The Irresistible Lady Behind the Mask Read online

  All would then be forgiven and forgotten, and everyone would be happy again. If that was so, then why did she feel a twinge of sadness in her heart? Why did the thought of Hudson getting married to some young, sweet girl displease her?

  “Tempest, I grow somnolent of this forced silence,” he snapped into the quietness of the room. “Why don’t you admit that you were so riddled with jealousy, you resolved to spoil things between Valerie and me?”

  Hot colour inundated Tempest’s face. Her eyes lifted to his, and she saw he was looking at her with satisfaction as if he had indeed reached the crux of the matter.

  Jealousy! Was that what he was going with? What a preposterous idea! Her, jealous because he had wanted to marry Valerie? Ha! That would be the day! Yes, she had felt a tiny twinge of regret at what might have been between them, but that was it.

  Well, she ought to be grateful that he didn’t know the actual reason for her conceiving the idea of supposedly saving Valerie from him. That would have been more disastrous because he would have cause for recompense.

  ***

  Hudson studied the conflicting emotions trailing Tempest’s face. Indeed she had been jealous of his marriage proposal to her cousin. He didn’t see why, after all, she had told him she couldn’t marry him. So why did it bother her that he wanted to marry Valerie?

  He hadn’t done it intentionally although he wished he had. Her name had come up, and he found her eligible, thus, what did it matter to her.

  Women! He would never understand them. The baron’s daughter didn’t want him, yet she didn’t want anyone to have him. Mayhaps, she regretted her hasty and childish decision years ago in rejecting his offer for her. Possibly she wanted him to propose to her and didn’t know how to go about it. Hence, her stopping his marriage to Valerie from happening.

  But Tempest had been stunned when he questioned her about reconsidering their match. Or was that pretence? No, Tempest wasn’t pretentious. Perhaps, she had changed. After all, she had denied her identity when he surprised her that night at the gaming parlour.

  As he watched her colour heightening, Hudson nodded slowly. Undeniably, jealousy was involved in her decision making.

  “Why would you be jealous, I wonder,” he probed, watching for any tell-tale sign of green in her eyes.

  “Ha! Jealousy! Of all the things to accuse me of, you had to choose the one emotion that is foreign to me,” she spat at him with derision, making his eyebrows rise. “Why would I be jealous of your union with Valerie? Why, when I was informed with the news, I thought you both deserved each other until I heard what a despicable cad you were!”

  Hudson’s eyes narrowed. “That’s hogwash, and you know it. You’re trying to hide under the cover of that outrageous lie! I rarely come to London, and when I do, I leave immediately. Rarely would I be seen at gaming parlours, let alone gambling and cavorting with women. That is not to say that if I wanted to bed a woman, I wouldn’t have any woman at my disposal.” He viewed with satisfaction the blush at his obtuse words. “Consequently, you made up those tales about me as an excuse to hide your jealousy.”

  Her face tightened, and she thrust out her chin, something she did when she was either as angry as a harried hen protecting her chicks or was trying to be brave. He was glad to see that part of her character hadn’t changed.

  “You are sorely mistaken, mister. I couldn’t be jealous of you because I still don’t believe in marriage.”

  “Perhaps it’s your unbelief in marriage that caused you to stop mine to your cousin.”

  “Wrong again, mister! I was told all those despicable things about you, and I resolved to save her from a horrendous marriage, that’s all.”

  “You honestly expect me to believe that?”

  “It’s the truth!” she shouted, forgetting her manners in the height of her frustration.

  Funny, Hudson was enjoying the banter between them. It had been so long since he had exchanged words with anyone like this. Tempest had always been a delight to be with. Fiery, but an interesting character to boot!

  Eyeing him with disdain, she remonstrated, “I’m telling you the truth although I don’t care whether you believe it or not. Why don’t you tell me the truth, too?”

  His body tensed. What truth was she talking about now? He wasn’t prepared to divulge sensitive information to her. She was no longer his best friend and so didn’t deserve to know certain facts about him.

  “Why don’t you tell me why you chose to marry Valerie? Of all the young women in London and beyond, you chose my cousin. Were you trying to make me jealous?”

  Hudson was so stunned by her reasoning, he threw back his head, and laughter rumbled from his chest.

  “Why, you lout!” Tempest hissed, her face becoming red. “How dare you laugh at my expense!”

  Hudson tried to contain his hilarity. A smile played at his lips when he noted how angry she was. Twin spots stained her cheeks. She couldn’t have looked lovelier. Her pouting lips were parted, and he longed to go over there and wipe away her anger with a kiss that would leave her breathless.

