To Tempt An Angel (Book 1 Douglas series) (12 page)

Angelica cast a sidelong glance at Robert, who was frowning at his sister-in-law. “I’m sure the marquess will be a wonderful father,” Angelica replied.

“Dearest Roxanne, I’d like to plan a small party,” Duke Magnus said, changing the subject. “Would you like to help?”

“I’d love to help plan your party,” Aunt Roxie drawled. “In fact, there is nothing I’d rather do more.”

“Nothing?” the duke asked.

“Almost nothing,” Aunt Roxie amended, giving him a flirtatious smile.

“Do you think Prince Rudolf will follow you to England?” Venetia asked. “How exciting that would be.”

“I beg your pardon?” Angelica asked, her gaze and attention on Robert’s long fingers.

“Prince Rudolf won’t come for Angelica,” Samantha spoke up.

“Broken-hearted, the prince left Italy,” Victoria added, and winked at Angelica.

“That is too bad,” Venetia said. “Robert, would you care to accompany my family and me to Lord Murray’s ball tonight?”

“No, thank you,” Robert refused. “I’m meeting friends at White’s.”

“Adam St. Aubyn and James Armstrong?”

Robert nodded.

“Adam St. Aubyn is the Marquess of Stonehurst,” Venetia explained, looking at Angelica. “James Armstrong is the Duke of Kinross.”

Angelica nearly choked on her lemon barley water. Two marquesses and a duke had been guarding her father’s grave the other night.

“You won’t mind if I desert you for the evening?” Venetia said to Angelica. “My father and brother will be here shortly, and I’d love for you to meet them.”

Angelica smiled politely but said nothing. She could hardly believe she was about to meet Charles Emerson, the man who’d ruined her father. She glanced at Robert, who was watching her intently, and then dropped her gaze to her plate lest he read the emotion in her eyes.

After dinner, they retired to the small drawing room. Venetia went to her chamber to make final preparations for Lord Murray’s ball.

“I took the liberty of having the servants bring your instruments here,” Duke Magnus said. “I hoped you would play for me.”

“We’d love to play for you,” Angelica said.

Closing her eyes in order to keep Robert out of her thoughts, Angelica placed the harp on her lap. Samantha with her violin sat beside her on the settee and Victoria with her flute stood beside them. The three sisters played a spritely tune, their melody evoking sparkling water, fingers of dancing sunbeams, and hummingbirds.

Duke Magnus, Aunt Roxie, and Robert clapped when the three sisters ended their song. Aunt Roxie beamed with pride and called, “Bravo, my darlings.”

“Bravo,” shrieked Jasper, making everyone laugh.

Tinker walked into the drawing room at that moment and announced, “Your Grace, the Earl of Winchester and his son.”

Angelica whirled in the direction of the door. Her breath caught in her throat, her heartbeat quickened, and her hands trembled with anticipation.

“Easy, angel,” she heard Robert say.

And then Charles Emerson walked into the drawing room.

Chapter 7

He wasn’t what she’d expected.

Bland in appearance, Charles Emerson was short and thin. The only hint of his villainy were his small brown eyes, which contained no expression, and his ingratiating smile as he crossed the drawing room to Duke Magnus.

Men who groveled always proved untrustworthy, Angelica thought, scrutinizing his every movement.

She slid her gaze to his son. Alexander Emerson was unexpectedly blond, tall, and well-built—the opposite of his father in appearance.

With a sickeningly ingratiating smile, Charles Emerson shook the duke’s hand and flicked a disinterested gaze over her and her sisters. His blank gaze became an expression of surprise when he recognized Aunt Roxie, who offered her hand like a queen to a courtier.

“Lady Roxanne, I am surprised to see you,” Emerson said, bowing over her hand.

Aunt Roxie gave him a feline smile. “I’m sure you are, Chuck.”

“Now, Roxanne,” he said with a smile that did not reach his eyes, “I dislike that name.”

“I know,” she replied, making the duke smile.

“Is Graham here, too?”

“Graham passed away recently.”

“I am sorry for your loss,” Emerson said, a suitably somber expression on his face.

You don’t know the meaning of sorry
, Angelica thought,
but I intend to teach you that hard lesson.

She flicked a glance at the son and was surprised to see him staring coldly at Robert. Why would Alexander Emerson hate Robert Campbell?

