Page 12 of The Lady’s Great Escape

“How fortunate for me to have the Lord of Desire attend me,” she said with a heavy French accent in a low, rich voice that made his body stir. Perhaps he wasn’t as altruistic as he’d first thought. This vision wouldn’t be the only one enjoying themselves tonight.

“And who do I have the honor of spending the evening with?” he asked to confirm Lady Harrington had her name correct. It wouldn’t do to address the woman by the wrong name.

“Selene,” she said, looking away. Lady Harrington had been right, she was shy. She appealed to him. The way her hands trembled despite the cocky tilt of her head. She was nervous, but brave enough to continue. She wanted this. And for tonight he could pretend she wanted him.

He would do his best to ensure that her night was filled with pleasure, and when tomorrow came, he would begin his search for a wife in earnest.

*

Celia would singLady Harrington’s praises until the day she died. The woman had truly outdone herself. It was as if the lady had looked into Celia’s mind and plucked out the very man she had dreamed of.

He looked so much like Kit it was uncanny apart from his voice. His voice was all wrong. Much deeper than Kit’s with a sexy rasp that was far from Kit’s honey-smooth tones. Still, he was quite attractive from what she could make out of him with the mask and poor light obscuring his features.

She almost wished she’d asked for more candles and lamps so she could see him better, but if she could barely see him, it meant he couldn’t see her either. Besides, being unable to observe the details made it easier to pretend.

She bit her bottom lip. It seemed rude to have this man offer his time only for her to use him while fantasizing about another man. She would do her best to focus on Lord Desire—or whatever his real name was—and what happened between them now.

“May I?” he asked with his hand at his cravat.

“Oui, of course. I was already encouraged to make myself comfortable. Lady Harrington provided a maid to help with my gown.” She pressed her lips together tightly as if to hold in whatever else might have come out. She was babbling.

She’d never been much of a babbler, preferring to quietly stay out of the way, but she was so tense she was nearly erupting with nervous energy.

She needed to calm herself. This man didn’t know who she was. And could never know. Whether this night was perfect or not was of no consequence. The only thing that truly mattered was that when she left here, she would understand the ways between a man and woman and would no longer be a virgin.

Even if Edward were awarded his way, and she was forced to succumb to a physical examination, no doctor would be able to question she’d lain with a man. The fact it wasn’t her husband could never be proven.

Telling herself it had nothing to do with Edward’s threats, she focused on the main reason she had come. Once she knew the ways of carnal relations, she would be free to take the experience she earned tonight to confidently take a lover of her choosing. Confidence being the key.

“How convenient for me not to have to battle through a gown and corset,” Lord Desire said with a smile that once again reminded her of the man who had sat across from her at breakfast most mornings.

The man who had failed her when she’d needed him most. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, trying to ward away the anger she’d thought was long gone. Everything had turned out for the best. And now she was free to do what she wanted.

Had she married Kit…well, she would have most likely spent each day laughing at his antics and enjoying each touch and kiss they shared. She shook her head.

“Is something the matter?” Lord Desire asked.

“Non. Nothing at all. Everything is wonderful.” And she would make sure that was true, by not thinking of Christopher again tonight.

After Lord Desire removed his shirt, he stepped closer, resting his hands on her hips. His bare chest touched the fabric of the dressing gown she wore, causing her nipple to harden.

She felt the heat of his skin, somehow even warmer than her own flesh, which she’d thought might catch fire.

“Perhaps we can start with a kiss,” he suggested and waited a breath as if giving her an opportunity to change her mind. She wouldn’t, she knew that. She was set on her plan. And even if she’d wavered, seeing this man, ready to kiss her would have convinced her she was doing the right thing.

Not the proper thing, but definitely right.

When he made no move toward her, she leaned up on her tiptoes to meet his lips.

She’d been kissed before, so this joining of lips shouldn’t have been anything new to her, but it was. This wasn’t a rushed press of mouths and clinking of teeth in the stables. This was warm chocolate and her favorite book. It drew her in and heated her, melting her thoroughly into a luxurious puddle. All the more decadent for its subtlety.

Their masks collided and he pulled back with a smile. “Should we remove these?”

“Non!” she spoke louder than even she expected, startling them both. “That is, I prefer the anonymity they provide. We can say and do anything uninhibited. They are not just masks, but freedom, yes?” She made sure to keep up her fake accent.

“Very well. Freedom.” One side of his mouth pulled up in a smirk as he ran a finger over the edge of her ear causing a shiver to run up her spine.

He kissed her again. This time he didn’t seem distracted by the cumbersome masks as his lips trailed along the edge of her jaw and down her neck.

Giving into the freedom she’d just mentioned, she moaned in delight, finding the sound a pleasure in itself. She’d been so overwhelmed by the delight of his kiss she hadn’t realized her dressing robe had been untied and opened until the cooler air touched her flaming skin.

Looking down she let out a squeal of surprise and pulled it shut again.

He smiled patiently and took her hands away from where they clenched the silk. “Freedom, remember?” he said.

She nodded slowly and allowed the gown to fall open. She closed her eyes as his fingers brushed up her arms to her shoulders where he pushed the fabric away so it slid down her back to the floor. Leaving her standing in front of a man. Naked. Except for a mask. His gaze raked over her and the smile faded into seriousness.

“Lady Selene, you are exquisite.” His already raspy voice grew rougher, sending a shiver through her body.

She breathed in his words and allowed them to ignite into the confidence she had wished for.

Yes, she was vulnerable, standing bare before him while he still wore his breeches, but there was a power in her she had never felt before as his heated gaze lingered. He seemed utterly enraptured. The first stirrings of feminine pride swelled within her, she had him right where she wanted him.