Persuasion

by Owner

  her death. It had struck a chord with Lily, for she herself was still living with

  her grief for her papa. But of this particular Earl, there was little gossip to be

  had. He lived a far too cloistered and sheltered life for it to be of any interest

  to the scavengers of the ton.

  But why this man was asking her to do this, she did not know and if she

  weren't so frightened, would have thought the entire situation a complete

  and utter farce!

  “You love your mother, do you not, my lady?”

  Lily gasped and this time, she did spin around but the sudden clamping of

  two fierce hands about her upper arms kept her in position. She cringed as

  she felt the heat of his body against her.

  “Why do you dare to bring up my mother?”

  “Lives are fragile, my lady.” He laughed. “But then, you know that. You've

  just lost your father and understand how it feels to lose someone so close to

  you . . . . How would you feel were your mother to suddenly disappear?”

  Fear ripped through her with a frightening speed. It was followed closely by

  a nauseous sickness that rushed through her system and had her almost

  vomiting over the balcony!

  “You would not do such a thing! My mother is innocent! I . . . I am innocent!

  Why are you doing this?”

  “You do not know me, girl. You do not know what drives me. I will kill your

  mother without a moment's hesitation and will do much more than a delicate

  lady such as yourself can even comprehend. I will make her suffer until her

  last breath, until she begs me to kill her, to end her suffering. Believe this

  like you believe in naught else.”

  “But I cannot seduce the Earl! I wouldn't even know what to do!” she cried.

  “There are far more experienced women, surely they can help?”

  “Do not waste my time. It is a precious commodity. Nor should you play with

  me. Is your mother's life not worthy of this? Are you saying that you will not

  do it and press me to kill her?”

  “No!” she gasped and began to struggle within his grasp. “No, please do not!

  My mama is my everything . . . I shall do it. I do not know how to do it, for I

  have never seduced anyone before, but I shall try. I cannot guarantee that I

  will succeed.”

  “You shall just have to find a way then, shan't you, Lady Lily? Failure is not

  an option. Do not forget your motivation, for I certainly shan't! I will be

  keeping an eye on you and shall send word of the Earl's arrival to your

  aunt's home. I want to see you flirting and playing up to him on the very

  first occasion you both attend. If I don't . . . well, we both know what will

  happen to your mother, don't we?”

  With that threat uttered, he disappeared and left her gulping for breath as

  terror and a feeling of being quite lost beyond all salvation drowned her

  alive.

  She stood there, gasping, when Mr. Derricks returned with her drink. She

  snatched it from his hand, murmured a quick but harried thank you and

  drank the entire punch in one instant.

  “Dear lady, are you quite yourself?” Mr. Derricks asked, concerned.

  “Yes.” Her reply was faint and such a lie, that she was surprised she was not

  struck dead with a bolt of lightning from the heavens.

  Shudders began to rack her slight frame and taking it as a sign that she was

  cold, he took her arm and led her quickly from the verandah and into the

  warmth of the ballroom.

  Before she even realized it, Mr. Derricks had chivalrously delivered her to

  her aunt and within ten minutes, she was being stuffed into her uncle's

  carriage with Aunt Millie's smelling salts wafted every now and then under

  her nose as they traveled hurriedly through London and to their Mayfair

  home.

  Chapter Three

  Feeling terribly like some sort of ludicrous French spy, Lily looked around

  Lady Greene's ballroom in the vain hope that Earl fforbes-Hyde would be

  here. A part of her felt almost like dropping to her knees and praying to God

  for guidance, and the other felt like fleeing, but how could she? Her mother's

  life was in danger! To simply not go through with that mad man's plan could

  place her mama in serious peril and even though the man might simply be

  playing with her, for whatever nefarious reason, she could not take the

  chance!

  This morning, when Janie had passed her the silver salver with the missive

  resting upon it, she had felt almost as though she were about to touch

  molten glass! Instinctively, she had known who had sent it and had dreaded

  reading it. As soon as the paper had touched her fingers, she had felt as

  though it had indeed been as hot as hell.

  It had simply said:

  fforbes-Hyde arrived in London this night past. Is due to attend the Greene

  ball- be there or Mother dearest will suffer. Don't forget. I won't.

  Any thoughts she had about ignoring the letter had instantly dissipated and

  so, here she was. The thought of her mama being in danger, was more

  terrifying than words could say and so, the seduction was due to commence

  as soon as she could set her eyes upon the esteemed Lord and all Lily could

  do, was simply endure the situation.

  And it would be just that, a test of endurance. Being completely in the dark

  as she was about seduction and its art forms . . . well, it had her pushed

  between constantly flushing and blanching.

