The Rake's Midnight Lady (2 page)

Her feverish flush was replaced by a shiver of chilling trepidation as she thought of Cecile’s letters in her reticule. Somehow, she must extract herself from this disastrous mess and escape without him discovering the reason behind her presence.

His Lordship walked across to her, his curiosity obvious. Abbey had drawn the hood of her velvet cloak up when she had begun her bid for freedom, so her face was in shadow. When Hanwood put a hand out to push the hood down, she gave a soft murmur of protest, leaning her head back. She caught the faint scent of brandy off his breath. Although the man appeared sober enough, he had obviously been drinking.

He arched one slim, dark eyebrow. ‘Well now,’ he drawled, ‘what have we here?’

What could she say? Desperately, Abbey struggled to come up with something plausible, an excuse that would see her out the door and safe back at her aunt’s house. Abbey sensed there was a great deal more to be feared in this shadowy room than a dressing down, should she be forced to admit to the reason she was there and, while she might have dreamed of this man’s touch, the circumstances could rapidly make those dreams a nightmare and see her reputation in ruins.

‘If you will excuse me sir,’ she began.

The eyebrow rose a little higher. ‘Dear me,’ he murmured, ‘Now I really
am
intrigued.’ The hand would not be denied a second time and he pushed the hood of the cloak back. Abbey’s mouth tightened with a mixture of trepidation and anger and she stared up at him with as much defiance as she could muster. As inappropriate as her behavior might be, he was supposed to be a
gentleman
!

Hanwood was slightly taken aback to find himself confronted by a young woman whose remarkably pretty face matched the sweetness of her voice. Artfully arranged chestnut curls tumbled down to lay across alabaster skin, while the wide hazel eyes staring up at him showed none of the artifice of the females that were attending this
very
private party. Surely this was no fly-by-night little dazzler, here to entertain gentlemen for a price? If she was, she was something out of the ordinary indeed. Behind him Rosie spoke, voice brittle with tension. ‘Hanwood? I think it time I take my leave.’

‘As you wish, my dear.’ Hanwood allowed, ‘But before you go… do you recognize the young lady?’

Abbey looked at Lady Langley. Dress restored, she now wore a mask of cold hauteur, the passionate woman who was willing to entice his Lordship on a desktop gone as if she’d never existed. ‘I have never seen the chit before. And I am quite sure she has never seen
me
.’ The emphasis on the last word was unmistakable.

‘I’m sure you are right.’ Hanwood murmured, his eyes never leaving Abbey’s face.

‘What are you going to do with her?’ The woman demanded uneasily.

‘Find out why she is here. What else?’

Rose Langley hesitated for a moment, then inclined her head. ‘Then I will bid you goodnight.’

The woman’s departure left an uneasy silence behind… and Abbey in the unfortunate position of being alone with his Lordship. A position, she thought anxiously, that no well brought up lady would ever dream of finding herself in. As uncomfortable as she had been, subjected to the critical eyes of Rose Langley, Abbey could not help but think that she would have been far safer if the woman had stayed. She swallowed rather convulsively. Her heart was racing, attraction warring with the terrified knowledge that she was well out of her depth.

Hanwood smiled, a smile that in no way comforted Abbey. She was put in mind of a cat that had discovered a mouse and was eager to play. ‘Now then,’ he began again, ‘Perhaps you’d like to tell me who you are?’

Abbey didn’t want to tell him. Not at all. ‘Why, who should I be but one of your guests? I was looking for,’ she paused, mind racing. What in the world
would
she be looking for? ‘I have a headache and I was looking for a quiet place to rest for a few moments.’ She was hoping he would be gentleman enough not to mention that his library was an odd choice for a young lady in search of a little peace. There were plenty of smaller salons where overheated dancers could cool off.

Unsurprisingly, he was no gentleman. ‘I do not think so. I will not believe for a minute that you are one of the doxies who are here for the evening’s entertainment. Would you like to try again?’

‘I would like to leave, actually.’ Attractive or not, Lord Hanwood was a rake and a scoundrel who posed a threat to any female’s virtue. And must as she might wonder what it would be like to feel the taste of that mouth against her lips, that way lay ruin. She had to
do
something. Firmness, Abbey had found, had always worked in the past with those desirous of securing her interest. Abbey had become rather good at deflecting the attentions of hopeful suitors who fancied they stood a chance. She was in the fortunate position of having an adequate income of her own to fall back on and, societies expectations aside, she could please herself when it came to marriage.
And indulge in ridiculous fantasies about men who were not only highly unsuitable, but were so far out of her orbit that they might as well be heir to the throne of England!

‘But this is my party,’ he murmured, ‘and I would be loathe to lose you so soon. It isn’t every day I find a beautiful interloper in my library.’ Reaching out, he snared her wrist. ‘Come into the light where I can see you for I swear, you look familiar but I cannot recall where I have seen your face.’

She wanted to resist but his touch sent a shiver of intense awareness rushing through her, threatening to topple her precarious equilibrium. He pulled her further into the room where he could better see her, releasing her only so his long fingers could tilt her chin up to study her more closely.

Abbey stared up at him, wide-eyed and helpless. In her limited experience, gentlemen simply didn’t do such things but then, respectable gentlemen did not throw the kind of party that was currently taking place at Eaton Square. It seemed the gossip was true, after all. Lord Hanwood really
was
a rake, through and through. ‘What an adorable face it is, to be sure. And furthermore,’ he added, voice deepening, ‘it possesses a delicious mouth. Where have I encountered you, mystery girl? You talk like a lady and yet no lady of quality would appear at such a party as this.’

