Sweet Bravado (30 page)

In a daze she allowed herself to be pushed in the direction of the pawing animals. Danforth and Perry backed away in the face
of the waving weapon while Valentin sat motionless waiting for an opening. With a shove from Beauchamp, Nicole stumbled against
a horse that reared and snorted, diverting her cousin’s attention long enough for Valentin to spring from his saddle and knock
the pistol from Beauchamp’s hand as it went off. The startled horses leaped and plunged entrapping Nicole, Phillippe and Valentin
among them. Perry and Danforth raced to the horses attempting to control the frightened animals while the Viscount battled
Beauchamp in their midst. Nicole tried to scramble out of the way of the brawling men and thrashing horses only to be struck
in the back and sent sprawling head first on’ to the ground. She was knocked senseless.

“Nicole?” She heard her name called from what seemed a long distance.

“She is opening her eyes,” Perry’s voice drifted above her.

“Sweetheart.” A soft brush of lips touched her cheek.

“Val?” she murmured hazily.

“It’s all right, darling.” Valentin smiled down at her. “Can you stand?”

“I think so. I don’t know which is throbbing more—my head or my back.” She placed her hand to her head as Valentin helped
her to her feet. She swayed against him, and he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the curricle.

“What happened?” she asked as he placed her on the seat and climbed in beside her.

“The horse caught you…”

“Phillippe?” She interrupted him.

“Nothing to worry about on that account. Gordon’s got him neatly tied up. He and Perry will deliver him to headquarters while
I get you home.” He flicked the reins, and the others followed.

Suddenly she burst into tears burying her face in his shoulder. “I failed,” she cried.

“No, you did not.” Valentin soothed, holding her against him. “Listen, Nicole, Beauchamp will talk. We will find out who is
behind this spy ring.”

“But they will get away by then.”

“The important thing is that the ring will be destroyed, and Beauchamp will tell us why they wanted Wellington’s schedule.”

She sat up and gave him a watery but triumphant smile. “I know why, Val. They were going to kidnap the Duke.”

“Good God! Gordon, did you hear that?” he shouted. “Nicole, you will be a heroine once the Duke hears of this.”

“But my letters! Oh Val.” Dejectedly she sank against him, her head aching with the effort to speak.

“Here, my dear, I think this is what you were worried about.”

“The letters!” she shrieked. “Where did you find them?”

“On Beauchamp.”

“I am free, Val!” She kissed him impulsively. Then she fell limply against him mumbling, “Oh my head.” And fainted.

When Nicole awoke, candles flickered on a nearby table, and Valentin sat on the edge of the bed. At her bewildered expression
he chuckled softly. “That is right. You are home in your own bed.” He touched her chin lightly with his knuckles. “You gave
me quite, a scare, passing out on me like that, but Madame Lafitte assured me you would be all right.”

She sat up. “I am.” Then placing her hand in his, she asked, “Is it really all over?”

“It is, my darling wife, all over.” He bent to gently kiss her soft lips.

Clinging to him, silent tears slipped down Nicole’s cheeks. “Forgive me, Valentin, forgive me. I love you so much,” she whispered
brokenly.

“Don’t cry, my darling. Please don’t.” He held her tightly against him until the stiffness flowed out of her, and she relaxed
in his arms. “Nicole, it is you who must forgive me for being such a blind idiot.” He held her even tighter.

“Oh no, no, Val. It was all my fault. I was so full of imagined hurts that I could not see or think straight. I was letting
my mother’s past destroy my life.”

“I did much the same thing. When I thought you did not love me, my pride took over with a vengeance. That is why I left you
in Paris.”

“And I thought you did not care for me,” she murmured.

“I love you, my darling,” he whispered kissing her trembling lips.

“And I have loved you ever since I can remember.”

“Nicole,” he whispered huskily tightening his grip on her. His lips held hers with deepening desire. The driving hunger of
his love for her so long held in check could finally be given full rein. All his restraint gone, he gave vent to a torrent
of raging passion which could not be denied. Carried along by his consuming desire, Nicole trembled under the demands of his
questing hands and caressing lips. Against Valentin’s taut frame and burning heat her own body flamed and ached with mounting
desire for his possession of her. It came in a crescendo of surging ecstasy and consuming fire. Valentin looked into her loving
eyes, and she saw the same triumphant expression upon his face that once used to disturb her. No doubts about it could plague
her now, for it was the fulfillment of love’s dream she saw. “I love you.” They spoke the words simultaneously, and cradled
in his arms she slept peacefully.

