by Mia Marlowe
“I...” He tugged at his cravat and hopelessly fouled the knot. “I want to be rid of this bloody bit of rubbish about my neck.”
Tugging off her long white gloves, she floated toward him. Her kid-soled slippers skimmed across the floor as if she possessed invisible wings.
“Let me see about it, then.” She dropped the gloves and her fingers grazed his neck in teasing touches. “Oh, you've tugged the wrong end of the waterfall. There.”
She held both ends of the neck cloth and pulled his head down so there was hardly a hand's span between them. Her breath was moist and sweet. The remembered taste of her mouth made his cock twitch.
“Next time,” she said in a husky whisper, “steal a cravat with less starch.”
Then she yanked the cravat off his neck, the stiff cloth raking his flesh.
“Ow!” He clapped a hand to the back of his neck and rubbed vigorously.
“Less starch would smart less, I expect,” she said with a poisonous smile.
“You did that of a purpose.”
“Of course.”
“I thought ye agreed to—”
“Help you out of those clothes? So I did.” She poked out her bottom lip in a wickedly seductive pout. “You wanted to be rid of your cravat and I've rid you of it.”
“But that's not—”
“Not what you asked for? Or not what you expected?” She poked his chest with her forefinger. “Ian Michael, this is no game. Do you not understand what will happen to you if you're caught in his lordship's clothes?”
“Aye, but—”
“But nothing.” She reached up and started to push the gray wool jacket off his shoulders. He turned a slow circle and slid out of it before he knew what was happening. “We don't have time to waste. I'm only here to make sure you get back into that footman's livery, you stupid, big Scot.”
He decided silence was his best defense.
She dipped to retrieve her gloves and spread them and the jacket neatly across the foot of his lordship's tall bed. He followed close behind so that when she turned around there was only a hand's span between them.
“And don't think you'll be sidetracking me with kisses,” she went on, as her fingers flew down the row of silver buttons marching down his waistcoat.
The sweet lilac smell of her hair made his mouth water, but he wisely kept it shut. She folded the waistcoat and laid it beside the jacket before turning back to him.
“Do you really think Lord Hartwell won't notice that someone else has been wearing his shirt?” Her hands slowed as she undid the buttons on the fine white lawn, exposing more and more of his chest as the fabric parted.
He balled his fingers into fists to keep from reaching out to her.
“Turn around.” Her voice trembled a bit, enough to let him know she was losing steam.
He forced himself not to smile until he'd presented his back to her. She tugged the shirttail out of his trousers and peeled it slowly off him, baring his back. Her breath hitched.
“You're not wearing any small clothes at all,” she said softly.
Ian shrugged. “Charlie's livery is a snug fit. It's easier to fasten up wearing nothing but me skin beneath. Then once here, I figured it was bad enough to help myself to Lord Hartwell's wardrobe. I didn't think I should press his hospitality so far as borrowing his drawers.”
A giggle slipped from Jane's lips.
So lightly he almost thought he was imagining it, she ran her fingertips along the tops of his shoulders and then down the sensitive indentation of his spine. It took every ounce of will he possessed to remain still.
“You shouldn't have come.” Her breathless tone belied her words. “Honestly, Ian, what were you thinking?”
He turned to face her. “I was thinking I couldn't bear for ye to belong to someone else.”
Something softened behind her eyes. The hazel seemed to darken to indigo in the dim light.
“Do ye no’ ken that I want ye only for myself?” He cupped her face and was grateful beyond words when she leaned her cheek into his rough palm. Her skin was smoother than her silk gown. He ached to press his lips against her cheek. “I couldn't bear the thought of another man touching ye the way I long to.”
Slowly, as if she were a spooked mare, he leaned down and kissed her on the sweet hollow beneath her cheekbone. She didn't stop him, so he moved down to the corner of her mouth, the spot that was half warm skin, half intimate moistness. With a low moan, Jane turned her head. Her lips parted in unmistakable invitation.
