In Bed with a Rogue (26 page)

Mrs. White’s smile was tight. “I daresay Thomas doesn’t care a whit about your lineage. He is devoted to you. No offense intended, milady.”

“None taken.” Helena was pleased with how well her sister had done in her marriage. She had a nice home, beautiful children, a gracious mother-in-law, and a husband who doted on her. Helena couldn’t imagine a better life. If she didn’t love her sister dearly, she might be envious.

After collecting hugs from the children, Helena bid them farewell. Opening her reticule, she pulled out all the bills she had and held them out to her sister. “For the children. I didn’t bring gifts, but I would like to give them something.”

Cora smiled. “That is kind, but unnecessary.”

Her mother-in-law stepped forward, taking the money, and thanking her on the children’s behalf. Helena didn’t miss the slight glare Cora tossed at Mrs. White. It seemed there was perhaps some question about who ran the household after all.

Cora walked her downstairs.

“Will you come visit again before you leave for Scotland?” she asked.

“Nothing would make me happier.” They embraced and Helena kissed her cheek. “Cora, I am so pleased we have reconnected. I’ve missed you.”

They hugged once more.

Fergus was waiting outside, just as he’d promised. “How was yer visit with yer sister, lass?”

Helena couldn’t contain her smile. “Perfect. It has made me even more anxious to see Pearl.”

And perhaps she could make peace with Sebastian on the short journey. It would certainly lessen her guilt if she could properly express her thanks. If not for Sebastian, she wouldn’t have her sisters back, and she didn’t want to part with him believing she was ungrateful.

Twenty-two

Sebastian unapologetically stared at Helena across the carriage. They had been traveling for almost two hours on their way to reunite Helena with her sister Pearl, and she hadn’t said a word since the carriage pulled away from her house.

Her greeting that morning had been polite and her manners impeccable, but he would rather have her railing than ignoring him.

When her maid Ismay turned from the sights outside the carriage window, she caught him staring at her mistress and lobbed a grin in his direction. Her eyes twinkled with mischief. “Interesting scenery today, aye, milaird?”

“Stunning,” he agreed.

Helena’s eyes snapped up from the book she held on her lap. Either she was pretending interest in the book to avoid him, or she was an exceptionally slow reader since she hadn’t turned the page in the last half hour. Sebastian’s lips inched up as he held her gaze. She swiped a lock of hair behind her ear and returned to her book, her cheeks infused with a lovely rose color.

Very well. If she wouldn’t engage with him, he would have to rely on her maid for entertainment. “Is the scenery very different in Scotland?”

Ismay cocked her head and studied Helena. “Less flustered, I’d say.”

A laugh burst from him. He liked the chit’s audacity.

Helena wrinkled her nose at her maid. “Ismay, behave.”

“Forgive me, milady, but I thought his lairdship was referring to you. You’re the only scenery he has been admiring since we left London.”

A darker flush made Helena’s face glow. She closed her book. The gilded lettering on the cover caught the morning sun. She’d brought
Belinda
, the book he had purchased for her in Finsbury Square.

“I thought you would have read
Belinda
by now.”

She turned it to view the book spine as if she’d forgotten what she was reading. “I only found it in the foyer yesterday. Fergus must have set it aside in the excitement that day.”

She said nothing about the inscription inside. Perhaps she hadn’t noticed his message. “Is it any good?” he asked.

“I just started it. I thought it would help pass the time today.”

Instead
of
talking
to
me
. He crossed his arms with a slight frown. “Some people pass the time in conversation.”

She raised her brows toward Ismay. “Shall we discuss the weather, my lord?” She was using the girl as a shield to avoid discussing anything important.

“There’s nary a cloud to be seen,” Ismay said, ducking her head to peer at the sky.

Sebastian chuckled. “Now that we’ve exhausted that topic…”

He wanted to present an idea to Helena. It had formed after a conversation with his sister yesterday. Eve knew nothing of Helena’s background—at least not the truth—but she had heard quite a tale from Lady Eldridge at tea last week about how Prestwick met Helena. The viscount had been an imaginative liar, and his tall tales might work to Helena and Sebastian’s advantage. But he would have to wait until they changed horses to speak with her about his idea.

