Delight (12 page)

He could still put his hand through the mist, shatter the illusion.
'
Twas not too late.

He could confess, come clean, admit he was an impostor, that he had committed acts bordering on barbaric. But then the mischief in her eyes would sharpen into mistrust. She would flee in panic.

He would lose her.

"
I had planned another activity for the afternoon," he said evenly.

"
Such as, my lord?"

Her gaze met his.

"
I thought we might"—he took a deep breath— "read Shakespeare to each other in front of the fire." He struck a dramatic pose.
"
'O flesh, flesh, how art thou fishified!'
"

"Fishified?
"
Rowena said, a frown wrinkling her forehead.

Hildegarde sighed in relief.
"
An excellent suggestion, my lord."

"I
am beside myself with anticipation,
"
Rowena said.

Douglas inclined his head. "I think only of your welfare."

"
I
'
m sure you do,
"
Rowena retorted.
"
However, if I may not ride, then I insist on taking a walk around the castle gardens. Gardening is a secret passion of mine, and I understand a green thumb runs in your family.
"

"
The gardens.
"
Douglas glanced to Gemma for help. He knew there had to be a garden somewhere in the castle. He
'
d never bothered to look. The former earl had cultivated a hothouse, but Douglas didn
'
t have a clue what he
'
d grown.

"
I suppose we could manage a brief stroll,
"
Douglas said cautiously, his mind already on the search he and Aidan would make afterward.

"
If it does not fatigue you,
"
Rowena said wryly.

"
The garden is in a terrible state,
"
Gemma said.

Rowena squared her shoulders.
"
I will have my
walk, or go stark raving mad. And
that
is a royal command.
"

Douglas walked Gemma back against the table, his mask of docility slipping to reveal the devilish anger beneath. The princess sailed from the room with Hildegarde in tow to fetch her cloak.

"Why the hell did you have to tell her I
'
m afraid of mice?"

Gemma edged around a chair. "What was I supposed to tell her?"

"
Couldn't you have said I was replacing the candles that had burned out in the chandelier?"

"
Couldn't you?
"
Gemma retorted.

He wheeled to look away. His temper was not improved by t
he reminder that Rowena had ren
dered him incapable of straight thinking.

"The princess wants to walk in the garden,
"
he said dourly.

Gemma grinned.
"
She has given you a royal command.
"

He waved her away. "Run ahead, lass. Make sure the men haven't filled the fountains with rum or littered the pathways with dead bodies and empty tankards. We must give her a nice garden.
"

Gemma sighed loudly.
"
I expect to be repaid for all this, Douglas. And by the way, you still have all those naked candles in your pocket. If the princess keeps addling your wits, you
'
ll probably pull
one out and pass it to her instead of a handkerchief."

C
ommon sense told Rowena that one could not rouse a retired dragon without the risk of starting a fire. Intuition also warned her she was definitely courting danger.

Yet in what guise she could not decide. The Dragon of Darien was undoubtedly a dangerous man.

The Earl of Dunmoral, who appeared to be frightened of mice, preferring Shakespeare to physical exercise, was not.

Was the dragon of her dreams all smoke and no fire? Had the stories exaggerated his exploits?

"Delicate constitution,
"
she said to herself. "If there is a delicate bone in that man
'
s body, then I am the Dey of Algiers.
"

Hildegarde snorted. "Appearances lie. To look
at
you,
one would not guess you are as headstrong as a donkey and persistent as a ferret.
"

Rowena smudged a dab of rouge across her lips. "He didn
'
t notice I wore my hair loose. Or the embroidered silver girdle that even my boar-mannered brothers said looks well on me. There. Is that red enough?"

"Your mouth is a beacon in a storm, Highness.
"

Well, let
'
s just hope his lordship decides to bring his ship to port,
Rowena thought.

But she said,
"
The man expects me to believe he is afraid of mice. Why does he lie to me?"

"
Would you admit you were an infamous barbarian if you had been offered a second chance at life, Highness?
"

"I hardly know,
"
Rowena said.
"
I have never been an infamous barbarian before. I think I might enjoy it, though.
"

"
Perhaps
'
twas a condition of his receiving the earldom, that he assume his new identity in both thought and deed,
"
Hildegarde said speculatively.

"Then how do I bring out the beast in the man?" Rowena wondered aloud. "How can I trust him?
"

"You cannot.
"
Hildegarde arranged the sable- lined cloak around Rowena
'
s shoulders as if it were a suit of armor. "Wait. We forgot to pin this on your bosom. You can trust no one, Highness. No one.
"

Rowena stared at the crudely twisted cross of sticks in the woman's hand.
"
You want me to wear a brooch of dead branches?"

"
Rowan twigs," Hildegarde said. "A Scottish charm to protect you from danger.
"

Rowena vented a sigh. Resigned, she allowed the woman to fasten the strange symbol to the underside of her bodice. Arguing with Hildegarde never proved wise.

Yet it seemed pointless to wear a charm against danger when Rowena was working so hard to attract it.

