Tempting Bella (Entangled Scandalous) (21 page)

Josette’s knowing look flitted from Bella to Sebastian. “I hope we do not interrupt.”

Sebastian inclined his head. “Of course not.”

Tabby’s eyes went immediately to Will’s painting. “How lovely.” She hurried past Josette and Orford to view it up close, examining it almost with reverence. “Magnificent. Look at the fullness of the strokes. It appears almost as though the artist did not give it much thought, but the overall effect suggests that is not true at all.”

Bella stole a glance at Sebastian and held his eyes for a moment. “It is a wedding gift from my brother in marriage, William Stanhope.”

“Remarkable,” said Tabby. “I am such an admirer of his work.”

Sebastian dragged his eyes away from Bella. “Perhaps we should invite him to take supper with us one evening soon.”

Tabby’s eyes lit up. “That is most kind of you, sir. I would enjoy meeting your brother above all things.”

“Shall we take a turn in the park?” Orford asked. “The weather is ideal. If you are otherwise engaged, Stanhope, I shall be happy to escort the ladies.”

Sebastian cut an amused look in Orford’s direction. “That is most generous of you. I do have to meet with my man of affairs so I reluctantly leave these lovely ladies to you.”

“Are you certain?” asked Bella. “Can you not accompany us for a quick walkabout?”

Sebastian brought her hand to his mouth, letting his warm lips linger against her skin longer than courtesy dictated. “I’m certain.” His eyes held hers. “Until later, my lady.”

Her heart fluttered. She could hardly wait to be alone with him. She felt a pang of guilt for wishing her friends were no longer staying with them. She wanted Sebastian all to herself, without interruption or the obligation of seeing to guests.

A few minutes later they stepped into the overcast afternoon. Orford turned to offer his arm to Bella, but Josette looped her arm through Bella’s first. With polite nonchalance, Orford turned and offered Tabby his arm instead. They took the lead, strolling ahead, with Bella and Josette trailing behind. Monty—who had taken his leave two days prior—was missing from their group.

“Where did Monty say he was off to?” asked Bella.

Tabby looked back over her shoulder. “Something about attending to estate matters. He’s to return in a sennight.”

“Estate matters?” Bella looked at Josette. “He has a property that needs tending? Is that finally a clue about Monty’s true identity?”

Josette shrugged. “The gentleman prefers mystery. That is his affair.” She gave Bella a knowing look. “I am more interested in this glow you have about you these days.”

Heat filled Bella’s face. She looked ahead at Tabby and Orford, grateful that they’d pulled far enough ahead not to overhear the conversation. “What do you mean?”

“Your husband has introduced you to the pleasures of the marriage bed, no?”

Bella smiled. She could talk to Josette about almost anything. “You were right,” she admitted. “It is very nice.”

Mischief sparkled in Josette’s eyes. “And nature has endowed him, has it not?”

“Josette! I cannot discuss that with you.” She dipped her chin. “Not that I have anything to compare it to, but I will say I haven’t been disappointed in any way.”

“That is excellent. Now you must keep him interested.”

“Keep him interested?”

“
Bien sûr
. There are many ways for a lady to please her man in the marriage bed.”

There were? “Tell me all of them.” She was determined to learn everything about the sensual arts. Anything to banish that she-wolf Lady Hawke from Sebastian’s mind. Josette happily proceeded to oblige Bella’s curiosity, in the most excruciating detail, leaving Bella both shocked and fascinated by the time they turned into the park.

A group of young bucks and ladies had set up a game of skittles. Pausing to watch, Orford and Tabby turned back toward them. “Are you up for Skittles?

Josette clapped her hands with delight. “Oh, let’s do.”

They joined the group. After several games, Bella found a bench to rest on for a moment, and Orford joined her. They watched with amusement as Tabby and Josette struggled to outdo each other.

“Kind, gentle Tabby is a tiger,” remarked Orford. “Who would have guessed it?”

