“That was to be expected,” Lady Devlyn assured. “Remember Courtesan Rule number Twenty-Seven….”
“No gains, without pains,” Serena, Felicity and Bliss said in unison.
“Exactly, ladies,” Lady D said. “I borrowed that from the American, Mr. Benjamin Franklin, in his essay, ‘The Way To Wealth.’ You may remember, Mr. Franklin’s treatise was part of your reading list when studying to become courtesans.”
The ladies nodded.
“How did it feel when Lord Kane invaded your body like a conquering warrior?” Bliss asked.
How could Serena possibly describe what it felt like when Darius had claimed her? “At times it was a little frightening…then at others, the pleasure quite took my breath away.”
“The first time with a new protector can be fraught with some unease, even for an experienced courtesan,” Lady Devlyn said. “You are getting to know each other in the most intimate way. It can be quite daunting. But know this: it will only get better. Both in the bedroom, and for your bank account.”
Her new association with Darius had only served to increase Serena’s mixed emotions. The anger she had nurtured so long against him, and the undeniable passion she felt for him were like oil and water. Yet they both swirled within her breast with as much passion as the other.
For even though he had betrayed her in the worst way, Serena’s physical desire for Darius had never waned. That fact had been painfully apparent the first night she had seen him again in Lady Devlyn’s salon. Her body had never stopped aching for his touch, even during their time apart. Perhaps that had been why his betrayal had hurt so much. As Serena had nursed her broken heart, that same heart had burned for the man who had broken it.
Now Darius was her so-called protector. He had taken Serena as his lover, and would pay handsomely for the privilege. Perhaps Lady Devlyn was right; this was the perfect opportunity to turn the tables on Darius. Serena would have to use all of her courtesan’s training to ensnare Darius in a carefully constructed web of desire.
Their contract had been arranged for a period of six months. At the close of it, Darius would sign over the deed to this townhouse. Other gifts of jewelry and clothes were hers to keep. If they chose to continue their association at that time, the terms would be re-negotiated.
All of his wealth had been acquired through his late wife.
It was ironic that over the next six months, Serena would accumulate some of Miss Barton’s wealth for her own.
It was a courtesan’s dream.
Then why did she feel so strange?
Serena looked up to see Lady Devlyn studying her from across the breakfast table.
“Let us move to the garden, ladies,” Lady D said. “I should like to see more of the property, and it is a lovely morning for a walkabout.”
She stood up from the table, and the ladies followed suit. They all made their way through the dining room to the tall French doors which opened onto the back terrace.
“It’s beautiful,” Bliss enthused as they entered a hedged garden full of fragrant roses and a myriad of colorful flowers. She and Felicity walked arm in arm ahead of Serena and Lady Devlyn, who followed behind.
“I wanted a private word with you, Serena,” Lady D said, “about last night.”
“Have I done something wrong?” Serena asked, concerned.
“Oh no, dear, quite the contrary,” her mentor replied. “I believe you performed admirably. But I hear the confusion in your voice, and I see the unsettled emotion in your eyes. Lord Kane was not rough with you, I hope?”
Serena shook her head.
“Good. You know you can always call on Sharif if you feel things are getting out of hand. He has been there for me in the past, and now he will be there for you.”
“It’s not that.” Serena tried to explain. “Darius was a little rough, I suppose, but not in a distasteful way. He…dominated me physically, in a way I was not expecting.”
“And that is why you are feeling out of sorts today?”
Serena looked down at the clipped grass beneath her feet, wishing her emotions were as neat and orderly as each perfect green blade. “I suppose.”
Lady Devlyn gave Serena’s arm a reassuring squeeze, and said, “My dear, what you are feeling is perfectly natural. Believe me. I was in your shoes, once, and I felt it too. The first night as a full-fledged courtesan is an unforgettable experience, indeed. Add to that the loss of your virginity, and you’re bound to feel a bit confused the next day. It is no different than a new bride feels after her wedding night. If you were my daughter—and in a way, you, Bliss and Felicity are like my daughters—I would tell you not to fret, and not to over-think what has happened between you and Lord Kane. One thing our society seems to forget is that sex is natural. When a man enters a woman’s body with his enlarged sex, it is natural. And when you feel pleasure…that is natural, too. It is better to swim with the rising tide than to fight against it.”
They approached a fragrant centifolia rosebush and Serena lifted one of the blooms to her nose, inhaling the heady scent. Lady Devlyn followed suit, breathing in the sweet fragrance of the pale pink blossom.
“The female sex is much like this rose,” Lady D said. “The flower, when it blooms, is unequal in beauty. An air of mystery surrounds it, for it is both fragile and strong. The petals are delicate and soft, while the plant itself is incredibly hardy. And once the flower fully opens, its power is unparalleled.” Serena thought of Darius then, of the expression on his face when he’d spent himself inside her. The hard lines had softened just a little, his blue eyes, which could blaze with animal passion, had shown a hint of vulnerability. Perhaps their raw exchange had affected him, too.
“Did you find release?” Lady Devlyn asked.
