Page 105 of Taming Ivy
"I beg your pardon?" The woman was making a concerted effort to be pleasant, but Ivy still wondered at her motives.
"None of it is true, you know. The rumors you’ve undoubtedly heard. Your husband has not sought my attentions.” Veronica’s smile was serene. "Ravenswood has not visited my bed since the day following his return to England. And that was before he ever saw you. Lord knows he was ruined for any other woman after that. But you probably realize that.”
Accepting a glass of champagne from a liveried servant, Ivy resisted the urge to toss back the contents in one gulp. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you know about the money.” Veronica’s head tilted, gauging Ivy’s reaction to her bluntness. "I trust you will repeat the same story he instructed me to relate. However, it is an insult to your intelligence to pretend it came from a great aunt. He gifted it to me. I was rewarded, the others punished for the Faringdon incident. It’s the earl's way. There is still Richeforte to be considered, although I confess I do not know Sebastian's plans for him. He was instrumental in your rescue, but that man’s motives are always suspect, regardless of circumstance. Richforte’s callousness is renowned. There is sure to be a cold-blooded, utterly ruthless motive behind his assistance.” Her smile twisted as she sipped her champagne. “Or, maybe he wished to claim you as his next mistress and I thwarted his plans too. Be glad Sebastian did not allow Richeforte to have you. The duke possesses a rather short attention span. Unfortunately.”
Ivy did not reply, her fingers twisting nervously about the stem of the fragile champagne goblet.
The lady touched her arm. "I see doubt in your eyes, Countess. You must know Ravenswood is devoted to you. He would not have married you otherwise, and he is so different with you.”
Ivy’s heart was doing funny things within her chest. She took a deep breath to still its wild thumping. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
Examining her as if to determine Ivy’s secret power in holding Sebastian’s attention, Veronica chuckled. “Don’t you? There is a visible hunger in his gaze when he looks at you, a desperate sort of craving. As though you calm him and yet, he fears your hold on him. It is most fascinating. I’ve known him for simply ages so I can verify his legendary indifference toward women. I’ve never seen him so captivated. His eyes look nowhere else but at you.”
Ivy laid an impulsive hand to Veronica’s arm. "Thank you, Lady Wesley. For your kindness now and that night.”
"Ravenswood loves you, perhaps more than you realize. He would burn to the ground anyone who harmed you and gift you with the cinders, if you only asked him, I think.” Veronica offered one last bit of advice as she took her leave. “Do take care to steer far away from Clayton, my dear. He is quite the vindictive sort.”
Sara came up as Veronica glided away. Bristling with protectiveness, her arm slipped about Ivy's waist, and together they watched Lady Wesley slip through the crowd. "What was that about? Was she unpleasant? I swear I'll ...”
Ivy’s reply was contemplative. "No, no, nothing like that. She and I merely discussed our mutual connection. She was quite lovely, actually.”
“I can scarcely believe that...” Sara snorted, her eyes skating to the ballroom’s entrance. A commotion was causing people to crowd close. A guest of some importance was making a late arrival.
"The Earl of Ravenswood.”The magnificently uniformed and embellished majordomo announced in grave tones.
"Blast it all,” Sara muttered. "Speak of the devil...”
Ivy drew up, the bones in her body rigid enough to snap in two.He was here.He had come and he would be looking for her.
"He is here,” Ivy finished Sara’s sentence, the three words containing enough frost to put the vastness of Siberia to shame.
CHAPTER 37
Some type of internal honing instinct existed within Sebastian, tuned exclusively to the sight of his wife. A dizzying sense of déjà vu jolted him, seeing her across the ballroom floor with Sara standing at her side. It was a flashback to that first night, when he savagely sliced Ivy Kinley to ribbons for the perceived stain on his family's honor.
A crescendo of whispers and snippets of conversations bombarded him. His Aunt Rachel, in the midst of a small group of matrons, wore a faintly satisfied smile. Guilt assailed Sebastian as he weaved his way toward Ivy.Damnit.His failure to escort her to their first event as husband and wife would have gossip running amok of a rift between them. It looked bad. Itwasbad. Why had he left Ivy to face this alone?
Expressionless, she watched his approach and as he drew closer, she whispered in Sara’s ear. Sara shook her head, lips tight with disapproval. Ivy whispered again, her features never changing although the conversation became obviously heated. Finally, throwing her hands into the air in a gesture of frustration, Sara stalked away to take up a position at Alan’s side.
When Sebastian reached Ivy, he found his wife's eyes alit like twin pieces of blue-green coals. She had a right to be furious. He abandoned her and she had no idea why.
Gripping her arm before she flitted away, Sebastian gave what others would describe as the most mocking of bows then reeled her into his embrace as though she were a prize trout, hooked and landed.
"Good evening, Countess.”
Sebastian took advantage of Ivy’s astonishment by dropping a light kiss upon her slightly opened mouth.
Guests laughed in shocked delight. Ravenswood's public display of affection was deliciously scandalous.
"You're drunk,” Ivy hissed. The bitter-sweet fumes of bourbon filled the space between them. "Where have you been?”
Where have you been?
A splendid question, one Sebastian could answer in the physical sense. But it was difficult to say where he was mentally. His soul was shattered by the conversation overheard that morning. He was so angry; emotionally twisted into a very strange place.
Ivy’s emotions were equally high. Fury and embarrassment were a lethal combination in a woman. They should tread lightly, but Sebastian doubted this was possible for either of them.
