Taming Maria (26 page)

She disposed
herself on a rose-pink brocade daybed, hair loosened about her bare
shoulder, the towel slipping and displaying more of her than was
perhaps seemly. But her manner was so casual and she gave the
impression of being perfectly at ease, that when she suggested he
sit by her, it sounded like the most natural thing in the
world.

'Now then, Mr
Claremont, and why are you here?' she asked, signalling to Kitty,
who brought forward two glasses of sherry.

'I have a
message for Lady Maria, from her friend, Lady Jane.' This was true
enough, but when Robin thought of the contents of the letter his
uneasiness increased. No doubt Lady Arabella would be as shocked as
Jane's mother by his temerity in asking her to marry him.

'I haven't
seen her this morning, but understand she has gone riding with her
guardian. You can leave the letter with me,' Arabella suggested,
and the tip of her pink tongue crept out to lick the sherry from
her lips.

Robin's
discomfort increased. This was the first time he had entered the
bower of a highborn, fashionable lady, the glimpse of creamy skin
and the honey-sweet tone of her voice seducing him from his
purpose. He loved Jane with all his heart, but this was a situation
the like of which he had never experienced and was totally
unprepared.

'Thank you, my
lady. You are very kind. Lady Jane will be so pleased,' he
stammered. 'But she did charge me to place it in her hands
myself.'

'Oh dear,
don't you trust me?' Arabella's eyes widened and her lips
pouted.

'Of course! I
am just doing as Lady Jane instructed,' he replied, his colour
heightening even more.

'Your loyalty
is very commendable,' she said, leaning against his shoulder, the
towel slipping lower, almost baring one nipple. Robin found it
impossible to avert his eyes. She touched the side of his cheek.
'Why are you staring at me?'

'I'm sorry, my
lady, but you are so beautiful, like a Greek statue... Aphrodite,
perhaps.'

'Flatterer! My
word, you should be at Court, your talents are wasted on the
church. I grow weary of the beaux who spend so much time on their
appearances that they forget the ladies they are trying to
impress.'

'I have
already given my life to God,' he answered seriously. 'But I would
do anything to help a friend.'

'Very
commendable.' She gave a sultry smile. 'Do you mean anything?'

'As long as it
was within the law.' Robin felt a gutless fool, but Arabella was
like no one he had ever met. She was behaving like a slut but with
the air of an empress. He jumped when her hand rested on his thigh,
but could not prevent the thickening of his penis.

'So, you are
member of the clergy?' Her fingers were creeping closer and closer
to his crotch.

He cleared his
throat. 'That is correct. I'm about to take up my first post as a
curate.'

'I'm sure
you'll not stop there. I can see you rising...'

'You can?'
Robin cursed his wayward cock for betraying him.

'Oh, yes.' She
glanced down meaningfully, and then added, 'To the rank of vicar,
or rector, even bishop. Would you like your own manse? Perhaps you
have ambitions to marry.'

This brought
him up sharply. Jane! Oh, God, he was forgetting Jane! But he
hardly dared move, his weapon so primed it was likely to explode at
any second. Arabella rubbed against him sinuously, her smile
indicating that she was well aware of his discomfort.

Robin tore
himself away with a supreme effort. He stood doubled over,
clutching himself, willing that unsightly protuberance to subside.
Arabella arched her back and the towel slid down, baring her to the
fork. Robin came in his breeches. She watched his spasms and the
wet stain that spread across the front of the black cloth. As she
did so she licked her finger and caressed her clitoris, a musing
smile curving her poppy-red lips.

Kitty, who had
been observing the drive from her position in the window embrasure,
suddenly said, 'They have returned, milady. The viscount and Lady
Maria are heading for the stables.'

'Emily must
tell her that she has a visitor,' Arabella instructed, then arched
a slender eyebrow at Robin. 'You may use my bathroom to freshen up.
It wouldn't be proper for you to meet my niece in that state, now
would it?'

When Maria
arrived in the stable she was greeted by Emily who said, 'My lady,
Mr Claremont is here to see you.'

Damien
dismounted and Maria slid from the saddle into his arms. 'Robin
Claremont?'

'Yes, my
lady.'

