An Unlikely Debutante

by Laura Martin

  Slowly he nipped and teased until he felt Lina tense and shudder, letting out a low moan and squeezing his shoulders with a strength he didn’t know she had.

  ‘What did you do to me?’ she whispered.

  Alex simply grinned, joining her on the seat of the carriage just as they began to slow. Quickly he helped Lina rearrange her dress so she looked passably presentable, or at the very least not completely indecent. When the carriage stopped, Alex was outside helping Lina down before any of the footmen could reach them and from there he and Lina dashed hand in hand inside the house.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Lina felt Alex’s hand on her waist, guiding her up the stairs and to his bedroom and knew she was powerless to resist him. Ever since he’d stood up to Victoria for her and declared his regard for her in front of the assembled guests at the Wilcox’s ball, Lina had known they would end up in his bedroom. All her resistance had been felled in that one instant.

  It didn’t change what would happen in the future. Tomorrow she would still leave London and return to her old life. Tonight, she would allow herself one night of wonderful passion with the man she loved, but that didn’t mean she would become his mistress. One night would be something to cherish, something to hold on to and remember when her heart was breaking.

  Alex closed the door behind them and instantly his lips were on hers. Locked together, they stumbled towards the bed, Alex shrugging off his jacket as they went. Lina untucked his shirt, pulling away just long enough to lift it over his head, revealing the smooth muscle of chest and abdomen underneath. Her fingers found his waistband just as he pushed down the top of her dress for a second time that evening.

  Alex groaned, his head falling back as Lina’s hand dipped deeper under the waistband of his trousers.

  ‘I want to see you,’ he whispered in her ear, as he spun her around and started to tug at the ties that fastened her dress. An excruciating sixty seconds later the dress was pooled around her ankles and Alex was lifting the chemise and petticoats over her head.

  For an instant, as she stood there completely naked, Lina felt a little self-conscious, but Alex took her hands when she moved to cover herself.

  ‘You’re perfect,’ he said, running his fingers reverently over her skin, tracing the curve of her waist, the swell of her breasts and the trail between them, down over her abdomen and into the sensitive area below.

  Lina managed to unfasten his trousers before Alex’s fingers found a spot that made her legs weaken and buckle and collapse back on to the bed. Quickly he kicked off his trousers before joining her on the bed, his body covering hers.

  With her fingers gripping at Alex’s back, Lina felt her hips rise up to meet his as he thrust into her. For a moment there was pain, but then he began to move, slowly at first, but as she moaned underneath him the pace increased and all thoughts of pain were washed away by pleasure. Lina found her body moving instinctively, rising to meet his as a pressure began to build deep inside her. Again and again their bodies met, until Lina felt the pressure release and wave upon wave of pleasure cascade over her body. In the same instant Alex stiffened and let out a primal groan, before collapsing on top of her.

  * * *

  Before Lina even opened her eyes she was aware of Alex’s body behind her. His legs and torso were pressed flush against hers and his arm draped possessively over her waist. The dawn light was just starting to filter in through the crack in the curtains and Lina could hear sounds of the household stirring, ready to start their working day.

  Carefully, she slipped out of bed, stiffening as Alex mumbled something and turned over, only moving again when she was sure he was asleep. Leaving now would make things easier. She didn’t want a stretched-out goodbye, the inevitable tears and heartbreak. Lina was sure she would cry, but at least she could suffer in private and maintain a little dignity.

  Quickly she slipped into her underclothes, picking them up from where they had been discarded on the floor the night before. Thankfully the chemise and petticoats had not been shredded in the heat of passion, although the beautiful silk dress was looking a little crumpled on the floor. With a pang of regret Lina picked it up, straightened it out and laid it on the chair. There was no point in her taking it with her. She would never attend a function where she could wear such a dress again.

  Lina stood for a moment, looking down at Alex on the bed. He looked so peaceful when asleep and, before she could stop herself, she reached out and stroked his hair. There was no denying she would miss him, probably every day of her life. She doubted she would ever care for anyone else so strongly again. Surely love like this could only happen once.

