Pearce Kate

Educating Elizabeth

Educating Elizabeth

Kate Pearce

Chapter 1

London, England 1814.

"Did you say three, Your Grace? Three thousand pounds?"

The man's stammered question tailed into sudden silence.

Gervase David Saint-Malo, seventh Duke of Diable Delamere, sat back and contemplated the shine on his outstretched boots. Even in the dim light of the impromptu gaming parlor, their deep polish satisfied him. The secret ingredient his valet used to achieve such perfection was worth every penny of his wage.

The duke glanced across at his opponent, Mr. Forester, who was sweating profusely. Gervase shook back the ruffles from his wrist and stirred the crumpled pile of scrawled vouchers with one long finger.

"You mistake me, m'sieur." Gervase allowed a moment of hope to lighten the wretched man's face before he dashed it. "I said three thousand guineas." He raised one eyebrow in a polite query. "You doubt my word?"

Mr. Forester's face turned as sickly yellow as the stub of tallow candle that guttered between them on the card table.

Gervase examined his fingernails as Mr. Forester leaned closer and muttered, "Your Grace, I beg of you, a private word."

With a yawn, Gervase dropped his cards on the table and bowed to his erstwhile opponent. He smiled as he ventured deeper into the shabby rented house. The other guests at the ill-fated card party melted away into the shadows, leaving the duke to his prey.

Mr. Forester held no surprises for him. By the time Gervase had inherited his father's title at the age of one and twenty, he had learned just how many men wished to relieve him of his fortune, and how to deal with them. He had also learned that money was not the only thing desperate men traded over the gambling tables.

As Mr. Forester poured them both large brandies, he wondered idly what he would be offered next. If Mr. Forester were as big a fool as he looked, he would probably plead for time to pay. Not that three thousand guineas mattered to Gervase. He had more than enough money. Unlike the most recent wave of impoverished and dispossessed French émigrés, the Diable Delamere family owned land in both England and France, and had settled in England during the reign of the first Henry Tudor. But Gervase refused to be fleeced, and he had a nagging suspicion he had been allowed to win.

Mr. Forester cleared his throat. "Your Grace, I regret that I don't have sufficient funds to pay my debt this evening."

Gervase's mouth twisted and he downed the cheap brandy in one swallow. So much for a gentleman honoring his debts.

Mr. Forester hurried on with his speech, perhaps anticipating the denial that hovered on Gervase's lips.

"However, Your Grace, my stepdaughter has, in the past, offered certain services to my creditors in lieu of direct payment."

Gervase paused in the act of pouring himself another brandy. It was the first time he had been offered a woman to repay a debt. Had Mr. Forester deliberately lost at cards in order to foist his stepdaughter on Gervase? He suspected that Mr. Forester was involved with the revolutionary French, which explained his presence at the gaming party. He had hoped Mr. Forester would offer him valuable information in exchange for the cancellation of the debt.

Although it was not the outcome Gervase had anticipated, a faint whisper of interest stirred the layers of boredom and distaste wrapped around his soul.

Mr. Forester bowed. "I will allow my stepdaughter to reside in your house and fulfill any wishes or desires you might have until my funding arrives."

The man was serious. Gervase stared at Mr. Forester's smooth, bland face and marveled at such blatant self-interest.

He set his glass down on the scarred oak table. "An interesting proposition, Mr. Forester. Of course, I would wish to meet this paragon before I make my decision."

Almost before Gervase finished speaking, Mr. Forester disappeared, leaving Gervase to help himself to the brandy bottle. He caught a glimpse of his dark profile in a rusted mirror over the mantelpiece and raised his glass in an ironic salute. The silver thread in his black coat set off his raven hair and gray eyes to perfection. His wife's demise had gifted him his perfect color palette. Since the end of the formal mourning period, he rarely bothered to dress in any other colors.

He grimaced as he noticed how the darkness of his clothing suited the shabbiness of the room. Was he beginning to merge with the shadows he hunted? He suppressed a sudden urge to leave before Mr. Forester returned. He was tired of this game and weary of the subterfuge.

The door creaked and Mr. Forester ushered his stepdaughter into the room. Gervase slowly straightened, his attention caught by her respectable buttoned-up gown and tightly braided brown hair. He judged her to be in her mid-twenties. She could easily have passed for a governess in her outmoded gown. His suspicions flared anew.

Drawn by a strange compulsion, he placed his fingers under her chin and forced her to look up at him. She was above average height and her eyes were large and gray. Her skin was excellent and she had all her teeth. He almost smiled as he caught a hint of disapproval in her narrowed gaze. Despite her dowdy exterior, he was pleased to see that she was no milk and water miss.

Without releasing her gaze, he said over his shoulder, "Does she come willingly? I've no patience with tears and tantrums."

As Gervase hoped, she answered for herself, her voice low-pitched and well-bred. "I will come with you, Your Grace. I hope I can be of service." Her firm tone was at odds with her wary expression.

An unaccustomed sense of heat pulsed through his loins as he released her. She stepped away and brushed at the dark brown wool of her limp skirts as though he had somehow contaminated her. The notion served to intrigue him even more. He loved deciphering a puzzle.

With a small bow in Forester's direction, Gervase headed for the door. "I will wait to hear from you then, sir." He held out his hand to the woman. "You may come with me, now."

He wondered if she would balk at the calm assumption in his voice, but she merely nodded. She paused in the hall to pick up her cloak and bag, raised her chin in the air, and followed him out into the inky star-studded night. His coach appeared at the curb and he handed her into it.

The effect of the brandy trickled through his senses as he sprawled on the seat opposite her. She sat upright, her back not touching the seat. Her gloved fingers gripped a shabby reticule, which was all the baggage she brought with her.

Gervase caught her eye and smiled. What would she do if he reached across the small space, pulled her into his lap, and thrust his tongue into her mouth? The tantalizing thought caused him to shift in his seat. His outstretched leg brushed her ankle and she moved away with a disdainful flick of her skirts.

"You have no need to be alarmed, Miss Forester. My staff is very discreet."

She looked confused. "Thank you, Your Grace, but my name is not Miss Forester. I'm Miss Waterstone."

"Forgive me for mentioning it, Miss Waterstone, but you seem remarkably composed for a woman who has been dragged from her bed in the middle of the night."

Her mouth tightened. "Unfortunately, I'm dependent on Mr. Forester's good will. It is not the first time he has compelled my obedience."

Gervase sat back. She sounded quite bitter. Had she and Mr. Forester quarreled? Was Miss Waterstone his mistress and partner in deceit and not his step-daughter? Women were often indiscreet in bed; Gervase might learn a great deal if he pleasured Miss Waterstone well. The thought of her naked beneath him made him hard. Taking her clenched fist, he kissed her wrist on the pulse point where her glove met bare skin.

"Miss Waterstone, then. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance and hope our liaison will be everything we could both wish for."

Her brow crinkled, but before she could speak, the carriage drew to a stop. She rushed to descend without waiting for his assistance. Gervase halted her flight, took her elbow and led her up the steps to the darkened house.

By his command, there was no one to greet him in the echoing black and white marbled hallway. Picking up the solitary candle, which awaited his return, he gestured for Miss Waterstone to follow him. He led her up the stairs and into the suite that adjoined his, pausing only long enough to light more candles and set the fire burning.

With a bow he turned back toward the door. "I will leave you for now. Please make yourself comfortable."

After ascertaining that the connecting door to his suite was unlocked, he let himself out into the main corridor. He would give her time to undress and then slip back into her room to see what awaited him.

His fingers were slightly unsteady as he unwound his cravat and unbuttoned his shirt. He stank of cheap brandy and the desperation that permeated the play of the cards. His nostrils quivered in disgust. When he was naked, he splashed cold water over as much of his body as he could bear. He emptied out his pockets and put on his black silk dressing gown.

He didn't bother to knock as he re-entered Miss Waterstone's bedroom. She sat at the dressing table, garbed in an unflattering threadbare nightgown. Unlike some of her kind, she had not succumbed to the temptation to steal any of the small but expensive knick-knacks scattered around the room.

She had gathered her brown hair into a single childish braid that hung down to her waist. For a moment, he hesitated, until the heat of the brandy and his suspicions lured him on.

She brought her hand to her throat. "Your Grace, whatever are you doing in here?"

God, she was clever. She'd even managed to inject a small quaver of fear into her voice. Gervase smiled as his body came to sudden shocking life. He sat down by the fire and crooked a finger at her.

"Come here, into the light. Don't you wish to discuss your duties?"

Back ramrod straight, she came toward him, her hands clasped in front of her like a schoolmistress. She seemed unaware of the way the fire illuminated her luscious body through the thin nightgown, but Gervase had learned to be wary. His eyes lingered on the curve of her hip and his long fingers flexed with the desire to caress her there. He realized she was speaking.

"Your Grace, perhaps we should talk in the morning when you are feeling more the thing. I fear you misunderstood my position."

Gervase shook his head. "I can assure you, my dear, I'm perfectly capable of performing in any position you desire."

He caught her fingers as she tried to back away and urged her closer. She wrenched one hand out of his grasp. Suddenly weary of her games, he jerked hard and pulled her into his lap. As she fought to regain her balance he maneuvered her long legs astride him.

"Your Grace!" she cried as she tried to push away his questing hands. He wrapped his arm around her hips and held her still. "Stop it immediately!"

Gervase kissed her cheek. "It's all right, my dear, you can stop acting now. I'm still not quite sure why your stepfather sent you here, but I intend to enjoy the moment. You can explain yourself in the morning."

She started to speak again but he was beyond listening. He silenced her by taking her mouth in a deep kiss as he inched the fabric of her nightgown up to her waist. Her lips tasted of caramel and yielded to his questing tongue with soft ease. He groaned as her tongue brushed his and her hands flattened on his chest.

He spread his knees and the belt on his dressing gown slipped open. With one swift motion, he lifted her and was about to ease her down onto his hardening flesh when her teeth crashed into his lower lip. Staring intently up at her, he realized her wide eyes reflected panic rather than passion.

She was no light skirt.

Dear God--had he almost raped an innocent?

He clenched his teeth and began to lift her away from him. "Don't move, Miss Waterstone. I will..."

Her fingernails raked down his cheek, his back arched in protest, and he tried desperately to push her away. She slid from his slackened grasp to the floor. Gervase pulled his dressing gown around his waist and knotted the sash. Bile rose in his throat as he stared down at her and he shuddered. Had he lived amongst the depths of human depravity for too long to recognize the truth?

"Miss Waterstone, there has clearly been a misunderstanding." He held out his hand to her. "I swear I will not touch you again. You must let me help you."

She stumbled to her feet and continued to retreat until she reached the connecting doorway to his suite.

"Don't you dare come any closer, you...you disgusting reprobate!"

As she turned to run through the open door to his suite and into the freedom of the hallway beyond, Gervase gathered himself and made a lunge for her. With a cry, she crashed against his dressing table, knocked the contents to the floor, and went down on her knees. Her fingers closed around a small travelling clock. Straightening, she aimed it right at his head.

Gervase came to an abrupt stop and held up his hands.

"Miss Waterstone, please put the clock down. It is made of solid brass and you might injure yourself if you attempt to throw it. I'm sure we can sort out this very unpleasant situation to your satisfaction."

Her mouth worked and she swallowed twice before she was able to speak. "I'm well aware of how heavy the clock is, Your Grace. I am the one holding it, after all. My brothers taught me how to throw properly when I was a little girl, and I'm quite capable of hitting my target."

Her brave statement impressed him more than he cared to admit. Any other woman of his acquaintance would have been in floods of tears by now, not calmly threatening to brain him with his own clock. He fought an absurd desire to laugh.

"Well, if you wish to throw something at me, please go ahead."

He advanced a step toward her, one hand held out, and then froze as she drew her arm back.

"I don't think I could kill you, even though you deserve it. They would probably behead me at the Tower if I murdered a duke." She eyed him with great consideration as though he were a paper target. "No, I think if I winged you, it would be enough to stop you from following me."

Gervase laughed then and took another step forward. "Stop this foolishness, my dear. Give me the clock and we will talk. You have my word I won't lay a finger on you."

She took aim as he crossed the carpeted space between them and the heavy clock connected with his shoulder, ripping his dressing gown and making him reel backward.

"That," he said with deep appreciation, "was indeed an excellent shot." The shocking pain caught him unawares and he staggered to the side and fell against the marble mantelpiece, striking his head.

Eventually, he heard his valet's worried voice over the roaring in his ears. When Jacques bent over him, Gervase managed to grasp his sleeve.

"Don't let her leave."

Jacques's voice sounded puzzled and increasingly faint. "Who, Your Grace? You are the only person here."

Chapter 2

Mr. Forester tightened his grip on Elizabeth Waterstone's upper arm as he knocked on the door of the Duke of Diable Delamere's London townhouse. The brass knocker was designed to resemble a writhing fish. Its greenish patina added life to the sinuous casting and echoed the faint color on Elizabeth's face. A sharp breeze swirled around the square, dislodging the few leaves that clung to the tree branches and fluttered the limp ribbons on Elizabeth's bonnet.

"Thank God," Mr. Forester muttered. "It's already noon and the house isn't hung with black crepe, so we can safely assume the duke still lives despite your efforts."

Elizabeth drew in a hard-won breath as the door of the mansion opened to reveal a silver-haired butler. Her stepfather managed to insinuate his foot inside the door.

"We wish to see the duke. Is he available?"

Elizabeth cringed at Mr. Forester's arrogant tone and tried to put as much distance between them as possible.

The butler inclined his head. "His Grace is not receiving visitors this morning, sir. May I take a message or do you wish to leave your card?"

Dennis Forester frowned and fumbled in his pocket before handing the butler a dog-eared card. After a quick glance at the card, the butler surprised her by moving aside and motioning them in.

"Mr. Forester, I believe that His Grace will make an exception in your case. Please follow me."

The black and white marble hall was horribly familiar and twice as overwhelming in the harsh daylight. Elizabeth found it difficult to believe she had fled down that very staircase not ten hours earlier. An image of the duke's horrified expression as he tried to push her away from him burned in her mind.

She came to an abrupt halt as the butler bowed and opened the door into the duke's library. The carpet was so thick that her feet sank into it and made no sound. It took a great deal of her remaining courage to raise her eyes and look at the man behind the desk.

Her breath caught at his stillness. Sea Devil, the English translation of his French family name, suited him well this morning. His skin was pale and in startling contrast to the blackness of his hair and the cat-like slant of his gray eyes. He wore no coat. Her gaze flew to his right arm and the sling that protected his shoulder.

Elizabeth sank into the nearest chair and looked down at her half boots. Her head pounded from the incessant arguments and accusations her stepfather had flung at her since her unprecedented return home the night before. In her mind, her mother's tears and lamentations dueted with his threats in an endless circle of despair.

She silently raged as she listened to her stepfather apologize for her behavior to the duke, who sat back in his chair, apparently bored by the whole affair. She hadn't realized she had been sent into the home of an infamous rake until her stepfather had told her this morning. Elizabeth clenched her jaw and winced.

The duke's cold eyes flicked in her direction and he slammed his hand down on the desk, making her jump. "Mr. Forester, I don't wish to speak to you. I wish to speak to Miss Waterstone. Get out. I will inform you when I require your assistance."

As a set down, it was masterly, and if Elizabeth hadn't been so steeped in misery she might have applauded the sight of her stepfather silenced and evicted in a few curt sentences.

The duke waited until Mr. Forester backed out of the room and then came around to sit on the front of his desk. His booted foot swung close to Elizabeth's skirts and she struggled to take her eyes away from the rhythmic movement. She remembered the muscled strength of his arm around her hips, the surprising heat of his fingers on her skin.

"What services have you provided for your stepfather's debtor's in the past?"

His question lacked all emotion and bore no hint of an apology, but somehow it helped to steady her shredded nerves. She made herself meet his cool gaze.

"I...I've aided their wives, usually in a social capacity," she struggled to explain. "Many of my stepfather's acquaintances have recently become wealthy. I helped them with cards of invitation, note writing, advice on etiquette ..."

She licked her lips as the subtle hint of his citrus fragrance stole toward her. She tried to breathe through her mouth and eased back in her chair. His faint French accent was less pronounced in the daylight. Probably because he wasn't in his cups.

Unwillingly, her gaze shifted to his mouth. Her unguarded response to his open-mouthed kiss had led to her undoing. By the time she'd regained her wits, he'd moved on to more carnal matters and taught her far more than she wanted to know about a man's brutal desires. She hoped her bonnet shielded the blush that rose unbidden to her cheeks.

"Perhaps that explains why you came with me so willingly last night." The duke paused. "You did not expect to share my bed, did you?"

Elizabeth shook her head, beyond speech now, as the horror of her predicament flooded her anew. Her mother and stepfather had given her to this man to pay a debt.

"Then why in damnation did you come back here this morning? Did you expect your stepfather to insist that I marry you, or for him to call me out?"

He didn't wait for her to respond. Instead, he walked across to the window, which overlooked the square, his back turned to her, his shoulders rigid. Without a coat, Elizabeth could clearly see the tight fit of his buckskin breeches and the elegant length of his legs. After a long moment he looked at her over his shoulder.

"You are sadly mistaken, if you think that scoundrel wishes to protect your reputation. The wretched man is probably beside himself with glee. He assumes the price of your virginity will cancel his debt to me."

"You did not take my virginity, you..."

He silenced her with a gesture. "I hesitate to correct you, but by the rules of polite society, I dishonored you." He swung around. "If you had heeded my advice and not taken a pot shot at me with the clock, we might have stood a chance of repairing the damage. Unfortunately, by running home to your stepfather, you've given him the opportunity to ruin us both."

Elizabeth tried not to cry at his contemptuous statement and forced herself to remain calm. As she stared into the abyss her life had become, a sudden recklessness claimed her. "I will throw something else at you if you give him money."

The duke's eyes narrowed as he considered her.

Elizabeth stood up; no longer content to be towered over. "If anyone deserves to benefit from your despicable behavior, it is me."

Appalled by her own daring, Elizabeth bit her lip. If she wasn't careful she would blurt out her desperate need to find a way to support herself and her invalid brother, and that would never do.

The duke nodded and resumed his seat behind his paper-strewn desk. His long fingers toyed with a quill pen as he continued to study Elizabeth.

Unable to understand his silence, Elizabeth started to shiver. Her normal good sense seemed to have deserted her. The duke thrust a glass of brandy into her hands and closed her fingers around it.

"Drink this, it will calm you."

She repressed a hysterical desire to laugh and obediently sipped at the strong spirit. It raced into her empty stomach, warming her body, making her cough. The duke patted her back, his strong fingers stirring the soft hairs at the nape of her neck. He took the glass and placed it on the desk.

"Miss Waterstone, may I ask you yet another favor? Will you take off your bonnet? It is most fatiguing to converse with a bunch of faded yellow primroses and a threadbare green bow."

She removed the offending bonnet and tossed it aside. She flinched as the duke's breath hissed out. Elizabeth closed her eyes as his cool fingers touched the purple bruises that covered her right cheekbone and eye.

"Your stepfather did this?"

Her eyes flew open at the iciness of his tone and the harshness of his expression. Fearing she had stirred the devil, panic swamped her senses and she struggled to breathe.

He moved away. "So you did not tell him the truth very easily." He took a deep breath and resumed his position behind the desk. "Miss Waterstone, your association with Mr. Forester led me to make certain assumptions about your character, assumptions which proved to be false." He paused. "Be assured that I shall do everything in my power to remedy the situation."

Elizabeth stared at him, surprised by his unexpected explanation and unsure of how to deal with it.

"Do you wish to return home with Mr. Forester?"

The duke's soft question caused the remainder of Elizabeth's stored courage to crumble. "My mother has forbidden me the house. She fears I might tarnish my half-sister's reputation."

The duke stood and crossed to the fireplace. He tugged on the bell. "You need to rest. For the moment, consider my house your own. When you awaken, we will talk again, I promise you."

She nodded, too weary to resist him and too weary to care. As they waited for the summons to be answered, the duke returned to his desk, took up a sheet of parchment, and began to write.

Elizabeth stared at his bent head. In repose, he had long eyelashes and high cheekbones Elizabeth wished were her own.

"I'm sorry I hurt you. I didn't know what else to do."

His pen stopped moving and he raised his head. For the first time, his eyes met hers without a hint of disdain.

"You did nothing I did not deserve. And that, my dear, is why I'm prepared to help you."

Elizabeth allowed herself to be escorted from the room by his housekeeper. Her stepfather waited in the hall, hands clasped behind his back, as he studied an immense portrait of the present duke. His shrewd eyes sought Elizabeth's, an anxious question in them, but she swept past him without a word. She would take the duke's offer of a refuge and pray that some solution would present itself to her troubled mind by the calm light of morning.

*** *** ***

Gervase lounged in his chair, his fingers drumming on the armrest, as he awaited the return of Mr. Forester. His first instinct was to beat the man half to death for his treatment of his stepdaughter. Hard-won maturity and wiser counsel prevailed as Gervase admitted that his own treatment of Miss Waterstone had been nearly as brutal.

The clock struck the hour as Mr. Forester strolled into the library to stand before the duke.

Gervase nodded him to a seat then sat back, fingers steepled in front of him. He let the silence lengthen until beads of sweat sprang out on Mr. Forester's forehead.

"Your stepdaughter is of the opinion that you should call me out for my... how did she put it? Ah yes, for my despicable behavior."

Mr. Forester's confident smile froze on his face.

"Your Grace, you must have misunderstood her. I wish no such thing." He hesitated. "However, if you wish to compensate my family for your grievous mistake, I'm sure we can come to some arrangement."

Gervase gave a harsh laugh. The man was irrepressible. He shook his head and leaned across the desk in one sudden, threatening movement. Mr. Forester clutched the arms of his chair.

"My mistake? I beg to disagree, Mr. Forester. You sold her to me like a common trollop." He dipped his quill in the inkwell and scratched his signature onto the document in front of him. He pushed the parchment across his desk.

"These are the terms for the repayment of your debt. But mark me well, if I hear a single whisper about Miss Waterstone's reputation, I will demand payment in full. In return for my leniency, you will allow Miss Waterstone to visit with her mother and half-sister once a week. Is that clear?"

Mr. Forester nodded, his eyes transfixed by the promise of the letter. "Yes, Your Grace. Thank you, Your Grace."

Gervase held out the quill and Mr. Forester signed. Gervase reclaimed the document and nodded a dismissal.

"I will send you a copy of this on the morrow." His brows rose as Mr. Forester headed for the door. "Are you not interested in the fate of your stepdaughter, Mr. Forester?"

Mr. Forester shrugged. "I'm sure that you will find some use for Elizabeth, Your Grace. And quite frankly, I'm relieved not to have the care of her."

Gervase stared at the closed door for several minutes after Mr. Forester's departure. His wounded arm throbbed in time to the pulse of his headache and he suspected he had a fever. With a soft curse he rang the bell and awaited the appearance of his secretary.

Elizabeth. The name of a great queen and somehow a suitable one for a woman who had the courage to outwit him. She deserved better than the life of deception Mr. Forester offered her.

He stretched and caught his breath as pain rippled through his arm. He would cancel his visit to Emilia's tonight. A short note and a large diamond should placate his rapacious mistress until he was well enough to perform to her satisfaction.

Gervase sat up as his secretary as Sir John Harrington entered the room. He turned his mind to the business of the day and refused to consider what the hell he planned to do with the prim and proper Miss Elizabeth Waterstone when she finally came to her senses.

Chapter 3

Money. Didn't it always come down to that? Gervase frowned as he tried to calculate how much financial compensation a well-brought-up young lady might require for the loss of her reputation. Despite Dennis Forester's atrocious lack of breeding, it was obvious Elizabeth Waterstone had been sired in a different stable.

He stretched his shoulders, wincing at the slight ache in his upper arm, and stared up at the ornate gilded ceiling where a luscious naked goddess beckoned to a coy-looking centaur. If only life were so simple. Gervase scowled at the besotted painted faces above him.

He hated any situation that hinted at disorder in his private life. He had enough problems maintaining a rakish reputation without dealing with the complicated emotions of a female. The sexual escapades of his late and unlamented wife, Imelda, had provided enough gossip for the courts of both England and France. He had no intention of allowing his recent mistake with Elizabeth Waterstone to escalate into another messy scandal. He sighed and glanced at the mountain of papers on his desk. The timing could not have been worse.

But Miss Waterstone refused to quit his mind. She seemed a symbol of all that he hated about his current existence. It had come as something of a relief to discover that he still had a conscience where a woman was concerned. His smile disappeared as he refocused on the letter and its generous financial offer.

His housekeeper had already informed him that Miss Waterstone was awake and had partaken of a hearty breakfast. Had he expected her to fall into a maidenly decline overnight? Gervase recalled her determination when she faced him with the clock and knew he would have been disappointed if she had failed to recover.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose in an effort to halt the suggestion of a headache and glanced at the figure he had scrawled on the letter to Childes, his banker. As a knock came on his door, he scratched out the figure and doubled it. He did not have the patience to negotiate a settlement. He wanted her gone from his newly-activated conscience and out of his life.

He stood as Elizabeth Waterstone entered and returned a short bow to her more elaborate curtsey. She looked less like a wax doll today, although the rainbow colors of a bruise still disfigured her cheek. She was dressed in an unflattering woolen gown and had braided her nut-brown hair tightly to her head.

To his immense relief, she seemed calm. Yesterday he had sensed she was close to breaking point. Experience had taught him the cost of becoming involved with hysterical females and he had endeavored to keep her at a distance. He was not known for his sweetness of will or for the length of his patience. As he studied Miss Waterstone's unflustered countenance, his hopes for a speedy conclusion to their discussions rose.

"Miss Waterstone, I trust you are feeling better?"

She inclined her head and he continued. "I've given a great deal of thought to the predicament in which you find yourself and your claim for financial remuneration."

Gervase drew breath and checked to see if Miss Waterstone was attending. She nodded politely as if to encourage him to proceed.

"I'm willing to settle a lump sum of money on you if you promise to leave me in peace."

He frowned. He hadn't meant to say that. It sounded as though she were an unwanted nuisance or as if he were trying to buy her off. He held out the letter he had struggled to draft for the past hour.

"I intend to settle five thousand pounds on you." He paused for her reaction but there was none. He raised his eyebrows, quill poised over the inkwell. "That is not to your liking? I promise you that the money will be held in your name and cannot be touched by your stepfather. Surely, it is sufficient for your needs."

Miss Waterstone bit her lip and gave a small shake of her head. Gervase lowered his pen and drew in a slow breath.

"Miss Waterstone?"

"I'm sorry, Your Grace, but I don't feel that any sum of money, however generous, will give me back my ruined reputation."

Gervase went still as visions of blackmail and deceit flooded his senses. "Go on."

She leaned forward in her chair, hands clasped. "As you have already remarked, too many people will know by now that I've spent at least one night in your house without adequate chaperonage."

Gervase shrugged. "So?"

"So, if I appear with a dowry at my disposal, people will talk. You are known as the biggest rake in London-"

"And Paris." Gervase couldn't help himself.

An answering smile flickered across Miss Waterstone's face. "And Paris. I apologize for underestimating your renown, Your Grace."

He bowed and let her continue, his interest piqued.

"I imagine you will next suggest that I pose as a widow. I'm four and twenty and it would not be unreasonable to suppose that I had been married before." She made a face. "But I'm such a poor liar and I would hate to begin a new life based on a deception."

She raised her lovely, candid eyes to his. "How would I face a man I loved and wished to marry without telling him the truth? And how would any honorable man feel about taking on one of your cast-offs?"

Gervase had nothing suitable to say to that. He suspected his belief that for most men the size of her dowry would definitely outweigh her possible lack of virginity would fail to convince her.

"Anyway," Miss Waterstone took in a deep breath. "I don't want your money, I want your expertise."

Gervase stared at her, his quick mind for once caught unprepared. "My expertise?"

"I can't go home, I won't take your money without earning it, and I refuse to end up walking the streets. I wish you to teach me how to become a high flyer." She wrinkled her brow and looked at him a trifle anxiously. "Is that the correct term for a courtesan or a high class mistress? Forgive me; I'm lamentably ignorant on the subject."

Gervase could only stare at her until she began to blush. "You wish me to instruct you in the role of a prostitute?" He gave a short humorless laugh and pointed down into the square. "My dear, if you wish to learn that trade, go and loiter in the back streets behind my house for ten minutes. I can guarantee some man will be willing to enlighten you."

He allowed a few seconds of absolute quiet to elapse, broken only by the ticking of the Sevres clock on the mantelpiece.

He slammed his palm on the desk. "You are a lady! Don't be such a fool."

She colored a little but her gaze remained on his. "I don't understand your hesitation, Your Grace. We are agreed, are we not, that you are the greatest rake in two sovereign nations? Who better to instruct me than you?" She sat back in her chair, hands folded in her lap and waited, the picture of propriety.

Gervase got up and walked to the window. He stared down into the windswept desolation of the square. Was she mad? Despite his instant refusal, a worm of interest slithered into his mind and beckoned him with all its unsavory possibilities. If any man could turn the shy, uptight Miss Waterstone into a courtesan, it would be him.

He swung around to face her. "And what of your relatives, Miss Waterstone? Don't you think that they might object to having a prostitute, high flying or not, in the family?"

"I've very little family left, Your Grace. My father's relatives refused to have anything more to do with us when my mother remarried and it is not as though I've made my debut in society."

Gervase wondered why she hadn't had a London Season. Had the family's finances always been precarious? Was that why Mr. Forester was involved in so many dubious activities? It might be in his best interests to keep Miss Waterstone close.

He continued to stare at her as his fertile brain worked on several schemes to manufacture her a new past. She had no idea how easily he could grant her wish. He crossed the room, pulled her to her feet, and placed his fingers under her chin.

"Elizabeth." He used her first name in an intimate attempt to undermine her. "I almost took your virginity. I forced you. How in God's name do you expect me to believe you are not afraid of me?"

She met his gaze head on. "Of course I'm afraid of you, but I'm more afraid of allowing you to buy me off as if I've somehow disgraced myself. I would rather work for my money."

He brushed the corner of her mouth with his thumb and her lips parted as she swallowed. With deliberate intent, Gervase took possession of her mouth, his tongue thrusting deep. He waited for her to recoil but although she didn't respond, she didn't fight him either.

He gentled the kiss, using his years of expertise to draw her into his mouth, to make her react. He curved his hands over her hips and drew her close until he could feel the frantic pounding of her heart. When he released her, she tried to move away, but he caught her elbow.

"You are either very brave or very foolish. I'm damned if I know which."

She rested her forehead against his waistcoat. "Don't you understand? If I can learn to bear your touch, after what you did to me, then I believe I will be able to bear any man's."

Gervase breathed in the sweet smell of her skin and fought the temptation to explore how far she would bear his touch before she panicked again. He retreated behind his desk to cultivate a more business-like manner.

"I need to think about this. If you are set on this madness, I will expect complete obedience from you, do you understand?"

Elizabeth almost smiled as she dropped into a stately curtsey before she headed for the door.

Gervase waited until her hand rested on the door handle. "This is far from being settled. I will require your presence at dinner tonight and we will discuss how we wish to go on."

*** *** ***

Elizabeth paced the luxurious bedroom the duke had allotted her, scarcely aware of its sumptuous comforts and warmth. She bathed and a maid appeared and arranged her hair in an artful knot of curls that tumbled around her shoulders. The silent maid also laid out an evening gown that Elizabeth knew was not hers. Before she could question the girl, she retreated with Elizabeth's patched underclothes and only other gown over her arm.

Elizabeth's tension mounted as she walked an endless square around the border of the fine Turkish carpet. What had she done? It had seemed a fine and heroic thing, to offer herself on a platter to the duke. But now, after hours of lonely contemplation, her certainty had disappeared.

She picked up the ice-blue gown and held it against herself. The ripple of silk felt light and supple under her fingers compared to her homespun woolen dress. Her reflection showed that the gown was the right length. She almost smiled. Trust the duke to have accurately gauged her measurements.

After a moment of indecision, she stepped into the dress and slipped her arms through the tiny puffed sleeves. The bodice fastened at the front in a series of delicate mother-of-pearl buttons. Despite tugging and pulling, her unrestrained bosom overflowed the embroidered blue bodice. She searched for a shawl or lace fichu to cover her exposed skin but found nothing.

"It will have to do."

With a sigh she put on her worn kid slippers and straightened the small golden cross her brother Michael had brought her from Portugal. Michael was the source of all her worries and the reason she had to go through with her plan.

Elizabeth stroked the ruby in the center of the cross. Her stepfather had sworn to her that if she returned to the duke and stayed until the debt was paid, he would continue to care for Michael.

Elizabeth could scarcely remember Michael before he had been injured. He'd left to fight in the Peninsula with Wellington's army, a dashing hero in his sister's eyes, and returned a broken gray-faced wreck, crippled from the waist down.

If it weren't for Elizabeth, Michael would have been left to die in the claustrophobic prison of his bedroom. Despite Elizabeth's pleas, her mother had found herself unable to care for the son she no longer recognized.

As the clock struck six, Elizabeth got to her feet. She had no choice. With the duke to teach her, she would be able to earn her own way in the world. With money, and the duke's protection, she could be assured of Michael receiving the best care and attention for the rest of his life.

Her resolve strengthened as she came down the grand staircase and followed the butler along another interminable corridor toward the dining room. The butler bowed and left her.

There was no sign of her host.

Some of her misgivings trickled back as she explored the huge, paneled room. Despite her brave words to the duke, if either of her brothers ever found out how she planned to earn her living, they would be horrified. Another doubt assailed her. Maybe she should have taken the duke up on his first offer of five thousand pounds. She and Michael might have been able to manage on the income from the interest. Maybe it was not too late to change her mind.

"Good evening, Miss Waterstone. Are you admiring the portrait of my scandalously-departed wife?"

Elizabeth refocused her gaze onto the huge oil painting above the fireplace where she had come to an abrupt stop. The black-haired woman in the portrait was depicted as Diana, the goddess of the hunt. She wore a swathe of white silk that bared a shoulder, most of her voluptuous breasts, and her plump left leg. The painter had caught a hint of wildness and arrogance in his subject's expression that reached out beyond the canvas to challenge Elizabeth.

The duke smiled and advanced toward Elizabeth, two wine glasses in his hand. "It was painted just after our marriage. The painter and I had a devil of a job trying to persuade her to wear any clothing at all." With a slight bow, he handed her one of the glasses. "Of course, the painter got to see her naked on more than one occasion during their sessions. My wife was a great believer in patronizing the arts."

Elizabeth sipped hastily at the contents of her glass as the meaning of his deliberately flippant comments sunk in. How could she hope to deal with a man who treated his late wife's infidelity as a slightly boring joke? She took another gulp of champagne and sneezed as the bubbles crowded up her nose.

The duke patted her on the back, his palm warm against her exposed skin. "I've embarrassed you. Please forget about my wife and let us enjoy our dinner." He took her hand and led her toward the table. "I thought we might serve ourselves."

With supreme disregard for any protest Elizabeth might have made, the duke began to ladle soup into her bowl. The alluring aroma of turtle caught at Elizabeth's nose and she obediently picked up her spoon.

The candlelight picked out the silver threads that ran through the duke's embroidered waistcoat. His coat was molded to his broad shoulders like a well-made piece of medieval body armor. Elizabeth blushed as she realized she was staring and that the duke watched her.

He carved her a slice of duck and she sought vainly for a topic of conversation. He seemed supremely unaware of her tension as he refilled her wine glass and handed her a linen napkin.

"The blue of that gown doesn't really suit you, but I didn't know of anything else in the house that would fit."

His eyes lingered on the low cut bodice and Elizabeth blushed and hunched her shoulders. She'd forgotten her breasts threatened to overflow the skimpy fabric. He frowned and reached across to trail his finger along her shoulder blades. "You should not hunch your shoulders like that. Good God, woman, do you not realize how fine a pair of assets you have there?"

Elizabeth choked on her duck. To make him stop, she said the first thing that came into her head. "Whom does the gown belong to, Your Grace? One of your mistresses?"

The amusement fled from his face, replaced by something she couldn't interpret. "You did not know? The gown belongs to my eighteen-year-old daughter. My dear wife blessed me with a child four months after we married."

"Your daughter is eighteen?" Elizabeth gaped at him as her mind struggled with the ramifications of his remark. "I don't understand. You could scarce have been old enough to ..." She stopped talking, mortified by her blatant curiosity and appalled by her lack of manners.

His fingers whitened as he gripped his glass and brought it to his lips. "I was fifteen when I married and, though perhaps old enough to have produced a child, my wife was already pregnant--unbeknownst to me." His mouth twisted. "Imelda was eighteen when we wed, and at the peak of her beauty." He shrugged and refilled his glass from the decanter. "I was as naïve then as you are now, but even I realized I had been cuckolded and that the child could not be mine."

His gaze hardened as his eyes met hers through the candlelight. "My family betrayed me by wedding me to that promiscuous bitch." He leaned forward and took her hand. "If you decide to stay with me, it will be on my terms. Don't make the mistake of falling in love with me, or feeling sorry for me. I will never love you. I will indulge you for as long as it amuses me and then you must leave."

The food in Elizabeth's mouth took on the consistency of thick porridge and she struggled to swallow. "That will suit me perfectly, Your Grace. I've no intention of hanging on your apron strings, bemoaning my fate for the rest of my life. I intend to keep this a business arrangement."

He squeezed her fingers, drew them to his lips, and brushed a light kiss across her knuckles. "Good. Now, shall we finish this excellent duck while I explain how things will progress?"

Elizabeth picked up her fork, bemused by the sudden business-like tone of his voice.

"I agree to your bargain. I will teach you the skills necessary for your new profession."

Elizabeth gave a relieved smile, but the duke held up his hand. "However, I'm not convinced you will see this ridiculous arrangement through. I will teach you how to please a man but I don't intend to bed you. We will attempt to keep this arrangement relatively civilized, which will allow you to return to your real life when you come to your senses."

"I don't intend to return to my old life, Your Grace. I truly meant what I said." He sat back and his skeptical expression goaded Elizabeth to continue. "This bargain is hardly fair to you though. What will you gain from it, if not a new mistress?"

"What will I gain?" he said idly, his attention fixed on her face. "The opportunity to make sure that at least one woman in England knows what a man truly wants in bed and the pleasure of bestowing such a gift onto one of my companions." His eyebrow shot up. "What more could a man ask?"

Elizabeth looked down at her plate. She felt herself begin to blush and prayed that the duke would end the embarrassing conversation.

"My daughter, Eloise, arrived in London today from France. I've decided that you can pose as her companion, a recent widow and a poor relation of the Diable Delamere family whilst she is in London. I will provide you with all the necessary documents and background information to substantiate your story if anyone should ask."

Elizabeth went to interrupt and he frowned. "You wished to speak?"

No, Your Grace, you seem to have thought of...everything."

"My daughter is staying at Grillons hotel. You will meet her there and assume your new duties. You will travel with her to Bath where she will be attending school for the next year to improve her English." He sipped at his wine. "When you return it will seem perfectly natural to the ton for you to take up residence here."

"I know little of society. How can I possibly teach your daughter when I haven't the slightest notion myself?"

The duke smiled and raised his glass to her. "I don't expect you to teach Eloise a thing. You will only be with her for a few days." He clinked his glass against hers. "Your education will begin when you reside in my house and I, my dear, will be the only teacher you ever need."

Chapter 4

Elizabeth swallowed another half glass of the excellent wine and wondered dreamily why the room seemed to shimmer and dance in the candlelight. She angled her head in a vain attempt to alleviate the effect and then shut her eyes as the swaying became even more pronounced.

"Miss Waterstone, may I suggest you stop gulping my fine French wine as if it were lemonade? I fear you don't have a strong head. I assure you I've no intention of commencing your education tonight."

His smile deepened. "The process of seduction should be slow and subtle. When I've finished teaching you, you will understand that anticipation--" his thumb crept up to graze her lower lip "--and suppressed desire adds spice to any liaison."

He drew her to her feet and she rocked against him, hands settling against his embroidered waistcoat. He righted her with a soft murmur of encouragement as his fingers swept her ribcage just below her breasts. She resisted an unexpected urge to grab hold of his fingers and bring them to her mouth.

"I need you to stay awake, my dear. We have an appointment at Madame Charles, the dressmaker."

"But it is almost nine o'clock at night," Elizabeth protested. "No dressmaker will be open at this hour."

The duke bore her inexorably toward the door, his hand firm on her elbow. "My dear, I'm the Duke of Diable Delamere. Everything remains open for me."

*** *** ***

Madame Charles awaited them as they swept into the showroom of her exclusive Bruton Street address. Elizabeth tried to look inconspicuous as the duke and Madame Charles conversed in French, too rapid and colloquial even for her excellent understanding.

Elizabeth was escorted into a fitting room lined with mirrors, furnished only with a large velvet couch and a single stool. The duke arranged himself on the couch as Madame clapped her hands and gestured for Elizabeth to stand on the stool.

When Elizabeth stepped up, several sewing assistants advanced upon her like a flock of birds with their measuring tapes. A cool draught flowed up her skirt and with a gasp of pure horror she sought the duke's eyes. His brows rose and he snapped out an order. In an instant, the room emptied.

"What is wrong, Miss Waterstone? Are you unwell?"

Elizabeth almost blessed her over-indulgence of alcohol. It seemed to have loosened her tongue. From her elevated position on the stool, the duke's cool, amused eyes were on level with her own.

"Your Grace, I've been foolish. I never dreamed you would bring me to a place like this and I'm not dressed properly." His eyes skimmed over her gown and then returned to her face.

In desperation she hissed. "The maid took away all my underthings when she left this dress."

The duke's eyes remained riveted to her face as he removed his gloves and let them fall to the floor. He drew in a slow breath. "Are you trying to tell me you sat through dinner without a stitch of clothing on under that gown?"

"I have my corset on!" Elizabeth blurted out, then pressed her lips together. She almost fell from the stool as the duke's hand closed around her ankle. She steadied herself against his shoulders and refused to look at his warm fingers against her skin.

The duke's voice took on the texture of velvet as his hand crept up her calf. "Nothing else? No petticoat, not even a pair of stockings?"

His fingers moved upwards, past her knee and along her inner thigh until he touched the soft warmth between her legs. Elizabeth locked her knees but her action only served to bring his hand into closer contact with her body's secrets. She bit her lip as heat shuddered through her.

After what seemed like an eternity, the duke exhaled and removed his hand.

"I will speak to Madame Charles and ensure she brings you some underclothes. I had intended to concentrate on your day clothes this evening and leave the delights of your underthings and bed gowns for later."

"Your Grace, if you tell her that I've no underthings she will think that you, that I, that..." Elizabeth couldn't complete her sentence and instead stared at the duke's profile in desperate appeal.

The duke bent to retrieve his gloves. "Elizabeth, make up your mind. If you wish to indulge in maidenly fits of conscience, go back to your stepfather. I've no time for this."

Silence fell as Elizabeth stared into his eyes where a hint of impatience lingered. She drew in a defeated breath. "Please inform Madame Charles that I'm at her convenience."

He bowed. "I'm glad to see you display such excellent sense."

"This is scarcely sensible, your Grace," Elizabeth muttered.

By eleven o'clock, she was weary of being tweaked, tucked, and turned around like a life-size doll. The duke seemed to believe she required gowns for every possible social occasion. She had given up trying to object after enduring a particularly unpleasant set down over a lavender silk walking dress.

At last, Madame Charles, face flushed with gratification, curtsied to the duke and withdrew with a promise to deliver some of the garments within a fortnight. As the excited tittering sales girls disappeared, the duke helped Elizabeth down from the stool.

"Well?" He handed her a glass of wine and cocked an eyebrow at her. "You have been burning to get something off your chest for the past hour, so out with it."

"Your Grace, how do you expect me to pay for all these gowns?"

He shrugged, his shoulders elegant in his gray coat. "Of course, I forgot... a woman of principle would not allow me to give them to her as a gift." He touched the rim of his glass against hers, his expression bland. "How do you suggest you repay me then?"

"From my salary as your daughter's companion?"

The duke smiled down at his immaculately polished boots. "I'm supposed to be paying you, now, am I?" He paused, "I can think of much better ways for you to reimburse me."

Even Elizabeth recognized the implication behind his words. "I will do what ever you wish me to, Your Grace."

"Excellent," he said, seemingly unperturbed by the reluctance in her voice. "Then before you get dressed you can try this on for me." He leaned back over the couch and pulled out a large box stuffed with tissue paper. Elizabeth watched in consternation as his fingers hooked into a flimsy cream and lace garment and shook it free.

"This, you will wear only for me."

He tossed the insubstantial scrap of lace at her and she caught it on reflex. He nodded at the red curtain in the corner of the room. "Go and try it on. I will wait for you here." He settled back against the curve of the couch, one arm behind his head, and smiled.

Elizabeth clenched her fingers into the butter-soft silk and headed toward the curtain at a snail's pace. The duke's voice reached her just as she parted the drapes.

"This garment doesn't require underthings so you have no need to be embarrassed."

Elizabeth swallowed hard. The slip of silk would barely cover her and was split up both sides almost to the waist. She stared at her white-faced reflection in the mirror. Was this another of the duke's tests? If she refused, would he walk out and leave her to the mercy of her family? She choked down a sob as her fingers fought to undo the slippery pearl buttons on her bodice.

As she worked the buttons free, she struggled against the sense of being sucked into a nightmare from which she couldn't wake. Ever since she had set eyes on the Duke of Diable Delamere her world had been in an uproar. Somehow she knew that he would offer her no comfort, no place to hide even if she begged. She had promised him her obedience and now she had to prove her worth.

She opened her eyes and stared at herself in the mirror, stifling a gasp. Her hair tumbled down her back and her bodice gaped open. A man awaited her appearance in a garment that would leave him in no doubt as to the shape of her body.

"Elizabeth?"

The duke's voice held a trace of impatience and she hurried to finish dressing. She avoided looking in the mirror as she pulled the flimsy silk over her head and attempted to settle it over her hips. She flinched when his hand came down on her shoulder and turned her around.

Elizabeth forced herself to meet his gaze. He was utterly still as he perused the length of her body. With the instinct of one hunted, she knew if she ran now he would capture her in an instant.

He took her hand and led her out into the well-lit room where a triple full-length mirror dominated one wall.

"Have you actually looked at yourself?" he murmured as he turned her toward the light. She shook her head and he chuckled. "I didn't think you would."

He was so close that his breath brushed her cheek and she shivered. She made herself look. The duke gave a soft laugh. "Innocence captured by lust. We would make a fine painting of Hades dragging Persephone down into the underworld."

His arm slid around her waist and drew her against him. The contrast between the fragile cream silk of her gown and his harsher tones of gray and black merged uneasily in the lamplight. Elizabeth tried to ease away a fraction but the duke held her close.

"Ah, no, Miss Waterstone. You need to get used to the effect you have on a man." He lowered his arm and dragged her hips into even closer union with his. "I've been aroused since you first confessed your lack of underwear to me earlier." He dropped a kiss on the side of her neck. "If I didn't know you better I might think you a tease."

His hands skimmed over the gown in a businesslike manner, making her arch against him. "The fit is excellent. I will have Madame make up some bed gowns for you. If you find one on your bed, I wish you to wear it for me; otherwise, you will wear nothing."

Elizabeth stared at her reflection. His warm hands lingered on her hips as he continued to caress her. She repressed an urge to lean back and close her eyes.

"Your Grace, that is scarcely decent. I've some perfectly good nightgowns of my own. I would hate to catch a chill."

"Cherie, in my house there are plenty of fires. And I will keep you warm. I'm reputed to give off a lot of heat at night."

Elizabeth almost choked as a picture of the duke wrapped around her naked body flooded her mind. She tried to think of a way to change the subject and cursed the breathlessness of her voice.

"Do you think Madame Charles will return? She has left us alone for a remarkably long time."

The duke released her with a shrug. "Madame knows when to mind her own business. Many of her clients take advantage of her facilities to pleasure their ladies or their lovers."

He patted her cheek. "You need not worry, my dear. You have suffered enough new experiences for one night and I intend to take you to Grillon's hotel now." He passed a black traveling dress and matching pelisse to her. "Madame gave me these for you to wear tonight as well as a few other necessary pieces of baggage. It would not do for you to arrive at a respectable hotel with nothing but me on your arm."

Elizabeth headed back toward the dressing area with as much speed as she could muster without appearing to run. She would be away from him within the hour. She could sleep alone, at least for the night.

The duke cleared his throat. "I realize you are anxious to get away, but there is something I need from you before you change out of that tempting gown."

Elizabeth stood still as he came up behind her and placed a hand on her bare shoulder.

"There is nothing to fear. I just wish you to give me a goodnight kiss. I will be unable to take you up to your hotel bedroom without causing comment, and I know how you abhor scandal."

She turned to face him and placed her palms flat on his waistcoat, as if she stood a chance of holding him back, or preventing him doing anything he wanted with her.

"I've never kissed a man before, Your Grace."

"Gervase. When we are alone together I wish you to call me Gervase." He pronounced it in the French way with a soft 'g' and a long 'a' sound. He settled an arm around her waist. "Come, it is quite simple. I will not bite."

Elizabeth placed her hands on his broad shoulders and rose onto her tiptoes. She focused on the curve of his lower lip and brought her mouth into trembling contact with his. The softness and warmth of his flesh surprised her.

She hesitated until he whispered, "Touch me with your tongue, cherie, see how I taste."

Elizabeth obeyed, amazed at how sensitive her tongue was to the nuances of his lips and the rasp of his unshaven skin. She faltered when he parted his lips and she allowed her tongue to touch his in a shy dance. He made a noise of approval deep in his throat as she continued to explore his mouth and the rough texture of his teeth. She began to relax when he made no move to conquer her mouth or pull her closer.

She ended the kiss as she became aware of a painful crick in her neck and sank back onto the firm ground beneath her new kid slippers. After a deep breath she managed to look up at him. He remained perfectly still and made no effort to hide his arousal. She sensed he wanted her to see it, for her to know that he could control it.

He brought her fingers to his mouth and kissed them.

"I congratulate you on completing your first lesson. And now, you need to get changed and make your appearance at Grillons."

Chapter 5

Elizabeth was unprepared for her first sight of the duke's daughter. Somehow, despite her knowledge of Eloise's parentage, she had imagined the girl would be a mirror image of the duke. To her surprise, Eloise appeared French to her very fingertips. Her skin was tinted olive and her brown eyes were so dark that they seemed jet-black. Although her figure tended toward plumpness, her vivacious personality gave her a liveliness hard to resist.

Eloise accepted the duke's explanation for Elizabeth's presence without question. She soon engaged Elizabeth in conversation, eager to practice her broken English and learn about the delights of London. For Elizabeth, sore at heart from losing her half-sister's companionship, Eloise was a joy.

The duke lingered only long enough to make the necessary introductions before leaving the two women with Eloise's French nurse, the motherly Madame Bonnet.

Eloise smiled at Elizabeth as Madame Bonnet rang for some tea. "My papa is very kind, is he not? He has promised me the most magnificent London Season if I complete a year at Miss Granger's in Bath." She leaned forward and pressed Elizabeth's hand. "It is sad that you are a widow, but my papa will take care of you."

For the next few days, Elizabeth explored London with Eloise and her liking for the girl deepened. She suffered a few qualms of conscience, however, when Eloise tentatively inquired about her supposedly deceased "husband." The duke, true to his word, had provided Elizabeth with all the salient details pertaining to her supposed spouse. When Eloise expressed her sympathy, Elizabeth felt like a traitor and redoubled her efforts to please the duke's daughter.

A week after Eloise's arrival, they arrived back from a shopping expedition laden down with packages to find a note from the duke.

"It is from my papa. He asks us to the theater this evening." Eloise clasped her hands to her ample bosom and spun around. "Oh whatever shall I wear? Madame Bonnet, come and 'elp me."

Eloise disappeared into her bedroom and Elizabeth turned to enter her own. To her surprise, a new black evening gown lay on her bed. With trembling hands, she picked up a small beribboned box and a note beside the dress. Elizabeth held the gown against her body and marveled at its excellent cut and subdued elegance. The bodice was covered with jet beads, which were also scattered around the skirts of the gown, catching the light when she moved. It was the perfect dress for a society widow.

She opened the note and read the short message aloud: "Wear this dress for me tonight and only what is in the box. I don't intend to sit through another evening without knowing exactly what you are wearing beneath your skirts."

Intrigued and slightly apprehensive, she hurried to open the box. She pulled out a neatly folded black corset, a pair of black stockings, garters, and nothing else. She bit her lip and upended the box in a hopeless search for petticoats or the newfangled and scandalous drawers but there were none. She stuffed everything back into the box and sat down at her dressing table.

Given the innocent companionship of his daughter, she had almost forgotten her more base agreement with the duke. Thoughts swirled through her mind as she unpinned her hair and brushed out the tight braids. Could she ask the duke for a reprieve? Could she avoid his bed by offering to stay on as Eloise's companion and remaining disguised as a widow?

She pictured the duke's face. She had made a bargain with him and it behooved her to stick to it. She would hate it if the duke thought her a coward. Her future was as a courtesan. It was the only way to support herself and her brother. Maybe the duke was testing her obedience. They would be in a public place, with his daughter. He was hardly likely to seduce her there!

*** *** ***

The duke came up to their suite well before the appointed hour for the play and spent some time with Eloise and Madame Bonnet. Elizabeth was relieved to see that there appeared to be genuine affection between father and daughter despite the duke's animosity toward the girl's mother. She was glad for, Eloise's sake, and surprised to see the softness of the duke's face as he humored her many requests.

He barely glanced her way and she was glad of it. He wore a pewter-colored coat with a black embroidered waistcoat beneath. His pantaloons were pale satin and fit him without a wrinkle. Elizabeth found herself crossing her legs and worrying at her lower lip as he finally looked up and studied her.

With an abrupt movement he rose to his feet and spoke in rapid French. Eloise and Madame Bonnet disappeared to find their cloaks and Elizabeth was left alone with the duke. He strolled toward her and she immediately sat up straight.

"Well, my dear?" He took her hand and helped her rise. "Do you like your dress?"

"Yes, thank you, Your Grace. It is beautiful."

"Good," he murmured and she shivered as he ran the tip of his finger along the edge of her beaded bodice, outlining the uppermost curves of her breasts. Her nipples tightened as she fought for breath. Eloise's excited chatter flowed in through the open door.

The duke didn't pull away and Elizabeth realized she was hidden from Eloise's sight by the duke's broad shoulders. To her horror, she found it impossible to do anything but stare up at his face like a besotted lap dog being petted as his finger stroked back and forth.

"Beautiful..." he breathed before brushing her cheek with his lips. He turned away to help Eloise with her cloak and Elizabeth hurried to find her own, more flustered than she cared to admit and more confused than ever.

The theater was already crowded when the duke ushered his party into the luxurious confines of his private box. Eloise, dressed in a primrose muslin gown that complimented her olive complexion, chattered unceasingly in a mixture of broken English and rapid French that Elizabeth tried to follow.

She watched the duke survey the swirling mass of humanity below them. Numerous women from all the social classes attempted to catch his attention, but to Elizabeth's relief, he seemed oblivious. Occasionally, he would honor some male acquaintance with a slight nod of his head.

Elizabeth sank into the nearest velvet chair and allowed the magnificence of the view to overwhelm her senses. She had not been to the theater for several years and had missed it badly. Raucous shouts rose from the lower levels in sharp counterpoint to the discreet rustles and whispers from the tiered seats and boxes. In the pit, candlelight glinted off raised bottles and the quizzing glasses of the young bloods that lounged close to the stage waiting to ogle the actresses. In the boxes above, the same light caught the brilliance of diamonds and fine crystal.

The duke took the seat to her left, cutting her off from the others in the box, and allowed his black cloak to fall from his shoulders. Elizabeth's mouth went dry as he uncoiled his powerful frame and settled into the chair, one leg crossed over the over. The lights dimmed and the gaudy purple and gold curtain began to rise. Elizabeth attempted to sit forward but the angle of the duke's knee prevented her.

The play started and Elizabeth was soon caught up in the witty, provocative dialogue. Intrigued, she leaned forward again, this time ignoring the pressure of the duke's hard thigh against her knee. She laughed out loud as the plot of the play became more convoluted and the acting more inventive. It was only when she sat back that she realized the duke had positioned his arm along the back of her chair.

His hand dropped to the curve of her neck and held her pinned to the back of her seat. She sat awkwardly, amazed that even through the fabric of his coat she could feel the heat from his skin against her bare shoulder. His gloved fingers traced a lazy path down past her throat and settled over the bodice of her gown.

Unable to breathe, and unable to turn her eyes away from the stage, Elizabeth stiffened as the duke's finger and thumb dipped below the line of her bodice and closed around her right breast. She fought an urge to squeak as a curious warmth hardened her nipple, sending rivulets of heat straight down to her stomach. The duke bent his head and bit down gently on her neck, which somehow seemed to intensify the strangely pleasurable sensation.

A ripple of applause and a few coarse shouts from the bear pit signaled that the first act had ended. The curtains swished across the garish stage and the lights went up. A roar of conversation erupted from the audience, who milled around seeking refreshments or acquaintances. The duke released his hold on Elizabeth with a leisurely ease far removed from her panic and stood up as the door to their box opened to admit a crowd of visitors.

