In Bed with a Rogue

by Samantha Grace

  “Is there someplace we may speak in private?”

  Her gaze lifted to the ceiling, then landed on Fergus. She frowned. “There are rooms abovestairs, but he is not welcome.”

  “I’m certain Fergus won’t mind waiting.”

  Her loyal Scot crossed his arms and glowered in return, but he didn’t argue. “I will be outside the door, lass. Holler if you be needing me.”

  She opened her reticule to retrieve a few coins. “I saw a tavern on the corner as we passed. Perhaps you would like an ale while you wait.”

  “I will be outside the door,” he growled before stalking from the shop without taking her money.

  Helena sighed. Although she appreciated his protective instincts, there was no danger when she was with family.

  She turned back to find Cora’s soured frown gone. “Forgive me for being surly, Helena. You caught me by surprise, but I’m glad you came. Come abovestairs and I will serve you tea.”

  Helena followed her sister up the solid staircase, taking note of her surroundings when they entered Cora’s living quarters. The main room above the shop was twice as large as the one they’d shared in their childhood home. It was tidy and filled with light from the tall windows. A ruckus in the other room erupted as soon as the door closed.

  “Quiet down,” Cora hollered. “I have a guest.”

  “Mama! Mama!” A little girl with curls like Cora’s raced into the room and threw her tiny arms around Cora’s legs. A small boy tottered behind his sister with his thumb in his mouth. His hair was so light and soft-looking, it reminded Helena of down. Her throat grew tight as she looked at her niece and nephew.

  “You have children,” she murmured.

  Cora wrinkled her nose, a reluctant smile on her face. “Three in almost as many years. Emma, what have I told you about running in the house?” Cora freed herself from the little girl’s arms and patted her head. “Mother White, you are supposed to be watching the children.”

  An older woman with graying hair had entered while the children distracted Helena. She held a sleeping baby wrapped in a knitted blanket.

  “They move too fast for me, Cora.”

  Helena’s sister swung the boy up in her arms when he reached for her with his sweet, chubby hands. “You know what Mr. White says. You must make them mind.”

  “I will try harder, my dear.” Cora’s mother-in-law smiled at Helena. “Who is your guest?”

  Cora crossed her arms. “None of your concern. Now take Emma and Mathew to the other room so we can talk.”

  Helena’s eyes widened at her sister’s disrespect. The woman’s smile fell away and her eyes hardened, but she rounded up the two children and ushered them from the room. It was clear who ruled at the White residence.

  “Have a seat.” Helena sat down at the solid dining table while her sister removed her fashionable bonnet, tossed two small logs in the firebox, and placed the kettle on the stovetop.

  Helena traced the slight gouges in the wood, nostalgia almost bringing her to tears. They’d had a similar table when they were children. “The children could have stayed. I wouldn’t have minded.”

  “We wouldn’t have a chance to talk if they did.” Cora joined her at the table. “What brings you to Clerkenwell? You are the last person I ever expected to see.”

  Helena smiled sheepishly. “I am sorry to arrive unannounced, but I am unaware of the proper etiquette for coming back from the dead. I hope I didn’t shock you.”

  Cora laughed. “I always suspected the blackguard lied. I knew I would have felt it if you were gone. We were always close, you and I.” She leaned against the carved seatback and tipped her head to the side. “Where is the mighty lord now, and what possessed him to release you from his castle dungeon?”

  “How did you know he had a castle?”

  “I thought all lords had castles.” Her keen gaze swept over Helena. “He dresses you well. I suppose he is wealthy.”

  Helena shifted uncomfortably. She didn’t wish her sister to know how accurate she was about Prestwick’s influence. He had never been unkind to Helena, but she had been his to command. Every decision—what she ate, what she wore, how she arranged her hair, what she read—was dictated by him.

  “My husband died a little over a year ago,” she said.

  “Oh!” Cora’s eyes widened. “Have you lost your home then? My Thomas is a good man, but as you can see, he has many mouths to feed already.”

