Vexing the Viscount (10 page)

He had to keep some amount of control, but just enough to realize when she became frightened of the passion he was stoking in her. A low moan erupted from her as he moved his thumbs across her breasts. God, he'd give anything to see those beautiful orbs again. He could feel her start to retreat and knew the timing was about right.

She trembled in his arms when he wouldn't release her. He pressed his body to her once more, showing her his strength and desire. Finally, her arms pushed against his chest and he knew she had reached her limit.

Now she would go home and leave him to find his brother.

He leaned away from her, trying not to smile. Her face was flushed and her breathing erratic. “Was that suitable?”

“Yes,” she whispered, her eyes as large as a doe's.

“Let me know your decision by dinner.”

“I already have my answer.”

This time he did smile. “Excellent. I shall have Mrs. Abbott pack your things.”

She tilted her head down and looked up at him shyly. “My answer is yes.”

Bloody hell, no!
“Tia, think about what you are saying. This is serious business, not to be thought about in the throes of passion.”

“What better time to choose a lover?”

“But I won't just be a lover, I'll be your master. As my mistress, you will have to make sure my every desire is satisfied. Day or night. Anywhere I decide.” Could she not be as innocent as he'd thought?

“I understand. And again, my answer is yes.” She took a step closer and whispered, “Shall we start now?”

He took a step back. Dear God, her mother would kill him. And right now, he wasn't sure he even cared. “Yes.”

N
ow?
Did he really say now? Tia's heart pounded in her chest and not just from that amazing kiss. She had sensed he was trying to scare her with passion, but she'd been positive he would retreat from his position if she advanced. What was she to do? She couldn't really fall into bed with him. That wasn't the plan.

“I—I.” Oh God, he was coming closer to her. The passion of his kisses had shown her how weak she was around him. If she wasn't careful, she might let him do whatever he wanted to her. And quite happily.

“Yes?”

“Perhaps we should wait until later, after . . .” After what? She had to think of something quickly. “After we return from gaming.” And then if they'd found Jonathon or enough information about his whereabouts, she might be able push Middleton off another night. “I don't wish for either of us to be tired while gaming. It's a recipe for loss.”

His molded lips twitched as if he found some aspect of this situation amusing. She certainly did not. Her innocence was on the line here. There had to be a way of dissuading him.

“I see. I suppose I can grant you that one boon. For one in return.”

“One in return?” she whispered.

“Oh, yes, I will tell you later, when we are naked.”

Tia swallowed hard. “Naked?”

Middleton smiled, fully revealing a row of white teeth that looked like he wanted to gobble her up. “That is how this is done . . . at least most of the time.” His brows rose at her seductively.

“Most of the time?”

“You are repeating everything I say like a parrot.”

Stop looking at that handsome face and concentrate
, she scolded herself. She blinked and then moved away. “If we are to go out tonight, I should get ready.”

“Yes, do that. I have an errand to run, so I will return in a while.”

She nodded and raced out the room. Once she reached the sanctuary of her bedchamber, she flopped on the bed. “What have I done now?” she said into the pillow.

None of this was supposed to have happened. But now she felt as if she were getting closer to finding Jonathon. And once he was found, she could get him back to the doctor her mother had recommended. Briefly, she wondered that if she told Middleton what she knew, perhaps he could help her with Jonathon.

No. Middleton was too caught up in his business to worry about his brother. He probably assumed Jonathon was just off in town having the time of his life. Instead, he might be jeopardizing his life.

She sat up, determined to formulate a plan for both the gaming hell and trying to keep Middleton from his lascivious plan for her after the gaming. She touched her fingers to her lips, gently caressing them like his kisses. Did she want him? A part of her certainly seemed to like his touch and wondered what it would feel like to have him deep inside her. A quick shiver raced down her back. The idea of Middleton inside her, knowing her body, excited and frightened her.

Tia knew no one would care if she had an affair with him. Except, quite possibly, Jonathon. He had warned her about his brother's reputation with the ladies of the Society. She smiled, remembering how he had warned her about his own reputation. Not that she had anything to worry about with him.

If it came to it, could she let Middleton make love to her? God knew the man was handsome enough for any woman. With his dark looks and darker clothing, he lent the impression of a devil ready to strike. She closed her eyes and imagined him caressing her body—his fingers playing roughly with her nipples before working their way down her belly to split her folds. Just thinking such lurid thoughts made her wet with desire.

