In Service to the Senses (8 page)

“I-I’m sorry,” Lise said inadequately, setting down the teapot as if it had burnt her. She struggled for further conversation and couldn’t think of any. What a disturbing man! To think that he had grown up alongside boring, steady Charles.

“For his sins,” Holden went on, his voice normal as if the interlude about the tea set had never occurred, “Old Willie never got the heir he wanted, the strong, bold son he felt he deserved. And it was not for want of trying. My mother suffered three miscarriages and two stillborn children before she died. Too soon, of course, but what can be expected if you treat a woman like a broodmare?”

Lise writhed with discomfort. This was really too much! No proper gentlemen spoke of such subjects in mixed company.

She felt awful, for there was genuine pain in the man’s voice, even if it was at odds with his robust appearance. She could screw her husband’s valet right in front of Charles, all for their shared titillation, but hearing about this man’s painful past hurt and shamed her in some inexplicable way.

Striving for normalcy, Lise offered a plate of biscuits to her guest. “Where have you been all of these years, Mr Holden? Travelling abroad?”

One side of his mouth quirked in that predatory smile. “You could say that. I was at Waterloo.”

“Oh!” Lise’s gaze dropped momentarily to his leg. “I didn’t realise—”

Holden raised an eyebrow. “That some of us are still finding our way back home?” he finished for her. “Well, as you can see, some of us are slower than others.”

He tapped his left knee meaningfully.

“Did your husband enlist?”

From the way he’d asked the question, Lise knew that he already had the answer.

“No,” she said stiffly. “Charles was needed here.”

“And he was wealthy enough to make sure he wasn’t needed in France.”

Lise felt her cheeks heating. “Take that back! That statement was unconscionably rude.”

Holden rose to his feet, inclining his brown head. “I apologise, Mrs Hessell. I did not mean to cause offence.”

He most certainly had, but it would have been churlish to point it out after he’d tendered his apology. Lise merely inclined her chin in acknowledgement.

“I believe it is time for me to say goodbye,” Holden continued. “Thank you, Mrs Holden, for the tea and the delightful company.”

Lise rose as well and offered her hand. For some reason, her heart beat faster as he took her hand and lifted it briefly to his mouth. The kiss sent a shiver of excitement straight from her fingertips to the pit of her belly. She could feel her nipples hardening. Fortunately, the layers of material between them and him hid her reaction.

“Will you be back soon?” she asked. “Charles will be home in five days.”

She could not keep the wistful note out of her voice. Whatever he was to Charles, Luke Holden was anything but boring.

But Holden’s response was noncommittal. “Perhaps,” he said, adding, “if I am still in the area.”

So Lise had to be content with such a tepid response. For now.

Wait until Charles returned. He would bring Holden back for her.

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About the Author

After living abroad for much of her life, Demelza Hart now lives in a beautiful part of England with her young family. She finds writing erotica liberating and particularly enjoys exploring character dynamics through dialogue, whether as part of sex or not.

She recently made the move into published erotic writing after being one of five winners in a competition with Xcite Books, with whom she has since had several stories published. She is thrilled to extend that to working with Total-E-Bound.

When not writing or reading, Demelza is usually (in no particular order) singing, working, acting, friending, wifeing and mothering.

Email:
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Demelza loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at
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Also by Demelza Hart

At Your Service: In Service to the Senses

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