“We’re no longer children, Flick.”
“Precisely my point. If you think your living accommodation will put me off having my way, then you don’t know me nearly as well as you think you do.”
“Why do you think I took the Cuthbert case?” he asked. She stared at him, incomprehension in her eyes. “If I’m elevated to the position of King’s Counsel then it will make a big difference to my income.”
Flick paused and it took a moment or two for her to comprehend his meaning. “You did that for me?” A beautiful smile spread slowly across her face. “You compromised everything you hold most dear because of your feelings for me?” She shook her head. “If I’m dreaming I would much prefer not to wake up.”
“No wife of mine will remain buried in the country while I pursue my career here in town. No wife of mine will finance me, either,” he added savagely. “Nor will I marry anyone who doesn’t understand what drives me.”
“Well then, I’m obviously your only choice.”
“If I’m made King’s Counsel I’ll be able to afford better accommodation in London.”
“Yes, I can quite see that but surely—”
“That accommodation wouldn’t be up to your usual standard. Even so, it would be a lot better than this. I wouldn’t be ashamed to have you live there.”
Her entire person radiated with happiness, which hadn’t been Darius’s intention. Things were still so uncertain. He could make her no promises and didn’t wish to raise her hopes, or his either, only to have them dashed.
She opened her mouth to speak but he placed his forefinger against her lips. “I love you, Flick. I’ve loved you for a long time, but Hal would never allow me to address you with my circumstances the way they currently are.”
“Hal can’t stop me, I’m almost of age. Not that he would, anyway. He married beneath himself for love so he can—” Flick clapped a hand over her mouth. “Not that I consider you to be beneath me, Darius, never imagine for a moment that I do. I’ve always looked up to you, admired you—”
He chuckled. “Diplomacy never was your strong point, but still, I comprehend your meaning.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “When I saw all those men sniffing about your petticoats last night, it was the final straw.”
“That’s what made you decide to take the case that could make your career? You took it for me.”
“Initially, but I now have reason to believe that they didn’t commit the robberies and so deserve the best defence available.”
Flick gasped. “But how can that be? According to the newspapers, the evidence is overwhelming. Tell me why you think Cuthbert is innocent.”
“Only if you promise to keep what I tell you between us. I ought not really to talk about it.”
“But I want to help. I know your silly pride will prevent you from offering for me if we don’t solve this case and I refuse to let that happen.” She flashed a mischievous grin. “That means we’ll have to work together to ensure that you win. I’ll be your unpaid, and probably unappreciated, junior.”
Knowing when he was beaten, Darius briefly outlined what Cuthbert had told him without mentioning any names.
“I suspect that Lord Edward Armstrong is involved.”
Darius permitted his surprise to show. “Why do you say that?”
“I overheard you and Mr. Bartlett discussing him when I arrived just now.”
“Ah, I see. Well yes, I suppose there’s no harm in your knowing, providing you don’t tell anyone what you overheard. My clients were in company with Armstrong at the time the crimes were committed.”
“I despise Lord Edward.” Her disapproving expression mirrored her fierce tone. “I met him last season and thought he was conceited, full of himself and vain as a peacock. He was quite put out when I declined to dance with him. I don’t think he’s used to being rejected. Anyway, I’m sure Cuthbert was telling the truth about him. I can easily imagine him behaving in such a manner.” She wrinkled her brow. “But how shall we set about proving it?”
“We?” He quirked a brow. “I know you want to help, Flick, but you can’t be involved.” He held up a hand to prevent her from interrupting him. “I mean it. This isn’t a game. Leave it to me.”
“All right,” she said, her capitulation so swift that it made him wary. Flick didn’t usually give up easily when there was something she desired. “But you must promise to let me know how things go.”
“Very well.”
“Am I permitted to make a suggestion, at least?”
“Certainly you are.”
“Well then, you ought to make enquiries at all the places where they stayed.”
“I believe that’s already been done.”
“Ask the ostlers. They may not remember faces but in my experience they never forget a decent horse that falls to their care. I’m assuming these young men all had decent mounts.”
“That’s a very good point and one that hadn’t occurred to me. Thank you. I shall arrange for enquiries to be made.”
“You see,” she said, still sitting on his lap and running a finger playfully down the side of his face. “Already you can’t manage without me.”
“And we ought not to be alone in this bedchamber.” He tipped her off his knee. “Come along, I’ll see you to your carriage.”
“Nonsense, we’re practically engaged. What harm is there in it?”
Such innocence! “Flick,” he said patiently, “we’re far from engaged. In spite of my belief in Cuthbert’s innocence, I have little expectation of proving it, especially if the other young men’s fathers put up barriers.”
“You think they’ll do that?”
“I think Lord Pallister will do whatever he must to protect his son, and his family’s good name.”
“Even so, he’s no match for us.”
Before Darius could prevent her, she slipped back onto his knee and her arms encircled his neck. A sweet waft of apricots that was so essentially her sharpened his sensory focus.
“I shall go quietly, provided you kiss me just once more.”
