The Conundrum of a Clerk

by Sande, Linda Rae

  “If you must,” he replied on a sigh.

  By the light of the room’s only lit candle lamp, Daisy studied his chest as she placed a hand atop it. Crisp curls, nearly translucent, formed a thin carpet that tapered over his flat stomach. Beyond that, his manhood stood erect from its nest of dark curls.

  A frisson passed through her body at the reminder of what he had done to her earlier that night. Desire swelled her breasts and hardened her nipples. Despite the fine fabric of her chemise, it felt rough as it slid over her heated skin.

  When she returned her gaze to his face, she was aware of how he had kept his stump in the shirt, hiding it in the bunched up lawn. While she watched him, she pushed her body up and over his, her bent legs straddling his hips. The tips of her fingers caressed the skin just above his manhood, the frissons they created eliciting a growl from deep in his throat.

  Although she considered asking permission, she instead simply impaled herself on his tumescence, earning a, “Bless you,” from Teddy as his one hand moved to cup her bottom. She pulled her chemise from her body, her movements slow and deliberate. She knew he watched, and wondered if he was comparing her body to that of his late wife’s. Wondered if her breasts were fuller or flatter, her belly more rounded or pronounced, her shoulders softer or more angled.

  Leaning forward until her nipples touched his chest, she regarded him for a moment before kissing him on the lips.

  When she finally ended the kiss, she murmured, “I think I shall never tire of doing that.”

  His whispered, “Neither shall I,” was barely audible.

  Then she lifted her bottom until his manhood was nearly free of her body. She slowly lowered it, clenching on him when his hold on her bottom tightened.

  “Neither shall I,” he repeated, his voice sounding strained. He hissed when the edge of a fingernail scraped over a nipple.

  With her hands pressed into the mattress on either side of his chest, Daisy once again lifted her bottom, this time pushing down without a pause. From there, she established a familiar rhythm punctuated by his groans and her pulse.

  When his breathing grew ragged and his hips thrust up to meet hers, she opened herself completely to him, accepting the entire length of him. He filled her near to bursting, the velvet-soft rod setting off a riot of sensations deep within her body.

  Once ecstasy took her in wave after wave of pleasure, his entire body seized, his head tipped back into the pillows, and he allowed a low growl of satisfaction. A moment later, and Daisy collapsed atop him, her head burrowing into the small of his shoulder as she straightened her legs a bit. Her breathing and soft mewls matched his as she clung to his torso.

  Within moments, they were both sound asleep.

  Teddy awoke with a start, aware that bed linens had been pulled atop his body to replace the warm, feminine bundle that was now lying along his side. From the sound of her even breathing, Teddy figured Daisy was asleep. He took a deep breath, reveling in the scent of her hair where it tickled his stump. At some point, his shirt had come loose, exposing the remnant of his right arm.

  Apparently Daisy hadn’t seen it, for she was nestled quite tightly to that side of his body.

  The thought of her sleeping in that very spot every night brought a sigh to his lips at the same time his heart clenched a bit. Given what she had been doing to him just before ecstasy took him from the here and now, he understood why he had wanted her as his mistress that day she had first appeared at the office. Why he now wanted her to be his wife.

  Would she agree to such an arrangement, though?

  There would be decisions to make either way. He couldn’t very well keep her on as headmistress of Warwick’s if she was his wife. And yet, earlier that night, he had promised he wouldn’t fire her given what they were about to do.

  For a moment back then, he had thought just one quick tumble would satisfy his needs for a time.

  Maybe for the rest of his life.

  Then she had employed her feminine wiles on him—seducing him—until he was suddenly standing before her, experiencing a style of sexual congress in which he had never before engaged.

  He would have been satisfied for a time. Would have gladly returned to his life as a clerk, toiling away at a position he was well suited to hold until it was time to either die or be pensioned.

  And then she had climbed atop him and possessed him in a way that had him wanting to be possessed. Wanting to do her every bidding. Wanting to satisfy her in every way possible.

