Eloisa James - Duchess by Night (27 page)

Harriet swal owed. I suppose thats good, she ventured.

As a youngster, I managed to find plenty of women who were happy to do the deed for free, thus fol owing the family tradition while engaging in a little mutiny at the same time. It was only when my father thought I was pursuing men that he got the wind up.

Men! Harriet exclaimed.

Men. He shrugged. Its not in me. But one of my closest friends from Oxford was of a different sort. He was a true friend. Not my lover, but my father couldnt be bothered to see the difference.

Isnt he alive anymore?

He shook his head. Kil ed. No goodbye there either. At any rate, my father thought I was learning to share his proclivities, so he married me off to Sal y.

What was she like?

Funny, Jem said. I resented her, of course. She was tal and slim, and I fancied my father had picked her because she looked like a boy. But she was a woman, al through. She could pul witticisms out of the air.

Jealousy sometimes masqueraded as hatred. Sometimes it was just hatred, though. Harriet thought she probably hated tal , slim Sal y.

Its been eight years since she died, he said. We had very little time together. But we had amusing times while she was alive.

Wonderful, Harriet said flatly. And then she added: I can see why you wished you had said goodbye. Im sorry that wasnt possible.

Did you say goodbye to your husband?

No.

Was it quite sudden?

She nodded.

They came and told me Sal y was dead, Jem said, dropping into a chair. And then they brought me Eugenia. She was ugly, of course. She had an odd head because Sal y had labored so long. I thought she looked like some sort of monkey. But she looked at me with her squinty little eyes, and I could see Sal y there.

Thats so sweet, Harriet said, feeling a lump in her throat.

Not real y, he said. I didnt see Eugenia herself. Al I saw was that Sal y had left a scrap of herself behind, and that I had to treasure it. So I bought this house and had the west wing secured to keep her safe.

But why on earth would you have to worry so much? Harriet asked. I just dont understand Im the richest man in England, Jem stated. My father had a fair amount, as wel . And my sister What happened to your sister?

A man kidnapped her and forced her into a false marriage. My father had him tracked down and kil ed, of course. Just like that, my sister became a widow.

She must have been so distressed by the whole event! Harriet cried.

She was distressed long before, Jem said. But his tone didnt invite any more questions.

There has to be some way that Eugenia can have more of a childhood, Harriet said. If she visited me, no one would suspect who she was; she would be perfectly safe.

Il think about it, he said. Al this talk of visiting you havent left yet, Harriet. Youre in my house She loved that look in his eye. In my bed

His hand slid under her and wrapped around her bare bottom; she started to say something but his mouth was on her breast.

This was no whispery little caress. His mouth was warm and wet. A tremor went through her body. He sucked harder and whatever Harriet was going to say died on her lips.

He was shaping her buttocks in his hand, pul ing her up and toward the pul of his mouth. He made his way down her body with tiny bites, and every touch of his mouth made her shake.

He reared up and she opened her eyes again. There was a wicked spark in his eyes, something that spoke of lust, pure lust.

I want you. Now. He ran his thumb over her nipple. Do you understand, Harriet?

Yes, she whispered.

He rubbed a little harder. I think Im going to want to make love to you in the morning as wel .

She opened her mouth to say something, but he ran his thumb down between her legs and she started gasping instead.

Eyes stil on hers, he put a hand on her breast. Youre part of this, Harriet. Youre not just the audience.

I know, she said, hearing the desire in her own voice. Then she woke up to what he was saying. What do you want me to do?

She looked rather wildly at his body. Would he like to be kissed?

He grinned, and the sparks were wild in his eyes. For now, lie back and tel me exactly what you feel.

It took her a while. Harriet had not been raised to tel men what to do. Yet perhaps the fact that shed practiced that particular skil in a court of law lay behind her success: by twenty minutes later, she was very comfortable with the practice indeed. Yes, she found herself saying. No, not there there! And final y she couldnt form words anymore, but by then Jem had turned her body into a musical instrument. He knew her strings and chords and melodies He knew her song and he loved it.

