Perdita did not wake until midday. The bed was empty, but the imprint where Vaughn had lain was still warm to the touch. She had been so tired after taking the sleeping draught, but she hadn’t forgotten what he’d told her about his brother, about loving and losing him. She had seen the pain in his eyes and heard the catch in his voice. Her viscount’s heart was not made of stone or even ice. It was there, beating and bleeding, just like her own.

She climbed out of bed, wincing at the stiffness of her muscles. It was going be a long day, and tonight was the supper and the ball, which meant she’d have little time for rest. She lifted her head when her maid came in.

Beth came over and gave her a gentle hug. “My lady. I was told about last night by your mother. I am so sorry! Why didn’t you send for me?”

“It’s all right, Beth.” She patted Beth’s back before she released her. “I didn’t wish to wake you, and honestly…I wanted to be left alone after what happened.” She wouldn’t admit to Beth that she’d been ashamed of being attacked and that she’d felt foolish.

Her maid stared at her before she spoke, as though she understood Perdita’s feelings. “I do wish you had sent for me. I wouldn’t have…” Beth struggled for words. “You’re my lady, and I would have done anything to help you.” The maid hugged her again. Perdita’s eyes pricked with tears as she patted the girl’s back.

“Thank you, Beth.” For a long moment, neither of them spoke, but when Beth straightened, Perdita had banished her fear and was acting as normal as possible.

“I’ve been given strict orders that you are to remain off your feet, miss, except for dinner. And you are not allowed under any circumstances to dance.”

“But—”

“Not one step.” Beth began to lay out a fresh dress and slippers. It was a white gown.

“Please, not that one. Surely I can at least choose what I wear.”

Beth gave her a challenging stare. “And just which gown did you expect to wear?”

“I was hoping to wear my blue gown, the one with the white roses on the bodice and sleeves. I wish to wear a new gown, and it will help me stand out among the other ladies who will likely wear white, red, or green to celebrate Christmas Eve.”

“Very well, the blue one. But no dancing,” Beth commanded.

Perdita rolled her eyes and let her maid help her get dressed. She discovered a small purple bruise on her face that she would to try to hide with her hair. It would be difficult, though. She hoped no one would notice.

An hour later, she was walking to the kitchens, hoping to steal a few biscuits. She’d had no appetite early this morning, but now she was feeling more like herself at last and was a bit peckish. She was shocked to see Vaughn join her at the stairs leading down to the kitchen.

“How are you?” he asked. He put one hand on the small of her back. Despite the layers of fabric between them, she could feel the heat of his palm through it all.

She ducked her head, embarrassed to face him with the bruise so visible on her face. “Well enough.”

Vaughn stopped at the bottom of the stairs and cupped her chin, lifting her face up to face his.

“Damn,” he cursed softly. “It looked less dark earlier this morning before I left.”

This morning. So he had left just before she’d woken and kept his promise to stay the night with her.

“It is fine. I’m just afraid to let any of the guests see. Scandal and gossip travel so fast.”

“That it does.” He touched her hips with his hands, the hold gentle but firm. “Why don’t we meet in the library in one hour? I have a plan.”

“I was going to fetch something to eat.”

“I will take care of it. Now go rest and meet me in the alcove. One hour.”

“All right.” She lifted her skirts to go back upstairs, but he captured her arm, halting her so that he could steal a deep kiss, and then he released her. Breathless, she stood there for a moment, her body hot enough that she wanted to run out into the snow to cool herself. Then he headed down the corridor to the kitchens, and she went back up to her chamber, wondering what he had planned.

She had her answer an hour later when she tiptoed into the library. She gasped.

Vaughn stood on the edge of the window seat, seeing to the hanging of a large kissing bough. At his feet on the floor was a large blanket with plates of food and a pitcher of lemonade with two glasses. Several books were in a neat stack by the blankets and pillows arranged against the wall. He’d created a picnic for just the two of them.

What man would take such time and effort to produce a lovely little scene such as this? It was utterly charming. She sniffed as her eyes burned. The blow to her head made her feel quite silly. It did not escape her notice that he had taken a room she loved, a room where something terrible had happened, and made it feel like a safe place again. And to think he believed he wasn’t a gentleman…

He still had his back to her, and she admired the lean lines of his legs and the firmness of his backside in his dark-blue trousers. He was not wearing knee britches, but he would change later when he went to the ball…without her. She was going to miss dancing with him, miss dancing in general until her ankle healed and the doctor thought she could chance a quadrille or two.

