by Rose Gordon
She was enjoying this, he was sure of it; and he was, too. He was so caught up in the present all thoughts, beside his immediate actions on her body, were forgotten. He forgot about everything and everyone except this moment with Brooke.
He moved one hand to her thigh and tenderly massaged her supple flesh. Slowly, he moved his caresses higher. She offered no protest when he reached the bottom of her drawers and slipped his fingers inside to run along the bottom of the fabric.
While his bold fingers moved higher to do a slow and thorough exploration of her thigh, his mouth kissed her upper chest and around the bodice of her dress. He wished now he’d taken time to lower it, but at this moment nothing could make him move his hand from where it was.
He moved his lips back to hers and his hand glided higher inside her drawers until it was at the juncture where her leg joined her body. He could feel the slope of her leg and the dip that led to her most secret area. Cautiously, he brushed his fingertips back and forth, delighting in the way her body arched in response to his touch.
He shifted his hand just a fraction and silently rejoiced when she didn’t stop him. He could now feel her springy curls and knew he was within inches of touching the core of what made her a woman. He was shocked to discover just how much he wanted to touch her, and only her, there. He would have never known the truth himself if he currently was not so close to doing so.
He reached his fingers closer to where he longed to be: tangled in her nest of curls, when abruptly Brooke was no longer kissing him and he felt her whole body go stiff and her legs violently clamp together, her hands suddenly shoving at his chest. “Stop! Stop! I cannot do this,” she exclaimed.
Andrew took his hand out from under her skirt and pulled her skirt down the best he could to cover up her legs. “I didn’t mean to go so far,” he lied in a voice that sounded uneven to his own ears.
Brooke looked at him blankly like she was still trying to put the pieces together herself. “I’m sorry, Andrew, I just cannot do this,” she said, trying to hide the little sob that was escaping.
***
Brooke could read the disappointment that was stamped on Andrew’s face. But as disappointed as both of them were, she knew she had to be true to herself.
Long ago she had made her mind up that she’d never let a man who wasn’t her husband seduce her. Fortunately, she hadn’t learned this hard lesson for herself; but she had seen more than one of her intimates fall victim to men who would seduce them then discard them quickly afterward.
One of the most drastic situations she had been privy to had resulted in the girl getting with child; and after telling the father, he had denied involvement with her and abandoned her. Brooke shivered just thinking of it, but the memory helped her to hold her resolve.
“Thank you for keeping your word,” Brooke said, gaining more control of her voice.
“It’s all right, I respect your wishes. I told you I'd stop if you wished it,” Andrew assured her with a faint smile, then moved away to go sit with his back against a tree.
Brooke sat up and looked at him. He was taking this rather well for being denied what all men wanted above all else, or at least that’s what she’d been told.
Where they were sitting was very dim, but there was enough moonlight shining on them she could make out his features, which did not look as calm as he was pretending. His jaw was tense, his face looked as dark as a thunder cloud and his chest was rising and lowering considerably with each breath he took.
“I—I um, well, thank you, I just can’t…” she trailed off and waved her hand as if that would state what her voice could not.
“It’s quite all right,” Andrew said in a measured voice. “You owe me no explanation, a lady is allowed to change her mind.”
“I didn’t change my mind,” Brooke snapped. “I never said that I wanted to do…to do…that. You just took my lack of protest as confirmation that I would allow further advances.”
“Once again, you are correct.” Andrew reached for her and pulled her to his lap.
“I shouldn’t,” she protested weakly.
“I promise not to do anything other than hold you,” Andrew assured her.
Brooke knew she could take Andrew at his word. Clumsily, she allowed herself to be pulled onto his lap.
Se wiggled to get settled and Andrew groaned. She felt a hard ridge below her bottom. She cast a questioning eye to Andrew who just looked at her and said, “Not to worry, it will go away shortly.” When she relaxed a little she could have sworn he muttered, “I hope.”
