"I'll listen, Christy. May I call you Christy?" Christy nodded. "Whatever you tell me will remain between the two of us."

"Isn't this cozy. How long have you two been carrying on behind my back?"

Rudy's arms fell away as he whirled to meet Sinjun's hard glare. "Sinjun. You could have at least announced your presence."

"In my own home? Not b.l.o.o.d.y likely. I suppose you have an explanation. What are you doing here?"

"I was worried about Christy."

"Christy? Are you referring to Lady Derby?"

Furious, Christy stepped between the two men. "Stop it! Lord Blakely was concerned when he learned I'd vacated my house. You two are friends, you shouldn't be arguing like this."

"All I want is an explanation I can believe," Sinjun said, setting her aside. "From Rudy," he added meaningfully. "I'd be a fool to believe anything that came from your mouth."

"Now see here, Sinjun," Rudy said pugnaciously. "That's no way to speak to your wife."

"Did my wife tell you she lied about our child? I have a son, Rudy. And he's very much alive."

"She told me. She also said you were too hard-headed to listen to her explanation. May I make a suggestion?"

"No, you may not."

"I'll have my say anyway. Christy is unhappy."

"How astute of you to realize that, though I cannot imagine why she should be."

"Dammit, Sinjun, I've never known you to be so stubborn."

"Tell me," Sinjun said with a sneer. "Would you forgive a woman who has fed you a pack of lies? Keep out of this, Rudy, 'tis none of your business. And keep away from Christy."

"Sinjun, please listen, you're accusing Lord Blakely falsely. You're the only man I want." G.o.d, she hadn't meant to say that, it had just come out. She may as well have saved her breath. The determined set to Sinjun's jaw gave mute testimony to his inflexibility.

Rudy picked up his hat and cane. "I'm sorry, Christy. Give Sinjun time, he'll come around. I can tell you care about him. Should you need me, send word around to my townhouse."

"Good-bye, Rudy," Sinjun said without taking his eyes off Christy.

Sending Sinjun a disgusted look, Rudy strode from the room.

Christy started to leave but Sinjun stepped in front of her. "Are you so hungry for a man that you'd work your wiles on my friend?"

She glared at him. "Perhaps I was hungry for company," she retorted. "Lord knows you haven't said a word to me since..." She flushed and looked away.

"I was drunk," Sinjun returned shortly. "I should have known better. I..." Whatever he was going to say was lost when Niall's l.u.s.ty cries echoed through the house.

"He's hungry," Christy explained.

"Go feed my son. He needs you," Sinjun said, his expression softening.

Christy sailed past Sinjun, her narrow shoulders stiff. "Gladly. At least someone in this house needs me.

Her parting shot did not go unheeded by Sinjun. Nor had the intimate scene he'd interrupted between Christy and Rudy. Sinjun hated the notion that his best friend intended to cuckold him, but he'd been riddled by jealousy from the moment Pemburton had mentioned that Christy was alone in the back parlor with Lord Blakely. If Christy was trying to make him jealous, she was succeeding. She belonged to him, dammit! Whether or not he chose to resume an intimate relationship with her made no difference.

Sinjun strode slowly up the stairs to his chamber, his thoughts returning again and again to the intimate scene he'd walked into. As long as Christy resided in his household she had to follow his rules. Perhaps it was time to introduce his wife to society, he mused. He could think of no better way to let all his friends know that Christy belonged to him, that she was off limits to any man with seduction on his mind. He brightened. Aye, that's exactly what he would do. Introduce his wife to society and make everyone aware that he wasn't a lenient husband who overlooked his wife's infidelities.

Sinjun heard the murmur of voices coming from the nursery and knew he'd find Christy inside. He pushed the door open and barged inside.

"My lord," Effie said, moving protectively in front of Christy to shield her from Sinjun's view. "As ye can see, yer bairn is feeding right now. Come back later."

"Leave us, Effie, I wish to speak to my wife. In private," he added, fixing her with a steely glare.

Effie stood her ground, until Christy gave an imperceptible nod. Then Effie scooted out the door, closing it softly behind her.

"I thought we finished our conversation downstairs," Christy said.

"I forgot to mention, we'll be attending Lady Dempsey's ball tonight."

"You want me to attend the ball with you tonight?" Christy gasped. "Won't having a wife on your arm cramp Lord Sin's style?"

"'Tis time the ton met my wife. For years I've used you to fend off women with marriage on their minds, and it's time now to prove to society that you truly do exist."

"I'm sorry, I can't leave Niall."