Elizabeth slid into the duke's vacated seat and eased back into the shadows as she searched for composure. Why had she thought that she would be safe in public? By her own admission, the duke was a notorious rake. She was only experiencing at first hand why he had garnered such a reputation. It took her several minutes before she was able to pay attention to the other occupants of the box.

Eloise was the center of attention and seemed to enjoy the experience. The duke stood back, allowing her to shine, yet indicating by his very presence that Eloise was his daughter and thus well guarded. To her secret dismay, Elizabeth couldn't stop staring at the duke. He seemed quite unaffected by the sensations he had stirred in her.

"Elizabeth, you are staring."

The sensual understanding in the duke's cool, amused gaze negated his low-voiced reproof and Elizabeth blushed. With indecent haste, she averted her gaze and concentrated on watching the crowds below her. When the play resumed, the duke took the seat to her right. Her hard-won composure fragmented as he continued to turn her body into an unsettled mass of frustrated desire.

She was not sure whether to be pleased or disappointed when the play ended. The duke moved away from her to aid Eloise and Madame Bonnet with their possessions. Elizabeth stretched to relieve the tension in her shoulders and felt the silk lining of her bodice ripple over her tender, aroused flesh. She shivered as the duke ushered Eloise and Madame Bonnet out of the curtained doorway and then turned back to her.

Her throat went dry when he held out her cloak and beckoned her forward. She moved obediently toward him and stood still as he encircled her with his arms and tied the black silk ribbons at her throat. She sighed as his knuckles brushed the sensitive skin he had brought to life. His eyes narrowed and within a heartbeat he had her pressed against the back wall of the box. His lips found hers and his tongue thrust deep inside her mouth.

She realized with a faint stab of unease that she didn't want to fight him or push him away, even when he slid his hand under her skirts. His mouth continued to possess hers as he reached the apex of her thighs and fitted his gloved palm to her heated flesh.

"Your Grace?"

The interruption had Elizabeth fighting to be free and the duke muttering a curse against her neck. He turned, shielding her and accepted his hat and cloak from the maidservant. He shrugged into his cloak, jammed on his hat and offered his arm to Elizabeth with a wry smile.

"May I escort you to the carriage?"

"Thank you, Your Grace. It has been a most enjoyable evening."

She tried not to grip his arm too tightly as they threaded their way through the crowds that lingered on the grand staircase. She glimpsed Eloise's dark head at the door and the sheen of the duke's sleek carriage beyond her.

"Darling!"

A petite blonde woman dressed in the height of fashion attached herself to the duke's free arm, blocking Elizabeth's view of Eloise and safety. Elizabeth released the duke but not before the other woman shot her a venomous glare.

The duke disentangled himself from the blonde woman and with remarkable dexterity managed to keep a grip on Elizabeth's elbow.

"Lady Masterton. How delightful. Are you here with Captain Draycourt or did Lord Clevedon escort you tonight?"

Elizabeth cringed as she registered an edge to the duke's voice, a tone she remembered from their first unpleasant encounter.

Lady Masterton pouted, which did nothing to dim her extraordinary beauty, and leaned forward, her fingers resting on the duke's forearm, her bosom propped up alongside.

"You have not been near me for a week, Gervase. Do you expect me to pine away?"

Even Elizabeth recognized the deliberate provocation in Lady Masterton's question. She tried to ease out of the duke's grasp but he refused to release her. He smiled and Elizabeth felt almost sorry for the woman in front of her.

"I believe I mentioned that I had been indisposed?"

Lady Masterton's pointed nails dug into the duke's immaculate coat, creasing the fine cloth, and he frowned.

"I received your note." She wriggled the fingers of her right hand and a huge diamond caught the light. "And your gift. Thank you darling."

The duke removed her hand from his arm and crushed her fingers within his own.

"Consider it a parting gift, my dear. I don't share, especially with a man like Lord Clevedon, who boasts of his conquests in his cups."

He kissed Lady Masterton's rigid fingers and dropped them with deliberate haste as though he had picked up something unclean. Elizabeth looked away from the naked fury in Lady Masterton's celestial blue eyes.

"You are a fool, Gervase. You will never find a woman as talented as I am in bed," Lady Masterton hissed. "You will never find my equal."

The duke bowed and half-turned, displaying his indifferent profile to Elizabeth. "I hesitate to contradict you Emilia, but I don't believe I shall have to look far." He paused and lowered his voice. "In fact, my dear, I will set out for the docks now." He raised an eyebrow. "Who knows what slut I will find to better you in the nearest doorway?"

Lady Masterton stood as if rooted to the spot. Two patches of red stained her cheeks and clashed with her pink rouge. The people around her began to whisper and titter as the duke's words were passed from mouth to mouth with the speed and velocity of fast flowing water.

Elizabeth felt the duke tug at her hand and she followed him out into the crowded street. A capricious movement in the crowd threw her up against him.

"You did not have to make me witness that appalling display of bad manners, Your Grace."

"Do you wish me to bed her whilst I instruct you? I meant what I said. I don't share and I don't bed more than one woman at a time."

"This is not about your peculiar code of ethics. You simply wanted me to see how you dispose of troublesome women."

For a long moment, he held her close as the press of people flowed around them. "I forget how astute you are, my dear Mrs. Waterstone." He brushed the corner of her mouth with his thumb. "Perhaps you are right. I can only hope it has left the correct impression on you."

*** *** ***

Elizabeth excused herself the moment they entered the suite at Grillons and went to her bedroom. Her head had begun to pound and she sought relief by dismantling the fashionable hairstyle the maid had arranged for her earlier. Thanks to the duke's attentions, her breasts ached. She crossed her arms around herself in an attempt to relieve the pressure.

The soft click of her door lock made her spin around to find the duke leaning against the wall. His silver gaze swept over her before he walked further into the room.

"It is interesting, is it not, how your body has begun to accept me and even grow used to my attentions whilst your mind still struggles?"

"I don't know what you are talking about, Your Grace."

The duke sat down on the patterned silk chaise lounge beside the fireplace.

"You have a lot to learn, Elizabeth, and as you made such an excellent start tonight I thought I would continue the lesson."

"Yes, Your Grace? What do you wish of me?"

He smiled and to her dismay her body stirred in anticipation. "That is an interesting question, my dear, and one that you, as a courtesan, should be able to answer if you wish to anticipate and provide for your lover's every whim."

"I think that a good mistress would offer you a drink and then discuss the play." She smoothed down her skirts. "What would you like to drink, Your Grace?"

His appreciative gaze followed her across the room. "I would like a brandy, my dear and I suggest you have one yourself." He waited while she poured the drinks with a remarkably steady hand and patted the seat beside him.

Walking carefully, so as not to tip the brandy, Elizabeth sat next to him. He murmured his thanks as he took the glass and brought it to his lips. She sipped at her own brandy and then placed the glass down on the table.

"You judged my mood well, Elizabeth. If I had wished to bed you, I would not have bothered with conversation. I would simply have placed you on the bed, unbuttoned my breeches and had you."

She pressed a hand to her cheek and felt the heat flare on her skin.

"Luckily for you this evening, I wish to be amused. Tell me what you thought of the play."

Almost giddy with relief, Elizabeth forgot her shyness as she argued with the duke about the themes of the play and its current production. In her enjoyment, she cast off her slippers and tucked her feet up underneath her skirts. It was not until she heard the clock strike one that she realized how late it was.

She glanced uncertainly at the duke when he made no move to leave and her constraint returned.

"Are you wondering what I will do to you now, my dear? Does your mind still fear what your body accepts?"

He caught her wrists and urged her closer until her hands rested on his waistcoat. "Kiss me, and maybe I will be satisfied enough to leave."

Elizabeth leaned into him, trying not to inhale his male scent, which affected her like the most potent champagne. His lips were warm as she opened her mouth to kiss him as deeply as he had kissed her. He gave a soft growl of appreciation and angled his head to give her greater access. One of her hands stole into his hair and caressed the nape of his neck.

He splayed his fingers across her back and rocked her slowly from side to side, tantalizing her already aroused senses, adding to the lingering warmth he had created earlier. She gasped as he slid her bodice sleeves down her arms and captured her breasts, rising like an offering from the black silk corset. The sudden heat of his palms and the flick of his fingertips over her hardening nipples made her shudder.

"I'm taking you to bed."

Her eyes flew open as she realized her feet were no longer on the floor. She curled her arms around his neck and fitted her body so tightly to his that she could feel his muscular frame from shoulder to knee. He carried her the few steps to the bed, settled her upon it, and followed her down.

He set about stripping her with an expertise and a speed that compared well with an experienced lady's maid. As he loomed over her a worm of unease filtered through her arousal. His expression was intent, his eyes narrowed in concentration.

"Your Grace, I'm not sure if..."

He placed a finger over her lips and smoothed the sheet over her, warming and shaping her flesh as he went. A glance downward revealed her whole body clearly outlined against the linen, the thrust of her nipples, the angles of her hips. He reclaimed her mouth in a deep kiss before retreating to the side of the bed. God, she wanted his hands on her, she wanted them under the sheet and all over her.

She tore her mouth away from his. "How do you remain so calm, so unaffected when I..."

He reached forward and captured her hand. They both shuddered as he pressed her palm to the front of his breeches where she encountered his cock in its entire hard, male splendor.

"I'm not unaffected by you." He leaned into her hand and his shaft jerked beneath her fingers. "What I don't understand is why you have this effect on me, my dear innocent. I'm not sure I like it one damned bit."

Chapter 6

Two weeks later, Elizabeth was back at Delamere House, the duke's imposing London address. As she walked up the main staircase, she mentally listed her accomplishments with a glow of personal satisfaction. She had escorted Eloise to her new school in Bath and left her there with promises to write. Then she accompanied a weeping Madame Bonnet to the port of Bristol and saw her set sail for France.

Elizabeth smiled at her disheveled reflection as she took off her dusty bonnet and gloves. Despite some initial worries about her ability to act as the duke's representative, she believed she had comported herself rather well. She had certainly enjoyed the opportunity to travel in such luxury and the freedom from her stepfather's demands.

To her secret relief, the duke had not put her back into the bedroom suite adjoining his own. Her new room was across the hall and facing away from the bustle of Grosvenor Square into the peacefulness of the garden. A quick search of her cream- and silk-decorated chamber revealed a closet stuffed full of the fashionable garments Madame Charles and the duke had deemed necessary for her use.

Having ascertained that the duke was not at home, Elizabeth spent a happy afternoon trying on her new clothes until her stomach, and the gentle chime of the porcelain clock on the mantelpiece, reminded her that it was well past her normal dinner hour.

She dressed in the black evening gown she had worn to the theater and wondered what to do next. Should she find her own way to the dining room or was she supposed to wait for the duke to invite her? She drew her new paisley shawl around her shoulders. And how was she to behave, like a widowed member of the family or the duke's latest lover?

She had returned from her trip determined to do her duty by the duke and learn as much as he could teach her. His sensual caresses had transformed her dreams and, truth be told, encouraged her to think that she might succeed in her chosen profession. If only she could learn to imitate the duke's detachment and restrain her unexpected appetite for his kisses.

Hunger and hard-won bravado made her leave the comforts of her room and slip down the stairs. Luckily, before her courage deserted her, the butler stepped out of the shadows and inclined his head.

"Mrs. Waterstone? I was just about to come up and see if everything had been arranged to your satisfaction."

Elizabeth smiled. "Yes indeed, my accommodation is excellent in every respect. Thank you...?"

"It's Standish, ma'am. Would you care to dine now?" He proceeded in his stately manner down the hall toward the dining room, which blazed with light. "His Grace sends his apologies. He has been regrettably detained and does not anticipate returning this evening."

To her annoyance, Elizabeth felt a small stab of disappointment. She had been looking forward to crossing swords with the infuriatingly enigmatic Duke of Diable Delamere. Deep in thought, she allowed Standish to usher her into the dining room. There was a flurry of movement and a tall, brown-haired man pushed back his chair and struggled to his feet. He looked almost as surprised as Elizabeth did as he managed a makeshift bow in response to her elegant curtsey.

She smiled as she noticed the book he had tossed face down on the table perilously close to his spilled glass of wine.

"I apologize for interrupting you, sir. Did the duke not inform you that I would be staying here for a while?"

"You are Mrs. Elizabeth Waterstone?"

The man's shrewd hazel eyes held a hint of surprise. Elizabeth refused to look away as he continued to stare at her. She judged him to be in his early forties. His severe demeanor and well-cut but deliberately unfashionable clothing hinted at a personality ruthlessly repressed.

"I'm Sir John Harrington, the duke's private secretary."

Sir John held out a chair for her and after a moment's indecision, Elizabeth sat and waited for him to re-seat himself opposite her. As Standish glided forward to remove the offending wine glass and set another place setting, Elizabeth wondered why the duke needed a secretary at all. She pictured the rather stern Sir John organizing the duke's mistresses in an endless line outside the duke's bedroom, making sure his gambling debts were paid on time, and generally keeping his employer out of gaol.

Her lips twitched. She stole a glance at Sir John's profile and realized that it was not a joke she could share with him. In an effort to be sociable, she picked up the book Sir John had cast down at her unexpected arrival. She tried to read the title on the spine but the gold lettering had faded into the red leather cover and she could not quite make it out. Inside she glimpsed an unfamiliar script covered in handwritten notes.

Before she could ask, Sir John plucked the book from her grasp. "Excuse my abysmal manners, Mrs. Waterstone. I thought to dine alone." He glanced briefly at the book, marked his page, and then slipped it into his coat pocket.

Elizabeth gave him her most encouraging smile. "I could not help but notice that the book appeared to be written in a different language and that you had translated it. How terribly clever of you to be able to read another tongue as well as your own."

"I read several languages, Mrs. Waterstone, and I enjoy the challenge of translation. This book," he patted his pocket. "Is Homer's Odyssey in the original Greek."

"How fascinating!"

Sir John's cheeks took on a faint blush whilst her mind worked furiously. She read Greek and Latin perfectly well and the book had been written in neither. Did Sir John treat all women as though their heads were full of air or did he assume that she was as stupid as all the dukes' previous mistresses?

Before she could address the matter, Standish served a delicious leek soup and she forgot her indignation as she savored every mouthful. Sir John continued to talk to her as though she had the mind of a three-year-old. She wondered anew how the duke put up with him, and whether Sir John dared to treat the duke in the same patronizing manner.

By the time they reached the third and final course, Elizabeth's hunger was appeased and she had formed an unflattering opinion of the duke's secretary. His pomposity and over-inflated view of his own importance was unbearable. Her eyes began to close as he meandered on about the weather, the propagation of violets, and the botanical specimens being gathered by the Royal Horticultural Society.

When he cleared his throat, she jumped.

"I can only apologize again, Mrs. Waterstone for my inconsiderate chattering. I only hoped to amuse, but I fear I've kept you from your bed."

Elizabeth rose from her seat and just managed to smother a yawn behind her hand before Sir John bowed and raised her fingers to his lips in a punctilious salute. When he released her, she curtsied and headed for the door. The urge to do or say something shocking would surely take hold of her if he continued to be so dull.

Elizabeth closed her own door with a relieved sigh and found a maid laying out her nightdress on the cream silk canopied bed. She allowed the maid to help her undress and brush out her hair, then climbed into bed, leaving a single candle burning on her night table.

After the clock had struck the hour twice more, she sat up, pulled her long braid of hair over her shoulder and hugged her knees to her chest. Despite being bone weary and glad to be free of the rocking motion of the carriage, she couldn't sleep. Whether it was the thought of the duke's return or the puzzle of Sir John's book that kept her from slumbering, she couldn't decide. She punched her pillow and sighed.

"This is ridiculous."

She looked around the bedroom but there were no books to be seen. With a sigh, she pulled on her dressing gown and decided to investigate the duke's library. She was halfway down the oak-paneled stairs before she realized that her feet were freezing and that she had neglected to put on her slippers.

No one awaited the duke's return in the marbled hallway. Moonlight helped to illuminate her path as she slipped through the shadows thrown by the massive sculptures and unlit chandeliers. A welcoming red glow seeped from under the door of the duke's study. Elizabeth enjoyed the warmth of the room and the thickness of the carpet as she found her way through the study and into the library beyond.

For a long while she wandered through the library shelves, admiring the duke's vast collection of books and enjoying the thrill of being able to borrow and read whatever she desired. The allure of a wingback leather chair drew her toward the glow of the fire and a single lit candle in a stuccoed alcove. Unwilling to leave the warmth, Elizabeth curled up in the chair and started to read.

A coal shifting in the fire woke her, as did the faint murmur of voices in the study beyond. Elizabeth slowly came awake to the sound of the duke's familiar low-pitched accent and the stodgier tones of Sir John Harrington. Reluctant to attract attention, she pulled the trailing ends of her nightdress close around her body and drew her bare feet up under her. The back of the wing chair faced the duke's study. It was possible that if she kept still, she might remain undetected.

The duke's melodious laughter rang out and Elizabeth stiffened in the chair. It appeared that her arrival was of so little importance that he had spent the night out carousing rather than attend to her. She leaned forward and strained to catch the low-voiced conversation between the two men.

It struck her that Sir John sounded nothing like the boring man she had suffered through dinner. His answers to the duke's rapid fire of questions were swift, confident and self-assured. Puzzlement tinged with a hint of annoyance threaded through her. Why had he pretended to be quite a different man for her benefit?

The book she was reading fell from her slackened fingers and slid to the floor despite her frantic efforts to catch it. She cursed under her breath in an unladylike manner--culled from her soldier brothers-as the book came to rest beside the right leg of the chair in the full glare of the candlelight. She refused to look at it and tensed her shoulders, waiting for discovery.

It didn't come.

Just as she let out a long suppressed breath, the duke said.

"I hear that you had dinner with Mrs. Waterstone, Sir John?"

"Yes, Your Grace." Sir John had the effrontery to laugh. "She was younger than I anticipated and not quite in your usual style, but she seemed a nice enough woman. Her conversation and understanding were fairly limited. I tried my hardest to keep to topics she might respond to. I shouldn't think she will bother us much."

The study door opened and Elizabeth sensed Sir John had left the room. She stared down at her hands, which seemed to have balled into fists. The patronizing prig! How dare he write her off as a nonentity? She had merely been responding to his lack of charm and to his ready-formed asinine assumptions about her character!

"Good evening, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth stifled a shriek as the duke came down on one knee in front of her and held out the book she had dropped. He glanced at the title and shook his head. "Feather-headed? I doubt it, if you are reading The Iliad in its original Greek." He tossed the book onto her lap and sat back on his heels, pulling the fabric of his fawn breeches tight against his thighs.

Elizabeth swallowed hard as her gaze noted every line and curve of the duke's muscular body. He wore no coat and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, displaying a goodly amount of soft, dark hair. He had loosened his cravat and a thin gold-rimmed pair of spectacles, similar to her own, perched on the end of his nose.

On closer inspection, he didn't look as if he had spent the night in the gaming hells of Piccadilly. He looked like a man who had been working hard on something more cerebral. His eyes were shadowed with tiredness and a frown creased his brow. Without thinking, Elizabeth tapped the bridge of his nose where his glasses rested.

With an annoyed grunt, the duke reached up and removed the glasses, burying them deep in the pocket of his breeches. He caught her hand before she could withdraw and laid it, open palmed, against his unshaven cheek.

"You haven't told me that you are glad to see me."

On an impulse, Elizabeth leaned forward to put her other hand on his shoulder, enjoying the warmth of his skin through the linen of his shirt. She breathed in the smell of fine brandy and Spanish cigars. With slow deliberation, she brought her face toward his and kissed his mouth.

"Welcome home, Your Grace," she whispered.

His eyebrows rose. "Welcome indeed."

His hand slid behind her neck and urged her even closer, as if he demanded that she deepen the kiss. She shut her eyes and complied, exploring his mouth with the tip of her tongue until his response overwhelmed her. She gasped as he pushed her back into the chair and leaned into her, his hands at her waist, his mouth demanding her surrender.

"Your Grace? There is another messenger from the Foreign Office. Shall I send him in?"

Sir John's voice filtered through the open doorway. Elizabeth moaned as the duke tore his mouth from hers and went still. He stood up, running his fingers through his now-tousled hair and turned back to the study.

"Go to bed, Elizabeth. I will see you in the morning."

His quiet command galvanized her into action. She slid from the chair, aware of her bare feet and the heat in his eyes as he shielded her from the light in the study. He pointed to the far end of the library where Elizabeth assumed there would be another exit. She nodded and skimmed her tongue over her lower lip where the duke had nipped her.

His breath hissed out as he watched her slow backward retreat. "Merde, stop biting your lip unless you wish me to bite it for you! Go to bed."

Elizabeth closed her mouth, turned, and ran as Sir John entered the study and the duke moved away, closing the door behind him and shutting off the light.

Chapter 7

"Ah, Mrs. Waterstone." The duke rose to his feet and bowed. "I'm so glad that you decided to join us on this fine morning."

Elizabeth cast a bleary eye out of the window of the pristine breakfast parlor where a fine drizzle obscured the garden and the leaden skies. She accepted a cup of tea from Standish and brightened considerably when he pointed out the row of lidded silver dishes from which emanated the heavenly smells of a cooked breakfast.

After swallowing the tea and working her way through a hearty meal, she managed to focus on the duke, who had resumed his place at the head of the table. From the look of his dress and his rain-dampened hair, he had already been out. There was no sign of Sir John, but a young man, also dressed for riding, occupied the seat next to the duke.

The duke gestured to his companion. "Mrs. Waterstone, I would like you to meet another relative of mine, Nicholas Gallion. He assists Sir John with my correspondence and all manner of useful things."

The red-headed man stood up and bowed, a smile in his whiskey-colored eyes. His complexion was fair and freckles sprinkled the bridge of his nose. He reminded Elizabeth of an elegant greyhound, full of suppressed energy and intelligence. She guessed his age to be similar to her own.

"Yes, indeed, Your Grace." Nicholas said.

To her surprise, he had a distinct French accent.

"I'm delighted to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Waterstone. His Grace tells me that our ancestors coexist on the far corners of the mighty Diable Delamere family tree." A dimple played at the corner of his mouth as he shot a glance at the duke. "As the duke says, my duties are indeed varied. Last week I had the pleasure of fending off the dukes latest discarded mistress. She certainly had a very interesting vocabulary for a lady."

The duke poured himself another cup of coffee. "Despite his complaints, Nick has a way with the ladies. I'm sure that he will be honored to escort you around town when I'm unable to."

"Of course, Mrs. Waterstone. Consider me at your service."

Elizabeth drank more tea and had just started to feel alive when Sir John Harrington strode into the room. After a quick glance in her direction, he began to converse with the duke in rapid French. After listening for a minute or two, Elizabeth cleared her throat.

"Your Grace, would you please tell Sir John that I speak French far better than he does?" She smiled, showing her teeth. "And if you don't mind me saying so, his accent is atrocious. If he doesn't wish me to understand what he is saying, he should try another language."

Nicholas gave a snort of laughter that he tried valiantly to suppress. The duke's lips twitched, but he seemed unperturbed as he continued to gaze at Elizabeth.

"Before you open your mouth again, John," the duke said smoothly, "Might I suggest that you also avoid Latin and Greek?" The duke raised an eyebrow at Elizabeth and she nodded. "Is there anything else you wish to add, my dear?"

"I speak Spanish too, Your Grace, but not particularly well." Elizabeth couldn't help but smile as she looked into Sir John's red face and then modestly down at her plate. "I've a remarkable ear for languages."

"So it would seem," the duke said.

Eventually, Sir John's rigid countenance relaxed and he cleared his throat. "I should have known that any woman you took an interest in, Your Grace, would be an unusual one. I can only beg your pardon, Mrs. Waterstone and trust that we can become better acquainted."

In some confusion, Elizabeth turned to the duke who regarded her with his usual calm expression.

"He misjudged you, my dear." The duke wiped his mouth with a linen napkin, rose to his feet, and bowed to Elizabeth. "Perhaps you might be gracious enough to accept his apology and leave the no-doubt complicated explanations until later. I wish you to attend me in the study."

Elizabeth considered Sir John carefully. She didn't believe his attempt to placate her for a second. But she accepted his hand and the kiss he brushed over her knuckles with all the graciousness she could muster.

She followed the duke into his study and shut the door behind her. He was already seated behind his desk, his head bent over a pile of official-looking documents. His riding coat was black and cut by a master. An ebony pin surrounded by diamonds lay buried in the depths of his elaborately arranged cravat. The whiteness of his linen contrasted strongly with his raven hair and deep set silver eyes.

He spoke without looking up. "Did you enjoy your travels, Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth smoothed her dark, serviceable skirts over her knees.

"Yes, indeed, Your Grace. Although I was sorry to lose the companionship of your daughter." She hesitated. "I promised to write to her. I should have asked for your permission to do so first."

His eyes lifted and his gaze lingered on her tightly clasped hands. "Of course, my dear. Why should it not be? And speaking of letters--" he tossed an envelope into her lap "--this came from your stepfather's house. I assume it will be an invitation to visit with your mother and half-sister. Let me know when you wish to use the carriage."

Elizabeth crushed the letter to her bosom and fought to find her voice. "I, I thought I was forbidden the house." The duke said nothing and she stared at him for a long while. "You did this for me, didn't you?"

"Why should you think that?"

Elizabeth leaned forward. "Because you are the only man with sufficient power to bend my stepfather to your will." She managed a tremulous smile as she tucked the letter into her pocket. "Thank you. ?I cannot tell you how much..."

The duke cut her off with a decisive wave of his hand. "Then don't. Consider my intervention as a business matter. If you are unhappy here, it will make my task much harder."

Elizabeth took in a deep breath. The duke could have had no idea how much he had set her mind at rest. She was deeply thankful that she would be able to oversee Michael's care without the need for subterfuge.

The duke put down his quill and linked his hands together in front of him. "Are you still set on our arrangement?"

Elizabeth nodded. "Yes, Your Grace, in fact, I'm beginning to think it might not be so arduous after all. I've no difficulty enjoying your kisses. They are quite pleasant and I must confess that you perform them rather well."

"I'm so glad I've amused you." He continued to study her. "I entertain high hopes that you will continue to enjoy what I will teach you next."

He came around the desk and sat on the front edge of it. His boots bore such a high polish that Elizabeth could see her reflection in them. "If you permit, I think we should continue the masquerade of your being a widowed relative of mine. I've no wish for my staff to know any differently and it suits our purpose if the ton gossips about your extended presence here."

He smiled slightly at her puzzled expression. "Widows are allowed a lot more freedom to take lovers than young unmarried girls. No one would be surprised if we decided to form a liaison."

"If that is true, it is a shame I never married. My life would have been a lot easier as a widow."

The duke crossed one immaculate booted foot over the other and studied the toecap before he ventured a reply. "That is one way of looking at it, Elizabeth but perhaps a trifle self-centered. I suspect any man you chose to marry would rather have lived."

Elizabeth pressed a hand to her heated cheek. "Oh, Your Grace, forgive me. I was only thinking aloud. I never meant to imply I wished anyone dead."

She sought his eyes and saw the gentle mockery in them. "Oh, you are teasing me. It is quite disconcerting. I wish you wouldn't do it."

His slight smile faded and he was suddenly all business." We should discuss how we mean to go on."

"Indeed we should, Your Grace." Elizabeth slid her hand into her pocket and stroked the letter like a talisman.

"You are willing to live quietly here for a few months while we complete your education?"

"A few months?" Elizabeth couldn't help her startled interjection. "Surely you have taught me most of what I need to know?"

She blushed when the duke looked stunned.

He rose slowly from his perch and came toward her. Within a heartbeat he pulled her to her feet and put his arms around her.

"You think that you know enough because I've kissed you a few times and you have found it 'quite pleasant'?" He laughed into her neck and she shivered. "I've taught you nothing, nothing at all. By the time I've finished with you, you will want my hands on your body all the time and you will want to touch me, too." He bit down on the soft flesh at the base of her neck. "You will learn to bring me release in ways that you cannot imagine and I will bring you great pleasure."

She gasped as he drew her closer into his arms.

"Why don't I continue your education right here?" He glanced around. "In broad daylight, in my study where anyone could walk in on us. How about if I kiss you now?"

Before Elizabeth could muster a protest, his mouth closed over hers and she surrendered to the heated demands of his kiss. Her hands slid up his back to grip his broad shoulders. While she struggled to breathe, the duke caught her around the waist and sat her on the edge of his desk. He pushed one of his heavy thighs between her legs and pinned her there.

His kisses became deeper and slower and he rocked his thigh against her body in the same hypnotic rhythm as his tongue. She began to feel warm and no longer tried to escape his embrace. His hand pushed at the bodice of her gown, sliding it from her shoulder and baring the swell of her breast. His other hand pressed insistently on the small of her back until she arched her spine, offering her breasts to him.

Elizabeth choked back a shocked cry as the duke trailed kisses down her neck, nuzzled the swell of her breast, and sucked her nipple into his mouth. To her horror, the exquisite sensation tempted her to clutch at his hair and keep him there against her aching flesh. By the time the duke transferred his mouth to her other breast, she lay limply and compliantly in his grasp.

There was a sound from the library next door and the duke raised his head. She could not help but notice the gleam of appreciation in his silvered eyes as he surveyed his handiwork. Her nipples had drawn into hard peaks and her whole body throbbed in time to her raised heartbeat. She allowed the duke to adjust her corset and pull up her bodice. She shivered every time his fingers brushed against her and she suspected he knew it. It seemed to take him an age to make her respectable again.

Even when she was decently covered, he still held her captive on his desk, his thigh warm and solid against her skirts and between her legs, making her want to grind herself against him in a most unladylike way.

As her senses returned, she realized she was the one clinging to the duke.

He moved away and surveyed her, a small smile on his lips. "Now, my dear, I've work to do. I suggest you go shopping with Nick. I'm sure there are items of a more personal nature that you wish to purchase for yourself?"

He reached behind her and presented her with a small leather bag that clinked when he dropped it into her hand. "Before you start to argue, these are your wages for accompanying Eloise to Bath. Enjoy spending them. I will see you at dinner."

Elizabeth was unable to do more than nod at his brisk flow of instructions. Her body still seemed to be reaching for his and she was unwilling to move. It was an effort just to stand up.

He paused before sitting at his desk. "Elizabeth?"

"Yes, Your Grace?"

"Maybe while you are out you might consider a better choice of words for describing my kisses? If this is what 'quite pleasant' does to you, I dread to think what wonderful or exquisite will achieve."

Elizabeth managed an unsteady curtsey and headed for the door, the duke's soft laughter filling the space behind her.

Chapter 8

Shopping with coin in her purse and without the worry of her stepfather's debtors was an invigorating experience. Elizabeth had lived in London for several years but her previous existence had been fraught with difficulties and she had been far too busy to shop for pleasure. She had taken charge of the housekeeping at an early age to prevent the Foresters from gambling away every last penny the rest of the family had.

Her days had been spent searching for cheap food and patching her clothing whilst her mother pretended that nothing had changed. Mrs. Forester believed that maintaining appearances mattered and had continued to receive visitors as though she were the queen in the shabby, rented houses they were forced to live in.

It was Elizabeth who had baked the confectioneries her mother loved to serve to guests and Elizabeth who saved and reused the expensive tea leaves to make them last longer. When slovenly maids were unwilling or unable to perform their more delicate tasks, Elizabeth developed a skilled hand with a flat iron to preserve her mother's finery.

She glanced down at the intricate black pleats on her bodice and sighed with pure pleasure. Since she entered the duke's grand establishment, nobody had asked her to iron or wash a thing, tasks she loathed.

Nicholas made her shopping experience even more rewarding by anticipating her every whim. Without complaint, he had accompanied her to Hookhams Library where she had taken out a subscription. Then he had recommended a haberdashers where she provided herself with necessities for sewing. Their morning ended with their enjoying a well earned rest and an ice at Gunter's.

Elizabeth calculated that the immense sum of money the duke had tossed at her so casually would prove more than sufficient to pay for Michael's care for several months. She counted the remaining coins in her purse and decided she could spare enough to treat herself to a few luxuries. She smiled as Nicholas bowed and opened the door to Crabtree's perfumery.

With a thrill of guilty pleasure she sought out her favorite lily of the valley soap fragrance and added it to the lavender water she intended to take to her mother as a gift.

Nicholas waited patiently by the door and Elizabeth smiled as she caught his eye. She turned back and murmured an apology as her gloved hand tangled with another woman's basket, spilling the contents.

"Elizabeth? Oh my goodness. Is it indeed you?"

She glanced up and found herself staring into her half-sister's delighted face. With a glad cry, she opened her arms and enveloped Mary in a warm embrace. Mary was becomingly attired in a blue velvet pelisse and matching bonnet, which only enhanced her blossoming beauty.

While Mary pulled away and picked up her scattered purchases, Elizabeth studied her blonde, petite seventeen- year-old half-sister. Even though it had been only a few short weeks since they had last seen each other, Mary's sophisticated wardrobe made her look older. Elizabeth's eyes narrowed as she estimated the cost of the elaborate outfit Mary wore and wondered who had paid for it.

"Mother said that you had left the city," Mary said breathlessly, her blue eyes shining, her hands clasping Elizabeth's. "Where on earth have you been? You must promise to tell me all about it."

Before Elizabeth could muster a reply, a gloved hand gripped Mary's arm. "Mary, come away now."

Elizabeth's throat tightened as she registered the disdain on her mother's averted face.

"Mother..." Elizabeth whispered but her mother refused to spare her a glance, her rigid attention all on Mary.

"Mama, it is Elizabeth," Mary said slowly.

"You are mistaken. We must go, Mary."

Mrs. Forester's fingers tightened on Mary's arm and she began to turn away. In desperation, Elizabeth reached out to touch her mother's shoulder. Her hand was shaken off and Mrs. Forester hissed between her teeth.

"I don't know how you have the nerve to show yourself in here. What do you think it will do to Mary's reputation if she is seen conversing with the likes of you? You know she is to make her debut this Season. Have you no shame?"

Elizabeth recoiled as though her mother had slapped her and she bumped against the solid form of Nicholas Gallion.

With one hand pressed to her heated cheek, Elizabeth watched her mother's hurried withdrawal. Waves of humiliation made her wish the ground would open up and swallow her. She cast a hasty glance around, convinced everyone was staring at her.

"Mrs. Waterstone, are you all right?"

She barely made out Nicholas's concerned voice through the roaring in her ears. His arm came around her waist and the next thing she knew she was outside in the cold air propped against the windowsill.

"Wait here," he commanded.

She didn't bother to reply, being too busy trying not to cry. Nicholas returned in an instant and she allowed him to escort her into the carriage. She made no effort to converse with him on the journey back to the duke's house and instead stared out of the window, seeing nothing. She struggled to keep her lips from trembling as she pictured her mother's disgust and Mary's confusion. Was she really such a pariah? If only she could explain...

As the carriage drew to a halt, she didn't wait for Nicholas to assist her out. She bolted up the steps, past a surprised Standish, and into the house, seeking her bedroom and the privacy to cry.

*** *** ***

Gervase knocked softly on the door of Miss Waterstone's bedroom and, receiving no reply, knocked again, harder. The door opened a crack and he pushed it inward, letting himself fully into the room and closed it behind him.

Elizabeth was a pitiful sight. Unlike most of his previous mistresses, she didn't posses the ability to cry beautifully. Her nose was red, her eyes puffy and all the color had leached from her face, leaving her a little wan ghost in her sophisticated black gown. She lifted her reddened eyes to his, swallowed convulsively, and went to rub her nose on her sleeve.

With a sigh, for he had many urgent matters to attend to, Gervase handed her his large linen handkerchief. She blew her nose loudly and defiantly and then attempted to pass the crumpled fabric back to him. He waved her offer aside.

Keeping her in his sights, he crossed the room, poured a glass of water, and brought it back to her. "Nicholas said that something happened to upset you."

Her slight nod confirmed his statement. Gervase sat down and pulled her onto his lap. She wrung his handkerchief between her fingers.

"It was my mother??she gave me the cut direct." Gervase said nothing and kept his face politely blank until she continued, her voice harsh with unshed tears. "She would not allow my half-sister to acknowledge me, either."

"You must have known this might happen. Your mother denied you the house as soon as she found out." He paused as her knuckles whitened on the handkerchief. "So why are you crying about it now?"

She got to her feet, wrapped her arms around her waist and presented him with her straight back. "Because I didn't think she meant it. I thought she spoke in anger or in fear of my stepfather." She turned around, the devastation in her eyes unmistakable. "But she didn't. She really doesn't want to acknowledge me."

Gervase felt an unexpected pang of sympathy, which he ruthlessly suppressed. It made him speak more harshly than he had perhaps intended to.

"I told you that your family might find your choice of profession unacceptable. If you had listened to me before you embarked on this ridiculous scheme you might have avoided all this unnecessary weeping."

Her chin came up and he silenced an impulse to applaud her returning courage.

"I'm not asking you to feel sorry for me, Your Grace." She sniffed. "In truth, I don't remember asking you for any help at all."

Gervase stared back at her. "That's good because I'm not offering you any. You made your choices, now you must live with them. 'In truth,'" he mimicked her precise tone, "the old English proverb fits you well, does it not? You have made your bed and now you must lie in it." He shrugged "My bed, your bed, or any other place that I deem fit."

Her gray eyes flashed fire then and for a fleeting moment he wondered where his dueling pistols were. He tensed, ready to repel any attack, but to his relief, she merely drew in a deep breath.

"You are right. I'm a fool." She blew her nose hard and wiped away all traces of her tears. "I've no reason to complain about her treatment of me. She is only doing what any mother would to protect her remaining daughter."

Gervase wondered about Mrs. Forester's reasons for treating Elizabeth so. Nick had told him that the younger girl was to enjoy a Season. It seemed Mr. Forester had suddenly come into enough money to pay for it. For the first time in a long while, Gervase's instincts were at war with his conscience. Part of him wanted to keep Elizabeth away from the Foresters at any cost and yet he knew she might be able to get valuable information for him. But he could not allow his emotions to rule him. He placed his hand in the small of Elizabeth's back and guided her into the chair opposite his.

"You must calm yourself, my dear. All is not lost. You still have your mother's invitation to visit her for tea."

"Do you really think she will honor it after our unfortunate meeting?"

Gervase was sure of it. He hoped Mr. Forester was aware of the obligation too, or Gervase would be demanding payment of his debt in full. "Of course she will. If you doubt your welcome, I will accompany you."

A faint trace of alarm crossed Elizabeth's features and Gervase stiffened. Did she fear his intrusion into her former life?

"Thank you for the offer, Your Grace, but I think I would rather go alone. My mother is already embarrassed by me and perhaps, by bringing my..." she blushed and looked away, "...by bringing you with me, it might make matters worse."

He nodded and rose to his feet, willing to accept her explanation for now and anxious to convince her to attend her mother. If she were determined to go by herself it would probably be for the best. In truth, he admired her for it. Despite his bracing words and her apparent acceptance of the situation, Gervase knew firsthand how a family could wound a person in ways too deep to heal. To his surprise, his little brown bird was proving to be both resilient and full of courage.

He took her hand in his and kissed her palm, open mouthed. "May I suggest you change your clothes and bathe? You will surely feel better then." He allowed the tip of his tongue to circle her warm skin. "If you don't wish to dine downstairs, a tray can be brought up to you."

She slipped out of his grasp, her composure firmly in place again. "I will be perfectly fine, Your Grace." She moved toward the door in a subtle invitation that he should leave. "I'm sure that you have a thousand more important things to do than bother yourself with me."

She halted, her hand on the door, and looked back at him hopefully.

"Oh no, my dear. For you, I've all the time in the world. Come here." He smiled as she obediently returned and stood in front of him. "Let me help you out of your gown." As he spoke, his fingers unlaced her bodice and her gown slid to the floor. Her breathing grew faster and he stopped to enjoy the rise and fall of her breasts as they fought the constraints of her corset.

He led her toward the dressing table and urged her to sit, then began the complicated process of removing the pins from her hair. Her shoulders relaxed and she gave an odd sigh as he picked up the brush and combed out her long, golden-brown hair. He smiled down at her unprotected head.

She didn't seem to realize that every time she allowed him to touch her he was continuing her education. Every seemingly innocent contact brought her closer to accepting him as a man and as a potential lover. He put down the brush and used his fingers to untangle a snarl. His knuckles touched the nape of her neck and she didn't pull away. After a long while, her gray gaze met his in the mirror.

"Thank you," she whispered, as he laid the brush down and placed his hands on her shoulders. Her thick hair descended almost to her waist. He picked up a long, curling strand and wound it around his palm, easing her head back to meet his mouth. Her kiss tasted of her tears and a hint of the lily of the valley perfume she often wore. His hand clenched on her hair and he drew her even closer as his body grew hard with unexpected desire.

He released her mouth with the greatest of reluctance and shook her slippery, clinging hair from his fingertips. He bent to drop another kiss between her breasts. "I will come to your bed, tonight. Be ready for me."

He turned to leave before he gave in to his desire to stay and take what he needed from her. He closed the door with a decisive snap and let out his breath. There were always women who could satisfy his basic needs, but Elizabeth was different. He was experienced enough to know that it was better to wait until the prey was truly cornered before springing the trap. And, he smiled up at a portrait of his roguish Cavalier ancestor, Elizabeth was hardly even aware that she was being hunted yet.

Chapter 9

Elizabeth curled up on the chair in the duke's library and waited in the comforting silence for his return. Although he had informed her that he intended to visit her bed, she had been too nervous to await him in the confines of her bedroom.

As was his custom, the duke had disappeared after dinner. Elizabeth watched his departure from her elevated position at the top of the stairs. He had worn his finest black coat and evening pantaloons with his usual elegance. Like a child stealing a forbidden glimpse of her parents departing for an evening's entertainment, Elizabeth pictured him at the opera or at some grand ball, his dark head bent solicitously over a beautifully gowned woman.

She shook the lingering images from her mind and snuggled deeper into the chair. The heat from the fire didn't make up for the loss of her thick woolen nightgown under her dressing gown. But, as instructed, she had dressed in one of the silk bed gowns the duke had purchased for her and it was not meant for warmth. The clock in the duke's study struck twelve and was echoed by the thunderous boom of the new fangled grandfather clock in the entrance hall.

In a way, Elizabeth mused, she was glad the duke had decided to continue her education in the more proper surroundings of her bed. He seemed more inclined to seduce her when she least expected it. She frowned and touched her fingertips to her lips. She had never imagined that something as simple as a kiss could bring so much pleasure.

Her skin flushed as she remembered where else the duke had kissed her. Perhaps she was learning more than she had thought. She hadn't expected to experience the first whisperings of desire when she had made her bargain with the duke. She had seen herself more as a sacrifice.

Elizabeth rose to her feet, suddenly restless and wandered back into the duke's study. She paused by his desk to stare at the huge collection of books, parchments and rolled up scrolls that obscured the oak surface. For a man of acknowledged indolence, the duke seemed burdened by a huge amount of work.

She turned to listen as a carriage rattled across the cobbled paving stones of the square, but it didn't stop. When she stepped back from the window, her elbow caught a pile of precariously balanced books that crashed to the floor. Elizabeth came down on her knees and gathered the books with frantic haste. What would Standish say if he came in and caught her groveling on the floor by the duke's desk?

She replaced the books in a neat pile on the corner of the desk. A scrap of parchment had drifted behind the chair and she bent to retrieve it. To her delight, it appeared to be a word puzzle that someone had left unfinished.

Elizabeth clicked her tongue disapprovingly. The person who tried to complete the puzzle had made several mistakes judging from the number of scrawled and crossed out answers. With a sigh of pure happiness, she settled in the duke's chair, extracted a fresh sheet of parchment from the drawer and began work on the intriguing conundrum.

*** *** ***

Gervase stole softly into the study, his dueling pistol primed and ready in his hand. He came to an abrupt halt at the sight of Elizabeth sitting behind his desk, apparently deep in thought. Her brown hair had broken free of its braid and it revealed glints of gold in the candlelight. Her spectacles, which were perched on the end of her nose, made her look like an inquisitive little owl. Her dressing gown had fallen open to reveal the subtle flesh tones of her creamy skin and the hint of an ivory silk-clad breast.

Gervase shut the door and leaned against it. His initial wariness dissipated into a warm appreciation of the studious yet unconsciously seductive picture his novice mistress made.

He cleared his throat and she looked up at him. Guilt-mingled with triumph--flashed plainly across her face, but she made no move to hide what she was doing. Gervase uncocked his pistol and laid it on the desk with deliberate care. Elizabeth's gaze flew to pistol and she hurriedly put down her quill pen.

"Your Grace. I forgot the time. Were you waiting for me?"

Gervase came around the desk to stand over her. He almost cursed out loud when he saw what she had in her hand. It was his fault for leaving it out on the desk, but what in God's name was she doing with that particular piece of parchment?

"I knocked over a pile of books and when I was putting them back, I found this." She waved the grubby, almost illegible puzzle at him and gave a complacent smile. "I love puzzles and I decided to try my hand at it."

His expression must have warned her that something was amiss because her smile faded and her voice became less certain. She gestured at a second sheet of parchment. "I don't think I've done any harm. I had more sense than to scribble on the original."

Gervase barely glanced at her neat penmanship before he slipped both pieces of parchment beneath his blotter. His mind worked furiously for a way to distract her. He caught her elbow and pulled her out of the seat in one easy motion.

"I expected you to be in bed, waiting for me." He kept his tone mild but she was quick to detect his censure. She blushed, pushed her spectacles further up her nose and tried to pull out of his hold.

"I was waiting for you, Your Grace. I just chose to wait in here."

He tightened his fingers on her arm until he drew her hard up against him. Then used the tip of his index finger and thumb to remove her spectacles. He dangled them in front of her and then dropped them onto the desk where they came to rest on top of his pistol.

"Ah, but you are supposed to be my mistress and it is for me to say where you should wait, is it not?"

He half smiled when she refused to meet his stare and instead studied the silver buttons on his waistcoat. He repeated, "Is it not?"

He swore he heard her teeth grind together as she mustered a reply. "Yes, Your Grace. Of course, you are right. I can only apologize."

He placed his fingers under her chin and made her look at him. "Do I detect a note of sarcasm, Elizabeth? Have you decided that you wish to be in charge of our liaison?"

"No, Your Grace, I was simply..."

She seemed unable to complete the sentence as he rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip. He wondered if she could taste the residue of gunpowder on his fingers. He had used his gun to wound a suspected spy earlier that night.

"You are still an innocent in many ways, my dear, and occasionally I'm quite glad of it." He bent and kissed her cheek. "In truth, you thought to avoid my presence in your bed by meeting me here."

She nodded, her chin pressing into his fingers. With a swift movement, he dragged the robe from her shoulders until she stood before him clad only in her ivory silk nightgown. She made an ineffectual attempt to cover herself but he would not allow it. He gathered her into his arms and turned her until her back was against his chest. He wrapped one long arm around her hips, pressing her against him from chest to toe.

Her warm, womanly scent curled around his nostrils and he buried his face into the side of her neck. For some reason a brush with death always made him think of more carnal matters, of burying himself inside a woman's warm, wet body, of giving and receiving pleasure until he was so sated he could forget the horrors of death.

"I could lie you down on my desk and ravish you there." He rotated her toward the library. "We could even make good use of the chair you so recently vacated."

He released her as suddenly as he had captured her and bent to pick up her robe. His desire to add to her education had intensified to a point at which he was sorely tempted to pull her down onto the carpet and show her exactly what he meant. He grimly reminded himself that lust never made a good master and that he'd made a bargain with Elizabeth not to bed her.

He tossed the robe to her.

"Put this on and go to bed. I will join you in a moment."

She ran like a startled fawn, her bare feet soundless in the corridor and on the stairs. Gervase drew in a deep breath and strove to gain control of his lust. What was it about Elizabeth that made him want to ravish her? She was no match for his sensual games. With that thought severely in mind, Gervase followed Elizabeth up the stairs and into her room without pausing to knock.

*** *** ***

Elizabeth discarded her dressing gown, unbraided her hair and sat on the edge of the bed, hands folded primly in her lap. Her breathing was still a little unsteady when the duke strolled over to the bed and drew her upright.

In her bare feet, she hardly reached his shoulder.

"I want you to undress me. As my mistress, you will need to become adept at this."

She looked up at him and nodded briskly, her hands already reaching for the buttons of his black coat. He caught hold of her wrists.

"I'm not a little boy to be helped out of my clothes as speedily as possible. Your aim is to heighten my desire and to make me want you. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Your Grace," Elizabeth whispered and he released her hands. She took her time easing him out of his superbly cut coat, allowing her body to brush against his at will. His embroidered silver waistcoat had three buttons, which she undid as slowly as possible, and then she hesitated.

"Do you wish me to remove your boots first, Your Grace or your cravat?" She kept her voice calm, although she was a little breathless as she waited for his instructions. He obliged her by helping with his boots and removing his cuff links, leaving her to deal with the intricate folds of his cravat.

His fine linen shirt fell open at the throat, revealing the dark, curling hair on his chest. She hesitated as she inhaled the unique scent of his skin and her fingers stilled on his cuffs. A memory of the first time he touched her stole into her head. She tried to block out the unwelcome image but her hands remained locked on his wrists.

"Pull my shirt over my head, cherie."

His soft, yet compelling voice recalled her to her duties and she managed to release her grip on his wrists. She closed her eyes and allowed her hands to slide down to his waist. She discovered his shirt was tucked into his breeches. He took hold of her hand and guided it to the buttons. With a stifled sound, she fumbled to unfasten them.

Gervase watched her intently as her fingers brushed against his hard cock. She blushed and tried to pull away.

"The shirt, my dear," he reminded her, one eyebrow raised, as if he thought she had forgotten what to do. He lifted his arms to help her pull the shirt over his head. With that off, her hands settled on his naked chest as though they belonged there. He took advantage of her temporary unsteadiness and sank down onto the bed with her.

He steadied her against his chest and drew her into a kneeling position opposite him. At first, she tried to look everywhere but at his body. To her great embarrassment, her gaze kept stealing back to his muscled arms, broad chest, and flat stomach. His right shoulder was still a little bruised from its encounter with the clock.

The duke did nothing to cover himself and allowed her to look until she no longer felt the need to hide her interest.

"It is not so difficult after all is it?" he said quietly. "Do you think you have succeeded? Do you think you have aroused me?"

Elizabeth glanced at his half-opened breeches and nodded.

The duke followed her gaze. "Yes, you are right. I'm hard for you." He took hold of her fisted hand and she tensed as he uncurled her fingers and laid her palm flat on his chest. His skin pulsed with warmth and she could feel the steady pounding of his heart beneath her fingertips.

"I wish you to touch me now," he said. "You may do anything you want. You will soon learn what pleases me."

Something in her expression must have given away her unease and he continued to talk. "Women need to be caressed gently and aroused with tenderness and care." He leaned forward and palmed her silk-covered breast, bringing the nipple to life with the soft brush of his thumb. He glanced down at his handiwork and smiled. "You see? Men like to be touched as much as women do, but they tend to respond to a firmer caress. Are you feeling brave enough to try?"

"Yes, Your Grace," Elizabeth replied. In some strange way, her anxiety had lessened simply because she had more clothes on than the duke. She wondered if he knew that.

"You must call me, Gervase when we are alone. 'Your Grace' is a little formal in these circumstances, don't you think?"

Elizabeth couldn't manage to reply. How could he joke when she was afraid her heart would leap out of her chest with nerves? She almost recoiled when he reached across and took her hand again. Her cold fingers dropped onto his thigh as her curious gaze fixed on the opened buttons of his breeches and the shadows within.

After a deep, steadying breath, she leaned closer and placed both of her hands on the duke's shoulders. His skin felt hot beneath her fingers. Greatly daring, she ran her hands down his arms and back up again, enjoying the flex of his muscles and the quiver of his response. She traced an old scar that ran from the base of his throat to his shoulder.

Intent now on his interesting reaction to her touch, she reached around and stroked his back. He groaned in apparent enjoyment and, emboldened, Elizabeth drew circles on his skin with her fingernails until he captured her mouth in a deep kiss. He tasted of brandy and the rain. When he released her, she placed her hands on his chest and experienced a whole new set of intriguing sensations. His nipples tightened under her stroking fingers and he murmured her name.

"Yes, that feels very good. Now tell me how you feel."

"I, I'm enjoying myself." Her confession caught her by surprise. "I like the way you feel. Such soft skin over such hard muscle."

He smiled, his eyes a smoldering silver. "See how I taste, my dear, I dare you."

Caught up in his sensual mood, Elizabeth remembered how it felt when the duke, no, when Gervase had kissed her breasts. She bent to nuzzle his nipple with her tongue. He growled low in his throat and with surprising speed, she found herself flat on her back, Gervase on top of her, one hand cradling her face whilst his mouth fastened onto her breast.

She was the one who began to gasp then, as he suckled her breasts and his hand inched up her thigh. By the time she had realized where his fingers were heading, it was too late for her to shut him out. She trembled as he cupped her between the legs and murmured in French, his tone darkly reassuring, even if his actions were not.

A clock chimed in the distance and there were sounds of urgent knocking on the front door. With a muttered curse he went still and pulled away. Elizabeth rolled onto her side and watched him get dressed with speedy efficiency. His practiced movements gave her pause as a pang of jealousy shot through her. How many women had he bedded and then left as quickly as possible?

She cleared her throat. "I wasn't frightened, Gervase."

"I know," he said briefly as he wound his cravat around his neck and secured it with a diamond pin. "Unfortunately, I have work to do. We will leave this part of your education until we have more time." He shrugged into his coat unaided. "Somehow it is always easier to shed one's clothes than it is to put them back on again."

"Well, as an acknowledged rake, you should know, Your Grace," Elizabeth snapped and then bit her lip as the duke stared at her.

"You sound a little out of sorts."

"I'm becoming used to being touched, and then discarded. Why should I care?"

His gaze narrowed and became thoughtful as he observed her flushed cheeks and the slight irrepressible quivering of her body.

"Surely you have described the dilemma of any man's mistress? You are here for my convenience, Elizabeth, not your own."

Elizabeth opened her mouth and then shut it again as the hard truth of his words sunk in. He continued to regard her, his face unmoved as a painful blush spread upwards from her throat to her face. She dropped her gaze to his still-unbuttoned waistcoat.

His hard fingers tapped demandingly against her cheek. "I promised to teach you how a man requires his mistress to behave. I told you that you would not enjoy it and that it wouldn't suit you. A man will put up with tears and sulks from his wife because he has no choice, but from his mistress, a man pays for and requires other things."

She thought about that for a long painful moment. "Then I still have a lot to learn, don't I?"

For a brief second his hard face softened. He kissed her cheek.

"Yes, ma belle, you do, but please don't imagine your response to me is anything more than the awakening of your sensual nature. You must learn to control any other emotions you think you feel in my presence." He walked toward the door, boots in his hand, and paused to look back at her.

"I will not put up with a mistress who demands an emotional commitment that I will not even give to a wife."

Pride made Elizabeth sit up, her hands fisted at her sides. Did he really think she was that foolish? "I have not asked you for anything."

He shrugged then, his expression sardonic. "But you will. In my experience, women are incapable of separating love from lust."

He turned to leave and Elizabeth blurted out, "And why should they have to? Shouldn't a man expect lust and love from his wife?"

He stilled. "Of course he should, my dear. I offered my love to my wife and watched her reject it again and again." He drew in a breath. "Let me make myself clear. Life is far better without the illusion of love. And there is no love available in this house, so don't be foolish enough to attempt to manufacture any. I bid you good night."

She stared at the door he slammed behind him, raised her arm, and threw the book from her bedside table at the paneled wood, half-hoping he'd hear and half-dreading his reaction. How dare he assume she had feelings for him! She dropped her hand to her side and curled up on the bed.

The problem was...she feared he might be right.

Chapter 10

Gervase was still thinking about his encounter with Elizabeth when he entered his study the next morning. He had intended to teach her how to pleasure him and perhaps even how to give him release. Instead he had allowed himself to become overwhelmed by lust and then compounded his error by reading her a lecture on the illusion of love.

He frowned as he paused in the library to re-shelve the book lying on the chair. He had certainly gained pleasure from her shy attempts to touch him, much more so than he might have imagined considering her inexperience.

He strolled over to his desk and picked up the morning paper, hoping for a distraction. But there was no use in denying it. She excited him. The thought that he could mold her to give him exactly what he wanted in bed was surprisingly erotic. He shook out the paper and concentrated on the closely written script. Unfortunately, his mind and his body preferred to dwell on the tantalizing image of Elizabeth naked under him.

With a soft curse, Gervase stared out of the window into the deserted square. He had not bedded anyone since he had installed Elizabeth in his house. If he took care of his baser urges, perhaps he would be able to view Elizabeth more dispassionately.

Gervase pushed Elizabeth from his mind, rang the bell, and waited for Sir John to deliver his morning correspondence. Sir John appeared, his arms full of parchments dangling official-looking seals. Gervase retrieved his newspaper as Sir John dumped the pile onto the desk.

"Your Grace, you solved the riddle!"

Gervase turned, one eyebrow raised, to find Sir John staring at the two sheets of parchment Gervase had taken from Elizabeth on the previous evening. "I beg your pardon?"

"We all failed to find the key to this code until now. How on earth did you solve it?"

"I was not the one who completed this puzzle," Gervase said dryly. "It was Mrs. Waterstone."

