Naomi stood. “We have nothing to say to each other, unless ’tis—”
She was seized in hands of steel and wrenched to him. With a gasp, she tried to break free, but he jerked her closer and bent his head. His lips found hers, hard and bruisingly. Long years of yearning went into that kiss. Fighting him, struggling, furious, Naomi was unable to break free. He was too strong, and her silly heart was thundering so madly that her mind spun. A wave of ecstasy drowned indignation, propriety, caution, and brought a dizzying need to respond. She seemed to melt against him. Her hands crept up to his shoulders, then slid around his neck, and she was kissing him back with a passion that left her breathless, so that when he at last released her she lay limp and spent in his embrace and hid her heated face against his cravat.
“Oh, Lud!” she gasped feebly. “I fancy everyone in the house saw that.”
He smiled. “Good. Beloved,” he lifted one of her clutching little hands to his lips, “do you not see that we cannot fight the inevitable? You always were meant to be mine. And I always will adore—”
“You forget,” she whispered, striving to be sensible, while her every nerve quivered with love and desire for this ruthless man whose arm held her so wonderfully tight.
“My Holland family?” He sighed. “I should have told you—”
“No. No—pray do not.” She found the strength somehow to pull back and stand erect. “It is no use, Gideon.”
“I know,” he said softly. “I am a rake and a libertine. You are a wanton. But I love you, and you love me. No, never deny it. Just now—”
“That was a moment of weakness.” She bit her lip. “We are farther apart than ever, for now, to add to all else, you suspect my father of heaven knows what infamy. And he has already forbidden me to see you.”
“As has mine,” he said quietly, and nodded as her startled gaze shot to his face. “Sir Mark feels that your sire turned his back when most he was needed.”
Her eyes fell. She said sadly, “So what hope is there for us? We must say goodbye and—”
“When I die, perhaps,” he interposed, seizing her hand again. “What we must do now, my dearest girl, is come at the root of this business. Likely we will find your papa had nought to do with any of it, and—”
“You are too generous,” she said, angry again. “What ofyourpapa and the charges brought ’gainst him, not by vague and unfounded suspicions, but by the government and the—”
“So here you are, Gideon.” Majestic in a fine coat of brown velvet embellished with gold braid, Sir Mark had come up unnoticed, and his strident voice cut off Naomi’s words.
She jumped and turned very red.
Gideon swung around to meet his father’s irate glare. “Good morning, sir. You are early abroad.”
“Aye! Searching for you! While you allowed yourself to be captivated into remaining here, did it never occur to you that your brother, your sister, and I might be anxious for your sake?”
“Your pardon, Sir Mark, but I did not captivate Gideon into remaining here,” said Naomi, irked. “He was completely exhausted by the time we arrived last night, and quite unable to—”
“Well, that is a relief, at least,” declared another voice. The Earl of Collington paced gracefully across the damp grass, the picture of aristocratic elegance in a claret-coloured habit, a jewelled quizzing glass swinging from one white hand, and disdain clearly written on his handsome features. “I think you must have forgot, my lady, but I gave you quite explicit instructions with regard to your future—ah, associations.”
Before Naomi could respond, Sir Mark snarled, “An your instructions had to do with my son, Collington, they were redundant. I have long since ordered Gideon to keep away from your daughter.”
The earl’s quizzing glass was raised. Through it, he surveyed first a rebellious beauty, then an icy-eyed young soldier. He smiled faintly. “The captain does not appear to take orders very well. Come, my lady. Your visit here is at an end.”
Gideon said sharply, “My lord, ’tis only fair to warn you—”
“No!” cried Naomi, afraid of what he might say.
Falcon marched across the lawn. He looked dashing, although his dark face was murderous. “My lord… Sir Mark…” His bow was extravagant. “My father will be shattered to have been absent on somomentousan occasion. I collect you were unaware he is presently in Sussex.”
Sir Mark had the grace to flush before that cynicism.
“How unfortunate,” murmured the earl.
“Most unfortunate.” Falcon added nastily, “Unless ’twas Rossiter you came to find? Connected with… a meeting, perchance?”
“A damned good notion,” growled Sir Mark, scowling at Collington.
Gideon murmured, “Or a missing chess piece?”
Naomi gave a gasp. Falcon looked puzzled. Sir Mark swore under his breath.
