Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

Chloe stood next to Ryker, watching the parade of dancers. She didn’t dare ask him to dance, certain it violated one of his many rules. All right, perhaps there weren’t that many, but every time she spoke with him, he was telling her no for one reason or another.

It was tiresome, really.

Was she allowed to accept the invitation to dance from another man?

Would any ask with her standing next to the very large and rather intimidating duke?

“Is this not the dullest party you’ve ever seen?”

Chloe turned to see a stunning brunette standing just to her right. She might be from a small village, but she’d made enough friends to know, some women were kind while others… “I haven’t attended many events in London, so I have little to compare the evening with.”

The woman gave her a genuine smile. “You’re the duke’s new charge.”

“I am.”

The other lady’s gaze flitted up and down Chloe. “I expected you to be younger.”

“So did the duke.”

Ryker glanced over, finally noting Chloe was having a conversation. He’d been silently scanning the crowd since they’d arrived an hour prior.

“Countess Green.”

“Your Grace.” The countess dipped down into a curtsy. “A pleasure as always.”

There was no subtext to the woman’s voice, no stealthy glances. Her tone was just forthrightly pleasant. Chloe furrowed a brow, trying to decide why the woman might have approached.

“How do you fare?” Ryker asked, his gaze already back on the ballroom.

“Very well but I wondered if I might take your charge on a tour of the room?”

Ryker’s mouth pinched but he gave a quick jerk of his chin to give his permission, and in a moment, Countess Green was pulling her into the crowd.

“My name is Caroline,” the countess whispered, her arm threading through Chloe’s.

“Chloe.”

“A pleasure to meet you.”

“And you. Though I have to confess, I’m curious to know why we are on this stroll.”

Caroline leaned closer. “You simply looked as bored as I felt.” Then the woman winked. “And I am friends with Mildred. She asked me to look out for you at events, not that I attend many. I did wonder why she wasn’t here this evening?”

Relief made her breath rush out of her lungs. “Mildred asked you.”

Caroline looked back over her shoulder. “And, as I said, you looked as bored as I felt. You’d think having a guardian as handsome as yours would be thrilling, but it did not appear to be the case. In fact…”

Was Caroline interested in Ryker? Was the woman insinuating that Chloe wasn’t holding his attention? She stiffened, some possessive need making her bristle. “He has other business to attend tonight. Otherwise, I’m sure he’d be more attentive.”

Caroline raised a hand, her gaze filled with a question. “I’m certain he would. Mildred mentioned that your relationship with him might be developing.”

Chloe started in surprise. This woman already knew of their possible arrangement? Ryker would not be happy. “He would not appreciate hearing you share that. He’d prefer to keep our relationship more private.”

Caroline sighed. Shaking her head. “Men.” Then she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “My next husband will be as uncomplicated as he is kind, if I marry at all.”

Well, that certainly did settle a few things. “Next husband?”

“I’m a widow,” Caroline stated matter-of-factly. “My first husband was an earl, three times my age, and not particularly friendly. I’m done with emotionally unavailable men.”

Sympathy coursed through Chloe. “His Grace,” she said carefully, “is as exhausting as he is detached.”

“Hmmm.” Caroline stopped near a dark corner of the room. “It’s interesting because while I noted that he neither talked to you nor looked at you, he touches you quite often.”

That was interesting and it mirrored her own feelings. One minute he seemed indifferent, the next anything but…

“I understand what you mean but honestly he’s very complicated.”

Caroline gave her a sympathetic smile. “You’ll have to decide if you wish to be the duchess or not. Being a powerful man’s bride isn’t always an easy position.”

“And if I didn’t?” It was the very question she’d been asking herself these past few days.

Caroline’s smile widened. “Do you wish to be rich or titled?”

Chloe blinked in surprise. “I beg your pardon?”

“You might be able to accomplish both with your beauty, but if you had to choose…”

Chloe cocked her head to the side. “Financial security is most important along with companionship.”

“Oh, that will be easy, then. Merchants are making money like lords and many of them would love to marry the relative of a duke. You’d have your pick of men, no dowry required.”

Was this true? She shifted closer to Caroline. “Really? You’re certain?”

“For you? Very. Tell me more about what you wish. I’d love nothing more than to play matchmaker tonight. It would give me something to do.”

She drew in a breath. “Kind and caring would be nice.”

Caroline laughed. “No complicated men for you either. Understood. But what about attractive?”

She thought of her reaction to Ryker. How he made her forget herself. Would any man compare to that? She began to answer but a deep voice rumbled behind her. “There you are.”

She turned to see Ryker just behind her, his gaze as unreadable as ever. “Here I am.”

“I require your assistance.”

