Caroline could not see any way of avoiding telling him. She fell into step beside him, unconsciously following his lead. “Sarah. Lizzie saw her leave the ballroom with Lord Darcy. More than twenty minutes ago. They haven’t returned.”
In the dim light, Max’s face took on a grim look. He had suspected there would be trouble. He continued strolling towards the end of the terrace. “I know where they’ll be. There’s a summer-house deeper in the gardens. I think you had better come with me.”
Caroline nodded and, unobtrusively, they made their way to the summer-house.
Max pushed open the door, then frowned at the empty room. He moved further in and Caroline followed. “Not here?”
Max shook his head, then bent to pick up a knot of ribbon from the floor.
Caroline came to see and took it from him. She crossed to the windows, turning the small cluster this way and that to gauge the colour.
“Is it hers?” asked Max as he strolled to her side.
“Yes. I can’t see the colour well but I know the knot. It’s a peculiar one. I made it myself.”
“So they were here.”
“But where are they now?”
“Almost certainly on their way back to the house,” answered Max. “There’s nowhere in this garden suitable for the purpose Darcy would have in mind. Presumably, your sister convinced him to return to more populated surroundings.” He spoke lightly, but, in truth, was puzzled. He could not readily imagine Sarah turning Darcy from his purpose, not in his present mood, not in this setting. But he was sure there was nowhere else they could go.
“Well, then,” said Caroline, dusting the ribbon, “we’d better go back, too.”
“In a moment,” said Max.
His tone gave Caroline an instant’s warning. She put out a hand to fend him off. “No! This is absurd— you know it is.”
Despite her hand, Max succeeded in drawing her into his arms, holding her lightly. “Absurd, is it? Well, you just keep on thinking how absurd it is, while I enjoy your very sweet lips.” And he proceeded to do just that.
As his lips settled over hers, Caroline told herself she should struggle. But, for some mystical reason, her body remained still, her senses turned inward by his kiss. Under gentle persuasion, her lips parted and, with a thrill, she felt his gentle exploration teasing her senses, somehow drawing her deeper. Time seemed suspended and she felt her will weakening as she melted into his arms and they locked around her.
Max’s mind was ticking in double time, evaluating the amenities of the summer-house and estimating how long they could remain absent from the ballroom. He decided neither answer was appropriate. Seduction was an art and should not be hurried. Besides, he doubted his eldest ward was quite ready to submit yet. Reluctantly, he raised his head and grinned wolfishly at her. “Still absurd?”
Caroline’s wits were definitely not connected. She simply stared at him uncomprehendingly.
In face of this response, Max laughed and, drawing her arm through his, steered her to the door. “I think you’re right. We’d better return.”
———
Sanity returned to Sarah’s mind like water in a bucket, slowing filling from a dripping tap, bit by bit,until it was full. For one long moment, she allowed her mind to remain blank, savouring the pleasure of being held so gently against him. Then, the world returned and demanded her response. She struggled to sit up and was promptly helped to her feet. She checked her gown and found it perfectly tidy, bar one knot of ribbon on her sleeve which seemed to have gone missing.
Darcy, who had returned to earth long before, had been engaged in some furious thinking. But, try as he might, he could not imagine how she would react.
Like Max, it had been a long time since young virgins had been his prey. As she stood, he tried to catch a glimpse of her face in the dim light but she perversely kept it averted. In the end, he caught her hands and drew her to stand before him. “Sweetheart, are you all right?”
Strangely enough, it was the note of sincerity in his voice which snapped Sarah’s control. Her head came up and, even in the darkness, her eyes flashed fire. “Of course I’m not all right! How dare you take advantage of me?”
She saw Darcy’s face harden at her words and, in fury at his lack of comprehension, she slapped him.
For a minute, absolute silence reigned. Then a sob broke from Sarah as she turned away, her head bent to escape the look on Darcy’s face.
Darcy, slamming a door on his emotions, so turbulent that even he had no idea what he felt, moved to rescue them both. In a voice totally devoid of all feeling, he said, “We had better get back to the house.”
In truth, neither had any idea how long they had been absent. In silence, they walked side by side, careful not to touch each other, until, eventually, the terrace was reached. Sarah, crying but determined not to let the tears fall, blinked hard, then mounted the terrace steps by Darcy’s side. At the top, he turned to her. “It would be better, I think, if you went in first.”
Sarah, head bowed, nodded and went.
———