"
Shall I confront him outright?" she asked Hildegarde.

"Every man deserves a chance to reform,
"
was
the response. "If you confess to knowing his past, which he obviously wants to keep secret, you will damage his pride. Worse, you will find yourself at the mercy of a man who has nothing left to lose. Perhaps
'
tis only the illusion of decency that prevents him from hurting you.
"

"Then you advise me to continue playing along with this masquerade?
"
Rowena said.

"
Until Frederic returns, yes. You must pretend he is the earl's genuine son.
"

"
I have watched him with his sister and his men,
"
Rowena said.
"
I have seen him show anger, affection, and authority. But 'tis like watching him through the cas
tl
e's portcullis. I catch glimpses of the man, but I cannot sneak past his guard to see who he truly is.
"

"
Which is probably a good thing,
"
Hildegarde stated. "He who digs enough dirt will eventually come face-to-face with the Devil.
"

"
I am drawn to the man behind the barrier," she admitted softly.

"
Highness! Do not say such a thing. You have no experience with men.
"

"
And I am never likely to gain it,
"
Rowena said wryly.

13

N
othing much grew within the sheltered
walls of the castle garden at this time of year but for the evergreens, a few clusters of rosemary and thyme, some thistles, a forlorn Michaelmas daisy or two.

Rowena gazed at the neglected flora of the former earl
'
s garden in open delight.

Douglas studied her with nonchalant amusement underlaid with a primal attraction that had begun to plague him like a physical ache.

Afraid of saying the wrong thing, he said little.

She did not seem to mind. She twirled around a wheelbarrow to disappear down an overgrown path. "I never knew you had a plesaunce, my lord,
"
she shouted over her shoulder.

Neither did Douglas. In fact, he hadn
'
t the
vaguest idea what a plesaunce was. It sounded like some sort of edible fowl.

"Shall we go in the maze or the rose arbor next?
"
Rowena bellowed happily.

"The rose arbor.
"

A safer choice. Douglas didn
'
t trust himself alone with her in the shadowy tunnels of privet that the previous earl had cultivated. One inadvertent brush of her hand on his back, an accidental bump against each other, and he would lose the advantage,
take
advantage, proving himself to be unworthy of her.

Her mouth curved in a enchanting smile as she beckoned him. He felt himself moving toward her, drawn to the innocence he could destroy, uncertain suddenly of what he wanted from her. And she of him. An hour from now he hoped to be hunting down a deadly enemy. How could he plot vengeance in her presence?

"
How very intriguing.
"
Steps ahead of him, she stopped in front of a warped trellis with dying branches that produced a string of red flowers.
"
Don't tell me that
'
s a
Rosa cinamomea simplex
at this time of year.
"

"
All right,
"
Douglas said.
"
I won
'
t."

"What floribunda,
"
Rowena said with enthusiasm. "What—
"

"
—in God
'
s name is a rosy cinnamon complex?" Douglas asked himself, strolling up behind her for a look at this natural wonder.

His dark eyes narrowed in suspicion.

The flowers displayed on the trellis in such artful profusion were not to be found in any botanical encyclopedia. In fact, they looked suspiciously like the gaudy silk rosettes that had adorned the tiered petticoats Gemma had begged for in Naim.

"
Is it?
"
Rowena asked.

Douglas turned, surreptitiously scouring the garden for sign of his crack-brained little sister. "Is it what?"

"A
Rosa cinamomea simplex?"

"
No.
"
Douglas scowled at the flamboyant bush.
"
'
Tis a
petticoatalis Gemma idiotica."

"
A—
"
Rowena stepped closer to the trellis. She let out an alarmingly loud whoop of laughter. "That is such a good joke,
"
she said.
"
I was well-
deceived.
"

Douglas drifted away from her, half paying attention. He
'
d just caught a glimpse of Gemma sneaking through the maze. She, who
'
d thought to trick the princess by pinning pieces of her petticoats to a trellis.

"
I don
'
t suppose you ever have to prune them,
"
Rowena said, still chuckling.

"What?"

"Do you prune them?"

"Prunes don
'
t do well in the Highlands," Doug
las
answered distractedly.

Rowena frowned.
"
What?
"

He made a menacing motion at the maze. Rowena glanced around unexpectedly, catching him just as he shook his fist in Gemma
'
s direction.

"
What on earth are you doing, my lord?" Rowena asked.

He uncurled his fingers and swatted the air in front of his face.
"
Midges. You can snatch them by the handful. Pesky things. Did you say you liked prunes?
"

"
I think you are a dreadful tease,
"
she said in a low voice.

"
A tease? Who
…
me?
"

"I am a sister myself,
"
Rowena said.
"
I do have brothers of my own.
"

Douglas ran his hand through his hair.
"
I daresay you don
'
t embarrass them by leaving bits of your personal undergarments around the garden.
"

"I daresay I
'
ve done worse.
"
Rowena's smile was disarmingly wicked.
"
They claim I ruin their lives."

