“No. I knew him as well though, and he was an excellent man to have on your side as well. No, I definitely mean Thorn. Can’t think of a man I’d rather have watching my back.”
Shock rippled through Rebekah and she somehow managed to say, “Thank you,” before slipping away from the group. She gravitated towards a window, across the room from the others.
“I’ll take Di up to the nursery and allow you ladies some privacy to visit.” He took the babe from Clarissa and dropped a kiss on Mikala’s lips before leaving the room. Rebekah felt like a voyeur. She also felt a piercing ache deep inside and found herself rapidly blinking. How could that tender scene nearly bring them on after having not cried in years?
“You don’t know how wonderful it is to see you both,” Mikala said.
“Motherhood has been good to you, Kala,” Clarissa said.
“I think so. Fatherhood has been good for Gabe, as well. Now, what is going on? Clarissa, you sent a note saying you needed my help.”
“We have not been introduced,” Dru walked over to Rebekah. “My name is Drucilla, but everyone calls me Dru. I am Mikala and Derek’s aunt.”
“It is nice to meet you. I am Rebekah.”
“Sometimes the girls can be overwhelming. It happens when you’ve been friends for years. They forget what it’s like to be the newcomer in the group.”
“Clarissa and I are distant cousins.”
“I see. Let’s go join them,” Dru threaded her arm through Rebekah’s and led her over to the other women.
“So you want to seduce your husband?” Mikala asked.
“Mikala, have you no couth?”
“Tessa and Clarissa said…”
“Stop,” Dru raised her hand. “Has anyone asked Rebekah what she wants? No, you all just assumed. Now, Rebekah, tell me, what do you want?”
Rebekah stared at the women staring at her. “He makes me feel strange when he comes around. He kisses me and I get hot and flushed. I think I want him, but last time I thought I did as well.”
“Bad experience?” Dru asked sympathetically.
“Not the best.”
“Anything else?”
“I do not want him to choose his mistress over me.”
“That a girl,” Dru patted her knee. “Now ladies, we will open the floor for suggestions, but please, one at a time.”
“You could corner him in a carriage,” Clarissa suggested, laughing at Rebekah’s flushed face and expression.
“What’s so funny?” Mikala demanded of her friend.
“Oh, you know how stuffy and boring balls can be. Sometimes you must find your own fun.”
To Rebekah’s shock and dismay the other women nodded and joined in the laughter. “I can’t do this,” she jumped up and began pacing the room.
“Do what?” Clarissa asked, cocking her head curiously.
“Treat the marriage act so lightly,” Rebekah said. “You talk about it as if it is something you find enjoyment in, as if it brings happiness to you.”
“But it does,” Mikala said, a look of confusion on her face. Clarissa and Tessa also nodded their heads in agreement. Dru was the only one that looked concerned.
“My dear, have you ever talked about what happened to you?” Dru asked softly.
“No, and I do not want to start,” Rebekah stubbornly looked down each woman. She knew that Clarissa knew bits and pieces, but no one but she and Gertie knew every detail. Gertie was the only one she had confided in all those years ago, and it had been Gertie that had found her lying in a growing pool of blood at the bottom of the staircase.
“Were you raped?” Mikala asked.
“No,” she said vehemently.
“Are you certain?” Mikala queried once more.
“Positive. I…”
“Yes?” Clarissa encouraged her to speak.
“I…I wanted it to happen.”
“But…” this time it was Tessa who looked so understanding.
“It was less than stellar and the results might have been wonderful, but I will never know. And that is all that I am saying.”
Clarissa stood and crossed the room, taking Rebekah’s stiff body in a tight hug. Clarissa just hugged her unresponsive cousin tighter. “He needs to know.”
“No,” Rebekah argued, her voice sounding slightly hoarse to her own ears.
