Scandals of Lustful Ladies: A Historical Regency Romance Collection

by Meghan Sloan

  The professor nodded, pouring them both a generous measure. He passed the drink then sat opposite him, sipping his own reflectively. A few minutes passed, where they were both silent, gazing into the fire as they sipped their drinks.

  “So,” said the professor abruptly. “There is big news, I hear.”

  Silas nodded. “Indeed there is,” he said slowly. “Miss Marina St. George has returned and is in the bosom of her family once again. A miracle that I thank the Lord for.”

  “Quite,” said the professor, leaning down and throwing a log into the fire, where it hissed and sparked quite violently. “And how is the young lady? I assume you would have called on her, of course.”

  Silas nodded. “She is recovering,” he said. “Pale, but well, except for the fact that she cannot remember a thing about what happened to her.”

  “A curious thing, indeed,” said the professor, looking thoughtful. “I have heard of it before, usually as a result of a head injury.” He gazed at Silas steadily. “She truly has not even a shred of memory, of the whole time that she has been missing?”

  “None at all,” said Silas. “It is the most bizarre thing, but at least she is safe and well, and that is the most important thing, at any rate.”

  The professor nodded. There was an awkward silence.

  “So,” said the professor eventually. “Where does this leave us? It is a quite perplexing situation. I have been pondering it ever since I heard the news of Miss St. George’s return.” He hesitated. “It seems that you have acquired two fiancées, Mr. Wilmington. And while some men might envy you, I doubt that it is something to be celebrated.”

  Silas nodded, taking a deep breath. “I have just been to Miss St. George’s house,” he said in as steady a voice as he could muster. “We talked at length, and we are both agreed that our engagement is to be broken. There is no prior claim now.” He paused. “I am free to honour my engagement with your daughter as ever, Professor Sinclair.”

  The older man looked stunned. “You are committed to going ahead with your engagement with Alice?”

  Silas nodded again. “I am, sir.”

  Professor Sinclair sagged suddenly, looking so relieved that Silas almost felt sorry for him.

  “I must admit, I thought that you would not,” he said slowly. “We have all heard of the great love that you hold for Miss St. George, after all. I was afraid that our Alice might end up the loser in this situation.”

  Silas leaned forward in the chair, gazing at the professor intently. “I am sorry that you and your family have been put through such doubt, sir. May I take this opportunity to tell you how much I love and admire your daughter, and how very much I am looking forward to her becoming my wife. The arrival of my former fiancée has not changed that.”

  The professor looked pleased. “I thought that you two were in the beginning stages of love. Alice has had her head in the clouds since her return from that house party.” He paused. “But my wife and I still worried when we heard the news of Miss St. George’s return. We thought your prior commitment would press on you, and after all, you have known Alice for such a short time. It gratifies me to hear that you are still committed to her.”

  Silas swallowed the last of his sherry. “You and your good wife do not need to worry on that account at all.” He stared at the professor. “If I may be so bold…would it be too soon to ask if I may see Alice? I am so very eager to see her.”

  The professor laughed, standing up. “Of course, my good man! I shall go and fetch her immediately. I am never one to stand in the way of young love.”

  ***

  Alice grabbed Charlotte’s arm, dragging her quickly away as she heard the footsteps approaching her father’s study door. Together they ran along the hallway to her room, closing the door behind them, breathing heavily.

  “Oh, Charlotte,” she gasped. “Did you hear what I heard?”

  Charlotte was still panting slightly. “I heard every word.” She turned to her friend. “Dearest, I am over the moon for you! He loves you, and he wants to marry you still, even after visiting and speaking with Marina!”

  Alice closed her eyes, leaning heavily against the door for a moment. She felt like she was savouring this very special moment. This moment when all her dreams that she had believed were lying in ashes around her were suddenly resurrected again.

  He loved her. He wanted her to be his wife. He had chosen her, over Marina. She had been convinced that as soon as he heard the news of her return, and seen her, that his old love for her would be rekindled. But now she had just heard his declaration. Her heart was so full that she thought it was about to burst.

  Charlotte put her arm around her, pulling her towards her. The two friends embraced, tightly.

  “I always knew it,” her friend whispered into her ear. “I always knew you were destined for love.”

  There was a knock at the door. They pulled apart.

  Alice took a deep breath, then walked towards it, opening it. Her father’s smiling face greeted her.

  “My dear,” he said in an almost gruff voice. “There is someone here who wishes to see you.”

  ***

  They walked around the perimeter of the garden, almost touching but not quite. Alice glanced up at him from time-to-time. She knew that he was waiting, until they got some distance away from Charlotte and her mother, who were lagging behind them as chaperones.