  “Thank you for the kind offer, but I have a home in Aberdeenshire, and I’ve let a town house in Mayfair.” Helena wasn’t certain her sister had actually extended an offer, but she chose to pretend she had. “I came to see you, Cora. Nothing more.”

  “Ah, I see. You gave his lordship an heir.”

  Helena shook her head, swallowing her shame over her inability to give her husband a son. Olive had reassured her the problem must have been with Wickie, who had suffered from a severe case of mumps as a boy. “Prestwick left no heirs. He was the last of his line.”

  Cora’s eyebrows shot up as she pushed away from the table to pour hot water into a pretty teapot and add tea. “I suppose you have the castle all to yourself now. It must get lonely.”

  “Gracie will come live with me, so that will make it less lonely. And Pearl, if she likes. I leave for Haslemere tomorrow.”

  “So Gracie and Pearl will have run of a Scottish castle, wear expensive dresses, and learn to put on ladylike airs.” She snorted. “I’d wager that would be a sight.”

  “Perhaps you could come visit. Scotland is nice in the summer.”

  She wished the old fantasy of having her sisters at Aldmist Fell warmed her heart as it used to do. But she would only have half her family with her, and she would miss the friends she had made in England. And Sebastian. Not quite a lover and yet more than a friend.

  Cora rejoined her at the table. “Gracie lived with Thomas and me until several months ago. I hated to send her to Lavinia, given the circumstances, but I didn’t know what else to do. My husband was working hard to take care of us all. I feared for his health.”

  Helena reassured her Gracie was well cared for, then asked her about her life.

  “Thomas is a good provider and he treats me with kindness, which is more than I ever had at home with our father.”

  “I am happy for you, Cora.”

  Toward the end of Helena’s visit, Cora brought her children to meet her and introduced her mother-in-law. Helena supposed her sister wanted to be certain about what she wanted before exposing her family to her. She could understand wanting to protect them.

  “This is my oldest sister, Lady Prestwick. She’s a real lady,” Cora said with a proud tilt to her chin. “Your son married into an important family.”

  Mrs. White’s smile was tight. “I daresay Thomas doesn’t care a whit about your lineage. He is devoted to you. No offense intended, milady.”

  “None taken.” Helena was pleased with how well her sister had done in her marriage. She had a nice home, beautiful children, a gracious mother-in-law, and a husband who doted on her. Helena couldn’t imagine a better life. If she didn’t love her sister dearly, she might be envious.

  After collecting hugs from the children, Helena bid them farewell. Opening her reticule, she pulled out all the bills she had and held them out to her sister. “For the children. I didn’t bring gifts, but I would like to give them something.”

  Cora smiled. “That is kind, but unnecessary.”

  Her mother-in-law stepped forward, taking the money, and thanking her on the children’s behalf. Helena didn’t miss the slight glare Cora tossed at Mrs. White. It seemed there was perhaps some question about who ran the household after all.

  Cora walked her downstairs.

  “Will you come visit again before you leave for Scotland?” she asked.

  “Nothing would make me happier.” They embraced and Helena kissed her cheek. “Cora, I am so pleased we have reconnected. I’ve missed you.”

  They hugged once more.


  Fergus was waiting outside, just as he’d promised. “How was yer visit with yer sister, lass?”

  Helena couldn’t contain her smile. “Perfect. It has made me even more anxious to see Pearl.”

  And perhaps she could make peace with Sebastian on the short journey. It would certainly lessen her guilt if she could properly express her thanks. If not for Sebastian, she wouldn’t have her sisters back, and she didn’t want to part with him believing she was ungrateful.

  Twenty-two

  Sebastian unapologetically stared at Helena across the carriage. They had been traveling for almost two hours on their way to reunite Helena with her sister Pearl, and she hadn’t said a word since the carriage pulled away from her house.

  Her greeting that morning had been polite and her manners impeccable, but he would rather have her railing than ignoring him.