  Before she could talk herself into staying, she crouched down and kissed him softly on the lips, forcing herself to pull away before he woke up, then she darted from the room and down the dark corridor.

  In her own bedchamber, she dallied only long enough to don her blouse and multicoloured skirt, run her fingers through her hair and gather her few belongings. Most of the gifts Alex had bought her were small in size, although not necessarily in value. In addition to the silver comb he’d surprised her with to replace the one she’d given to Uncle Tom to settle her debt, he’d also given her a beautiful set of pearls with a necklace and bracelet, and a shimmering necklace that looked suspiciously like it contained real diamonds rather than the glass replicas Lina was used to. She also had three dresses, two beautiful illustrated books and a pair of silk gloves.

  If she wasn’t much mistaken, the value of the gifts was far greater than any amount of money Lina had ever seen, but she knew she would not be parting with them any time soon. They were from the man she loved and if she couldn’t have him, she would treasure the gifts he had given her.

  Once her belongings were packed into a small case, Lina forced herself to descend the stairs rather than slip back into Alex’s bedroom. The front door was locked, but she managed to find the key for the kitchen door without alerting any of the maids and within a few minutes she was standing in the fresh morning air. The streets were quiet—even the maids and footmen of the grand households only just starting to struggle out of bed—but Lina knew as she got to the less salubrious parts of the city there would be more people up and about.

  Trying to fight the tears that were already spilling on to her cheeks, Lina was just about to step on to the road when she was caught from behind.

  ‘I’ve been waiting for you,’ a slurred voice said.

  It was Uncle Tom—although his face was barely recognisable. Both eyes were purple and swollen, the left almost completely shut. A vivid red gash travelled the length of his cheek and his lips were split in multiple places. His entire face had an unhealthy yellow-green hue, as if he was bruised from forehead to chin.

  ‘What happened?’ Lina asked in horrified fascination, for a moment forgetting to struggle.

  ‘This is your fault,’ Tom spat, pushing Lina up against the railings.

  ‘Hardly.’

  ‘You should have helped me, but instead you put that toff before family.’

  Suddenly the pieces all started to fall into place. Lina had been right; when Tom had repeatedly turned up at Alex’s country house, he’d been desperate. He must have owed money to some less-than-desirable characters. Normally he would just break into a few houses and steal a few valuables, but with the magistrate ready to swoop in the instant there was any hint of him trying to sell any goods, Tom was clearly in a bind. Hence why he was only interested in the money Alex kept.

  ‘Will they leave you alone now?’ Lina asked, genuinely curious. Tom was angry and hurt, but she didn’t think he would actually cause her any harm.

  ‘What do you think?’

  ‘Might be best to lie low for a while,’ Lina suggested. ‘Maybe accosting me in the middle of a London street isn’t the best ploy.’

  ‘Shut your mouth. You always did have too high an opinion of yourself.’

  Lina wriggled, seeing if she could get free, but Tom’s grip on
her was surprisingly strong.

  ‘What do you want, Tom?’ Lina spat.

  ‘I came to tell you you’re not welcome back home. We don’t take kindly to those who betray their families, especially those who whore themselves out to toffs.’

  Lina rolled her eyes. ‘You travelled all the way here to tell me that?’

  ‘Don’t come back home.’

  ‘I doubt you’ll be there anyway.’

  ‘I mean it, Lina. You’re not welcome.’

  With a shove, he sent her careening away, grabbing her small case as he did so.

  ‘Give it back, Tom!’ Lina cried, grabbing out with her hand. The case only contained the three dresses and pair of gloves; the jewellery and the small amount of money Lina had was secreted in a small purse underneath her dress, but still she didn’t want to lose the clothing.

  He pushed her roughly away again and Lina felt her body slam into the iron railings for a second time. She was just about to launch another attack when the front door to the house was flung open and Alex came barrelling down the steps. He threw himself in between Lina and Tom, deflecting the fist of the older man before advancing on him and manoeuvring Tom’s arms behind his back to hold him still.

