Persuasion (9 page)

so, here she was. The thought of her mama being in danger, was more

terrifying than words could say and so, the seduction was due to commence

as soon as she could set her eyes upon the esteemed Lord and all Lily could

do, was simply endure the situation.

And it would be just that, a test of endurance. Being completely in the dark

as she was about seduction and its art forms . . . well, it had her pushed

between constantly flushing and blanching.

With the odds so terrifyingly against her and her beloved mama, Lily felt

disgustingly disadvantaged. Indeed, she wasn't even sure if she could follow

through with the entire plan, for what occurred in a seduction was still

beyond her.

The days prior to her having received the missive, she had attempted to

gently quiz her aunt, who had also managed to both flush and blanch with

great success. Thereafter, Lily had dropped the topic, for it was quite

obvious that her aunt was terribly discomforted by the whole thing. Although

why, she did not understand. Surely . . . it was a natural process? Her

distress had shot Lily's own tension into the sky, for was it so horrid? So

terrible that it was quite sufficient for a woman of her aunt's age and

experience to be so horrified by the entire thing?

Janie had been a little helpful, but more bewildering than anything else.

There had been a lot of coughs and nervous laughs. “Eh, miss, you shouldn't

be asking me this,” Janie had oft muttered, flustered with embarrassment.

There had also been awkward bobbing curtsies and quick, harried escapes

until she'd had to almost pin her down and ask what seduction entailed and

again, hardly any information had been imparted and Lily was left feeling

more confused than ever!

Thus Lily felt unbearably lacking in knowledge of what she would be taking

on with this mission of hers. All she knew was that her ultimate fate did not

appear to be all that fortuitous!

Having stayed close to her aunt throughout the entire evening, for Millie was

bound to point out the eligible bachelors in the room at will, her

steadfastness proved successful for almost out of nowhere, Aunt Millie's fan

was raised and begun to flutter.

“Lily,” she hissed behind the fan.

“Yes?”

“Look at the fireplace, by the Neville chit.”

“The Neville chit?”

Aunt Millie sighed impatiently. “Yes! The Neville chit, in the entirely

inappropriate brown taffeta! The girl looks like a wren!”

Feeling very unkind, for Lily's eyes instantly found the 'wren', she winced.

“Yes, I can see her,” she murmured.

“Look at the green fireplace, beside it, the blond man.”

“What about him?”

“It seems Earl fforbes-Hyde has returned to the ton's bosom!”

“That is he?” she asked, faintly surprised. Now that he was here, she felt

both terrified and relieved and her voice reflected that melange of emotion.

“Yes. He always was a handsome devil! And I must say that he does not

appear to be too pleased to be here!”

Now that was quite an understatement. His face was a picture of bored

disdain. Indeed, disdain was too polite a word to use. He looked completely

and utterly disinterested by his environs and as though he would rather be

anywhere else but here.

In fact, his expression reminded her of herself and her own weariness at the

ton's seemingly endless events before that evil man had pushed her into this

ridiculous yet horrifying situation!

The Earl was surrounded by men she could only assume were his friends.

Surely, if they were not, they would not be standing with him, not with that

sourpuss face, at least!

From her memory, she could easily recall each of the men there and every

single one of them were below par. Rakes and men that at some point or

another during the Season her aunt had warned her against seemed to

make up the entire group!

A part of her wondered why he had attended the ball if the entertainment

did not make him happy. But then, it did not make her happy either, yet

here she was and had been throughout all the other soirees she'd had to

attend. So Lily supposed that she could not really make an issue out of that

particular fact!

As soon as her eyes spotted him and her gaze touched him, Lily instantly

recalled that the . . . the . . . she resorted to a word her brother used and

one her parents had scolded him for . . . bastard had told her he would be

watching her and instantly, she felt as though all eyes were on her. As

though her every move were being watched and she were currently under

examination by the horrible devil who had set her this dastardly task.

Sucking in a breath, once more she was assailed with fear. Fear for the

unknown and fear for her mother. How was she to proceed? How did one go

about seducing a man? What was she to do?

Lily felt so completely lost, that despair rushed through her and she had to

close her eyes to withhold the tears that longed to fall. Swiftly, for her aunt

could be the very devil if she spotted emotion, Lily pressed the thumb and

finger of her left hand together fiercely, until the joints literally hurt and only

then, did the tears cease. She blew out a quiet breath and felt it whistle

slightly between her teeth.

Lily straightened her back and then forced herself to look at him and study

him in detail. As she did so, she wondered how on earth she would be able

to approach him. To simply walk up to him . . . . It just was not done. Ladies

never approached gentlemen! But Lily had to admit, that were she ever to

break the rules, then it would be for the particular gentleman standing

before her. She shook her head at the thought, but it would not be denied.

There was an air about him, a somber yet restrained attitude that seemed to

suit his blond looks. His face was tanned which told its own tale and she

knew that he would be an outdoor man and not a dandy who was afeared of

the sun! From this distance, she could see his green as grass eyes which

were as piercing as glass and just as quick to cut. His jaw was strong, as

was his aquiline nose and in general, he was a man that many of his own

sex would aspire to be like.