“You’ve outdone yourself,” she said as she reached the picnic blanket.

Vaughn flashed a brilliant smile as he climbed down from the window seat. They both stood beneath the kissing bough now. Outside the snow glittered on the lawns, painting a pretty winter picture that made her heart leap.

He nodded at the bit of greenery that would no doubt lead to something very wicked. “Care to put it to use?”

“I think that’s a wonderful idea.” She stood up on tiptoe to curl her arms around his neck. At the same moment he lifted her up by the waist and kissed her. His lips were soft yet gentle as he explored her mouth. Perdita gave in to the exquisite taste of him and the heat of his body. He made her forget her worries. Surely that made him perfect.

When their lips parted, he stared at her in wonder.

“What is it?”

“You.” He brushed the backs of his knuckles over her cheek. “Even after what Milburn tried to do to you, you can stand here and kiss me. You’re astonishing.”

A flutter of panic rose in her at his words. Did he think her wanton or unaffected by last night?

“Whatever you are thinking, stop,” he said. “What I meant is that few women would be as brave as you to even be alone with a man after what happened.”

She lowered her gaze to the floor. “What happened to me… That doesn’t make me weak. It doesn’t make me less.”

“Yes,” he agreed. “You are strong. You always have been.”

She raised her gaze to his, hoping she would see no condemnation in his eyes.

“And that strength makes you astonishing.” He feathered his lips over hers in a light, sweet, tender kiss that made her knees weak. For a man who claimed he could not love, he could kiss like one who loved more than the most romantic of poets.

“Would you like to sit down? We may have our picnic, even if it is a little bit late.” Vaughn helped her down on the blanket and began to serve the cold cuts and the fruit he’d brought up from the kitchen.

“Vaughn, when we are married, are we to move into your townhouse?” she asked. It was strange to think she was to be married so soon, to the Devil of London, no less. It was equally strange to think that the ton had favored Milburn as a gentleman and condemned Vaughn in the same breath, yet society couldn’t have been more wrong about both men.

At least my devil is really an angel in disguise.

“We could, unless you wish to move to a different residence.” He answered carefully, his words measured. “I’ve had to close up the country estate.” He didn’t say it, but she knew what he wasn’t saying. That he wouldn’t use her money to reopen the estate unless she allowed him to use her money for such a purpose.

She took a drink of her lemonade and looked at him.

“Last night when you spoke of Edward, I sensed you were unhappy. I want you—us—to be happy. What if we used some of my dowry to open up your country home? If we are able to fill your tenant farms again, we could have some success at creating a sustainable estate. I admit, I prefer the country to London and would enjoy living in the house where you grew up, if you wish.” For them and the children she hoped would come. She had never been interested in children before, but when she looked at Vaughn and pictured children with his golden hair and blue eyes…she wanted them desperately.

“If you don’t mind, I would like that. But I assure you, once my investments with Lennox bear fruit, I will restore the money we used to your accounts. People will talk, of course, when we move to the estate. They’ll say my marrying you was only to improve my family’s name and my circumstances.” Heavy regret layered his tone, and it softened her heart even further.

“Let them talk.” She met his gaze. “It is nothing we haven’t heard said of a hundred others. You and I know the truth of what lies between us.”

She pushed her plate off the blanket and held out a hand to him. The afternoon sun from the window bathed them both as they sat next to each other on the floor by the window seat.

Vaughn placed his hand in hers, and she pulled gently on his arm. He raised his brows in a silent question. She grinned. There was one thing she wanted more than anything right now. Him. She knew he would have to be tempted after everything that had happened, and she would do whatever she must to convince her gentlemanly rogue to claim what was his. She wanted to erase the bad memories here and cover them with new ones. But more than that, she wanted to be with Vaughn. Not because she wanted to get over Milburn’s attack, but because she’d wanted Vaughn before, before all this had happened.

I will not let Milburn take my happiness or my passions from me. I can love and make love without his specter haunting me.

