Something Scandalous (26 page)

“This must be her decision,” Sophie said to him.

“Dammit, we don’t have time for this. Lady Elizabeth, do you love Will?”

“Yes,” she admitted quietly.

“Will you do whatever it takes to get him back?” Somerton demanded.

Get him back? Did she ever have him to begin with? She had no idea. Maybe this would help her find out.

“Elizabeth, you will always be considered the duke’s daughter. No matter what happened,” Sophie said, “you love him. Go get him.”

Somerton stared at her as if his patience had just about run its course. “Will you do whatever it takes to win him?”

“Yes.” Elizabeth felt as if they were speaking another language, yet they seemed to understand each other perfectly. “Please, what are you both talking about?”

“The duke is at Lady Whitely’s,” Sophie started.

“Who is Lady Whitely? I have never heard of her before,” Elizabeth said.

“Lady Whitely runs a…a…” Sophie looked over at Somerton for assistance.

“She runs a brothel,” he said simply. “And Will is there right now. If you don’t get over there, he might make a huge mistake.”

A brothel. Will was at a brothel. “Why?”

“I shall explain in the carriage,” Somerton said. He looked at Sophie. “You owe me far more than a name for this one.”

“You might be right,” Sophie said.

Elizabeth picked up her bonnet and walked out to the carriage with Somerton. A ripple of fear stopped her cold. She knew so little about the man she was about to be alone with in the carriage.

“What is wrong now?” Somerton asked in an impatient tone.

“I…I should not be alone in the carriage with you.”

Somerton laughed soundly. “That is the least of your problems, Lady Elizabeth. You just agreed to enter a brothel, and you are worried about being in a coach with me.”

She had not thought about it that way. “I actually have to go inside the brothel?”

Somerton held out his hand to help her inside the carriage. “Yes, my dear. Assuming you wish to save him from making a huge mistake.”

“I do,” she answered.

“All right, then. Lady Whitely is currently keeping him occupied with a little whisky and conversation. You will enter through the servants’ entrance and someone will escort you up to a private room.”

“What am I supposed to do?”

Somerton groaned. “I really don’t need to tell you
that,
do I?”

Elizabeth looked at him and shrugged.

“Seduce the man. Please tell me you know how to do that.”

Heat crossed her cheeks. Hopefully in the dark carriage, Somerton would not notice. “Of course.”

“Damn. You don’t know what to do.” Somerton leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling of the carriage. “Entice him, Elizabeth. Make him want you so desperately, he’ll tell you anything.”

She didn’t rebuke him using her given name when she knew she should. “How?”

“Lady Whitely will provide a very revealing gown. Flaunt your assets. Let him see what he is missing.”

“But he will know it’s me. He’s so angry with me that he will most likely dash from the room once he sees me.”

“Good point. I will make certain Lady Whitely provides a mask for you to wear. Keep only a few candles lit so the room is dark. Do not let him take off the mask until he realizes what a huge mistake he has made. Let him grovel at your feet for forgiveness.”

Groveling is what she should be doing, not Will. “What if this does not work?”

“Would you rather not try? Go back to Sophie’s never knowing if you could have made this work?”

The carriage slowed to a stop and as Elizabeth glanced out, she realized they had come to a standstill directly in front of Victoria’s home. Her friend had never spoken of a brothel being next door. Perhaps Victoria did not know about it. This wasn’t an area normally filled with brothels.

“I will continue with this plan,” Elizabeth finally answered.

“Good,” Somerton said, then climbed down. He held out his hand for her. “I will make sure one of the girls tells you the best way to seduce him.”

“Wonderful,” she replied as she walked alongside him. Now she would be getting lessons from a strumpet. How had her life gotten to this point?

She kept her head down as they walked to the servants’ entrance. Hopefully Victoria would not glance outside and notice her. They walked inside a warm building with the sound of voices coming from upstairs.

“Welcome, Lord Somerton.”