Serena’s stomach shuddered at the memory. Oh, she had found release, alright. Darius had brought her to it multiple times. “Yes,” she replied.
“Then you should be pleased with how well it went,” Lady D assured. “As you learned in your studies, it is important that the man you are with thinks he has pleasured you beyond all imaginings. If that means you must act a part, then so be it. But it is always more convincing if the response is real. Brava, my dear.”
Lady D gave Serena’s shoulder a quick hug as they walked, and said, “The hard part is over. Now, you must simply keep Lord Kane enthralled—so enthralled that he showers you with jewels and other extravagant gifts. You are on your way to acquiring much wealth, my dear, first with Kane, and then with other wealthy gentlemen who will line up to be your next protector.”
It all sounded so deliciously simple when Lady Devlyn described it that way. But there was one catch. To be a successful courtesan, one had to keep complete control over one’s emotions. And that was something Serena was still learning to do.
She only hoped she would be able to master that particular skill before the six months with Darius was up.
Otherwise, she might find herself left with a bit more baggage than she’d bargained for. For though her lessons in the art of becoming a courtesan had covered almost every topic and situation that might arise, there was one thing that Serena had not been prepared for.
The masculine power of Darius himself.
* * *
Darius had chosen not to accompany Havelock to their club, choosing instead to go over the business ledgers of his estates. He found that after his night with Serena, he desired to be alone. He had been neglecting his family duties in this regard ever since he began pursuing Serena, and this would allow him to kill two birds with one stone.
The only thing he hadn`t counted on was his damned distracted mind. It refused to turn its attention to the figures staring up from the ledger, preferring instead to ruminate over the most passionate night he had ever known.
Serena’s skin, bare and quivering under his touch. Her mouth, soft and yielding beneath his. Her eyes, brimming with passion, begging him not to stop. Her body, opening for him as he entered her and claimed her virginit
y.
Darius cursed under his breath, adjusting his trousers to make more room in the tightening crotch. It seemed another organ, besides his brain, remembered the evening with his courtesan all too clearly, indeed.
His first night with Serena had been everything he could have imagined, and more. He had never felt more painfully aroused, had never felt more spent when he`d emptied himself deep within her. They’d drifted into a light sleep afterward, then awoken to do it all over again…and again.
When he`d finally taken his leave, he had found his long-suffering driver asleep at the table in the servant’s kitchen below stairs. It had been well after midnight by then.
When Darius climbed into his own bed about half an hour later, he had slept like a rock until morning.
He now found himself wondering how Serena was feeling. He worried that he had not been gentle enough, especially since it was her first time. In fact, it had been his intention to do exactly that. But Serena Ransom had a strange effect on him. He never felt so consumed with animal passion than he did in her presence. Something about her ignited his desire more than any other woman had. It had been that way since the first moment he’d seen her at a society ball that first Season.
Was it her beauty, he wondered? She was physically exquisite, there was no doubt. The mysterious green eyes, the thick, auburn tresses, the ivory skin…Her appearance was breathtaking. But it was more than that. It was the intelligence and passion that burned in her eyes, the defiant, yet vulnerable curve of her mouth, the unbidden response to his touch that made Serena so irresistible.
No other woman could compare with her, and now at last, she was his. A niggling voice inside his head added, ‘for the moment.’
Darius admonished himself for overthinking the situation. He had just enjoyed the first night of their six month contract. There would be many more nights like the one last. In fact, he intended to visit the townhouse and enjoy her every night this week. A year of pent-up desire was trapped in his blood and demanded to be released.
And release it he would, deep between Serena’s tantalizing thighs.
The fact that there would be no child from their coupling was more of a relief than he could have imagined. Lady Devlyn had schooled the Courtesan Club well. They all knew which herbal concoctions would prevent a baby from being planted in their bellies. It was very freeing to be able to enjoy physical pleasure without the pressure of being careful with one’s seed.
An image popped into his mind then, of Serena heavily pregnant with his child, smiling radiantly up at him. He found the idea strangely arousing.
What if she did become pregnant? Would he marry her, then? How could he, now that all of London knew about her profession? His mother would never allow it. She had never forgiven him for the previous scandal he and Serena had caused at Telford House. His mother would rather die, or better yet, see him run through, than married to a scandalous woman.
He banished those negative thoughts. He was not going to let such worries diminish his newfound pleasure with Serena. After all he had endured with Henrietta, he deserved a bit of happiness.
For the next six months, Serena Ransom was totally and completely his. She would warm his bed, she would amuse him with conversation, and she would sooth his senses with her beauty and her body.
And after their six month contract was over, what then? Would Serena wish to carry on as his private courtesan? Darius fought to banish the thought. For though he now held the power in their relationship, he dreaded the day when she would hold all the cards.
Because although Serena herself was unaware of the fact, his courtesan held much more power in her delicate little hands than she could possibly know.
BOOK II
Chapter 13
“It is during the course of an association that the courtesan’s talent truly comes to light. Like Scheherazade in ‘One Thousand and One Nights,’ she must keep her protector enthralled night after night.”
