Page 22 of Sinfully Daring

She wore a gown he had designed for her. A ripe pink, it hugged her voluptuous curves, and his hands itched with the desire to slide them lovingly over the swells of her magnificent breasts, the dramatic line of her waist as it flared out to her hips and lush bottom. Desire and love and longing burned inside him until he was nothing but sensation and need, teetering too precariously on the edge of sanity to behave with any sense. And yet then he saw the stiff set of her shoulders. He saw the bloom in her cheeks had vanished, her completion pale and wan, the joy he usually sought and found in her eyes entirely gone.

What had happened?

Her green eyes swept over the ballroom, settling unerringly upon him as his heart jolted with concern. Was she ill, or had someone hurt her? He was moving towards her, drawn as inexorably as if pulled by a magnet. Her eyes widened, fear giving her features a sharp edge as she gave a tiny but definite shake of her head. Louis stopped in his tracks, reading her message, the anxiety emanating from her in waves. Though it went against his every instinct to go to her, to comfort and protect her, he did as she asked, but he did not look away. Her eyes glittered, misery in her expression as she turned away from him. Louis’ breath caught.

“Something’s wrong.” Barnaby’s soft voice pierced the turmoil of his thoughts as he turned to his friend, realising he too had witnessed it.

“Go to her, s'il te plait,” Louis begged, clutching his arm. “Something has happened, and she does not want me to approach her, that much is clear, but I must speak with her, Barnaby. Go to her and find out what has happened. Tell her I’ll do anything to make it right. Anything at all. Tell her to trust me.”

Barnaby patted the hand that was grasping his arm too tightly. “All right, old man. Don’t worry. I’ll go.”

Louis paced as he watched Barnaby make his way around the ballroom. He clung to the shadows, observing from a distance as Evie looked up and saw Barnaby, hurrying towards him. It was a brief conversation and Barnaby’s grim expression made Louis’ guts tighten into a knot until he was sick with apprehension.

“Well?” he demanded before Barnaby could speak a word.

“Her father knows about your… friendship,” Barnaby said carefully. “He has forbidden her to speak to you, and she is to end any communication between you at once. He has threatened to take her away again if she does not do so.”

Louis cursed long and low, a volley of obscene French that did not begin to relieve his feelings.

“She gave me this,” Barnaby added, handing him a note.

Louis took it and tore it open, devouring the scant words and taking little comfort from the fact she would not cut him from her life.

“Tell her I will come to her. Tonight,” Louis said, ignoring the look of appalled shock on Barnaby’s face. “Tell her to dismiss her maid as quickly as she can and to put a candle in the window when she is alone.”

Barnaby gaped at him. “You’re not serious?”

“You think I would joke about such a thing?” Louis demanded, taking a breath as Barnaby reacted to the fury in his voice. He exhaled, trying to moderate his voice, no simple task when he wanted to tear the damned ballroom down in frustration. Two weeks he had waited to see her again, and now this. Well, just let them try to keep him away. “Forgive me, Barnaby, but just give her the message.”

Barnaby shook his head slowly, his expression one of deep regret. “Louis, no. I c-can’t tell an innocent young lady such a thing. You can’t ask it of me. Quite apart from all the moral reasons, you’ll break your blasted neck! Have you seen Peregrine House? It’s on Grosvenor Square, the front is completely exposed.”

“Which is why I shall go in the back,” Louis said, being well aware of the difficulties.

Barnaby gaped at him, momentarily silenced. It did not last. “You’ll never get in with no one seeing. Even if you do, that means you need to go through the house to find her room, supposing you can! How many servants will you have to dodge, never mind security? Knight takes his family’s safety seriously after what happened to his eldest girl. What if you’re caught? My God, there will be the almightiest scandal. Think about what you’re saying.”

“I’ve done it before,” Louis replied evenly, earning himself a look of such horror he might have laughed had the circumstances been otherwise. “And if you repeat that to another soul….”

Barnaby’s expression shuttered and Louis cursed himself. Barnaby would never betray him or Evie. Indeed, he was trying to keep Evie safe and Louis from acting rashly. He raked a hand through his hair and swore under his breath.

“I beg your forgiveness, Barnaby. I had no right to say such a thing to you. I trust you, implicitly. You know I do. I’m just—”

“You’re overwrought is what you are,” Barnaby said frankly.

Louis let out a shaky breath. “I cannot argue with that observation.”

“Did you really?” Barnaby asked him, looking incredulous.

Louis nodded. “Not their London home, but yes. Swan Hall in Sussex, and no, I did not take liberties. I delivered her birthday present and left at once.”

Barnaby let out a breath, shaking his head. “It’s hardly the same, then,” he said darkly.

Louis resisted the urge to howl with frustration before he noticed a young lady at the edge of the ballroom writing a name upon the little booklet that served as the ladies' dance card. He left Barnaby without a word and strode over to her. The young woman, a Miss Glover, gave a squeak of shock as she looked up to see him beside her and then blushed scarlet.

“Bonsoir, Miss Glover, a pleasure to see you this evening, and looking so enchanting, too. Might I ask a great favour of you? I need to write down an address for my friend. The poor fellow has a lamentable memory and will have forgotten it by morning if I do not.”

“Oh,” the woman said, gaping up at him. “W-Would you like—?”

She held out the tiny booklet and pencil and Louis gave her his most dazzling smile.