Breaking the Rules

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  She opted to shake her head instead of giving a verbal reply. Yes, she had managed to fool the gentlemen at White’s, but she didn’t want to push her luck.

  The servant offered a bow and left the room, closing the door behind him.

  Since she was finally alone, she scratched the part of her neck where her beard kept scraping it. She couldn’t wait to remove it tonight. Her skin would sting when she took it off, but it would be worth it. She didn’t know how so many gentlemen could stand to have mustaches or beards. Fortunately, Roger had the good sense to shave.

  A knock came at her door. “It’s Roger,” the gentleman called out.

  She hurried to open the door so he could come into the room. She waited until she shut the door before saying, “The servant is bringing me an outfit suitable for riding.”

  “I’ll be changing into my hunting outfit in a moment. I wanted to come here and see how you’re doing first.”

  “I’m fine.” After a moment, she asked, “How long does it take to find a fox?”

  “It takes as long as you want it to. Lord Browning allows you to spend all day out there if you wish.”

  “It can take all day to find one fox?”

  “No. It doesn’t take all day. It’s just that I like to hunt for more than one while I’m here.”

  She shook her head but smiled. “I feel sorry for these foxes. They must be scared all the time.”

  “I wouldn’t feel too sorry for them if I were you. They kill farm animals, and those animals are what farmers need to sustain a living. Fox hunting helps keep the population of foxes down. Lord Browning periodically rounds up foxes and brings them here.”

  “I noticed your name downstairs. You’re good at this sport. How often do you come here?”

  “Last year, I came almost every week. That was before my friend left for Ireland. We used to come here together. It’s not fun to go alone. This is my first time here this year since the hunting season started. I’m glad you came along.”

  “I lost the chess game. It would be unfair of me not to come. But,” she admitted, “it is a thrill to be here. It reminds me of White’s.”

  “This place isn’t exclusive like White’s. All gentlemen are welcome here. The only ladies here are Lord Browning’s wife and three daughters. There are a few female servants, but they don’t tend to the guests. We will be having dinner with Lord Browning and his family. They do entertain guests in the evening, but you will be Mr. Squire as far as they’re concerned.”

  “I understand. I’ll be careful to maintain the guise of Mr. Squire the entire time I’m here.” Then with a grin, she added, “We won’t be able to tell anyone about this when we return home, will we?”

  “No. This is a secret. I don’t want anyone, not even your friends, to find out what we’re doing.”

  “I won’t tell a soul.”

  Besides, it was more exciting to know she couldn’t tell anyone, not even Emilia and Kitty, and she rather enjoyed having something that belonged to only her and Roger. It made her feel closer to him. He trusted her by bringing her here. It meant he was serious about giving her another chance. The last thing she’d ever do was waste it.

  He leaned forward and kissed her, but he didn’t linger at her mouth as she’d hoped. Instead, he quickly pulled away and grimaced.

  She chuckled. “Does my beard bother you?”

  He nodded. “It’s much nicer to kiss you without that thing on. I better return to my room before the servant brings your hunting outfit. I’ll meet you in the drawing room.”

  After he left the room, she went to the window and scanned the grounds. There were more trees on the property than she’d originally thought. She could see how a fox would have plenty of places to hide, and that probably made the hunt all the more exciting to gentlemen like Roger.

  She saw a group of gentlemen in the wooded area to the northwest. She couldn’t tell how many were in the group, but she did see horses and a couple of dogs.

  Soon, she’d be out there, too. She knew so little about this sport. What if she said or did something in the group to embarrass Roger?

  A knock came at the door. She hurried to opened it.

  The servant brought three outfits into the room and hung them on the hooks along the wall. “I wasn’t sure which size best fits you, so I brought these for you to try on. They have been used before, but the maids do an excellent job of cleaning them and making sure they are like new. Your friend said you would rather borrow an outfit than purchase one. Is he correct?”

  Her friend? Oh, right. Roger. Using a low voice, she said, “Yes.”

  He smiled. “I wanted to make sure I understood the situation correctly. One time, I was wrong, and it wasn’t a good experience.”

  She guessed the experience wasn’t good for him, specifically, since he gave a slight wince. She knew there were a few gentlemen who were harsh in how they addressed servants. Lord Hedwrett, for one, would have been such a gentleman. She inwardly shivered. The more she thought of it, the more grateful she was for Roger.

  “Would you like me to help you try these on, or would you like to do that yourself?” the servant asked.

  “I’ll do it myself,” she replied, her face warm at just the thought of him seeing her without her clothes on.

  “As you wish. After you’re done getting dressed, you may go to the drawing room where Lord Browning will meet with you. There will be something to eat and drink while you wait for him.”

  She offered a nod but didn’t exhale until he left. That was close. She didn’t expect him to offer to help her dress into the outfit, but she probably should have since there were lady’s maids and valets in London. It made sense that there would be some gentlemen who’d come here and want the assistance because they were used to it. This was Lord Browning’s way of making them comfortable during their stay, just as he provided every guest with a hot bath and a luxurious room.