“Tomorrow we are to be married. You have been the perfect gentleman, but I don’t want a gentleman right now. I want you, my dangerous rogue, to do what you do best. Seduce me.”

His blue eyes darkened, and he crawled over to her as she lay back on the blanket.

“Are you sure? After…” He hesitated, afraid to say the word.

“What Milburn tried to do will not define me, and it hasn’t changed how I feel about you.”

His lips twitched in a wicked fashion. “Anyone could come in and see us,” he warned as he leaned over her prone body.

“They could. But everyone is busy preparing for the dance tonight. Since I’m not allowed to dance, I would much rather be here with you right now, like this.”

His wolfish grin made her heart skip. “A wicked lady for a wicked lord—I do believe we are perfectly matched.” He unbuttoned his waistcoat as she helped him remove his shirt. She flattened her palms over the smooth, sculpted planes of his chest and the corded muscle of his stomach. She clenched her thighs together as a wave of heat rolled through her lower body.

---

“I want to strip you out of that gown, but we cannot risk it.” He lowered himself on top of her. She tucked her skirts up, and he settled between her parted thighs. He stroked one hand down her right leg, playing with the ribbons of her garter. Then he slid his hand between their bodies, touching her between her thighs. She jolted at the press of his fingers. She was so aroused, so ready for more, that she tensed against the slight intrusion.

“It will hurt a little,” he warned. His eyes blazed with a fire that echoed her own body, and she nodded.

“I know, but I want you.” She lifted her hips in encouragement, and he began to kiss her lips and her throat before she felt him fumble with his trousers and shift above her. Something hot and hard nudged at her entrance. She tightened her legs on his hips, trying to draw him closer.

“I am ready,” she whispered against his mouth.

Vaughn thrust. In one blinding moment of pain, she welcomed him into her body, and he stilled above her, his breathing hard.

“That’s it, darling. Breathe with me.” He kissed her gently as he began to rock inside her.

The pain blurred into something different, something sharp, yet not painful. It was a building pleasure. He moved his hips, pulling in and out of her more quickly. The sensation was almost too much to bear. Her breasts ached as they pushed tightly against her bodice.

“Vaughn, it’s happening again.” Her body burned all over like it was kissed with fire. His lips captured hers, his arms braced on either side of her shoulders. He rose above her, all muscle and power. Yet there was no fear, only pleasure as it ripped through her. She cried out against him and he joined her, harshly cursing as they both went limp.

Every muscle that ached from last night’s ordeal was now relaxed. She couldn’t have imagined that making love would be so calming once it was done.

“How do you feel, darling?” Vaughn asked, his blue eyes touching upon her face as he searched her gaze.

She sighed and lifted her head, kissing him. “Wonderful.”

“Just imagine how much better it will be on a bed, when I can take hours exploring you, my mouth and hands touching secret places on your body.”

“Hours?” Lord, she couldn’t fathom that.

“Hours,” he repeated in a low whisper. “And it will make you so exhausted you won’t be able to leave our bed.”

Our bed. Those two simple words wrapped her heart in a cocoon of warmth.

“We could stay here,” she whispered. “Forget dinner and the ball. Let’s stay right here.” She ran her hands up his arms, relishing the way his muscles felt beneath her fingers. The sunlight created a wild halo of gold as it hit his hair, and she ran her fingers through the burnished strands. The ruby stone of her ring gleamed a dark blood red, like a pulsing heart.

“Is that what you desire, to hide away? Not that you need any excuse after what you’ve endured. We’ve plenty of books, but we shall need more food. I’ll get dressed and go down to the kitchens, shall I?”

“Yes, please.”

He pulled away from her, and they both straightened their clothes. She helped him button his waistcoat, and then he left her alone. She settled into a window seat, her body languid. She could stay here just like this for an age, watching the sun glint off the snow in the gardens. Fresh snow. They’d had more early this morning.

She studied the snow, then leaned carefully against the glass to get a better look. There were footprints…leading right up to the windows of the house one floor below. None of the servants would be outside, not so close to the house. But who would be prowling about in the snow, peering into windows? Only one name came to mind.

Milburn.

He was still here. She would have to tell Vaughn.