After calling Dominic every conceivable name in the book, the dowager countess ordered Dominic and Arlie from Whitley manor.
Visibly shaken by his grandmother’s tirade, Arlie had agreed to accompany Dominic to Rochford Manor. He told her that she would stay at the manor until he could find a townhouse—which proved to be far easier than originally anticipated. Knowing that gossip was spreading fast, Dominic toured vacant properties, accompanied by his solicitor, who wrote up the papers on a nice townhouse near Hyde Park and conveniently close to his own.
Dominic ordered Philip MaQuie, a decorator who was all the rage in Paris, to redecorate the townhouse in all the latest styles—and to spare no expense.
Dominic felt that Arlie deserved the luxury. Arlie had given him a happiness he’d thought unattainable until then. He had never known such passion for another person, and if he could, he’d give her the stars.
* * * * *
Arlie was nothing short of stunned at her first glimpse of the townhouse Dominic had bought for her. The brick three-story townhouse with wrought-iron balcony and handrails, sat on a quiet street near Hyde Park. Newly decorated in her favorite shades, the home was everything Arlie could have asked for. She would only be sharing it with Mary, the maid she’d stolen from Rochford Manor, and three servants who would see to her every need. Of course, she would also be sharing the home with Dominic—when he came visit, which he swore would be often.
Her bedroom, larger than the one at Rochford Manor, had been filled with feminine touches and lots of flowers. The furniture was of a rich mahogany. Arlie opened a drawer and found them stuffed with new underclothes in a variety of lace and silks. She smiled, finding four pairs of breeches and shirts, all in different styles and colors.
On the vanity sat a small velvet box. With trembling hands, Arlie opened the box and gasped at the tear-drop diamond earrings that twinkled back at her.
Arlie spun in circles, finding it hard to believe this would be her home now. Falling back on the soft mattress of the four-poster bed, she ran her hands over the snow-white comforter, and gasped when she caught sight of her reflection in the mirrors above her.
She laughed out loud. Dominic was truly sinful.
When four days had gone by without so much as a letter from Dominic, Arlie grew restless. The separation was pure torture on Arlie, and once she’d even been tempted to ride to Rochford Manor to talk to him herself, but she resisted, knowing how desperate it would appear. She would simply have to wait to hear from him.
It was a Friday morning when she finally received a message that he would be coming to her that night. Taking a long hot bath, she dried her hair by the fire, her body racing with excitement and trepidation as she took great care in her dress.
Arlie realized that being Dominic’s mistress would not be so horrible. The hardest thing would be not sharing the same house with him, or just having the knowledge that she would see him every day…if even just in passing.
Now they lived under different roofs, and both of them had to trust each other explicitly. Everyone in her household was employed by Dominic, and Arlie knew if she took one wrong step, that the servants, loyal to him, would tell him everything. But she had no desire to stray. Her lover satisfied her in every way. She prayed Dominic felt the same.
Yet, what if he didn’t? What if he tired of her, or started seeing Veronica again? She shook her head. She must let go of her fears and trust Dominic, she told herself as she paced the plush carpet of her chamber. Dressed in a short black Chinese robe, one of the many gifts he’d bought for her, her hands moved to her stomach.
She was certain she was pregnant. It had been two months since her last period. At times her menses had been late, but never this late. Although at first she had tried to avoid seeing the signs, she could no longer. Keeping her breakfast down had proven impossible, and her breasts were very sensitive.
What would Dominic say when she told him he would be a father? Would he be upset, or would he be happy? So many thoughts scrambled in her mind that her head hurt.
Her heart jolted hearing the voice of the butler…and Dominic’s voice, and then the sound of his boots as he took the stairs two at a time. She willed her heart to cease its pounding, but it was impossible—she was too excited to see him.
Dominic opened the door, then closed it, and leaned back against the dark mahogany. His mouth softened into an irresistibly devastating grin, and his gaze moved slowly down her body, coming to a stop at the tops of her thighs where the skimpy robe stopped. The wicked tilt of his brow said more than words ever could.
