“I haven’t either.”
“What about your notes on the side?”
“Those are not mine. Noah stole my book when I saw him in the park.”
“When did you meet Lord Wildeburg in the park?”
“The first visit happened after the Woodsworth Ball. Then the next time was the morning after he snuck into my bedroom.”
“He snuck into your room more than once?”
“Yes, we’ve shared a few secret moments together lately.”
“How secret?”
“Um, secret enough to ruin me.”
“Oh, Sidney.”
“Yes, well Sheffield got wind of it, and when Noah didn’t come for my hand, Sheffield convinced Papa that a marriage to him would be the best possible solution.”
“That underhanded, conceited, manipulative boar,” Phee said. She rose and paced the room, mumbling under her breath about the despicable duke.
Sidney lounged on the chaise as Phee built herself into a rage over Sheffield. Something had happened between the two to draw Sophia out of her demure nature. As long as they had been friends, Phee never slandered another soul as much as she had the duke. For Sheffield to draw such emotion from her was almost comical.
“It would appear that I am not the only one holding onto secrets,” Sidney said.
Sophia stopped in mid stride, a becoming blush spreading across her cheeks. She could never share with Sid the encounter she had with Sheffield at Madame Bellerose’s. It was too intimate in detail. However, that wasn’t what kept her from telling Sidney. She couldn’t divulge her secret with Sidney when Sheffield didn’t realize himself.
“He kissed me in the garden last night.”
“He did what? I shouldn’t have left you by yourself. Oh, please forgive me, Phee. I sent Rory after you.”
“Yes, well, Rory was too late. The duke figured since you offered kisses and he didn’t receive his, I should be your substitute.”
“Oh, does that man hold no bounds? When I am through with him—”
“No, Sidney, I am fine. I am no worse for wear. Enough about Sheffield. What about Wildeburg?”
“He wrote me a letter of apology. Now I’m writing my thesis, and I am almost finished. I will need your help again. Mama has refused to let me leave the house, and I must go to him.”
“Well Sid, you need not go far. He sits below on the bench in your garden. He appears quite wet.”
“I’m afraid he has been there since last evening.”
“What?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so.”
“Oh my. He is in love.”
“And so am I.”
“Oh, Sid. I am thrilled for both of you.”
“Will you assist me one last time?”
Sophia laughed. “Like it will be one last time. We both know I have a lifetime of helping you.”
Sidney laughed alongside Phee, realizing she was correct. Still she needed Phee’s assistance to sneak from the house and knew her friend would help. She thought of a plan that would require Sophia to persuade Noah to leave her garden. But before all of that, she needed Phee’s forgiveness.
“All joking aside, please forgive me for being an awful friend. I recognize something troubles you, and I want to help you first. What is it, Phee?”
In Sophia’s excitement for Sidney and Wildeburg, she forgot her own problems. She didn’t want to burden Sid with her troubles concerning Sheffield. Sidney would shred Sheffield to pieces. Then Sophia would be ruined, and her father would demand Sheffield to offer for her hand. He was the last gentleman on earth she wanted to be saddled with. No, she would make an excuse to Sidney to appease her.
“It is nothing, Sid. My thoughts on losing you as a friend has saddened me. I saw you falling for Lord Wildeburg and realized it would change the dynamics of our friendship.”
“Nonsense, Phee. My love for Noah is because of you, in part. He wrote of your suggestions on how to woo me. Our friendship will never change.”
Sidney rose to wrap Phee in a hug. Phee returned her affection, grateful that Sidney believed her false claims. In time, Sophia would figure how to deal with Sheffield. The last thing she needed was for Sid to delve into her problems. Sidney always jumped headfirst into finding a solution. No, she would avoid Sheffield in the future, which should not be too difficult now, considering Sidney’s ties with him ended after the fiasco at the Havelock Ball. Phee pulled away from the hug and regarded the stars in Sidney’s eyes. She held delight that her friend had found her happily ever after. Now she needed to make sure she lived it.
“What do you need me to do?” Phee asked.
“I need two things from you. First, I need you to deliver my finished thesis to Noah and convince him to return home. Tell him I need one more day before I see him. Explain to him how angry my parents are, and it would be best if he approached a calm house. Make him understand his appearance only fuels my father’s anger. He isn’t familiar with Papa, so he will believe the small lie. Granted, Papa is angry at him, but Mama and he both find his unwavering attendance romantic.”
“And the second thing?”
“Can you help me escape to Noah’s house in your carriage? I want to sneak into his bedchamber the same way he has snuck into mine.”
“Do you think this is the wisest course of action considering the circumstances of your scandal?”
“Probably not, but I wish to woo him this time around. Only I need your help. Please say yes.”
“Yes. Leave Wildeburg and your mama in my hands. First, I will deliver this letter to Wildeburg, then I will distract your mother with some gossip I learned from my mama this morning. It will deliver your mother into such a frenzy that she will forget about you for a few hours. After that, you are on your own.”
“You are the best friend in the entire world, Phee.”