  At what point had his heart decided it wanted in on the action?

  Teddy blinked as he stared at the ceiling.

  He wanted her as a wife, but not just because she was a perfect bedmate.

  I think I love her.

  He swallowed and dared a glance at Daisy, a slight grin coming to his face when he remembered how she had reacted to his kiss. He may not have been her first when it came to sexual congress, but he was her first when it came to kissing.

  Kissing is too intimate, she had said.

  Until tonight, he wouldn’t have believed such a sentiment. Now he knew better.

  Sliding his body sideways until he could step off the bed, Teddy made sure Daisy was still asleep as he crept to the other side of his bedchamber. Opening the jewel box atop his dresser, he searched for the garnet ring he had found among his mother’s possessions. The square cut gemstone was surrounded by diamonds, a design usually done with a sapphire. By the dim light from the candle lamp, he read the inscription on the inside of the gold band, deciding it probably meant something far different when it was bestowed on his grandmother’s finger the century before.

  A circle of stars, a beating heart, come what may, we’ll never part.

  His grandfather, an astronomer of some note, had been near death at the time he had the ring made in Chichester. He was sure his grandmother hadn’t much chance to wear it. She had died within a month of her husband’s death.

  Palming the ring, Teddy climbed back into bed and sighed when Daisy moved an arm to rest on his chest. He carefully slid the ring onto her fourth finger and regarded the bauble for a few minutes before finally settling back into the pillows.

  He fell asleep imagining how he might propose.

  Chapter 35

  An Attempt at Reconciliation

  Sunday morning

  Dawn cast a grayish light over the bed in which Daisy found herself nestled against Teddy. She had a thought to simply dress quickly and take her leave of his house before he awoke. Find a hackney and return to Warwick’s. Act as if she had spent the night in her quarters.

  Then she remembered it was Sunday.

  A combination of relief and dread followed that thought. She didn’t have to rush off, slink away as if she were ashamed of what they had done the night before. But she would have to face Teddy. He deserved to know the truth about her before he discovered it on his own.

  “I cannot recall ever waking up to find something so beautiful in bed with me before.”

  Daisy inhaled, startled to see that Teddy was awake. “Where? What is it?” she asked, lifting herself onto an elbow and glancing about the bedchamber.

  Teddy grinned and bestowed a kiss on her cheek. “Minx,” he accused.

  Sure she was blushing, Daisy sighed and dropped back down to the mattress. “Bounder,” she countered.

  He took one of her hands in his hand and kissed the back of it. “We need to talk,” he said, deciding he would propose right then and there. After their night of wonder, he knew he wanted her as his wife. She had said she wasn’t bothered by his lack of a right arm, and then she had proven it with how she had made love to him. He didn’t dare allow her to leave his house until they had arrangements in place for their life together. “I’ve given this a good deal of thought...”

  Her eyes widening in alarm, Daisy sat up and regarded him for a moment, a blanket pulled up to hide her nakedness. “You promised,” she said in a hoarse whisper, her head shaking back and forth. “You promis
ed, damn you!”

  Before he understood what had her so upset, Teddy felt the sting of a slap across his cheek and saw stars before his eyes. “But...” he started to say before he realized Daisy was already out of the bed, the counterpane following her until she had it wrapped about her body. He could hear her footfalls in the carpet, hear her muttering something about broken promises. Then he heard the door to the bathing chamber slam shut at the same time he felt a thud deep in his chest.

  Daisy stared at her reflection in a shaving mirror. For a moment, she was appalled at how wanton she appeared. Her dark hair was tousled, most of the curls having escaped their pins and the jewel-lined combs that held up her hair. Her lips were a bit swollen. But at least the slight flush on her cheeks had her looking five years younger.

  A good tumble is always good for the complexion, her mother had said. Well, she’d had two of them with Theodore Streater. She wouldn’t have the benefit of any others, it seemed.

