The Promise

She was filled with guilt then. Was she “playing” William? “I do not play gentlemen. I am merely enjoying his suit. We have become friends.”

“Yes, you do play gentlemen, all the time, and you are excellent at it. I have watched you toy with male affections since you were a child.” He ignored her gasp of protest. “Now you are friends?” His tone was incredulous. “As we are friends?”

She felt as if she were being backed into a corner. “William is a friend. Of course, I hardly know him as well as I know you.”

“You do not know William at all.” He stared, his face hard.

She knew this was dangerous territory, but she couldn’t help herself. Their gazes locked, she said, “And I suppose you think that you know Louisa Cochrane well? And I am certain it is Louisa, not Mrs. Cochrane!”

“Do not bring Mrs. Cochrane into this.”

“Why not? She is obviously a fortune hunter,” Elysse cried, her gaze unwavering on his. “She is desperate to marry above herself, and soon! Why can’t you see that? Why do you even bother with her?”

He glanced aside. “I have made it very clear that I am not marrying anyone anytime soon.”

She felt her cheeks flame. She did not need him to remind her that they were lovers. She turned aside. Why did his affair bother her so much? When had she become so jealous? But all she could think of was Alexi and Louisa in a passionate embrace. It hurt so much. “She is undoubtedly planning on trapping you into marriage, even if it is a year from now.”

He caught her arm. “I am not discussing Louisa with you.”

“I knew it!” His familiar way of speaking of his mistress added to her hurt.

He didn’t release her. “Montgomery is besotted with you. But there is more. He is calculating his chances for a legitimate courtship. He is the one who is the fortune hunter here.”

She was taken aback. “That is absurd!”

“Is it? Have you told him that you could never fall in love with him? He knows that your father wants a love match for you. And men like Montgomery marry up all of the time!” His blue eyes sparked with anger now. “You are lucky he did not seduce you in the stables—then you would have been forced to marry him.”

She gasped. “What is wrong with you? William would never seduce me! He is a gentleman, Alexi. He is kind and sincere and, in fact, he thinks very highly of me!”

“Why won’t you listen to a single word I have said?”

“Because you aren’t making any sense!” Why did she feel like crying? “Why are you doing this? You have done nothing but ignore me since you have come home, while chasing after that hussy, and you would deny me a serious suitor.”

“Aha! So now you admit that he is seriously pursuing you?” he demanded.

She crossed her arms tightly and he looked at her cleavage. She flushed and managed, “Have you finished nagging at me? My dance card is full tonight.”

He dragged his gaze upward. “I thought you wanted a dance with me.”

“That was before you decided to be a boor.” She turned to rush away.

He took her arm, restraining her, and turned her back to face him. “I am not finished, Elysse.” His gaze hardened. “I want you to end this tonight, before you find yourself in jeopardy—the kind you cannot smile and laugh and flirt your way out of.”

She tried to jerk her arm free and failed. “You cannot order me about, as if I am one of your crew—or your sister.”

“You are making a mistake. Sometimes, Elysse, I feel like taking you over my lap and giving you the kind of spanking reserved for small children. You are truly the most stubborn woman I have ever met. You are playing my pilot and it is selfish and dangerous.”

She shot back, “You are playing Louisa, are you not? I wonder why you are so set against William but not my other suitors like James Ogilvy? Could it be that you are jealous?”

His eyes widened. “I am not jealous of you. I think of you as family. Not as anything else. We have known one another for thirteen years!”

She stepped back, stricken. “We aren’t family. We aren’t related at all!”

“Oh, ho! Wait a moment—are you jealous? Do you want my attentions?” He was incredulous.

“No, I do not!” she cried with panic.

His stare was skeptical, piercing. “I know you as well—no, better—than I know my own sisters! I know how you think and what you want—I know who you are. Sometimes I think I know you too well! When I walk into a room and I see you, I think, why, there is Elysse, the pretty, spoiled little princess I have known for most of my life!”

She was trembling. Tears were arising, and she didn’t want him to see. “Are you saying that you think of me as a sister? That you don’t even notice that I am an attractive and entirely grown-up woman?”

His mouth hardened. “Obviously you are good-looking, but I don’t think about it.”

