Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

“What can I do for you?”

“Why are you doing this to my papa?” His words were sharp, accusatory.

“I’m sorry. I don’t understand. What exactly am I doing to your papa?”

“He loves you. He said that you love him. Why are you going out with other men if that is true?”

“It’s not that simple, Falcon. Your father and I talked about this and he knows that I need some time to get my thoughts worked out.”

“You are hurting him. Just like Mama did.” Angry tears sprang into his eyes.

“Oh no. I am not trying to hurt him, I swear to you, Falcon. What your father and I shared once is very complicated and…”

He gave a furious shake of his head. “It’s not complicated. You were a slave and he was the master’s son. What difference does that make? He loved you. You aren’t a slave now. He doesn’t think of you in that way. He still loves you. He came for you after he came and saved me from my mama’s sick and twisted ways. Do you know what he told me when I asked him about you? Do you? Do you!” His voice had risen to a high pitch.

God, she wanted to pull him close and hug him to her. “No. What did he say?”

“He said that you were the most beautiful woman in the world to him. Always had been and always would be. I never saw him once, not once, have the same look in his eyes when he looked at Mama that he gets when he talked about you.” Tears ran down his face.

Leona reached out for the boy. He struggled against her, but she didn’t give up and pulled him into her arms to snuggle him against her breast. Slowly she rocked him back and forth until his cries had subsided.

“Falcon, I don’t want to hurt your father.”

“But you are.”

“I just need some time to work things out in my head.”

“Is it because of me? Do you not like me?” His question was muffled, as he kept his face tucked against her.

Tears of her own burned her eyes. “No, honey. Never because of you. It’s me. I am so confused right now. For the longest time I was angry at him and now… This is all new to me. I just need some time.”

“I don’t think he has the time. He misses you. I know he does, even though he tries to keep it from me. His face looks tortured.” He pulled back and gazed into her face.

Leona wiped his tears with her thumbs and smiled softly at him. “Falcon, your father is a very special man and you are right, I do love him. I always have.”

Without asking, he climbed up into her lap and laid his head on her shoulder. He murmured softly, so softly she almost didn’t hear, “I think I will like having you for a mama. You smell good, like flowers.”

Leona wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lucien standing silently. He met her gaze and nodded in her direction, and she knew that he had heard their exchange.

* * * *

Later that day, Leona was in her room getting ready for the ball. She and Ciara stood in front of her multitude of dresses as she tried to decide which one to wear.

“So, you never did tell me how your visit with the colonel went?”

“Fine.” Her cheeks heated.

“That’s it? Nothing more than fine?”

Leona looked at Ciara and saw devilish humor floating in her eyes. “That’s all I am going to tell you.”

“How was it?”

“How was what?”

Ciara just arched an eyebrow and grinned as another blush raced across Leona’s face. “You know what I mean.”

A knock on her door interrupted their banter, and Lucien stuck his head in.

“Husband, I think you spend too much time in this room. Is there something you needed from Leona?”

“Jealous, wife?” He grinned and winked at Leona.

“Humph. Not on your life, because I know that you don’t stand a chance with her. Too moody. Go away, we’re having girl talk.”

“I just wanted to let you know that it’s almost time.”

Pure exasperation filled her features. “I hate this part of being a marchioness. I don’t like it at all.”

“I know, sweetheart. We will leave tomorrow and go back to Heartstone for the rest of the holiday.” He came in for a quick kiss, and, with an evil glint of his own, he pointed at the golden-bronze dress. “Leona, I think you should wear that one. He won’t know what hit him.”

Leona flushed. Lucien laughed and walked out of the room.

“He’s right, you know. You should wear that one. Besides, that way we will match, I’ll wear the one that I have like that. Lucien doesn’t know about it yet. What do you say?” Ciara had a dress in the same style but in copper to match her own skin tone.

“All right.”

“Good, now tell me everything about Trace. And I do mean everything.”

The ladies spoke and laughed together for the rest of the time while they got ready.

* * * *

The party had been going for a while when the major domo announced to the room, “Colonel Trace Morgan.” Leona felt her heart skip a few beats. He was here. She stood along the side of the room, since she’d just finished a dance with the Earl of Danbury.

She watched as he walked into the ballroom. Instead of a uniform, he wore a suit that was tailored just for him. It accented his wide shoulders, lean hips and strong legs. He moved with the same elegance that she had noticed in Lucien. He was dressed in black with a midnight-blue waistcoat. Her favorite color.

His hair had been cut to taper perfectly to his collar. The lights shone on his hair, bringing out his highlights. He was freshly shaven. She had no doubt that he would smell like sandalwood and cinnamon. Such a shame she couldn’t go dance with him now, but she had another already promised.

As she stepped into Viscount Hadley’s arms, she cast a final look toward Trace, wanting to be with him.

