A Ladys Pleasure (5 page)

His erotic cogitations were interrupted by a voice hailing him from the breakfast room. Sir Evan was crossing the hall to greet him. “I see you’re dressed for riding, Carlisle. You and Brentwood going to try out his new stallion this morn?”

He shook his head. “Spencer. Good morning. No. The horse has a bruised fetlock so we’ve had to forgo that pleasure for the time being.”

“Ah. Then you must be waiting on some lovely lady to join you.”

Richard grinned. “Indeed, I am.”

“I knew it. Which of Caroline’s beautiful guests has caught your eye? Let me guess?

Miss Althorpe? No. A little too innocent, I wager, though a tidy morsel, nevertheless.

Perhaps Lady Newsome? Now there’s a lady who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to get it.”

“Lady Lilith Morley, actually.”

Spencer’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Lady Morley? Surely you jest?” A spark of understanding lit his face. “Ah, I perceive it. Caroline has bribed you into paying court to her friend, has she? What has she offered? To seat you next to Lady Newsome at dinner?

Or perhaps she’s going to allow Stephen to go with you to that boxing match in Cheltenham next month?”

Richard shot his friend a quelling look and was about to upbraid him when a female voice interrupted him.

“Oh, Your Grace. There you are. I am sorry we’re late, but I couldn’t find my riding gloves for Lily to use, and it took forever to find another pair.”

He turned and looked at the two women descending the staircase. Beside him he heard Spencer’s breath catch in admiration. He himself felt stunned. His heart stuttered in his chest. He had known she would be attractive from the things he had heard Caroline say. But this…beautiful didn’t begin to describe the vision of loveliness who stood defiantly above him. She was much too interesting to be merely beautiful, with the current style favoring blue-eyed blondes. No she was…arresting. Devastating. She set her own style.

A deep red riding habit clung closely to a figure that would have brought most men to their knees. Wide green eyes glared at him from a face that was delicately lovely, though the firm chin was evidence of her determination and the stubborn set of her mouth assured him that this was, indeed, his Lily. Her skin was a creamy white that made his hands twitch with the need to touch it. To explore its silky smoothness. And her hair dark as the River Styx…gads there was tons of it. She had pulled it up into a loose bun and perched an outrageously ridiculous little riding hat upon it. Much more becoming than the mob cap, he thought to himself humorously. She obviously had difficulty controlling the curls because they were already springing free to drift around her face in charming disarray. He wondered what they would look like spread out upon his pillow as he thrust into her soft femininity and vowed he would know the answer to that question before too much more time had passed.

He moved forward, holding out a hand to urge her down the stairs, and she grudgingly joined him, her steps dragging as though she were headed to the headmaster’s office. Suppressing a smile, he took her hand and lifted it to his mouth, allowing his lips to part slightly in the brief caress. Her eyes narrowed, and she snatched her hand away, and he was sure she had felt the brief slide of his tongue as he had stolen a quick taste.

He stepped back, and his gaze traveled over her from head to toe and back up again.

“My lady, you look absolutely ravishing. Who would have guessed what a good night’s sleep could do for one’s looks?”

A blush rose to her cheeks at his proffered excuse for her greatly changed appearance when they both knew the truth. Her chin lifted in a gesture with which he was becoming familiar. So, she was going to play it like that, was she? He had figured as much. She’d had two days to rebuild her defenses against him. Well, the saucy baggage was going to find out that it was not so easy to refortify walls that had already been stormed. It would be his pleasure to remind her of how…close…they had become. And to knock down those walls, once again, until they lay in a broken heap at her feet.

“Thank you, Your Grace,” she finally murmured, but the mutinous look she gave him was intended to convey just the opposite, he was certain. After all, he knew she would consider it his fault that she was now bereft of her protective armor—namely her hideous mob caps and those ridiculous spectacles, which were still in his possession.

Caroline stepped up to fill in the breech. “Richard, Lily tells me you two are going riding this morning. I was absolutely thrilled that she would have someone to entertain her while I attend to my other guests, even though it is too bad of you to make us miss our morning chat.”