  Eventually they found their chance. Charlotte and Mama became distracted by a robin’s nest high in a tree. Silas took her hand, turning her towards him.

  “How have you been?” he asked, in a low voice. “I missed you so much when I was in London.” He paused. “I ached for you, Alice.”

  Alice felt a thrill run through her. “I have been well,” she said. “Missing you, though. Longing for your return.”

  “Here I am,” he said, smiling slightly. “Although it was not the homecoming that I was expecting. You have heard of the sudden return of Marina, of course.”

  She nodded slowly. “Of course. It is all that the good society of Bath can talk about.” She hesitated. “How is she?”

  “As well as can be expected,” he said, staring at her intently. “Recovering, from her ordeal, but still unable to remember what exactly happened to her, or where she has been. Hopefully her memory shall return in time and the questions shall be answered, at long last.”

  “I am happy to hear it,” she whispered. “For her to be re-united with her family again, after so long…”

  “Yes, it is a blessing indeed,” he said slowly, his eyes raking over her face, almost questioningly. “Alice, I know that you would have been in a torment since hearing of her return. I have been in a torment, as well.”

  “It is to be expected…”

  “Please, let me finish,” he said, gripping her hand tighter. “I was tormented, for I did not know how I should feel. One part of me was rejoicing her return, and imagining what this moment would have felt like when I was still in love with her.” He took a deep, ragged breath. “But the other part was overwhelmed with concern for you. All that I wanted to do was come straight to your side.”

  Alice shuddered, as if a chill wind had suddenly passed through her. “I thought that you would go back to her,” she whispered, her eyes glittering with tears. “I thought that as soon as you saw her, all would be as it was, and you would forget me entirely.”

  “How could I do that?” he whispered, in an anguished voice. “I will not lie. If this had happened at the start of our engagement, I might have done it, for I was still in love with her then.” He paused, his eyes searching her face. “But now, it is impossible. I could no more forsake you than my own life.”

  Tears trickled down her face at his sweet words. Her heart swelled, almost full to bursting, with emotion. He reached out his other hand, gently wiping a tear away with one finger. The moment stretched on between them, as taut as the string of a violin.

  He glanced behind him, at her mother and Charlotte, who were
still chatting quietly together, looking at the robin’s nest. He gripped her hand tighter still.

  “Come on,” he whispered urgently, pulling her along, “let us walk more, and perhaps find a more private spot.”

  She let him lead her, as impassive as puppet on a string. They kept on the path, until it turned, leading towards the very back of the garden where a small hut stood, where the gardener kept his tools.

  He didn’t speak. He simply kept leading her until they were behind the hut, completely out of view of the others. Once there, he pressed her against the wall, his hands gripping her waist tightly. Her heart was racing in her chest as he pressed against her, harder still.

  She felt a hardness from his britches, urgent and insistent. She coloured violently, knowing instinctively what it was. And then, a flash of elation, almost of triumph, at this evidence of his desire for her.

  He cupped her face with one hand, staring at her intently. His lips found hers. They were warm and sweet. She was drowning in them, as lost as if she were adrift at sea.

  Suddenly, she felt his other hand snake lower on her body. And then it gripped her softly, at the very centre of her, through her gown. Her eyes flew open, in alarm, as she stiffened instinctively.

  “Hush,” he whispered, against her lips. “Let me love you. Let me give you pleasure. There is no sin in it.”

  His hand was stroking her gently, rhythmically, as he spoke. A sudden rush of wild sensation shuddered through her, and instinctively she arched against his hand, seeking its caress.

  “Yes,” he whispered, as he kept stroking, his eyes never leaving her face. “That’s it. That’s it, my love…”

  She moaned softly, almost in agony, as he kept going, harder now. She felt a warm rush of wetness flood out of her. The feelings were intensifying, as his touch quickened. She felt her head tilt back, in pure surrender, to the bliss of it. She had never felt anything like it in her life. She had never dreamt that such pleasure was possible.

  Her breath quickened and she was straining now, twisting against his hand, seeking release, but she didn’t know what from. It was delirious agony. It was as if she was climbing, straining, towards something.

  She couldn’t suppress the cry of ecstasy as the peak hit her in shuddering waves. Hearing it, he closed his mouth over hers, to drown out the sound of it, not slackening his stroke for an instant. She shuddered one last time before slumping against him. She felt hot and weak, as if a fever had just broken.

  His hand left her, and he kissed her gently, one arm around her back, to support her. She was glad of it. She felt as weak as a kitten, as if she would surely buckle at the knees without it.

