Lady Alexandra's Lover

by HELEN HARDT

  “You don’t know anything about me.”

  “Oh, don’t I…Madame O?”

  Ally swallowed. Her pseudonym for her erotica. Oh, that she could go back in time and end this before it began!

  “No one would believe I had violated you. I will simply tell them that you begged for it. And when I expose the fact that you are a writer for this lovely little paper, no one will believe that I did anything to you without your consent. Unfortunately, though, now is not the time. I must get back downstairs. The business doesn’t run without me.” He grinned.

  Ally sat while he bound her hands behind her. “Why are you printing the paper now, in broad daylight?”

  “Not that it’s any of your business, lovely lady, but we have a deadline, and we got behind a few days ago printing some useless rubble for his lordship. Something he deemed important, and everything had to be put on hold for it. A book of drivel.”

  What had Evan deemed so important to stop the presses? Ally didn’t know, and right now she couldn’t dwell on it anyway.

  “You’ll be quite comfortable here, my lady. We close at six p.m. At that time, I will come up and figure out what to do with you.”

  “That’s hours away.”

  “Yes, it is. It’s too bad I have to bind your hands otherwise I could bring you some parchment and you could do some writing of your feisty Lady Prudence.”

  She seethed. “There is nothing wrong with what I write.”

  “I couldn’t agree more, my lady. There is nothing wrong with what I print.”

  “Except that it is not your printing house, and not your decision to make.”

  “I’m bored with this conversation, I fear.” Osborne placed a gag in Ally’s mouth. “No need to blindfold you. You know where you are. I shall see you in a few hours.”

  He left.

  Ally struggled against the bindings, to no avail. Once again, she had managed to get herself stranded without a paddle. She did seem to have a penchant for it.

  Evan wouldn’t come for her. He was physically incapable. And at this point, he probably wouldn’t want to anyway. How had she made such a mess of this? She had finally come to understand what was important in life, only for it to be too late.

  The minutes crept by slowly. At least she had fulfilled her goal. She’d found out who was behind the printing of The Ruby. However, it wouldn’t do any good when she couldn’t get to Evan.

  It was past time for luncheon, but she wouldn’t have been able to eat anyway. Her empty stomach gnawed at her. She fought back the ever-present nausea.

  Sweat beaded on her forehead. The presses and the workers downstairs created more heat, and it rose to the second floor where she was. Her clothing stuck to her skin. She fought back tears. She wouldn’t be able to wipe them anyway. Nothing to do but sit—sit and await her fate.

  Wait! Mr. Landon knew where she was. But no one knew he had come calling earlier, and because she had rejected his proposal, he would not come back. Most likely no one would think to ask him where she might have gone.

  She was truly out of luck.

  * * *

  Evan drifted in and out of slumber. His thigh ached, but it was nothing he couldn’t handle, thanks to the morphine that a servant gave him every six hours. Unfortunately, the morphine couldn’t touch the pain in his heart.

  Thoughts of Alexandra tormented him. He’d used every bit of strength he possessed to send her away this morning, and it had weakened him even more. He would always love her. No one else would satisfy him now. So he had resigned himself to bachelorhood. Hell, who needed an heir, anyway? He was only a second son.

  But a child…born of Alexandra’s womb… He’d dreamed of holding his son or daughter as he gazed at his beautiful wife…

  Alexandra was everything to him. But he had to be strong and leave her be. He could no longer protect her. She was too impulsive, too strong-willed. She would always want to be doing something contrary to her best interests. What kind of life would that be for him, constantly keeping her out of trouble?

  He couldn’t help smiling to himself. It would be an amazing life. A challenging life. A life of surprises.

  The life he wanted.

  But if he couldn’t trust her, no future existed for them. He could live with the fact that she wasn’t a soft-willed woman who acquiesced to all of her husband’s demands. That was the kind of woman his mother had been, and she had been a good wife to his father. But his father had never loved her. Instead, he had fallen for Alexandra’s mother. Iris was beautiful, tall, and regal like Alexandra. She no doubt possessed some of her daughter’s fire—what hadn’t been burned out by her first husband—and that is what had drawn his father to her. She was a woman of strength and character who had sacrificed everything to protect her daughters.

