Triana put on the simple white nightdress that the young maid had graciously provided for her use and sat down at the vanity where a candle had been left burning, in order to brush her hair with the same borrowed toiletries. No questions had been asked about her reasons for being there, although she thought she’d heard the chatty girl say that the items had been Gabriel’s mother’s things packed away in storage, but as her mind had been wandering at the time, she couldn’t say for sure.
Her eyes instantly slid back to that blasted door as if pulled there by some magical string. She could almost picture Gabriel standing in the frame, eyeing her with that sleek, silver gaze…
She set down the elegant, ivory brush with athunk!and rose to her feet. She needed to… think, to dosomethingother than glare at that sturdy, hinged oak and wonder whathewas doing on the other side. She paced the floor and tried to summon her earlier anger. She had been brought here without any explanation, and while that should have been enough to spike her ire, all she could hear was that annoying voice in her head.
The perfect opportunity for you to be alone with Gabriel has literally been dumped in your lap and all you can think of are the whys!Here’s your chance to grab that one, glorious night with the man you love before the axe of marriage to Eastbury falls on you. Take it and never look back!
Absently, Triana found herself crossing the room, her bare feet making not even a whisper of sound on the lush carpet that covered most of the shining hard wood. She paused by the door and strained her ears to listen, but she could hear nothing on the other side. Her hand trembled as she raised her hand to knock…
What are you waiting for!
Triana slowly lowered her hand.Cowardwas the first word that came to mind, although she firmly pushed it aside. She preferred to blame her uncertainty on ignorance or even innocence, for how could she have even begun to contemplate a seduction with an experienced man like Gabriel when she wasn’t even sure how to go about it?
The duke’s tortured words from the carriage resurfaced,“God, what you do to me.”
With a sigh, Triana turned away. If only shedidknow, it would certainly make all this so much easier.
She took the candle from the dresser and walked back toward the bed. She’d just pulled the covers down to climb in, when there was a light knock on her door. She called out, thinking it was Greta coming to check on her.
A clock, somewhere nearby in this massive house chimed the hour, but Triana barely even noticed as Gabriel walked in, pausing just over the threshold. Her hand immediately went to her thudding heart as she met that steady gaze as time itself seemed to stop.
***
Gabriel swallowed hard, suddenly at a loss for words. He knew he’d come here for a purpose, but he couldn’t remember what the hell it was. His focus was on the lovely picture Triana presented. She tucked a stray strand of her dark hair behind her ear, while the rest fell down her back in a shimmering wave. In that plain nightdress, she looked so young and…virginal, that he ought to just turn around and walk right back out the door. He truly was ten times the fool for not listening to common sense. Or else he was just a glutton for punishment.
He’d fully intended on heading to his chamber and going to sleep, but he had made the mistake of glancing at her bedchamber door. That was when he noticed her light was still burning. For several minutes, he just stood in the hall — transfixed — and tried to talk himself out of doing something foolish.
Too late.
In an attempt to sound coherent, Gabriel cleared his throat. “I wanted to make sure you’d settled in.” He was absurdly pleased that his voice sounded so composed.
“I’m fine.” Triana replied quietly. “Greta was most accommodating.”
He nodded, telling himself that he’d done his job as a proper host, so now it was time to leave. But he found he was reluctant to do so. “I guess you’d like an explanation of why you’re here.”
Triana glanced down at the floor before looking back at him. “Yes, I would, but it doesn’t have to be tonight. It can wait until morning.”
“Of course. I’m sure you want your rest. In that case, I will bid you good night.” Giving a light bow, he turned to leave, cursing himself for every kind of fool.
He was halfway to the door when Triana said, “Gabriel, wait.”
Two more wonderful words had never been spoken, but as Gabriel hesitated, he realized it would have been better if she should have just let him leave. With his back still to her, he said, “Yes?”
“Please… I… I’m not sure how...”
Slowly, he turned to face her. His gut clenched at the sight of those lovely blue eyes, so full of indecision and innocence. “What don’t you know how to do, Triana?” he asked softly, knowing he shouldn’t have, although some unseen force had apparently taken over rational thought.
With a visible breath, she stood up and closed the distance between them. Her hand shook as she gently laid it on his chest. She looked at him and whispered, “I don’t know how to seduce you.”
Gabriel nearly groaned. He thought she seemed to be doing a pretty damned fine job of it. Even so, he struggled with his conscious — and the urge to stay. It would have to be her choice if he remained. “You realize that once we go down this path, there’s no turning back. You either tell me to go now — or youwillbe in my bed tonight.”
Triana bit her lip, obviously considering the ramifications of what would happen should things progress further. Then, as if the clouds parted to reveal a brilliant sky, she reached up and pressed her lips against his.
Passion unlike any he’d ever felt before shot straight to Gabriel’s loins. Her confirmation was all he needed that this was right — thatshewas right for him.
Tonight — the devil take Eastbury, Travell, and England.
Tonight— he was going to make love to the woman who’d dared to capture his heart.
