Page 59 of A Scandalous Proposition
‘Oh, I see.’
‘I rather doubt that you do. However, I wasn’t wrong about her character, and our friendship became…intimate.’ He spoke the one word with considerable satisfaction, unable to completely quell a triumphant smile.
Florentina affected surprise and lifted a hand to her breast. ‘Surely you can’t mean…’
He swayed toward her, clearly more intoxicated than she had realised, which would account for his willingness to talk so indiscreetly. ‘I mean exactly that. Philippa even attended one of my poor gatherings. One much like this. Nagged me to death until I agreed to invite her. That was several months ago now, before she married.’
‘But surely this is no place for an unmarried girl.’
‘You’re here,’ he said, smiling in a significant manner.
‘Sí,but I have been married.’
‘All I can say is that Philippa knew what was in store for her, but she still insisted upon attending. Told her brother I didn’t think it was wise, but he never could stand up to her. Didn’t seem too bothered about what would happen, even when she visited this very room.’ His modest expression was clearly contrived and Florentina could see that he was enjoying boasting about his conquest. ‘Others took my place afterwards. However,’ he added thoughtfully, ‘I don’t think I feel so generously disposed in your case and intend to keep you all to myself.’ He pulled her to her feet and into his arms. ‘Now then, you little tease, no more talking.’
*
Five minutes later Adam was back on the road.
‘Come on, Rochester.’ He leaned low over his stallion’s withers and urged him into a flat-out gallop. ‘You are almost as attached to her as I am. Let’s rescue her from her own folly before it’s too late.’
Rochester responded to the urgency in Adam’s voice, and they reached Lord King’s estate in record time. When he entered the courtyard, his heart lurched at the spectacle that greeted him. The debauchery was in full swing. The wild optimism that had sustained him withered and Adam was forced to face reality. Things had degenerated too far, and he could no longer delude himself into believing he’d be able to somehow protect Florentina from exposure to the unpleasantness.
His first objective was to locate her. That task would be made a little easier by the fact that half the guests had now discarded their masks. He kept his in place and strolled casually into the depths of the house. He forced himself to move slowly as he cast speculative glances over the assembled throng, as though deliberating about his choice of partner. Several women accosted him, but he didn’t allow himself to be distracted by them.
There was no sign of Florentina anywhere.
He moved into the main house, not surprised to find the majority of the activity was taking place upstairs. He took the steps two at a time, careful not to acknowledge any of the people he was acquainted with and give his presence away. In the first room he entered he recognised one of Christine’s ladies, surrounded by three eager customers. He asked her if she knew what had become of her Spanish friend. She shook her head just once before returning her attention to the gentlemen on top of her.
Adam returned to the corridor, thinking about what he’d do in King’s place. If he was as anxious to have Florentina as Christine had implied, then presumably he wouldn’t want to share her. Adam quelled his disgust at this thought. He wasn’t sure whether he was cheered or discouraged when it occurred to him where she must be. He’d not been to this house before but had once heard James mention a chamber King had set aside especially for the purpose of seduction. The stairs leading to it were concealed behind panelling, and no one dared venture up there without King’s prior knowledge and consent.
It didn’t take Adam long to find the door leading to King’s love nest. He slid it closed behind him and crept up the stairs, anxiety making his heart thud painfully against his rib cage. The desire to rush was almost overwhelming. Every second could be vital. But he tempered his anxiety with the need for caution. Rushing in blind could make matters considerably worse.
When he reached the door at the head of the stairs, his path was barred by a bull of a man dressed in King’s livery.
‘Here, this is private,’ the man said, barring the way with an aggressive stance. ‘Who you looking for?’
‘Stand aside.’
‘Can’t do that. It’s more than me position’s worth.’
Frustrated by the delay, Adam took a moment to think about his next move. As he did so a piercing feminine scream came from within the room. He knew immediately whose voice it was. It was closely followed by a thump and loud masculine cursing.
The footman glanced at the door and smirked.
‘Sounds like things are hotting up in there.’
Adam took advantage of the man’s momentary lapse and knocked him out cold with one massive punch. He then threw the door open and stepped into the room, praying that he wasn’t too late.
*
Lord King crushed her mouth harshly beneath his own. Florentina bit his lip and kicked wildly at his shin. He cursed and slapped her face, grinning as he did so.
‘Ah, so you enjoy playing games. Well, my dear, you’ve chosen the right partner if it’s a fight you’re spoiling for.’
His arms were holding her so tightly that any effort she made to escape only crushed her body closer to his. One hand drifted toward her bottom but he was still easily able to pin her against him with just one arm. But she now had enough room to be able to move her right arm, inching it toward the hat pin she’d hidden inside the lining of her domino. Quite without warning he ripped the bodice of her gown. She screamed, curled her fingers ’round the pin and sank it into his thigh. He grunted, more in surprise than pain, and fell to one knee.
With nowhere to run except toward the bed, and no one to hear her screams, it quickly became apparent that he would soon recover and overpower her. But she wouldn’t go down without a fight and reached for the champagne bottle, ready to use it as a weapon.