What would be the worst thing that happened if she let him make love to her?

She blinked her eyes open with that horrific thought. She could be more than ruined. She might end up with child. His child. His heir, quite possibly. And while back at the estate no one would mind much if she had a bastard child, she'd never wanted that for herself. She wanted love, marriage, a friendship that lasted like her parents' marriage.

Those things would never be possible with Middleton.

Tia finally put away her musing and walked to the linen press. What did one wear to a gaming hell? She had no idea. Emily had bought her two day dresses and the one silk gown Tia had worn for the party. Emily had wanted to buy her more, but Tia refused to let her spend any more money on her. Even the day dresses were too fancy to wear out at Middleton Park when she called on the tenants.

She pulled out the silk and held it up to her. Was this too extravagant? Perhaps the yellow day dress would be best. Reluctantly, she placed the silk back into the linen press and withdrew the yellow muslin. It was far prettier than most of the dresses she'd owned prior to Middleton destroying them out of an insect fear.

Staring into the looking glass, she smiled. The yellow would be perfect. She walked over to ring for Mrs. Abbott, when the door to her bedchamber swung open. Without even a quick knock to bid entrance, Middleton strolled into her room with his hands full.

“Just as I expected,” he said, seeing her muslin dress on the bed. “You have nothing to wear. Well, I have solved that dilemma.” He placed the packages on the bed. “Miss Barnes, please come in.”

Miss Barnes?
“Middleton, what is going on? You walk into my room uninvited and toss packages on my bed.”

He turned to her with a smile. “Actually, all those things are mine. I'm just letting you use them.”

Tia shook her head. “What?”

He pointed to the bed. “The bed, the room, the packages. They are actually all mine.”

“Of course they are.”

“Miss Barnes, please come in here. Don't be shy.” He ambled toward the threshold. “I know she sounds like a termagant, but she is really not that horrible.”

“Who sounds like that?” Tia demanded with her hands on her hips.

He glanced back at her with a smirk. “You have to ask?” He walked out of the bedchamber and returned with a young girl of no more than twenty. “Tia, this is Miss Barnes, your lady's maid while you are staying with me.”

Tia's mind spun at dizzying speeds. He hired a servant just for her. Guilt overwhelmed her. “My lord, you shouldn't have done such an extravagant thing. Mrs. Abbott—”

“Is the housekeeper who needs to focus her attention on the duties of the house. Miss Barnes worked as a lady's maid before, so she shall do just fine. I actually borrowed her from my cousin, Alistair. His oldest sister, Constance, married earlier this year, so he didn't need two lady's maids.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Barnes.”

She bobbed a quick curtsy. “And you, ma'am.”

“I shall leave you two to get ready. I would like to leave by eight.” Middleton nodded and then left.

“What should I call you, ma'am? Lord Middleton didn't explain things to me.”

“You may call me . . .” What did a maid call a woman in these circumstances? “Tia.”

The girl shook her head violently. “I can't do that, ma'am. It's not proper.”

“Then Miss Featherstone.”

“Very good, Miss Featherstone. And you may call me Mary.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mary.” Tia hesitated for a long moment. “I'm honestly not used to having a maid.”

“I understand, ma'am.” Mary moved the bed and unwrapped the packages. “Oh my, Miss Featherstone.”

Tia glanced over and her mouthed gaped. Mary held up yards of brilliant red silk that shimmered like rubies. “He wants me to wear that tonight?”

“I believe that is his intention.”

Wearing that dress branded her as a harlot before she'd even done anything worth mentioning. A few passionate kisses and slightly more shouldn't qualify her as a strumpet. Slightly scandalous, perhaps. “Let me try it on.”

Mary helped her undress and then slid the red silk over Tia's head. The fabric caressed her skin as it glided down her body. It was far too much. Not just the money for the dress, but the idea of wearing something so decadent.

“It is beautiful, miss.” Mary pinched an inch of fabric at Tia's waist. “But a little large. I can take it in quickly.”

“Yes, this is the most beautiful gown I have ever worn.” Once Mary had her buttoned, Tia moved to the mirror and gasped. With her red hair, she didn't think the gown would flatter her features. But Middleton found the one shade of red that complemented her hair and fair skin. But it was the low-cut bodice that made the decision for her. Her breasts were all but heaved out of the dress. One good breath and everything would be on display. “No,” she whispered. “As beautiful as this dress is, I shall wear the blue silk.”

