Chapter Five
Banshire House
St. James Square
Mayfair, London
Michael glanced out the window as his carriage rocked to a halt. “It would seem we’ve arrived.” With a look across the narrow aisle, he wondered what his new fiancée was thinking… and what she’d feel about his deception—just now and upcoming.
“What?” The lady peered out the window as the vehicle rocked, signifying the driver had climbed down. “I thought you were taking me home?”
He grunted. “I decided I wanted my own townhouse instead.”
As the door swung open and the driver put down the steps, she huffed out a breath.
“If you think you can assume control of my life with your high-handed ways, you will be sorely disappointed,” she hissed in a whisper that was laden with annoyance.
“I know my own mind, Your Grace, and though I don’t understand what game you are playing, I’m not best pleased in this moment. ”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Once the driver stepped aside, Michael gathered his cane.
“Usually, when women enjoy sexual release, they’re not as waspish as you are right now.
” Then he exited the carriage. As soon as he gained the ground, he turned back while the driver offered her a hand in assistance since he could not.
Evangeline nodded her thanks, and when she joined him, she rested a narrowed gaze on him. “How gauche of you to point that out.” Though her grin was slight, it was there nonetheless; he considered that a victory as tiny as it was.
He looked quickly at the burly driver, carefully selected for the post because of his size, strength, and menacing appearance. “Thank you, Miller. I will not have need of you again tonight.”
“Of course, Your Grace.” With a curious glance at Evangeline, he sent his attention back to Michael. “Enjoy the remainder of your night.”
As the driver dealt with the steps and door, Michael escorted his fiancée up the short walkway and then into the house, where his tall, thin butler greeted them with the same curiosity in his eyes as Miller had.
“Good evening, Danvers. Lady Evangeline and I are for the drawing room.”
“Very good, Your Grace.” The gray-haired man nodded but was too well-bred and well-versed with Michael’s life to ask questions regarding her. “Where are your outer things?”
“Oh, I suppose we’ve left them at the ball.”
“Ah.” Danvers said nothing else. Smart man.
Then Michael made his ponderous way toward the stairs with Evangeline at his side.
“To continue this discussion, since we are engaged, that means our names are linked together. I don’t take that lightly.
” Regardless of what would happen between them or in the future, she was his responsibility, and he would honor that.
A frown tugged at the corners of her mouth. The lower lip was slightly fuller than the top, and that had the power to drive him mad. “Yet you know as well as I do that our engagement is clearly a sham.”
“It doesn’t have to be.” Why the hell did he say that? Was he slowly losing his faculties merely upon meeting this woman?
She snorted. “I know you not at all. Yes, I am looking to marry again, but I’m not certain you would be who I’d choose.”
Fair enough, but her penchant for plain speaking had annoyance erupting through his chest with the heat of an inferno.
Why did no one ever choose him these days?
Reminding himself that his mission was the most important thing, he ignored the annoyance.
“As you said, you don’t know me, so how can you be certain you wouldn’t choose me as your next husband? ” Why did it matter to him?
Silence roiled between them as they climbed the stairs at a slow pace that suited him due to his disfigurement and cane.
But he couldn’t let the point go. “Be honest, Evvie, aren’t you at least a bit curious? Especially with the attraction between us?” How would she react to his unauthorized shortening of her Christian name?
For that matter, was he curious?
After another huff, she nodded. “Perhaps.”
“Ah.” His own grin was small, and oddly, he wished to continue bedeviling her. Once in the drawing room, he said, “You will join me for a late dinner.”
“I am not hungry.” She glanced about the room, taking in the décor.
Michael then saw the room through her eyes.
Not knowing if she considered it lavish or overblown, he roved his gaze along the groupings of Louis XIV furniture with the striped peach, ivory, and gold upholstery.
Peach velvet drapes hung at the two floor-to-ceiling windows.
Aubusson rugs of the same color scheme lay scattered over the floor.
Though there were silver candlesticks about the room and on the mantel along with objets-d-art, there wasn’t much personal there.
