Wildfire Kiss (8 page)

“Oh my, Babs, your father would be furious. Talk
about scandal—Byron has stirred up an entire volume of scandal. Why
they say—”

“Hush,” cautioned Babs. “It isn’t his fault. He is
totally misunderstood. He had a great affection for Lady Caro, who
really is naught but a doxy, one minute fawning over him, the next
burning his letters in public.
Idiotic.
”

“Yes, but the rumors about him and Lady Caroline
Lamb are rife, and to be seen with him … my goodness. Babs,
they even say that he is in love with his half-sister,
Augusta … and …”

“Rumors will always follow greatness.” Babs shook
her head and then murmured, “Here he is … Do not give him that
sour face.”

She beamed and offered her hand. “My dear
Byron …” she said even as she watched Nick Barrington ride
away and out of sight.

***

Sir Edward Danton had watched the Lady Babs during
those first two weeks she enjoyed introducing her cousin to
society. She and Miss Bretton had certainly stirred up the beau
monde with their antics, but both seemed to be held in
affection.

He looked into the matter of the so-called
inheritance that Miss Bretton was rumored to have and discovered it
to be a hum. He was very good at finding out what he needed to
know. A magistrate’s clerk did not make enough to resist a few gold
coins, and he discovered that she had indeed inherited the whole of
her parents’ estate, but that it was modest.

He wasn’t sure how he could use the information he
had garnered, but he kept it in his mental files nonetheless.

Another matter had the beau monde wildly curious.
Passion’s Seed
sales had continued to grow, and both the
book and the mysterious author were the subject at many of the
haute ton
’s gatherings. People wondered why the author never
made a public appearance or claimed ownership of the novel.

Whispers that it was a ‘cit’, or a merchant,
abounded. For fun, Sir Edward said that he rather thought it was
one of their own, and this took flight.

All this while, Sir Edward discovered that he was
losing ground with the woman of his desires. The more he pressed
his attentions on Lady Babs, the more she retreated.

He became thoroughly determined to press his
courtship to a successful conclusion, for he had quite made up his
mind she would be his. One way or another, she would be his. If she
did not accept … he could abduct her, compromise her, and
marry her, and if he had to he would resort even to that …

It was at Lady Abigail’s picnic that he managed to
wheedle her into a little walk and began telling her how he had
read
Passion’s Seed
.

“Oh, and did you enjoy it?” she asked.

“I found it interesting,” he said casually. “And
you … did you enjoy it?”

“I did, yes,” she said adding nothing further.

He looked at her. “Have you any ideas who the author
might be?”

“I? Why not at all.” She bit her bottom lip.

Sir Edward had noted some time ago that when Babs
spoke a fib, she would chew her bottom lip, and so he looked at her
with interest.
“No?”

“No,” she answered and looked away.

“I do,” he said simply, if only to tease a smile out
of her for himself. It was very irritating to see her trying to
appear casual as she looked back at the picnic area, as though
looking for someone. She spun her head back, and her gaze raked his
face.

“
Oh no
—I mean … who …?”

An absurd suspicion crossed his mind. He had learned
that his lady love enjoyed reading and writing. He had learned that
she had published an article or two whilst at school, and recently
in a few unguarded moments she had expressed her love of writing.
She had quickly waved it all off as nonsense, and he had taken it
as such,
but now
… his interest was fairly caught.

Later, after they returned to the party from their
walk, he could not help but notice that she looked dissatisfied,
even with her Otto and that other, Sir Charles, in attendance. He
noticed her still looking down the wide, sandy trail that led to
the road. Who had she been looking for?

Eight

THE RUTLEDGE BALLROOM was full to overflowing, and
the evening hour still early at ten o’clock!

Babs noted all the women in their finery and jewels,
candles sparkling, and people twirling about the dance floor, but
her heart sank. Wildfire (as she had come to think of him) hadn’t
arrived. He hadn’t been at the picnic earlier that day, and Sir
Charles had said he rather thought he would be there. Now, once
again her hopes were dashed as she saw no sign of him. She was
definitely beginning to feel blue-deviled.

