by Heather Boyd
Avery stared at the mug a moment. “My thanks. At last, a woman who knows what a man needs without having to talk a subject to death.”
When he lifted it to his lips to drink, a fair portion escaped to slide down his jaw and the chair beneath him. Esme shuddered as the cushion grew damp and ruined from his spillage. The chair, the pattern particularly, was one of her favorites. She might not be mistress of this house, but she appreciated the beauty around them more than Lord Avery Hill ever could.
“Such a mess again,” she chided. “Beyond last year’s efforts, indeed. I’ll never understand why Harriet put up with you. She should have found someone who wouldn’t embarrass her with the way you go on.”
“I fuck well.” Avery saluted her with his tankard. “Good luck to her finding a replacement that makes her scream like I can in bed.”
For added clarity, he lewdly grabbed his groin with his spare hand, but it was easy to tell that what lay beneath his clothing was in no condition to live up to his boast.
“I’m sure there will be dozens of men who vie for her attention when we return to London,” she replied in a bored tone but watched him for a reaction. He winced and then wiped the expression clean. Esme sat across from him. “But is that all you do with her?”
Avery swallowed a large mouthful and then wiped his sleeve across his lips. “I’ve had dozens of women in my bed. They’ve never complained about my techniques.”
She knew his history and of his skill with women, thanks to Harriet’s shared confidences. “They’ve little chance of complaining since after sharing your bed, you barely see any of them again,” she muttered under her breath. “But you always kept coming back to Harriet before she could find someone better.”
He squinted as if he’d stopped listening. “Eh?”
“Oh, nothing.” She would laugh aloud at how slow-witted Avery was under the influence of spirits, but this was the man her best friend had fallen for. If he had any sense, he’d be trying to mend fences with Harriet rather than drowning his sorrows that he’d lost her through his own actions. The safest thing for all concerned was to get him into his own bed, alone, and perhaps tomorrow he’d be a touch more civilized, at least enough to apologize to those other offended ladies. “Have you had enough?”
“Keep out of my affairs.” Avery hugged his tankard against his chest, slopping more onto his shirt. He glared into the cup, and then drained every last drop in one swallow. Afterward, he swayed forward to show her the empty tankard. “I can hold my liquor.”
“Is that so?” From years of Harriet’s confidences and Esme’s own observations, she knew he actually couldn’t. Her plan was working so well. “Well then, let me refill that for you, my lord, and you can prove to me how fine a gentleman you really are.”
She refilled the tankard to the brim and then sat back to watch him drink in peace. All too soon the man could barely find his mouth.
He jerked upright suddenly. “Do you know what that woman wants?”
His sudden question surprised her, but Esme assumed “that woman” referred to her friend Harriet. “She wants what we all want.”
“Excitement. A bit of fun.” He scowled. “I gave her a damn good time.”
Esme shook her head. “You haven’t a clue about women, do you?”
He stared, and then smoothed his damn shirtfront. “More of an idea than my sainted brother.”
“Now, that is where you are wrong.” She sighed. “All we want is a man who will put our needs first.”
“There, you see,” he said with a renewed burst of energy. “I always wait for her.”
Of course his mind ran to sex but that wasn’t what she’d meant. “I’m not speaking of intimacy, but I fear you are too blinded by drink to understand the difference at the moment.”
He lurched toward her, falling to his knees in his haste. “Tell me.”
Esme pushed him away with the tips of her fingers and he collapsed onto the floor in an untidy heap.
He squeezed his eyes shut. “Gave her every pleasure I could think of.”
He groaned and rolled away, curling onto his side, almost in a ball, resting his head on his arm like the most innocent babe. But this man wasn’t at all innocent and he hardly deserved her sympathy for the way he lived his life.
Esme prodded his shoulder with the toe of her shoe after a long moment of silence from him and received no response. She sat back and regarded him sadly. “Fool. All she wanted was your undivided attention.”
He snored suddenly and her heart ached for Harriet. She knew very well what her friend had wanted most of all and had given up. What she wanted would never be possible with Avery unless he was prepared to change his life completely. “She wanted your love, Avery. That is all a woman really needs to be happy.”
Twelve
“How the hell did this happen?” Richard shook his head in disgust as he stared at the body at his feet. His brother was passed out and drooling on the damn rug in the little sitting room just off the ballroom.
An appalling thought struck him. His brother wasn’t a good drunk. Too mouthy by far, too rude to all and sundry. Richard had been occupied in the stables for hours so he’d have had plenty of time to cause trouble. “Oh God. Do I need to make amends to anyone in particular tonight?”
The butler winced. “He spoke rudely to several ladies until Lady Heathcote intervened. Lady Jillian has smoothed the other ladies’ ruffled feathers I believe but an apology from your brother might be in order.”
Richard winced. Esme took offense quite easily to the things he said and he didn’t want to imagine her mood over his brother’s rudeness. An upset would affect his hopes for the rest of the house party. “I’ll speak to Lady Heathcote and the others myself tonight.”
“Actually, when the countess left your brother, she didn’t seem particularly offended by events,” Oswin remarked. “She merely asked me to lock him in as he was and to wait for your instructions. She returned to the other guests quite happily, I feel. When I saw her last, she was laughing with Mr. Hammond on the terrace.”
