“He’s visited a few times.”
Felicity asked more insightful questions, and as they swayed together, Mantis found himself telling her about a few of the boys themselves, about Cornell’s involvement, and that he felt guilty for having missed a class this past week.
“You were ill. I’m sure they understand.”
He didn’t expect them to have to understand. “It’s not fair to them.”
“Are you opposed to hiring a new valet? That way, Cornell can keep up regular classes when you have other responsibilities.” It wasn’t something Mantis had wanted to consider, but then again, he’d not planned on starting a family so soon.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “When did you become so wise?”
She laughed, and Mantis couldn’t help but send her on a slow twirl.
“You mentioned that you box,” Back in his embrace, Felicity picked up their conversation. “And that you enjoy fencing? Is this Jiu-Jitsu much different than those?”
“It is different, but also so much more.”
She leaned back and tilted her head. “How?”
“I’ve always been large for my age, but I wasn’t so large that I could fight off a gang of bullies.” He laughed at himself, not wanting her to think he’d appreciate her pity. “My… intellectual deficiencies made me something of a target. I took it up to learn to defend myself, not realizing the greater value I’d take from practicing--not realizing that it would help me grow to be… “ Mantis swallowed hard. “A better person.”
Rather than comment or question him, Felicity simply held his gaze.
“My father told yours that I was simple. The servants at Stonegate Manor would likely agree with him. Whenever it came to reading or solving mathematical equations…” he shook his head. “None of that came easily for me. I spent an hour on something others could complete in five minutes.”
He watched her. Was this the thing that would turn her away from him? But gazing down, he failed to see even a smidgeon of disdain in her eyes.
“My last governess did not limit my lessons to only English history. I remember reading about meditation. But it was in relations to religion—a form of prayer.”
“It’s similar, but the mind turns inward.”
“Yes.” Felicity understood. “It’s in the breathing, from what I remember. This helped you with your studies?”
“Not that I will ever be much of a scholar, but yes.” But he was tired of talking about himself.
In fact, all of his focus had moved to her mouth—her pink, plump, inviting mouth. “I want to kiss you properly.”
She touched the tip of her tongue to her top lip. And those lips weren’t only plump and inviting; they glistened now.
“I want you in my bed, spread out beneath me.” Mantis would summon one of those erotic fantasies she’d confessed to. “Naked.”
A tremor ran through her.
“And then what?” she asked. God help him, that breathy tone laced her voice again.
“I’ll give into my wicked, wicked desires, and if you fight me, I will punish you.”
“Oh.” She stared up at him with eyes dark with desire. Pink spots flushed her cheeks, and he could feel her breasts rise and fall against him.
Oh, indeed.
Halting only so he could adjust her hand in his, Mantis all but dragged her off the floor. One more minute of imagining what other fantasies burned in her mind, and he couldn’t account for who he embarrassed.
“This way.”
His hand slid down her wrist and she entwined her fingers with his. If memory served him correctly, he’d find one of those dangerous paths just around the next… Yes.
This trail hadn’t been recently tended, forcing him to slow so she could pick her way carefully behind him. The noises of the music and the dancers and revelers dissipated, and gradually his eyes adjusted to the dimmer light provided by the moon and the stars.