Richard snapped out of his stupor and smiled at his friend’s wife. “It is my pleasure, Caroline. I do apologize, however, for disrupting your schedule. Perhaps there is some way I could make it up to you?

She smiled conspiratorially. “Perhaps.”

He winked at her. “I am at your disposal. May I say that you yourself are also in quite good looks this morn?” It was true, though her beauty was a more traditional sort than his Lily’s. Where Lily was a wild, untamed gypsy, Caroline, with her golden hair and deep blue eyes, was a China doll, like the one his sister had once owned.

Caroline smiled and waved her hand. “Oh, pish posh. I’m an old married woman and looks are no longer of any consequence to me.” She batted her eyes flirtatiously. “Though it is quite kind of you to say so.”

Richard laughed. “Are you ready to go, Lady Morley?” He turned back to Lily, hoping she did not see the surge of lust he felt each time he looked at her. He wanted to seduce her, not pounce on her, and he didn’t need her any more wary than she already was.

She looked a bit puzzled. “Are we not going to break our fast first, Your Grace?”

He shook his head and lifted the basket he held in his left hand. “I took the liberty of having Caro’s cook prepare us a simple repast. I thought we would breakfast
al fresco
, if that is all right with you?”

“Oh, a picnic. What a simple divine idea! Don’t you think so, Lily?” Caroline clapped her hands in pleased approbation.

Lily smiled, but he could see it didn’t reach her eyes. “Divine.”

He bade farewell to Caroline and Spencer, who had stood dumbstruck throughout the entire conversation, and took Lily’s arm to lead her out. As the butler opened the front door for them, he glanced over his shoulder to see Caroline beaming at them and Spencer still standing in the same position with his mouth hanging open. Richard cast them a quick grin before the door closed behind them.

He led Lily down the steps and over to where the groom was holding their horses. “I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of ordering the horse that I was told you usually ride when you’re here.”

She cast him a speaking look. “No. That’s perfect. Jasmine and I are old friends.

Aren’t we, girl?” The last was said to the beautiful chestnut mare that stood quietly before them. Lily dropped his arm and strode over to pet the horse, who greeted her as if she were a long lost friend. She laughed as the horse butted its head against her chest.

“Yes, I’ve missed you, too.” She turned to Richard, a sweet smile on her face that caused his heart to stutter in his chest. “I threaten to take home her with me each time I visit, but Stephen and Caro just laugh at me. She is beautiful, isn’t she?”

“Beautiful,” he answered, but his eyes were not on the horse. Lily seemed to realize that as her eyes met his. She blushed and turned to mount.

“Here,” he passed the picnic basket to the groom, “allow me to help you.” He crossed over and placed his hands gently around her waist, lifting her onto the horse’s back and helping to guide her leg around the saddle horn.

When she was settled to his satisfaction, he turned to mount his own horse and efficiently tied the basket to the saddle. Then he led the way down the shaded drive and off across the field next to the house. They had been riding at a leisurely pace for several minutes when they came to a wide open stretch. Richard cast a glance over at Lily who was sitting very straight, her hands tense upon the reins as if she feared he would haul her out of the saddle and ravish her at any given moment. She hadn’t spoken a word since they had left the house. He needed her to loosen up. Looking around, he spied a large oak quite a distance away. It gave him an idea.

“Race you to the oak!” he said and kicked his horse to a gallop.

A shriek from behind and then the sound of horse’s hooves barreling after him made him grin. She hadn’t been able to resist the challenge, just as he’d surmised. He had figured Lily would have a competitive streak in her. In moments her horse had pulled up alongside his. Apparently Caroline had been correct about her friend’s skills on horseback. He held his horse back a bit, and she pulled ahead, allowing him to admire the beautiful picture she presented. She moved like she was part of the mare.

Her head fell back, and she laughed, urging her horse forward. She looked back and grinned at him, so he loosed the stallion and caught up with her just as she reached the tree. She pulled her horse to a halt, and he stopped beside her, smiling into her laughing eyes.

“Oh, that was simply marvelous.” No longer was she giving him the cold shoulder.