  When her maid Ismay turned from the sights outside the carriage window, she caught him staring at her mistress and lobbed a grin in his direction. Her eyes twinkled with mischief. “Interesting scenery today, aye, milaird?”

  “Stunning,” he agreed.

  Helena’s eyes snapped up from the book she held on her lap. Either she was pretending interest in the book to avoid him, or she was an exceptionally slow reader since she hadn’t turned the page in the last half hour. Sebastian’s lips inched up as he held her gaze. She swiped a lock of hair behind her ear and returned to her book, her cheeks infused with a lovely rose color.

  Very well. If she wouldn’t engage with him, he would have to rely on her maid for entertainment. “Is the scenery very different in Scotland?”

  Ismay cocked her head and studied Helena. “Less flustered, I’d say.”

  A laugh burst from him. He liked the chit’s audacity.

  Helena wrinkled her nose at her maid. “Ismay, behave.”

  “Forgive me, milady, but I thought his lairdship was referring to you. You’re the only scenery he has been admiring since we left London.”

  A darker flush made Helena’s face glow. She closed her book. The gilded lettering on the cover caught the morning sun. She’d brought Belinda, the book he had purchased for her in Finsbury Square.

  “I thought you would have read Belinda by now.”

  She turned it to view the book spine as if she’d forgotten what she was reading. “I only found it in the foyer yesterday. Fergus must have set it aside in the excitement that day.”

  She said nothing about the inscription inside. Perhaps she hadn’t noticed his message. “Is it any good?” he asked.

  “I just started it. I thought it would help pass the time today.”

  Instead of talking to me. He crossed his arms with a slight frown. “Some people pass the time in conversation.”

  She raised her brows toward Ismay. “Shall we discuss the weather, my lord?” She was using the girl as a shield to avoid discussing anything important.

  “There’s nary a cloud to be seen,” Ismay said, ducking her head to peer at the sky.

  Sebastian chuckled. “Now that we’ve exhausted that topic…”

  He wanted to present an idea to Helena. It had formed after a conversation with his sister yesterday. Eve knew nothing of Helena’s background—at least not the truth—but she had heard quite a tale from Lady Eldridge at tea last week about how Prestwick met Helena. The viscount had been an imaginative liar, and his tall tales might work to Helena and Sebastian’s advantage. But he would have to wait until they changed horses to speak with her about his idea.

  Helena returned to her book, and Sebastian resumed enjoying the scenery. The sun set ablaze silky tendrils of Helena’s hair that had fallen around her soft cheek. His gaze lingered on the velvety lobe of her ear, recalling her soft gasp as he’d taken it between his teeth. Her sweet moans echoed in his memory. Her fingers tentatively touching his hair as he put his mouth to her quim. Her nails sliding against his scalp as she began to lose herself, moving in time with his tongue.

  She glanced up, her large eyes widening when she caught him watching her. He grinned wickedly, amused when she fidgeted with the edge of her book before slapping it closed and turning toward the window.

  “W-we are almost to our next stop,” she said.

  Sebastian swiveled on the bench. An idyllic village lay snug in the valley along the road they traveled. The carriage pitched when a wheel hit a rut, and Helena’s maid squealed as they were both almost tossed to the floor. By the time they reached the village, having bumped over every hole along the way, Ismay was holding her stomach and her complexion had a decidedly green tint.

  Fergus swung the door open, took one look at his sister, and ushered her into the fresh air. “Take deep breaths, lass.”

  Helena clambered out ahead of Sebastian without waiting for assistance. Fergus helped his sister sit on a barrel and hovered over her like a mother bear while Helena stood by as Ismay’s shaky inhales and exhales began to even out. When the maid’s color returned to normal, she smiled weakly.

  “Would you like to come inside for refreshment?” Helena asked.

  Ismay shook her head. “If it’s all the same to you, milady, I would prefer to sit outside.”

  Sebastian held his arm out to Helena. “Come with me.”

  Her fingers curled around his forearm, and she allowed him to draw her toward the coaching inn. “C-come where?”

