Chapter 12
The gentlemen arrived at Madame Bellaire’s and were joyously welcomed as old and favored clients.
They went first to the dining room, where there was always an excellent buffet.
They were immediately surrounded by pretty girls in charming dresses, only differentiated from the debutantes at Almack’s by their uniformly stunning attractions.
It was noticeable, however, that though they fluttered attentively around these handsome young men, none of them approached Nicholas in more than a casual way.
He was known to be the property of their employer.
Soon the lady herself swept in, gloriously gowned in ruby silk, her dark hair piled high upon her head. She held out her hands to him. “My dearest Nicky.”
Nicholas kissed both beautiful hands, and then her soft, full lips. “Cherie. You look more stunning than ever.”
She smiled the slow, seductive smile that was her greatest asset. It promised all the wonders of the sensual world. She traced one finger down the side of his face and across his lips. “And tonight is a special night, mon amour. Come, we must … talk.”
As she led the way toward her private boudoir, seen only by the most favored few, the marquess stepped forward and captured her hand, bringing it to his lips. Therese stopped, a slight, intrigued smile on her lips. “Lord Arden?”
“I am in despair,” he said, letting his eyes adore her. “What has Nicholas Delaney got that Lucien de Vaux cannot better?”
The lady made no attempt to free her hand from his; in fact, she allowed herself to be drawn closer.
“An interesting question, Milord Marquess. Perhaps it should be explored.” Her eyes took their own leisurely exploration of his body, then she turned to consider them both.
“It cannot be denied, I fear, that you have the edge in conventional beauty. Such golden hair, such sapphire eyes, such height and breadth of shoulders. And, of course, in rank and riches there is no comparison at all. Are you as generous as my Nicholas?” She looked at the large diamond pin in his cravat and smiled.
He moved immediately to remove it, but Nicholas stepped in. “I must protest,” he said lightly. “If you want diamonds, my heart, you must apply to me.”
Therese sighed and looked sadly at the marquess. ” Helas! He is so possessive…”
Lord Arden continued to remove his pin and held it out. “And are you,” he asked, “possessed?”
She took the pin and held it in the light so the facets flashed rainbows.
“Admirable,” she sighed and naked greed was obvious.
She looked between the two men again. “There is one respect in which my dearest Nicky has never been surpassed.” She allowed her eyes to wander the marquess’s body again, to linger cloyingly on his genitals.
He was astonished to feel himself blush. To feel soiled.
He flashed a look at Nicholas that was intended to convey understanding and commiseration. Perhaps it also contained appeal, for Nicholas moved forward and, with an arm around the woman’s waist, pressured her on her way.
She looked back with a rueful but concupiscent shrug. When he realized she had taken his diamond with her, the marquess could only think escape had been cheap at the price.
Once in her beautiful boudoir, where mirrored walls were swathed in ivory satin and scented candles weighted the air, Therese subsided on a chaise and raised her arms.
Nicholas came at once to kiss her long and fully.
“Ah, Nicholas,” she murmured as his lips played along her bare shoulder and across the naked fullness of her upper breasts. “Why do you mean so much to me?”
“How can a mere man know a woman’s mind?” he said huskily as his hands slid up to cover her breasts. “I can only be grateful.”
“And so you should be,” she said. There was a sudden sharp pain in his groin and he jerked back. She’d pricked him with the diamond pin. He stared at her.
“Look what I have given up for you,” she said, twirling it before his eyes.
He held out a hand. “You had better let me return it.”
“Why?”
“You will give no service for it.”
“Will I not?”
“No.” He was playing a dangerous game at this point, for their relationship was a constant knife’s edge of power. She would expect him, however, to be possessive.
She sighed winsomely and fixed the pin in his lapel. “There, see. I give it to you. What you do with it is for you to decide. Now,” she said, untying his cravat and opening his shirt. “What service will you give for such a jewel?”
He pushed her hands away and plunged his own under her skirts, for he knew her tastes.
She needed roughness. He pushed up the layers of satin, silk, and lace to reveal her familiar nakedness and the lewd designs tattooed on her inner thighs.
He forced her legs wide. “How can it be service when it is my pleasure?” he said, staring at her body, hoping he looked desirous instead of disgusted.
