Pleasures of the Night by Heather Boyd

Chapter 13

Eugenia settled on Sylvia’s bed after receiving an answer to a knock at her door to come in. “You’re awake early.”

“I would be if I had been able to fall asleep yet,” Sylvia complained with a heavy sigh. She was in bed but propped up by her many pillows. She had a lost look about her face as if she didn’t know which way to turn or what to do.

Eugenia placed her hand on her cousin’s brow and then her cheeks as well. She seemed in perfect health. But because of all their late nights sitting beside the marchioness, she looked like a worn-out rag today. “Poor Sylvia. Do you need a tonic to help you drift off?”

“No, I should like to keep my wits about me a while longer. The marchioness has finally fallen into a calmer rest. She might wake and need me again.”

With the danger appearing to have passed, Sylvia ought to rest herself. “You need to sleep while you can. You can’t wait up, expecting the worst. We left her maid behind in her chambers, and yours, as well. There’s no more you can do for her.”

“I know, but I am feeling frustrated and anxious. How much more of this can she endure?”

“Quite a lot, I’m sure, but she’d hate to hear you so cast down. Try to keep faith that she’ll get better soon.”

“I try, but some days…” Sylvia smiled sadly. “I’m sorry that we missed the dinner last night. I know you’d gone to some trouble with your appearance and were looking forward to a night of fun and good conversation. That was a very pretty gown you were wearing last night before you changed.”

She had dressed to see Thaddeus, but there would be other occasions to be with him, she knew. He had told her he would not leave London for any extended length for some time to come. He would go home to the Duke of Exeter’s country estate at Christmas, no doubt. They had all the time between now and then to indulge in forbidden pleasures. She was nearly certain that by that time, the thrill of bedding each other might have eased. “The marchioness is more important than any dinner.”

“She’s the mother I never had.”

“I know. And you’re the daughter she wishes to keep near.” Eugenia smoothed her cousin’s hair back from her face. The marchioness had daughters of her own, but Wharton had sent them back to stay in the country to give his mother some peace and quiet. The pair were excitable girls and argued constantly. That was not welcome behavior in a sickroom. “From what I recall of your mother, those two would have gotten along quite well.”

“Thank you for saying that. Sometimes I feel I betray her.”

“It’s not as if she were around to give you the advice you might need at this time in your life, or could she have. She had no experience of the ton.” Eugenia chuckled softly. “I quite look forward to seeing you and the marchioness storm the ton when she’s in better health.”

Sylvia nibbled on the tip of a lock of hair. “I try not to think that far ahead. Wharton has his interests, and I have mine, which at the moment is keeping his mother alive.”

“When she’s better, and you’re married, you do realize you’ll be one of the most influential women in society. Wharton will make sure everyone knows it, too. He’s already begun carving out your place in society by his side.”

“All I care about is the happiness of the people I love.” Sylvia glanced up at Eugenia and winced. “Am I keeping you and Aurora from having your own life?”

She was in a way, but it was nothing Eugenia would change. She was also needed by the marchioness to a degree, but mostly by Sylvia. She would not abandon her cousin when she was overwhelmed and afraid. And on the edge of exhaustion, too.

She cupped her cousin’s cheek and leaned down to kiss her brow. “As you said, all that matters is the happiness of those we love. You’re so tired right now and not thinking straight. I can help you in a small fashion.” Eugenia went to fetch a small bottle of laudanum Sylvia kept tucked away in a drawer for emergencies. She measured out a tiny dose for her cousin and took it to her. “Here, drink this. No argument. It is just enough to help you drift off and rest for at least a few hours.”

Sylvia sighed. “I suppose I will need it after all. Thank you.”

“Good girl,” Eugenia crooned.

Sylvia tossed it back and handed her the glass with a shudder. “What about you?”

“I shall visit Aurora and dole out the same remedy if she is still awake, too.”

Aurora, though, had slept in a chair by the bed for an hour at a time last night. She was lucky that she could do that. Neither Sylvia nor Eugenia ever managed the feat.

“I’ll see you in a few hours,” Eugenia promised as she tucked her cousin into her bed, drew the drapes to darken the room and, upon a mumbled farewell from Sylvia, slipped out of the room.

Eugenia crossed the hall to her other cousin’s room. She tapped quietly, then let herself in. Aurora was reclining on a chair, her head stuck in a book.

“I hoped you’d be asleep,” she said. “The marchioness would remind you that reading novels like that will give you unrealistic expectations of marriage.”

“I can tell the difference between fantasy and fact as well as you can.” She set the book aside. “I thought you’d be asleep already, too.”

“I was just putting Sylvia to bed.”

“Laudanum again?”

