Dark Rider

Josette obligingly accepted the turn of conversation and started to chatter on her favorite subject for the remainder of the journey.

Carradine House was ablaze with light. Lanterns hung from the trees bordering the long driveway that led to the stately brick manor house, revealing carriages of all sizes and description on the grass. Liveried coachmen moved briskly, tending their vehicles, or merely lolled in conversation with other servants.

"There's Jared." Bradford's gaze went to the open doorway as he got out of the carriage. "And our sweet hostess."

Cassie involuntarily tensed as the footman helped her from the carriage, and she caught sight of the two at the top of the steps. Carolyn Carradine was smiling up at Jared, glowingly lovely in pale-blue silk. Jared, in dark evening clothes, was no different from the Jared she saw every day. He always looked lean, graceful, slightly dangerous, and as wickedly handsome as a pagan god. It was no wonder that the gargoyle was staring at him as if she wished to eat him for di

"Cassie?" Bradford said.

She hurriedly stepped aside so that the footman could help Lani and Josette from the carriage. Then she watched Lani approach their hostess for the evening with graceful dignity.

"Good evening, Lady Carradine." Lani smiled at the woman. "How kind of you to invite me to your home."

Lady Carradine displayed perfect teeth returning her smile. "It's my pleasure." Her gaze ran over Lani's gown, which was revealed when she shed her white velvet cloak and handed it to a waiting footman. "And what a lovely gown. You look quite like a sunburst."

The words could have been construed as a compliment, and the woman's tone was cordial. Perhaps it was not going to be as bad as Cassie feared.

Lady Carradine turned to Josette. "Take your chaperon to meet Lady Huntley. I've told her to act in my place while I finish greeting my guests. Her daughter, Joan, was just saying how much she missed you at school."

Josette muttered something distinctly uncomplimentary beneath her breath before she shrugged off her cloak. "Missed a pincushion to accommodate her pricks, maybe." Then, as she met Jared's warning gaze, she pasted a smile on her face and took Lani's arm. "Come along. Surely Lady Huntley is not nearly as rude as her daughter."

Cassie watched Lani cross the crowded ballroom. As she passed, the men and women turned to stare at her. Well, who wouldn't look at her? She was more beautiful than any woman in the room.

"Don't be shy, my dear. Take off your cloak and run along and join them."

Cassie turned to see Carolyn Carradine aim a glowing smile at her as she placed a proprietary hand on Jared's sleeve. "We'll join you and your stepmother shortly."

"Very well." She straightened her shoulders and then rid herself of her cloak.

She heard Lady Carradine's shocked exclamation and Jared's sharply inhaled breath. After handing the cloak to the footman, she looked around to see two bright patches of color on Lady Carradine's cheeks. "That gown is totally inappropriate in a young girl. It's… it's-"

"A sunset?" She lifted her chin in defiance. "If Lani's gown is a sunburst, surely mine goes a step further."

"It goes a good deal further," Jared said grimly. "I'd like a word with you, Cassie."

"But Lady Carradine says I must run along and meet Lady Huntley." She shrugged. "If you wish to speak with me, I suppose you may come with me." She started across the ballroom.

Jared was walking beside her, looking straight ahead. "Why, damn you?"

"At least I didn't wear a sarong. It did occur to me."

"All you had to do was behave with a little decorum for one evening. Was that too much to ask for Josette?"

"I'll behave with decorum as long as these people treat Lani with courtesy."

"Has Carolyn indicated in any way that she won't?"

"Not yet." She glanced at him. "But we've just gotten here. I don't trust her."

"So you come to the most circumspect ball in England looking…"

"Like a harlot?"

"I didn't say that and I didn't mean it."

"That's why you gave me this gown. You wanted me to look like one of your lady birds. Well, here I am.

"And every man in the room is wondering if he has a chance of luring you into his bed."

She was suddenly tired of being on the defensive. She smiled tauntingly. "It's a possibility. I've been without a man for a long time, and you were an excellent tutor." She turned to him and said mockingly, "Come, Jared, introduce me to your friends. Let me choose a man to pleasure me."

He went white. He had been angry a minute ago; now he was a step beyond. "Damn you to hell."

She had never seen him more dangerous. She didn't care. She felt as she had when she and Kapu had swum through rapids, too late to stop, too exciting to turn back. She had to go on. "Why are you so angry? You would bed your Carolyn without a second thought. Perhaps you've already done it tonight. Don't I have the right to choose my own-"

"No, you do not." His voice was hoarse with searing intensity. "You no longer have any choice at all. You've just forfeited it."

"By wearing a gown you chose? By telling you a woman is not a slave? I think not. Go back to Lady Carradine. She will say anything you wish her to say." Her pace quickened as she approached Lady Huntley. "I assure you I don't mind your abandoning me. I'll make my own way with these people."

"I'm tempted to do it. Any of these women could cut you to the bone with one remark."

"Why would you care?"

"Oh, I would care." He smiled savagely. "It's a privilege I reserve for myself." He stopped before Lady Huntley, Lani, and Josette. He took Lady Huntley's hand, and his smile became totally ingratiating. "Ah, how delightful you look tonight, Amanda. That color always becomes you. May I present my kinswoman, Cassandra Deville? You've already met her gracious stepmother."

"Something's wrong." Cassie watched worriedly as Lani was taken by Lady Huntley from one group to the other, leaving Cassie and Josette to their own devices. "I don't like this."

"What is it?" Josette asked.

"I don't know." Lani was smiling, but she had the frozen expression she had worn when suffering Clara's worst abuse. "Can you find out?"

"It will take time. These people are not fond of me, either. Can't you ask her?"

Lani had committed herself to this ball to help Josette. Cassie knew Lani would not complain. "No."

Josette shrugged. "Then I'll find out." She drifted off into the crowd.

Cassie immediately felt isolated without Josette's comforting presence. She was surrounded by strangers-glittering, alien. She wanted to run away. The women's glances were shocked and disdainful, and the men did not meet her eyes at all. Her gaze searched the crowd for Bradford, but he was deep in conversation with a golden-haired young man in a corner.

And Jared was once more standing beside Lady Carradine in the foyer.

She met his gaze and recognition rippled through her. How could he dare look at her with such lust and possessiveness when he stood beside that woman? Her desolation was submerged by a flare of anger. These fine ladies would not accept her, but their men should not prove difficult. Men were seldom guided by anything but their bodies. She had no experience at the game herself, but she had spent years watching Lihua practice her mating skills. She deliberately looked away from Jared and sought out the golden-haired young man to whom Bradford was speaking. She waited until she caught his eye, then smiled.

The young Adonis broke off what he was saying to Bradford.

Good. She half lowered her lashes and ran her tongue lightly over her lower lip.

The young man was coming toward her.

She slanted a quick glance at Jared. Yes, no doubt about it, he had witnessed the little charade, and it had infuriated him. She felt a surge of fierce satisfaction. It would not hurt to goad him a little more.