“Nonsense,” he dismissed. “Can you not tell me now?”
“You don’t wish to know.” Her ordinarily lush mouth wasdrawn into a pensive frown.
He was more determined than ever to have the truth. “Tellme, Nell. Our friendship demands it.”
“Very well.” She tipped up her chin in a show of defiance.“She bedded my husband.”
“Needham?” But that was impossible. Eleanor had only beenintimate with two men, himself and of course Lord Billingsley, out of necessityonly. She had told him so herself. “Surely you must be mistaken.”
Nell’s gaze never wavered from his. “I saw them together.”
He felt as if the breath had suddenly been sucked from hislungs. He had never known Nell to be a liar, and she would certainly have nocause to dissemble now when he and Eleanor were no longer speaking. He thoughtback to the time when Nell and Lord Needham had first become estranged. Two,perhaps three years. “When?” he asked, needing to know.
“It doesn’t matter.” Nell shook her head as if to dispel thememory from it. “This is very difficult for me to discuss, and we cannot changethe past however much we might wish to.”
Her refusal to answer told him his suspicions were true.Eleanor had bedded Lord Needham while professing her love for him, while shehad been Nell’s trusted friend. He was shocked. The realization of her betrayalstill hurt, even if his ties to her had already been cut. “Jesus,” he said atlast. “Why didn’t you ever tell me? Why did you allow us to attend your houseparties as though nothing had occurred?”
“You would never have believed me.” She patted his arm in aconsoling fashion. “I know too well how love makes us oblivious to the faultsof our lovers. And as for allowing her to attend my parties, I was too proud. Iwould die before I’d allow her to see how deeply she’d wounded me.”
His heart hurt for her as much as for himself. He put hishand over hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I’m sorry.”
“You needn’t be. It was a long time ago, and my life is verydifferent now.” She drew herself together, replacing her vulnerability with hercheerful hostess’s façade once more. “Now unless you act with haste, I’m afraidthe earl is about to make off with your wife.”
Christ, the barbarian appeared ready to throw her over hisshoulder and cart her from the room as if she were spoils of war. An unholyrage came over him, a potent mixture of suppressed anger toward Eleanor andconfusion over the way one saucy redhead had overtaken his mind. “I will killhim,” he growled again. “I swear it.”
Nell directed her best impression of a displeased governesshis way. “I’ve already told you. Absolutely no bloodletting. You’d do best towhisk her away from all this, Simon. She’s too innocent for our jaded lot.”
She was right. Maggie didn’t belong here in this den oflotharios eager to take advantage of her naiveté. Damn it, he wasn’t certain hebelonged here either. And if anyone was going to avail himself of his wife’snaiveté, it would be him. Damn Ravenscroft and Eleanor, and for that matterNeedham, straight to hell.
* * * * *
A quick inquiry with Nell had led Maggie to the Earl ofRavenscroft, and she’d sought him out, all the better to irritate Sandhurst.Maggie found the earl deceptively witty and charming. Perhaps too charming. Shewas aware of his clever attempt to steer her from the drawing room without herbeing the wiser. His hand was firm on her elbow, lingering too high, his thumba deliberate pressure on her bare skin. He smiled down at her, his eyestwinkling with mirth, and she couldn’t deny his amusement was infectious. Evenif she was only using him as a pawn in her war against Sandhurst.
“I’m afraid your husband is bearing down upon us just now,”he told her abruptly,sotto voce. She wasn’t surprised that after thedisastrous altercation at dinner, everyone appeared to know who she and Sandhurstwere, despite their masks. Gossip loved to travel. “If you but say the word, Ishall have you out of here in a trice. Beyond his insufferable reach.”
She was tempted by the offer, but not foolish enough toaccept it. “While I thank you for your concern, I daresay that would be likeslipping into a cage with a tiger rather than a lion.”
He pressed a hand to his broad chest in mock indignation.“I’m wounded you only consider me a tiger.”
Maggie laughed, taking the opportunity to glance casually toher side and confirm that Sandhurst was indeed headed their way. Nor did heappear to be pleased. Good for him, she thought. After all, he had beenunkindly cozy with Nell for quite some time. Indeed, she’d surreptitiouslywatched their interlude and could only presume there had been an intimateconversation between them. Had he grown weary of their bargain already?
“Are you certain you prefer him?” Ravenscroft released asigh. “I dearly love women with fiery hair and luscious bosoms.”
Mere days ago, his words would have shocked her. But shefound she enjoyed the freedom of expression at the house party, whether in thebedchamber or in the drawing room. It took her back to her younger days, whenshe had been a carefree scribbler of poems the world would never see.
“I hadn’t realized my bosom could be described as luscious,”she teased, a wild streak in her making certain that she drawled the words justas her husband came abreast of them.
His eyes were dark slits of emerald ice beneath the silkenmask that he had once more donned. “My lady.” The bow he offered her wasscornful at best. “Ravenscroft.”
“Sandhurst,” the earl acknowledged. “I do hope your ruffledfeathers are now smoothed, old boy.”
“Remove your paws from my wife,” he bit out by way ofresponse.
Maggie swallowed, watching him with new eyes. She’d neverseen this particular side of him. Oh, she had been no stranger to his anger.But this time he was different, very much like the lion she had described himas. “Sandhurst,” she cautioned. Dear heavens, she didn’t want them to come toblows. “The earl was merely being courteous.”
His lips thinned. “Whilst discussing the merits of yourbosom?”
“Dear me,” Ravenscroft quipped, his voice deceptively mild.“You seem irritated. I daresay we were merely finishing the delightfuldiscourse we shared at dinner.”