“Charles, meet Angelica Douglas, the new Countess of Melrose,” Duke Magnus said, gesturing in her direction. “These two lovely ladies are her sisters, Samantha and Victoria.”

“I knew your father well,” Charles Emerson said, turning to her. “Did Graham ever mention me?”

“I’m sorry, but my father preferred never to speak of England after my mother passed away,” Angelica told him.

“I can understand why,” Emerson replied. “Graham and I suffered an unpleasant experience. We lost a fortune in a business deal. Luckily, I managed to recoup my losses as, obviously, your father did as well.”

“My father’s fortune passed to me,” Angelica said, feeling the strain of being polite to a man she would prefer to murder. “I never speculate in business, though I do admit a fondness for games of chance. I’m particularly partial to dice and love to see them roll across the table. One never knows what numbers will come up.”

‘“Then we shall contrive to keep you amused while you are in England,” Emerson replied. Angelica smiled brightly, but her thoughts were black. She sensed that he couldn’t wait to get her at the gaming table and steal another fortune.

“How long do you plan to remain in England?” Emerson asked, turning to her aunt.

“Indefinitely,” Aunt Roxie replied.

“I have invited the Douglases to live here,” Duke Magnus said. “I intend to see Graham’s daughters settled into happy and advantageous marriages.”

“You always were the kindest of souls, Your Grace,” Emerson replied.

Silent until now, Jasper walked out of his cage, calling, “Hello.”

“What is this?” Emerson asked.

“Jasper is my pet macaw,” Angelica told him. “A gift from Prince Rudolf.”

“What an unusual and colorful bird,” Emerson remarked. “Is it friendly?”

“Quite.” Angelica heard Robert clear his throat but refused to warn the villain about the macaw’s bite.

Emerson moved to touch the bird.

“Don’t touch it,” Robert ordered.

Emerson wasn’t fast enough. Frightened by the stranger, Jasper nipped the earl’s finger.

“It bit me,” Emerson exclaimed, holding up his index finger. A dot of blood stained it.

“Bad bird,” Angelica scolded, struggling against a smile. She rose from her chair, ordering, “Come, Jasper.” The bird followed her across the room to the cage.

Closing the door behind it, Angelica turned around and, wearing a sunny smile, said, “No harm done, then.”

“That bird is a menace,” Charles Emerson said, his anger apparent, as he wrapped his finger in his handkerchief.

“Do not disparage my pet,” Angelica ordered like a queen, forgetting to play the sweet, naive role.

“Child, I am the Earl of Winchester,” Emerson said, flushing with anger. “Assume a proper tone when you address me.”

“
I
am the Countess of Melrose,” Angelica countered, arching a blond brow at him. “I will address you however I please.”

“You should respect your elders,” he said.

“Being an elder only means you will die sooner,” she told him.

Robert burst out laughing. “Well said, angel.”

Angelica smiled at Robert and realized she’d made a terrible blunder by antagonizing Emerson. He would never roll dice with her if she provoked him into anger.

“I apologize for failing to warn you about Jasper,” Angelica said, changing her tone of voice. “He is friendly once he knows a person.”

That seemed to appease the Earl of Winchester. “I accept your apology,” Emerson said, and then smiled. “Perhaps you would like to attend tonight’s ball with my family?”

His invitation surprised Angelica. Did the man who’d ruined her father think to befriend her? Or was he trying to make amends for his rude words? After all, he wouldn’t be able to get her to the gaming table if she disliked him.

“My nieces and I will be housebound for several days,” Aunt Roxie said, saving her from answering.

“Our guests lost their gowns, jewels, and furs to pirates while sailing to England on board,
The Tempest
,” Robert said, looking at Alexander Emerson.

“I hadn’t heard about that,” Alexander replied stiffly, his dislike of Robert apparent.

Venetia appeared in the drawing room at that moment. She looked enchanting in a petal pink silk gown.

Charles Emerson bowed over Angelica’s hand, saying, “Meeting you has been a pleasure, my lady.”

“Thank you,” Angelica replied without returning the compliment.

“You are even lovelier than the last time I saw you,” Emerson told her aunt.

“I know, darling,” Aunt Roxie drawled. “Good to see you again, Chuck.”

“Good evening, Your Grace,” he said, inclining his head to the duke.

“Good evening, Charles.”

Emerson smiled at his daughter and escorted her out of the drawing room. Alexander Emerson paused to cast Robert a final glare and then followed them out.

