The Tempting Minx, page 2
Worthington rose. “I thought you would see reason.”
Worth growled. “You did not leave me much choice.”
“I am curious about one aspect of your hesitation.” Worthington strolled to the door, and Worth waited for his brother to comment, not bothering to ask what stoked his curiosity. Worthington turned, keeping his hand on the doorknob. “What case is Eden involved with that you cannot release her from?”
Dracott frowned when Worth and Ralston both avoided Worthington’s stare. Ever since Dracott joined the organization a few months ago, Worthington had stopped by on occasion and they had discussed their cases openly, even seeking his advice on how to proceed with them. It was on the tip of his tongue to mention the intel they had received about an old case. But Ralston shot him a warning to stay silent. So Dracott dropped his head and pretended a renewed interest in the paperwork spread across his desk.
“A recent case that I do not wish for her to blow her cover on. It involves a missing necklace,” Worth explained.
Worthington nodded. “The ladies will be ready at eight o’clock. Oh, and bring your assistant.”
Worth frowned. “Why?”
“Because Evelyn is under the impression that he holds a calming influence over Maggie,” Worthington explained before strolling out the door.
Worth scowled after his brother. “Damn him.”
Ralston sighed. “Another distraction placed in our path.”
“Sorry, mate.” Worth poured himself a drink. “We must postpone our plan for another evening.”
“We wouldn’t have found success anyhow. Without Falcone’s information, we are at a standstill. Once he arrives, we can secure the ringleader’s capture,” Ralston stated.
“Can you please explain why you didn’t inform your brother of the information we received on the old case?” Dracott asked.
Ralston tried to make Worth see reason. “You need to tell him, Worth. Once he learns of her return, this will affect him and Evelyn. Because the lady will exact her revenge against your brother and his wife. Rumor is that she holds onto her bitterness at Worthington for throwing her over for Evelyn.”
“Because I plan to destroy Lady Langdale before she even steps foot in London,” Worth declared.
Despite his declaration, they were already too late to make the threat happen.
MAGGIE ROLLED HER EYES. If she had to listen to her sister Noel describe how divine her fiancé was any longer, she would lose the contents of her stomach. Then her mother would discipline her on how a lady never showed any sign of illness in front of others under any circumstance. But she had grown tired of the endless praises Noel directed for Lord Ravencroft. Or Gregory, as Noel gloated in more intimate company. Either way, Maggie no longer wished to listen to another word.
When Noel flashed her ring again to her many admirers, Maggie slipped away while she had a chance. Graham had dropped Maggie in Noel’s clutches and sauntered away to the card room. Excitement had coursed through her when Graham arrived to escort them to the Sinclair Ball. Reese and Evelyn had spent the evening at home since Evelyn didn’t feel well. Maggie suspected they would announce the impending arrival of a new family member soon. However, Graham had refused to allow Maggie to join him in the card room. She had thought Eden would help relieve the boredom, but her sister had yet to arrive.
Which left Maggie at the mercy of hearing Noel gush over Ravenscroft’s proposal for the umpteenth time.
It wasn’t as if she didn’t hold joy for her sister’s happiness. She did. Or she would if it were a different gentleman. However, Lord Ravencroft drew out Maggie’s dislike of his suspicious activities. He may present himself as a doting fiancé by showering Noel with many gifts, but Maggie questioned his behavior. When no one paid him any attention, Maggie noticed a permanent frown on his face. Especially after interacting with Noel.
Shouldn’t a gentleman who acted as he did with Noel always express happiness, even when he was apart from her? Each couple she was familiar with, the gentleman walked in a state of marital bliss, even when he was apart from his wife. Reese was a perfect example after he married Evelyn. He never let a day pass without expressing his happiness to everyone around him. Maggie hoped to find a gentleman who showed her the same devotion.
She slipped outside onto the dark balcony and glanced over her shoulder. Once she saw no one followed her, she continued down the stairs and into the garden. She understood the risk if someone caught her and promised herself she would be quick. She only wanted to take a peek at Sinclair’s new mare. Maggie had overheard Jasper Sinclair discussing the horse with Reese earlier in the week, and she wanted to see the beauty.