"How the devil did she manage that? Do you think she is in league with her stepfather after all? Did he send her to provide him with information?"

"I don't know. I found her working on the puzzle last night. She made no effort to hide it and seemed totally unaware of the importance of the contents."

He glanced again at her immaculate handwriting. The newly revealed message was his first clue to the identity of a potential French assassin. Sir John came to stand beside him.

"Mrs. Waterstone did say she had an affinity for languages," Sir John mused. "Perhaps she has a natural affinity for code too."

"Whatever her reasons, I think we will have to ask for her help. If she can truly break this code, I will be eternally grateful. I suggest we reveal some of our true purpose to Mrs. Waterstone and get her to explain how this particular code works. If she speaks the truth and another can replicate her methods, we will know she is trustworthy. If not, I will deal with her myself."

Sir John bowed and went to the door. "I will go to see if Mrs. Waterstone has finished her breakfast. For a moderately sized woman she eats a great deal, wouldn't you say, Your Grace?"

Before Gervase could reply, Sir John was gone and Nicholas Gallion sauntered into the room.

"Ah, Nick," Gervase said, scarcely raising his eyes from the incriminating document. "It seems as if Mrs. Waterstone will be helping us in our endeavors to defeat the French. Sir John will explain it to you."

Nicholas sat down his eyes alight with interest. "Then what do you wish of me?"

"I'm still unsure as to where Mrs. Waterstone's loyalties lie. I want you to shadow her every move-- especially when she goes to meet her family."

"Now that will be a pleasure. Mrs. Waterstone is a charming companion and easy on the eyes as well."

Gervase used his rolled up newspaper to clout Nicholas on the head. "Leave her alone, Nick. She is recently widowed."

Nicholas retreated to the door and then turned and grinned. "It's all right, Your Grace. I've seen the way she looks at you. As far as she is concerned, there is only one man in the house."

Pleased by the observation, Gervase returned to his perusal of the documents whilst he waited for Elizabeth. He had labored over the code for days. The sureness of Elizabeth's deductions and the speed of her conclusions took him by surprise. But had she broken the code because she already had the key? Was she now preparing to pass the information onto her stepfather and thus to the French?

"Your Grace? You wished to speak to me?"

Elizabeth appeared in the doorway, a half-eaten piece of toast in one hand. Gervase had never seen a more unlikely looking spy. He got to his feet and waved her into a chair as Sir John came in and closed the doors behind him. Elizabeth seemed unperturbed by her summons, her face reflecting only her usual intelligent interest. Gervase's experience told him that she was either unaware of her supposed crime, or a liar of extraordinary cleverness.

"Mrs. Waterstone, you told me that you were working on a puzzle last night." He passed her the two pages of parchment. "Is this the one?"

"Yes, indeed, Your Grace," she said promptly. "I don't understand why the person who attempted to solve it before was so mutton-headed." She glanced up as Sir John coughed loudly. "It was quite easy once I worked out the key. Although I found the solution almost as incomprehensible as the puzzle."

Gervase fought to repress a smile as she handed the parchment back. "You did not understand the message?" he said, all his attention focused on her face.

She raised her eyebrows as though humoring a child. "What message? The puzzle is obviously the work of some lunatic." She leaned forward and jabbed her piece of toast at the papers in his hand. "An assassin named Le Fleur is planning to kill a member of the Royal family?" She laughed. "Would you have me run down to Carlton House and alert the Horse Guards?"

Gervase slowly shook his head. "No, my dear, that would be a shocking waste of your resourcefulness. You would be thought quite foolish, if not insane. I've a much better idea. I would much rather you help me catch him."

Elizabeth's mouth dropped open and her toast fell from her fingers to the carpet. Gervase nodded to Sir John and he left them alone. He allowed the silence to stretch for another few moments.

"Please excuse my self-congratulatory expression, Mrs. Waterstone, but I believe this is the first time I've managed to render you speechless. I confess to enjoying the moment."

To his surprise, Elizabeth ignored him. "How could I have been so stupid?" She shot to her feet and under his fascinated gaze began to pace the carpet, her hands clasped together. "I knew this wasn't right." She made an all-encompassing gesture that took in his desk and the library. "I knew that a supposed libertine wouldn't need a secretary or have a desk piled high with important-looking documents."

She came to an abrupt halt in front of him, her expression fierce, her gray eyes shooting sparks. "And I should have known that a rake would never ever try to seduce me whilst wearing his spectacles!"

"Elizabeth..." Gervase tried to intervene but hesitated, intrigued by the withering scorn on her face and the quickness of her deductions. He relaxed, sat back, and crossed his booted feet at the ankles. Elizabeth let out another moan, as a further revelation appeared to strike her, and resumed pacing.

"That is why your staff are so discreet and my presence here did not raise an eyebrow." She nodded as if to herself. "That is why no one waits up for you despite the fact that your rank and natural arrogance should demand it."

She clutched at her hair. "You received a message from the Foreign Office in the middle of the night and I didn't even think it odd until now."

Gervase suppressed a smile and stared down at his fingernails. "Perhaps, my dear," he suggested gently, "You were thinking of other things."

"Yes." She rounded on him. "I was so busy waiting to see if you would kiss me that I behaved like an idiot!" Her breasts rose and fell in time to her agitated breathing and Gervase cocked his head to one side to observe the effect to its fullest advantage.

"You work for the government, don't you, Your Grace, yet you masquerade as a rake." She seemed to run out of breath, then gathered herself and faced him again. "Do I have this correctly?"

"Yes, my dear, but I must stress that I enjoy both parts of my life."

He strolled over to her, took her hand in his and bent to kiss her fingers. They smelled faintly of buttered toast and he had to resist the urge to lick them clean. "It seems as if we have discovered another way you can please me." He maneuvered her toward a chair. "Do you think we might sit and discuss this rationally? I know it must be confusing for you and there are several things you need to understand."

*** *** ***

Elizabeth allowed the duke to persuade her into a chair. She used the excuse of arranging her skirts to look away and seek her composure. She had behaved like a witless debutante and missed the obvious.

With a deep, steadying breath, she turned to face him. To her dismay, he looked exactly the same. She blushed as she remembered how he looked without his shirt and reluctantly acknowledged that his remarks about enjoying his role as a rake might just be true.

The duke cleared his throat. "If we may return to our discussion about the code? I'm sure you have much more to say, but any further observations as to my character and lack of breeding can be left for another time, preferably in bed." He shrugged. "Passion can add a certain something to one's lovemaking."

Elizabeth took the hint and concentrated on the documents. "Your Grace, do you seriously believe that someone is trying to kill a member of the Royal family?"

"Yes, I do. We have known of this man, Le Fleur, for over a year through other channels. The message you decoded is the first that mentions him directly in conjunction with the assassination attempt."

Elizabeth reached into her pocket to retrieve her spectacles and resumed her perusal of the puzzle. "I'm glad I was able to help in this instance. But surely the person who wrote this message will alter the code when he discovers it has fallen into the wrong hands?"

"That is a possibility, but in my experience, once a code is broken, the person who broke it always stands a better chance of deciphering the new one." He paused. "You might think me mad, but I believe even the best code writers leave traces of themselves behind in the way they construct their puzzles."

Elizabeth could only nod, enthralled by this glimpse into a darker parallel world she had never known existed. "Do you wish me to look at other samples of code and try and decipher those as well?"

Her offer seemed to shake the duke out of his reverie. "If you have no objection, I will send this off to the Foreign Office and have your suppositions checked by another expert. If they prove to be accurate, I would appreciate your help in this matter."

Elizabeth gave the documents back to the duke and he hesitated.

"Elizabeth, the Foreign Office will probably offer to pay you for your services to the country." He shrugged but his gaze remained fixed on her. "I will be a pittance, but I wonder if it is not time for you to reconsider your position here."

Elizabeth sank back into her chair, her mind in disarray. Was the duke suggesting she stopped learning how to become a courtesan? Of course, he didn't know she needed a constant supply of money for Michael's care for the foreseeable future.

"I will gladly accept any money the government sees fit to pay me, but I don't think that code breaking will be enough to sustain me for the rest of my life. I would like to have another source of income."

"Are you sure, my dear? I told you the bargain could be broken."

She brought her chin up and tried to outstare him. "I would like to continue as we are, Your Grace."

He brushed at the sleeve of his coat, avoiding her gaze. "Of course, Miss Waterstone. I would be devastated if I was forced to break off your lessons at this point."

Elizabeth stood up and curtsied. "Thank you, Your Grace, I will not take up any more of your time." She hesitated, her fingers on the door handle. "Is it still acceptable for me to go and visit my mother and sister this afternoon?"

"Yes, of course. I've already asked Nicholas to accompany you. I'm sure I don't need to impress upon you the need for silence in this matter? You may spin any tale for your mother's ears that you like in order to explain your presence in my house. But on no account will you mention a word of our more unusual activities. Our national security might depend on it."

"Of course, Your Grace. Despite my recent conduct, I'm not a fool."

"Are we speaking of your recent prowess in my bed, or about your ability as a code breaker?" He tutted under his breath. "Now that you have two jobs you will have to be more specific, my dear."

An idea gleamed in Elizabeth's mind and she opened her mouth.

The duke raised his hand. "Yes, Elizabeth, before you ask, I will also pay you for your time. I'm well aware that these new duties were not part of our original contract. Thank you for pointing it out to me."

Elizabeth shut her mouth with a snap. How had he known what she intended to say? Sometimes she feared he really could read her mind. She gave him her most gracious smile as she sailed from the room and decided it was worth enduring the duke's attempts at humor. The extra income to help Michael would be more than welcome.

Chapter 11

The handle on Elizabeth's teacup gave a betraying rattle as she placed it back in its saucer. The drawing room was as shabby as Elizabeth remembered it. She had spent many unprofitable hours trying to improve its dismal furnishings and dreary aspect. The silk wall coverings were frayed and the carpet threadbare. Unlike Elizabeth, Mrs. Forester always seemed able to ignore her surroundings and rise above her circumstances.

Mrs. Forester wore a plum-colored gown of fashionable cut and a delicate lace cap atop her guinea-fair hair. She didn't seem to have altered her attitude toward Elizabeth since they had met in the perfumery. Her gray eyes, a mirror of Elizabeth's own, held no hint of welcome.

Elizabeth cleared her throat. "Will Mary be joining us, mother? I've a gift for her."

The lavender water Elizabeth had chosen with such care for her mother had been tossed aside without thanks and lay forgotten on the floor.

"I sent Mary for a walk with her father." Her mother glanced at the clock. "She will be returning shortly."

When she was a little girl, Elizabeth had longed to look like her mother, but nature had blessed her with her father's more robust frame and disposition. As she grew up she had reluctantly conceded that she would never achieve the sylph-like fragility of her mother and sister.

"I wished to speak with you alone. I would have preferred it if we had dropped our acquaintance completely, but Mr. Forester," she sniffed, "Mr. Forester insisted I receive you and I'm honor-bound to obey him."

Looking at her mother's unhappy face, Elizabeth wondered if Mr. Forester had explained exactly why he was compelled to accept her presence and immediately doubted it. She sent up a fervent prayer of thanks to the duke.

"I assure you that I have no intention of spoiling Mary's London Season." Elizabeth hesitated, as her mother showed no reaction to her conciliatory words. "I'm more concerned with providing continuing care for Michael."

"Michael is not your concern. I had hoped that by lowering yourself to occupy the duke's bed, you might have adopted a little humility and respect for your elders." She flapped her lace handkerchief in Elizabeth's direction. "Instead, you still pretend to be better than us. I can only wonder how the duke puts up with you."

Elizabeth clamped down on her anger. "Mother, I'm not the duke's mistress. We have come to a mutually acceptable business arrangement. It's true that I'm living in his house and working for him, but not in the capacity of his mistress."

"Ha! I'm not a fool. Do you expect me to believe that the notorious Duke of Diable Delamere can keep his hands off you?" Mrs. Forester snorted. "I grant that you are not much to look at, Elizabeth, but the duke is not known for being particularly fastidious."

Elizabeth pressed her lips firmly together and exhaled through her nose. "May we get back to the subject of Michael? With my salary from the duke, I will be able to pay for his care."

Elizabeth opened her reticule and withdrew a small purse of money. She had reluctantly decided to squander a small part of her earnings to bribe her mother. Mrs. Forester's eyes gleamed, her fingers uncurled, and she attempted to snatch the money from Elizabeth's grasp.

Elizabeth refused to release the purse until her mother looked her in the eye. "I've engaged a nurse to come in during the day and care for Michael." She passed a sheaf of papers across with the money. "The man I hired, Sergeant Jack Llewelyn, is an ex-army man and his references are excellent."

She closed her bag with a decisive snap. "Understand me, mother. I will pay Jack Llewelyn's salary and he will report to me. I would hate to think that any money I gave him to aid Michael would be used for any other purpose."

Mrs. Forester returned the papers she hadn't bothered to read. As she watched her mother secrete the money in her pocket with all the care of a squirrel storing nuts, it occurred to Elizabeth that, if her mother caused trouble, she could also threaten the woman with the duke's intervention. Emboldened by this thought, she gave her mother a brilliant smile.

"I promise not to sully Mary's ears with any details of my supposedly degenerate life. I will simply tell her the truth: that I'm employed by the duke and need to reside at his house. She is used to my being away helping Mr. Forester's acquaintances, so why let her think this is any different?"

Mrs. Forester sipped at her tea. "All right, Elizabeth, I will make Jack Llewelyn welcome and ensure that no one interferes with his duties." She brought her napkin to her pursed lips and dabbed at them. "Although why you should feel it necessary to waste your ill-gotten money on a helpless cripple is beyond me. But you have never been rational on that subject now, have you?"

Elizabeth's hands clenched into fists. "That helpless cripple is your son. How can you speak of Michael like that when he has served his King and his country?"

"I tell anyone who inquires that he is dead. Better that he had died than come back as he did."

Her mother's callousness shocked her, but she refused to let it ruin her sense of achievement. For the first time in her life she had a modicum of control over her mother. It was an exhilarating feeling and one she refused to relinquish even as her mother set about her favorite occupation of bewailing her fate and belittling Elizabeth.

Elizabeth's patience was rewarded when Mary arrived back from her walk, a becoming color on her cheeks and a warm welcome for Elizabeth despite her mother's dark looks. Mrs. Forester revived sufficiently to order more tea and Elizabeth settled down for a comfortable coze with her half-sister, who was full of stories about her upcoming debut.

Even as Elizabeth enjoyed her sister's chatter, she could not help but wonder how Mr. Forester intended to pay for Mary's debut. She knew from her perusal of the ladies' journals that a London Season was ruinously expensive. As the tea arrived, Elizabeth resolved not to aggravate her mother by asking such an indelicate question. Her instincts told her she would be shown the door whatever the duke might have to say about it.

"Elizabeth? Have you returned for good?" Mary asked as she handed Elizabeth a fresh cup of tea and a plate of dainty pastries. "Mama will not tell me anything. It is most vexing."

"Unfortunately, I cannot remain here." Elizabeth smiled. "I've secured paid employment with the Duke of Diable Delamere." Elizabeth gave her mother a bland look. "Mother has given me permission to visit with you, once a week. And, since the duke has also agreed to allow me the afternoon off, I suspect that you will soon grow bored of seeing me."

"Oh never, never," Mary cried and flung her arms around Elizabeth's neck. Elizabeth returned the hug and ignored her mother's frown when Mary released her. Her sister was as sweet as she looked and always eager to see the best in everyone.

For once, Elizabeth was glad that Mary's innocence protected her from delving deeper into Elizabeth's true purpose at the duke's. It amazed Elizabeth that Mary had turned out so well considering the example set by her parents. It seemed as though she had inherited her father's charm without his deceit and her mother's beauty without her shallowness. Elizabeth prayed that, whatever scheme Mr. Forester had hatched to enable Mary to have a London Season, it would prove successful. She would hate to see her sister disappointed.

"Oh, Elizabeth, I meant to tell you when I came in," Mary exclaimed. "I spied that nice red-headed man who accompanied you shopping outside our door in a carriage with a crest on the side." She clasped her hands to her bosom and heaved a dramatic sigh. "Is he the duke? He looked most amiable and bowed to me as I ascended the steps."

"That is Mr. Nicholas Gallion, a relative of the duke's and another of his employees. He offered to accompany me here and see me safely home."

Mary looked disappointed. "Mama informed me that the duke is a widower and has an immense fortune. I'm sure he must be on the look out for another wife. He must be so lonely." Her gaze became pensive. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if he took one look at me and fell head over heels in love?" She clasped her hands and twirled about on the faded carpet, her pale lilac skirts floating around her like silken flower petals.

Elizabeth tried to look encouraging. Gervase would be regarded as quite a matrimonial catch for a seventeen-year-old, but Elizabeth couldn't imagine him falling in love with Mary. She was far too young and sweet for a man of the duke's forbidding, capricious nature and sharp intelligence. She suspected he would grow bored with Mary within a week and then scolded herself for her uncharitable thoughts.

"How old is the duke, Elizabeth?" Mary said. "And is he as handsome as Mr. Gallion?" Mary danced across and squeezed into the seat beside Elizabeth.

"I believe the duke is generally regarded as a handsome man and I understand his age to be four and thirty this year," Elizabeth replied primly and then almost laughed at Mary's look of horror.

"He is positively ancient???how can he possibly be handsome if he is so old?"

Unbidden, Elizabeth pictured the duke's naked, muscled chest and the crisp feel of his black hair against her skin. She choked on her pastry and had to suffer Mary pounding her on the back until she begged her to stop.

When she managed to look up again, her stepfather had joined them. He stood at his ease on the hearthrug in front of the meager fire and smiled at Elizabeth.

She could detect no hint of remorse for his behavior. Elizabeth raised her chin and didn't bother to try and hide her loathing. She had learned, to her cost, that nothing pierced the thickness of his skin.

When he had first insisted she work to pay off his debts she had pleaded with him not to make her. He had threatened to throw Michael out into the streets and she never begged again.

Mr. Forester accepted a cup of tea from Mary and turned his attention to Elizabeth.

"Well, my dear? How are you faring at the duke's?" He raised his teacup in her direction with a suggestion of a leer. "You have obviously pleased him and I've heard he is not an easy man to satisfy." He gave her a broad wink.

Elizabeth stared back at him. "Indeed, the duke is a difficult man." She paused for effect. "I would certainly hate to anger him. Would you not agree, Mr. Forester?" She enjoyed the flicker of alarm her veiled threat produced more than she would have thought possible. Determined to retire on a triumphant note, she rose from her seat, brushed the crumbs from her lap and headed for the door.

"I will take my leave of you and go and visit Michael." She glanced out of the grimy window. "It is starting to rain and it doesn't seem fair to leave Mr. Gallion out there in the cold for too much longer."

Mary jumped to her feet and clapped her hands. "Why not ask Mr. Gallion to join us? We could quiz him about the duke and my chances of marrying him."

*** *** ***

After his soft-voiced response to her knock, Elizabeth entered Michael's room. To her relief, he was out of bed, sitting in a chair by the window, an open book on his covered knees. The room held little furniture and reminded her of a monk's cell, but it seemed to suit Michael's personality. He reminded her of the pictures of the archangel he had been named for--a warrior saint still fighting for his beliefs. After a swift glance around, she was relieved to see he had apparently been well cared in her absence.

She sank down beside Michael, rested her forehead against his useless legs and took one of his long-fingered hands into her own. He was only a year older than her and in her youth had been her constant companion and the reluctant recipient of all her girlish confidences. For a long while, she did nothing but lean against him and enjoy the peace that emanated from his calm presence.

He had not always been so peaceful. In the first year of his return from the battlefields of Europe, wounded and distraught, he had tried to end his own existence. It had been Elizabeth who forced him to live and forced him to adapt to his new life. She remembered their endless fights and her struggle to involve her disinterested mother in his care.

She drew in a deep breath and sat up to face him. His gray eyes held none of the silver glitter of the duke's. They were as deep and serene as the oldest stone or the thickest wolf pelt. He was too pale for Elizabeth's liking and too thin, but she had learned that there was little she could do to change that, given his current existence.

He smiled down at her and brushed a lock of hair away from her nose. "Where on earth have you been? I've heard such tales from the kitchen staff I've had difficulty sleeping."

Elizabeth squeezed his fingers and tried to sound unconcerned. "I wish I had something exciting to tell you, but I'm merely carrying out another of Mr. Forester's commandments. You know the one, 'thou shalt leave thy own house and go and pay off your stepfather's debts in another.'"

Michael's fingers tightened on hers. "I hear it is the house of the Duke of Diable Delamere, surely not a safe place for a young unmarried female." He paused, but she refused to meet his gaze. "Lizzie, he is a notorious gamester and womanizer. I'm concerned for your safety."

Elizabeth finally met his searching stare. "If I told you that the duke is more of a gentleman than our stepfather will ever be, will you stop worrying?"

"But what kind of work can he offer you? I fear for your reputation."

"What reputation?" Elizabeth came up on her knees and placed her hands on his, like a supplicant. "I'm not in any danger and I'm not being forced to do anything I don't wish to do." In this, at least she could give him the truth. "Indeed, I'm glad to be away from Mr. Forester and his tricks. Can you accept that and be happy for me?"

She raised her gaze to meet Michael's and saw her hesitation mirrored there. His cold dislike for Mr. Forester and his mother far exceeded her own.

"I wish my translation work paid well enough to keep us both." He shared Elizabeth's ability with languages. "Unfortunately the income is scarcely enough to clothe and feed me, let alone you, otherwise I would leave here and wish the Forester's in hell." He paused and shot Elizabeth an innocent look. "Of course it would help if you had the decency to eat like a bird."

Elizabeth ignored his teasing and rose to her feet. She wondered what Michael would think of her much-vaunted common sense if he could see how eagerly she kissed the duke.

"I came to talk about you, Michael. Do you remember we discussed finding you a full-time companion?"

Michael's lips twitched. "There is no need to worry about wounding my delicate sensibilities. You mean a nurse, not a companion."

Elizabeth reached into her reticule and passed the sheaf of papers she had shown her mother over to Michael. "I hope this man will prove to be both. His name is Jack Llewelyn and he left the army to take care of his commanding officer. The officer recently died and Sergeant Llewelyn is looking for a new position."

She waited anxiously as he leafed through the character references but he said nothing. She gathered her resolve and said briskly, "I've engaged him for a three month trial. If you find him satisfactory, we can extend the arrangement."

Michael lifted his head and regarded her evenly. "Of course, I'm grateful. I assume that our revered parents are not going to pay for this. So how are you intending to finance it?"

"I'm paying for it." She glared back at him and lifted her chin, prepared to do battle if necessary.

"Out of your wages from the Duke of Diable Delamere?" Michael crossed his arms over his chest and sat back, his keen eyes never leaving hers.

"Yes."

Michael cocked an eyebrow at her, the harsh beauty of his face at odds with his unconvinced expression. "Well, I hope that whatever it is you are doing to earn these wages sits well on your conscience. I would hate to have to call out the Duke of Diable Delamere to avenge your honor."

"Don't be ridiculous, Michael."

He laughed along with her but Elizabeth knew that he wouldn't hesitate to confront the duke if he thought something was wrong. She couldn't bear the thought of such an unequal competition. As she stared at her brother she made herself a promise that she would do everything in her power to keep the two men apart.

Chapter 12

Elizabeth sat down to dinner in the duke's superbly decorated dining room with Sir John and Nicholas Gallion. As she contemplated the gray silk wall hangings and embroidered silver curtains, she wondered if the duke had deliberately chosen the décor to compliment himself. It took her only a moment to decide that he had.

To her secret relief, Nicholas had asked after her family and then not pursued the subject when she failed to confide in him. With some of her anxieties behind her, she had resolved to ask the duke if she might dispense with Nicholas's unnecessary attendance on her. She was sure he had better things to do.

"Mrs. Waterstone, you seem a little distracted this evening. Are you unwell? Do you wish me to call your maid?"

Sir John's harsh voice permeated her musings. She looked up at him with a guilty start and realized her fork was poised over her plate in mid air.

"I'm sorry, Sir John, my mind was off woolgathering. Did you ask me something?"

"I was just inquiring as to your state of health. You seem a little distracted."

Elizabeth put down her fork. "You mean that for once I was not eating, and you thought there must be something seriously wrong with me."

Nicholas burst out laughing. "I fear that you are right, Mrs. Waterstone. I believe Sir John admires a woman with a prodigious appetite."

The glance Sir John flung at Nicholas was far from friendly as he turned back to Elizabeth. "I meant no such thing, ma'am," he said stiffly. "I was merely concerned. You lack your usual sparkle."

Elizabeth paused and stared at Sir John's flushed face. He thought she had sparkle? They had dined together on several occasions since their first inauspicious meeting and had come to understand each other rather too well. Sir John would never shine beside the duke but he was a worthy, earnest man with a passion for his work that Elizabeth applauded even if she couldn't warm to him.

"I hesitate to confess it, Sir John," Elizabeth gave an apologetic shrug, "But I was thinking about my family."

"Is there anything wrong? Nicholas told me that everything went well this afternoon."

Elizabeth cast a sharp glance at Nicholas who winked at her. Why was Sir John concerned about her whereabouts and why was Nicholas duty-bound to tell him? For a moment her suspicions flared and then she remembered her new position. Sir John was probably anxious about her safety because of her value as a code breaker. He could scarce be interested in her interactions with her family.

"Nicholas was correct. I was merely reviewing some long-standing family problems." She managed a small laugh. "I'm sure that every family has its share of worries and mine is no exception."

The expression on Michael's face as she had left still haunted her. They were so close that somehow he had sensed she had not been completely honest with him. She knew him well enough to realize that he wouldn't cease nagging her until he had extracted the truth. She would have to be very careful.

Nicholas spoke and Elizabeth gladly took up the topic of his family and the problems of being raised with five sisters until it was time to retire.

*** *** ***

Elizabeth studied her tired reflection in her dressing table mirror. She had survived her first encounter with her parents and siblings and knew it could only get easier. The little girl in her wanted to run away and delight in her new-found freedom but hard-won maturity told her that she was still needed. She slowly pulled out the pins that held her hair tightly to her head and massaged her skull with her fingertips.

There was a gentle tap on her door. Before she could answer, Jacques, the duke's valet, slid into the room, his expression one of freezing disapproval. He gave her a dignified bow and refused to meet her eyes.

"His Grace would like to see you in his bed chamber, Mrs. Waterstone."

Elizabeth stood and brushed down the skirts of her dress. Her loosened hair fell around her shoulders. She looked uncertainly at the little valet. "Does the duke mean now?"

Jacques gave an eloquent shrug of his shoulders and a loud sniff. "Oui, Madame and I apologize if you are shocked by his commands. I told him it was not fitting, but he refuses to listen to me..." Jacques retreated and Elizabeth made her way to the duke's bedchamber.

She knocked on the door but received no answer and, not wanting to be caught loitering in the corridor, let herself in.

"Good evening, my dear."

Elizabeth gulped and clasped both hands to her breast. The duke was in his bath and there was no sign of Jacques.

"Elizabeth, please close your mouth. I would not want an errant fly to choke you." The duke's eyebrows rose as she continued to gape at him. "What is it? Have you never seen a man take a bath before?"

She shook her head, her eyes glued on the magnificence of his naked chest, gleaming with water, and his bare feet crossed at the ankle on the edge of the tub. The slight olive blush of his skin made him look like a Greek god in the firelight. His hair was wet and clung to his skull like sleek sealskin. Elizabeth struggled to draw breath as her eyes followed the lines of his muscles and the dark hair on his chest until it disappeared into the soapy water at his waist.

"I need your help, cherie." The duke raised a languid hand and rubbed at his chest. "Jacques stormed off in a huff because I suggested you should join me and now I've no one to soap my back." His hand dropped below the water level and he produced a large sea sponge from between his knees.

Before she could stop herself, Elizabeth found herself moving toward the bathtub, her hand held out ready to receive the sponge.

"Thank you, my dear," the duke murmured. "I had begun to fear I might have to wash myself."

Elizabeth knelt by the side of the deep bathtub and slowly dipped the sponge into the warm, lemon-scented water. She squeezed the sponge between her fingers, her mouth dry, and contemplated the duke's body. Where should she start? Her only experience of bathing a fully grown man had been when Michael was too ill to care for himself and this, this was an entirely different matter.

"May I make a suggestion, Elizabeth?" The duke's intimate use of her first name shocked her out of her trance. She stared at him, hand poised over his chest and watched, mesmerized, as droplets of water fell from the sponge, caught the light, and slid down his flat stomach. "If you take off your gown, the silk will not get spoiled."

She could only nod and mutely present him with her back. His wet fingers felt warm against her skin as he parted the ties of her gown and allowed it to slip to the floor. She picked up the sponge again and he sat forward, allowing her access to the long supple line of his back.

"I've been thinking, my dear," he said as she began to rub the sponge in slow circles over his firm flesh, "It is time for you to start wearing lighter colors again. We shall pretend that the late, departed, unlamented Mr. Waterstone has been dead a year. The lavender and gray gowns from Madame Charles should look well on you." He groaned and rotated his broad shoulders as Elizabeth pressed down on his spine. "Ah, now that is good, Elizabeth. You are so much better at this than Jacques."

With an indignant sniff, Elizabeth leaned closer and scored her nails down his spine. "Really, Your Grace?" She inquired sweetly as his muscles flexed and bunched under her hands. He caught her wrist, pulled the sponge away from his back and looked at her. A slow smile widened his sensual mouth and his gaze lingered on her body.

"Oh yes, my dear, really. That is so much better."

She followed the direction of his gaze downward. Her corset had soaked through and clearly showed the outline of her breasts and nipples.

"Come here," he whispered, and extended a wet hand around her neck, drawing her to her knees and against his chest. His mouth sought entrance to hers and he kissed her with a leisurely enjoyment that left her breathless. After a while, he lay back against the end of the tub and allowed her to continue to wash his chest and arms.

Without waiting to be asked, Elizabeth soaped the duke's feet and legs, stopped short when she reached his knees, and started all over again. His hand closed over hers again and stilled her movements.

"Did you think that I would let you get away with not washing all of me?" He chided.

"No, Your Grace, I..." For the second time in her life, Elizabeth couldn't think of a single thing to say. The duke gave a soft laugh, released the sponge from her grasp and dropped it into the water between his thighs.

"Find it, cherie. I will help you if you become confused."

Elizabeth shut her eyes and tentatively lowered her hand into the swirling water. The soft skin of her inner arm brushed against the duke's hard thigh. Hardly daring to breathe, she dove down to the bottom of the tub and spread her fingers in a desperate search. The water was so deep that it almost reached the top of her arm and lapped against her chest. Her corset soaked up more water and one of the straps slid down her arm.

She gritted her teeth as her outstretched fingers brushed one of the duke's legs and he gave a little murmur of pleasure. She shuddered as he toyed with her breast with his long fingers.

"With your eyes shut tight like that, and your tongue caught between your teeth, you look like a little girl at the county fair rooting for prizes in a bran barrel."

His other hand slid down to join hers in the water and he laced her fingers through his own. She tensed as he drew her hand along the inside of his thigh and brought it to his groin. His teeth bit into the side of neck and he increased the rub of his fingers against her breast. Her breath came in uneven gasps as he curled her fingers around his cock.

"Well, my dear? What did you win? Is it to your liking?"

"I don't think that it is the sponge, Your Grace, but it certainly is of interest."

The duke's body shook with silent laughter and he dug his fingers into her hair, tilted her face up to his and kissed her.

"Oh, Elizabeth, you always have something educational to say, don't you?"

He held his hand over hers until he seemed to think she had recovered her composure. Then he moved her fingers over him into a sliding, compelling rhythm, which mimicked the slick thrust and withdrawal of his tongue. Elizabeth tried not to think about what she was doing and then was unable to think at all as the duke's kiss intensified.

Her fingers seemed to move over his shaft with a will of their own, keeping time with his tongue and the pulsing fire that spread downwards from her tight nipples and pooled low in her stomach.

"That's it, ma belle." He whispered hoarsely against her mouth. "Pleasure me as I will pleasure you."

She was almost shocked when he pulled away from her but it was only to lift her over the side of the bath and place her on his lap. Her thin petticoats clung to her legs and covered the duke's thighs as she steadied herself. His fingers worked against the wet laces of her corset and freed her breasts. With a growl, he arched her backwards and bent his head to her.

The first touch of his mouth on her already sensitized nipple made Elizabeth moan and rock against him. She was shockingly conscious that the only thing that separated her from the duke's nakedness was the layer of her petticoats. She could feel his heat and the thick pulse of his cock through the thin fabric and pressed urgently against him.

With a muffled oath, the duke went rigid and his hips thrust back at hers in a rough demand. Then he gave a groan and collapsed against her breasts. When he had lain still for a few minutes, Elizabeth tentatively raised her hand and stroked his hair.

"Gervase, are you all right?" she asked and was answered by a flick of his tongue over her nipple.

"Mmmm..." he murmured and levered himself away from her. "I must apologize for my immature behavior." His teeth flashed out in a grin. "I've not had a woman since I met you and I confess to being overcome by the effect you have on me."

Elizabeth frowned. Whatever was he talking about? She moved her hips and realized that the duke's body had... altered. Her gaze wandered over the duke's flat stomach and chest to find him watching her, a glint of amusement and something more sensual in his silver eyes. Understanding dawned in an unwelcome rush.

"Oh, Your Grace, I thought I had injured you in some way." She waved her hand distractedly at his lap. "I didn't realize that a man's pleasure would be so, so..."

"Inconvenient?" The duke finished the sentence for her as he helped her out of the bath.

*** *** ***

She shivered and Gervase drew her into the circle of his arms and stripped away her wet shift. Without releasing her, he pulled his thick robe from the back of a nearby chair and put it on, wrapping her within its folds, close to his body. She rested her cheek against his chest with an odd little sigh. Looking down, he could still make out the remnants of her blush against the creaminess of her flawless skin.

He drew her even closer and marveled at how well she fit against him. His whole body purred with a sense of release and pleasure. It still surprised him that a woman who was neither beautiful nor talented in bed could affect him so deeply. Without further thought, he began to dry her. Her long mane of brown hair curled up at the ends and caught in his fingers.

With a murmur of reassurance, he picked her up and strode to a chair by the fireside. He settled her across his lap, keeping her covered with his robe, and began to work his fingers through her dampened hair. She gave no sign of concern about being held against his naked torso and he was glad of it. Some soft part of himself that he had almost forgotten existed would have minded if she had grown afraid of him again.

He continued to untangle her hair and sought for a topic of conversation that would not embarrass her or refer to her new sensual experiences. "How is your family, Elizabeth? Did you manage to conduct a civil conversation with your mother or did she show you the door?"

"My mother made it very clear that she did not wish to see me at all, let alone converse with me, but we managed to rub along." She sighed. "I've you to thank for that. Without your intervention, I would have lost my family."

Gervase kissed the top of her head. "My pleasure, my dear. Sometimes, being a duke has its advantages." He cleared his throat. "Did you see Mr. Forester?"

"Yes, unfortunately." Elizabeth snorted and her head came off Gervase's shoulder, a militant sparkle in her eyes. "He looked at me as though nothing had changed and then made sly insinuations about my 'duties' in front of my mother and stepsister."

Gervase shook his head and the indignation died from her eyes and was replaced by disquiet.

"There is something different about them. It has been worrying me all day," Elizabeth said and Gervase held his breath. "How are they able to afford a season for Mary? I understand that it is ruinously expensive." She looked up at him with clear eyes. "Is it not so, Gervase?"

Her brow crinkled and Gervase, gratified at her unprompted use of his first name, drew his fingers over the lines until she relaxed again. "Maybe Mr. Forester has won a great deal of money, my dear. Or your mother has received a recent bequest." He shrugged. "It could be any number of things." He paused and wound one of her curls around his finger. "Have you thought to ask?"

Elizabeth sat up, his robe falling away from her breasts. "I must confess to a hint of cowardice. I was afraid my mother would refuse to let me visit if I brought up the undignified subject of money."

Gervase was anxious to hear her conclusions as to the reasons for Mr. Forester's sudden wealth and yet was intrigued by the glimpse of her life and the hardships she hid so well.

She glanced at him. "When I lived at home my mother and Mr. Forester took full advantage of my ability to work for them." She bit her lip. "Maybe it is conceit, but I assumed that without me, things would be worse and the opposite appears to be true."

Gervase, reluctant to disturb her train of thought, raised an eyebrow to encourage her to go on.

"They had a maid to open the door and the house was clean and well cared for. And, more to the point, my mother served me fresh tea and pastries." Elizabeth must have caught his lack of understanding as she smiled. "I used to be in charge of the housekeeping, and I had to watch every penny. We couldn't even afford a maid most of the time. Tea leaves were always used at least twice and all the pastries were baked by me."

An unaccountable stab of anger surprised Gervase as he imagined Elizabeth bent over a cooking range, intent on feeding her shiftless family. He took her hand in his and examined it. He ran his fingers over the faint burn marks on her skin. His frown deepened until she caught his wrist and stopped further exploration.

"Don't picture me as a drudge. I chose to take on a lot of the responsibilities because I preferred to. I tried to keep our family respectable. Is that a crime?"

He understood pride; he had been born to it. He thought none the less of her for such stubbornness and refusal to allow her family to sink into debt and disgrace.

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her palm. "No, my dear, your actions, were of course, admirable, but it still doesn't explain where Mr. Forester is getting the money for Mary's debut."

Elizabeth collapsed against him. "I know."

Reluctant to inquire further and aware of an unaccustomed sense of peace, Gervase slid his hand under Elizabeth's hair and caressed the soft nape of her neck. Her hair was almost dry now and he buried his nose in the soft mass of curls. Despite the fact that she had shared his bath water, she still retained her own unique scent.

As he inhaled, his cock thickened against her soft buttocks and he waited for Elizabeth to point it out as she inevitably would. When she said nothing, he gently tipped her head back into his open palm and gazed down at her face. She had gone to sleep.

With a wry smile, he gathered her into his arms and headed for her bedroom. For all his vaunted sexual expertise, it was the first time he had managed to bore a lady to sleep before he had exhausted her in bed. He laid her down and pulled the covers over her. He fought the urge to stay and sleep beside her, a practice he usually avoided with his mistresses, whom he paid to stay awake and amuse him, not to sleep.

He waited for a moment to see that she was settled and then headed back to his own bed.

As he blew out the candles, he began to smile. Elizabeth had learned to pleasure him and she seemed to have the ability to break code. He pictured her face. She might not be beautiful or expert in bed, but to him, she was infinitely more alluring just as she was.

Chapter 13

"But it doesn't make any sense." Elizabeth murmured as she stared at the crumpled sheets of parchment in front of her. She looked up and caught Sir John's gaze. They were sitting in his book-lined office, which now contained an extra desk for Elizabeth, making the gloomy room rather cramped.

Sir John strolled across to look over her shoulder, his expression full of interest. "Three of these documents are written in the same hand. The fourth, the one that I've already translated, is in a different hand, but it is the same code."

"Then we must assume that the writer of the original code ceased working, or was forced to stop."

He shrugged his narrow shoulders, wrinkling the already creased broadcloth even further. "I should imagine that any man who engages in such desperate deception must know the risk to his life."

Elizabeth traced the elegant swirls and curves of the script with her fingertips. "Are you saying the man who wrote these words might be dead?"

"Yes, of course, Ma'am. Unless you think he might have taken the time off for a summer vacation with his family at this crucial point in the assassination plot?"

Silence fell and Elizabeth drew in several deep breaths and allowed the lure of the code translation to neutralize her apprehension. She often forgot that the duke and Sir John lived and thrived in an underworld where life was cheap and deception commonplace.

She stole a glance at Sir John's bent head. It seemed that even the stolid, virtuous Sir John wasn't immune to the effects of such an existence.

She returned to the code and soon forgot the time as she worked on unraveling the intricacies of the puzzle. She likened it to picking apart a piece of weaving and reassembling the threads into a more pleasing pattern. She had finished translating the first two messages and was working on the third. Despite her confidence that her deductions were correct, she found the cryptic translations almost as hard to understand as the code.

She scarcely bothered to raise her head when Sir John said something to her about dinner. His departure registered in the subtle lightening of the room's atmosphere. She had discovered that Sir John's intense interest in her attempts to break the code could be a little oppressive.

When he returned, smelling strongly of the brandy he had enjoyed with his dinner, he dangled a beribboned letter in front of her nose. She recoiled from the sickly scent of attar of roses.

"Mrs. Waterstone, I have an appointment this evening. Would you be so good as to draw the duke's attention to this urgent missive when he returns? It is a letter from his current mistress, Angelique." He winked broadly. "I'm sure the duke will be eager to hear from her." He leaned in closer. "You are a woman of the world, Mrs. Waterstone and thus understand that a man has his??needs. Thank God Angelique has the ability to satisfy the duke's."

Elizabeth managed a tight smile, and wondered again how a man as self-righteous as Sir John could bear to work for the duke. She picked up the letter between her finger and thumb and tossed it onto the furthest corner of her desk.

"Of course I'll see that the duke receives this."

As time passed, the cloying scent of the letter seemed to leach all of the fresh air from the darkening room. Elizabeth tried to breathe through her mouth and ignore the growing buzz of indignation in her head. The duke had told her that she was the only woman in his life. Why had he neglected to mention that he had a permanent mistress stashed away somewhere?

With a low growl, Elizabeth gave into temptation, snatched up the letter and read its direction. The mysterious, and no doubt beautiful, Angelique appeared to live in Mayfair. Elizabeth imagined a blonde, petite temptress flinging her arms around Gervase's neck and providing him with all the sensuality Elizabeth lacked. She took in a deep breath, unclenched her jaw and glanced from the letter to the fire. What if the letter 'accidentally' wafted from her desk and was consumed in the blaze? Would the duke need to know, or would Angelique keep sending letters until she received a reply?

Elizabeth dropped the letter back onto the desk as though it had already been set on fire. She couldn't quite bring herself to destroy it. She decided to wait and see the duke's reaction when she handed it to him. With this satisfying thought, she reapplied herself to the code until a sound from the duke's library informed her of his return.

The duke looked up as she appeared in the doorway and inclined his head toward her before finishing off the contents of his brandy glass. He had discarded his coat and stood by the fire, his cravat loosened and his dark hair in some disorder. His waistcoat appeared to shimmer when he turned toward her as the appliquéd jet beads caught the light. To Elizabeth's jaundiced eyes, he looked as if he had just crawled out of some other woman's bed.

He raised an eyebrow at her continued silence and placed his empty glass on the mantelpiece. She forced herself to speak although the effort to be civil almost choked her.

"You appear a little disheveled, Your Grace. Can I be of assistance?"

He shook his head and continued to gaze at her, his posture relaxed, his expression faintly inquiring. Elizabeth clenched her hands into fists as an urge to run to him almost overcame her. She wasn't sure if she wanted to smooth back the lock of hair that had fallen over his brow or slap his face.

"Don't look at me like that, Elizabeth, you remind me of my mother. I spent the evening in a new gaming house and barely escaped with my life when I pointed out that the bank was cheating." He strolled over to his coat and removed a pack of cards from his pocket. With expert ease, he shuffled the deck and presented them to Elizabeth face down in a fan shape with a flick of his wrist.

"Pick a card, my dear. Examine it closely, and then tell me what is wrong with it."

Elizabeth, her interest piqued, chose a card and considered it from every angle. To her disappointment, she could see nothing amiss with it. She looked up at the duke, and frowned, hating to be bested. "I see nothing, Your Grace. It appears to be just as it should."

"Really?" The duke purred. "Then will you be surprised when I tell you that the card you picked is the eight of diamonds?"

Elizabeth could only nod, her mouth open with astonishment. The duke walked across, put his arms around her and then placed his hands over hers. "Examine the back of the card. Do you feel anything?"

Elizabeth ran her fingertip over the patterned side of the card and detected something on the top left corner. "There appears to be an indentation on the surface," she breathed. "Do they all have it? Is it some kind of code?"

The duke brushed a kiss across the nape of her neck. "You are correct. The cards have been marked with a pin giving the advantage to the dealer and to whoever else is in on the scheme." He produced the rest of the pack and fanned them out for Elizabeth's inspection. She took her time touching each card and commenting on the differences to the duke who remained behind her, his arms wrapped loosely around her waist.

"Your stepfather introduced me to your mother at this gaming hell. I didn't realize your mother gambled as well."

Elizabeth gathered the cards together into her fist and stared blindly down at them. "My mother has always gambled, Your Grace. That is how she met Mr. Forester."

He accepted the cards back with a cool nod. With a start, she endeavored to change the subject, aware of his ability to extract her secrets without apparent effort.

The letter crackled in her pocket, presenting her with the perfect diversion.

With a flourish, she withdrew Angelique's letter and held it out to the duke. His nose wrinkled as a waft of perfume floated toward him. He took the letter and glanced at the address.

"Ah, thank you, my dear. I'm not quite sure how you came to be the deliverer of this fragrant missive, but I'm grateful anyway."

"Sir John asked me to give it to you, Your Grace."

"I wonder why he found it necessary to do that? Anyone might think he was trying to blacken my reputation. Do you think Sir John is developing a tendre for you?" He frowned. "I must ask Nicholas."

Before Elizabeth could reply, he walked toward his desk and took up a silver letter opener to break the lurid pink seal embossed with a heart. "Unfortunately, Angelique's use of perfume escalates in proportion to her state of agitation." He carefully shook out the single sheet. "I wonder what the devil she is worried about now?"

Elizabeth marched across the carpet in the duke's wake and waited, arms crossed over her bosom as the duke unfolded the letter and began to read. She scowled at his oblivious face when he apparently found the contents amusing.

His inscrutable gray gaze met hers as he scrunched up the parchment and threw it over his shoulder into the fire. "You will like Angelique, Elizabeth. In fact, I think we should take the time tomorrow to pay her a visit."

"If you wish to go and visit your mistress, Your Grace, you can scarcely expect me to accompany you."

"Why ever not?" the duke said simply.

"Because," Elizabeth retreated a step and found herself up against the book lined wall, "It is not a suitable place for you to take me."

The duke came even closer and Elizabeth wondered if he could hear the irregular beat of her heart and the shortness of her breath.

"I don't understand, my dear. Do you fear for your reputation or consider yourself too high in the instep to enter a courtesan's home?"

"No, I..."

"Then you will do as I ask."

"Why on earth do you wish me to be there? Am I expected to watch and take notes? I will not do it!"

The duke pulled her into his arms and drew her head down onto his shoulder. His whole frame seemed to vibrate. It took Elizabeth a long moment to realize that he shook with laughter. With rising indignation, she tried to pull away, but he wouldn't let her.

"You are indeed without price. How could you doubt my intentions? I would never expect you to watch me make love to another woman, or, God forbid, comment on my performance. I've already told you I only have one woman in my bed at a time." He patted her back. "Strive for a little faith."

Elizabeth's face flamed scarlet as she backed away. The duke produced the deck of cards and with a wicked smile he held the pack out to her.

"I think that you should go to bed, Elizabeth. You look a little heated. But before you go, pick a card and don't tell me what it is."

With a strangled moan, Elizabeth did as he requested and then turned to leave, the card still clasped tightly in her hand.

"Goodnight, my dear."

The duke's amusement pursued her up the stairs and she didn't think to look at the playing card until she was safely within the confines of her bedroom. She opened her fingers and gasped as she realized that there was nothing there. She glanced down at her bodice where the tip of a card protruded from in between her breasts. She couldn't help but laugh when she found the enigmatic face of the Queen of Hearts gazing back at her.

*** *** ***

Gervase stared into the fire where the remains of Angelique's letter smoldered and writhed like an adder. Elizabeth had looked well in the pale lilac gown he had chosen for her. It was a pity she had stained the ruffled cuff with ink. He had never met a woman so unconcerned with her appearance, but somehow it was part of her charm.

Deep in thought, Gervase passed through the doorway concealed in his bookcase, which led to Sir John's office. He smiled when he noticed the disarray Elizabeth had created on her new desk in just one day. By contrast, Sir John's desk was neat as a pin. He stopped smiling when he realized Elizabeth had left the coded messages and their translations out on the top of her desk where anyone could see them.

Surely Sir John had told Elizabeth to put the documents away? It would have been out of character for him to leave without mentioning it. Another, more unsettling thought, occurred to Gervase. Had Elizabeth ignored Sir John's advice and left the documents out deliberately?

Gervase moved toward her desk and arranged the coded sheets in order, laying each translation alongside. His interest deepened as he read through the first two, which, as he had expected, introduced the initial concept of the assassination plot, and identified Le Fleur as the ringleader.

Elizabeth hadn't quite finished with the third, but Gervase whistled softly in admiration of her skills. He and a team of experts from the Foreign Office had labored for months over the damned things and got nowhere. His little brown bird had taken one supercilious look and solved them in a trice, all the while wondering why the other 'muttonheads' were so slow.

He placed the documents in the top right hand drawer of Elizabeth's desk and looked for the key he knew he had left in the lock that morning. He couldn't find it, even after a protracted search. With a soft curse, he retrieved the documents and brought them through into his own study where he knew they would be safe.

Despite his successful attempt to allay Elizabeth's suspicions, his evening had not been without its share of danger. Exposing cheats and then walking calmly out of the house required nerve and Gervase feared he was becoming too old to enjoy the thrill. The threat of a pistol shot in the back at this crucial point in his investigations was not to be thought of.

As he climbed the stairs, a stray memory of Mrs. Forester sitting at the very table where Gervase discovered the cheating stirred in his mind. He tried to recall the expression on her face. Has she looked shocked or angry at his revelations? He couldn't quite remember, his attention focused on the fraudulent card dealer. All he noticed was that her smile was but a pale echo of Elizabeth's.

It wasn't until he reached the very edge of sleep that another image burned across Gervase's vision. He saw again Mrs. Forester's black lace mittened hands scooping up the forgotten money on the table with frantic haste. Then she had disappeared as the uproar over his disclosures reached its peak.

Chapter 14

"I asked you both here to assist me in a matter regarding Mrs. Waterstone." Gervase focused his attention on Sir John and Nicholas, who occupied the chairs in front of his desk. Nicholas lounged at his ease, one foot crossed over the other at the ankle. Sir John sat hunched forward, as if ready to leap to his feet at any moment.

Gervase unlocked his desk drawer and produced the parchments Elizabeth had been working on. "I found these lying on Mrs. Waterstone's desk last night. When I attempted to lock them securely in her desk, I discovered the key was missing."

Sir John frowned and sat up even straighter. "I beg your pardon, Your Grace, but I'm certain I instructed Mrs. Waterstone to lock up the documents when she finished for the night."

Suddenly, he stopped speaking as if Gervase had stabbed him in the chest and buried his head in his hands. "Devil take it! I took the key from Mrs. Waterstone's desk to get a copy made of it! I completely forgot to give it back to her." He flushed an unbecoming shade of red under Gervase's unimpressed stare and fingered his cravat as though it had suddenly become too tight.

"I don't know what to say, Your Grace, although," he hesitated, "It still does not explain why Mrs. Waterstone didn't put the documents away, does it? Even without the key to the drawer, she could have put them out of sight as I told her to."

"Exactly. I intend to have a polite word with her on the matter of security and hope it was just a mistake." He swung around to meet Sir John's mortified gaze. "May I suggest that you repeat your instructions to Mrs. Waterstone as well? I would hate for any further confusion."

Sir John muttered something unintelligible and turned even redder. He dug in his waistcoat pocket and produced two keys that he handed to Gervase. "These are the keys to Mrs. Waterstone's desk, Your Grace. I can only apologize for my irresponsible behavior and promise it will never happen again."

Gervase took the keys and then turned back to Nicholas, who was regarding the crestfallen Sir John with considerable glee.

"You have been accompanying Mrs. Waterstone on her outings, Nick." Gervase asked. "Has anything untoward happened?"

"There was one thing, Your Grace." He gave an embarrassed laugh. "I'm not sure if it is even worth mentioning."

"If it stuck in your mind, Nick, let's hear it." Gervase sat on the edge of the desk, folded his arms and regarded his young relative intently.

"When we were at Hookham's lending library, Mrs. Waterstone was occupied setting up a reading subscription and I left her alone for a while to wander through the shop. When I returned, I noticed her passing a letter and some money across to the counter clerk."

Nicholas shrugged. "Maybe she didn't realize that, as a member of the House of Lords, you are able to frank her letters for her."

Gervase ran a hand through his hair. "Or maybe she didn't wish me to know whom she was writing to." He let out a breath and turned to stare out of the window. "Keep watching her, Nick and let me know if she engages in anything other than shopping, gossiping or visiting her family. I'm still not completely sure of her."

Sir John and Nicholas stood to leave.

"Could you ask Mrs. Waterstone to give me the pleasure of her company, Nick? I assume you will be meeting her over the breakfast table in the next few minutes."

A smile replaced Nicholas's frown. "Of course I will. I hope she has finished her repast. I would hate to be the one to interrupt her."

"Highly amusing, Nick," Gervase said dryly. "But may I suggest that you hurry? If you leave her for too long there might not be anything left for you and you are such a puny fellow." The duke smiled as Nicholas snorted. "If she complains, you may blame my autocratic nature. She will surely agree with you."

While he waited, Gervase occupied himself by attaching a ribbon to one of the keys that Sir John had returned to him. When Elizabeth entered the room and favored him with a brisk curtsey, he rose and took the key over to her.

"This key belongs to your desk. May I suggest that in future you learn to use it? I found the documents you were working on last night strewn around your desk. It is purely by chance that nobody came in and saw them."

Her smile disappeared and was replaced by a frown. She snatched the key from his fingers and busied herself placing it in her pocket.

"Thank you, Your Grace. I wasn't even aware there was a key to the desk, or a drawer to put things in." She glared up at him. "If someone had bothered to inform me of its existence, I would have been more than happy to make use of it."

"Sir John instructed you to put the documents away. Are you saying he didn't?"

She colored. "I must confess that I was so engrossed in the code that Sir John could have told me the house was on fire and I probably wouldn't have heard him."

Gervase couldn't help but believe her rueful smile and a small tense part of him relaxed. Her explanation was not only plausible but also possible. Standish, his butler, had informed him in shocked tones that Elizabeth had missed her dinner on the previous evening and had made do with a late supper.

He kissed her hand. "Promise me to lock the documents away in future? They are too valuable to be neglected. I would hate for them to fall into the wrong hands."

"I am truly sorry, Your Grace. It was foolish of me to be so careless. I promise you it will not happen again."

"Thank you, my dear." He strolled over to his desk and picked up the sheaf of parchments. "Take these and lock them up now, whilst I watch you."

Elizabeth locked the drawer and replaced the key in her pocket under the duke's gaze. "Will you run upstairs and put on your bonnet and cloak? As I mentioned last night, I've arranged for us to meet with Angelique this morning."

In her absence he donned his hat and a dove-gray driving coat with several shoulder capes. She met him in the hall and he offered her his arm. He was pleased to see that the deep lilac bonnet she had chosen framed her face most charmingly and made the most of her gray eyes.

His top boots shone in the sunlight, as did her hair, as they descended the steps and approached his carriage. The duke glanced at his tiger, who was perched on the back of the vehicle.

"I shan't need you, Joe. You may get down."

Gervase flipped a coin in the boy's direction and he descended with the agility of a monkey. Elizabeth waited until the duke assisted her into the high carriage, then settled her skirts as he walked around to the other side. He retrieved the reins, and they set off at a spanking pace through the busy thoroughfares of London.

After a while, it seemed as if Elizabeth felt able to relax, assured of his competence with the reins. He gave her a sideways glance and concentrated on threading the carriage between a slow-moving brewer's cart and a herd of sheep being driven in from the countryside to market.

"Your Grace, may I ask you something?" Elizabeth inquired as they quit the busier streets and turned down toward the river. The duke gave her a brief nod, his attention on his horses and the steep downward curve of the cobbled street.

"I understand why you need to disguise your work for the government from society, but why do you choose to live as a rake? Surely you don't need to be so, so notorious."

"Ah, does that bother you, Elizabeth? Just think. If I had not been playing cards with your stepfather on that fateful night, we would never have met." He curled his whip and touched the back of the lead horse, correcting his stride. "Do you think I should masquerade as a librarian, an antiquarian, or something more seemly?"

He searched her face. "I can see that you do. Unfortunately, the life of a rake gives me the best access to the type of person I'm trying to capture. And, it suits me very well."

Elizabeth held onto her bonnet as the wind tugged at the ribbons. "Why would the lowest and filthiest scum interest you? Surely they don't possess the ability to make or break code."

Gervase glanced over his shoulder to ensure they were unobserved, pulled over to the side of the road and drew the horses to a halt. They sat looking out over the River Thames where low tide had revealed the mud banks and hidden shallows of the busy river.

"You are correct, my dear, but have you ever considered how information and secrets are passed along, sometimes quite innocently? Think about your own recent experiences. One wrong whisper as to your presence in my house and your reputation would be ruined."

She frowned and he continued speaking. "Let me give you an example," Gervase said. "Imagine that you are a parlor maid in the house of a government minister. In the course of your daily work you will probably hear things of a delicate nature. Gossip about the family, about the minister's job, an endless stream of information that would probably not make much sense to you."

The horses moved restlessly and the duke tightened his grip on the reins. "But what if you told those pieces of information to someone who did have the ability and the desire to make sense of them? Can you not see the possibilities for blackmail or treason?"

