Chapter Nine − A Tempting Dare
Forcing her hands to stop trembling, Diana placed them on her hips, her eyes narrowed as she stared at the man who had ignored her all evening, only to interfere in the very moment she thought she might feel something again.
Well, now she did.
Only it wasn’t excitement and passion.
No, right then in that moment, Diana was furious.
“How dare you ruin everything?” she demanded, the muscles in her jaw clenching as she did her best to hold her emotions at bay.
At her words, Lord Stanhope’s jaw dropped open and his eyes narrowed. “I ruined everything?” he spoke, his voice dangerously calm. “Do you even hear yourself? What were you doing out here? And with him? You have no idea what a precarious situation you’ve put yourself in. Lord Oakridge is…of questionable character. You were fortunate I came by or he might have−”
“Kissed me?” Diana snapped, shaking her head at him. “Has it ever occurred to you that that was my intention in bringing him out here?”
“You?” Lord Stanhope gawked at her as though she had sprouted another head, his voice sounding strangled. “Why on earth would you do such a thing? Have you no regard for your reputation?”
Diana snorted, her head suddenly feeling heavy as she looked at the uncomprehending expression on his face. “You truly don’t understand,” she mumbled, her hands sliding off her hips as the weariness of life−of her life−returned, weakening her limbs. “My reputation is already lost no matter what I do or how I act. It will not suffer from an association with Lord Oakridge.”
“That is not true. You−”
“Why do you even care, my lord?” Diana interrupted as he stepped toward her, the tone in his voice appeasing. “I am nothing to you.”
Staring at her, he swallowed, clearly at odds about what to do, about what to say or whether or not to leave. His gaze, however, remained kind as he studied her face, took in the sorrow that rested in her eyes as well as the tension that held her body rigid.
Watching him watch her, Diana drew in a deep breath, and her eyes narrowed. Had she been wrong? Quite obviously, he had noticed her. “You acted as though you didn’t see me,” she accused, and the pain she had felt earlier that evening claimed her heart anew. “You wouldn’t even meet my eyes.”
Drawing in a deep breath, he swallowed as his jaw clenched. For a moment, he closed his eyes before they once more sought hers. “I apologise,” he said, his voice quiet and serious. “I acted wrongly. I had my reasons. I−”
“You sought to protect your reputation,” Diana finished for him, nodding her head in understanding. How could she fault him for that? After all, he still had a reputation that was worth protecting! “Your mother even considered it necessary to interrupt her daughter and me in order to save her from my harmful influence.” Diana’s heart sank. Never had she felt so insignificant, so alone and worthless.
“She was wrong to do so.”
Lifting her head, Diana watched him. More than once, his words and actions stood at odds with one another. Why was he even here if he was so afraid to harm his reputation? After all, they were still alone in the gardens. If someone were to happen upon them…
“You ought to return inside, my lord.”
Again, he stepped forward and offered her his arm.
Diana shook her head. “No, it would be harmful to you and your family if we were seen together.”
His eyes narrowed, and a determined set came to his jaw. “I am not leaving you out here by yourself.”
Diana scoffed. “Why did you even come? You’ve already counselled me, and I’ve disregarded your advice.” She held his gaze as he looked at her, her question reflected in his eyes. “Why did you come?”
“I do not know,” he whispered, a touch of unease in his eyes as he looked at her. Then he swallowed, and his shoulders drew back, new determination coming to his gaze. “I consider it my duty to look after…”
Enthralled by the way his grey eyes looked into hers, Diana felt her heart quicken. “Me?” she asked, and almost imperceptibly, his head bobbed up and down. “And you consider it your duty?” she pressed, her heart now dancing in her chest, sending shivers of excitement through her body. “Or is it rather a desire?”
His eyes narrowed, and the muscles in his jaw clenched.
“My dear Lord Stanhope,” Diana exclaimed, a deep smile claiming her features as she stepped toward him, “if I didn’t believe it to be impossible, I would think that you were jealous.”
At her words, all colour drained from his face. “That is ludicrous,” he croaked, his voice far from steady.
“I should think so,” Diana agreed, delighting in his telling reaction. Could this be true? Had he followed her because he was jealous? “And yet, all evidence points to the contrary. Do you deny it?”
He drew in a deep breath and for a moment averted his eyes as though unable to bear her inquisitive gaze. “Why did you come out here?” he asked then, his eyes studying her face once more. “Did you truly wish to have an…affair with Lord Oakridge? Would you rather I had not followed you?”
