Chapter 6 #2
Reed discovered himself smiling at the memory now.
The more he became familiar with the lady, he realized that nothing surprised him.
There were times when she seemed almost too forward and bold to be part of the current era, and yet at other times, it was obvious she had been sheltered from certain aspects of life.
It was no wonder she had dared to risk so much to satiate that curiosity by visiting the Pond if she didn’t even know what it meant to feel desire.
Reed cleared his throat. “Trust me, the issue is not that I do not like her. It is that I might start liking her too much.”
His face must have shown his torment, because Jackson leaned back in his chair. “Oh. I see.”
“I am not sure you actually understand the scale the lady is willing to go through to torture me.” Reed downed his glass, relishing the burn of the alcohol as it slid a fiery path down to his stomach.
He was hoping it might dull some of his senses when it came to Miss Kent.
“She brought up the subject of reaching her peak and asked if I might assist her in achieving it.”
Jackson had been in the middle of taking a drink himself, but he promptly choked on the latest gulp. “Tell me you are in jest?” he rasped.
“I bloody wish I were,” Reed grumbled. “Whenever I call upon her, she seems intent to follow through on her instruction. I cannot be alone with her. I am honestly not sure how much more I can withstand.”
“Indeed,” Jackson mumbled. He shook his head. “I wish I had an appropriate answer for you, but for someone who has not done much courting in the past, especially in higher circles, I am not certain I can offer much advice.”
“I can assure you that if her father was aware of the seductive looks she continues to give me, he would lock his daughter in her room. And if he were to hear the thoughts circling in my head, he would bar me from the house.”
“Can you not find a way to dissuade her… eagerness? Turn her attention elsewhere?”
Reed laughed. “You believe I have not tried? The most I have been able to accomplish is calling around teatime when I know her mother will be present as a chaperone and we are forced to speak of nothing more involved than the weather. We have been to one musicale in the interim, and thank God her family was present. Even so, it is impossible to ignore her body language. A slight touch, a coy smile.” He scrubbed a hand down his face.
Jackson lifted a brow. “I am starting to wonder if the Belle should have written about a rakish female for this month. Miss Kent certainly sounds as though she is adept at spinning you around in all angles.”
“That is putting it mildly,” Reed said heavily.
Jackson tapped his finger on the top of the desk. “Have you considered easing your needs elsewhere?” he suggested.
Reed snorted. “It would do no good. Miss Kent is everywhere I look; in every dark-haired woman I see. I cannot escape her.”
Jackson sat back in his chair, a look of concern on his face. “This sounds serious, indeed,” he murmured. “And while I am reluctant to suggest it, perhaps the only thing you can do at this point is give her what she wants.”
Reed froze, his throat growing dry. “Forgive me. I do not believe I heard you correctly. It sounded as though you said—”
“I did,” the other man confirmed. “The way I see it, the only way both of you are going to make it through the rest of the weeks ahead is if you comply with her demands. If you do, then she will be sated and you might be able to breathe a bit easier yourself.”
Reed blinked in disbelief. “Since when have you actually sided with anything I have said before now?”
Jackson leaned forward, steepling his hands on the desk. “It sounds to me as though you are resisting the idea, rather than embracing it. I know you are familiar with the process of making love and thus, know how far things can progress before it must stop. You are capable of that, are you not?”
Reed wasn’t sure if he could effectively control himself when it came to Sariah, but since he had never forced a woman into something she was not willing to do, he nodded his head. “Yes.”
Jackson spread his hands wide, as if he’d made his point. “Then that is your solution.”
With his thoughts swirling in a mixture of disbelief and something entirely dark and forbidden, he warned, “I hope you are right about this and I do not unleash an insatiable, lust filled demon.”
Giving a smirk, Jackson said, “If you do, then I guess you will just have to pray.”
Sariah was overjoyed to see her best friends. It had been nearly a week since she’d set eyes on Maggie and Ava, which was entirely too long since she was used to seeing them nearly every day during the season.
She embraced each of them at the Wendlehouse soiree the moment they made their appearance. Dragging them over to a private corner before the merriment was to begin, Sariah said, “I am so sorry I have not come to see either of you, but I was afraid I would not be welcome.”
The two women exchanged a glance, and then Maggie said truthfully, “That might have been accurate right after the incident at the Pond, but now that some of the excitement has calmed down and you are to be married, our parents have collectively agreed that you have returned to respectability.” She gave a dramatic roll of her eyes.
“I must know how your engagement came about!” Ava said excitedly, her blond curls bouncing like a child. “I was near bursting at the seams when I received the update from Maggie!”
“I heard the rumor from Lady Martin’s tea the other day,” Maggie said dryly.
“Apparently, it was a grand gesture brought about by our hero’s grand rescue efforts.
There was even discussion that it was a love match.
” Another eye roll. “I did not believe it for a single minute, especially considering the scathing you gave him at the Pond. I was under the impression that if he showed his face again you would happily give him a proper set down quite enthusiastically.”
Sariah’s cheeks warmed. “Yes, well, perhaps I was a bit more humiliated than appreciative that day. But it does not signify as the betrothal is merely a farce.”
Ava’s mouth dropped open while Maggie simply lifted a slim red brow. “Do tell.” It was not often that the lady showed much emotion. However, Ava certainly made up for the lack as her eyes lit up like she’d been offered an early Christmas gift.
After Sariah explained Mr. Carrington’s plan and the reasoning behind it, Maggie added, “That is sound reasoning, but what if you were to fall in love with your betrothed before the month is over?”
“I should think that would be the most romantic thing! A true love match,” Ava sighed, hopeful stars shining in her gaze now.
Maggie rolled her eyes but Sariah was a bit more hesitant to discount the warning.
It actually scared her to imagine that her heart could ever be in threat of becoming engaged.
She had considered the dangers before now, of course, but since the gentleman seemed eager to retain his distance from her of late, she did not think she was at too much risk. “I doubt that will happen.”
“Because your positions in society are too wide to cross?” Maggie guessed.
It was a perfect solution that Sariah grasped onto. It was easier than doubting her own words. “Precisely. I am expected to marry well, and Mr. Carrington hardly fits the noble lord that my father has envisioned for me.”
Ava abruptly turned pale and attempted to gesture to something—or someone—beyond Sariah’s shoulder. Her stomach sank because her friend’s distress could only mean one thing.
Reed was standing behind her.
Turning, Sariah pasted a pleasant smile on her face, hoping that he had not overheard her ridiculous statement. By the stiff set of his jaw, she had the feeling that he had.
“Miss Kent,” he greeted coolly.
Oh, dear. “Mr. Carrington.” She looped her arm through his, and she could tell it was all he could do not to yank it away. “I am glad you were able to join us this evening. If we could have a moment to discuss—”
Unfortunately, her pleas fell on deaf ears as the hostess of the evening took that opportunity to set the soiree in full swing. The musicians at the front of the room began to play, and Sariah was forced to hold her tongue.
Drat.