She stared, terribly hurt.

His gaze slammed down to her lavender ball gown. “I hate that dress,” he said tersely. He strode away.

She did not move, in shock. When Alexi saw her in a room, he saw a spoiled little princess. He didn’t see a beautiful woman, he saw the girl he’d known his entire life, someone similar to a sister.

“I like the gown,” Montgomery said softly. “I think you are lovelier than ever. Elysse, don’t cry.”

She turned and found his concerned gray gaze upon her. Vaguely, she realized he had been eavesdropping. She couldn’t care. It was her heart that was broken.

Somehow, she smiled at him.

He reached for and held her hand.

SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHY she had ever yearned to be in Alexi de Warenne’s arms. She didn’t even know why she had ever considered him a friend. He was hateful. He thought to control her life, treat her as a sister, and all while he ran after hussies like the widow Cochrane. Who cared? She had never suffered a rejection before. She did not know of another debutante in Ireland who had had five marriage proposals in two years. His rejection did not matter—not at all!

And if William decided to press a suit, she might even encourage him. He was kind and sincere, and he did not judge her or accuse her of being a harlot. He did not think her spoiled and selfish. When he called her a princess, he meant it as the highest compliment. When Alexi did so, he meant it as a slur—as an indictment of her character!

Elysse danced her eighth dance of the evening, a smile pasted on her face. The handsome squire, Sir Robert Haywood, was a widower of thirty-five, and considered an excellent catch. He had called on her a few times, but she hadn’t ever had any real interest in him until that night. As they danced, she kept smiling at him, refusing to look about the ballroom. She did not want to set eyes upon Alexi, not ever again.

Their friendship was now over. She no longer found him fascinating, much less attractive—oh no. The dashing boy she had once loved as a child had turned into an awful, mean-spirited man. She hoped he stayed away five years this time! And she hoped Louisa trapped him into marriage. It would serve him right.

Tears burned behind her eyelids. She could not understand why she felt so hurt. To be hurt, one had to care, and she most definitely did not care about Alexi de Warenne. She batted her lashes rapidly and beamed at her dance partner as they finished the country waltz.

“You have never been as lovely, Miss O’Neill,” Haywood said, bowing. “I had no idea you were such a superb dancer.”

She took a flute of champagne from a passing waiter, trying to banish Alexi de Warenne from her mind and her life, all the while hoping he had noticed how many admirers she had. Not that she meant to make him jealous, as she did not. She couldn’t care less if he was jealous or not, but other men found her beautiful—other men did not think her character defective!

The champagne was delicious. “Thank you, Sir Robert. And thank you for such a wonderful dance. I do hope you won’t neglect me as you have done these past few months, sir.” She sipped from the champagne, aware that she had drunk more than her usual two glasses. She didn’t care. Without the champagne, she might not be able to hold back her ludicrous, inexplicable tears.

“I hadn’t realized you wanted me to call again,” Haywood said, flushing. “But I will gladly do so.”

Elysse encouraged him to call another time. When he had left her side, she quickly finished the champagne before rushing off to the dance floor with Jonathon Sinclair, one of the men who had offered for her. He was very tense and flushed, and she instantly knew he still desired her. He said, whirling her about in a German waltz, “I didn’t think you’d give me a single dance, Miss O’Neill.”

“Of course I would give you a dance.” She smiled at him. “I have been looking forward to it all evening long!”

He started. “Why are you being so kind?”

“Do you think me unkind, sir?” She feigned hurt, slipping her hand across his shoulder.

“Of course not,” he said harshly, missing a step. “I think you are as kind as you are beautiful!”

“When you next call on me, I will explain myself to you completely,” Elysse said. Even as she spoke, a little voice inside her head told her she was going too far, and she would regret it when he called.

“I will call on you tomorrow,” he said instantly. “With your permission, of course.”

“And I will be waiting with bated breath,” she responded gaily.

After two more dances, she had to beg off, in order to catch her breath. As she stood by a table filled with dessert trays, she caught Montgomery’s eye from across the room. He smiled at her and she smiled back. They’d already danced two times and he had been wonderful, light and quick on his feet. More importantly, his regard had been warm and intent. Perhaps Alexi was right—perhaps he was seriously interested in her. Why shouldn’t she encourage him? He was a seafaring man and she was the daughter of a naval captain. Her father seemed to like him—everyone seemed to like him—and she did not need to marry a fortune, as she had one of her own.

