Velvet Embrace (41 page)

Dominic became curiously preoccupied with a speck of lint on his sleeve. "Perhaps I've changed my mind."

Julian grinned, saying nothing, but his expression held such amusement that Dominic, for the first time in his life, felt himself close to blushing. He turned and directed a glance at the wounded horse, remembering the agonizing moment when he thought Brie had been shot and his fierce relief afterwards.

"Yes," he said slowly to himself. "Perhaps I have."

Struggling up from the depths of a terrifying nightmare, Brie woke, gasping for breath. When she realized she was safe in her own bed at Greenwood, her terror subsided, but the images of blood and death still remained to haunt her. She lay trembling in the darkness, her heart pounding, her skin feeling cold and clammy.

What had happened to her? Her brain felt foggy, her body stiff and sore. And why was her left ankle bound with strips of linen? She remembered falling from her horse, but the rest was a collage of murky images.

As she rubbed her sore ankle, she gradually recalled the events following her fall: her talk with
Boulter
, the recoil of the pistol in her hand as she
fired,
Dominic's concern. She had regained consciousness shortly after he had brought her home, and she remembered Dominic carrying her up to her bedroom. Then Caroline had helped her into a nightgown and she had been made to suffer the attentions of the doctor when all she had wanted to do was sleep. As soon as he had gone, though, she had slipped immediately into a deep slumber. Recalling the vivid dreams that had awakened her, Brie shuddered. Her bedroom was so cold. . . .

Sitting up, she saw that the fire in the grate had died to a dull glow. After lighting the candle on the bedside table, she eased herself from the bed and carefully tested her wrapped ankle. She was surprised to find she could move easily, despite her aches and bruises. Her robe was lying at the foot of her bed, and she drew it on. Still shivering, she slowly made her way to the hearth and stirred the coals, letting the warmth from the glowing embers drive the chill from her trembling body.

Once she was warm, she became aware of other discomforts: her throat was parched and she was beginning to feel hunger pangs. The hour was past midnight, Brie realized, glancing at the clock on the mantle. She decided against ringing for a servant, for she didn't want to wake the household when she was capable of finding her way to the kitchens, even in the dark.

But the house wasn't totally dark, Brie discovered as she moved quietly along the hall. A wall sconce had been left burning at the top of the stairway. And not everyone was asleep. Brie was halfway down the stairs when a figure detached itself from the shadows below and moved toward her.

The unexpected sight startled her, the dark presence bringing to mind her horrible encounter with
Boulter
. She couldn't stifle her cry of alarm, even though she swiftly covered her mouth with her hand. She stood paralyzed in the middle of the stairs, tightly gripping the polished banister, the light from the lamp outlining her night-clad body.

The shadowed figure moved into the light, giving her a clear view of ebony hair and dark, aristocratic features. When she recognized Dominic, Brie let out her breath in a rush. "What are you doing here?" she asked in a rasping voice, relief making her question sound like an accusation.

Dominic was coatless, his white shirt opened at the neck exposing an expanse of hard-muscled chest. He placed one booted foot on the bottom step and looked up at her, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I see your brush with death didn't soften your tongue any," he observed dryly. "But I could ask the same of you. Why aren't you asleep?"

"I was hungry."

He raised a dark brow,
then
laughed softly. "Go back to bed, I'll bring you something."

When she remained where she was, not obeying, Dominic felt a surge of irrational anger steal over him. Brie looked so damned virginal, standing there with the collar of her white nightgown buttoned up to her throat. The soft woolen wrapper she wore did nothing to hide the curves of her slender body, though, and the golden glow of the lamp behind her cast a flaming halo about her head, setting her mantle of flowing tresses on fire. She was a vision of seductive innocence, one that made his loins ache.

Yet, he knew her appearance of innocence was deceiving. He remembered quite vividly how Brie had responded to him that day in the cabin and then again in the garden. And now, when he finally had another opportunity to make love to her, he found his hands tied. He couldn't take advantage of her now, not after the experience she had gone through with
Boulter
. He was that much of a gentleman, at least.

But still he felt angry. Dominic bounded up the stairs and swept Brie off her feet, cradling her in his arms. "For once you'll do as you're told," he said gruffly, ignoring her surprised gasp.

The contact only made matters worse for him, and as he carried Brie back to her bedroom, Dominic found himself swearing silently. It was impossible to ignore the feel of her soft body pressed against his chest, and he knew if he held her much longer, he wouldn't be able to let her go. When he reached her room, Dominic set her on the bed none too gently, and roughly disengaged the arms she had wrapped about his neck.

Brie stared up at him in amazement, too surprised even to protest his callous treatment. But she found her tongue when Dominic turned to leave. "Must you always resort to physical violence?" she asked tartly. "Does it give you pleasure to behave so brutally with defenseless women?"

Dominic turned back at the door to give her a piercing look.
His jaw was clenched tightly and his eyes glittered with an emotion Brie found hard to read. But then his mouth twisted in a ghost of a smile. "Since when have you ever been defenseless?" he said softly.

