Dark Sonata Page 5

  There, she dabbed her mouth with her gloved hand delicately. Congratulations, that was about as unladylike as it came.

  Victoria shivered as she felt the liquid pool in her belly, warming it. Fanning her face she searched the dimly lit room, wondering where he was. Maybe he left? Or, better yet, he could have lost interest in her and found another. Right then she spotted the Duke in a group with Henrietta. He was peering down a Lady’s dress and definitely wasn’t being secretive about it. Hmm, the Lady didn’t seem to notice for she was drunk, laughing like a bloody donkey. Victoria scrunched up her nose.

  Still, there was no sign of Lord Stone.

  The eerie, oddly enchanting sound of the violin and piano penetrated through her mind sending gooseflesh down her body. There seemed to be an unnatural chill coursing through the air. It felt like she was outside in the cold instead of being in an over-populated ballroom.

  The room tilted then righted itself.

  Victoria placed her hand on her forehead and walked over to the far wall next to the doors that led outside into the gardens, being sure to stay out of the Duke’s sight. Some fresh air would be nice. She decided to stay only a little while longer then leave. Victoria grinned; it wasn’t her fault that Lord Stone was not here when she was, and the Duke was too drunk to comprehend anything …

  Something peculiar just washed over her, a sensation, a feeling …

  “I was tempted to come and see what was taking you so long,” a deep voice whispered into her ear making her whip around and gasp.

  “L-lord Stone,” she breathed, her heart pounding madly. Victoria had to bite her lip as she gazed at him, not wanting to say anything foolish.

  He leaned in closer to her, his breath fanning her temple enticing her senses, wiping out her thoughts. He smelt so good, something uncivilized, wild. “I said,” he continued as his hand lightly smoothed her waist, “that you should not wear your corset so tight, given the earlier happenings. No matter how ...” he paused as his finger swirled on her waist, “no matter how tantalizing it makes your assets appear.”

  “Oh.” Was all she could say. “You’re completely vile, have I told you that?”

  His eyes glimmered. “I don’t recall.”

  Her eyes secretly took in the rest of him, not being able to help it. She noticed his dress coat was a scandalous deep maroon like she saw earlier. But on him it fit so well, making him even more exceptional than he already was. The coat hugged tightly over his broad chest and tapered down to his very trim waist. It almost made her mouth water for she had never seen such a physique. Now that she could make out the colors better, the underneath his coat was a black and scarlet striped waistcoat giving him a rather daunting appearance. He had such perfect skin that almost matched the crisp white of his cravat, skin that didn’t look like a mere human could possess. His hair was slightly wavy due to being wet earlier; some pieces that hung out of his hat were still damp.

  She suddenly felt his hand slowly move lower, inching around to her backside. Her mind was foggy wanting to give in to whatever he was doing but her thoughts screamed, her warning signals sounding the alarm. Victoria inhaled, instantly looking around to see if anyone was watching his bold movements. She shook her head and hissed under her breath, “L-lord Stone, take your hand from me this instant.”

  He tilted his head at her. “No one is watching love.”

  “I don’t care,” she said too huskily and cursed.

  “Call me Ezra.”

  “Absolutely not.”

  Lord Stone grinned down at her, his smile devastating. “Who do you care that will see you? A lover perhaps?”

  “Absolutely not! You are being scandalous my Lord and I will be ruined if you keep this up,” she whispered as she grabbed his gloved hand and threw it from her. She turned to leave, completely outraged by his audacity. And by hers.

  He grabbed her upper arm and jerked her around close to him. Lord Stone whispered, “I don’t think the White Witch’s reputation will matter.”

  Victoria gasped. She went to slap him but he caught her hand in midair. She didn’t know what it was, but she was now feeling gutsy. How dare he speak to me like this! “Well,” she hissed through her teeth, “It seems like my secret is out, bravo,” she muttered mildly, not wanting to give him the pleasure of her damaged pride. “And yes, I do have a lover.” She smiled looking up at him with feline eyes.

  Oh mercy, she was digging her hole deeper and deeper. His jaw flexed, his grip tightening on her wrist.

