Never one to prevaricate, the widow nodded again, this time tilting her head toward Luke. “If I recall, you were looking for companionship as well as... I believe the phrase was ‘bedroom activities.’ Reading, conversation, taking care of one another when you are sick, understanding loneliness.”
Belle gaped. The woman had not taken notes during their first discussion, but she remembered every detail of what Belle had said. No wonder her fees were so high.
The widow’s tilt of head registered. “Wait, you cannot mean—”
“Lord Lynwood here is your choice.”
“What?” Luke had apparently just caught up to the conversation. “I mean...” He trailed off, looking thoughtful.
“No. That is not fair to a young man who has made a few mistakes, yes, but who has just begun to get his life on track. And he did not come to you for marriage.”
“Ah, but his markers did.”
“No. I cannot. He would be saddled with my past and ostracized from his peers. As would our children.” She ignored the pang of longing her heart gave at the idea of having children with Luke.
“His seat is almost as far from London as one could be and remain in England, which is what you wanted. That will also help him remove himself from the temptations of London.”
“I know nothing of being a countess.”
Bessie slapped a hand on her desk. “Oh, please. You have attended more demi-monde balls than I can count. You’ve interacted with countless titled lords in a myriad of social settings.”
“What about hostessing and the like? I was looking for respectability, not responsibilities.”
“You’ve hosted small gatherings, and you’ve run a household. You shall be fine.” Bessie shifted her attention to Luke. “You look thoughtful, Lyon cub.”
His hand supported his chin, elbow on the chair arm. “I’d never thought about it. Belle has been a magnificent hostess, teacher, and support these past weeks...”
“Never say you’re considering this, Luke,” Belle gasped. Goodness, if his father disapproved of him already, what would happen if he announced a betrothal to a courtesan? Trying to make him see reason, she voiced that thought. “Think of what The Earl would say.”
“Ha. I have to stand on my own two feet. I have reached my majority and can marry who I please. And no, it couldn’t make my life much more difficult than it has been.”
“You’ve been sober for less than a month.”
“What?” he asked, sounding outraged. “You just told Mrs. Dove-Lyon here that I was ready to take on the world. Yet I’m not ready enough for you to marry?”
“That’s not what I meant,” Belle murmured, reaching a hand to him.
Bessie’s voice cut through their conversation. “You’ve been sharing a household for almost a month now. Why do you not go home and consider it and return in a fortnight?”
They both turned to stare at her.
It was as though the widow was giving Belle permission to act out her fantasies before letting him go. She cast a sidelong glance at Luke. It wasn’t as though she needed to protect her virtue...which also meant she had a fortnight to explore all those sexual proficiencies she’d been imagining the past week. His departure was going to break her heart anyway, so it seemed expedient to enjoy this additional fortnight without worrying about the future. She could seduce him. A jolt of heat went through her.
“Keep in mind, your fee is due no matter what you decide, and I do not promise another option,” the widow reminded her.
Her warning did not register. Belle was already mentally undressing Luke to follow thatT. “Fine.”
In her carriage,Belle peered wide-eyed across the space at Luke. He looked as shocked as she felt.
She tried to list merits for her plan, in case he resisted. First, he might marry someone without ensuring compatibility in the bedroom, but she never would.
Second... her gaze roamed the carriage, her thoughts stuck on that first benefit. There was enough room for her to straddle him. Her nether lips swelled against the carriage, the bouncing of the vehicle adding to her eagerness. Saliva pooled in her mouth at the thought of kissing her way down hisT.
No, she needed to stick to her plan to seduce him. Not because she wanted to wed him.
Don’t you?
She couldn’t. It didn’t matter what she wanted. However, if they only had a fortnight, she was going to damn well make use of every minute, which meant ensuring he’d want to take advantage of those two weeks as much as she did.