“Of course.”

“Demanding too,” Caroline softly whispered, making a small smile pull at Chloe’s lips. “If I can’t help you tonight, I will call on you tomorrow so that we might plan another evening in which to hunt for husbands that are to our liking.”

Chloe let out a rush of air. “You are an angel.”

Caroline laughed at that, but didn’t have a chance to respond as Ryker took her hand, whisking her toward a hall. “Where are we going?” she asked.

“It’s better that you don’t ask.”

She looked at him then, her heart climbing into her throat. Couldn’t anything be simple with this man?

* * *

Ryker had spotted Adam. The man was difficult to miss with those scars on his face but with the large crowd and the low light, he’d almost missed the man.

He watched Adam slip down a hall, cursing softly under his breath. He shouldn’t have let Chloe go off with the countess. It had meant that Ryker had had to collect his charge before they could follow Adam down the hall.

Had he lost him?

His gut niggled at the idea of coming this close to following the man and then losing him again. Not that he was beholden to this investigation, but he’d like to hand it over to the next man with a solid lead.

It was his pride at stake.

And Chloe was the perfect cover. If caught in the hall, she could pretend illness, faintness, and his excuse was that he was just attending her. Or perhaps they could stage a kiss. In the dark, no one would know who they were, and everyone would assume they’d slipped down the hall for some privacy.

But he’d been delayed in retrieving her and as they entered the dark hall, he was certain he’d lost the man.

“Damn.”

“Damn what? What are we doing down here?” Chloe asked, squeezing his hand. A gesture he ignored.

Instead, he scanned the hall, looking for any sign as to where Adam had gone. “Start opening doors. Look for a study. If anyone asks, you’re searching for the lady’s repose.”

She let out a small gasp, her hand tugging out of his. “You’re serious?”

“You think I’d come to an event this dull willingly?”

She stared at him, her mouth opening and then closing. “Is that why we haven’t danced?”

“Danced,” he snorted. “Is that what you consider fun?”

“What do you consider fun?” she asked, still not searching.

“I shall tell you later after you’ve done as I’ve asked.”

She let out a long breathy sigh before she finally began trying doors on the left side of the hall. He followed suit, checking the right.

All the rooms were either locked or dark and silent, the only sound was the soft swish of Chloe’s skirts. And then, down the hall, a knob rattled.

In an instant, he was across the hall, spinning Chloe away from the door and toward him, pressing her back against the solid wood paneling, her front crushed against the solid wall of his chest.

A mistake.

Her luxuriant softness molded to him, her body fitting his perfectly.

She tilted her chin up to him, her eyes wide with surprise.

He didn’t hesitate. Clasping her chin in his hand he crushed his mouth to hers. This was not the gentle brush like their first kiss. He’d like to say that he was attempting to sell the embrace, but the truth was, she just felt too damned good.

Touching her like this, he wished to devour her.

Her lips, so soft and yielding, melded to his, one of her arms snaking around his neck.

Her embrace only fueled his passion higher. He forgot about the reason he was in this hall, his mouth slanting hers open so that he might plunder her sweetness.

His tongue tangled with hers as he swallowed her gasp of surprise. Instead, he coaxed her tongue to respond, brushing against hers until she tentatively used hers to stroke him back. It was his turn to groan into her mouth, Chloe so delicious that all he could think was that he wanted more of her. More of everything…

“Just about what I’d expect from the Keeper.”

Those words were like cold water being poured on his head. Who recognized him as the Keeper? He spun, careful to keep Chloe covered by his body. He turned to find himself face-to-face with Adam. Though he’d never seen the man, his scars were unmistakable even in the dim light. “Do we know each other?”

“I know you…” The other man smiled, twisting the scars on his face, his dark hair pulled back in a severe style. “But why don’t you introduce me to your whore.”

Chloe gasped behind him, but he only stood taller. “How dare you speak to her that way.”

Adam’s smile only grew. “I dare. Just like I dare to punish.”

“Punish me? Who do you think you are?—”

“You and all your debaucherous friends at that filthy club.”

Ryker’s chin reared back. Adam knew about the club and its members. Sick dread tightened his stomach. “Is that a threat?”

“A threat. A promise. Take it for whatever you like, but I will see you again, Keeper. Honestly, I expected to meet you before now.”

“And why is that?”

But the man didn’t answer as he started down the hall again, his slow saunter proving he wasn’t the least concerned that he’d just threatened a duke.

“Keeper? What does that mean?” Chloe asked, her hand coming to his back.

He tensed at her question and the feel of her delicate hand, so small and fragile against his skin. “I’ll explain later… right now, it’s time for us to leave.”

He tucked her against his side and started back toward the ballroom.