* * * *

Trace’s eyes scanned the room as he looked for the object of his desire. He couldn’t find her but knew she was there. He saw Lady Heartstone and laughed to himself as he also saw the scowl that seemed to be permanently fixed to her husband’s face.

Another dance began. He stood by Ciara and Lucien as couples took to the floor. All at once he saw her.

She danced with a pale-haired man and she looked… What the hell is she wearing? It looked like nothing. The same style of dress that Ciara wore, but it was so close to her skin tone that she appeared almost naked.

It fit tightly, showing her body to everyone, and everyone looked. All the men stared and Trace felt his blood begin to boil with jealousy.

He heard a loud grumble, and at the expression on Lucien’s face he knew that he himself had emitted the sound. “How could you let her wear that?”

“I think she looks fetching in it. Don’t you?” Ciara asked.

“Yes, my lady, I do. As do you.” That earned him a growl from Lucien.

It still didn’t stop him from wishing he could cover her up and take her away from prying eyes and ravish her until they were both too exhausted to do anything else except sleep the sleep of the dead.

When the dance ended, he walked up to her. “Good evening,” he purred as he strode through the men who surrounded her.

Her eyes darkened as they fell upon him. “Good evening, Colonel Morgan.”

“Perhaps you have a dance yet open on your card that I might have?”

“I have one left. A waltz.”

“I’ll take it.” He left no room for argument from the others around her. Trace leaned over and signed her card and walked off without another word.

If she only knew how hard it was for him to leave her there. His entire body trembled with desire and the need to smash in the faces of those fools who slobbered all over her. She was his and it was time for them to realize that.

Trace had secured the last waltz of the night with her. And he wasn’t about to give this opportunity up for anything. It killed him to think that they had never danced together before.

* * * *

When the time arrived for the dance, Trace came to collect her from Lucien’s side. “Miss O’Neill, I believe that this is my dance.”

“Of course, Colonel Morgan. If you will excuse me, Lord Heartstone.”

Lucien just inclined his head in that regal way of his and swept his own wife out onto the floor.

During the dance, Trace spoke to her in a much more intimate way. “That dress is scandalous.”

“You don’t like it?” she teased.

“I don’t like that others are seeing you in it. What were you thinking?” Trace spread his hand along waist, swearing he could feel her heat.

“There is no need to get nasty about it.”

“I want to rip it off you and take you here on the floor. How does that sound?” He forced the words from between clenched teeth.

“I don’t think that Lucien would like that very much.” Leona smiled at him.

“Who cares? From the look he leveled at his wife, he would be the first to follow my lead. What were you two trying to do to us? Kill us?”

“I didn’t think you would notice.” She gave a small shrug.

“Kitten, I notice everything about you. Don’t ever forget that.”

“Thank you for the flowers.” A slight pause as she licked her lips. “All of them.”

“Did you like them?”

“You know I did.”

“Did you miss me?”

“Yes. I missed you.”

Trace loved how quick her response fell. “You’re getting better at this, kitten. I didn’t have to ask more than once.”

It was heaven, being in his arms as they spun around the room. He was a fantastic dancer. Leona barely felt like she had to work. It was as if he lifted her and carried her through the dance.

When it was over he took her back to Ciara and left with a bow over her hand.

Trace wanted to stay beside her, but he wasn’t going to force it. He would see her later. There were to be fireworks later and while in reality it wasn’t that long, to him it was forever, everyone was bundled up for the show.

Leona stood off to the side alone and watched as couples wandered off into the shadows to steal a kiss or two as they observed the spectacular show. Moments after the show started, she felt a presence at her elbow.

A warmth flowed over her and she knew right away who it was. Trace. “I thought you had left for the night.”

“I would never leave without hearing your answer.” He spun her into his steel embrace. “Or without my good-night kiss.”

Leona reached up and placed her lips on his and kissed him. She slid her tongue in between his lips and stroked his tongue. Trace responded immediately, and he quickly got control of the situation.

Trace pulled back and placed her back against his chest and set his chin on her head. His hands worked their way around her waist and her hands covered his. They stayed like that for the whole fireworks display

As the display wound down, he stepped back. “I must take my leave now. I will have your answer, please.”

“Yes. Yes, Trace. It is you. It always has been you and always will be.”

A smile that was part happiness and mostly arrogant male smirk crossed his rugged features. “Good answer, kitten. I have to go. Until tomorrow.”

Once again he moved like the wind, and she found herself surrounded by bands of steel as his lips laid waste to hers. She responded with everything she had and soon they both panted as they separated.

“Good night, little one.” Then he disappeared into the darkness.

“Good night, Trey.” Leona watched as the bushes swallowed him up like a ghost.

Later, as she was undressed by her maid, she felt giddy. “Thank you, Sara. I can finish undressing if you want to start the packing. I’m leaving tomorrow. Just do a little, for it is so late and I am sure you want to get some sleep as well.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Her quiet maid got to work.