Read A Gentleman's Wager Online
Authors: Madelynne Ellis
‘Vaughan!’
The head was visible with every thrust, pointed directly at her neck and face.
‘Hmmm? I’m fine, thank you.’
She sighed in vexation. Helpless, she had no alternative but to shut her eyes and turn her face away. A few moments later he gave a drawn-out cry and a thick jet of semen splashed across her cheek. The rest pooled on her neck and breasts, leaving her slick and soiled.
Vaughan sighed in contentment and wiped his cock on her belly. ‘Thank you so very much,’ he said with a grin.
Bella pushed him away. She sat up, incensed, and tried to slap him, but he easily evaded her clumsy swing. Her skin was shiny with come that glistened like mother-of-pearl. She scooped up some of the sticky mess and flung it at him. Vaughan laughed, even when it hit him, and easily pinned her down. When she struggled he leaned in and licked her face clean. ‘Hush,’ he said before he kissed her.
Afterwards they sat outside on the stone steps together, talking. Bella smoothed out the crushed satin of her gown and gazed up at him, somewhat dazed. Vaughan sat with his knees folded up before him, his
cheek
pressed against his knee, and his long hair tumbling in a reckless cascade over his face.
‘He’ll forgive you,’ he said, but Bella shook her head.
‘Not after what I said.’
‘Nothing you might say could make it that bad. Hell, I’ll admit he’s rather hurt at the moment and it may take him some time to come around, but that’s because he loves you and it’s always worse coming from those you love.’
He watched her drawn expression, and Bella felt his concern. When her own frown didn’t break up, he matched it with a slightly worried look of his own. ‘What did you say to him?’ he asked.
‘That I’d leave you two to your perverted love and that I hoped you’d both hang for it.’
‘Vicious! Anything more?’
‘Nothing. Oh, I called you Ganymede.’
Vaughan frowned then suddenly his mood broke and he laughed. ‘Ganymede!’ He almost choked on his own mirth. ‘I’ve never seen myself as a cup-bearer. Don’t worry, Bella.’ He put his arm around her. ‘I’m sure we’ll get him to see the funny side.’
She hoped he was right.
THE MORNING OF
the wedding came like salvation day, but Bella remained unsure of how she would be judged. She rose late to give herself just enough time to dress before breakfast. Lucerne still hadn’t spoken to her and, if Vaughan had conveyed her feelings to him, the marquis hadn’t reported that to her. She packed her last belongings into a large cloth bag and then descended the stairs. After arriving at Lauwine with little she was destined to leave with less, since now her hopes were gone. If Vaughan hadn’t worked a miracle by now, it was too late: she was returning to the Grange, while they were leaving to spend the rest of the winter in the more civilised south. Lucerne, it seemed, had finally realised that winter in the country was only for the truly hardy. Bella was more or less resigned to a life full of the worn-out joys of Wyndfell Grange.
Louisa was waiting for her in the hall; she looked truly radiant in her cream satin dress. ‘I’m really nervous,’ she confessed as she linked arms with Bella, and they walked into the dining room. Lucerne wasn’t present; instead Vaughan sat at the head of the table. He was already eating. Bella took one look at the poached kippers and lost her appetite.
‘Not hungry?’ he said to her. His gaze flicked over her face, but his expression was unreadable. Bella shook her head, and prayed he’d give her some good news.
‘It’ll be a long day. You should eat.’
Her heart dropped into her stomach.
Shortly after twelve, they set off in the carriage for the little Norman church where the service was to be held. Reverend Hindes, the ancient parish priest who had christened both Bella and Joshua, lisped his way through the vows in the same deadpan style that served him equally well for all occasions. The congregation emerged stiffly an hour later to find a white blanket of fresh snow laid across the green, and snowflakes still swirling in the air.
Bella managed an outward smile for the small party of guests who retired to the Grange for refreshments. In the comfort of her childhood home, she could pretend that she’d never been away, and that the last few months hadn’t happened. People mulled around her and tried to draw her attention with small talk. However, even complaints that she’d been neglecting them didn’t gain them more than a brief, semi-apologetic, ‘Sorry’.
Louisa caught up with Bella after lunch on her tour of the guests. ‘I’ve just had a letter from Mr Pryce,’ she said. ‘It was all a hoax. The poor man was locked in the bell tower of St Mary’s and wasn’t rescued until the vicar went to investigate the strange noises. He’s only just recovered.’
‘So you’re not destitute any more.’