Standing before the fire, she slowly untied the robe and let it slide down her body to pool at her feet. His eyes lit up instantly, and he pushed away from the door, walking toward her like a panther stalking its prey.
He took her into his arms, pulling her flush against his hard body, holding her so tight, she could scarcely breathe. “God, how I’ve missed you.”
His words filled Arlie with relief and joy. “I’ve missed you, too.”
He smiled against her mouth before kissing her, his mouth first soft and exploring, then harder when she thrust her tongue into his mouth.
Arlie groaned as his hands cupped her sensitive breasts. He rolled the nipple of one between his thumb and forefinger, sending a wave of pleasure straight between her legs.
Needing to feel his skin beneath her fingers, Arlie sank down on her knees, unbuttoned his breeches, and took his already rigid shaft into her mouth. Dominic’s hands clasped onto her shoulders. She could hear his heavy breathing, feel his body tighten as she grew more relaxed, taking him deeper into her mouth.
He groaned low in his throat, his hands moving to her head, anchoring her there. She smiled to herself, while running her fingertips up the backs of his thighs, over his firm buttocks where she squeezed and pulled him tighter to her and took him deeper still. She ran her tongue along the ridge of his penis, sucking hard on the head.
Always it seemed Dominic worried about her pleasure, but tonight would be different—Arlie wanted to give him all that she could.
Her thoughts were cut short as with a growl, he lifted her up into his arms, and tossed her onto the bed. “There will be time later for slow pleasure.” He pushed his boots and pants off, then made quick work with his shirt. “But for now I have a great need to be inside you.”
She opened up to him and he entered her with a hard thrust. She gasped with elation, the feel of his shaft like heaven. He kissed her, his mouth hard and unrelenting. His smooth thrusts took on a rapid pace, and Arlie wrapped her legs around his waist, taking him further into her body. Her lips traveled over his strong jaw to his ear. Her tongue darted out, laving his earlobe, encircling it. He groaned and drove into her. She gasped as the steady flutters began deep within her, and continued like waves slamming on the shore. He followed close behind.
He looked up at her, grinning. “Can you tell that I’ve missed you?”
“Yes,” she whispered, kissing his cheek. “And I missed you just as much.”
He stayed with her until the early morning hours, and as promised, they took it slow. All along Arlie thought she should tell him of the baby, but her new station in his life made her pause. Would he want her still if she grew fat with child, or would he take another lover?
Misgivings began to grow, until finally she put them out of her mind, knowing they served no purpose.
When Arlie opened her eyes again, the blinding sun met her. Immediately she turned to the space beside her to find it empty. Dominic had already left, the only sign he’d been there, the indentation of his body in the sheets and the soreness between her thighs.
She smiled dreamily, remembering every detail of the night just spent. Time and again Dominic had taken her to the heights of passion, and when she thought he was too exhausted, he would surprise her yet again and make love to her. Her lover pleased her in every way.
A knock at the door brought Arlie out of her musings and she sat up, running
fingers through her tousled hair. “Come in, Mary,” she said, ripping the sheet up under her chin.
“Hello, my lady,” Mary said with a wide smile. “His lordship asked me to bring you a hearty breakfast this morning. Did you sleep well?”
“Very well,” Arlie replied, not at all embarrassed in front of the maid she had stolen from Dominic’s manor. The woman was a bona fide saint—loyal to the end, and she acted more like a mother to Arlie than her own had been.
“He left you a note,” Mary said, handing her the ivory parchment.
Like a child at Christmas, Arlie opened the parchment, chewing her lower lip as she read the neat penmanship of her lover.
“Is it good news?” Mary inquired.
“He’s taking me to a wedding.”
“You don’t sound very happy about it.”
Glancing out the window, Arlie let the note fall to her lap. “Mary, have you ever loved someone so much, it literally hurt?”
