“I believe I already have,” he said. “Lady Lockhart is a friend. A very good friend. If you are asking if I am bedding someone other than you, the answer is no.”
Satisfaction wrapped around her chest and squeezed every single inch of flesh.
“Now if that is all, you really should be going.” A hint of regret tinged his voice, and his gray eyes reflected sadness.
She felt little better herself.
He pulled her up into his arms and gave her a deep kiss. “I’ll see you downstairs.”
They descended the stairs and Gray helped her into her cloak. She pulled her still damp hair into the hood and pulled it tightly over her head.
He pulled her hand to his lips and murmured, “Until midnight.”
She hurried out to the carriage and climbed in. Gray stood on the doorstep watching her, and she craned her neck in her seat to see him until he disappeared from her vision.
###
“Well, well, well,” Viscount Dudley murmured to himself as he watched the carriage pull away from Grayson Douglas’s house. Who knew the chit possessed such daring?
He leaned forward and ordered his driver to return to his house. Leaning back in his seat, he smiled in satisfaction. Jenna Wycliffe had just made his plan a great deal easier. It would seem that she wasn’talwaysenveloped by her family.
He contemplated the best use of this new information. It wouldn’t do to tell her brothers. No, they’d just lock her in a room somewhere until the earl and countess returned. Then her parents would likely try and cry off her engagement.
But this little rendezvous of hers could afford him the opportunity to retrieve the locket from her. If she’d gone to meet Douglas once, chances were she’d be back again. Such was the way with a bitch in heat.
Now to make sure she was wearing it the next time she snuck out to see her lover. Perhaps a talk with Viscount Hembly was in order. He’d hint that he hadn’t seen Lady Jenna wearing the locket and stress the importance of it. Sebastian was a sensible sort and would see to it that his sister wore the locket. If that didn’t work, he’d have to employ more drastic measures.
Chapter Twelve
What did one wear after a night of hedonistic pleasure? Everything she put on seemed to scream out that she was no longer a virgin, no longer the bright-eyed innocent. It all seemed so revealing. Was it her imagination or were her breasts plumper, fuller?
She felt as though the secrets of the universe had unfolded before her, and she’d aged a few years overnight. Now she could knowledgeably impart advice on bedroom matters in her ladies’ circles, or at least know what in the world they were talking about.
She no longer looked down so snidely on courtesans. These women had the best profession in the world, if you could call it a profession. They married no one, answered to no one, indulged in all the fleshly delights and were rewarded amply for their effort.
Not that she would be informing her mamma that she was becoming a courtesan. The countess would take to her bed for a week, and Papa would get red in the face and shout. Then he’d send her to a convent on the Scottish coast. No chance of seeing Gray then.
With an exasperated sigh, she finally donned a pale pink silk. Surely she could appear fresh and innocent in pink. She brushed aside the strands of hair that escaped the hastily configured knot and checked her appearance in the mirror. A quick pinch of both her cheeks infused more color into them.
Unable to refrain, she smiled at her reflection. “You’ve done it, Jenna. You’ve really done it.” Instead of the regret she was sure she would feel after the finality of last night’s actions, she felt wonderful. Alive.
She traipsed down the stairs determined not to stay at home today. The weather was gorgeous, and it was perfect for an outing to the park. She asked Thomas to summon the landau and have Margaret await her there. Today’s outing could serve two purposes, not the least of which would be issuing an apology to Margaret.
After a stop in the kitchen, she collected a picnic basket the cook had prepared and went in search of her bonnet and parasol. She climbed into the carriage next to her lady’s maid, and the two set off at a brisk pace for Hyde Park.
Margaret remained uncharacteristically silent throughout the trip, and Jenna knew she was still in a huff over yesterday’s quarrel. Not to mention, she was well aware that Jenna had gone out again last night.
When they arrived in the park, Jenna climbed out of the carriage and went in search of the perfect picnic spot. She settled on an area under a sprawling oak tree, and the footman set about laying out the cloth.
As she and Margaret munched quietly on chicken sandwiches, Jenna pondered what she would say to her. Finally, she laid aside her sandwich and daintily wiped her mouth on a lace cloth. “Margaret,” she said softly.
“Yes, m’lady?” She turned to stare inquisitively at Jenna.
“I’m sorry I was so boorish with you, truly I am. I don’t know how you put up with me.”
She smiled and patted Jenna’s hand. “There now, child, don’t give it another thought. I shouldn’t have been prying where I had no business.”
“I’m in a mess,” Jenna murmured, twisting her hands.
