Taming The Bride (Brides of Mayfair 2) (17 page)

Sleep seemed to make Alfred’s masculine perfection even more powerful to behold. His lips, sensuous and full, were parted slightly, and she yearned to press her own against them in a soft kiss. The thought of what his mouth had done to her trembling body in the night sent a hot thrill through her veins.

If she woke him now, and asked him with a kiss to love her again, she knew he would do so slowly, softly, as tenderly as the morning light touched the window. But such joy would not come cheaply, Prudence knew. For if she allowed Alfred to take her again, he would end up with much more than he bargained for.

He would have her heart.

And if she gave him that, Prudence would have to give up everything that she held dear. Her dreams for the Atwater School, her promise to her father, and to herself.

It was far too high a price to pay for such pleasure.

Even with a man as strong and wickedly passionate as Lord Alfred Weston.

Her decision made, Prudence gently lifted his arm from around her waist. As she tried not to wake him, he obliged her in sleep by rolling onto his back and freeing her completely.

Prudence quietly slipped out from under the covers and tiptoed across the floor to find her nightdress and robe. The robe lay at the foot of the bed where Alfred had slid it off her, but the nightdress had somehow made it across the room and was flung upside-down over the wing chair.

Hastily donning the lawn nightdress and robe, Prudence headed toward the door, quiet as a mouse. She put her hand on the door-knob and began to turn it, when a rough voice stopped her.

“Just where do you think you’re going?”

Prudence froze, afraid to look behind her. Knowing it was no use, she turned to see Alfred standing beside the bed, tall and naked, and staring at her with dark, dangerous eyes.

“I—was just—” she began to explain.

“
Leaving,
” he finished, walking slowly toward her. “And I was so looking forward to waking with you in my arms, pulling you close for a kiss, and more.”

Prudence opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She simply stared at the man who stood before her, looking for all the world like Adonis himself.

“What’s the matter?” he asked, cocking an eyebrow at her. “Haven’t you ever seen a naked man before?”

He was playing her like a violin, and he knew it.

However, two could play at that game.

“I confess, I had not truly
seen
a naked man until now,” she replied. “I have been quite close before, but I was so busy at the time, I did not have a moment to examine the gentleman’s physiognomy.” She looked him up and down, fighting to keep a straight face. “Yes, well, that was quite interesting. I am much obliged.

Good day to you, Lord Weston.”

She turned to go, but Alfred caught her arm gently. When she looked up into his eyes, she saw the obvious amusement there.

“Well,” he said, “of all the things I thought might have happened between us this morning, that wasn’t it.”

“No?” she asked innocently.

“No.” His brow furrowed with disappointment as he studied her. “What are you about, Prudence? There’s no need to rush off. The house is not yet awake. And I want you again.” He pulled her into his arms and placed a soft kiss upon her lips.

Prudence felt her resolve crumbling like stale bread. Perhaps she was truly weak-willed, because she was perilously close to jumping into Alfred’s arms and begging him to make love to her for the rest of the entire day.

“I must go,” she said, pulling away. “Dolly is sure to awaken soon, if she hasn’t already. And I’ll have the girls to see to. Really, I must.”

He lowered his head for a kiss. As his mouth warmed hers, she felt her blood heat slowly with dangerous desire.

Goodness, she had to get out of here, now!

Prudence wriggled out of Alfred’s embrace and squeezed the door open.

“Prudence, wait—”

She glanced back at Alfred, trying to keep her gaze from roaming hungrily over his muscular, nude body.

“There is something we must discuss,” he said. “Later today.”

“Yes, of course,” she whispered and crept through the door. “Now, I must go. I hear someone about.”

Then, closing the door quietly behind her, Prudence turned and tip-toed down the hall. She should have peeked around the corner first, but as it was, she narrowly missed slamming directly into Crawford and his stack of neatly folded towels.

“Oh!” Prudence stepped back and caught her breath.

The grey-haired butler peered down at her, completely unperturbed. “Have you lost something, Miss Atwater?”

