In the Garden of Temptation (17 page)

When the music in the ballroom finally
signaled the resumption of the dancing, Catherine sprang from her
chair in relief. She had promised the first dance after dinner, a
country reel, to a nervous young man who came promptly to claim
her.

As she lined up for the dance, an image of
the earl enfolding her in his arms before leading her onto the
ballroom floor teased her thoughts, and her body shivered
deliciously. She must have had a particularly inviting look on her
face, because her partner gaped at her in obvious delight. The reel
came to an end, and she graciously thanked the flustered gentleman
as he escorted her to Lady Richards.

When she arrived at Charlotte’s side,
Catherine knew her features were flushed from the recent activity,
for her cheeks felt warm. She laughed gaily. This was the face
moments later she turned on the earl.

*****

Adam waited on the sidelines for his dance
with Catherine. He had remained at the ball all evening—something
he would not normally have done—just so he might dance with her one
time. It would be worth it.

He had not bothered to partner anyone else.
Hardly seemed worth the time, although it would have made his dance
with Catherine less conspicuous. Feeling too irritated to think
about that now, he concerned himself instead with the way Catherine
had flirted with that young fool. The earl approached the lady, a
thundercloud darkening his brow.

“
You must be careful how you
encourage these young puppies,” he said, scowling. “Most do not
have the discretion to come in from the pouring rain.”

The smile on Catherine’s mouth faded. “I’m
certain you are right, my lord,” she stated coolly. “It is well
known the older a man becomes the more discreet he becomes.”

Adam paused at the gentle rebuke. His glance
shifted to Charlotte Richards who watched him in open fascination,
confirming his own lack of subtlety.

“
Touche
,” he acknowledged, a sensual grin slowly easing his lips as
he stared at Catherine in approval. He bowed in deference to her
astuteness and, offering his arm, led the lady onto the dance
floor.

Catherine stood opposite the earl as they
waited for the music to the Cotillion to begin. Shyly, she kept her
gaze averted. Adam could not help staring at her. She was so
beautiful his throat tightened with passion. That dress made her
appear like an angel. When she finally raised her gray eyes to his,
she took his breath away.

The routine steps of the dance broke the
mood, but the respite was short-lived. As the last notes of the
music died away, Adam took her elbow and adroitly led her away from
the other guests and onto the vacant balcony. Once there he took
her in his arms.

Adam knew he was homing in on Catherine just
as he had done in her little glen. He wanted her and nothing must
stand in his way. If he had stopped to think, he might have been
surprised by his single-minded determination to pursue the baroness
regardless of the cost. But countless sleepless nights had brought
the unbearable yearning to a head, and his good sense deserted
him.

He felt her shudder, clinging to him as if
she needed the support.

“
Are you all right?” Adam
asked anxiously, his arm tightening around her waist as he steadied
her.

“
No. No, I’m not,” she
replied in an agitated voice. “If you do not stop looking at me
that way, I’m going to melt right here on the spot.”

“
I’m sorry, love, but I
can’t think further than my desire to make love to you.” He flashed
her a crooked grin, so at odds with the message in his
statement.

Catherine didn’t respond at first and, when
she did, she took him by surprise.

“
Do you like me?” she
asked.

“
What?”

“
You’ve made it clear that
you find my face and figure to your liking, but how do you feel
about me?”

His grip on her increased and he stared
severely down at her. “Don’t you know how I feel?” he rumbled.

She shook her head, uncertainty reflected in
her eyes.

“
Then I think it’s time I
showed you.” Adam dragged her into the far corner of the balcony
where an alcove provided more privacy. Taking her by the shoulders,
he pulled her to him and kissed her almost brutally.

The pressure of his mouth was painful, a
foolish effort to make his point. He drew back from her, and she
clamped her lips as if keeping them from trembling.

“
God!” he groaned. “Forgive
me. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

He lightly took her face in his hands and
brought his lips back to hers. This time there was a gentleness in
him, a need to persuade. And he was winning. Her hands crept up his
chest to entwine in the hair at the nape of his neck. At the same
time, Adam wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly.

When at last he raised his head, his
breathing was ragged. “There,” he said unsteadily, “do you
understand how I feel?”

Catherine reached up to brush a lock of hair
that had fallen across his brow. “What I understand, my lord, is
your desire to bed me,” she murmured. “That is passion, not
necessarily anything more.”

“
That is where love begins,
Catherine.” He smiled. “I like my sister, but she has never
inspired me the way you have.”

“
I see.” Her disappointed
gaze slipped from his.

“
Do not misunderstand.” Adam
placed his hand under her chin and forced her to look at him again.
“You are in my blood. I came home from Bath a man changed, and I’ve
been unable to forget you no matter how hard I’ve
tried.”

She stared at him wide-eyed and shivered as
he brought his face closer to hers.

“
You invade my dreams,” he
whispered hoarsely. “I see the most magnificent woman imaginable,
and she is exposed by the moonlight. She is there for me to touch,
to love, but she is just out of reach. I dread to wake for I am
never satisfied.” He paused as he continued to hold her captive
with his gaze. “I do not sleep well of late.”

“
If it’s only passion,” she
said, clearly still uncertain, “then any woman to whom you are
attracted would do.”

“
My mistress has
tried.”

Catherine flinched away from him as though
Adam had slapped her. “You have a mistress?”

He could not believe he had made such a
blunder. “I did,” he hastened, “but she turned me aside. I’m no
good to her.”

“
What do you mean no
good?”

“
I mean, my lady,” he said
in self-mockery, “it is you or no one.”

He had come as close to a declaration as he
could without falling on his knees and begging for her hand. Pain
clogged his chest as he realized the futility of such a notion.
They might make love, might actually fall in love, but there it
would end. No happy future awaited them—the baron would see to
that.

