. Blast! Stop me before I turn into a maudlin pup, like that poet fellow.”

“I thought I didn’t have enough meat for your taste.”

“First impression. Taken out of context.”

“I was there. I heard you.”

He groaned. “I got into this conversation because you asked of your new gown, and here it is turned on me. Do you wish to know or na’?”

“Very well, finish.”

“What I meant was, it was na’ difficult to get it sized. It was harder to find the talent to get it sewn as I designed it.”

“Why would you do such a thing?”

“I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

“Why not tell me now?”

“It will give you something to dream about.”

She didn’t need any ideas on what to dream about. That much was certain. Ever since she’d met him, she’d thought of little else.

“Come, I think it’s time I escorted you to your chamber.”

He held out his arm, and she tucked her hand into the crook he’d made. He matched his steps to hers, although she was taking two to his every one.

“Will you do me a favor before you retire, Elise?”

A frond was shading his face when she glanced up at him. She should have known that what light there was would fall on her. He licked his lips as she nodded. She didn’t trust her voice.

“Lock the connecting door between us. And take the key.”

Chapter 15

“You look very nice, Your Grace.” Jane, the maid who Elise had borrowed for the evening, smiled and bobbed her head while she gave her opinion.

Very nice?
Elise wondered. Jane needed a larger vocabulary if that was the best she could do. Elise thought she looked ethereal, innocent, and very fragile. She wondered where Colin could have found such material. She was also questioning why he had gone to such lengths to make her look akin to a vision come to life. No other phrase fit. She didn’t have anything else to compare herself with.

The state bedroom mirrors were large, but they weren’t showing her enough. She stood between two mirrors and held a smaller one in her hand; she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She knew now that, despite the expenditure in the past, she hadn’t come close to showing herself to full advantage.

It was surprising that Colin had known how.

Elise wasn’t a tall woman; she barely grazed Colin’s shoulder when standing beside him. Yet, with what the hairdresser had done, her neck had never looked longer, and she had never looked so regal.

It had come at a cost, though, and she rubbed her neck with the instant memory. She’d spent the better part of the day sitting patiently while the hairdresser woman sent up from the village worked magic.

Daisy never would have been able to accomplish it. Elise’s hair had been pulled back to the crown of her head and crimped into such a mass of curls, it looked like a veil down her back. It was totally against the fashion mode. She wondered if Colin had ordered such an effect. She didn’t look sophisticated or grand, or anything like the Dowager Duchess of Wynd; instead, she looked excruciatingly young.

Colin also had sent several strands of tiny diamonds, six in all, and it had taken over an hour just to entwine and pin them into place throughout the curls. The effect had taken her breath away, but that was before she saw her gown.

She couldn’t imagine where Colin had found such material. Elise was familiar with real silk from the Orient, and had worn it before; but this silk was different. It was softer and less wrinkled. The only stiff sections of it were where the artist had woven star-shaped motifs into it. Elise had never thought of the people who wove cloth as artisans. She’d never thought of them at all.

She looked so different, and so amazing, that she was afraid to leave the chamber. Her dress was stark in design, barely claiming a bustle at the small of her back. Colin hadn’t been perfect with the size, but he’d been close. It had only taken a bit of sewing to fit it exactly to her. She felt nearly naked, though. The only difference was that it looked like liquid silver skimmed her without the slightest offsetting color to distract it.

“They’ll be expecting you by now, Your Grace.”

Elise put the hand mirror down and smiled uncertainly. It was going to be impossible to miss her. She looked like she was encased in a streak of moonlight, and whichever way she turned, she sparkled. If there was such a creature as an ice goddess, she certainly looked the part.

“The duke has asked me to see that you attend him in one of the salons when you’ve finished.”

“Can we get there ... unseen?”

“We can take the back stairs, but it’s not proper.”

“Forget propriety, just get me to the duke. I can’t face anyone looking like this. It’s too strange.”

“Begging your pardon, Your Grace, but you don’t look a bit strange. You look very nice, very nice, indeed.”