The barrier had fallen again, and he relished the change, enjoying the sight of the real Lily without the ridiculous distance she tried to keep between herself and any male who might possibly show an interest in her. The real Lily wasn’t cold. No, she was warm and daring. How she had hoped to be happy buried in some backwater he had no clue, but he knew that she had been kidding herself. No, she needed a man who could challenge her and inflame her passions, in bed and out. She needed him. He didn’t even stop to consider how arrogant that thought was. He just accepted it.

“Hungry?” he asked her after they’d rested for a few moments.

“Famished,” she responded.

“Come this way. I think I know the perfect spot for our picnic.”

He led her down a nearby bill and through a stand of trees, where they emerged beside a small lake.

“What a charming spot!” Lily exclaimed, looking around at the pleasing view. “I’d never have guessed it was here. Obviously you’re very familiar with Brentwood land.”

He nodded as he dismounted, crossing to help her down. “Stephen and I have been friends a long time, since our schooldays. We spent hours exploring every inch of this property when we were younger. This has always been one of my favorite places on the estate.”

While Richard tethered the horses, he saw Lily walking around taking in the view.

The morning sun glistened off the still lake waters, making it seem almost magical. A clear blue sky overhead and the sound of birds calling in the distance completed the picture, and Richard was glad he had thought of this spot.

He lifted the basket from the horse and carried it to a flat area not too far from where Lily stood. As she saw him open the basket and pull out a plaid blanket, she moved over to help him spread it upon the ground. Then she sat down and began lifting out the dishes that cook had prepared for them.

Richard sat beside her and accepted the food she passed him with a brief thanks.

They ate for several minutes in silence. Finally Lily spoke.

“So you and Stephen were at school together? Eton?”

“Yes, that’s right. We were in the same class and ended up sharing a room. Luckily we hit it off right away, or the whole year would have been miserable. After that, we were pretty much inseparable.” He grinned as he recalled those years and the trouble the two of them had gotten up to. He decided to share some of their antics, at least the less scandalous ones, and soon he had Lily laughing so much tears gathered in her eyes.

“I don’t believe it for a moment, Your Grace.”

“Richard, remember, Lily. And I swear it’s the truth. I thought we’d never get his hat from the monkey.”

“All right, Richard then. I’m still not sure that wasn’t just a tall tale.”

God, he loved hearing her speak his name. It reminded him of the night in the garden, when she had screamed it for him. Desire moved through him in a sudden flash.

Desire and something more. He didn’t care to study what that something more might be too closely, but he had to acknowledge that he was developing feelings of more than just lust for the lovely Lily.

“Cross my heart,” he drew an
x
across his chest in the age-old gesture.

“It sounds to me like you two were the terror of Eton and all surrounding counties.

I’m sure your professors were relieved when you finally graduated.”

He smiled. “Probably. What about you and Caroline? I understand that you were at school together also.”

“Yes, Miss Carstairs’ School for Young Ladies.”

“Gads, sounds horrid.”

She laughed. “No, it wasn’t really. I quite enjoyed it. It was such a nice change from…home.” Her smile faded, and she looked away. He reached out and touched her chin, urging her to turn back to him.

“You weren’t happy at your home?” He was very curious as to the circumstances which had led to her marriage to Morley. It seemed unconscionable to him that her parents would have allowed it.

She pulled away from him, biting her lip, but finally answered. “No. Not after my brother died, anyway.”

He was surprised, having been unaware that she’d had a brother.

“Tell me,” he encouraged her, and at first he thought she was going to ignore him, but finally she answered.

“You mustn’t think that I had a horrible childhood. I didn’t.” She must have seen the look of skepticism that crossed his face. “No really. When I was young, I was the happiest child you could ever imagine. I was a bit of a tomboy, I’m afraid.” She confessed this with an earnest look, and he could just imagine her running loose like a young heathen. The image made him grin.

“My father was a wonderful man, and my mother was kind and loving. I had a younger brother, Patrick, who was rather a sickly child. He had a lung complaint and seemed to catch everything that came along. Still, he was a sweet boy, though a bit timid, I guess.”