  With the odds so terrifyingly against her and her beloved mama, Lily felt

  disgustingly disadvantaged. Indeed, she wasn't even sure if she could follow

  through with the entire plan, for what occurred in a seduction was still

  beyond her.

  The days prior to her having received the missive, she had attempted to

  gently quiz her aunt, who had also managed to both flush and blanch with

  great success. Thereafter, Lily had dropped the topic, for it was quite

  obvious that her aunt was terribly discomforted by the whole thing. Although

  why, she did not understand. Surely . . . it was a natural process? Her

  distress had shot Lily's own tension into the sky, for was it so horrid? So

  terrible that it was quite sufficient for a woman of her aunt's age and

  experience to be so horrified by the entire thing?

  Janie had been a little helpful, but more bewildering than anything else.

  There had been a lot of coughs and nervous laughs. “Eh, miss, you shouldn't

  be asking me this,” Janie had oft muttered, flustered with embarrassment.

  There had also been awkward bobbing curtsies and quick, harried escapes

  until she'd had to almost pin her down and ask what seduction entailed and

  again, hardly any information had been imparted and Lily was left feeling

  more confused than ever!

  Thus Lily felt unbearably lacking in knowledge of what she would be taking

  on with this mission of hers. All she knew was that her ultimate fate did not

  appear to be all that fortuitous!

  Having stayed close to her aunt throughout the entire evening, for Millie was

  bound to point out the eligible bachelors in the room at will, her

  steadfastness proved successful for almost out of nowhere, Aunt Millie's fan

  was raised and begun to flutter.

  “Lily,” she
hissed behind the fan.

  “Yes?”

  “Look at the fireplace, by the Neville chit.”

  “The Neville chit?”

  Aunt Millie sighed impatiently. “Yes! The Neville chit, in the entirely

  inappropriate brown taffeta! The girl looks like a wren!”

  Feeling very unkind, for Lily's eyes instantly found the 'wren', she winced.

  “Yes, I can see her,” she murmured.

  “Look at the green fireplace, beside it, the blond man.”

  “What about him?”

  “It seems Earl fforbes-Hyde has returned to the ton's bosom!”

  “That is he?” she asked, faintly surprised. Now that he was here, she felt

  both terrified and relieved and her voice reflected that melange of emotion.

  “Yes. He always was a handsome devil! And I must say that he does not

  appear to be too pleased to be here!”

  Now that was quite an understatement. His face was a picture of bored

  disdain. Indeed, disdain was too polite a word to use. He looked completely

  and utterly disinterested by his environs and as though he would rather be

  anywhere else but here.

  In fact, his expression reminded her of herself and her own weariness at the

  ton's seemingly endless events before that evil man had pushed her into this

  ridiculous yet horrifying situation!

  The Earl was surrounded by men she could only assume were his friends.

  Surely, if they were not, they would not be standing with him, not with that

  sourpuss face, at least!

  From her memory, she could easily recall each of the men there and every

  single one of them were below par. Rakes and men that at some point or

  another during the Season her aunt had warned her against seemed to

  make up the entire group!

  A part of her wondered why he had attended the ball if the entertainment

  did not make him happy. But then, it did not make her happy either, yet

  here she was and had been throughout all the other soirees she'd had to

  attend. So Lily supposed that she could not really make an issue out of that

  particular fact!

  As soon as her eyes spotted him and her gaze touched him, Lily instantly

  recalled that the . . . the . . . she resorted to a word her brother used and

  one her parents had scolded him for . . . bastard had told her he would be

  watching her and instantly, she felt as though all eyes were on her. As

  though her every move were being watched and she were currently under

  examination by the horrible devil who had set her this dastardly task.

  Sucking in a breath, once more she was assailed with fear. Fear for the

  unknown and fear for her mother. How was she to proceed? How did one go

  about seducing a man? What was she to do?

  Lily felt so completely lost, that despair rushed through her and she had to

  close her eyes to withhold the tears that longed to fall. Swiftly, for her aunt

  could be the very devil if she spotted emotion, Lily pressed the thumb and

  finger of her left hand together fiercely, until the joints literally hurt and only

  then, did the tears cease. She blew out a quiet breath and felt it whistle

  slightly between her teeth.

  Lily straightened her back and then forced herself to look at him and study

  him in detail. As she did so, she wondered how on earth she would be able

  to approach him. To simply walk up to him . . . . It just was not done. Ladies

  never approached gentlemen! But Lily had to admit, that were she ever to

  break the rules, then it would be for the particular gentleman standing

  before her. She shook her head at the thought, but it would not be denied.

  There was an air about him, a somber yet restrained attitude that seemed to

  suit his blond looks. His face was tanned which told its own tale and she

  knew that he would be an outdoor man and not a dandy who was afeared of

  the sun! From this distance, she could see his green as grass eyes which

  were as piercing as glass and just as quick to cut. His jaw was strong, as

  was his aquiline nose and in general, he was a man that many of his own

  sex would aspire to be like.

