Pleasures of the Night by Heather Boyd

Chapter 15

There was nothing more satisfying for a woman than to have frequent orgasms. She and Thaddeus had managed to meet again, and for the last week at Albemarle Street, at odd hours. Her courses had come and gone on schedule and she’d reveled in his wickedness ever since.

Last night, they’d even managed to spend the night here together rather than her returning to Wharton House and him to Grafton House. No one at home had batted an eye that she’d planned to stay the night here. She’d promised to return early enough to still attend a picnic with her cousins.

But there were disappointments to be faced today. Eugenia would return to Wharton House, and regret that she had to.

Eugenia glanced over her shoulder as her bed shook under her. Thaddeus was finally stirring after a satisfying night beneath her sheets. She’d managed to sleep for a little while and now felt quite satisfied.

Or she would be, if he was not preparing to go. She hated this part of an affair, the re-dressing, the moments before separation even if it was entirely necessary. Eugenia was only his lover. An honor she relished and would enjoy while these exquisite moments of lust lasted.

While she’d much rather stay in his arms for another hour or two, she really did have to return to her cousins. There was only so much time Aurora could distract everyone if she was wanted at home.

She sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees. They’d been lucky that their affair remained a secret still. Thaddeus had been adamant from the beginning that no one could know about them and, with the exception of Aurora figuring it out on her own, she wanted that too.

When he stood, Eugenia climbed out of bed, crossed the room, and went to stir the fire. It had died down during the night, and she stroked it until a nice blaze burned again, warming the chill from her room. There had been no need to hide the fact she was here last night, after all.

When she straightened up and turned, Thaddeus was staring at her with a look that held a great deal of heat for so early in the day.

She had forgotten to even throw on a robe, after all, which she had noticed he seemed to like her to do.

Eugenia crossed the room and stretched out on her side on top of the coverlet. She held his gaze and smiled knowingly. “Is there something the matter, lover?”

He blinked and shook his head. “Not from where I’m standing.”

Eugenia rolled onto her back and ran her hands down her body, starting with a lingering grope of her own breasts, then down to her thighs. She sighed. There was no point stirring him up too far, or herself, if he was going, but damn if what they were doing didn’t feel liberating. Though all good things must end.

She burrowed back under the coverlet, covering herself.

Thaddeus paused beside the bed, trousers half on, his torso bare and beautifully broad, but a frown marred his handsome face. “Is something the matter?”

“No,” she promised him. He could go, and she might even fall back asleep for a while before returning to Wharton House. She sighed and rolled over onto her stomach.

Wharton House.Eugenia was not looking forward to going back there today, even if her beloved cousins were expecting her.

Teddy’s fingers teased lightly across her shoulder. “I only ask because you didn’t speak to me at the Piermont luncheon yesterday.”

She had seen Thaddeus, watched on as he’d paid court to an heiress and a widow, and hadn’t liked the feelings that had assailed her. Those women could openly seek to attract him to their side, and even though she was his lover, she had felt the sting of exclusion and not a little jealousy. She had no right to think that he belonged to her in any way. “I had nothing new to say yesterday, or nothing fit to be overheard by others.”

“You can always talk to me.”

Eugenia rolled over to look at him. They already talked a lot. But in public, she knew she had to go on as if they were still near strangers. “I know that.”

He frowned again. “Is this secret of ours becoming a burden?”

“Goodness, no. Why ever would you think so?”

“I don’t know,” he smoothed her hair back from her face gently. “I just have this nagging feeling that I’ve disappointed you in some way.”

Eugenia got to her knees and crawled toward him. “You never have. You never could.”

He came closer, drew her against his chest, and kissed her soundly.

Hoping to distract him from wondering what she thought of their affair, Eugenia slipped her tongue into his mouth. She enjoyed him a little too much than she probably should. She was always excited to see him, sad when their wicked interludes were over. They were always too short.

Eugenia slid her hand down his body to fondle his cock.

Thaddeus drew back, laughing slightly. “Enough of that. I have to go.”

“I know.” She grinned impishly. “I just wanted you to remember me after you’re gone.”

“How could I forget? You’re in my thoughts always.” He cleared his throat. “Speaking of remembering…”

She thought she knew what was coming but acted surprised as he dug inside his coat pocket. She’d felt a bulge there when she’d helped him undress when he’d first arrived.

She sat back on her heels, watching him produce a handkerchief. She wasn’t sure how to refuse the gift, but of course she must. She wasn’t in the habit of accepting tokens of appreciation from her lovers. No money or jewels should ever change hands for pleasure. “Thaddeus, you shouldn’t have. I can’t—”

“Don’t say no until after I show you what I found. I thought very hard about this,” he warned. “Of course, you could not openly wear jewelry from me. Your cousins would question you, and no doubt Wharton would hear of it.”

He revealed a fine gold chain, unusually long, with a small charm attached to one loop. It wasn’t what she’d expected from him at all.