"That's no longer a valid excuse, Christy. Do you think I don't know what's going on in my own home? Niall has been sleeping the night through. He no longer needs night feedings."

"Why do you want to drag me out into society?"

Sinjun's gaze drifted down to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, where Niall still suckled contentedly. The sight of his son nursing at Christy's b.r.e.a.s.t.s never failed to enthrall him. He imagined his own mouth tasting her, his own tongue lapping at her nipple, and he went immediately hard. He turned away and adjusted his coat over his all too visible erection before he answered her question.

"'Tis a wife's duty to accompany her husband if he wishes her to do so. No other explanation is necessary. I hope you have something appropriate to wear."

Christy lifted a sleeping Niall to her shoulder and hastily covered her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. "I'm not going. What if someone recognizes me as Lady Flora, your former mistress?"

"Let me handle that. What time does Niall have his last feeding?"

"Nine o'clock."

"Perfect. I'll be waiting for you in the drawing room at ten."

Christy chafed indignantly at Sinjun's highhanded manner. She had no idea where she stood with him. He wanted her. He didn't want her. He had avoided her for days. Now he was acting the perfect tyrant, demanding that she attend a social function with him. Never would she understand her complicated husband.

Perhaps it was best that she didn't.

Content after his last feeding, Niall was sleeping blissfully as Peggy helped Christy into another fancy ballgown she'd brought with her from Glenmoor. Fashioned of emerald green satin, the low-cut Empire bodice was trimmed in crystal beads. The skirt, banded with beige lace, fell in graceful folds from the ribbon tied just below her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

"His lordship will be pleased," Peggy said as she adjusted the neckline of Christy's dress. "You're very beautiful, my lady."

His lordship be d.a.m.ned, Christy thought sourly. Being paraded around on the arm of her rakeh.e.l.l husband wasn't her idea of a good time.

"Thank you, Peggy. If you'll hand me my wrap, I do believe I'm ready."

Sinjun wasn't prepared for the dazzling beauty who walked into the drawing room a short time later. Oh, he was well aware of Christy's beauty, 'twas what had drawn him to her that night she'd posed as Lady Flora. But that was before Niall, before her body had matured and her s.e.xuality had been awakened. Sinjun instinctively knew that every woman attending the ball tonight would pale in comparison with his wife.

It came as no surprise to Sinjun that he still wanted Christy. No matter what she had said or done in the past, she was in his blood. Just looking at her made him go all hot and hard. If he hadn't promised the hostess he'd attend the ball, he'd turn Christy around and march her back up the stairs to his bed.

He composed his features and said coolly, "You look quite fetching, madam."

"And you look handsome as always."

He offered her his arm. "Shall we go?"

"If we must, my lord."

A crush of carriages was lined up before the Dempseys' townhouse on King Street off fashionable St. James Square. The marquess's carriage waited in line to discharge its pa.s.sengers. When their turn came, Sinjun and Christy descended and entered the mansion. They left their wraps with a maid and joined the procession upstairs to the ballroom.

"Derby, quite a crush, what?" a man standing on the stair above them said. "I told Huxley we should have gone to Boodles instead."

"No women at Boodles," Huxley said. "Besides, as I told Ashford, the food is better here."

"Indeed," Sinjun acknowledged.

Both men were staring intently at Christy, obviously waiting for an introduction. When none was forthcoming, Huxley said, "Gossip has it your wife is in town. Did you know someone has placed a wager on the betting books at White's concerning that very subject? There's even a wager that you got an heir on your wife."

"The devil you say!"

"Aye, 'tis true. Some of the wagers are quite hefty."

Amus.e.m.e.nt colored Sinjun's words. "And how did you bet, Huxley?"

Huxley grinned at Christy. "Lord Sin bringing his wife to London? Never. As for begetting an heir with a savage Scotswoman, it sounded too farfetched to me. Lord Sin has a reputation to uphold, after all. I went with the odds."

"I say old man, are you going to introduce us to your latest paramour?" Ashford asked. "She looks familiar. Do I know her?"

"Indeed you do not," Sinjun insisted in a voice that brooked no argument. "Gentlemen, permit me to introduce my wife, Lady Derby. I hope you didn't wager too steeply for I do indeed have an heir. His name is Niall, and he's all of six months old. A handsome little fellow if I do say so myself. My dear, these two somewhat addled gentlemen are Lord Huxley and Lord Ashford."

Both men had the presence of mind to murmur appropriate greetings and bow over Christy's hand. They appeared enormously relieved when they reached the entrance to the ballroom, where they could hurry off.