  He felt his loins stirring at the thought of kissing her soft, inviting lips and perhaps going further. Like caressing the proud thrust of her breasts that were made visible by the cut of the high-waist gown. He envisaged how they would fit well in his large hands as he caressed them and moulded his face against them in reverence.

  It took all the strength in him not to go over to her, pull her from the chair, and lay her on the sofa to teach her the meaning of passion. But he couldn’t do that. He had to respect the baron and his home. The man had always treated him like a son. It would be shameful for him to ruin his daughter in the baron’s residence.

  Hudson’s mood lightened as he thought that might be the solution to get Tempest to marry him. If her father came in and found him taking advantage of his daughter, he would either insist on a marriage posthaste or a duel. Hudson figured it would be the former, which would delight him so he could tame the shrew called Tempest. It would be payback for what she did. He had no doubt in his mind that she would become putty in his hands if he chose to seduce her. The young woman was aware of the sexual attraction between them, and it frightened her to mittens. Hudson took satisfaction in the fact that he was the one bringing her fiery passion into light.

  But then, if his plan succeeded, he would have to watch his back. He would have to sleep with only one eye closed because of her. Tempest would definitely find a way to get her revenge. But he could handle her; of that, he was sure. Though he didn’t want to do battle with her. He would rather spend many nights in bed, making passionate love to her.

  ***

  Tempest noted that the atmosphere in the room had changed. Even Hudson’s countenance was no longer mocking or filled with hilarity. The drawing room hummed with sexual tension. How it could change within the twinkling of her eye shocked her. She was paralysed into inaction as awareness drummed in her body at the mesmerising look in Hudson’s eyes.

  Fortunately, Lily chose that moment to come in with a tray of tea. Tempest was relieved to push air into her starved lungs. Her breath burst out in a lengthy gust of relief.

  They were both silent as the maid poured them tea and excused herself.

  “I didn’t ask for Valerie’s hand in marriage to make you jealous, Tempest. She was available and fit all my requirements for a wife.”

  Tempest didn’t want his explanation anymore. Her desire was for him to leave and never return. His presence bothered her too much, which was strange. She and Hudson, in the past, could spend hours together and yearn for more when the day was over.

  But now, an hour in his company and her nerves were stretched taut, ready to burst!

  “Although I must confess that there was a time I enjoyed the thought of it making you jealous.” Then he sighed ruefully. “But I never guessed it would make you cause an end to my engagement with Valerie.”

  Tempest’s head snapped up. Her brown eyes blazed. “For the last time
, jealousy had nothing to do with it.”

  “Then why did you do it?”

  She lifted her hand in a shrug. “I told you. I was led into believing that you were an unscrupulous character.”

  His eyebrows hit his temples. “By who?”

  Tempest felt her colour rising again. She had blushed more in the hour she had been with Hudson than she had ever blushed in her life.

  “I have my sources,” she replied noncommittally.

  “I do not care what your reasons were for that despicable act. All that matters to me now is you putting things right with Valerie.”

  Tempest’s heart sank. He still wanted to marry Valerie? After all that happened? Was he in love with her? It appeared so. What if she told him Valerie had made the unfounded accusations? Would he still love her? Perhaps he would want to prove to her cousin that he wasn’t any of those things in his usual chivalrous way.

  Tempest tautly clutched her teacup. Afraid that she would snap the delicate thing, she hastily placed it on the stool and tried to appear unconcerned by his demand.

  With firmness in his tone, he announced succinctly, “I expect to be a married man within a fortnight. Therefore, I need you to make haste in making amends. I want the fence you’ve broken mended posthaste.”

  Tempest’s temper was about to flare as she intended to tell him to go to hell and get married there, but he stunned her by bestowing on her a dazzling smile.

  “Have I told you that you look absolutely delightful this morning?” he enquired softly. His gaze roamed over every curve of her body, pausing at the roundness of her breasts before reaching her eyes.

  Hudson was doing it again. Stripping her of her clothing with his eyes. The virility in his inspection, as usual, left her feeling very hot. He might not be any of the things Valerie had said about him, but he was undoubtedly a seducer!

  Tired now of holding her breath in his presence, she fibbed shamelessly. “I must attend to a few things, Hudson.”

  If he had heard the polite but curt dismissal, he gave no indication. He showed no inclination of one ready to depart from her presence. With unhidden amusement in his eyes, he keenly watched her.

  Tempest wanted to growl at his mocking stance, but she instead gritted her teeth.

  “You’re like a provocative angel, giving off innocence, at the same time, beckoning on one to have a taste of your heaven.”

  Dear God, when did Hudson become so poetic? He must have been practicing his wiles on a lot of women to become this good.

