“Very well. Help me dress. Mrs. Abbott has the night off.” They both hurried upstairs to Tia’s room. She opened the linen press and stared at her meager gowns. She reached for the blue silk, but Emily brushed her hand away and pulled out the red silk.
“I can’t wear that outside the house,” Tia protested.
“Yes, you can and you will. The Edmondsons’ will allow you entrance because they tend to like to have their balls talked about for a few days. You showing up alone and wearing this dress will shock several people.”
“Emily, I don’t need more people gossiping about me.”
“Shh,” Emily reprimanded. “You will be the viscountess some day and everyone will be horrified that they spread such rumors about you.”
Tia highly doubted that, but tonight she wasn’t going to think about it. She would find Jonathon and bring him home. Together, she and Braden would find an excellent place for him to overcome his opium issues. “Very well,” she finally said to Emily. “You win.”
“I always do,” Emily muttered.
Within an hour, she was dressed and ready to go. “How am I going to leave with Nelson at the door?”
“Leave that to me. Just be ready and when I get him in the library, walk outside. My carriage is right in front.”
She hated sneaking out like this. Braden would be furious if he returned home before she did. Hopefully, Jonathon would be easy to find for once. If she could bring Jonathon home, Braden’s anger would not be an issue.
“We need to leave now. Stay at the top of the stairs until I get Nelson in the library.” Emily opened the door and then ambled down the stairs.
Tia released a long-held breath before following her to the top of the staircase. From her vantage point, she could hear Emily.
“I just need to get my gloves, Nelson. I left them in the library.”
“I will get them for you, my lady,” Nelson replied.
As his footsteps faded away, Emily slowly opened the front door and then waved her down. “Hurry!”
Tia raced down the stairs and out the door before Nelson returned. Amazed that the footman at Emily’s coach just opened the door for her, she scrambled inside before the front door opened. Safely ensconced in her friend’s carriage, she caught her breath while waiting for Emily. She peered out and noticed her friend walking toward her.
Once Emily was inside, Tia asked, “Was Nelson suspicious?”
“Not at all. I told him you had decided to retire.”
Tia leaned back against the velvet squab and sighed. Then she giggled. “I don’t think I’ve ever done anything like that before.”
“I should hope not,” Emily replied. She smiled over at Tia. “But we were quite good at it, weren’t we?”
“Yes, we were.”
“So who are the Edmondsons’?” Tia asked.
“A younger couple who run with a very fast set. Their parties are known for gossip, especially who sneaked off with whom.”
“What do you mean?”
Emily laughed. “You’re not that innocent, Tia. Different couples will pair off, find a room, and have sexual congress.”
“At the party?”
“It happens all the time. Just at most parties it is much more secretive. At Society balls, a woman would be subject to scandal, which is why the fast set stays in London. Those Society matrons are all out at their country estates, haranguing the girls out there.”
“So as Middleton’s mistress, it wouldn’t amiss to attend this party?”
“Not at all. I’d be surprised if Middleton wasn’t invited.”
Tia nodded. She wondered how many times he had taken a woman to a room at one of the Edmondsons’ parties. Based on what he’d told her, it most likely happened a lot. She refused to think upon that any longer. He had changed.
“We’re here,” Emily said with a note of excitement.
Tia followed Emily out of the carriage and up the few steps to the house. Before the door even opened, the raucous sound of jovial voices emanated from the home. This definitely was not a sedate Society ball. A tremor of fear came out of nowhere and sliced through her.
The door opened and they entered arm in arm. To say the party was a crush would be an understatement. They could barely move through the corridor to the salon. The sound of music came from a back room. Tia silently wished Braden could have been here to dance with her. She’d so enjoyed that at Lady Whitfield’s ball. What was she thinking? Braden would be furious with her, not wanting to dance.
“How are we supposed to find Jonathon with all these people?” Tia asked
“Just do the best you can,” Emily said, close to her ear. “The crowd will thin in the next hour or two.”
Hour or two? By then Braden might have returned home. “I can’t stay that long.”
“Stop worrying. Middleton is not your master. If you wish to go to a ball, you can do that.”
Tia scanned the room, but didn’t see Jonathon. Another man with dark blond hair caught her eye. Emily’s husband had his arms wrapped around a petite brunette with a full figure. Tia’s mouth almost gaped when she noticed his thumb rub the woman’s breast in public. “Emily, I don’t see him here. We should check another room.”
“As you wish,” Emily replied coldly.
Tia looked over to see her friend staring at her husband. “Come on.”
“I cannot believe he was doing that in front of everyone.”
“I know.”
“I hate him,” Emily muttered. “If I could leave him I would.”
“But we all know you cannot. So, you will have to either determine a way to get him back into your bedroom, or learn to live your life alone.” Tia had no idea where her vehemence on that topic came from.
They entered the next room, only to find the same thing. There were so many people that trying to pick Jonathon from all the rest was nearly impossible. Feeling as if this was a lost cause, Tia said, “I don’t see him here. Perhaps this is a waste of our time.”