"That enlightening bit of information will spread like wildfire in less time than it will take us to make our way to the buffet table," Sinjun said.

Why did he sound so pleased? "Is that what you wanted?"

"'Tis time my wife was introduced to London society. Besides, I am inordinately proud of my Soon they were besieged by people, all insisting on being introduced to Lord Derby's wife. Christy's head was in a tizzy-so many faces, so many names. She knew some of the ladies present must have been intimately involved with Sinjun at one time or another, for their smug smiles suggested more than friendship.

During the course of the night she danced with Sinjun and several of his friends, smiling until she thought her face would crack. When Lord Huxley tended to hold her too close during one of the dances, Sinjun was suddenly beside her, dragging her from Huxley's arms into his own. From then on he rarely allowed her out of his sight.

Sinjun found it difficult to remain civil to the gossipmongers and others he had once called friends. They prodded and probed and insinuated until he could stand it no longer. The last straw came when Lady Alice, on the arm of her latest lover, intercepted them and asked Christy point-blank if she intended to overlook her husband's infidelities during her stay in London.

He almost laughed aloud when Christy said, "I intend to overlook anything that poses no threat to me.

He dragged her off to save her from Alice's venom, but in truth he suspected she could hold her own with anyone. She was, after all, the Macdonald chieftain, laird of the clan.

"Where are we going?" Christy asked when Sinjun suddenly pulled her from the ballroom and down the stairs.

"Home," Sinjun said curtly. All the men slavering over her had driven him to distraction. The ton's interest in his wife annoyed him excessively. "Wait here while I summon the coachman."

Christy was standing at the door when Sinjun returned a short time later with the coach. He handed her inside, closed the door, and rapped on the roof to signal the driver. Wheels spun and the coach rattled off down the street.

"I've waited all night for this," Sinjun growled as he pulled her roughly into his arms. "You're mine, Christy Macdonald, don't ever forget it, no matter how much the ton fawns over you, and tonight I'm going to prove it."

Sinjun had never looked more like Lord Sin than he did at this moment. He was the most exciting man she had ever known. Her body ached for his touch, her heart pined for his love.

Chapter 16.

Christy's last remaining thoughts fled as Sinjun plucked her from the seat and settled her on his lap. His hands seemed to be everywhere. Beneath her skirts, skimming her legs, touching her intimately in places that set her blood afire.

"Too ... many clothes," he muttered. "Can't get them ... off ... I need to..."

"Sinjun! We can't. The driver."

He appeared not to hear. "Need to ... bury myself ... inside you."

His hot looks and arousing words were doing strange things to her insides. She shoved her skirts down, but he yanked them back up. Then he grasped her waist and lifted her astride him. She felt his thick shaft slide inside her, and a moan slipped past her lips. She hadn't even been aware that he'd unfastened his breeches. Then all thought ceased as he began to thrust and withdraw, piercing her deeply as he grasped her hips, adjusting her to the heavy thrust and drag of his shaft.

A startling heat swept through her as he pulled down the bodice of her dress, freeing her b.r.e.a.s.t.s to his mouth. He suckled her nipples, first one then the other, eliciting a ragged sigh from her. When he pressed his hand between their bodies and ma.s.saged the hard little b.u.t.ton protecting the entrance of her s.e.x, shivery heat roared through her and a raging current carried her upward. Her climax seemed to go on forever, so volatile she wasn't aware of Sinjun's shout as he released his seed inside her. She was aware of nothing but unspeakable pleasure. Then he lifted her away and pulled down her skirts.

"We're nearly home," he whispered.

"Oh, G.o.d, what will the coachman think of me, of us?"

"We're married, for G.o.d's sake. He'll just think the ton are strange people who prefer a coach to a bed, if he thinks anything at all."

The coach ground to a halt, and Christy gave a little cry of distress as she pulled her bodice firmly in place and smoothed her skirts down. Before she was ready, the door opened and the coachman pulled the steps down. Sinjun descended first and lifted Christy down. Christy averted her face away from the coachman as she hurried up the front stairs. She gave a sigh of relief when Sinjun fitted the key in the lock and ushered her inside.

Christy hurried off to check on Niall, ashamed of the way she had responded to Sinjun. Had she no pride, no shame? He was using her and she knew it. Unfortunately love made one do foolish things.

Sinjun, wearing nothing but a silk robe, was waiting in her chamber when she entered.

"Undress," he ordered crisply as he shrugged out of the robe.

Christy stared at him. "You're insatiable."

"Are you complaining?"