Chapter Four #2
“There was none. You deserve lovely things for yourself, so I applaud your efforts.” As he tugged on the ribbons, the curricle he’d rented for the day rolled to a halt in front of her townhouse.
The two bay mares waited for another command but were otherwise well behaved. “It appears our outing is over.”
“Gregory?”
When she rested a gloved hand on his thigh, he nearly launched off the bench. “Hmm?”
“Why don’t you come in and spend some time with me for a while?”
Surprise filtered through his chest. “Oh?”
She nodded. Amusement danced in her eyes beneath the brim of her bonnet. “If I’m to be your mistress, you and I should spend time together, yes?”
“Of course.” When things grew tight through his groin, Gregory shifted then handed the reins to a young man who ran over to his conveyance.
“I would be delighted to visit with you.” After hopping down, he instructed the groomsman to return the vehicle to the mews where he’d rented it.
“There are a few coins in it for you once you complete the task, so be certain to call at the door.”
“I will, mate!” Then the youth swung himself onto the bench while Gregory walked to the other side and helped Constance down.
As they made their way up the short walkway, she snickered. “Did you mean what you told him?”
“I did.”
“He hangs about and wants so badly to get on as a footman with my staff, but he’s far too young for that yet, and I would like him to have a bit of an education before I might recommend him to my butler.”
She nodded as they went into the house. “Leave your coin with Carson. He will make certain the boy receives it.” Then she handed over her bonnet and ivory spencer as well as her gloves to the footman hovering at the door.
“I’ll ring for tea. Meet me in the drawing room once you’ve spoken to the butler. ”
“I will.” Interesting that when she was enclosed in her own home and environment, she showed much more confidence, but then, he couldn’t blame her. Everyone felt more at ease in their own space.
Eventually, he spoke with the butler and entrusted a few coins for the youth into his care. By the time he joined Constance in the drawing room, the tea service had already arrived. With gratitude he joined her on a low sofa and accepted a delicate porcelain cup from her.
“Will your cat join us this afternoon?”
“That is entirely up to her.” Constance glanced about the simply decorated room. “Usually, at thistime of day, she is curled up on my bed and doesn’t rise until the sun starts to set. Like all felines, she is incredibly lazy in the daytime.”
Taking a sip of his tea, Gregory watched her. “Tell me about your married life with Samuel.”
“What is there to say?” After she indulged in her own tea, she laid the cup in its saucer then set them both on the table. “I had him to myself for two months after marrying him, then he consulted with his old regiment while the English forces were pulling out of France.”
“Did you enjoy being married during that time?”
“I did. There is something comforting about having a man in one’s life, but becoming acclimated to that took a few weeks.” When she shrugged, her bodice pulled slightly over her modest bosom. “It was different than living with my father.”
That was something he’d never given thought to, for he hadn’t needed to. “I’m sorry you lost your husband so early in your union. You must have felt horrible.”
“Of course I did.” Shadows filled her eyes. “It was a turbulent time in my life. We’d not even unpacked all our belongings by the time I’d lost him.”
“The military wouldn’t give him more leave due to being a newlywed?”
“That wasn’t an option. Yes, the war had ended, but since far too many men perished during that period, the ones who were left were far more important.
” She clasped her hands in her lap. “Besides, the income given for that one last job would keep us set for a good six months if we were careful and frugal.”
Ah, that explained the two gowns he’d seen her in that were a couple of years outdated, as well as wearing the same bonnet during their few meetings. Then he frowned. “You were hardly a wife, then.”
“I wasn’t. Everything happened so fast. The courtship, the engagement, and then the marriage. By the time I’d let myself take it all in, everything was… over. And I had nothing left but only a few memories.” Though tears sounded in her voice, she wasn’t visibly upset.
Yet.
Truly, she was still very much an innocent. In all the ways a woman could be even though she was a widow. How interesting and somewhat… arousing.
Get hold of yourself, Gregory.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” After resting his cup and saucer on the table, he took possession of one of her hands and held her gaze with his.
“Perhaps I can give you the experiences you should have had with him—being taken around Town, going to the opera, walking the pleasure gardens, attending society events…”
Interest went through her expression. “Is that what men do with their mistresses?” Seconds later, confusion reflected in her eyes. “I thought they only bedded such women.”
Oh, she had so much to learn, and the things he could teach her sent a throb of need through his awakening shaft. Not that he was an expert at taking a mistress. Not by any means. This was the first time he’d ever asked a woman to be such to him.
God, what if I make a fool of myself?
“Sharing a carnal relationship is important, of course, but having a mistress is also about companionship.” Oddly, he wanted that, wanted someone to talk to at the end of a long day.
Life as a barrister was all well and good, but it didn’t leave time for much of anything else, especially when that required doing the pretty and courting.
