CHOCOLATE, TEA AND THE DUCHESS (3 page)

"Are you all right?"

He couldn't answer, but he gave her a stern look. Finally, the cough calmed,

allowing him to catch his breath. She rubbed his back, sending frissons of something

unwelcome straight to his cock.

"I am fine; now please, go back to the other seat." He attempted to shoo her

away. "I will take you home."

"I don't want to go home."

"Please, Lady Felicity. I have business and wish to see you safely home. You are

in a very precarious position."

"I would enjoy being in just about any position with you, Your Grace."

Phillip looked at her, incredulity coursing through him. "You have no idea of

what you speak. You are too young to be thinking about such things."

"I am of a marriageable age, and as I said, I know more about the matters of the

marriage bed than you or anyone else might suspect."

Bent on putting an end to this ridiculous conversation, he decided to be blunt. "Is

that so? Well then, tell me all about it."

Lady Felicity swallowed, perceptibly hard from what he could see. He suspected

she was blushing also, though the moonlight was too dim to determine that with any

certainty.

Her voice cracked just a bit as she answered. "Well, I know the participants must

remove their clothing."

"Have you ever removed your clothing for a man, my lady?"

"I should say not."

"Well then, how do you know such things?"

"I have watched."

"You've watched? What does that mean? You've watched your parents?"

"Oh my God, no! That remark, sir, is the product of a very dirty mind."

"Now, you have the right of
that
, little lady. You have
no
idea just how dirty my

mind really is, and I have no intention of allowing you to ever find out."

"I would certainly like to learn all about you."

"I daresay, if you knew any more about me, you'd run in the other direction."

Her hand settled on his knee. He looked at her with what he knew was a blank

stare.

"Please remove your hand." He spoke slowly, lest she miss his meaning.

Phillip felt the fabric of his trousers shift under her touch as her hand moved

slowly toward his thigh.

"I don't believe I will, Your Grace. Are you absolutely sure you wish me to do

so?"

Actually, he
wasn't
so sure anymore. But he was no despoiler of young women.

"Yes, I am."

Her hand moved and so did his traitorous cock. He prayed she wouldn't slide

her hand farther. With no idea as to how experienced she was, Phillip wondered how

often she'd done this sort of thing. It had been some time indeed since he'd been alone

with a woman outside of the Sapphire Club. Even with Evelina, his mistress, they'd

always gone to the club, as they'd enjoyed the same activities. What could a girl of

nineteen know of the reaction she was causing?

"You are playing with fire, miss, the kind that burns severely."

"Are you hot, Your Grace?" Her hand moved again.

He ignored the seductive tone, trying to concentrate on the feeling she was

evoking. All thoughts of Haynes left him, and he began to wonder what her breasts

looked like. He salivated at the thought but remained still, knowing if he raised a hand,

let alone touched her, his resolve would be lost.

"What is it you want, my lady?"

"What are you willing to give me?" The heat of her hand continued to sear a

steady path upward.

"Nothing." He knew he'd go to hell for lying, but then again there were grounds

to commit him to purgatory just for the thoughts he entertained at the moment.

"Oh, I don't think that is quite true."

One more inch and his secret would be told, or could she tell already? His skin

prickled with the want of laying her across the seat, the skirts of her expensive ball

gown lifted, and him ravaging her within an inch of her life. His palms itched to bare

her bottom and spank her until she screamed for mercy. Then a humorous thought

crossed his mind—she'd probably enjoy either one of those actions. He would too, way

too much.

As they rumbled through the London night, the sway of the carriage lulled

Phillip into a frame of mind that bordered on the dangerous. Felicity had stilled her

hand, but he was under no illusion that she'd stopped her progression. In fact, he was

almost sure he didn't want her to stop. If she didn't though, indeed he would ravish her

and send her back to her parents ruined, at her own request.

He could frighten her by proceeding to remove her clothing, just to gauge her

reaction. However, common sense told him she would encourage him to do just that.

Instead, he placed his hand on hers, stilling her further movement.

"I must insist you go back to where you came from, my lady."

"No, I don't think I will." Her brass was amazing.

"I must insist."

"All right, but do one thing for me before I do."

"What?"

"Kiss me."

Chapter Three

Phillip felt his brows arch high at the suggestion, or rather, the demand, from his

young companion. "Kiss you?"

"Yes, kiss me."

"Pray tell, why should I wish to do such a thing?"

"Because I asked prettily."

She batted her eyelashes!

"You didn't ask at all. You are trying to extort a kiss from a man who has no

interest in kissing you, at all."

She attempted to move her hand again, but he held fast. In the dim moonlight, he

looked into her eyes, tried reading her thoughts. He saw sincerity only, or as close as

he'd ever been able to read the emotion. He moved in closer, hearing her breath hitch.

He prayed she hadn't heard his do the same.

The moment was fraught with tension, hesitation, and the assumed regret he

would have the moment their lips met. Unable to stop himself, he touched his lips to

hers, intending a chaste kiss, something impossible to interpret as a prelude to all the

lecherous thoughts playing havoc in his brain . . . and inside his trousers.

Bad judgment, however, won out over good sense, as he wrapped her in his

arms and took her lips with a hunger for which he would later despise himself. He

heard her moan as she leaned into him. His tongue split the seam of her lips, boldly

seeking the warmth of her mouth, meeting
her
tongue, sliding over it, savoring the

fervor with which she answered.

He pulled her tighter to him, their angle awkward. He turned to face her, to hold

her, when he felt her hand slide home, covering his cock through the fabric of his

trousers. From deep within, his gut gave up an involuntary gasp. He pulled away from

her, breaking the kiss he had so enjoyed.

