Desperate and Daring 01 - Desperate and Daring by Ella J. Quince Page B

Ton, I assure you, but you won’t be the first matron to carry on with a handsome member of her employ. If I could give you one piece of advice,” he leaned close, his lips almost touching her ear, “don’t tell the duke. He likely isn’t capable of siring children anymore and would be grateful for a strong heir, blood or not.”
    All the air rushed from Heather’s lungs in a whoosh. She would have pushed away from him, but he was the only thing keeping her standing. Her eyes snapped to his with disgust and fury.
    “How dare you say such a thing to me? Have you no conscience?”
    “I do, but I’ve long ago stopped listening. Life is more entertaining that way.”
    “And are you amused by my life, Lord Draven?”
    “Just barely, Miss Everly.”
    Heather stopped in her tracks and slipped out of his arms. She spun away from him and barreled into the crowd of guests. There were instant gasps and murmurs, word of the incident would spread quickly through the room. Heather didn’t care. She saw her closest exit and walked as fast as she could towards the door at the side of the ballroom. She heard someone call her name, but she did not look. Tears sparkled in her eyes, and she looked up, praying they would not fall here, in sight of everyone. Something caught her eye.
    There, at the balcony beside a pillar, she saw him. Everything in her body wanted to reach for him at that moment. She tore her eyes away and ran to the door, ripping it open and slipping though. There was darkness on the other side. She held herself against the door as tears fell, and she blinked until she could see. Weak light filtered through the row of windows lining the hall. It was significantly cooler here than in the ballroom. Heather took off down the hall at a run. She escaped through another door, closing it behind her. She was in a larger hall with rooms leading off it. She heard footsteps coming down the stairs, the back stairs it seemed, and to her right were a pair of glass doors. She paused before the wavy glass. The room was filled with moonlight and plants. The Conservatory. She entered and waded into the fragrant jungle of potted trees. She heard the conservatory door open and close again and turned. She could barely see him in the light, but she knew it was him with everything in her heart.
    He moved towards her and she stepped into the light. “What is wrong?”
    “Everything,” she said thickly. “Everything that could go wrong is presently happening. I’ve ruined my family. I’ve destroyed my sister’s chances of having any kind of future, all because I couldn’t deny myself.”
    Fallon stepped closer to her and pulled her against him. She tucked her head into his shoulder and wept. He slowly rubbed her back and didn’t say a word. He didn’t know what he could say. Everything that came to mind would only make things worse, all except, “I’m sorry, Heather.”
    *
    Draven paused before the door when he heard the thundering footsteps on the other side. He heard the click of a door open and close. Just as he opened the door, the door behind him leading to the ballroom opened. There was a flash of light and then darkness again. Standing there in the darkness and faint moonlight was an angel. She stalked forward vengefully, her virginal white dress snapping at her ankles with her strides. Draven watched her approached, half amused, and half aroused.
    The angel stopped before him, and he could feel her glare. “Why, Lady Anabelle,” he purred, “have you changed your mind about that kiss?”
    “Where is Heather? I saw you follow her in here and she looked very upset. It’s easy to discern that you did and or said something very distasteful while dancing.”
    “You know me so well.” He did his best to look abashed.
    She looked down at his hand on the doorknob. “Move aside so I may find her. I assure you, you are the last person she wants to see.”
    “I heartily agree, but I dare say you are not first on her list at