  She had to admit that Lord Browning had created an atmosphere where a person could feel like royalty. She might be a lady surrounded by gentlemen’s things, but even she was in awe of all of this. Even if there was no fox hunting, she thought Roger might enjoy coming here. It was even better than White’s.

  Eager to see what the drawing room was like, she went to the outfits to see which would fit her best.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Roger wasn’t sure if Lilly would enjoy fox hunting. He knew Aaron didn’t care for it but had gone so that Roger had someone to go with him. Yes, the other gentlemen in the hunting party were amiable, but it was better when he had a friend to go with him. In this case, the friend would be his wife, but no one would know that. She did an excellent job of hiding her identity.

  He made it to the drawing room before she did. Two other gentlemen were waiting for Lord Browning. Lilly came down five minutes later, and the butler introduced everyone to each other.

  After Lord Browning came in to give them the rules of the game, they went to the stables to get their horses.

  As they waited for the huntsman, Roger closed the distance to Lilly and asked in a low voice, “Are you ready?”

  She shifted on the saddle and whispered, “It feels awkward to sit on a horse like this. I’m not used to having my legs spread so far apart.”

  Unable to resist teasing her, he replied, “You had them spread apart last night.”

  “That wasn’t the same as this.”

  “I should hope not. You should enjoy spreading them in bed much more than doing it for a fox hunt.”

  She gasped and glanced around to make sure they were out of earshot. “I can’t believe what I’m hearing. And out here in the daylight! If Lord and Lady Cadwalader knew you were like this, they and their friends would have banished both of us that evening at the ball.”

  “If we had been getting along at the time, I would have kissed you right back in front of them.”

  “You would have?”

  He nodded. “I can be miserable following other people’s
rules, or I can be happy following my own.”

  “But you don’t want me to tell anyone I’ve gone fox hunting with you. You do care a little about your reputation.”

  “I care about being able to return to this estate. This is my favorite place to spend time. I wouldn’t be allowed back here if people knew you were a lady. I really don’t care what people like Lord and Lady Cadwalader think.”

  “Don’t they have any influence here?”

  “Their influence has more to do with London. They have no effect on what happens with fox hunting. Lord Cadwalader can’t stand the sport, even though it is a popular one.”

  “It’s nice to know their influence doesn’t reach out to everything. Sometimes it baffles me that so many people even care about what they think.”

  “I don’t think people care about what they think. I think people are afraid if they publicly disagree with them, they’ll be shunned by everyone else. Fear of public humiliation keeps most people quiet.”

  The barking of several excited hounds drew their attention to the huntsman who was on horseback and carried a horn. The whipper-in followed from behind.

  “The huntsman will lead us,” Roger told Lilly, “and the whipper-in will assist him if he needs anything.”

  She nodded and gripped the reins on her horse.

  “Most of the afternoon will be spent riding the horse,” Roger added, in case she was nervous about the actual part where they found a fox. “Do you like horseback riding?”

  “I do, but I primarily did it to be seen in Hyde Park.”

  He had suspected as much since he’d first seen her at Hyde Park while she was riding a horse. She’d been sitting in a sidesaddle, of course, and she’d been talking to a couple of ladies, one of whom, he later learned, was her sister. They had called out a greeting to each other as a courtesy, and something in her smile had prompted him to start seeking her out. He hadn’t even been looking for a wife. He’d figured he had plenty of time for that, but he knew given how attractive she was, she’d have gentlemen vying for her hand. If there was one thing Lilly excelled at, it was getting a gentleman to notice her.

  “Is everyone ready for the hunt?” the huntsman called out, bringing his attention back to the hunt.

  Roger glanced at Lilly, and since she nodded, he said yes, along with the others. The familiar sense of anticipation that always came right before a hunt swept through him. He hoped Lilly would at least enjoy the afternoon enough to be content with the activity. It would be a shame if this turned out to be something she hated. But the only way he was going to find out if she liked it or not was to let her do it.

  The huntsman announced the hunt had begun and directed the hounds to go to the south of the large acreage. Roger waited for Lilly to go before he urged his horse to follow the dogs. For the most part, the pacing was leisurely, and though he and Lilly didn’t talk, he rode beside her.

  Once the hounds picked up the scent of a fox, they rushed toward the wooded area, and that was when everyone started in earnest to pursue the hunt. Roger made sure to stay behind Lilly the whole time. If something happened to her, whether she lost her wig or lost her balance, he wanted to make sure he got to her before anything bad happened. Fortunately, all turned out to be all right, and after a while, he relaxed.

  After some time, the hounds gathered around a particular group of trees. The huntsman, in turn, blew the horn to get them to move away from the spot.

  Roger and the two gentlemen got off of their horses. Roger was ready to tell Lilly to do the same, but she was already moving off of the saddle. That was good. She was a quick learner.

  Once they secured their horses to nearby trees, the group assembled around the spot the hounds had been interested in.

  They didn’t always catch the fox. Sometimes the fox managed to get away, and in this case, the fox seemed to have vanished. So they got on their horses and continued the hunt.

