Wicked Nights With a Proper Lady (21 page)

“You can come here any time you so wish it. Let it be my gift to you.”

“It’s very kind of you.”

“I mean it. The flowers are meant to be enjoyed, not to languish here without someone to admire them. Feel free to wander over here any time of the day … or night. I’ll alert my staff that a young woman may be around to take in the beauty of the gardens.”

“You know I can do no such thing.”

“Yes you can. You just don’t want to live dangerously at the moment. If the urge should ever take you, my offer is open-ended.” He gave her a gallant bow before offering her his arm. “Now, let us get you tucked into the relative safety of your room.”

“Thank you for making good on your word.”

“Why you thought I wouldn’t baffles me.” He gave her a smile and simply enjoyed their proximity on the walk back to the Carleton Estate.

Chapter 15

It has come to this writer’s attention that the soon-to-be-appointed Earl of F
^___
was seen shopping at a jeweler’s known to provide the most delicate and precious of gems for those with deep enough pockets for such lavish finery. Though he did not leave with a box in hand, he did spend a great deal of time inside conversing with the proprietor.

Being the type of
gentle
man he is, and setting aside his most recent accounts of courting, who’s to say this gift isn’t yet another bauble for the plethora of women it is rumored he keeps on hand in Town like a harem for a Turkish Bey?

The Mayfair Chronicles, July 28, 1846

Delirious. That was the precise feeling that bombarded her very being. He’d played his games of seduction these past few days, charmed her at every opportunity, and he made her feel … smitten and drunk on a familiar sensation of anticipation, desire, and rekindled love.

All he had to do was glance at her from across the room to make her quiver with eagerness. It was difficult to keep her gaze from constantly straying in his direction, difficult to keep from brushing up against him when they were alone even for the briefest of moments. Every surreptitious touch made her crave him all the more.

He made her feel alive.

And because of
that
she couldn’t stay away.

They were acting as circumspect as they had four years ago, or, at least, she hoped that to be true because the
inevitable
was bound to happen. And soon. It wouldn’t do for their affair to be revealed to anyone currently in residence at the Carleton Estate.

While Leo had kept his word and done no more than spend time with her, she didn’t think she could stick to the rules she had demanded for much longer. There was an unfulfilled yearning so palpable between them that the very air they breathed was filled with sexual tension.

Could she be so bold as to steal into his room tonight? Or should she ask that he meet her somewhere less conspicuous? Perhaps they could find a place where they could let go of all their inhibitions and indulge in their every sense without fear of being caught by another houseguest.

She felt very wicked and decided to retire early from the parlor that evening with Charlotte. Tonight she would be bold and … adventurous.

Putting her evening dress in the wardrobe, she donned her nightclothes. She chose a simple white linen nightgown with a matching robe with a Chantilly lace and satin frill at the hem. Her nipples puckered as the cool material slipped over her skin like a lover’s touch. The very thought of Leo’s hands skimming and molding her naked body had her heart racing.

Carefully removing all her hairpins, she dropped them in a crystal tray on her vanity and uncoiled her hair, letting the locks fall loose about her shoulders and down the length of her back. She took up the tresses, split them into sections, and weaved the pieces together in a thick braid.

How much longer should she delay? Would Leo be in his room? Surely he was, it was past eleven.

She stared at her reflection above her vanity and pinched her cheeks to bring some color to them. Without doubt, he wanted her. And she’d not lie to herself, she wanted him and had secretly wanted to go to him since he’d found her stargazing and done no more than have an intelligent conversation with her.

In spite of the fact that she should refrain from doing her heart’s desire, because that was the right thing to do, she was doing something for herself, and only herself since the last time she’d seen Leo.

She was really going to do this.

Not questioning the oddly freeing sensation she felt, she went over to her door and stood in the little anteroom with her ear pressed tightly against the wood. The only thing she heard was the mantel clock ticking out the minutes back in her room.

