To Seduce a Bride (11 page)

She didn't respond at once, and when she did, her tone was thoughtful. “Do you keep a mistress, Lord Claybourne?”

The question surprised him for its boldness, but he gave her an honest reply. “Not regularly, no.”

“But you have had countless lovers.”

His mouth curved. “You give me too much credit. The number is not countless. Even I haven't that much fortitude.”

“Nevertheless, I expect you are a bit too much like my father for my tastes.”

Fixing his gaze on Lily, Heath regarded her intently. “I'll have you know, I mean to remain faithful to our marriage vows after we are wed.”

Her pause spoke volumes. Because of the veil, he couldn't see her arched eyebrows, but he heard the cynicism in her voice when she replied. “I find that very difficult to believe.”

He would never overcome her doubts by arguing with her, Heath knew, so he settled for a mild reply. “I can see that teaching you to trust me should be my first goal.”

“You are welcome to try,” she said without much conviction.

“I realize it won't be easy, given your low opinion of noblemen.”

Lily nodded seriously. “I've had good reason to think ill of your ilk just recently, my lord. Two of our boarders were in service to noble households and were seduced by their masters, then thrown out onto the streets and forced to sell their bodies to survive.” Her tone turned dark. “It is appalling, what they endured. Can you even imagine facing such an horrific experience?”

Since her question seemed rhetorical, Heath didn't answer, nor apparently did Lily expect him to, for she went on ardently. “And then they were roundly condemned for the sin of prostitution! It isn't fair,” she said with real anger in her voice.

“No it isn't.”

She finally looked over at him again. “Are you simply being agreeable because you wish to impress me?”

“No,” Heath said solemnly. “I admire your passion. It's clear you are a very compassionate and caring woman.”

Lily seemed to relax a measure. “Not as compassionate as my friend Miss Blanchard. Now
she
is truly good. She has the kindest soul I've ever known. I am not particularly good or kind. I just feel sorry for the vulnerable and helpless, especially the unfortunate women who must use their bodies as merchandise. Thankfully I was able to find those two girls employment with the household staff at Danvers Hall, even though Marcus didn't need any more servants.”

Heath raised an eyebrow. “You sent your two boarders to Marcus?”

Lily hesitated. “Actually, I sent them to Roslyn. At the time I couldn't ask Marcus to take them in, since I didn't want him to know I was in London.” From her tone, he suspected Lily's cheeks were flushing, but she gave him no chance to reply before continuing. “I could not simply ignore their plight, though. They needed someone to stand up for them. To help them to escape that awful life.”

He studied her thoughtfully. “And yet you are actively preparing your pupils to attract wealthy patrons at the soiree.”

Lily grimaced. “I know. But my friends convinced me it was the best course. If our boarders have a large enough income, they will have a greater measure of control over their lives, more choices for their futures. They won't be quite so trapped and powerless as they are now. I am still concerned for them, however—which is why I asked you to find suitable candidates from among your bachelor friends. Our boarders deserve patrons who are kind and gentle. Widowers, perhaps, who need companionship more than passion. Or gentlemen like my friend Basil, who are amiable and tolerant, even bashful. Men who won't behave like brutes simply because they control the purse strings.”

“Your pupils are fortunate to have you champion them so earnestly.”

For a few heartbeats, Lily eyed him as if trying to judge his sincerity. “I suppose you deserve some of the credit, Lord Claybourne.”

“Credit?”

“For causing me to come to London in the first place. If not for you wanting to court me, I never would have become involved with our boarders.”

“Now
that
is a novel notion,” Heath murmured with a tinge of wryness.

Lily stiffened. “I am completely serious, my lord.”

“I can see that, angel. And I commend your efforts. I was simply laughing at the irony of my courtship driving you to such lengths.”

“It
is
rather ironic,” she said more softly. Her mouth twisted without humor. “No doubt I can sympathize with their difficulties because of what my sisters and I went through after our family scandals erupted. We could easily have wound up in the same dire circumstances as our boarders.”

