Seduce Me Please (6 page)

“
Agnes, dear, you know that we are not supposed to know of such depraved things.” Piper grinned sheepishly. “Besides, I don’t want to think about my brother doing
those
things.” She visibly shuddered. “If half the tales told are true. Lord, have mercy!”

“
I find your conversation somewhat difficult to follow, girls.” Miss Harris raised her brow inquiringly. "Pray enlighten me. What type of parties are you referring?”

“
Hunting!” Both girls giggled, rushing to assure Miss Harris as they exchanged rueful glances.

A blank look came into Miss Harris face. “Oh,” she said with a wrinkled brow. “Is it that time of year already?”

“
You know men, obsessive about their sports.” Piper squeezed Miss Harris’ arm affectionately. Once again she and Agnes exchanged a glance, smiling at each other.

“
Speaking of hunting, look who is coming!” Agnes whispered gleefully. “Goodness, they are both so handsome!” She breathed, her hand pressed to her bosom as she waited for Piper’s reaction.

“
You consider every man handsome, Agnes. You should learn to be more discriminating…” Her discourse quickly died when she
looked up and met
his
eyes for the second time that day, spellbinding eyes. She couldn’t look away, watching as a small smile curved his lips, as if he knew exactly what sensations he evoked with just his look.
Drat
! Her breath caught, hot sensations streaked through her. He was perfection intensified by sensational innuendo. The muscles of his powerful thighs sculpted by the tight fit of his buckskins were shown to great advantage on horseback and even more so when one wasn’t looking through a window. His exquisite chocolate riding coat molded to the magnificent muscles of his chest, shoulders, and arms like a second skin. The color emphasized his golden looks. He was like a gilded statue. Shimmering in the sunlight, it almost hurt to look at him. Her eyes widened as they clashed with his golden gaze. One of his brows arched as his chiseled features softened into an expression of easy charm making her feel quite weak in the knees. She hastily averted her eyes battling to keep the lingering thoughts of desire away. She was acting like a wild wanton and he represented everything that was trouble and temptation in one convenient bundle.

But just as she was sure the gossiping dragons never tired of imagining the outcome of Rockwell’s fate over the summer, neither had she.

Was he married
?

Why was it when one wanted to know something everyone’s lips were sealed
? Not a single tongue wagging. It seemed to be the best kept secret of the
ton,
she sighed rather robustly.

Hell and damnation! He was obviously a weak man. He couldn’t help himself. His eyes followed the trio of ladies as they strolled down Piccadilly beneath their frilly parasols. S
he’s back in Town.
The one in the middle was the same miniature dark haired goddess that he had lusted after all last season and stared at through a picture window this afternoon. If he didn’t learn to control his libido, and quick, this jaunt through town with Seymour was going to be decidedly uncomfortable and more than a little embarrassing. A slight grimace formed, his jaw hardened, shifting in his saddle to ease his uncontrolled desire.

Damn! The rumors of his depravity must be true.

He felt the corners of his lips tip up with his absurdity.

The color of her morning dress, similar to that of a ripe summer melon, heightened the delicious glow of her alabaster skin. She radiated such innocence. A truly frightening concept. His eyes raked over her again, starting at the top of her charming bonnet and ending at the tips of the tiny half-boots peeping out from her skirt. His fingers itched to touch her skin. He clenched his hands into tight fists instead so startled by such a strong reaction to her presence.

Mouthwatering
.

Forbidden.

Innocent.

Forbidden.

Delicious.

Forbidden…

All ideas that should have him turn tail and run, but instead another smile played on his lips as he continued to watch her float along the pavement towards Hatchard’s, as if she were perched upon the fluffiest of clouds.

Were the god’s at her mercy as well? He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but he found her irresistible. Possibly due to all that forbidden fruit nonsense, that unquestionably made many things difficult to resist.

He snorted cynically; when had he developed into such a romantic poet?

“
Rock, have you heard a word I’ve said?” Seymour asked with a hint of laughter in his voice. “I am clearly not talking to hear my own damn self!”

“
Pardon me, Seymour.” Graydon slowly shifted his eyes. “You were saying something about Lansdowne’s something or other...” his voice slowly trailed off as he craned his neck to look over the crowd.

With a chuckle, Seymour’s voice, one as if he were speaking to an absolute simpleton, “I said Lansdowne must sell Starling straightaway to pay off some debts. I recall, you had mentioned in the past that you’ve always admired his favorite mount,” Seymour repeated, his brow arching amusingly.

“
Yes, Starling,” Graydon echoed.

“
Not customary that something would capture your attention over the occasion to purchase a newly available prized mount with a superb pedigree.” He glanced around curiously. “Your head was so high in the clouds; I’m surprised you haven’t harmed any pedestrians. What has caught your attention so raptly?”

At the precise moment they rode by,
she
lifted her vibrant blue eyes and caught his stare once more.
Blue
. He should have known. Crystal-clear blue, resembling a summer sky after a long needed cleansing rain. She looked directly into his eyes without faltering. A slight blush set roses in her cheeks as a shy smile curved her pink lips. Extraordinarily beautiful and a
dimple
, he didn’t stand a chance. Why hadn’t he noticed the flash of a dimple until now? If he was a smart man, he would pack up his household and head for the country today.

Evidently he wasn’t a very smart man.

Graydon touched the brim of his beaver hat, inclining his head as a wide smile spread across his face. She was the face he saw in his dreams and now his dreams would include a charming dimple. She was the lady of his most erotic fantasies and now he would be able to envision her blue eyes gazing passionately into his own, her plump, pink lips begging to be kissed.