Beau Brummell strolled in and cast his comments on
the wind, for he was at outs with the Prince Regent and was bold
enough to remark upon it in public. Thus, laughter and whispers
already abounded.

If that was not enough, Byron entered the chamber
with his half-sister, Augusta, on his arm; a barely audible gasp
went around the room. Things certainly appeared as though they were
heating up, but not for Babs, who moved about restlessly and
disinterested in everything.

She escaped the ballroom undetected and went for a
bit of a walk from room to room, if only to work off her agitation
and disappointment. She was just about to step outside for some air
when she felt the hem of her gown being tugged and heard the
unmistakable sound of ripping material.

“How clumsy of me.” It was quietly said as a
white-gloved hand reached out gently to take hold of her bare
elbow, for she had tripped during the incident and was
unsteady.

Faith
! A shivering burst of energy shot
through her at the sight, sound, scent of
him
so near. What
was wrong with her? She really did not even know him—did she? No,
she was blistering with desire and moving along on female instinct.
What should she say? If Otto had ripped her gown, she would have
laughed and called down abuses on his head. When she opened her
mouth, absolutely nothing came out
. OH, eeek—he must think me an
idiot!
Finally she choked out, “Oh … it is nothing …
really.”

They both regarded the fine, soft material of her
blue gown and the enormous length of material that had been yanked
away from it to hang sloppily on its own.

He said, “This is all my fault—I wanted to catch up
to you before you were out of sight and stepped forward too
quickly. Please allow me to help you make repairs to your
gown.”

He was so cool, so collected, so … oh so
charming. His deep blue eyes caught and held her for a long moment,
and she felt herself blush. “I … I have some pins …” She
shook her sequined reticule hanging from her gloved wrist for
emphasis.

He towered over her. His scent was masculine, and
she felt light-headed. He spoke softly, only to her. “Pins, just
what we need to set us on our way …” A teasing quality coated
his voice, and as she looked into those blue eyes she felt lost.
What was wrong with her? She had to get control over her fanciful
state of mind.

He already had her gloved hand and led her to a
nearby door. He opened it, peered within, and exclaimed with
relief, “I don’t think we will be interrupted in here …”

She followed him within and noted that he was
careful to close the door after her. She felt herself tremble with
anticipation.

It flashed through her mind that Corry would look
for her. Here she was alone with the duke … with … oh,
faith, she couldn’t get past the thought and had to get control of
her fluttering stomach!

The study they found themselves in was dimly lit. He
took up residence on the sofa and urged her with a tug of her hand
to do the same. She did.

He bent and held up the hem of her gown, neatly
displaying her ankles. Once again, she felt the heat in her
cheeks.

After a moment’s appraisal he said, “This will take
some work!” He frowned and added, “I do hope you will be able to
see in this dim light?”

What had he said? He hoped she could see? Work?
See—work, ha!
She couldn’t
even breathe
. She could
feel her knees shaking, so it was an excellent thing that she was
sitting. His nearness was driving her mad. This was absurd. He was
a man,
only a man …

Their eyes met and locked.

His smile was quick before he told her, “I was
hoping to see you this evening, Lady Babs.” His tone was low and
seductively thrilling.

“Why?” Babs was ever direct as she looked at him
straightforwardly in a manner peculiar to herself.

He laughed out loud and surprised her by saying,
“Damn if I know … for I have been at pains to avoid you.”

“Why?” she repeated as she realized that she had to
breathe and did in fact take in a long gulp of air.

“You know why,” was all he answered as he flicked
her nose.

“Do I?” She shook her head. “I have no idea why you
should wish to avoid me and then seek me out. It seems singularly
odd …”

This made him laugh once more. “Right you are, odd
indeed, but I decided to give in to temptation this evening.”

“Ah, so then,
I am temptation
?” Somehow she
had found herself and dove right into the flirtation he had
offered. This was just for fun. He meant nothing serious, and on
that level she was able to respond.