  He gazed into her face tenderly. “How do you feel?”

  She gazed back at him. She knew she should probably feel shame at what he had just done to her. But she couldn’t. It had felt so natural, and right.

  “What was that?” she asked, amazed. “How did you make those feelings within me?”

  He smiled gently. “That is the pinnacle of love, my Alice. The pleasure that a man and a woman gain from each other,” he whispered. “I have not had mine, with you, but it will happen. I am dreaming of the day when we can lie freely in each other’s arms, and I can finally make you mine.”

  Suddenly, there was the sound of voices close by. He pulled back from her, straightening her gown. She tried to pull herself together, feeling so flushed and disoriented she didn’t know how she was going to act normally.

  He took her arm, and they were walking, back down the path, as if nothing had ever happened.

  Mama and Charlotte were there, smiling at them. He gripped her arm tighter. It was all that she could do to not turn to him and beg him to hold her in his arms again and start those dizzying sensations anew.

  Chapter 18

  Silas carefully poured two measures of whiskey into crystal glasses, handing one to Nicholas who was comfortably ensconced in the armchair by the fire. They were in the drawing room at the Wilmington family home and, blessedly, the house was theirs for the afternoon. They were planning to play a few games of cards accompanied by some fine whiskey. His parents were attending a wedding in the country and were gone for the entire day.

  “Cheers, old fellow,” said Nicholas, raising his glass.

  Silas sat in the chair opposite him, raising his own glass. “Cheers.”

  They both drank deeply before placing the glasses on the table between them. Nicholas stared at him steadily. “So,” he said, folding his hands in his lap. “The elusive Miss St. George is back in town. I gather you have already paid a call on her.”

  Silas nodded. “I have,” he said slowly. “I know what you are thinking, Turner, but your fears are for naught.” He took a deep breath. “I will admit I was tormented at first, but I find that I simply cannot let Alice go. I called on Marina and explained the situation. She has agreed to break our engagement.”

  “Well done, old chap,” said Nicholas in an admiring voice, picking up his whiskey again. “You have truly fallen for Miss Sinclair, then? I suspected it at Hill Lodge, but I know how tenacious that conscience of yours is with regards to Marina. I thought you would never let yourself go.”

  Silas grimaced. “It was difficult, but I am committed to Alice now,” he said. “I am in love with her. It is as simple as that.” He paused. “I shall always care for Marina, of course, but it is finally gone.”

  Nicholas sipped his whiskey, frowning. “And Marina simply accepted this? She did not beg, or plead, or put up a fight?”

  “She was very gracious,” he replied. “Surprisingly so. She expressed regret, but she did not beg, nor did she get angry.” He raised his eyebrows. “It all went much better than I expected. I must admit, it was a relief.”

  “Strange, indeed,” said Nicholas. “A bit out of character for her. Not like her not to put up a fight. But then, we do not know what she has been up to while she was away, do we? Is she still claiming that she has no memory of the last seven months?”

  “She says she cannot remember a thing,” said Silas, shaking his head. “It is most remarkable.”

  “It is no such thing,” said Nicholas sharply. “It is all a calculated game that she is playing. Who loses six whole months of their life, just like that? It is all very convenient, wouldn’t you say? It means she has nothing to explain, and she is the wide-eyed dewy innocent in it all.”

  “You do not know the truth of it any more than I do,” said Silas in a dark voice. “She may be telling the truth. Stranger things have happened. People do suffer from memory loss. It is a documented fact.”

  “Piffle,” said Nicholas, sniffing. “I know the lady, and if she has lost all memory, then I am a monkey’s uncle. You have made the right decision, Wilmington. Alice is simply charming, and she will make you a superlative wife. Best to leave all that behind you, once and for all.”

  Silas sighed. It wasn’t surprising that Nicholas didn’t believe Marina’s claim that she had no memory of what happened to her. He had never liked her, after all. Best to change the subject entirely.

  “And how are things between you and Miss Oakley?” he asked, sipping his whiskey.

  Nicholas smiled ruefully. “Ah, the lovely Lucy,” he said in a regretful voice. “She is as effervescent as a glass of champagne but, alas, too superficial for my tastes.” He paused. “We had a good time together, but I became bored. She is one-dimensional, living for frivolous pleasure. I admit I enjoy a good time, but I think I am looking for something deeper in a life partner.”

  Silas grinned. Good old Nicholas. He had thought that perhaps Lucy might have been the one to cure his old friend of his womanising ways, but it seemed the lady’s charms had waned. Nicholas had the attention-span of a gnat where ladies were concerned.