  A surge of pleasure coursed through her at his angered face, loving that she was now one up. Her control was returning and it seemed that his was leaving. “Oh yes, one cannot compare to him,” she said levelly and raised a brow and sighed, as if she was thinking of him now. “No one.”

  Which was the biggest lie ever, but he did not need to know that. It would spoil her fun—her revenge for leaving her naked to the night chill earlier. This man obviously thought he was God’s gift to women, so it was nice to see him seething in anger.

  “Is that right?” he asked, his voice a whisper of death.

  A shiver trickled its way down her body at his intense stare.

  “Oh don’t look so angry,” she teased, hitting her mark as his eyes darkened even more with ire. “Not every man can kiss like him.”

  The tension between them doubled making her skin prickle.

  “Not,” he took a breath, “every man can kiss like him?” he repeated dangerously, as if his sanity was now at stake. “Pray tell, who is this man of yours?” He looked up as if to find this man in question. The look on his face was making her very nervous. His stare was like a sharpened blade, his jaw was clenched as if that was the only thing holding him back from going on a killing rampage.

  It was time to leave.

  “I,” she swallowed, “I must leave now, Lord Stone. I am needed elsewhere,” she stammered a bit and turned quickly. She smashed right into a man dressed in English finery and wearing a black glittery mask with feathers.

  “Lady Victoria?”

  Her heart was pounding, praying that Lord Stone would not yank her back. “Yes,” she breathed. She risked a glance over her shoulder to find him staring at them with lethal intent. He must think this is her lover. Victoria closed her eyes with a curse on her lips.

  “You look absolutely stunning tonight, too beautiful for my eyes to take in all at once. I was looking everywhere for you,” he admitted with a warm smile. He grabbed her hand and brought it to his cold lips. “May I have this dance? I shall be the envy of every man in this room. Though I do wish this was the waltz.” His hazel eyes exploring her body, lust sparkling in their depths.

  Somehow Victoria was positive that Ezra saw and heard everything.

  She did not even know who this man was, his mask making him unrecognizable. This was madness. But it didn’t matter who he was, she just needed to get him away from Lord Stone before he killed him. “Yes,” she grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the dance floor. “That sounds lovely.”

  This was a fast dance where couples intertwined and it appeared that almost all of the occupants of the ball were participating. Her heart was drumming inside of her body as she curtsied to her partner and he bowed. She barely glanced to her left to see him … smiling at her. No, it was more like a black grin that didn’t reach his eyes, something one could imagine on a wolf. Her mind was reeling, trying to calm her shaking limbs. What was he up to? That was a look saying, he was not done with her yet.

  Victoria forced her attention away and smiled at her partner, who was also looking at Lord Stone, probably trying to see what had her eye. He frowned, not liking the expression Ezra was giving her.

  “Who is that? I do not like the look he is giving you,” her mystery partner looked at her with concern. “Do you know him? I am certain I have never seen him before. I believe he is the one they are all talking about tonight.” He frowned back at Ezra with, she was sure, a jealous look.

  He made every man here
seem like boring little nobodies.

  Victoria glanced at him once more, ignoring her partner’s ramblings about how big his estate was. Ezra now shifted his focus and was now smiling at a pretty young lady, who started to fan herself profusely. She knew all too well what it felt like to have him smile at her like that. The poor girl didn’t have a chance in hell.

  He held out his gloved hand to the young lady, like the wolf tempting the sheep. What was he doing? Dear God he was asking her to dance. This was so not good, not good at all. This was a progressive dance so she knew what was on his mind. He was coming for her!

  Victoria nervously surveyed the room. The entrance door was some distance away, so she would have to dance her way to the other side and make an escape.

  The dance started.

  The musical notes chimed loudly in the air as everyone began moving to the light harmony. Victoria ducked and twirled around her partner and glanced over her shoulder to see if Ezra was in the mix of the dancers. He most definitely was. His stare was not on his besotted partner but was zoned in on her, with the Devil’s grin on his lips.

  Blast it!

