“I’m afraid you’ll have to come in. I can’t hear what you are saying.”
Her fingers tightened on the edge of the door. She could just picture the contrary smile on his arrogant face—at least, she would if she could even fathom the man smiling. Which seemed an impossibility. He was playing with her, pushing her. Hoping to run her off.
Vile man. I’ll show you who’s not afraid of you and your bedchamber.
Still holding the edge of the door, she stepped fully onto the threshold, the door opening into a wide angle. She glanced at him once, then swiftly looked away, and her cheeks burst into flame.
He wasnaked,and the image that she’d seen for only the briefest moment was burned into her brain.
And it was much more fascinating—no, no,intimidating—than her previous, mental one.
Try as she might, closing her eyes, blinking, looking into the depths of the shadowy room, she couldn’t banish the image of him sitting up, lounging against the head of the bed. The sheets werelow,down to hiswaist,and a broad, very hairy chest and muscular arms showed dark against the white sheets. Maia tried to swallow, and her throat made an odd creaking sound because it was so dry. She felt all sorts of fluttering, hot feelings inside.
At last she found her voice. “This is exceedingly untoward.”
“What is it, Miss Woodmore?” He was taunting her.Definitelytaunting her. “Surely the sight of a man’s torso isn’tall that upsetting to a woman who is due to be married in short order.”
“You could cover yourself,” she said from between unmoving jaws.
“I see no reason to do so. Now, what is it you must speak with me about?”
He really is the vilest man.She refused to look at him. Absolutely refused to allow her peripheral vision to scan over the impossibly square angle of his shoulders, outlined so well by the pale bed coverings.
Maia continued, turning her attention to the matter at hand. “It’s Angelica. She’s been bitten by a…by one of those creatures that came to the masquerade ball.Vampirs.And she had horrible nightmares last night, my lord. I held her all night long, and she cried and thrashed.” Her voice turned rough and she had to swallow hard to keep it steady.
Despite her own dream of being bitten—a dream, a memory, that hadn’t fully left her and still wrapped itself slyly around her consciousness—she knew Angelica’s experience had not been the hot, sensual one of her dream.
“She won’t tell me precisely what happened, but I fear the worst has been done.” If Dewhurst had ravished and ruined her sister, Maia would go after him herself,vampiror no. If Aunt Iliana could do it somehow, carrying a stake and presumably using it, so could Maia. “Not to mention…”
He shuffled under the bed coverings, and she heard the crisp shift of the starched sheets. “I’m aware of everything, Miss Woodmore. And if you find it reassuring, your sister has assured me that…er…there is no reason to demand satisfaction or that Dewhurst come up to snuff. She is intact.”
“Up to snuff? I should hope not!” Maia exclaimed, forgetting herself and glancing at him. His face didn’t seem to have the same arrogance she was used to. Was the man softening, or wasit merely the result of being awakened? “Even if he did—well…I wouldnever…Chas wouldnever…allow him to come near her again.” Angelica compromised and wed to avampir?Never.
“You seem to have forgotten I am Angelica’s guardian at this time,” Corvindale said. The arrogance was back.
And so was her fury with him. God rot Chas for sticking her and Angelica with this impossible man as atemporaryguardian. “As I said, my lord, I would not allow it.”
He shifted and the sheet slippedfarther.Maia tore her gaze away, but not before she saw…oh, God, a hip? A flat, ridged belly…and the shadow of something lower? She’d felt Alexander’s chest before, of course, through his shirt…and, once, under it…but she hadn’t reallyseenit. And even if she had, she didn’t think it looked quite so…dark. And imposing. And?—
Maia swallowed hard, and focused on the heavy curtains obscuring his window. She needed some answers, and she was going to get them—even if the man strode naked from his bed to come over and close the door himself. “What is my brother doing? How long has he been involved with these creatures? And what isyourinvolvement, my lord? Do you associate with them, as well? Did you know Dewhurst was one of them?”
“Do not concern yourself with me, or the other details, Miss Woodmore. All you need know is that you and your sisters are safe under my care, here at Blackmont Hall and at St. Bridie’s, too. As for your brother…when he returns, I’m certain he will answer at least some of your questions. And I am hopeful that he will do so in short order. Now, is there anything else, Miss Woodmore? This conversation hardly seems worth interrupting my sleep and threatening your reputation. Or is your reputation no longer a concern for you, now that you are off the marriage mart?”
She snapped upright and once again turned to look at him, meeting his eyes head-on. “You are beyond vile, Lord Corvindale,” she whispered in a purely heartfelt tone.
And the man actually had the nerve togrinat her. A cool, arrogant smirk.
Very well, then, my lord. You might be the gentleman, but I have my own ways of smirking right back at you.
“Corvindale, I insisted on speaking with you because I felt you should know all of the information. I had hoped you’d do the courtesy of telling me what is happening and why. But apparently you cannot be bothered to do even that.”
She drew her shoulders back, and settled her hand on a hip, digging her fingers into her flesh in an effort to keep from curling them around his neck.
If he wasn’t going to give her the information she wanted, she was going to make his life as difficult as she could, including opening the curtains in every window in the house. And putting vases with flowers on every table. And reorderingallof the books in his library. And…
“I also wanted to speak with you because it will be of the utmost importance that Angelica is seen out and in Society. This must happen as soon as possible so as to combat any rumors oron ditsthat might have begun since she disappeared after the masquerade. That is the only way to preserve her reputation.”
“And this concerns me how?” He sounded deeply bored.