She wanted to ask what he had in his pants that was hard and prodding her, and then ask him to move it because it was rather uncomfortable. But then she remembered the day at the museum and the statue she'd seen and decided not to mention it; she knew what it was, and there wasn’t anywhere he could move it, it was attached. She felt her face flame and was glad it was dark outside so he couldn’t see her face.
“Andrew, I’m sorry for my reaction. It’s just that I cannot allow you to go so far. I cannot allow anyone to go so far.”
“I see.”
“No, I don’t think you do. I have convictions.”
“Convictions?” he echoed.
“Yes, I cannot give my virtue to the first man who comes along,” she said before giving any consideration to how that sounded.
“Of course not,” he agreed.
Brooke’s body started to shake on its own accord and her mind began to war over all the reasons this was right against all the reasons it was wrong.
She had come to realize she did indeed love Andrew, but did he love her? That was what it all came down to. If he truly loved her he wouldn't rush her, right? But he hadn’t rushed her, not yesterday and not today. He’d stopped both times without complaint. She was so confused. The feelings she had just minutes before came flooding back to war with her decision.
She had felt so safe and comfortable with his caresses, but once he touched her as no man ever had before, she panicked. What if he took what she offered and abandoned her? What if her feelings for him outweighed his feelings for her and she ended up alone and stripped of the only valuable thing that a woman had: her virtue. That realization shook her to the core. She had been so close to throwing it away. All for a man who she loved, but had no idea if he felt the same.
After a few minutes of them both sitting there consumed with their own thoughts, Andrew wrapped his arms around her and pulled her as close to him as he could. “Are you all right?” he asked soothingly.
With his strong arms wrapped around her, she felt safe, like nothing bad could ever come to her. “Yes. I was just thinking of something,” she answered, looking up to meet his eyes.
“What are you thinking about?”
“It’s nothing.” Brooke tried to keep her voice firm, but it cracked anyway.
“You can tell me anything,” Andrew said with a tender smile.
“I feel that I’ve ruined everything. That you won’t feel the same about me now that I’ve ended…” she trailed off and lowered her gaze.
Andrew gave her a reassuring squeeze. “I can assure you my feelings for you are the same as they were half an hour ago; and if they have changed, they’re stronger. Why would you think that my feelings would change?”
Brooke turned her gaze back up to his and said, “Most men change their minds when they’re denied.”
“Not this one,” he said softly. His embraced tightened a slightly. “How would you know that? How many men have you taken this far in the dark?” he asked in a rough voice.
“No need to be jealous,” she teased. “I have never been this far with any man. However, anytime I've let a man kiss me then stopped him from advancing, he never speaks to me again, or not kindly at least.”
Andrew laughed softly and Brooke could feel the rumble of his chest against her cheek and his breath against her hair. “Their loss I’d say,” he told her, placing a tender kiss on the top of her hair.
“I’m fairly certain they
don’t think so,” Brooke said laughingly.
“They’re just angry you didn’t allow them to hold you like this,” he said, giving her another tight squeeze.
“You’re too kind, but I do not think holding is what Gateway had in mind when he took me in the bushes, nor did he feel at a loss when I ended it and he called me a tease,” Brooke said as she brought her hand up to his face and pushed some of his hair away from his eyes.
“Gateway?” Andrew thundered.
“Yes, Townson,” came a reply from ten feet away in the dark bushes.
Chapter 24
Brooke jumped nearly a foot in the air, knocking Andrew squarely in the nose, when Gateway’s voice floated to her ears.
Andrew’s reaction was a slightly different from Brooke’s. Instead of jumping, he went still as a portrait, his big arms squeezing tightly around Brooke’s midsection.
When it was clear Andrew wasn’t going to speak, Gateway stepped closer and looked them over.
Andrew felt the blood rush to his head. This was what he planned, wasn’t it? He wanted someone to discover the two of them in an inappropriate situation that would result in her shame and his success. However, now that it happened, it all felt different, wrong even.
