Secrets of a Proper Lady

by Victoria Alexander

  “Did you know there are many places in the world where the natives wear very little clothing whatsoever?” Her voice was absent, her touch light, curious and unrelenting.

  He gritted his teeth. “I suspect their winters are milder than ours.”

  Her gaze drifted to his erection. “I suppose that’s the reason, yes. Did I mention that you are naked?”

  “Yes.” The word was a slow hiss.

  “It doesn’t seem quite fair does it?” Her gaze slid up to his and she smiled a slow, wicked smile. She pulled her chemise off over her head and discarded it. “Is this better?”

  “Better?” Better than what? Paradise? She was curved and lush in precisely the areas where he preferred curved and lush. Her ivory skin was shadowed with peach and he wanted nothing more than to…No, he wanted much, much more.

  “Now that I’m naked as well?”

  “You still have your stockings on.” He scooped her into his arms and started toward the bedroom. “This will only complicate things you know.”

  “Then I shall be happy to take my stockings off.”

  He shoved the door of his bedroom open with his foot. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

  “Perhaps. Nonetheless, I suspect.” She nibbled lightly on the lobe of his ear and desire shivered through him. “It will be a glorious complication.”

  The greatest adventure of travel lies in the discovery of the unexpected and the anticipation of what might be around the next corner.

  An English Lady’s Traveling Companion

  Chapter 13

  My Dear Mr. Sinclair,

  Your apology is accepted and no more need be said on the subject. Although I do feel it necessary to offer an apology of my own. Not for my opinions but for my intolerance of yours. You take pride in your country’s accomplishments, as well you should, and you express your pride with great passion.

  There is much to be admired about passion…

  They tumbled onto the bed in a tangled mass of limbs and heated desire. Cordelia had never been this close to a man before and certainly never without clothes. It was at once odd and liberating. She’d been kissed by a man before, any number of times. But a man had never kissed her where Daniel had already kissed her and where she suspected he might still kiss her.

  Right now, his mouth was trailing kisses over her neck and throat. His hand was lightly caressing her breasts in far too teasing a manner but most delightful nonetheless. Oh, he was very good at this. She really hadn’t intended seduction when she’d thrown herself into his arms. She really hadn’t intended much of anything beyond making him think how fond she had become of Warren in a probably misguided attempt to teach him a lesson.

  He moved to take a nipple in his mouth and his hand trailed over her stomach. She caught her breath. Of course, if she’d had any idea seduction would feel quite this remarkable perhaps she would have intended it from the beginning. She still wasn’t sure at what moment flirtation had turned to something far more serious. At which second some wanton, never before suspected aspect of her nature had swept away all sense of reason. Perhaps the turning point was the very instant he had asked if she were trying to seduce him. Or when the most intense sense of desire had swept through her and heat had pooled low in her body.

  His hand drifted lower and she wanted…everything. She might well be inexperienced but she was well aware of what everything entailed. And while she might once have thought it all sounded rather nasty, she could certainly see the appeal of it now. She wasn’t used to being wanton although—his hand slipped between her legs and she gasped—there certainly was a great deal to say for it, and had no idea how to proceed. Still, given she was lying on his bed naked and he was lying beside her, equally naked, with a rather impressive appendage aimed—and truly there was no other word for it but aimed—directly at her, with his tongue caressing her breast and his hand between her legs, she was probably proceeding just fine. She did plan to marry him after all and even though, in a strictly moral sense, she well knew this was wrong, it seemed to her that it scarcely made any difference whether he took her innocence tonight or later. Although, one could argue he was not so much taking as accepting.

  His fingers found that point of sheer sensitivity between her legs that she had long been aware of and her body jerked. Her hand clutched at his but she did not push it away. Perhaps she had always been somewhat wanton after all. Her legs fell open and he caressed her slowly in a manner obviously designed to torture. She gasped for breath and arched upward and pressed his hand harder against her. His fingers were slick and slid over her in an increasing rhythm. The most exquisite sensations coursed through her and she could think of nothing save that spiraling tension within her and the source of pleasure between her legs. Her breath came in short choppy huffs and she ceased to exist outside the touch of his hand and the need gripping her.

  Without warning he stopped, shifted to kneel between her legs and before she could protest the absence of his hand, guided his erection slowly into her. While she was tight around him, he slid into her with an ease she attributed to years of riding horses and camels and donkeys and noted how amazing the information one accumulated through travel was. Indeed, while there was a touch of discomfort, and the sensation of fullness was odd, it was not unpleasant. And when he was fully sheathed in her she thought this wasn’t anywhere near as painful as she’d been warned. Indeed, it really wasn’t painful at all, rather unique and not unpleasant. He withdrew slowly then slid back into her. No, definitely not unpleasant. He repeated the action. Not unpleasant at all, really rather nice.