Eugenia nodded solemnly. “She must rest unless she wishes to become ill herself.”

“True. She’ll worry herself to death the way she cares about people.” Aurora stood, seemingly full of energy. “Are you getting enough rest yourself?”

“As much as I can. Why?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Aurora twirled her finger in a lock of her hair. “I thought perhaps a certain rogue might be keeping you awake and trembling in anticipation of seeing him again.”

Eugenia turned to meet her cousin’s playful gaze in surprise at her suggestion. “What gentleman would that be?”

A smile curved her lips. “Must I name the fellow? Is future duke description enough? I am impressed you caught his eye. Lord help me, but I tried and failed to.”

Eugenia pursed her lips. She had thought she’d been discreet, but Aurora had sharp eyes. There was no point in dissembling. “Who else suspects? Sylvia?”

Aurora shook her head. “Not that she’s told me. She is too concerned with her own affairs at the moment to pay you and me much attention. Not that she needs to know. I’m certainly not going to spoil the surprise for her.”

Well, that was a relief. Sylvia definitely had enough on her mind. “How did you discover us?”

Aurora drew close and placed her hand on Eugenia’s shoulder. “A long look exchanged. A shared smile. The brush of his hand against yours when he passed you at a ball. Tell me, is he very romantic?”

Eugenia blushed. They had not been discreet enough at all, it seemed. “It is all very new between us, but yes, I feel treasured.”

Aurora flopped on her back on her bed and sighed loudly. “I knew he’d be a man worth having. Have you?”

Aurora was an earthy sort. She liked to discuss seductions and lovers and all the interesting things they could do to a woman. Eugenia hesitated to share too much about Thaddeus with her, though. She would not like to describe all the aspects of their intimate relationship for fear that Aurora might try to tease him with that knowledge one day.

“I can guess by your silence that you have. I’m glad.”

“What of you?”

“No one noteworthy. Not for a while, actually.”

Eugenia moved to sit close to her cousin on her bed. Aurora seemed sad. For a change, Aurora was the only one of them without a current beau. “I suppose that is because our circle of acquaintances has shrunk since the engagement.”

“Yes, an endless parade of stuffy lords and reckless younger sons to pick from. What wouldn’t I give for a truly wicked man to appear at our doorstep and sweep me off my feet and into a dark corner?”

“Be careful what you wish for, cousin. Fate is always listening.”

“Then I will wish fate to smile upon you and deliver up a proposal.”

She glanced at Aurora sharply. “Do not imagine more to my affair than there ever could be.”

“Why do you say that? I think you’re entirely worthy of becoming a duchess one day. I can see it now. You make a handsome couple, and any children would be well-favored, too.”

Aurora always got ahead of herself. That’s why her heart had been broken so many times in the past. “No, I most certainly am not meant for marriage or children. It is a fling and nothing more.”

Aurora pouted and rolled onto her stomach, kicking her heels high in the air. “If Sylvia can win herself a marquess, I see no reason for you not to snare a duke.”

“Future duke,” she corrected before she mimicked her cousin, lying on the bed with her heels in the air. “Aurora, your fanciful imagination is running away from you again. It is an affair, not a courtship.”

“Why couldn’t it be more? You’re smart and pretty. Clearly, he likes you more than anyone else he’s met in society. He’s had his pick from anyone and chosen wisely with you.”

Did Aurora truly not understand? “Becoming his lover is not the same as becoming fated to be his duchess one day. He needs to marry his equal.”

“You’d be his match in every way then,” Aurora promised. “He puts on no grand airs or graces like lords do. He’s a mere mister right now.”

“And for many years to come, I hope,” Eugenia laughed. “He’ll grow into the expectation long before he takes the title. But he’s changed since we first met him. He’ll change again, I’m sure.”

“Change together. Grow into the expectation together. I think he’s worth pursuing for a husband.” She grinned impishly. “You’d outrank Sylvia then.”

Eugenia leaned hard into Aurora’s shoulder. “Your dreams are always so grand for others, but please consider finding a husband for yourself first before you try your hand at matchmaking me.”

“Oh, I do already consider it, but my imagination is vast. There is space enough to consider the happiness of many.”

“Tell me again what you want in a husband,” Eugenia whispered.

“Oh, that’s easy. He must be funny and smart and possess just enough wealth to make him impervious to bribery or excess. But he must not be too impressed with himself.” Aurora erupted into a fit of giggles. “Also, he must possess the most wicked tongue around me.”

“For your sake, I hope you can meet such a remarkable man. Or have you already?”

Her brow furrowed. “I suppose not. It seems meeting a man who meets my high standards might mean I could be waiting a long time. Anyone who comes close ends up lacking in one area or another. Usually they lack passion.”