She pulled off her slippers and hitched her skirts above her knees before she reached the stables. Since the stable hands had to take care of the carriages arriving for the ball, the stables sat empty, much to her advantage. She wandered up and down the aisles until she came upon the golden-haired beauty. Maggie dropped her skirts and climbed up a rail to peer into the stall. The foal slept next to her mama. She sighed, wishing to stroke the soft mane, but she didn’t wish to disturb them.
Dracott followed Maggie once she slipped away from the ballroom. Worth had given him explicit orders concerning his sister. Dracott was to remain hidden during the ball and watch the beauty every second. If she wandered away, he was to follow and keep her out of trouble. Worth didn’t care if Maggie took part in the ball or not. He only cared if his sister didn’t give anyone reason to gossip about her behavior.
Worth sympathized with his sister and didn’t wish to play the villain. The other members of the Worthington family already applied enough pressure on Maggie’s entrance into society. Worth didn’t wish to add to it.
When Maggie ventured through the gardens and continued to the mews, Dracott realized her destination. He shook his head once she bent over to take off her slippers. At least she had the decency to raise her skirts before she ventured into the stables. He picked up his pace. If anyone was to catch her unescorted, who knew what would happen? She risked her virtue for a mere glimpse at a horse.
He soon learned how much trouble Margaret Worthington actually was.
He found her crouched over the railing, reaching out to stroke the mare’s coat. When she lost her grip and tumbled over, losing his position flashed through his mind. Dracott lurched forward and grabbed Maggie before she landed face-first in the hay. He drew her back against his chest, breathing a sigh of relief.
However, the spitfire in his arms reacted differently. She thrashed around and kicked at his legs. When her head flew back and smashed him in the nose, he dropped her.
“Bloody settle down. I only tried to save you from falling!” Dracott shouted.
Maggie winced at the order coming from the gentleman who had haunted her dreams of late. Lord Dracott stood above her, scowling at her while he clenched his nose. She scrambled to her feet and urged his hands away from his face. Then she brushed her fingers across the redness.
“I apologize, my lord. I thought you were accosting me,” Maggie explained.
“You are lucky that wasn’t my intention. You act irresponsibly by wandering around without a chaperone to see to your welfare,” Dracott reprimanded her. “You would have been helpless if someone disreputable came along and took advantage of you.”
Dracott struggled to keep a stern voice with Maggie’s hand caressing his face. Her gentle touch undid him. His fingers rolled into a fist to keep from drawing her into his arms and kissing her. Her wide eyes and pouty lips were a temptation he struggled to resist. Why did his assignment this evening have to involve her? Ever since he met the debutante, she had consumed his thoughts. Any time someone mentioned her name, his ears perked to hear about her latest escapades.
Maggie’s lips quivered at his anger. No one had ever expressed such fury at her before. Whenever she got into mischief in the past, her family would explain what she did wrong and then laugh about it later. She didn’t know how to respond to Lord Dracott’s reaction. For the first time in her life, she stayed silent. Perhaps if she never responded to him, he would calm down and escort her back inside before her family learned of her disappearance. Shoot. They would learn anyway since it was Graham’s assistant who had found her wandering alone.
“Do you not understand?” Dracott bellowed.
Darn. Her mind had wandered again. What was it about Lord Dracott that always distracted her? However, his question was easy enough to answer. “Yes. I understand, my lord.”
Dracott narrowed his eyes at the young miss. He recognized the dazed expression to know that he didn’t hold her attention during his rant. Perhaps if he showed her what might happen to her, she would think twice before sneaking away again.
He dragged her to him, pressing her arms to her side in his clutch. Her head jerked up, and she stared at him in surprise. When she didn’t resist his embrace, he pressed her tighter against him. With one arm wrapped around her waist, he used his other hand to caress her, starting with a brush of his fingers across her cheek. Then he traced a path along her neck and settled against the curve of her breast. Dracott felt the hitch of Maggie’s breath deep in his soul. His body warned him to cease his attempt to teach her a lesson, but he ignored the warnings and continued the sweet torment.