He took her mouth, gently at first, then because he couldn't help it, with bruising passion. His tongue played a lovers' game with hers, a darting chase of capture and release. Jane proved his equal, stealing the breath from his lungs and replacing it sweetly with her own.
While he slanted his mouth over hers, Ian slid his hand down to the top of her gown where the line of pearl buttons began down the front. He fiddled with the top one and it popped open. She broke their kiss off.
“I thought we were here to undress you,” she said with an impish grin, but she made no move to stop him when he moved down to the next pearl.
“Perhaps we could take it turn and turnabout,” he suggested, as he circled the button with his finger.
“Perhaps we could.”
With a rustle of silk, her gown parted on either side of her bosom, revealing a thin chemise and beribboned corset beneath. He could make out the dark shadows of her nipples through the chemise. Her breasts rose and fell slightly with each breath. She was so lovely. Without conscious volition, his hand claimed her softness. He pulled back immediately. He knew he didn't deserve her.
“Oh, Janie.” His gaze shifted from her breasts back up to her wide eyes.
“Do you love me, Ian?”
“Aye, lass, more than me next breath.”
She took his big, rough hand and placed it back over her right breast. “Then show me.”
Jane splayed her hand on his chest, palm over his galloping heart, then slid down to the buttons at his waist.
“If you ...” Even through the marquess's thick wool trousers, when her hand brushed against his hard cock, he thought his eyes might roll back in his head for a moment. He wanted her so badly, he didn't know how many teasing strokes he could take before he disgraced himself. His tongue felt suddenly thick in his mouth. “If you want, I can do that.”
“And ruin my fun?” Jane leaned forward.
The tips of her breasts brushed against his chest through the thin fabric of her chemise. The light touch sent his groin into spasms.
Pressing honeyed kisses across his chest, she tackled the buttons at his waist by feel alone. The flap front fell away and she delved in to follow the narrow strip of hair that led downward from his navel to spread over his groin.
The trousers sagged down his hips. Jane avoided contact with his throbbing cock as she tugged them down the rest of the way. He toed off his shoes. A few chestnut curls that had escaped her neat bun brushed over him as she bent over.
Ian gritted his teeth.
Jane paused, crouching before him, her eyes widening as she looked him over. He tipped her chin up to meet his gaze. Her red lips were mere inches from his cock. A tiny pearl of fluid formed at the tip of him.
Take me in, love, he wanted to say.
But when she drew a timid finger down the full length of him, a shock of need coursed through his body and the power of speech deserted him completely.
He raised her to her feet, pressing flush against her. Jane's curves molded to his hardness. He ran his hands down her spine and stayed to dally with the crevice of her buttocks through the thin silk.
When he heard her breath catch, he pulled back. Her eyes were heavy-lidded, her mouth kiss-swollen. He'd made her want him. There wasn't a no left in her.
Dear God, he hoped not. Else he was a dead man.
Ian lowered his mouth to her breasts, dampening her lace-trimmed chemise with wet kisses. He suckled her through the cloth and bit down on
her nipple enough to send a wicked streak of pleasurable pain knifing through her. What would it be like without the thin layer of muslin?
As if he'd heard her thoughts, he tugged at the lace tie, the anticipation on his face like that of a boy unwrapping a Christmas present. Her skin shivered in excitement. Ian bared her breasts above the stiff fabric lip of her corset. He nuzzled the hollow between them and then suckled one nipple while he strummed the other with his thumb. Jane's whole body sang.
How many nights had she lain awake wishing for this? A spurt of warmth moistened the folds between her legs. She imagined their bodies entwined on his lordship's bed, writhing on the brocade counterpane. Her body throbbed with pulsing life.
But when he started to unbutton her gown further, sanity gripped her. “Please, no. What if someone should come and catch us here?”
He stopped, but he fretted against her no as if it were an invisible tether and he Lord Somerville's stallion when the mares were in heat. “Janie, do ye love me or no’?”
She took his face in both her hands and pressed a kiss on him. “I love you, Ian Michael. More than my next breath.”
“Then trust me, lass. I'll never see ye shamed.”