Elizabeth turned to look at the woman who had called Somerton’s name in such a seductive voice. Her mouth gaped. The woman’s red gown had a slit up to her mid-thigh that opened wide with every step.

“Good evening, Venus,” Somerton said.

He knew this woman? The man was more depraved than she had ever realized.

“Lady Whitely asked me to assist you in any manner necessary,” the woman said.

“My friend might need some womanly advice on the art of seduction.” Somerton stepped toward Venus with a smile.

“I do not think that will be a problem,” Venus replied with a coy smile. “Come along with me.”

Elizabeth walked toward the woman and then glanced back at Somerton. He gave her an encouraging smile.

“Win him over, Elizabeth,” he said. “Make him grovel.”

She had no idea how to manage that feat. She followed Venus up to the third floor where there were only three rooms. As she walked past one room, she could hear the moans of a man, and a woman urging him on. When they reached the next room, Venus stopped and opened the door.

Elizabeth entered the room expecting to see it covered in gaudy red velvet. Instead, the bed was covered in a white lace coverlet, the two chairs were pale blue velvet, and the rug a collection of blue and green flowers. It did not look much different from any lady’s bedroom.

“This is the virginal room,” Venus said with a laugh.

“Virginal?”

“It is for the young men who come here for their first time, or couples who need to put a little excitement back in their marriage. They can be two different people here.”

“Oh,” Elizabeth answered, trying to sound more worldly than she felt.

“It’s not your first time, is it?” Venus ambled to a linen press and opened the doors.

“No.”

“Good. Do you prefer white, black, or red?”

“For what?” Elizabeth asked as she walked over to the linen press.

“Your gown.” Venus’s gaze roamed from Elizabeth’s head to her toes. “Personally, I think the white would make you fade away. The red is too garish, but the black is perfect.”

“Very well, the black one.”

Venus pulled out a gown much like the one she wore. Elizabeth stared at the fabric, wondering what would be used to make it so sheer.

“Turn around, and let me help you.”

Elizabeth waited while Venus helped her undress and put the daring gown on.

“Oh, my,” Elizabeth exclaimed as she caught sight of herself in the cheval mirror. The bodice fell into a V shape, exposing more of her breasts than anything she had ever worn. A slit raced up to her hip, showing all of her leg as she walked.

Venus stared at her. “You need something more,” she decided. “It’s your hair.”

Elizabeth’s hand went to her head. “What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s far too formal for such an occasion.” Venus walked toward her and pulled a few pins from Elizabeth’s upswept style. Then Venus drew a few strands down around her face and neck. “Now the mask, and you shall be all set.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes as Venus placed the mask over her face. When she opened them, she could not believe her eyes. If she didn’t know it was her reflection, she would not have recognized herself.

“So, how do I seduce him?” she asked aloud.

“That, my dear, is the easy part.” Venus went to the chairs and placed a bottle of something on the table in between them. “He drinks whisky. When he comes in, have him sit there while you pour. As you do, make certain the neckline of your gown gapes open a little more, so he can see the merchandise.”

“The merchandise?”

“Your tits,” Venus said with a laugh. She cupped her own and said, “These are your best assets in this business. They determine if you are a Covent Garden whore, or an earl’s mistress.”

But Elizabeth did not want to be a mistress. She wanted to be a wife. Will’s wife. “Any other advice?”

“When you sit across from him, let him see your privates. It drives men mad.”

With the slit in her gown, that would not be hard. She imagined the slit would easily slide to the right and open up in front of him.

“Don’t look so pale. Perhaps you should have a little rouge.”

“No. I shall be fine.”

“You will be great,” Venus said with a smile. “Just remember, make him grovel.”

“I believe it is time to go upstairs,” Lady Whitely said seductively.

Oh, hell. Will hoped she wasn’t thinking he was interested in her. At this point, he really wasn’t interested in anyone. He should return home and forget about this day. Maybe in time, he could forgive Elizabeth. And if not, he would have to forget about her.