"Yes, of course, but how does what a parlor maid might or might not know have anything to do with you?"

The duke smiled. "I gamble, Elizabeth because people who lose to me are often prepared to offer me snippets of information in exchange for handing over their money." He shrugged. "Most of these people consider the gossip and innuendo they so readily reveal to be meaningless and harmless."

A gull swooped low over the carriage and the lead horse tossed his head. Gervase steadied the horse with a soft command in French before turning back to Elizabeth. "And remember, my dear, the ton gamble harder and deeper than any other class of society. Fortunes are won and lost every night. Imagine the harm a cabinet minister or an army colonel could do if he decided to offer up information in place of coin. I've the ability to make sense of the scraps and bring them together into a coherent message."

Elizabeth sucked in a breath. "And if you can do it, so can the French."

"Exactly." The duke squeezed her gloved hand. "Recently the French have been gathering a lot of new information and I think it is through the gambling tables. I believe they are using crooked dealers and gaming houses to lure the unsuspecting into their nets, then frightening them into revealing classified information.

I offer some of my debtors a chance to tell me their secrets rather than pay me back. If they offer me information that should be kept secret, I will often warn them of the consequences of their actions. People are shocked to realize that they can betray their country so easily."

Elizabeth lifted her head and stared into the duke's gray eyes. It occurred to him that his easy, matter of fact tone wouldn't disguise the danger of his work from her intelligent appraisal. Gervase gave a soft laugh. "My dear, I see the beginnings of hero worship in your beautiful eyes. I've told you on several occasions I'm not a good man. Please endeavor to remember it."

Elizabeth blinked and lowered her head but not before he caught the hint of a blush on her cheeks. On impulse, he bent his head and kissed her hard on the mouth. The horses jerked forward for a fraction of a second before he brought them back under his control.

When the duke reluctantly raised his head, Elizabeth sat back and straightened her bonnet before glancing up and down the wide street. The streets were clear of people at such an unfashionable hour. Gervase had checked earlier, although he still suspected they were being followed.

He clicked his teeth at the horses and the carriage started again. Elizabeth pretended to observe the scenery whilst Gervase enjoyed the warmth of her thigh pressed against his own.

"I apologize, my dear. A carriage, such as this, is not a good place to kiss a lady. I will endeavor to make it up to you later."

The horses slowed to a walk in a residential street and the duke pointed to one of the houses. "This is where Angelique lives. We will drive around to the mews and leave the carriage there."

*** *** ***

Elizabeth's first impression of Angelique only served to increase her trepidation. As she feared, Angelique was blonde and petite and her delight in seeing the duke was obvious. She flew into his arms, chattering in such rapid French that Elizabeth could not decide whether she was scolding or praising him. A pair of miniature fluffy white dogs yapped and jumped up at the duke, adding to the confusion.

Elizabeth waited by the door, her hands clenched into fists as a most unladylike rage swept through her. She wanted to grab Angelique by the hair and pull her away from the duke. Gervase told her he disliked women who clung, but he seemed quite happy to allow Angelique to wrinkle his coat sleeve and stroke his cheek without complaint.

Determined not to be ignored for a moment longer, Elizabeth cleared her throat. Angelique stopped speaking long enough to look around at Elizabeth and fire a quick question at the duke. To Elizabeth's relief, the duke disengaged himself from Angelique and came back to her.

"May I present Miss Elizabeth Waterstone, Angelique? I'm certain the two of you will have a lot in common."

Angelique gasped and her hand flew to her cheek. "You are the lady who knocked him out with the clock?" Her French accent was far more pronounced than the duke's. Her face wreathed in smiles as she skipped forward and gave Elizabeth a warm scented hug. "I only wish I had been there to see it. The mighty Duke of Diable Delamere stopped in his tracks by a slip of a girl."

Elizabeth could not help but join in Angelique's laughter and her antagonism faded. Any woman who could make fun of the duke was certainly worth knowing. She glanced across at Gervase, who seemed unperturbed by their shared laughter, and found herself smiling at him. He gave her a lazy wink as Angelique linked her arm through Elizabeth's and walked through to a prettily decorated sitting room.

Tea arrived and Elizabeth accepted a cup from Angelique and allowed her gaze to wander over her surroundings. It was, perhaps, a trifle cluttered for her taste. Every surface bore several ornaments or pictures or lace bows. The walls were papered with overblown pink roses and the elaborately swagged and tailed curtains were striped rose and white satin. It was just how she had imagined a courtesan's house would be and Angelique fit perfectly into the gilded, feminine setting.

On that thought she glanced sharply at the duke, who sat at his ease, a cup balanced on his buckskin-clad knee, the two dogs fawning at his feet. In her experience, nothing was ever quite as it seemed when it came to the Duke of Diable Delamere.

"Gervase, darling, you have to do something."

Angelique's worried voice intruded on Elizabeth's thoughts and she turned to listen.

The duke bent to stroke one of the dogs. "What do you suggest I do, Angelique? I can't stop you from gambling. If you choose to pledge something that is valuable to you, then you must be prepared to lose it."

Angelique heaved a dramatic sigh and her bosom threatened to spill out of her low-cut bodice. "You are being deliberately unhelpful. I never gamble for the fun of it. I did it for you. The man, that pig, who relieved me of my bracelet was cheating, I know it."

The duke sat up and placed his cup on the table. "Ah, now you begin to interest me."

Angelique went to speak and then glanced at Elizabeth.

"You don't need to worry about Elizabeth, Angelique. She is already involved. She has broken Le Fleur's code."

Angelique clasped her hands together and gazed at Elizabeth as though she had discovered the Holy Grail.

"Oh my goodness, you are indeed a prize." Angelique said. "How ever did Gervase find you?"

"We have no time to go into that now. Tell me what happened when you lost your bracelet."

"I went to that new gaming house on Pall Mall as you instructed and spent most of the evening playing picquet." She frowned and fingered her wrist as though she still missed her bracelet. "I knew fairly soon that I was being fleeced, but I allowed it in the hope that I would be able to work out how it was being done."

She sighed. "Before I knew it, I had pledged my bracelet and lost it. I decided at that point it would be wise to stop."

"What else did they want from you?"

"A night in my bed and the opportunity to enrage you, I suspect." She turned to Elizabeth. "I'm the duke's acknowledged mistress. This is not the first time they have tried to injure him through me."

"Was there anyone else there whom you recognized?"

Angelique considered, her fingertip tapping her lower lip. "I saw Sir John and Nicholas, but I assumed you had sent them."

Despite Angelique's admission, Elizabeth was now sure that the duke was not Angelique's lover. It seemed to her as though Angelique was yet another of the duke's grand illusions, a convenience necessary to establish him as a rake and another useful way for him to gather information.

Angelique's next remark recalled Elizabeth to the conversation. "The man who won my bracelet, was called..." Angelique frowned and paused as though searching for the right word. She snapped her fingers. "Ah, these silly English names. It was something to do with trees. Mr. Bush, Mr. Fir?" She got to her feet and headed for her desk. "I have it here, Gervase."

She opened a drawer and pulled out the top voucher. The duke glanced at the note and put the crumpled parchment into his pocket.

"Describe the bracelet to me, please."

Angelique heaved an exasperated sigh and put her hands on her hips. "Gervase, can you not remember anything? It was made of gold with rubies and diamonds fashioned into the shapes of hearts. You gave it to me when I first arrived in England." She smiled and blew the duke a kiss. "That is why it is so special to me."

The duke's hard face softened as he crossed to Angelique's side. "You must forgive me. I just wanted to be sure. I will never forget why I gave you the bracelet and I promise I will get it back for you." He dropped a chaste kiss on Angelique's cheek and handed her back into a chair.

"Now, before we depart, I wish to offer Elizabeth the opportunity to talk with you alone." The duke headed for the door. "I'll take the dogs into the garden. They obviously need some exercise.

Angelique frowned. "Whatever for, Gervase? I cannot help her with the code, I'm far too stupid."

The duke bowed. "Angelique, you are far from stupid, you are a jewel. Elizabeth hopes to become a courtesan and I thought you might be able to advise her." He gave Elizabeth a wicked grin and left the room, the two dogs yapping at his heels.

Angelique stared at Elizabeth, opened-mouthed, before she remembered to put her cup down. "Gervase is making fun of me again. Why would you wish to become a courtesan? You are a lady."

Elizabeth's cheeks flushed. "Perhaps the duke feels I should have another woman to talk to when he is unable to explain matters to me."

Angelique's mouth opened even wider and then she emitted a small squeak. "You are Gervase's mistress?"

"It is a little more complicated than that. He insists he won't bed me and that my job breaking code will support me instead, but how long will this war last? I need an occupation and I still believe the duke is the best person to teach me how to become an excellent courtesan." Angelique leapt up from her chair and gave Elizabeth a crushing hug. "Of course I'll help you. If Gervase thinks you are worthy of his trust, I will trust you too." She planted a kiss on Elizabeth's cheek. "I had already decided I would like you for outwitting him and now I think we might be friends." She paused and sought Elizabeth's hand.

"You understand that Gervase and I are no longer lovers? He gave me the bracelet many years ago as a thank you gift for helping his daughter Eloise escape from France. He and I are almost exactly the same age. My mother was his wet nurse and I've known him for most of my life. My family worked on one of his estates and we remained loyal to him through the revolution."

A curious sensation of relief flooded through Elizabeth as she realized she had nothing to fear from Angelique. She allowed the courtesan to pour her another cup of tea and they enjoyed a comfortable coze until the duke reappeared from the garden and took Elizabeth home.

Chapter 15

At the ungodly hour of six in the morning, Elizabeth tied the plum-colored ribbons of her bonnet in a jaunty bow under her right ear and tiptoed down the main staircase. Unfortunately, Standish, the duke's butler passed through the hallway just as she approached the front door. Elizabeth gave him a confident smile and tried to unlock the massive bolts.

To her chagrin, Standish cleared his throat and with a murmured, "Please allow me, Madame," slipped past her. With one deft turn of his gloved wrist, he opened the door wide.

Elizabeth gave him a grateful smile and hesitated as she looked out onto the desolation of the rain-swept square. Before she could step out into the deluge, Standish appeared and handed her a large gentleman's umbrella. She assumed that it was his, as she knew the duke would never own anything so plebeian. He said nothing but his expression clearly conveyed that if she insisted on gallivanting around at this hour in the morning, he would not be held responsible if she contracted a chill.

The rain beat down with a steady drumming sound onto the umbrella as Elizabeth picked up her skirts and headed for Hyde Park. She had agreed to meet Michael's new assistant, Jack Llewelyn, there before he started work. Elizabeth shivered as she reached the ornate gates and scanned the apparently deserted park. Apart from a few hardy souls on horseback, she couldn't see anyone foolish enough to be out and about in a rainstorm.

"Miss Waterstone?"

Elizabeth turned at the sound of a musical, welsh voice, which came from directly behind her. A young, blond-haired man, his head uncovered in the rain, awaited her attention. He wore a tattered old army greatcoat and decrepit army-issue boots. His skin was tanned and his eyes were a deep chocolate brown. She guessed him to be in his late twenties, much younger than she had anticipated from their correspondence.

"Are you Mr. Llewelyn?"

"I hesitate to be so informal, Miss Waterstone, but would you consider continuing this conversation under the cover of the trees?" He grinned at her then, his strong teeth flashing white in the green gloom as they ducked underneath the low branches of the encroaching trees.

Elizabeth found herself smiling back. There was something so warm and honest in the depths of his brown eyes that she felt no concern in accompanying him. The sound of the rain diminished into a gentle, shushing patter under the canopy of green leaves and Elizabeth closed her umbrella with a decisive snap.

"Well, Mr. Llewelyn. How do you find my brother and how do you like your position?"

Mr. Llewelyn turned to face her. "I find Michael an easy employer, if a somewhat stubborn one." His agreeable smile invited her to share the joke. "In truth, although I cannot cure him, I can certainly encourage him to be more active. It is important for him to maintain as much of his mobility as possible, especially in his upper body. He seems eager to learn all I can teach him and I think we will deal extremely well together, however ..."

Elizabeth hastened to intervene. "I asked you to meet me here so that we could speak freely to one another. I know you must find it difficult to understand my mother's attitude toward Michael."

Mr. Llewelyn nodded. "On my first day, I offered to provide Mrs. Forester with a daily report on Michael's well-being." He sighed and ran his fingers through his damp corn-colored hair. "She asked me why I should think she was interested and told me to refer my reports to you."

Elizabeth swallowed hard. "I apologize for my mother's rudeness, Mr. Llewelyn. She has not been the same since Michael returned from the Peninsula in such poor condition."

"Excuse my bluntness, Miss Waterstone, but Michael is a fine and honorable man. If he were part of my family, I would be proud to welcome such a hero back."

Something dangerous flared in the depths of his eyes, making him look older and harsher.

Elizabeth hastened to reassure him. "I'm glad you are caring for Michael and I do wish to hear of his progress. If you have any problems with my mother, please don't hesitate to contact me." She handed him a copy of her address. "I think you will be an inspiration to him."

Mr. Llewelyn saluted her. "Hardly that, Miss Waterstone, but thank you for your confidence. And next time, please choose a drier place for us to meet." His eyes lit up with good humor. "Maybe Gunter's or a coffee house, somewhere warm, perhaps?"

Elizabeth laughed and fought to open her umbrella as they walked back out into the drizzle. "I do apologize, Mr. Llewelyn and I hope you don't catch cold. I promise I will choose a more suitable place next time. I will also see you at the Foresters' when I visit on Friday."

"Of course, Miss Waterstone, I look forward to it."

With a last bow, Mr. Llewelyn strode off across the park, seemingly oblivious to the rain that soaked his thick blond hair and the damage being done to his well-worn boots. Elizabeth sighed and turned in the opposite direction to begin her journey home. Her surprise at Jack Llewelyn's youth hadn't diminished. She had expected an older man, one who had completed his years of service with the army and had craved a familiar environment as an officer's aid. Jack Llewelyn had all the assurance of an officer, so why had he stopped serving, especially in this time of need?

His voice had been as cultured as her own and his manners as good as any gentleman of her acquaintance. He was a puzzle but thankfully not one she needed to unravel. She would talk to Michael on Friday and see how he felt about the mysterious Mr. Llewelyn. If Michael were satisfied, then she would be to.

She increased her pace, keen to reach the duke's mansion and sit down to breakfast. Her half boots squelched and slipped on the steep incline of the hill as she crossed the road. The sound of a solitary horse behind her made her veer toward the wall. The clatter of hooves on the wet cobblestones grew louder and Elizabeth half turned as the clamor seemed to concentrate directly behind her.

She gasped as the wind flipped her umbrella out of her grasp. Before she could retrieve it, the tip of the horseman's whip came to rest under her chin.

"Miss Waterstone. You are soaked to the skin."

She shuddered with a combination of relief and bone-shaking cold as she recognized the duke's stern face under the brim of his dripping hat.

"Your Grace." She tried to curtsey, but before she could recover her balance, the duke leaned forward, looped his arm around her waist and deposited her in his lap atop the horse. Her teeth chattered as his warm breath blew over her ear. He gathered the reins into one capable hand, unbuttoned his riding coat and drew Elizabeth against the warmth of his chest. She sighed as his heat permeated the sodden layers of her clothes. The horse moved in gentle rhythm beneath her as she relaxed into the security of his arms.

"You frightened me," she murmured against his shoulder.

"You deserve it. What the devil are you doing out at this hour of the morning?"

"Am I not allowed to walk in the park?"

"Why would you wish to do that in this weather?"

She turned away from him and refused to answer. What could she say? Her pride refused to reveal any details about Michael and the duke had no right to expect her to tell him everything.

At the stables the duke helped her get down and then touched his hat to her.

"It would please me greatly, Elizabeth, if you took yourself upstairs and had a bath."

She tried to gauge his mood, but his voice remained cool, his expression hidden in the shadows of his hat brim.

She decided to comply with his request and curtsied. "Yes, Your Grace."

*** *** ***

Gervase waited until Elizabeth reached the house and handed his horse over to his groom. He stripped off his gloves, removed his hat and gave his riding crop into Standish's waiting hands.

He strode up the main staircase deep in thought as he contemplated Elizabeth's behavior. If he had not chosen to ride in Hyde Park that morning, he would never have spotted Elizabeth emerging from the shelter of the trees or seen the man she appeared to have been conversing with.

As Jacques helped him remove his tight-fitting hessian boots and exclaimed over the state of his riding coat, Gervase continued to mull over the strange incident. He had to admit that it set all his instincts on edge. He had followed the young man whom Elizabeth had spoken to for a while. He seemed impoverished, judging from the state of his clothes. His battered coat had once been standard French army issue.

What in God's name was she up to? Gervase's mouth tightened as he recollected the sense of familiarity he witnessed between them. A stab of something he might have called possessiveness, if he cared to give it a name, flooded his gut. Was the man enamored of Elizabeth?

He ignored Jacques's complaints about the state of his clothing and headed for Elizabeth's room. He knew he must concentrate on his suspicions that Elizabeth was a spy, not on his own feelings. To his surprise it was becoming increasingly difficult to separate the two emotions.

Gervase breathed in a cloud of lily of the valley scent as he made his way to where Elizabeth lay, her back to the door, in the bathtub. Her damp brown hair was arranged on the top of her head in a loose knot, allowing small curls to fall to her shoulders. Without a word, Gervase knelt behind the bath and brought one of his hands up to caress Elizabeth's cheek.

Her startled shriek would have done justice to an enraged peacock. Gervase jumped backwards as a stream of water splashed over the side of the bath. His gaze slid down and followed the intriguing contours of her body. She made an ineffectual attempt to hide herself and then, catching his eye, her chin came up and she straightened her spine.

His smile widened in appreciation. "Very nice, my dear."

He bent to retrieve the bar of soap and weighed it in his palm. "It seems it is my turn to assist you with your bath." He invited her, with a courtly wave of his hand, to sit back down in the water. "Unless you would prefer me to call Jacques?"

Even her modestly bent head could not quite conceal the twitch of her lips. Gervase enjoyed the view of her long, swan-like neck and the sweet curve of her spine as she descended into the clouded water. He removed his silver serpent cuff links and black waistcoat and rolled up his sleeves.

At the first touch of her soft flesh against his soaped palms he was hard. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the textures and scents of her skin. She relaxed into his care as he smoothed the soap over the pointed peaks of her nipples and down toward her stomach. She scarcely murmured a protest as he reached lower and brushed his fingers between her legs, gently seeking access.

"Open your legs a little for me, my dear. I promise I will not hurt you."

Her thighs relaxed and he cupped her mound as his kisses deepened and her soapy hands crept around his neck. Without bothering to ask permission, he picked her up and carried her over to the bed, where a drying cloth waited.

*** *** ***

Elizabeth's eyes flickered open as the duke abandoned his lovemaking and started to dry her like a child. She murmured a protest and loped her arm around his neck to pull him closer.

He groaned and fell half on top of her. She used her fingers to pull at the back of his shirt, suddenly wanting to feel his naked skin against her own.

He allowed her to pull the shirt over his head and came back down to her. She murmured in appreciation as his muscled chest came into contact with her already-aroused breasts and pressed against him.

With a distant sense of surprise, Elizabeth realized she had missed him touching her. Despite her preoccupation with the code, she had regretted the interruption to her sensual lessons and now she understood why. He was like a drug, she thought dreamily. Her need for him increased every time he touched her. Thinking to please him, and show him she learned her lessons well, she moved her hand lower until her fingers came to rest over his straining breeches.

He captured her hand and trapped it beside her head. "Not yet, my dear. It is your turn first."

His hand slid between her legs and she gasped as she felt his fingers move over her most sensitive and womanly secrets. Her flesh yielded to him as if he belonged there. He settled into a rhythm, which had her straining against him, seeking something she didn't yet understand but she knew in her heart he could give her.

After a long while, he pulled slightly away from her and grimaced, as her nails remained dug into the flesh of his shoulder. "Elizabeth, you need to relax. You are trying too hard."

She tried to roll away from him, hide her face. "How can I be trying too hard when I don't even know what I'm seeking?"

"Would you rather I stopped? We can continue this lesson another day." He withdrew his hand from her warmth, flexing his fingers as if in pain.

"No." She said quietly, urgently, gripping his wrist and stopping him from going anywhere. "I want to know."

He leaned over her and traced the outline of her mouth with the tip of his tongue. "There is another way I can help you." He breathed against her lips. "But I fear to shock my little brown bird."

Elizabeth wondered how he could possibly find anything more intimate to do to her. She lay naked on the bed with him half on top of her. He had already touched her in the most private of places. What else could he possibly do? "Shock me, please, Gervase."

His salacious smile should have warned her that she had erred as he kissed her mouth and then slid downwards. He paused to kiss her navel and the soft brown curls at the juncture of her thighs and then she felt the rasp of his unshaven cheek against her most private flesh. With a yelp of alarm she tried to sit up but he brought one arm across her hips to keep her in place.

As she stared speechlessly down at the top of his dark head, he looked up and smiled at her. "Prepare to be shocked, ma femme."

She could only close her eyes as his warm breath feathered over her and his fingers prepared her for the touch of his mouth. Her shock dissolved into pleasure that lapped and caressed at her senses like a warm tide. Her hips began to move in counterpart to his tongue and fingers and soon she clutched at his hair, as the excitement became almost too much.

She felt as if she hovered at the edge of a precipice and wasn't sure if she wanted to pull away or embrace the unknown which beckoned to her so alluringly. She almost screamed when he paused, leaving her teetering on the edge of...something.

His silver gaze locked with hers. "Do you want me to stop?"

A whimper of denial struggled through her tight throat. He bent back down to her throbbing and pleading flesh. She scarce had time to breathe as he demanded and controlled her response to him. His tongue flicked over her swollen bud and his fingers eased a little inside her, plunging and retreating until she pushed against the demands of his hands and clever, clever mouth. With a scream, she gave herself up to him as she experienced the force of her pleasure

He kept touching her and murmuring as she slid down from the ecstasy. When she quieted, he crawled up to lie alongside her. She buried her face in his shoulder, her feelings too raw and uncontrollable to allow him to see them.

After a long time, when she had half dozed off, he murmured, "Who was that man you were speaking to in the park?"

She opened her mouth to tell him about Jack Llewelyn and then quickly closed it. If she told him about Jack, she would have to tell him about Michael and she was not ready to expose her brother's weaknesses to the duke's cool, analytical gaze.

Had the duke thought to gain her confidences after leaving her half insensible from his lovemaking? She thought it more than likely. He reached out a hand and stroked her breast, his fingers forming and shaping her tightening nipple.

"Who was he, Elizabeth?"

She fought against her body's instant response to his touch and turned to brush a kiss on his shoulder. "I don't know who he was, Gervase. He stopped to ask me for the time and then very charmingly asked me for money." She allowed her hand to drop to the buttons of his breeches and eased them open. "Did you see him, then? Did he ask you for money too?"

He didn't reply as her fingers curled around his cock and she began to stroke him. Emboldened by his shuddering sigh, she slid her bare leg up his buckskin-clad thigh. She kissed him more deeply and pushed her body up against his as she pleasured him. With a muttered curse, his hand threaded into the back of her hair and he began to kiss her back.

Chapter 16

Elizabeth bit the end of her quill pen and observed Sir John's bent head. He had been hard at work all morning and she had nothing to do. She had written to Eloise and her brother Hugh and couldn't think of anyone else with whom she wished to communicate.

Rain sheeted down, obscuring Grosvenor Square. She had finished her translation of the first three coded messages and they had been rushed away to the Foreign Office. Now she sat idly, waiting for another to be delivered.

She studied the man. Sir John hardly seemed to care whether his clothes fitted him or not, as opposed to the duke, who was meticulous in his demands for the most fashionable cut and style. The duke's muscular body reminded her of the apparently scandalous Greek statues on view at Carlton House.

She shook her head at her own foolishness. She was not in her boudoir but in her other place of work and Sir John would be scandalized if he could read her mind. Sometimes it was hard not to confuse her two professions, especially when the duke was around to distract her.

The door was flung open and Sir John barked out a warning as, despite his best efforts, several of the papers on his desk floated into the air. Nicholas breezed in and headed for Elizabeth's cramped corner of the room. He held an envelope in his hands, which bore an official looking seal.

"Good morning, Mrs. Waterstone. Compliments of His Grace, the Duke of Diable Delamere." He grinned at her, his dimples dancing on his flushed cheeks, his red hair damp and in disarray. "I think this is another intercepted message from Le Fleur."

Elizabeth opened the envelope, which bore the duke's scrawled signature, and pulled out a small piece of parchment covered in the now-familiar spiked script.

"Indeed it is the same."

"What is the same, Mrs. Waterstone? The code?" Sir John asked, his expression eager.

"I will not know until I attempt to translate it, sir. But it is definitely the same script."

"Is that good?" Nicholas asked.

"Well it helps," Elizabeth said absently, her mind captivated by the fascinating puzzle in front of her. She shut out their excited voices, sharpened a fresh quill pen, and drew a clean sheet of parchment toward her.

*** *** ***

"Elizabeth, how in God's name can you see what you are doing?"

Elizabeth blinked several times as a blaze of candlelight cascaded over her untidy desk. She raised an ink-stained hand to rub at her eyes. Before she could besmear her face, the duke caught her fingers and pressed a clean handkerchief into them.

She thanked him as she wiped her hands and blew her nose. When she became accustomed to the light, she saw Sir John was no longer at his desk. She risked a covert glance at the duke's face. With a sigh, she dropped her quill pen and sat back.

"Well?" demanded the duke. "You have been working on that damned piece of code for over six hours." He frowned as he noticed her unsuccessful attempt to straighten her fingers. "Have you eaten?"

Elizabeth became aware of an empty feeling in her stomach and the headache between her eyes. "It will be in London."

"The assassination attempt?"

"Yes. I think he is speaking about the summer months, although I can't be sure at this time." She tapped the parchment with her pen. "The code is very similar, but several key words have been altered. I will have to work harder to discover them."

Gervase walked around the desk and pulled her to her feet. She swayed against him, enjoying the novel sensation of being supported and cared for, even if it was only for her code-breaking abilities.

"You will stop now," the duke said in a voice that brooked no argument. "After you have eaten, I intend to take you out to the opera. Put away these documents and come with me."

*** *** ***

After a hearty meal, eaten under the duke's gaze, Elizabeth hurried upstairs to change. Her maid had laid out a dress for her and it took little time to make herself presentable.

She paused to admire her reflection after her maid re-styled her hair into a soft cloud of ringlets. Her gown of lavender-colored jaconet muslin fell in sleek, elegant lines from beneath her high, lace-trimmed bodice to the tip of her matching kid slippers.

With a playful kiss to her mirror, Elizabeth gathered up her long, hooded cloak and made her way down to the marbled entrance hall. The duke, dressed in stark black and white, stood beneath his portrait, his arrogant stance in direct competition with his painted self.

He pulled on a pair of gloves as he came toward her. His enigmatic gray gaze swept over her gown and he smiled as he took her cloak from her hands. "I always forget how well you look under the ink stains and tightly braided hair, my dear."

He gestured for her to turn around and he drew her heavy cloak around her shoulders. She sighed as his fingers lingered on her throat while he tied the ribbons. When he stepped away, she was conscious of the lack of warmth, a feeling reinforced by the stiff breeze coming through the front door Standish held open.

Just as Elizabeth straightened her skirts and the duke settled opposite her in the carriage, the door flew open and Nicholas got in. "Sorry, Your Grace. I couldn't find my best coat and I had to bully Jacques into lending me one of yours."

The duke shifted in his seat and observed Nicholas through his quizzing glass. "I'm amazed that such an unfashionable garment ever graced my wardrobe. That coat is at least three years out of style and everyone will know it, Nick. Please don't be offended if I claim not to know you this evening."

Nicholas winked at Elizabeth. "Wait until he sees what a mess I've made of my cravat. He will probably start dressing me before I'm allowed to leave the carriage."

It was a cloudless, clear night when the duke assisted her from the carriage and she was glad of the warmth of her cloak. The duke had arrived fashionably late and by the time they were escorted to their box, the theater was almost full and the orchestra had commenced tuning up.

Elizabeth scarcely had time to gaze around her before the lights were dimmed and the dulcet tones of the overture to Mozart's 'The Marriage of Figaro' began. With a sigh, she relaxed, aware of the duke's arm along the back of her chair and the lingering warmth of his citrus scent surrounding her.

When the lights came on at the end of the first act, she was almost displeased to be shaken from her comfortable half-dreaming state. The duke asked her to excuse him and moved toward the door. With nothing better to do than watch the seething mass of humanity below the box, Elizabeth rested her elbow on the velvet-lined edge and leaned slightly forward.

Without meaning to, her eyes followed the duke as he made his way across to the other side of the theater. He was easy to observe. The severe cut of his black and white garments made him stand out from the pretty pastels of the ladies and the more muted tones of the men.

She caught a glimpse of the duke's dark head bent over the hand of a beautiful red-headed lady in a box directly opposite her own. Without taking her eyes away from the chatting couple, she reached behind her for the opera glasses the duke had left on his seat. Then she could clearly see the deep, bejeweled cleavage of the titian-haired lady and the way she clasped the duke's gloved hand to her bosom. With a disgusted sound she focused on the other occupants of the box and discovered Angelique, aglow in peach satin, pearls and diamonds flashing in her beautifully styled hair.

The strange tension coiled within her relaxed as the duke turned to Angelique and kissed his way up her bare arm to her shoulder. Elizabeth almost dropped the opera glasses as the duke murmured something and Angelique winked in her direction. Flustered at the duke's discovery of her perusal she hastily swung around and stared into another box.

As her vision cleared she realized she was looking at her half-sister, Mary, and her mother. Mary was dressed in a simple white muslin frock with a blue sash that matched her eyes. Elizabeth's throat constricted as Mr. Forester leaned forward and patted Mary on the shoulder, his face the picture of paternal pride.

They looked like the perfect family. Elizabeth struggled with the familiar feeling of being unwanted that had plagued her since her mother's remarriage. With a determined effort, she looked over the other occupants of the box, wondering if any of the gentlemen clustered around her stepfather were suitors for Mary's hand.

Her hands locked on the opera glasses as she recognized Sir John Harrington's best drab olive green coat and severely tied cravat.

"Mrs. Waterstone...Excuse me, Mrs. Waterstone. Would you like some wine?"

Nicholas's question jerked her away from her puzzled imaginings and she dropped the opera glasses like a guilty child. She accepted a glass of wine and allowed Nicholas to settle beside her. She encouraged him to talk as she tried to think of a way to introduce the topic of Sir John into the conversation.

When Nicholas ran out of things to say, he refilled her glass from the bottle in the ice bucket. She thanked him and said idly, "Is Sir John not able to join us this evening? He told me that Mozart was his favorite composer."

Nicholas clinked his glass against hers and downed the contents in one enthusiastic swallow. "Sir John is here, but I believe the duke asked him to sing for his supper."

Elizabeth raised one eyebrow and Nicholas grinned. "Excuse the dreadful pun, Mrs. Waterstone, but the duke asked Sir John to ingratiate himself with some of the more prolific gamblers of the ton. I believe that is where he is now. Why, have you seen him?"

"I believe I saw him on the other side of the theater when I was looking at the crowds."

"Ah, yes, I sent him after young Lord Molyneux."

The duke's calm voice intruded on their conversation and Nicholas hastily relinquished his seat. After a swift glance at Elizabeth, the duke picked up her fan and plied it with great dexterity in front of her flushed face.

"Molyneux is only twenty, but he seems to have decided to drag himself and his esteemed family into debt and disgrace before he even reaches his majority. His father is a minister in the war department and I fear he might be a valuable contact for the French."

Despite the duke's languid tone, Elizabeth's heart thudded so painfully against the confines of her corset that she was surprised the duke couldn't hear it.

"Where exactly did you see Sir John, Mrs. Waterstone?"

She pointed to the box where her mother sat and waited, her hands clasped together in her lap, while the duke directed his opera glasses onto the occupants.

"It seems as if you were correct, my dear. I can see Lord Molyneux making sheep's eyes at an insipid blonde and Sir John conversing with your step-father at the back of the box."

"The blonde is my half-sister, Mary Forester, Your Grace. Most people think her a diamond of the first water," Elizabeth snapped.

The duke studied her. "I stand corrected. You, of course, would know far more about female beauty than I ever could."

Nicholas stifled a laugh and the duke turned to him. "Nicholas, I spoke to your sister, Hortense, earlier and she wants to know why you didn't honor her with a visit after the first act."

Nicholas went as red as his hair and his face assumed a sulky expression. "What does she want with me? Did you not tell her I was well and happy?"

The duke stared at Nicholas for a long time as the warning bell sounded for the start of the second act. When Nicholas dropped his gaze to his scuffed shoes, the duke spoke again, a compulsive edge to his voice.

"I did indeed tell her that you were well." He paused as Nicholas shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Perhaps she would prefer to hear the words from the ungrateful wretch she helped raise?"

The duke turned his back on a clearly crushed Nicholas and returned to his perusal of Elizabeth. "Is everything all right?" he murmured as the music swelled and rose from the orchestra pit. "Have I set your mind at rest?"

Elizabeth stared at the stage where the female chorus stood, arranged in graceful circles, ready to perform. "Why should you think I was troubled, Your Grace?"

The duke leaned forward and settled his mouth over the pulse that throbbed at the base of her throat. "Because I'm beginning to learn how your mind works, my dear. The magnificent lady whom I visited at the interval is Nicholas's oldest sister, Hortense. Did you see the likeness?"

Elizabeth attempted a shrug and then froze as the duke bit down on her raised shoulder, sending a thrill of heat straight to her stomach. "I was not aware of your movements, Your Grace. I was too busy enjoying the scenery."

"Liar..." the duke breathed against her ear and then gently nipped it. "And I did not send Sir John after your stepfather. You may rest easy on that score as well." His fingers slid down the curve of her throat and shaped her breast. "It was just a coincidence that he happened to visit your step-father's box."

Elizabeth said nothing as the duke sat back and fixed his attention on the stage. She stared blindly at the colorful blur of figures as a hint of unease stayed with her. It was unlike the duke to bother to explain anything. Was he beginning to care about her feelings, or was he trying to allay her suspicions?

By the time the opera finished and Nicholas was dispatched for a scolding by his sister, Elizabeth still hadn't made up her mind. She almost jumped when the duke touched her elbow and held out her cloak in silent invitation. They didn't speak as they made their way down to the carriage. It was not until they were well under way that Elizabeth realized that Nicholas was not with them.

"Where is Nicholas, did we forget him?"

*** *** ***

Gervase smiled and reached forward to kiss her gloved hand. "He has gone to have a late supper with his sister and Angelique. I don't expect him back until they have soundly abused him and made him feel like an ignorant clod, which is only what he deserves."

He contemplated Elizabeth's averted profile. It worried him when she went quiet as it usually meant she was thinking too hard. He suspected that his glib explanations of the comings and goings in the theater had failed to address her concerns. How much more would she worry if she knew Mr. Forester was indeed the object of Sir John's attentions?

Enough to damage the whole of his delicate operation, he feared, and hid a sigh. "I don't want you attempting to crack the code this evening, Elizabeth. I want you to go straight to bed."

"Alone, or with you, Your Grace?"

Gervase held his breath as his body came alive at her shy invitation. Having sampled her delights on the previous night, his lustful nature craved more. He pictured her naked in his arms, offering herself to him. He could almost feel the slick heat of her against his hardened flesh as he slowly slid inside her, inch by pleasurable inch. His fingers tightened on his cane.

"Alone."

Her face colored at his rejection and when the carriage drew to a stop she fumbled with the door latch as if eager to escape him. With a lack of his usual finesse, he helped Elizabeth down the steps and into the arms of one of his footmen before he retreated into the carriage.

He glimpsed her startled face as he banged on the roof with his cane and the carriage moved swiftly away. He frowned down at his lap and willed his unwanted arousal to subside. If he was not careful, Elizabeth would consume his thoughts, and he might make the mistake of beginning to care for her. He could not allow that to happen. He didn't think he could bear the pain again.

His carriage drew up at the discreet and expensive brothel he normally favored with his custom. He stared at the front door through the carriage window for a long time. Yes, he ached for womanly flesh but the thought of touching anyone other than Elizabeth held no great appeal. He shouted out his orders to the coachman and the horses swept around in a wide circle and began the journey home.

Gervase drew in a deep breath, determined to resist the temptation the plain-speaking, far too intelligent Miss Elizabeth Waterstone offered him. He had to remember that she was but a small, insignificant cog in the workings of his master plan. They had made a bargain and he intended to honor it. Making a more permanent place for himself between her thighs was definitely not part of their agreement.

He smiled at his own arrogance as his carriage turned into the cobbled square and slowed down. Elizabeth might have a few things to say about his assumption that she would be glad to bed him. He should take a lesson from history and remember not to underestimate the importance of his own wonderfully annoying little cog.

Chapter 17

Elizabeth dropped the second piece of toast onto her plate and stared at the duke's empty chair. He had not breakfasted with them for the last five mornings or visited her bed at night. Her thoughts strayed to their visit to the theater. After the duke dropped her unceremoniously on his doorstep and drove off she overheard one of the footmen laugh and remark that the duke had gone to a brothel.

Had her bold offer annoyed the duke so much that he had run away from her? It seemed unlikely. She was the novice in the elegant game of seduction they played, not him. She tried to remember his face as she had quit the carriage. He had not looked angry, only impatient to be gone.

She sighed and got to her feet, aware that Standish was hovering, waiting to clear the table. She was glad she had the mysterious code to concentrate on. If she were not so busy she might have spent the days worrying about the duke's aberrant behavior...

She paused in the doorway and saw Sir John studying something on her desk. "May I help you?"

He straightened and scooped up a small red leather-covered book, which he slid into his coat pocket. "My apologies, Mrs. Waterstone. The duke asked me to take another look at the code."

Elizabeth raised her chin. Something in Sir John's patronizing tone and condescending manner always implied that the duke didn't think she was working hard enough.

"Did he really, sir?"

Sir John wiped his brow with a crumpled linen handkerchief. "Sometimes I find it helpful to jot down a few of the more obscure phrases to study at my leisure. I confess to being overeager to see you break the code."

It was on the tip of Elizabeth's tongue to remind him they were supposed to keep the code locked away, but she remained silent as he patted the pocket where he'd deposited the book. She took her seat, picked up the small piece of parchment she had been working on and gave him a dismissive smile. "I will do my best for you, sir."

"You must think me impatient, Mrs. Waterstone," he said slowly. "But I've seen too many men die not to wish for a speedy conclusion to this matter."

Elizabeth was unable to ignore the note of sincerity in his voice. If she had seen colleagues and friends killed in such a dangerous underworld, she too might feel as passionate as Sir John did. With renewed vigor, she bent to her task and her annoyance with Sir John disappeared.

Sir John came and went between his office and the duke's and at one point, Elizabeth heard Nicholas poking fun at him. She didn't hear the duke's voice until the clock in his study chimed twelve noon. She put down her quill and took in a deep breath, suddenly uncertain of how to approach him.

Standish knocked on the door to remind her that luncheon was being served and she thanked him absently. She looked down at her plain, high-necked, grape-colored gown and winced when she realized that she had managed to drip ink on her skirt. It was not surprising that the duke didn't consider her a fit mate when she looked like a ragamuffin. She would have to change before she went out to take tea with her mother and Mary.

She waited until Sir John and the duke left the library and then made her way upstairs after locking the precious documents in her desk. She didn't bother to ring for her maid as she hurriedly changed into another demure and sensible gown that her mother would no doubt consider dowdy. As she struggled with the buttons at the back, her feelings got the better of her.

"Damnation, I wish I were a man!"

"Now, there we must disagree. My tastes have never run that way. I'm very glad that you are a woman."

Elizabeth went still as the duke came up behind her and laced up the dress, his fingers warm against the curve of her spine. He dropped a kiss on the soft skin beneath her ear. Too embarrassed to look at him, Elizabeth hurried to the mirror to pat her hair.

"You look fine, my dear, if a little severe. Are you off to meet your mother?"

"Yes, Your Grace, if that is acceptable to you." Elizabeth glanced around and looked everywhere but at the duke. He retreated to the door and she started to breathe again, hoping that he meant to leave. She spied her reticule and favorite bonnet on the floor beside her bed and rushed to pick them up. The pile of books she had bought for Michael from Hatchards lay on her dressing table, already tied up with string.

She almost wept in frustration as the duke strolled toward her and relieved her of her burdens.

"Let me help you carry these. Then Nicholas can take them into the carriage for you."

She could do nothing but smile and lead the way down the wide staircase. There was no one in the hall when they reached it, as all the staff were engaged in serving luncheon.

Elizabeth turned to thank the duke and found him watching her intently.

"Now what have I done?"

His gaze traveled over her as though she were an interesting new puzzle. She spun on her heel, but he caught her elbow and persuaded her to face him.

"Will you join us for some lunch before you disappear? It is a little early for an afternoon call and I believe Nicholas is still eating."

There was a hint of command in the duke's voice that she had learned meant he intended to be obeyed. With a defeated sigh, she turned in the direction of the dining room and, after a moment, he followed her. He helped her to a seat and bent over her as he draped a napkin across her lap.

"Make no mistake, my dear," he said pleasantly, dangerously. "I will not tolerate being ignored for much longer. We will discuss my shortcomings later."

*** *** ***

After an hour's quiet reflection on her visit, Elizabeth ventured down to dinner. It seemed as if Jack Llewelyn had found approval with her brother. The rapport and respect between him and Michael and the obvious improvement in Michael's health had heartened her greatly. Her decision to stay with the duke and earn the money for Michael's care suddenly seemed a good one.

Her mother had been as ungracious as ever, her questions about the duke both persistent and, to Elizabeth's mind, impertinent. Mary too seemed much as usual. Her excitement over her debut was a thing of wonderment to be discussed and marveled over with Elizabeth.

Elizabeth smiled as she entered the dining room and saw that the duke and Nicholas were already in evidence. A flutter of gauzy pink and a flash of diamonds revealed Angelique returning from the balcony that overlooked the square.

"Ah, now we are all here." Angelique pressed a scented, rouged cheek against Elizabeth's. "That boring, prosy Sir John has left and it is just the four of us."

Elizabeth accepted a glass of wine from the duke without quite meeting his eyes and drank it down hastily. Before she could draw breath, he refilled her glass and led her to the table where Standish waited to serve the first course. Elizabeth was seated on the duke's right, Angelique on his left, and Nicholas beside Angelique.

For a little while, Elizabeth concentrated her attention on the delicious food. Her mother had served weak tea and nothing else and that was only after a great deal of complaining. A rich red wine accompanied the second course and Elizabeth began to feel its potent effects. She dropped her spoon into her half-finished dessert of Chantilly cream and sat back with a sigh. The duke waved the servants away and passed around the heavy glass decanter of port and a box of Spanish cigars.

Elizabeth's eyes widened as Angelique accepted both. When the duke turned to serve her, she defiantly filled her glass with port and, aware of his sardonic gaze, recklessly swallowed it down in one. The fiery kick of it hitting her stomach made her eyes water but she held the duke's stare, a challenge in her gaze. He raised one eyebrow in her direction and refilled her glass.

She pretended to sip at the port and then closed her eyes as the room undulated beneath her feet. Hoping that the duke wouldn't notice, she slowly put both her elbows onto the table and rested her chin in her hands.

Angelique blew out a perfect smoke ring and smiled at Elizabeth. "I've just been telling Nicholas how lucky he is to have a family. Gervase and I lost many of our relations in the chaos after the revolution in France." Angelique nodded at the duke, who sat back in his chair, watching Elizabeth. "In truth, if it had not been for Gervase, Nicholas and I would not be here now."

Elizabeth angled her head, with some difficulty, to look at the duke

"Don't try to make me out to be a hero, Angelique. I did what I had to and so did you."

"Ah, Gervase." Angelique shook her finger at the duke. "You hate to be praised, don't you?" She turned to Elizabeth. "After his own family was betrayed to the new government, Gervase made sure that all of his dependents and staff were able to leave France before they were taken too." Her face softened. "I only wish that we had been able to save everyone."

Elizabeth frowned as grief flashed across the duke's rigid features. Was he still in mourning for a wife he purported to despise?

Anxious to change a subject that the duke found uncomfortable, and full of an unstoppable desire to speak, Elizabeth interrupted Angelique with a wave of her hand that made her head spin.

"My father was a hero too, but he left me. My mother said I killed him."

Even through the haze of her muddled thoughts, Elizabeth could tell she had gained their startled attention. She attempted a nod but it made the room twirl around like a waltzing couple so she anchored her chin on her hands again.

"Elizabeth..." the duke's compelling voice made her pause and blink at him. "I think that you are a trifle under the hatches. Would you like me to escort you to bed?"

"No, Your Grace," Elizabeth said firmly and wondered why the duke's lips twitched. "You are always telling me what a bad person you are and now I intend to tell you that I'm not much better."

"Well, go ahead, ma belle," he said gently. "But please remember that you have to face us all in the morning."

Elizabeth frowned as she tried to concentrate on her memories. They kept escaping her like Sir John's papers swirling in the breeze.

"My father was in the army and was often away, but when I was eight, he came home unexpectedly. My brothers were away at school and I was left with my mother." She shivered. "It was always dark in the house, and my mother had gone out and left me alone. When I first heard my father's voice, I was so afraid I went and hid under my bed."

Angelique sat forward and took Elizabeth's hand. "It is a frightening thing to be left alone like that, is it not? At that age I remember thinking every sound was a monster come to devour me."

Elizabeth frowned as Nicholas slid a cup of coffee under her nose. She looked at the duke who gestured for her to drink. She managed to sip a little of the steaming brew before continuing her tale.

"When my father coaxed me out, I could see he was angry even though he reassured me that I had done nothing wrong. He sat me on his knee and started to question me about my mother." She shrugged. "There was little I could tell him as to her whereabouts, only that she left me at home alone every night.

My father took hold of my hand and walked through the house, stopping every now and then to look at blank spaces on the wall or in the display cabinets."

She studied the silk lined walls of the duke's dining room and the lavish display of art and wondered if the duke had ever thought to gamble away his possessions.

"Eventually, we arrived at the kitchen, which was the only warm room in the house. My father's face was white and his fingers trembled when he tried to drink the tea I made him. He kept asking where all the pictures and family heirlooms had gone. All I could tell him was that mother said they were being repaired and would be back soon."

Elizabeth picked up her coffee cup and blew softly. "Of course, he must have guessed that my mother had sold off our valuables to finance her gambling. At the time I only knew my father was distraught and that I didn't know how to help him."

Angelique glanced at the duke who nodded slightly and then she squeezed Elizabeth's hand. "What happened then? It doesn't sound as if he blamed you or that you killed him."

Elizabeth put the cup down so awkwardly it rattled in its saucer. "I felt so badly for him, that I made him follow me upstairs to my bedroom." She half closed her eyes as the memories overwhelmed her. "It sounds ridiculous now, but I wanted to comfort him and show him all was not lost. I pulled up the loose floorboard in my bedroom where I had hidden some food and my favorite doll so that my mother couldn't take them from me. I offered him my treasures with such pride and when he crushed me tightly against him and began to rock me like a baby I was most indignant."

Elizabeth's smile faltered "I remember how the tattered gold braid on his uniform was crushed against my face and how I struggled to breathe until I realized he was crying. I stayed still then until he let me go, terrified that I had upset him by showing him my secrets."

She glanced up at her silent listeners and drew in a breath. "When my mother returned home there was a terrible argument. I sat at the top of the stairs, my knees drawn up tight to my chest and listened as my world was destroyed."

The duke reached across the expanse of the table and took hold of her other hand.

"My father never came back. He was killed shortly afterwards volunteering for a dangerous, some might say, suicidal attack, on a French gun position. My mother blamed me and still does on occasion."

The duke stood up so quickly his chair tipped backward and pulled her into his arms. "It was not your fault." He crushed her hard against his chest, his voice hoarse in her ear. "You are never to think it."

She gasped as the duke swept her up into his arms and headed for the door. She clung to his shoulders as he marched up the stairs and put her down on the bed. His mouth covered hers with an urgency and hunger she strove to return.

Her body seemed to have turned to liquid as she pressed closer and closer to him, seeking relief from the emotions swirling inside her. He continued to kiss her, his hands all over her, her breasts aching for his touch. He shuddered as he tipped her off his lap onto her back and came down over her, one satin-clad leg between her thighs.

"You must not blame yourself, Elizabeth. You were only eight years old."

She touched his cheek, "Why is it so important to you that I believe this, Gervase"

He rolled onto his back, taking her with him. "I taught my son the secrets of our château in France and his mother, my wife, used that knowledge to destroy my family."

Elizabeth forced the duke to look at her by the simple expedient of caging his face in her hands. "I didn't know you had a son."

"I don't anymore. My wife found herself an important lover in the revolutionary government, and in an effort to impress him, she decided to betray my family and dependents to the provincial courts."

He shrugged. "She persuaded my son, David, to reveal all the hiding places for people and for money I had shown him in the chateau. Unfortunately I was not in the main house when the soldiers arrived, but several of my family were."

The duke closed his eyes. "When my son realized what he had done, he tried to make amends. He knew I was at the old gate house and he came to warn me." He opened his eyes and stared at Elizabeth. "The soldiers shot him like vermin as he ran through the woods. He lasted long enough in my arms to tell me what had happened and to beg my forgiveness."

The duke cursed softly and turned his head away. "So you see, Elizabeth, I know that your father would have forgiven you just as I forgave my son. The only person who betrayed you was your mother."

Elizabeth rested her forehead against the duke's. Her tears ran down her face and dripped onto his.

"Gervase, I'm so sorry." She bent and kissed him hard on the mouth and then cradled his head to her breast in a desperate attempt to console him. He allowed her to hold him for a short while and then pulled away.

Elizabeth touched his mouth with her fingertips. "Will you not stay?"

"No, my dear, it would not be wise." He swung his legs over the side of the bed and ran a hand through his thick black hair. "You might think to offer yourself to me out of pity and, being a lustful man, I might take you up on that offer and it would never do."

"Why not, Your Grace?" Elizabeth asked as he headed for the door.

"Because when I do bed you, Elizabeth Waterstone, it will not be due to the effects of too much port or because you feel sorry for me. It will be because you want me as much as I want you."

He shut the door behind him with a decisive snap and Elizabeth fell back onto her pillows. He truly wanted her? She snuggled down under the covers. She feared he would regret his unguarded words on the morrow and wondered in what subtle ways he would punish her for making him appear vulnerable. A headache crept up on her but she still couldn't regret her reckless drinking competition with the duke.

Chapter 18

"Nicholas, for the last time, go home! I don't need you following me. People are beginning to stare." Elizabeth stopped in the middle of the busy street and frowned. Nicholas had the effrontery to grin and shake his head. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Waterstone, but I'm under the duke's orders. You are to be escorted at all times."

A daring idea came to Elizabeth and she set off again. She spoke over her shoulder as Nicholas struggled to catch up. "I'm going to purchase some garments of an intimate nature and I had hoped to avoid embarrassment for both of us."

She paused outside Madame Isabelle's Lingerie, a shop that the duke had recommended. "Perhaps you would prefer to wait outside? I will only be a little while."

Nicholas hesitated as Elizabeth opened the door, releasing a cloud of heavy perfume. A bell tinkled in the back of the shop and Elizabeth sensed Nicholas was wavering.

"I would hate to have to tell your sister I had seen you in a place like this."

Nicholas slumped against the window with an exaggerated sigh and folded his arms. "It's all right, Mrs. Waterstone, there is no need to bring out the heavy guns. I will wait here."

Elizabeth turned to enter the shop. She paused as Nicholas called out.

"Mrs. Waterstone? In case you have forgotten, the duke's favorite color on you is lilac."

He winked and she frowned before shutting the door on his laughing face. She let out a frustrated breath. Now she would have to buy something. After greeting the proprietor, Madame Isabelle, she picked out a lilac silk bed gown sewn with seed pearls that she knew the duke would like, and went to the back of the shop to try it on.

As she was helped back into her muslin gown she caught the French woman's eye. "Madame, if I wished to avoid the young man who waits for me at the front of your shop, would I be able to leave from a different exit?"

Understanding dawned in Madame Isabelle's shrewd brown eyes. "You have another assignation?" Her surprised glance swept over Elizabeth. "I will continue to bring you clothes to try on, so that the young gentleman will not become suspicious and you may leave and return from the back of the shop."

Madame didn't elaborate, but Elizabeth knew she would be paying for the favor with an assortment of scandalous new lingerie, which would please no one but the duke. She nodded as she placed her bonnet on her head. "Thank you, Madame, I should not be above a half hour."

She picked up her reticule and ran up the hill to Barings Coffee House where she had arranged to meet Jack Llewelyn. When she stepped inside, it took her a while to adjust to the fug of smoke and the dark, stained, oak-paneled interior. She spotted Jack's blond hair in a booth in the furthest corner.

As she approached, he looked up with a wariness and speed that betrayed him as a man of action. When he stood and smiled, his hard face softened. He swept her a bow that was elegant even in his cramped surroundings.

"Miss Waterstone. I thought I had misjudged the time." He withdrew a battered pocket watch and frowned at it. "This watch has never been the same since Salamanca."

Elizabeth slid into the booth opposite him and he signaled for a waiter. He ordered coffee for himself and hot chocolate for her and then sat back and regarded her.

"Michael enjoyed the books, Miss Waterstone. It was kind of you to bring them for him."

"I know how much Michael enjoys to read and how it frustrates him not being able to stroll along to Hatchards or Hookhams to peruse the latest titles."

Jack Llewelyn thanked the waiter and dropped some coins onto the tray as he brought their drinks. "I wanted to talk to you about that. I've seen pictures of chairs with wheels that can be used to take an invalid out to take the air. It would be advisable to purchase one for Michael."

Her hesitation must have shown as he continued, his large hands wrapped around his steaming coffee cup. "I know these chairs are expensive and I will understand if you cannot afford to buy one, but will you at least think about it?" He frowned. "I broached the subject with the Forester's, but they were not inclined to help."

Elizabeth tried to think of what to say. All her available money was already being spent on Michael. "I agree with you, Mr. Llewelyn, but..."

"Please call me Jack. I can't get used to being plain mister again."

"Jack, then, I'm not sure how I will be able to find the money, but I will certainly try." She cleared her throat. "As Michael has probably told you, I work for the Duke of Diable Delamere. I could ask him for an advance on my salary."

Jack frowned. "Don't do any such thing. Once he has a hold over you, you might find yourself performing far more than administrative duties. That man is as cold and ruthless as a shark."

Elizabeth was glad Jack Llewellyn couldn't see the betraying flush of color on her cheeks.

He finished his coffee and his report and got to his feet. "I'm sorry, Miss Waterstone, I have to get back to Michael. No one else will answer his bell."

Elizabeth nodded, accepted his hand, and made her way toward the door. Jack smiled down at her and the sun gilded his hair like an angel's halo. "May I escort you somewhere, Miss Waterstone?"

She pressed his arm. "No thank you. I'm supposed to be shopping and arriving back with you might complicate matters."

He gave her a careless salute and strode off along the road. Elizabeth hastened back to the shop to find Madame Isabelle awaiting her.

"Your young man did inquire about you, but I think I managed to reassure him. Did you accomplish your purpose?"

Elizabeth glanced in the mirror and rubbed a smudge of hot chocolate from her top lip. "Yes, thank you, Madame." She glanced at the huge pile of garments Madame and her assistants were eagerly wrapping up and sighed. "You will have to send the bill to the Duke of Diable Delamere. I certainly cannot afford to pay for all of these myself."

Madame Isabelle gasped and clasped her hands to her bosom. "You are so lucky, my dear. The duke is one of my best customers. He will be delighted with your choices." She frowned and shook her finger at Elizabeth. "A word of advice. If I had known that you were attempting to deceive the Duke of Diable Delamere I would never had aided you. He is far too clever to be misled."

With this last piece of unfortunately true and sage advice, Elizabeth was escorted firmly from the shop, her bags deposited with Nicholas and sent home.

*** *** ***

"Can you describe the man to me, Nicholas?"

"He was about your age and had striking blond hair. He had the bearing of an ex-military man. I couldn't get very close to them for fear Mrs. Waterstone might see me. As it was, I barely made it back to the shop before she did."

"You did well, Nick." Gervase frowned down at his gleaming boots. "Return to the coffee house and see if you can find out who this person is. I suspect he is the same man Mrs. Waterstone met in the park a week or two ago."

"Yes, of course, Your Grace. I will go at once."

Nicholas grabbed his hat and coat and rushed into the hall, nearly colliding with Elizabeth as she reached the bottom of the stairs. With a shouted apology, Nicholas sped out the door.

Half-laughing, Elizabeth caught Gervase's eye and shrugged.

He straightened and removed all expression from his face as she came toward him. The slight frown between her brows heightened his concern and tightened his gut.

"Your Grace, may I have a moment of your time?"

At his nod, she sank gracefully into the chair in front of his desk. She wore a soft lilac gown, high to the neck, and her spectacles adorned her nose. His tension mounted as she bit her lip.

"I was wondering if you might give me an advance on my wages."

He stared at her for a full minute before he could bring himself to speak. Of all the things he expected, a plea for money had not been one of them.

"Why do you need money so badly? Your costs cannot be heavy living here, as you do, at my expense."