“Perhaps you ought not to be so impatient. Not every man reveals their wicked side so readily.”

Aurora’s eyes suddenly grew wide. “You missed a chance to be with your lover last night. He was here, and we were with the marchioness. Oh, I’m so sorry.”

Eugenia smiled impishly. “I found a way to see him, and as he likes to tell me, his kisses are worth the wait. I’m sure there’ll be other opportunities and dinners, soon.”

Aurora clutched her hands before her breasts and then pretended to swoon. “Now that was romantic. I’ll have to help,” Aurora mused aloud.

Eugenia stared at her cousin. “I beg your pardon?”

“You can count on me. Whatever you need—an excuse to go out, a distraction so you can slip away, an alibi for when you’re late. I’m here for you, and for him, too.”

Eugenia pushed up from the bed and smoothed her badly wrinkled gown. “You’re incorrigible.”

“I’m your best friend in the whole world,” Aurora announced, and not for the first time in her life. Aurora was her best friend. But so, too, was Sylvia. “Yes, you are, and I may need your help one day. But not today.” She yawned and rolled her shoulders. Sleep was calling for her. “If you’re not going to sleep, can you keep an eye on the marchioness for Sylvia? I’m for bed, but not here. I’m going to spend a few hours at Albemarle Street, where it is definitely quieter.”

“Pity it has to be an empty bed there.” Aurora sat up with a grin. “Or will it be occupied?”

Her eyes lit up with excitement when Eugenia nodded slowly.

“When you see him, tell him that I know, and I will try to help you both meet whenever I can,” Aurora offered.

Eugenia shushed her and let herself out of the room, shaking her head. Aurora was impulsive, romantic, and naturally devious. But she had been very useful in the past when conducting an affair. It was a weight off her chest to know that her younger cousin supported her choice of lover, but she was far off the mark when it came to her future as a wife.

Yet, she felt closer to Aurora today than ever before. She did dislike keeping secrets unless she absolutely had to. But she’d been stumped for how to announce she was secretly seeing a man her young cousin had been so obviously flirting with just a few days ago.

She had no doubt Aurora’s offer of help was genuine and from the heart. She had always spoken very highly of Thaddeus Berringer’s appeal. She was grateful Aurora harbored no great disappointment over Eugenia catching his eye. She was lucky to have her cousins at this time of her life, and to have formed such strong bonds of affection and support.

If Eugenia could help Aurora, in the same way, one day, she certainly would do all she could too. She would help her cousin marry for love and not a title, as she’d always vowed she would.

Eugenia retreated to her room, changed into a fresh gown and wide-brimmed bonnet, and slipped downstairs without encountering the Marquess of Wharton or any lingering servants.

She hailed a hack herself and directed them to Albemarle Street as quickly as they could get her there. She was at her old door in short order, breathless with anticipation for what was to come.

As she entered her old home, an odd prickling sensation ran down her spine, and she glanced over her shoulder.

There was no one in the street behind her, not even Thaddeus lurking about. Just the usual rush of pedestrians and the occasional carriage passing by.

When she closed the door, she turned to find Thaddeus standing a few feet away.

She quickly latched the door, then rushed to him and hugged him tightly. “You came.”

“Not yet, but with a welcome like that, I’m sure to explode soon,” he teased.

Eugenia looked up into his grinning face and laughed at his little joke. “That is why you’re here, sir,” she promised. “For my eager welcome.”

She took him by the hand without another word and rushed him upstairs and into her old bedchamber. Even though no one was living in the house anymore, she shut and locked her bedchamber door, too. “There. Perfectly alone.”

Thaddeus’ long arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her into his embrace. “I could hardly sleep last night thinking of you, of us, alone here like this.” His lips grazed her cheek, his stubble cleanly shaved away. “Is this your old room?”

“Yes.”

“That bed looks particularly comfortable.”

She could feel his hard cock pressing insistently against her bottom already and grinned. Would they even make it as far as the bed? He had a wondrous body that had given her great pleasure last time. She hoped to have him more than once today. But she had to return home by five o’clock at the latest in order to dress for a ball tonight. She couldn’t be completely carried away by passion and forget that she had made other promises, too. “It is. I miss this place so much.”

“Then let’s get you reacquainted with the delights of your home.” They glided across the room together until they were forced to stop by running into her bed.

She grasped him by the lapels of his coat. “I want you.”

“And I want you,” he promised. “On your hands and knees on the bed, with my hands on your hips and my cock buried deep inside you as soon as possible.”

Eugenia shuddered at his description and reached for the buttons on his breaches, then turned around to put her hands on the bed.