'Gideon?' She spoke softly, putting her hand up to his cheek. 'Gideon, will you not come in...?'
He reached up and caught her hand, planting a kiss in the palm.
'Not tonight, my dear.'
* * *
Dominique watched him stride away into the darkness. She was sure she had seen desire in his eyes, certain he had been moments away from sweeping her into his arms. She clasped her hands together. Oh, how she wanted him to carry her to the bed and cover her body with kisses! She went into her bedroom and looked at herself in the mirror. What had Gwen called her? Voluptuous. Yes, it was true and Gideon had been tempted, but not enough. Not enough.
* * *
In Drury Lane the crowds jostled outside the theatre and inside everything was colourful and noisy and chaotic. Dominique clung to Gideon's arm as they made their way through the press of bodies.
'Wasn't Cecil clever, to get us such an advantageous box?' declared Gwen, when they took their seats. 'No, truly,' she continued, when Mr Hatfield modestly demurred. 'I had thought there was no possibility of finding a ticket for this performance. I am sure we are all very grateful.'
Dominique agreed. They had dined at Grosvenor Square with Gwen and Lord and Lady Grayson and she had been a little apprehensive when Cecil Hatfield arrived, but since Gideon was perfectly polite to him she had soon relaxed. Their box commanded a good view of the stage and while they waited for the performance to begin she gazed around the auditorium, watching with interest as the audience poured in. Fashionable gentlemen and painted ladies jostled with apprentices in the pit, shadowy figures moved around in the upper gallery and the boxes were filling up, the lamplight sparkling and flashing off the jewels displayed by the ladies who were taking their seats. Max was standing at the front of a box opposite, but she ignored his exaggerated bow and took care not to look his way again, determined not to allow him to spoil her enjoyment of the evening.
The lights dimmed ready for the short farce that preceded the main event and Dominique gave herself up to the performance, applauding with enthusiasm when it ended. Lord Grayson took his wife off to spend the interval strolling in the foyer and Gideon slipped into the empty seat beside Dominique.
'Well, what do you think?'
'Oh, Gideon I am enjoying myself immensely,' she told him, reaching impulsively for his hand.
Gwendoline laughed. 'Then you have obviously been starved of entertainment, my dear! That was quite the poorest play I have seen in seasons. I am sure I have heard most of it a hundred times before.' She put her hand on Mr Hatfield's sleeve. 'What thought you, Cecil?'
'I, madam? Why, I saw very little of the farce, my attention was upon something quite different.'
He leaned closer to Gwen, laughing down at her in an intimate fashion that made Dominique uncomfortable. Her eyes quickly went to Gideon and she saw him frown.
He rose from his seat, saying curtly, 'Hatfield, perhaps you and I should-'
Whatever Gideon was going to suggest she would never know, for at that moment the door of the box opened and the tall, lean figure of Lord Ribblestone appeared.
'Good evening. I hope I am not de trop?'
* * *
The way Gwen and Mr Hatfield jumped apart reminded Dominique forcibly of the farce she had just seen, but she did not find it in the least amusing.
'Anthony!' Gwen began to fan herself nervously. 'I-I did not expect-that is...'
'I left a message that I should conclude my business in time to escort you here, did I not, my love? I would you had waited for me.'
As Lord Ribblestone came further into the box, Mr Hatfield edged himself to the door and, muttering something about seeing an acquaintance in the pit, he disappeared. Recovering her composure, Gwen tossed her head.
'You are so notoriously unreliable, Anthony, I did not want to risk our being late and missing the farce. It is Dominique's first visit to the theatre, you see.'
'Ah, of course. Now I understand.' Lord Ribblestone smiled at Dominique, who fidgeted uncomfortably.
She was aware of the tension between Anthony and his wife and was relieved to feel Gideon's hand on her shoulder.
'My love, no visit to the theatre is complete without promenading through the foyer. It will be a crush, but it is something you should do, at least once.'
Gratefully she accompanied Gideon from the box.
'We are best out of the way,' he told her as he shut the door behind them. 'They can talk more freely if they are alone.'
'I do hope they will not fight.'
