Courtship Wars: To Pleasure A Lady Part 24

She waited while Arabella rang for refreshments and returned to her chair, then said lightly, "Whether or not you decide to marry Marcus, I hope we may be friends."

Arabella smiled with true pleasure. "I would like that very much...although I doubt Lady Beldon will approve."

"Don't worry about Aunt Beatrix," Eleanor a.s.sured her. "I will deal with her. Please say you will visit me in London."

"I would be pleased to. I rarely have the chance to come to town except to chaperone our pupils-an occasional outing to let them practice being in society."

"Then perhaps you can bring them to my aunt's house for tea."

"They would be in raptures over such an invitation," Arabella said honestly.

"And I do hope you will give careful consideration to my brother's marriage proposal-" When Arabella gave her a warning look, Eleanor held up her hands. "But I shall say no more on the subject for now. So tell me about your academy. I find it fascinating that you would take so bold a step."

For the next hour, Arabella explained the workings of the school and answered Eleanor's numerous questions, and then gladly accepted when she offered to help with the academy in any way possible. For the remainder of her visit, Eleanor steered clear of any further mention of her brother, and when she took her leave, merely reminded Arabella of her promise to visit.

Arabella was relieved not to have to defend her position any further. Last night her distress at seeing Marcus's beautiful mistress had cured her of any idiocy in thinking she might be prepared to risk her heart again. But it was not a subject she felt comfortable discussing with a relative stranger like Marcus's sister, no matter how charming and delightful she found Eleanor.

She couldn't even discuss the matter with her own sisters, for then she might have to confess how she had willingly succ.u.mbed to Marcus's seduction. Perhaps her surrender had been inevitable, Arabella reflected, given his potent powers of persuasion. And admittedly she was glad that he had awakened her to pa.s.sion. But her wanton behavior was the worst sort of example for her virginal sisters.

Moreover, she would have to justify to them why she was recklessly courting the danger of scandal by sharing their guardian's bed.

She would also find it hard to explain to them the yearning Marcus stirred in her. Not just the physical desire, which alone was beguiling, but the longing to unlock the mysteries of womanhood. By remaining a spinster for the rest of her life, she would miss the vital experiences most other women enjoyed-husbands, lovers, children. Her last few days with Marcus was her one chance to explore a wondrous world she normally would only be able to dream of.

Tess might understand her conflicting feelings, but Arabella wasn't inclined to burden her friend with such private confidences when Tess was only just now getting over her sorrow at losing her betrothed to war.

No, Arabella decided, it would be much better to keep her affair with Marcus secret.

Avoiding her siblings, however, proved impossible. When Arabella attended the academy that afternoon, Roslyn and Lily caught her daydreaming about her magical night with Marcus. As soon as the cla.s.s ended, they drew her into a private parlor to question her.

"What is wrong, Arabella?" Roslyn asked in obvious concern. "You were distracted all during your lesson on deportment, and there are circles beneath your eyes."

"Are there?" she asked, feigning nonchalance. "I suppose I got too little sleep last night, since we returned from London rather late." When Lily eyed her with a frown, Arabella added cheerfully, "I am perfectly well."

"You don't look it," Lily replied bluntly. "And you have been extremely secretive of late. You told us you were to attend the theater with Lord Danvers, but you said nothing about meeting his sister and aunt *

or his n.o.ble friends. We had to rely on Winifred to learn of it."

Roslyn's tone was more gentle. "Winifred also said there was a contretemps between you and the earl last night."

"So what happened?" Lily asked.

"Nothing of any consequence." Except that I wound up in Marcus's bed and relished every moment of it .

"Then why are your cheeks so flushed?"

With effort, Arabella refrained from raising her hand to her warm cheeks; the true cause of her distraction was not a proper subject for her sisters' tender ears.

"Lord Danvers and I had a disagreement about our future," she prevaricated. "He still believes he can persuade me to accept his marriage proposal, and I was simply setting him straight on the matter."

Both her sisters frowned as they scrutinized her intently. "Should we be worried for you, Arabella?"

Roslyn asked.

"Whatever for?"

Roslyn searched her face. "We are concerned that you are becoming too susceptible to the earl. That you may be growing overly fond of him."

"Yes," Lily explained. "We fear you will let yourself fall in love with him, and he will break your heart just like that blackguard Underwood did."

