Free Devil's Desire by Laurie McBain Page B

abruptly away. “What do you want, Mariana?" he asked impatiently as he walked over to his desk, selecting a thin cheroot from a carved wooden box. He lighted it, and turning around, exhaled smoke which masked his expression, the aroma of the fine tobacco engulfing her heady perfume. "It's not proper, my dear, for an unescorted lady to call at a gentleman's home during the day."
    "And when have either you or I ever done what is considered proper?" she countered.
    "I really didn't believe that we had anything further to say to one another. We've both made our decisions, and I intend to keep to mine. From what I've heard, you have been doing the same—unless, of course, they're only rumors," he added tauntingly .:
    "They are not rumors!" Lady Mariana answered angrily, her dark-brown eyes flashing.
    "Well then, what have we further to say to one another?" Lord Trevegne replied coldly.
    "We've everything to talk about, Alex.” She moved closer to stand directly in front of him, her eyes looking beseechingly up into his hard, golden ones.
    "Can you actually stand here, before me now, and say you do not desire me? That you don't wish we were upstairs—"
    "Don't, Mariana," he said harshly, gripping her soft arms with hard, biting fingers. "You're just cheapening yourself by going on this way."
    "Cheapening myself!” Mariana cried shrilly. "I'm merely stating the truth—the bare facts. We're in love with one another. At least I admit it!”
    "No, Mariana. We desired each other, that's alI, nothing more. We both knew that it would end someday and you just ended it sooner by your threats. No one threatens me, or tries to blackmail me, my dear." He pushed her away from him in disgust, and looked away from her angry, white face and heaving breasts.
    "I only threatened to leave you for the Duke—unless you married me—to try and force you to admit to yourself that you loved me and wanted to marry me. You can't stand the thought of some other man making love to me, can you?"
    "My dear Mariana, I don't give a damn whose bed you warm. What we had is through. You finished it yourself, although I must admit it would have ended shortly as the heat of desire became cold ashes," he said indifferently.          .
    "I don't believe you. You're mad about me. I'm in your blood, just as you're in. mine," she' spoke passionately. "I could have had Linville over a year ago, but no, I decided to let becoming a Duchess take second place to my love for you."
    "Ah, yes, the Duke. That really has been your supreme goal in life; Lady Mariana, the Duchess. Don't blind yourself to your real motive with me, my dear. You may have desired me, but you also desired all that I hold, including the diamonds and emeralds and other fabulous trinkets which will drape the next Lady Trevegne, Marchioness of St Fleur.           .
    "You knew that I never thought of marriage when our affair began, but you didn't seem to mind. You even told me once you enjoyed your widowhood free to sample all the delights without having a jealous husband to worry about, I believe you said. Why the sudden change of face, my dear, or was it a charade all along—get me in bed with you, in love with you, then legally tied to you?"
    "You beast!" Lady Mariana spoke, trying to regain her composure, her nostrils flared, her pupils dilated in anger at his revelation of the truth which she could not deny. She threatened leaving him and promised to marry the Duke if he wouldn't marry her. She was so sure of her control over him that she thought he would plead with her to stay and marry him immediately, but instead he told her to do as she wished, he didn't care. She thought his pride was merely injured and that he would, soon come after her, but he didn't. He ignored her and even cut her in front of people at Almack's, giving her that contemptuous look that she had seen him give to the hangers-on who tried to flatter him and seek his favors. The whole plan got far out of control