“Yes, I have,” she replied. “The way to my room.”

“Is that all…” he muttered under his breath.

She cleared her throat, saying, “Would you be so good as to point me in the right direction, Crawford?”

“Of course, Miss Atwater,” he said. “It is around the corner, at the end of the west hall. Shall I escort you?”

“No, no, that is quite alright,” Prudence replied. “I am sure I can manage to find it myself. Have any of the girls risen, yet?”

“No, Miss. It seems that aside from the staff, you are the only one about this morning. Lord Weston is not an early riser. Usually,” he added.

Prudence forced herself to smile sweetly, saying, “I thank you for your assistance, Crawford. You have been most helpful.”

She thought she saw a hint of a smile on the butler’s lips as he nodded before turning down the hallway toward Alfred’s rooms.

Once around the corner, Prudence bolted, running as fast as she could, and at one point almost slid into a bust of Julius Caesar that stood frowning in an archway.

Finally she reached the door to her room, terribly pleased with herself for avoiding any other servants en route. Now, if she could just sneak past Dolly.

The door opened abruptly, and Prudence found herself staring into a pair of angry green eyes. One hand reached out and yanked Prudence in. Dolly turned and shut the door behind her, folding her arms across her ample bosom and looking as cross as a mother bear.

Well, Prudence thought, it was obvious why she had hired Dolly to act as chaperone to the girls. She was clearly a force to be reckoned with.

“Where have you been?” Dolly demanded. “I’ve been worried about ye fer hours. I woke up and ye wasn’t there. Thought ye’d been abducted, I did! I ’ad to go and fetch Mungo—”

“Oh, no—you didn’t tell Mungo! Please say you didn’t,” Prudence said, closing her eyes and plopping down onto the bed.

“What else was I supposed to do?” she asked. “I thought the villain took ye—the one who came after ye in the coach.

Dolly came to sit beside her on the bed. She pulled her into a tight embrace. “I thought ye was gone, Miss. But Mungo told me ye were alright, ye were with Lord Weston, and ye’d be back to the room in the mornin’. He said ye’d explain it all to me yerself.”

Prudence looked at Dolly, dumbstruck. “How did Mungo know where I’d gone?”

“He’s like yer own shadow, Miss,” Dolly said. “He follows ye everywhere. Wants to make sure ye stay out of trouble, and I’m glad of it.”

Mungo knew that Prudence had gone to see Alfred—knew that she had spent the night with him—and he hadn’t interfered. For some reason, it touched her quite deeply.

Prudence sighed. “Well, at least this will save me from putting an advertisement in the
Times
, as everyone already knows where I was last night, as well as what I was doing there.”

“What
were
ye doing?” Dolly whispered. “Come on, tell!” Seeing the guilty look on Prudence’s face, she gasped with delight, “Oh, my! Did ye really? With Lord Weston?”

Prudence looked about the room uncomfortably.

“Ye did!” Dolly exclaimed. “Don’t shilly-shally, tell me everythin’. What did ’e do? What did
you
do? And ’ow many times did ye do it together?”

“Dolly!” Prudence said, giggling with embarrassment.

“With a handsome man like that,” Dolly said with a dreamy expression, “why, I’d pay
him
!”

Prudence laughed. “I can’t keep a secret from you, Dolly. You’ve guessed the truth of the matter.”

“Oh, my girl!” Dolly beamed. “Congratulations! I’m so proud of ye.”

Prudence laughed and said, “I beg your pardon?”

“Oh, it’s a wonderful thing when a girl becomes a woman,” Dolly continued. “Of course, if ye happen to be with a man who doesn’t know ’ow to use what the good Lord gave ’im, it can be a very tedious business. But I’m willing to bet Lord Weston knows exactly ’ow to use ’is God-given talents! Or my name ain’t Dolly Simms.”

Prudence fell over on the bed, giggling.

“And let me tell ye, my girl,” Dolly continued, “once ye’ve tried it, it’s a terribly hard habit to break. Like having yer first taste of sugar. Just makes ye want more.”