  A lusty sigh of relief released from her lips when he set aside his teacup and rose. With long, steady strides, he reached her, his eyes never leaving hers for a second.

  With a low bow, he took her hand and watched her face flush as his lips barely touched her hand. Tempest couldn’t deny the spark that ran through her as he touched her.

  “I shall call on you this afternoon so that we can pay a visit to Valerie to begin negotiations for reconciliation.”

  Tempest didn’t fully grasp what he was saying. She simply nodded for trickles of sparks were running all over her body, robbing her of words.

  As if in a trance, she watched him as he strode to the door. He turned and gave her a smile.

  “Parting is such sweet sorrow,” he declared with amusement in his voice. “Adieu, the tempest that roams the sea, seeking for who to devour.” With that, he opened the door, walked out, and quietly shut it.

  The man was conceivably mad, Tempest deduced. Quoting Shakespeare and whoever said the other statement must be his way of luring females into his web of seduction.

  Well, she wouldn’t be a part of it. Although when he touched her a moment ago, it was all she could do not to cling to his hand.

  Gritting her teeth, she recalled that in her numb state, she had agreed to go with him to Valerie’s to set things right. Of all the foolish things she could have done, this was the height.

  What would she tell Valerie? I’m sorry, but you just have to marry Hudson because all the things you heard about him were false? Her cousin would surely think that she had lost it completely. Valerie would want to know how she knew and if she said it was based on her own judgement, the chit would laugh in her face.

  Valerie believed that she knew nothing about men because she had decided not to get married. The chit had no idea that she dealt with men every day at the club and knew how they rankled, mostly the drunk ones.

  She would have to call Valerie aside before the impressionable young woman blurted out that she was the source of the news. Hudson appeared to be in love with Valerie, hence his insistence on marrying her. Therefore, it was her duty to see them wed since she had initially broken their engagement. Her cousin would just have to learn how to love her husband.

  With a heavy thud in her heart, Tempest rose and in a twirl of silk, slowly walked out of the room.

  Chapter 14

  The thought crossed Tempest’s mind to flee from home, so Hudson wouldn’t find her when he came for her in the afternoon. It had only been a fleeting one because she wasn’t a coward.

  In place of timidity, she stilled herself from the devastating effect that Hudson would wreck on her senses. The man was out to seduce her even though he was in love with her cousin.

  Countless times had she seen the desire in his eyes; which had always taken her breath away. But she couldn’t afford to fall for his wiles. He would take whatever he could and cast her aside to marry his true love.

  A silly thought flew through her mind, causing her to blush a crimson red. She hoped Mary, who was brushing her hair with light strokes, couldn’t read minds. The maid would be shocked that Tempest, who had always given the impression of one who was prim and proper, would have such amorous thoughts.

  Tempest had thought for a moment that she couldn’t die a virgin. If she were to give away her virginity, who better than Hudson, her childhood friend? The thought of Hudson making passionate love to her while she lay in abandonment in his arms got her colour rising so high she had to fan her face with her hands.

  Hudson was corrupting her every thought. It wasn’t only his presence that got her uncomfortable and thinking of beds and sheets. The damn man also troubled her feelings when he wasn’t within her radius.

  She shook her head from such stimulating contemplations. Then she looked in the mirror and offered Mary a smile of apology as the young woman had to hold the brush in midair.

  “Well, will I do, Mary?” she questioned her Abigail, rising from the stool before the mirror.

  Mary stared at her.

  “Oh, come now, Mary. Do I look so dreadful that words have failed you?”

  Blushing at being caught staring, Mary hastily shook her head. She told her mistress how she looked in the alluring high wasted gown in sea green that accentuated her curves. The silk dress heightened her breasts and showed off her narrow waist. Her red hair was caught in a tight knot at her nape by a chignon. The severe hairstyle was softened by tendrils of her hair framing her beautiful face.

  “You look absolutely stunning, Miss Tempest,” she said with admiration reeking in her voice, “I dare say you will knock Mr Danvers’s eyes out.”

  Red brows lifted as Tempest whirled around to cast censorious eyes on her maid.

  “How do you know I’m going out with Mr Hudson?”

  Mary nervously wrung her hands. She lowered her eyes as she read the censure in her mistress’s eyes.

  Mary, in discomfiture, curtsied. “Begging your pardon, Miss Tempest. I just assumed that you were going somewhere with him since he called this morning, and you both spent a considerable amount of time in the drawing room. And also seeing that you haven’t dressed this alluring for ages, I naturally assumed that he was calling on you to take you to the park or somewhere. I didn’t mean—” the maid trailed off when she saw she was only making matters worse. Her mistress’s eyes had narrowed to slits.