Jane really did need more descriptive words. She was one of Quorn’s maids, a little slow, but efficient enough. She also helped Elise reach the salon down the servants’ stairs, something an older, more experienced maid never would have allowed. Once there, Elise had to take several calming breaths before letting the girl open the door for her.

Colin was in profile to her, examining the miniatures dotted all over a section of wall. He was bending forward slightly, with his hands clasped behind his back. Elise coughed discreetly.

He slanted his glance to her, and then turned fully and stared. The look on his face said everything. His mouth dropped open, his eyes widened, and then he hit himself in the chest with a sideways fist. Elise couldn’t meet his eyes. She looked down and tried to curb the smile hovering at her lips.

She couldn’t seem to face him, either. She flitted her eyes to him as he moved. He walked toward her, and then he stopped. He started talking softly in that strange language of his before circling slowly about her. She knew now why she’d spent so long at the mirrors. It was to achieve that look in his eyes and on his face.

Elise couldn’t stop her own eyes from widening, and then narrowing repeatedly, as Colin moved. She pursed her lips to stop the smile from breaking into a grin, but nothing was stopping her blush.

Colin stopped in front of her and said one final word before quieting. Tension grew as he just stood there, unmoving. Elise moved her glance up his pleated shirtfront and met his gaze before shying away. She had to do it several times before she dared keep her eyes on his.

He was definitely getting more handsome, she decided. The lamp above them was causing the shadow from his eyelashes to dust his cheeks and was sending the cleft of his chin into prominence.

“I’m afraid to touch you, Elise.”

“Afraid?”

He licked his lips and looked away. She watched him suck in air; it was an erotic motion. “We’ve still a banquet to attend.”

She gasped, looked down, and grinned at the carpet beneath her. “You’re pleased, then?” she asked.

“Pleased?” One word, and then he lapsed again into that strange language.

“You always do that. Why? What are you saying? Is that the language they use in Darjeeling?”

“Nae, ’tis Scot ... the Gaelic of my ancestors.”

“What are you saying, then?”

He cleared his throat. “There is na’ a proper English translation for it, I’m afraid.”

“Try for one.” Elise watched in amazement as Colin flushed clear to his eyebrows. He wouldn’t meet her eyes, either.

“You’ll think me a fool, like that Easton fellow.”

“Are you speaking lovely words, then?”

“More or less.”

“Colin—”

“Do you have to do that? You say my name like a threat, and then doona’ finish what you’re threatening. You do it all the time.”

“Are you changing the subject? My ears must be failing me.”

“Nae.”

“Then tell me what you said.”

“You doona’ want to hear it. I’d bore you.”

She stomped her foot. “Is there something you don’t like, then?”

“I already told you I can na’ touch you. What more do you want to hear?”

“I want to hear what you said. I want to hear all of it.”

“I just can na’!”

He was looking somewhere over her head. Elise cocked her head and pursed her lips. “Did you tell me I look beautiful, then?”

He cleared his throat, and when that must not have been sufficient, he put a finger behind his bow tie and pulled it from his throat. “You’re making me regret speaking.”

He wasn’t getting out of it that easily. Elise narrowed her eyes. “Let me repeat myself. Did you say I looked beautiful?”

“That... and more.”

“What more?”

“It’s getting stuffy in here. I’m ready to gain the banquet hall if you are.”

“Why did you want to see me in here, then?”

“Oh, I nearly forgot. I’ve a present for you.”

“Beyond this dress and the diamond strands woven into my hair? You’ve a generous nature, Your Grace. You do like what has been done with my hair, don’t you?” Elise pirouetted before him and grinned at the choking sound he was making.

She stopped right before him and watched his gaze fly from her bosom, to the top of her head, then to the area around her nose. Elise knew he was avoiding meeting her eyes.

“Colin?” She reached a hand toward him, and he flinched back a hairsbreadth. She was close enough to see the nerve in his cheek twitch. She could also feel his breath on her cheek. It was making strange things happen to her knees and the backs of her thighs. “Fine, don’t give me my present, then.”

“I already told you I dare na’ touch you! Jesu’, woman! What more can you wish of me?”

“You can tell me what you said. Start with that.”

“Oh, hell.”

“I’m fairly certain you weren’t cursing through it. I would have recognized that word.”