Her bosom rose and fell as she drew in an agitated breath. "I cannot tell you what the money is for, Your Grace. Can't you just accept that I need it? That I only ask because it is completely necessary?"

Gervase's thoughts flew to the mysterious blond man. Was she being blackmailed? Was that why she was afraid to tell him? He frowned. If she truly worked for Mr. Forester and the French, surely she would be receiving money rather than asking to borrow it.

"Are you in need of my assistance, Miss Waterstone? There is nothing you could tell me that would shock me and I promise to act in the strictest of confidence." Gervase sank into the chair behind his desk and smiled encouragingly.

Unfortunately, Elizabeth glared back at him.

"I will not be manipulated, Your Grace. I'm sure if I were a man you would lend me the money without question, without even asking for repayment. I'm just as capable of sorting out my finances and making my own decisions as you are!"

"If you were a man," Gervase said softly, "You would not be in my employ and we would not be having this conversation." He admired the militant sparkle in her gray eyes and the sharp edge of her temper grazing his will as she shot to her feet. He waved her back to her chair and she subsided with an indignant huffing sound.

"I will think about what you have asked me, Elizabeth, and give you my decision before the week is out." He hoped this would give him enough time to find out exactly what she was up to.

"I suppose that will have to do, Your Grace." She sighed. "Thank you."

"Before you disappear, my dear, it behooves me to remind you of our agreement." She went still and he smiled. "You are not entirely responsible for your own actions are you? You promised to obey me."

"I promised to be directed by you in matters of the flesh, Your Grace. Not in all spheres of my life."

He sat back and placed his hands behind his head, keeping her in view as he stretched. Her gaze followed the flex of his muscled arms and she swallowed.

"Well then, Miss Waterstone, has it occurred to you that there is another way to earn your money? I've had several interested inquiries as to your identity since you appeared by my side. I'm sure that if we put our heads together we could discover a tolerable man to take you on as his mistress. Maybe you could ask him for a sum of money as a gift of good faith to tie the bargain?"

Despite his words, the thought of her with another man caused an uncontrollable jolt of pure possessiveness to uncurl and ripple throughout his large frame. He flexed his fingers in an effort not to reach out and take the words back.

She rose to her feet, her face rigid. She stalked toward him, placed her hands flat on the top of his desk and leaned forward. "You are truly a devil, Your Grace. There is no need to rip up at me because you regret sharing your secrets. I've no intention of using them against you."

Gervase let out his breath as she turned on her heel and marched from the room. Her remarks were ridiculous. He had to find out what she was hiding. It was fast becoming more important to him than the code.

*** *** ***

Elizabeth stormed up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door with a satisfying crash. She threw her spectacles to the floor and resisted the urge to grind them into the carpet. How dare the duke sit there with that irritating smile on his face and refuse to give her the money? How dare he insinuate that she should look around for a rich protector? Jack Llewelyn had been right. She should never have gone cap in hand to the devil. Exposing her brother's plight to the duke was unthinkable.

She crawled onto her bed and a rush of unwanted tears overwhelmed her, leaving her gasping and shuddering. But as anger departed, cold logic took its place. The duke was correct. He did have a perfect right to inquire as to why she required a large advance on her salary.

She reached into her pocket, retrieved a fresh handkerchief, and blew her nose. So why had she reacted so angrily when he had suggested a perfectly viable alternative given her supposed choice of profession? She stilled and allowed her true feelings to consume her. Despite all of his warnings, she believed Gervase had come to care for her. She had foolishly begun to imagine a future for them together.

There was also the matter of her desire to experience to its fullest extent the pleasure the duke had shown her. She stared at the embroidered pink roses on her satin counterpane. If she was truly honest with herself, and she must be, she wanted the duke to finish what he had started. If her financial circumstances dictated that she had to leave him, she wanted to experience his lovemaking just once before she embarked on her new career. And it was still the only viable alternative. Breaking code for the government didn't pay half as well.

She traced the intertwining silk yarn, which climbed the stems and thorns of the roses, and made up her mind. She would not ask the duke for money again, but she would ask him to take her to his bed and break their bargain. When she had experienced the best he could offer her, she was sure she could move on to her next rich protector and reap the financial rewards she needed to support Michael.

With her eminently practical decision made, and a small sick feeling in the region of her stomach, Elizabeth slid off the bed and rang the bell. She was anxious to repair the ravages of her crying and eager to put her new plan into action.

She stared into the mirror and wondered why she had the curious sensation that someone was squeezing her heart until she could scarcely breathe.

Chapter 19

"I've finished the translation, Your Grace."

Elizabeth waited by the door until the duke looked up from the pile of paperwork on his desk and removed his spectacles. His dark hair sparked blue in the sunlight that poured through the high arched window.

"Come in, Mrs. Waterstone and allow me to fetch you a brandy. You don't look at all the thing."

With a sigh of thanks, Elizabeth sank into the chair Sir John pulled out for her and accepted a glass of brandy from the duke. She held out the original scrap of parchment and her translation of it and the duke took them from her.

Gervase cursed under his breath. "It tells us virtually nothing. The attempt to assassinate the Prince Regent will be in London in the summer." He rubbed at the bridge of his nose. "At least that leaves Brighton out of the puzzle. The Prince Regent might be wiser to spend his entire summer down there. It is far easier to guard."

Elizabeth frowned. "But don't you see, Your Grace? It is well known that the prince prefers to spend his summer in Brighton. Why would he come up to London unless he had to?"

"The Prince Regent will return to London if Parliament requires his presence at any official ceremonies." Sir John answered. "I assume, Your Grace, that a victory parade is planned to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon? Surely that would take place in the summer?"

"That is an excellent point, Sir John." The duke strode to the door and shouted for Standish. "I will contact the Foreign Office and see if they can forewarn me of any such plans. At least it would give us something to go on."

Sir John took charge of the coded message and went to find Nicholas to accompany him to the Foreign Office. Elizabeth remained in her seat, sipping slowly at her brandy until the bustle of their departure subsided. She smiled as the duke came down on his haunches and clinked his brandy glass against hers.

"Congratulations, my dear. I've not forgotten how hard you have worked and I cannot tell you how grateful I am."

Elizabeth drew in her breath and whispered, "You could kiss me, Your Grace. I would like that."

The duke set his glass down on the rug and brought his hands up to frame her face. He studied her for a long while before smoothing a lock of her unruly hair behind her ear. Elizabeth closed her eyes as his mouth hovered over hers and she breathed in his unforgettable scent.

His lips were gentle as he coaxed her to open her mouth and she responded eagerly, amazed at how quickly her body had learned to react to his. He deepened the kiss and then settled into a sensual dance of advance and retreat that brought her arms around his neck and her fingers into his thick hair. She moaned as one of his hands drifted down from her face and settled over her breast.

His fingers slipped inside her bodice and found her taut nipple and rubbed it in the same rhythm as his tongue. She arched her back in a desperate effort to draw him closer and he fitted himself between her legs, hampered only by her skirts. She could feel the heat of his hard cock pressing against her and drew her foot up the back of his buckskin-clad thigh to pull him inwards.

He groaned into her mouth and slid his hand up inside her skirts, past her garter, and toward the juncture of her thighs.

Elizabeth tore her mouth away. "Yes, oh please..."

The duke went still, his hand frozen on her thigh, his mouth a fraction away from hers. He removed his fingers and gently pushed her back into the seat.

"No...I will not oblige you." He held out his hand and grimaced at his shaking fingers. "Perhaps you don't understand what you are doing to me, Elizabeth. I haven't had a woman since you moved into my house."

Elizabeth tried to hold him but he got to his feet. She glanced at the hard bulge of his cock and then into the cool hauteur of his face.

"Don't play games with me, my dear. If you touch me again you will be on your back and I won't stop making love to you even if the Prince Regent and his whole damned cabinet waltz in."

Elizabeth opened her mouth but the duke silenced her with an abrupt gesture. "Please allow me to know what is best for you in this situation, Miss Waterstone. I, at least, have the experience to know that what we do is unwise if we wish to keep to our bargain."

"And if we don't?"

Elizabeth came out of the chair and stood in front of him, her breasts grazing his gray waistcoat, her nose practically touching his chin. She reached up and traced his narrowed lips with her fingertips. A muscle flicked in his cheek but he didn't step away.

The gong sounded in the hall, announcing luncheon, and Elizabeth heard Standish admonishing his staff to hurry. She deliberately moved closer until her whole body pressed against the duke's, from knee to shoulder. She stood on tiptoe, placed her hands on his broad shoulders, and planted a kiss on his lips before sliding back down his aroused body.

"I apologize, Your Grace I was just practicing my skills. I promise to behave for the rest of the day."

The duke was the first to step out of the embrace, which encouraged Elizabeth mightily. She watched his hasty retreat and smiled to herself. He was very close to bedding her. But she suspected that if she didn't act soon he would forgo his promise and disappear into the nearest brothel to gain some relief. Even with her inexperience she had felt the urgency behind his caresses.

All she needed to do was to continue to hound him and be available when he finally broke. She smiled as she thought of the sweetness, which lay ahead, and prayed that her oh-so-experienced suitor would soon become the victim of his own restraint.

*** *** ***

The clock in the hallway struck one as Elizabeth gathered her courage and crossed the hall to the duke's suite of rooms. She waited outside the heavy door with its gilded panels, listening for the sound of conversation that might indicate Jacques was still with the duke. Hearing nothing, she opened the door a crack and saw the duke standing in front of the fire, a glass in his hand and a frown on his face.

He turned his head a fraction but didn't alter his stance as his gaze swept over the silken transparency of her gown and her unbound hair.

"What do you want, Elizabeth?"

Her bare feet sank into the thick crimson carpet as she took two steps toward him. She resisted the impulse to ball her hands into fists, and drew in her breath. "I've made a decision. Before I search for another protector, I want you to make love to me, Gervase. I want you to be the first man who possesses me completely."

"You have made a decision? We made a bargain. I've kept my part of it." He brought the glass to his lips and swallowed the contents down in one. "Why should you wish to change it?"

She took the glass from his hand and placed it on the mantelpiece. "Maybe you have taught me too well. You are the only man I wish to lie with."

A muscle flickered in his cheek as she put her hands onto his shoulders and her silken clad breasts brushed against his shirtfront. "I know you will not want me forever, and I promise I will not hang on your sleeve. Please allow me to change my mind. Please allow me this one night."

His hands came up and covered hers in a hard painful grip. "Why should I? Nothing else has changed. I'm still the same bastard who attempted to rape you."

"I'm the one who has changed." Elizabeth said urgently. "I was a naïve frightened girl when I made that bargain."

"And now? You think you are a sophisticate?" The duke gave a harsh laugh. "You are still an innocent, my dear, and I intend to keep you one."

Holding his gaze, she stepped back and allowed her silken robe to fall to the floor. The soft lilac silk of her nightgown clung to her body and left little to the imagination. The duke hissed a curse but seemed unable to look away.

Elizabeth moved closer until her fingers caressed his unshaven cheek. She kept her voice steady although her heart bumped and looped around her chest like a mad thing. "Well, then. If you don't wish to seduce me, perhaps you would like to play cards and let the winner have the choice."

A flash of interest crossed the duke's hard face and disappeared into the cool gray shards of his eyes. "It depends on the stakes, my dear. Do you truly think you can beat me?" He gave a soft, dismissive laugh. "I'm almost tempted to let you find out the error of your ways."

"Then why not do so?" Elizabeth said sweetly. "Unless you are afraid."

"Of you?" He smiled. "Elizabeth, you terrify me in many ways, but I don't think you are a gambler."

The duke placed a small table between the chairs in front of the fire and rearranged the candelabra to throw more light onto the tabletop. He picked up a bottle of brandy and two glasses and placed them on the hearth. Elizabeth seated herself in the right hand chair and the duke offered her the packs of piquet cards.

"Do you wish to shuffle the pack, Your Grace, or do you trust me to do it?"

The duke gave her a negligent wave as he settled his large frame into the seat opposite her and crossed his legs. "Go ahead, my dear. I doubt you have concealed any cards in your scanty attire." He deliberately leered at her. "And I can always institute a search if I fear you are cheating."

Elizabeth fought back a smile as she began to shuffle the two decks together with a competence that drew the duke's attention. "I see that you are no novice at piquet, my dear, but I must warn you that I'm considered one of the best players in London."

Elizabeth dealt out the cards and gave the duke a rather anxious smile. "I've not played for a while, Your Grace." He frowned and she rephrased her answer. "I mean, Gervase. But I've been told that I play rather well for a lady." She bent her head over the cards to stifle a grin. In truth, her brother laughingly complained that she could have made her fortune at the gaming tables if she had only been a man.

As she reached for her cards, the duke covered her hand with his. "We have not discussed the stakes."

"May I suggest a shilling a point?"

"If you wish, although I'm used to playing for higher stakes." He leaned over the side of his chair and bent to pour them both a glass of brandy. "What do you suggest the winner receives?"

"If I win, Gervase, I would like to seduce you."

"You will not win, my dear."

Elizabeth stared right back at him. "And what will you claim as your prize if you win?"

"I will expect you to bathe me for a month and promise not to disagree with me about anything for a whole week. Do you think you could manage that?"

Elizabeth snorted, picked up her cards and fanned them out in front of her face. "You obviously take me for a flat. Are you ready to play now? Or are you too afraid to lose to a woman?"

His eyes narrowed and he picked up his cards. The first rubber passed quietly, the cards favoring neither player, as they each tested the others' skill. The duke won by a very small margin and Elizabeth watched him relax and begin to drink more freely from the bottle of brandy at his elbow. She hoped he believed her an overcautious player, an impression she worked hard to cultivate.

During the second rubber, she drew level with the duke's point tally and passed him by the time they began the third and decisive game. When the duke filled his brandy glass again and cursed a foolish discard he made, Elizabeth sat forward and allowed the thin lace strap of her chemise to fall down her arm.

To her surprise, she was enjoying herself. He was an extremely good player and had a disconcerting ability to sum up her hand with great accuracy, although she prided herself that her calculation of the odds made her the better player. Still, as she surreptitiously wiggled her shoulder to push the strap lower, she decided that she would use any tactic to distract the duke from the cards that she could.

Gervase almost choked on his brandy as Elizabeth's half-naked breast hovered in his vision just above the line of his cards. He cast her a suspicious glance, but, intent on her own hand, she seemed unaware of her dishabille. A lock of her brown hair spilled over her shoulder and lay like an inverted question mark against the barely concealed swell of her breast. Gervase forced his eyes back to his cards as she made a soft humming sound in her throat. He was hard in an instant and shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

The game was too damned close to call. His next discard would probably decide the match. For the first time in his life, he hesitated.

"Are you not going to play, Gervase?"

Her soft voice recalled him from his deliberations and he made the mistake of looking up at her. His throat constricted as he registered that both straps of her bed gown had now slipped to her elbows and that the fine bodice of the thin silk and lace construction was held aloft only by the presence of her nipples.

Blindly, he threw out a card without even looking at it. Elizabeth gave a soft cry of annoyance and slid the straps back up her arms. "This wretched garment will have to be returned to Madame Isabelle's." She plucked at the straps. "These ribbons are far too long."

Gervase licked his dry lips. By the time he ripped the silken garment from her body and plunged himself inside her, he doubted the gown would be in any fit state to be returned. He shook the lustful thoughts from his head and looked down at the card he had discarded.

"A club." He groaned inwardly at his foolish choice and threw down the rest of his hand in disgust.

She smiled at him and revealed the last card she held to be the diamond he had anticipated before sheer lust had overtaken him. Had he wanted to lose? Had he wanted an excuse to have her in his bed after all?

"I've won, Gervase. Now you are honor bound to pay your debts."

He stared at her and his hand flexed amongst the scattered playing cards. He slowly stood up and made her an elegant bow. "I always pay my debts, Elizabeth. I'm yours to command."

*** *** ***

Elizabeth rose and the ten of diamonds slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor. With fingers that shook, she raised her hand and trailed it down his cheek toward his knotted cravat. She studied his tall frame, thankful that Jacques had already helped him out of his tight-fitting coat and boots or her seduction would have stalled at the first fence.

She concentrated on unraveling the yards of starched fabric, her knuckles occasionally brushing his throat, the rasp of the fabric the only sound in the room apart from the crackling fire.

His shirt fell open, revealing the taut muscles of his chest, and she slid her hand inside and smoothed her fingers over his skin. She murmured in appreciation as she nuzzled his skin and his unique scent warmed her senses. A pulse beat at the side of his throat and she rested her mouth against it.

He stood still, allowing her attentions but not helping her at all. His breathing remained calm as she reached up to kiss his mouth. When he resisted the gentle seduction of her tongue she nipped his lower lip and tugged until he opened his mouth and allowed her to sample the depths.

As she stroked her tongue over his, she unbuttoned his waistcoat using only her sense of touch. The silver buttons felt cold against her heated fingers and the press of her breasts. She hummed low in her throat when his tongue joined and met hers in a rhythmic duel. She dropped the waistcoat to the floor and urged him backward, toward the chair by the fire.

She stood between his outstretched legs, pulled his shirt over his head in one swift motion, then knelt to admire his masculine beauty. She allowed her hands to roam over his chest and strong arms in an endless circle. Following the same sultry path with her mouth, she kissed and licked him to her satisfaction.

"You are beautiful, Your Grace."

When she sucked his taut nipple into her mouth, his hands rose to grip the armrests of the chair. Careful not to touch his tented breeches, she perched on his knee, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again.

This time it was he who groaned when she ended the kiss. She slid across his lap and straddled him, only the smooth satin of his pantaloons between the heat of her core and the throb of his cock. She slid her hands down and began to work on the buttons. His breathing hitched as she freed him. With a low murmur of approval, she wrapped her hand around his shaft and stroked the long, hard, length of him until his hips began to lift against her hand.

Desperate now to complete the act he had trained her to fulfill, she rose onto her knees and tried to guide him inside her. To her consternation, it did not seem to be as easy as she had imagined it to be. Either he was too big or she was too small but they didn't seem to fit. She tried to alter the angle of her body to lessen the pressure but that only drove him a little deeper and worsened the painful sensation. Close to tears, she looked up to find him watching her, his gray eyes gleaming a hard silver.

"Please," she whispered.

"What, my dear?" His hand smoothed endless circles over her silk clad back.

"Please, help me."

"But this is your prize, not mine."

She rubbed herself against him and watched the heat in his eyes. "You don't want to help me?"

He stared at her for a long moment and then sighed. "God knows I shouldn't, but I've never considered myself a saint." He brushed his finger over her lower lip. "You are always in such a rush, Elizabeth, close your eyes and relax."

He rubbed his finger along the line of her lips until she opened her mouth and sucked on it. With a satisfied sound, he dragged his wet finger down her body until he reached the apex of her thighs.

"This will help, my dear." He trailed a lazy path with his finger around her already swollen bud, pausing to circle where the crown of his cock disappeared inside her. She shifted forward and brought her hands up to clutch his muscled shoulders. He stroked his finger back and forth like a pendulum, teasing, testing, and tantalizing her senses. Before she knew it, her hips swayed into the rhythm he played out against her most tender flesh.

Gervase gritted his teeth as her luscious body dipped and slid and danced against his fingers. He looked up into her face as her eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks and her head fell back to bare her throat to him. He felt like a snake charmer ensnaring and hypnotizing his unconscious prey. As she undulated around him, he arched his back and slid deeper.

"This is your last chance to stop me, Elizabeth. I will try to restrain myself if you change your mind, but it will be difficult. I'm but a man."

The ache grew between Elizabeth's legs, pooling in her stomach and she deliberately leaned into him, forcing him deeper, feeling him stretch her until there seemed nothing more for him to fill. She gasped his name.

"Ah, ma femme, you are so tight." Gervase breathed out hard and tilted her hips until he was buried deeper than she imagined possible. Elizabeth slowly opened her eyes and stared into the duke's aroused face. His heart thumped reassuringly under her splayed fingers. "Is that all?"

"All of me?" Gervase glanced down and his mouth quirked. "Not quite, nor is this all of the lovemaking."

"Give me all of you, then, Gervase. Show me it all." Elizabeth said dreamily, loving the raw feelings he created in her and joyfully anticipating the rest.

The clock on the mantelpiece struck twice as Gervase gathered her into his arms. "I apologize, Elizabeth, but your seduction of me ends here. I need you naked and beneath me, this first time. We will retire to bed. Wrap your legs around me and hold on."

Chapter 20

Five minutes.

It took him only five minutes of pure heaven and pure hell to complete an act he had been dreaming about for weeks. Gervase rolled over, bringing Elizabeth with him, and covered his eyes with his forearm. He groaned out loud. She must think him a spectacularly inept lover.

To his infinite disgust, he'd spent three minutes resisting the possessive need to plunge as deeply and completely into her as a man could, and the final two wrestling with an insane desire to stay inside her when he knew he must withdraw.

He stared down at her flushed face, which rested over his heart. As if she sensed his regard, she braced her hands on his chest and raised her head. Her mouth opened and he placed his hand over it.

"If you are going to ask me if that was it, I will beat you." He growled as she pulled his fingers away. She frowned, wrinkling her nose as she contemplated him, her gray eyes wide and serious. She smoothed a lock of his hair behind his ear and patted his cheek.

"It is all right, Gervase. I understand that this must have been a difficult evening for you." She paused to brush a kiss on his lips. "No aging rake could be expected to enjoy being beaten at cards by a woman and then find the energy to perform in bed."

With an oath, he grabbed her hands, pulled them above her head and had her on her back before she could scarcely finish the sentence. Bereft of speech, he gazed down at her modestly lowered eyelids and caught the suspicion of a smile on her pursed lips.

"Aging, am I?" He leaned forward, kissed her hard on the mouth and straddled her. "You will be the one pleading to sleep soon, my dear. You will be the one begging."

Her only answer was a shrug as Gervase captured her breast in his mouth and began to suckle hard.

*** *** ***

She shut her eyes and resolved to resist the temptations he offered, despite her body's urgings. The duke needed to learn she was not so easily seduced.

By the time the clock struck the half-hour, Elizabeth was well past the point of begging. She was writhing and biting and clawing at the duke in an effort to make him come inside her. He hovered over her, a smiling, taunting, devil, not allowing her to touch him or to break his hold on her wrists. Sweat gleamed on his muscled body as he contained her struggles and searched her quivering skin for yet another place to torment her.

She blinked and shook her head as he bent close again to kiss her swollen mouth. "Gervase, I need you. I take back what I said. You are truly the greatest lover in the world, as well as the best card player."

He chuckled against her neck as his fingers slid between her legs and buried themselves inside her. She moaned as his thumb found her swollen bud and caressed it with the tip of his fingernail. His mouth captured her breast and he lazily suckled her in counterpart to the thrust of his fingers. A now familiar haze of pleasure built inside her and she arched her hips to keep him close.

She shuddered as he released her hands and hooked her knees over his elbows, opening her wide to him. He tilted her backwards on the mound of pillows until she could see him poised to enter her. She held her breath as he held her gaze and slowly drove forward until he was enfolded in her aching heat. She counted five beats of her heart before he moved again and then withdrew completely. She tried to lock her ankles around his back but the angle at which he held her at prevented it. He surged into her again and again she counted to five before he retreated.

Another desperate half-hour passed. When the clock struck three, she sank her teeth into his arm and screamed his name. He laughed and climbed off her. She watched in disbelief as he strolled across to the fireplace in all his naked, aroused glory to retrieve his brandy glass. He filled the glass and toasted her before raising it to his lips.

"To old rakes and uppity virgins."

Elizabeth had never realized she had the ability to snarl. "You..."

His brandy flew everywhere as she charged into him, fists flying, toppling him over onto the floor. He held her tight to his chest as they fell together onto the thick Turkish rug, taking the impact on his broad back. She could feel him shaking with laughter as she fought to get free of his hold.

He rolled her over and the brandy, warmed by his skin, dripped from his face onto hers as they locked gazes. He smiled, a conqueror's smile, and slowly shook his head dousing her in more brandy. Elizabeth licked her lips and tasted the amber liquid mixed with the duke's subtle, salty taste. She arched her back, suddenly aware of the hardness pressed against her belly, and her undiminished desire to have him inside of her again.

She deliberately licked her lips and his lust filled gaze followed the movement of her tongue. "We are covered in brandy." She reached up to swirl the tip of her tongue over his unshaven chin. A shudder ran through him and his hips drove against hers with a convulsive thrust. His tongue darted forward to touch her nose and soon they were licking each other clean.

After a while, he picked her up and dropped her on the bed. Elizabeth grew so heated that when his large hands slid under her bottom to lift her for his penetration, she scarcely paused to breathe before she exploded with pleasure.

Gervase set his jaw as he rode her through her climax and forced himself not to spill his seed inside her. He had to fight the tightening grip of her inner muscles and, to complete his misery, her long legs wrapped around him, binding him to her like ivy.

He braced his hands on either side of her head and drew back as she struggled to hold onto him.

"Elizabeth, let me go. I need to come outside of you."

She allowed him to pull away, her face puzzled as he locked an arm around her waist and forced his hips hard against hers. The blessed frenzy of release blinded him, wrung him out and left him gasping against her breasts. It took a long while before her voice penetrated the mush that remained of his brain.

"Why must you pull away from me?"

Damnation, he should have known Miss Curiosity would demand a coherent explanation. He rolled onto his back and stared at the black silk canopy embroidered with devilfish and scantily clad mermaids above his head. If he were not so exhausted he would be sorely tempted to ignore her question and kiss her until she stopped speaking. It was the most effective means he had as yet devised for shutting her up.

"If I spill my seed inside you, you might get with child."

He almost yelped as her hand slid over his stomach and fastened around his sadly depleted manly parts. She squeezed him gently and then patted him as if she were humoring an unruly pet.

"I had forgotten that the begetting of children is supposed to be the only reason for performing this particular act."

With a growl, he placed his hand over hers, pressed it hard against his cock and held it there. "We will discuss these matters in the morning. Now you need to go back to your bed. It would not do for Jacques to find you here."

She sat up, arched her back, letting the sheet fall away from her naked breasts. The smile she bestowed upon him was full of weary satisfaction. "I fear that you are right. I am a little tired after my exertions."

He picked her up and crossed the corridor to her suite. He swept back the embroidered covers and tumbled her down into the center of the bed. A single candle lightened the darkness and illuminated the pureness of her skin and the golden glints in her hair as it fanned out over the pillows. The shadowed tips of her breasts beckoned him to rub them between his fingers like crumpled rose petals.

His breathing hitched and he knew he had to have her again. If it was indeed madness, he was consumed by it and would die a happy and satisfied man. He slid inside her and took her fast and she responded with equal enthusiasm, pulling him closer, matching his driving rhythm until he groaned and withdrew as his climax overcame him.

She was already falling asleep as he disentangled himself from her arms and slid out of the bed. He paused to gaze down on her face, innocent now, in the faint glow of the dawn. He imagined getting back into bed with her and falling asleep. He knew in his soul, had always known from the first time that they had met, that he would rest well beside her.

He frowned and withdrew his hand from the silken comforter as he recognized the extent of his folly. Instead of slaking his lust, he had simply stirred it to new heights.

"Good night, my dear," he murmured.

Elizabeth thought she had only bargained for one night of passion but until he decided otherwise, he intended to remain in her bed. He stretched his satiated body. Miss Elizabeth Waterstone would just have to learn to accustom herself to his demands.

Chapter 21

"Your Grace, I know the name of the man Mrs. Waterstone has been meeting."

Gervase replaced his knife on the side of his plate and gestured for Nicholas to shut the door and be seated. It was only seven o'clock in the morning and Elizabeth had not yet appeared for breakfast. As Gervase scanned Nicholas's worried face, his sense of satisfaction receded and his appetite went with it.

"I spoke to some of the regular patrons of the coffee house and found out that the man's name is Jack Llewelyn." Nicholas leaned across the table, grabbed the coffee pot and filled his cup. "Despite his somewhat ragged appearance, Llewelyn is regarded as a gentleman. Rumor has it that he was a military man who was kicked out of his regiment for cowardice."

"Llewelyn..." Gervase said thoughtfully. "That is the family name of the Earl of Carmarthen. He had at least three sons that I know of. I wonder if there is any connection there."

Nicholas gulped down his coffee and, despite the duke's pained stare, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Nothing I know of yet, Your Grace, although I got the impression that Jack Llewelyn was not the type of man to cross." Nicholas grimaced. "Apparently he is always willing to stand up and right a few wrongs when he feels the odds are unfair."

Gervase set down his cup. "I need to know if this man has any connection with the French, or if he has come into contact with the Foresters. And if Mrs. Waterstone meets with him again, may I suggest you follow him? I would like to know where he lives."

Nicholas hesitated. "This might sound ridiculous, Your Grace, but I still can't see Mrs. Waterstone as a French spy."

Gervase dug his hand into his breeches pocket and searched for his spectacles. "To be honest with you, Nick, neither can I, but I would appreciate your complete attention in this matter. I've learned, to my cost, not to trust anyone in this game, especially a woman."

Nicholas nodded and returned to his breakfast. As Gervase crossed the hall, he glanced up the wide staircase but there was no sign of Elizabeth. He had ordered the servants to bring her a hot bath when she finally awoke. She would probably be sore after his lovemaking. His smile faded as he shut the door into his study.

Despite all of his efforts to convince Elizabeth to trust him, she had lied about knowing Jack Llewelyn. Gervase stared unseeingly at his paper-strewn desk. He could simply ask Elizabeth about the man but he did not want to catch her out in a lie. He wanted her to trust him. He had already decided that if she were involved with Mr. Forester's schemes he would do his best to protect her from the harshest forms of justice.

He halted as the implications of his unconsciously formed decision assaulted him. He was willing to help a potential spy? What in God's name had Elizabeth done to him? And now that he had taken her to bed, he wanted to continue to enjoy her. She was either the cleverest woman he had ever come across or the unluckiest. He cursed fluently, pulled a piece of parchment from his desk drawer and began to write.

*** *** ***

Elizabeth awoke from a deep sleep to find the sun shining through her curtains and the morning well advanced. She stretched and felt her body arch and ache in a sensual echo of her night of passion. Her door opened and the cheery face of Nancy, her maid, peeked in.

"Good morning, Ma'am. I will ready your bath if you are wanting it."

"Yes please."

Elizabeth pulled on her robe, crawled out of bed and into the welcoming bath. As she relaxed into the perfumed water, she leaned back and contemplated the ceiling. She ran the tip of her tongue over her still-swollen lips and shivered. How would the duke behave toward her after their night of lovemaking? She had already learned that, like her, he had an uncanny ability to show a calm face to the world when his inner thoughts were in turmoil.

Elizabeth soaped her neck and frowned at the gilded cherub above her head. In truth, she was more worried about her reaction to the duke than his reaction. She was afraid she might be overcome with an urge to kiss him over the breakfast table in front of Sir John and Standish.

She couldn't help but smile as she washed her hair and rinsed it with the jug of clean water Nancy had left beside the bath. She did not regret her night with the duke in the slightest. It had been everything she had hoped for.

Her smile died as she contemplated her future. She had to seek another protector and she must start her search at once. The prospect was even more unappealing now that she had tasted the delights the duke could offer her. It might be best for her to avoid Gervase in case she should weaken and beg him to allow her to stay in his arms forever. With this less than cheerful thought, she dragged herself out of the bath and began to dress, her spirits unaccountably dampened.

By the time she arrived at her desk, Sir John was already patrolling the carpet, a superior smile on his face. He pointed to a new message, which lay on her desk.

"There was no need to hurry, Mrs. Waterstone, I scarcely needed you. I believe I've almost cracked this code already."

She marched up to the desk and snatched the code. "If it truly is that simple, sir, I'm sure I'm perfectly capable of deciphering it in my sleep!"

A gentle cough from the doorway made Elizabeth spin around to find Gervase regarding her through his spectacles. His pensive gaze slid from her to a red-faced Sir John. "Are you two squabbling?"

Elizabeth blushed like a five-year-old caught out in mischief and Sir John cleared his throat. "I just informed Mrs. Waterstone that I had almost broken the new code and she seemed to take exception to my claim."

Elizabeth looked up and found the duke's hooded eyes fixed on her. A distracting warmth settled low in her stomach, making her sound sharper than she intended. "Sir John seems to think my services here are unnecessary. Do you agree with him, Your Grace?"

The duke maintained eye contact with Elizabeth as he spoke to Sir John. "I think you should allow Mrs. Waterstone to translate the code herself and then, if she admits defeat, perhaps you could try it."

Elizabeth worried at her already bitten lip. It seemed Sir John was right and Gervase didn't completely trust her after all.

Sir John bowed, a small triumphant smile on his lips. "Thank you, Your Grace. I'm only trying to be of service."

He turned and left the room, humming as he retreated down the corridor. Elizabeth sat down and stared blindly at the sheet of parchment in front of her. The duke continued to watch her from the doorway as she picked up her quill pen and sharpened it with hard, uneven strokes.

"I'm sure you will translate the code perfectly, Elizabeth." The duke paused as if waiting for her reply. She refused to look at him and he continued with a sigh. "Please don't take this personally. I have to be certain that the information I receive is accurate. No one is above suspicion. I set checks on everyone."

Elizabeth slowly raised her head and looked at him. "I do understand, Your Grace. Perhaps it would be better if Sir John could translate the code as I will not be here for much longer."

The duke took off his glasses and slowly polished them against his thigh. "What do you mean, my dear?"

Elizabeth attempted a shrug. "As we agreed, I will be looking for a new protector. I could hardly work for you whilst I'm entertaining another man."

The duke's gaze frosted and he glanced at the clock. "You will accompany me to Angelique's in an hour. We will discuss your future plans there. Please don't keep me waiting."

He left, closing the door firmly behind him and leaving Elizabeth with the uncomfortable sensation that she had somehow erred. The sensation remained with her as she turned her attention back to the code. Sir John was right. The translation was ridiculously easy until she attempted to understand the key words in each sentence.

She battled with the encrypted words for almost an hour before she remembered the duke's command and hurried upstairs to put on her favorite lavender pelisse and matching bonnet. The duke met her in the hall, his many-caped black driving coat already around his shoulders, and escorted her out to his phaeton.

She sat quietly, ignoring his attempts at conversation as he drove through the busy thoroughfares and then into the residential quarters. The sun had disappeared behind the clouds by the time Angelique's discreet maid let them into her beribboned parlor. Elizabeth sat in one of the dainty pink striped chairs while the duke prowled the room like a caged animal.

When Angelique opened the door, she paused on the threshold, hands clasped at her lush bosom, and stared first at Elizabeth and then at the duke. Her face became wreathed in smiles. "You have taken Elizabeth to bed, Gervase. I'm so pleased for you both."

Elizabeth stared open mouthed at the duke who shrugged his immaculately clad shoulders. "Angelique is French, my dear. She can sense a love affair beginning in another country."

Elizabeth shot to her feet. "We are not having a love affair. We had one night. That was all I required of you."

Ignoring Angelique, the duke crossed the carpet and placed his fingers under Elizabeth's chin. "All you required of me? Are you daring to suggest I've nothing more to offer you?" His tone became biting. "If you think I will let you go after only one night, you are sadly mistaken."

He smiled down at her and then glanced at Angelique. "Do you want to tell her how wrong she is?"

Angelique spread her hands. "Gervase, we were barely adults when we became lovers. Maybe Elizabeth is in a better position to judge you now than I am. Perhaps you did not live up to her expectations."

The duke cursed under his breath. "Damnation, I would rather face a pack of screeching harpies than you two."

Angelique floated across to Elizabeth and linked their arms. "Come upstairs with me, Elizabeth, and let Gervase compose himself. I've something I think you might need."

*** *** ***

Elizabeth stared with horrified fascination at the small pile of natural sponges and the dark bottle of vinegar as Angelique calmly explained how they could help prevent a pregnancy. She tried to listen when Angelique spoke knowledgeably about counting the days of her cycle and when it was most dangerous to make love. She watched and nodded as Angelique showed her how to attach a thin line of sewing thread to the sponge, soak it in the vinegar and then...

Elizabeth laid her hand over Angelique's. "Why are you telling me this? I've no intention of sleeping with Gervase again."

Angelique began to put the items into a small bag, her face serious. "This is a gift for you, not for Gervase. If you decide to move on to another protector you will still need to prevent a pregnancy." Angelique's fingers tightened on the bag. "Most men will not pay for the upkeep of their bastards. I've friends who have been left penniless and on the streets with a small child."

More than a little subdued by this information, Elizabeth accepted the soft leather pouch Angelique pressed into her hands.

"Elizabeth, I don't think Gervase will let you go easily. He is a very possessive man." Elizabeth tried to interrupt as Angelique pulled her from the bed and crossed to the door, a mischievous smile on her face. "I'll wager that not even you will find it possible to escape him." She winked at Elizabeth as they descended the stairs. "And why would you want to leave him? Even at nineteen he was truly an exceptional lover."

The duke awaited them at the bottom of the stairs and his dry voice floated up to them. "Thank you for the belated compliment, Angelique. I hope Elizabeth will take heed of your recommendation."

Elizabeth ignored the duke's looming presence in the small cluttered hallway and turned to give Angelique a hug. "Thank you for your guidance. I will be sure to remember it."

The duke didn't speak until they were well on their way back to Delamere House. He threaded his phaeton neatly through a crowded cattle market that had spilled over onto the surrounding streets and then turned to glance at her averted profile. "What did Angelique give you, my dear?"

Elizabeth clutched her reticule closely to her chest and glared at him. "Nothing that need concern you, Your Grace."

He gathered the reins into one gloved hand as the carriage slowed to climb a slight incline and she caught a glimpse of his amused smile. "I asked Angelique to advise you about avoiding pregnancy, my dear. It is scarcely a secret that I don't wish for any more children."

"Well that suits me nicely, Your Grace, for I don't intend to put myself in the way of getting any bastards from you in the near future." Elizabeth snapped.

They were nearly at the door of Delamere House and the duke slowed his horses with a quiet command. Before Elizabeth could react, he caught her hand in his and brought it to his lips.

"Tut, tut, Elizabeth, such language from a lady. You will give me palpitations." His grip tightened and he bit gently on the exposed skin at her wrist. "We will continue this discussion tonight in the privacy of your bed and maybe find other and more interesting ways to come to an agreement."

"No..." She wrenched her hand away, breathing hard and fumbled for the door of the phaeton. His eyes flashed a storm warning and he opened his mouth as though to command her to stay but stopped when a footman ran to her aid. She didn't wait for him to come around the carriage and hand her down, but ran for the safety of the house with all the speed she could muster.

*** *** ***

After a restorative half an hour in her bedchamber, Elizabeth tiptoed down the stairs and made her way to Sir John's study. Sir John glanced up as she appeared and rose to his feet.

"I was a little harsh with you this morning, Mrs. Waterstone. I wish to beg your pardon." He cleared his throat noisily. "When I happened to glance at the code again this afternoon I realized it was not that simple after all."

Elizabeth gave him a perfunctory smile and unlocked her desk with the key that the duke had given her, which she wore around her neck. The scrap of parchment looked back at her, an intriguing mystery just waiting to be solved.

"How did you get into my desk to look at the code, Sir John? I thought that the duke and I were the only people who had a key."

Sir John produced his red notebook with a flourish and tapped it with his index finger. "You may recall, Mrs. Waterstone that I sometimes copy the more intriguing parts of the code into my little book to ponder at my leisure." He replaced the book in his pocket and favored her with a warm smile. "Don't fear for the book's safety, ma'am. I carry it on my person at all times."

Elizabeth nodded, already dismissing him from her mind as the code beckoned. She soon forgot about her dinner and her impending confrontation with the duke and was only roused from her intense concentration by the booming of the hall clock striking twelve midnight. She sat back in her chair and stretched her shoulders. The inked script started to lift from the parchment and twirl and dance in front of her eyes.

There was no sign of any of the duke's household as she lit a single candle and made her way up to bed. Her slippered feet scarcely made a sound on the thickly carpeted passageways. She opened her door and came to an abrupt halt. Gervase sat with his back to her by the fireside, long legs stretched out toward the dying embers.

Elizabeth drew in a determined breath and walked around the back of the chair, hands on hips, to confront her unwelcome visitor. Her gaze softened as she saw he was asleep, his lax fingers wrapped around a book, his cravat loosened at his throat. She leaned forward and carefully removed his spectacles from his nose. He looked as tired as she felt and she had no intention of disturbing his rest.

She blew him a kiss and whispered, "Good night, Your Grace," before undressing and slipping into bed. Her last anxious thought, as sleep claimed her, was what she would do if the duke awoke before her. Too tired to worry about him, and strangely unperturbed by the thought of his closeness, she surrendered to the night.

Chapter 22

"How dare you!"

As Elizabeth advanced toward the duke's desk, Nicholas got swiftly out of the way. Gervase leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms and stared up at her, his expression faintly inquiring.

"What is it, ma belle?"

"You..." Elizabeth threw the soft, velvet pouch at his unprotected head. His hand shot out and he caught it before it hit him. Denied the pleasure of assaulting him, Elizabeth was reduced to stamping her foot. "How dare you leave that on my pillow!"

The duke raised an eyebrow and waved Nicholas away. "I don't understand why you are so upset, my dear." He glanced down at the pouch and tossed it between his hands, releasing the soft chink of the coins within. "It is customary for a man to pay his mistress when he is pleased with her."

Elizabeth snorted and sat down with an unladylike thump. "You already pay me a wage, Your Grace. I don't need this." She gestured with disgust at the pile of gold coins the duke tipped out of the purse.

The duke began to stack the gold coins as he considered her. "Why does it offend you, Elizabeth? You obviously have a use for the money. You asked me recently for an advance on your wages."

Elizabeth gulped as she gazed at his cynical expression. "Is that why you think I went to bed with you--for money?"

"I'm not sure." He paused. "Did you?"

Her gaze dropped to the desk where the stack of coins leaned toward the duke's clenched fist. "I went to bed with you because I wanted you to be the first man who touched me." She winced at the flare of disbelief in his eyes. "I decided to take your advice and ask my next protector for money."

The duke's hand relaxed. "If I understand you correctly, you are saying that you chose to sleep with me for more, shall we say, sentimental reasons, before moving on to a new protector whom you would feel more comfortable taking money from."

Elizabeth cringed. Put like that, she sounded mercenary, but she couldn't dispute the bare bones of the truth. She nodded, and kept her eyes on his hands, not daring to look at him for fear of his contempt.

He leaned forward and suddenly knocked the tower of coins over with the back of his hand. He hit them with such force that two of them spiraled through the air and landed in her lap. He shot to his feet and strode over to the window, keeping his back to her.

"I did wonder, Elizabeth, if your timely surrender was an attempt to extort the money from me." He swung around to face her, his gray eyes hard, his voice soft. "I also wondered if you chose to tempt me beyond reason as a form of revenge."

She lifted her chin and stared back at him. "You are mistaken, Your Grace. I had no thoughts of greed or revenge when I came to your bed, only curiosity." She shrugged back the tears that crowded her throat and tried to smile as she got to her feet. "As I've achieved my ambition, I will make sure that my bags are packed and that I'm ready to leave at your convenience."

A sudden rush of tears blurred her retreat and she only realized Gervase had come up behind her when she was unable to open the door.

"I don't want you to go, Elizabeth. I want you in my bed."

She leaned her forehead against the door panel as he bent to kiss the nape of her neck. His harsh, quick breathing mirrored her own. "I fear that we are at cross purposes, ma belle." His lips traveled up to her ear. "What if I told you that I left you the money because I wanted to give you a reason to stay with me? Would you stay?"

Elizabeth closed her eyes as the temptation to give into his demands engulfed her. She sighed as he placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. She raised an unsteady hand to caress his cheek and he captured her fingers and held them there.

"I will stay until the code is broken and the assassin is caught, Your Grace, but I don't want any more money, like this, from you. I will stay because it pleases me to stay, not for financial gain."

"It pleases me, Elizabeth. I will endeavor to prove worthy of you."

His mouth descended, claiming her in a deep, possessive kiss that left her clutching his shoulders and leaning weakly against him. She bit back a sigh when he raised his head and stepped away. He grimaced, ran a hand through his hair and glanced down at the bulge of his cock.

"I wish that I had the time to take you upstairs and show you how much I appreciate you, but I'm due at the Foreign Office in an hour."

Elizabeth drew in a shaky breath and smoothed down her gown. "I've work to do as well, Your Grace. The code is proving particularly difficult to break."

Gervase swept her a bow. "Well then, my dear, I suggest that you leave me to make myself presentable and go do battle with the code."

*** *** ***

Gervase closed his book with a snap and glanced at the library clock. It was past midnight and yet a light still glowed in the shadows of Sir John's office. He rose to his feet, stretched the tiredness from his shoulders, and strolled through the concealed door toward Elizabeth's desk.

He leaned against the doorframe and studied the intense figure at the desk. Elizabeth had a frown between her brows and a quill pen poised over a piece of parchment. Unnoticed, Gervase moved closer and looked over her shoulder. From the amount of scribbling, he deduced her latest attempt to break Le Fleur's code was not progressing well.

Gervase laid his hand on Elizabeth's shoulder and registered the tension in her muscles. He squeezed and relaxed his fingers and she tried to shake his hand off. Gervase stilled as the warmth of her scent drifted up to tantalize and revitalize his tired senses. "Elizabeth, it is time for bed."

She barely glanced at him, her attention all on the page in front of her. Gervase suppressed a smile. It occurred to him that he didn't like to be ignored and was not used to it from the woman who occupied his bed.

"Elizabeth." He made his tone commanding. "I want to go to bed, preferably with you."

This time she did look up. She gave him a rather perfunctory smile and pushed her spectacles higher up her nose. "You run along, Your Grace. I will join you shortly. I just need to finish this piece."

Without bothering to reply, Gervase picked up one of the long goose-feather quills from the desk and ran his fingertips along the taut edge of the feather. He moved closer to Elizabeth and touched the tip of the feather to her earlobe and down the nape of her neck. He followed the feather's path with the tip of his tongue.

She shivered slightly but still refused to look up. With renewed intention, Gervase angled the feather to dip toward the front of her bodice. He sat sideways on the desk and used his finger and thumb to unhook the pearl buttons on the severely cut green velvet of her bodice. Her chemise and corset appeared and his breath shortened as he allowed the feather to caress the enticing swells and tips of her breasts. As he flicked the quill in an endless circling pattern over her exposed skin, he was gratified to see her nipples begin to tighten.

He breathed against her neck, an invitation and a command. "Let me touch you, ma belle, let me inside you."

She sighed and her quill pen dropped from her fingers. He gathered it up to double his sensual assault. Her head fell back against his waistcoat, allowing him to caress her throat and then her mouth with his kisses and soft touches. He slid further up the desk, taking her weight into his arms, loosening her stays and completely baring her breasts to his hungry mouth.

When her hands came up to clutch his shoulders and she began to kiss him back, he angled her to lie beneath him on the desk and pulled up her skirts. She made no further protest about her work as he opened his breeches, plunged inside of her and reminded her of her other obligations.

He waited until she had moaned her pleasure into his mouth before he realized he wanted more. "Elizabeth, hold on to me. We will finish this upstairs. I want you naked." He lifted her from the desk in one easy motion and smiled as she gasped when his shaft was forced even deeper inside her.

*** *** ***

Elizabeth shut her eyes and clung to the duke as he mounted the stairs, each jolting step pooling low in her stomach, making her arch into him in a wordless plea. He began to breathe more harshly as they reached the top of the stairs but she didn't think it was because he was disturbed by her weight.

He stopped as she started to spasm around him again and his hand came up to cover her mouth. With a soft curse, he drew her into the shadows of the massive landing window and the concealment offered by the thick velvet curtains. Her back hit the paneled wall as he braced her against it and placed his hands on either side of her head. As her body, released from his hold, slid downwards, he surged upwards, concentrating her whole weight on where they were joined. She fought back a scream as his mouth covered hers, his tongue driving into her as his body drove into her.

With the last remnant of his sanity, he remembered that he had to withdraw and pulled out. His hands moved blindly to support her hips as he spilled himself into oblivion.

Down in the hallway below, the front door slammed and voices echoed in the silence. Elizabeth couldn't have moved if her life depended on it. She tried to quiet her breathing and sensed the duke doing the same.

"God, I'm glad to be home," Nicholas said. "I hate hanging around those gaming hells and watching the unsuspecting flats being lured into the traps of the card sharps."

"Unfortunately, Nicholas, there are many who are unable to resist the excitement of gaming." Sir John's prosy voice had Elizabeth stifling a smile against the duke's shoulder.

"You are not exactly immune to the excitement yourself, are you?" Nicholas replied. "You were badly dipped tonight. I saw you scrawling vouchers with the best of them."

"Only in the interests of catching the spies, young Nicholas." Sir John sniffed. "Naturally, I would never gamble my own pitiful fortune away."

Nicholas gave a short laugh. "But you consider it acceptable to gamble away the duke's, do you?"

"Of course, it is my duty. He is so disgustingly wealthy that he will scarcely notice the loss." Elizabeth felt the duke's muscles tighten around her like the coils of a snake. "I wonder why he doesn't bother to go out and gamble his own money anymore."

"Are you blind, Sir John? The duke is far too busy spending cozy evenings with Mrs. Waterstone to want to go out on the town."

"Mrs. Waterstone and the duke?" Sir John's voice held a mixture of surprise and revulsion that made Elizabeth feel ashamed. She fought to disengage herself from the duke's arms but he held her tightly as Nicholas's voice faded in the direction of the kitchens. Elizabeth was just about to protest when the duke placed his hand over her mouth.

"The clever little bitch," Sir John whispered. "Mr. Forester will be pleased." His words floated up the stairwell and settled sickeningly in Elizabeth's stomach. The front door banged and the house grew still.

The duke let her slide to the floor and she stumbled into her bedroom. When the duke shut the door she turned to face him, her breathing uneven.

"Gervase, if you think I made love with you to please my stepfather, you are mistaken."

An uncharacteristic mixture of emotions flickered on the duke's face. "Indeed?"

Elizabeth lifted her chin. "If he had asked me to seduce you in order to forgo his debt I would have refused. The money I requested was not for him."

The duke inclined his head. "I never thought that it was, and, having met your stepfather, I can understand your dislike of him."

Elizabeth managed to breathe as the duke came forward to take her hand. "Now," he murmured. "Where were we?"

His mouth closed over hers and the questions she had regarding Sir John's strange behavior flew from her head as she surrendered to the duke's questing hands and the lure of his muscular body.

*** *** ***

Gervase left her to sleep and walked through the deserted house down to Sir John's study. After locking away the code and tidying up the disordered desk, he lit a single candle and settled into Elizabeth's chair. When Sir John had made his incautious remark, Gervase had braced himself to face Elizabeth's suspicions. To his surprise, her major concern had been to convince him she was not allied to her stepfather. He had assumed she would ask about Mr. Forester and Sir John's relationship with him.

He angled the chair back and put his booted feet up on the corner of the desk. He had been quite willing to distract her with his lovemaking. He smiled and ran his tongue over his lips where her sweetness still lingered. She was an outstanding pupil both in and out of bed. He just had to think of a way to stop her agile mind from inquiring too deeply into his plans.

His lovemaking usually worked to distract her. But he feared that even he didn't have the stamina to ravish her night and day for as long as it took to break the code and find out the extent of Mr. Forester's involvement.

He blew out the candle and made his way back up to his bed, wishing with some small part of himself that he could rejoin Elizabeth in hers and stay with her until dawn. But that would not be wise, not be wise at all...

Chapter 23

"What in God's name is going on?"

"I'm not sure, Your Grace, we found her like this."

Gervase shooed Sir John and Nicholas out of his way. Elizabeth lay slumped over her desk, her fingers curled around her quill pen, her cheek pressed into the scribbled sheet of parchment on her blotter. It was eight o'clock in the morning and Gervase had no inkling how long Elizabeth had been lying there. He felt for a pulse and went down on one knee beside her chair.

"Elizabeth?"

Her eyelids fluttered open and after a long distracted moment she focused on him. He flinched at the desolation in her gray eyes. "I cannot break the code," she croaked as he reached instinctively for her hand. "I'm too stupid."

A single tear ran down her pert nose. Gervase knew she hated to cry. A wave of tangled emotions swept through him and he reached forward to enfold her in his arms.

With a pitiful sob, she cuddled into him. He sat in her vacated chair and placed her on his lap. He rocked her as though she were a child, murmuring nonsense to her in both French and English whilst he smoothed his hands over her back.

After a while, her ink-stained hand crept around his neck and held him tight. Gervase produced a large handkerchief and gave it to her.

"You are too tired to break the code, not too stupid. I've pushed you too hard and I deeply regret it." She opened her mouth but he placed his finger across her lips. "I didn't ask you to speak, Elizabeth. I'm going to take you away for the weekend so that you can forget about the code and concentrate solely on pleasing yourself." He bent to brush a kiss on her ink stained cheek. "And me, of course."

*** *** ***

Two hours later, Elizabeth sat opposite the duke in his luxuriously sprung traveling coach on her way to his country residence in Chipping Ongar, Essex. She couldn't believe the speed at which their removal was accomplished. She had done nothing but sleep, at the duke's autocratic command. When she had awoken, she put on her bonnet and cloak and they were off.

She was relieved to be free from the confines of the house and the torture of the intransigent code. Glad to be alone with the duke too, if she admitted the truth. She was so worried about her lack of progress that she had been unable to sleep and had crept down to her desk in the gray light of the dawn. The next thing she remembered was the duke calling her name.

The duke smiled. "Are you feeling a little better, my dear?"

"Yes, Your Grace, I feel much restored. I was just thinking how nice it is to be away from London."

He reached forward and took her gloved hand in his. "I'm glad that you feel that way, Elizabeth, for there is something I would ask of you." Elizabeth responded to the pressure on her hand and leaned toward him. "I want you to pretend that we have left Miss Elizabeth Waterstone, code breaker extraordinaire, at the London house." He smiled at her evident confusion and worked her glove from her hand. "I want you to pretend that you are the dashing widow, Mrs. Waterstone, off on an illicit weekend with her lover."

Elizabeth considered the duke's improper suggestion as he removed her other glove and tugged at the ribbons of her bonnet.

"What would a dashing widow do that a well brought-up young lady would not?" she asked.

"Sit beside me, for one thing."

Elizabeth moved to his side and he slid an arm around her shoulders. He kissed her with a thoroughness that made her weak and yet heated her senses at the same time. He angled her away from him and began to work free the buttons on her bodice.

"The first time we met, my dear, when I brought you home in my carriage, I wanted to pull you into my lap and make love to you."

His words made her draw back. "But you didn't even know me! How could you have considered such a thing, even if it had been possible?"

His long fingers captured her chin. "I hesitate to remind you of an unpleasant event, Elizabeth, but at the time I thought you were a prostitute. I thought you would be willing to do anything I told you to." His mouth hardened with apparent regret.

His fingers freed the last button on her bodice and slid beneath the corset to splay possessively over her breast. She shuddered as he allowed his thumb to tangle lightly with her nipple. "And as for making love in a carriage, my dear, you are just about to find out if it is indeed possible."

*** *** ***

A long while later, Gervase opened his eyes and looked down at the top of Elizabeth's neatly coiled hair. She had fallen asleep in his arms after he had shown her just how easy and how enjoyable it was to make love in a coach. He had loved her fierce concentration when she climaxed and the way she clung to him afterward.

Her flushed cheek lay against his chest and her fingers clutched the silver buttons of his waistcoat. He shifted across to raise the window blind to check their progress. Even in the gathering darkness, he estimated they were passing through Woodford Bridge, a small hamlet about five miles from their destination.

His cock jerked as he moved back, reminding him he was still buried deep inside her and that he would need little encouragement to begin enjoying her again. He slid his hands between their fully clothed bodies and her eyes opened. She smiled sleepily as he touched her bunched-up petticoats and crumpled skirts.

She made a small sound as he grasped her hips and began to lift her away from him. He froze as his instincts roared to set her back down on his stirring flesh.

Her dreamy gaze focused on him. "It feels a little strange to be so decently clothed and yet so intimately joined underneath."

He couldn't restrain the instant upward surge of his hips but he managed to master his ragged control and pulled out of her. He swung her around to sit on the seat beside him and fought to fasten his tight breeches over the urgent swell of his shaft.

She watched him without a word, her arms wrapped around her upper body, her skirts in a froth of disarray. When he was decent again, he pulled her to her feet and stood her between his knees. She placed her hands on his shoulders against the rocking of the carriage as he buttoned her bodice and straightened her skirts.

"Gervase," she said as he handed over her bonnet and gloves and guided her into the seat opposite his. "You were still inside me when I woke up and I did not think to prepare myself..."

She blushed as he took in her meaning and fought his own disbelief. How could he have been so careless? Despite his lessons, she was not an experienced courtesan or a married woman who knew how to handle such matters. She could scarcely have imagined he might choose to ravish her in his carriage.

"When do you expect your monthly courses?"

He watched her struggle with the indelicacy of his question and try to form an answer. "I believe I will bleed on Monday." She gave him a rather tremulous smile. "That is good news is it not? Angelique said that was one of the safest times to make love."

Gervase smiled back as he envisioned a weekend of staying inside of her without fear of her breeding. His body stirred again in sensual anticipation. "Yes, my dear, that is very good news indeed."

