Chapter Seventeen

A nthony's eyes never moved from Cecilia as she made her rounds in the ballroom, gracefully ignoring the censorious looks of the gossips and gently refusing the numerous men who entreated her for a dance. He watched as she brought a delicate hand to her forehead, feigning a headache as yet another gentleman requested the pleasure of her company on the dance floor. She smiled dazzlingly at the man and begged his forgiveness, and he gave it gladly, suggesting that he would be honored by a dance from her at the next ball she attended. Anthony frowned. He did not like this false side to her. It was simpering, normal, and all too boring. It was not the Cecilia he knew. He knew she was only playacting, but he found himself wishing she would throw convention to the wind and be herself in society. He wanted to see how the world would react to the real Lady Cecilia Warenne. Doubtless the world would be scandalized, more scandalized than it already was at her presence. But the nobles of Bath could use a healthy dose of scandal, and there was no one better equipped to thrust it on them then his Amazon.

Captain Brinkley found her too quickly for Anthony's taste. He made a curt bow before her and kissed her hand, then tucked her arm into his and requested the pleasure of a turn about the room. Cecilia threw Anthony a casual glance to be sure he'd note their departure, and went with him willingly. Brinkley's actions so closely mirrored Anthony's own earlier that Anthony found himself growling into his champagne. He watched them disappear into the hallway behind the ballroom and followed.

Cecilia had agreed to lead Captain Brinkley to the library for their assignation. Anthony crept up to the library door and pressed his ear against it. He had to wait to make his entrance until Brinkley had Cecilia in a compromising position. He gritted his teeth as he listened. He wanted to burst in on them now and break the Captain's neck. But he would do as Cecilia wished. He had been unable to do anything else since he'd made love to her. Who was he fooling? She'd been commanding his every action and thought since the moment he'd first laid eyes on her.

"How quaint of you to attempt to dissuade me from my purpose, Cecilia," Brinkley was saying. He heard Cecilia utter a small gasp of protest and forced himself to not think of where the man was touching her.

"Captain, I am a wealthy woman. I'm sure we could come to an understanding," Cecilia said.

"And I am a wealthy man. I like our current understanding."

"I could pay for a mistress for you."

"I don't want a mistress. I want you." Cecilia's next words were muffled. Brinkley must be forcing her into a kiss.

"Bend over." Brinkley's words were a merciless command.

"Please, Captain –" Her voice was tinged with pain.

Anthony burst through the doors, flushed with anger. Certainly this was as compromising a moment as any. His eyes flashed from the Captain, forcing Cecilia over a table, her hair grasped in his fingers, to Cecilia, her face screwed into a look of pure disgust. The Captain released her and she staggered to a chair, pressing her hand against her leg in pain.

"I beg your pardon," Captain Brinkley said, smoothing his jacket. "The lady and I were having a private discussion, if you wouldn't mind." He motioned Anthony towards the door.

Anthony forced his voice to stay icily polite, though he wanted to scream in Brinkley's self-satisfied face. "It appears the lady is not enjoying the discussion as much as you are."

Brinkley took a step towards Anthony, his brows knotted in irritation. "I don't know who you think you are –"

Anthony slapped him across the cheek, cutting his words short. Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw Cecilia give just a hint of a smile. "Your actions are unconscionable, Sir."

Brinkley massaged his jaw with one hand and fixed Anthony with a glare. "You insufferable –"

"You have offended the lady's honor, and for that you will pay." Anthony pulled himself up to his full height, gratified to see he trumped Brinkley by an inch. "Expect my formal challenge to you in the morning. Do not refuse me, or you will be proclaimed a coward." He held out his hand to Cecilia. "Lady Cecilia, shall we depart?"

Brinkley grabbed Cecilia's elbow as she stood. "You are not going anywhere."

Before he could check the impulse, Anthony's fist shot out and collided with Captain Brinkley's jaw. The man careened backwards and fell senseless against the table. Cecilia gasped.

"Do you think that was a bit harsh?" she asked. "He is a hot tempered man."

Anthony drew a shuddering breath, collecting his gentlemanly reserve, and took Cecilia's hand in his. "I thought you thought that nothing is too harsh for Captain Brinkley."

She smiled up at him triumphantly. "You were magnificent! You played the part to the hilt!"

"I assure you," Anthony said, wrapping his arms around her. "I was not acting at all."