“Hurry. There isn’t much time before darkness falls. I will need to return home soon, or Mama will come looking for me.”
LORD WILDEBURG SLAMMED his front door behind him. His butler and a footman rounded the corner at the noise and stopped as they witnessed the scowl on his face. He barked an order at them to retire for the evening, as their services were no longer needed. They swiftly returned to the kitchen, where they informed the rest of the staff of their evening off.
He strode into his study to the liquor cart, where he grabbed the bottle of his finest whiskey and settled into an armchair near the fire. He drank from the bottle, hoping to warm his insides. The fiery liquid set a fire down his throat and into his belly. During the coldest spring on record, he had waited all night and day outside in her garden for a glimpse of her. Nothing. No sign of forgiveness. The only thing he received was a message urging him to return home. Lady Sophia warned him away and handed him a letter of explanation. As he took another swig from the bottle, he pulled the letter from inside his suit pocket. The ink smeared across the front, making the words, To Noah, a blurred mess.
He leaned his head against the cushion, closing his eyes in defeat. With a sigh, he broke open the seal to read her letter. Only it wasn’t a letter, but an article explaining her thesis.
My theory on the ruination of the young ladies of the ton by Lady Sidney Hartridge:
Whom Shall I Kiss ... An Earl, A Marquess, or a Duke?
I have set out on a personal conquest to expose the scoundrels of the ton and how they ruin young girls after watching many friends fall victim to the rogues who destroyed their reputations. They either had to marry said gentlemen, or their parents sent them away to avoid scandals. I realized it was time to turn the tables on them.
My research was based on three gentlemen from each level of the peerage: An earl, a marquess, and a duke. I chose these three men from the personal exploits I heard from rumor, gossip, or my own personal interactions with them.
The first variable in my research was to change my appearance. If any of you know me, I have never been one to care about my personal appearance, everything from my hair to my
style of dress. However, with the help of a close friend, I made a transformation to draw the attentions of my subjects. The result was a success. I drew their interest enough for them to court me in one form or another. I say that because not every courtship was performed in the conventional sense. As you can guess, some were scandalous enough to make even a more experienced lady blush.
As I was saying, I knew one of these gentlemen, for he visited my father frequently. We would become involved in heated debates. He didn’t recognize me, even while he danced with me. The second gentleman never met me, but I struck his interest, therefore enticing him to pursue me. The third, while he did recognize me, he began to view me in a different light than he originally had.
While the three gentlemen sought my company, I noticed that if their paths crossed each other, it brought out their competitive sides. They would slander the other while trying to prove they were the better catch. It was not until the end of my research that I discovered the lengths in which they would go to capture my hand.
With two of the gentlemen, they considered me only as a game. A game on which scoundrel could be the first to ruin me. Neither of the men wanted my hand in marriage, but to prove to each other they would be the victor. After they claimed victory, I would mean nothing to them, except for being another lady they ruined. Then they would be off searching for the next contest to compete against.
When I was in each of these gentlemen’s company alone, much to my parent’s ignorance, I let their charm entice me into exploring my own possible desires. With the first gentleman, I let his rank and attractive appearance draw me into believing in a life we could share. However, his arrogant demeanor soon woke me to what a farce our life would be together. I will admit though, the lure of his kiss beckoned me toward him. There was a moment in the park where he sparked a feeling in ... Well it never happened, and for that I am relieved.
With the third gentleman, his newfound attention flattered my ego. For years, he had been like a member of our family and still is. However, he never once gazed upon me with anything other than friendship or brotherly concern. To realize I could draw the interest from another gorgeous gentleman gave me newfound confidence. I never imagined plain me could have any power over these men. While nothing more transpired than a few touches on the hand and an interest held in his eye, I will be forever in his debt that my experiment hasn’t ruined our friendship.
You are probably wondering why I skipped the second gentleman. Well, it is because our time together has become more precious and meaningful to share with anybody else. The moments we spent in each other’s company awakened a desire to be loved inside me. Nobody had ever tempted me with the affections he made me feel. I yearn for his kiss and caress even now. I understand we have many obstacles in our way, and we must overcome a scandal most embarrassing for some. But it is not embarrassing for me. Our time spent together never represented a scandal, but if it is, I wish to cause many more.
In conclusion, my research has become clouded with an uninformed bias toward my subjects. I am unable to reach a conclusion based on my heart’s discovery of love. With that, I have proven my thesis false by my own sabotage of the facts. I hope nobody can prove my theory. I wish for all the gentlemen and the ladies of the ton to explore their passions and find a love like I did.
Wilde laughed in joy at her paper. He had hope. She declared her love for him. Sidney Hartridge loved him. He needed to see her now. Wilde rose and strode from his study, calling for his servants to ready a bath for him. When his house echoed with no response, he remembered giving them the night off. Well that wouldn’t stop him. He took the stairs two at a time as he ran to his chambers.