“We must keep looking,” Emily insisted. “The gaming is set up in the library. We should check in there.”
Tia followed along as best she could, afraid if she lost sight of Emily she might never get out of this place. Thankfully, the gaming room had few people, which only made it easier to check. She scanned the room quickly, but her gaze stopped on a man she knew. “Oh dear God,” she whispered. “We have to get out of this room immediately.”
Emily wasted no time in exiting the room. “Who was that?”
“Mr. Cranborne. He was supposed to go to the club with Middleton. If Cranborne is here, then they must have left the club and Middleton might be home by now!”
“Stop worrying. He probably had a few drinks and will retire.”
If only she could believe that. But Tia doubted he would retire without checking in on her.
“I told Nelson you were very tired. I am certain he will relay that information to Middleton. Just enjoy yourself.” Emily grabbed two glasses of wine from a footman and gave one to her.
“Only one for you,” Tia warned her.
“Of course.”
Tia sipped her wine, now on the lookout for Mr. Cranborne. No matter what Emily said, Tia couldn’t relax, knowing Braden could be at the house right now. Her hand shook as she brought the glass to her mouth. The fruity essence warmed her body and on an empty stomach, quickly went to her head.
“I see Lady Bunworth down the hall. I shall ask her if she has seen Jonathon yet,” Emily said, handing Tia her half-full glass of wine.
Tia finished her wine and then drank Emily’s while she waited. An older man with graying temples walked over to her.
“Aren’t you a fetching thing,” he said, staring at her breasts. “Would you like to find a room and talk?”
“I am quite certain anything we need to talk about can be said right here,” she retorted coldly.
“Who do you belong to?” he asked.
“No one,” she said and walked away.
/> “Well, you might just be wrong about that.” Shock washed over her as her arm was held in a viselike grip. Before she could utter a sound, he forced her upstairs. He knocked on the door, before hurling it open and pushing her inside.
“What the bloody hell are you doing here?” Braden demanded.
Chapter 19
Braden couldn’t remember the last time he felt this furious with another person. He folded his arms over his chest and stared at her. Did she have no sense at all? This was the type of party that could end up with her raped.
“What am I doing here?” Tia shouted. “What are you doing here? This doesn’t look like a men’s club to me.”
“Where I go is no one’s business.”
“And where I go is no one’s business either,” she retorted. Her brown eyes flashed as her chest rose and fell, quickly displaying her anger.
He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off those full white globes. Dammit, he felt like an adolescent around her. Already his cock was thickening. And why the bloody hell not? That red silk gown was made for one thing only.
“Where you go is my business,” he finally said. He grabbed her arm and pulled her up against his chest. “As long as you are in my house, you are under my care. Do you understand?”
“Then perhaps I should leave,” she said with a shrug of her shoulders.
He walked her back against the door, blocking her exit with his body. Her words from earlier rang in his ears. She had all but begged him to take her against the wall. Well, she was about to have her fantasy fulfilled.
“You are going nowhere,” he whispered harshly in her ear. “You are mine.” Before she could argue, he kissed her roughly. Part of him wanted to punish her for putting herself at risk. Another part just wanted her. He pushed up her skirts with his hand and split her drawers. Already her folds were moist.
She struggled slightly beneath him, her movements only urging him on. He knew she wanted this as badly as he wanted it. He moved his hand away from her addicting heat, only to unbutton his breeches. He slid his breeches down his hips just enough to free his shaft. Her hand reached for him, but he slapped it away. Nothing was going stop him now.
He picked her up and brought her warmth down on him. She moved her legs to straddle his hips.
“Oh, God,” she said as he lowered her completely.
“You are mine,” he whispered, sliding in and out of her sweetness. “No one will ever do this to you. No one.”
“Yes,” she cried. “I don’t want anyone else—only you.”
Braden was losing his mind with desire for her. Everything about her made him insane, from her freckles to her sweet warmth. He couldn’t imagine spending a day without her. He bent his head to kiss her hard, reminding her that she would always be his. Oh, God, he would always be hers.
“Braden, yes,” she whispered. “Yes.”
He felt her inner muscles clenching down on him as her orgasm tore through her. She clutched his shoulders as if unable to stand the overwhelming sensations.
“Braden!”
God, he couldn’t take any more. He thrust into her once more and let go to the driving passion. Spilling his seed into her, he could only whisper, “Tia, my Tia.”
Neither moved for a few moments as spent passion had exhausted them both. Braden nuzzled her neck, inhaling the sweet aroma of her lavender soap. “Do you have an idea how I felt when I saw you here being propositioned by that lech downstairs?”
“I think I have an idea now,” she whispered back.
“Never go out without me. You don’t know these people as I do. Most of them are the most degenerate people you will ever meet. They don’t care who they f—make love to, whether married or not, innocent or as wanton as they are. Some don’t even care if you are willing or not.”
He felt a tear drop from her face to his.
“I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
“I know,” he whispered. “I don’t want to see you hurt. It would kill me if something happened to you.”