  His father could not have done better for himself.

  Evan finally understood. It was Alexandra’s fire that drew him. Her passion. Her strength. She was nothing like Evan’s mother.

  If only she hadn’t violated his trust. He would have to learn to live without her. But how could he live when half of his heart—his soul—was missing?

  * * *

  Ally had sunk down in the chair as much as the bindings would allow. Dear Lord, the heat! The muskiness of her own body odor wafted to her nose. It hadn’t become unpleasant yet, but it was well on its way. Her hair felt like it was plastered to her scalp.

  Her heart hammered as heavy footsteps clomped up the stairs. Osborne walked in.

  “Good evening, my lady. I trust you have not been too uncomfortable.”

  Ally strained against her gag. How dare he come in here so nonchalantly after kidnapping her and tying her up.

  “And now, I must decide what to do with you. The night crew will be in before long, so I need to get rid of you before then.” He tapped his foot, rubbing his chin. “What to do?”

  Ally’s stomach threatened to empty. She willed it back. Getting sick through the gag would not be pleasant.

  Osborne strode forward, his eyes glazed over. He stroked her cheek, his bony fingers clammy against her skin. She winced.

  “Do not shy away from my touch, my lady.”

  Ally let out a scream, muffled through the gag.

  “You are a beauty.” He leaned toward her and slithered his tongue up her cheek.

  Ally nearly vomited. Her skin tightened against the gooey disgustingness of his saliva. This man oozed creepiness. He was a vile creature, and he would not violate her.

  “Leave me alone!” The words did not make it past her gag.

  “Such lovely lips.” Osborne traced them with his index finger. “If I remove this gag, will you kiss me?”

  Ally violently shook her head.

  “Oh, I think you will.” He ripped the gag from her and clamped his mouth onto hers.

  The dreaded invisible worms crawled over her skin. She wanted to vomit. She pressed her lips shut, even as his tongue tried to force its way in. She would not allow it.

  He withdrew. “So you want to make this rough, do you? I can’t say that will be unpleasant for me.” He chuckled and leered at her.

  She cringed.

  “I’ll have to get you out of that chair as your legs are no use to me now. I want them spread apart. I want to see the treasures you hide between them.”

  Ally gagged and spat in his face. “You will not touch me!”

  He laughed as he wiped her spittle from his cheek. “I think you’ve mistaken who is in control here. I will do what I please with you. After all, I have to dispose of you anyway. Why not have some fun before I do? What is the harm?”

  “Lord Evan will come for me,” Ally said. “He is probably on his way right now with the constables.”

  “Lord Evan is recovering from a gunshot wound. You said so yourself. I somehow doubt he is coming anywhere for you. And if anyone knew you were gone, the authorities would be here by now. I call your bluff, my lady.”

  Ally wilted against the chair. He was right.
No one was coming for her—certainly not Evan, who could barely walk.

  So this was truly to be her fate. A result of poor judgment, Evan would say.

  And he would be right.

  She could only pray that it passed quickly.

  Osborne unbound her feet from the chair. Quick as a jackrabbit, she landed a swift kick on his hand.

  “Ouch! You filthy little bitch!” He slapped her across the face.

  The strike stung, but it was nothing compared to the kind of punishment her father had doled out. “Is that all you have?”

  He slapped her again. “You will not speak to me like that.”

  Ally held back a sarcastic laugh. Osborne had no idea with whom he was dealing. Ally was no limp violet. She could take a beating, and a beating by this revolting creature would be far preferable to any sexual act with him. Make him angry enough, and he would beat her senseless instead of raping her.

  And when he was done, she would somehow keep her vow—to kill any man who ever laid a hand on her again.

  “Try to stop me, why don’t you? You’re weak. You can’t even hit a woman properly. Unbind my hands, and I’ll show you who is stronger between the two of us.”