Diana sighed. “Do you not remember what I told you that night at the theatre? I told you that I wanted to enjoy myself, did I not?” He nodded. “And I did enjoy myself that night.” Holding his gaze, Diana took another step toward him, noting the slight tension that came to his posture. “I enjoyed our encounter. I enjoyed it very much, more than I ever would have expected. You made me feel,” she whispered, reaching out a hand, and gently placed it on his arm.
The muscles in his arm jerked at her touch, and yet, he remained perfectly still.
“I came here tonight,” she whispered, looking up into his eyes, “because ever since that night I’ve found myself yearning for that feeling.” She sighed, revelling in the closeness that echoed between them. “Only then you ignored me, and it…it hurt.”
Guilt came to his eyes as his gaze continued to hold hers. “I never meant to hurt you,” he whispered as his hand closed over hers, still resting on his arm.
Diana nodded. “I know.” She drew in a deep breath, pushing away the sadness that had washed over her at his rejection. “And so I sought out Lord Oakridge because I thought he would have no scruples−”
“Taking advantage of you?” Lord Stanhope growled, anger and jealously clear in his voice.
Diana smiled, surprised how much his reaction pleased her. “Making me feel,” she corrected him. “Something. Anything.” Holding his gaze, Diana decided to test how much he truly cared for her. “And I shall continue to do so until I succeed.”
Instantly, his eyes narrowed. “What are you saying?”
“You know very well what I’m saying.”
“Is this a threat?” he growled, his hand tightening on hers possessively. “Either him or…?”
“You,” Diana confirmed, her insides dancing with joy as honest temptation came to his eyes. “It’s your choice.”
***
Feeling the warmth of her hand under his own, Arthur could no longer tell up from down or right from wrong. In a few short moments, all he thought he knew to be true and right had lost its meaning. Dimly, he was aware that they stood outside in the gardens at night…without a chaperone, without anything to protect their reputation.
He should never have followed her. He should have alerted someone of her family to the precarious situation she had put herself in. And yet, that had never even occurred to him. Not for a moment had he hesitated to follow her, his rational thought overruled by a deep desire to…
To what? Protect her? Her reputation?
Or was that a lie?
“What do you want?” he asked, the look in her eyes telling him more than words ever could.
“Kiss me,” she whispered, biting her lower lip as a deep smile came to her face. “I dare you. Make me feel, and I promise I shall never seek out Lord Oakridge again.”
With his lips pressed into a thin line, he stared at her as his hand closed over hers more tightly, unwilling to ever let her go as the mere thought of her and Oakridge turned his stomach upside down. And yet, he couldn’t…he couldn’t kiss her. It wouldn’t be right. After all, she was a widow. A widow technically still in mourning.
“I’ve heard you’re very fond of rules, Lord Stanhope,” Mrs. Reignold whispered, her watchful eyes noting every little change in his reaction. “Is that true?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because I would propose a game,” she said, a sense of mischief in her voice that sent a cold shiver down his back. “I admit I have broken many rules in the past weeks whereas I assume that you, my lord, have broken…”
“None,” he supplied. “Until now.”
A smirk came to her face as delight danced in her eyes. “Then you’ve already had some practise.”
He frowned. “Doing what?”
“Breaking rules.” Licking her lips, she leaned closer, and Arthur almost took a step back. Laughing, she shook her head. “Do not worry. I have no intention of ruining your reputation, my lord. I merely propose the following: For every rule you want me to uphold, I want you to break one of my choosing...only in secret, of course.”
Frowning, Arthur could not deny that a sense of excitement coursed through his body at her suggestion, and his eyes unwittingly travelled down to her lips. “Why should I agree to this?”
A soft chuckle escaped her. “Because you want to,” she whispered, leaning closer. “Have you never been tempted to break a rule?” Pushing herself up onto the tips of her toes, she inched closer, her gaze drifting lower. “Not ever?”
As desire and duty battled within him, Arthur only stood there, unable to move. What ought he to do? If he allowed her to walk away, she would undoubtedly ruin herself. And for a reason he didn’t dare admit to himself, he could not allow that to happen. However, if he were to kiss her…
“Well, I suppose I should go then,” she said rather abruptly, stepping back, and her hand began to slip out of his grasp. “If I hurry, I might still catch up with Lord Oakridge before he−”
Without thought, his hand closed around hers, not allowing her to slip away, and he pulled her into his arms. As he lowered his head to hers, Arthur noticed the delighted smile that played on her face before his lips closed over hers.
After that all rational thought was lost.