As she turned the oval brass knob on the door, it clicked loudly open. She paused and held her breath, hand still clasped tightly around the cool handle. She was not so alarmed by the sound as to close the door and retreat to the safety of her room and lonely bed. Tonight, she didn’t want to be alone—not now that her mind was decided.

Peeking her head out the door, she glanced left and then right. A sigh of relief escaped her as she quickly closed the door behind her and ran to Barrington’s room. The design of the house was a wonderful aid to clandestine affairs; each bedchamber was equipped with two doors. There was only about three feet of space between the two, but it was enough to close herself quietly between them and stay hidden from anyone wandering the halls at this late hour. Not that she saw anyone else.

Rapping her knuckles very lightly against Barrington’s chamber door, she waited with a thrill of excitement skipping her heart along. Her knuckles fell heavier against the paneled door when he didn’t immediately answer.

She chewed nervously at her lip and dropped her hand when she heard another voice—not Leo’s—emanating from Barrington’s private room. Before her mind could come up with a number of scenarios that had her cursing silently at her stupidity, the door flew open.

Barrington stood before her in his shirtsleeves, one hand holding the door open, the other braced on the door frame.

His smile softened to something more sensual when he saw that it was she standing on the other side. “Lady Luck has brought me a treasure this evening.”

She opened her mouth to ask him who had been in the room with him but couldn’t speak once his mouth descended upon hers.

It took every bit of her will to push her fists between them and break the delicious press of their mouths.

“I heard someone else,” she said breathlessly.

“Are you jealous?”

“No. But…” She was but she’d sound like a ninny admitting that. “You enjoy tormenting me far too much. I should go.” The disappointment was palpable in her tone as she backed up a few steps.

“Princess.” Leo shook his head and cupped his hands over her arms. “Marks, my valet, was attending to me.”

He spread his arms wide, drawing her attention back to his lack of attire. He wore only his shirtsleeves, suspenders, and dark trousers. Suddenly embarrassed that she’d questioned who was in his room, her gaze veered away from him and to the surrounding room. Similarly appointed as hers, the room varied only in the color scheme, his being darker and more masculine. The bed looked slightly larger than hers, the coverlet a deep brown to match the burgundy walls. There was a writing desk and couch whereas she had a vanity and a chair by the fire grate in her room.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “You must think me juvenile and foolish.”

“Never foolish. And my thoughts are far from juvenile. So much so, I believe you need to let me kiss you again to prove it.”

An impish grin curved her mouth upward as she took his offered hand so he could lure her fully into his room.

“We’ll have to be very quiet,” she whispered.

“I look forward to smothering your cries with my mouth, and my hands if necessary.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively as he took her hands in his and drew her nearer. His breath fanned out over the shell of her ear seconds before he nibbled on the sensitive lobe.

“What changed your mind about coming to me, princess?”

“I really can’t say.” She cocked one eyebrow. “Why would you question that right now?”

In response, he gave her a deep chuckle as he released the tie on her robe. “If you change your mind at any point, you’ll need to tell me.”

“Had I any reservations, I would not have come.”

Leo pushed the satiny material from her shoulders and let it pool on the ground around her feet. His breath hitched. It wasn’t that she wore anything out of the ordinary. Beneath her cover was a simple shift, and her stays were still bound tightly around her waist. Though she had thought to step out of her slippers on entering his room.

“Do you think we’ll be safe enough from discovery in here?”

Leo left her side and headed back toward the door. He turned the key in the lock and placed it on a rectangular oak table flush to the wall.

“Trust me to protect your reputation, Genny.” His voice was sincere. “I won’t fail you.”

“Tall words, my lord.”

“I like you. Isn’t that enough to see that my words and actions are genuine?”

He liked her. And she liked him, too. Her desire for a fairy-tale happy-ever-after ending had skipped in her heart before it was crushed by his simple but truthful words.

Like.

