the prison door for her, and Violet ran for the light.
Daniel caressed Violet’s bare back as she lay limply on top of him, he still inside her.
His world had just changed. No dream could ever be as good as waking up to see Violet, the most beautiful woman in the world, standing over him, haloed by the firelight. An angel, one who looked down at him with dusky blue eyes and declared she wanted to be his lover.
Daniel knew what it had cost her to come to him. She’d barely been able to move or to speak, and yet she’d come.
He ran his hand through the silken weight of her hair. Violet holding him down had seemed to give her some comfort, as though reassuring herself that she could have control.
Daniel hadn’t minded. Violet pinning him in place while she’d lowered herself onto him had been the most erotic thing he’d ever experienced. Maybe one night he’d suggest she tie him down—Daniel tethered to the headboard, unable to stop Violet doing anything she wanted to him.
He let out a little groan of pleasure, and Violet raised her head.
“I thought you’d fallen asleep,” she said.
“No, just basking.” Daniel threaded his fingers through her hair. “Don’t want to sleep and miss this.”
“I ought to have known you weren’t asleep. You snore something awful.”
“Huh. The dogs don’t seem to mind.”
Violet’s smile was shy. “I don’t mind either.”
“Then my greatest dream has come true. A lovely woman who wants to share my bed doesn’t care if I snore.”
“I didn’t say
Daniel brushed her hair back, studying the dark blue of her eyes as her laughter wound down. Her warm breasts were fine cushions against his chest. “You all right, love?”
Violet knew what he meant. “I think so.”
“But you aren’t sure.”
“Not really. I’m still scared. But better.”
“Good.” Daniel moved his hand to the back of her neck to pull her to him.
Violet resisted. “I ought to go.”
“No, you ought to stay.” His pull turned to a caress. “And we should do that again.”
“If I stay too long, someone might catch me sneaking back to my room . . .”
“And they’ll think it about bloody time.” Daniel touched the end of her nose. “My very scandalous family isn’t easily shocked.”
Violet looked uncertain. Daniel kept caressing, and eventually, she came down to him, her body relaxing into his. “Let’s not go to Paris. I like it better here.”
“Not go to Paris? Don’t be daft. I need to show off my motorcar and win that race. You know it’s an amazing machine. Thanks to your help.”
“You know what I mean. You keep telling me I’m strong, Daniel, but I’m not. I’m afraid. I don’t know what seeing Jacobi again will do to me.”
Daniel ran his hands up her arms. “I know what
Plus Daniel wanted to ask Jacobi a few things. He’d pry out of him the name of the red-bearded man and pay said man a visit.
For that, Daniel would go alone. He wasn’t sure what would happen to Violet if she encountered her actual attacker, plus he didn’t want Violet to see what Daniel would do to him.
“My reason tells me you are right,” Violet said. The dim light and fear chiseled her face into sharpness. “But I’m having difficulty convincing myself.”
Daniel traced her cheek. “Vi, I keep telling you that you’re one of the strongest women I know. I’m going to teach you to believe it.” He traced her cheek. “
Violet’s eyes widened. “Me? Drive your precious motorcar?”
“Why not? You understand how it works, and you’ve helped me put most of it together. Think how green with envy the other lads will be, when I sail in with the fastest motor ever made with the most beautiful woman in the world at the tiller.”
“You’re very convinced no one else has come up with a design like yours.”
“Very convinced.” Daniel also knew he’d turned Violet’s focus from her fears again. “I’m going to win this year. With you by my side.”
Her eyes took on a tinge of excitement, she also forcing her thoughts from horrors of the past. “Do you really think we’ll win?”
“I do.” Daniel slid one hand behind her and tugged her back down to him. “But not, I’m thinking, right this moment.”
This moment was not for the future, it was for finishing the best night of his life. Later they’d face what they needed to face, do what needed to be done. Now was the time to pull Violet close and continue what they’d begun.
Violet softened as she came to him, and Daniel proceeded to savor her all over again.
The house was still dark, the clocks striking five, when Violet crept back to her bedchamber. Daniel had seemed to think it perfectly fine if she were caught in his bed when the servants came in to stir up the fire and open the curtains, but Violet told him firmly that she would go. His kiss good night was long and lingering, but finally, he let her depart.
Violet had resumed her slippers and lit her candle again, not at all surprised to find Venus still lying outside Daniel’s door. The dog snorted as she came awake, climbed to her feet, and yawned. She readily followed Violet down the short flight of stairs to the main landing and up again to the other wing. The house looked exactly the same as when Violet had moved through it a few hours ago, but Violet had profoundly changed.
An icy draft blew up the stairs when Violet was halfway up, as though someone had opened the front door below. The wind extinguished her candle and swirled her nightdress around her ankles.
Violet stopped, freezing in place. Perhaps whoever it was wouldn’t see her and would walk on through the house, leaving Violet alone in the darkness.
Venus, on the other hand, stared down the stairs and wagged her tail, her body wriggling in joy. A heavy tread sounded on the stairs. Violet didn’t move, but she sensed the person come toward her, closer and closer. Before he reached her, Violet realized with some dismay, that he was Daniel’s uncle, Hart Mackenzie, the Duke of Kilmorgan.
What’s more, he’d seen her. The duke stopped next to her and peered sternly down at her through the gloom. “Are you lost, Miss Devereaux?”
Chapter 28
Hart’s golden eyes were shadowed in the dark but still pinned her fast.
“No. I was just . . .” Violet gestured with her flameless candle. “The privy.”
“There’s a water closet at the end of the guest wing. In the opposite direction.”
“Ah. It’s a large house . . .”
Hart laid his hand on her shoulder, turned her, and marched her the rest of the way up the half flight of stairs to her wing. He led her straight to her bedroom and opened the door. How he knew which was hers when this was the first she’d seen of him here, Violet had no idea.
Hart walked her all the way inside. He took the chamber stick from her hand and matches from his pocket
