A Season to Be Sinful (26 page)

She closed her eyes. Somehow he knew it was a mistake before she did.

Look at me, Sherry said, his face hovering just above her. Her tension had been instantly communicated to him. There is no one else here.

Lily pressed her lips together and nodded. Your hand is

Do you want me to remove it? He began drawing it down her thigh toward her knee.

No. It was no surprise to Lily that his hand was on her leg, only that it was on her bare leg. She could not remember him sliding it under her shift. No, she repeated on a breathy sigh.

And here? he asked, slipping it over the curve of her thigh to her mons .

Her hips jerked, but it was not to get away from his touch.

Thats right. Will you open for me, Lily?

She had never been asked before. In that moment he gave her back some part of her self. Watching him, she slowly raised one knee. Her thighs parted, and his hand cupped her in a pocket of heat.

His kiss engaged all of her senses, and she rocked hard against his hand. She was glad she was holding on because she had not understood until she was falling just how high she had climbed.

This time pleasure was absolute in its release. No more tugging, no tiny darts. In free fall it spiraled out of control, and there was no part of her body left untouched by it. She inhaled sharply, then could not seem to release that breath. Caught by the need to move, she dug her heels into the mattress for purchase and finally cried out.

Sherry cradled her. Candlelight bathed Lilys face but did not account for the pink wash of color in her cheeks. She breathed softly and shallowly, and her mouth trembled as she sipped the air. This time when she closed her eyes, Sherry did not urge her to do otherwise. He held her in his arms long past the time she fell asleep.

When Lily woke she was in her own room with no memory of how she arrived there. Her recollection of detail until she fell asleep was remarkably clear, and she was grateful to have no time to dwell on it. Shed slept almost an hour longer than was her habit, and if she did not arrive in the schoolroom at the appointed time, the scoundrels would be upon her.

She washed, dressed, and decided to forego her morning walk in favor of eating breakfast. The boys were helping themselves at the sideboard when she entered the dining room. Lord Sheridan, who normally took his morning meal in his room, was sitting at the head of the table sipping coffee and reading from a folded newspaper.

He lowered the paper just a fraction so that he might view her over the top. Good morning, he said. His eyes fell back on the paper, and he resumed reading.

Lily wished him the same, though she did not think her voice was half so cool as his. She greeted the boys with more enthusiasm and helped herself at the sideboard when they moved on. Pinch was waiting for her at the table and held out a chair.

Thank you, she said. Master Midge, will you pass the jam? She spread a dollop of it on a triangle of toast. Have any of you given thought to where we might begin today? I am all for doing sums. She expected this would be met by some sort of protest, at the very least a groan from Dash who hadnt the same skill with numbers as the other two. Instead, they darted glances at one another, apparently looking for a spokesman. Lily watched this for a moment, then looked suspiciously toward the head of the table. Sherry remained behind his newspaper, but Lily was certain he was hiding now.

It was Midge, always the most vulnerable to a frontal assault, that Lily singled out. What has his lordship promised you will do today?

Midges deep blue eyes could not hold Lilys direct gaze. Blinking rapidly, he began to sink in his chair.

I say, Master Midge, buck up. This was from Sherry, and he had not come out from behind the paper. She hasnt applied thumbscrews.

Midge gripped the sides of his chair. Ye aint lookin at er, he grumbled softly. Shes got a way o makin a body go all melty.

The brain, too, Pinch said helpfully.

Sherrys paper rattled a little as his shoulders shook, but he stayed where he was.

Well, Midge? asked Lily.

Were to go to the village with Mr. Pipkin and Tolley and fetch supplies for Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Gant.

Bennet and Gant were the head cook and baker at Granville. Lily knew very well that there were helpers to manage precisely what Sherry was sending the boys to do. Had he not placed them in her charge in the schoolroom she would have been pleased to have them assigned such tasks.

We have a list, Dash said. He lifted his right buttock and produced a paper from under it. He held it up for Lily to see and surrendered it when she put out her hand. It is everything we require for Lady Rivendales visit.

From behind the newspaper there was some throat clearing.

Lady Rivendale? asked Lily.

Is lordships aunt, Midge said.

Godmother, Pinch said. Shes is godmother.

But he calls her Aunt Georgia.

Sherry lowered the newspaper long enough to say, That does not give you leave to call her anything but Lady Rivendale.

Lily glanced down at her plate and realized she would never do breakfast justice. Her appetite had fled. It was with some difficulty that she was able to swallow the toast shed already bit off. There is to be a guest at Granville?

Oblivious to her alarm, the boys nodded in unison. Dash spoke up. Shes a very grand ladya countess, to be sureand is lordship says we shall ave to be on our best behavior. And even if we are, she might pinch our cheeks anyway.

Then its good that youve come to have such plump ones.

Dash grinned in a particularly disarming manner, tempting Lily with those cheeks. It was Midge who caught one and gave it a twist. Ow! Dash elbowed Midge, knocking him sideways. Pinch swung his legs hard under the table, kicking them both. Ow! they cried together. Wot was that for?

Sherry set his paper down, and the boys came immediately to attention. With a bland smile at Lily, he raised his coffee cup to his lips.

Doing her best to ignore Sheridan, Lily encouraged the boys to finish eating. She returned Dashs list to him. Neither he nor the others seemed to be aware of how many sums they would be doing while completing the bakers order. It was further proof of his lordships cleverness, though Lily thought she had had her fill of it this morning.

