Lily and the Duke (Sex and the Season #1)(23)
“She must be perfect then,” Rose said. “You’re terribly hard on the girls Thomas associates with. Now tell me”—she turned to the others—“what shall we do? Did you find any spectacular places while you were out painting this morning, Lily?”
Lily fought a smile as she thought of the spectacular place she had found—Daniel’s bedchamber. “I spent most of the time in one place, and it’s more for painting than for fun. Let’s explore a little. This estate is absolutely beautiful. I do think I love it more than our own. How did all of you enjoy the ball last night? Did any of you meet anyone interesting?”
“I danced with your Lord Wentworth twice,” Alexandra said.”
“Please, he’s not my Lord Wentworth. You may certainly have him.”
“I’m not sure I want him.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “He stole a kiss on the terrace.”
“No!” Rose said. “I can’t believe it.”
“Believe it. And you were right about kissing, Lily. His lips were sticky, and he tried to push his tongue into my mouth.”
Rose and Sophie gasped.
“I was only talking about kissing Wentworth, Ally,” Lily said. “I’m sure that we can’t judge all men by his efforts.” She smiled to herself. How right she was!
“Why on earth did you go to the terrace with him?” Sophie asked.
“Curiosity, I suppose. I won’t do it again.”
“Still, I’m a little jealous, even if the kiss wasn’t to your liking,” Rose said. Then, “Oh, that reminds me. Lord Evan asked me to go riding with him tomorrow. I was hoping you could go along, Lily, as our chaperone.”
“Me?”
“Of course,” Rose said. “You’re older than I.”
“By only eleven months, and I’m unmarried.”
“Goodness, Lily, since when are you so sensitive about convention? It’s just a ride during a house party. Dozens of others are likely to be about.”
“Of course I’ll go along,” Lily said. “I take it you found Xavier acceptable then?”
“Yes, I had a lovely time.”
“Did he take any liberties?” Alexandra asked.
“Goodness, Ally,” Sophie said. “Is that all you think about?”
“Well?” Alexandra asked again.
“No, but he did ask me to call him by his Christian name. Isn’t Evan a lovely sounding name?”
“Yes, it is,” Sophie said. “Oh, look. There’s a little lake up ahead.”
“We’ve been talking so much that I haven’t been paying a bit of attention to the scenery,” Lily said. “But I love the idea of a lake. Maybe we can go wading.”
“Or swimming!” Alexandra said.
“Dear Ally,” Lily laughed. “I admit the idea intrigues me, but it’s only April. It’s a delightful afternoon, but the water will be cold. We’d likely freeze to death.”
“No harm in checking, is there?” Alexandra ran toward the lake. “Last one there has to kiss Wentworth!”
“Goodness, we’d better all hurry,” Lily said, giggling. “Trust me, you don’t want that fate.”
By the time they reached the lake, Alexandra had already kicked off her shoes and stockings and was pulling up her skirts and heading toward the water. She dipped her foot in. “You’re not going to believe this. It’s actually warm.”
What had appeared to be a small lake was actually a large pool, fed by a stream of water cascading from a jagged gray rock formation. Steam rose from the surface of the water, coiling upward in cloudy drifts. Lily hurriedly removed her shoes and stockings and dipped her foot in. “It is warm. How can that be, do you suppose?”
“Likely it’s an offshoot from the hot springs in Bath,” Rose said. “They’re not far from here.”
“I see why Lord Evan adores you, Rose,” Lily said. “You’re so bright. That must be so.”
“Then swimming is definitely on the agenda.” Alexandra turned her back to Lily. “Here, undo me.”
“This is highly improper.” Sophie said.
“Ally, Sophie is right,” Rose said. “Anyone could come by and see us.”
“Nonsense,” Lily said. “The men are all on the hunt and won’t be back for hours yet. And the women are at the lawn party. Besides, we’ve been walking for almost an hour, and how many people have we seen along the way?”
“None, but…” Sophie fidgeted.
“There you are, dear.” Lily loosened Alexandra’s corset and turned around. “Now you do me.”
“Lily, we don’t have towels,” Rose said tentatively.
“True,” Sophie said, “and our undergarments will be wet. We simply mustn’t—”
Alexandra smiled and raised her eyebrows. “Then we’ll swim in the nude.”
Sophie clasped her cheek. “Where do you get such ideas, Ally?”
“I read, Sophie. A little gem called The Ruby.”
Lily warmed as Alexandra loosened her corset. She’d heard of The Ruby, an underground paper that published erotic stories. But how on earth had Ally seen it?