Page 36 of Only a Mistress Will Do

In hell, most likely. “I know she might,” he snapped. “I’ll go now.” He drained his glass and set it on Duncan’s desk. He looked up, hopefully. “If it all comes right, you’ll go with me to Lord Downing’s? I may very well have need of a second.”

“Of course. There was never need to ask.”

“I know.” Tris grinned, though his heart sank. Facing Downing would be pleasure compared to the interview he now must undertake with Violet. Pray God he still need worry about Downing when it was over.

Chapter 14

Violet sat before the mirror of her toilette table, rapt as Susan put the finishing touches on her hair. The maid had curled her straight locks with a heated iron poker so now curly wisps of her plain brown hair framed her face. The majority of it, however, lay confined by pins under a lacy cap that exactly matched the dark pink in her deep blue and salmon print gown.

“I’ve never before made so much fuss over my appearance just to stay at home.” Laughing, Violet turned her head this way and that. The bouncy curls swung with every twist, making her smile. “Only when I was about to attend a ball or an assembly.”

“Well, miss, you’d better get used to it. Lord Trevor likes his lady well-dressed when entertaining at home. Here.” Susan placed a red velvet box on the table in front of her. “His lordship sent this for you.”

Violet caught her breath. Tris had sent her a gift? Heart beating frantically, she opened the box and removed a piece of paper, revealing a pair of exquisite girandole earrings. The three pendants in each earring contained brilliant sapphires that danced when she lifted them from the case. Joy washed through her at this tangible proof of his regard. Smiling broadly, she opened the note.

My dearest one,

I am sorry I could not be there to present these to you myself. However, I wished you to have your morning gift while it was still morning. I must conduct the business of which we spoke earlier, so I will be with you later today and all through this night and every night.

All my love and regard,

Tris

Delight warred with confusion. “Do you know what a morning gift is, Susan?”

Her only answer was a shrug. “No, miss. I’ve not heard of such a thing.” She grinned at Violet. “I suppose it means his lordship had a pleasant night.”

Cheeks burning, she glared at the woman. “Likely so.”

“I’d say it’s a good thing, Violet. They are beautiful and complete your outfit perfectly.” Susan grabbed Violet’s green silk-figured banyan, shaking it out as she headed toward the dressing room.

The girl might be saucy, but she must know Tris’s tastes well. She’d been maid and companion to three of his mistresses, not counting Violet. That information had made her grit her teeth and clench her fists when Susan had mentioned it in passing. Still no need to deny or ignore the fact Tris had had powerful appetites before he met her. Her duty now was to fulfill those as best she could. Fortunately, Susan would prove a wealth of knowledge on how to please him.

Her nether regions tingled at the prospect. Of course, it would be hard to say who would be giving whom the most pleasure. She’d been sore when she’d bathed earlier—the hot water had stung as she washed streaks of blood from her inner thighs. Still, she eagerly waited for Tris’s return and the continuation of last night’s passions.

“Did Lord Trevor say when he would arrive?”

“No, miss.” Susan emerged with an armful of linens. “Only the box and that note arrived. No other word.”

Tris had dressed, eaten scarcely a bite of breakfast, and hurried out to his carriage to call on his friend the marquess. That was all well and good, however, nothing short of a consultation with the king himself would change her mind about Tris’s offer to marry her. She couldn’t live with herself if she caused irreparable harm to his honor. She could live here quietly as his mistress and share a life together. Not the perfect life perhaps, but better than her prospects had been a short time ago.

Children would be a problem, although she could begin Madame Vestry’s herb tea immediately to prevent increasing. The dried flowers and seeds of Queen Anne’s Lace, the Madame said, taken each morning after “entertaining,” kept her girls from conceiving. Violet had a pouch full of the concoction. She’d have to find it and have Mrs. Parker brew her some. Perhaps later, once their lives were more settled, she and Tris could discuss children. If he could establish them in a home on one of his outlying estates, she’d be more than happy. Often, she’d heard, noblemen would set their mistresses up in a separate establishment just like Lammas House. Why not in the country?

“Will there be anything else, miss?” Susan had finished gathering the laundry and stood at the door.

“Could you have Mrs. Parker send up tea and some of her delicious scones? I fear I didn’t eat enough breakfast.” Her stomach had been in knots, worry over their situation preventing her from doing more than nibble a piece of toast.

“Very good, miss.” Susan nodded and shut the door.

Violet dabbed jasmine perfume behind her ears, then slid the cool glass stopper against her neck. She trembled, thinking of Tris nuzzling her there as the sweet scent filled his head. Hastily, she dragged the stopper between her breasts. Yes, she’d love for him to bury his face there, feel his warm breath tickle the valley between. She’d press his head to her hot flesh and never let him go. Closing her eyes, she groaned, wanting him here now.

Perhaps she should instruct Susan to have their supper laid here, in the bedroom. Although she had little true experience with a man’s appetites, she understood the power of food and could think of several ways she could use their repast to arouse her lover. She was finding being a mistress more to her liking than she had believed possible. Being wicked and wanton with Tristan, in ways a wife might not be willing to explore, carried a strong appeal. God knew she understood little of the expectations of either wife or mistress. Still her pulse raced when she thought of the things from Madame Vestry’s instruction she could do to her willing victim.

Shortly, Susan entered with a tray and Violet pounced on the hot, sweet tea and tender scones.

“You haven’t put your earrings in, miss.” Susan nodded at the jewelry still lying in the open case.

“I fear I was woolgathering for far too long.” Violet sipped her tea and then slipped the heavy gold earrings into her ears. Hard to believe they were truly hers. She watched herself in the mirror and touched the sparkling gems, stilling them as they swung with her movement. A plan to thank Tris very thoroughly for her morning gift began to form.