She lounged back, lips parted, heavy lids lowered. “But you look angry. It excites me when you are angry. Is it your friend? But I was only teasing, lovely one. He is a child.”
Nicholas was kneeling between her legs. “He is older than me.”
“He is a child,” she repeated. “That is why you objected, isn’t it?”
Dangerous ground. “No,” said Nicholas and began the finger play she enjoyed on her thighs.
“Yes, it is,” she said with a pout.
Then Therese abruptly dropped her playful tone and wriggled off the chaise to rearrange her clothing. Another favorite trick, but one he welcomed.
“But let us wait, impatient one. Tonight it is business, not pleasure.” She drew a long fingernail down his naked chest, marking him, then crossed it to make a T. “Not yet, at least. I have what you want,” she said softly.
He captured her tormenting hand and carried it to his lips. “You always have what I want, my queen.”
She laughed deep in her throat. “You are naughty, my darling boy. You know what I mean.”
“The lists?” He looked at her and forced a smile, as if the lists were of no importance.
“Yes, Nicky, the lists.” She stepped away to take a bulky packet from a drawer.
“English, French, German, Austrian, Italian, even American. All the ringleaders. With proof of their involvement. You would be surprised how many people see their advantage in the return of Napoleon, in the continuance of war.”
He took it and put it in his pocket, stifling a sigh of relief that threatened to choke him. Now he allowed seriousness to show. “Thank you Therese. This is the best way. And now, let me get you to safety. You are in danger.”
“Do I not know it!” she said, and panic showed. It was the first time he had ever seen such emotion in her. “But still I wonder, will you truly care for me?”
“Do you not trust me, my love?” He drew her into his arms to kiss her tenderly.
She relaxed there, but then drew back a little. “My only, one, my life has not been easy, and I have learned not to trust. You are married and your wife carries your child. You have reasons to abandon me once I have done what you wish.”
He rained kisses upon her neck. “Leave you? I could as well leave my heart! You know, Therese, that I have a duty to my wife. You agree with me on that. But you are my joy and my delight. You are everything to me. You are being foolish, empress of my soul.” Oh, God. How much more of this could he produce?
“No I am not, Nicky,” she said, moving out of his arms. “I am being terribly sensible, when all I want is to make love with you forever.”
She looked at him in a frankly appraising way.
“You really are the best lover I have ever known. You have the … the soul for love.” Her lips parted hungrily, and he knew she was hungry for sex.
She used it like a weapon, but it used her, too.
One could never be sure which state reigned at any particular time, but just now, he thought, it was need that was driving her.
He couldn’t.
Couldn’t he leave now? He had the lists. But he knew he’d never make it out of the house against her will, and there were Eleanor and Amy to consider.
When she drifted over to him he steeled himself to continue his act for just a little longer.
“You are going to be very angry with me,” she whispered in a girlish manner as she slid her hands from his shoulders down his body. Despite everything, he could feel a physical response to her skillful touch.
With the deftness of a pickpocket she slipped the envelope from his jacket and replaced it in the drawer.
He stilled a violent movement and merely raised his brows.
“Till later,” she said with a secretive smile. “I have your wife here.”
He stifled an extreme response and met her eyes, allowing the warmth to cool a little. He welcomed a respite from amorous pretense. “I did wonder,” he said, keeping the tone casual. “I cannot imagine what you are about. It is not like you to feel petty jealousy.”
“I am not jealous. How could I be? She is so ordinary, and swollen with child as well. There is a friend, too. That I did not intend.” She laughed at his expression.
“Do not look so severe, cheri. They are both quite safe and unharmed. I have given them dinner and playing cards so they may amuse themselves.”
Nicholas took a few steps backward and forward, absorbing relief, for she had no reason to lie, and desperately trying to work out what was expected of him in this situation. Therese would expect him to be put out by her action. He was sure of that.
“I cannot approve,” he said sternly. “Eleanor should not be upset in her condition. What are you doing?”
She looked at him with large, tragic eyes. He marveled at her ability to flit from emotion to emotion, all in apparent sincerity. “I am not sure of you, Nicky,” she protested. “You tired of me once. I must know you care more for me than for her.”
“And how do you propose I prove that to your satisfaction? Is it not enough that I have spent every possible moment with you for months?”