Not that it would ever be possible. Forgetting Elizabeth would be as hard as forgetting his own name.

Suddenly, Lady Whitely was pulling on his hands to get him to his feet. He should protest but the whisky seemed to have addled his mind. He followed her like a puppy dog up two flights of stairs.

She opened the second door and whispered, “Enjoy.”

Will walked into the room and blinked. After all the red furnishings, this room was a welcome surprise. The scent from the room vaguely reminded him of Elizabeth.

A small sound alerted him to someone standing behind a blue chair. Slowly she walked forward, her entire body silhouetted by the candles behind her. She was dressed in a sheer black gown that could never be worn outside. Even from this distance, he could see the round globes of her breasts, her nipples erect and waiting for his mouth. Between the room smelling like her and this beautiful woman looking like her, he realized he was in too deep.

A seductive smile lifted her lips upward and a part of him lifted, too. He could not want her. She wasn’t Elizabeth. But she looked so much like her that his body didn’t seem to care.

“Take off the mask,” Will ordered. He knew seeing her fully would finally dampen his desire. And he really did not want to want her.

“No. Lady Whitely told me the mask stays on the first time I’m with a customer. Why don’t you come over here and sit down. I shall pour you a whisky.”

Her alluring voice was like a siren’s call to him. He seemed unable to stop his feet from moving across the rug. Her gaze ran the length of him but paused as she noticed his erection.

As soon as he sat, she bent over the decanter and her full breasts bounced forward. He groaned softly. She handed him a crystal glass with whisky.

“How did you know I drink this?” he asked.

She laughed softly. “Lady Whitely knows her customers’ preferences.”

“What is your name?” That would do it. Hearing her name would stop him cold.

“What do you want it to be?” she replied coyly. “I can be whomever you desire tonight.”

Will gulped his whisky down. “Elizabeth,” he whispered.

“What?” She sounded surprised.

He should never have said that aloud. Calling her Elizabeth was almost as bad as being here in the first place. He placed his hands on the arms of the chair to lift himself up. “I should go.”

“No.”

Since when did he listen to prostitutes? But he quickly sat back down.

“Why don’t you tell me why you want to call me Elizabeth?” she whispered.

Even her voice reminded him of her. What did he have to lose by telling her this? “I love her.”

In the dim room, he barely noticed that her eyes widened behind the mask.

“You do? Then why are you not with her?”

“We argued,” he said. They hadn’t really argued. She had been trying to explain what she had done.

“Do you want her back?” The enchantress let her legs slip apart, allowing him a view of her damp folds.

He gripped the arms of the chair, trying not to embarrass himself. “No,” he lied.

She stood up and walked behind his chair. Her soft lips kissed the sensitive spot right behind his ear. She skimmed her hands down the front of his jacket. He clasped her hands with his.

“Do you think she wants you back?” the woman whispered in his ear. “She might be dreadfully sorry for whatever she said.”

“You do not know anything about it.” Damn. Why did he drink that last glass of whisky?

Her hand went to his cravat and slowly untied the knot. Unraveling the linen from around his neck, she let her breasts rub against his shoulders.

“How badly do you want her back?”

“I already told you, I don’t want…” his voice trailed off as her hands unbuttoned his shirt. Her warm, soft hands slid down his chest until she reached his nipples.

“Are you certain you don’t want her back?” She kissed his neck. “I am sensing that you do.”

Her fingers rubbed and pulled slightly on his nipples, driving him mad. How was he supposed to think about anything when she was doing that to him?

“Do you want her back?” she asked insistently.

“Yes. I want her back,” he admitted. “But I highly doubt she wants me.”

He held her arms to stop her from moving any farther down. His desire was almost out of control. And he did not want this woman. He wanted Elizabeth. His Elizabeth. The woman who made love with him on the sofa and on the desk. The one who was so damned good to him and his siblings. His resolve strengthened.