A light kiss on her lips awoke Nicole. Languidly she stirred beneath the sheet and opened her eyes to see her husband grinning
down at her. “Hey, sleepy head, I am off to headquarters.”

“Val, must you rush off?” she cried encircling her arms about his neck.

“Yes, I must.” He gave her a quick kiss. “Do you know, I have already breakfasted and seen Perry. I thought you might be interested
in what took place after Perry and Danforth took Beauchamp to headquarters last night. But if you are not…” He smiled mischievously
and began to remove her arms from his neck.

“Valentin!” she screeched. “You would not dare to leave me in suspense!”

“Oh, would I not?” He grinned playfully and started across the room.

“Val!” She jumped from the bed heedless of her undressed
state and flew into his arms. “Do not tease me.”

“Tease you, madame? I think it is you who teases me shamelessly,” he said stroking her curves and kissing her lips. “Egad,
Nicole, get something on before I forget myself.”

She snuggled next to him. “I will, my lord,” she smiled provocatively up at him, “if you promise to tell me about Phillippe.”

“Why you little minx.” He laughed and lifted her into his arms. Then throwing her onto the bed, he claimed, “I think, madame
wife, you need a further lesson in heeding the advice of your husband.”

“I… I was only joking, Valentin,” Nicole responded somewhat flustered as she became aware of his intention.

“Well, I am not,” he smiled arrogantly stripping himself of his clothing and coming to her. “I do not intend to resist the
temptations of your lovely body ever again.”

“I am yours to command, my love.” Nicole pulled his head down to meet her lips, yielding to him.

“God, I want you, Nicole.”

“Yes, Valentin, oh yes,” she replied breathlessly as he began to weave his magic over her again.

Sometime later she stirred from his embrace, and he rose to dress. She sat up and asked, “What
did
happen to Beauchamp?”

He smiled and replied, “He was more than willing to talk. It seems they hoped to delay the Allies’ preparations by kidnapping
the Duke. And Boney is about ready to attack.”

“Must it come to that?”

“I am afraid so, my dear.” Noting the fear in her eyes, he changed the subject. “I will try not to be too late, so that I
can escort you to the Richmond ball tonight.”

Attempting to match his light tone, she said, “I have a new gown for the occasion.”

“Good. Then wear these, my dearest.” He dropped the Ardsmore diamonds into her hand.

“The earrings! Where did you find them?”

“Danforth got them from Beauchamp last night.”

“Thank you.” She blushed painfully remembering all her foolishness again.

“My love, that episode is behind us. From now on all’ we will have to remember are the good times.”

“There have not been too many of those.”

“But there will be. Here is one I will always cherish.” He dangled the emerald and sapphire stick pin before her eyes.

“You do remember?”

“How could I forget.”

“Oh, my love, it is so hard to believe all my dreams are coming true.”

“They are as long as they include me.”

She laughed gaily. “Every one!”

“That is all I want to hear.”

It was a great disappointment to Nicole when the Viscount’s note arrived expressing his regret that he would be unable to
accompany her to the Richmonds ball after all. In the note he promised to meet her there as soon as possible.

Perry willingly waited upon his brother’s wife that evening. She wore a diaphanous yellow chiffon with delicate threads of
gold woven throughout the low-cut bodice and slightly flared skirt. It swayed and clung to her exquisite figure as she came
across the room to greet her brother-in-law. She smiled as he kissed her hand and said, “Ravishing! You are absolutely ravishing!
If you were not
my brother’s wife…” he teased, eyeing her appreciatively from her Grecian curls to her satin slippered feet. “Not a man will
be able to take his eyes off you this evening.”

“Oh, dear,” she said with a touch of concern, “your brother will never approve.”

“He would be a fool not to.”

She stood before the fireplace mirror and tried to adjust the bodice to cover more of her bosom.

“Speaking of my brother, I know he was terribly disappointed not to be able to escort you himself.”

She met his eyes in the mirror—a worried frown creasing her lovely brow. “Those dreadful rumors of war…” Perry shifted his
weight uneasily as she turned from the mirror to grasp his fingers. “Will it come to that?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t know for sure, luv. But don’t look so worried.” Perry added proudly, “We will have old Boney
beat before you can bat an eye.”

