Page 5 of One Wicked Kiss
“Set my trunk over here.” Callista pointed to a place on the floor. “and please ensure that my dear cousin’s belongings are found.”
The man set the trunk where Callista indicated and exited the room. Callista went to the door and shut it with a soft click. “Now that we’re alone again,” she began. “I need you to distract Darcy. Edward and I need some time—alone.”
“Darcy?” Who the hell was that? Edward must be Weston’s given name. That would mean… “You mean Lucas.”
“Is that how the rascal introduced himself.” She chuckled lightly. “He must be even more smitten with you than I realized. “That’s not important though. Will you agree to spend some time with him and leave this room for me and Edward to use?”
Natalia nibbled on her bottom lip. She shouldn’t be alone with Lucas. He was a temptation she didn’t need. “I need to change first…” What if her valise was missing? Everything she owned, besides what she currently wore, was inside of it.
“Say no more,” she said. Callista went over to her trunk and pulled out a few things. One was a scarlet dress made of the finest silk. “I am willing to bet we have similar measurements.” She held up the dress. “I’ll even act as your lady’s maid. Come here and I’ll undo your laces. I have everything here for you to be dry and warm—and what the clothing doesn’t provide your Lucas gladly will.”
Natalia swallowed hard. “I…”
“Don’t think too hard darling,” Callista teased. “Darcy won’t do anything you don’t want him to. As far as the dress—consider it a gift. It is Christmastide after all and I’m feeling generous.”
Natalia nodded and took off her drenched cloak then hung it on a hook. Then she went to Callista and turned her back. The countess—her cousin, worked fast in undoing the wet laces. Then helped her put on the dry items. All she had to do now was go to the room Weston was supposed to share with Lucas and convince him…of what she didn’t quite know. “Wish me luck,” she said to Callista. “I’ll send your Edward to you posthaste.”
“You don’t need luck darling.” Callista’s lips tilted upward into a coy smile. “You have the Martin beauty and innocence. Use it to your advantage.”
Callista had more self-assurance than Natalia would ever have. Maybe it was the benefit of having her mother raise her most of her life, or perhaps her father had actually loved her. Natalia didn’t know for sure, but she did understand one thing. She might be her cousin, but trusting her would not come easy, and she did wish to spend the evening with Lucas. He’d saved her when he could have left her at the side of the road to die. At the very least she wanted to thank him. If that meant keeping him company while Callista and Edward had privacy—she’d do it.
Chapter 4
Aservant brought in their trunks, but Lucas couldn’t care less. He undid his cravat and left it hanging loose around his neck. His jacket and waistcoat had already been tossed on to a nearby chair. Edward had paced the room so many times now Lucas had lost count. His friend was driving him a bit mad. “Why don’t you go check on her if you’re that worried.”
“She’ll let me know when it’s time to visit her room,” Edward replied cryptically. “She has her own way of doing things.”
“Not sure I’m following you,” Lucas said. “But do as you wish.”
“I usually do,” Edward quipped.
Lucas wanted a glass of brandy or several. This was a brothel. There had to be somewhere in the place to find a bottle or two of his favorite liquor. He’d leave Edward in the room to stew. Somehow he doubted the duke would be alone for long either way. Lucas might have to find another place to sleep. He certainly didn’t want to interrupt the lovers in a passionate embrace.
He headed to the door and pulled it open. The girl he rescued was on the other side with her hand raised as if she were about to knock. Lucas wished, not for the first time, that he knew her name. He wanted to refer to her as more than ‘that girl’ in his mind. It would be nice to use her given name in conversation. Lucas wanted to know much more than that about her. “Hello,” he greeted her for lack of anything else to say. She had on a bright red dress that made her skin nearly glow. Now that she was dry and her hair no longer a tangled mess—she was even lovelier than he recalled. “Did you require something?”
“I do not,” she answered. “Callista asked me to come here and tell Edward to join her next door.”
So they were going to kick the girl out of the room. Lucas didn’t like that one bit. The young miss had been through an awful ordeal and almost died. She should be able to rest in comfort. He’d let her have this room since Edward was vacating it. “Please come in,” he offered. “Edward your lady needs you in the room next door.” Weston had stopped pacing long enough to stare out of the window across the room.
“It’s about bloody time,” the duke muttered as he exited the room nearly knocking the girl over as he went past.
“Forgive him,” Lucas offered. “Ever since he met the young widow he’s been obsessed with her.”
“I didn’t realize her husband had died. She doesn’t seem particularly upset. How long ago did he pass on?”
He hadn’t cared to ask the countess anything and Edward didn’t offer any details. Truthfully, it didn’t matter. Even if Lady Marin’s husband still lived he wouldn’t have asked questions. Lucas didn’t interfere with other people’s lives. They could make their own mistakes and choices. He had his own life to live and it came with more than enough difficulties for him to sort through each day. “I wouldn’t know,” he replied. “I’m not acquainted with the former Earl of Marin.” And he’d never presume to understand the inner workings of any couple’s relationship. Most ton marriages were arranged for money or continuation of the title. It was the reason his father kept pressuring him to marry and start a family, and Lucas didn’t have any plans to follow that particular dictate.
She came into the room and walked over to the window that Weston had been looking out of. He was at a loss what to discuss with her. He’d never felt so awkward in his life. Where was his infamous charm when he needed it?
“What about you?” She turned to face him. “Are you not a lord of some sort?”
“I suppose I am.” He hadn’t wanted her to look at him as a part of the nobility. Lucas had wanted her to see him as a man first. “Officially, my title is the Earl of Darcy, but I’d still prefer it if you called me Lucas.” He took a step toward her. “Will you tell me your name now?”
He hoped she would. If he could have one gift this Christmastide season he wanted to know her, and it could start with her name. “Lia,” she answered. “You may call me Lia.”
“Nothing else?” He lifted a brow. “Do you not trust me?”
She shook her head. “It has nothing to do with that my lord.” Lia stepped toward him. “I find it difficult to put my faith in anyone, but if there is one person in the world I can trust—I do believe it could be you.”
