Page 11 of A Rogue's Rules for Seduction
There was no definitive proof that the wedded state did or did not create happiness—Willa’s own parents had been a love match that had, after marriage, decayed into loathing.
Willa had always been determined to live her life the exact opposite of Lord and Lady Wingraves’. Perhaps because they had been led by their hearts when choosing a spouse, they’d pushed her toward making a strategic alliance with a wealthy peer’s son.
Instead, Willa had pointedly chosen Dom, who possessed money in abundance but none of thebreeding that her parents had insisted on. She’d hoped that, at the least, her own union would never slide into chilly silence and pointed indifference.
But she would never know what being Dom’s wife would have been like.
She pressed a hand to her heart to stop its instinctive, habitual ache. God—she was so weary of being angry and sad over the whole failed wedding, and yet the pain refused to fade.
Now, in this drawing room, the man who’d devastated her was conspicuously absent.
“You seem eager to catch a glimpse of someone in particular,” Mrs. Eliza McDaniel said. She was a widow with fair skin and hair, and avaricious eyes, and stood with Miss Lakshmi Steele near a window at the far side of the chamber.
“I like to take the measure of the people in any room,” Willa answered. She didn’t give a fig if Dom was here or wading out into the sea, either to sink or be carried away on one of the strong tides that were no doubt even higher now. A storm was definitely brewing, shaking the window with strong gusts of wind. Heavy rain would surely follow if the gales were any portent.
“You were much the same at school,” Miss Steele said. The youngest daughter of a viscount and an East Indian woman of considerable fortune, she and Willa had never been close, and even now regarded each other with wary politeness. “Whenyou weren’t bedeviling the teachers with your refusal to conform.”
“Little has changed,” Willa replied.
“Where is your companion tonight, Miss Steele?” Mrs. McDaniel asked.
“Poor health has confined Mrs. Newton to her room,” the other woman answered. “A not infrequent occurrence.”
“I suspect that is exactly why Mrs. Newton was hired,” Willa said.
Miss Steele’s lack of denial was telling. “Before you joined us, we were discussing the positively gothic atmosphere. Who knows what may lurk in the corridors when we are all trembling in our beds?”
“I’m sure I shall scream if I should wake to find a strange figure at the foot of my bed,” Mrs. McDaniel answered, shuddering.
“A scream of delight?” Willa asked with a droll smile.
The widow’s look turned sly. “There are a few strange figures here that would make for a very intriguing night’s activity. Such as that gentleman, who would surely teach me a lesson I’ll make sure I deserve.”
Willa followed Mrs. McDaniel’s look and heat rushed into her face when she realized the widow was gazing at Dom, who had just come into the drawing room.
He always did wear evening clothes well, and tonight was no exception as he filled out his inkydouble-breasted coat, silver waistcoat, and cream breeches. The stylish, costly clothing contrasted with the rough-hewn build and features, assisted by the carelessness with which he wore his dark hair. It was almost grudging, the way he looked, as if in his appearance, he said,I’ll wear your aristo’s togs because I can buy and sell you in a minute, but to hell with you if I’m going to change whoIam to makeyoucomfortable.
Defiant to the end, Dom. It almost made her smile.
She crushed that emerging smile when she realized that she was thinking of him fondly. And that Mrs. McDaniel fancied him for bed sport.
What did it matter to Willa? Dom could take any number of people to his bed, and it made not a whit of difference. He could sleep with scores of lovers and she would go about her merry way, entirely unbothered.
As an unmarried young woman, she didn’t have the same freedom with her body. But she could still engage in flirtations, which would gratify her bruised self-esteem. And if she felt any twinge of something hot and acidic in her belly at the thought of Dom whispering lusty praise in some other person’s ear—as he had with her when they’d shared stolen kisses—well, she could ignore it. She was very good at pushing through obstacles.
Dom’s eyes swept across the room, as if in search of something or someone. Then his gaze lockedonto her, hot and direct, and everything in her fluttered with awareness. Almost instinctively, he took a step in her direction.
She did the same, pulled toward him by the force that had drawn them together since their first meeting years ago, when she’d seen only Dom, and every other man had ceased to exist.
Go to him, her body insisted.
What in God’s name am I doing?her mind shouted.
Her brothers looked expectantly back and forth between her and Dom.
Abruptly, she turned—lurched, really—and made herself walk to Gilbert. He wore a pleased expression as she neared.
“Lady Willa,” he said, smiling. “It has only been minutes but I missed your company already.”
