“You refuse to use my given name?”
“Under those terms, yes.”
He studied her then turned on his most glittering smile. “Please, mydear Beth,” he said softly, “will you call me Lucien?”
“Yes, Lucien, I will,” replied Beth in her best schoolmistress’s voice,hoping it disguised the way her pulse had speeded under hisattentions.
The marquess set his elbows on the table and rested his shapely chin onhis hands. His blue eyes were bright and mischievous. “Is that the key toyour heart, my blushing rose? Please, my perfumed paradise, my angel ofdelight, come sit on my lap and kiss me.”
Beth eyed him warily and tried to deny the turmoil his words stirred inher. “No.”
He sighed and leaned back in his chair. “It was worth a try. I thinkI’ll wait for you to seduce me, my dear.”
“In that case there are unlikely to be heirs to the glory of the deVaux.”
“We shall see.” He rose and stretched. “Now, having solved the nameproblem, it is time for us to leave and spend a few days at Hartwell.”
“Hartwell?”
“Don’t worry. It’s not Louisle Desire’sminiature Versailles in Buckinghamshire. It’s mycountry estate in Surrey. Just a small place, a cottage ornee. Only ahandful of servants. We can relax in bucolic isolation.”
“And after that?” asked Beth.
“After that we really should return for the remainder of the Season. Weneed to establish your place in Society, but I promise not to run youragged as my mother did.”
“You most certainly will not,” said Beth also rising. “Please stoptreating me like a child, my . . . Lucien. I will arrange my own sociallife.”
“To a point. Be fair, Beth. You still need some guidance on managing inSociety.”
Beth didn’t feel fair, but she was forced to agree. “Very well. Andnow, my lord . . .Lucien, my darling,”she corrected, causing a laugh, “I must summon Redcliff. Unless you intend to be my maid today as well”
Her unwary tongue had betrayed her again, and Beth saw the glitter inhis eyes with alarm. He came over and began to unfasten the pearl clustersdown the front of the wrap, his attention completely focussed on his task.Beth looked at his handsome face blankly and wondered what she should do,what she wanted to do.
He slid his hands beneath the satin and pushed the wrap off hershoulders. His hands were hot against her skin. The garment slithered intoa snowy pool on the carpet, and Beth was intensely grateful she had put onthe nightgown. It still provided a decent covering.
His fingers rose to the three buttons which fastened it to the scoopedand filled neckline. Beth’s hand came up to stop him.
He looked up, amused eyes challenging her.
“A maid would never leave my wrap lying on the floor,” she saidhastily.
“Whatever made you think I was a maid?” he asked. In a single movement,he swept her hands behind her and trapped them. Just like that terriblenight and yet so different. Beth might be nervous and uncertain, but shefelt no fear.
He placed a soft kiss on the tip of her nose and Beth jerked back,wriggling in his grasp. “Let go of me! You said you’d wait for me toseduce you.”
He released her hands but wrapped his arms around her so she was stillhelpless. “Ah, but do you know what seduction is?” he asked. “You’ve madea prodigious start, I’ll grant you. Provocative remarks are a wonderfulbeginning .. .”
“I did not ?” Her protests were stopped with a kiss.
When he raised his lips Beth tried again, “I ?” and was stoppedagain.
The next time he raised his lips she wisely remained silent. Shedoubted her ability to be coherent in any case. Her whole body seemed tobe vibrating with an energy she had never experienced before, an energywhich burnt away thought like the sun burning away a morning mist.
“... but you have to know what to do next,” he completed. “Also,” headded softly, “you have to know you want the prize.” He lowered his headfor another kiss.
This time he did not merely seal her lips. This time he gently teasedthem open and she felt his tongue upon hers for the first time. Shemoaned, but whether it was protest or delight she could not have said.Nothing in any book had prepared her for this.
She could feel the heat of his hands through the thin silk, one betweenher shoulder blades, one lower, in the small of her back, rubbing in smallcircles which pressed her against his body. The rough texture of hisdamask robe fretted her skin through the fine silk, and her nipples, ah,her nipples had developed a life of their own. She inhaled the aroma ofsoap and something more ? something warm, spicy, and dangerous.