Arabella felt her cheeks flush further. "You needn't worry. I have no intention of falling in love with the earl."

"Are you certain, Arabella?" Lily asked earnestly.

Arabella smiled rea.s.suringly. "There is no reason for you to worry, truly."

"But that dreamy look in your eyes...You had that same look the last time you were in love."

"It is merely sleeplessness," she insisted. Her dreamy-eyed look had nothing to do with being in love with Marcus. It was merely that she was so new to carnal relations. Every touch, every caress, was a novel experience; every sensation he made her feel was burned into her memory.

But her heart was safe enough now that she had renewed her resolve to keep it well-guarded.

"I think perhaps it is time we came home," Roslyn said slowly.

Arabella's instinctive response was to object. She didn't want her sisters at Danvers Hall just yet. Not when she still had four more nights with Marcus.

"You need us to help defend you against him," Lily added with conviction. "Tess can spare us, since we have nearly finished sewing all the garments for her war widows and orphans."

Managing a smile, Arabella shook her head. "Truly, there is no need for you to come home. I am capable of fighting my own battles. And the wager is almost over. Only four more days until I will have won."

"And what happens then?" Roslyn asked.

"Why, then we will be free of Lord Danvers and his guardians.h.i.+p, and we can resume our normal lives,"

Arabella said brightly, determined to disregard the dubious looks her sisters were giving her.

She was indeed perfectly capable of handling her relations.h.i.+p with Marcus on her own, Arabella repeated to herself two hours later when she dressed for dinner. She had every intention of treating him with cool, rational dispa.s.sion.

The difficulty was that the moment she saw him, she forgot every bit of her resolve. When he joined her in the drawing room just in time for dinner to be announced, there was nothing cool or rational about her body's response to him. Her heart leapt and her pulse soared, while her skin instantly turned hot at the intimate look he was giving her.

His blue gaze was sensual and very male. That, combined with the low, husky sound of his voice when he merely apologized for his tardiness, stroked Arabella's nerve endings with pleasure and turned her limbs to jelly.

It took all her willpower to greet Marcus in kind and allow him to escort her in to dinner. When she placed her hand on his arm, she actually felt it tremble. They were lovers now, and all her senses were trumpeting the fact.

His behavior was all that was proper, however, no doubt for the benefit of the servants. It was only when the soup had been served and the footmen had withdrawn that Marcus allowed the conversation to become more intimate.

"Simpkin said my sister called on you this afternoon. What did she want?"

"She wished for us to become better acquainted," Arabella answered.

"I confess that worries me."

Arabella gave Marcus a curious glance. "Why would that worry you?"

"If I know Eleanor, she did something outrageous such as request an introduction to your courtesan friend."

Arabella smiled as she picked up her winegla.s.s. "Not quite, but I imagine she would have accepted had I offered. Instead, she made me an offer. Your sister kindly invited me to London to visit her."

Marcus gave her a penetrating look. "I trust you don't intend to introduce my sister into f.a.n.n.y Irwin's circles."

"Of course not. I have a perfectly good understanding of propriety, Marcus. I merely refuse to be *

ordered to abandon my own friends.h.i.+p with her, by your aunt or anyone else."

Marcus's mouth quirked. "As long as you don't solicit any more of f.a.n.n.y's advice about lovemaking.

Anything you want to know, I will teach you. We can continue your education when you come to my rooms tonight."

Arabella arched an eyebrow. "Aren't you presuming a great deal, expecting me to share your bed tonight?"

"No. I still have to prove that you don't want any other lovers after we are wed."

She didn't need proof. After Marcus, she was certain she would never want anyone else. But she had no desire to prolong their futile argument. "The question is immaterial because we won't be marrying."

His blue gaze narrowed on her. "If you think I will allow you to stray from our marriage bed, sweeting, you are gravely mistaken."

Arabella narrowed her own gaze. "I thought we declared a truce last night."

"That was last night. And truce or no, you won't be taking any other lovers."

There was an unmistakable ring of possessiveness in his tone, which unaccountably mollified Arabella's vexation. The possibility that Marcus might be jealous somehow pleased her.

Unwilling to admit it, however, she returned a cool stare of defiance.