  The rhythm of his movements increased. Rather nice indeed and growing nicer with each passing moment. She arched her hips upwards to meet his and urge him on. They moved together in tandem, in ever increasing measure like a primitive dance, as old as time as natural as the stars. Her body throbbed with pleasure and an ever mounting need for something just out of reach. For something unknown, something unimagined, something magnificent. She lost herself in the feel of his body hot against hers, the surge of the blood in her veins, the intensity of the desire growing ever stronger within her. She existed only in sensation, remarkable and intoxicating. She struggled for breath and yearned for release and strained for more. She had never imagined, never dreamed, never suspected. He thrust harder and her body jerked upward of its own accord. Abruptly pure delight shattered within her and wave after wave of ecstasy washed through her. Dimly, through the roar of blood in her ears, she heard him gasp and felt him shudder against her. A moment later he stilled, his breathing labored, his heart thudding against her own and she reveled in his heat, of being surrounded and filled by him. Of being one with him. And the loveliest sense of contentment claimed her.

  He pulled out of her, shifted to one side but continued to hold her close. When her breathing had at last returned to normal she considered the situation. What was she going to do now?

  Certainly she could tell him the truth but then he already knew the truth. And while she hadn’t intended seduction she had intended a lesson of some sort. This was not exactly a lesson although she had certainly learned quite a bit. Even now, flushed in the warm aftermath of their lovemaking it did seem some sort of retribution was in order. Unfortunately at the moment she didn’t feel like doing much of anything beyond staying right where she was, curled up in his arms.

  “We have a great deal to talk about,” he said softly

  “Do we?” Her head rested on his chest and she could hear the beat of his heart in harmony with her own.

  “Yes, I think we do. What do you want to talk about?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. This seems like the perfect time to discuss Egyptian funeral practices or Lycian sculpture.”

  She laughed. “I believe we’ve done that.”

  “Then we might wish to discuss the future rather than the past although it’s often difficult to move forward until what’s gone before has been resolved.” He paused. “This might be the right time f
or secrets, revelations, confessions that sort of thing.”

  “Confessions?” She pulled away from him, rolled on her side, and propped her head in her hand. “You mean of our sins?”

  “Of our sins and…other things.” he said slowly.

  “We already know our sins. Quite well I would say. Enjoyable sins at that.” She cast him a wicked grin. “I would imagine God already knows our sins as well so we needn’t confess to him. As for the rest of the world, I would just as soon keep our sins to ourselves, if you don’t mind.”

  “I didn’t mean confess to the world. I just meant confess to each other. If there was anything one felt compelled to confess.”

  “Do you feel the need for confession then? The baring of your soul. The revelation of all your secrets?” She studied him carefully.

  She’d been deceiving him as to who she really was but then he’d been deceiving her as well. Worse, he knew of her deception and might well have known all along. For some reason that, more than anything else, was the most upsetting part of all this. She felt like a fool. No, he still needed to be taught some sort of lesson. She fully intended to spend the rest of her life with him, but giving him the upper hand from the start of their lives together did not seem like a wise idea.

  Of course, if he were to confess all right now, she’d be more than willing to confess as well. And apologize. Admittedly, she did owe him that.

  “Go on then,” she said brightly. “Confess.”

  He paused for a moment. “I suppose I don’t really have anything to confess.”

  She stared at him. “Nothing at all?”

  He shook his head slowly. “No.”

  “How disappointing,” she said lightly, although she was indeed disappointed. She hadn’t realized it, but she wouldn’t mind ending this entire charade right now. Tell the man she loved that she did indeed love him. That she did as well wish to marry him and make her father and everyone else, including herself, happy. “I do love hearing other people’s secrets.”

  “Do you have any secrets? Anything you’d like to confess?” he asked casually.

  “I have any number of secrets and probably all sorts of things I should confess.” She cast him a brilliant smile. If he was going to continue to play this game, so would she. And she’d play it better. She had the advantage now. She sat up and scooted to the edge of the bed. “The first thing I should confess is that it’s getting late and I should be going before my absence is noted.” She scanned the floor, looking for her undergarments and realized her clothes were all in the parlor.

  Well, this was awkward. She didn’t want to leap out of bed stark naked. Odd, when one considered that Daniel had certainly seen her naked, as well as touched very nearly every naked part of her.

  He scoffed. “That’s not much of a confession.”

  “Well then, here’s another. I confess that I’m somewhat, well, embarrassed at the thought of you watching me wander around without clothes trying to find my clothes.”

  He laughed, threw the covers back, and got out of bed. Daniel strode across the room without so much as a moment of hesitation. He certainly didn’t suffer embarrassment of any sort. Probably an American attitude. He was rather magnificent and was obviously well aware of it. Who was he really? Was he the kind, funny, clever man she’d grown to know? To love? Or was he the arrogant beast of his letters?

  Good God—what had she done?

  Her stomach twisted. She’d never been swept away by passion before. Indeed, she’d never so much as tasted passion before. Perhaps she’d allowed herself to give in to desire because she knew he was the man she would ultimately marry. Still, that was no excuse. She should have kept her head. Or her heart. Or both. Now she was ruined and he, whomever he really was, had ruined her. Worse, she’d been a willing, eager participant.

  Daniel returned with her clothes in his arms and dumped them on the bed. He had taken the time to put his own clothes back on. He nodded toward the parlor. “Would you prefer that I wait—”

  “Yes, please,” she said gratefully. “Although I might need your help.”