Pain still throbbed in her breast—in her heart—and threatened to erupt if she were not very, very careful.

She walked over to the tray of champagne, wondering if she dare take another flute, wishing desperately to genuinely be happy and gay. Then she could truly enjoy the ball and her suitors. But she felt unsteady in her heels. Surely the champagne would chase the need to cry away. In the past, a glass or two had always made her feel merry. Why couldn’t she feel merry now?

As she reached for a glass, a hand closed on her wrist. “You have had enough,” Alexi warned.

He had come up behind her. She slipped around in such a manner that, for a moment, she was in his arms, her breasts crushed against his chest. His eyes widened. She stared, challenging him silently to deny her attributes. He stepped backward, away from her.

Somehow she knew she had made him uncomfortable. She smiled, pleased. She would never let him see how hurt she was. She was the reigning belle of the ball—the debutante every bachelor wanted—a woman with too many admirers to count and no other cares at all. Surely, he could see that! “I must disagree, Alexi,” she said sweetly. “You may instruct Ariella and Dianna on how much they may or may not drink, but not me.” She smiled archly at him.

His stare narrowed. “Are you crying?”

Was there moisture on her lashes? “Of course not,” she said gaily. Ignoring the pain bubbling in her chest, she smiled as coyly as possible. “Have you suddenly realized that I am a grown woman? Have you noticed how many admirers I have? Have you come to queue up for a dance with me?” And unthinkingly—instinctively—she touched his cheek with her nails and skidded them lightly across his skin there.

He jerked his face back. “I do not want a dance!” He seized her hand, stilling it. “You are inebriated. You need to go home.”

“I’ve only had a glass or two and I am enjoying myself immensely. Aren’t you? Have you even danced a single time?” The pain had miraculously dulled. Alexi was angry with her—and she was pleased.

“No, Elysse, I haven’t danced and I don’t intend to. Cease this absurd pretense! You are going home.” He was final.

“I am not inebriated and I am not going home.” Then she slowly smiled. “Not unless you are offering to take me? Could you so desperately desire my company, the way every other man does?” She lifted her other hand and stroked his cheek. “Oh, wait, I forgot—you are shackled to Louise.”

His eyes were even wider now, his cheeks even redder. “It is Louisa, and I am not shackled to anyone. Are you flirting with me? Would you dare?”

“I flirt with everyone, remember?” she murmured, stepping closer to him. Her chest brushed his satin lapels and she heard his breath catch. She knew a woman’s sense of triumph. He was hardly indifferent to her now! She ignored her own racing pulse. “I am a reckless flirt—no, wait, I am a harlot. You said so, remember? I suppose that makes me just like your paramour!”

“I said you flirt like a harlot,” he said grimly, seizing her shoulders and putting a good distance between them. “Jack can take you home.”

“Like hell he can,” she said softly, swaying against him again.

This time, he did not move away. Elysse thought a fire burned between them. He finally said, “You are making a fool of yourself.”

“Why? Because every eligible man here wants me? Except, of course, for you.” She laughed at him again. “You are immune to my charms…aren’t you? That is why you are breathing so oddly!”

He inhaled. A terrible pause ensued. He finally said roughly, shifting to put a distance between them, “What is wrong with you?”

“Nothing is wrong with me. I am simply enjoying this ball, as one hardly knows when we will have another one. But what is wrong with you, Alexi? Why do your eyes burn like that? Surely—surely—you aren’t filled with desire for me? I am a spoiled and selfish princess, after all. Or does that make you my prince? Are you my Prince Charming, Alexi? If so, I imagine you will sweep me into your arms! Oh, wait. That’s impossible—I forgot—you are a boor, not a prince!”

“You are truly drunk,” he said. “Like a sailor, Elysse. You are going home.”

“No, I am not.” She saw Montgomery approaching, his expression concerned. Montgomery clearly did not like Alexi manhandling her. He was her hero and protector now! “I can’t go home, because I promised William a walk in the gardens. Have you noticed how lovely the moon is tonight? They call it a lover’s moon, Alexi. In case you didn’t know.” She had never made such a promise, but a walk with him outside was exactly what she intended now.