As if realizing how sharp their discussion had become, Marcus suddenly stopped himself and smiled-a charming, enchanting grin that warmed Arabella down to her toes. "You are right, love." Taking her hand, he brought her fingers to his lips for a lingering kiss. "I am supposed to be playing the role of romantic suitor. Pray, let me rephrase. Will you do me the great pleasure of sharing my bed tonight?"

Arabella applied herself to her soup while she pretended to consider his request. "Perhaps."

"You still owe me the better part of four hours of your time today," Marcus reminded her as he lifted his own soup spoon. His voice dropped to a husky murmur. "We can spend it exploring the depths of your sensuality."

The mere thought sent a thrill of excitement and antic.i.p.ation surging through Arabella. "Very well, since I owe you," she allowed, ignoring the laughing gleam in Marcus's dark eyes.

He knew perfectly well she couldn't possibly refuse such an irresistible offer.

Later, after retiring alone to her bedchamber, she waited another three quarters of an hour for the household to settle down for the night before slipping down the silent corridors to the masters'

apartments. Marcus had prepared carefully for her visit, Arabella saw with surprise as she shut the door behind her. Flickering candle flames cast a golden glow about the room, illuminating the ma.s.sive bed, which was strewn with crimson rose petals.

Her heart melted at the romantic gesture, but it was the sight of Marcus that made her breath falter and *

her throat go dry. He looked stunningly handsome lounging there on the bed, wearing only a dressing gown. His raven hair was slightly tousled, while his robe was partway open to expose his broad, muscular chest. A chest she had explored at length last night and hoped to do so again very shortly.

Remembering the enticing feel of him, Arabella felt her pulse start to throb wildly. Suddenly weak-kneed, she leaned back against the door for support.

When she hesitated there, Marcus raised an eyebrow, taking in the silk gown she had worn to dinner.

"You are still dressed."

"I thought it unwise to risk being seen near your bedchamber in my nights.h.i.+ft."

"True. But you have on far too many clothes. We will have to remedy that at once."

Casually rising, Marcus sauntered over to her. He bent his head and kissed her lips, a slow, lazy, utterly possessive kiss that sent her blood racing. Then he led Arabella to stand beside the bed, where the fragrance of roses scented the air.

Taking his time, he undressed her with tantalizing slowness, starting with her hair, removing the pins one by one, letting the tresses fall in a rippling mane around her shoulders. The candlelight caught the red-gold sheen, turning it to flame and capturing his intent gaze.

"You have the most glorious hair," Marcus murmured, threading his fingers through the silken ma.s.s almost reverently.

"Thank you-" Arabella started to say before her reply was cut off by her helpless moan. Marcus had left off caressing her hair and moved his hands to cup her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Even through layers of fabric-bodice, corset, and chemise-she could feel the arousing heat of his palms. Her nipples peaked instantly...a fact he evidently recognized, if the sudden darkening if his eyes was any indication.

With a knowing half smile, Marcus drew down her bodice and underclothes to bare her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, then lowered his head to feast. Arabella gasped at the erotic feel of his mouth suckling her nipples, the t.i.tillating caress of his tongue. Her hands reached up to clutch his shoulders, bracing herself against the delicious sensations he was causing.

"And you have the most luscious body," he murmured between warm strokes of his tongue.

"Do I?" Arabella asked hoa.r.s.ely, barely able to breathe.

Leaving off his ministrations, Marcus lifted his head to flash her an amused look. "What is this, sweeting?

Are you fis.h.i.+ng for compliments?"

"No...not at all." Color rose in her cheeks. "It's only that I have no way of knowing what a man finds...appealing about a woman's body. I don't have the experience to judge."

"Didn't your friend f.a.n.n.y tell you?"

"She only told me about a man's body...what to expect." Arabella glanced down at Marcus. He had purposely let his dressing gown hang open, exposing his nudity. He looked like a very beautiful, very aroused male, intensely vital, intensely appealing. With a smile, Arabella trailed her fingers down his powerful chest to his abdomen. "And I have discovered all on my own that you have a very splendid *

body."

"I am honored you think so," Marcus said graciously. When Arabella's hand would have moved lower to his loins, however, he caught her wrist. "Not yet, love. If you touch me, I can't vouch for my control."

He undressed her fully this time, removing her slippers and stockings, then her gown and underthings.

When she stood naked before him, he shed his robe and drew her fully against him, letting her feel the hard, heated press of his nude body.

His hot breath burned her ear as he whispered, "You can't fathom how I have looked forward to tonight."