  By the end of the day, they managed to catch two foxes, and one of them was Roger’s catch. He had offered to let Lilly take the credit, but she insisted he do it since his name was on the tapestry. “You need to uphold your reputation for excelling at this sport,” she’d added in a whisper. “I’m just happy I could be here to celebrate with you.”

  Touched by her comment, he smiled. The day, as far as he was concerned, had been perfect. He’d woken up in bed with Lilly, secure in knowing that, at long last, she truly wanted to be with him. She’d agreed to come foxhunting with him, and then she’d been genuinely excited for him when he caught a fox. It seemed to him that Lilly wasn’t the same lady he’d proposed to. She’d changed since she had been betrothed to Lord Hedwrett, and to his fortune, she had changed for the better. And that made him love her even more.

  Now when he looked back on the night of the scandal, he could honestly say it was the best thing that ever happened to him. With a smile, he got back on his horse and returned to the stables with the hunting party.

  ***

  When it was time for bed, Lilly was exhausted. Who knew spending a significant portion of the day on a horse could be so tiring? But it’d been a good day. Roger had trusted her enough to bring her out here. She’d gotten a chance to experience fox hunting firsthand, and after her bath, she’d joined him and the other gentlemen for dinner.

  Afterwards, she and Roger went to the drawing room where several gentlemen were playing cards. She ended up playing chess with Roger, so she didn’t have to mingle directly with any of the other guests. During the game, however, she did overhear some of the conversations going on around her.

  Most of the gentlemen were discussing their favorite hunting memories, but there were a couple who mentioned ladies. Two, in particular, were judging how attractive some in London were. She recognized a couple of names they mentioned, too, though she and her friends weren’t among them.

  She didn’t think gentlemen engaged in such talk, though she knew plenty of ladies, including herself and her friends, who judged a gentleman’s attractiveness. Being at White’s and this estate had opened her eyes in so many ways. It seemed that gentlemen and ladies weren’t so different after all. Everyone wanted companionship, and they wanted to like the person they married. If she had known this earlier, she wouldn’t have spent so much time agonizing over every little thing she’d said and done at the balls. She would have just been herself.

  It’d been a surprisingly fun day. She wouldn’t have thought coming out here would be such an enjoyable experience, but it had been. Even so, she was relieved to get out of Mr. Squire’s attire and into the chemise she wore for bed.

  She was brushing her dark hair at the mirror over the dresser when a soft knock came at her door. She stiffened. Before she could remember how to speak as Mr. Squire, the door opened and Roger, who was fully dressed, came into the room.

  She put her hand over her chest as he shut the door. “You gave me quite a fright,” she whispered. She’d been sure that she’d been discovered and that a servant had come to demand she leave.

  “My apologies, but I didn’t want anyone else to hear me come in,” he said in a low voice. He glanced at the window. “Good. You shut the drapes.”

  “Of course, I shut the drapes. I don’t want someone to look up and see me like this.” She gestured to her body.

  He drew her into his arms and gave her a wicked smile. “You look much better as a lady.” He lowered his head and kissed her.

  She dropped the brush and wrapped her arms around his neck. He put his hands under her chemise, lifted it to her waist, and then brought her legs up and around his waist.

  Roger was shocking her in so many ways. He had seemed like such a quiet and unassuming gentleman before she married him. That only went to prove that what one saw wasn’t what one got when it came to Roger Morris. And it thrilled her to no end.

  Roger took her to the bed and settled on top of her. His tongue brushed her lower lip, and she parted her lips so he could interlace his tongue with hers. She shifted intimately
against him. Through the material of his breeches, she could feel his erection. She rubbed over it and moaned. Who knew this kind of thing could be arousing? She repeated the action, and he followed her lead. She moaned again and tightened her legs around his waist to encourage him to keep going.

  Picking up on her excitement, he did as she wished, and she worked with him. Soon, very soon, he’d be inside her, but right now, she needed him to continue doing this. She closed her eyes and gave in to the need for release. She didn’t know if it was the fact that she now knew what pleasures awaited a wife in bed or if it was how incredibly exciting he was turning out to be, but it didn’t take long for her to reach the peak.

  She let out a cry and stilled as waves of pleasure crashed into her. The moment was perfect. She couldn’t imagine anything better than this. She and Roger were together, and better yet, they were doing something they’d never do with anyone else.

  When she relaxed, Roger made haste to remove his clothes. He then helped her out of her chemise and entered her. His thrusting came fast and hard, and she realized he had the same pent-up need within him that she’d had just moments ago. She worked with him, matching his pacing, eager for him to find his own completion in the act.

  And, like it’d been with her, it didn’t take long for him to find it. She felt the familiar throbbing in her core as he groaned in pleasure. She held him to her, wishing for the moment to last as long as possible.

  When he was finished, he lowered his head back to hers and gave her a lingering kiss. His tongue gently brushed hers for several seconds before he kissed her cheek and then her neck.

  Letting out a contented sigh, she ran her hands over his back. Everything was perfect. There wasn’t a single thing she’d change about her life. She had it all. She had a companion and a lover in her husband. She had something she hadn’t even known she’d wanted when she started her first Season; she had a love match.

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  “I love you, too,” he replied and kissed her once more on the mouth.