Bella smiled. “She has the heart of a competitor.”

“And you, Bella, where is your heart these days?”

Watching her friends at play, she brushed back a tendril that had escaped her bonnet. “It is with my husband.”

Orford stilled. “I sensed that was the case.”

“I know you will think I am foolish.” Emotion roiled in her chest. “In truth, I am confused. He seems all that is good and kind and yet—”

He finished the thought for her. “You cannot forget about the monies he takes from Traherne.”

“I know I shall have to confront him, but perhaps he has a reasonable explanation. Everyone seems to hold him in the highest esteem.”

Orford sighed. “I did not want to burden you with this, but it seems I must, if only to protect you.”

“What do you mean?”

“There is a clause in your marriage contract that awards a generous portion to Sebastian once you beget an heir.”

“Oh, yes.” She waved a dismissive hand. “I am aware. But if he were interested solely in the money, he would have taken me to the marriage bed years ago.”

“According to our friendly solicitor’s clerk, there is an expiration date on that clause. If you haven’t born a son within the next twelve months, that portion of the contract is void.”

She pushed the hovering doubts from her mind. “It seems foolish for him to have waited all of these years only to press his advantage now, at the eleventh hour.”

“You must harden your heart against him before he devastates you with his debauchery.”

“Debauchery?” She stood, not wanting to hear more. “Really, Orford, you go too far.”

He came to his feet as well. “It is more than just the money he has stolen from you.” He threaded his hands through his artful curls, which he set each night to achieve the high style of the day. “He is not true to you.”

“Yes, he is. I asked him of bawds. There are none. You can inquire all about London. No one has ever heard of my husband keeping a peculiar.”

“That’s because he dallies with servants.”

Her heart slammed to a stop. “Beg pardon?”

“He dallies with them and when they get with child, he sends them away.”

An ache stirred in the recesses of Bella’s belly. “You must be mistaken.”

“There is a young maid in the Marquess of Camryn’s home. They say she is a beauty that he got with child. She is just six and ten.”

A young servant in Camryn’s house. The image of the lovely young serving girl in Sebastian’s arms rushed back in a powerful burst of memory, stealing the strength from her body. She sank back down on the bench with quivering legs, feeling numb, foolish, and betrayed all over again. “How can you know this?”

He sat beside her. “I make it my business to protect you. I’ve made discreet inquiries. They say Stanhope came and departed with the young girl.”

“Took her away?” Bella fought to breathe. “To where?”

“There is apparently a place he takes them when he is done enjoying their favors.” He took her hand. “I am so sorry, darling.”

“Them.” Flicks of light danced in her vision. “There are many of them?”

“He is said to have taken several bastards there.”

Bella pushed to her feet, trying to firm her trembling legs. “I must return home.”

“You mean to confront him?” Concern creased his forehead. “There is nothing to be gained from it.”

“Perhaps not. Are you coming?”

“Of course, dear.” He offered his arm and his unrelenting support. Summoning Tabby and Josette, he signaled it was time to depart. Bella set a brisk pace for the walk home. Her husband had asked her to come to him with any concerns about his fidelity and she fully intended to. She herself had witnessed his instances of inappropriate intimacy with servant girls, as well as the mysterious robustness of his bank account. It could not all be happenstance. The time had come for her to face the reality of her circumstances.

She returned home to find Sebastian in the ballroom with his fencing instructor. She watched for a moment, both fuming and aching. He moved swiftly—not quite with grace, for his powerful physique did not have the lean elegance for that—but with relentless assuredness, as though he had no doubt of the outcome. He’d removed his shirt and wore only black breeches.

His eyes warmed when he spotted her and called the action to a stop. Chatting in French with the instructor, he cut the lesson short.

“Do not let me intrude,” she said stiffly.

“It is no intrusion. Pierre was preparing to take his leave in a matter of minutes any way.”

