“I say we put it to a vote,” Lady Letitia bubbled enthusiastically. “Raise your hand if you’d like Lord Knightly to read us the opening passage.”
Her hand quickly shot up as did one from each of the other two ladies. Even Lord Langdon, the scapegrace, raised a hand and arched a brow at Regina to indicate she shouldn’t be so prudish. The dealer merely patiently shuffled the cards as though he had no other purpose than to rearrange their order.
Regina glared hotly at him. “You’re not going to allow this madness to go forward, surely.”
He merely shrugged his narrow shoulders. “My instructions are to keep members happy.”
“Well, this member is frightfully unhappy. I’ll take my winnings elsewhere.” She began gathering up herwooden tokens, which she should have done the moment Knightly sat. She was tempted to toss them all in his face. However, she was not one for public displays of uncontrolled emotion. She’d become extremely skilled at burying her feelings, thanks in large part to the blackguard sitting across from her.
“Come now, Reggie, don’t be a spoilsport,” Knightly said. “Where’s the harm in giving the dealer a short respite while I take on the role of entertainer?”
“Don’t call me that. We are no longer on intimate terms.” She nearly slammed her eyes closed. She did wish she hadn’t used that particular word.Intimate.It conjured up images of searing kisses, heated touches, and smoldering gazes. Those damned locks of hair falling across his brow as he leaned in—
“My apologies, Miss Leyland. But you must be as curious as everyone else about this book, surely.”
“Did you not peruse it already, looking for those passages that are very likely to see its author in court on charges of indecency?”
“If they can ever discover who the author is—but, no, I was visiting with friends earlier and didn’t want to be impolite. However, as I’ve had a request”—he waved his hand in the direction of Lady Letitia—“and enjoy nothing more than satisfying another’s curiosity, perhaps you’ll indulge me.”
He’d once indulged her curiosity—with a touch, a kiss, and more. He’d opened her up to worlds she’d not even dared to imagine. In spite of the wreckage their relationship had become, during their time together, she’d been deliriously happy, had believed she knew what it was to be loved. More importantly, she hadknown what it was to love another, fully and unconditionally. Certainly, she’d always loved her parents, but what she’d felt for him hadn’t been tied to blood. It had been all-encompassing. Like the stars in the sky, endless.
With a heavy sigh, she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms beneath her breasts, not missing the quick dip of his gaze. Ages ago, he’d admired them and peppered them with kisses. “Oh, very well. I suppose I can suffer through a few minutes of listening to your dull repetition of written words.”
Lady Letitia clapped gleefully and bounced in her chair. Everyone else eased forward, even the dealer, in spite of his sitting beside Knightly. Regina maintained her straight and stiff posture, refusing to give any hint at all that she had an interest in witnessing how he would react to what many had deemed quite saucy.
After slipping his spectacles from his pocket and putting them in place, he opened the book, applied fingers that had brought her pleasure to turning pages, until he reached his destination, cleared his throat, and began. “‘Chapter One. The Gentleman. For me, he shall always bethegentleman, the one I could never forget, the one no man could ever replace. Our first meeting occurred at a ball. I must have been introduced to a hundred men before he appeared. Yet, when my eyes met his of dazzling blue, I could no longer remember any of the others. It was as if they’d all transformed into smoke and drifted away on a warm breeze. Only he was real. Only he was of substance. Only he mattered. When Lord K took my hand, bent over it, and pressed his lush lips against my knuckles,though I wore gloves, I felt the heat of his moist mouth seeping into my flesh.’”
She’d forgotten what an incredibly beautiful voice he had, how he could imbue it with passion. How it could make her laugh. And move her to tears. How it could thoroughly ignite her body until she was cursing and crying out for release. The terribly wicked things he would growl that sent her flying into ecstasy. His voice, low, deep, harsh, soft. It was one of the most erotic things about him.
Very slowly, he closed the book, as though it had suddenly become delicate glass. Or perhaps he had. Maybe his voice had the same effect on him—brought everything to life until he could picture that initial meeting of an innocent girl and a very experienced man. Although the sentences weren’t tawdry, were in fact quite tame except for the mention of flesh, still, with his delivery, they conjured up the promise of lurid images that would soon have the couple, and perhaps the reader, sweltering with desire.
“You’re not stopping, surely,” Lady Letitia said, her breath coming in short little pants.
His penetrating cerulean gaze remained focused on Regina as he responded, “We agreed to one passage.”
“It can’t have been an entire passage, but merely a paragraph.”
He shifted his eyes to Lady Letitia and winked. “It’s best to always be kept wanting.”
Wanting and needing. He’d carried her to the brink countless times, left her to hover there until she thought she would die, and then he’d restored life toher with a cataclysm that never failed to leave her astonished and grateful nature so rewarded wickedness with such astounding pleasure.
Lady Letitia looked on the verge of weeping, before straightening her shoulders and announcing succinctly, with conviction, “I believe it is indeed a woman’s memoir—and she loves him still.”
“She never claimed to love him,” Knightly said.
“A woman can easily forget a man she does not love.” Then a knowing gleam was reflected in her eyes. “Do you recognize the meeting, Lord Knightly? Are you, in fact, Lord K?”
He laughed low, darkly, sending a shiver up Regina’s spine. “When we met during your coming-out ball, did I make you forget every man you’ve ever known, Lady Letitia?”
“That’s hardly an answer, my lord. Although I suppose in the one bit you read, clues are sadly lacking. It could be any ball. Any lady. Any gent. However, I am more determined than ever to get my hands on a copy.”
“Then I shall guard this one with my life.”
Their conversation irritated Regina, but she refused to analyze the reasons behind her annoyance. She no longer had any interest at all in Knightly—except to beat him at this game and rid him of his coins. She sighed mightily with impatience. “May we cease with the flirting now and play?” She didn’t wait for a response, but simply flipped a token into the center of the table. Thank the Lord, the others quickly followed suit and the dealer was soon distributing the cards.
But all the while, aware of Knightly studying her, she prayed she was not as easy to read as the tome.
It had been a mistake to come to this table. He’d known it would be. It seemed an eternity had passed since he’d been this close to Regina. Not since that morning in the church when he’d broken her heart. He should have kept his distance, honored the vow he’d made not to inflict his presence upon her.