His stare was disbelieving. “Are you acting this way to thwart me? Or just because you gain so much pleasure from playing the coquette?”

She laughed at him, stepping past him and holding out her hand to Montgomery. “I am enjoying a wonderful country ball, and now, I am about to enjoy a walk in the moonlight with my very favorite suitor.”

“Are you all right?” Montgomery asked, looking back and forth between them.

“We are having a family argument.” Elysse beamed at him, taking his arm. “Alexi is practically a brother to me, after all. Surely he has told you that?”

Montgomery glanced at Alexi again. When he looked back at Elysse, his gaze softened. “Do you need some fresh air, Elysse?”

“I should love some fresh air,” she responded, looping her arm tightly in his. As she did, she stole a look at Alexi.

He was angry, of that there was no doubt. “She should go home,” Alexi said to Montgomery, his tone hard.

“I’ll see her home when she is ready to go,” the American returned flatly.

Alexi made a harsh sound. Elysse looked back and forth between both men and knew they were fighting over her. She wished she was thrilled. Alexi deserved everything he got tonight. But instead, she felt the hurt all over again. “Let’s go,” she whispered to William.

Alexi gave her a dark, warning look. Then he turned and stalked away.

“Are you sure you are all right?”

“I am having a lovely time,” she told him, forcing a smile. “Aren’t you?”

He smiled at her, guiding her across the ballroom and out of it. “I am having a good time now. I must say, I wasn’t enjoying myself very much while you were dancing with all those other gentlemen.”

His gaze was serious and searching. He truly liked her—perhaps he even loved her. She had been so wrapped up in Alexi’s return that she had failed to realize just how handsome and charming William was. “You don’t have to be jealous,” she said.

He pushed open a door to the terrace. Because it was late March, it remained chilly at night and no one else was outside, even if the moon was mostly full and very bright. “Not even of Alexi?”

She faltered. “Of course not!”

“Good. Elysse, when I am with you, it is the best time of my life.”

She knew he meant it. She hesitated, recalling Alexi’s last, warning look before holding out her hand to him. He instantly took it and pressed it warmly to his mouth. She suddenly tensed. It was a moment before he released her hand.

She glanced at the terrace doors. Of course, Alexi would not follow them outside, not after that last look he’d given her.

“Are you cold?” he asked.

When she nodded, he took off his tailcoat and slipped it over her shoulders. His hands lingered. “I don’t want to take advantage of you, Elysse. But I am very fond of you.”

“You can’t take advantage of me,” she whispered, wondering if he was going to declare himself. She so needed a declaration of love now. She gazed into his eyes. Alexi was so wrong about him.

“I am glad to hear that. When you smile like that, a man might think it an invitation.”

Her glance strayed past him again. No one was watching them. She did not want to think of Alexi, not now or ever again. Should she encourage Montgomery to kiss her? Why not? He was the perfect suitor—it had just taken her a very long week to realize it! “Perhaps it is an invitation,” she managed.

He studied her and said softly, “I would like to court you, Elysse. My intentions are truly honorable ones.”

She trembled. “You may court me, William.”

He touched her chin, tilting up her face slightly, forcing their gazes to meet. “Good. I will speak with your father tomorrow about a proper suit.”

She didn’t know why she tensed. Her mind raced incoherently. Alexi’s image swam there. But this was what she wanted! “My father has always wanted a love match for me,” she finally said.

His eyes widened and he grasped her shoulders. “Are you saying that you love me?”

She hesitated, well aware that she did not love William—not yet. But she wanted his suit—desperately. Yet she must not lead him on. “I am becoming very fond of you,” she finally said.

He murmured, “Let’s walk out of the house lights.”

She wasn’t certain they should walk into the shadows at the edge of the terrace. But he smiled, taking her hand. “I want to kiss you, Elysse, and I don’t want to be interrupted,” he said softly. “Can you blame me? You are the most beautiful woman in Ireland—and you have just agreed to allow my suit.”