  ‘Are you hurt?’ Alex asked, looking back over his shoulder.

  Lina shook her head.

  ‘Come inside.’ Alex pushed Tom up the steps in front of him and into the house, where she could hear him instructing the footmen to take control of her uncle.

  For a second Lina hesitated. It would be all too easy to follow Alex inside, to succumb to his embrace. No doubt in a few months’ time she would realise she’d become everything she promised herself she wouldn’t ever be.

  Quickly she grabbed the handle of her case, and with a final look at the inviting open door, she ran off down the street.

  * * *

  Alex spun around, expecting to see Lina making her way in through the open door, but it remained empty. With a sinking feeling he stepped outside and looked up and down the street. Lina was nowhere to be seen. He cursed loudly and repeatedly, then leaped down the steps in one bound, landing with his knees slightly bent, all the better to push off immediately into a sprint. Without a clue as to Lina’s direction or destination, Alex veered left, hoping his superior speed would be on his side. Street after street he crossed, ever vigilant for a flash of multicoloured skirt or her dark, flowing hair.

  The streets were more or less empty, with the odd merchant or servant hustling quickly to their daily place of work, but even the few people he stopped to ask if they’d seen Lina shook their heads before continuing on their way.

  After thirty minutes of searching Alex had to admit defeat, returning to the house to dress properly before starting the search anew. When he’d been woken by the voices outside his window he’d quickly thrown on a shirt and breeches and pulled on his boots, but if he were to chase Lina farther afield, he would need to be better presented.

  ‘Let me go!’ a loud voice shouted as Alex entered through the front door. Making a quick detour into his study, where two footmen were restraining Lina’s uncle, Alex glowered at the older man so fiercely he immediately fell silent.

  ‘Where has she gone?’ Alex asked.

  The man laughed cruelly. ‘Not home, that’s for sure. I told her she wasn’t welcome there.’

  ‘Where else would she go?’

  Silence. Alex resisted the urge to punch Lina’s uncle squarely on the jaw and instead motioned for the footmen to let him go. He had much more important things to worry about without this scoundrel in his house.

  Quickly he ran upstairs, dressed properly and instructed a footman to relay a message to the stables to ready his horse. Within five minutes he was back on the streets, ready to search for Lina until nightfall if that was what it took.

  As he rode, Alex cursed his stupidity. Last night he had decided he couldn’t live without Lina—that he didn’t want her as his mistress, but as his wife, his lifelong companion. Stupid fool that he was, he hadn’t told her, somehow expecting her to know his change of heart without him ever uttering the words. When she’d given herself to him willingly, he’d thought she had understood. Then he’d even allowed them to fall asleep with the words unspoken, thinking that there was plenty of time today to declare his love and plan their future.

  Love. Even just the word made him nervous, but that was the only way to describe the deep-seated feelings that had developed these last few weeks.

  ‘I won’t lose her,’ Alex vowed, knowing he would not stop searching until she was safely back in his arms.

  He rode through all the major London streets that morning, visiting various coach stops and inns. As he ventured towards the less salubrious parts of London, he felt thankful for Lina’s worldly knowledge—she would know how to look after herself in a place like this.

  As each hour passed with no one admitting to seeing Lina, Alex felt increasingly despondent. Perhaps she’d left London already, caught an early coach. By now she could be well on her way to any part of the country. He wished he’d paid more attention when Lina had talked about where her family would travel to next. Despite her uncle’s insistence that she wasn’t welcome at home Alex felt sure she would return to her brother and cousin. It was six weeks since the Pottersdown Fair, so they would surely have moved on, but even with the stakes this high Alex couldn’t think of where Lina could have gone.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Lina attempted to summon a smile, but failed quite spectacularly, unable to shift the deep frown from her face. She must have looked frightful, as the young woman next in line to have her fortune told recoiled and then stepped out of the line, glancing behind her as she retreated to a safer part of the fair.