"You?
"
His gaze dropped to her mouth, lingering on the plum-red underlip. How could she ruin anyone
'
s life? This woman was made for loving and causing laughter. His body tightened at the temptation. His heart ached with a desperate need he dared not acknowledge like a stone overturned to the sun.

"
You
'
re staring at me, my lord,
"
she said.

He took a step toward her.
"
You
'
re staring at me too."

"
You were staring at my mouth,
"
she said in an undertone.

Was this an invitation, or another test of character? The princess played with fire. She was a maiden-warrior throwing stones into the sleeping dragon
'
s lair. If she persisted, she would find herself facing a fully-roused monster.

"I was staring at the rouge you are wearing on your lips,
"
he said.

Her fingers f
lew to her mouth. "
You noticed?"

"I am a man, Your Highness.
"

"You certainly are.
"
Then, without warning, she added, "I have never been kissed.
"

Douglas drew his breath in through his teeth. God above, now she wasn
'
t throwing stones into his cave. She was hurling boulders.

She looked up into his face.
"
Tell me the truth, my lord. Am I unattractive to men?"

Surprise darkened his eyes at the absurd question. But then it was gone, supplanted by a dark scowl of disapproval. How could her feminine powers even be in doubt? And who was it she wished to attract? Certainly no one in
his
cas
tl
e, not if the man valued his life. "Why do you care whether you are attractive to men or not?" he demanded.

"I am to be wed within the year.
"
Another sigh
escaped her.
"
Papa was interviewing suitors when the rebellion started. He led me to believe the list of decent men who desire me is limited."

"Decent men,
"
Douglas murmured.
"
They are rarer than diamonds these days.
"
The role of indecent men who desired her was no doubt endless, and his name would lead the list.

"
I do not understand Papa much,
"
she said.
"
He drinks and plots petty wars on his neighbors. He gallops out in the dead of night to arrest insurgents. Sometimes I wonder if he isn
'
t hoping to be killed himself.
"

"
There are men like that.
"
Douglas said quietly, thinking of himself and Aidan, of their reckless exploits and disregard for death. Aidan had lost his wife. Douglas had lost his soul. They were a compatible pair of sinners.
"
Men whose secret burdens become more than they can bear.
"

Rowena
'
s voice was subdued. "His last words to me were,
'
This is the kind of world that kills helpless women and children, Rowena. Never trust it for a moment. Never trust anyone you have not tested.
'
"

"Your father is wise to warn you.
"

"
But I need to trust someone,
"
she said.
"
I need to listen to my own heart. Papa
'
s heart is shriveled with grief and bitterness."

"
What does your heart tell you?
"
he asked slowly.

She closed her eyes. His mouth grazed her hair, or did she imagine it?
Did she imagine the deli
cious tension that spun them together like an invisible thread?
"
It tells me…"
She turned toward the trellis.
"
It tells me that you did not answer my question.
"

He stepped into her. The hard contours of his chest felt like the castle wall, solid, intimidating, holding her captive. She ached suddenly to feel his arms around her. Then in a deep lyrical voice that sent shivers down her spine, he said,
"
Your loveliness eclipses the sun. Your eyes reflect the light of a thousand stars. Your—
"

"
—brain is as inflated as a pig
'
s bladder if you imagine I want to hear that nonsense.
"
She whirled around, her face hurt and angry. "I asked for honesty. If you are incapable of it, then please keep your horrid flattery to yourself.
"

A
pig
'
s bladder, she had said.

His first reaction was to give the royal hellion exactly what she was begging for.

A kiss that would shock her to the tips of her slippers, a kiss that tasted of such black desire it would brand her his forever. Princess or not, she was looking for trouble.

As fate would have it, she was standing before the very man who w
ould like nothing better than
to give it to her. Aye, he could this moment show her just how attract
ive she was. His racing pulse 'tw
as a testament to her allure.

She claimed to value honesty.

Should he tell her that he honestly believed she
would not leave this castle with her purity intact? Should he drop his masquerade before the damage was done?

"
I wish to be kissed,
"
she announced without warning.

Douglas did not move a muscle. For the life of him he didn
'
t know how a gentleman was sup
posed to react to such a statement. He knew how a rogue would r
eact though. Unfortunately, bed
ding her in the potting shed was not an option.

She raised her voice.
"
I said—
"

"
I heard exac
tl
y what you said.
"
He clenched his jaw and grabbed her arm. Drawing her against his chest, he whispered,
"
As probably did my sister. She is hiding in the maze.
"

Rowena peered around his shoulder. "Why did you not tell me this before?
"
she asked, looking irritated.

"
I did not guess our conversation would take such an
…
interesting turn.
"
He propelled her back onto the path.

"Would you have kissed me if we were alone?
"
she whispered.

Douglas's hand tightened on her arm for a dangerous moment. His face unreadable, he released her.
"
Do you see those little brown flowers over there?
"

"
Those are thistles, my lord.
"

He knelt at the untended triangle of foliage, his body fully aroused. "I think you
'
re right,
"
he said between his teeth.