Chapter 3 #2
Never had she seen a man’s body before, but she prayed to the heavens to behold this one for the rest of her days. It all happened in an instant, and her body reacted in a way that she had never felt before. It was a summer night, but the warmth that spread through her was so fierce, so delicious.
“Who ordered you to come here?” he asked with such disdain that she was suddenly in a muddle.
“O-ordered me?” she stuttered, sensing the insult in his words.
“Yes!” he hissed. “Why would a maid wander into a guest’s chambers at this hour?”
“A maid?” Her awe was quickly replaced with rage. “I am not a maid. Don’t you know who I am?”
The mysterious man looked her over without showing so much as a hint of recognition. His brow furrowed, and Lavinia could not tell if he was perplexed by her reaction or if he was puzzled because he truly did not know her name.
“I cannot say that we have met,” he replied, “but that does not change the situation. You came into my room unannounced and without provocation. I must assume that you were sent here on an errand of sorts.”
“What sort of errand would require me to sneak out in the middle of the night?” Lavinia scoffed.
His left eyebrow quirked up. “Excellent question, one I think you should be capable of answering. If you are, in fact, a lady and not a maid, why are you wandering about at this hour without a chaperone?” he challenged.
Before Lavinia could reply, a muffled voice came through the door.
“Miss Fitzroy?”
The familiar voice of Lord Windham made her jump. She would have bet every farthing in her possession that the man had gone about his business and left her alone, but if she had done that, she would have lost all her coins.
She stood stock still and held her breath.
Lord Windham tapped on the door. “I have finished collecting my own book from the library and thought to return to bed, but Miss Fitzroy, if you are still in there, then perhaps we could read together for a spell.”
“I guess I owe you an apology, Miss Fitzroy,” the gentleman holding the candle said.
Lavinia cringed.
No. No! If we remain quiet now, surely Lord Windham will leave.
She shook her head earnestly, hoping to have a silent conversation with this stranger, but she knew it was fruitless.
Only my parents can speak to each other without saying a word. I should know better than to think otherwise.
“Why are you hiding—”
Before he could finish his sentence, Lavinia lunged at him. Careful not to burn herself with the candle flame, she pressed the tips of her fingers to his lips.
“Please,” she mouthed.
Suddenly, she felt his lips curl into a smirk under the soft pads of her fingers. She gasped when he bared his teeth and then grazed them across her fingers.
Immediately, she pulled her hand away, clutching it to her chest, and stared at him with a baffled expression. This man had not hurt her, but he had certainly shocked her in a way she never would have anticipated.
He made a disgusted face. His tongue darted out of his mouth lightly as he made a coughing noise.
“What do you have all over your hands?” he asked. “It tastes awful.”
Lavinia still had her fingers cradled against her chest, but she looked down at them anyway. Even though the light from the candle did not extend so far across the room, she remembered what she had been doing before flopping onto her bed.
She lifted both hands and pantomimed writing a letter, which only made the gentleman’s smile widen.
“What?” he said playfully. “Did you really join me this evening so we could play a round of charades?” He laughed. “Very well, I’ll bite.” Then, he chuckled at his own joke. “Of course, I’ve already done that, but I should enjoy playing this little game with you if that is what you wish.”
“Could you please…” she trailed off, swallowing past the lump in her throat. “Could you lower your voice? I do not want to be found alone with a gentleman, especially by Lord Windham. He would surely tell my brother, and then…” She frowned at the man, who seemed amused.
“No one would believe him. We can even do more tonight, if you like, and no one would believe it happened because you are supposed to be sick in bed, sleeping all night.”
He stepped toward her. She felt the warmth of the candle and the sweetness of his breath against her face.
“Am I right?” he challenged.
“What can we do?”
Suddenly distracted, Lavinia felt a tickle of delight in her chest. Normally, she never would have dared to ask such an audacious question, but watching the man’s golden eyes flicker in the candlelight did funny things to her.
“We can start with your game of charades…” He tilted his head, and she held her breath while his eyes flicked up and down her form. “Then, we can move on to other activities.”
Lavinia gulped nervously. “Such as?”
The corner of his lip lifted, showing his amusement. “I am at your command, Miss Fitzroy. While you are invading my space, we may do whatever you like.”
Lavinia was forced to take a step back as the gentleman placed his candle on a nearby table and closed the remaining gap between them. The solid door met her back, forcing her to stop.
Now, there didn’t seem much space between them, and the heat in her core grew. He slowly moved his head closer to her cheek. His lips almost touched her ear. A more aggressive prickly sensation grew in her chest, spreading so fast that it made her feel lightheaded.
