Rules for a Fake Fiancé (Rogues Gambit #1)

Chapter Fourteen

New toys are all well and good, but only if one keeps the old toy close athand.

M ellie had ceased being shocked by the ignorance of men. She was used to being dismissed, discounted, and often ignored. She was not used to having a man stand like an avenging warrior over her shoulder threatening anyone who came near.

She found it as embarrassing as it was endearing, which only went to prove how disordered her thoughts became around Trevor.

Fortunately, he had found the most perfect distraction for her. Master Ah-Lan unrolled a scroll that depicted the coarse outline of a man covered in lines. Each line sported tiny spots and notations in Chinese characters, and Mellie was able to quickly understand the reference points on the human body.

“Look at that,” she breathed as she stretched forward to see better.

And then Master Ah-Lan began his lecture. He had an accent, but she was able to understand him well enough. In truth, he spoke better than her father did when he tried to explain some scientific concept to her. And she, in turn, was able to ask questions that encouraged the master to elaborate.

Every body had rivers or channels of energy, the man explained. Illness was a result of a blockage in those channels. People with the right training could insert needles into those blockages to open the body back up to healing. And, if there were no blockages, needles could be used to strengthen the flow of energy until the body vibrated with a power he called qi.

It was fascinating.

She barely noticed when Trevor left the room. She knew she should stop him from leaving her alone with Master Ah-Lan, but she didn’t care. She was learning about the energy channels as it related to the organs of the body. And if Trevor had told her why he departed, she had no awareness of it. She’d studied biology, after all, but this information was all new to her.

Indeed, she doubted anyone from the west had ever considered life force energy. The west focused on the four humors—blood, phlegm, and two forms of bile. Some modern doctors discussed bones and muscles. No one thought about energy. And though she wasn’t ready to accept Master Ah-Lan’s words as whole cloth, she wasn’t prepared to discount them either.

And so it was the most natural thing in the world to accept a treatment from him by way of example. He said that if she had no ailments, acupuncture—for that is what he called it—could accentuate her qi in beneficial ways. She should be able to feel the effects almost immediately.

A few pinpricks were a small price to pay for the experience. And so she agreed.

She even agreed when she was forced to unbutton her bodice far enough that he could press needles into spots along her collarbone and sternum. He spoke to her throughout the process, explaining the names of the channels and what could be affected and why.

Which was all well and good until Eleanor burst in the door. Mellie had heard the woman coming. It had been hard to miss, what with Trevor calling Eleanor’s name in that voice of sharp command. But what she hadn’t expected was the way Eleanor pushed open the door, took one look at Mellie, and screamed as if she were the one being stabbed with a dozen tiny needles.

Trevor came bursting through next. He came in with his fists raised and his gaze wild as he searched for whatever had shocked Eleanor. When he saw Mellie, however, his face drained of all color. Then his eyes flashed fire at Master Ah-Lan. She saw his fists come up and knew in an instant of blinding fury that people in London were crazy and she had enough of it.

“You will stop that this instant!” she bellowed.

And she never bellowed.

Apparently, she ought to do it more often because everyone froze in place. Trevor with his fists raised, Eleanor with her hands pressed hard to her open mouth, and Master Ah-Lan with a small knife extended in defense. It wasn’t any larger than a penknife, but it did appear sharp. And she didn’t in the least bit care as she quickly shoved the knife down and away.

“Mellie,” Trevor finally said, his voice gentle and a bit unsteady. “Are you all right?”

“Of course not. Really you two, has no one ever taught you appropriate manners? Fisticuffs, Trevor? Against a doctor? And Eleanor, whyever would you scream like that? Turn around this instant and come in again like a lady.”

Eleanor reacted as if slapped. And, on second consideration, Mellie realized that scolding Eleanor like an errant child was the deepest cut she could give the woman. She didn’t regret it, though, as the woman still looked like she was going to scream. Though now it looked more like fury.

Mellie decided to cut it off now.

“I am perfectly well and you will both stand there and be silent.” Then she turned to the medical man. “I apologize for my companions’ horrid behavior. I am sorry if that has destroyed the experiment.”

“Destroyed it?” Master Ah-Lan said, amusement lacing his tone. “Have you ever roared at anyone like that before? Like a dragon defending her eggs?”

What? Well… Mellie frowned. “No,” she finally said. “Never.” She’d learned young that screaming was the surest way to send her father scurrying away. And servants responded best to a normal, rational tone. Bellowing, as she had, was completely uncharacteristic.

“Your qi runs strong now, dragoness.”

Dragoness? Ridiculous. And yet, she couldn’t deny that she felt powerful. That for the first time since coming to London, she had spoken her mind with absolute clarity. All because of some needles in her face?

She reached up her hand to touch them, but the master stopped her. “Do not touch them yet. The treatment isn’t done.”

Not done? But she already felt strong. Especially when she saw Eleanor’s hand drop demurely away from her face. The woman stood rigidly straight, but she wasn’t about to scream anymore.