Helena returned to her book, and Sebastian resumed enjoying the scenery. The sun set ablaze silky tendrils of Helena’s hair that had fallen around her soft cheek. His gaze lingered on the velvety lobe of her ear, recalling her soft gasp as he’d taken it between his teeth. Her sweet moans echoed in his memory. Her fingers tentatively touching his hair as he put his mouth to her quim. Her nails sliding against his scalp as she began to lose herself, moving in time with his tongue.

She glanced up, her large eyes widening when she caught him watching her. He grinned wickedly, amused when she fidgeted with the edge of her book before slapping it closed and turning toward the window.

“W-we are almost to our next stop,” she said.

Sebastian swiveled on the bench. An idyllic village lay snug in the valley along the road they traveled. The carriage pitched when a wheel hit a rut, and Helena’s maid squealed as they were both almost tossed to the floor. By the time they reached the village, having bumped over every hole along the way, Ismay was holding her stomach and her complexion had a decidedly green tint.

Fergus swung the door open, took one look at his sister, and ushered her into the fresh air. “Take deep breaths, lass.”

Helena clambered out ahead of Sebastian without waiting for assistance. Fergus helped his sister sit on a barrel and hovered over her like a mother bear while Helena stood by as Ismay’s shaky inhales and exhales began to even out. When the maid’s color returned to normal, she smiled weakly.

“Would you like to come inside for refreshment?” Helena asked.

Ismay shook her head. “If it’s all the same to you, milady, I would prefer to sit outside.”

Sebastian held his arm out to Helena. “Come with me.”

Her fingers curled around his forearm, and she allowed him to draw her toward the coaching inn. “C-come where?”

“Inside, of course.” He slanted a glance at her and lowered his voice. “Unless you would like to come someplace else.”

Just as he had intended, his comment elicited a brilliant blush and her hand sought out a strand of hair to thrust behind her ear. He loved that she retained a bit of bashfulness, and yet she could be uninhibited and sensual when the time called for it.

Light spilled into the dark interior of the coaching inn when Sebastian held the door open for her. She preceded him, but stopped only a few steps inside. As his eyes adjusted to the dimness, he could see the room was filled with fellow travelers.

“I will see to a private room.” He approached the innkeeper and was pleased to learn a private dining room was available.

Helena followed the man but tossed a look over her shoulder. Sebastian winked. She hesitantly turned back and nearly collided with the doorjamb. She cried out in surprise, then lowered her head and hurried inside the dining room.

Sebastian paid the man. “See that we are not disturbed.”

“Yes, sir.”

When the door clicked, he raised a brow. “Alone at last.”

Her tongue dashed across her bottom lip, leaving it shiny and irresistible. He slowly stalked her as she backed away. “Are you running from me, angel?”

“No.” She shook her head as she continued to retreat. Her backside banged into the table and she startled. Sebastian took advantage of her momentary distraction and pounced. His hands spanned her narrow waist and lifted her to the table.

Her eyes flared as a breathy laugh escaped her. “Is
this
where you wanted me?” She sounded both appalled and intrigued.

He flashed a grin. “This table looks sturdy enough.” He stood between her knees, his arms slipping around her back. Her hands landed on his chest as if to push him away, but perhaps she thought better of it because they just rested lightly against his jacket. His pulse sped as her index finger drew a small circle over his heart.

She angled her head and peeked at him from beneath her thick lashes. “Sebastian, I don’t think this is wise.”

“Because someone might discover us? That is part of the excitement, love. Remember the theatre?”

She laughed, her blush returning. “I liked the theatre.”

His grin widened. “Did you now? I had no idea.”

“Stop teasing.” She lightly whacked his shoulder. “I’m certain your prowess has been complimented once or twice in the past.”

