“I’m sorry—" Rawlings put his hand on Nicholas’s shoulder. “Where did I see you just come from?”
Nicholas paled.
“Be careful, or you’re going to lose more than Belverd’s silly bet.”
Rawlings turned on his heel and walked off, leaving behind a speechless Nicholas. Just how many people knew about this bet? It was obvious he was being watched more than usual, which made him feel oddly uncomfortable, in spite of the fact his whole existence had been about gaining attention in the ton.
Watching couples dance and flirt shamelessly left a bitter taste in his mouth. He suddenly realized that the ball was the last place he wanted to be. What man enjoyed watching other couples participate in the type of happiness he knew he would never have? Having the desperate urge to leave, his eyes quickly scanned the crowd for Sai; it was only proper to let her know he was abandoning her.
He heard a hearty rich laugh coming from the refreshment area and inwardly grimaced when he realized it was most likely Sai getting more male attention.
Sure enough, upon arriving at the table, he noticed several gentlemen flocking around her, laughing and trying to impress her with jokes. She seemed amused, but also taken aback by the overwhelming attention. It was alluring to see such a striking woman so timid. Especially with such titled men salivating over her. He pushed his way through, glad for once for his reputation. Men were used to getting out of his way.
He leaned down and whispered, “Lady Sai, a word, if you please?”
She excused herself from the gentlemen and linked her arm in his. Just one touch from her sent a longing shudder throughout his body. He tried to stifle the hunger that threatened to escape, but it was torture. He led Sai down a darkened hallway and onto a patio he once used to seduce women. Odd, that he would take her to the one place he knew nobody would find them. It wasn’t wise, he knew. He was making a mistake. They should be around people, not lurking in dark corners.
He inhaled unsteadily and faced her. “Sai, I hope you don’t mind, but I’m not feeling well. I think I’m going to retire for the evening.” He bent down to kiss her glove, but she had already removed it and was now feeling his forehead.
“You do feel a little warm.” Her voice was heavy with worry. She rolled her eyes. “Maybe if you wouldn’t drink so much, it wouldn’t be a problem. I hear brandy is bad for fevers.”
“What the devil do you mean? I don’t drink too much!” he argued.
“You do. I’ve seen you throw back more than your fair share. I don’t approve.” She leaned over the railing, pulling away from him at the same time.
Nicholas hesitantly drew closer. “I didn’t realize you were watching me so closely.”
Eyes flickering with embarrassment, she looked away. So this was how she was going to play it, ignorant.
“I assure you,” he cleared his throat. “I normally make no habit of consuming spirits of any kind, not even when I lived up to the reputation of the playboy of the ton.”
She lifted her head to look at him. “Why now?”
“Why, indeed,” he muttered, feeling pitiful and powerless.
She said nothing about his confession, though he knew she had heard it. “Sai, I—“
“Yes?” Her eyes looked innocent and hopeful.
“I…” He shook his head. Why was this so hard? He refused to lose the bet, but then again, nobody would actually see them up here. What would be the harm? She had asked him to kiss her. Why shouldn’t she experience what it would feel like to be led down a dark hallway and kissed senseless?
Forgetting everything except his own needs, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her with all the unsatisfied passion he posessed. Her body went limp against his, as he took in more and more of her taste. Everything about her was fresh and alive. She tasted of newly picked strawberries, warm and inviting. He took the liberty of running his fingers through her hair and realized his mistake. It made him hungrier for more. He would never be satisfied with merely kissing this woman. Never. He cupped her chin and kissed down her neck, feeling her tremble with delight each time his lips met her skin. She seemed to purr as he left trails of kisses down her cheek; her eyes were closed, but he wanted nothing more than to see the two large emeralds aglow with desire gazing back at him.
“Open your eyes,” he whispered huskily.
For once she didn’t argue, but obeyed his bidding. It was enough to completely undo him. He picked her up and found her mouth again, this time with everything he had been thinking and feeling since meeting her. If he was going to kiss her, he wasn’t going to hold back, especially if she was to belong to someone else. His heart felt like it would beat out of his chest, the intense longing shot straight through his body, making him want to moan and shout all at once. This madness had to stop, or he would do more than just steal a kiss from the innocent girl.
Unwillingly he set her feet back on the ground and hesitantly distanced himself from her. Her breathing was ragged. Her hair had fallen out of its pins, and her lips looked swollen and ripe. He didn’t think it possible, but she was more beautiful than before. Her eyes held questions he knew he would have to answer. He struggled to say something, something to reassure her misgivings.
Then he heard someone clear their throat.
Chapter Eight
Lady Fenton walked out onto the patio between them. Nicholas thought it best not to say a word, though he was half-tempted to jump to his death when he saw his cousin’s face.
“I can’t say I’m surprised,” Lady Fenton finally said.
