She gathered her skirts in her hands, rucking the layers of claret-colored wool and lace-edged petticoats up over her knees.The Duke lifted her into his lap, settling her on his thighs, which were spread to accommodate her bustle and train.He made a steady seat in the gently swaying conveyance.
Aurelia rubbed against the hardened placket of his trousers.She clutched at the soft silk of his waistcoat.She understood what he wanted from her—what his body desired—and she felt gratified that she’d stirred this stolid, sensible man into behaving in aslightlyungentlemanly fashion.
He wanted her.
She wanted him.
Yet His Grace would never compromise her or treat her disrespectfully.As the landau turned onto Park Lane, he pried his lips away from hers, groaning.
“Miss Goldsworthy, you are altogether too tempting,” he said, ruefully.“Can you forgive me for losing myself in your arms?”
Aurelia touched his lips with the tips of her fingers, marveling at their soft, supple warmth.He was kiss-swollen and flushed.His body was strained with arousal, and yet he begged her pardon when she had been the one to enflame him!
She felt powerful and desirable, and she relished her new discovery.Her feminine enlightenment.“I shan’t apologize for being attracted to you, Your Grace.”
He smiled.“No, you wouldn’t, would you?You want everything that lies within your reach.You’re like Margie in her quest for an education and independence, or Fannie in her yearning for frocks and fun.It seems that I am surrounded by intrepid women.”
“You should be so fortunate,” said she, petting the collar of his greatcoat, delighting at the thrum of his heartbeat beneath her hands.Shehad made his pulse race.
His eyes studied her face, and for a moment, he looked wistful.Sad, even.“I do count myself fortunate, Aurelia.I shan’t ever forget seeing the electric lights…or feeling this spark we share.”He caressed her cheek.“Tomorrow, I must tell you something, and I fear you will not look kindly upon me then.”
She shook her head.“I know you cannot marry me.I understand that I have no pedigree, no connections—”
The carriage door swung open to reveal the warmth and light of his residence.Dowell stood upon the columned portico flanked by footmen carrying silver trays of steaming cocoa.
His Grace took her hand and helped her to alight from the landau.When she was settled safely onto the pavements at his side, the Duke angled toward her to say, “Come to me tomorrow morning.I’ll send your maid to fetch you.Then I will tell you of what I suspect is your birthright and everything that has been denied you.”
At last, the moment Aurelia feared had arrived.It was time that she learned the truth and why her identity had been kept from her.Somehow—and for some good reason, surely—the Duke of Brantingham had been involved.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Miss Goldsworthy had seemed surprised to be summoned—not into the formal drawing room of Brantingham House, with its elaborate, ornamental ceiling and plush, overstuffed furnishings, but to his private office at the rear of the house.
Selwyn sat behind the small, serviceable desk, though he’d added an extra shovelful of coal to the little iron grate in order to make the room pleasant for her.He watched her fidget in a wooden chair, surveying the sagging shelves filled with ledger books, accounts, and reports.She lowered her gaze to the inkstand, blotters, and pen nibs, as well as the heap of correspondence before him.
She had refused to apologize for their kiss last night, which had left him tossing and turning in his bed until the small hours of the morning.She had embraced him with such ardor!His pulse quickened as he recalled her dainty hands boldly clutching the back of his head, bringing his mouth against hers, holding him there, and claiming his lips for her pleasure.He grew hot at the thought of her seated upon his lap, grinding wantonly against him.
He had never,neverknown a woman like Miss Goldsworthy, yet Selwyn struggled with what to say to her now.How could he find the words that he knew would hurt her?
Plain speaking was the only way to power through what would be a miserable business for them both.
“Miss Goldsworthy—Aurelia, if I may—I’ve asked you here because…” He took a deep, bracing breath, and then exhaled the words, “I know who your parents were.”
Hazel eyes flashed.She sat forward in her chair, all but gripping the edge of his work desk.“Who were they?How did you discover them?”
Selwyn put his hands up.He ought to have known that she was made of stern stuff.She wouldn’t faint away, thoughhisheart thundered in his chest.“I didn’t put the story together until last night, but it all makes sense.There was always a nasty rumor that Lady Mathieson got caught with the coachman.”
She sat back, stunned.“My father was a coachman and my mother was Lady Mathieson, the wife of that dreadful man from last night?”
Half of society suspected—and Mama seemed to have known it to be true—that Lady Mathieson had attempted to leave her husband, and was only caught with a coachman because the man was driving her to safety.There had been nothing untoward between them, though the presence of another man had given Mathieson the proof he’d needed to accuse his wife of infidelity.He had shamed her into seclusion and would have divorced her had she not died in childbirth.
“It seems that Lord Mathieson, who would’ve been your legal father no matter what he accused your mother of, gave you away,” Selwyn explained.“At least the man had a conscience, for he saw to your care and comfort over the years.”
In a fit of jealousy, Mathieson had robbed her of a home, a family, and connections that would’ve served her well in life.A wardrobe, an education, and a modest allowance were paltry compensation for everything he’d stolen from his innocent child.
“What happened to Lady Mathieson?”she asked before correcting herself, “What happened to my mother?”
“She was sent away for her confinement.”There had been no polite way to say it.