Maggie struggled to catch her breath. She didn’t understand Lord Dracott’s intentions, nor did she care. Was this passion? While she should question him, she also longed to see where this might lead. Did he intend to kiss her? Her eyelids drifted down as she waited in anticipation. While she never wished to have her first kiss in the stables, she didn’t care as long as he placed his lips upon hers soon.
Maggie’s lips opened enough for her to run the tip of her tongue across to wet them. Her body tingled in anticipation for his mouth to press against hers when his warm breath tickled against her cheek. Her fantasies of late were about to come true. When Dracott growled, she knew he was about to fulfill them.
However, instead of kissing her, he dropped his hold and strode away. Maggie’s eyes flew open, and she grabbed at the railing to steady her trembling limbs.
Soon he was upon her again with his hands fisted at his hips. Instead of shame washing over Maggie, a rush of desire settled between them. And she watched Lord Dracott fight against the attraction. With each ragged breath he drew in, Maggie realized he had attempted to teach her a lesson but failed. Was it because he found her desirable? Or did he realize he had overstepped his bounds by placing his hands on her person? If either of her brothers learned of his impropriety, he would be a dead man.
With a smile, she picked up the slippers she had dropped and sauntered out of the stables, confident that Dracott would keep her brief visit to the stables a secret. Well, at least for now. She glanced over her shoulder at him and saw how he followed her at a discreet distance. She bent over, slid on her slippers, and then skipped her way through the garden.
What in the hell had he done? He had almost kissed her. At least he had come to his senses and stopped himself before he made a horrible mistake. While attempting to show Maggie what might happen if a gentleman came upon her with dubious intentions, he’d almost committed the very act of ruining her.
Now he couldn’t give Worth a detailed report of her activity without implicating himself. Because if he told of Maggie’s adventure to the stables, then she would spill the truth of their encounter. The devious minx had him right where she wanted him. He would ruin everything he had worked to achieve and risk his position if he told on her. Also, Maggie Worthington had proven this evening how much of a temptation she was and how he must avoid her at all costs.
No matter how alluring she might be.
Chapter Three
Maggie slipped back inside undetected. However, before she located her family, familiar hands drew her onto the ballroom floor amongst the other dancers. She wanted to question Lord Dracott about his intention, but she grew light-headed when he twirled her around in a circle. Not from the dance, but from his touch. She thought she had outwitted him, but he seemed to attack her senses from all angles with each twist and turn of the dance. Once the music ended, he bowed, and she followed his lead with a curtsy. Then he held out his arm for her to take.
“Follow my lead if you wish to keep your family’s questions at bay,” Dracott muttered near her ear.
Maggie nodded. “I thought . . .”
Dracott gave her an arrogant smile. “Your first mistake.”
Maggie lifted her eyebrows. “And my second?”
He chuckled. “Ahh, a mistake I will not reveal to keep you at a disadvantage.”
Before Maggie responded, Dracott escorted her back to the bosom of her family. Noel stood gazing at Lord Ravencroft adoringly. Her mother and Graham appeared deep in conversation, and Eden arched her eyebrow at Maggie’s companion. Once her mother saw her, she stopped talking and glanced around to see if anyone paid them any attention.
“Where have you been?” Lady Worthington hissed.
“I told you, Mama, Maggie retired to the refreshment room for a spell,” Eden interrupted.
“It appears Lord Dracott and Maggie were sharing a dance.” Worth slapped Dracott on the back. “Wherever you found her, thank you for returning her safely,” he whispered in Dracott’s ear, his relief more than clear.
“I apologize for any misunderstanding. I noticed Lady Margaret looking for her family, and since it was time for our dance she agreed to, I saw no harm in joining the set,” Dracott explained.
“Hmph.” Lady Worthington narrowed her gaze on the couple. Her daughter still clutched the lord’s arm.