“As you wish, miss.”

A little shiver of fear raced down her back. She wondered how Middleton would take her act of defiance. Some men beat their wives and mistresses. Was he one of those men? Jonathon had never mentioned it, but he might have wanted to protect his brother.

After dressing, she quietly made her way down the stairs. “Nelson, where is Lord Middleton?”

“In the salon, miss.”

“Thank you.” She steeled herself against the bluster of his anger and walked toward the salon. When she reached the threshold, she stopped. He was facing the window with a glass of sherry in his hand. She took one more step and the floor creaked under her foot. He turned around and smirked.

“Well played, Miss Featherstone.” He saluted her with his glass.

“I beg your pardon?”

“The dress,” he said as he approached her. “But I don't appreciate it when my commands are ignored.”

She sent him a smug grin. “But you never explicitly said to wear the dress. You only placed the packages on the bed and said you had solved my dilemma, assuming I had one to begin with.”

He black brow furrowed for a moment before his smile returned. “Touché. I believe I shall have to let you win this battle. And the next time I will be very clear in my expectations.”

“Do try, my lord.”

“Shall we depart?”

Tia frowned. “Depart? I thought we would eat first?” She had been so eager to leave for the gaming hell to discover any information about Jonathon. But now, apprehension filled her. Leaving this house with him sealed her fate.

“We are going to a small soiree first. We can eat there.”

“A soiree?”

“Yes. I thought it would be a good chance to introduce you to some of my friends.” He placed his glass on the table. “Shall we?”

“I—I—”

He drew her up against his chest. “Unless you have had a change of heart?”

Tia could feel the heat from his body warming her chilled skin. She had to do this . . . for Jonathon. “I am ready.”

She could have sworn she saw a look of disappointment cross his face. Could he be frustrated that she didn't give up this mad idea? She shook her head. That was an odd idea indeed. He was the one who suggested the arrangement in the first place.

“Let us be off,” he said quietly.

Her entire body started to quake as they left the house and he helped her into the carriage. Every person she met tonight would know she was Middleton's mistress. A sense of helplessness invaded her. There was no going back after tonight.

She wondered what Mia and her mother would think of her actions. Mia would tell her to take the man to her bed and enjoy it. Her mother's advice might be of a more practical nature, with the warnings of the consequences of her actions. Since neither were here, it was up to Tia to decide her fate.

“What are you fretting about?”

“Everyone will know,” she whispered.

“Yes, they will. That is what I told you before you agreed to this plan.” His harsh voice told of his own frustration.

“I know you did,” she said softly. “But now . . .”

“Now it's real.”

She nodded slowly. Warmth filled her hand as he clasped it between his. He squeezed her hand gently.

“It will be all right, Tia,” he murmured near her ear.

If only she could believe him. “Thank you.”

He brought her gloved hand up to his lips and kissed her hand. A long moment of silence filled the carriage, stifling the air around them. Finally, he asked softly, “Are you in love with Jonathon?”

Was she? Two days ago, she would have said yes without a thought. But after learning about his relationship with Emily, Tia doubted he had any true feelings for her. And she wondered if she ever truly loved him.

“Forget that I asked,” he muttered.

“I was thinking about your question.”

“It wasn't difficult. Either you are in love with him or you are not.” He pulled his hand away from hers and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I learned something about him this morning and it may have influenced my feelings for him. Yet, I don't know for certain that it's true.” And why did he care how she felt about his brother?

“You're being very cryptic, Tia.”

“A woman is with child and it might be Jonathon's baby.”

He leaned his head back against the velvet squab and sighed. “I'm not terribly surprised.”

“Oh? I had always heard you were the lascivious rake in the family.”

He inched away from her. “Perhaps I am,” he replied coldly.

Why did his answer make her want to question him further? The tone of his voice had changed. His entire demeanor had stiffened. Were the rumors of his behavior exaggerated? She doubted he would tell her the truth.

Instead, she moved her gaze to the window. “Where are we going?”

“Mrs. Ellsworth's house.”

“Is she someone important?” She should know these things if he wanted her to attend with him.

“No. She's not important at all.”

“Then why are we going?”

“Because I said we were going,” he answered tightly.

Tia released a soft sigh. Apparently, he felt no need to make her feel comfortable at the party.