“I long for any occasion to see you wear this in private for me.” He held his fingers wide in front of her, showing her the charm in closer detail. The tiny gold disk was fashioned in the shape of a heart with the initials EH engraved on one side. The other side was blank.

He lowered his hands to her waist and hugged her close. “And I hope that occasionally you might wear it beneath your gown in public, and whisper to me that it’s there.”

When he pulled back, the chain encircled her waist, fitting snugly above her hips.

She was stunned, and also delighted with him. He’d made a good choice. But the question was, could she keep it? It wasn’t diamonds or rubies, but something simple and from his heart. And it was engraved with only her initials. “Oh, Thad, you shouldn’t have, but…thank you. It’s beautiful.”

“I wanted to give you a token of my affection but be discreet about it.”

She nodded. She could keep this one gift from him for now. She’d wear it all the time until their affair was over, and then she would hand it back. Her eyes suddenly stung with the threat of tears, and she lowered her head to hide them.

Thaddeus slipped his finger under her chin and raised her face. He frowned at her tears and then smiled softly. “None of that now,” he chided. “It’s just the beginning.”

She drew back and placed her hands protectively over the chain. “It’s a perfect gift for a secret lover, and I want nothing more from you.”

Eugenia hurried off her bed and rushed for the mirror. A naked woman wearing a simple chain about her waist seemed more decadent than one opening wearing costly gems. Eugenia had to admit, she was looking forward to wearing it out and telling him about it to see his reaction.

Gift admired, she rushed back to Thaddeus and embraced him. “You really shouldn’t have spoiled me so, but I appreciate that you wanted to.”

Thaddeus’ arms tightened around her only briefly before he stepped back again. “I wish I could stay, but the duke—”

Eugenia rushed to press a finger to his lips.

The duke quite depended on his heir. She understood. She knew he always would come first. The duke took precedence over everything and everyone. Thaddeus had to leave, and she wouldn’t pout or protest. There was no need. “Meet me here tomorrow night if you can.”

“I would try very hard to,” he promised. “Except, are we not both attending Lady Bisley’s party, too?”

“Oh, I’d forgotten. Likely I won’t be able to avoid it now.” She winced. “Perhaps we can meet the next night.”

She finished buttoning her lover’s waistcoat, smoothed her hand over his wide chest, then pressed a quick peck of a kiss to his stubbled cheek.

She could not expect him to come every time she suggested it. He had his own key to Albemarle Street and could come and go from her bed as he needed to.

He left, clearly reluctant, and blew her a kiss from her bedchamber door. Eugenia listened carefully until she could no longer hear him moving through the house, then hurried to the slightly parted drapes to peer out to the street. Thaddeus’ carriage was already waiting to take him away, and he disappeared around the corner without a wave of goodbye.

Eugenia let the drape fall and returned to the mirror. Thaddeus was too generous for his own good to be already spoiling her. She left the chain around her waist as she dressed herself to return to Wharton House.

Eugenia threw a cloak over her gown and quietly slipped out onto Albemarle Street. At this hour, the streets were largely deserted, and she walked the short distance to Bond Street, where she hailed a hack to return her home to Wharton’s House.

The butler didn’t smile as he let her in.

In fact, he was doing everything he could not to look at her at all.

She held out her cloak for him to take. “Is everything all right with the marchioness, sir?”

“Yes, indeed,” the man promised. “She passed a good night, but,” he paused and glanced around before continuing, “the marquess is looking for you, and he is most unhappy.”

She craned her neck to look around. The library door was closed, but the drawing room doors were open and the room empty. “I wonder what that could be about? I’ll go to him after I’ve said good morning to my cousins and partaken of breakfast.”

After the exertions of last night, she was ravenous.

Eugenia slipped up the stairs and along to her room. Once inside, she washed her face and chose a new gown for the day.

Aurora slipped into her chamber. “You’re already changed?”

“As you see,” she agreed, as she added a shawl around her shoulders. “I swear I may have to dismantle my bed and move it here.”

“Is it the bed or the company?”

“Possibly both.”

Aurora curled up in a chair. “I’m glad you have someone,” Aurora whispered.

Eugenia sat too. “Thank you.”

Aurora sighed. “But it’s not fair.”

“What is?”

“You and Sylvia with your beaus, while I have no one special.”

“You will.” Aurora was meant to be a wife. The prettiest of them, and the most accomplished, deserved just the right man to come along and sweep her off her feet. She’d gotten wrapped up in her affair that she’d forgotten that Aurora needed a husband. She’d make it up to her by going out with her today, and tonight they would prowl Lady Bisley’s route together and hope she caught the eye of someone tall, dark, and unknown to them both.

Eugenia frowned as a rapid tap was beaten on her door. “Come in.”

Mr. Bloom appeared, and not with the breakfast she had expected. “What is it?”

“The marquess requests you come immediately,” he glanced toward Aurora, “and alone.”

Aurora sat up quickly at hearing that. “Oh, dear, that is never good.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing important,” Eugenia promised and then nodded to Mr. Bloom. “Please tell him I’ll be down directly.”