Once the boys were excused and their plates were cleared by the maid, Lily sat quietly in anticipation of Sherry making some explanation about his visitor. When he offered nothing save the paper for her perusal, she understood how little had been changed by the evening past. He was right not to engage her in conversation in front of the servants, not when the boys were absent and the topic would have veered sharply away from their lessons and progress, yet she could not deny that she felt his silence as a slight.

Sherry regarded Lilys full plate when he had finished his own. You are not hungry, Miss Rose?

No, mlord.

Then you will not mind joining me in the library. Meredith made me a present of some primers for the boys when I remarked that I had them in residence. It has been many years since he taught, so the primers are old. Still, I believe they will be useful in the boys lessons. Naturally, I should like your opinion.

For a moment Lily could not think who he meant, then she remembered it had been Sir Arthur Merediths house party that Sheridan had attended. Of course. You are always welcome to my opinion.

Sherry managed not to choke on his last mouthful of coffee, but it was a narrow thing. Butter wouldnt melt in her mouth was what he thought as he accompanied her to the li-brary, and once they were behind the pocket doors, it was more of the same.

He sighed when she immediately put herself out of his reach. If you mean to give me the sharp edge of your tongue, have done with it quickly. There is already precious little time for an explanation.

Then you do mean to offer one.

Certainly. Did you doubt it? He held up one hand to forestall her reply and hitched his hip on the edge of his desk. I see that you did. Will you not sit?

Lily could not. Her agitation was so great that it was difficult not to pace. Sitting would have placed too much strain on her nerves. Who is Lady Rivendale?

Very weil, we go straightaway to the matter. He folded his arms casually in front of him. She is as the lads reported: my godmother. She is no relation, but was the dearest friend of my mother, and Cybelline and I were always instructed to call her aunt. She is also good friend to Sir Arthur and perhaps something more, though that is my sisters speculation in her latest correspondence and none of my affair.

Then she was present at the rout.

Indeed, she was most likely the one who suggested the party to him. I have it on good authorityhisthat he prefers a quieter existence in the country. My godmother, however, is a force of nature, and if Cybelline is correct and Sir Arthur regards her in a romantic light, then he is particularly vulnerable to lending his support to whatever notion takes her fancy. She had it in her mind to get away from London. Her cousinhe represents himself as a relation on her late husbands sidearrived in town shortly before we departed. He frowned slightly as he tried to recall the specifics of an earlier conversation. Did I not mention she visited my home when we were yet in London? It was the same afternoon I went back to the Blue Ruination. She was waiting for me when I arrived home.

You may have; I cannot remember. You will understand I was more concerned regarding your call upon Blue.

That is only because you have not made Lady Rivendales acquaintance, he said, more sincere than not. The purpose of her visit on that occasion was twofold. First, she had learned that my physician was regularly attending me at the house and required the evidence of her own eyes that I was not dying, and second, she wanted to apprise me of her cousins arrival in town. She has little regard for him, as his interest seems to be entirely about making a claim of inheritance. Since his connection to her is quite distant and was brought to her attention not above a year ago, she is out of patience with him and would put the whole of it on my plate.

Lily was now recalling more of her conversation with Sheridan that day. While she had been making him defend his trek into Holborn, he had also had these matters of family on his mind. He should have shown her the door. Even though she knew the risk to her own well-being, she felt her heart softening. You could not tell her your plate was already quite full.

No, that is not the sort of thing she would understand. She would encourage me to find a serving platter.

Lily smiled. I see.

You dont, but you will. Sherry riffled through some papers and cards on his desk until he found what he wanted. He waved the correspondence once before he set it back on the stack. I received her letter this morning. Pray, keep in mind that I only left her yesterday, and she never once hinted at her intent to come here. She must have posted this before I was gone for it to arrive here in so timely a manner. She has left me with no opportunity to dissuade her from making the journey, which she knows I would have done if shed told me.

How would she know that?

Because I talked her out of accompanying me to Granville when she seized upon the idea in London.

Oh.

Precisely.

She is cunning, then.

Thoroughly.

It is natural for her to be curious about the boys. Lily glimpsed something in Sheridans expression that she could not quite divine. She does know about the boys, doesnt she?

Not from me. Sir Arthur told her after I took him into my confidence.

Ahh. Well, there you have it. You said yourself that he is vulnerable. I doubt it required any effort on her part to make him give you up. Im afraid this is exactly what you made it: a fine mess. Her eyes fell on the short stack of books on a side table. Are those the primers? May I take them with me?

You mean to go now?

Yes. I dont know what more you would have me say or do.

Have you not considered that she is certain to be interested in you?

Me? Lily had started to pick up the books; now she lowered them back to the table. Why should I come to her attention? It is certainly remarkable for you to take three stray boys under your protection, but to hire someone to teach them is not in the least exceptional.

She is certain to point out that a tutor would have been more the thing. Sir Arthur did.

Lilys mouth flattened momentarily. Is there nothing you left unsaid to the man? Did he apply thumbscrews?

I thought I was speaking in confidence. He added a shade defensively, And he was a teacher before distinguishing himself in matters of law, so his opinion was of merit.

Lily doubted that Sheridan said anything that was not of a purpose. She did not acquit him of contriving to bring about just this end. Poor Lady Rivendale was most likely the one being manipulated, which meant that she was being led about by the nose as well. How long to do you expect her to visit?

She doesnt say. A sennight would not be unreasonable.

I can arrange to be ill for that long, she said. Something contagious, I think. Influenza?

It is not the season for it. And why should you go to any lengths at all to avoid her? I said she will express an interest in you, not want to live in your pockets. In any event, she is living in mine so you cannot have her.