Should she allow him a kiss? Elysse paused, knowing Alexi would be furious if he learned of such behavior. Would a real kiss hurt? Hadn’t she enjoyed being in his arms on the dance floor? And Montgomery loved her—it was so obvious.

Realizing she had acquiesced, he led her across the terrace to the far side, where it was cast in shadow. He had a firm grasp on her arm, and she realized he meant to walk down the three steps onto the lawns. Suddenly she was confused. Did she really want to step so far away from the house?

“You are so beautiful,” he said. And then he caught her face in his hands and kissed her slowly and gently on the lips.

Elysse felt her tension soar. She had never been genuinely kissed. His mouth was very firm but gentle. It was pleasant, but not stunning. When Alexi had touched her in the library last week, her heart had exploded with desire. There was no such explosion now.

Tears butted up against her closed lids. Was this really happening? What was she doing?

“I love you,” he said thickly. “You are a dream come true.”

Elysse met his smoldering gaze and her heart raced. He loved her. He was a good man. Surely she could come to love him in return?

He suddenly put his arm around her. She thought he meant to kiss her again, but she found herself stepping down onto the lawns with him. He took her in his arms and kissed her again.

This time, his mouth was insistent, moving over hers again and again, and somehow she knew he wished for her to open her lips. She held firm, aware that she wasn’t ready, but she reached up for his shoulders. He grunted, the sound very male and shockingly sexual.

Some alarm began. They should stop—he had had his kiss.

But his grasp on her tightened. His mouth moved more roughly, more determinedly, on hers. His kisses were becoming frightening. She wanted to tell him that they should stop, but he loved her. She hesitated. Instead, before she could speak, his tongue thrust deep.

Alarm began as his heavy tongue filled her mouth. What was she doing? She choked. She did not want to be kissed like this! He was a stranger! She pushed at his shoulders, becoming very frightened now, but he didn’t notice.

Fear turned into panic. She told herself that the kiss would soon end—wouldn’t it? And he did love her. But one hand clasped her buttock and pulled her close, and she felt his stiff manhood against her hip. She had never felt that part of a man’s anatomy before, and she wanted to protest, her fear escalating. Instead, she froze.

Still holding her intimately, he broke the fierce kiss. “I love you,” he said, panting.

Before Elysse could protest and tell him that they must go back inside, he swept her back into his embrace, this time taking her down to the wet grass with him.

As his huge body covered hers, Elysse seized his shoulders to press him away—to push him off. Instead, his mouth tore at hers, his breathing heavy and harsh. She felt his hand move beneath her dress and underclothes to clasp her bare breast.

“William!” she somehow cried, but his kiss covered the sound of panic and protest. His arms were like a vise, his body like a clamp. She didn’t know how his huge thighs had gotten between hers. Her skirts seemed to be tangled up around her knees. What was he doing? She couldn’t do this!

And then she felt his hand high up on her thighs, beneath her skirts, only a thin soft layer of cotton between her and him. She bucked and twisted wildly now, desperate.

And suddenly Montgomery wasn’t on top of her anymore.

Elysse saw a blur of movement—and then Alexi was throwing Montgomery aside, his face a mask of rage.

She cried out. He had come to rescue her! She scrambled to stand up as Montgomery turned. Alexi tackled him viciously, head-on. Both men went down to the ground, struggling. Alexi was now on top, pummeling him furiously. She knew he meant to kill him. But Montgomery seized his throat.

Elysse screamed. “Stop! Both of you—stop!”

Alexi glanced at her, the American still choking him. Montgomery used the moment to jerk his knee up at his groin. Alexi twisted quickly away from the blow, and as he did, Montgomery thrust him off, and scrambled aside. Both men leaped to their feet simultaneously, crouching, facing one another.

“I am going to kill you,” Alexi said.

Montgomery said, “I am going to marry her.”

Elysse choked. What had she done?

Alexi suddenly looked at Elysse, his eyes hard and furious. “Are you all right?” he demanded. But his gaze widened as it held hers. She knew her hair was a mess. She thought her lip was bleeding. His gaze slammed down her body and she cringed. She was fairly certain that her dress was askew, possibly torn, and covered with grass stains.

She backed up, panting. She would never be all right, ever again. How had she allowed Montgomery such liberties? What had she been thinking? Why had he turned into such a beast?