“Emily told me she’d heard that Jonathon was supposed to be here tonight. You had only told me you were going to a men’s club. You never told me which one. I had no way of getting a message to you.”
“It’s not your fault. I lied to you.”
She pulled back until her head hit the door. “Why did you lie to me?”
With aching arms, he helped her off him. After putting himself back to together, he looked at her watery eyes. “I always intended to come here. I knew it wasn’t the type of party you should attend. So I lied and told you I was going to a club.”
“Because I wouldn’t be able to go to a club with you.” She pressed her lips together.
“Sweetheart, you have already had one man proposition you.”
“And another one take me against a door in a stranger’s bedroom.”
“True, but at least I wasn’t a stranger,” he said with a slight grin.
“I am not certain about that,” she retorted.
“Tia, I may not be the best man in London, but I’m far from the worst.” He straightened out her skirts and adjusted her bodice. “I’m afraid I’ve made a mess of your hair.”
“Let me see.” She pushed away from him and went to the mirror. “Bring the hairpins that fell to the floor.” She quickly put the pins back into place and looked almost respectable . . . except for that gown. No woman could look respectable in that dress.
“Oh dear!” she exclaimed as she turned around. “I left Emily downstairs alone!”
Just what he needed: Emily being assaulted by some rake. “Let’s find her and get out of here.”
“What about Jonathon?”
“Just before I saw you, I was told that he had already arrived and departed.”
Her face sank. “We missed him again. How it that possible?”
“He is deliberately avoiding me. By now, he has to know I am searching for him. Yet, he still hasn’t had the decency to pay a call at my home.”
She walked over and wrapped him in a warm hug. “I am sorry, Braden. I suppose I’m not helping matters when I run off without telling you.” Before he could get used to her heat, she pulled away. “But I promise that I won’t do it again.”
She cupped his cheeks and kissed him gently. He accepted her comfort, savoring her warmth. He was doing exactly what he said he wouldn’t . . . falling in love.
“We need to find Emily now,” she said after pulling away slightly.
“I suppose we do. Maybe her husband will find her and take her to a bedroom,” Braden said, waggling his eyebrows.
“I doubt it. Eldridge has a new mistress with him tonight.”
“Here?”
She nodded sadly. “And Emily saw him with her.”
“Bastard.”
“I couldn’t agree more. I swear he saw her too and he didn’t make a move to protect her from all the others here.”
Braden took her hand. “Let’s go find her before something untoward happens.”
They walked hand in hand toward the steps. A door closed behind them and Braden glanced back, only to see Emily straightening her skirts as she walked. Even from this distance, he knew what she’d been up to . . . but with whom? Damn. There was only one person she would risk being with.
As they reached the last step, Braden said, “I shall look in the salon. Why don’t you check the gaming room?”
“Alone?”
“I’m right here. No one will get past me.”
“All right.” She walked down the hall just as Emily reached the last stair. Braden grabbed her arm and took her aside. “What the bloody hell are you doing?”
“I was looking for Tia,” she said innocently.
“We both know who you are looking for,” he said roughly. “Is he upstairs?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” she replied in a hushed tone.
“Yes, you do. Were you upstairs with Jonathon?”
“How could you think I would do such a thing to my husband
?” She pulled her arm out of his grip.
“Because I know exactly the type of woman you are, Emily. My darling Emily,” he sneered.
She looked visibly shaken. “Please don’t tell Tia about us. She is the only friend I have in town.”
“Where’s Jonathon?”
“The last door on the left. But I don’t know if he’s still there.”
“No one has else has come down those stairs.”
She nodded. “I realize that, but the servant staircase is right next to that room.”
“Dammit. Find Tia and tell her I went back upstairs for a moment. And do not let her leave without me.”
“Of course. Where is she?” Emily asked as he reached the middle step.
“The gaming room.”
Braden raced up the stairs and then ran down the corridor. When he reached the last door on the left, he threw open the door so hard it bounced against the linen press. As the door sprung back, he hit it with his fist. “Dammit!”
The room was completely empty. Once again, Jonathon had managed to evade him. He returned downstairs via the servants’ staircase, but as he expected, there was no sign of his brother. He found his way back to the hall, where Tia and Emily waited for him.
“Look who I found,” Tia said. “What were you looking for upstairs?”
“I thought I had dropped something in the bedchamber we . . . searched.”
“Did you find what you were looking for?” Emily asked in an innocent tone.
Braden only shook his head. “No. I was mistaken.”
He was tired of chasing him. Tired of trying to make Jonathon understand how important it was to be responsible. Feeling defeated, he sighed. “Lady Eldridge, may we share a ride with you? I came with my friends, but they are not ready to leave just yet.”
“Of course, my lord.”
By the time they returned home, it was after midnight and Tia was exhausted. The difficulties of trying to find Jonathon had worn them both out. Braden walked to her room and then stopped.
Dark circles lined his eyes. She reached up and cupped his cheek. “You need your rest.”
Vexing the Viscount Page 18
