She told him about her service to two women in the country, then to another in town, and how she’d decided to apply for a position as a secretary when Lady Farnsworth sought one.
“The woman who owns the employment service did not want to forward my name since I am a woman, so I approached Lady Farnsworth myself.”
“How did you do that?”
“I called on her. I did not give myself much chance of succeeding, but I had nothing to lose. I told her butler that I had come about that situation. My boldness intrigued her enough that she received me.”
“You are fortunate that she is eccentric. It is good that someone at least has benefited from her character.”
“You sound like you do not like her. In the theater, it sounded that way too, although she appeared to favor you quite a lot.”
“I am an experiment to her, nothing more. She seeks to prove she can influence such as me.” He told her about the journal article. “As if I would change due to that woman’s public scold. It was beyond the pale. Now she watches to see if I do anything at all that she can claim credit for. It is very vexing.”
“She probably wrote about someone else. Or no one at all. She may have just itemized the things she saw throughout society that demanded comment.”
“Yes, probably. I should not make too much of it.” Only he did not think for a minute that article had been about a collective set of behaviors drawn from the entire nobility.
“She is very kind to me. Very generous.”
“Then I will think better of her for that alone. She would object to a liaison with me, however. With any man. She is not liberal in her views about that, I am sure. Few women are when it comes to other women. You know that, I think. Hence your worry and fear about being discovered with me. Still, do not give in to any temptation to confide in anyone. We must be vigilant in our discretion for your sake.”
She nestled back into his embrace. “I never confide about my life to others.”
They lay there until he found himself growing drowsy. “Dare I sleep, Amanda? Can I trust you to be here when I wake? I have things to tell you, about the arrangements I am making.”
There came no reply. She had already fallen asleep.
Chapter Eleven
She woke abruptly with the break of day, thoroughly refreshed. She could not remember when she had slept so deeply. She gave credit to the delicious, big bed, with its luxurious mattress and linens. Of course, the fairness of last night’s sensuality might have had something to do with it too.
A good quarter hour passed before the day’s forthcoming events pressed on her, moving her to action. She had to finish with Lady Farnsworth’s duties today, so she could leave tomorrow in good conscience.
She also should not be seen by Langford’s servants. They had to be up and about already. She would need to depart very carefully.
With a long look at her lover, she carefully eased to the edge of the bed. She had one foot on the floor when a hand grasped her other ankle. She turned in shock to see Langford sitting up, holding her captive.
“Where are you going?”
“I have an employer, remember? I cannot sleep until noon like your sort do.”
“It is barely seven o’clock. When does she expect you?”
“Eight.”
He pulled her until she fell back onto the bed. “Her house is a few streets from here, so you do not have to leave for almost an hour.” He pressed her back on the mattress and pushed the linens away. “I said I wanted to see you in the clear light of day.”
Her mind listed the flaws that the night hid and he would now see. Furthermore, she quickly discovered that being naked with a man in the dark was quite different from being in that state with the sun up. Not only did she feel awkward and vulnerable, but he was naked too. She instinctively averted her gaze and pressed an arm against her breasts.
He gently pried that arm away. “Do not be embarrassed. You are beautiful. You gave yourself to me last night so you are mine now, and I want to see you.”
“I should go now, before the entire household is moving about. I need to return home and wash, and—”
He settled on top of her, his hips nestled between her thighs. “I will see that you leave unseen, and you can wash here.” He reached down and stroked her. Her breath caught as last night’s arousal revived as if it had never ended. He pressed inside her. They just lay like that with his fullness tantalizing her. He looked down while he wound his fingers in strands of her hair that had escaped her pins.
“I will be looking for a house to let, where we can meet.” He withdrew and reentered. His expression tensed. She did not know what he thought of what he saw in the light of day, but she saw a man so beautiful that her heart ached, with a face both hard and sensitive due to his passion.
“I would be happy to keep you, and to hell with discretion, if you would allow it, Amanda. However, I will take great care of your reputation if you so choose. It will mean we can’t be seen together except as strangers. Is that your preference?”
