Devil Disguised (26 page)

There was no hesitation in his movements as he came forward to kiss her open mouthed and positioned himself over her. She rubbed her hands over his arms and back feeling the muscles bulge beneath her fingertips. Feeling his tip at her entrance, she moved her hips forward, ready for the intensity of the fullness. He broke their kiss and stilled.

“Lily, look at me.”

She opened her eyes and met his steady, passionate gaze. He began to enter her and she struggled not to close her eyes and throw her head back in ecstasy. She kept her gaze locked with his. He leaned down closer to her, but did not kiss her while he continued to slowly pull in and out of her. It was pleasurable torture and she never imagined feeling anything like it. Wrapping her hands around his neck, she pulled his mouth down to hers. He thrusted deep inside her. Breaking the kiss, she cried out in pleasure. Meeting the pace of his thrusts, she matched his desire and began lifting her pelvis in equal measure to his movement. She felt a sensation building inside her as they moved rhythmically, now in sync with each other.
Her sex tightened and pulsated as he leaned over her and found his own release.

She held him tightly as they gasped together catching their breaths.

He shifted to look down at her and their gazes held. “It seems I can no longer resist you.”

“Nor I, you,” she said, without hesitation.

He leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips before he moved off of her. Standing next to the bed, he put on his trousers and turned to look at her over his shoulder. “We really should be leaving soon.”

She nodded and admired his form before he put on his shirt. She replied, “Of course. I will just get dressed.”

“Dammit.” Duncan ran his hand through his hair.

“What is it?”

“I apologize. I should have asked Peter to bring you fresh clothes. Your clothes here are dry, but they are splattered with dirt from the storm yesterday.”

Lily shrugged her shoulders. “I am sure it will be fine. Everyone knows what happened. It will not be a surprise for the staff to see me like this.”

A strange expression crossed over Duncan’s features before he left the room and returned with her clothes. He placed them on the bed and turned to leave. There was an air of uncertainty about him, which made her nervous. She dressed quickly and met him out in the main room.

He was completely dressed as well and walked towards her carrying his cape. “Here.”

He wrapped the cape around her and she felt small under its weight. She looked down at the cape and then back up at Duncan.

He answered her unspoken question and said, “You do much better when you choose your own garments. The cape is too big for you, but it is a cool morning and it will keep you warm.”

She laughed and was pleased to see his strong demeanor seemed to have returned.

They walked out together and he lifted her onto his horse. Behind her now, Duncan flicked the reins, easing the horse forward as she leaned back against his solid form. She smiled as he tightened his arms around her in an unspoken response. An unexpected feeling of happiness came over her as she noticed the sun was much higher in the sky than she had anticipated. He had let her sleep late. She smiled again thinking that the last several hours spent with him had been amazing and had turned away any negative thoughts about him. Last night his concern for her was as apparent as his tenderness and passion. With all that they had shared, she let go of her worries and fears to enjoy simply being with him.

They rode at a leisurely gallop as she wondered where she and Duncan would go from here when he pulled back on the reins. The house was in view as well as the road that came up to the other side of the home. A carriage was approaching the home. Lily squinted to identify the family crest just as Duncan said, “It can’t be.”

Lily gasped. “Charles!”

She turned in horror to look at Duncan who clenched his jaw. “Hold on.”

He urged the horse forward and they raced towards his home, but he eased back on the reins as they neared the house. The carriage had already arrived and she saw
Charles and another man greeting Simon and Peter. They rode forward as everyone turned to look at them. She watched as her uncle’s smile faded upon seeing them. Charles stepped forward as Duncan dismounted. Duncan reached up to help her down and he offered her a slight quirk of his lip, but did not smile.

“What the hell is going on?” Charles asked as he looked between her and Duncan.

She watched Duncan compose his features before he turned to look at Charles. “Hello, Charles. You have arrived at an inopportune time.”

“I would say so!” Charles looked over Lily as displeasure covered his expression.

Duncan continued, “Lily was lost in the storm that came through here last night. We all looked for her and I found her struggling to get to my cottage. She was frightened, exhausted, and freezing cold. It had begun to hail and my horse would not travel. For our safety, we stayed in the cottage. My staff knew where we were. Lily was exhausted and she woke only a short time ago.”

Charles glared at Duncan and then turned towards the butler. “Simon, do you have anything to add?”

Simon stepped forward. “Yes, Lord Montgomery. We were all looking for your niece last night when the storm worsened. There were dangerous conditions, but Lord Cavanaugh would not give up his search. We did learn your niece was found and they were safe in the cottage.”

Duncan stepped closer to Charles. His voice was low, but loud enough for those near to hear. “The storm had begun to worsen as darkness fell. I refused to endanger anyone else in the search for Lady Montgomery, but I
realized she could be in a very precarious situation or could be seriously injured. Staying in the cottage was the most prudent thing for us to do. You are well aware she has been staying with me and has been under my roof for some time now. The cottage is an extension of my home. The accusatory look you are giving me and your niece is unnecessary.”

Charles stepped back as his eyes narrowed, but then he looked at Lily as his gaze travelled over her. He gaped, obviously noticing the state of her dress and person. “Are you all right?”

