Arabella’s natural reaction was to snap back at him. She did that at home plenty, a way to draw his ire to her so it wouldn’t fall on her younger sisters, Evelina and Julia. But tonight she didn’t want him to find a way to punish her. To drag her off from all the joy and pleasure she wanted to savor in this magical fairyland that was all she had ever hoped for.
“I apologize, Papa,” she said, all sweetness and light. “I’m simply washed away by all the magic.”
“Magic,” he snorted. “Foolhardy waste of time and money, I say. If it weren’t one oftheplaces for a woman of your position to be seen, I wouldn’t have bothered to make the expense.”
“Yes, Papa,” she said, sending her aunt a small look. Caroline dashed her gaze away. It seemed that even as a widowed and self-sufficient woman, she didn’t dare go against her brother. Perhaps stand up toanyman with more power. That was the way of the world, after all.
“Now later I’ll introduce you to a few gentlemen. I saw more than one eyeing you while we were in the line. You’ll do well to impress them tonight. You’ll want to have choices, I think, or you might not like where you end up. I have other daughters, so if you fail I’ll have to put my efforts to Evelina. She may not be yet sixteen, but arrangements can still be made.”
Arabella’s stomach turned, but she was saved from having to act sweet and obedient because her aunt did step up then, catching her father’s arm, drawing him away to point at something in the distance. As she did so, she shot Arabella a hard look.
It was time, it seemed, despite the fact they had barely arrived in the garden. Caroline clearly didn’t think she’d be allowed another chance to be free, to enjoy herself…perhaps ever.
And with that thick, cold fact choking her, she turned away and slipped into the milling crowd, away from her family and her father’s cruel intentions. For a few moments as she walked, all she could do was mull his wretched plans and the destruction that would follow in their wake. All she could do was mourn what she would lose and fear for the sisters she would no longer be able to protect.
But then she shook those thoughts away. She was not going to have much time. She wanted to use it well. So she shoved her shoulders back, drew a shaky breath and slowly picked her way through the crowd, eyes turned up to all the sights and sounds.
The opera singer was pouring another tune into the magical air and the lanterns flickered, almost in time to the music. A peel of laughter came from a group of beautifully dressed women who were huddled together and just past them a few couples had begun to dance. Even farther away she saw tables by the pavilion and perfectly liveried servants brought out a feast to those who observed from the distance. She knew she should go back now, time was slipping by, but she continued moving instead, farther into the crowd.
A man twirled past her, torch in hand, and then startled Arabella by leaning forward and spitting fire like a dragon across the walkway, just between the groups of people, including herself. She let out a little screech and turned away, down a narrow trail that was somewhat quieter. Her heart pounded as she made her way along the paths scented by honeysuckle and jasmine, sweetness mixed with something richer, more sensual.
For a moment she gathered herself. There was a nagging sense that she should return to her father and aunt. That she was pressing the bounds of explaining her absence as a mere accidental separation. But the garden was so lovely, and she realized, as she stood there, that she was just on the edge of the area on the maps she’d studied that contained the alcoves in the gardens. Little places for attendees to have a moment’s peace or a refreshment, or even a romantic assignation. She crept closer and peeked into the first alcove. It was empty, though the richly painted fresco on the vine-lined wall was beautiful, indeed.
She moved along, finding quietly talking groups or couples until she reached the last alcove, farthest down the line and barely touched by the light. As she neared it, she heard the most curious sound.
Moaning. Her heart leapt, for she wondered if someone was ill or hurt. But as she peeked into the protected area, she stopped, blood rushing away from her face. There was a couple in the alcove and they were not sharing what she’d have pictured as aromanticinterlude. No, it was far too animal to be considered that. The woman was perched on the edge of the wall, skirt tugged up around her waist, one leg wrapped around the thickly muscled thigh of a man. He was arched up against her, rotating his hips, his partially uncovered and shockingly toned backside moving as he thrust into her.
Arabella covered her mouth with one hand. Everything that had been trained into her over her entire life about propriety and sin rushed up and told her to run away from such a lewd display.
But the parts of her that felt the tingle of desire in the night, the parts that had stolen her father’s naughty books and sometimes peered over them as she touched herself beneath the covers…
Well, those parts kept her firmly in place, watching the couple, her body becoming hot and wet as she stared.
The woman against the wall was shaking now, her hands digging against the jacketed shoulders of the man as she whimpered, “Yes, Silas. Oh fuck, yes.”
He leaned away, watching his partner. The moonlight and lamplight hit his face just so when he did and Arabella couldn’t breathe anymore. He was beautiful. With thick, finger tousled hair and bright green eyes that held on his lover, with full lips that he licked as she arched beneath him and her cries became louder still as her body jerked out of control.
He chuckled, a low sound almost lost in the cacophony of her pleasure, and then he reared back to thrust again. As he did so, he glanced over and before Arabella could react, he speared her with those stunning eyes. They stared at each other, gazes locked, and then his grew hotter. He thrust harder, never parting his stare from hers, and somehow she couldn’t run away. Time stood still, no longer had meaning, as she became part of the scene before her.
It was only when he dipped his head back with a grunt that the spell was broken and she pivoted to race back toward the crowd, away from the magic of that moment in the alcove.
Her hands shook as she careened up the walkway. She should have been shocked, horrified, afraid even. She was none of those things. She was entranced. She’d been aware of her own physical needs for years and explored the ways she could touch herself that made her feel good. But this…thiswas a culmination of every ill-informed fantasy and breathless reading of forbidden books. This was passion and pleasure and surrender to everything a person truly was, without apology, without censure.
She came out into the area near the concert hall once more and immediately she found her aunt and father. Caroline was lifting up on her tiptoes, searching the crowd while her purple-faced father looked the other way. When her aunt met her eyes, there was no mistaking the relief on her expression.
“There she is, Albert,” she said as Arabella rushed to them, hoping the truth of what she’d seen wasn’t clear on her face. Hoping they wouldn’t see that watching that man, thatamazingman with his lover had changed her. Cracked open a part of her she’d been trying to pretend didn’t exist. Now that part was alive. She couldn’t be ignored anymore.
“I’m so sorry,” she managed to croak out. “This horrible juggler pushed into my path, Papa, and the next thing I knew I couldn’t find you.”
“Hmmph,” her father said with a glare. “You were gone long enough. Wait here with your aunt, I see one of the men who wishes to meet you. I’ll have to convince him to join us for the first round of fireworks.”
Arabella should have been troubled by those words, but she was too wrapped up in what she’d just seen to truly register her father’s continuing drive.
When he had left them, Caroline took her arm. “You were gone too long, dearest. I was truly worried.”
“I’m sorry,” Arabella gasped out. “I was lost in the moment, I fear.”
She looked toward the alcoves and saw, to her shock, the very woman she’d watched being taken a moment ago. Arabella recognized the mauve silk of her beautiful gown. The lady was lovely, probably somewhere between Arabella’s age and her aunt’s, with dark hair. Her lover was nowhere to found, much to Arabella’s disappointment.