Damien gave
Maria an intent stare. 'He's a friend of Jane's,' she explained
rapidly, freeing herself from him and wrapping her shawl closely
around her to hide the torn dress.

Damian
scowled. 'What does he want?'

'I shan't know
that until I've seen him, shall I? Where is he, Emily?'

'With her
ladyship.'

The notion of
Robin left to Arabella's tender mercies was a worrying one. He
would be like a lamb led to the slaughter. Emily looked flushed and
agitated, but Maria could not question her further with Damien
looking on. All she wanted was to creep to her room, bathe and
change. She felt soiled, her juices and Damien's wetting the
insides of her thighs. She was also deeply ashamed of herself,
feeling that she had betrayed Charles. More than anyone else she
needed Jane, and hoped that Robin had brought good news from
her.

'Go and tell
him I will be with him shortly, Emily,' she said, and turned on her
heel, left the stable and ran up the backstairs to the part of the
house where her bedchamber was situated.

Sarah was
waiting anxiously. 'Oh, my dear soul! Look at the state of you,'
she cried, as agitated as a hen over her one chick. 'What have you
been doing?'

'Hunting with
the viscount.' Maria wanted to avoid too close an inspection.

'Dressed like
that? Whatever possessed you?'

'We went on
impulse.'

'Well, it's
not right or proper,' Sarah continued to complain. 'Viscount or no,
he has some very strange ideas, I must say.'

Maria changed
the subject. 'I need to cleanse myself.'

'I'll summons
the footmen to fill the tub.'

'There isn't
time. Mr Claremont is waiting to see me. I hope he has news of Lady
lane. I'll make do with a wash. Leave me. I'd rather manage alone.'
Maria succeeded in shaking her off, only permitting her to enter
the bathroom briefly to bring in a jug of hot water.

It was rare
for her to wish for privacy and she knew that Sarah was suspicious.
Examining her naked body in the mirror, she was glad she had
insisted. There were blue bruises, long scratches and scarlet
weals. Her stockings were torn and the dainty slippers ruined,
their thin soles offering little protection for her feet. Damien
had had his will of her and no mistake. Why then, didn't she hate
him?

She washed
herself all over, paying particular attention to her cleft. The
pubic hair was stubbly and uncomfortable and she would need
Russell's razor again soon. In some ways she yearned to be an
innocent girl again, and yet the lessons she had learned at her
master's hands, and those of his enemy, Charles, were ones she
would not have missed for anything.

Returning to
the bedroom wrapped in a towel, she succeeded in slipping into her
chemise while Sarah was otherwise occupied. A leaf-green muslin
dress followed, and Sarah fastened the ball buttons at the back.
Still chilled by her recent experiences, Maria slipped her arms
into a velvet jacket in a deeper shade. It fitted closely and was
short-waisted. Sarah attended to her hair, coiling it high at the
back and pulling out little curling tendrils to cover her ears and
nape. Pendant pearl earrings followed, and a matching necklace.

'Don't fuss,'
Maria snapped impatiently. 'I must go down. It is important that I
see Mr Claremont.'

The butler led
her to the solar, a pleasant, airy room where once ladies of the
family would have gathered to sew and gossip and pass idle hours.
Maria was accompanied by Sarah, who occupied a window seat with a
book on her lap in which she appeared to be absorbed. Robin rose to
meet Maria when she entered and she led him to the far side so they
could talk without her chaperone overhearing.

'Is Jane
well?' This was Maria's first concern.

'Oh, yes.
Don't worry on that score.' Robin was fresh-faced and boyish, and
Maria took comfort from this. Surely Arabella would have been
unable to seduce him? In his black frock-coat and white collar, he
looked every inch a clergyman.

'Tell me all
that has been taking place,' she insisted as they sat on a
chaise-longue by a low, brass-inlaid table, and she poured tea from
a silver pot into bone china-cups. He glanced towards Sarah, but
Maria put his mind at rest. 'Don't be alarmed, she won't hear us
and even if she does, she is loyal to me.'

'I have spoken
with Lady Rowena, and she absolutely forbids me to court Jane. This
means it is no use approaching her Papa, so we are planning to
elope to Gretna Green.' He sounded angry, but not despairing, his
voice firm and resolute.