Lily nodded, “I am fine, thanks to Lord Cavanaugh.”

“It appears we should all be thanking you, Lord Cavanaugh, for rescuing Lady Montgomery last night. I know the storm halted our journey here and was one of the worst I had ever seen. I believe it did continue most of the night as well.”

Everyone turned their attention to the young man who had just spoken.

Charles clenched his jaw and turned sideways to look at the man. He said, “Lily, please step forward.”

She stepped around Duncan and felt his hard stare on her back as the young man approached. A sinking feeling began in her stomach as the man stood in front of her.

Charles said, “Lord Richard Hastings, let me reintroduce you to my niece, Lady Lily Montgomery.”

Lily inhaled sharply to try and hide her gasp. This was the man she was supposed to marry. Richard took her hand to place a kiss upon it before he said, “I doubt you remember me, but I most certainly remember you.”

Smiling, she did her best to recall meeting him because he did look somehow familiar, but she could not place him in her memory. With a smile in return, he stepped back from her and she took the moment to assess him. He had dark hair and dark blue eyes. She was surprised to find him more handsome than she expected.

Lily said, “I apologize, but I cannot recall meeting you, but I have had a very trying time lately and my mind is not very focused at the moment.”

Duncan said, “We really should go inside. Lady Montgomery needs something to eat and I am certain a hot bath would be in order.”

She shared a glance with Duncan and everyone began to move forward as the staff bustled around them.

Simon said, “My lord, hot baths are being prepared now for you and Lady Montgomery and I have ordered luncheon.”

Lily did her best to walk slowly to her room although she felt like running and hiding. The remaining staff was in the foyer and all greeted her warmly, but she wanted the solitude of her room. She assured every one of her good health and made her way to her own room where she asked Mary and Dot for privacy as she undressed herself. Sitting in the hot water of the bath, she tried to relax, but tension filled her every muscle.

She was leaving soon and it seemed so wrong after what had just occurred between her and Duncan. What had she been thinking would happen? She knew the outcome from the moment she had arrived. No matter what took place here, she knew her uncle would return and she would be going back to London. None of this
should surprise her, but still she was in complete shock. The timing of everything could not have been worse.

Calling in her maids, they helped her dress. She chose one of her least favorite dresses, a dark gray dress that seemed to match her now melancholy mood. Leaving her room, she tried to straighten and compose herself for the meal that was planned. Glancing down the hallway, she saw Duncan emerge from his room. He saw her and they walked towards one another meeting at the top of the staircase.

His lip quirked up before he said, “I never like to insult a lady, but I must say, you look rather drab today, Lily.”

She laughed as she looked at his dark gray suit. The color was an exact match for her dress. “As do you, Lord Cavanaugh. That color simply does not suit you.”

He smiled and she wound her arm through his as they walked down the stairs together. Her heart clenched when she smiled back at him. Finally, they could enjoy some comfortable banter, but now she was about to leave. They did not say anything else to one another on the way to the dining room. She wanted to read Duncan’s mind. Although he did not say it, she thought he would miss her as much as she was realizing she would miss him.

UNCAN ESCORTED LILY
to the dining room. He did his best to smile at Charles and Richard as they stood, but he realized this might be the last time he dined with Lily. Suddenly, he wished they were alone like they were when she had first arrived.

Charles rushed forward and looked at his niece. “Lily, I apologize for my atrocious behavior earlier. That was not how I imagined my arrival would be, but I am so very glad to see you.”

He hugged Lily and she smiled, returning his embrace. “I am glad to see you too.”

Charles stepped back and looked at Duncan. “I owe you an apology. Thank you for looking after Lily.”

“It was a pleasure.” Duncan gestured towards the table. “Please, everyone.”

Everyone sat down and began to eat in silence. Duncan realized he was very hungry and enjoyed watching Lily
eat with nearly the same abandon. Neither one of them had anything to eat since the day before.

Lily asked, “Charles, will you share some tales of your trip to India with us?”

He nodded and finished his bite of food before he replied, “Of course, but I was saving most of the stories for the ride back to London later today. I thought we could leave as soon as possible.”

Duncan and Lily put their forks down simultaneously.

Lily did not disguise her surprise. “What? I thought you would be staying for at least a day or two.”

Charles looked surprised as well. “I apologize. I thought you would be anxious to leave and return to London. One of the last letters I received from you indicated you had missed London very much.”

Duncan watched as Lily blushed and looked at him before she turned her attention back to her uncle. “Yes, but since that time I have learned to appreciate it here and I need to say goodbye to Eleanor. She has become a good friend.”

Charles nodded. “Where is she?”

Duncan replied, “Eleanor is visiting her mother-in-law along with Andrew and their new baby, Henry. They plan to return later today.”

Charles glanced at Richard who had been silent the entire time and then said, “Well, congratulations are in order for Lady Worthington and I would like to see her as well, but I must say we anticipated your desire to leave and Lord Hastings must be back in London tomorrow. We could stay the night, but we must leave first thing in the morning.”

Lily said, “Of course, we must do that then.”