  She felt the impact of his stare as her heart accelerated and her fingers tingled. Victoria looked away but still felt his eyes on her. The constant awareness of him was never ending. Twirling and taking another man’s hand, she gulped as Ezra was getting closer and closer. She restrained the gasp that wanted to emerge out of her throat. He was a very skilled dancer, moving with grace and ease. It was like he was playing a calculated game of chess. It wouldn’t be long before … they would meet ... and be touching.

  The smile he was giving her as he moved nearer thrilled her even though she knew she should be terrified. She had never seen a man with this much determination, such willpower to get what he wanted. She felt her face flush ten shades of red when she thought about what actually he wanted from her.

  Stop it.

  She tried to create distance between them but he was too fast, skipping this hand and that hand, making his way closer. He was cheating and no one seemed to notice or care. The dancers were all sloshed for it was well into the night. These balls were notorious for that sort of thing—complete intoxication. He was maybe two people away and he still effortlessly made his way closer to her. At this point it all seemed like a game—cat and mouse. She could see the triumph in his glittering gaze. Victoria held her breath for the last twirl which would land him in her path.

  Checkmate!

  Victoria knew there was no escaping him now without making a scene. Her beating heart was echoing in her head above the music, as she felt him grab forcefully onto her hand, jerking her towards him. Her body collided with the brick wall which was his body.

  He suddenly twirled her halfway, then pressed her back into him. She felt his breath on her neck and could not resist the tingle that shot across her skin.

  His laugh was husky. “I gave your cousin a lovely birthday gift to be able to talk with you and you, my dear, want to leave?” he asked, his eyes going round with his obvious theatrics. He pushed a gentleman out of the way so he was still Victoria's partner, ignoring rude stares.

  “That is your fault my Lord,” she spat and tried to spin out of his grasp but failed.

  “Indeed.” He grinned dangerously at her making her pause and almost trip over her footing. “Well, if you must, go then.” Lord Stone let go of her arm forcefully, daring her.

  Victoria backed up almost running into a whirling lady, eyeing him warily, not trusting his sudden mood change. Or the strange glint in his gaze. In the next instant she was pulled from the dance floor so fast that she had little time to react. She was pushed up against the wall behind a large pillar and her mouth was covered with his hand to silence her gasp. His mouth grazed the skin on her neck as if he could not help himself. His urgency was alarming. His hand rising towards her bust line, sending streaks of fire down her body.

  He pulled back slowly. “I guess at least I got a priceless choker out of it,” he sighed as he looked at her, his eyes seeming too intelligent. “I have a thing for old trinkets. I am a collector.” He removed his hand but didn’t back up.

  “Choker?” Victoria took a deep breath.

  Ezra studied her for a moment. “Yes. I traded the diamond necklace for it,” he continued. ”To me a choker like this,” he pulled out her choker making her sharply inhale, “has so much more value than a room full of diamonds.”

  Victoria didn’t say anything, she couldn’t.

  “Wouldn’t you say?”

  “No,” she breathed, “I find old things repulsive.” Henrietta couldn’t have traded her choker! It wasn’t hers to trade! And why wasn’t she admitting who the rightful owner was?! Maybe it was the chilling light in his pale eyes, like he was waiting for Victoria to say it was hers. Like he already knew. It seemed ridiculous, but all the same her intuition was pleading with her to lie.

  “Repulsive?” he inquired as he raised a brow. His mood was darkening, his humor shifting.

  Victoria swallowed. “Quite,” she said lightly, but her pulse was hammering. “N-now, if you will excuse me,” Victoria stammered then tried to push her way past him.

  She was sure he’d stop her but he didn’t.

  She timidly turned to glance back and found him glaring at her in that distressing way, still leaning up against the wall holding her choker in his now clenched fist. A cold shiver raced down her spine.

  That was it. She was done.

  Victoria turned and dashed out of the ballroom wanting frantically to leave this place. Sonya already had her luggage so all she needed to do was retrieve her cloak and make it to the stables. Victoria raced to her room, putting the cloak on hurriedly with fumbling fingers.