They took a bath (Harriet made Jem go into the wardrobe and stay there until the footman came and went). The bath wasinteresting.

They sopped up the water with a sheet and found their way back to bed, crawled, exhausted, into the bed.

Harriet woke to find Jems large warm body curled around hers. Im not just the audience, Harriet told herself.

It wasnt a concept shed ever imagined. She was the audience in most of her life: Benjamins audience for chess, the courts audience for arguments.

Not an audience was a fascinating concept.

She ran her fingers over his muscled chest, through his chest hair, circled his nipple. Jem made a sound in his sleep and rol ed onto his back.

A penis, Harriet decided, was an odd thing. Though she loved her breeches, she was just as glad not to have one of those. She slid her hand down his stomach and then touched him. It.

It was smooth and hard, like a piece of marble. It raised questions in her mind. What would it taste like? What would it feel like in her mouth? What wouldwhat did it feel like to Jem?

He was sleeping so peaceful y, long lashes resting on his cheek as his chest rose up and down. But the fact was that he kept kissing her in private places. An involuntary shudder ran through her body. Surely he would like it if she did so to him.

She had dared to touch him in the bath, a soapy hand running up and down his shaft. He had thrown his head back and groaned, as if he were in pain. But then he stopped her.

It had been stark desire in his face, the same sort of tearing, itching lust that made her cry out when he was kissing her, arching her hips, begging him to come to her.

Yes, she had the idea that he might truly like it if she kissed him.

So she did.

He was warmer than marble, and he tasted like soap. Lemon soap, because it had been her bath.

She started experimenting, and forgot he was part of the picture until al of a sudden a male body erupted from the sheet and flipped her over.

For a moment Harriet relaxed, her body welcoming his touch, the fierce look in his eyes, the way his body But: No!

Jem froze. Gulped, like a little boy caught with a stolen cake. Harriet started grinning and wiggled her body backwards. No.

Why not? His voice sounded rusty. Not smooth and sensual, but desperate. She started laughing, slid out from under him.

Im not the audience, she told him, leaning over, loving his chest and his arms, and the way his muscles defined his stomach.

Right now, you are an audience.

Then she pushed him down and began deliberately, slowly, powerful y taking over the game. Making it her own. His bodyhers.

Owned by knowledge of its every crook and corner.

She turned his body into a musical instrument and final y held him helpless, groaning, begging, his hands clutched in her hair.

I never lose control, he said, warning her, reassuring himself, something like that. His teeth were obviously clenched. Harriet She ignored him, slid over his body.

And took his control. Threw it away with her kisses, caresses, slow wet love No audience, she.

After, he lay there silent.

Are you al right? she whispered.

Ive never been so right, he said, a moment later. He sounded awestruck. She let herself laugh, then tucked herself against his side.

When he rol ed over this time, it was in a tangle of limbs that included a silent request, her affirmation, their utterly silent agreement

Then he was pounding into her and it was as if she felt both him, almost too large, pulsing with life, and herself, soft velvet, wet.

She felt his body as much as hers.

He lowered his head and they kissed. He never missed a beat; her body rose to meet his.

Its as if were not two people anymore, Harriet thought blearily. But those delicious heat waves were starting to spread, to grow from her toes, to rock through her body and everything slid away from her but the feeling of his strong body in her arms, the wildness of his tongue, the power of his body.

Marriage Proposals are So RomanticSometimes

February 9, 1784

I have to pack, Harriet said the next morning, very early. And you have to leave this room. Any moment Lucil e wil enter to help me dress and shel likely shriek the house down if she sees you.

Im not leaving, Jem stated.

Harriet had seen that look on a mans face before. It was the look Benjamin had when he had just started a game of chess and she wanted to leave a party and go home. It was the look her father used to get when her mother would demand that he wear jeweled heels.

And, Jem added, youre not going anywhere either. Il send the Duchess of Cosway home with six outriders to protect her, if you wish. Il send the entire household with her. He rol ed over and put a finger on her nose. You, Miss Harry, are staying with me.

