“I love a good hunt.” The Viscountess Kerr dabbed daintily at the corners of her lips then placed her napkin beside her plate.
“Capital!” Mr. Piper clapped his hands in one loudcrack.
Lord Kerr swallowed a mouthful of coffee. “Once we’ve concluded the morning meal, everyone that wishes to ride ought to don the proper attire. It would seem that a hunt is on.”
* * *
An hour after the morning meal, Mary pulled Gabe’s earlobe into her mouth, scraping the little nub against her teeth as her tongue lapped simultaneously. She behaved as the other mistresses did, casually draping over her lover’s lap, toying with his lapel, hair, and teasing him with lips and tongue. She attempted, with all her might, to act as though Gabriel were just another “mark” and allow her body to move without her emotions being entangled. But as much as Mary tried, she could not be detached from what her body was doing with Gabe.
He was warm and hard, and he smelled of clean skin and the arousing gentle scent of soap and cloves. Touching him and smelling him did something to her senses that compelled her to not only continue, but to domore. Much, much more.
Gabe’s voice rumbled as he spoke, the vibrations tickling her lips as she kissed the underside of his unshaven jaw.
Good heavens!
Male laughter cut through her shameful musings and she turned to see young Eleanor standing in the middle of the parlour, evidently having brought in a refill of the men’s refreshments. Gratefully, most of the house party guests had joined the hunt, so there weren’t many witnesses to Eleanor’s embarrassment. But Mary was there. And she did not like what she saw.
Lord Pondridge pinched her bottom while Lord Sheffield gripped the poor girl’s wrist, tugging her closer to him.
“Come and play with us, pretty gel. We won’t hurt you.”
The grimace on Eleanor’s face and the way she clawed at his punishing grip with her other hand told Mary that he was indeed hurting her.
Lord Sheffield pulled harder, forcing Eleanor to fall onto his lap. “There, dearie, now we can have some fun.”
A flash went through Mary’s mind of that day long ago…
“Wha’ should we do with ‘er? Eh?”
“I think weee should t-up ‘er, wot, wot?”
A shiver went down Mary’s spine and she was on her feet before she could give credence to the thought. She moved purely on instinct.
“Pardon me, your lordships, but I have need of Eleanor’s services.”
“Aw, come now, Miss White, surely you can spare her for a few minutes.”
Mary moved her hands in a gesture of helplessness. “I am afraid not. You see, if I am to perform this evening I must have my costume readied. Eleanor is taking the place of my lady’s maid while we are in residence and I simply must have her assistance.”
Eleanor scrambled from Lord Sheffield’s lap the instant he released her, a look of such relief on her features that Mary felt an ache in her chest for what this girl must routinely suffer.
With a curtsey, Mary led Eleanor from the room. They traversed the halls in silence, passing other maids and footmen scurrying about to clean their masters’ chambers. The upstairs maid cleaning Mary and Gabe’s bedchamber nearly bumped into them as she rushed from the room.
“Beg pardon, miss.” She was gone before Mary had the chance to reply.
Mary preceded Eleanor into the room and pulled a small trunk from beneath the bed and placed it atop the newly straightened counterpane.
“This is—”
“Beg pardon for interrupting, miss,” Eleanor placed a tentative hand on Mary’s arm, then quickly pulled it back. “Thank you. I cannot tell you how much that meant to me, your rescuing me like that.”
Mary would ordinarily have brushed off the effusive thanks, but not only did she wish to earn the maid’s trust, but something about her compelled Mary to help. So she was honest. “Someone once saved me from such a fate. I simply wished to repay the favour.” She tapped the trunk with both hands. “Now.Thisis my trunk of costumes.”
She opened the lid, an array of colourful, sheer fabrics, chained coin-shaped metal circles, and ankle and wrist cuffs overflowing the box.
Eleanor’s eyes widened. “Cor!” she said breathily.
“I have not yet decided which one I will wear, so do you think you can manage to choose for me, and prepare it for this evening?”
“O’ course, Miss White. I would be happy to.”