Trevor, on the other hand, looked pale and wary as he took a step forward. “Mellie,” he said softly. “Does it hurt?”

“What? The needles? Of course not. Maybe a twinge when they were inserted, but I have done things ten times worse in Papa’s laboratory.”

“But…” he said, shaking his head. “There are needles. In your face! And…” He waved generally at her bodice. Oh yes, she’d forgotten about those. It didn’t matter.

“Trevor,” she scolded. “You brought me here. You introduced us.”

“Not for him to stick needles in you!”

“And yet, this is exactly what he does.” She smiled at Master Ah-Lan, acutely aware of how it made the needles move in a macabre way. “It’s wonderful!”

Trevor stepped closer, squatting down before her so he could look her eye to eye. His gaze roved over her face and bodice and when he reached up to touch the needles, Master Ah-Lan quickly tapped his hands back.

“Not yet,” the man snapped.

Trevor’s hands dropped away, but he didn’t stop looking at her. “Mellie,” he whispered, “you are acting quite fierce.”

She grinned. “Yes, I am, aren’t I?”

“You feel powerful?” It sounded like he couldn’t quite believe it.

“He said I’m a dragoness.” There was a light note in her voice because she found it funny. And yet, Trevor had never seemed more serious.

“It looks good on you,” he finally said. “Very, very good.”

She met his gaze and felt intensity build between them. His eyes were steady, his lips curved in an amazed smile. He truly meant it. It wasn’t some overblown compliment as Ronnie would give her. It wasn’t even a flirtatious tease as she so often received from Trevor. It was an honest statement of fact, and she felt his admiration all the way down to her toes.

Indeed, she felt her cheeks heat and her breath grew hot. Her hands grew restless, and her breasts felt heavy. Were her nipples tingling? Was her womb contracting? Her lips felt dry, and she licked them, only to have his gaze rivet to her mouth. And she started looking at his mouth while remembering his kiss. More than remembering. She began to relive it, reimagine it. And her body came alive as she relived the way he had touched her. Her skin, her breasts, and…

“No, no!” cried Master Ah-Lan as he shoved Trevor back. “Too much! Get away!”

Trevor’s hand shot out, no doubt to block the master’s approach, but he was too late. Master Ah-Lan quickly began pulling out needles, dropping them one by one on the desk while shaking his head and muttering in Chinese.

Mellie had no response. Her body felt like it was glowing. Energy pulsed in her veins and her womb felt heavy and empty at the same time. She looked to Trevor who was straightening up, his hands unsteady and his eyes wide. She caught his gaze and for a moment, they held each other, it seemed, invisibly supported one to the other without benefit of touch.

They were connected. And she liked it.

“Trevor,” she whispered. She had no idea what she wanted to say. Only that he was across the room from her, and she wanted him nearer. He took a step toward her but was stopped again by Master Ah-Lan.

“Stay back until I am finished. Better yet, stay away from her for many days.” He shook his head again. “You set her qi on fire.”

Was that what had happened? If so, she wanted it again. She felt as if she’d been half asleep her entire life, only to finally wake up now. And somehow, it was all connected to Trevor.

Suddenly a cackle filled the air. It came from the doorway where Madame Illie stood with a wide smirk on her face. “That one will give you strong babies,” she said. “Healthy, strong, virile babies.”

Mellie’s brows rose, her mind abruptly filled with images of carrying Trevor’s child. With what they would do to create that babe, and how she would love holding it. And one look at his expression told her he was thinking the same.

But before she could say anything, Eleanor abruptly came back to herself. She snorted, a sound she never ever made, and grabbed hold of Trevor’s arm.

“Out!” she snapped.

“But—”

“Not a word to her. To me. To anyone! Not until her come-out.”

Trevor clearly didn’t want to go but he couldn’t brawl Eleanor in the small room. Still, he stood solid, as his gaze returned to Mellie’s.

“What do you want?” he asked.

So many things. So many graphic, erotic, wonderful things. But they couldn’t be indulged now, if ever. Theirs was not a real engagement. There would be no wedding night between them where she could feel all the things she wanted to experience.

Best not torture them both with those thoughts.

“Go,” she finally said. “I will see you at my ball.”

He nodded. He clearly didn’t like it, but he agreed. And so, after a last heated look, he made his way out of the room. Madame Ille followed him, leaving Eleanor behind to drop her hands on her hips as she glared at Melinda.

“I swear I will not breathe a normal breath until after you are launched properly and without scandal.”

Mellie stared at her sponsor. Was that all the woman could say? That she was worried about a scandal? Five minutes ago, she’d been screaming like a stuck pig and now…

And now Melinda felt like she could take on the world so long as Trevor was by her side. What was a scandal except a pesky fly when she was a dragoness? And so she made the only possible response to such nonsense. She looked straight at Eleanor and burst out laughing.