She could hardly tell him the reason behind her presence. The truth was, there was little enough she could say to extract herself from the predicament she was in. Abbey stared up at him, hazel eyes wide. ‘Please sir,’ she felt breathless, standing so close to him. The closer she stood, the more hypnotic his dark eyes seemed to become and that sense of helplessness, coupled with the unfamiliar need he provoked in her so effortlessly left her both bewildered and scared.

‘On these occasions,’ he whispered, moving even closer, ‘it is customary to please me…’

The brush of his lips against her own was at once shocking and seductive, electrifying every nerve in her body. Abbey had never experience more than a chaste kiss on her cheek before and the firm pressure of Hanwood’s mouth against her own trembling lips sent a rush of longing tumbling through her, feeding the feelings he had already awakened in her. When one arm slipped around to pull her against the unyielding length of his body she gasped, especially when something hard and urgent pressed against her own yielding softness, heating her blood with a shameful, seductive pleasure. His mouth deepened its assault, becoming more insistent and instinct saw Abbey open her own to receive him, small tendrils of desire igniting in her belly and spreading through her like wildfire.

This is how a girl is ruined
, Abbey thought hazily,
if my cousin Cecile could only see me now…

The thought of her cousin – and those absurd letters! – brought Abbey back to her senses with a hideous, sickening rush. And while the return of reason did not seem to extend to her wretchedly submissive body, which continued to revel in his kiss, she had herself under control enough to struggle, hands coming up to push against his chest.

He raised his head, devil eyes smoking now, barely banked down passion searing across her flushed skin with the heat of a desert wind. It took an enormous effort to break free, to remember who she was and why she was here with him. Seduction by a rake had certainly not been on her dance card for the evening no matter how much the man had haunted her most private moments!

‘You… must stop that!’ She almost panted the words. How was it possible that her body should feel so chaotic, so completely… tempted? All of her upbringing, all of her sensibility… when Hanwood had taken her in his arms, it simply disappeared like smoke on the wind. She was even wanton enough to enjoy the knowledge that
she
’
d
obviously had an effect on him. There was no disguising desire in his eyes and if there had been any doubt, the cut of his breeches certainly gave him away. After one involuntary glance at the appendage she had heard about in the schoolroom but had never actually seen, Abbey hastily raised her eyes and fixed them firmly on his face. Later, perhaps, there would be time to marvel at the extraordinary effect the feel of
it
pressed against her had had, but not now. Now she
must
bring herself under control.

‘Why so coy?’ he demanded, voice thick with desire, ‘Do not pretend you did not enjoy that as much as I did. You have talent, little one. Such an innocent face and yet your kiss would bring any man undone.’

‘Oh…!’ To think he believed her capable... But indeed, what could she say to convince him otherwise? That she was a lady? That she was a virgin? Both things were surely out of place at a
gentleman’s
party and to reveal too much would surely give the reason for her presence away. ‘My being here,’ she said, rather breathlessly, ‘is a mistake, nothing more.’ A dreadful mistake, as it turned out. Her lips were still throbbing from his kiss, her body craving something it had no right to want. ‘I would appreciate it if you would allow me to leave.’

‘Leaving is the last thing I want you to do. I would have thought that would be obvious,’ Hanwood muttered, running a hand through his thick dark locks. He picked up a glass off the desk and drank deeply. Abbey eyed him with some apprehension. She had enough knowledge of the world to realize that a man in his cups was a far more difficult proposition than a sober one. ‘You are of no use to me when you are gone.’

Abbey flushed. ‘Well I can assure you that I will be of no use to you here, either!’ Although she wanted it to be otherwise. She would do what she could to escape him but in her heart of hearts she craved the same treatment she had seen him bestow upon the shameless Rose Langley.

Hanwood stared at her, an arrested expression on his face. ‘I think it would be best if you tell me who you are,’ he suggested abruptly, ‘Because I’m damned if you’re of the same ilk as one of the creatures currently entertaining my guests.’

‘I most certainly am not –‘ Too late, she regretted the words. If she had been able to pass herself off as one of the evenings Cyprians she would at least have had a reasonable excuse for her presence in his house.

‘Exactly,’ Hanwood agreed drily. Placing his glass down, he moved across to recapture her chin and Abbey stiffened in anticipation and fear. It had taken a considerable amount of willpower to free herself from him the last time. She didn’t know if she had the strength to best herself
and
him again. This time, however, he had other things on his mind. ‘I’ve seen you before. At Lady Attwood’s ball and again… But never mind that!’ A frown had replaced the sultry ardor on his face. ‘Who are you? And what are you doing
here
?’

An excellent question. Abbey was almost certain she could have come up with a convincing answer if he would simply release her and step away. Close proximity to the man seemed to addle her thoughts. ‘It was a mistake. I… I should not be here.’

‘Very true,’ he agreed tightly, ‘A creature such as yourself is the last thing I need right now.’

As intoxicating as his nearness was, Abbey was not so far gone that she didn’t spark up at this. ‘I cannot pretend to understand you. Nobody asked you to kiss me my lord!’

‘On the contrary,’ he retorted. ‘A mouth such as yours is just begging for it.’

‘Then I’m surprised you have not given in to temptation once more.’ The words were out before she realized and it was difficult to know who was the more surprised by them.

Dark eyes glinted down at her. ‘So you want me to kiss you again? I think I am beginning to understand. You came here tonight because you wanted to see what took place at a party such as this. What are you? A bored little wife who wants some excitement in her life? Doesn’t your husband satisfy you?’ There was no mistaking the cynicism in his voice.