“Tell you what…” He brushed his lips over her earlobe.
His proximity sent a thrill down her back, to her stomach, and down to her core, and with each passing second, the aggravation grew in her head. She hoped that the man would stop whatever he had been doing to make her feel this way.
“I can help you get out of this conundrum, as I am a man of action, Miss Fitzroy.”
Lavinia gasped as his hands stroked her hips and then travelled up the sides of her ribs, stopping before he could feel her bosom.
“I do not need—” She tried to correct him, but she was not sure how to finish her statement. Up was down. Left was right. Her thoughts were entirely muddled.
For the first time in her life, Lavinia found herself wanting something she could not understand. There were feelings that built up inside her, feelings that felt like sin, but she knew she wanted to keep feeling them.
Suddenly, the gentleman reached for both of her hands and gently pulled her away from the door. He led her to a chair on the opposite side of the room, then went back to the door.
Lavinia opened her mouth to protest, but before she could utter a word, the man quickly stepped out into the hall.
Lavinia quaked in her seat. She did not know what this man had planned, but she was certain that being found here at this hour would not bode well for her.
“Lord Windham, we meet again. What a surprise to see you here.” The man spoke with such confidence.
“Ah, Your Grace…” Lavinia leaned forward as she heard the Viscount’s speech falter and his words grow quieter. “I did not expect to find you here.”
“Yes,” the Duke mused. “I heard you call out for Miss Fitzroy.”
“I… umm… yes. That is true.” Lord Windham’s words were tinged with nervousness.
“I hope you did not come to speak to me about my sister this evening.”
“I… uh… Lady Madeline?” Lord Windham’s voice squeaked.
Lady Madeline’s brother… His Grace… Why, this must be the Duke of Pemberton.
Lavinia’s thoughts roared so loudly in her head then that they drowned out the conversation unfolding between the two gentlemen. She knew not what they said because all she could think of was how she had made this colossal mistake.
Aggravation made her chest feel tight.
Of all the doors I could’ve walked through tonight, I walked through the Duke of Pemberton’s door?
Suddenly, everything about their interaction made sense. Lady St. Vincent had told her the Duke was a rake. She had warned them all to be on their guard, but Lavinia had failed to listen. Or rather, she had listened, but she had not thought through what she was doing before walking into his room.
Heat flooded her entire body when she remembered how just seconds ago, her eyes had lingered on his bare torso, and she had felt tingles in her core.
Soon, the door creaked open. The still shirtless Duke reentered, and despite having a moment to process the matter, Lavinia remained astonished by the tempting sight.
She shook her head forcefully, willing common sense to return, and ignored the alluring thought of what might have happened between them if he had not flung open the door.
More embarrassed than ever, Lavinia lurched to her feet and stumbled toward the door.
“I apologize, Your Grace, but I didn’t recognize you,” she blurted.
“Call me Peter,” he offered.
It was informal and inappropriate, and even with his permission, Lavinia would never dream of calling him by his first name.
“I would rather not,” she muttered.
“I respect your choice,” he replied.
He moved so that he blocked her exit.
“I did not need your help,” Lavinia couldn’t help but add, because it was the next thought that popped into her mind.
The Duke chuckled.
“Clearly,” he said mockingly. “I take it that you do not appreciate the kind of help I just offered you. But I am a gentleman, Miss Fitzroy. I can help you in more ways than you can imagine.” He took a step towards her.
Lavinia found herself taking a few steps back until she felt the bed behind her. Her heart raced.
I am trapped. Lord Windham has gone. He has left me alone, in this room, with a rakish duke.
“H-help? F-from you?” she stuttered.
The Duke looked confused but not surprised.
“Yes, Miss Fitzroy. You can ask me for anything.”
Lavinia was pinned in place as she searched his dark gaze. It was clear he wanted something that she could not recognize. She began to feel hot, and she throbbed in places she had never felt before.
“Is there something you want me to help you with, Miss Fitzroy?” the Duke asked, trailing his lips along her jaw.
Lavinia’s mouth fell open, and she let out a soft sound, the kind that she was not familiar with making. She was taken aback, and in her panic, she pushed the Duke out of the way with all her strength. She quickly hurried toward the door.
“I had better head back to my chamber,” she said, trying to ignore the heat inside her.
She did not even wait for the Duke’s response. She did not even want to hear from him anymore. She did not even look at him as she fled from the room.
I must avoid him now. No matter what happens tomorrow, I must steer clear of the Duke of Pemberton.
She scurried back to her chambers, her stomach still growling, but her body was craving something else.
That night, she slept furious and ravenous and even a touch mystified by the desire for the unknown.