  ‘You’re scaring away my customers,’ Sabina said, giving Lina’s hand a quick squeeze.

  ‘Sorry.’

  ‘Take a break. The dancing will be starting soon.’

  Lina nodded, slipping away from the queue of eager young girls ready to have their fortune told and trying to lose herself in the crowds of the fair. She couldn’t believe it was only two months ago she’d first met Alex at a fair very much like this one. Even now she could remember every detail so vividly—his confident smile as he’d outlined the wager, the way he’d convinced Raul to let her go, how he’d taken her in his arms on the dance floor and made her fall a little in love with him even then.

  When she’d left London just over a week ago, she’d thought she was doing the right thing. Time and distance were meant to help a broken heart, but it seemed like every day her pain got worse. She just wanted to see Alex one more time, look upon his face, perhaps even kiss his lips once more. It seemed so cruel that after so long in close company they would never be in the same room again.

  As she neared the grassy space near the musicians that was to be used as the dance floor, John came striding over.

  ‘Ready to start the dancing?’ he asked.

  Apart from Raul and Sabina, no one else knew the extent of Lina’s heartbreak, although everyone had been careful around her for the first few days after she’d returned. Uncle Tom had not reappeared, no doubt hiding from his creditors, and his threats that Lina was not welcome back home had been completely unfounded.

  ‘Shall we do the double spin at the end of the first round?’ Lina asked.

  John grinned. ‘Sounds good, girl. The audience always loves that one.’

  As the pace of the music began to increase, Lina felt a little of the gloom lift from her heart. Dancing at least provided a momentary respite from her heartbreak.

  ‘May I have this dance?’ a low voice asked just as they were about to step out in front of the audience.

  Lina turned around slowly, barely able to believe it could be Alex standing behind her.

  ‘Alex! Wh-what are you doing here?’

  ‘You ran off without saying goodbye.’

  Lina swallowed. It had been cowardly, but she hadn’t been able to face a long goodbye.

/>   ‘Are you dancing, Lina?’ John asked.

  ‘Find one of the village girls, John. We’ll start together.’

  Alex led her out in front of the assembled crowd, placed a hand in the small of her back and pulled her towards him. Even through the material of her dress Lina’s skin sizzled at his touch and momentarily she forgot the steps that she’d been dancing for years.

  Thankfully Alex improvised, whirling her round in great circles but always managing to keep her body close to his. Every so often his thigh would brush against hers, reminding Lina of that wonderful night they’d spent exploring each other’s bodies.

  ‘I didn’t think I’d ever see you again,’ Lina said as the music slowed and John started encouraging more of the villagers on to the dance floor.

  ‘Come with me,’ Alex said. He gripped her hand and pulled her through the crowds, only stopping when they were at the edge of the fair. It was quiet here, away from the hustle and bustle, but the sounds of merriment drifted over on the warm autumn breeze.

  ‘I missed you,’ Lina said before she could stop herself.

  ‘I missed you, too.’

  His lips were on hers before Lina knew what was happening and she felt her legs go weak and buckle at the knees as he kissed her deeper and more passionately than ever before.

  ‘I’m sorry, Lina,’ Alex said, breaking away after a few moments. ‘I wronged you so completely. Can you forgive me?’

  She frowned, unsure what he was asking forgiveness for.

  ‘I should never have asked you to be my mistress. I see now it was demeaning and stupid.’

  ‘You wanted me, I wanted you. It was the only way it could have happened,’ Lina said quietly.

  ‘No, it wasn’t.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘At the Wilcox ball I realised something—something I’d felt for a long time, but I hadn’t been able to admit to myself.’

  Lina felt a fizz of anticipation. She wasn’t entirely sure why Alex had sought her out, why he’d brought her to this remote corner of the fair and kissed her, but already her heart was soaring. She just hoped it wouldn’t crash back down and break with his next words.