“I am leaving now.” He moved away from her and picked up his cravat.

“Where are you going?” she whispered.

“To find Elizabeth. My Elizabeth.” He moved toward the door, but she was blocking it with her body. Of course, he had forgotten to pay her. He reached into his pocket and pulled out more than enough for her spending time talking to him.

“What are you going to do when you find her?” the woman asked.

“Apologize and beg her forgiveness for my dreadful behavior. Make her understand that what she did has nothing to do with her mother. And ask her to be my wife.”

Elizabeth had heard more than enough. She did not need groveling, especially when she was the one at fault, not him. Lifting her hands, she trailed her fingers up his arm.

He caught her right arm and stared at the small mole just above her elbow. “Elizabeth?”

He could not have realized it was her based on a mole. Elizabeth was the name he’d wanted to call her. “That is my name for tonight.”

His eyes stared at her as if he was seeing her for the first time. “I have decided to stay.”

“What?”

“I want you to seduce me.” His head moved toward her ear and he whispered what he wanted her to do.

Why was he staying? Somerton had told her that once Will figured out that he truly wanted to be with her, he would leave. Not stay and make love to her. Or rather, she make love to him.

If she backed out of this now, he would know it was her.

“What are you waiting for?” He pulled off his jacket and threw it towards the chair.

“I thought you wanted to go beg for her forgiveness.”

His eyes narrowed on her. “I decided I would rather stay here for awhile longer.”

It suddenly occurred to her that he knew. He must have noticed the mole on her arm was heart-shaped before today. He was playing with her. And she wanted to play along.

“As you wish,” she said. She reached for his linen shirt and pulled it out of his trousers.

“Allow me,” he said, whisking the garment over his head.

She moved her hands to the buttons on his trousers. Quickly they fell to his knees, stuck there by his boots. He carefully walked backwards until he found the bed. He sat on the edge and waited.

“The boots are next,” he said.

She moved to his feet, yanked on the boots, and then tossed them aside. Full naked, he stood back up. His erection rose proudly from the patch of curling hair.

“What are you waiting for?” he asked.

Remembering what he had requested she do, Elizabeth knelt down and skimmed her fingernails up the length of his shaft. She brought the tip of him to her mouth and let her tongue glide across him. Hearing his moan, she brought him into her mouth. Sliding down the length of him, she heard him hiss.

She brought her fingernails down the hard muscles of his buttocks and then moved to his thighs. The sound of his groans increased as she moved along his length. Moisture pooled between her folds as desire raced along her veins. She wanted him now.

As if he sensed her yearning, he pushed her away and led her to the bed. Still wearing her gown, she laid back against the pillows. He covered her body with his own and he brought her hands over her head. Quickly, he bound her hands with a cloth attached to the bed. The silky fabric rubbed against her wrists.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Don’t tell me you haven’t been tied to the bed before.”

“No,” she whispered.

His mouth moved to the base of her neck. “How is that possible?” he asked between kisses.

“I haven’t been here long,” she panted as his lips trailed down her chest.

“I never would have guessed,” he said.

Her breasts rubbed against him as she arched her back to be closer to him. With excruciating slowness, he slid the V of her neckline apart until it would go no more. He smiled down at her and ripped the fabric, exposing her nipples to his gaze.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered before circling his tongue around one hard nipple. He drew it into his mouth, suckling her.

Her hips bucked under him as he moved to her other breast. He chuckled softly. He lifted off her and then tore at the rest of the gown, stripping it from her. Completely naked and bound, she never felt so exposed before.

He spread her legs apart and moved in between them. His tongue lashed against her nub.

“Oh, God,” she moaned.

He continued to tease her, bring her to the brink of desire…only to stop. As he started to brush his tongue against her again, desire sped through her. He inserted one finger deep inside her. She closed her eyes, certain this time he would let her reach the apex.

“Please don’t stop,” she begged him.