He covered her with kisses as she tumbled with him willingly onto the marquess's fine featherbed.
Chapter Ten
Lord Eddleton mopped his brow with his last good handkerchief. He'd been skulking from one clump of revelers to the next, trying to hide among Lord Hartwell's guests. He hadn't spotted Lady Darvish for the past quarter hour. His sense of gratitude nearly led him to reconsider his opinion on the existence of God.
Of course, he hadn't seen his soon-to-be betrothed either, but he wasn't overly concerned. Lady Sybil was probably gossiping in the lady's retiring room about her trousseau and whatnot with the other hens.
Thank God, he thought, forgetting for a moment he was still entertaining doubts about the deity's existence. Somerville's daughter isn't the horse-faced drudge I feared she'd be. A tempting armful with a father who has deep pockets! I couldn't have arranged matters better!
Eddleton decided to celebrate his good fortune and reward himself with a smoke on the marquess's veranda.
After all, when a man marries for money, he expects to have to do more than look the gift-horse in the mouth, he thought as he pushed through the double doors that led out to the frigid garden.
The wind had died, but brittle stars shivered in the clear night sky.
“Cold as a witch's tit.” He lit a cheroot and puffed a trio of smoke rings into the frosty air.
A tsking sound came from behind him and he turned to find the woman he'd been avoiding.
“Cold as that, is it, Bertram?” Lady Darvish strode up to him, bold as any bit of muslin in Haymarket, and leaned forward. Her bosom threatened to spill over the bodice of her canary gown. “Perhaps you'd rather try a widow's tit, dear boy. Guaranteed to warm you right up.”
Her creamy breasts thrust up toward him, pert as a girl's, and he nearly reached for them out of habit.
Probably some clever trick of whalebone and padding, he told himself, as he shoved his free hand into his pocket and took a pull on the cigar with the other. Soon he'd be engaged to a lovely young lady and her even lovelier dowry. No need to throw a rub into his own carefully laid plans by following his cock into trouble.
“Tempting as your offer is, madam—”
“Leticia,” she corrected.
“Lady Darvish,” he said pointedly. “I'm very nearly engaged to be married.”
“But you're not very nearly dead, are you?” She rested her gloved palm on his chest and then walked her fingers down to his groin.
Despite his better judgment, his body roused to her.
“No, I can tell you're not dead.” Lady Darvish caressed his trouser front lightly. She made another pass, running her hand directly over his erection this time, and frowned. “You're also not as gifted as Lady Martin-Featherwight led me to believe.”
Eddleton grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand away. “In case it's escaped your notice, madam, it's deucedly cold out. No man is at his best when his jewels are frosted over.”
“Well then, Bertie, we'd best get you inside where it's warm and I'll give you an opportunity to prove yourself,” she said, rubbing herself against him like some fawning tabby cat.
“I have nothing to prove to you.”
“Ah! As I thought. You have nothing. My condolences. I don't blame you, Bert. It must be difficult for a man to be so cruelly underequipped.” She cocked her head and pursed her lips. “However, I will have a few choice words for Lady Martin-Featherwight when I see her next for feeding me such a load of twaddle about you.” She turned to go. “Hmm. I wonder if she's in attendance tonight?”
“That settles it, madam!” he said through clenched teeth. Eddleton grasped her arm and swung her back around to face him. “Kindly accompany me to his lordship's library and you'll see for yourself just how 'gifted' I am. Then, by Jove, I shall swive you 'til your teeth rattle.” He flared his nostrils at her in what he thought was a sufficiently masculine display of contempt. “And after that, you may tell Lady Martin-Feather-whatever anything you damn well please!”
Lady Darvish's mouth curved in a feline smile. “Ah, Bert, when a gentleman asks that prettily, how can a lady say no?”
She grabbed his hand and nearly dragged him back through the double doors, through the festively draped corridor and down the main staircase in search of Lord Hartwell's library.