Darius laughed. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a hussy?”
“Oh, Hal has called me far worse things than that.”
“With good reason, I don’t doubt.”
“Hmm, perhaps.”
She was impossible to resist and so Darius did as she asked, feeding from her sweet lips like a man who’d been deprived of food for far too long. Her reaction was as instinctive as it was heartfelt, completely feminine and entirely spontaneous. She tickled the corners of his mouth with her tongue, teasing him in a manner that appeared to come naturally to her.
His lips roved over hers, firming as he deepened the kiss, taking it to a higher place where forbidden bliss beckoned, so close but tantalizingly out of sight. Her mouth was warm and mobile beneath his as the sheer joy of being with Flick, of giving free rein to emotions he’d been holding in check for longer than he could remember, tugged at him on a level he didn’t have a hope of controlling.
It was that thought which brought him to his senses and he broke the kiss. If he didn’t take charge of this situation right now then the little minx would run rings round him. If she did that, there could only be one outcome. He pushed her from his lap. Taken by surprise she fell backwards on the bed in a flurry of petticoats and a squeal of protests. Her skirts rode up and Darius groaned at the sight of the well-turned ankle that greeted him. He couldn’t afford to let his eyes linger in that particular location and transferred his glance to her face instead. As soon as he saw her eyes dancing with a heady mixture of spirit and passion, he knew he’d made another miscalculation.
“Not good enough, sir.”
“My kisses don’t satisfy you?” What the hell did he say that for?
“On the contrary. Your kisses make me hungry for more.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying.”
She was breathing hard, her breasts rising and falling in a manner that made it hard for him to tear
his gaze from them.
“Don’t treat me like a child.” She sounded all out of patience with him. “I know precisely what I’m asking you for.”
“And Hal would call me out if he even suspected.”
“Hal isn’t a hypocrite.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Darius admired her dimples when she flashed a saucy grin.
“When we were planning that ball we had at the Hall in the summer, Hal and Leah were always finding ways to get Beth and me out of the way.”
“And from that you assumed—”
“Certainly I do, and I might need to use the knowledge against him one day. Anyway, they’re returning from their wedding trip earlier than planned. I shouldn’t be a bit surprised to learn that they’re doing so because Leah’s in an interesting condition.”
Darius laughed. “But even so—”
“Don’t make me beg, Darius Grantley. We will marry. One way or another we’ll enhance your career so you can put aside your silly pride and do what you most wish to.”
Darius was all out of arguments. He ran a hand gently down her exposed thigh and sighed. “You’re a hard woman to best, Felicity Forster.”
“I am when there’s something I very much desire. And I very much desire you, Darius. I always have. There will never be another for me.”
She spoke with such quiet certainty that Darius knew he’d never convince her otherwise. Even so, he tried once last attempt to dissuade her.
“You can’t possibly know that.”
“Of course I do! I’ve already told you I decided to marry you when I was eleven.” She smiled dreamily. “Or was I twelve at the time? Anyway, it doesn’t signify. What matters is that when you rescued me from that fall, I thought you were the most handsome, most dashing, most courageous young man in the entire world.”
Darius laughed. “Thank you, but I merely picked you up and carried you back to the house. Anyone else would have done the same.”
“You fail to make allowances for the romantic nature of young girls.”
“Perhaps, but I—”
“I haven’t changed my mind in nine years. I had all sorts of gentlemen seeking to make a good impression on me last season, and three good offers of marriage.” She met his gaze and held it. “I turned them all down because of you—”
“You did what!”
“It’s true, but you didn’t even notice.” She pushed out her chest. “I’m tired of waiting for you to open your eyes.”
Darius could see that she’d spoken the truth and his heart swelled with love for this feisty, unconventional, totally compelling, single-minded siren. If she really had done all of that out of love for him then the very least he could do was satisfy her curiosity. It was beyond him to deny her, to deny them both, a few minutes of forbidden pleasure. There were plenty of other things they could do without his taking her virginity.
Thus decided, Darius threw off his coat and cravat and lay beside her in his shirtsleeves.
“Are you absolutely, completely sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life. Now stop wasting time and help me out of my gown.”
“Stay where you are. Let me do it.”
He found the ties and loosened them. As soon as her bodice fell away, he feasted admiring eyes on her plump breasts. Tentatively he stroked one of her soft mounds through the fabric of her chemise. She moaned and pushed herself into his hand like they’d done this a thousand times before. Darius supposed that when passions were aroused, instinct took over. He increased the pressure, rubbing his thumb across a nipple that was already rock hard.
“Tell me how it makes you feel, sweetheart.”
Her curls fell all over the place as she rolled her shoulders and sighed. “It feels heavenly. I have imagined this moment more times than I can say and always knew that it would be worth the wait. Do it some more.”
“Patience.” He dropped a soft kiss on her lips. “I’m the one who knows what he’s doing here.”
“Hmm, I hope that’s not because you’ve done it that often before.”
Darius chuckled. “Don’t ask questions you’d prefer not to know the answer to.”