He made a dashing figure in the tight fawn breeches, which were tucked into

gleaming Hessians. A taut emerald green waistcoat fitted him perfectly and

set off the light in his eyes. His cravat and linen shirt were perfection, the

former being a waterfall of tumbling material, which was the only

unrestrained part of his outfit. His jacket displayed his broad shoulders

delightfully and added to his aura of strength.

Despite herself, she felt a frisson of something rush through her and Lily

wished that she knew what it meant. Regardless of her fear of the situation

she found herself in, this frisson touched parts of her she had never even

known about, parts that had never before been touched! But Lily wasn't

altogether sure that it was that fabulous a time to actually be experiencing

something of that nature!

Inwardly grimacing, she separated from her aunt with an air kiss to her

cheek and then departed to the refreshment table, which was fortunately

close to his position. When she moved, she kept her head tilted towards the

Earl's location and managed to look at him without seemingly doing so. In

fact, she could almost liken herself to the afore-mentioned French spy! Only

this time, it was not so ludicrous.

As she perused the tempting foods on display, her stomach rumbled a tad,

but she realized that to take a bite of anything but a very light ice, would be

like tasting ashes and as such, hideous! With a sad smile, she discarded the

tasty tarts and treats and simply cast her eye over the length of the table

and then, fortune smiled on her. For she heard the butler call out that the

next dance would be the choice of the ladies!

Was fate on her side, she wondered, as she swiftly moved down the length

of the table and returned to her earlier position. Within seconds, she found

herself standing before him and his set, which had suddenly ceased their

bantering and had grown silent.

Lily stared at the Earl for what felt like endless moments and although she

was aware that the men were making sly and very quiet, so as not to offend

her, innuendo, she easily ignored it. Completely unaware of her beauty and

the effect she had on the man she was staring at and those that surrounded

him. All she felt was . . . fear, discomfort and God help her . . . excitement!

What was wrong with her?

Her mouth felt dry as her eyes met his and she felt almost pierced to the

core with that same frisson that she did not understand. Before she could

make a larger fool of herself by simply standing there like a cursed

bedlamite, Lily curtsied. “Lady's choice, my lord,” she murmured, her voice

soft and as feminine as she could make it.

The Earl scowled. But then obviously realized that he could not refuse

without causing a fuss and so, he ironed out the frown on his forehead and

plastered on an obviously false smile. He then held out a reluctant hand and

bowed. “My Lady?”

“Lady Lily Mercer, my lord.”

“Earl fforbes-Hyde, my lady.”

The formality was stifling but appearances were always considered in this

superficial ton of theirs and as he led her away from his sniggering-like-

schoolboys friends, it was difficult not to turn her head and stick out her

tongue at the fools. Only the fact that she was in one of the most artificial

places prevented her. It would have spread around like gossip that one of

the diamonds of the ton had taken to acting like a saucy chit and to deal

with the aftermath of such talk was beyond her at that moment!

Gracefully, he took her to the dance floor and instantly led her into a waltz.

Lily thanked the Lord that she'd already attended Almack's and had received

permission from the Lady Patronesses to dance this particular dance, for

again talk would surely have followed! In her current situation, with this

threat hanging over her head like the sword of Damocles, it was the last

thing she needed to be at the center of such gossip!

Not that her mind was actually on the threat, not when her partner danced

like a dream come true. It was like floating on air with him and it was

something she had never before experienced. In fact, it seemed that tonight

was a night of firsts!

And while she was enjoying herself and could enjoy the sheer pleasure of

being with a man who could dance as perfectly as he did, she knew that he

did not feel the same. It was evident in the stiffness of his form- which

somehow did not affect his dancing- and also in the cast of his face, which

throughout the entire dance seemed to be set in stone!

She found herself . . . actually feeling upset by this. Dancing with him sent

these strange fizzles through her, feelings that she could only liken to

pleasure, yet he looked as miserable as sin.

Was it even possible to feel pleasure from this? Was it? How could she feel

pleasure from something that was being forced upon her?

She wanted to speak, to say something to him, but his expression seemed

to forbid it and as he held her close and spun her around the ballroom, she

felt a tense excitement course through her as their bodies met and turned

and twisted as they danced. When the music came to a halt, they paused

there in silence. Their eyes close, their mouths even closer and she felt a

sudden urge to shorten the tiny gap that separated them and press her lips

to his.

For a moment, he hesitated and she felt certain that he was going to take

the choice away from her and as the thought registered, Lily felt her heart

begin to increase its pace until she felt completely flustered for she realized

that she had never been truly kissed.

Perhaps he read that in her eyes, for he stared at her for what felt like

endless moments, before detaching his hands from hers, taking a step

backwards, offering her a bow and then departing as though the hounds of

hell were chasing after him.

Lily watched his retreat through the crowds and while she damned herself

for letting him escape, Lily was far too perturbed by what had almost

happened to scold herself too greatly.

If the bastard who threatened her mother's life had been watching her, then

he could do naught but admit that she had attempted and made contact.

Hoping that for tonight that was enough, she moved away from the dance

floor and retreated to her aunt's side.

****

and William could literally feel the sparks between them. It was an

interesting side effect, one that he hadn't even taken into consideration!

From the expression on Dorian's face, it would not be difficult for Lily to

seduce him and that pleased William more than words could say.

They stood for an inordinately long time in the center of the ballroom and

almost as though the whispers about the prolonged embrace began to

penetrate the bubble in which they both seemed to stand, only then did