Heath found himself frowning. He didn't like thinking of Lily at the mercy of fate like that. He hated to imagine her as a needy young girl, forced into prostitution to survive.

“And
someone
needs to help them,” Lily added. “They will get little assistance from most members of our class. Take yourself, for example. You are a gentleman of leisure. You treat life as a game.”

Perhaps that was true, Heath acknowledged. Pursuit of pleasure and excitement had been his aim for much of his life.

“Before meeting our girls, I was a good deal like you,” Lily continued. “I didn't worry much about the lower classes or consider how they managed to survive. And we were so sheltered from the realities of life, I never even knew women like our boarders existed. Except for Fanny, of course, and she is certainly not typical of the demimonde. But now I feel as if I have finally found a calling.”

Heath nodded thoughtfully. He'd never given much consideration to the plight of fallen women. Oh, he'd always behaved with honor toward his servants and ensured their welfare. But otherwise, he rarely involved himself in their lives.

He could admire Lily for her newfound passion. She had channeled her rebellious spirit into striving for a worthy cause.

Just then, however, they arrived at the entrance to the park.

Lily visibly shook herself before giving him another glance. “Do forgive me, my lord. I have bored you to tears.”

“You haven't bored me in the least. In fact, I can honestly say you are the least boring woman I have ever met.”

When he smiled, she made a face. “Well, it certainly was not my intention to entertain you. Perhaps we should ride?”

Entering the park, they guided their horses onto a wide gravel path flanked by elms and oaks. But they had gone barely ten yards when they saw two riders approaching.

Recognizing both gentlemen, Heath paused politely to greet them, but Lily urged her mare past them, leaving him to deal with his friends.

And as soon as he caught up to her, she broke into an easy canter.

“I'm certain you understand why I would rather not meet anyone in your illustrious circles,” she explained before he could take her to task for riding on without him.

“Yes, but I would prefer that you wait for me next time,” Heath chided. “You should have an escort when you ride anywhere in London.”

“A pity that I cannot oblige,” she replied sweetly, spurring her horse into a faster canter. “You see, I mean to leave you in my dust.”

Heath couldn't help but grin at her provocation. “Is that a challenge to race, Miss Loring?”

“Most certainly,” she called over her shoulder.

Bending over the mare's neck, she asked for more speed, and Heath knew that if he wanted to keep Lily in sight, he would have to accept her challenge.

He dug his heels into his mount's sides, and soon they were both galloping along the path, heedless of the impropriety of racing through a public park.

He managed to close some of the distance between them, yet he was distracted by the simple pleasure of watching Lily ride. She was a hellion in the saddle, that was strikingly clear. And then she threw her head back and laughed with sheer exuberance.

At the sound of her joyful laughter, Heath felt a sharp tug of sheer lust rippling in his gut.

Realizing that he would never win their race if he didn't focus, though, he put all his effort into the match. Even so, she gradually drew away from him. And when they finally reached the end of the path at the far end of the park, Lily was ahead by nearly two lengths.

When she pulled up, her spirited mare was snorting and prancing in excitement, and Lily herself was a bit breathless.

“That was utterly delightful!” she exclaimed, patting the mare's neck.

Heath drew rein ruefully, aware that he hadn't been bested that badly in a horse race since he and Marcus and Drew were boys. He was even more aware of his exhilaration at watching Lily.
She
was utterly delightful, Heath thought. Delightful and vibrant and intoxicatingly alive.

He couldn't see the upper part of her face because of that damned veil, but her ripe mouth alone was enough to rouse a stimulating fantasy in his mind: making love to Lily and setting all that marvelous passion free. He had no doubt what she would be like in his bed. Hot, passionate, eager, wild.

The thought made him hard at once, which regrettably made his doeskin riding breeches painfully tight. Hence, Heath was glad for the slower pace when they turned back the way they had come and kept to a walk to cool their sweating horses.

They had reached the juncture of a new path when Heath found himself hailed again by more of his acquaintances. This time it was two ladies driving a dashing phaeton.