“Here.”

The word was terse as he fumbled beneath his jacket to hand her a slender jewelry case. Elise let her fingers touch his as she took it from him. She watched him shudder. She couldn’t believe her eyes. The familiar humming was joining the sound of her own heartbeat in her ears, too.

She opened the box and gasped. There, on a bed of velvet, was a necklace of little linked diamonds shaped like stars. “Oh, Colin,” she whispered.

In answer, he seized her upper arms and pulled her against him, lifting her to tiptoes. The jewelry case snapped shut at the contact, but she barely heard it. She recognized his curse when she heard it, even if it was in Gaelic, and then he slammed his lips against hers.

Elise actually saw stars behind her closed eyelids, but she gave as good as she got. It was her tongue flicking against his and her tormented moan blending with his. Colin let go of her arms and wrapped his about her, molding her to him. One hand held to the back of her neck as he sucked on her mouth. Elise tried to help by blending into his shirtfront.

“Sweet Jesu’, but you’re an angel come to earth. Oh, Elise ... my sweet. There are nae words lovely enough to describe you. I’ve nae talent for finding them if there are.”

There was more, and he murmured them into her ear, shoving the hair from his way as he kissed her there, too. Heated shivers ran up her spine and settled into her breasts. Elise couldn’t believe that. She couldn’t believe any of it. She had caused him to do this. She didn’t know how to stop it, either. She had teased him to this, but she hadn’t known this type of excitement existed.

Who was she supposed to have asked? She hadn’t known she had such a wanton side, either.

Elise pushed on his chest, and at the first touch he groaned so deeply that it made the hair on her arms stand up. Then he yanked his head from her to look at the lamp hanging from the ceiling above them. She watched him fill his chest with great gulps of breath, and then hold them before he exhaled. After the third one, he lowered his head and pushed her his entire arm’s length away from him.

Her legs were shaky, and he seemed to know it, for he waited before releasing her. She couldn’t meet his eyes to verify it. She was amazed that she still held on to the jewelry case.

Elise looked at the clock on the wall and couldn’t believe so little time had passed. Her entire world had been upended in so little time?
Where is the justice in that?
she wondered.

“I’d apologize, Elise, but I did warn you.”

“I wouldn’t accept one.”

“Truly?” he asked.

“That was as much my fault as yours.”

“True enough. It’s big of you to admit it. Another of your talents, no doubt?”

“Thank you for the necklace. Thank you for the dress, too, and the diamond strands.”

“And for mussing it all up, too?”

“I am not mussed!”

“You’re right, you’re na’.” He ran his gaze to her toes and back up to her hair. “Na’ much, anyhow.”

“Colin—”

“See? There you go with my name again.”

Elise smiled. It was a relief from the tension of a moment before. It took a bit before Colin returned the gesture.

“Will you be able to clasp my necklace?” she asked.

“I would na’ even attempt it. I’ll stand patiently while you have a go at it, though. Looking as you do, I’ll na’ let you get far from my sight, anyway.”

“Since there doesn’t appear to be any mirrors, will you tell me if it’s straight, then?”

“How the devil are you supposed to get a necklace crooked? And use the windows. They work well enough.”

Perhaps she’d rather he spoke in Gaelic, since he was making her feel like a schoolgirl. Elise lifted the necklace and clasped it adroitly. She ignored him and walked to one of the windows. Colin was right; it was easy to see herself. He had probably been preening there before she arrived, she told herself and smiled.

Then she brushed one side of her hair over her shoulders and met the reflection of his gaze. He hadn’t moved, but he didn’t need to. He was glaring at her, and his chest rose and fell with each breath. Elise couldn’t move. Her mind was barely functioning.

“Are you na’ done admiring yourself? The sup will be cold afore we get there.”

“You don’t have to be rude.”

“And you doona’ have to be so damned desirable.”

“Pardon?”

“You needn’t ask. You heard me, exactly as I said it.”

Elise turned and kept her eyes on the area of the carpet where he stood. She didn’t dare let him see. He’d know then that she was fighting what had to be the same frustration and longing. It wasn’t fair, either. At least she knew why.