Then Came You (The Gamblers #1)(95)

Through the tumult of her passion, she heard a knock upon the closed door of the sitting room. Her pleasure-drugged mind refused to accept the sound, but Alex paused, lifting his head and controlling his breathing. “Yes?” he demanded, his voice amazingly steady.

Burton’s sedate voice came through the closed door. “My lord, a number of visitors have just arrived, all at once.”

Alex frowned. “How many? Who is it?”

“Mr. and Mrs. Lawson, Lord and Lady Stamford, Master Henry, and a gentlemen he identified as his tutor.”

“My entire family?” Lily squeaked.

Alex sighed tautly. “Henry wasn’t supposed to arrive until tomorrow…was he?”

She shook her head dumbly.

Alex raised his voice so that Burton could hear him clearly. “Show them all to the downstairs parlor, Burton, and tell them we’ll join them right away.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Lily clutched at Alex’s shoulders, her body aching with unfulfilled desire. “No,” she moaned.

“We’ll continue this later,” he said, stroking her flushed cheek with his fingertip. Frustrated beyond her ability to bear, she caught at his hand and urged it to her breast. With a laugh, he pulled her body close and nuzzled against her hair. “They’ll want to stay for dinner.”

She gave a protesting groan. “Send them away,” she said, although she knew it wasn’t possible. “I want to be alone with you.”

Alex smiled crookedly and rubbed her back. “There’ll be thousands of nights for us. I promise.”

Lily nodded silently, although inside she was filled with despair. He couldn’t make such a promise when he didn’t know what she had kept hidden from him, the secret that would separate them forever.

Idly Alex investigated the torn edges of her bodice, dropping his head to kiss the shallow vale between her br**sts. “You’d better change your gown,” he murmured, his breath collecting in the damp hollow and causing her to shiver. “Although I find you utterly charming like this, I’m not certain your mother would approve.”

Lily entered the parlor dressed in her favorite gown, a close-fitted garment made of dark red silk and trimmed with filmy embroidered net. The gauzy sleeves revealed flashes of her slender arms, while the slightly flared skirt moved gently around her legs as she walked. It was the gown of a temptress, hardly a style that Lady Lyon would have approved of. But it showed her to her best advantage, and Lily had decided to keep it as an at-home gown. Alex, who couldn’t take his eyes from her, most definitely approved.

“Lily!” Totty cried eagerly. “My favorite, darling daughter, my lovely child, I had to see you at once. You’ve made your dear mother so happy, so pleased and proud that I’m moved to tears of joy every time I think of you—”

“Hello, Mother,” Lily said wryly, hugging Totty and making a face at Penelope and Zachary. She was filled with satisfaction as she saw the two of them standing together. Penelope’s face was radiant with love as she stood nestled against Zachary’s side.

Zachary looked similarly happy, though he regarded Lily with a patent question in his eyes. “We could hardly believe the news,” he commented meaningfully, moving forward to embrace Lily. “We had to come, to see if you were all right.”

“Of course I’m all right,” Lily said, blushing self-consciously as she met her old friend’s gaze. “It happened rather quickly. Lord Raiford has an overwhelming style of courtship, to say the least.”

“It must agree with you,” Zachary replied slowly, contemplating her rosy face. “I’ve never seen you look more beautiful.”

“Mr. Lawson,” Alex said, moving forward to clasp his father-in-law’s hand. “You can be assured I’ll take care of your daughter and provide for her every need. I’m sorry there was no time for me to ask your permission. I hope you’ll overlook our unseemly haste, and give your blessing to the union.”

George Lawson regarded him with a wry twist to his mouth. Both of them were aware that Alex didn’t give a damn if he approved or not. Perhaps George was compelled by Alex’s hard gray eyes to observe the formalities with grace. Whatever the reason, he replied in an unusually warm fashion. “You have my blessings, Lord Raiford, and my sincere wish that you and my daughter will have a life of contentment together.”

“Thank you.” Alex reached for Lily and drew her close, forcing father and daughter to confront each other.

Lily eyed her father warily. “Thank you, Papa,” she said in a subdued manner. She was surprised when her father reached out and took her hands, one of the few spontaneous gestures of affection he had ever shown her.

“I do wish you well, daughter, no matter what you may think to the contrary.”

Lily smiled and returned the pressure of his grip, her eyes becoming suspiciously moist. “I believe you, Papa.”

“My turn,” a boyish voice interrupted. Lily laughed with glee as Henry launched himself at her. “You’re my sister now!” he exclaimed, crushing her with a hearty hug. “I couldn’t wait another day to see you. I knew Alex would marry you. I had a feeling about it! And now I’m going to live with you, and you’ll take me to Craven’s again, and we’ll go riding and shooting together, and you’ll teach me how to cheat at cards, and—”