Nicole’s protest was interrupted as Cecily and John Tilford joined them.

“Oh I say, Nicole, that is a most stunning gown,” Tilford surveyed her admiringly.

“Why thank you, Telly,” Nicole smiled flirtatiously.

Catching the jealous gleam in Cecily’s eyes, Perry quickly slipped a matching shawl over Nicole’s shoulders and led her from
the salon.

The élite of Brussels society was already assembled in the salons of the Richmond home by the time Nicole and her party arrived.
It was apparent, however, that the Duke’s staff was still absent, for the smiling guests arrayed in their splendid finery
were tense beneath their carefree façade. Nicole chatted lightly with Helen Bramwell while each scanned the room anxiously
watching for the Duke’s party. Maria Bellington joined them looking calm and serene.

“How can you be so collected at a time like this, Maria?” Helen accused.

“Do cheer up, my dears. I hear the Duke is on his way.”

“Have you heard if it is war or not?” Nicole asked.

“Gossip and rumors. Nothing definite. We must await the Duke.”

“This waiting is unbearable,” Helen cried.

“Hush, my dear child,” Maria scolded. “You do not wish to show such fears to Harry, do you?”

Tears sprang into the young girl’s eyes. “Come with me, Helen, you must compose yourself,” Maria said soothingly leading Helen
away.

“Foolish chit!” Lady Barclay commented. “I am glad to see you are not allowing circumstances to crush you down.”

Nicole did not have time to respond. The Duke was announced, and his party entered the ballroom.

Immediately Nicole saw Valentin, his blue eyes searching the ballroom for her. But before he could catch sight of her, the
Duke of Wellington was surrounded by a mob of the curious and the anxious who questioned him about the rumors of war. His
quick terse reply was in the affirmative. It would be war! Nicole, whose limbs were already shaking in anticipation of those
fateful words, remembered Maria Bellington’s stern warning just moments earlier. Fleeing the ballroom, Nicole sought the privacy
of a small salon where she could compose herself before facing her husband. Only seconds after reaching the sanctuary, the
door opened and closed softly behind the Viscount.

“Nicole?” he questioned, crossing the room to take her outstretched hands in his own. “What is it, darling?”

Her eyes were misted. “Hold me, Valentin,” she whispered unsteadily, staring at the glittering medals and gold-trimmed scarlet
uniform.

He crushed her against him, his brass buttons digging into her flesh, and he whispered her name softly several times. Then
he was holding her at arms’ length, smiling boyishly. “You are looking very fetching tonight, my sweet.”

“Oh, Val…” her voice quavered.

“Shh.” He placed his fingers to her lips. “The night is still young, and I want to hold you in my arms. Will you dance with
me?”

He was being deliberately casual, and she must make every effort to do the same. She could not let him down now. Striving
for an inner composure to carry on the charade, she answered, “I am yours all evening if you want me, my lord.”

“Want you—you know I do.” He held her gaze then added lightly, “Turn around, and let me see all of this delightful creation
you are wearing.”

“Do you like it?” She pirouetted around him.

“Enchanting. What there is to it.” He stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“I decided against dampening the underskirt…”

“You better had!”

“Oh?” She eyed him provocatively. “And what might you have done if I had?”

“Need you ask, you minx?” He raised his hand playfully letting it come to rest on her cheek.

Nicole snatched it to her lips, kissing it. “I love you,” she murmured.

Overwhelmed, Valentin quickly took her by the hand and commanded, “Come on, my dear, let us get out of here before I forget
where we are, or you shall be quite embarrassed.”

She flushed in spite of the delight she felt. Decorously accepting his arm, they returned to the ballroom.

Melting into his arms, Nicole was oblivious to everyone
else, her violet eyes shining up at the man she loved. They danced time and again with one another until some of the Viscount’s
friends and fellow officers began to protest. It was impossible to refuse their requests to dance with his wife. Reluctantly
he relinquished his claim on her. As Nicole danced by him in another’s arms, she would meet his loving gaze, and immediately
the music ended, she would hurry to his side. Valentin would draw her close to him, the pressure of his hand on her arm reassuring
as he joked with one or two others dressed in scarlet.