“What are you two about?” Gateway inquired, cocking his head to get a better view.
Andrew felt Brooke’s body shiften and her face rest against his chest. His bare chest. In less than a second he comprehended just how bad the situation really was. He was without a coat and waistcoat, his shirt was for the most part undone, Brooke’s hair was down, her gown half unbuttoned in the back and she was sitting on his lap.
“Just out enjoying the night,” Andrew replied smoothly.
“Enjoying each other seems to be a more accurate description,” Gateway said with a chuckle.
Andrew felt something wet on his chest, he registered immediately I twas Brooke’s tears. The one thing he had hoped to eliminate for her was complete mortification, which was exactly what was happening.
Andrew relaxed his right arm and brought his hand to her back where he rubbed small comforting circles, trying to calm her shaking body.
“Now, now, Miss Banks, was his performance so bad you have to cry about it?” Gateway asked with a grin.
“Better than yours would have been, I'm sure,” Brooke retorted hotly as she twisted around to face him and swiped the tears off her cheeks.
Andrew couldn’t see her face, but he imagined rage was visible in those expressive eyes of hers because Gateway did not immediately respond to her taunt.
Their good luck did not hold out for long though. “You’ll never have the privilege to find out what it’s like to have a real man. It seems to me that you have made your selection.”
Andrew could feel Brooke stiffen again as she realized exactly what he meant by that. If anyone found out what they'd been doing, or how they were found, they’d be forced to marry. Her body’s reaction to that knowledge hit Andrew like a punch to the gut: he wasn’t the man Brooke wanted.
He should feel relieved, but instead he felt agitated. Why was she so affronted at the idea of marriage to him? Not that was going to offer it, but to know she was so opposed hurt.
Brooke settled Gateway with a stern look. “You would not be so much a cad to spread this story would you?”
“No,” Gateway allowed. “I have nothing to gain from your circumstances, unlike your companion.” The duke glanced pointedly to Andrew.
Andrew seethed. Was Gateway about to expose him to Brooke and ruin everything? What purpose would it serve for him to do so? And what did he mean he had nothing to gain from her circumstances? He had everything to gain; this whole thing was his idea. He was the one who wanted them to go back to America for whatever reason.
As if hit by lightening, Andrew had a breakthrough. He still didn’t know why Gateway wanted them to be sent all the way back to their homeland, but he figured out why he wanted the family shamed: Brooke had rejected him.
Andrew let out a loud, harsh laugh. Brooke had told him as much just before they had been discovered and if he had been able to think about it for a minute before they were interrupted he would have solved that piece of the puzzle already.
Brooke turned a quizzical eye on Andrew. “How can you laugh at a time like this?” she demanded.
His amusement ended instantly. He turned his eyes back to Gateway. “As delightful as this conversation has been, I think it’s time I return Miss Banks back to her parents.”
Neither Brooke nor Andrew made a move to stand up, they both waited for Gateway to leave so they could repair their clothing.
Gateway’s eyes met Brooke’s and said in an earnest tone, “I will not mention this to anyone.”
Brooke gave a relieved sigh.
Andrew gave him a questioning look, which Gateway didn’t respond to before he walked away.
They stood and were fixing their clothing when Brooke whispered, “Do you believe he’ll hold his tongue?”
Andrew stopped buttoning her gown. “Truthfully, I have no idea. He said he would, and for all his faults, I’ve never known him to go back on his word.”
Brooke released another sigh of relief. “Good, I have no idea how I could ever show my face around here again if he were to tell about my disgrace.”
Andrew bristled next to her. “Would it be that bad?” he asked bitterly. Not that he planned to marry her, but once again she was pricking his pride by declaring she didn’t want to marry him.