Harriet was conscious of a feeling of giddy joy. I cant stay here forever, she managed. There are things I have to do at home.

Your country squire is gone. My wife is gone. Neither one of us has any reason to be anywhere other than in this bed. You dont have children, do you?

No.

Harriet, do you real y think that youre simply going to leave and go back to your little estate, wherever it is?

She blinked at him. Of course I do.

Youre not.

She couldnt help smiling. I appreciate the moments in bed when you forceful y state your opinion, Jem, but this is different. I am not going to stay with you. I shal return to my own estate, and I would be very happy to bring Eugenia with me for a prolonged visit.

No.

Are you sure? she said, biting her lip. Its not good for her being in that room by herself al the time. Did you see the game shes playing right now?

I thought some of the rats were very wel fashioned, he said. I do feel guilty because she wasnt adequately bathed before bed.

Weve had the rat-catcher into the house. He hasnt found any evidence of a rat infestation.

What would an infestation mean?

That this house held a whole vil age of them. He thinks the rat that bit Eugenia came in to escape the cold and was frightened.

But shel have one of the terrier puppies from the vil age to stay with her, just as soon as its old enough to leave its mother. And no rat wil never enter her room with a terrier there.

I dont think my house has rats

I didnt think mine did either! he said, his voice raising.

But I know there are little girls living next to me, she said, pleading. Please let her pay a visit, Jem.

You dont understand. Shes not paying a visit because you arent leaving.

Harriet was starting to feel a little exasperated. You need to listen to me, Jem. You have just as much trouble being an audience as I do, it seems. She swung her legs out of bed. I wonder where Lucil e is.

Shel be here within the half hour, and your reputation wil be ruined forever. There was a liquid note of satisfaction in his voice.

Not mine, Harriet said, Mr. Copes.

Wel , then, my reputation wil be ruined forever, Jem pointed out, since you are Mr. Cope. Al my fathers worst nightmares come true.

Youd better leave then.

Im not leaving.

Harriet sighed and started looking about for her dressing gown.

When Sal y died, Jem said chattily, I suspect that everyone thought that I would go back to my hel -raking ways. I didnt.

Because you loved her so much? Harriet hoped her tone wasnt surly. She didnt feel surlymuch.

No. I loved her, but loving a dead woman wouldnt necessarily stop a man from sleeping with a lively courtesan.

This struck Harriet as male logic. If youre not leaving, she said flatly, I am. Do not fol ow me; Isidore is certainly stil unclothed.

And she walked straight through the connecting door.

When he thumped on the door, she took the precaution of locking it.

Isidore stuck her head up from the covers. Her hair was tumbling around her shoulders. Whats happening? she asked fuzzily.

Then her eyes widened. Is there a rat in your room?

Not exactly, Harriet said.

Harriet, open this door, Jem bel owed.

Isidore fel backwards. Oh, Harriet.

You are going to marry me, Jem bel owed. And you know it!

Harriet choked. I am not going to marry you. But thank you for the proposal.

Lord Strange just asked you to marry him, Isidore said in a faintly awed tone. Harriet!

And I said no, Harriets heart was beating fast. It was the first time a man had asked her to marry him of his own volition.

Benjamins proposal came about through an arrangement between their fathers.

Why dont you? Isidore hissed. I dont mean to be mercenary, but in case youve forgotten, hes terribly rich. And charming.

The door shook as a fist pounded into it again. Jem bel owed: Harriet, open this door or Il break it down.

Isidore gave a little shriek. Open it!

Lets see if he can real y break it down, Harriet responded.

The entire door frame shook and there was the groan of splitting wood.

He can, Isidore said happily. She was sitting up in bed now. This is so exciting. And romantic! I wish my husband would break down the door to fetch me.

The door shuddered under the next blow. I listened to everything you said! Jem shouted. You have little girls next door, and kittens in the barn, and what youre real y saying is that you love Eugenia.