Mary smiled serenely and patted Arlie’s hand. “Indeed, I know what you mean. My dearest Johnny was the love of my life. He had pale blonde hair like yours, and marvelous hazel eyes that sparkled with life. He stole my heart when we both worked for the same employer, he as a footman, and myself as a lowly scullery maid. We were engaged to be married, then two days before our wedding day, he was killed.”
“Oh, Mary, I’m so sorry,” Arlie replied, feeling wretched for having broached the subject.
“You had no way of knowing, my dear. There was a time I couldn’t talk about it without crying, but now I can. Time has eased the pain a bit. I loved him so completely, I was sure that when he died, I would too.”
“How did you go on?”
She shrugged. “You just do. The first few months were horrible, but as time went by, it became easier. I try to remember the good times. There’s not a single day that goes by when I don’t think of him.” She sighed heavily. “Anyway…about love. I know I’m prejudiced where your lordship is concerned, but you know he’d marry you if he could. And speaking of marriage, we’d best get you ready for the wedding. What time will his lordship be here to pick you up?”
“Four o’clock,” Arlie replied, both dreading and looking forward to venturing outside her townhouse, which had served as her sanctuary since becoming Dominic’s mistress. Now the time had come and she must face the gossipmongers. Best to get it over with.
“I’ll get your bath ready then.”
The entire day Arlie spent preparing for the wedding. She took sips of wine to help calm her tattered nerves. Should she tell him about the baby? she wondered, pacing a path in her bedroom. No, that would be all wrong. Especially at a wedding. He would obviously think she was trying to pressure him into marriage.
An hour later she decided to wait for him downstairs. Reading couldn’t hold her attention, so tossing the book aside, she sat at the piano and pounded out a minuet.
This morning she had gotten sick again. Within weeks she would be showing. Last night she had been tempted to tell Dominic of the child, but every time she opened her mouth to tell him, she found she could not. Would he think she was trying to trap him? What happened to mistresses who became pregnant? A vision of Dominic parading a new mistress around under her nose came to mind. It turned her stomach.
She closed her eyes, letting the music fill her, soothe her. Why did she have to be so desperately in love with him? He, and he alone had the power to break her. She sighed heavily knowing she was becoming more like her mother every day.
* * * * *
Dominic heard Arlie playing the piano the moment he entered the townhouse. He smiled as he strode toward the double doors of the parlor. The music grew louder, almost thunderous. He sobered. She was in a mood it would seem. Quietly opening the door, he closed it behind him and watched, entranced by the sight.
As always when she played, her eyes were closed, her head moving in time to the music as though it took over her body. Her diamond earrings stirred with the movement. His smile quickly disappeared, however, when he saw the stream of tears running down her cheeks. His heart lurched. What had made her so upset? he wondered as he walked toward her, feeling the urge to comfort her—and do serious damage to the person who caused her this grief.
He was but a few feet away and still she did not see him. An angel, her perfect features so fragile…and she was his. He reached out to her, the backs of his fingers lightly grazing her smooth cheek, wiping the tears from them.
Startled, she jumped and the notes ended abruptly. She pressed her hands to her heart. “Dominic, you startled me!”
“I didn’t mean to,” he said wiping the rest of the tears from her cheeks. “Why are you crying?”
“I was thinking of my father and my mother, of you…of me.”
“And this makes you sad?”
She shook her head. “No, you make me very happy.”
He smiled, surprised at how relieved he was to hear those words. “Good…now enough tears. Come, let me see you.” Helping her up, he stared appreciatively at the ice blue gown which had cost him a small fortune, but was worth every shilling.
Her smile was a combination of innocence and practiced seduction, and he was hard-pressed to find the reasons to make his friend’s wedding.
“My dear, I would take you to bed right now, but I fear Langley would be knocking down our door, and we shouldn’t cause so much scandal in one week, now should we?”
