CHAPTER 4

She gazed at her reflection in the gilded mirror, grinning broadly as she adjusted the ringlet curls framing her face. Matthew always said her hair made it seem like she set the world on fire. She’d always thought that a funny notion, until he reminded her that she was his world.

She couldn’t wait to see him again, even if it was under the ever-watchful eye of her father and her betrothed. It was easy to slip off unnoticed for a moment or two whenever her family threw a ball, and oh, how her mother loved to entertain.

Pinching her cheeks for color, she straightened her pale blue muslin gown, admiring how the top layer flowed over the white cotton beneath. Her father had it imported as an early birthday present, and she couldn’t have been more pleased.

“Elizabeth!” her cousin Sarah called, running down the hall. “Hurry, Lizzie, they’re all waiting on you.”

Laughing, Elizabeth spun, loving the way her dress flowed freely around her body. “Let them wait,” she declared, her green eyes blazing with mischief. “The party is for me, after all. Why not make an entrance?”

Sarah beamed at her shaking her head. “I could never be as brave as you. Your father would skin you if he heard your talk.”

Elizabeth linked her arm through Sarah’s. “Nonsense, dear cousin. Father adores me.” The two girls giggled like conspirators as they ran down the hall.

The ballroom was crowded and noisy, and exactly the way Elizabeth liked it. She greeted her guests with a distinguished, proper air, just as her mother had taught her; all the while, searching the crowd for Matthew. One of the waiters passed by with a tray of Champagne. Elizabeth took one, spinning once more as the bubbly drink slid down her throat.

Where was he?

There. Across the room, near the far door, Matthew stood, casually leaning against the wall. Even from a distance, she loved how his blue eyes roamed over her body, as if he were undressing her just with his eyes. Her entire being ached to be with him again, and a slow, easy smile played across her lips. His answering smile promised long kisses and answering sighs in the dark.

“He’s here,” Sarah exclaimed from beside her, and Elizabeth jumped. She couldn’t know Elizabeth had been searching for the McKinnon heir. No one knew; no one could know. The McKinnon’s were a good family, but poor as far as Lords went, and her father would never allow the union. Especially since he had already agreed on a dowry with the Dabneys. But if Sarah knew she had been secretly seeing Matthew for the last fortnight…

Luckily, Sarah was pointing excitedly in another direction. Elizabeth followed her cousin’s gaze and spotted the young Lord Dabney talking to her father. He wasn’t so bad, really, she conceded. He was handsome, charming, dark and mysterious. As the heir to his family fortune, she would never be wanting for luxury. And, she had to admit, she was attracted to him. Something about his smoldering gaze was enticing. And yet, there was just something off about him. Something a little too possessive which made Elizabeth want to keep him at arm’s length.

She knew her duty, and she would honor the marriage without a fight, but she didn’t love James Dabney, and she doubted if she ever would.

“Ah, here she is,” her father announced, drunkenly placing an arm around her. Elizabeth beamed at their guests around her father’s portly form. “I was just telling Lord Dabney how excited you are about your upcoming nuptials. Aren’t you my dear?”

Though her smile wanted to falter, Elizabeth forced it to stay in place. Lord Dabney’s eyes narrowed just a little. “Of course. Any girl would be pleased with such an advantageous match.” She let out a breath when his expression relaxed. The ladies around her began to gush at how lucky she was as the men turned to the morning’s hunt. Elizabeth watched Matthew slip out of the room to the hallway and hurried to excuse herself.

She had just made it through the doors to the hallway when strong arms pulled her around a corner. Her back knocked against the wall and suddenly Matthews’s mouth was on her, his lips pressed to her neck. She gripped at his clothing, her fingers clawing into the heavy wool of his jacket, trying to bring him closer. Their heavy breaths were the only sounds in the hallway and she delighted in the danger of their affair.

Matthew yanked down the top of her dress and chemise, exposing her breast before clamping his mouth around it. Elizabeth moaned greedily as he suckled her nipple, wishing more than anything that neither of them were clothed.

“I have to have you,” Matthew whispered against her ear, brushing his lips seductively against her cheek. Heat flooded through her down to her center and she knew she would never deny him.

“Come to my rooms tonight,” she instructed. “I shall leave the window open for you.” His answer came as a kiss so deep and full of longing that she found herself moaning again.

The door opened at the end of the hall, and both of them froze. “Elizabeth?” a man called, and she pressed a hand to her mouth. “Are you back here?”

“It’s James!” she whispered urgently. “I must go.” Hastily, she covered herself again, straightening her dress and fixing the curls that had gone astray. Matthew merely grinned and pressed a kiss to her throat. “I have to go,” she exclaimed, but she was smiling broadly.

“I will have tonight,” he promised, while Elizabeth shook her head in amusement.

Taking a steadying breath, she stepped out around the corner and greeted her fiancé. “Yes, my Lord, I’m here. Just feeling a little flushed is all. I wanted to get some air.”

Lord Dabney’s eyes were guarded, but his voice was kind enough. “There isn’t much fresh air back here, I’m afraid. How about a turn in the garden?”

She smiled as if she didn’t have a care in the world. “A walk would be lovely. Just what I need.” Elizabeth let Lord Dabney lead her away, determined not to look back. She would see Matthew in a matter of hours; she just needed to keep up the charade until then.

Lord Dabney led her through the ballroom and out to the gardens before he handed her another glass of Champagne.

“Why thank you.” She loved the way the drink felt on her tongue, cool and soothing. “That’s delicious. And didn’t come from our stores, I would know. Where did you get it?”
“It’s one of mine, from the vineyards,” he replied, taking her hand and spinning her around. “I may have slipped it in under my coat.”

“You are a devil, my Lord,” she told him, taking another sip. Everything began to take on a rosy glow. “How did you manage to do that?”

Dabney chuckled. “My dear, Miss Hargrove, I promise you, I have my ways of getting what I want.”

Elizabeth laughed and it was full and throaty. A small part of her wondered why she suddenly felt so comfortable with him, but the rest of her didn’t care. She let him lead her around the courtyard in a dance to the music filtering out through the windows and doors, enjoying the euphoric feeling that had invaded her senses. As he spun her again, she tripped and fell against him, clutching at his lapels to find her balance. Elizabeth giggled. “My Lord, I do believe I have had too much to drink.” Feeling slighting drunk, she gazed up at him through a rosy veneer and all she could think about was how much she wanted to kiss him.

But that couldn’t be right, she thought, trying to find the thread that would lead her to why. What about…

“Not until it’s finished, my dear. I swear to you; the last drop is worth the wait.” Dabney pressed the glass to her lips and tipped the rest of its contents into her mouth.

All other thoughts of denial disappeared and the only thing Elizabeth cared about was the man in front of her, the man she was going to marry. She didn’t pull back when he clutched her to him, or when he possessively pressed his mouth to hers as if he wanted to devour her. He was all that mattered. She would be his, and her heart would belong to no one else.