Chapter Fifteen
Thatman?
As Dominic sat up, he found it a challenge to maintain a straight face. And he really shouldn’t be laughing given the gravity of the situation. Not only was Artemis about to be verbally flayed by her aunt, buthewas sporting a rather inconvenient cockstand. Indeed, he was so hard, he could probably drive a nail through a plank of wood and into next week. Although when he turned and took in the outraged expression on Lady Wagstaff’s face and then the equally shocked looks on the three other young women hovering in the library doorway, he quickly discovered that being gaped at was the mental equivalent of a dousing with ice-cold water.
“Aunt Roberta,” Artemis began as she struggled to simultaneously push her bunched skirts down and push herself up from the depths of the settee. “I can explain—”
“No. You cannot,” declared the middle-aged dowager baroness. She was bristling with so much anger, the peacock feathers adorning her mask were shivering like autumn leaves in a gale. “I’m speechless. Flabbergasted. Dumbfounded. So shocked and mortified, I can barely speak.”
If only that were true, thought Dominic with a sigh. “Lady Wagstaff.” He rose and then helped Artemis to her feet. “Your niece is not to bl—”
“Oh, yes I am. I am to blame,” Artemis rejoined. “I take full responsibility for my own scandalous behavior leading to my complete and utter ruination. I was the one who lured the Duke of Dartmoor here—”
All of sudden, one of Artemis’s friends, Miss Delaney perhaps, gasped in a most melodramatic fashion, “Oh, no! Viscountess Seagrove and a few of her friends are headed this way! And everyone knows what frightful gossips they are.”
“Lady Seagrove?” Lady Wagstaff cried. “Oh dear Lord.” She pressed a gloved hand to her forehead as though she were about to faint. “Quickly, Phoebe. Shut the door before the viscountess or anyone else sees what’s going on in here. Your sister’s name cannot be linked with that of the Dastardly Duke. No offense, Your Grace.” She gave a slight nod in his direction.
“None taken,” he said with mock solemnity and an equally slight tilt of his head.
“Oh dear, Lady Wagstaff. I’m afraid the footman stationed at the door has seen rather a lot,” ventured Artemis’s other friend, the one with the blond curls and a tendency to blush. “In fact, he’s still looking,” she added in a stage whisper. “Let’s hope he’s not the sort of man who’d sell gossip to a scandal rag like theLondon Tatlerfor the right price.”
“Oh God. You’re right, Miss Bertram,” wailed Lady Wagstaff. “Oh, what a disaster.” Then she scowled at Dominic’s footman. “You, young man. Be off with you.” Then to her niece. “What are you doing, Phoebe? Do you want everyone to witness your sister’s shameful conduct? Close the blasted door. At once!”
“Everyone’s crinoline skirts are in the way,” the young woman in question cried and then she began to make frantic shooing movements with her hands. “Move. Inside. Quick sticks. Hurry up.”
Dominic had to bite the inside of his cheek to stop himself from laughing again. He felt like he was taking part in a comedy of errors. Although the ending for Artemis might not be a happy one. Even though she had good reason to sever ties with her aunt, he couldn’t help but worry that in years to come, she might regret their estrangement. Of course, it wasn’t his place to judge.
He cast a glance her way. Her lovely face was flushed, her lips were kiss-bruised, and her curls in hopeless disarray. Her silk gown—a distinctive shade of indigo that was the perfect foil for her dark auburn hair and pale-as-cream skin—was horribly crushed and courtesy of his depredations, one of her sleeves had slipped so far off her shoulder, the snowy edges of her corset and chemise were showing.
There was no denying what had happened in this room tonight. Even if no one else ever found out, the incontrovertible truth was hehadruined Miss Artemis Jones.
The question was: Was he going to set aside what she wanted in favor of pushing his own agenda instead?
***
Artemis’s plan had been executed perfectly…so far. Aunt Roberta was absolutely horrified—thishadto be the last straw, and at any moment, she would declare that Artemis was nothing but a wicked hussy and she would disown her.
Of course, Artemis felt guilty that Phoebe had to be put through this ordeal. Once her sister wrestled the library door shut and turned to face Artemis, her expression could only be described as stricken. A mixture of panic, bewilderment, fury, and deep disappointment. But as time went on and it became clear that perhaps therewouldn’tbe a monumental scandal attached to the family name, her sister would rally and be able to resume her husband hunting in earnest.
Both Lucy and Jane had played their parts beautifully. Though, perhaps they hadn’t expected Artemis to throw herself into the role of “ruined heroine” with quite so much gusto, given that Jane was looking steadfastly at the Turkish rug beneath her feet and Lucy was blushing furiously.
As for Dominic…his idea to station one of his trusted footmen outside the library—someone who’d be viewed as a potential snitch and a threat by Aunt Roberta—was nothing but inspired.
And then of course, he’d been true to his word and had well and truly compromised Artemis. There could be no doubt in anyone’s mind. Indeed, Artemis’s body still hummed with the afterglow of Dominic’s thoroughly attentive ministrations. She’d never been so well pleasured in all of her life. Even now, she couldn’t quite believe that she’d let herself get so carried away by the moment.
Now, all he had to do was declare hewouldn’tdo the right thing and go on his merry way. And then she would go off on hers.
Simple.
Artemis sensed that Dominic was looking at her, so she leaned closer and gave him a little nudge. “Now it’s time for you to tell my aunt that this has all been a big misunderstanding,” she murmured, “and that while you never intended to besmirch my honor, you have no intention of proposing marriage.”
“Yes. About that…” began Dominic but then Aunt Roberta spoke.
“Here. What are you two both whispering about?” she demanded in a querulous tone.
Artemis lifted her chin. “Aunt Roberta, as I mentioned before when you first burst in, I am entirely to blame for this mess. I was the one who brazenly and quite recklessly invited His Grace to the library for a romantic tryst, knowing full well it was entirely improper and that I was risking my reputation and, indeed, that of the whole family. That’s how terrible and willful I am. And because of that—”
“Yes, because Ididagree to meet with you, Miss Jones,” said Dominic in such a grave manner that Artemis’s heart began to thud most uncomfortably in her chest, “I find that it is incumbent upon me, as a gentleman and peer of the realm, to ensure that your reputation isnotsullied. It isIwho compromised you and therefore”—he removed his mask, then turned to face her—“I must make amends. You will not be ruined. I will not let you suffer such a cruel fate.”