  She paused before she left her room, her mind in a hundred different places. Her choker … what’s she going to do?! She’d have to survive without it. That thought terrified her but there was no way she was going to face Lord Stone again. He might not leave her alone this time, and God knows she is absolute mush in his hands. What female could resist someone of his caliber? The man looked like a god, cast down from the heavens. And, more importantly, he definitely didn’t look happy when she left. Maybe she could form a plan with Sonya’s relatives to get her choker back … she’d muse on that later.

  Right now she had to get going before anything else happened, with all of her rotten luck tonight.

  Victoria hid behind this and that, dodging everyone she saw. Closing her eyes she counted to ten and sprinted to the next door that led out to the main entrance. Victoria faltered when she walked through the door. The corridor was surprisingly empty, when thirty minutes ago it was blustering with guests coming and going. She dared a glance down the long hallway towards the ballroom only to see the great doors shut. Music was still echoing but something felt wrong. The little hairs on her neck were standing to attention. Her breathing escalated as she surveyed the empty foyer.

  Where were the footmen? Or the servants to see the guests out? This room should never be empty; the Duke would have a fit. Victoria swallowed wondering if she should go peek inside the ballroom to confirm that everything was normal. She desperately wanted to see the drunken slurring, dancing, drinks being spilled out of careless laughter.

  But as she stood in the dark foyer, she could hear no sounds of life, only the resonance of the symphony. There were no muted voices or muffled laughter to drown out the sound of the music. She shivered, knowing she should just leave, now.

  She turned to make a run for it but a breathy laugh stopped her in her tracks. Victoria whipped around and gasped.

  “Leaving, love?” Lord Stone quietly inquired, leaning lazily on the wall next to the stairs, hidden by the shadows.

  Her heart was pounding. She couldn’t make words form out of her mouth for her mind scattered at the sight of him. Victoria knew she was in trouble for every bone in her body trembled.

  He moved towards her, his arms folded to express power. “You weren’t going to lea
ve without saying good-bye, were you?”

  “S… stay away,” she warned, taking steps back. He reminded her of a black panther stalking its prey. It was only a matter of minutes before he would pounce, going in for the kill.

  “I only want one thing from you then you may go,” he simply said, his pale eyes seeming to glow in the darkness as he came closer still.

  “What the bloody hell do you want from m-me?” she stammered, fearing he would say her soul.

  “A kiss.”

  Her eyes widened in repulsion.

  His eyes lowered slightly, his movements slow and calculating as he moved even closer. He now stood a body’s length away, a dark grin spreading over his sensual lips.

  “No,” she whispered, backing up, heart beating wildly. Her body was humming and her ears were ringing. She hated to admit it but he looked dangerously appealing with his cravat removed and his collared shirt unbuttoned at the neck. The deep circles under his eyes appeared much darker giving him a menacing look, chilling even. His dark hair was in disarray, unruly strands hanging in his face. It looked as though he took his hands and ruffed it up like a mad man. His brightly striped waistcoat did give the appearance of someone insane, the reds with the purples and blacks all meshed together. His overall effect was startling; she’d never seen anything like him.

  He laughed and shook his head. “Your mouth says one thing and your body screams another. I want to taste you Victoria, and I will.” He sounded too confident, his eyes hungrily fastened on her, holding her arrest.

  She never knew the definition of panic until now. “S… stop it, do not come any closer!” she screamed, trembling. Victoria looked around desperately wanting to grab something she could fling at him but saw nothing. She shrieked when he was suddenly right in front of her. “Don’t!” Victoria closed her eyes, flinching.

  “Shhh,” he cooed, his voice a low timbre.

  She could smell the wild scent of him, could feel his body heat, he was so near. Victoria suddenly felt his hands on her cloak and in the next instant it was ripped off of her. Victoria yelped, eyes opening wide as she was suddenly pressed up against the wall. His large hands were on either side of her, his face mere inches away from her own. Up this close his eyes were menacing, they looked abnormal. His pupils were a lighter gray rather than black, almost as if he were blind. His irises seemed too pure, too radiant for normality. She mustered up some courage and whispered, “My L… lord, what do you really want from me? I have nothing.”