Lords of Desire Read Free

then she heard music. Drawn by the sounds of instruments and laughter, she found herself walking along what could only be described as a minstrels’ gallery.
    She looked down in amazement at a group of people who had obviously gathered for a party. “It’s a fancy-dress ball!” The men wore powdered wigs, satin breeches, and brilliantly hued brocaded vests and coats. It was the women, however, who drew Victoria’s eye. Their wigs were adorned with jeweled ostrich feathers; their gowns were not only beautiful but also extremely risqué, designed to deliberately display the women’s upthrust breasts.
    Tory was shocked, yet for one moment she pictured herself in such a glorious gown. The scene below was exactly as it would have been a century ago in Georgian times. As she watched, she realized their behavior was beyond vulgar as they openly flirted and touched each other in inappropriate places.
    Her shock slowly turned to anger. “That brute Fuller is throwing a party. His dinner invitation to the Reverend’s family is a clever subterfuge to cover up the licentious goings-on at Bodiam. I warrant he cannot wait to be rid of us!”
    Her anger made her feel dizzy and she put a hand to her head to steady herself. Victoria turned away from the revelers below and went back the way she had come. She became slightly disoriented and it was a few minutes before she found herself in the familiar passageway that had led her to this part of the castle. Finally, with thudding heart, she located the stone staircase and descended the steps. The maid awaited her as she had promised, and the pair returned to the dining room.
    Sir Peregrine and Edmund rose to their feet until she was seated, and Victoria saw they had awaited her return before dessert was served. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured.
    “Not at all,” their host said smoothly.
    The dessert was trifle, Victoria’s favorite. Perversely, she didn’t want any. Without raising her lashes, she spoke to her mother. “I’m afraid I have a dreadful headache.” It wasn’t a total lie; she did feel strangely light-headed.
    Edwina pursed her lips. “Manners, Victoria, manners!”
    Manners? Swine have none!
    “If Mistress Carswell has a headache, I insist you take her home immediately. I hope we can have dinner again soon.”
    There, you swine! I knew you’d find a way to be rid of us.Though she had invented the headache so she could leave, she laid the blame squarely at his door.
    As Sir Peregrine accompanied them through the neglected Great Hall to the front entrance, he gave his polite attention to Edwina’s incessant stream of words. Victoria took the opportunity to study the dark male who towered beside them. She saw that he had a birthmark that slanted down his cheek from ear to chin. He had tried to cover it by growing fashionable sideburn whiskers, but all they did was emphasize his dangerous, rakish look.
    Sir Peregrine took Edwina’s cloak from the servant and helped her into it. He did not extend the same courtesy to Victoria. A shiver ran down her back when she thought of his hands touching her. She did not know if she felt relief or disappointment.
    On the short carriage ride home, Victoria apologized for leaving the room during dinner, but the outrage she expected from her mother did not come.
    “Your absence gave Sir Peregrine and I the opportunity to speak freely and come to an understanding,” Edwina declared.
    “About me?” Tory asked in shocked disbelief.
    “We’ll speak of it in the morning, when your headache is gone.”
    Her mother bade her good night and went upstairs, but Victoria waited for Edmund to come from the stable. With a finger to her lips, she beckoned her brother into the parlor.
    “When I left the table, what exactly did Mother and Fuller say about me?”
    “Our host told Mother he was most impressed with you, and that your modest, self-effacing demeanor appealed to him.”
    “I did play the part rather well. What did Mother