She smiled at his jest, and he was thankful she could handle the rumors that had been circulating. As he helped her into the carriage, he knew firsthand that some mistresses became nearly inconsolable when gossipmongers started their abuse. Yet Arlie had not asked him for a single thing. Everything he bought her was on a whim, and it seemed no matter where he went, something made him think of her. He enjoyed seeing the raw pleasure on her face as she opened his gifts. She was so unspoiled.
Since she moved into the townhouse, his fears had been eased knowing she truly belonged to him. He’d intentionally waited days to see her since visiting her that first time, mainly because his duties required his full attention, but also to see how much control she had over him. He intended to wait even longer, but he couldn’t stay away from the woman who had imprisoned his heart and mind.
Everyone knew of their relationship now, yet he couldn’t help but yearn for the days when they lived under the same roof, when he only had to walk down the hall to see her. Now he had to venture into London daily, and there were always people watching. But he only had himself to blame. His own indiscretion had got to them, and the games they had played with Mr. Butler, who had informed anyone who would listen about their heated affair. As to be expected, he and his mistress were now all the rage.
In the carriage, Dominic noticed Arlie was preoccupied, spending the majority of the time staring out the window, and answering his vain attempt at conversation with a quick reply. The night past had been heavenly, but perhaps she suffered from lack of sleep. Or perhaps she had tired of her position as mistress already? Granted, it wasn’t a difficult life, yet at the same time it could be lonely. Though she had been invited to a few tea parties by his closest friends, Mary told him that Arlie never went out, instead she chose to stay within the sanctuary of the townhouse reading, writing, or playing the piano, always waiting for his arrival.
As they entered the tree-lined drive of Langley’s estate, Dominic put all negative thoughts from his mind, telling himself he would enjoy this day.
“It looks like a carnival with those huge white tents,” Arlie said, a sudden smile on her face easing his fears.
“Indeed, it does. And what fun it shall be.”
She flashed him a skeptical smile, obviously catching his forced enthusiasm.
As Dominic entered the hall with Arlie on his arm, he could literally feel the excitement of the hundreds of guests that milled about. Arlie’s hand tensed within his and he patted it, and smiled reassuringly. “All will be fine,” he said, a moment before he spotted his grandmother in
the corner, her piercing gaze riveted him. Her expression was not friendly in the least. He knew how she felt about his and Arlie’s relationship. He also knew that she would hold this “family scandal” over his head for the rest of his life.
Dominic let out a defeated sigh, and led Arlie over to his grandmother—feeling as though he was leading a lamb to slaughter.
“Dom, it’s good to see you.”
Dominic could feel Arlie stiffen at his side. He glanced at her and saw two bright spots of color on her cheeks.
“Miss Whitman, how are you faring?” she asked, her brow lifted high.
“I’m well, thank you for asking,” Arlie replied.
“I thought that I might come visit you at Rochford Manor, Dominic,” his grandmother said, surprising him. Not once since his father’s death had his grandmother bothered to visit, and the thought that she wanted to now made him suspicious.
“You are always welcome to visit,” he said, hoping he at least sounded sincere. “Well, I’m certain Langley is wondering where I am. We must be going now, Grandmother. I will speak to you later, I’m sure.”
“You can count on it,” she replied with a thin smile.
“She hates me,” Arlie whispered, fanning herself vigorously. “It’s distressing, because I’m so fond of her. And…everyone is staring at us, Dominic. I think perhaps it was a mistake that I came with you. Maybe I should leave.”
He stopped abruptly. Lifting her chin with gentle fingers, he kissed her softly and hid a smile when he heard the gasps all around them, his grandmother’s leading the way. “My grandmother dislikes most everyone, and the only reason she’s angry is because we’ve scandalized the Rochford name. She must forget that my father has done more to disgrace the family name than I ever could. Perhaps that in itself is the reason she cannot stand me.
“If they don’t like it, then the hell with them. Now, my best friend is about to get married, and I have the bride’s ring. I would like you to be here, but if you feel you cannot bear it, then I will walk you to the carriage, and I can meet you at the townhouse later.”
Dangerous Desires Page 19