He lifted her from the bed and completely removed her gown. He ought to lay it out so it didn’t become too badly creased but he was beyond worrying about such trifling concerns. Her stockings, shift and corset went the same way as her gown. So too did her petticoats and chemise. She was now completely naked and, for the first time, looked a trifle uncertain.
“Still time to change your mind, little one,” he said softly.
“I have no wish to change my mind. What I want is to look at you too.”
“That,” he said on a soft growl, “can’t happen.”
“Why not?”
“Because this is for you.”
“But I—”
Darius compromised by throwing off his shirt, but kept his breeches firmly in place. He silenced her objections with a kiss, full of admiration for her healthy curiosity. He’d wasted many hours dreaming about how she might look naked but the reality exceeded his wildest expectations. Perfectly proportioned, firm breasts, a slender waist and a wanton expression that made him quiver with desire. A desire that would have to be held in check—somehow.
He resumed his position beside her on the bed but this time when he kissed her, bare flesh collided with bare flesh. The amalgamation was explosive and they were both breathing heavily when Darius took a break from kissing her. His hands wandered at will over a body that squirmed in response to his touch. She was more than ready to be educated, and Darius didn’t have it in him to tease her by making her wait. One hand played with her breasts while the other drifted lower. Instinctively she parted her legs and Darius’s fingers delved inside. She pushed against his hand, sighing as she did so.
“It feels lovely.”
“I’m not hurting you?”
“Not in the slightest.” She nibbled at his shoulder. “But I wish it was you and not your fingers. I can only imagine how much better that must feel.”
Darius added another finger. She was already moist, driving him to the brink with her sultry expression and the unbridled enthusiasm she made no effort to curb.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said when he thought he saw her wince.
“I’ve already told you that you’re not.” Her arms were again round his neck and she lifted her upper body so that her breasts rubbed against the hair on his chest. She clearly enjoyed the resulting abrasion. “Just love me, Darius, that’s all I ask.”
“That,” he said, kissing the end of her nose, “I can most assuredly do. I’ve had plenty of practice, suppressing my feelings for you. Letting them out ought, by comparison, to be easily achieved.”
He continued to arouse her with his fingers, while agitating her clitoris with his thumb. She gasped and thrust against his hand, completely abandoned to pleasure. Darius, overwhelmed by the love he could see in her eyes, kissed her deep and long as he brought her closer to orgasm, ignoring his own painful need. She moved her hips in time with his hand, somehow managing to express her pleasure through a series of grunts and moans, even though her mouth was fully occupied with his kiss. He felt her close about his fingers and knew she was about to climax.
He broke the kiss just when he sensed she was on the point of release, wanting to watch her face as she experienced her first ever orgasm. Being Flick, she didn’t try to mask her feelings. All the pins appeared to have fallen from her hair, and a riot of cream curls spilled across the pillow as she thrashed her head from side to side and cried out his name. Her eyes were alight with a compelling mix of astonishment, raw passion, and sheer, unadulterated pleasure.
“I had no idea,” she said when her limbs finally stopped trembling.
“And you still don’t.” He tenderly smoothed the hair away from her forehead. “When I’m in a position to actually make love to you properly, then you will appreciate what you’ve been
missing.”
He held her close until her breathing returned to normal.
“Now we’re married in everything but name,” she said dreamily.
Now I absolutely have to find a way to get Cuthbert acquitted.
Chapter Six
“Good heavens, Potter.” Flick entered the vestibule and blinked at the chaotic scene that greeted her. “Whatever’s going on?”
“His lordship and her ladyship have just now arrived home, m’lady.”
“The marquess is home?”
“Yes, m’lady. Not half an hour since.”
Flick panicked. She’d been driven back to Grosvenor Street in a daze of self-fulfilment and unmitigated joy. At last Darius had expressed his feels and made ardent love to her. Well, not completely, but he’d gone a lot further than she’d thought she would be able to persuade him to. For once Darius had allowed himself to be swept away by his feelings and taken a risk. Flick hugged herself. He was so passionate, confirming her long-held suspicion that beneath his dependable exterior lurked a man who felt deeply.
She must look a total mess. Her clothing was on straight—more or less—Darius had proved to be a proficient lady’s maid. But there had been little that either of them could do about her hair. Half the pins were lost, Darius was late for the Bailey and there was no time to look for them. She made do with twisting her rebellious tresses on top of her head and anchoring them beneath her bonnet. Strands had already escaped and it would probably be apparent to anyone as experienced as her brother precisely how she’d passed the morning.
Indeed, when opening the door to her, Potter had briefly elevated one brow by a fraction of an inch. In such a well-trained butler, his reaction was akin to a declaration of abject horror. Damnation, Hal knew how to pick his moments!
“How lovely,” she said in an over-bright voice. “Where are they now?”
“Changing their attire, ma’am.”
“Then I shall do the same and see them directly.” Flick headed for the stairs before she encountered anyone else. “Please send Millie to me.”
Beguiling the Barrister Page 7