“Oh, don’t say that, Dolly!” Prudence pounded the bed in frustration.

“Why not? Ye must be daft if ye don’t want that lovely man again
.”

“I do. I do want him. That’s the problem.” Prudence sat up and looked pleadingly at her friend. “I don’t dare ever let it happen again, Dolly. It was so wonderful, more wonderful than I could ever have imagined. And if I let myself feel that way again with him, I’ll be lost. I know it. Last night I gave Lord Weston my body. But next time, I’ll be giving him my heart.”

“Oh, dear,” Dolly said, looking dismayed. “It’s like that, is it?”

“Yes,” Prudence said, finally. “I wish it weren’t so, but I felt it this morning when I awoke in his arms. I felt so secure, so cared for. I wanted to stay there with him forever.”

Prudence felt her heart tighten painfully in her chest, as she continued, “I must be very careful, Dolly. Lord Weston made me feel things I could never have imagined. It is dangerous, for I know how easy it would be to trade everything I hold dear for such pleasure. Perhaps I’m not as strong as I thought.”

“Oh, Miss,” Dolly said, pulling her close in a motherly embrace. “Don’t fret, now. Many a girl has felt the same way after their first time in a man’s arms. It can be a wondrous thing, that’s for certain.”

A knock sounded on the door and a jolly-faced maid poked her head inside.

“Mornin’, Misses,” she said, bustling in and carrying fresh towels and a large pitcher. “I’ve brought fresh water fer ye both. Cook is making a hearty breakfast—Lord Weston’s orders. I expect he’ll be down after yer finished eatin’. A late riser, is the master.”

Prudence and Dolly exchanged a look, trying not to giggle.

“Well, good to see yer in fine spirits this mornin’.” The maid poured the water and set out their towels. “What with the fire and all.”

The maid’s words sent a sobering chill through Prudence’s heart. After spending the night in Alfred’s bed, she had almost forgotten about the fire for a few sweet hours.

“Thank you for your concern… Glynnis, is it?” Prudence asked, rising and smoothing her robe.

“It is, Miss.” The woman nodded, smiling and looking quite honored that Prudence had remembered her name. “Glynnis Brodie.”

“Thank ye for the water and towels, Glynnis, my dear,” Dolly said, patting the woman on the arm as if they were old friends. “We’ll be down quicker than ye can spit.”

Glynnis’s eyes widened for a moment at such plain talk, then she gave a nod and took her leave.

“It’s a new day, Miss,” Dolly said, pointing at the mantle clock. “We’ve only an hour or so before school should start. A full day of classes will keep yer mind off yer troubles, I’ll wager. But first we’ve the girls to see to and breakfast to eat. Don’t just stand there like a sheep, get movin’!
”

Prudence couldn’t help but smile as her friend bustled her toward the washstand and placed the screen around it.

“I’ll give ye some privacy to wash up,” Dolly said. “Just save me a little of that water before it gets cold.”

Prudence chuckled. “Don’t I always, Dolly?”

Her friend responded with an unconvinced grunt.

But as Prudence pulled the satin ribbon of her robe, she thought of Alfred’s hands as they had done the same to her last night. The distracting images and sensations swirled in her mind, and she tried vainly to block them out.

Perhaps Dolly was right, a full day of classes would be just what she needed to keep her mind off her troubles.

To keep her mind off Alfred.

As her blood warmed with memories of the night’s passion, Prudence wished the water she bathed with was ice cold.

* * *

Alfred looked at the clock again and felt his mood darken as it struck seven-thirty.

It seemed he’d been staring at the bloody clock all day, and not once had it helped him to see Prudence.

First he’d been told that she was conducting classes and shouldn’t be disturbed. Then he had his own business to attend to, squiring Lady Weston to luncheon at Almack’s. His mother did not accompany them, as she had gone to visit friends and would be away for a few days.

As Great-Aunt Withypoll shared her concerns about the fire, the future of the Atwater School, and the poor, poor girls, Alfred’s thoughts were consumed with Prudence.