  “Always at your service.” He grinned and took his leave.

  She quickly scrambled into her undergarments, fastened her corset, and slipped into her dress. Then she stepped into the other room. “Would you be so kind as to do what you undid?”

  “I’d be honored.” He moved behind her and began to fasten her bodice.

  How very odd that after all they had shared, his assistance now struck her as more intimate than anything else. More personal somehow, more…binding. Maybe a bit of confession really was good for the soul. Her soul would certainly feel better if everything were out in the open. If one looked at the situation objectively, one might say that, as she had started their masquerade, she should be the one to end it. It wouldn’t be easy but what in life worth doing was? Still, before tonight she’d been worried that revealing the truth would hurt him. Now that she knew of his deception and knew that he had known of hers, that was no longer a concern. Why, they might even laugh about it someday.

  She drew a deep breath. “I do have a confession of sorts.”

  “Do you?”

  “I have not been completely honest with you.”

  “You haven’t?”

  “I’m not who you think I am.”

  “Oh?” He kissed the back of her neck. “Finished.”

  This was more difficult than she’d expected. She summoned her resolve and turned to face him. “I’m not Sarah Palmer.” She lifted her chin and met his gaze directly. “I’m Lady Cordelia Bannister.”

  “You are?” He gasped, feigned shock on his face. “That is a confession.”

  “And?” she prompted.

  “And I’m shocked, stunned.” He drew his brows together in apparent dismay. The man was an awful actor. How had he managed to keep up the pretense of being someone else for so long? “I certainly did not expect that.”

  She stared at him for a long moment. She had confessed, why hadn’t he? What was he up to now? “Don’t you have anything to say?”

  “Absolutely.” He nodded firmly. “Why were you pretending to be Miss Palmer?”

  “It was an error in judgment. A mistake on my part.” And apparently not my only mistake.

  “Well, this does make things awkward doesn’t it?” He shook his head in a chastising manner. He was chastising her?

  “Awkward?” Her voice rose. “Yes, I would say it does indeed make things awkward. As does the fact that I’ve fallen in love with you.” At once it struck her exactly what kind of lesson he should be taught. “I love you…Warren.”

  The look of shock on his face was most gratifying. “Do you?”

  “Without question. I’ve never felt like this before. And you said it yourself, only this morning. You said you thought I was falling in love with you. And you further said.” She leaned close and brushed her lips across his. “That you were falling in love with me.”

  “I might have said something like that,” he murmured.

  She widened her eyes. “Didn’t you mean it?”

  “Yes, yes, I meant it.”

  “Good.” She forced her brightest smile. “Then everything will be quite wonderful. I love you, you love me. And after all this,” she gestured at the bed. “I assume when you suggest we talk about the future you’re talking about marriage.”

  “Absolutely,” he said staunchly. “I would never have”—he gestured at the bed—“with you had my intentions not been strictly honorable.”

  She raised a brow.

  “Relatively honorable,” he said under his breath

  “I knew you were an honorable, honest man, Warren.” She straightened the neck of his shirt. “And that’s what I shall tell my family as well.”

  “What?” Something very much like horror shone in his eyes.

  “I will have to tell them. Sooner rather than later I expect.” She brushed invisible lint off his shoulders. “After all, there could be additional conseq
uences from tonight.”

  “Beyond marriage?”

  She cast him a tolerant smile.

  “Children, of course,” he muttered.

  “We shall have to keep our fingers crossed on that score. I would prefer not to have children until we are safely wed. I would hate to have gossips adding up the months on their fingers.” She shrugged. “This will be enough of a shock for my family as it is. Although that’s to be expected.”

  “What’s to be expected?”

  “Have you forgotten? I am supposed to marry Mr. Sinclair. To save my father’s business and all that.” She heaved an exaggerated sigh. “It can’t be helped, I suppose. Certainly my mother had always hoped I would marry well, a titled gentleman or at least great wealth. But you do have excellent prospects. They will come to accept you in time. And even then it scarcely matters as we will be living in America.” She gasped. “You will still have your position, won’t you? Mr. Sinclair won’t discharge you, will he? He’s not that vindictive, is he? After all, he might consider that you have stolen his bride.” She grimaced. “Not that I really would have married the arrogant beast. I have come to detest him.”

  “No, my position is safe.” Daniel smiled weakly.

  “Now, Warren, if you would be so good as to escort me out. I have a carriage waiting.” She gave his shirt a final smoothing pat and resisted the urge to crack her hand across his face. “Although I did take a bit longer than I had expected. Still.” She gazed at him in an adoring manner. “It was a remarkable evening.”

  “Remarkable,” he echoed.

  Poor man, he looked as if he had just eaten something quite nasty that disagreed with him. Good. Indigestion was the very least he deserved.

  The moment she was safely in her carriage and on her way home, Cordelia allowed the smile she’d kept firmly plastered on her face to fade. Why was Daniel continuing this charade? Why hadn’t he told her the truth? She had taken the first difficult step and confessed to him. At this very moment they could be planning the rest of their lives together. Instead, she was miserable and, with any luck at all, he was miserable as well.