"We must stop this, now." He made his voice stern.

He moved to the opposite seat and proceeded to straighten his clothing. He tried

to affect anger but could muster only resigned amusement at this late hour. "Young

woman, I daresay you are the boldest chit I've ever had the misfortune to know. What

are you about?"

"I find you infinitely more attractive than the
boys
my age. I believe I wish you to

be my first."

"Your first what?"

"Need I explain in detail?"

Phillip knew exactly what
first
she proposed, and warning bells clanged loudly

in his ears. He raised his walking stick, banged sharply on the ceiling. The trap door

opened in an instant.

"Yes, Your Grace?"

"Take me back to the ball."

John Coachman nodded and closed the hatch.

"I don't wish to go back. I want to go with you."

"Young lady, you will not go with me. You will go back to the ball, and we will

forget this little excursion ever happened. You are much too forward a girl to be let out

alone. One day, you might find yourself in grave trouble."

In a whispered voice, she said, "I would like to find myself in trouble with you."

"You must put thoughts such as that out of your head. Seek out one of those

gangly creatures that pass for young men, marry him, and experiment upon his less

than fully grown body all you like. Believe me, he will appreciate your zealousness."

"I wish to have a mature man, one who has years of experience and who can

teach me the ways of the marriage bed."

Thornhill laughed, but not as though she'd made a jest. Twenty years before, he

would have jumped upon her more than willing body. Years had taught him, however,

that not everything was as it seemed.

"What do you
really want,
my dear?"

"I don't know what you mean?"

"I believe you do. Are you here at your mother's behest, to get me to compromise

you?"

"I've told you, she knows nothing of this. If she did, she'd spank me soundly."

"I just might do the same before we get back to the ball." The thought did have a

certain appeal.

"Mmm."

Was that an
mmm
of interest? "Does a thorough spanking interest you, my lady?"

Where had that question come from? He closed his eyes, exhaled slowly.

"Under the right circumstances, it might."

Silence stretched between them, Phillip not knowing what to say. He wished to

be alone, out of this young woman's company, before he succumbed to her charms. It

would be ever so easy to lift her skirts, tumble her over his lap, and give her a spanking

she'd never forget. He'd like to do just that too, with no other motive.

His ass tingled at the thought of receiving like treatment. He could no longer feel

the sting and burn of the last thrashing he'd gotten, and he wished to renew that

awareness. He'd intended to do so at the club, before he'd been waylaid by Lady

Felicity and her childish games.

The carriage slowed. John pulled the horses to a stop in the shadows, down the

street from the mansion where the ball took place. Phillip opened the door and stepped

out, reaching in to offer his hand to the young lady whom he now had to return to the

ball unseen.

"Come." He crooked his fingers sharply. She sat steadfast, arms crossed over her

middle. "I said come, before someone sees you getting out of my carriage."

She sighed and allowed him to hand her down. He checked the area, making

sure no one looked on before escorting her to the back of the townhouse. He opened the

door, which he guessed led to the kitchen, and ushered her inside quickly.

"Go straight to your mama, make an excuse for not being with your friend, and

don't ever do this sort of thing again. Not every man is a gentleman."

She opened her mouth as though to say something, but stopped. He heard her

inhale sharply. "Behind you," she said, just as another person spoke.

"Well, isn't this a fine state of affairs."

Thornhill closed his eyes against the words he knew would change his life. He

didn't turn to face their accuser, at first. He recognized the accursed voice and knew the

woman would do anything to ruin him. Their parting had not been a pleasant one.

Phillip then turned around. "Evelina, how unpleasant to see you again." Their

association had lasted for over three years, and she was privy to many of his darkest

secrets. He'd feared the jewels he'd given her at the end might not have been enough to

keep her wrath contained.

"You mustn't be so cruel, darling. Your little lady bird here will think you more

miserable than I know you to be."

"She is not my lady bird. What is it you want?"

"Oh, I believe your future misery will suit me quite nicely. Really, Phillip, I never

thought you were the type to despoil virgins. Deary, beware of his sexual tastes. I do

believe you are entering waters beyond your depth."

"Stifle it, Evelina. Have you been following me?"

"You bet your fine
red ass
I have. I know
all
about where you go and what you

do. I suggest you make your way to Lady Felicity's father and plight your troth, or I

shall be forced to make a public announcement as to what I have just seen." She glared

at Phillip, then turned her pinched gaze at Felicity. "Either way, our score is settled,

Phillip, darling. Once you've said the vows and shackled yourself to this neophyte, I

will rest at night knowing of the misery in which you live."

He'd always been so careful, never to be alone with a woman vulnerable to

ruination—until now. His innocence in this matter would be irrelevant, for he was

caught as surely as though he had in fact ruined her.

He gripped Felicity's wrist, without bidding his former mistress adieu. "Come,"

he said. "We have something to discuss with your father."

As he dragged her through the kitchen and down a dimly lit hallway, he

ruminated upon the precipitous course his life had taken, but there was nothing to be

done for it now. He was honor-bound to make this situation right, though he'd had

nothing to do with its start. Oh, she will pay with her ass, he thought, wishing only to

turn back the hands of time.

He faintly heard her plea for him to stop, but his fury propelled him forward.

With no warning, she stopped running, jarring him from behind. His forward

movement must've tumbled her nearly to the floor, for he found her righting herself as

he spun around.

"What are you doing?" He shouted.

"We must talk about this."

"I believe it was your
talking
that now has us in this muddle. The only talking left