When he had gone, Brie let out her breath slowly. He was wrong, she thought despairingly. She
was
defenseless when it came to him. He only had to touch her and she wanted to melt. She was still quivering from the contact with his hard body. But even though his presence was unsettling, it was reassuring as well. She had no idea what Dominic was doing at Greenwood, but she was glad he was there. She didn't want to be alone with her nightmares.

When Dominic returned a short while later, Brie was sitting up in bed with the covers pulled up to her chin. Her eyes widened when she saw the amount of food he had scavenged from the kitchens: a half loaf of bread, a large slab of cheese, slices of cold ham and pheasant, several pieces of fruit, and a bottle of wine.

He set the tray on the bedside table and silently served her, then poured a glass of wine for himself and left her to eat in peace. Wandering restlessly about the room, he intentionally studied his surroundings in order to keep his thoughts on something besides the beautiful young woman in the bed behind him.

He could have imagined Brie in this setting, Dominic realized without surprise. Her bedroom, done in soft blues and greens, was feminine and fresh but uncluttered. The furnishings seemed appropriate somehow—graceful but not fragile, with a subdued richness that quietly proclaimed wealth and beauty. He felt oddly at ease here.

As he stood before the fire, watching the leaping flames, Dominic felt the tenseness in his muscles begin to relax. He had full control of himself when he at last returned to Brie's side. After refilling both of their glasses, he drew an armchair close to the bed and sat facing her, his long legs stretched before him as he leisurely sipped his wine.

Brie had been watching him surreptitiously, but she looked away when she felt his gaze settle on her. She finished her meal,
then
drained her glass for courage before repeating her earlier question about why he was here.

"I'm leaving for London tomorrow," Dominic replied. "I thought—"

"So soon?"
Brie exclaimed, her eyes fixing to his face. When Dominic's eyebrow shot up, she bit her lip. "I . . . I mean, won't it be dangerous for you?"

"Concerned for my welfare? I'm touched."

His mockery annoyed her less than the gleam of amusement in his eyes.
"Of course not!"
Brie snapped, her own eyes flashing. "You can go to the devil for all I care."

A slow grin spread across his lips. "Do you know your eyes turn green when you're angry?"

Brie almost choked. He was baiting her again, and obviously enjoying having her at such a disadvantage. "You still haven't explained why you are here, my lord," she said stiffly.

He studied her for a moment before answering. "Your cousin gave me a room for the night," he replied, taking a sip of wine. "I thought you might be in need of moral support when you woke."

Brie frowned.
"Caroline
let you stay? What about Katherine?"

"I suppose you mean the elderly woman who was hovering over you like a broody hen? I imagine it will be tomorrow before she stirs. The doctor gave her a sedative to calm her nerves. She was a bit overwhelmed when she saw the blood on your jacket. Incidentally, I thought it best to tell everyone I killed
Boulter
. It should spare you some unpleasant questions, not to mention the good opinion of the neighborhood. I've explained to the magistrate that I found
Boulter
trying to attack you, but that I fired the shot. Otherwise, the story I gave was the truth. I doubt if there will even be an inquest."

"
Th
-Thank you," Brie stammered, knowing the words were entirely inadequate to express her appreciation. By taking the
blame for killing
Boulter
, Dominic had protected her reputation as well as spared her further drama. It had been very considerate of him.

He flashed
her a
wry smile. "I'm not so sure I deserve your gratitude. Not only was I too late to help you with
Boulter
, but I
find
now that I'm a veritable hero for rescuing you. My praises are being sung all over the district. But I would be obliged if you would let me handle this business from now on."

Brie nodded fervently. Then a shadow darkened her brow and she dropped her gaze. "I . . . I dreamed about him," she whispered. "It was horrible."

"You'll forget it after a time," Dominic said gently. "How do you feel, other than that?"

"A bit weak . . . and my ankle hurts. But you haven't told me about Jester. He's dead, isn't he?" She didn't really expect a contradiction so she wasn't surprised when Dominic remained silent.

He took the empty plate and glass from her and placed them on the tray. "Let me see your ankle," he commanded. Without waiting for permission, he sat beside Brie and pushed the covers aside, exposing her injured foot. He ignored her sharp intake of breath as he grasped her leg and carefully began to
unwrap
the cloth that bound her ankle.

Brie bit her lip as Dominic examined her injury, experiencing acute agony. But it wasn't her bruised limb that was causing her such discomfort. It was the touch of Dominic's warm fingers on her bare calf. His unintentional
caress made her pulse quicken
and her skin suddenly feel overheated. Brie shivered with warmth, trying to will the sensations away. When Dominic recommended that she leave off the bandage, the casualness in his voice made her want to hit him. Didn't he notice the unnerving effect he was having on her? Was he totally immune to the hot little flames that were shooting up her leg and making her entire body throb?