  The tears had already collected in the corners of her eyes, and one spilled over to slide down her cheek. Despite his promise he wouldn’t fire her for what they had been about to do, his serious words—we need to talk—merely proved he had lied to her. He had changed his mind. He would probably require she move out of her quarters within the next day or two. She would be forced to return to Ariley Place.

  A sob escaped as she wondered how she would face her father. She knew he wouldn’t gloat, at least. But he would be ever so pleased she was under his roof again. He would probably have a suitor or two lined up by the end of the week. In a month, she would probably be married to some old fart of a viscount with a protruding belly and a bald pate.

  Letting go of the counterpane that barely covered her body, Daisy dropped her face into her hands. Then she split her fingers to regard her reflection in the mirror again.

  She blinked away another round of tears and then stepped closer to the mirror, a flash of red catching her eye.

  And not the red from her teary eyes.

  “What?” She held out one hand before her and regarded it as if it wasn’t attached to the end of her wrist. Or, rather, regarded the ring on her fourth finger.

  She stared at the huge garnet. The image wavered a moment until she could blink away another tear. Then she noticed the circle of diamonds around the blood-red gemstone. “Oh!” she cried out.

  Whirling around, her attention went to the door. Or where the door would have been if it had still been closed.

  Teddy stood there, in all his Greek god glory. Naked, with his right arm sliced off halfway down to what would have been an elbow, he looked as if he could have been any of a number of the marble statues in the British Museum. A perfect body in shape and form, muscle and sinew, broken by the ravages of war.

  Before she could put voice to a question, he took the four steps to get to her and wrapped his one arm around her shoulders, using his hand on the back of her head to bring it to his chest.

  “I think there’s been a misunderstanding,” he murmured. “At least, I... I hope that’s all it is.”

  Daisy sniffled. “Me, too,” she whispered.

  “What did you think I meant when I said we needed to talk?” he asked, his words gentle.

  “That you had decided to fire me,” she replied, the words broken by a couple of sobs. She felt his chest expand beneath her cheek as he inhaled a slow breath.

  “I decided no such thing,” he replied. “I did decide it was time I make an honest woman of you, though. I can’t very well be tumbling the headmistress of Warwick’s if she’s not my wife, now can I?”

  Daisy gasped and pushed her head from his chest. “You wish to marry me?” she asked in awe.

  “Well, you needn’t act so surprised,” he chided. He released his hold on her and moved to take her hand in his. “I meant for you to see this when you first woke up this morning,” he murmured, referring to the ring. His thumb brushed over the backs of her fingers. “It was my grandmother’s.”

  “It’s beautiful,” Daisy said before she sniffled. “And rather... large.”

  “That’s so everyone will know you are betrothed from across a room,” he teased gently. “Even if you didn’t notice it right away.”

  “They’d have to be blind to not see it,” she agreed, swallowing a sob. “I don’t know how I missed it.”

  “You weren’t wearing your spectacles,” he countered, just before he kissed her temple.

  Daisy’s eyes widened before she allowed a sigh. “I don’t really need to wear them. I just use them to play the part,” she admitted. “At least, I didn’t think I needed them.” They did help when she was writing numbers in the ledgers.

  “I can get you something smaller, if you prefer,” he offered, referring to the ring. At first, he wasn’t sure how he would pay for such an extravagance. Then he remembered he might have some of his inheritance left now that Daisy had given him the bank draft to help cover the cost of the repairs to Warwick’s. “A sapphire, perhaps. Or a diamond—”

  “No. It’s perfect,” Daisy interrupted. “Why, if it was a sapphire, it would look like everyone else’s,” she murmured, remembering the diamond-rimmed blue stone on her stepmother’s ring. Her father had always preferred sapphires for his women.

  “Does that mean... you’ll marry me?”

  Daisy inhaled slowly and regarded Teddy for a moment before finally giving him a nod. “I will,” she replied. “But does that mean—?”

  “Given my... altered circumstances, I regret to inform you that you really must continue in your position as headmistress,” he whispered. “At least until—”

  “I will, you bounder,” she said before kissing him. Her attempt awkward at first, she soon had her lips perfectly placed to kiss him quite thoroughly. “But I do hope you don’t expect me to do needlework at night whilst you’re at your men’s club,” she said when she came up for air.

