Unlacing Lilly. Gail Ranstrom

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СКАЧАТЬ you again, but no. I would not like to do anything that could look improper. Perhaps when Nancy comes back, you could give us both a ride?”

      Drat! He could not drag her across the street and toss her into his coach in broad daylight, even if it was in the middle of a drenching thunderstorm. “Properly chaperoned, you mean. Is that because you are to say your vows tomorrow?”

      She looked down at her box she clutched to her chest, then back up at him. “Yes. We just heard this morning that the king has given his permission, if not his approval.”

      “You look a bit disconcerted about that.”

      “I…was not certain it would arrive in time. I really thought there would be a delay.”

      “Did you want a delay? Are you having second thoughts, Miss O’Rourke?”

      “No!” Her quick denial belied her words. “I mean, of course not. It will be lovely to be a marchioness, and then a duchess.”

      She blushed. How charming. He could not resist teasing. “Ah, is that what you are looking forward to?”

      A mutinous light filled her eyes. “But of course. How perfectly exquisite to have people defer to me, ape my words and actions, regard me with fear and awe. I cannot think of anything more divine. I would have to be mad to not want it, Mr. Devlin. Of course I want it.”

      Tears welled in her eyes and she turned away. Good God! What was wrong with her? “Miss O’Rourke, are you quite all right?”

      “Yes!” She gasped and looked at him with a horrified expression. He would wager she had not meant to say any of that aloud, let alone to have betrayed her misgivings.

      Devlin chuckled. “If you say so. Just as well that you are not having second thoughts, though. With everything set for tomorrow, it would be a shame to delay or cancel.”

      She nodded. “I shan’t. I cannot speak for Olney or his family.”

      “He’d be mad to let one more day pass with you not his wife.”

      She looked up at him and he was drawn into the raw emotion in her eyes—eyes as clear and seductive as a lazy summer afternoon. The rain had eased somewhat and Devlin slipped his jacket on before he cupped her chin, removed his handkerchief from his waistcoat pocket and dabbed at her tears. She sighed and swayed toward him.

      Unable to resist, he bent his head until his lips were mere inches away from hers. “You are too damned tempting, Miss O’Rourke.”

      She did not move, did not even breathe. Then, as powerless to stop himself as he was to fly, he brushed his lips over hers and groaned. A quick jolt of desire shot through him. Damn! He had not meant for this to happen. He could ill afford any sentiment now. He released her and stepped back. “Olney is a lucky man. I hope he knows that.”

      She blinked. “I…I think he would not feel so lucky if he had seen that.” She glanced around, but no one had noticed.

      He cleared his throat. “I apologize for my familiarity. I shouldn’t have done that.”

      “No, you shouldn’t. And I cannot believe…I allowed you that liberty.”

      “Believe me, Miss O’Rourke, I am as surprised as you. Shall we forget it? I swear I shall never mention it again.”

      She bobbed her head in agreement and glanced away. Her embarrassment was painfully obvious. “Where has Nancy got to?”

      That question was concerning him, as well. She would be back soon, and Devlin did not want to give her any chance to ask questions or be able to describe him later. “I think we can safely assume that Nancy will wait for the worst of this to pass before she comes after you. I am afraid you shall have to come with me or wait beneath a dripping tree.”

      “It is not necessary for you to wait with me, sir. There is nothing you can possibly do for me that I cannot do for myself.”

      He could not help but grin at the wide opening she had left him. “Oh, I think there may be a few things.”

      The remark was lost on her and she fussed with the box she’d been holding, straightening it and holding it closer.

      “What do you have in the box that you are protecting so fiercely, Miss O’Rourke?”

      She glanced down at the package she was now crushing against her chest. “My wedding gown.”

      “Ah. I wager it is a stunning creation.”

      She emitted an unladylike snort. “Are you coming to the wedding, Mr. Devlin?”

      He nodded.

      “You must tell me what you think of it.”

      “At the first opportunity.” He glanced over his shoulder and sighed. The maid, still a block away, was returning with an umbrella. One last try. “Are you certain I cannot take you home, Miss O’Rourke? I hate to leave you alone out here in the weather.”

      “I am certain,” she confirmed.

      He put his hat on and took a step back. “Tomorrow, then.”

      “Oh, I had forgot! I owe you for the ribbons, Mr. Devlin. Here, if you will hold my box, I shall get the sum from my reticule.”

      “Never mind, Miss O’Rourke. I shall collect it from your new husband tomorrow. In full.”

      Devlin stared at the piece of paper Jack dropped on his desk. The address, written in scrawled numbers, was vaguely familiar. It was also close to the park where he’d left Lillian O’Rourke earlier today.

      “You’re certain?”

      “No doubt. It appears he is her brother-in-law. Logical for him to take them in, under the circumstances.”

      “Logical, but damned inconvenient,” Devlin murmured. “Too bad. I have no quarrel with the Hunter brothers but this will certainly start one.”

      “This? What? Is it not time you told me what you are up to, Farrell?”

      “It is not. In fact, I think it will be a greater benefit to you if you haven’t any idea what is afoot.”

      “Your game is afoot, that much is clear.” Jack sat back in his chair and rocked on the rear legs. “But it is the nature of the game that troubles me. I begin to regret having any involvement in this at all. The Hunters are not ones a sane man would wish to cross. You’ve said you do not have a grudge with Miss O’Rourke, and that she is merely a means to an end, but I have misgivings as to the way you intend to use her.”

      So did Devlin, but he merely regarded Jack with an even expression. He could not afford to give anything more away. Not that Jack could stop him if he knew the whole plan, but Devlin had no stomach for a quarrel with no purpose. Quite simply, there was no way to turn him back now.

      Jack was studying him and Devlin could almost see the wheels turning in his mind. He was quick and could put clues together faster than anyone Devlin had ever known, but pray he did not put this scheme together.

      Yes, СКАЧАТЬ