He took off her glove and said, “You will need your
fingers if you are to pin up your gown …”

She pulled her fingers away, although it was not
what she wanted to do. However, he was correct: she needed to
repair her gown. She started the effort, but a moment later he took
her fingers again; this time he put them to his lips and whispered
low and hungrily, “You are more than temptation … you are
dangerous to a man’s peace, but I am certain you have been told
that before?”

“Have I?” she countered as she removed her fingers
from his hold and returned her gaze to her hem. “I don’t think Otto
would call me dangerous.”

“Perhaps not, but I rather think Sir Edward would.
Indeed, from what I hear, you have only to move in for the
kill …”

***

What had he just said to her? What the devil was
wrong with him?
The duke chastised himself silently. He had
been agitated all week trying to avoid the Lady Babs. He was too
attracted to her, and it wouldn’t do. He just did not tamper with
innocent young women … but finally he couldn’t stay away and
gave in to his need to see her again.

He had finally and at Sir Charles’s insistence
decided to make an appearance at the ball this evening. He had no
sooner dropped his cloak and hat with the butler than he saw her
leave the ballroom. Without thought, he followed her … and now
look what had come of it!

From a distance during the last few days, often when
she had not even seen him,
he had seen
her, and he had
noticed that Sir Edward Danton was in hot pursuit. Danton was very
different than the count, and something about Danton forever
hovering over her gnawed persistently inside the duke.

She looked angry now, her eyes glinting with sparks
as she put up her chin and answered his remark. “Is that what you
hear, your grace?” Her shoulders straightened. “How very
entertaining, to be sure.”

She had told him nothing with her retort, and he
found himself amused. He put his finger to her chin and said
softly, “Yes, I have heard that and … other things …” He
allowed his voice to trail off as he baited her.

She was no fool. He saw it at once. She wasn’t
taking any bait from him. She gave him a hard look. “And do you
listen to idle gossip, your grace—that I have but to move in for
the kill? How very vulgar. I would not have believed you would
repeat such a thing, but then, I don’t really know you … only
the façade you present to the
ton
.”

He inclined his head “I beg your pardon. I did not
realize you had such a high opinion of me, and I admit … that
was very vulgar indeed. I do not know what possessed me to say such
a thing …”

Still very much in a pet over his words, she seemed
about to return a scathing remark, but then she controlled herself
and smiled sweetly. “’Tis only what my own father says after
all …” She shook her head ruefully.

He wanted to crush her into his arms. Everything
about her called on him to touch her, and he found himself
supremely irritated when the door opened and the count exclaimed,
his eyes round and his tone touched with a bit of surprise,
“
So
—here you are!”

***

It was precisely at that moment that Lady Jane took
her niece, Miss Bretton, to one side and asked in worried accents,
“Where, dearest, can that dratted cousin of yours be?”

Corry laughed and said reassuringly, though she was
far from feeling confident about her words, “No doubt, she is just
where she should be and with a perfectly good explanation.”

“Humph! Well, try and tell her father that,” snapped
Lady Jane.

Corry said dryly but with a sweet smile, “I would,
dearest Aunt, if he wanted to know, but I rather think he is too
steeped in his cards.”

“Drat the man, ’tis why she is so wild. He never
tries to rein that hellcat in until it is too late.”

“Auntie Jane!” Corry objected. “You cannot call Babs
a hellcat …
she is no such thing.”

“Then where is she? Do you go off where you can’t be
seen?
No
, but leave it to Babs to do so.”

“Well, she certainly is
not
… er …
raising hell. If she had been, we would have already heard about
it—”

“And that is another thing,” Lady Jane interjected.
“Why are all these fortune hunters sniffing around you? It has
something to do with your
angel
cousin, doesn’t it?” she
asked suspiciously.

“Aunt Jane, Farley dotes on me, and he is plump
enough in the pocket, isn’t he?” Corry stalled. “And there is Sir
Charles, who has been very kind in his attentions, and there is
Wendell—”