Page 15 of Unmask Me My Love

He put his arms around her, his warmth like a blessing, and she reveled in it. Too soon, however, he broke the kiss to rest his forehead against hers, a touch almost as intimate. “Does that mean I’m right?”

“Oui, you are correct, mon chéri.” She sighed and leaned back. “Much as I wish to deny it, I cannot.”

He drew her back to him, leaning her head onto his broad shoulder, capturing her hand in his. He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles, each stroke a whisper of a caress. “Why would you wish to deny your feelings for me, Gabriella? Do I displease you in some way? Are you ashamed of me?”

“Non, non, that is not it at all.” She stopped his mouth with her hand. “Never think that, Horace.” She blushed, the heat in her cheeks as hot as the burn in her breast. “It is not you, mon chéri.”

“Then what is it, my love?”

She thrilled at the word. If only it could be true. They had known each other a matter of days, yet something in this man called to her as no other ever had. Even had he not been handsome as sin, the kindness in his nature would have drawn her to him. Such kindness was rare in the world, rarer still in the highest echelons of the English ton they served. Perhaps that made the difference, although servants in other grand houses, of lower rank than herself, had snubbed her because she was French. To find a man so different verged on a miracle; that she must reject him seemed too cruel a fate. She would wait until she spoke to the duke before rejecting this kind man. Slowly, she sat up. “I mean that we have only just met, Horace. It is trés difficile to persuade myself that you could care for me so quickly. Perhaps we need to see one another, talk to one another more, before deciding there is…quelque chose de spécial between us.”

“Then we will walk in the park together on Sunday, Gabriella.” Gazing into her face, he took her hand. “And we will learn everything there is to know about each other.”

Gabriella swallowed hard. There were things she knew she could not tell Horace, but she would let them have this Sunday afternoon at least. After she met the duke, what she felt for Horace would not matter quite so much, perhaps. She was not in the habit of lying to herself, but in this instance, she would indulge herself just a bit. Monsieur Carpenter had made much more of an impression on her than she would like to admit.

“It will be as you say, mon cher.” She rose quickly. “But now I must return inside to be ready if madame needs my assistance.” Smiling, she blew him a kiss. “I will send you a note if I am able to meet you on Sunday. Au revoir.”

Deliberately turning her back on Horace, Gabriella scurried through the kitchen doorway, half convinced that everything would go as Horace had planned and on Sunday, she would meet him for another rendezvous. Something about the valet’s determined mien told her he had some canny trick up his sleeve to pull on madame. She only prayed it would work as well as his charms had worked on her.

Chapter 6

Sighing, Hal watched the lithe figure dart back into the house. He’d hoped his infatuation with the French damoiselle would have abated somewhat during this second meeting; however, nothing could have been further from the truth. Traces of the fiery kiss she’d branded him with still lingered on his lips, making his imagination run riot with images of what they might do to him if he could manage to make her his bride.

That would only be possible if he could speak with Gabriella for some length of time. Certainly more time than she could steal away from her employer during a ton event. He must find a way to make Lady Chalgrove allow her maid her half-day off. He’d never heard of a master or mistress withholding that right from any servant. The lady was obviously taking advantage of a French girl who didn’t know what should be expected in an English work contract. He needed to put his head together with Celinda and come up with a plan.

After rescuing his jacket from under the bush and giving it a brief brushing to dislodge the damp leaves that clung to the fine material, he shrugged it on, at once thankful for its warmth. Playing the part of a valet had grave disadvantages. Looking once more like a guest rather than a servant, he strode around to the front of the house.

The brightness of the foyer blinded him after the dark night, and he blinked as he peered around the elegant townhouse. Strains of a lively Scottish air, sung by a sweet soprano voice, wafted through the house. He enjoyed a good musical performance, but he had business to attend to tonight.

A footman approached him. “May I show you to the music room, my lord?”

Hal shook his head and searched his pockets. “Ask Lady Celinda Grantham to meet me in the library, please,” he said, handing over a small white calling card.

“Very good, my lord.” The man disappeared with cat-like stealth.

Hal made for Lord Atherton’s library, keeping an eye peeled for Gabriella, although he doubted she’d be allowed upstairs. Still, he wouldn’t put it past the strongminded woman to take her fate into her own hands once again and try to seek out the duke here. He found the library and sank gratefully into a most comfortable, deep-buttoned leather chair. A quick look around revealed massive bookcases but no convenient decanter or glasses. Lord Atherton must rarely visit this room.

“Why have you summoned me?”

He jumped up at the sound of Celinda’s displeased voice.

She stood just inside the doorway, attired in a delightful green silk frock that complemented her creamy skin to perfection. The sour look on her face, however, would threaten to curdle milk. “Do you know where I was? What I was doing?”

“In the music room? Listening to an exquisite rendition of ‘Loch Lomond,’ if my ears can be believed.” He grinned at her, hoping to dispel this mood, and indicated the seat across from his.

Her eyes narrowed, and he tried to gauge the distance between him and the safe haven behind the brown, high-backed chair.

“I’ll have you know I was sitting next to Lord Finley, eternally grateful he’d chosen to sit beside me rather than any of the other ladies present tonight, including my cousin Kate. She ended up sitting with Lord Haversham, so I know she’s ready to chew nails.” She moved toward him, and he slid behind the chair.

Better safe than sorry.

“I believe Lord Finley was about to ask me to accompany him into the refreshment room at intermission, when your card arrived. Are you trying to ruin my life?”

“No, of course not. But you did promise to help me, and this seemed the best opportunity.”

“Wretch. You couldn’t simply call on me at home, like normal people do?” She hit his arm with her furled fan. “Who knows who’s on Lord Finley’s arm this very moment, staring up into his blue eyes and making him feel like he’s the most wonderful man in the world?”

“Is that what you would have done?” He cocked his head at her. Ladies were infernally hard to understand, so anything he could glean from Celinda about the workings of their minds would be a boon.