“Yes,” she exclaimed. “If it were known I was found in the woods on a man’s lap with my hair all affright and my gown in disarray, it would be dreadful. My reputation would be ruined, my family would have to bear the shame, it would cause my sisters’ marriage prospects to dwindle, and I cannot imagine what would happen to Papa if people thought his daughter was a trollop!” Her tone was laced in real horror.
He decided not to press her any further and his fingers went back to work on the back of her gown. He was too busy working up the buttons he didn’t hear anyone approach until he heard Lady Algen’s voice say, “Good evening, Townson, to whom are you playing lady’s maid?”
Andrew spun around as quickly as he could and realized Lady Algen’s position allowed her to see his face and hands, but blocked Brooke’s turned face. He gave Brooke a light push and turned to step in between Brooke’s back and Lady Algen’s view, doing his best to position himself so she couldn't see Brooke’s face.
“Yes, it is a good evening, Lady Algen. What brings you out?”
“I was told that there were some sights to see up in the sky. I didn’t know there would also be some sights to be seen on the path as well. Who is the young lady?” she inquired again.
They had just made a narrow escape by getting Gateway to agree not to say anything. But he knew if Lady Algen knew Brooke was with him, there would be no chance to save her reputation. Which is what he wanted wasn’t it? To ruin her reputation? He glanced over his shoulder and saw she was dressed for the most part, only a button or two undone on her gown, her hair was still down with a few twigs in it. It would be easy to move aside and let Lady Algen see her and get the gossip going. At least he had saved Brooke the embarrassment of actually being caught in the act.
No, he decided, he was not going to shame her that way. He’d have to think of something else. Lady Algen was a gossip hungry harpy and she’d be all too happy to spread this tale and probably spice it up a little. There was no way he’d let Brooke suffer that.
Reaching forward to grab Lady Algen’s arm and escort her somewhere else, Alex came running up. “Andrew, have you seen Brooke? We’ve been looking for her for over an hour and nobody has been able to find her.” His voice filled with serious concern.
Lady Algen’s eyes lit right up. “I think the lost has been found,” she said smugly.
Alex looked around owlishly, but when he looked past Andrew, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets before he stepped forward and grabbed Brooke’s arm
. “What is going on?” he demanded.
Brooke slowly turned to face Alex, her face was whiter than a cloud. Andrew could see she was panicking and his heart dropped to his stomach. How could he have ever thought he could pull this off?
“Nothing is going on,” Andrew answered curtly.
Lady Algen snorted. “It doesn’t look like nothing to me.”
“Madam, your opinion does not concern me,” Alex snapped at Lady Algen. Turning back to face Andrew and Brooke, Alex said, “I will have the meaning of this. Now!” His last word came out as almost a roar.
Andrew didn’t know what to say. Nothing he could say would resolve the situation, it would likely only make it worse. He just stared back at Alex and adopted a defensive stance.
“Brooke, I'll ask you once and only once, did he force you into this?” Alex asked. His eyes shifted between Andrew and Brooke as he waited for her answer.
Brooke looked like she was about to crumble and all Andrew could think was that he wanted to wrap his arms around her and protect her the way he should have from the beginning. Now it was too late, and it was all his fault.
“You’re hurting me, Alex,” was all Brooke said.
Alex let go of her arm and stepped away. “All right, now that I’m not hurting you, please answer my question. Did he force himself on you?”
Andrew thought she was going to say yes. Considering what he'd put her through, he wouldn’t have blamed her for doing so; but she just shook her head, and quietly said, “No.”
“Alex, I think we should take this conversation somewhere a bit more private,” Andrew said with a glance at Lady Algen.
For the first time, Alex looked at exactly who was outside with them. With a sharp inhale of breath, he nodded tersely in agreement with Andrew. “Let’s go inside.”
The small group made their way to the library. Alex positioned himself to walk between Andrew and Brooke, Lady Algen followed with a bright and devious smile, probably thinking of what she'd say when she went back inside and how she'd write her article for her weekly newspaper column, Tattle and Prattle.