Mr. Bloom departed, a look of concern on his features, almost the same expression that the butler had worn upon her return to Wharton House. The marquess must be more vexed with her overnight stay at Albemarle Street than he’d originally let on. “Was Wharton out of sorts about me spending another night unchaperoned at our old home?”

“Not that I noticed,” Aurora promised. “But I left him and Sylvia seducing each other in the drawing room and went to bed early last night.”

“I suppose he’ll insist I take servants with me next time.”

“That wouldn’t be a good idea,” Aurora teased, grinning.

“No. They might report back to him about my midnight visitor.” She laughed softly and stood.

Aurora grasped her hand. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“You’re aware you’re still in your nightgown. I can handle Wharton.” She shoved her feet into her slippers and waved. “I’ll return shortly. Don’t eat my breakfast when it arrives. Order your own, and we’ll eat together when I get back.”

Aurora waved her off. “Don’t lose your temper with him for simply being protective of your reputation!”

Wharton house was usually quiet at this hour and warmed by fires lit hours ago. Even so, Eugenia shivered as she went down the staircase.

The butler materialized and pointed her down the hall. “He is waiting for you in the study, madam.”

Eugenia hurried there, keen to have any discussion over so she could return to her room and breakfast tray.

She knocked and barged right in. “You wished to speak with me, my lord?”

“Indeed.”

Wharton appeared rather untidy. His cravat was badly tied and his coat absent. He looked like he hadn’t combed his hair that day. “You need to find a mirror, my lord.”

He turned furious eyes on her. “Do not pretend to care about me or anyone else, madam.”

“I beg your pardon,” she replied, taken aback by his hostility. Obviously, he’d confused her with someone else. He’d referred to her as madam, too. “It is miss or Eugenia. I’ve already given you leave to use my given name.”

He blinked at her, and then he set his jaw as his face grew red. “Miss?”

Never had she seen him so furious. Oh, she disagreed with him on occasion, and they’d had some heated debates before moving in, but they’d been getting along just fine until now.

He jabbed a finger in her direction. “I always knew you were keeping something from me.”

Eugenia blinked. Dear God, Wharton had found out about her affair with Thaddeus Berringer. “It wasn’t important for you to know.”

He blinked several times. “Not important? Madam, there is a vast deal of things in life I consider important. The secret you’ve been keeping changes everything.”

Eugenia closed her eyes briefly. Wharton was going to make trouble for her, and for Thaddeus, too. He’d force them to wed unless she could make him see just how bad that idea was. She squared her shoulders and looked him in the eye. “I knew what I was doing. I suggest we sit down, you and I, to discuss this matter rationally. There’s no need to involve anyone else, is there.”

“Are you suggesting we cover it up?”

She nodded. “It’s the best thing to do, really. There’ll be a scandal otherwise.”

Wharton was suddenly in front of her. “I’ll want more details later, but it is beyond my understanding. I heard you confided everything to your cousins, and them to you.”

Aurora, of course, knew, but Sylvia… She gulped. “I would have. Eventually.”

That didn’t seem to please him, either. “Well, you won’t be able to hide the truth now.”

“What do you mean?”

Wharton pulled a sour face. “You have a visitor, and I guess you won’t need an introduction or a chaperone to be alone with him—nor any gentleman ever again, either.”

Wharton shook his head, still clearly upset with her, and she was at a loss to understand what her affair with Thaddeus had to do with chaperones. But he suddenly caught her by the elbow and marched her to the drawing room, despite her protests that he was hurting her.

He did ease his grip at the drawing room door. He opened it and led her in at a slower pace.

She looked up and saw a drab, rounded man across the room jump to his feet and bow.

“At last,” the man cried before hurrying toward them.

Eugenia recoiled. “I beg your pardon?”

The fellow stopped, hands clenching at his waist. “I’m not surprised by your reaction. It has been many a year, hasn’t it?”

Eugenia would have taken a step back if Wharton hadn’t been holding her in place. She looked up at him. “I don’t know this gentleman.”

Wharton’s jaw worked. “Only now do I understand why you’ve always denied the need for a chaperone,” Wharton muttered. He shook his head. “Look at him again. Look closely.”

“My cousins are my chaperones,” she murmured, but she did glance at the man again.

A look of profound adoration lit up his face as their eyes met. His were a murky green, like her own. The stranger was a little over her height, portly, and in need of a new waistcoat to contain his girth. His hair brown hair was thin and peppered with gray at the temples. He had a scar on his chin as if he’d tangled with the wrong man some time ago…

…or a clumsy woman with a garden hoe.

A memory of another man with the very same scar teased her mind, and she squinted at the stranger a little harder. Only in her memory, the scar had been just starting to turn from red to pink as it healed.

“Do you remember me now, blossom?”

Blossom? That nickname on the stranger’s lips sent her pulse roaring in her ears.

The scar…

A wound she’d made to a man she’d once loved…and married…and then lost forever.

“No!” She reached for Wharton’s arm to support herself. “It cannot be.”