  He made a dashing figure in the tight fawn breeches, which were tucked into

  gleaming Hessians. A taut emerald green waistcoat fitted him perfectly and

  set off the light in his eyes. His cravat and linen shirt were perfection, the

  former being a waterfall of tumbling material, which was the only

  unrestrained part of his outfit. His jacket displayed his broad shoulders

  delightfully and added to his aura of strength.

  Despite herself, she felt a frisson of something rush through her and Lily

  wished that she knew what it meant. Regardless of her fear of the situation

  she found herself in, this frisson touched parts of her she had never even

  known about, parts that had never before been touched! But Lily wasn't

  altogether sure that it was that fabulous a time to actually be experiencing

  something of that nature!

  Inwardly grimacing, she separated from her aunt with an air kiss to her

  cheek and then departed to the refreshment table, which was fortunately

  close to his position. When she moved, she kept her head tilted towards the

  Earl's location and managed to look at him without seemingly doing so. In

  fact, she could almost liken herself to the afore-mentioned French spy! Only

  this time, it was not so ludicrous.

  As she perused the tempting foods on display, her stomach rumbled a tad,

  but she realized that to take a bite of anything but a very light ice, would be

  like tasting ashes and as such, hideous! With a sad smile, she discarded the

  tasty tarts and treats and simply cast her eye over the length of the table

  and then, fortune smiled on her. For she heard the butler call out that the

  next dance would be the choice of the ladies!

  Was fate on her side, she wondered, as she swiftly moved down the length

  of the table and returned to her earlier position. Within seconds, she found

  herself standing before him and his set, which had suddenly ceased their

  bantering and had grown silent.

  Lily stared at the Earl for what felt like endless moments and although she

  was aware that the men were making sly and very quiet, so as not to offend

  her, innuendo, she easily ignored it. Completely unaware of her beauty and

  the effect she had on the man she was staring at and those that surrounded

  him. All she felt was . . . fear, discomfort and God help her . . . excitement!

  What was wrong with her?

  Her mouth felt dry as her eyes met his and she felt almost pierced to the

  core with that same frisson that she did not understand. Before she could

  make a larger fool of herself by simply standing there like a cursed

  bedlamite, Lily curtsied. “Lady's choice, my lord,” she murmured, her voice

  soft and as feminine as she could make it.

  The Earl scowled. But then obviously realized that he could not refuse

  without causing a fuss and so, he ironed out the frown on his forehead and

  plastered on an obviously false smile. He then held out a reluctant hand and

  bowed. “My Lady?”

  “Lady Lily Mercer, my lord.”

  “Earl fforbes-Hyde, my lady.”

  The formality was stifling but appearances were always considered in this

  superficia
l ton of theirs and as he led her away from his sniggering-like-

  schoolboys friends, it was difficult not to turn her head and stick out her

  tongue at the fools. Only the fact that she was in one of the most artificial

  places prevented her. It would have spread around like gossip that one of

  the diamonds of the ton had taken to acting like a saucy chit and to deal

  with the aftermath of such talk was beyond her at that moment!

  Gracefully, he took her to the dance floor and instantly led her into a waltz.

  Lily thanked the Lord that she'd already attended Almack's and had received

  permission from the Lady Patronesses to dance this particular dance, for

  again talk would surely have followed! In her current situation, with this

  threat hanging over her head like the sword of Damocles, it was the last

  thing she needed to be at the center of such gossip!

  Not that her mind was actually on the threat, not when her partner danced

  like a dream come true. It was like floating on air with him and it was

  something she had never before experienced. In fact, it seemed that tonight

  was a night of firsts!

  And while she was enjoying herself and could enjoy the sheer pleasure of

  being with a man who could dance as perfectly as he did, she knew that he

  did not feel the same. It was evident in the stiffness of his form- which

  somehow did not affect his dancing- and also in the cast of his face, which

  throughout the entire dance seemed to be set in stone!

  She found herself . . . actually feeling upset by this. Dancing with him sent

  these strange fizzles through her, feelings that she could only liken to

  pleasure, yet he looked as miserable as sin.

  Was it even possible to feel pleasure from this? Was it? How could she feel

  pleasure from something that was being forced upon her?

  She wanted to speak, to say something to him, but his expression seemed

  to forbid it and as he held her close and spun her around the ballroom, she

  felt a tense excitement course through her as their bodies met and turned

  and twisted as they danced. When the music came to a halt, they paused

  there in silence. Their eyes close, their mouths even closer and she felt a

  sudden urge to shorten the tiny gap that separated them and press her lips

  to his.

  For a moment, he hesitated and she felt certain that he was going to take