“You are quite popular this morning, my lord,” Lily murmured, flashing him a mischievous smile before turning her horse down the side path.

By the time Heath had suffered the ladies' effusive regards, Lily was nowhere in sight. Impatiently he set out after her, a niggling concern for her safety chafing at him. Even though she seemed well able to take care of herself, an unaccompanied young lady could be a target for any manner of riffraff.

He followed the path Lily had taken, moving off it now and then to make certain she wasn't hiding behind a thicket or concealed in a stand of trees. But there was no sign of her anywhere. She had disappeared.

Heath combed the entire park twice to no avail. Twenty minutes later, he finally returned to the park entrance and found her patiently waiting for him.

His relief vied with vexation, although her enchanting smile almost made him forget his ire.

“What kept you, Lord Claybourne? I have been waiting for simply ages.”

Her tone was teasing, provocative, and it made Heath want to drag Lily off her mare and onto his lap so he could kiss her senseless. But he settled for saying mildly, “I was searching for you, of course. I couldn't credit that you would be so unwise as to ride alone. It can be dangerous for you.”

“Perhaps, but I decided to start as I mean to go on. I won't make it easy for you to win points by always acquiescing passively to your tactics, my lord.” Her saucy smile broadened. “What will our judges think when you confess that you lost your quarry? It should prove amusing, seeing you explain how I managed to escape your escort.”

“It will hardly be amusing for me,” he said dryly.

She laughed at his exasperation. At that husky, glorious laughter, Heath felt a rush of heat arrow through him.

I want you, sweet Lily,
he thought.
I want you beneath me, beside me, sharing your vibrant passion with me. I want your laughter surrounding me.

“I expect you won't find it amusing, my lord,” Lily agreed. “But I warned you, remember? This is what you can expect if you insist on continuing our game. Are you willing to give up yet?” she asked sweetly as she turned her horse toward the street.

“Not on your life.”

He wasn't about to give her up now, Heath reflected silently. He wanted this bright-eyed spitfire who radiated vibrancy. And the only honorable way to have her was through marriage.

The prospect was growing more appealing by the moment. He could imagine Lily as his wife now. He could even imagine willingly spending time with her once they were wed.

Long pleasurable nights filled with passion. Delightful days filled with laughter and adventure.

However, it would be a tactical mistake to suggest any such future to Lily, Heath knew. “You will find that challenges only spur me on to greater lengths,” he said instead.

“They do the same for me,” she replied.

“See, I've been trying to tell you we have a great deal in common.”

Her smile returned. “I don't deny that, but my love of a challenge will prove very uncomfortable in a wife.”

“Actually I think it will prove exhilarating. And I think you are utterly enchanting.”

That made her smile falter. “I wish you wouldn't do that, Lord Claybourne—shower me with empty flattery.”

“It is not empty, believe me.”

“Well, I don't want your compliments.”

“Very well, if it makes you uneasy, I will stop.”

That was another difference between Lily and most other women he knew. She was so unassuming about her beauty. And she had no idea how desirable he found her.

But he did find her utterly desirable. There was a fire in her, and he wanted to be burned.

He had never expected to encounter a woman like Lily, Heath reflected. She continually surprised him, even if she left him exasperated and very determined to win their battle. She was feisty, clever, tart-tongued, generous, with a lively sense of adventure.

His mother had possessed her same high spirits, he recalled. In truth, he saw something of his mother's vividness in Lily…except that his mother had been rather gay and flighty, always living for the moment.

Camilla was always laughing, also. He still missed the laughter she'd instilled in his childhood. She had died in childbirth when he was ten, dealing Heath a severe blow.

It had been a blow to his father as well, surprisingly enough. Before Camilla's death, his father had been a staid, boring, deadly dull stick in the mud. And afterward, Simon had become more like a corpse, as if the very life had drained out of him. He'd withdrawn even further into his shell, closed himself off to any kind of joy or pleasure.