  “The only thing your hands will be doing is pumping my cock, you little whore, before I force it into your pretty mouth.”

  She nearly retched, but she caught herself, continuing to play her part. “Suck you? You can’t be serious. Why, your tiny thing would get lost between my lips.”

  “Shut up, bitch.” He slapped her across the face again.

  Oh, the blow stung. Her cheek was probably red as an apple by now. She held fast, bracing her resolve, determined that he would not see her pain.

  “You like hitting girls do you? Compensating for your tiny little cock, I’d wager.”

  This time he punched her in the gut. His fist landed on her stomach with a dull thud. Had her hands not been bound behind her, she would have doubled over in pain. Still, she held her head high.

  “You seem convinced of the size of my cock, my lady. Perhaps I should show you. It will prove to you its worth.”

  Lord, she didn’t want to see that or any other part of him. Keep him angry, Ally. Make him hit you. Don’t let him bring his cock into this.

  “Anything of yours that comes near me, you’re going to lose,” she said, clenching her teeth.

  Whomp! He whacked her face again, this time hitting her eye. She’d have a shiner tomorrow.

  If she saw tomorrow…

  “You talk big, don’t you? I get the feeling this isn’t the first time a man has taken a fist to you. I can see why. Some women just need a good beating.”

  The words slammed into her like a thunderbolt. Images whirled in her head—her father above her, taunting her, smacking her, turning her over and caning her…

  Some girls just need a good beatin’, lassie. Like your mother. And you. Teach you respect for your father. Respect for your betters. You’re nothin’ but a little harlot, you and your sister both. Aye, your arse is good and red now…

  Her father’s voice. The devil’s voice. That sadistic gleam in his eye as…

  Stay strong, Ally.

  “Unbind my hands, and we’ll see who beats whom,” Ally said. “I promise you I’ll see you dead. My face will be the last thing you see when I plunge a dagger into your heart.”

  “You’re feisty, I’ll give you that.” He licked his lips. “I bet you’re a tomcat in bed.”

  “Tomcat?” Ally grinned slyly. “That’s a male cat. Are you saying you prefer bedding males?”

  Thud! His fist hit her stomach again. She retched, dry heaving. She hated showing the weakness, but she couldn’t help it. At least she hadn’t eaten since breakfast so there was nothing in her to vomit.

  He hit her again, and then again. She might die from the beating, but it would be better than being raped by this lunatic.

  Besides, death no longer seemed so horrible. Why go on living? The earl would take care of Mother and Sophie. Evan no longer wanted Ally, and she would never love another. Money was no longer important to her. Now, in this moment, all she wanted was to keep this maniac from raping her.

  Whatever it took, she would do. She’d die before she let this creep into her body.

  “Coward!” She spat out blood. “You won’t unbind my hands. You’re afraid of me. Of a lowly woman!”

  Still he pummeled her. Blood flowed from her nose, and her body weakened and throbbed. She couldn’t take much more. She was on the verge of losing consciousness. Just as well. Sleep would give her peace.

  Evan. She could dream of Evan…

  “Move away from the lady, now!”

  Not a voice she recognized… Images were all grey. Eyes…wanted…to close…

  Had Osborne stopped punching her? Her body had gone numb. Her eyes were slits. Darkness had fallen. No light.

  Again the voice. “Move away from the lady, or I will shoot.”

  Confessions of Lady Prudence

  by Madame O

  Dearest Amelia,

  I must confess that neither I nor Christophe pretend to have art lessons anymore. I guess he got over his need to give me what my auntie is paying for. In fact, at our last lesson, he suggested that we have an orgy. Can you even imagine? He asked me to arrange for Hattie and Lars to be available and he would bring himself and Mr. Peck, and perhaps one other if he could arrange it. Does that not sound absolutely delicious?

  So I have that in the works.

  In the meantime, during our last “lesson,” which took place in my chamber, Christophe educated me on the “back door.”