Some of the frames housing paintings were of gilt, but not all. His mother’s style had been heavily influenced by the Rococo era, when his parents passed, he’d decorated in a more understated elegance that spoke to wealth and power but didn’t lord it over people in the room.
Bah, why does it matter?
“If you won’t share dinner, then have tea with me.”
Her frown deepened, which scratched at the demons in his head. “Why?”
“Well, for one, I’m parched,” he said as he drifted over to the peach and ivory brocade bell pull.
“Additionally, we should talk since we are engaged.” An idea was forming in his head, and even he couldn’t believe the gall of it, but it just might bring his quarry into the light.
Would it affect him as well as his future? Yes, yet it wasn’t the worst thing.
Perhaps.
When she rested her hazel gaze on him, he had the odd thought that he wanted to know what made her laugh, what angered her beyond all reason, what would soften her expression and bring out the green in those jewel-like orbs.
“We are engaged because of you.”
Abandoning the idea of tea just now, he stalked her over the floor, and though she kept a grouping of furniture between them, it merely stoked both his ire and his desire, for tension fairly crackled between them.
How could this one woman, whom he’d only met a few hours before, make his thoughts pinwheel and prompt ponderations of a future?
“I have my reasons.” Damn, but she stimulated his mind, and that hadn’t happened with a woman for many years.
High color blazed on her cheeks. Was she incensed or aroused? That remained to be seen, but he didn’t mind either. “Then tell me. Don’t spare my ‘delicate feminine sensibilities’ like so many people do these days. I’d rather have the truth.”
His admiration for her rose, but Michael shook his head.
“Not tonight.” The need for her, the want to imprint himself on her mind and body grew overwhelming.
Never a gifted wordsmith—which was what made him such a good spy at times—Michael pounced as best he could with his cane.
“You started something with me in that library earlier tonight—”
“Which you continued in the carriage,” she was quick to add with annoyance flashing in her eyes.
He ignored her interruption but was impressed that she wasn’t going down without a fight. “Perhaps, but I want the progressive coupling finished because I want the release now.” As he spoke, he grabbed the upper part of her arm and brought her about to face him.
“Ha.” Heat radiated from her form in waves, and he welcomed that warmth.
After all, there was only so much chill and rain a man could take.
“You think to take me by force if I don’t agree to your demand?
” Her eyes widened, and though there was a trace of anticipation deep in those hazel depths, it was coupled with apprehension.
And it stirred his own desire. “From the moment you agreed to the engagement, you became mine.” Was he throwing his rank about just now?
Perhaps, but he wanted his quarry more than being polite or putting in the time to court his fiancée.
At least initially. “Since you were perfectly fine with wanting to pleasure me earlier, and since you certainly took the same from me in the carriage, we are going to continue on with everything right now, and this time the coupling will benefit us both.”
Shock reflected in her eyes. “You wouldn’t.”
“Let’s find out together, hmm?” Why the devil did he enjoy bedeviling her? Perhaps it was her eyes, which often displayed conflicting emotions than what she allowed on her face. And he enjoyed seeing her come undone.
“I said no, Your Grace.” She stared him down, not giving ground, and he respected her for that, even as she faintly emphasized his title. “Just because we had a bit of fun earlier tonight doesn’t mean I want the full aspect of being bedded.”
That made absolutely no sense. No one ever wished to stop at teasing or being sent flying. “I think you’re lying, Evvie, so let’s prove it.”
“You know my name; make use of the whole thing,” she demanded while trying to wrench her arm from his hold.
“I’ll do what I please… in everything.” Then, with a small grin, Michael dragged her over to a sofa that featured bolstered arms on each end, pushed her to it until her arse came into contact with one of them. “Sit down, my dear.”
“What if I don’t want to?” When she attempted to spring back to her feet, he dropped his cane and kept her where he’d put her.
“I’m quite certain you didn’t have an issue with this before.” Seconds later, as his pulse pounded in his temples and heat slammed through his veins, Michael yanked her bodice down, and kept pulling until her glorious breasts were exposed to his view.
“But I…” Confusion shadowed her eyes and echoed in her voice. She put a palm to his chest to hold him off. “You wouldn’t take me against my will…” Fear flitted over her face.