When they turned into the long driveway that led to his house, he allowed her to pull up the blinds that covered the coach windows. The carriage slowed as the coachman negotiated the twists and turns of the elm-tree-lined graveled drive. Lights appeared and disappeared in the mist filled darkness as the carriage began its final descent.

"Oh, Gervase." Elizabeth breathed. "It is beautiful."

Gervase took up a position at the other window as Diable Delamere Hall came into view. Moonlight shimmered off the formal lake beyond the circular driveway and laid a silvered pathway to the majestic front door. His father had remodeled the front of the house in the classic Greek style and its gracious white columns and pediment reflected back the moonlight, giving the house a pale, almost unearthly glow.

*** *** ***

When Gervase came around to help Elizabeth out of the carriage, she pressed her fingers into his sleeve to prevent him from moving. She stared at the mansion's ghostly façade. "It feels as if the house is floating above the mist. Is it often like this?"

Gervase shrugged and then urged her toward the steps as a bevy of servants descended to deal with their luggage. "I suppose it is. I've not had time to visit for a long while."

She squeezed his arm as they entered through the massive oak front door. "Then it is obviously time that you did." She came to a halt and gazed up at the massive hammer beam ceiling that rose thirty feet above their heads. Ancient tattered banners hanging from the beams stirred in the draughts and antique weapons gleamed against the lime washed walls.

The duke steered Elizabeth up the shallow wooden staircase. "The original house is much older than it appears. It was begun at the end of the fifteenth century." He gestured behind him as they ascended until they reached the minstrel's gallery. "This would have been the great hall when the house was built. My father decided to modernize the house and slapped a new frontage on it."

From his tone, she deduced that he had not been totally in favor of his father's renovations. Before she could ask, he stopped in front of a bedroom door and opened it for her with a flourish. "This suite connects with mine next door but I thought we should keep up appearances."

She looked around the faded elegance of the silk-lined room and took in a slow breath. Her senses reached out and tentatively embraced the ancient aura that surrounded her. This was a home. This was a place to make babies and watch children grow, a place to rejoice and a place to mourn. She'd never had a real home and yet she recognized its essence instantly.

She turned to say something to Gervase, who remained beside the door. She realized that he probably wouldn't share her feminine appreciation of the beauties and sense of love that she ached to embrace. He folded his arms across his chest as if to protect himself from whatever he had seen or guessed at in her eyes.

She managed to smile. "The room is perfect. I will enjoy sleeping here."

He crossed the space between them in three easy strides and pulled her against him. "You will not be sleeping here. You will be in my bed and you will not be sleeping much there either."

She slid her hands up his arms and locked them around his neck as he drew her into a kiss that seemed destined to last for the rest of the night. She responded to him as eagerly as she imagined the previous occupants of this room had reacted to the other magnificently endowed members of the Diable Delamere male line.

"We will dine first, and then retire to bed," he ordered with a smile. "I'm quite certain you will wish to have an early night."

*** *** ***

Gervase awoke with a start as the hoot of an owl echoed across the silent sky. He turned his head on the pillow and gazed at Elizabeth, who lay curled against his side, one hand across his chest, the other trapped below his hip. The moonlight brought out the hidden glint of gold in her brown, curling hair and gilded her lips with silver.

He let out a long, slow breath and slid his hand up to her bare shoulder. She smiled in her sleep and moved closer, her nose nuzzling the crisp black hairs on his chest. The owl had woken him in the middle of a dream and he could still recall the textures and scents of it. He had been at peace, holding his son in his arms as he slept.

He swallowed hard at the vivid image and braced himself against the pain he knew would follow. Elizabeth murmured something soothing against his flesh as though even in her sleep she could sense his tension.

Minutes ticked by, counted by the clock on the mantelpiece. Gervase let out a wary breath as his grief flowed outwards, through Elizabeth, instead of settling like a clenched fist in his gut.

He studied her quiet, unremarkable features with close attention. Sleeping with her in the same bed had turned out to be everything he had hoped for. In the quiet of the night, he could even admit that she brought him peace. Even as he acknowledged it and firmly shoved the thought away, his body came to shocking life. He knew that he had to possess her, had to imprint himself on her until she no longer wished to leave him.

Without further thought, he rolled her onto her back and crawled on top of her, the urge to join with her so acute that he couldn't stand to wait for another second. He nudged her knees apart with his thigh. As she started to wake up, he drove forward until his cock was buried as deeply as he could manage. He waited until she adjusted to his throbbing presence and her heartbeat and breathing mirrored his.

To his relief, she didn't protest his indecent haste. She drew her legs up higher to allow him deeper penetration and clung to his hips. With a growl, he took all she offered and demanded more, his tempo fast, his thrusts pressing her down into the mattress as he sought to meld himself with her, to take what she sheltered within her, to join himself with her inner peace.

He increased his pace and she began to pant, his hips pumping, his breath harsh against her skin. She opened her eyes and stared into his intent face as he drew back a little and braced his hands on either side of her hips. She gasped when he slid her legs up his arms and over his shoulders, opening her wide to him as he continued to thrust. She closed her eyes and reached for his muscled forearms. Her feeling spiraled and tightened and she no longer cared what he did to her as long as he never stopped doing it. Pleasure crashed over her and her body jerked upwards to slam against his while he pounded into her.

He groaned deep in his throat when she tightened around him until he could no longer breathe, no longer see. He thrust forward one last time and then followed her into the valley of pleasure they created together and wallowed in it, luxuriated in it, loved it.

He had no words to give her for waking her so abruptly and for once she didn't ask for any. He rolled over onto his back, bringing her with him and shut his eyes as the sense of completeness and peace she brought with her saturated and surrounded him.

Chapter 24

Elizabeth opened one eye as the door snapped shut behind the fluttering apron ribbons of one of the maids. She licked her lips as the fragrant aroma of breakfast tantalized her senses.

A shadow loomed over her and the duke dropped a Chinese silk dressing gown onto her pillow. He wore a similar robe of black silk embroidered with silver dragons.

She shrugged into the robe and pulled her tangled hair over one shoulder as the duke beckoned her toward a table crammed with covered silver dishes. With a greedy moan she knelt and began to load her plate with the crisp delicacies. After she quieted her worst hunger pangs, she turned to the duke, who sat at his ease in a chair beside her.

He raised an eyebrow. "Would you like me to order something else for you, my dear? A plum pudding or something more substantial? I would hate for you to go into a decline."

She pretended to frown as she poured him a cup of coffee and then sipped at her own. "Thank you for the offer, but there is still some toast and preserves to finish."

The duke leaned forward, snagged a piece of toast and waved it in front of Elizabeth's nose. "Would you like me to butter it for you?"

He leaned across her and picked up the silver tray that contained the condiments. His hand hovered over a pot of strawberry jam and then alighted on the honey. He cast a speculative glance back at Elizabeth. "Do you like honey, ma belle?"

Elizabeth nodded as he straightened and began to butter the toast. After a moment he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his lap. He placed the piece of toast on her open palm and Elizabeth watched in fascination as he dug the silver spoon into the pot, held the spoon high in the air and then tilted it. Elizabeth gasped as a gilded stream of honey descended like a silken spider web. She frantically tried to maneuver the piece of toast into the correct position to avoid having a lapful of honey.

The duke gave a soft laugh as he watched her attempts and her cry of triumph when she finally bit into the overflowing piece of toast. He waited until she devoured the last particle and then opened the honey pot again.

She stilled as he held up the spoon and smiled into her eyes. "Shall we try it without the toast? I'm quite willing to lick up any spillage."

As the first sticky droplets attached themselves to her bare skin and slid between her breasts, Elizabeth gave a sigh and relaxed against the duke's broad shoulders. It would be a shocking waste of honey if she didn't allow him to lick it off her. Her eyes closed as his mouth slid down the column of her throat and headed for her breasts. And if she felt peckish herself, she was sure the duke would allow her to dribble some honey over him as well.

*** *** ***

After bathing, the duke excused himself to consult with his steward and left Elizabeth to wander the extensive gardens at her leisure. When she came upon a yellow painted door that led into a high brick-walled section of the garden, she couldn't resist opening it. A lone gardener stood hoeing a row of carrots with steady, slow grace whilst the fragrance of herbs and flowers rose into the warm scented air.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and inhaled the mingling bouquet of smells. She recognized mint and lavender and the rusty smell of recently watered geraniums. She took off her bonnet and lifted her face to the sun as a sense of peace surrounded her.

"Good morning, miss." She opened her eyes to see the gardener in front of her. His face was as gnarled as tree bark and his eyes were a sharp, spring blue. "Did you come down with the duke, then?"

Elizabeth smiled. "Yes, indeed and I was just admiring this beautiful kitchen garden. Do you see to its upkeep yourself?"

"Aye, I do. I'm not as sprightly as the rest of the gardeners and I'm quite content with my little patch." He took off his misshapen hat and scratched his head. "It's grand that you managed to persuade the lad to come back. From what I hear he's likely to kill himself up in that ungodly city."

Elizabeth tried not to smile as she imagined the duke as a boy. "You mistake my influence. In truth, I didn't even know the house existed until I arrived at the gates."

The old man nodded. "And that's just as it should be. Every man needs somewhere private to call home, especially the master." His blue eyes twinkled. "But I wouldn't be questioning your power over him, my girl. You're the first lady he's ever brought here since his wife died. The female staff are all in a twitter over it."

Elizabeth blushed and looked down at her serviceable boots, suddenly afraid to meet his gaze. A posy of flowers appeared under her nose and she laughed in delight.

"These are for you miss, for making the master smile again."

Elizabeth buried her nose in the fragrant blooms. "Thank you. I will try to make the duke smile more often." After another wave of thanks, she picked up her skirts and headed for the kitchens, her mind busy with the gardener's intriguing remarks.

*** *** ***

"I thought you might like to stroll with me in the family portrait gallery."

Later that evening, Elizabeth smiled up at the duke as he draped her paisley shawl around her shoulders. She shivered as her skin heated and leaned back against his chest. He made a satisfied sound and ran his fingertip along the edge of her bodice. Her nipples obligingly peaked as though begging for his touch.

When they reached the cavernous entrance hall, the duke paused to speak to his butler and then picked up a candelabrum and led her through a series of grand withdrawing rooms until they reached a set of double doors. The fading sunlight struggled to penetrate the irregular diamond-shaped windowpanes that adorned the rear of the house.

The duke struck a flint and lit the candles. Light flared in the darkness, illuminating his face. "The gallery runs the length of the east wing."

He gestured for Elizabeth to precede him into the room. Someone had obviously been in before them. The shutters were open and the thick, velvet curtains drawn back to reveal the floor-length windows. Wall sconces were lit at strategic intervals along the long gallery, bathing the walls in a soft, welcoming glow.

Elizabeth paused to appreciate the view. The room had a high ceiling decorated in ivory and gold. Rose-patterned white silk brocade covered the walls and the carpet was an indistinct swirl of gold and blue. Elizabeth drew her shawl around her shoulders as the duke came up alongside her.

"It is a beautiful room." She hesitated as he set the candles down on a small table. "But don't you think it would be better to wait until the morning? I fear I will not be able to distinguish the pictures very clearly."

"Unfortunately, we will not have time in the morning. I've always found that seeing the pictures in the twilight makes me concentrate on the details more carefully."

Elizabeth moved toward the first picture on the left. "This must be one of the oldest in your collection."

The duke came up behind her and looked over her shoulder. "Yes, this is the first Gervase. He made his fortune fighting with the usurper Henry Tudor at the battle of Bosworth."

Elizabeth leaned closer to inspect the features of the man in the portrait as the duke trailed his fingertips up and down her bare arms. She shivered as he pressed closer and tried to read the signature scrawled in the corner of the portrait. "It is a Holbein." She turned to stare into the duke's amused face. "I've never seen a picture of his held in a private collection before."

He placed her hand on his arm and drew her toward the next portrait, which depicted a family group. "This is his wife, Matilda and their seven children."

Elizabeth laughed and her shawl slithered down her arms and fell to the floor. "Matilda doesn't look very happy, does she? But I should imagine that having seven children would make most women miserable."

The duke bent to pick up her shawl. His dark hair gleamed in the candlelight and Elizabeth resisted an urge to run her fingers through it. He rearranged the shawl around her shoulders and then turned her to face him. She swallowed hard as he proceeded to tie the fringed ends into a bow, which sat just below her bodice. As he worked, his fingers brushed the undersides of her breasts.

He turned her back to face the portrait and kept his hands on her bare shoulders. His warm breath tickled the curling hairs at the nape of her neck. "I understand from the family records that poor Matilda bore fifteen children to the first Gervase. She was lucky so many of them survived."

Elizabeth bit her lip. "Now I feel badly about saying she looked sad. She has every reason to be."

The duke placed his hand in the small of her back and directed her toward the next portrait. "What do you think of this one?"

Elizabeth got as close as she could to the small portrait of a lady astride her horse, her flaming red hair streaming down her back, her expression one of challenge. "She seems a little unusual for her time. Modest women were supposed to keep their hair covered unless they were maidens." She examined the portrait again. "But this lady doesn't look like a maiden. She is far too...worldly."

"This is the Lady Marguerite de Villas. She was Gervase's mistress for most of her life."

Elizabeth snorted. "How did he find the time to have a mistress when he was busy begetting fifteen children on his poor wife?"

The duke's mouth quirked and he bent to plant a kiss on her lips. "My family has always displayed remarkable stamina when it comes to finding and keeping women." He kissed her again, this time allowing his tongue to dip into her mouth. "You of all people should know whether my family's reputation is well earned."

He continued to kiss her until her arms twined around his neck and she leaned against him. With a satisfied murmur, he took her hand to lead her to the next picture. He brought the candelabra closer. "This is the first Gervase's oldest surviving son. It was he who began to build this house."

Elizabeth angled her head to one side to observe the smug face of the second Gervase. He sat in a high-backed chair, two hunting dogs at his booted feet. His outstretched hand pointed imperiously to a map of the New World on the right of the picture. Elizabeth frowned as she tried to make out the details of the map.

After examining it and trying to ignore the feeling of Gervase's hard fingers circling her waist and nudging her breast, she wriggled to be set free. She closed her eyes as Gervase allowed her to slide intimately down his body. He kept his hand splayed over her stomach as he held her tightly against his hardening cock.

"You were saying, my dear?"

"Was your ancestor involved in the sea trade?" She sounded breathless and she feared Gervase would know why.

His fingers shifted upward and tightened over her breast as he bent his head to nuzzle her neck. "Yes, I believe he was."

Elizabeth watched his finger and thumb rotate around her nipple. When she tried to move, her knees refused to cooperate. "Gervase," she whispered as he continued to nibble his way up to her ear. "I cannot concentrate on the paintings if you do this to me."

"Well, I suggest you try harder, ma belle, for I've no intention of stopping."

Elizabeth cast an anguished glance at the long wall of portraits and wondered how she would survive. With the determination worthy of a highly educated woman she managed to walk the few necessary steps to the next portrait. A woman dressed in the Elizabethan style gazed out at her. She wore a highly starched ruff around her long swan-like neck and a low square-cut bodice edged with precious jewels. Despite her youth, she seemed remarkably self-possessed. The cat-like slant of her gray eyes was identical to the present duke's.

Elizabeth bit her lip as Gervase caged her again, one arm across her hips and the other across her breasts. A wave of desire swept through her, urging her to rub herself against the steel bands of Gervase's arms. His fingers slid inside her bodice and she went still.

"This is the second Gervase's oldest daughter. If you can guess what her name is, I will give you a kiss."

"I would assume she was called either Mary or Elizabeth after one of the Tudor queens."

Gervase turned her to face him. "Clever girl. She is my other Elizabeth." He paused to rub his thumb over her mouth. "May I claim my kiss now?"

Her lips parted and he took possession of her mouth. She allowed the rising heat of her passion to spill over into her kiss and felt his body tightening in response. When he pulled away she almost screamed. He stared down into her stormy eyes and smiled.

"I know what you want, Elizabeth, but you have not yet earned it." He gestured at the remaining portraits. "I'm so looking forward to your intelligent remarks about my other ancestors."

When they reached the end of the room and were about to turn to view the remaining portraits, Elizabeth was having great difficulty in finding anything at all to say. But whenever she stopped talking, Gervase withdrew his attentions from her needy body. Only her increasingly distracted comments about the paintings were rewarded by the sure touch of his hands and his mouth.

She gazed blankly at a portrait of King Charles the Second arrayed in a monstrous black wig, cradling a Diable Delamere godchild. She tried to think of something to say as Gervase's hand stirred beneath her skirts, inched up her thigh, and settled over her mound. He spread his long fingers and cupped her, pulling her slightly up onto her toes and back against his chest.

"That is King Charles the Second," she managed to gasp as his fingertip stroked back and forth over her sensitive bud. "He was known as the merry monarch."

Gervase increased the tempo of his fingers his voice a mere whisper in her ear. "Why was that, Elizabeth?"

"Because," Elizabeth was reduced to balancing on her toes as Gervase thrust his fingers inside her, "Because he had so many mistresses...please, Gervase, please..."

She didn't know whether she was pleading with him to stop or to continue, she only knew that she would start to scream if he didn't do something to end her plight soon.

He turned her around and kissed her hard. She barely repressed an unladylike desire to climb his breeches and wrap her legs around his hips. She was panting by the time he pulled back and studied her face.

"If you would only listen to me, ma belle," he said patiently. "I've told you before that anticipation is a major part of the fulfillment of passion. You are always in such a hurry."

His calm voice set her teeth on edge and she backed away from him, her hands behind her back, her fists clenched. "I do apologize, Your Grace, I'm obviously far too inexperienced for you to bother about." She gave him a curtsey. "I will relieve you of my presence."

His hand shot out and he hauled her back against him. "That is exactly what I'm talking about, Elizabeth. Rather than think about the merit of my words, you immediately fly into alt."

She pressed her forehead against his waistcoat and went still. He could not discover that she feared to give him any more of herself. She knew in her soul that if she allowed him to seduce her completely then she would be lost. She didn't want to turn into one of the no-doubt legion of women who had begged the duke to love them.

"I'm sorry, Gervase. Maybe I don't have the necessary passion to become a good courtesan."

"Passion? You have passion in abundance, ma femme." His voice deepened and he speared his fingers through her hair before kissing her again. "Give it to me," he commanded. "Give me all of your passion."

He drew her in front of an ornate mirror that hung on the end wall of the picture gallery. Elizabeth scarcely recognized herself in the tumultuous, tousled, sensual woman who stared back at her.

"Lean forward, Elizabeth, and put your hands on either side of the table and keep looking into the mirror."

Mindlessly, Elizabeth obeyed the duke's command and bent forward. She watched him reposition the candles until her face was illuminated and his remained in the shadows. The soft whisper of silk reached her straining ears as he lifted her skirts and petticoat and folded them neatly at her waist.

She shivered as the cold air hit her naked skin and Gervase made a sound of approval. She inhaled the hint of citrus from his cologne mixed with the scent of his arousal and relaxed against the supporting table. He ran his hands from her hips to her ankles and then sank to his knees. She could no longer see his intent face in the mirror, only the top of his head. She tensed as he grasped her ankles and began to kiss his way up the insides of her legs.

When his mouth closed over her most intimate flesh she moaned but he held her still, his tongue a flicking, probing torment that made her arch her back and brazenly seek the devilment of his touch. Pleasure consumed her and she started to tremble as he gave her one last lascivious lick and slowly rose to his feet.

He held her gaze in the mirror as he unbuttoned his breeches and leaned over her. "Watch me, Elizabeth and let me watch you."

He filled her slowly, keeping his gaze locked to hers, allowing her to see the blatant lust that colored his expression. She sighed as his flat, furred stomach pressed against her back and he was completely buried inside her. He held still, waiting for her to relax and accommodate his cock. When her tight grip eased a little, he withdrew and then repeated his long, smooth drive inwards. He brought his hand up from her hip and ran his fingers down the side of her throat until they settled over her breast.

"Watch me touch you, ma belle." He rolled her nipple between his finger and thumb and eased his hips into the same light, tantalizing rhythm.

Elizabeth tried to endure his shallow, incomplete thrusts as best she could. His silvered eyes caught hers in the mirror as his hand slid around to cup her between her legs.

"Do you know why men like this particular position so much, my dear?"

Goaded well beyond her normal politeness, Elizabeth hissed. "So that they don't have to look at a woman's face and make conversation?"

He laughed. "That is highly amusing, ma belle, but not what I had in mind. And not what we are doing at all." He leaned into the small of her back, pushing her sex forward into the palm of his hand. "No, it is because a man has control. He can control the depth of his thrusts and his partners' movements."

"I can vouch for that," Elizabeth muttered as Gervase continued moving against her with his infuriatingly slow pace and frustrating, light rhythm.

"Ah, but you will glad that I made you wait in the end, Elizabeth, trust me on that."

As she hovered uncertainly on the brink of another climax, Elizabeth clearly heard the distant clanging of the front door bell and the sound of a carriage being driven around the side of the house toward the stables.

"Our guests are arriving, my dear. I wonder if my butler will send them down here to find us or make them wait in the receiving rooms?" She gasped as he drove deeply inside her. "Who would you prefer to find us like this? My butler or my mother?"

"Your, your mother is here?" She squeaked.

His fingers pressed once, twice urgently against her swollen flesh and she shattered for him. He quickly muffled her scream with his hand as he joined her in the fiery climax.

Before she could begin to breathe normally, let alone speak, he refastened her bodice, shook out her skirts and hurried her to the far corner of the huge room. He opened a concealed door and pointed up a narrow flight of stairs.

"Go up two levels and then look for a door on your right. You will find yourself in my bedchamber. You have ten minutes to make yourself presentable and meet me in the formal entrance hall, now go!"

Gervase shut the door behind her and returned to the mirror to attend to his own disheveled state of dress. He smoothed a hand through his disordered hair and drew in several deep breaths. As far as he knew, his mother was in Brighton. He was expecting a selection of local residents and vague relations whom he was duty-bound to entertain.

He smiled as he straightened his cravat, recalling Elizabeth's dismayed expression and hasty retreat. He wondered if she would have the courage to come back down and hoped that she would. His little brown bird had all the nerve of a fighting cock. He grimaced as his own particular cock responded to that notion far too well.

With a final glance at his now-immaculate reflection, Gervase pasted on a welcoming smile and strolled down the corridor to greet his guests.

Chapter 25

Elizabeth paused on the landing above the medieval hall and looked down upon the assembled guests. She patted her hair, pushed in an errant pin, and checked that the three flounces of her lavender silk dress were straight. Assuming a gracious smile, she made her way down the stairs, murmuring greetings to those near enough to hear her.

It took her only two minutes to find out from the helpful butler that the duke's mother was currently residing in Brighton and had not decided to honor her only son with a visit. She lifted her chin and, head held high, went in search of the duke. She found him in the gold drawing room, sleek head bent over a diminutive lady of indeterminate age who clutched determinedly at his sleeve.

Elizabeth smiled as she curtsied and let the duke see the retribution in her eyes. He inclined his head an indolent half an inch, a suggestion of smug satisfaction in his expression that made Elizabeth long to hit him.

"Ah, Mrs. Waterstone, there you are."

She winced as the duke raised his voice and shouted into the shell like ear of the elderly lady beside him. "Aunt Agnes, this is my guest, Mrs. Waterstone. I was telling you about her earlier."

"Mrs. Waterstone, this is my great aunt, Lady Cottlesmore. She lives in the dower house on the estate with her three unmarried daughters."

Elizabeth glanced over the duke's shoulder at the three drably dressed ladies clustered by the window. She nodded politely and they twittered to each other behind their hands as though she had said something daring.

The duke smiled winningly at Elizabeth and transferred his aunt's hand to her gloved fingers. The duke's aunt looked up at her, avid interest in her shrewd brown eyes.

"Mrs. Waterstone, the duke has told me that you are related to the Diable Delamere family." Her old and quavery voice sounded worse than a badly played violin. "Was your mother one of Matilda's girls?"

Elizabeth lightly fluttered her fan and glared at the duke over the top of it before striving for an airy laugh. "I married into the family, ma'am and cannot consider myself well acquainted with all the branches."

The duke bowed and stepped back. "I shall leave you two ladies to reminisce. I'm sure you will have a lot to talk about."

Elizabeth resigned herself to an uncomfortable half an hour as she led Lady Cottlesmore to the nearest couch and sat down with her, an attentive smile fixed on her face. While the old lady debated family history, mainly to herself, Elizabeth observed the duke as he circled the room, making himself pleasant to his guests.

He seemed more at ease here than he ever did in London. She wished she had a similar refuge and suppressed the unbidden yearning that her refuge could also be his.

With gentle patience, Elizabeth allowed Lady Cottlesmore to talk herself into accepting Elizabeth's relationship with the family before she gracefully made her escape. The duke stood alone by the door after having showed two of his guests outside.

Elizabeth stormed up to him and gave her best curtsey.

"Thank you, Your Grace, for a most stimulating half an hour. I feel as though I'm indeed part of your family now."

"You are quite welcome, my dear. I knew you would enjoy flexing your admirable wits."

Before Elizabeth could answer, a footman appeared and opened the series of connecting doorways that led through to the picture gallery. Several of the guests wandered past them and the duke glanced down at her. "Shall we finish our tour?"

She allowed him to lead her into the picture gallery and stopped dead when her eyes focused on the end table where the duke had abandoned the extra candelabrum. His quiet laughter stirred the soft curls at the nape of her neck and other unmentionable areas.

"It is all right, ma belle. No one would guess you had been made love to in front of that very mirror not an hour ago. You look perfectly respectable, not even a ruffled feather on my little brown bird."

"Your behavior was inexcusable, sir. How dare you pretend I was about to meet your mother?"

The duke spun her away from him and dropped a light kiss on the back of her gloved hand. "I've told you before, Elizabeth, it is one of my ambitions in life to silence you. I can only congratulate myself that my strategy worked so well."

Unable to contain her agitation, Elizabeth moved sharply away from the duke and almost collided with the butler. Her abrupt movements brought her up against the family portraits that she hadn't seen on her previous visit. She stilled as she stared at a wistful young Gervase clutching a puppy, his father's protective hand on Gervase's shoulder.

Elizabeth almost missed the next portrait, which was half hidden in the shadows. In it she recognized the duke and his wife, Imelda. Between them stood a little boy of maybe two or three. Drawn by a strange compulsion, Elizabeth moved closer to study the family grouping. Gervase's son was dark-haired and his eyes slanted up at the corners.

Elizabeth jumped when the duke's hand touched her shoulder. "That is my son, David. I'm told he bore some likeness to me."

She glanced back at the duke but his expression was as devoid of emotion as his voice. "He was a beautiful boy, Your Grace. A credit to his name and his father."

Something flickered in the depths of the duke's silver eyes and his grip on her shoulder tightened for the merest instant. "Thank you, Elizabeth. He was my soul."

"Your Grace?"

The butler stepped up to the duke and Elizabeth turned away to gather her shattered defenses. She had a strange yearning to draw the duke into her arms and comfort him. Instead, she kept out of his way and circled the portrait gallery, stopping to exchange opinions on a family likeness to an old portrait or listen to stories about the duke's parents.

By the time the duke came to find her, she had regained her composure and was able to lay her hand on his arm with calm assurance. He led her back to the dining room where a buffet awaited the guests. He helped her fill her plate and brought her a glass of wine. As she looked around for a place to sit, he gestured toward the opened windows.

"Would you care to sit out on the terrace? It is quite mild."

With a bow, the duke allowed her passage onto the marble-floored terrace. There was no mist this evening and scarcely a breeze to ruffle the leaves on the trees or the skirts of the ladies.

Elizabeth sat and the duke took the chair opposite her. She studied his face in the half-light as he toasted her with his glass.

"You like it here, don't you?" she asked as she sampled one of the delicate lobster patties the duke had heaped on her plate. At his reluctant halfnod, she continued. "Then why do you come here so rarely?"

"Because if I stay here, I begin to regret the man I have to be in London. I begin to doubt that I can continue the masquerade."

"And when does the masquerade stop? When can you simply be yourself?"

His face grew shuttered and he sat back in his chair. "It is not something that needs to concern you, my dear. You are, after all, only here on a temporary basis."

Elizabeth rose and put her wine glass down onto the table with a sharp click. "I hate it when you do this, Gervase. I hate it when you shut me out."

The duke shrugged one elegant shoulder and tilted his head back to look up at her. "My dear Miss Waterstone, hate is such a strong word to use for the emotions than run between us."

"Is it, Your Grace? Then let me bid you goodnight." Elizabeth bobbed him a curtsey and turned to leave. He made no effort to follow her. She walked inside and bade a distracted good night to the remaining guests before retreating up the stairs to her own bedchamber.

The tranquility of the room reached out and embraced her as she closed and locked the door. She kicked off her slippers, walked across to the diamond paned window, and closed the curtains against the darkness of the night. Deep in thought, she drifted her fingers through the dried flower petals in the shallow bowl on her dressing table and breathed in the scent of a long-dead summer.

After a long while, as she listened to the murmur and bustle of the departing guests below her, she undressed. The duke's cutting words reverberated in her head as she tried to consider how to deal with them. She had already glimpsed the man beneath the smooth, harsh façade he presented to the world. She knew that he always regretted her seeing his vulnerabilities and struck back hard to remove all traces of her interest and concern.

She paused before struggling out of her corset. Was she willing to be snubbed again? And when had it become so important for her to break through the duke's reserve? As was often the case, the duke's barbed comments held an element of truth. She had never intended to stay with him forever.

By the time she managed to rouse herself to get into bed, it was past midnight. She pulled out the pins from her upswept hair and arched her spine as her hair rippled down her back. How could Gervase make love to her with such passion and then cut her dead when she ventured to inquire about his future?

She had to decide whether to follow his unspoken command and retreat or risk all in an advance that might prove fatal to her very soul.

As she contemplated her options, the door to the duke's suite opened and the duke appeared, clothed only in his black silk dressing gown. She'd known he wouldn't leave her to sulk, had even anticipated it.

Suddenly afraid of what he might see on her face, she turned away and walked to the window. He came up behind her on silent feet and placed his hands on her shoulders.

After a long, slow, deliberate breath, Elizabeth turned to face him. She parted his robe and stroked his muscled chest. His stomach tightened as she traced a subtle weaving path around his navel and then up to his tangled black chest hair. She found his nipples and touched them with her tongue, then angled her fingers downwards.

"No harsh words for me then?" he murmured.

"No, Gervase. Only this."

His hand clenched on her shoulder as though he would draw her back up but she shrugged away his demand and sank to her knees. Only then did she venture a glance up at him as her hands came to rest on his thighs. His eyes were closed and his face held a wary blend of anticipation and apprehension that delighted her.

Gervase stared down at Elizabeth's bent head as her fingers trailed up his inner thighs and gently cupped his balls and cock. Her low murmur of pleasure as his shaft thickened made his throat dry. Words became impossible when she took him into her mouth, her tongue skimming his heated flesh, drawing him into the welcoming warmth. He hadn't allowed her to service him in that fashion before.

His hand clenched in her hair, not sure if he could stand it.

He struggled to breathe as her untutored mouth brought him to a peak of pleasure he had never experienced before. Why hadn't he felt like this with any of the other women who had sexually satisfied him and been so easily discarded in his past? Growling low in his throat, he forced Elizabeth to release his cock.

"Enough..." he grated. "Come to bed."

She took his proffered hand and rose gracefully to her feet. With infinite slowness, she untied her robe and stepped closer until her whole body pressed against his. Her hands slid up his chest and pushed his robe from his shoulders. Then she stood on tiptoe and kissed him. He almost rocked back on his heels as her kiss intensified, offering him everything he hadn't asked for, drawing his body into an ever-tightening spiral of need.

She pushed him toward the bed and he fell on his back, allowing her to crawl on top of him. His instincts roared to roll her beneath him and possess her but something held him back.

She reached down, framed his face with her hands, and kissed him again. He lay back, ruthlessly harnessing his desires, eager to see where Elizabeth's would take them as he smoothed his hands over her silk-clad back.

He couldn't fault the view. She was naked under her robe and fully exposed to his lustful gaze at the front and yet her back was still covered by the luscious silk of her dressing gown.

He tried to capture her hips and bring her down over his aching cock but the thin silk of her robe slid through his fingers and she slithered away from him. He spread his legs in a wordless command as she moved down the bed and then groaned as she licked the bottom of his feet. His hands clenched on the linen sheets as she continued her slow exploration of his anklebone and gently bit down.

She caressed his toes and murmured his name, luxuriating in the very sound of it, as if she was drowning in her own sense of power. For once, he let her hold him in thrall. For this night and in this bed, he was hers, hers to torment and love to her heart's content.

With a sigh of pure wantonness, she knelt between his outstretched legs and allowed her hair to cascade over his groin. He shuddered and moved restlessly against the sheets as she laid her cheek against the curve of his naked hip. She trailed her fingers up his thigh until they met the magnificence of his thickening cock.

He was close to begging by the time she rose over him and lowered herself, inch by careful inch, down onto his aching shaft. He planted his feet flat on the mattress and surged upwards as wild and unfettered as an unbroken horse. She met him and matched him, drawing him into the cauldron of her body, melting into his bones, melding with him into one flesh, one body, and one aching desire.

He had to roll her beneath him as he started to climax in a gesture that eluded his reasoning but seemed blatantly obvious to his newly woken dominant, possessive side, not the worrying echoes, lies, and deceits that surely awaited him in London.

Chapter 26

As the carriage drew closer to the outskirts of London, the duke's face lost its lazy amiability and become hard and shuttered. Although they still occupied the same small space, it was if he had completely withdrawn himself from Elizabeth. She had hoped, after their night of passion, that he would be able to relax with her, but it seemed as if her sacrifice had been in vain.

He hadn't stayed in her bed and had faced her over the breakfast table with barely a word, his chilly demeanor soon reducing her to silence. Fearing his biting wit, she hadn't attempted to converse with him since the start of their journey. She sighed and leaned her cheek against the window as the carriage slowed to negotiate the cobbled streets and the swarming crowds of people who spilled onto the road.

She'd played her hand and now her path was clear. She had to solve the code and be on her way. It was obvious that the duke was never going to allow her to get under his guard again. She sensed it in his gaze and in every indefinable, subtle, gesture that pushed her away from him.

The coachman drew up outside the imposing entrance to Delamere house. A liveried footman sprang to open the door, allowing Elizabeth to descend. She thanked him and, without waiting for the duke, walked into the marbled hallway and bade Standish a quiet good morning.

*** *** ***

An hour later she was back at her desk, her spectacles perched on the end of her nose, her hair tightly braided to her head. When Sir John appeared and settled behind his desk after a great deal of fussing on his part, she was able to greet him with calm complacency.

"Mrs. Waterstone, how delightful it is to see you. Did you enjoy your weekend away with the duke?" He winked and she sat up straighter in her chair. "I'm sure you found plenty there to amuse you."

Elizabeth repressed an urge to blush as the edge of Sir John's contempt bit into her. She busied herself unlocking her desk drawer and retrieving the code.

"Thank you, Sir John. Indeed, it was most agreeable to leave London behind and enjoy the beneficial effects of the country air."

"I've a place in the countryside, Mrs. Waterstone." His laughter contained an undertone of bitterness. "Of course it is less luxurious than the duke's and it is heavily mortgaged. Would you care to spend a weekend with me?"

His blatantly intimate offer made her pause. She hadn't thought how the other members of the household would view her abrupt departure from London with the duke. She quailed at the prospect of Nicholas sidling up to her and propositioning her next.

"That is very kind of you, Sir John but I think I've had my fill of the country for the time being." She indicated the code in front of her. "I've plenty to occupy myself, but thank you for the offer."

To her great relief, Sir John merely grunted and settled down to his work. Elizabeth stared blankly at the code until her heart rate returned to normal and her hands stopped shaking. She was still taken aback at how crudely Sir John had spoken to her. All his pretense of gentility had disappeared once he thought her beneath him. She almost smiled at her own choice of words...beneath him. Was that truly how he thought of her?

She looked out of the front window where the duke's gleaming black curricle waited. The duke passed below her in a swirl of his caped driving coat, his tall black hat obscuring his face. With a sense of desperation, she picked up her quill pen and set her jaw. The sooner she finished the code, the sooner she could leave.

At luncheon, after Nicholas had poured her a second cup of coffee and Sir John had taken himself off, Elizabeth was finally able to relax. Nicholas grinned at her over his coffee cup.

"I'm glad you managed to persuade the duke to take a weekend off. He has not taken a break for ages."

Elizabeth braced herself against anything else Nicholas intended to add. To her relief, he reached for another cake, which he stuffed whole into his mouth. When he had finished chewing, he patted his yellow waistcoat pocket and produced a folded piece of parchment.

"Good lord, I almost forgot to give you this. The duke said this information might help you with the code."

He passed the crisp sheet of parchment across to Elizabeth. The duke's bold handwriting covered the page.

"It seems as though a parade for the triple alliance victors against Napoleon will be held in London on the third of June. The Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia will accompany the Prince Regent," she said.

Nicholas whistled as Elizabeth continued. "I thought that the code mentioned June, but it was so well disguised that I almost discounted it." She leaned forward. "It would be the perfect opportunity for a French assassin to kill the Prince Regent."

"Or any of the other heads of state for that matter." Nicholas said with a frown. "That is only a week away. How will we know exactly where the assassin plans to attack? The route through London is bound to be a circuitous one and the crowds will be huge."

Elizabeth rose. "I suspect the code contains this information." She picked up the duke's note and put it carefully into her reticule.

"Do you still wish to visit your mother today, Mrs. Waterstone? I'm at your service."

Elizabeth flashed him a distracted smile. "I'll see how I progress with the code. If I feel that even visiting my mother would be less stressful, I will let you know."

*** *** ***

Elizabeth used the tip of her gloved finger to clean a space on the smeared windowpane and look down into the street. There was still no sign of her mother and Mary and she had been waiting for a quarter of an hour.

The maid had told her they had gone for a walk and were expected back shortly. Having nothing better to occupy her time, Elizabeth set to cleaning the cluttered drawing room.

She gathered up the crockery and the empty vases and dispatched them down to the kitchen. When she returned, breathless from climbing the three flights of stairs, she started to sort out the books. Most of them appeared to be the lurid gothic romances from the Minerva Press her mother loved but some belonged to Mr. Forester. She separated them out and decided to take them through to his study, which occupied a small room along the hall.

She tapped lightly on the door but no one answered. As usual, Mr. Forester's study was far tidier than the rest of the house. Elizabeth dropped the pile of books onto the desk and then began to reshelve them. Just as she finished, a small red-covered book, which lay half under the desk blotter, caught her attention. With a strange pang of unease, she closed her fingers around it.

She flipped open a page at random and found herself staring at Sir John's neat handwriting. She shut her eyes in an effort to replace Sir John's well-known script with an unknown hand, but she couldn't. She almost dropped the book as she read the fragment of code and its translation, which Sir John had transcribed from the originals in her possession.

She clutched the book to her bosom and stared unseeingly at the wall of books behind the desk. What was Sir John's precious book doing in Mr. Forester's hands? He had assured her that it never left his possession.

A dry cough sounded in the stairwell and Elizabeth hurriedly replaced the book under the blotter and moved toward the bookshelves.

Moments later, her stepfather intruded on her solitude. "Elizabeth? Did you come to see your mother?"

Elizabeth replaced the atlas she had been pretending to consult and swung around to smile at her stepfather. "Good afternoon, Mr. Forester, I hope that you are having a pleasant day?" She clasped her hands together to stop them from shaking as she walked confidently toward the door, hoping Mr. Forester wouldn't notice the rapidity of her breathing. He remained in the doorway, preventing her from leaving. She gestured to his bookcases as she attempted to slide past him.

"I was tidying up the drawing room whilst I waited for mother and I brought a selection of your books through to reshelve."

Mr. Forester's gaze remained on her. "Old habits die hard, eh? You were always the one who made sure we lived respectably, weren't you?" He winked at her and pinched her cheek. "Not enough tidying up to do at the duke's, I suppose, apart from the rumpled sheets on your bed."

"I've little to do with the housework, sir," she agreed politely. "The duke has an excellent staff."

"So I hear."

A babble of noise alerted Elizabeth to the return of her mother and sister. Mr. Forester straightened and she took the opportunity to bob him a hurried curtsey and sweep past him.

"I must go and bid my mother good afternoon. Will you be joining us for tea?"

Mr. Forester sauntered over to his desk and shook his head. "I've too much to do today, but please go ahead and enjoy yourself."

As she turned to leave, Elizabeth caught Mr. Forester's frown as he located the red-covered book on his desk. With a curse, he pulled open his desk drawer and dropped the book inside. The last sound Elizabeth heard before she fled was the key being turned in the lock.

Her mother was as unenthusiastic as usual about Elizabeth's appearance. She immediately settled into a litany of complaints, which covered Mary's expenses, the boorishness of Jack Llewelyn, and the financial exigencies of existing in a fashionable world.

For once, Elizabeth was glad her mother didn't require her participation in her familiar tirade. She only had to nod, sip at her tea, and nibble at a stale macaroon to be considered useful. Her mind roamed endlessly through the frightening possibilities of her discovery. Was Sir John in league with her stepfather? She almost choked on her cake as another more appalling thought surfaced. And was Mr. Forester involved with the French?

When the door flew open, Elizabeth almost threw her teacup in the air, but it was only Mary. Elizabeth smiled at her sister, who looked enchanting in a blue sprigged muslin walking dress that matched her eyes.

Mary sank into the seat next to Elizabeth's in a rustle of petticoats and gave a deep sigh. "Oh, Lizzie, I'm so pleased you have come. I was just talking about you to on my walk with Mama."

Mrs. Forester snorted as Mary clasped Elizabeth's hand. Something glinted on Mary's wrist and Elizabeth leaned forward to see what it could be. Mary gave an excited squeak and proudly stuck out her hand until it was under Elizabeth's nose.

"Look at what Papa gave me. Isn't it beautiful?"

Elizabeth stared at the gold bracelet, which was adorned with a cascade of diamonds and heart-shaped rubies. For some reason, it seemed vaguely familiar.

"Your father bought it for you?"

"There is no need to take that contrary tone with Mary, Elizabeth." Mrs. Forester sniffed. "Is it so difficult for you to believe that a father might choose to bestow a gift on his daughter for her first Season?"

Elizabeth bit back a sharp retort as she watched Mary's face fall. She patted her hand. "It is indeed a wonderful gift, Mary and it suits you admirably."

She replaced her cup on the table, endured Mary's chatter for a further ten minutes, and then rose. "Thank you for the tea, mother. I will just pop along and see Michael and then I must be going."

Her mother waved a disinterested hand and Elizabeth escaped down the back staircase, which was the quickest route to Michael's area of the house. She had to pause outside his door in an effort to regain her composure. Michael was capable of detecting the slightest nuance in her expression and she needed his help, not his protection.

She knocked and Jack Llewelyn's melodious voice bade her enter. She had to smile as she studied the two occupants of the room. They were playing cards and the room was thick and hazy with the smell of Spanish cigars and a hint of brandy.

Jack Llewelyn immediately got to his feet. "Miss Waterstone, what a pleasant surprise. I thought you might be an emissary of your mother's reminding me not to use the front entrance of the house again." He shrugged and glanced at Michael. "Apparently, I keep forgetting to use the servant's entrance."

Michael laughed and held out his hand to Elizabeth. "Come and sit down, Lizzie. Jack will open a window and get rid of all this smoke and then, if I ask him nicely enough, he might even make us some tea."

"I don't want any tea."

Michael's grip tightened and he brought Elizabeth's fingers to his lips. "Good God, woman, your hands are like ice!"

Elizabeth swallowed as Jack Llewelyn abandoned the window and came around to look at her.

"Is there something wrong, Miss Waterstone?"

His reassuring tone and air of quiet competence helped her gain some much-needed courage.

"I'm not sure," she confessed as he helped her to a seat. She studied their faces as she mentally practiced her request and prayed they wouldn't think she had run insane.

"If I asked you to hold onto some valuable information for me, without being able to explain exactly why or where I got it, would you help me?"

Michael half-frowned and glanced at Jack Llewelyn. "Of course I would and I think I can vouch for Jack's integrity."

"It might not come to anything, but I need to be sure you would not betray me to anyone. Not even our own family or the duke."

"Have you stolen something, Elizabeth?" Michael's voice was calm, but Elizabeth could detect the drive of his iron will behind the question.

"No, and before you ask, I haven't inherited the family curse and run up huge gambling debts either." She hesitated for a moment and scanned their faces. "I just need you to trust me."

Jack Llewelyn nodded. "That's good enough for me. I will be glad to help in any way I can."

"I can only second what Jack said. But you must promise me to be careful."

Elizabeth smiled gratefully at them both. "Thank you. I will feel much better, if things go awry, knowing I've some allies." Determined to change the subject, she clapped her hands. "Now may I join you in a hand of cards? I haven't had the pleasure of playing against Mr. Llewelyn before."

Elizabeth took in the appraising glance Jack Llewelyn gave her and winked at Michael behind his back. A few winning hands of cards might help to settle her nerves and ready her for the problems that surely awaited her back at Delamere House.

After reducing her brother and Jack Llewelyn to imaginary penury, she allowed Jack to escort her to the carriage, where Nicholas awaited her. By the time the carriage reached the duke's residence, several things had become clear. She had no real proof against Sir John and her stepfather to show the duke, only her word.

She knew how the duke liked to double-check every piece of information. How could she make sure Sir John's book was not in his possession?

For all she knew, Sir John could be working under the duke's orders and she might inadvertently spoil his plans. But why hadn't the duke told her of his suspicions about Mr. Forester? She could have helped him if only she had known.

As she descended from the carriage it occurred to her, with a dull sense of shock, that the duke might believe he had a very good reason not to tell her or trust her. She was, of course, Mr. Forester's stepdaughter. Did the duke think she was involved with the French as well?

Chapter 27

Elizabeth dressed for dinner in her simplest gown, without calling for her maid. She left her hair in its uncompromising braided style and placed her spectacles on the end of her nose.

If she had to confront the duke, she would do so in her plainest garb. She would not be accused of trying to tempt him. If he chose to keep their relationship on a more business-like setting, she was more than happy to oblige him. Plus, she was too concerned with her plan to ascertain the whereabouts of Sir John's book to worry about the duke.

She followed Sir John and Nicholas into the dining room. Succulent smells arose from the covered silver dishes Standish had placed on the table. Elizabeth swallowed and remembered she had scarcely eaten all day.

To her secret relief, and to the delight of her appetite, the duke was absent. She was so intent on eating as quickly as possible that she scarcely remembered to reply to Nicholas's light banter. Was it her own heightened sense of awareness that made Nicholas seem a little distracted himself?

She waited until the servants withdrew and leaned forward to pick up her glass of wine. She gave a cry of distress as the heavy glass slipped from her fingers and toppled over onto Sir John's side of the table, catching his glass in its path.

With a curse, Sir John shot to his feet as red wine cascaded over his lap.

"Oh, Sir John, I do beg your pardon, that was unforgivably clumsy of me," Elizabeth gasped. She came around the table and patted energetically at the lurid crimson stains that splattered his coat, waistcoat and breeches.

"If you remove your coat, I will take it down to the kitchen and soak it in salt water. It is such a fine garment that I would hate for it to be ruined."

She twirled a bemused Sir John around like a maypole, stripping his coat from his lean shoulders. For once, she was grateful that he didn't wear coats as closely molded to his figure as the duke's. Before Sir John could protest, she headed for the door, almost running in her efforts to be gone.

She paused in the gloom of the backstairs and carefully checked through all the pockets. Sir John's little red book was not there. She had already ascertained it wasn't concealed in his waistcoat or his breeches pocket whilst she had patted him with her napkin. She let out a frustrated breath and hurried down to the kitchens where she begged some sea salt from the cook and covered the splashed coat in it.

To her relief, the redness began to seep into the salt, turning the white crystals a brilliant ruby. Luckily, Sir John's coat was brown, which helped to disguise the stain. After a while, she scraped off the sodden salt and gently sponged cold water over the remaining blotches. In a vain attempt to stop her turbulent thoughts from overwhelming her, she took an inordinate amount of care over her task.

When she was sufficiently composed, she went back up the stairs, Sir John's coat over one arm. Standish had restored perfect order to the dining table and a fresh glass of wine sat to the right of her plate. Unfortunately, so did the duke. He rose and bowed when she appeared.

"Mrs. Waterstone."

She managed a distracted smile to the duke, but her attention was all on Sir John. He didn't bother to rise, but waited for her to come to him as though she were a scullery maid.

"You took your time."

"I'm sorry, Sir John. I was just trying to make sure the stain had gone." She shook out the coat and showed it to him. "You see? It is almost as good as new."

Sir John grunted, snatched the coat from her outstretched hands, and stood to shrug himself into it. "It seems to be all right," he said grudgingly. "But if it doesn't dry out completely by the morning I will expect you to buy me a new one. I'm sure that if you ask the duke nicely, he will give you the money."

Elizabeth felt herself blushing as she made her way back to her seat, aware of the duke's sardonic gaze on her.

"Sir John?" The duke said with an unmistakable edge of icy menace in his tone that made everyone at the table come to attention. "I believe you have forgotten to thank Mrs. Waterstone for her efforts on your behalf."

Sir John visibly paled as he dropped his gaze from the duke's and glanced toward Elizabeth. "Thank you, Mrs. Waterstone."

"You are welcome, Sir John."

An awkward silence fell over the table as the duke continued to study Sir John through narrowed eyes. Even Nicholas's good humor dimmed. Elizabeth struggled to eat and to make non-committal replies to Nicholas's sporadic attempts at conversation. The duke leaned back in his chair and observed them as if he were a predator deciding on his next victim.

Sir John was the first to throw his napkin onto the table and get to his feet, his chair scraping back on the floor. He favored them with a stiff bow.

"I beg to be excused. I will have to change my clothes before I can continue with my duties this evening. Luckily for you, Mrs. Waterstone, despite my meager salary, I do have another coat." He shot a contemptuous glare at Elizabeth and then marched out of the dining room, shutting the door behind him.

Nicholas gave a long, slow whistle. "Don't worry Mrs. Waterstone. Sir John's coat should have been torn into rags years ago. It will be good for the old skinflint to have to buy himself a new one. It is well past time."

"Thank you for the comforting words, Nicholas, but I still feel very much to blame." She pushed back her chair. "It is not like me to be so clumsy."

"No, it isn't, is it?" The duke's pointed question halted her in her tracks. She had to force herself to look at him.

"No one is perfect, Your Grace. We all make mistakes."

"Indeed, Mrs. Waterstone." He raised one eyebrow. "Have you made any other mistakes recently?"

She raised her chin and met his gaze full on. "I'm not sure, Your Grace. But if I had, I'm sure you would be the first person to point them out to me."

She escaped into the hallway and headed for Sir John's office. She needed to check Sir John's desk before she gave into her suspicions and had to decide what to do about the incriminating little red book that seemed to be in the hands of her stepfather.

Her soft kid slippers made hardly any noise on the polished hall floor and none at all on the thick plush carpet in the duke's study. She pushed open the door of Sir John's office and slipped silently into the room. To her relief, it appeared that Sir John had indeed left for the night.

A single candle burned in the wall sconce, casting the heavy oak furniture into shadow. She walked across to Sir John's massive desk and began opening the unlocked drawers and sifting through the contents.

She found nothing and knelt to investigate the bottom drawer. She was so engrossed in her search that she nearly squeaked when the gleaming black toecap of the duke's shapely boot intruded on her vision.

"What exactly are you doing, Mrs. Waterstone?"

Elizabeth shot to her feet and steadied herself on the edge of Sir John's wide desk. "I was hoping to finish the code translation tonight. Sir John mentioned that he had samples of some previously broken codes that might be of use to me." Elizabeth flashed the duke a bright smile. "After the unfortunate incident at the dining table, I forgot to ask him exactly where he kept them."

She swallowed as the duke failed to reply. "Are you accusing me of something, Your Grace?" She gestured at the desk. "The drawers are not locked. I did not expect to discover any state secrets in them."

"I'm not accusing you of anything--yet."

Elizabeth maneuvered around the other end of the desk, putting as much distance between herself and the duke as she could. She eyed the door as he leisurely closed the gap between them.

"Exactly how much of the code is left to decipher, Mrs. Waterstone?" he inquired.

Elizabeth gave up her idea of escape and retreated behind her desk. "I think you were right and that they intend to try and assassinate the Prince Regent during the allies' victory parade. I just need to ascertain the time and the place when the assassin intends to strike."

The duke grimaced. "And that is the very information we need as soon as possible. The parade is only a week away and the authorities were highly offended by my suggestion that it should be canceled."

Elizabeth pretended to consider her work, her heart beating, her fingers still shaking. Why couldn't he just leave before she blurted out something inadvisable or, even worse, begged for his help?

"Elizabeth?"

"Yes, Your Grace?"

"If we are to speak of recent mistakes, be assured that I've made as many as you have." He gave her a crooked smile. "And I'm not sure if I regret a single one of them. Good night, my dear."

She watched him leave, her throat choked with unshed tears. What would he do if she slipped into his bed in the night? Would he welcome her or politely ask her to leave? She forced her eyes back to the code, knowing she couldn't bear to risk finding out. When she had solved the code to the duke's satisfaction and cleared up her suspicions over Sir John's behavior, she would have more leisure to decide her future.

She sank her chin into her hands and gazed unseeingly at the parchment until the fine handwriting began to blur. A tear rolled down her nose and plopped onto the code, swiftly followed by several others. With a cry of horror, she used the fringe of her shawl to blot the parchment, which had turned into a lake of cloudy blue ink.

When she managed to remove the wetness, she blew on the damaged parchment in a vain attempt to restore it to its previous condition. As she brought the document closer she noticed a series of indentations on the page that the spilled ink had highlighted.

With a sense of tightening anticipation, she lit another candle. It seemed as if document contained several additional words, which had been scratched into the vellum using a quill pen but no ink. Her unwelcome and unwanted flood of tears had inadvertently revealed the hidden words.

Hardly daring to breathe, Elizabeth attempted to translate the first word and realized with a sense of triumph that the code remained the same. Within a very short while, she revealed the new message, which contained detailed instructions on where and at what time the assassin was to kill the Prince Regent.

With infinite care, Elizabeth began to transcribe the information onto a clean sheet of parchment. Her pen slowed as she neared the end of the message. How could she prevent Sir John from sending this information onto Mr. Forester and yet make sure that it was revealed to the duke? She couldn't steal the original code. But considering the blotched state of it now, it should be safe to leave it. She doubted Sir John or anyone else would be able to decipher the code.

She drew another sheet of parchment in front of her and began to write, praying that her instincts would serve her well.

It was past midnight by the time she finished and sat back. The house was silent and watchful as she took the guttering candle and made her way upstairs. She had a lot to accomplish on the morrow and feared that without the duke's comforting presence, she would find it hard to sleep at all.

Chapter 28

"She did what?" Gervase tried to mask his surprise as he listened to Nicholas's report.

"Mrs. Waterstone, Your Grace," Nicholas repeated slowly. "She met Jack Llewelyn at the same coffee house early this morning."

"Damnation!" Gervase slammed his hand onto the desk and looked up to see Nicholas still waiting. He drew in a breath. "Out with it, Nick. I sense there is more."

Nicholas looked down at his boots. "You also asked me to find out where Jack Llewelyn lives. Yesterday, while I waited at the Forester's, Jack Llewelyn escorted Mrs. Waterstone to the carriage. I followed him back there this morning as well."

Gervase fought the frisson of unease Nicholas' reluctant words forced through him. "How did they seem together? Was he affectionate toward her? Did they seem close?"

"Llewelyn embraced Mrs. Waterstone and kissed her on the cheek before he handed her into the carriage. She didn't seem to object to his familiarity."

Sir John, who had been standing by the window, gave a sniff, his face rigid with disgust. "Well we already knew she has the morals of an alley cat, didn't we, Your Grace?"

Gervase clenched his fists and stifled an unexpected urge to plant Sir John a facer. He still found it impossible to believe that his Elizabeth would casually share her favors with another man.

Sir John strolled across to the duke's desk. "We can also dispense with the fiction that she is a widow. Mr. Forester told me that Miss Waterstone perfected the art of playing the innocent young lady years ago." He gave a coarse laugh. "I understand that on occasion she miraculously reproduces her maidenhood with the help of a well hidden bladder of pig's blood."

Nicholas opened his mouth as if to protest Sir John's crudeness but Gervase made a decisive gesture with his hand.

"That is enough. I was the one who suggested she pretend to be a widow. It suited my plans, not hers." He deliberately paused to ensure Sir John's full attention. "I'm only interested in Miss Waterstone's dealings with the code, not unsubstantiated gossip about her past."

He turned to Nicholas. "Is it possible that Jack Llewelyn is a friend of one of Miss Waterstone's brothers? I believe she has two. Perhaps he is just visiting the family."

Sir John interrupted Nicholas's attempt to reply. "I don't believe they are at home at the moment. Mrs. Forester told me that her eldest son, Hugh, is currently serving with the army of occupation in France. And she doesn't speak of the younger son, Michael. She says he is as dead to her."

Sir John folded his arms, the triumph on his face unmistakable. "Do you think Jack Llewelyn is passing himself off as Miss Waterstone's long-lost brother?"

Gervase clenched his teeth. "Of course not, Sir John. I'm just attempting to examine all the possibilities. Now, have you anything further to add or do you intend to rely completely on gossip and innuendo?"