He didn’t care what other women before her thought. She was the only one who mattered. He placed a kiss on the tip of her pert nose. “I am more than tempted to prove myself worthy of any compliment, madam, but Fergus will come searching for us soon. And I value my life.”

“Besides, I am sitting on a table.”

He leaned toward her, hovering close enough to capture her mouth but delaying their kiss. “And who says the bed gets to have all the fun?”

“I—I don’t know.” She wiggled to create space between them, but she couldn’t go far with his arms still encircling her. Her gaze became fixed on something beyond his shoulder.

He checked to be certain Fergus hadn’t come in behind him. They were alone. Only they weren’t really. She had that faraway look she sometimes had when she became lost in her memories. Fergus’s words echoed in Sebastian’s head.
She
was
afforded
the
same
kindness
he
extended
to
his
breeding
mares.

Hatred rampaged through his veins. Helena deserved better than she had ever received in her life. She deserved someone to love her, to take pleasure in her companionship and appreciate her body.

He gently caught her chin between his thumb and finger. “Sweetheart, you do know sexual relations are meant to be enjoyable. There is nothing unnatural about a man and woman delighting in one another.”

She smiled. “Delight sounds so carefree, playful even.”

“Playful is good, too.”

“Very well, the table is not an issue. But there is another reason I don’t think we should do this.”

“Do what exactly?” He wanted to hear her say the words.
Making
love.
Swaying into her, he grazed his lips over hers. She tasted like heaven, smelled like vanilla. And he wanted her.

Here.

Now.

Bare on this table.

And to hell with the Scot. Sebastian had survived more than his share of beatings at Eton, not to mention a few this Season. He could handle himself well enough in a fight.

Helena’s eyes drifted closed. “This,” she said on a breath. “Tupping.”

Tupping?
Sebastian drew back. He couldn’t believe a lady would use such crude language. No matter that he used it on a regular basis, but never with Helena. “Is that how you think of us? Like rutting animals?”

She pursed her lips, her displeasure radiating from her blue-green eyes. “Why in God’s name would I associate us with rutting animals? That’s so—so…
base
.”

Sometimes she frustrated him beyond reason and yet he still wanted her so much it hurt. He paced several steps away, shoving his fingers through his hair, then spun on her. “I didn’t use the word
tupping
.
You
did.”

“I don’t know what else to call it. We are not married, so it would be incorrect to refer to it as amorous rights.”

But they could be. If she stayed in London, they could marry and he could be the husband she deserved. Nothing like that bugger who had kept her locked away at Aldmist Fell. Why did she even want to return to that place? “I expected you to say making love, Helena. That is the appropriate term.”

She averted her gaze. “Isn’t lovemaking reserved for people who love each other? I don’t think brief affairs qualify.”

Her refusal to see the truth incited his temper. He marched back to the table and captured her face between his hands before she could scramble from the table. He pressed his face close so they were eye to eye. “
I
love you, Helena.”

Her lips parted and he couldn’t be sure she was breathing. She certainly wasn’t repeating the sentiment, which elicited a tight squeeze in the center of his chest. Well, she didn’t need to say it for him to know she loved him too. She had expressed it many times without saying a word. Love was in the gentleness of her touch when he was bleeding after his fight with Benjamin Hillary in the garden. It showed in the softness of her eyes, her kind words to his sister, and her fiery defense of him at the theatre.

“And you love me, but you’re too stubborn to admit it, aren’t you?” He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, unable to resist touching her even though anger still burned inside him. “I am very put out with you for making me tell you this when I am mad.”

She blinked, her brow scrunching as she eased from his touch.

“It made sense in my head,” he said. Perhaps he had loved her from the moment they collided outside the church, or maybe he had fallen for her the day she took Eve shopping. When she had looked into his eyes with such hope and trust, he wanted to be her champion. He still did.

“You love me?” Tears shimmered in her eyes and his fingers intercepted them as they slipped onto her soft cheeks.

“I’m sorry, Helena. I planned to use sweet words and tenderness. I wanted to kiss you first, and then declare my heart. But I’ve messed it up.”