The Handmaiden's Necklace. Kat Martin

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СКАЧАТЬ was warm even at this late hour, Danielle sat on a petit-point stool in front of the dressing table in her room. Caroline Loon sat on the edge of the four-poster canopied bed across from her.

      “He was there at the party, Caro. I still can’t believe it. He came all the way from England. What could he possibly want?”

      “Perhaps it isn’t what you think. Perhaps the man who introduced you is right and the duke is simply here on business. You told me the duke is quite wealthy. Perhaps he has financial concerns in America as well as England.”

      Dani felt a glimmer of hope. “Do you really think it’s possible?”

      “I think it’s entirely possible.”

      “Perhaps he has come to see Richard, to warn him against the sort of woman he believes me to be.”

      “Your fiancé knows the truth. There is nothing the duke can tell him that you haven’t already told him yourself. What Sheffield might say won’t make any difference.”

      “I’m not so sure. Richard is extremely concerned with appearances. He might believe in my innocence, but he would be highly concerned should others hear the story.”

      Caro tapped the silver-backed hairbrush she held in one hand. “You said the duke pretended not to know you last night. Perhaps he will keep his silence.”

      Dani shook her head. “Rafael hates me. He ruined my life once before. How can I believe he will not try to do it again?”

      “Maybe you should talk to him, find out what he is thinking.”

      An odd feeling stirred to life in Dani’s chest. She couldn’t imagine what it was. “Yes, perhaps I should. At least I will know where I stand.”

      Caro got up from the bed, taller and thinner than Dani, wearing a mobcap over a thatch of pale blond curls. “It’s getting late. Turn round and let me brush out your hair, then you should try to get some sleep. Tomorrow we can make some sort of plan.”

      Dani nodded. She turned on the stool and Caro deftly pulled the pins from her hair, letting the heavy strands fall loose down her back. The bristle brush followed, stroking through the thick mass of curls. Caro was right. Tomorrow she would make plans to confront Rafael.

      Her stomach tightened.

      In the meantime, it was highly unlikely that she would be able to sleep.

      Danielle was up early…at least by London standards. Americans didn’t seem to enjoy the same ungodly hours as the ton, whose members stayed out half the night, then wasted most of the next day in bed preparing to repeat their indulgence again the next evening. The people in this country might enjoy a late night on occasion, but it didn’t seem to be the norm. The Americans she had met were hard workers and extremely ambitious.

      Richard was certainly one of them.

      Still, today he had promised they would spend the afternoon with his children and share an intimate supper with his mother and a couple of family friends before he left for his factory in Easton, a small town fifty miles away where he would be working for the next few days.

      “Dani! Dani!” Caro burst through the doorway, her blue eyes wide as saucers. “He’s here! He’s downstairs in the parlor!”

      “Slow down, Caro. Who is downstairs in the parlor?”

      “The duke! He says he wishes to speak to you. He says it is a matter of extreme importance.”

      A wave of nausea hit her and her hands started to tremble. Dani took a calming breath and tried to slow her wildly beating heart.

      This was what she wanted—wasn’t it?

      She needed to talk to him, discover his intentions.

      Dani made a quick survey of her reflection in the tall, cheval glass mirror, turning to assess the back of her pale blue muslin day dress, straightening the slim skirt, adjusting the high-waisted bodice.

      The gown looked presentable and Caro had pulled back her hair on the sides and fastened it with tortoiseshell combs, but a heavy mass of curls fell down her back.

      “You look fine,” Caro said, tugging her toward the door. “You wanted to talk to him. Now go find out why he is here.”

      Dani took another deep breath and raised her chin. She squeezed her hands together until they stopped shaking, then headed for the stairs. As she entered the parlor, a comfortable room done in shades of white and soft rose, she spotted Rafael’s tall figure seated on the sofa. He came to his feet the instant she walked through the door.

      “Thank you for seeing me,” he said very gallantly.

      “Did I really have a choice?” She knew Rafael. If he wanted to speak to her, aside from shooting him, there was no way to keep him away.

      “No, I don’t suppose you did.” He motioned toward the sofa. “Join me?”

      “I would prefer to stand, thank you.”

      Rafael released a breath. He was six years older than she, which meant he would be thirty-one by now. Fine lines crinkled beside those blue, blue eyes, and there was a weariness in his features that hadn’t been there when he was younger. Still, he was handsome. One of the handsomest men she had ever seen.

      She felt those intense blue eyes on her face. “I have traveled thousands of miles to see you, Danielle. I understand your animosity toward me—no one could understand it more—but I would appreciate it if you would sit down so that we might have this chance to speak.”

      Dani blew out a breath. Knowing it was useless to argue, she went over and sat down on the rose velvet sofa and Rafe walked over and closed the parlor doors. She was surprised when he settled himself beside her a barely respectable distance away.

      “Shall I call for tea?” she asked. “Since we are suddenly being so civilized.”

      “Tea isn’t necessary, only your attention. I came here to apologize, Danielle.”

      Her eyes widened. “What?”

      “You heard me correctly. I am here because everything you said was true. That night five years ago, I am the one who betrayed you, not the other way around.”

      She swallowed, suddenly feeling light-headed. She was glad she had agreed to sit down. “I’m afraid I don’t…don’t understand.”

      Rafe turned more fully toward her. “Oliver Randall lied about what happened that night—just as you always claimed. He engineered everything, right down to the note I received, which was the reason I went to your room that night.”

      Rafe explained the events of the evening and the reason he had been so convinced she was having an affair with Oliver Randall. The story was so incredible that the words began swimming round in her head.

      “Why…?” she asked softly. “Why would Oliver do such a thing? I tried to figure it out, but it never made any sense.”

      “He did it because he wanted you for himself. He was in love with you, Danielle, but he couldn’t have you. And he was СКАЧАТЬ