Lady Worthington wasn’t blind to how her daughter’s eyes danced with stars, nor the favored glances Lord Dracott paid her daughter. If it weren’t for Graham’s praise for his new assistant, she would worry. Lord Dracott had done nothing to prove himself otherwise. He worked tirelessly with Graham to bring justice to victimized individuals, so she held nothing but the utmost respect for the gentleman. However, she wished for Maggie to enjoy her first season and not fall for the first gentleman who paid her attention. She cleared her throat, staring at Maggie’s hand resting on Lord Dracott’s sleeve.
Lord Dracott, too captivated by Maggie’s spell, still held onto her hand. Lady Worthington’s subtle message finally caught his attention. He released Maggie’s arm and stepped off to the side. “Thank you for the dance, Lady Margaret.”
Maggie frowned at the loss of Lord Dracott’s touch but realized her family stared at her differently with their own queries of interest. “It was my pleasure, Lord Dracott.”
“Oh, Lord Dracott, I am happy you have attended this ball,” Noel gushed. “I have been singing your praises to my fiancé about how much you have helped Graham this past year and now you two can meet. Allow me to introduce you to Lord Ravencroft.”
Dracott hoped his expression and Ravencroft’s remained impartial after the introduction. Although he knew the gentleman Lady Noel was engaged to, he never thought they would cross paths this soon. While he feared he would give himself away, he worried Ravencroft wouldn’t be able to control his fury at Dracott’s arrival in London. When Ravencroft never contacted him, he had made a rash decision to infiltrate the investigation himself instead of waiting for Ravenscroft’s word of a safe return.
“Lord Dracott, I have heard nothing but praise for your insightful investigative skills.” Lord Ravencroft shook Dracott’s hand, applying enough pressure to make him grimace.
Dracott returned the rough handshake, applying his own pressure. “Thank you. And may I offer my congratulations on your upcoming nuptials? You must be very proud to make such a conquest, Lord Ravencroft.”
“I am but a humble servant to my adoring bride-to-be.” Ravencroft lifted Noel’s hand and placed a kiss across her knuckles.
Dracott plastered on a smile and turned toward the rest of the Worthington family. “Ladies. Gentlemen. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.”
They each expressed their sentiments, and Dracott left their side. He walked through the ballroom, blending in with the crowd. Once again he encased himself in the shadows to guard the one lady who made him lose all common sense. He hoped he had convinced Worth and Lady Worthington of their absence. If not, then he would have to find a new position.
Eden smirked. “He is most handsome.”
“Mmm, yes,” Maggie murmured as she watched Dracott stroll away.
“Or, as Noel would describe, most divine,” Eden teased.
“Mmm, yes,” Maggie repeated.
“Oh, dear. It is as I feared.” Eden snapped her fingers in front of Maggie’s face.
Maggie startled out of her daze. “What do you fear?”
Eden’s smile held a secret she wasn’t ready to reveal. “Nothing, my dear. How was your dance with Lord Dracott?”
“Heavenly.” Maggie sighed, searching for Lord Dracott. But she had lost him in the crowd.
Eden laughed but said no more. If she wasn’t mistaken, her younger sister had fallen smitten with Lord Dracott’s charm. She knew Mama’s intention was only for Maggie to become accustomed to society in her first season. Not to make a match so early. But the heart wants what the heart wants. And Maggie’s heart wanted Lord Dracott. She only hoped Lord Dracott wanted Maggie in the same regard.
DRACOTT TUGGED AT HIS cravat until it came undone. Then he ripped it off and tossed it across the bed. The evening had frustrated him, causing him to feel a restless energy that, if he didn’t contain it, would end in disaster. In the past, when he couldn’t control his emotions, his behavior had turned reckless, and at this moment in his life, he didn’t dare act upon his frustrations.
A simple miss set him on edge. Her penance for landing herself in trouble now involved him as a guilty party. Not to mention her delectable lips he wished to devour. At least he had come to his senses before he ravished her. Because if he had, he wouldn’t have stopped. He would have pulled one kiss after another from her lips.