–from Memoirs of a Courtesan, by Lady Night
October, 1820
London
Serena sat on the floor in a perfect middle splits position, pointing her bare toes like a ballerina, and leaning forward with her elbows on the carpet. Perhaps the floor of her opulent bedroom was an odd place to study a book, but the Turkish carpet of scarlet and gold was comfortable, and she enjoyed lying thus with her chin propped in one hand, while she turned pages with the other.
The blousy, loose fitting harem pants—a gift from Lady Devlyn—allowed her delicious freedom of movement, one that Serena guessed most proper ladies of the ton would have no inkling about. She pitied them. A matching tunic of bright robin’s egg blue whispered over her naked skin, the sheer, gauzy silk tantalizingly sensuous. She stretched her legs wider, feeling the sweet tension of her inner thighs as she limbered them.
Almost five months had passed since she had taken Darius as her lover, and she had truly blossomed into her new role. Serena was something of a celebrity, now, just as Lady Devlyn had assured her she would be.
At social engagements, she and Darius had undoubtedly been the main attraction. The papers abounded with sightings of Lord Kane and his beautiful courtesan shopping on Bond Street, enjoying a play or opera at the Theater Royale, or seated in a private box at Vauxhall Gardens with the rest of the Courtesan Club, Lady Devlyn, and Major Price in attendance.
The men of the ton still looked at Serena with lust in their eyes, but the women now gazed at her not so much with open hostility, but a mixture of restrained curiosity and what appeared to be envy. Perhaps being in an exclusive relationship with Lord Kane had alleviated their fears somewhat. They knew that for the time being, their husbands were safe. Though Serena’s contract with Darius would soon come to an end.
Neither of them had spoken about it, Darius most likely assuming that they would continue on together, while Serena had been content to avoid the subject altogether.
Everything was going according to plan.
Her plan, this time.
Darius Manning needed to be taught a lesson he wouldn’t soon forget. And to quote Lady Devlyn, ‘A man usually only learned anything if his cock was involved.’
Judging by last night’s activities, Darius’s member was very involved.
Serena gave a self-satisfied smile at the memory. She had taken him to new heights of pleasure, using only her tongue and mouth on his throbbing sex. It was her favorite way to assert carnal power over him. After that kind of attention from Serena, Darius would often say that she had rendered him immobile, having been emptied of all strength.
Serena had become accustomed to their sexual relationship, at least as much as she could be. She could never truly relax around Darius, for fear that she would let down her guard and once again become the same vulnerable girl he’d seduced at Telford House.
Sometimes, after Darius had used his body to make hers sing with delicious passion, Serena would be a hairsbreadth away from becoming that girl again—the one who had first melted in his arms like butter.
But she always regained her sanity before it got out of hand.
He was good at this game, there was no doubt about that.
But Serena was better.
And Darius was about to find out exactly how much better.
He was due to arrive at any moment. They had been invited to an assembly for music and a poetry reading at the Mayfair home of the Marquess and Marchioness of Rochford. What with Queen Caroline’s trial in Parliament, many of the nobility had remained in town after the Season came to a close, organizing musicales and card parties to entertain themselves in the evenings.
Serena stretched her back and extended her arms toward the ceiling. Then she bent her upper body towards each pointed foot, feeling her muscles elongate and relax. She supposed most women didn’t practice daily exercise, but this was part of her job, now. Staying in top shape allowed her to hone her sexual skills and keep Darius always wanting more.
It was a curious dance they did. Th
e physical intimacy between them was raw and intense, but that was as far as it went. And though Serena was certain Darius could sometimes glimpse a vision of her soul when he made her shatter with pleasure, she had become skilled at quickly recovering control. Though she took him into her body, she never took him into her heart.
What they did was just sex.
It was not making love.
In order to make love with Darius, Serena would have had to open her heart to him as well as her legs. And she was far too intelligent to do that.
For his part, Darius seemed content with their arrangement. He was no different from any other man, as Lady Devlyn assured her, for the organ between his legs overruled the one that beat within his breast. Darius Manning was many things, but a sentimental fool was not one of them. Serena doubted very much that Darius moped about, wishing for a more spiritual connection with her. What he had was every man’s wet dream—a business arrangement that provided him with a skilled sexual partner, and nothing more.
Serena couldn’t help but wonder, then, how Darius would react when she told him their association was at an end.
Would he argue with her? Would he become violent and throw something against the wall in frustration? Or would he merely shrug, and offer Serena her final wages?
Something made her doubt the latter. Darius was a possessive man, a passionate man. But in their battle of wills, would he let her see any weakness that an argument would suggest?
She did not know the answer to that.
But what she did know was that the Duke of Balfour was interested in her once again. She had recently received a letter from His Grace, posted from Balfour Abbey in Wiltshire, where he had been attending to the management of his estate. He would be in London for Lord and Lady Rochford’s musicale and hoped that she too would be in attendance. There was something of import he wished to discuss with her….
The fact that Darius would be squiring her did not worry Serena. She would find a moment or two to reacquaint herself with the duke. She would say this for him: His Grace’s timing was impeccable.
His Courtesan Bride (Brides of Mayfair 3) Page 13