“
So be it,” she said, as if
coming to a decision. “When left with life’s crumbs, one feasts
nonetheless.”

“
I’m sorry?”

“
What shall we do to ease
your pain?” She spoke in a feathery whisper laden with erotic
implication.

His gut twisted in fiery response and he drew
her near again. “I knew you were a witch,” he growled, “else how do
I explain the power you have over me?”

“
The power belongs to you,
my lord,” she said, flirting with him through her lashes. “I am
yours to command.”

He turned suddenly urgent. “Do you have a
servant you can trust?”

“
Edna.”

“
You’re certain your faith
is not misplaced?”

“
Yes.”

“
I’ll have to make
arrangements. Tell Edna to expect a message to be delivered by a
Mr. Sims. He is my man.”

Catherine nodded.

Adam hesitated then. “There is danger
involved, love. Are you certain you wish to take the risk?”

“
I don’t have the will to
resist.” She looked at him squarely without guile.

They stood several minutes thus, neither
speaking because nothing more need be said. He moved his head
slowly toward her and dropped a lingering kiss on her lips.

“
Be waiting for me,” he
demanded in a thick voice. “It won’t be long, I swear, for it
already seems an eternity.” Adam backed away from her and drew in a
shaky breath. “Damn these tight breeches. I’m not certain I can
walk through the gathering without disgracing myself.”

Catherine giggled her surprise.

“
Right,” he snorted as he
straightened his coat. “Nothing will get a bloke’s passion under
control quicker than to be laughed at by his ladylove.”

“
Oh, Adam.” She smiled
gently. “I can’t wait, either.”

He grinned his elation at her response. “You
stay here,” he said, glancing over his shoulder. “I’ll send
Charlotte to you. Perhaps there is a dim hope we have not been
noticed.” He turned, strode the length of the balcony and
disappeared into the crowded ballroom.

The earl passed arrogantly through the throng
in search of Lady Richards. He came upon the little woman
unprepared for the blast of temper that awaited him.

“
Lord Ashworth, how dare you
show such little regard for Lady Bourgeault’s reputation!” she
demanded.

That dispelled any hope he had with regard to
his meeting with Catherine. He was so taken aback, he stared in
slack-jawed amazement at the infuriated lady. Charlotte took him by
the arm and dragged him unceremoniously to an empty sitting room at
the far end of the Farthington mansion.

“
Aren’t you worried about
your own reputation, my good woman?” the earl managed, his tone
turning sarcastic as he watched Lady Richards close the door none
too gently. “After all, alone with me and all that.”

Charlotte stood, hands on hips. “If it amuses
you to avoid the purpose of this conversation, then please, my
lord, feel free to do so. I have all night.”

The earl, unused to having his actions called
into question, found himself fighting a sudden burst of annoyance.
“You have something you wish to impart,” he said tightly. “It might
be best if you just said it.”

Charlotte gave him a terse nod. “I’ve taken a
personal interest in Lady Bourgeault. Though our acquaintance is of
short duration, I’m fond of her and would be displeased if anything
happened to upset her.” Lady Richards eyed the earl, a speculative
light in her gaze.

“
Come, Charlotte, ask me the
question outright.” Adam was relieved to feel his equilibrium
resurfacing.

“
All right then—I wish to
know what your intentions are toward Catherine.”

Adam stared at her for a moment without
responding. “Do you wish to know my feelings for the baroness, or
do you want to know what I intend to do with regard to those
feelings?”

“
Both, actually.”

“
I love her,” he stated
baldly, “and with regard to that love, I intend to make her my
mistress. Do you have some objection to this course of
action?”

Charlotte must have been struck dumb by the
earl’s overt admission, for rather than speaking, she clapped her
hand over her mouth, eyes wide with shock.

“
Now, now, Charlotte, I have
difficulty believing a woman as sophisticated as yourself would be
surprised by something as mundane as an affair. It happens all the
time.” The earl raised a skeptical eyebrow at her.

“
To others perhaps.” Lady
Richards’ expression had turned solemn. “Virtuous ladies were
considered safe in your company.”

“
Damn what people think they
know!” he responded in irritation.

“
She deserves better than to
have her name bandied about in the clubs, Adam. If you love her,
you can’t want her reputation destroyed.”

“
What makes you think that
will happen?” Now she had his attention.

“
Gossip, my lord—you know,
that nefarious sustenance which keeps polite society well
fed.”

Adam winced in dismay. “What would you have
me do?” His patience was running thin but, though he hated to admit
it, he knew Lady Richard’s worries were justified.

“
There is no hope you might
simply let the lady be?”

“
Let’s think of an
alternative, shall we?” he said grimly.

Charlotte sighed and then nodded as if
conceding defeat. “You must stop carrying out your pursuit of Lady
Bourgeault in public. It is bad ton and you know it.”

“
I wasn’t aware I was so
blatant.” He was chagrined by her criticism.

“
You’ve been casting
moon-eyes at her for all the world to see.”

“
I’ve done no such
thing!”

“
You have.” Charlotte shook
her finger at him, emphasizing her point.

Silence filled the room as the earl brooded
on this unwelcome observation. “I don’t wish to cause her harm,” he
said quietly. “Is it truly a problem?”

“
My lord, when you took
Catherine out on the balcony just now, the buzz of conversation in
the ballroom rose to such intensity, I felt I’d entered a
beehive.”

His turned morose. “Then the situation is
already irretrievable.”

“
Quite possibly, but you can
minimize the damage if you take heed quickly. Become
indifferent—people will wonder, but they won’t know. I don’t have
to tell you, that makes all the difference.”