Unease filled him at the idea of Esme and Hammond laughing together while he’d been stuck out in the stables attending to urgent estate business. He studied his brother and then glanced at the clock. Almost two in the morning and the house party was only just winding down for the night. The whole time he’d been in the stables, he hadn’t been imagining Esme dealing with his brother, or smiling and laughing with someone else. He’d foolishly hoped she’d been wondering where he’d gone.
His brother snored on, uncaring for the difficult position he was likely in. Richard wasn’t sure what was going on with Avery, but he’d have to get him upstairs and into his bed. He hoped there wasn’t a woman waiting because Avery was in no condition to make any sort of good impression. “Do you know who is sharing my brother’s bed at the moment?”
The butler nervously glanced around. “I don’t believe there is anyone this year.”
Richard frowned. “Surely Lady Ames?”
“Not currently.” The butler dug a finger beneath his neckcloth, clearly discomforted by the topic of their discussion.
It was accepted there was often more than one woman sneaking from his brother’s bed at any time of the day or night. Until now, Richard had never needed to discuss those peculiarities with his butler.
Oswin glanced around quickly to make sure they were still alone before continuing, “The maids say Lady Ames broke with Lord Avery. Quite upsetting for her. She’s kept to her room tonight, I am afraid to say.”
Oswin glared at the body on the floor.
“And my brother has been drunk since yesterday morning.” Richard groaned. “A lover’s tiff. That explains everything. When will he learn not to lead women on?”
Oswin cleared his throat. “Might I ask about your interest in Lady Heathcote?”
“My interest?” He glanced at his butler in surprise. “Of what concern is that to you? You are not her father.”
; “No, but I felt compelled to inquire, given the care she has shown to me during her many visits.” Oswin lifted his chin proudly. “She is a good woman and her influence on you has been noted and approved of by your staff and tenants.”
“I see.” Richard blinked, blindsided by the fact that his staff had made so much of Esme’s visits. “That is unexpected.”
“The nursery has been empty for a long time,” Oswin said, smiling awkwardly. “It would be nice to hear the voices of the very young at all hours of the day and night and to have a woman of her strength of character once more commanding us. We all agree on this.”
The entire staff had placed their stamp of approval on Esme? It was too much. He scowled at the man he’d depended on to run his home. “My relationships are none of your business, not anyone’s, Oswin, and you’d do well to remember your position here. Anyone can be replaced.”
“Yes, my lord.” However, Oswin looked anything but abashed. The man had meant his endorsement of Esme.
Richard turned away, shaking his head. He nudged his brother with the toe of his boot and got no response that could be considered intelligent communication. “I’ll need some help getting him upstairs.”
A throat cleared. Richard glanced over his shoulder and spotted Mr. Hammond hovering at the door. He breathed a sigh of relief to discover Esme was not at his side. She would not appreciate the conversation he’d just had.
Hammond drew close, scowling at the man on the floor. “I wouldn’t trust me not to drop him on his head, but I am willing to take his feet.”
“Thank you.” Richard appreciated the offer of help. “I’ve always found that a tempting thought too, to drop him. He never could handle the drink.”
With Hammond’s help, and a great deal of grunting, they got him up the back stairs, awkwardly thrown onto his bed still in the clothes he was wearing. He stank of gin, but there was no help for leaving him that way. Avery slept through it all, heavy as stone and just as sensible. It wasn’t worth anyone’s time to try to undress him.
Hammond lingered a moment. “Stupid fool. You’ll never know what you had in her.”
Richard frowned at his remark, uncertain if the man was speaking to him or his inebriated brother. “I beg your pardon?”
The other man smiled tightly. “Never mind. Good night, one and all.”
He strolled out and disappeared quickly down the hall. Richard took one last look at his brother then closed the door to the room. Tomorrow he’d talk to Avery and find out what was going on. But tonight he needed to ensure Esme wasn’t upset.
He hurried to her bedchamber and tapped lightly on her door, hoping Hammond hadn’t left Windermere only to join her there.
“It’s open,” she called out.
He glanced around as soon as he stepped through, relieved to find she had not taken up with Hammond or anyone else in his absence. She was curled up in the window seat, an empty sherry glass in hand, her bare toes peeking from beneath her robe-covered nightgown. She was entirely too kissable like this and he hurried across the room.
She screwed up her nose when he got close. “Oh, it’s you.”
His hopes died. Had she not wanted him to come? “Were you expecting someone else?”
“No, but I thought to catch sight of you sooner than this.”
He slowly approached her. “One of the horses foaled tonight. I had wanted to be there.”
Her expression cleared. “A filly or colt.”
“Colt.”
She turned to glance out the open window. “Congratulations.”
Esme’s greeting was not terribly warm and his tension grew. “I apologize for my brother’s behavior if he has upset you. He seems very drunk.”
She leaned her head back on the wall and studied him. “I know. I confess I helped him along until he passed out.”
The news was somewhat of a relief. “He was rude to you.”