  “Inside, of course.” He slanted a glance at her and lowered his voice. “Unless you would like to come someplace else.”

  Just as he had intended, his comment elicited a brilliant blush and her hand sought out a strand of hair to thrust behind her ear. He loved that she retained a bit of bashfulness, and yet she could be uninhibited and sensual when the time called for it.

  Light spilled into the dark interior of the coaching inn when Sebastian held the door open for her. She preceded him, but stopped only a few steps inside. As his eyes adjusted to the dimness, he could see the room was filled with fellow travelers.

  “I will see to a private room.” He approached the innkeeper and was pleased to learn a private dining room was available.

  Helena followed the man but tossed a look over her shoulder. Sebastian winked. She hesitantly turned back and nearly collided with the doorjamb. She cried out in surprise, then lowered her head and hurried inside the dining room.

  Sebastian paid the man. “See that we are not disturbed.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  When the door clicked, he raised a brow. “Alone at last.”

  Her tongue dashed across her bottom lip, leaving it shiny and irresistible. He slowly stalked her as she backed away. “Are you running from me, angel?”

  “No.” She shook her head as she continued to retreat. Her backside banged into the table and she startled. Sebastian took advantage of her momentary distraction and pounced. His hands spanned her narrow waist and lifted her to the table.

  Her eyes flared as a breathy laugh escaped her. “Is this where you wanted me?” She sounded both appalled and intrigued.

  He flashed a grin. “This table looks sturdy enough.” He stood between her knees, his arms slipping around her back. Her hands landed on his chest as if to push him away, but perhaps she thought better of it because they just rested lightly against his jacket. His pulse sped as her index finger drew a small circle over his heart.

  She angled her head and peeked at him from beneath her thick lashes. “Sebastian, I don’t think this is wise.”

  “Because someone might discover us? That is part of the excitement, love. Remember the theatre?”

  She laughed, her blush returning. “I liked the theatre.”

  His grin widened. “Did you now? I had no idea.”

  “Stop teasing.” She lightly whacked his shoulder. “I’m certain your prowess has been complimented once or twice in the past.”

  He didn’t care what other women before her thought. She was the only one who mattered. He placed a kiss on the tip of her pert nose. “I am more than tempted to prove myself wor
thy of any compliment, madam, but Fergus will come searching for us soon. And I value my life.”

  “Besides, I am sitting on a table.”

  He leaned toward her, hovering close enough to capture her mouth but delaying their kiss. “And who says the bed gets to have all the fun?”

  “I—I don’t know.” She wiggled to create space between them, but she couldn’t go far with his arms still encircling her. Her gaze became fixed on something beyond his shoulder.

  He checked to be certain Fergus hadn’t come in behind him. They were alone. Only they weren’t really. She had that faraway look she sometimes had when she became lost in her memories. Fergus’s words echoed in Sebastian’s head. She was afforded the same kindness he extended to his breeding mares.

  Hatred rampaged through his veins. Helena deserved better than she had ever received in her life. She deserved someone to love her, to take pleasure in her companionship and appreciate her body.

  He gently caught her chin between his thumb and finger. “Sweetheart, you do know sexual relations are meant to be enjoyable. There is nothing unnatural about a man and woman delighting in one another.”

  She smiled. “Delight sounds so carefree, playful even.”

  “Playful is good, too.”

  “Very well, the table is not an issue. But there is another reason I don’t think we should do this.”

  “Do what exactly?” He wanted to hear her say the words. Making love. Swaying into her, he grazed his lips over hers. She tasted like heaven, smelled like vanilla. And he wanted her.

  Here.

  Now.

  Bare on this table.

  And to hell with the Scot. Sebastian had survived more than his share of beatings at Eton, not to mention a few this Season. He could handle himself well enough in a fight.

  Helena’s eyes drifted closed. “This,” she said on a breath. “Tupping.”

  Tupping? Sebastian drew back. He couldn’t believe a lady would use such crude language. No matter that he used it on a regular basis, but never with Helena. “Is that how you think of us? Like rutting animals?”