Sybil paid the cabby and clambered down without any help from the rude fellow. In fact, he pulled away so quickly, the hansom threw a fresh dusting of snow on her half sister's threadbare cloak. As she made her way up the walk to Lord and Lady Hartwell's gaily lit front door, she promised to see that Jane got a new one after this night's work. Heaven knew, she'd earned it.
“Sorry, miss,” the porter said. “Servants' entrance in the back.”
Sybil's spine stiffened and she bit back the urge to blister the man with a stinging set-down. Then she remembered that in Jane's clothes, she must appear the meanest sort of house drudge. She turned away.
“Go you on the south side, ducks,” the porter said in a kindlier tone, “and you'll be out of the wind.”
She followed his advice.
After Sybil had sneaked away from Giovanni's garret, she'd made her way home, hoping to don her ball gown and arrive at Hartwell House in fashionably late style. A tongue-tied Agnes had explained that Jane was already wearing the red gown, acting in Sybil's stead so the betrothal could go forward. Sybil had decided the best way for her to switch places at the ball was to wear Jane's rags there.
The idea had made sense at the time.
Now Sybil shivered against the cold as she tromped around to the back of Lord Hartwell's grand manor.
“Suppose I'll have to go through the kitchens,” she muttered irritably. “God knows what sort of greasy mess that'll make of these slippers.”
She'd steadfastly refused to don Jane's holey ones. At least she'd be able to give her half sister a decent pair of shoes when they made the trade.
Once she rounded the last corner, a pair of footmen in rose-colored livery came through a door, sending a long shaft of light dancing across the snowy ground. The aroma of braised beef and spiced rum wafted out the opening. One of the footmen held the door for her, not with the sweeping leg she was used to receiving, but with an appreciative wink and leering grin. Footmen were the comeliest male servants in any household, and this fellow was no exception.
But his dark hair and eyes only reminded her of Giovanni. Now she wasn't so sure how he'd take her change of plans. She imagined him ripping up her note in a glorious Italianate rage. She wished she could've seen it!
“Jane, I say, Jane Tate!”
Sybil realized with a start that someone was calling the name she should answer to. She turned to see one of her own footmen working his way around the crowded table toward her.
Char
les or Edward? She never could keep them straight. Now that she'd walked a bit in a servant's shoes, she was determined to pay more attention to the people who filled her life with comfort from now on.
“Oh, er, hello.”
“Come now, Jane. You can do better than that for old Ed! Happy Christmas, girl.” Edward gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and pointed up at the sprig of mistletoe dangling between the hanging pots and meat hooks above her. Then he presented his cheek to her.
“Happy Christmas.” She returned his peck. “Have you seen Ja—Lady Sybil?”
Edward raised a quizzical brow. “Not since we escorted her to the front door. Ladies don't make a habit of celebrating Christmas with us salt-of-the-earth folk, you know.”
“I've got to find her.”
“Why?”
“I…I've a message for her.”
Edward sighed. “No rest for the weary, I see. Well, let's have it and I'll see she gets it.”
Drat! How could she have forgotten that delivering messages was part of a footman's duties?
“No, it's a... a private message. One they didn't want to commit to paper.”
“Nothing amiss, I hope,” Edward said, now far too interested for her comfort. “His lordship made it back to town, didn't he?”
“I... don't know,” she said, swallowing her surprise. Father wasn't back from the country? She'd dressed in Jane's clothes so quickly, Agnes evidently hadn't thought to share this little tidbit with her. What would keep Lord Somerville from being present at her betrothal?
“Well, it's probably nothing,”' Edward said, with a comforting pat on her shoulder. She must not have schooled her face as well as she'd thought. “Reckon he's doing something important. You know how folk of quality are. Everything they do is important, from an audience with His Majesty to an audience with their chamber pot.” He laughed hugely at his own wit, then sobered when she didn't join him. Edward had obviously enjoyed the rum punch. “This is a mighty big house to find Lady Sybil in. Shall I go with you then?”
“No, no, I'll be fine,” she said quickly as she turned away. Sybil had been a guest at Hartwell House countless times for soirees, interminable recitals, and sumptuous dinners. She'd be able to find her way easily enough once she reached the public areas.