‘No, I suppose not. I haven’t told Frederick yet. I thought I’d save it for later.’
Bella nodded. ‘Probably wise. Mind you, it’s a bit late for him to change his mind now.’
‘Thank God,’ said Louisa. ‘I’ve also heard from Charles. Just a quick note, delivered by his estate manager, to say congratulations and an apology for his absence. Apparently, he’s in final negotiations with his publisher.’
‘Nothing to do with a debt to Vaughan,’ Bella remarked dryly. ‘I don’t suppose there was a return address.’
‘Now you mention it, no, there wasn’t.’
Bella looked up as Louisa moved on, to find Lucerne observing her, and her half-smile faded. His attention made her wince. She tried to ignore him but with Vaughan also at his side that was impossible. They were beautiful together, darkness and light, and hers weren’t the only eyes in the room directed towards them. Beside her, Mrs Castleton was speculating on who would capture Lucerne, but even this notorious matchmaker seemed wary of discussing Vaughan. Bella sighed. She might love them both, but she was sure she’d ruined her chances with either.
Frederick found her to say goodbye as the guests crowded onto the lawn. They left the house together, their footprints leaving indents in the already crushed snow. Neither of them spoke much. The brief moment they’d once shared together remained safely in the past. Bella gave him a kiss then turned to Louisa, while he withdrew several discreet paces.
‘Will you …’
‘Can you …’
They stopped. Louisa’s wide blue eyes clouded over briefly.
‘I’ll be fine,’ Bella said. ‘If you’ll be happy.’
‘I’ll do my best. Frederick’s received orders to join his regiment in India,’ Louisa responded doubtfully. ‘We might be there for years. Promise you’ll write.’
‘I promise. Good luck.’ They held each other for several moments.
Bella waited with Vaughan while the couple boarded their carriage. She sensed that he had something to say, and that it was almost certainly goodbye. Unwilling to face the inevitable, she stubbornly looked at her own feet. The snow had melted around her shoes, staining the green satin with water marks. His solid leather boots
were
far more suitable to the season. Helplessly, she let her gaze drift upwards, to take in the line of charcoal-grey fabric that lay against the black satin. From there, she glanced across his skirted coat, admiring the sparkling beads. He looked like a priceless treasure, and she realised now just how much she wanted to keep him. There was a tightening in her chest as her vision reached the ends of his black ringlets. A few fleeting glances across his face, and she found herself looking into his glittering eyes.
Bella shivered under his scrutiny, half aroused and half-afraid. It felt as if it had taken a lifetime to look over the length of his body, though in truth it had been little over ten seconds.
‘Well, are you coming or not?’ he said, and pointed to the crested carriage that dominated the driveway.
Bella stared at him, totally confused and unsure of his meaning. To where, exactly? London? Behind him, she saw Lucerne climb the step into the interior. Suitably enigmatic, Vaughan extended his arm for her to take.
‘What about Lucerne?’ she asked.
‘Lucerne be damned. I’m asking you.’
‘But …’
She looked back at the stony façade of Wyndfell Grange then across at the carriage. There was no choice to make; Joshua would understand. She accepted Vaughan’s arm.
With his assistance, she climbed aboard into the cold, leather-scented interior. A warm hand touched her own, and she knew it was Lucerne. Behind her, Vaughan rapped his knuckles against the roof. ‘Drive on,’ he called, and the carriage jolted forwards.
Bella reached out blindly; Lucerne’s arms snaked around her waist and pulled her into the seat beside him. He kissed her forehead, and then her cheek. ‘I’m
glad
you came. I feared you wouldn’t, that you’d still be too cross …’
‘I’m an idiot, I always wanted to come,’ she confessed. ‘I’m just too stubborn.’
Vaughan, who had sat down opposite, was nodding his head in agreement, but now that he had their attention he reached into an inner pocket and pulled out several large pieces of official-looking paper. He glanced over them; the debt bonds were enough to make a man modestly wealthy.
‘What are those?’ Bella asked.
Vaughan smiled, the same unguarded smile he’d given her back at the start of November when he’d invited her to share his joke in the yellow morning room. ‘An Italian carnival tradition,’ he said, and he tore them into several small squares then cast the pieces out of the window.
‘Confetti.’
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Version 1.0
Epub ISBN 9781446494189
First published in 2003 by
Black Lace
Thames Wharf Studios
Rainville Road
London W6 9HA
Copyright © Madelynne Ellis 2003
The right of Madelynne Ellis to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
ISBN 0 352 33800 8
All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental
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