Entranced by Seton’s words and the velvet pools of his eyes, she raised her leg,not caring how exposed she was, nor that they stood in the open doorway. She could not tear her gaze from his.
Instinctively, she knew what would happen. Seton was freeing himself. He was going to push inside her, joining his body to hers and, regardless of how much it might hurt, she wanted it.
His hand moved from her bottom to cup between her legs and he rubbed there, pushing with his finger, touching her in the most indecent way. “That’s it! Slick and wet for the one who owns you. A tight virgin cunt.”
The crudeness of his words sliced through the haze.
Seton was rubbing the head of his thickness where his finger had been. Bending his knees, he grasped her behind, hoisting her up.
“Against the wall like a tuppenny whore?” He smirked as he swung her round, pulling her knees around his hips. “All the better to fuck you, my dear!”
Hewas trying to breach her but she was resisting now, closing her mind to him. Wriggling, Onora escaped his pushing insistence, though she was trapped against the wall, pinned by his weight.
“Hold still!” He endeavored to make her look at him but she thrust the heel of her hand beneath his jaw, shoving back his head, and kicked with all her might.
Unceremoniously, he dropped her, and Onora crumpled to the floor.
Seton stood over her, his rage palpable. “You’ll pay for that!”
Curled in a ball, she dared not raise her face, nor make a sound. She was saved by someone calling from outside.
“There you are!” She recognized the Frenchman’s voice, his tone out of place, considering what had just passed. He was positively playful. “We have opened another bottle of champagne and Virginie is asking for you. Come, Seton. You know how she gets. She will have her way and is most insistent.”
There was a pause before Seton answered. “Very well. There is nothing here tohold my interest. Go to bed, Miss Montague, and think on how next you’ll greet me when I come to you.”
The door clicked closed.
For a time, Onora was unable to move, so great was her shock.
It was unfathomable! And Seton’s reaction when she had ceased obeying his will! Never would she have guessed how uncouth he could be.
The door had been open when Monsieur Auvray appeared.
What had he witnessed?
Humiliation engulfed her.
Seton had cared nothing for it, as if it were of no consequence who heard or saw them.
Her thoughts were interrupted by laughter on the other side of the wall.
Seton had gone to the Auvrays’ room, and they were drinking champagne, and…
Onora could not bring herself to contemplate the rest. She was not so innocent that she hadn’t seen the signs. WhateverMadame Auvray wished from her host, she didn’t doubt that Seton would oblige, and it seemed Monsieur Auvray was complicit.
An image flashed before her of the three of them, Seton doing to the other woman what he’d been about to do to her, and the Frenchwoman’s husband watching.
Or was his role more active?
She wished away the obscene picture.
Where do these thoughts come from?
I’m losing my mind!
Steading herself, she stood, going to the door, bolting it shut.
What is to become of me?