But just as quickly, he halted again.

She groaned in frustrated desire. As her body started to calm down, his mouth was on her again. Her heart pounded as hot passion flowed through her body.

“Will, please don’t stop this time,” she begged again.

“Do you love me?” he whispered, pausing only a second before resuming with his mouth on her.

“Yes,” she cried out. “Please don’t stop again.”

Slowly, he circled her clitoris with his tongue. Tension curled her toes as the pressure grew within her.

“Did you love me the first time we did this?” he demanded and then moved his tongue over her again.

“I don’t know.” She felt as if she could barely breathe with the pleasure building so quickly. “I wanted you so desperately that day. I wanted your comfort, your love. I wanted you to be there for me. I wanted you and only you.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Love me…forever.”

Suddenly he moved over her and thrust deeply inside her moist depths. In seconds, she clung to the ties that bound her wrists and cried out in passion. Just as quickly, he followed her over the edge of the abyss.

He rested his body on top of hers as they returned to the reality of what they had done. He had forced her to confess, made her grovel, and she had done so willingly. She didn’t want to be without him. The idea of losing him made her heart go cold.

Slowly, he moved his hands to hers and untied them. He reached for her mask and slid it up off her face. After kissing her gently, he whispered, “I am sorry.”

“For what?”

“Getting angry with you for lying when all you did was attempt to protect me from Abigail.”

“I’m sorry, too, Will.” She brought her hands up to his face and kissed him with all the love she had in her heart.

“As much as I love that, we do need to talk.”

Elizabeth nodded.

Will moved off her to lie next to her. “Elizabeth, do you honestly believe that everything you did was only to manipulate me?”

“Not everything,” she answered. “Oh, Will, I read the majority of my mother’s diary. It was dreadful. If she wanted something done, she would offer to do disgusting things for the duke.”

“And have you ever done that?”

She looked at him. “Of course not.”

“What about a few minutes ago when I asked you to do that to me? Did you do it willingly or because you thought it would get me to marry you?”

Thinking about having him in her mouth made her smile. “I did it because you asked me to and I wanted to. I wanted to give you pleasure. No other reason than that.”

“Then why would you think you are manipulating me?” Will asked. “I felt as if I had taken advantage of your pain when we made love the first time.”

“You most certainly did not,” she said.

“Then why do you think…” He paused, and then said, “You were ashamed.”

“Oh, Will, I made love to you and honestly, at that point, I did not love you.” Elizabeth curled closer to him and skimmed her fingers through the dark hairs on his chest. “I could not understand why after twenty-six years, I would do something like that with a man I did not love.”

His lips lifted upwards. “So you assumed you must have had an ulterior motive.”

She nodded against his chest. “I had never experienced desire like I do with you. Sophie told me a few times to seduce you, but I could not go through with it until that day.”

“Sophie told you to seduce me?”

“Yes. She is a bit of a matchmaker. I don’t think she had any reason other than wanting to see me happy.”

“And are you?” he whispered.

Elizabeth moved over him and smiled as she felt the rough hairs on his chest. “Very happy. At least, I think I am. Are you angry about tonight?”

“How exactly did you plan this? I had no intention of coming here tonight. My carriage took a detour and I decided to come in for a drink.”

“A drink? I thought this was a brothel.”

“True. So how did you get here?” he asked, caressing her cheek with the palm of his hand.

She explained Somerton’s sudden appearance at Sophie’s house.

“But how did…never mind, I think I know,” Will muttered.

“How?”

“He seems rather close with Lady Whitely. I presume she sent him a note stating I was here.”

“Why would she care?” Elizabeth asked.

Will shrugged. “I do not understand half of what Somerton does.”

“He told me I was to come here to keep you from making a big mistake. What mistake was he talking about?” Elizabeth asked, caressing his jaw.

“I believe he thought I was going to use one of Lady Whitely’s girls.”

“Were you?” she whispered.