With one last lingering look, he forced himself to face forward. For no matter how hard he tried to avoid trouble, it seemed to aggressively search him out. Even the vow he had made to avoid all virgins at all cost just went up in smoke. The price of avoidance just increased exponentially in a matter of moments. She was the loveliest creature he had ever had the pleasure of setting his cynical eyes upon, and he had a feeling that if the moment arose he would offer all the gold in the entire world for a mere moment alone with
her
.

Seymour greeted the gaggle of ladies with a nod and a grin. All the while whispering humorously to Graydon, “I can only presume that Ashford will be enormously pleased to find that you have basically made love to his beloved sister in broad daylight on Piccadilly.” Seymour shot his friend a slightly pitying look. “By the bye, her name is Piper.” He grinned. “And just in case you were staring at one of the other lovely women accompanying her, she’s with her dear friend Agnes, who is the little gray mouse and her companion Miss Harris.”

“
How kind of you to fill in the gaps,” Graydon replied mordantly. His brows rose quizzically. “Ashford?” Parker, Piper’s eldest brother was one of his oldest friends. How had he not known Parker was related to this goddess? “I didn’t know,” he murmured. His eyes narrowed fractionally as he twisted slightly in his saddle to steal one more look.

Piper took a deep breath as she stepped into Hatchard’s intensely aware of Rockwell’s eyes on her back the entire way. Squaring her shoulders, she took a moment to compose herself after the unexpected encounter with the handsomest man she had ever seen in her life.

“
You look a little green around the gills,” Miss Harris said, ever oblivious to the goings on around her.

Piper’s lips lifted in a fleeting smile. “I’m just exceedingly glad we’ve finally made our way through the crowded streets.” She wanted to move, but her knees felt weakened by the encounter. She feared she might embarrass herself by falling flat on her face if she attempted even one small step.

“
Indeed,” Miss Harris agreed. “I believe the overcrowding has much to do with my weakened constitution, as well. There are far too many people in London nowadays. Why, one can hardly move without bumping into someone. I remember when I was younger…” Piper couldn’t contain a smile as she watched Miss Harris continue muttering to herself as she moved further into the bookshop.

Grabbing Piper’s hand Agnes dragged her to a different aisle, hidden from the other patrons. “Can you believe it?” she asked.

“
What I can’t believe is this sudden change in attitude. ‘
Oh, Lord Chester your snuff-box is beautiful. Oh, Mr. Fulton I adore Vauxhall,
’ Piper said in a mockingly sing-song voice. “I’ve never heard you simper so much during the entirety of our acquaintance. It’s positively nauseating.”

“
I can’t even believe you are concerning yourself with me when Rockwell just acknowledged you in public.” Agnes laughed. “Why I would be over the moon!”

Piper felt her heart skip a beat and knew hot color was creeping up into her cheeks, for she really was
over the moon
as Agnes described.

“
I thought you hadn’t been formally introduced?” She noted in a teasing voice. “You haven’t been keeping secrets from me?”

“
We haven’t been formally introduced, but Seymour was with him. He is an old friend of the family, you well know.” Piper defended, pulling a book off the shelf closest to her, flipping through the pages. “I defy anyone to find anything inappropriate with the greeting.”

“
You truly are an open book, Piper.” Agnes grinned glancing at the book on horsemanship in Piper’s hand. “Seeing Rockwell disturbed you immensely. It’s quite obvious.”

“
Yes it did,” she agreed with a nod. “It made me desire him even more,” she whispered.

CHAPTER FOUR

Plans, plans, and more plans, all because I cannot be bothered with sitting still. If only I were like every other simpering female out in Society sitting, waiting with bated breath for an advantageous marriage to magically appear upon my doorstep.

Piper’s journal

11 June

THE CLASH OF STEEL ECHOED THROUGHOUT THE CAVERNOUS ROOM, their sweat soaked bodies moving rhythmically with each powerful strike.

“
Don’t you find it odd that no one of substance knows anything of this man?” Parker breathed in deeply in an effort to catch his breath. Then with a practiced twist of his wrist he parried Graydon’s thrust, lunging forward with his lead foot. He tossed his blade slightly until he achieved the right grip. “For Chester to bring him to my attention, the tales must be of a salacious nature.”

Graydon arched an eyebrow. “I find it odd that he could elicit such great speculation.” He sprang forward emphasizing his point with swift slash of his rapier. “He is after all a nobody, at least by the
tons
standards.”

Parker executed a swift parry of Graydon’s thrust. “I question who he is because he has been sniffing around Piper quite frequently over the past few weeks.” He grimaced tightly, expelling a long breath. “I’ve watched as he has insinuated himself in her circle.”

Graydon tensed his jaw tightening as he raised his blade. “Oh?” He paused long enough for Parker’s blade to come down in a swirling attack from above causing his sword to effortlessly fly out of his hand, sliding across the floor with a loud clatter.

“
Bloody hell!” Graydon barked with laughter.

Parker bent down to retrieve the sword that slid to a stop at his feet. “I haven’t beaten you that quickly in an age.” An arrogant grin spread across his lips. “What has you distracted?”

Graydon marshaled his expression because that was the second time someone posed that question in his direction. Expertly sidestepping the question, he made a comment of his own. “I’m surprised you would let someone unsuitable show such a prolonged interest in one of your dear sisters?” Humor evident in his voice.

God, if Parker only knew the depraved thoughts that have been playing through his mind featuring his precious sister, he would have ran him through instead of only knocking the sword from his hand.

“
Hell, Rock,” Parker responded. “He hasn’t done anything beyond the pale yet.” He slapped him on the back. “In any case, she is not interested in him. Claims he has beady eyes like a rat.” He scrunched up his eyes attempting to demonstrate.