Sir John resettled his glasses on his thin nose. "Perhaps you would appreciate this snippet of information then, Your Grace. Last night, in a drunken moment, Mr. Forester told me he is expecting Miss Waterstone to hand him the final version of the code by tomorrow. Has Miss Waterstone completed the translation?"

Gervase shook his head. "I spoke with her last night and she told me she was still trying to determine the exact location and the time."

Nicholas sighed. "She told me the same thing, Your Grace."

"Then it is possible that she is deliberately delaying giving you the vital information that you need." Sir John said. "Just think, if she can hold you up until the day of the procession, you won't stand a chance of catching the assassin."

Gervase averted his gaze from Nicholas's anxious face and tried to ignore Sir John's gloating presence. "I need to think about how we should proceed. I don't want to alert Miss Waterstone to our suspicions. I will allow her the rest of the day to translate the code and then I will confront her."

Sir John bowed and left, a satisfied smile on his lips. Nicholas lingered as though he wished to speak, but after a quick glance at the duke's face, he quietly withdrew.

Gervase buried his face in his hands and tried to separate his tangled emotions for Elizabeth from the problem in hand. Perhaps she lied as well as Imelda after all. Images of Elizabeth in Jack Llewelyn's arms, confiding her secrets to him and laughing at the duke, kept intruding and ruining his sense of calm. He felt as though someone had taken his heart and was slowly squeezing it dry, draining his last hope, his last chance to believe in love.

Gervase let out a scathing curse and allowed himself to admit how tightly Elizabeth had woven herself into the fabric of his dreams and into his sense of self. Bitter experience had taught him that there were very few real coincidences in life and yet, here he was, still trying to make excuses for Elizabeth.

He was such a poor deluded fool that he had started to see her as his salvation, as his road out of the treacherous world he currently inhabited. Had he been a fool in bed and out of it? He got up and tugged on the bell cord to summon Standish. He needed to see Angelique.

*** *** ***

Elizabeth spent most of the day pretending to mull over the code whilst making sure that Sir John never got a good look at the altered pages. She had to assume he had obtained a key to her desk, so she allowed him to see her tucking the code into her reticule and taking it with her whenever she left the room.

As she quit the dining room after her solitary lunch, she met the duke in the hallway. After handing his rain-dampened hat and driving coat to Standish, he gave her a curt good afternoon, took her arm, and marched her into his study.

"Have you solved the code yet?"

"Not yet, Your Grace."

His expression grew distant and he stepped away from her, running his hand through his flattened hair. Conscious of the loss of his touch and the stretch of carpet he put between them, Elizabeth tried to think of a way to placate him.

"It is proving to be more difficult than I anticipated." With a sense of dread she stole a glance at him and went still.

He watched her with the hard, unamused eyes of a stranger. "A relative of mine, Lord Vincent Delacroix, arrived in London today. I intend to take him out this evening. You will accompany us."

The duke turned on his heel and headed into the hall without waiting for her agreement. She stared at his broad back as he mounted the stairs and she longed to call out to him and lay all her problems at his feet. Only the thought of his disbelief and contempt for her half-hatched suspicions gave her pause. She needed to be sure; he at least had taught her that.

She gathered her flounced skirt in her hand and trudged toward the study and the uninviting prospect of a long afternoon spent parrying Sir John's barbs and rebuffing Nicholas's ineffectual efforts to protect her.

*** *** ***

When Elizabeth retired to her room in the early evening she found a dress on her bed. She picked up the slippery purple and lace satin gown and regarded it doubtfully. It was not one that she recognized and, at first glance, it seemed a trifle gaudy for the duke's impeccable taste.

After a short struggle to lower the skimpy bodice and skirt over her head, she walked over to the mirror and brought her hand sharply to her mouth. The bodice was cut so low that her bosom threatened to fall out every time she breathed. Lace panels inserted vertically into the lush purple satin revealed glimpses of her skin. She rotated slowly, aware that the narrow skirt was so sheer that it displayed the shape of her legs. She doubted she would be able to fit a single petticoat under it.

Her skin flushed from the neck upwards as she smoothed her hands over the tight satin. The dress might as well have been painted on her flesh. Was it truly an evening gown or had the duke meant for her to wear it to bed? She looked like a common trollop. Was this how the duke saw her after their weekend of lovemaking?

For a fleeting second she considered defying him and changing into something more demure. Then the anger, which had begun to grow inside her since his withdrawal, coalesced into bravado. She would wear the gown the duke had chosen for her and watch him suffer the consequences.

*** *** ***

Gervase waited for her in the hallway, his face set in uncompromising lines as he consulted his pocket watch. Elizabeth arranged her cloak to cover the flimsy gown and met him with a civil smile.

"Am I late, Your Grace? You seem anxious to be off."

He barely glanced at her and the small kernel of doubt that had settled in her stomach began to flower in earnest.

"I intend to pick Angelique up. That is where we are headed now."

He held the carriage door open for her and slammed it shut as the coach took off at some speed into the rain-drenched night. Elizabeth stared out of the window and tried to ignore her feelings of unease. The duke was looking at her as though she was the enemy and, for once in her life, she didn't have the gumption to ask him why. She had too much at stake.

As she stared at his averted profile, it occurred to her that the duke might have known about her stepfather's possible involvement with the French from the start. If he had, his whole relationship with her could be viewed in a different light. She closed her eyes to shut out the sight of him. Had he been using her all along?

Angelique seemed subdued when she entered the coach, less than half an hour later, her fragile mood mirroring the duke's. Elizabeth gave up trying to understand the subtle cross-currents of tension filling the silent carriage and concentrated on her own problems. But by the time they pulled up to the theater, she was no closer to finding an adequate solution to her dilemma.

As soon as Elizabeth set foot on the wet flagged paving stones, she was swallowed up by a cluster of street vendors and theatergoers. The noisy throng seemed louder and more animated than the usual tonnish audience she had encountered there before. She looked up at the regal torch-lit façade of the Convent Garden Theater with rising apprehension.

From the miscellaneous apparel of the crowd flocking toward the entrance, Elizabeth deduced that a public masquerade ball was in progress. Despite her concerns, she couldn't help but be slightly curious. She had heard that behavior at masked balls could verge on the improper.

Angelique drew her into the shadow of the entranceway and handed her an embroidered purple half-mask. "You should wear this, Elizabeth. It will help to disguise you."

She helped Elizabeth tie the strings of the mask and Elizabeth reciprocated with the pink-feathered mask Angelique had chosen to wear. The duke disappeared whilst they were busy preening. He hadn't made the slightest effort to disguise himself. His jet black clothing, beaded waistcoat, and thick dark hair made him instantly recognizable.

While the duke was away, Elizabeth took the opportunity to study the assembled crowd. Her first impressions appeared to be correct. This wasn't a venue for the well brought-up ladies of the ton. She recognized several affluent gentlemen whose female companions, from their scanty and provocative attire, couldn't possibly be their wives.

She had heard whispers from her brothers as to the lewdness and revelry that occurred at such public balls, and now she could well imagine it. Every courtesan, rake, gambler, and actress in London seemed to be present, eager to push the boundaries of acceptable behavior beyond their limits. Elizabeth shivered and licked her lips as the scent of warm over-perfumed bodies and excitement swirled around her. She could almost taste the pent-up desire for licentious mischief.

Even Angelique seemed different as she shed her cloak and revealed the clinging low-cut rose gown beneath it. Although her blue eyes were all but concealed by her mask, she had painted her lips a deep crimson and had heavily rouged her cheeks.

Elizabeth clutched her cloak more tightly to her body as the duke returned, bringing a slight, dark-haired man with him.

Angelique simpered behind her fan and gave the stranger a low curtsey, which almost propelled her bosom out of her dress. "Who is this, Gervase, my love?" Angelique cooed and clung to the duke's arm when he gallantly raised her from her curtsey.

"This is my cousin, Lord Vincent Delacroix." The duke's casual wave took in Elizabeth as well. "Vincent, the blonde is Angelique and the brunette is Elizabeth."

Elizabeth was about to step forward but the duke's words stopped her. She glared at him for a dangerous second and then smiled and held out her gloved fingers.

"Good evening, my lord. My name is Mrs. Waterstone. It is a pleasure to meet you."

With a quizzical glance at the duke, Lord Vincent took her gloved hand and bent to brush a kiss over her knuckles. "Enchanted, Madam."

Elizabeth allowed him to place her hand on his arm and lead her into the crowded theater. He was not much taller than she was and his frame was not as broad as the duke's, although she gauged their age to be similar. His clothing was subdued but immaculate, displaying his slight figure to its fullest advantage.

He bent his head to speak above the shrieking and clamoring of the demi-monde at play. "Have you attended a masked ball before, Mrs. Waterstone?"

Elizabeth shook her head as the duke motioned them up the shallow, ill-lit stairs and into a slightly less noisy private box, which looked down onto the riotous assembly below. "No, my lord, I've not, although I must admit that I intend to enjoy the experience."

Lord Vincent smiled and held out a chair for her with a practiced flourish. Before she could sit down, the duke placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Take off your cloak, Elizabeth. You can scarcely be cold."

"Actually I am quite cold, Your Grace."

He stared at her for a long, dangerous moment. "Take it off."

She stared up into his face. Something was badly wrong and she had no idea how to fix it. She reluctantly released her grip of the front folds of her cloak. Lord Vincent went still and took in a visible breath as her dress was revealed. Even Angelique's mouth dropped open as she slipped into a gilded chair beside Elizabeth's. The duke tightened his fingers on her shoulder and made her turn toward him.

"Ah..." he breathed. "I knew that color would suit you. You look like a succulent grape, just waiting to be...plucked."

She knew then, in a moment of hideous clarity that he meant to get rid of her in the most public setting possible. Had he dressed her like this to show her off to potential buyers, like a flashy mare at Tattersalls? Her chin came up and she refused to give way to the urge to cry. She shook off the duke's restraining hand and turned back to Lord Vincent.

"Are you planning a long visit, my lord?"

The duke swore softly under his breath as she continued to ignore him, her attention all on his cousin.

"No, Mrs. Waterstone. I usually live quietly in Switzerland. I only come to London to consult with my business partners and, of course, to see my cousin, Gervase." He poured her a glass of wine, which she took gratefully, glad to have something to do with her hands. "How do you know my cousin, Mrs. Waterstone? If you will pardon my bluntness, you don't seem to be in his usual style."

Elizabeth managed a smile, aware that the duke was making no effort to disguise his interest in their quiet conversation. He sat on the arm of her chair, his arm draped along the back of it in a possessive manner, giving him an excellent view of her cleavage.

"I work for the duke in two separate capacities, my lord." Elizabeth sipped at her wine. "Firstly, I help with administrative tasks for the government and secondly, the duke is teaching me how to become a courtesan."

Lord Vincent choked slightly and then sat back, a hard glint of amusement in his blue eyes. "Gervase is teaching you how to become a courtesan?" He waited for her nod and then continued, his face full of wry amusement. "Well, I suppose if you must learn a trade it is better to learn from a master."

"Exactly, my lord." Elizabeth put her wine glass down on the table. "The duke has proved to be very competent in his duties, I can assure you, and I'm now ready to move on to bigger and better things."

Elizabeth paused to smile at Sir Vincent and won an answering grin in return and a disgusted snort from Gervase. She leaned forward to pour Lord Vincent some more wine, allowing the puffed sleeve of her bodice to slide down her bare shoulder. She remembered her inadequate bodice and tried not to breathe in too sharply, afraid that she might deposit more than the heavy Madeira wine in his glass. If the duke truly intended to be rid of her, she would make sure that she was the person doing the choosing.

After she finished pouring the wine, the duke cleared his throat and thrust his empty glass under her nose. As she straightened up, he slid her lace sleeve back up her arm with one indolent finger.

She favored him with her most glittering smile. "Do you wish for some more wine, Your Grace? I would be happy to oblige you, except I fear from my lowly position I might spill it on your breeches." She fluttered her eyelashes at him and ran her fingertips down his inner thigh. His hand trapped hers just above his knee and halted her exploration.

"It is quite all right, Mrs. Waterstone. I can help myself."

He leaned over her shoulder and picked up the bottle, allowing its smooth surface to glide over the swell of her breast as he lifted it past her. The sudden coldness made her gasp and her pebbled nipple showed clearly through the thin fabric of her bodice. With an irritated sniff, Elizabeth hunched her shoulder and sat forward until her knees touched Lord Vincent's under the table.

"Would you care to promenade with me, my lord?" she cooed. "I'm so looking forward to the dancing."

The strangulated sounds of a small orchestra tuning up could just be heard above the screeching and chattering of the ball patrons. Lord Vincent rose to his feet and bowed.

"I would be delighted to accompany you, Mrs. Waterstone." He winked at the duke as Elizabeth settled her hand on his arm. "Truth to tell, I haven't enjoyed myself so much in years."

Just as they were about to leave the box, the duke caught Lord Vincent's arm and whispered urgently in French.

"Was the duke warning you to behave yourself?" She squeezed his arm with an encroaching familiarity that would have made her mother weep.

Lord Vincent paused to hold the door open for her and they attempted to penetrate the colorful melee. "No, he was warning me about you. He seems to think the devil has gotten into you this evening and he doesn't like it at all." He studied her carefully blank expression. "He also ordered me to keep you away from anything too salacious."

Suddenly, Elizabeth was propelled into his arms by the breakout of a drunken brawl behind her. He steadied her with two hands at her waist and drew her more firmly against him. They were caught up in the movement of the crowd and drawn inexorably toward the center of the arena.

"I don't think I've ever seen my cousin Gervase become so anxious over a mere female," Lord Vincent said. "His first wife could have stripped naked in public and he wouldn't have reacted at all. You just took off your cloak and he was reduced to behaving like a virgin aunt protecting the virtue of her charge."

Elizabeth sighed and squeezed his sleeve. "I fear you are wrong, my lord. The duke has lost interest in our relationship and is looking to be rid of me."

Lord Vincent reached the edge of what passed as the dance floor and drew her back into his arms. "If that is why he brought you here, my dear, he seems to be going about it in quite the wrong way. If he truly wishes to be rid of you, he would be pleased that we are getting along so nicely."

He bent his head and kissed her ear with obvious enjoyment and whispered, "He is watching our every move with a ferocious scowl on his face, which has stopped even the most determined of the women here from propositioning him."

She could scarcely hear the music but it didn't seem to matter. She stole a glance up at the duke's box as they danced slowly past and confirmed Lord Vincent's observation. Gervase looked so grim he had even managed to scare away Angelique.

They skirted an elderly red-faced man who had his hand down the front of his youthful companion's inadequate bodice. Elizabeth's eyes grew rounder as the tone of the evening slowly disintegrated into something more openly sensual. She sensed Lord Vincent was deliberately using his body to shield her from some of the worst activities that were being perpetuated on the dance floor, but even he couldn't stop her from seeing some unpleasant sights.

It seemed as if the duke was right. She couldn't quite see herself living out her life with the demi-monde. The quiet existence of a governess or a lady's companion suddenly seemed a lot more appealing.

"Mrs. Waterstone, are you feeling all right?"

Lord Vincent's concern interrupted her miserable thoughts and she shivered. He drew her more closely into his arms and led her toward the edge of the dance floor. With murmured apologies he pushed his way through the young bucks who loitered around the doorway, ogling the women, and led her back into the main entrance hall.

"Do you wish to leave, Mrs. Waterstone? I would be happy to escort you."

Lord Vincent disentangled her fan from her wrist, flicked it open and plied her with its cooling draught.

Elizabeth drew in her breath and smiled at him. "Thank you, my lord but I don't wish to leave. I just felt a little faint in the press of people. I'm quite recovered now." With a determined nod, she retrieved her fan and turned toward the staircase.

Lord Vincent caught up with her and regained her hand. "Mrs. Waterstone, may I be frank with you? Gervase indicated to me that I might have my choice of you or Angelique as a companion for the evening." He hesitated. "And, I suspect, for the night to follow. Is Gervase in the habit of hiring out your services?"

For a horrifying second, Elizabeth thought of her stepfather callously forcing her into the arms of the duke. Was Gervase deliberately trying to humiliate her by proposing the same thing?

"No, my lord, the duke has never attempted to dispose of me before. As I said, I believe he has decided our relationship is at an end."

Lord Vincent squeezed her hand. "If you will pardon my interference, Gervase is being a fool. It is obvious that you would suit him admirably." He placed her hand on his sleeve and they walked up the staircase. "How would you feel about lavishing your attention on me for the rest of the evening and seeing how much Gervase can stand before he realizes what a fool he is?"

Elizabeth swallowed down her pain and smiled into Lord Vincent's mischievous eyes as he flung open the door into the box. "Oh, I think I can manage that, my lord." She gave him her hand and they entered the box together to confront the duke.

Chapter 29

The duke lay sprawled in his seat, his long legs stretched out in front of him, his hand curled around a half-empty bottle of brandy. He raised his glass in a mocking salute as Lord Vincent pulled out a chair for Elizabeth and offered her some wine.

"Did you enjoy your dance, Vincent?" he drawled. "Mrs. Waterstone can be excellent company when she wants to be."

Elizabeth tried not to wince at the abrasive note in Gervase's voice and accepted the glass of wine with a smile of thanks. Lord Vincent drew his chair as close to hers as possible.

"You are right, my dear cousin. Mrs. Waterstone is not only a beautiful, desirable woman but an intelligent one as well." He kissed Elizabeth's fingers with lazy grace and retained them in his. "I cannot thank you enough for the introduction."

Elizabeth swirled her fan to cover her mouth as the duke continued to watch her with hard, unamused eyes. He refilled his brandy glass, his gaze fixed on Elizabeth's lap, where Lord Vincent caressed the palm of her hand with the tip of his thumb.

"Your Grace, where is Angelique?" Elizabeth asked.

The duke raised one elegant, insolent shoulder. "I haven't seen her for a while. She took offense at something I said and disappeared in a swirl of petticoats." He winked at Lord Vincent. "Even after all the women I've bedded, I still don't understand what goes on in their pretty little heads."

Elizabeth threw him a sharp glance. "That is quite obvious, Your Grace, otherwise you would not be sitting here by yourself."

Gervase sat up and his air of indolence disappeared. He leaned toward Elizabeth. She tried not to inhale the scent of brandy, which clung to his skin like a rich, potent perfume. "Are you implying that I'm incapable of sustaining a relationship with a woman?"

Elizabeth gave a brittle laugh and turned her head to gaze up into Lord Vincent's amused eyes. "I would not dare to suggest such a thing, Your Grace. Men are as much a mystery to me as you claim women are to you."

Lord Vincent put his arm around Elizabeth. "I think you underestimate yourself, my dear Mrs. Waterstone. I would wager that you can guess exactly what I'm thinking about now."

Elizabeth modestly lowered her head and Lord Vincent brushed her averted cheek with his mouth. She almost gasped as the duke's fingers tightened painfully around her wrist before he released her and sat back.

The main lights in the auditorium had been dimmed and the music continued to play, although not many people appeared to be dancing. A solitary footman, his white wig askew, his livery stained with wine, ascended the steps to the stage and began to set light to the candles that adorned the edge.

Angelique reentered the box with a flurry of explanations and apologies, bringing with her a masked blonde woman. Elizabeth wasn't sure if it was the unknown woman's resemblance to Angelique that made her seem familiar or her voice as she whispered in Angelique's ear.

While Elizabeth pondered the mystery, Angelique began the introductions.

"Your Grace, this is Emilia, Lady Ma..."

The duke cut through her introduction with a wave of his hand. "I know who she is, Angelique. Her first name is quite sufficient for a masked ball--you know that. We must strive to cultivate an air of mystery." He rose with a charming smile. "Would you care to sit down, Emilia?"

"Oh Gervase," breathed Emilia, "I knew you would forgive me. I knew you would want me back."

Elizabeth frowned as she suddenly remembered where she had seen Emilia before--on the first occasion that the duke had taken her and Eloise to the theater, he had very publicly cast off Emilia when they had met her after the performance.

Giggling, Emilia accepted the duke's invitation to sit on his lap and Elizabeth looked away. She hadn't believed her wretched evening could get any worse. An unwilling smile trembled on her lips. How like the duke to invite his previous mistress along to watch the ignominious dismissal of her successor. Was Emilia unable to resist the duke's allure or had Angelique been used as a go-between to engineer this particular scenario?

Elizabeth stared at Angelique, who avoided her gaze as she pretended to chat with Lord Vincent. Emilia started to rain kisses down onto the duke's face and he made no effort to stop her.

With a determined attempt to appear unconcerned, Elizabeth allowed Lord Vincent to take her hand and remove her glove. As he pressed kisses up the tender flesh of her inner arm, she half-closed her eyes and found that his touch was not unpleasant.

Unfortunately for her shattered nerves, she could still make out the duke and Emilia, even through the shadows. Capturing Elizabeth's reluctant gaze, the duke slid his fingers into Emilia's guinea gold hair, tilted her head back, and kissed her full on the mouth. Emilia squeaked as he deepened the kiss.

Gervase held Elizabeth's gaze over Emilia's shoulder the whole same time.

Agony laced with anger shot through Elizabeth. She refused to play his games. She wouldn't stay and watch her world crumble into ashes. Lord Vincent touched her hand, his face full of concern.

"Do you not wish to watch the performance, Mrs. Waterstone? I believe it is a farce."

Elizabeth tore her eyes away from the duke's cynical gaze and looked wildly around for her cloak. "No, I thank you, Lord Vincent. Perhaps you could show me where I might hire a hackney cab?"

She curtsied to the other occupants of the box. "It has been an interesting evening, Your Grace, but I feel as if I've already witnessed the most inspired performance of the night in this very box."

Lord Vincent tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and led her toward the back of the box. "I will escort you home, Mrs. Waterstone. It will truly be my pleasure." He left her outside the door in the shadowy corridor. "If you will just wait here, I will go and engage a cab."

Elizabeth leaned her head against the grimy wallpaper and closed her eyes. The acrid-smelling candle in the wall sconce above her head hissed, guttered, and died.

She should not have taunted the duke. He was an expert at divesting himself of annoying females. She had only proved she was no match for him and had hurt herself in the process. By antagonizing him she had also lost all hope of making him listen to her suspicions about Sir John. How could she have been so foolish?

She stiffened as a familiar hand wrapped around her neck. "Are you sure that you don't want to stay, Elizabeth?" the duke murmured. The cloying smell of Emilia's perfume almost choked her and she tried to turn her head to the side. She wasn't quick enough to avoid his mouth. He kissed her with a blatant, possessive desire that gave no quarter that demanded her response that shattered her soul.

Her knees gave way under his unforgivably explicit assault and she struggled to free her hand from the intimate press of his body. The crack of her open palm against his cheek sounded like a pistol shot in the darkness. He stepped back and leisurely wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. A deep red mark appeared on his cheekbone.

"Go away, Your Grace." Elizabeth whispered. "You have achieved your aim. I don't wish to stay."

He smiled and she hated him so much she wanted to scream it in his face. "Much better to end it this way, with anger rather than with floods of tears, don't you think?"

"I'm so glad you approve of my anger."

He frowned. "What exactly do you mean?"

"You've taught me everything I know about the difference between passion and love and I appreciate that immensely." She gathered her courage. "That's also why I finally understand that you're too much of a coward to ever acknowledge your true feelings."

His expression darkened. "What in damnation are you talking about?"

"I think you know. Why else would you go to so much trouble to be rid of me?" She held his gaze. "I thought I was in love with you. Thank you for dislodging that stupid and idiotic notion from my head so successfully tonight, even if it was for your own protection."

"Elizabeth, I..."

She walked away from him, head held high, toward the far more peaceful company of Lord Vincent.

*** *** ***

She said little as the drafty rented carriage ambled its way through the light rain back to the duke's house. When they reached the square, Lord Vincent paid off the driver and assisted Elizabeth from the carriage. He walked her to the bottom of the imposing staircase of Delamere House and then stopped to possess himself of her hands.

"I feel guilty for encouraging you to defy Gervase. I didn't think he would react like that. I fear I've just made things worse."

"It is all right, my lord. Sometimes it is better for things to end quickly rather than limp on for months." She drew in a steadying breath. "At least I know where I stand and can plan ahead."

Lord Vincent frowned as he felt in his coat pocket and handed her a card. "This has my address in Switzerland on it, as well as my London bankers. I will be at The Pelican Inn on Birdcage Walk for another three days. Please contact me there if you have need of my support."

Elizabeth accepted the card and was surprised when he grasped her hands again.

"I must say this, Mrs. Waterstone. If Gervase hadn't met you first, I would definitely be pursuing my interest in you." She started to speak and he stopped her with a gentle kiss. "Not as a courtesan, ma cherie, but as a future wife. I would love to have the opportunity to get to know you better and insist that you consider me a friend, at the very least."

He released her and she headed up the stairs in a daze of conflicting emotions. The door was unlocked and the hall was empty just as it had been on the fateful night when the duke had first brought her there. She walked slowly up the staircase, knowing in her heart that she was more vulnerable now, having loved and lost the duke, than she could ever possibly have imagined on that long ago night.

She threw the horrible violet satin dress onto the carpet and stamped on it before pulling on one of her own voluminous nightgowns that fastened high at the neck. Despite her distress, she couldn't sleep, and pacing the carpet seemed the only thing that stopped the screams welling from her throat.

*** *** ***

Gervase closed the door to his suite with deliberate slowness and slumped against it. The strain of lying to Elizabeth had drained him to the point of exhaustion and he feared that there was worse to come on the morrow. He only just managed to wipe all trace of expression from his face when he remembered that Angelique was still there. He straightened as Angelique tore off her pink domino and mask and threw them at his feet.

"Are you happy now, Gervase?" Her voice shook but she continued to advance on him. "Are you happy now that you have destroyed Elizabeth?"

Gervase was still too shaken to speak. He poured himself a large brandy before he found the nerve to turn and face Angelique again.

"I hate myself for allowing you to involve me in this." Angelique twisted her hands together as she paced a restless circle.

Gervase shrugged. "It was necessary for you to come home with me in case Elizabeth decided to waylay me in my bedchamber." He grimaced. "If my suspicions are correct, Elizabeth will soon be under the protection of the French and we will never see her again. I suspect she is too valuable an asset to be ignored."

Angelique's expressive face paled beneath her rouge. "They might kill her, have you thought of that?"

Gervase fought hard to conceal the pain Angelique's words provoked in him. He couldn't afford to let anyone know the truth yet, even Angelique. He raised an indolent eyebrow as though she had suggested a ride in the park.

"Are you suggesting that I expose her to the British authorities? As a traitor to her own country I suspect the penalty inflicted on her would be equally severe."

He was rewarded for his calculated air of disinterest when Angelique knocked the brandy glass from his hand. He caught her wrist as the brandy dripped down his chest. "Go home, Angelique. I will come and see you tomorrow."

She shook off his hand and bent to pick up his brandy glass, her face bitter. "Don't bother, Your Grace. I don't intend to stay under your 'protection' for a moment longer. I will inform you when I vacate the house."

Gervase ran a hand through his hair. "You don't need to do this. Please wait until you have calmed down."

She shoved the glass into his outstretched hand and headed for the door. Just before she reached it, she swung around, her tears already beginning to fall. "I need to get away from you. You have become someone I no longer understand. You have become a man who would sacrifice his own lover without a second thought, without even allowing her the courtesy of a fair hearing."

Gervase flung out his hand but she continued anyway. "How long before you turn on me, Your Grace, or Nicholas or Eloise? Soon there will no longer be anyone who can truly love you because you will not allow them to. There will only be those who fear and loathe you. Does that make you happy?"

He took two strides toward her but she slammed the door in his face.

He laid his palm flat against the solid oak door. He couldn't tell Angelique the true extent of his suspicions. If he was correct, alienating Elizabeth at this stage would either save her life or ultimately convict her. He had to believe that. His feelings about her involvement with Jack Llewelyn had nothing to do with his actions, nothing. Gervase stared at the heavy paneling, drew back his fist and smashed it against the wood until his knuckles began to bleed.

Chapter 30

Elizabeth awoke into a gray dawn, listening to the sound of deliveries being made to the Delamere House kitchen door just below her window. It was six o'clock when she struggled out of bed, having barely slept. A hurried glance in the mirror did nothing to dispel her fears that she looked like a dowdy, wrinkled old maid. After the myriad humiliations of the night before, she found herself reluctant to leave the sanctuary of her room and face the other members of the household.

She forced herself to leave her bedchamber and looked down onto the black and white marbled hall. She would not stay in this house for one minute longer than she had to. Laying one hand lightly on the banisters, she descended. To her relief, the breakfast room was deserted. She dined alone on tea and toast as the skies darkened and rain lashed against the windowpanes.

She crossed the deserted hall as the clock boomed seven, hoping to reach her desk before Sir John appeared and the duke and Nicholas returned from their morning ride. To her dismay, she barely had time to place her reticule on her desk before the connecting door to the duke's study swung open and Nicholas appeared. Her welcoming smile died as she took in his unusually stern expression.

"Miss Waterstone? Would you mind coming through to the duke's study?"

Elizabeth swallowed her unease and followed him through the doorway. The heavy damask curtains were half-drawn against the ravages of the rain and no lamps illuminated the early morning gloom. The duke sat behind his desk, his face in profile and his expression unreadable. Sir John lounged against the wall. Nicholas held out a chair for Elizabeth and took up a position to one side of her.

The duke linked his hands on the desk and appeared to contemplate his thumbs. "I've a question for you. Where is the code?"

Elizabeth raised her chin. "I'm not quite sure what you are talking about, Your Grace. I locked the last coded message you gave me in my desk as instructed." She glanced around at Sir John and Nicholas with carefully feigned surprise. "Are you telling me that the code has disappeared? Or are you accusing me of stealing it?"

The duke held up a piece of blue tinted parchment, which she recognized instantly. "I have the code, Miss Waterstone. It appears to have been damaged. Do you have the translation?"

"Unfortunately, Your Grace, as you have no doubt observed, I spilt water on the original and I've been unable to decipher it."

"Balderdash, Miss Waterstone." Sir John snapped. "I've seen you working on the translation for the last few days."

Elizabeth stiffened as Sir John abandoned the wall and took a threatening step toward her. The duke cleared his throat and Sir John went still like a well-trained hunting dog.

"We have all seen you puzzling over the code and we have all discussed the translation with you." Gervase held her gaze, his tone deliberate. "Are you trying to tell me you were too embarrassed to own up to the fact that you couldn't break it?"

Elizabeth almost crumbled at the duke's scathing tone and sternly reminded herself that she had not expected her task to be easy. "After Sir John's attempts to make me feel superfluous, did you think I would willingly admit I had failed?"

The duke rose to his feet and leaned forward. "With all due respect, Miss Waterstone, I think that you are lying. Did you deliberately deface the code so that no one else could read it? Where is the translation?"

"I did not deface it deliberately. It was an accident."

Elizabeth glared back at him, refusing to be intimidated and he sat down again. "Did you pass the translated code to your dear friend, Jack Llewelyn, when you met him yesterday at the coffee house?"

Elizabeth struggled to breathe as the conversation she had envisaged abruptly changed tack. "What do you know of Jack Llewelyn? Are you having me followed?"

"Of course I am. Nicholas has been your faithful shadow ever since you came to live here. You haven't answered my question. Did you give the code to Llewelyn?"

"No, I did not," she said calmly, thrown by this unexpected turn of events. "Mr. Llewelyn has nothing to do with the code. He cares for my brother Michael, who is an invalid."

Sir John gave a harsh laugh. "You expect the duke to believe such nonsense? Why would the son of the Duke of Carmarthen act as a nursemaid to your brother?"

Elizabeth frowned. "I didn't know that, Your Grace. I hired Mr. Llewelyn by letter. None of his references mentioned his antecedents."

The duke said nothing, seemingly content to let Sir John handle the investigation. Sir John advanced on Elizabeth until he blocked her view of the duke.

"You are an accomplished liar, Miss Waterstone, but you have been found out. I've already told the duke that your only surviving brother serves in the army in France."

Elizabeth forced herself to meet Sir John's pale eyes, which gleamed with triumph. "You are an intimate of both my stepfather and my mother. You must know I've another brother, sir. Even if you claim not to have met Michael, my mother must have spoken of him."

"I regret to inform you, Miss Waterstone, that your mother told me your brother Michael died of his wounds and that you alone persist in pretending he is alive."

"My mother lies almost as much as you do, Sir John," she whispered.

"Might we get back to the matter of the code, Sir John?" The duke's soft voice intruded on the violence gathering on Sir John's face and he reluctantly moved away.

Shaken by Sir John's all too evident desire to harm her, Elizabeth locked eyes with the duke. "Your Grace, I didn't give the code to Jack Llewelyn." She struggled to find the words to defend her brother's companion even though she sensed the duke's reluctance to hear them.

Her hopes of reaching the duke died as his eyebrows rose. "Indeed, Miss Waterstone? I think there is more to it than that. If you are as intimate with him as your clandestine meetings suggest, surely you would know his background and his propensity to betray his country?"

Elizabeth opened her mouth to refute the duke's damning statement and then closed it with a snap. She didn't have the time or the necessary ammunition to discuss her relationship with Jack Llewelyn. She needed the duke to return to the subject of the code and leave his suspicions of Jack Llewelyn behind.

To Elizabeth's relief, Standish knocked on the half-opened door and distracted the duke's attention. "Excuse me, Your Grace. We have searched Miss Waterstone's room as you requested and we have found nothing."

The duke nodded. "Thank you, Standish. You know what to do next." Standish withdrew and the duke turned to Sir John. "Will you go and fetch Miss Waterstone's reticule? She usually leaves it by her desk."

Elizabeth waited tensely until Sir John returned from his office with her patched reticule. Her fury over the duke's high-handed orders to search her possessions was hard to restrain. Without asking for permission, the duke tipped the contents out onto his desk.

Elizabeth sat forward, ready to protest as the duke began to sort through her things. A flash of color seemed to catch his eye. He picked up a bracelet.

Elizabeth could only stare in disbelief as he dangled a gold bracelet, adorned with diamond and ruby hearts, from his fingertips. She knew that the bracelet hadn't been in her bag before. Had Sir John put it there to further incriminate her?

"Where in damnation did you get this?"

With a shock, she realized that his molten gray eyes reflected only disdain and disgust. She found it difficult to form a coherent reply.

"I don't know, Your Grace. The last time I saw such a thing was at my mother's house..."

"This is Angelique's missing bracelet. The one she lost gambling to your stepfather." He threw the trinket at her. "Did it give you pleasure to wear it knowing it had been stolen from my mistress, or did your stepfather give it to you as a reward for seducing me?"

Elizabeth shook her head as his anger washed over her. Dimly she remembered Angelique discussing the loss of her bracelet and her feeling that she had seen the trinket before when Mary had first shown it to her at Mr. Forester's.

Although her plans depended on her silence, her fingers curled with a wild desire to claw at Sir John's smug face.

The duke, after a last contemptuous glance in her direction, turned his attention to the other items from her reticule.

It was almost a relief when he shook the book she had left in her reticule and a piece of parchment fell out. She couldn't bear to look at Gervase's face as he uncovered her 'treachery' and focused instead on the bracelet, which lay abandoned at her feet.

Sir John hurried to the duke's side as he unfolded the parchment and began to read. Sir John smiled over Elizabeth's head at Nicholas. "Thank God, it is the code translation. Le Fleur tells the assassin exactly where to position himself along the parade route. Now we stand a chance of stopping him."

The duke nodded. "I would appreciate it if you could take this to the Foreign Office with all speed. The victory parade is only two days away."

Sir John took the code and placed it in his pocket. He paused at the door to look back at Elizabeth. "Do you want me to take Miss Waterstone with me, Your Grace? I'm sure that the local magistrate would be delighted to find her some suitable accommodation in the cells."

Elizabeth clamped her teeth hard on her bottom lip. Not only did she doubt that Sir John intended to take the code to the proper authorities, but she also feared that, if she was forced to accompany him, she might never reach the security of a prison cell either.

"No thank you, Sir John. I will deal with Miss Waterstone myself."

She relaxed her grip on the arms of her chair as the duke moved from behind his desk to stand over her like a predator finally cornering his prey. It occurred to her that it was probably the last time they would ever be alone together.

"What exactly did you intend to do with this code, Miss Waterstone? Give it to your stepfather?"

"No!"

The duke's laugher made her shiver.

"What should I do with you, then Miss Waterstone? You have betrayed your country and my bed. Did you imagine I might save your pretty neck from the hangman's noose because of the tender passions we shared?"

Elizabeth tried to speak and found that she had too little command over her voice. The duke yanked her to her feet. He placed a finger under her chin and tilted her head back until her eyes met his.

"You may be sure that I will be speaking to your friend, Jack Llewelyn, anyway. Tell him it would not be wise to leave Mr. Forester's house until he has seen me." The duke removed Elizabeth's spectacles and closed her cold fingers around them. "You never duped me, Elizabeth. I knew what you were from the beginning and I indulged you because it amused me."

The duke stepped away so abruptly that Elizabeth grabbed at the chair for support. He turned to his desk, stuffed her scattered possessions back into her reticule, and tossed it to her. Then he strode toward the door and flung it wide.

At the bottom of the staircase she could just make out a pile of luggage stacked on the marble floor.

"Get out, Elizabeth. If you try to come back I will have Standish set the Runners on you."

Elizabeth elevated her chin and walked past him, her reticule clutched to her chest. Ignoring the luggage, she headed straight for the front door, which Standish hastily flung open for her. A dense curtain of rain greeted her but she paid it no heed as she picked up her skirts and descended the slippery steps.

A shout behind her made her pause but she refused to turn back. Nicholas appeared at her elbow, her bonnet and cloak in his hands. Wordlessly, he thrust them at her and she tried to smile.

She waited until the door of the mansion slammed behind him before opening her fingers to reveal the shards of glass in her hand from her crushed spectacles. Ignoring the blood that streamed down her fingers, she put on her bonnet and cloak and set off.

The duke stood silhouetted at the window as she trudged along the pavement. She was fiercely glad the rain masked the tears that fell unheeded from her eyes.

*** *** ***

Eventually, when her feet were so cold and wet that she could no longer feel them, Elizabeth wandered into Hyde Park and sank down on a sheltered bench under a group of willow trees. The park was deserted. The fashionable crowd who usually frequented it on an afternoon during the Season had all disappeared.

Her stomach growled, reminding her of the many fruitless hours that had passed since her dismissal by the duke.

The only signs of life on the rain-washed streets had been the men trying to cordon off the parade route and hang limp flags from the street lights.

Elizabeth wiggled her toes and stared ruefully at her ruined kid slippers. If only Nicholas had had the forethought to bring her a pair of boots as well...

She swallowed as she recalled his unexpected kindness and hoped that he wouldn't get into trouble with the duke because of it. Had the duke expected her to pick up the luggage Standish had left in the hall for her? She sniffed disdainfully. She hadn't paid for any of the garments inside the boxes and she had no interest in claiming them. Let the duke pass them on to his next mistress.

On that dismal thought, the willow trees swished around her with a hushing sound. She wished she had the trees' ability to bend so gracefully.

Where was she to go? If she went to the Foresters, she would have to deal with her stepfather and try to conceal her suspicions from him. After her bruising encounter with the duke, she had grave doubts that she was capable of deceiving an experienced cardsharp like Mr. Forester.

Had her stepfather deliberately sent her to the duke in the hope that she would become of use? It seemed more and more likely, and explained the duke's last unpleasant remarks to her.

Elizabeth refused to picture the duke's contemptuous face. She had to think about protecting Jack Llewelyn and Michael from the duke's impending interrogation. If the duke suspected her of dallying with Jack Llewelyn, it might give him a new focus for his anger.

Angelique's kind face swam into Elizabeth's mind. But Angelique's loyalty to the duke was unquestioned. She would find no welcome there.

A sudden gust of wind separated the emerald curtain of willow leaves and revealed the bleak park beyond. It was starting to get dark and the park gates were locked at sunset. Knowing that she had no real choice, she picked up her reticule, drew her cloak around her, and headed for the northern gate of the park and Birdcage Walk beyond.

She knocked on the room numbered twenty-three and held her breath until it opened a crack.

"Mrs. Waterstone? Good God, you are soaked to the skin! Come in and warm yourself immediately."

Elizabeth gave Lord Vincent Delacroix a grateful smile as he ushered her into his warm and inviting room.

"Thank you, Lord Vincent, I didn't know where else to go..."

Chapter 31

She hadn't denied anything.

Gervase stared at the empty chair in front of his desk and recalled Elizabeth's expression when he had confronted her with the evidence of her deceit. With a curse, he ground out his Spanish cigar and continued to glare at the chair. Weak sunlight filtered through the half-drawn curtains and glinted off the bracelet he had thrown at Elizabeth.

She hadn't claimed it.

Gervase picked up the bracelet and wearily admired its sparkle before letting it slide through his fingers. How could he return it to Angelique if she followed through with her threat and left him for good? In one night he had managed to alienate the two most important women in his life.

His thoughts returned to Elizabeth. Some part of him, the part she had encouraged to bloom within his soul, had hoped she would defend herself.

She hadn't even tried.

Gervase walked across to the window, loosened his crumpled cravat, and dug his fingers into the tense muscles at the back of his neck. Despite running over her every word and gesture a thousand times, he still couldn't decide what bothered him most about Elizabeth's behavior. Why hadn't she defended herself with her normal wit and vigor? Why had she capitulated so easily?

His ragged sigh misted the glass as he gazed down onto the square. It was still raining in a desultory fashion so no one was about. It would be ironic if the Prince Regent, a notoriously fussy man, called off the victory parade on the morrow for fear he might catch a chill.

A discreet tap on the door made Gervase look up. Nicholas came in, his tawny hair damp, his expression strained.

"Well?" Gervase asked.

Nicholas turned to the fire and held his hands out to the blaze. "She didn't go to the Foresters."

"Then where in damnation did she go?"

"I don't know, Your Grace. By the time I set out to find her yesterday evening, Miss Waterstone had disappeared."

Gervase rubbed a distracted hand over his unshaven chin. He had counted on Elizabeth returning to the Foresters. "Did you also ascertain that she didn't go to Angelique's?"

Nicholas sank into a chair and stared down at his clasped hands. "Angelique told me to tell you that if Miss Waterstone did turn to her for help, she would give it willingly and be damned to you."

Gervase allowed his suspicions free rein. Was Elizabeth already on her way across the Channel to the safety of revolutionary France? If she were, his fragile hopes of her innocence would receive their final deathblow.

"There is something I don't understand, Your Grace," Nicholas said slowly. "When we searched Miss Waterstone's room, she had no money hidden anywhere."

Gervase shrugged. "She is a woman, Nicholas. She probably spent it on fashionable fripperies and bonbons."

Nicholas shook his head. "I've been shopping with Miss Waterstone on several occasions and she rarely bought anything for herself. So, what has she done with her money?" He looked up at Gervase, his eyes haunted. "What if she was telling the truth, and she supports her invalid brother?"

"I asked the Foreign Office about her brother and have received no reply." Gervase answered. "What if she secreted the money in a bank and used it to aid her escape?"

Nicholas let out a gusty sigh. "I don't know, Your Grace. When she walked out yesterday, she didn't look like a villain with a plan. She looked frightened." He dropped his head into his hands and his voice became muffled. "I keep imagining Miss Waterstone out in the rain last night, with nowhere to go and no one to turn to..."

Gervase shook off the image of Elizabeth's haunted face and attempted to redirect Nicholas's uncomfortable thoughts in another direction. "Is Jack Llewelyn still at the Foresters?"

"Yes, Your Grace, although I'm not sure if he is actually living there or not." Nicholas squirmed in his seat when Gervase shot him a questioning look. "I spoke to one of the kitchen maids today and she told me he has a room in Broad Street. I haven't yet had the opportunity to confirm her story."

Gervase turned back to his desk. "You will do better than that, Nick. You will bring Jack Llewelyn here this morning and I will ask him myself."

"I will go and get him right now, Your Grace."

Gervase touched his arm. "Go and eat something first. Jack Llewelyn can wait for half an hour."

*** *** ***

When Jack Llewelyn strolled into Gervase's study at noon, it was all Gervase could do not to leap over his desk and wrap his hands around the man's throat. Llewelyn had the flashy, blond good looks women seemed to swoon over. Gervase stood but didn't offer the other man his hand. Without waiting to be asked, Llewelyn sat down, one scruffy booted foot crossed over the other, and looked up at Gervase.

"What do you want, Your Grace? I have to get back to work."

As Gervase had anticipated, Llewelyn's voice retained the privileged tones of his aristocratic upbringing combined with the hint of a Welsh accent.

"Am I addressing Lord Jack Llewelyn?"

Llewelyn grimaced. "If you are as intelligent as I've been led to believe, Your Grace, you will know that I never use my title. In truth, my esteemed, estranged father would probably die of apoplexy if he heard you addressing me as 'my lord anything'. He has expressly forbidden it."

Gervase sat down. "Considering your reputation, it is hardly surprising your father has cut the connection between you, isn't it?" He raised an eyebrow as Llewelyn shrugged an indolent shoulder. "Or are you about to tell me you were wronged?"

Something dangerous flashed in Llewelyn's brown eyes as he locked gazes with Gervase. Then he grinned. "I doubt you asked me here to discuss my family, Your Grace. Unless you have been given the task of informing me that my father is dead?"

Gervase shook his head and Llewelyn sighed. "Damn, I thought not. My brother Edward would surely relish telling me I wasn't mentioned in my father's will. He would scarcely allow another the privilege of delivering such damning news."

Gervase cleared his throat. "I wished to speak to you about Miss Elizabeth Waterstone."

Llewelyn's smile died. "Miss Waterstone is my employer. Has something untoward happened to her?"

Gervase studied Llewelyn intently, but he could find no trace of lover-like alarm in his demeanor. "Have you seen Miss Waterstone since you met with her at the coffee house yesterday morning?"

Llewelyn snorted. "Do you have all your employees followed, or is there something particular about Miss Waterstone that makes her untrustworthy?"

"My methods of obtaining information have nothing to do with this conversation. I'm inquiring about Miss Waterstone's current whereabouts and your relationship with her."

Llewelyn leaned forward and extracted a cigar from the open box on Gervase's desk. "I've already told you, Your Grace. Miss Waterstone is my employer. She pays my wages. I haven't seen her since yesterday morning when we met, as we do every week, to discuss her brother's progress."

Gervase raised his eyebrows. "I find it hard to believe that you are masquerading as a caregiver to a man who, I've been reliably informed, died in Spain." He slammed the lid of the cigar box shut and rose to his feet. "If you wish to avoid another humiliating brush with the authorities, may I suggest you tell me what is really going on?"

Llewelyn stood as well, his brown eyes level with the dukes, his expression just as intimidating. "May I suggest that you get your facts right before you go around attempting to frighten innocent people? I'm not surprised Miss Waterstone has disappeared if this is how you treat her."

Gervase stepped forward until less than a foot separated him from Llewelyn and grabbed hold of the other man's waistcoat. "Damnation, tell me where she is. She might be in danger!"

Llewelyn stepped back and Gervase reluctantly released his grip. "I don't know where she is, Your Grace, but if anything happens to her, I shall know who to blame."

He headed for the door, leaving Gervase stranded in the center of the room. "If you doubt my word, Your Grace, perhaps you would care to accompany me to the Foresters' house early tomorrow morning? I will be at Hyde Park Corner at seven. You can meet Miss Waterstone's brother, Michael, and perhaps learn something to your advantage."

Before Gervase could reply, Jack Llewelyn was gone and Gervase was reduced to pacing the floor again. In an attempt to keep busy, he wandered into Sir John's study.

He bent to pick up a scrap of lace from the carpet and his nostrils caught the scent of lily of the valley. He raised the dainty handkerchief to his lips as a vision of Elizabeth filled his senses. He could just see her sitting there, her spectacles on her nose, her fingers stained with ink, her skirts in disarray as he plunged inside her...

God, where was she?

Gervase crushed the handkerchief in his fingers and stuffed it into his pocket, glad that no one had witnessed his moment of weakness. Sir John had organized the prompt removal of Elizabeth's desk and no further hint of her vital personality remained to taunt him. As his composure returned, Gervase glanced at the clock and frowned as he registered the lack of his normally prompt secretary.

A folded piece of parchment addressed to him lay on Sir John's desk. On opening the missive, Gervase found a note from Sir John apologizing for his absence, citing family problems. Gervase squinted down at his secretary's crabbed script. He hadn't even known Sir John had a family. He needed his secretary here! To his further annoyance there was no mention of when Sir John expected to return.

"Damnation!"

Gervase crushed the parchment into a ball and threw it toward the empty, coal-blackened fireplace. It bounced off the edge of the grate and, with a curse, Gervase went to retrieve it. A glimpse of white brought his attention to another crumpled letter that had failed to burn properly. Recognizing the official seal of the Foreign Office, Gervase picked it up and smoothed out the charred edges.

When he broke the seal he had to read the contents twice before he could make any sense of it. It seemed that Elizabeth and Llewelyn had spoken the truth. The Foreign Office had provided details of the pitiful pension it paid to Lieutenant Michael Waterstone, a wounded veteran of Wellington's Peninsula campaign. The address given as his residence was the Foresters'.

Gervase stared at the letter for a long time as dread coalesced in his stomach. Hadn't Sir John confirmed that Michael Waterstone was dead? His eyes went to the top of the letter. It had been sent two days ago.

Had Elizabeth dumped the letter in the wastepaper basket, fearing its contents, or had Sir John done it? His secretary's convenient disappearance seemed more sinister by the second.

Gervase jumped when Standish knocked on the door. His butler informed him that the carriage was at his disposal. He was due at the Foreign Office for a final discussion of the security measures for the victory parade. There was no way he could avoid the commitment.

With a growl of frustration, he retrieved his gloves and hat from Standish and headed into the rain. He could only pray that Elizabeth was at least safe somewhere and resolve to follow up Jack Llewelyn's suggestion for an early visit to the Foresters' on the morning of the parade.

Chapter 32

Gervase squinted through the haze of cigar smoke and shifted impatiently as the Ormolu clock on the mantelpiece struck seven. He tried not to breathe in the stale smell of overcooked roast beef and treacle pudding that drifted in from the dining room next door. For some inexplicable reason, the Foreign Secretary had decided to go over, in mind-numbing detail, everything they'd already determined. Unable to bear another second, Gervase cleared his throat and got to his feet.

"My apologies, gentlemen, but I've another urgent matter to attend to. I hope you will excuse me?"

Without waiting for an answer, he strode out of the grandiose government building and into the deserted cobbled street where his carriage waited. His certainty that Elizabeth had sought shelter with Angelique had only increased during the interminable meeting and he decided to go see for himself.

Half an hour later, just before a delicate porcelain figurine smashed into the back of his head, he managed to slam the front door of Angelique's house behind him. Breathing hard, he listened as Angelique continued to shriek profanities in gutter French at his invisible form. Despite her vociferous objections, Gervase had searched the whole house.

Elizabeth wasn't there.

Gervase wasn't totally despondent. Angelique had unwittingly revealed another potential avenue of investigation when she had threatened to run off with his cousin Vincent.

How could he have forgotten Vincent? Gervase jammed on his hat and directed his coachman toward the Pelican Inn. If Vincent was indeed in residence, Gervase intended to ask for his help in preventing Elizabeth from leaving England or, if she had already fled, in tracing her passage to France.

The obsequious clerk at the front desk of The Pelican escorted Gervase up the stairs to Vincent's rooms. The clerk left after bowing so low that his long nose almost connected with his knee. Gervase knocked once and, ascertaining that the door was unlocked, let himself in.

"I'm sorry for calling on you at such an odd hour, Vincent, but..." Gervase stopped speaking as he took in the sight of his cousin and Elizabeth comfortably ensconced on a couch before the fire, playing cards. Vincent had discarded his cravat and coat and Elizabeth wore a man's embroidered dressing gown. Her hair hung down her back in a thick braid. For a furious moment, Gervase was tempted to strangle her with it.

Something of his desire must have shown on his face because Elizabeth edged toward Vincent and his cousin put a protective arm around her shoulders. Gervase's sharp relief at seeing Elizabeth disappeared into a spiral of emotions that threatened to consume him. Before his brain consciously formed the desire to kill them both, his fingers were already groping in his coat pocket seeking his pistol.

"Cousin," he snapped. "It seems that the questions I wished to ask you have been answered by Miss Waterstone's presence here."

Vincent rose, his face a cool mask, his deliberate shielding of Elizabeth another insult that Gervase struggled to bear.

"I understood from Miss Waterstone that you had cast her aside, Gervase. Am I mistaken?"

"No, by God. You are welcome to the lying little jade. Did she tell you that she makes her living out of betraying those around her?"

Fierce joy coursed through Gervase as Elizabeth jumped to her feet, eyes flashing.

"I did not betray you, Your Grace. I suggest you use your much vaunted intelligence and look around you for the true culprit."

Gervase gave a harsh laugh. "Why should I, when you so admirably fit the bill?"

Elizabeth took a hasty step toward him, but Vincent grasped her elbow and spun her around to face the door connecting the rooms of the suite. "Go to bed, Elizabeth. I will sort this out with Gervase."

With a sniff, Elizabeth came up onto her toes, wrapped her arms around Vincent's neck, and fastened her mouth onto his. Gervase's hands curled into fists as Vincent enjoyed a leisurely embrace with Elizabeth, then released her with a pat on her rounded bottom.

Elizabeth fluttered her eyelashes and smiled, ignoring Gervase completely. "I will wait for you in bed, my lord."

Gervase remained silent until Elizabeth shut the door between the two rooms, then turned his attention to his cousin. "You didn't have to enjoy her kisses so much, Vincent. And who the hell told you to call her Elizabeth?"

"She did." Vincent shrugged. "When you ordered me to keep an eye on her, you said you had no interest in her any longer, Gervase. I happen to think very highly of Elizabeth. When I've fulfilled my obligation to you, I will be more than willing to help her in any way I can."

Gervase gritted his teeth. Why did everyone, apart from Sir John, continue to see Elizabeth as an innocent? "Just keep her safe and away from the parade tomorrow," he ordered gruffly.

Vincent swept him an exquisite bow. "Of course I will. I gave you my word that I would protect her, and I've no intention of breaking it."

"You were supposed to be a last resort. I had no idea she would turn to you," Gervase retorted grimly as he pulled on his gloves.

Vincent grinned and picked up his wine glass. "And you don't like it much, do you cousin? Especially the thought that Elizabeth is sharing my bed?"

Gervase opened his mouth to pour scorn on any such notion and then closed it again with a snap, pushing away the unwelcome image of Elizabeth and Vincent tangled in the sheets. He pulled open the door and slammed it behind him with a satisfying crash as Vincent's laughter followed him down the stairs.

*** *** ***

"Well!" Elizabeth folded her arms and paced in front of Vincent, who sat on the side of the bed. "He didn't even give me a chance to explain myself. He doesn't deserve to find out the truth."

She rounded on Vincent when he had the temerity to chuckle. "I wish that I hadn't told Jack Llewelyn to give him my message. I wish that I had borrowed your dueling pistols and shot him!"

"You sound remarkably like Gervase at the moment, my sweet." He pretended to shudder. "I thought I was about to breathe my last when you decided to lavish your kisses on me in front of him."

Elizabeth held out her hand. "I'm sorry, my lord, I was so enraged that I didn't think. He didn't hurt you, did he?"

Lord Vincent kissed her fingers and strolled toward the door. "No, luckily, my cousin decided not to call me out. It took all his energy to convince himself that he didn't care for you, didn't you notice?"

Vincent waited while she absorbed the implications of his remark. "Are you sure you wouldn't like me to stay?" He gestured toward the bed. "I blush to admit it, but I'm told I'm every bit as accomplished in the bedroom as my cousin is. You are more than welcome to compare us."

Elizabeth shook her head and Lord Vincent departed with a wink and a resigned shrug. She got into bed and allowed herself to savor the tantalizing hope that the duke did indeed care for her, until she rolled onto her front and recalled his horrid expression when he had called her a jade. It would have been so much easier if she could succumb to Lord Vincent's charms. He had been a perfect gentleman ever since she had knocked on his door the previous evening.

Elizabeth sat up and blew out the candle. She would make one last attempt to convince the duke of her innocence on the morrow. If he still refused to listen to her, she would have to hope that Jack Llewelyn and Michael could persuade him in her stead.

*** *** ***

Gervase threw his hat and gloves onto the hall table, crossed the deserted marble hall, and marched up the stairs to his chamber. The house was silent around him and he didn't bother to ring for Jacques. He missed Elizabeth's vibrant presence more than he would have thought possible. Angelique's contemptuous words regarding his lonely and mistrustful nature reverberated in his head as he undressed and slipped naked into bed.

To add to his worries, Sir John hadn't returned. Gervase had sent Nicholas out to find word of him. His diligent secretary's convenient disappearance set off all kinds of alarms in Gervase's head. Had Sir John been taken to prevent him interfering in La Fleur's plans, or had Sir John done the unthinkable and allied himself with the duke's enemies? Nothing seemed certain anymore except the unsavory vision of a solitary future too bleak to contemplate

Eventually, Gervase felt so stifled he got out of bed to open one of the sash windows, which looked out over the well-tended garden. The capricious English weather seemed set to be fine for the victory parade and, unfortunately, meant the crowds would be out in force on the morrow. Would Elizabeth bother to watch the celebrations or would Vincent keep her occupied in bed?