“Like” was the henchman’s noose. The executioner’s ax. The guillotine’s screeching, sharp end.

Why couldn’t he love her?

And why were her thoughts turning maudlin? She focused on the present—on the reason she had come here. On the man she’d come to in the dead of night with only one purpose in mind.

He gave her a wide berth as he walked toward the sofa that filled the small sitting area. Was he so attuned to her that he sensed her sudden unease and wanted to give her space?

“Do you want me to send Marks for some refreshments or a late-night snack?”

She shook her head. “While I trust you, I don’t want anyone else to know I’m here.”

“You needn’t fear. I’ve promised to protect you from discovery.”

He had.

Walking slowly around the room, Genny felt completely comfortable in what little clothes she wore—it was almost reminiscent of old times. Leo followed her, eating her up with that rapt, intent gaze of his. It was clear that she held a great deal of power over this man right now. Had she always had this kind of control over him? It was possible she had been too young and inexperienced in life to have ever noticed it before now.

The thought gave her renewed courage in her seduction.

Genny sauntered over to the back of the sofa and beckoned Leo over with a single nod of her head. “Won’t you sit?”

The black fire blazing in his eyes told her everything she needed to know about his thoughts. “What do you have planned, my lady?”

“It’s better to keep you guessing. Besides, you’ll know soon enough.” She patted the back of the dark-upholstered sofa with the palm of her hand.

“I aim to please you.” And with that, he complied.

It had been so long since she’d touched him intimately that she wanted to savor every moment tonight. Though she was thankful they would have other nights since the house party went on for two more weeks.

She whispered huskily in his ear, “Lie back, my lord.”

He made a noise of contentment as the flats of her hands ran over the planes of his heavily muscled chest. Her palms slid beneath the open vee of his shirt to press against his warm skin.

Pulling her hands free, she yanked on the suspenders. “I like this look on you. The change in fashion and move away from corsets on men is an improvement.”

“Since when did I ever wear such a thing?”

“Never, but so many do. It would be a shame to hide your brawny, masculine frame.”

Leo tugged at her braid, which had fallen over his chest when she leaned over him. He untied the satin ribbon on the end so her hair could be easily unraveled. “I like it when your hair is unbound. Now come closer so that I can assault your mouth a while longer.”

As she stood on the tips of her toes, their noses brushed together before their lips met. His arms reached up to cradle her head closer as their lips meshed, parted, and tasted. Their tongues tangled in a familiar dance of eroticism. Not caught off guard by this kiss, she enjoyed every nip and lick.

Leo pulled her over the back of the sofa and onto his lap. He maneuvered them so he lay stretched out beneath her, head resting on one of the gold-tasseled velvet bolsters decorating either end. Hitching up the long frilly skirt of her nightgown, he settled her body over his.

He broke their kiss for a second. “Will you come to me every night?”

“Possibly.” She liked being in control of their affair. She also liked to tease him. Of course she had every intention of coming to him every night, but she also liked the note of desperation in his voice.

“I’d like it if you did.” He brushed away a stray lock of hair that had fallen down the side of her face.

“I’m sure you would.”

His hands slid down her back next, running along the corset laces, plucking at them as if they were the strings of a cello. He loosened her stays at a painstakingly slow pace. She just wanted it off.

The hard ridge of his arousal pressed into her belly. She craved to touch him and wanted to rub her body along his without clothes to hinder them, but she wanted to savor every moment of removing each other’s clothes first.

Slowly releasing the strings that bound the corset around her waist, Leo tugged at the contraption till it was loose. All that was left was to unclasp the front busk. He left it alone to push the material of her shift aside.

“Your skin is as soft as I remember,” he said as he pressed his lips against her exposed shoulder. Her fingers threaded through the longish locks of his dark hair, luxuriating in the soft texture. His kisses were slow and exploring. He was moving too unhurriedly for her liking. She was hungry for so much more of him.