When she said nothing more, Richard quickly squeezed into a spot by her feet. He placed his hand on her calf and softly stroked her limb through the robe. “Is everything all right?”
Her smile was tight. “Of course.”
“Are we all right?”
“We?” She shook her head. “Windermere, we’ve enjoyed a few exciting trysts that have nothing to do with anything else. Your brother cannot affect my enjoyment of you no matter how drunk or uncivilized he becomes.”
He shoved her robe aside to touch bare skin. “It’s far more than sex between us and you know it.” He skimmed his fingers up the back of her leg and higher still, until he could feel the damp heat of her quim.
Her legs parted on a sigh. “Very good sex indeed.”
He stared at where his fingers played. Tonight, he wanted Esme in his bed completely naked for what remained of the night. “I hoped you might be amenable to joining me in my room.”
She moved her hips closer to his fingers. “You’re here. Why stop?”
He frowned. “I really do walk in my sleep.”
“Oh.” She glanced around swiftly, taking stock of the room with widened eyes. “Entirely too many breakable items?”
“Yes.” He swallowed and teased her curls again. “This would be an easy room to hurt myself in. I had hoped to make a night of it. To exhaust us both.”
“I would hate to see your blood on the carpets. These are lovely and your brother has already spoiled one chair with gin. A pity, that. You should make him clean up after himself tomorrow, and perhaps he would stop burdening your staff with extra work at a time like this.”
He grinned at how no matter what he did to her body, her managing tendencies remained unaffected. No wonder his staff liked her. With Esme, he always knew what she expected.
He held out his hand. “I might just suggest it. It’s about time he took responsibility for his actions and settled down.”
After a moment, she slipped her small hand over his and he brought her to her feet. They stood next to each other, barely touching but his pulse sped. He bent to kiss her cheek then guided her toward the door.
In the hall, she faced him. “Did you leave your brother snoring below stairs?”
“Hammond and my butler assisted me getting him into his room. It was a near thing for all of us. We each wanted to drop him on his head, I think. I cannot help but worry about him.” He glanced at Esme in time to see a dark expression form on her face. “Esme, do you know what’s amiss?”
She waited until they stood outside his bedchamber before answering. “Perhaps.”
“Lady Ames is upset.” At her obvious surprise, he shrugged. “I don’t always wait for you to tell me everything I need to know. My servants advise me of small tidbits of gossip from time to time during the house party. I am sorry. I hope my brother hasn’t been an utter beast to her.”
“It’s more than that.”
He blinked. “What else is there?”
Her frown grew. “Another time.”
She slipped into his bedchamber and before the door was properly locked, she slipped off her robe. As was his usual habit, Richard crossed the room and slid the room key under his dressing-room door. “Don’t be alarmed. My valet will unlock the chamber at half-five, long before the guests awake. You’ll have ample time to return to your room unseen.”
He faced Esme and his eyes widened. She was already undressed, slowly stroking her own breast. Her lips curved upward at his shock. She clearly enjoyed surprising him every way she could.
He hardened immediately, the stirring of desire he’d experienced earlier roared into impatience to have her again. Three strides placed him directly before her. He didn’t dare touch her but admired the pert breast she caressed. He let his gaze rove over her deliciously pink skin, taking in every dimple, every curve, and growing even more aroused by what he found before him. “You have the figure of a young woman.”
The wicked sparkle dimmed from her eyes. “The only advantage of never being blessed with children.”
Her mention of children brought out
a keen desire to see her body big with child. His. He almost groaned out loud as he imagined a life with Esme as his wife. Could she be happy with him and him alone?
He gently touched her head, slipping his fingertips into her silky hair.
He brushed his lips against hers slowly, keeping their first kiss light and gentle. The delicious scent of Esme’s arousal curled around him and before he realized it, Richard had her cuddled into his chest, her fingers digging into his shoulders through his clothes as they held each other close.
He lowered one hand to her shoulder and circled his thumb over the delicate skin of her collarbone, finding her softness compelling. But it was her strength of character he’d grown to adore, and not just the sex that kept him coming back for more.
Against his lower back, Esme’s touch was light as a feather, skimming his waist and quickening his heart with the relentless torture. He backed her toward the bed, but stumbled as his trousers slid down his legs and tangled about his knees.
He glanced down in surprise. Esme had undone them and he’d not noticed. The minx.
Her smile was rather smug, so he released her to finish undressing himself. “I take it you want me naked too?”
“I do.” Esme circled him slowly, her fingertips skimming his stomach, his hip, gliding over the muscles of his arms and chest, teasing across the swells of his bottom before she stood before him again. “Much better.”
Richard caught her up in his arms and held her against him. “Definitely, my sweet.”
“Sweet?” She scoffed.
“Would you prefer to be called a feisty wench instead?”
“Oh, yes.” She grinned then laughed softly. “I’m no milksop madam.”
The smooth slide of her slender body against his increased the urgency to join with her. Instead, he lowered her to the bed, rolled her onto her stomach and kissed both cheeks of her bottom. Next, he whacked the right one.
“Windermere,” Esme warned as she twisted around to see him.
To his relief, her expression wasn’t outraged but puzzled.
“I have always wanted to do that,” he confessed with a laugh.