Maria clapped
her hands. 'How romantic! Once the deed is done, then they can no
longer keep you apart.'

'This is true,
and I have a post where I can take my wife. Read what Jane has to
say,' and he drew a letter from an inside pocket and passed it to
her.

Maria broke the seal, tore open the envelope and unfolded the
single sheet of paper. Jane had written in her elegant copper-plate
hand,
My dearest Friend, I am dispatching
Robin with this, and hope it finds you in good health, as am I.
Mama has refused to allow us to marry and we have planned to run
away together. Alas, neither of us have money to finance this
venture. I hope you won't think it presumptuous if I ask you for
help. I have no one else to whom I can turn. Of course, this will
be a loan and we shall pay you back as soon as we are able. Any
amount, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated. With much
love, from your obedient servant, Jane
.

Tears welled
up in Maria's eyes and her heart bled for her friend's distress.
How could parents be so blind? Robin was such a sincere, upright
man and they were so obviously well suited. She remembered the
hundred guineas she had won from Damien.

'I will gladly
help you, Robin,' she said, folding the letter. 'Fortunately I have
money in the house. Emily shall fetch it.'

She dispatched
Sarah to the door to call Emily, who waited outside. It took but a
minute for her to receive her instructions and, within a short
while, she returned with Maria's reticule. It was simple for Maria
to draw Robin into the bay window and there, out of sight of Sarah,
pass over a purse. He kissed her hand.

'I don't know
how to thank you,' he muttered, his eyes moist with tears.

'Think nothing
of it,' she returned. 'One day, when Burrington Manor is once more
in my control, perhaps I can arrange for you to be appointed vicar
of the village church. It would be so nice to have Jane living
close to me.'

'You are too
good, and we shall be forever in your debt.'

'Will you
return to Bath now?' There was a worry nibbling at the edge of
Maria's mind.

'That is my
intention. Why? Can I do something for you?'

It occurred to
her to tell him about Charles and the foiling of Damien's unlawful
intentions, but then thought better of it. The least number of
people who knew about it the better. Even so, 'It would help me if
you could stay for a few more days,' she said. 'Let me know where
you are and if I need you, as well I may, I shall send
Tranter.'

'I'll be
honoured. He can reach me at the Blue Boar tavern in Parnham Combe,
some three miles hence.' He bowed and she walked with him to the
door, unwilling to let him go, a link with Jane and the world
outside of Raven Towers.

'Who is this
fellow who came a-calling on Maria?' Damien demanded as he stalked
into Arabella's chamber.

'Oh, stop
fretting! You remember Lady Jane?'

'I do. An
innocent, who needed a thorough rogering.' Damien flashed her a
wicked smile.

'You're
incorrigible,' she scolded, reclining on the couch. 'I think this
Robin Claremont is wooing her, or hopes to. He's a member of the
clergy, an attractive man who could not contain his ardour when
with me and spurted in his breeches.'

Damien threw
back his head and laughed loudly. 'And you call me incorrigible! I
swear you'd make a saint spill his seed! What did you do? Did you
kiss him, toy with his prick? What?'

'I did next to
nothing, my dear. He was ripe for it, and is no doubt suffering the
torments of the damned and doing penance at this very moment. But
enough of me. What have you been up to? Sit, and tell me all about
it.' She patted the space beside her.

He accepted
this invitation, aware that it would probably lead to intercourse,
but wary of her. Arabella knew nothing of his association with the
French. He firmly believed she would never betray him, but was not
prepared to take the risk. Therefore he assumed a bored air,
shrugging as he answered, 'Oh, this and that. Whenever I come here
there is my estate manager to consult, my tenants to see, quarrels
among them to be placated, as well as catching up with old
friends.'

'You prefer to
be in London or abroad?' Arabella's slim fingers ruffled the curls
at the back of his neck.

He reached out
and caressed her breasts. 'Each has its own particular interest,
and wherever I am I enjoy the pleasures on offer.' He bared her
nipples, which grew hard under his clever fingers.

'Oh, Damien,
if only you could be faithful to one woman. I'd be yours for the
rest of my days,' she sighed, body quivering.