A Little Bit Sinful(54)

“Clarissa, are you in here?” George asked. He poked his head in and saw her. “What are you doing in here?”

“I thought you might enjoy seeing what I’d found in this room.” She motioned to the tables behind her. “I’m told they’re quite old and worth something to collectors.”

He stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. He paused. “No chaperone?”

“No, it’s just me. But no one uses the room, so we’re safe.”

He moved forward to the table and stopped at one in particular. “Mahogany wood, good detailing.” He moved around each side. “All eight legs seem sturdy and the pockets are in excellent condition. Very interesting. I was not aware Lord Wooten was an avid billiards player.”

“Oh, I hear he’s terrible, but he doesn’t know that,” she said.

George laughed. He picked up one of the cues. “The leather tips seem to be original. Clearly Lord Wooten doesn’t actually play very much.” He ran his hand against the wood of the table, then the top. “Why the sudden interest in billiards?”

“I am interested in you and therefore interested in what you like. You do favor this game?”

“Yes, I do.” He narrowed his eyes at her playfully. “Have you been spying on me?”

Well, she had, but not that particular past time. “A woman never shares her secrets.”

“It’s hard to believe that you would have secrets, Clarissa,” George said. “You’re a lady of upmost values.”

“Every lady has secrets. Don’t let any of them tell you any differently.” She shrugged. “I suppose it depends on what manner of secrets, though.” They could only talk for so long.

“I must admit I’m wondering if Lord Wooten would be eager to sell them to me,” he said.

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him that he shouldn’t be making large purchases if he owed someone else a large sum of money. But she was still unsure if that had been a complete lie or if he did in fact owe someone money.

“Did you want to go and finish our dance?” he asked.

“No.” She walked over to him and looked up at him. “I was thinking we could do something else.”

“Do you want me to teach you to play?” He gave her a wicked grin and a shiver slid over her body. Not the delicious sort, but the sort that made her feel uneasy, nervous.

He took her by the hand. “Come here, let me show you something.”

She took a deep breath and allowed him to pull her near. If she were going to be compromised, she supposed it didn’t matter if she was found simply in a room alone with him or in an embrace. He pressed his mouth to her in a surprising kiss. He’d pinned her body between his and the billiard table.

He slid his knee between her legs. “You are a seductress, Clarissa Kincaid. I would never have known. It’s a nice surprise though.” Then he kissed her again.

She wanted this, she reminded herself. She wanted to be George’s wife, was destined to be so.

His mouth left hers, but trailed down her throat. His warm mouth did little to excite her. “Tell me you want me, tell me you want me to touch you,” he said roughly.

She nodded. “Kiss me,” she whispered. “I want you to kiss me,” she said.

“Clarissa Kincaid,” the female voice sounded from the door. But it was not Ella’s voice. They had been caught, but not at all by a friendly face. Clarissa’s heart fell into her shoes. She held her breath as she turned slowly to see who it was. It was Lady Wooten. But George would step forward and say something to save her, to salvage her name. He’d claim they were betrothed. The room was deafeningly quiet. Clarissa turned back around to find George had slipped out behind her through the other door.

Clarissa opened her mouth, but found she had no words.

“What are you doing in here, young lady, of all the scandalous wanton behavior.” Lady Wooten shook her head disapprovingly. “I am just, I mean I never would have expected it from you.” The woman’s eyes narrowed in on her. “Let us go and find your brother. Right now. Who was that man with you, Clarissa?”

Clarissa took one last look at the door behind her. George had abandoned her. The weight of her faulty decision crashed down upon her and she found it difficult to breath.

“Well, you can tell your brother. I’m certain he’ll make the man do the right thing. You should be quite thankful that I came in when I did. Whoever that man was that was in here with you would most certainly have taken advantage of you and by the way he quickly exited, he wouldn’t have seen to it to marry you.” She pat Clarissa’s hand. “Perhaps your brother can take care of the situation for you, though. Brothers can be quite persuasive when it comes to the honor of their younger sister’s.”