  As you know, Lars had already breached me there, and the sensation, while painful at first, turned out to be something different and amazing. It’s a wonder that you and I never experimented in that way with Broderick and Miles. I think we all would have enjoyed it.

  “You will enjoy this kind of fucking, my lady,” Christophe said to me with a wicked smile. “I’ve found that the only ladies who don’t enjoy it are those who haven’t tried it.”

  I confess, Amelia, that I was quite frightened. A finger is one thing…but a cock? Good mercy, and Christophe, Lars, and Mr. Peck are all quite large!

  We undressed, and Christophe turned me over so I was on my hands and knees on my bed. I jerked when he slid his tongue between my arse cheeks. It caused no pain, of course, and I expected it, but still I lurched. The sensation overwhelmed me—such a private forbidden place, yet I quivered with elation.

  “Do you trust me, my lady?”

  “Of course I do,” I said.

  “Good. We must have trust for this to work. Relax, my lady. Let me soften you. We will go slowly. That will ensure your enjoyment.”

  I breathed in calmly and let it out on a sigh. Slow was good. But fast was better. I wanted to experience all the pleasure that life had to offer…and he wanted to go slowly!

  I gritted my teeth and nodded. He knew best, of course.

  “Your arsehole is nice and wet now, my lady. Relax, and I will get it ready for penetration.”

  I breathed in deeply again, as he rubbed my opening with his finger.

  “Yes, my lady, such a lovely arse. Relax.”

  He breached me.

  And I jolted again. The agony of the penetration surged through me, but Christophe eased my tension with soothing words and a lovely massage to my buttocks.

  Oh, the burn, Amelia! But as I relaxed my muscles and he glided his finger in and out of my hole, my cunny began to respond.

  I wish I could describe it, Amelia. It’s different than a finger in your pussy. The fact that it’s so naughty makes it all the more enticing, but the feeling, the sensation…there’s nothing like it. It’s an alien feeling, intensely delicate, unnatural yet amazingly natural.

  I wanted more, Amelia, but when I opened my mouth to voice my need, he began playing with my cunny with his other hand.

  And I exploded.

  Chapter 23

  Someone had come
for her. Who could it be? With all the restraints, she lifted her eyelids as much as she could. Everything was blurry, but four figures emerged in her sight—Osborne and three other men. One looked vaguely familiar.

  Osborne lifted his hand. “Hey, mate, I don’t want any trouble.”

  “Any man who hits a woman deserves trouble,” the man with the gun said.

  “Who the fuck are you?”

  “Move away from the lady, and I’ll tell you.”

  Osborne edged away from Ally.

  The man nodded to the others. “Take care of her. Get her some help.”

  Two men unbound Ally.

  “Are you all right, madam?” one asked.

  Ally couldn’t answer. She could barely nod her head.

  “We need to get you home. Can you tell us where you live?”

  Ally tried to form the words, but she couldn’t.

  “Ryland! She can’t talk. We’ll have to take care of her.”

  Ryland? The man who’d taken Sophie had been named Ryland. Sophie had told her. Ally tried to scream, but still, nothing came out.

  “All right. Give me a minute to take care of this pornographer.” Ryland held the gun to Osborne’s head.

  “No!”

  Was that her voice?

  The men all turned to her.

  “No shooting.” The words came out slurred.

  “Madam, this man is producing obscene material.”

  “Is that really any of your business? Let the law take care of him.”

  “The law won’t. It falls to me.” Ryland shot Osborne in the head.

  Ally gasped. Agony threaded throughout her body. Good riddance, but seeing someone killed unnerved her even more. Evan and Sophie could have met a similar fate previously if Ryland and the woman hadn’t gotten spooked and left the scene. Ally’s skin chilled.

  The man called Ryland paced around the room while the other two helped Ally to her feet. Ryland might feel that violence against women was wrong, but he had arranged Sophie’s kidnapping. Granted, he had not hurt Sophie in any way, and someone—perhaps the woman?—had alerted the constables. Still, Ryland had scared the hell out of Sophie and the rest of them. Ally had best not reveal her true identity, or he would take her.