The fencing instructor acknowledged her as he gathered his things. “Indeed, my lady, I have another appointment.” He hurried from the room, closing the door behind him.

Sebastian moved toward a towel on a nearby bench and toweled off his face, neck, and chest. Bella swallowed. Even now, she found him physically arresting. To her, he was all that was beautiful in a man. He guzzled his lemon water, the sinews of his throat moving as he swallowed. He watched her watching him. Putting the glass down, his clear eyes flickered with intent. “May I be of service?”

“No, not in that way.” The words escaped in a harsher tone than she’d intended.

“Have I displeased you in some way?”

“I don’t know. Have you?”

He walked toward her, slow and deliberate, his eyes assessing. He came to a stop behind her. “You haven’t even removed your pelisse.” His soft breath brushed her ear. “Allow me.”

She acquiesced, allowing him relieve her of her outer garment. “I was anxious to see you.”

He nuzzled her ear. “I am gratified.”

She shivered. “But not for this.” When his hands moved to the back closures of her dress, she made no move to stop him.

“How disappointing,” he murmured, his lips brushing the back of her neck. “I shall endeavor to convince you otherwise.”

Her dress loosened, and she could feel him working on her stays. A cool rush of air caressed her skin as the bodice drooped open in front. He pushed it down her arms in a slow, deliberate motion, the warmth of his strong hands skimming the sensitive bare skin. The gown picked up momentum and rushed to the floor, as though it too couldn’t resist doing Sebastian’s bidding.

She swallowed. “You said I should come directly to you if I had any questions.”

“Yes.” Moving around until he faced her, he loosened her stays and pulled them off, leaving her clad in only her shift, stockings, and slippers.

“You say you have been faithful.”

Kneeling before her, his hands did a sensual slide around her hips to caress her bottom. He nuzzled her womanhood through her thin shift. A clenching heat scorched her insides.

“Most assuredly.” He pulled away and raised her foot to slip off her shoe. His hands slid with slow purpose up her stocking, coming to a stop when his fingers brushed the bare skin of her thigh. He rolled the stocking down.

She lifted her foot to allow him to pull the stocking off, the silk whispered down her leg. “You claim there are no ladybirds.”

He repeated the same motions on her other leg. “None.”

“Not even servants.”

He rose to his feet. “Of course not.” He looked around. “The floor will not do. It will cause you too much discomfort. Come.” He led her to a bench at the side of the cavernous room. She went, hungry for the truth but at the same time famished for him. Facing her, he lifted the hem of her shift.

She raised her arms to allow him to pull it off over her head. “I have heard otherwise.”

His eyes gleamed with appreciation at the sight of her bare body. He ran his hands over her shoulders, down to her breasts. He cupped the tender globes with warm, enticing hands, his thumbs caressing the points. “Have you? From whom, may I ask?”

Her eyes shuttered as her head fell back. It was as if the sun’s strongest rays pulsated inside of her. She hated herself for being a slave to the explosive sensations he incited in her. Struggling for sanity, she forced hers eyes open. “Does it matter who informed me?”

His hands left her breasts. He removed his breeches in quick, efficient movements. His member emerged pointing, swollen and demanding. He sat on the bench and tried to turn Bella to face him. She resisted, anxious to hold on to her anger. Chuckling, and with her back still facing him, Sebastian eased her down onto his lap, slipping inside her from behind.

“If I am to be impugned, I should know my accuser.” His large hands wrapped around her hips. He eased her up and down his hardened flesh, showing her the motion.

She caught the rhythm almost immediately and began to move of her own accord. Up and down, caught up in the delicious slide of sensation. She struggled to follow the conversation. “Orford says there is a servant girl in Camryn’s household who is with child.”

“Susan. Yes, I know of her situation.” His breathing quickened as he worked inside of her. “The question is, how does Orford know of it?”

“What does that matter?” Jealous anger sparked in her again. She moved faster and harder. “I saw you with her.”