'I wish they would,' muttered Gideon as he led her away. 'Tony is far too complacent for my liking. He could put an end to Gwen's little flirtations, if he would.'
Dominique frowned.
'Perhaps he does not care for her.'
'Of course he does,' replied Gideon. 'He is as mad as fire, did you not see it?'
'I felt it,' she affirmed. 'But I thought I might be mistaken. And-and does Gwen care for him?'
'Aye. Why else would she set up all these flirts?'
'Perhaps she is lonely. After all, Lord Ribblestone is always busy with his politics.'
'Well, she needs to tell him. A little plain speaking would sort the matter out.'
Dominique was silent. She knew only too well how difficult it was to speak plainly about intimate matters with a man who hid himself behind a wall of politeness.
* * *
As Gideon had predicted, the foyer was crowded and with her diminutive height Dominique found the experience suffocating. It was almost impossible to see beyond the bodies immediately around her and she was about to ask Gideon to take her back when she saw Lord Martlesham's fair head approaching. Her grip on Gideon's arm tightened.
'It is my cousin. Must we meet him?'
But Gideon did not reply. He was staring at the dazzling beauty on Max's arm.
'Good evening, Cousin.' The earl bowed, smiling. 'You know Mrs Bennet, of course, Albury. Mrs Agnes Bennet?'
Chapter Fifteen
If Dominique had not been holding on to Gideon's arm she would have collapsed, for her knees suddenly felt very weak. She was at last face-to-face with the woman Gideon had expected to marry.
In those months leading up to the wedding Dominique had avoided the woman pretending to be Max's cousin, but now there was no escape and she forced herself to acknowledge every detail of the beauty who had stolen Gideon's heart. Agnes Bennet was tall, full-figured and as fair as Dominique was dark. Her golden curls clustered around her head and the whiteness of those smooth bare shoulders made Dominique very aware of the olive tint to her own skin. She hoped her face did not give her away, for Max was watching her carefully.
'Ah, I was forgetting,' he said smoothly, 'you did not meet Mrs Bennet, did you, Cousin?'
The actress laughed, a dark, smoky sound that Dominique thought was sinfully seductive.
'Of course I'm not really Mrs Bennet, as Mr Albury knows.' Her blue eyes were fixed upon Gideon. 'That is merely a convention for the stage-I am not married.'
Beneath the sleeve, Gideon's arm was hard as steel.
'I believe it is time we returned to our seats.' His voice was icy, and with barely a nod towards the earl he turned and walked away, Dominique almost running to keep up with him.
* * *
Damn Max, trying to stir up trouble!
Gideon fought to control his anger as he pushed his way back through the crowd. He should have expected something of the sort. He had spotted Max in the box on the far side of the auditorium, but in the dim light he had not recognised his companions.
'Gideon, please!'
Dominique's urgent entreaty pierced the red mist that enveloped him and he slowed.
'I beg your pardon.' She was looking up at him, her eyes dark with apprehension, and he muttered through clenched teeth, 'How dare he try to introduce that woman to you!'
'Max likes to make mischief. We should ignore him.'
'You are right, of course.' Gideon struggled for composure. 'Come, let us go back to the box. I hope Ribblestone has not murdered Gwen, or Hatfield...or both!'
She rewarded his attempt at levity with a strained smile. When they reached their box Hatfield was standing outside the door.
'Ah, glad you are back, Albury. Didn't like to go in on my own, don't you know.' He grimaced. 'Dashed awkward, Ribblestone turning up like that.'
Gideon raised his brows.
'Why should that be?' He added, with barely disguised menace, 'Unless you were intent upon some impropriety with my sister-'
'Oh, no, no, nothing like that. I am at Lady Ribblestone's service, of course. Pleasure to be her escort, but nothing more than that, I assure you!'
'Well don't act so damned guilty, then.' Gideon opened the door and stood back to let Dominique enter before him. He waved Hatfield in, but as the man passed he caught his arm.
'Just how did you secure this box at such short notice?'
Hatfield was watching Lord Ribblestone, trying to discern his mood, and he answered distractedly, 'Martlesham gave it to me. Said he had booked it months ago, but that now he was engaged to join another party.'