He flung open the door and his footsteps faltered at a crunch beneath his feet. He knelt and picked up a piece of candy. Butterscotch. In fact, a trail of sweets led a path to his bed. When his glance rose, he noticed his open windows exposed the last of the fading sun. His heartbeat jumped when he saw the reason for the open window and the trail of candy. There, under the blanket, lay the object of his love. He paused, hoping it wasn’t a figment of his imagination when she dropped the sheet and beckoned him with the crook of her finger. Wilde followed her command and gathered the sweet confections along the way. He set them on the bedside table with an idea for later. For now, he wanted to confess his love to her.
“Sidney—”
“Shh,” she replied, tugging him toward her.
She wrapped her arms around him as she brought her lips to his for a kiss. Her fingers went to work divesting him of his clothing. She lay naked under his touch and wanted to touch him too. Her need for him became more powerful than words. They didn’t need to speak. There would be time to talk later. When he didn’t object and his kiss became hungrier, Sidney’s heart slowed. As she waited for him, she allowed her fear to worry her with thoughts. What if she misjudged his intentions? But when she sensed his need as strong as her own, it calmed her enough to coax him into long, sensuous kisses that drew out their passion.
Wilde calmed as her kisses slowed. He savored the sweet flavor of butterscotch on her lips as her kisses drugged him. He drew her along his body as his mouth devoured her, tasting her love. Each slow brush of his tongue matched hers, each nip of her lips promised more. Each touch of her hand sent him to a higher need to be one with her. When she slid her hand down to his hardness, he groaned deeply into her mouth. Her innocent touch explored him as he fought his desire to take her. He pulled away from her mouth and kissed his way along her neck to her breasts as she stroked him higher. He drew her nipple between his lips and sucked gently, building her desire and need. When she moaned and her strokes became faster, he slid his hand between her thighs.
Slowly his fingers slid inside her, drawing out her moans as his touch pleasured her. Each pull of his finger inside her was slow and made her ache for more. When his tongue licked her nipples, she desired more. After he slid in another finger and stroked her, she raised her body to him, begging him for more. She tightened her grip on him as his stroke sent the flame inside her to another level. As her need intensified, he sucked her nipples harder. That was when Sidney realized how her desire affected him. They were both consumed with a passion that built with each stroke of a finger or a kiss. She desired more from him which only he could give her.
“Last time you mentioned something with your tongue, and you also referenced it in my novel with your side notes,” she tempted him.
Wilde raised his head to stare in her eyes, her boldness beckoning him. He guided his fingers deep inside her, her wetness coating them as he moved them. He watched her midnight blue eyes darken with need. “Here?” he questioned her as he slid his fingers into his mouth, licking off her sweet taste.
Her eyes widened, never had she read anything as scandalous as his actions. When his tongue caressed her wetness from his fingers, her core ached for more. She moaned as he returned his fingers to fulfill her need. She arched her hips, guiding his touch in deeper when he groaned. He spread her thighs wide as he settled in between them. After he lowered his head, his mouth consumed her. He hungrily licked her wetness, drawing her ache to a new level. His licks grew stronger and bolder, each stroke of his tongue faster as her wetness flowed. Noah built her ache high, and then paused. His tongue slowly slid along her core, lightly flicking. When his tongue settled on her clit, he stroked the tight bud in small circles. Sidney begged him for more.
Wilde heard her pleading moans, but he couldn’t get enough of her. He couldn’t quench his thirst. He grabbed her hips and brought her core to his mouth as he glided his tongue inside her, slowly stroking in and out, drawing her wetness into his mouth. Yet, he needed more. When she tried to pump against his mouth, he held her still. He sensed her need on edge as he drove her to new heights. He wanted to drink from her as she flew over the edge. As he stroked his tongue in and out, his thumb found her clit and caressed the tight bud back and forth as she exploded underneath him. He drank from the desire she gifted him.
Wilde felt the need consume her again as her wetness clung around him. He drew each stroke nice and long as she clung to him tighter. His mouth ravished her lips, building on their desire as he felt her throb around his cock. He wrapped her legs around his waist when his strokes became faster and harder. His need for her consumed him. The taste of her in his mouth still lingered. His ache grew more as her hips matched him with each stroke.
“Noah,” she moaned, “please.”
Her plea undid him, he could no longer hold back. He slid in hard and held himself, rotating in small circles as she gasped her pleasure. Then he held still and stared into her eyes.
“I love you, Sidney.”
She slid her palm over his cheek. “I love you too, Noah,” she whispered, kissing him gently.
He closed his eyes at her gentle touch and words. The emotions of forgiveness and love floated around them. Their bodies moved as one as they met each other with each slow stroke of their bodies. When they reached the heights they climbed together, they floated together in their bliss.
As they held each other, Noah slid his fingers through her hair and asked her the same question as last time. “Why?”
“I wanted to experience how it felt to climb through a window and seduce a scoundrel. Research for my next project.”
He rolled her over and scowled at her. “I will be your only subject for that research.”
“On all research, I would imagine.” Sidney gave Noah a kiss to soothe him.
“When will you publish your paper?” he asked as he settled with her in his arms.
She rolled over and placed her hands on his chest. “Never. I could never hurt those involved, with the exception of Sheffield.”
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