Nicholas’s emotions filled with panic, worry, fear, but mostly panic. As the ramifications of what had taken place settled fully on his shoulders. Being alone with a woman on the balcony was always frowned upon, especially when said woman was an innocent like Sai. He knew his cousin wasn’t the nicest of the ton, nor was she immune to the gossip. Some would say she was always the one who knew first what everyone else found out second.
She turned toward Nicholas. “I expect you to make this right.”
Nicholas winced, when he saw Sai's face turn red with embarrassment. How dare she embarrass Sai for something she had no control over?
“Sai did nothing. It was me.” He knew he sounded like a small child whining to his nanny.
“Oh, I am aware of what Sai did and did not do. She could have easily pushed your advances away instead of fluttering her eyelashes at you. I must admit this is partially my fault. Sai has never been one to attract attention, you can see why.” She pointed in Sai's direction, making the crimson in her cheeks deeper than before. Was this woman mad? She was putting down the most beautiful woman at the ball as if she was someone’s ugly maid.
Nicholas should have said something, but the shock rendered him mute yet again.
“Unfortunately, the duke and I saw everything.” Her tone was menacing.
Why was she up here with the duke in the first place? Nicholas wanted to ask, but he thought better of it. He didn’t want his life to end tonight because Lady Fenton had stabbed him with her fingernails.
Answering the unasked question, she turned to Sai. “He was following you to ask for your hand in marriage. Now it seems he thinks you will say no to someone such as he—especially with this rogue following you about like a lovesick puppy.” She gestured toward Nicholas. He felt like dirt.
“Therefore, I have a plan.” She looked between the two of them and smiled ruefully. “The two of you will marry.” Nicholas’s mouth gaped open and Sai gasped. “It wasn’t the match I intended, nor am I the least bit happy she will have to settle for an earl rather than a duke, but I fear there is nothing even I can do. Half the ton will know of what took place tonight by the time you reach the ball again.”
Sai's once crimson face was now paler than the moon.
“You can’t force us to marry!” Nicholas spat, suddenly angry that he would be the reason such an opportunity would be taken from Sai.
“Watch me,” Lady Fenton barked. “Three weeks." She held up three fingers to punctuate her announcement. "The banns will be read, and you will bear him children,” she said turning on Sai. Nicholas was powerless to shield her. “You will gain yourself a title, and you will put all of this sneaking around nonsense behind you.”
“You can’t do that to her,” Nicholas flared desperately. “She has the right to choose whom she wants. At least speak to the duke—tell him I seduced her, that my reformation had been a ruse! I’ll do anything. Just don’t force us to marry on my account.” He felt like an absolute martyr. Sacrificing his own happiness in order to rescue Sai from the fate of marrying someone so unworthy as he. Sai appeared to be on the verge of sobbing. He couldn't let Lady Fenton do this to her.
***
Sara didn’t know how long she could contain the tears which threatened to pour down her face at any moment. Not only was she utterly humiliated by her aunt's apprehending them, but the man who had held her so tenderly and passionately only moments ago was now refusing to marry her. Did he think she was the ugliest woman on the planet? Granted she had assumed as much earlier when he hadn’t said anything. He was hostile, angry, and not at all convinced he had done anything wrong. The look in his eyes spoke plainly—he wasn’t a reformed rogue, and underneath everything, he still wanted what every man wanted. His lustful advances were nothing more than an opportunity to embarrass her. She could see that now.
“I don’t want to marry,” her voice sounded foreign and heavy. “You shouldn’t punish Lord Renwick. He shouldn’t be forced to marry me.” There she said it. Now he was free to go live with his prayer book and deceptive façade that he was anything more than a notorious rake.
Nicholas cast a calculating glare at her, as if she were the cause of all of his pain. She glared back at him, suddenly indignant that he should be angry at her for his own behavior. True, she had asked for it, but she was not the one who led him down the dark hallway to the patio.
His eyes rolled pointedly back to Sara's aunt. “Fine. We’ll marry. But don’t expect it to be a love match.”
Lady Fenton laughed coldly. “Oh, my dear boy! A love match?” She looked back and forth between the two of them. “Given the circumstances, Nicholas, I hardly think that will be an assumption made by anyone. To think, Lord Renwick, Rogue of the Ton, marrying for love. Why, it’s positively scandalous, don’t you think?”
Nicholas didn’t speak. Sara tried again to object, but she felt the air escape her lungs in such a whoosh she was sure she would pass out at any moment.
“My dear Sai, you shall marry Lord Renwick, if for no other reason than your only other option now is to go home to your parents empty-handed and in ruin. Do you think they would take you back in such a state?” She looked sternly in Sara’s direction. Sara tried to swallow or to even remember that others' opinions didn’t matter, but she had held in her tears for too long. A single drop escaped down her cheek before she could catch it. Luckily, Lady Fenton had already turned on her heel and retreated back into the darkened hallway.