Lily and the Duke (Sex and the Season #1)(64)

“I know exactly what you mean. Though I adored my dear Frederic—may he rest in peace—I, too, have become accustomed to a certain amount of freedom since his death. Being able to come and go as one pleases, without answering to another, is liberating.” Amelia topped off their snifters. “May I speak frankly to you, my lord?”

“By all means.”

“I’m a lonely widow. There have been rumors, I know, about various exploits that I have allegedly engaged in, but most of them are completely untrue. Not all, of course. A woman has needs, you know. But the majority are unfounded. It has been quite a long time since I have been…intimate with a man.”

Thomas cleared his throat. He was no fool. She wanted to bed him.

Amelia lowered her voice to a husky rasp. “I find you very interesting and attractive, my lord.”

“I’m flattered, my lady. However, you should know that my heart lies…elsewhere.”

“It’s not your heart I’m interested in.” Amelia finished her brandy, stood, and moved behind Thomas’s chair and began to massage his shoulders. “You’re so tense, my lord. I’ve always thought it must be difficult for men of your station to balance all of your responsibilities. I know it was for my Frederic.” She moved down to his upper arms, kneading his muscles tenderly, and leaned down to his ear. “I can help ease your tension.”

Thomas fidgeted in his seat. The tickle of her breath on his neck aroused him, and his cock stiffened. She was nothing if not tempting. He placed his hands over hers and pulled her around to face him.

“What exactly is it that you’re after, my lady?”

She sat down in his lap and entwined her arms around his neck. “A night of passion with you, my lord.” She lowered her mouth to his.





Chapter 14





Lily slept late the next morning, waking to Rose’s gentle nudging at half past eleven. She opened her eyes to find herself on top of her covers, still in her ball gown from the previous evening with one breast precariously exposed. She hastily tucked it into her gown.

“Lily, you look terrible,” Rose said. “Your eyes are puffy and streaked with tears. I didn’t bother you when I came in last night, though you were sleeping fitfully. Can I do anything for you?”

“No. I’ll be fine. I do hope I haven’t ruined my gown.”

“I’ll call to have it laundered and pressed. Come on, let’s get you out of it.”

Rose helped Lily undress and rang for a bath for her. Lily sat in the tub limply, holding a cloth soaked in hot water to her face.

“Ask the kitchen to send up some cucumber slices, will you, Rose?”

“Whatever for?”

“My eyes. It’s a trick the duchess uses. I’ll show you when they get here.”

“All right.” Rose quickly rang for a servant and dispatched the order. “Now,” she continued, “tell me what’s going on.”

Lily sighed. “The duke went to London today. He won’t be back for dinner.”

“Is that all? Don’t tell me you miss him.”

“Of course not.” But she did. “It’s just that, there’s no reason for him to go to London except to…”

“To what?”

“Visit one of his mistresses.” Tears welled up in Lily’s eyes.

“Why would you think that?” Rose said. “He probably has business to attend to.”

“Any business could be conducted here. All of his bankers, stock analysts, solicitors, and whomever else he needs are right here. Even his personal physician is here, for goodness’ sake.”

“That doesn’t mean—”

“Of course it does. And it’s my fault. I told him I wouldn’t sleep with him again until we were married. I did it to punish him, and I’ve ended up punishing myself. Now he’s going to find someone else to… Oh, I can’t bear it!”

“You do love him. I knew it,” Rose said, smiling.

“No, I don’t.”

“It doesn’t matter whether you admit it. It’s obvious to me. I’m the closest person in the world to you. I know your thoughts before you do sometimes, as you do mine.”

“Rose…”

“The duke adores you, Lily. He may very well be in love with you. Why would he risk what the two of you share for an afternoon of physical pleasure?”

“It’s no risk for him. He’s forcing me to marry him anyway. I asked him to take me with him, and he refused. Besides, it’s his way. You know his reputation as well as I do.”

“We know only hearsay. We have no proof that he keeps mistresses or visits brothels.”

“I have proof.” Lily covered her eyes with the soft moist cloth. “I’ve met one of his mistresses.”

“Dear Lord, who?”

“Lady Amelia Gregory. She’s here at Laurel Ridge.”

“Not that woman who sat next to Thomas at dinner?”

“That’s the one.” Lily dropped the cloth in the water and straightened her back. “Which reminds me, we must find Thomas. I have reason to believe that she has set her sights on him, now that the duke and I are betrothed.”