  Teddy frowned. “I don’t plan to go to White’s at night,” he replied. “I’ll merely meet George there after our fencing matches. Maybe go when I get done at the bank on occasion.”

  “I will see to the household ledgers, of course,” she said.

  “Be my guest,” Teddy replied.

  “It will take me some time to learn how to do menus—”

  “My cook has always just seen to putting a meal on the table,” he countered. “And I eat it.”

  Daisy blinked. “As for the servants—”

  “There is a housekeeper, a cook, a scullery maid who sometimes is the laundress, and my valet,” he said with a sigh. “We’ll just need to find you a lady’s maid. Maybe a housemaid,” he offered, deciding his salary would be enough to cover the added expenses.

  Allowing a nod, Daisy realized he had already considered the expenses involved in taking a wife.

  Or had he meant to take a mistress?

  “Tell me, Mr. Streater. Before last night, did you really intend to take a wife?”

  “First, I should like you to call me Teddy. Or Theodore, if you must. And second...” He paused and took a breath. “I never believed there was a woman who would deign to marry me.” He lifted his stump as if to drive home his point, the ruined arm no longer covered by a wound-up shirt sleeve. “So, yes, I thought I was in the market for a mistress.”

  Despite expecting the admission, Daisy still winced. “Did you... offer a contract to anyone?” she asked as she attempted to take a step backwards. She had no intention of marrying the man if he intended to employ a mistress on the side.

  “No,” Teddy assured her, not allowing her out of his hold. “Although I admit I asked George to help in that regard, he seemed ever so hesitant.” His eyes suddenly darted sideways. “And now I think I know why,” he said with an arched brow, his gaze returning to her.

  “Pray tell, why?” Daisy asked.

  Teddy regarded her with a wan smile. “I do believe the man is filling the role of matchmaker until his wife can find one for her new enterprise,” he said with a hint of wonder.
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  Daisy remembered her visit to ‘Finding Work for the Wounded’ on Thursday. Although the shingle was above the door, there hadn’t been a new employee in the office.

  “And he’s doing a fine job,” she whispered, grinning when she remembered the viscount’s words at the theatre the night before.

  “Damn fine,” Teddy agreed. “Excuse the curse.” He pulled Daisy hard against the front of his body. “Come back to bed, won’t you?” he whispered. “It’s Sunday, and I do believe I have a deity I wish to worship. One I find I love with all my heart.”

  A frisson shot through Daisy as she considered his words. “This from a man who is the epitome of a Greek god?” she teased. “At least, the statue of one I find I’m rather in love with?”

  Teddy thrilled at hearing her whispered words. “Your flattery has been noted and will earn you extra rewards, my lady,” he replied with a grin. He kissed her then, slowly, until his manhood pressed hard into her belly.

  “The statue has come to life,” Daisy whispered, one of her brows arching as she pulled away.

  “Will you come back to bed with me?” he asked.

  “May we stay there all day?” she countered, hope in her voice.

  Teddy chuckled. “For the rest of our lives, if you’d like,” he whispered. “Or, at least until tomorrow morning. I have to be at the bank at eight o’clock.”

  “I have to be at Warwick’s then, too,” Daisy replied, her manner all business.

  “Then there’s no time to waste,” he said as he led her back to the bed.

  Or the altar, really, for he spent the rest of the day worshipping his betrothed. And she spent the rest of the day allowing him to do so.

  Chapter 36

  Clearing Up a Misunderstanding

  Monday afternoon

  Having completed his work early, Teddy took his leave of the Bank of England with the intent of paying a visit at Warwick’s. Although he had seen to it Daisy was safely back in her apartment just the evening prior—he had ridden with her in a hackney and then remained in the conveyance until she had disappeared into the building—he had spent the day thinking of her far more than the columns of numbers he should have been auditing.