Dark Passions

19.

Dinner passed smoothly, if somewhat slowly. Eleanor regaled Meredith with stories from Derek's youth, and filling her in on the rest of the family. "There is Anne, married to Joshua Stansbridge. They have three children. Sarah and her husband, Edward Fitzhugh, they have two; and Elizabeth and Lucian Smythe are expecting their first child in late December. They will all be thrilled as soon as we let them know when the wedding is. They have been waiting for the day Derek weds."

Meredith stole a glance at Derek through her lashes, as she sipped her wine. His look in return smoldered, igniting quivers along her spine. She had to drag her attention back to the Duchess with difficulty.

There had been no sign of Addison, and they were now on the main course, so Meredith was breathing a little easier. She had no desire for a confrontation with that woman. But then the doors opened to the dining room, and Hodges approached Derek. "Excuse me, your Lordship, may I have a word?" he asked quietly. "There is something you must know."

"Of course." Derek stood quickly, and excused himself from the table, as the two men walked back to the main door. They spoke quietly for a moment, and Meredith's attention was caught by the look of anger that flared in Derek's expression. She bit her lip, as he strode back to the table.

"Excuse me, ladies, there is something I must attend to immediately. Please continue without me." He stopped beside Meredith, and dropped a kiss on her cheek, whispering in her ear. "I will join you as soon as possible, my dear. Don't worry."

"But Derek, you will miss dessert," Kate said. "We have your favorite tonight."

"Ah, don't fret, Kate. I will have my dessert later," he assured her, winking at Meredith.

Derek turned and left, leaving the three women alone to discuss marriage dates and plans.

"I believe August is best," Eleanor said, "the roses and the gardens are still lovely then, and everyone will have time to travel. What do you think, Meredith?"

"August sounds lovely," she agreed.

"Good, now... let's discuss the dress. Kate tells me the seamstresses are already planning it."

Conversation switched to fabric selections, beading, lace or tulle, and the trousseau, and Meredith had little time to wonder what was happening with Derek.

⚜️⚜️⚜️

Leaving the dining room, Derek headed for his suite, Hodges and two burly footmen following him. His face was calm, but anger simmered in his veins. Hell and damnation, he thought, if what Hodges told him was true...

He flung the heavy oak doors to his suite open, boot heels loud on the floor as he stalked toward his bed. Dimly, he noticed that the room was in darkness, except for the faint moonlight filtering in the window. That was not how he left the room, the candles had been lit. "Hodges - light the candles, please," he said sternly, grasping the edge of the satin covering the bed.

As the light flickered to life softly, he pulled the bedding back. A shriek and a curse greeted him, as he looked down at Lady Addison. "What the devil do you think you are doing, Addison?" he asked. She looked defiantly back at him, clad only in a thin night shift, her long red hair unbound around her shoulders.

"Waiting for you, my lord," she said, crawling to her knees. The night shift clung to her curves, leaving nothing to the imagination, and the heavy emerald necklace still lay on her chest. "I wanted to surprise you, make you remember how much you wanted me. I am sure that Miss Meredith is nothing like I am," she purred, flicking her glance towards the other men standing behind Derek.

"Well, you are the one to be surprised, then, Addison. The footman you tried to bribe told Hodges your little plan, and he came to fetch me." He dropped the jeweled hairpin on the sheets in front of her. "My servants are loyal to me, no one else." He grabbed her shoulder and forced her off the bed. Hodges approached with a dressing gown, and handed it to Derek. "Here. Cover yourself up. You have nothing I am interested in."

Addison took the gown with shaking fingers, wrapping it around her shoulders. "But, Derek..."

"Quiet, Addison," he said, his voice deadly calm. "These men will escort you back to your room, and stand guard until morning. I expect you will be packed and ready to leave at first light." His gaze swept over her, and she dropped her eyes to the floor. "Good night."

He turned and nodded at the footmen, who stepped forward and carefully propelled Addison towards the door. "Call the maid to change the bedding, Hodges, would you?" he asked curtly, watching them disappear down the hallway.

"Yes, m'lord," Hodges said, retreating as well.

Derek walked to the window and stared out at the darkness for awhile, letting his anger dissipate. He snagged the brandy decanter and poured a shot into the snifter on the table. He drank it quickly; hoping to hell the rest of the evening would be without incident. Then with a grin, he turned and headed towards Meredith's suite.

⚜️⚜️⚜️

Meredith sat at the dressing table, in one of the fine nightgowns she discovered in the closet. Silky and lacey, it covered her to her toes, but left her throat and arms bare. She brushed her hair thoughtfully, wondering what had taken Derek away from dinner. There was a soft tap at the door, and then it opened silently. She turned to see Derek slipping inside, locking the door behind him.

"Derek!" She jumped up and ran over to him, and he swept her up into his embrace. "Is everything all right?"

"It is now," he said, his voice caressing her. "But I do not wish to speak of it at the moment, however."

She met his heavy-lidded gaze, as his arms tightened around her. He traced the length of her arms with his fingertips, setting her nerves tingling. "You look much lovelier than the last sight I beheld," he murmured. His indigo eyes glowed, and she felt treasured, held tightly against his taut body.

Excitement rushed through her, as he took her hands then, and kissed her wrists. She closed her eyes, and moaned softly. He kissed the crook of her elbow, the soft skin along her upper arms, and at the top of her shoulder. Tiny shivers of ecstasy hummed along her spine, as he continued to kiss her.

Then he took her hand and led her to the bed. "Take this off," he murmured, tugging at the nightgown. Her fingers shook slightly, as she undid the tiny buttons down the front of it, finally opening it, and letting it fall from her body. She stepped out of it, and stood before him, feeling more beautiful and tempting than ever. He knelt down, lifting one of her legs, and sliding his hand around her dainty foot. Balancing her foot on his shoulder, opening her glistening folds to his mouth. Her scent surrounded him, luring him, as he touched his tongue gently to her. Then he thrust it deeper, tasting her sweet juice on his tongue.

Meredith gasped and gripped the bedpost tightly. She hung on tightly as waves of pleasure rocked her. It felt wonderful, and naughty, and erotic, all at the same time, to be so open and exposed to his mouth. His tongue plunged in again, filling her with wet heat, stroking her clit over and over. She arched up on one foot, as he teased her until she was dizzy and clinging to him.

Oh dear god in heaven...