Depleted of energy, Angelica sank down on the settee beside her sisters and touched her diamond pendant. She’d waited years to confront the man who’d ruined her family. Charles Emerson didn’t look like the monster she’d imagined, and that made him dangerous.

“Well done, darling,” Aunt Roxie said.

“I applaud your restraint,” Robert said.

Victoria giggled. “I couldn’t believe you let Jasper bite the bastard—I mean, villain.”

“I wish I had warned him,” Angelica said. “Now Emerson will be on guard.”

“I doubt that,” Duke Magnus told her. “Despite his villainy, Charles Emerson is a stupid man who underestimates others.”

Robert perched on the arm of the settee beside Angelica. “I would guess that Emerson is plotting the most expedient way to steal your fortune, besting you at the gaming table or marrying you off to his son.”

Glancing at him, Angelica fixed her gaze on his leg and recalled how well-muscled his thighs were, how his back muscles rippled, how he felt on top of her, pressing her down on the grass. She shifted her gaze to the hearth. There was danger in his nearness. In spite of her fondness for him, Angelica refused to forgive him for his lies or his cruelty that morning.

“Where did the son get his blond hair?” Samantha asked.

“I suppose his mother was blond,” Duke Magnus answered.

“Suppose?” Samantha echoed.

“Emerson’s wife was already deceased when I met him,” the duke said. “Roxanne, do you know anything about her?”

“I never met the woman,” Aunt Roxie answered. “She must have been blind to marry him.”

Precluding further conversation, a dark-haired boy ran into the drawing room and headed straight for the duke. Duke Magnus laughed and lifted the boy onto his lap. A graying, middle-aged woman rushed into the drawing room, then stopped short.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace,” the woman said, obviously flustered. “I’m not as fast as I used to be.”

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Honey. I wanted Colin to meet my guests,” Duke Magnus told her. “Colin, this beautiful woman is Lady Roxanne, and these are her nieces.” He gestured to them, saying, “Ladies Angelica, Samantha, and Victoria.”

Colin bowed first to Aunt Roxie before giving Angelica and her sisters the same honor. Then he ran to his uncle and hugged him.

The boy had black hair and dark eyes. When he smiled as he did now, Angelica saw the uncanny resemblance to his uncle and his grandfather.

Thankfully, she saw nothing of the Emersons in his appearance.

“I’m pleased to meet you,” Angelica said. “How old are you?”

Colin stared at her for a moment and then answered, “I am five.” He held up his hand to emphasize his age. “You’re very pretty,” he added, reaching out to touch her blond hair.

Robert grasped the boy’s hand, saying, “Colin, you are entirely too young to try your hand with the ladies.”

“Hello,” the macaw called from his cage.

Colin whirled toward the voice. His mouth dropped open when he spied the vibrantly colored bird.

“That is my pet macaw, Jasper,” Angelica said. “Would you like to meet him?”

Without taking his eyes off the bird, Colin nodded and held his hand out to her. Angelica smiled and rose from her seat. She escorted the boy across the chamber and then crouched down to be eye level with him.

“Hello,” Jasper said.

“The bird talks,” Colin whispered.

The macaw cocked his head to one side and said, “Hello.”

“Say hello to Jasper,” Angelica coaxed the boy.

His grip on her hand tightened. “Hello, Jasper.”

“You must never put your hands near Jasper because his teeth are very sharp,” Angelica instructed the boy. “He can bite your finger off.

“Do you promise not to touch him?”

“I promise,” Colin said, and nodded solemnly.

“Drink, drink, drink,” the macaw said.

“Jasper wants a drink,” Colin told her.

“That is my father talking,” Angelica said with a rueful smile.

Colin looked around and then asked, “Where is your father?”

“He’s gone away to heaven,” she answered.

With a maturity beyond his years, the five-year-old touched her cheek and said, “My father went to heaven, too.”

“Mrs. Honey, I believe it’s time for Colin to retire,” Duke Magnus said.

“I don’t want to retire,” Colin protested.

Angelica feigned a yawn. “Oh, I am so tired,” she said. “I believe I’ll retire, too. Would you care to walk upstairs with me and Jasper?”

Colin nodded, his black eyes gleaming with excitement. Angelica stood, opened the cage, and then took the boy’s hand in hers.

“Come, Jasper,” she called.

With Mrs. Honey in the lead, Angelica and Colin walked out of the drawing room. Jasper followed behind them.