In having a mistress, he’d essentially cut out the nonsense.
The best of both worlds. It was genius really. Until he was forced into taking a wife.
“Gregory?”
“Hmm?” The dulcet tone of her voice yanked him out of his thoughts as did the slight pressure of her fingers on his.
“When will we start the first part of this endeavor?” The dear woman was calmly and cooly composed except for a barely noticeable tremble of her chin. What was going through her mind? Was she excited, frightened, curious?
Forced to shift his position to accommodate his budding erection, he gave her a grin. “Uh, whenever you’d like, but perhaps we’ll spend a bit more time together before that.” He didn’t want a skittish mistress, a veritable untried innocent. “However, I’d be happy to kiss you again, though.”
Her eyes widened, and a soft smile curved those lips he couldn’t stop staring at. “I would enjoy that very much. Your last one was lovely.”
A grunt escaped him, for he didn’t want lovely.
He wanted her shaking and needy, he wanted her panting with desire for him.
He wanted her melting into him practically begging him to send her flying.
“Let’s see if I can do better than that.
” Gregory lowered his head and ignored the fact that the drawing room door remained open.
He paused a hair’s breadth from her lips, peered into her eyes with a raised eyebrow. “Unless you offer a protest?”
“I will not.” Slowly, she shook her head. “I’m afraid I’m not as skilled in this as you.”
“That matters not. There is plenty of time to learn from each other.” With each word, his lips brushed hers. “Rely on instinct and intuition.” Then he claimed her lips with his.
It was maddening, this kissing a woman he barely knew.
And what was more, asking said woman to be his mistress when he knew her not at all, but there was something about her that invited him closer.
A look in her eyes, the quiet vulnerability, that ever-present need to be rescued?
Whatever it was, it tugged him under, and he couldn’t resist that call.
Settling her more firmly in his arms, he moved his mouth over hers, exploring the nuances of her lush, velvety lips.
When she slid her hands up his chest to rest on his shoulders, both pulling him in yet holding him away, the tactile feel of her in his arms, of kissing her, shoved him closer to the point of no return.
Knowing there was no reputation to worry about, no scandal beyond what they’d already created, gave him the freedom he needed to continue to kiss her and learn what she enjoyed.
After a brief moment’s hesitation, Constance uttered a sigh of surrender.
She mimicked everything he did to her. When he nibbled her bottom lip, she did the same to him.
When he licked at the corner of her mouth, she followed suit.
When he teased the seam of her lips with the tip of his tongue, hers glided along his and sent need pinwheeling into his chest.
Heat rolled over him, tightening his length and heightening his awareness of her.
Gregory pulled away only long enough to urge her closer to his body.
He kissed her with more authority as she moved a hand to his nape, fingers delving through his hair.
The tiny sounds of enjoyment she made at the back of her throat had the potential to drive him wild.
“Gregory…” She scooted closer to him, was nearly in his lap. The glide of her silky lips along his neck just over his collar sent need careening through his bloodstream.
Claiming her lips again, he drew his hands up her sides, skimming along her ribcage then cupped her breasts. When her breathing accelerated, he grinned against her mouth, and never breaking their kiss, he rubbed the pads of his thumbs over her nipples until those buds hardened from his teasing.
Would she enjoy that or would she think him taking liberties even if she understood the nature of their relationship?
Her eyes blinked open, the irises so dark they could have been poured from strong coffee. “Please continue.”
The fact that she used a plea had his engorged shaft pressing against the front of his breeches.
“Gladly.” With his fingertips, he traced the lace edging of her bodice, saw the gooseflesh pop over her skin, but the moment he dipped his fingers beneath the fabric to free her breasts, the clearing of a masculine throat at the door made him freeze.
“Pardon the interruption, Mrs. Knight, but Mrs. Morton is here. She would like to know if you’re receiving at such an advanced hour.”
Gregory scooted backward over the cushion as cold disappointment mixed with heated frustration throughout his person. He eyed the butler, stood on shaky legs, though he’d rather die than let either of them see that weakness. Dropping his gaze to Constance, he said, “I should go.”
She nodded. “Thank you, Carson. Tell my cousin I’ll be down and meet her in the back parlor.”
“Of course, ma’am.”
As soon as the older man departed, Gregory leaned down and put his lips to the delicate curve of her ear. “We need to draw up a schedule,” he whispered then urged his lips along her temple. “I will call on you in a couple of days.”
She caught his hand before he could walk away. “When you come back, I want more of what we just did.”
“I can absolutely promise you that we will.” With a wide grin that felt far too goofy, he quit the room.
I rather think this new venture is exactly what I need to chase away the doldrums. And to help him decompress after long days in court.