Gervase cursed as he got back into bed and tried to blot out the insidious image of Elizabeth in Vincent's arms. He placed his hands behind his head and focused on the indistinct glimmer of the black silk canopy above his bed. The faint breeze from the opened window made the silk undulate like a snake poised to strike.

In truth, he hadn't finished with Elizabeth Waterstone yet and she knew it. If Vincent could keep his hands off her until tomorrow night, and keep her safe, then there would be a reckoning...

Chapter 33

Gervase dressed in the soft light of the rising sun as it broke over the slate roofs of the square. He stowed his favorite pistol in the deep pocket of his black coat and struggled to pull on his boots without the aid of his valet. He slipped silently down the staircase and out through the side door that led to the stables. No one was about when he saddled a horse and set off for his rendezvous in the park with Jack Llewelyn.

Gervase kept his horse to a walk as he picked a careful path between the incoming crowds of spectators. People were beginning to gather at the best vantage spots along the route although the parade was not due to start until the afternoon. A slight breeze fluttered the limp bunting that lined the roadside. Gervase ducked his head to avoid a trailing Prussian flag.

There was no sign of Jack Llewelyn at the appointed meeting place. After circling the fountain a few times, Gervase dismounted and walked his horse along the newly cut grass verge. After a while, he extracted his watch from his waistcoat pocket and noted the time. He closed the watchcase with a decisive snap, and stared unseeingly toward the western gate of the park.

If Jack Llewelyn would not come out of hiding, Gervase would flush him out like the vermin he was. Without further thought, he remounted his horse and headed for the Foresters.

After he discovered an empty, unused stable at the rear of the house, he tied his horse to the rusted railings at the front of the house and went up the worn steps. To his surprise, the front door was ajar. A feeling of unease assailed him and he took out his pistol and pushed the door open with the toe of his boot. The dingy hallway was empty. Gervase hesitated, his back to the door, and attempted to get his bearings.

A rustle of petticoats drew his attention to the top of the stairs, where Mrs. Forester stood silhouetted against the faded floral wallpaper. Gervase dropped his arm to hide his pistol in the folds of his coat and took off his hat.

"I do apologize for the intrusion, Mrs. Forester, but no one answered the door. I need to speak to Mr. Llewelyn on a matter of urgency."

Mrs. Forester descended the stairs until she stood level with the duke. "There is no need to apologize, Your Grace." She dabbed at her nose with a lace handkerchief. "Unfortunately Mr. Forester has already left to watch the parade with my daughter, Mary, and cannot be here to welcome you to our humble home." She glanced around vaguely. "It seems as if all the servants have left as well, but Mr. Llewelyn is here." She put the handkerchief away and pointed down a dimly lit corridor, which seemed to lead to the back of the house. "He works in the old housekeeper's rooms beside the kitchen."

Gervase left his hat on the hall table and headed off down the corridor before she could question him further. When he reached his destination, he didn't bother to knock, being reluctant to lose the element of surprise. Jack Llewelyn and a man, he reckoned from his looks to be Elizabeth's brother, Michael, were seated side by side behind the desk.

"What the devil is going on, Llewelyn?" Gervase demanded.

Llewelyn shot to his feet. "Your Grace, watch out!"

Before Gervase could react, his right wrist was grabbed and locked behind his back. His fingers were smashed repeatedly against the wall until his pistol fell from his now-useless grasp and a huge unwashed hand covered his mouth. He fought against the suffocating embrace of the bear of a man behind him, but he couldn't get free.

He was manhandled around to face the center of the room in time to see his secretary, Sir John Harrington, cuff Llewelyn across the face.

"I told you to be quiet," Sir John snarled, his perspiring face a fiery red.

Llewelyn spat at him. "You are a lot braver now that your thugs have tied me up, aren't you?"

Sir John struck out at Llewelyn again and blood dripped from the corner of Jack's mouth. Sir John laughed. "You are a known coward, Llewelyn. How many times will I have to hit you before you give in and cry mercy?" He drew back his fist. "Once, twice?"

Jack Llewelyn muttered an obscenity and Gervase shook off the hand that covered his mouth. "What in damnation is going on? Tell this fool to let me go."

"Oh no, Your Grace. I've waited too long to be denied the opportunity to pay you back for the endless hours of devotion I've wasted on you." Gervase stilled as Sir John glared at him. "Have you any idea," Sir John continued, "how insulting it is to work for a man as dissolute and disgusting as you are? A man who wastes all his God-given opportunities and enjoys consorting with whores and gamblers?"

Gervase smiled. "You think you could do better, Sir John? You couldn't even break a single line of code. You had to get Elizabeth Waterstone to do it for you."

Sir John went still. "You insult me, but no matter. Yes, it was lucky that Mr. Forester was able to dupe you into accepting Elizabeth into his household. We had high hopes that she would be able to translate the code we needed."

Michael Waterstone shouted. "Elizabeth is no traitor. If she translated the code she was forced to do so."

Gervase gave a soft laugh. "If you know your sister at all, Lieutenant Waterstone, you should also know that she chose to meddle with the code without any compulsion from anyone."

His next breath was cut off as Sir John backhanded him across the face. "I hate to interrupt this inspiring conversation, Your Grace, but of course we didn't tell Miss Waterstone what was going on. At first, I intended to ask her to help me with the code. But being a woman, and a damned inquisitive one at that, she managed to translate it all by herself."

"That is because Elizabeth is far more intelligent than you will ever be," Gervase said. "You are just a paper-shuffling, money-grubbing, messenger boy for the French. What I don't understand is why this whole charade was necessary."

"I'm far more than a messenger boy! I had to develop a whole new plan after our original code breaker was killed." Sir John stuttered. "I couldn't allow Le Fleur's plans to be interrupted. I arranged for your men to discover the code and recruited Elizabeth to translate it under your very nose! It was all my idea."

Gervase curled his lip. "If you expect me to congratulate you for betraying your country, you must be insane."

Sir John gestured to the ruffian beside him. Gervase braced himself as the man stepped forward and drove his meaty fists into Gervase's unprotected body. If he hadn't been held up, Gervase feared that he would have fallen to his knees. He fought to retain his balance as pain ripped through his battered ribcage and belly.

Sir John nodded. "Take him away. I've no further use for him." Gervase opened his mouth to speak and Sir John spoke over him. "There is no point in appealing to their better natures, Your Grace, for they have none, and I've already paid them handsomely."

He gestured to the unseen man behind Gervase. "Bind the duke's hands, Albert, and make sure you search him before you leave him to his fate."

As he was dragged toward the door, Gervase started to fight in earnest. Unwilling to submit, he dug in his heels and was rewarded by a savage jab to his kidneys. He shouted over his shoulder as the other thug closed in on him. "Am I to assume that you didn't tell the Foreign Office the assassin's correct position?"

Sir John snorted. "Do you still take me for a fool? I substituted my own directions before I took the message in." He gave a breathless laugh. "I'm the only person who knows where the assassination will take place--apart from the assassin himself, of course."

He flung open the door and watched as Gervase was half-carried through it. "Good riddance, Your Grace," he said piously. "I will enjoy managing your affairs when you are found dead. I will even continue to defend you when you are posthumously implicated and ultimately convicted for your part in the Prince Regent's assassination."

Gervase was pushed out of the back door and into the bright sunlight with such force that he went sprawling on the ground. He gritted his teeth as he was hauled up by his bound hands and bundled into a black carriage. By the look of the two men who accompanied him, Gervase reckoned he could count his remaining life in hours, if not minutes.

He had no opportunity to escape during the short journey and only had time to gulp in the salty, malodorous smell of the river before he was marched into a dank, cavernous room where his hands were untied. He rubbed at his wrists as his captors advanced toward him. Their intent to do him harm was etched on their merciless faces.

Gervase brought his fists up as one of the Brothers Grimm smashed him in the jaw. Eventually he went down, and after several agonizing kicks to his ribs and the rough removal of his coat and waistcoat, Gervase subsided, almost thankfully, into unconsciousness.

*** *** ***

It was only nine o'clock in the morning, but Elizabeth suspected she had severely ruffled Lord Vincent's composure with her incessant demands for action. She started on him again as he sat sipping tea in the private parlor.

"I've got to see the duke, my lord. I've got to tell him about the coded message."

Her companion sighed. "We have been over this a thousand times, Elizabeth. Gervase will receive the information from Jack Llewelyn just as you planned."

"But what if something goes wrong?"

"That is not your problem, my dear. I promised Gervase that I would not let you within a hundred miles of the victory parade."

Elizabeth stopped pacing and stared at him. "You promised the duke?"

Lord Vincent dabbed at his mouth with his napkin. "Devil take it," he said testily. "You are an extremely irritating woman. You must forget I said that."

Elizabeth bobbed Vincent a curtsey and ran to the door. "I should have known you were in league with your cousin. Unlike you, I never do what Gervase says."

Before Vincent could stop her, Elizabeth picked up her skirts and was away down the stairs and into the crowded streets below. She drew in a determined breath, plunged into the thickest part of the crowd, and headed toward the distant green shimmer of the park.

When she reached Grosvenor Square, it seemed unusually quiet, its central park deserted. No nannies played safely with their charges under the boughs of the gracious elm trees or strolled along the gravel paths. Elizabeth guessed many had gone to watch the parade and had taken their staff with them.

She ran up the steps of Delamere House and knocked. It took an age for someone to answer her summons.

When Standish finally opened the door, Elizabeth gave him a relieved smile he failed to return. "Good morning, Standish, is the duke at home?"

Standish compressed his lips. "I'm under strict instructions to deny you admittance, Miss Waterstone."

"This is a matter of great urgency. If you tell him I'm here, he will wish to speak to me."

"I'm sorry, Miss Waterstone but you must leave. I would hate to have to call the Runners." With that, Standish shut the door in Elizabeth's face, leaving her gaping like a stranded fish.

She uttered a most unladylike curse and kicked the brass doorplate before turning to march down the steps. As she stood there, wondering what to do next, the door opened again.

"Miss Waterstone!" Nicholas leapt down the stone steps, almost falling in his haste to reach her. He grasped her hands and pulled her away from the house.

"The duke has disappeared. According to Jacques, he went out the morning without telling anyone where he was going, and has not yet returned."

"The duke often goes out without telling anyone his destination. He is not a child."

"No, but there is something peculiar going on. Sir John disappeared yesterday. I haven't been able to find him and now the duke has gone too. It has to have something to do with Le Fleur's plot to assassinate the Prince Regent. We need to find the duke!"

Elizabeth patted Nicholas's sleeve as her mind worked furiously. She wasn't surprised by Sir John's defection, but the duke's disappearance was another matter entirely. "You need to check with Angelique that the duke is not with her and then let the Foreign Office know what has happened. Tell them to send more men to the Strand."

Nicholas agreed, seemingly glad that someone was giving him directions. "And what will you do, Miss Waterstone?"

Elizabeth smiled grimly. "I will go to see if my stepfather is at home, and determine whether the duke honored him with a visit."

*** *** ***

The door to the Foresters' house stood open and Elizabeth noticed the duke's familiar gray hat resting on the hall table. With great trepidation, she made her way up the stairs to her mother's drawing room. Her mother sat in her usual chair, wearing a deep green gown and a frothy lace cap threaded with matching ribbon. She looked up as Elizabeth appeared, her expression unwelcoming.

"Why have you come here, Elizabeth?"

"I came to see Michael, mother. I was hoping to accompany him and Mr. Llewelyn to watch the parade."

Mrs. Forester poured herself a cup of tea. "I'm afraid you have missed them. They set off at dawn to make sure of a good spot, as did your stepfather and sister."

Elizabeth backed toward the door. If Jack Llewelyn and Michael had left at dawn, would they have had a chance to relay her message to the duke?

Pinning on a self-assured smile, Elizabeth curtsied. "I didn't mean to bother you, mother. I'll just pop down and make sure they haven't left me a note, and then I'll be off."

She opened the door and gasped as Sir John Harrington appeared and barred her exit.

"Oh no, Miss Waterstone. You are not going anywhere. I've a bone to pick with you. Your constant meddling has made the duke question my judgment and my loyalty."

She stiffened. "I don't know what you are talking about, Sir John."

"Oh, I think you do." Sir John took hold of Elizabeth's elbow. "You tried to undermine me with the duke and he was so enamored of you that he almost chose to believe you over me."

"You are a fine one to talk, Sir John. You left Angelique's stolen bracelet in my reticule," she countered. "You made sure that the duke cast me out on the street. I've no influence with him at all. Why do you think I came back here?"

But Sir John refused to release her. In desperation, Elizabeth looked at her mother, who sat sipping calmly at her tea. "Mother, Sir John is not what he seems. He is in league with Mr. Forester. You must find the duke and..."

"Did you know that Sir John is a distant cousin of mine, Elizabeth?" Mrs. Forester asked. "We were both left penniless by our families."

Mrs. Forester rose from her chair and glided toward Elizabeth. "Did you think I knew nothing about what was going on in my own house?" She smiled up at Sir John. "Your stepfather is an amiable man and he has proved useful as a messenger between Sir John and myself, but that is all he has done."

"You knew about the assassination attempt?" Elizabeth whispered.

"Of course I did, Elizabeth. Sir John and I have been working to achieve the Prince Regent's demise for over a year now. I knew when our original code breaker died that we would need to find a replacement and who better than my own flesh and blood? I would have sent Michael, if he had been able, but you proved very satisfactory my dear." She laughed. "You even persuaded the duke into your bed, which distracted him from his duties. I couldn't have done better myself."

"Why did you do it, mother? Why did you betray your country?"

Mrs. Forester arched one perfect eyebrow. "Why? For money, of course. Sir John has to work for a living, despite his title and noble name. Mr. Forester and I have a position in society to maintain and Mary deserves her choice of suitors."

Elizabeth shook her head, unable to speak in the face of such implacable avarice. Her disgust must have shown because her mother stiffened.

"Sir John, seeing as Elizabeth is so anxious to see the duke, why don't you take her to him?"

Elizabeth opened her mouth to protest, but the unseen blow to her head sent her helplessly spiraling toward oblivion.

Chapter 34

Elizabeth came to her senses as a familiar voice, roughened with desperation, repeatedly called her name. For a long dazed moment she stared at the curved, brick-lined ceiling above her and tried to remember where she was. At last, she sat up with a gasp and put her hands to her head to suppress the unpleasant sensation that her skull was about to explode. A wave of nausea shuddered through her and the floor undulated beneath her feet.

"Elizabeth? Are you all right?"

She gathered her senses as best as she could and took a wary survey of her surroundings. The tunnel-like room sloped down toward the river, where large rusted bars clogged with weeds and refuse allowed water to seep through in a steady trickle. On the opposite side, five steep steps led to a door set high in the wall. In the shadow of the steps, she made out the outline of another figure. Still unable to find the courage to test her legs, she crawled toward the motionless form.

The duke lay against the wall, his hands tied above his head, his booted legs stretched out in front of him. He wore no coat or waistcoat and his linen shirt was dappled with filth and what appeared to be the imprints of bloody fists and boots.

"Thank God." The duke's harsh words drew Elizabeth onwards until she knelt at his feet. His left eye was half-closed and blood ran down his cheek, soiling the front of his shirt. When he tried to speak, his breathing sounded unnaturally loud in the echoing space. "I thought they had killed you."

Elizabeth touched the back of her head and winced. "I think Sir John hit me whilst I was talking to my mother."

The duke groaned. "I should have known Vincent would never be able to hold you. Did you follow me to the Foresters?"

Elizabeth sniffed. "I went to Delamere House first, but Standish told me you were not at home and that he was not to divulge your whereabouts to anyone, especially me."

The duke grimaced and glanced up at his bound hands. "I make you my apologies, I was unavoidably detained. Can you free my arms?"

Without further thought for her thundering headache, Elizabeth stumbled to her feet. She steadied herself against the damp brick and breathed in the mingling smells of mildew and rank tidewater.

A rope was knotted around the duke's wrists and efficiently tied to an iron stake in the wall. Elizabeth tugged at the rope and the duke hissed a curse. Fresh blood ran down from his wrists to soak his sleeves. Elizabeth slid back down to the floor and studied him. Under the filth that covered his face he was as pale as milk curds.

"I don't think I can loosen the ropes, Your Grace. They are tied too tightly for me to work them free."

"Devil take it, woman, I know they are tight. I've been trying to get out of them for the past few hours!"

"There is no need to be rude, Your Grace," she fired back. "I'm not the one who put you in this predicament."

"You bloody well are!"

A sonorous clanging from the city's bells echoed along the dank subterranean passageway, mirroring the faint, rumbling roar of the crowd overhead.

"It is two o'clock," said the duke after the noise had ebbed a little. "The Prince and his fellow sovereigns are due to pass along the Strand in about an hour." He glanced at Elizabeth, his jaw set. "They didn't bother to lock the door after they brought you in here. They probably assumed you wouldn't recover from that blow to your head for hours. It might be better for you to leave me here and go and find help."

Elizabeth contemplated the duke's words. Had her mother knowingly sent her to her death? The thought was too horrific to contemplate, so Elizabeth pushed it away. She fixed her attention on the large, grated opening that allowed into their prison the dappled light reflecting off the river. Water was now gushing through the bars, lapping at the edge of the brick floor, turning it a dark, bloodstained red.

"If I leave you here, Your Grace, you will drown. From the state of the walls, I suspect that at high tide the Thames will completely flood these tunnels."

She glanced over her shoulder and her gray eyes met his. For the first time in their acquaintance, he looked away first. "The security of the nation is of far more importance than my life, Elizabeth. Leave me here."

"I would prefer you to be with me." She waded back through the rising water and, heedless of the state of her skirts, sank down beside him. "I cannot believe that the mighty Duke of Diable Delamere doesn't have a plan for his own escape."

The duke gave a reluctant smile and then sucked in a ragged breath. "If you insist on helping me, I've a knife inside my left boot. If you would be so kind as to remove it?"

With an obvious effort, he brought his left knee up toward his chest. Elizabeth tried to fit her fingers between his stockinged leg and gleaming white-topped boot. After a short struggle, she sat back and tucked her damp hair behind her ear.

"Your boot is too tight, Your Grace. I will have to take it off." She straddled him, applied all her weight to his boot, and ended up falling backwards into the rapidly rising water. She felt inside the soft, warm leather and located the thin-bladed knife. She set her teeth as the wickedly sharp blade sliced through the sodden strands of hemp and prayed she wouldn't cut him.

The church bells of London rang out the half-hour and the faint boom of distant cannon fire resonated through the tunnels to send ripples through the steadily advancing pools of tidal water.

She started humming "Oranges and Lemons" to distract herself as she tried to ignore the rising water that now reached the duke's outstretched legs and licked greedily at the soles of his boots.

"It is taking too long." Gervase's calm voice shattered her concentration and she almost dropped the knife. "Leave me and get out of here."

"No, Your Grace," she replied through her teeth as she finally managed to free one of his hands and set to work on the other. "Are you afraid I mean to release you and then lead you like a lamb to your death?"

"Elizabeth..."

"I am only freeing you because I need your help to apprehend the assassin." She sawed savagely at the remaining rope and the duke's fingers curled into a fist. "After the damage you have done to my reputation, I doubt anyone in authority will listen to me if I start to plead for help."

*** *** ***

Gervase tried to lower his hands into his lap but his muscles locked in painful response. Elizabeth stood over him like an avenging angel, an expression of disdain on her pale face. He flexed his fingers as blood suddenly returned to his useless limbs and fought the urge to cry out.

He slid his hand up his ribcage and carefully pressed, closing his eyes against the fresh wave of jagged pain. When he tried to get to his feet, he almost blacked out and splayed his fingers onto the grimy wall to preserve both his balance, and his dignity.

Elizabeth appeared alongside him and her keen gaze swept over him. "You appear to be suffering, Your Grace. Is there anything I can do to help you?"

He gritted his teeth against an urge to drop his head between her breasts and howl like a child. He would feel immeasurably better if she would only look at him, touch him, love him... How close had he come to losing her and everything else he cared about?

"I'm quite well, Miss Waterstone." He gestured to the door at the top of the stone steps. "Shall we proceed?"

He stepped away from the wall and faltered as his ribs protested. To his disgust, he would have fallen headfirst into the swirling knee-deep water if it had not been for Elizabeth's support.

She held him steady and ran her cold fingers over his chest. He sucked in a breath as she grazed the spot where Sir John's ruffians had inflicted the worst damage. After the dizziness subsided, he opened his eyes and found himself sitting on the steps, looking down on the top of Elizabeth's head. She brandished a set of wide cotton strips torn from her petticoat.

"I shall bind your ribs, Your Grace. Will you lift your shirt for me?"

He didn't have the energy to protest, although he knew as well as she did that the minutes were trickling away and that the water level was rising steadily. He grunted as she expertly wrapped her makeshift bandages around his ribs and tied them tight. On the last bandage, when her arms were wrapped around his torso, he slid his hand up to grip her chin, which rested against his chest.

"My name is Gervase," he said, his voice rough and urgent, and most unlike himself. "I'm weary of this pretense. Stop treating me like a stranger. Call me by my name, damn you."

She stepped away from him and dropped him a curtsey, graceful even in the swirling water.

"Oh no, Your Grace. I went to bed with Gervase and he betrayed me. I prefer to think of you as an arrogant aristocrat who believes me a traitor to my country." Her voice trembled as he reached for her and she flinched away. "Somehow, it is easier to bear your company if I think of you like that."

She picked up her sodden skirts and climbed the steps, her back rigid, her shoulders set. With a muttered curse, Gervase followed her, breathing more easily as he allowed the tightly wrapped bandages to support him.

The clamor of noise and excitement as they reached street level assaulted Gervase's ears like the firing of a pistol close to his head. Elizabeth stopped in front of him, apparently as befuddled as he was. Nobody seemed to notice their disreputable state, so intent were they on the slow-moving procession of kilted Scots guardsmen who paraded along the center of the street. Gervase took Elizabeth's hand, unwilling to lose her in the crush of people.

He bent to shout in her ear as a swell of anticipation rose, peaked, and broke over them. "We need to find our way along the Strand. If I remember the translated code correctly, the assassin is supposed to be by the gates of Somerset House."

Elizabeth nodded. "I know that, Your Grace. I decided that Somerset House would not be a good place for an assassin to get a clear shot at the Prince Regent."

Gervase caught her arm and swung her around to face him. "You decided?"

After an ineffectual attempt to shake off his hand, Elizabeth sighed and gazed over his left shoulder. "I altered the code, Your Grace. I suspected Sir John was in league with my stepfather. I allowed you and Sir John to bully the wrong translation out of me."

She glanced briefly at him and then looked away. He dropped her arm and stared at her, unaware of the people buffeting him or the shoves in his back to make him move on.

"You sent the assassin to the wrong place," he said wonderingly. "Of course you did. How could I have been so stupid? Now Sir John believes that he and the assassin are the only people alive, apart from Le Fleur, who know where the assassination will take place."

Gervase had to laugh. "The frontage of Somerset House will be far too crowded for an assassin to gain a clear view of the Prince. We should be able to stop him there." He caught Elizabeth's filthy hand in his and crushed it to his lips. "Thank you, my dear. You have justified my faith in you a thousand times. Shall we go and find out if your plan has worked?"

Gervase began to force his way through the good-natured crowd, aware that his empty pockets were picked at least twice and that Elizabeth was receiving her fair share of attention. He held her as tightly as he could, protecting her from the pull and sway of the population. It was rather like using a sea current to guide them closer to their goal rather than fighting it and drowning in the attempt.

At one point, while they waited patiently for a regiment of exotic Russian Cossacks to file past, Gervase asked, "Where did Le Fleur really tell the assassin to wait for the Prince Regent?"

Elizabeth half-turned toward him. "By Charing Cross, just where the procession swings away from the river." She shivered. "I suspect he would have stood a good chance of success from there."

Gervase could only nod in agreement as a gap opened in the crowd and he followed Elizabeth across the street. The swirl of bagpipes tuning up effectively banished all thoughts of communication until they reached the imposing walls of the Savoy. Before Elizabeth could attempt to cross, Gervase pressed her back against the stone wall.

"Did you see Jack Llewelyn and your brother this morning at the Foresters'?"

"No, my mother said that they were out watching the parade." Some of his alarm must have shown and she slid her hand up his forearm. "Did you speak to them? Is there anything wrong?"

He smoothed the tangled hair from her cheek. "I didn't get a chance to speak to them, love. Sir John and his bully boys had already captured them." He placed his fingers over her lips. "I don't think that any real harm will befall them. Remember, the blame is supposed to fall on you and me when our bloated corpses are discovered decomposing in The Thames."

His attempt at gallows humor failed to reassure her and she pulled away. "Of course," she said numbly. "No one would believe the testimony of a supposed coward and a cripple...Sir John has been very clever."

"Not clever enough," Gervase replied. "We are still alive and more than ready to take on the assassin." He marched toward the curb and looked at Elizabeth over his shoulder. "You do realize that we will have to do this by ourselves. Sir John has probably sent the Foreign Office men in the totally wrong direction."

Elizabeth caught up with him, her expression firm. "Yes, Your Grace, I did ask Nicholas to warn the Foreign Office that things had gone awry and to send men to the Strand, but I was unable to be more specific. At the time, I didn't know your whereabouts or if Jack Llewelyn had given you my message about the changed code."

Gervase marveled yet again at her resourcefulness. He made himself a promise as he guided her across the road that, if they brushed through this, he was never going to let her out of his sight again.

*** *** ***

As they neared the impressive frontage of Somerset House, the crowds increased and Elizabeth was unable to see a thing. For the first time, she was glad the duke had her hand in a firm clasp. A distant roar rolled along the Strand toward them like the crash of a wave on the beach. The sun glinted off the golden helmets and horsehair tails of the Royal Household cavalry as the main vanguard of the immense procession approached.

Artillery weapons secured on gun carriages, led by teams of six straining horses, lumbered past and the ground shook under Elizabeth's feet. She glanced around for Sir John, aware that the duke was doing the same.

"Gervase!" she gasped, "he's over there, at the top of the statue."

They pushed their way toward the elevated structure, commemorating a long dead king, where Sir John was shading his eyes and looking out over the parade route. As he shifted his position, Elizabeth saw Mr. Forester and her mother standing next to him. She watched in horror as the cacophony of noise swelled to unbearable levels and Mr. Forester drew a pistol from his coat pocket and polished it with his handkerchief.

She screamed, "No!" The duke shouted something back at her as he forged ahead. She was only at the base of the statue when the duke began to climb, his attention fixed on Mr. Forester.

As if in a dream, she saw the Prince Regent's carriage approaching along the Strand and Gervase lowering his head and charging Mr. Forester. She had just grasped the leg of the statue and pulled herself up when the duke and his prey disappeared over the side and crashed into the street below, narrowly missing the departing royal carriage.

Before Elizabeth could react, her attention fell on her mother, whose face was a chalky mask of rage. Fear crowded her throat but she forced herself to crawl forward as Mrs. Forester drew a pistol out of her reticule and pointed it at the disappearing carriage. Mimicking the duke's tactics, Elizabeth threw herself at her mother and pushed her backward off the side of the stone plinth. The gun went off and her mother screamed as they fell together in a tangle of petticoats.

Elizabeth's right shoulder impacted the cobbled street and she rolled away. Suddenly, she was surrounded by a bevy of armed soldiers. Amidst the barked orders and screams of the crowd, Elizabeth could scarcely bear to look at her mother, who lay unmoving on the ground. A thin trickle of blood ran from her mouth and her fingers remained locked around the smoking gun.

Nicholas appeared, his face anxious, his coat bloodstained. "Are you unhurt, Miss Waterstone?" He helped her to her feet. She leaned against him and fought a wave of dizziness.

"Is my mother all right?"

Nicholas glanced over his shoulder to where Mrs. Forester was being assisted to her feet. "I think so. You needn't worry about the duke either, the bullet only clipped his shoulder..."

Elizabeth looked wildly around for Gervase. He was propped up against the base of the statue, an ominous red stain growing ever wider on his filthy white shirt. His eyes were closed, his long eyelashes stark against the paleness of his skin.

"Gervase..." she whispered and took a faltering step toward him. Someone caught her arm.

"He will be fine, Miss Waterstone. Doctor Wilkinson is taking him home now." Startled, Elizabeth looked up into the battered face of Jack Llewelyn. He kept hold of her hand and led her back through the gawking crowd to a waiting carriage. "Will you come with me, Miss Waterstone? Michael will be delighted to see that you are safe."

Elizabeth allowed him to hand her into the carriage and shut the door. The crowds parted momentarily and gave her a final glimpse of the duke being carefully lifted from the ground by four of the soldiers. She pressed her face against the filthy window and watched until he disappeared from sight.

Chapter 35

Jack Llewelyn paced the worn carpet in the Foresters' drawing room with military precision. It was past ten o'clock on the morning following the parade and since breakfast they had been discussing the events leading up to the assassination attempt. He paused by the window, his expression intent, and Elizabeth braced herself for yet another question.

Rain had descended, turning the skies a sullen, leaden, gray. A thick pall of smoke left behind from the fireworks and cannon fire crawled along the deserted pavements and crept spider-like over the treetops.

After the tumultuous events of the previous day, the house seemed strangely quiet. A bewildered Mary had been dispatched to spend the night with friends and was not due to return for several days. Elizabeth was alone with Michael and Jack Llewelyn.

"Tell me again, Miss Waterstone." Jack Llewelyn swung around to face Elizabeth. "Why did you decide to alter the code?"

Elizabeth sighed and exchanged a wry glance with Michael. "As I've already explained, when I saw the codes copied into Sir John's notebook, and found the notebook in my stepfather's possession, I suspected that Sir John was in league with my stepfather. I hoped to prevent him from sharing the correct translation with the Prince's enemies."

Michael intervened. "But why did you bother to alter the code when you must have suspected that Sir John would change it again before he gave it to the Foreign Office?"

Elizabeth shrugged and smoothed the soft muslin folds of the girlish gown she had been obliged to borrow from Mary. "I didn't know if he would, but I thought it likely. I wanted to make sure that, whatever happened, Sir John would have the wrong code." She crossed her arms around herself and shivered, the horrible images of the previous day fresh in her memory. "The duke threw me out before I could speak to him directly about my suspicions. I didn't realize then that by asking for your help, I would put you both in danger as well."

Jack Llewelyn smiled at Michael in a particularly irritating male way and said, "We weren't treated badly. We were just locked in the study. I only got a black eye because I attempted to warn the duke."

Elizabeth studied her brother. He appeared more animated since his brush with disaster than he had been for years. She would never understand men. Gathering her dwindling resources, she turned her attention back to Jack Llewelyn.

"Mr. Llewelyn," Elizabeth said firmly, "I think I've explained quite enough about my part in this sordid affair. I would appreciate a little more openness from you. How is it that the son of a duke is working as a nurse, and why are you so interested in what happened yesterday?"

Jack locked gazes with her and Elizabeth caught a glimpse of the steel behind his effortless charm. "As I'm sure you already know, I was cast out by my ducal family. I've no money, Miss Waterstone, and no skills other than fighting and binding up wounds. I'm no longer considered fit to grace society, so what else would you have me do?"

Elizabeth gave him her hardest stare, convinced that he was still concealing at least part of the truth, but unwilling to add to the complicated mess of feelings in her already overtaxed mind. "You didn't answer my question, Mr. Llewelyn. Fortunately for you, I really don't have the energy to care at the moment."

She sat next to her brother and pressed her fingertips to her aching brow. Michael reached for her hand. "Elizabeth, what do you intend to do now that the Foreign Office has cleared us of blame and taken Sir John and the Foresters into custody?"

Elizabeth pressed her lips together. She still found it hard to believe her mother had wanted her dead. "I don't know. I can't pay Mr. Llewelyn unless I find another occupation, and I've no references." She looked down at her clasped hands. "Lord Vincent asked me to accompany him to Switzerland, but I don't want to give him the impression that I could grow to care for him..."

"You can come home with me, my dear."

Elizabeth raised her head. As if summoned by her deepest longings, the duke had appeared at the door. Although he wore a stylish black coat, one sleeve hung empty and his left arm was in a sling. His gaze swept over Jack Llewelyn and Michael as he bowed.

"Would you allow me a few moments of privacy with your sister, Lieutenant Waterstone? There is much we need to discuss."

Michael looked at Elizabeth and she nodded. The duke closed the door and, unwilling to face him, Elizabeth rose, presenting him with her back. She walked over to the window and counted her shallow breaths as she waited for him to break the silence.

The duke cleared his throat. "I'm sorry about your mother. I was unsure whether or not she was involved in the plot and my ignorance nearly cost you your life."

Elizabeth looked over her shoulder and regarded the duke, who still leaned slightly against the door. He looked even worse than he had on the previous day and she suspected that his elegant clothing and stiff posture concealed more pain than he was allowing to show.

She raised her eyebrows. "You came all this way to commiserate with me about my mother? You should not even be out of bed, Your Grace. I'm sure your physician would be horrified."

He smiled. "You knew I would come, Elizabeth. As I said to your brother, we must talk. There are many things you need to understand..."

Elizabeth's hands clenched into fists as a slow anger began to burn through her. "Oh no, I understand you completely, Your Grace. If you had trusted me as I trusted you, no explanations would be necessary. You took advantage of me from the first moment we met, and you threw me out when I was no longer of use to you."

"I admit that my treatment of you might seem a little harsh, ma belle," the duke said carefully, "but you must remember that I was trying to safeguard the security of the nation..."

Goaded beyond thoughts of her own safety, Elizabeth stormed across the carpet until she stood toe to toe with the duke. "And I was trying to help you! You refused to believe me when I tried to warn you about Sir John, you gave me to your cousin as if I were a brightly wrapped bonbon, and now I expect that you want me to jump straight back into bed with you!"

The duke straightened, the smile dying on his lips. "I gave you into my cousin's keeping so that I could be sure you were safe." He moved closer, his hand outstretched. "Elizabeth, come home with me. You know in your heart that you don't wish to leave with Vincent."

"This isn't about Vincent, Your Grace." Elizabeth stepped back. "It is about trust, and you have shown me none."

The duke frowned. "That isn't true, I--"

Elizabeth spoke over him. "And why shouldn't I leave with Vincent? Despite your doubts, he had the ability to see the truth about me and trust my word."

He frowned. "Which was foolish of him, as you managed to evade his care."

"And saved your life, Your Grace!" Elizabeth snapped. Why was he worrying about the security of the nation and not about her leaving with Vincent? Didn't he understand anything? "Our bargain is void. As you so often pointed out, we never truly had a real relationship. Your mistrust of me made it impossible, and I've paid for your services in more ways than I can count." She gathered her courage and stared into his stormy gray eyes. "I despised you when I first had the misfortune to fall into your hands, and now I've learned to hate you."

He drew back as if she had slapped him. "Ah, and I thought I had learned to love you." His outstretched hand dropped to his side. "I will bid you adieu, then, Miss Waterstone."

He loved her? Then why was he leaving her?

He paused, and to her chagrin, Elizabeth's heart gave an uncomfortable lurch of hope. In the distance, the front door bell jangled and the hum of masculine voices exchanging loud greetings dissected the tense silence between them.

The duke exhaled. "However, if you can bear my objectionable presence for a moment longer, there is one more service I've rendered you. Your brother Hugh arrived at my house yesterday, demanding to know where you were, and I spent some time with him this morning."

The duke frowned as the voices in the hall grew louder. "He gave me some very valuable information about your deceased father's family. If I had known that you were the granddaughter of General Marmaduke Waterstone, one of my father's closest friends, I could have taken you to him at our first meeting, and all this," he snapped his fingers dismissively, "could have been avoided."

He bowed and opened the door and Elizabeth recognized her brother Hugh's commanding voice echoing up the stairwell. She remained still, afraid that any movement might propel her into the duke's arms.

He looked down at her. "If we are speaking of trust, Elizabeth, you might care to examine your own motives for keeping me in ignorance of your family." His gaze dropped to her tightly clasped fingers. "Some might say that you are just as guilty of concealing the truth as I am."

Chapter 36

"She turned me down flat, Vincent."

Gervase threw his hat and gloves onto the fragile table in Angelique's drawing room, took the proffered glass of brandy from his cousin, and downed it in one. He waited until his glass was refilled before sitting in one of the rose-patterned wing chairs beside the fire.

His shoulder hurt like the devil and he knew that he courted a fever by refusing to languish in bed as his physician insisted but he had needed to see Elizabeth.

Angelique, who had graciously agreed to stay in her house after Gervase made her an abject apology, reclined on a pink velvet couch, surrounded by her lap dogs. Vincent took the chair opposite Gervase, the brandy decanter in his hand, his expression full of interest.

"Elizabeth did what?" Vincent asked.

"Didn't you hear what I said? She doesn't want me." His cousin looked delighted until Gervase continued, "and there is no point in getting your hopes up, Vincent, she doesn't want you, either." He ran a hand through his hair. "What in damnation am I supposed to do now?"

Vincent started to laugh and seemed unable to stop. Gervase barely resisted the urge to strangle him with his own cravat. He waited until his cousin controlled himself and held out his glass for more brandy.

Vincent wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry, Gervase, I know this is painful for you, but you must admit it is highly amusing. The mighty Duke of Diable Delamere proposes to a nonentity, and is refused. I never thought I'd live to see the day."

Gervase swirled the brandy in his glass and inhaled its rich heady scent. "I didn't even get around to proposing. I asked Elizabeth to come home with me and she ripped up at me like a shrew. In truth, I scarcely managed a word after that." Gervase frowned, stretched out his legs, and propped his feet on the tiled hearth. He hated having to confide in Vincent and Angelique, but for once his agile mind was in total disarray. He had never fallen in love before, and a mere female had certainly never bested him.

Vincent continued to stare until Gervase began to feel uneasy. "You asked her to come home with you before you asked her to marry you?" Vincent made a tutting sound that set Gervase's teeth on edge. "I'm not surprised she flew into alt. She probably thinks you want her to continue to be your mistress."

Guiltily, Gervase recalled a snippet of his heated conversation with Elizabeth. He hadn't contradicted her when she'd assumed he wanted her back in his bed, so perhaps it wasn't surprising that she had jumped to the obvious conclusion that he still wanted a mistress rather than a wife. But still, how could she have refused him? He had been so sure that she loved him.

Disgusted with his own weakness, he looked directly at Angelique for the first time that night. "Go on, you may as well say it. I've made a complete fool of myself, haven't I?"

"Have you, Gervase?"

"Devil take it, Angelique! I want Elizabeth to be my wife." He made a violent gesture with his hand. "I want to keep her until I grow weary of her or, more likely, until she grows weary of me. And then I don't know what the hell I'll do..."

He stopped as he registered Vincent and Angelique's fascinated expressions and flung himself down into his chair.

Angelique cuddled one of her fluffy white dogs to her magnificent bosom. "I don't think all is lost, Gervase. Knowing Elizabeth, she probably needed to rail at you before her common sense reasserted itself. When she calms down, you will be able to present your arguments to her in a more logical way. I'm sure she will understand you then."

"I told her I loved her and she said that she despised and hated me. I don't think she could have been more explicit."

Angelique gave a trill of laughter. "Nonsense, my friend, if she truly hated you, there would have been no need for such passion. She is angry because she feels betrayed, and I can hardly blame her." Angelique sipped her tea and fed the nearest dog one of the dainty pastries from her plate.

Gervase pretended to study the fire before asking ungraciously, "So what do you two self-appointed experts in love think I should do now?"

Angelique sat up, dislodging the dog from her lap, and exchanged a glance with Vincent. "Nothing. You are supposed to be going to Bath to pick up Eloise from school, aren't you?"

"Yes. I'm due there on Friday. Are you suggesting I should go?" Gervase looked from one of his companions to the other and wondered if they had run mad.

"Don't you see?" Angelique leaned forward, hands clasped beneath her overflowing bosom. "If, as you have arranged, Elizabeth goes to live with her Waterstone grandparents, she will soon regret losing all the freedoms you have allowed her. From what you have said, the Waterstones are a very conventional family. How do you think Elizabeth will feel when they expect her to behave like a simpering debutante?"

Gervase stared at Angelique with gradually dawning respect. "Elizabeth will hate it. She prides herself on her intelligence and independence."

A slow grin spread across Vincent's face and even Gervase felt his misery lift a little. He reached for his brandy glass and offered Angelique a silent toast. "I think that Eloise might enjoy seeing a little of the countryside before we return to town. You might tell anyone who cares to inquire that I expect to be away for at least a month."

Chapter 37

"Elizabeth, dear, do sit up. A lady's spine should never touch the back of her chair."

Elizabeth sat bolt upright and jabbed her needle into her embroidery with unnecessary violence. She clenched her teeth as her grandmother gave yet another gentle sigh. She had hoped her grandparents would welcome the addition of an intelligent, capable young woman into their household, but she feared she was something of a disappointment.

Not that the Waterstones were unkind. They had offered all their deceased son's children a home after learning of their plight from the Duke of Diable Delamere. Only Elizabeth had been obliged to accept their kind offer, as Hugh was set to rejoin his regiment and Michael had obtained employment elsewhere.

Elizabeth glanced across at Mary, who sat listening to Mrs. Violet Waterstone as she explained how to embroider a flower in chain stitch. To Elizabeth's relief, the Waterstones had offered Mary a home as well and seemed to have taken a great liking to her.

"Girls, don't forget that Mr. Gutheridge is coming to give you a music lesson at eleven and that fittings for your new gowns will occupy the rest of the day."

The lace ribbons tied beneath Mrs. Waterstone's dimpled chin quivered as she peered at Elizabeth over her spectacles, as though anticipating a refusal. She was a petite woman who resembled a plump, well-feathered hen. Elizabeth had found that her amiable demeanor concealed a stubbornness that equaled Elizabeth's own.

"I haven't forgotten, Grandmother," Elizabeth replied, aware that her unconventional behavior was a constant worry to her elderly grandparents. In truth, she almost preferred the fierce disagreements with her grandfather to the gentle lectures of her grandmother. Mary was proving far more malleable and acceptable then Elizabeth could ever hope to be.

Elizabeth sighed as the mantelpiece clock ticked away the stifling seconds of her life. Another hour sitting in the stuffy, over-furnished morning room would be followed by a pointless music lesson. She had begun to understand why most young ladies of the ton seemed so vapid and uninspired. If she had been deprived of exercise and the means to use her mind from an early age, she too would be a simpering empty-headed mess of giggles and artfully arranged curls.

Unwanted memories of her busy days and nights at Delamere House flooded her mind. She slid her hand into her pocket and retrieved the note that had been delivered to her four weeks previously.

She already knew the words by heart. In it, a treacherous Michael informed her that he had taken over as the duke's secretary, and that the duke would be out of town for the foreseeable future. Elizabeth stuffed the letter back into her pocket. She was glad Michael had found such superior employment, but was quietly furious at his choice of employer.

Whatever Michael's reasons for sending her the note, the duke's return was a matter of indifference to her. She swallowed hard. She had no claim on him after her unforgivable display of temper, yet she missed him more than she could ever have imagined.

Her embroidery slid off her lap and she stared down at her hands. The duke had said that he loved her even when she had abused him and claimed to hate him. He had said that he loved her...

Despite every accusation she had flung at him, she knew she loved him and even understood why he'd behaved as he had. Deep in her heart, she feared he would never allow her the opportunity to tell him how wrong she had been. She knew how he dealt with the women he despised.

A discreet tap on the door announced the appearance of the housekeeper to discuss the menus with Mrs. Waterstone. While her grandmother was distracted, Elizabeth slipped away to catch up on her reading.

She hadn't been allowed to attend the preliminary trial of Sir John Harrington and the Foresters because the prosecution had intimated that they might need to call her as a witness. In an attempt to keep abreast of the court case, she had asked to read the newspaper reports, but Mrs. Waterstone considered reading newspapers to be an unsuitable occupation for unmarried women. Though Elizabeth had argued that she was no green girl, her grandmother had been adamant. Elizabeth had resorted to subterfuge.

After a swift glance around the imposing entrance hall, Elizabeth hurried down the back stairs to the basement. She found the butler in his room, ironing the pages of the general's morning newspaper.

"Good morning, Miss Waterstone. Would you care to have a look at yesterday's paper? It is on the table."

Elizabeth smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Carter. That would be delightful."

She had formed an unlikely alliance with Mr. Carter after he discovered her, on her knees, emptying out the wastebasket in the general's study. When she explained her purpose, Mr. Carter confessed that he usually kept the newspaper to read in the evening and that she was welcome to have a look at it after the general had finished. Elizabeth suspected her grandfather knew what she was doing and was happy for her to continue as long as she didn't bring it to the attention of his wife.

With a sigh of satisfaction, she settled down at the scarred oak table to leaf through the closely written print. A cup of tea and a scone appeared at her elbow and she gave an absent thank you to the cook.

She had also argued with her grandfather as to why she was forbidden to attend the upcoming trial. Her whole existence would be affected by the outcome, and yet she wasn't even considered intelligent enough to read about it. To her dismay, Elizabeth was beginning to find that one of the penalties of living a settled and decorous life was an intolerable lack of freedom.

Through her previous reading, Elizabeth already knew her mother had been convicted of a lesser charge after claiming that the two men had forced her to help them. She had offered to turn King's evidence to lessen her sentence and would spend the next few years in gaol. To Elizabeth's secret relief, her mother had avoided being transported or subject to the hangman's noose, which was the likely fate of Mr. Forester and Sir John. Although she deplored her mother's blatant bid for survival, Elizabeth couldn't help but be glad she wouldn't have to testify against her.

Elizabeth found the relevant paragraph in the paper and ascertained that the trial of Mr. Forester and Sir John Harrington was set to take place at the Old Bailey in November.

Mr. Carter gave a gentle cough and looked at the clock, warning Elizabeth that she must hurry. With guilty haste, she flipped over a few pages, ran her finger down the society column written by 'Lady Lucinda Lallygag' and searched for the duke's name.

"The infamous Duke of D-- has been absent from our fair city, apparently enjoying the country air with an exotic unknown lady. Is the devilish duke about to settle down, we ask ourselves? Has he finally been trapped into matrimony?"

Elizabeth disguised the pain in her heart with a disgusted snort and tossed the paper back onto the table. "I doubt it, my dear Lady L. He is far too busy breaking hearts to want to settle down with just one woman. Where would the fun be in that?" She frowned at Mr. Carter. "Why doesn't Lady Lucinda say something useful about when the duke will return?"

Mr. Carter was just about to speak when the bell, connected to the above stairs front door, jangled. Mr. Carter put on his coat and ushered Elizabeth out of the room. "Excuse me, miss, I've to answer the door and you will be late for your music lesson if you don't run along."

Elizabeth turned toward the stairway. Even Mr. Carter treated her like a five-year-old. How was she to stand it for the rest of her life? She would have to marry soon. At least marriage would give her a modicum of independence. She paused at the top of the stairs. It seemed that fashionable men wanted as their wives spoiled children who never grew up. She couldn't bear it...

As she opened the green baize door and stepped into the hall, she became aware of a peculiar silence around her. Her heart gave a mad jolt. The Duke of Diable Delamere stood next to the butler, calmly removing his gloves and hat. He glanced her way and then appeared to ignore her as Mr. Carter preceded him at a stately pace up the stairs to the morning room, where her grandmother received visitors.

Elizabeth ducked back into the servants' hallway and ran up the back stairs to the next floor. She reached the morning room just before Mr. Carter and the duke ascended the final stair. Ignoring her grandmother's startled inquiry, Elizabeth resumed her seat just as the butler announced the duke.

Breathlessly, she watched as he crossed the room and took her grandmother's hand in his, conversing with the ease of long acquaintance. He waited to be introduced to Mary and Elizabeth and barely touched Elizabeth's fingers with his own.

With a growing sense of indignation, Elizabeth rang for tea and then listened for a torturous quarter of an hour while the duke talked about the weather, about his daughter, Eloise, and about an impending visit to the Royal Gardens at Kew.

When he got up to leave, after a socially correct fifteen minutes, Elizabeth found herself standing as well. With a last murmured compliment, he was gone. Elizabeth stared after him, her mouth agape and her thoughts in turmoil. Without any further consideration, she ran down the stairs after him. He turned as she confronted him in the hall.

"Don't you dare leave without talking to me," Elizabeth gasped, one hand pressed to her bodice. "Don't you dare treat me as though I'm nothing more than a passing acquaintance."

The duke raised an eyebrow and turned to Mr. Carter, who held open the door to General Waterstone's study. Elizabeth marched inside, her nose in the air, and Gervase followed, closing the door behind him. She folded her arms as the duke walked past her and halted behind her grandfather's desk.

Elizabeth opened her mouth to continue, but the duke made a decisive motion with his hand.

"Please sit down, Miss Waterstone, otherwise good manners will compel me to stand as well, and I'm still rather weak from my wound."

Elizabeth cast him a suspicious look and grudgingly subsided into the chair in front of the desk. Her conscience tugged at her as she looked at him properly for the first time. He did seem a little weary.

"I apologize if you thought I was avoiding you, Miss Waterstone. I was under the impression that you wished me to the devil. I only called to reassure myself and Eloise that everything was well with you." He paused. "Was there something in particular you wished to say to me?"

Suddenly, Elizabeth lost all desire to speak. His disarming apology had stripped her of any wish to fight with him, and yet she couldn't quite bring herself to apologize either.

"I merely wanted to thank you for employing Michael, Your Grace," she said primly, wishing she had the strength to say exactly what she felt. "I'm sure he will make you an admirable secretary."

He smiled at her and she fought the urge to smile back. "He reminds me of you, Miss Waterstone, and I've no higher compliment to pay him than that."

Elizabeth felt herself blushing and still couldn't think of a thing to say.

"I expect you might also want to know what has happened to Mr. Llewelyn?"

"Only with regards to his employment, Your Grace." Elizabeth said quickly. "I would hate to think he is suffering because I could no longer pay him."

The duke looked pained. "There is no fear of that, Miss Waterstone. Mr. Llewelyn appears to have many sources of income. In truth, I've a suspicion that he was deliberately put in your way by another party to learn all he could about the assassination plot." He shrugged. "I don't know the details, but he has given me his word he doesn't work for the French, and with that I've had to be satisfied."

He looked down at his hands. "If it brings you any comfort, Elizabeth, I spoke to your mother this morning. She didn't realize Sir John meant to kill you when she ordered him to take you away."

Elizabeth allowed his words to soothe the aching wound her mother's betrayal had opened inside her. "Thank you, Your Grace, that is indeed good to know."

She blinked as the duke shot to his feet and began to pace the room. If she hadn't known him better, she would have sworn that he was nervous.

"Miss Waterstone, I'm afraid that I started off on the wrong foot the last time that we spoke. I prosed on about duty and patriotism without really getting to what I wanted to say, or apologizing to you properly."

Elizabeth found her voice. "I'm the one who should be apologizing, Your Grace. I deeply regret everything I said to you on that occasion."

The duke didn't seem to hear her. He sat down again, fiddled with the quill pen on the desk, and rearranged her grandfather's papers before sparing her a glance.

"I understand that your grandparents are happy for you to stay here, and intend to bring you out in society." He hesitated. "But I wonder if that is what you really want. Have you thought about the restrictions a young lady at home is forced to endure?"

Her heart threatened to explode from her chest. She gave him a wary smile and returned to her perusal of the view from the window.

He laughed softly. "God forbid that the ton ever discovers that you are a bluestocking. Believe me, your grandmother will not encourage you to speak your mind to anyone, let alone gentlemen suitors."

Elizabeth folded her arms and lifted her chin. "You are being ridiculous, Your Grace. I'm too old to be treated like a seventeen-year-old ninnyhammer. I'm sure my grandparents will realize this soon."

"Soon? Do I understand you to mean they have already questioned your choices and curtailed your activities?"

Elizabeth blushed. She had forgotten how well he read her. "What are you suggesting, Your Grace?"

He gazed into her eyes, "I've another position to offer you."

"I think we tried every position possible, Your Grace."

His lips quirked. "Not quite, my dear." He placed his hands flat on the desk and took a deep breath. "The position I'm speaking of is as my duchess."

Elizabeth stared at him until his gaze dropped to his outstretched fingers. "What did you say?" she whispered.

"I'm asking you to be my wife. You have all the attributes I require. You are exceptionally bright, you are loyal to a fault, and you fill my bed admirably." He let out his breath. "I meant to ask you to marry me the last time we met, but I handled it rather badly."

"The thought of marriage had occurred to me." Elizabeth replied. "It might surprise you to know that I've already received two offers of marriage. One of them from your cousin, Vincent."

The duke drew his pistol from his pocket and laid it on the desk. "How interesting, my dear. Marry either one of them, and I will make you a widow on your wedding night."

Elizabeth smiled. "You have no say in the matter. I'm a free agent, Your Grace."

"Not as free as you might be with me, my love."

Elizabeth turned her back on him. "Why is that, Your Grace?"

He came up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Because I will allow you to be the woman you want to be. I will never shut you in a drawing room and insist that you content yourself with womanly pursuits. I will never stop you from interfering in my work and, if the occasion demands it, from saving my life."

Elizabeth shuddered as he kissed her throat. "You have helped me regain a part of myself I thought lost forever. You have taught me how to love and how to trust again. You are my soul, Elizabeth."

His hand tightened and he turned her around to face him. She fixed her eyes on his intricately tied cravat and tried to marshal what little sense she had left. His fingers stole under her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

"I want you to share my life. I want you in my bed, I want you to have my children, and I want you to grow old with me." He kissed her nose. "And I promise that if you do these things, I will never want another woman for as long as I live."

She carefully studied his face, noticing the fresh lines of worry and tiredness that the last tense days had etched on his skin. He smiled, released her shoulders and raised her hand to his lips.

"I understand that you might wish to think about my proposal, Miss Waterstone, and, rest assured, I will not allow anyone to pressure you into accepting me." He paused but she still couldn't speak and his gaze fell to his boots. After another long silence, he released her fingers and headed for the door.

Elizabeth tensed as he hesitated, his hand on the door, his smile bittersweet. "I always enjoy having the last word with you, Elizabeth, but I must confess that on this occasion I would much rather have heard you speak." He removed a non-existent speck from the sleeve of his gray coat. "I seem to have run out of words to convince you, unless the thought that my heart will always be yours is any consolation?"

"Gervase..." Elizabeth found her voice and ran toward him as he started to open the door. She threw her arms around his neck and held him as tightly as she dared. "I don't hate you, I never hated you. I love you, I love you."

His arms came around her and he kissed her hard on the mouth, as if he would never let her go. She gave herself to the kiss, realizing that for the first time there were no barriers between them, no lies, and no unspoken thoughts.

*** *** ***

When Gervase finally raised his head, his breathing was harsh and his body aroused to the point of pain. He looked around the study and let out a frustrated groan. "I can't seduce you, here, love, but I don't intend to wait very long for our wedding. I will procure a special license and we can be married at the end of the week."

Elizabeth stepped away from him. She was already beginning to frown. "How typical of a man! I want a grand wedding, Gervase, not some hole-in-the-corner affair at which everyone will think you are ashamed of me."

Gervase gave a deep sigh of happiness as he gazed down at his indignant bride to-be. They were already arguing and he loved it. She didn't know it yet, and God help him if she ever found out, but he was already resigned to being led around by the nose. He put on his most agreeable expression and held out his hand. Elizabeth regarded him suspiciously.

"Shall we share our happy news with your grandparents and then perhaps we can reach a compromise?"

Elizabeth brought his hand to her cheek and kissed his fingers. "All right then," she said firmly, "But duke or no duke, I refuse to be rushed..."

About Kate Pearce

Award winning author, Kate Pearce was born into a large family of girls in England, and spent much of her childhood living very happily in a dream world. Despite being told that she really needed to "get with the program", she graduated from the University College of Wales with an honors degree in history.

A move to the USA finally allowed her to fulfill her dreams and sit down and write her first romance novel. Along with being a voracious reader, Kate loves trail riding with her family, "western style" in the regional parks of Northern California. Kate is a member of RWA and is published by NAL Signet Eclipse, Kensington Aphrodisia, Ellora's Cave, Cleis Press and Virgin Black Lace/Cheek.

Visit Kate on her website www.katepearce.com.

Stay Connected with Kate Pearce

Website: http://www.katepearce.com

Newsletter: http://www.katepearce.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1

Facebook Profile: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=595039075"

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kate-Pearces-Fan-Page/220636502580

Twitter: @kate4queen

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/688826.Kate_Pearce

Other Works by Kate Pearce

Eden's Pleasure

Antonia's Bargain

Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?

Roping the Wind

Planet Mail

Secured Mail

Riding The Line

Simply Sexual

Simply Sinful

Simply Shameless

Simply Wicked

Lords Of Passion

Simply Insatiable

Some Like It Rough

Simply Forbidden

The Ties That Bind

Kiss of the Rose

Blood of the Rose

Raw Desire

Mark of the Rose

Simply Carnal

Educating Elizabeth

Copyright © 2011 by Kate Pearce

Cover by Dara England

Formatted by Nadia Lee

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.

http://www.katepearce.com

Content

Pearce Kate Educating Elizabeth

Educating Elizabeth Kate Pearce

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

About Kate Pearce

Stay Connected with Kate Pearce

Other Works by Kate Pearce

Educating Elizabeth