“All right,” Drucilla said, taking over the situation. “Come and sit down,” she patted the settee next to her and Clarissa guided her to sit down, taking the spot next to her. “The first thing you need to know is that it is perfectly normal to talk about the act of sex. Mothers have been telling daughters for generations what to expect in the marriage bed, although it is not always correct information. Tell me, why do you think maids whisper and giggle when they see a handsome footman or even a young lord that catches their eye?”
“My father is a minister. We had no wait staff. If we had a wayward thought, we were beaten. When I went to live with Sarah and Teddy, I was so consumed with helping her with the twins that I never paid attention to the servants other than to see they were doing their job.”
“There would be fewer bastards born in this world if mothers would take time to be honest with their daughters far before the eve of their marriage,” Dru said, anger tinging her voice.
“Now, see here,” Rebekah stood, her hands fisted at her sides, anger making her body tremble.
“Rebekah, Dru meant no disrespect. She herself is the bastard daughter of a duke and a maid. If anyone knows how damaging it can be, it is she,” Mikala said soothingly.
Rebekah felt herself wilting into the divan, her legs turning to pudding, unable to hold her up a moment longer. She felt cool air wash over her heated flesh and saw that Dru was fanning her while Mikala presented her with a glass of some sort of spirits.
“One gulp,” Tessa suggested.
Rebekah followed her directions and began coughing as liquid fire worked its way down her throat to her stomach. She sat there as the heat spread to her extremities. “That is better than champagne,” she said a bit hoarsely.
“A woman after my own heart,” Mikala chuckled and took her seat once more. “Now, you say you do not want to lose your husband to his mistress. I promise we will not pry any more into your past, but we will help you win him over to your side.”
“Thank you,” Rebekah said looking at each woman in turn. “But please, do not mention a coach again.”
“You have my word,” Clarissa promised.
The women mulled over several different ideas. Rebekah rejected each one in turn. Finally, after Mikala had suggested something she thought to be brilliant only to have it dismissed, she turned to Rebekah and asked, “What was wrong with that one? It is perfect.”
Rebekah shrugged her shoulder and shook her head. “I can’t imagine doing the things you all have suggested with him watching me, seeing my face, and knowing what I am feeling. If he laughed or some such thing, I would be angry and hurt and…”
“Devastated?” Dru asked.
“Yes,” Rebekah whispered.
“I think I have the perfect thing,” Mikala said, a cheshire smile turning up the corners of her mouth.
“Kala, you look positively evil,” Tessa said.
“I love it when she has that look,” Clarissa added.
“Seduce him at his club,” she said simply.
Cheers went up around the room, but Rebekah just looked confused. “I don’t think I understand.”
“Only the most wicked women go into the Lady Luck without masks. You will wear a mask. You can borrow a dress from one of us,” Mikala explained.
“Oh, you should wet it like the courtesan’s do to really catch his attention,” Clarissa suggested.
“But what if I catch other men’s attention?”
“Of course you will,” Tessa said. “Look at you, you’re beautiful. Dressed as a seductress, you will be hard for any man to ignore. The question is do you want any other man besides Wulfe?”
&nbs
p; “No,” Rebekah found herself answering.
“Once you have him hooked, you can reveal yourself or not,” Dru interjected, “the choice is yours. Once you have crossed that initial intimacy barrier, I think you will find it will be much easier for you to approach him in normal surroundings.”
“Pardon this next question,” Mikala interrupted, “but have you thought about conception? I only ask because it seems as if it might not be the right time in your relationship, and there are ways to prevent children. It is not always completely reliable, understand…”
“It is not necessary,” Rebekah replied. “I cannot have children. That is why I readily helped my sister when the twins were born. Yes, they are my niece and nephew, but most likely the closest I will have to my own children.” She looked around the room and knew each of the women was wondering what she would do without her own children in her life. “Don’t pity me. I don’t really know what I am missing, so that makes it so much more tolerable.”
“You are a very brave woman, my dear,” Dru said and squeezed her hand tightly. The sentiment was echoed around the room by all the women present. “Now, shall we decide on what you should wear?”
“I have a lovely red silk dress, and we are about the same height,” Mikala said. “Come, let’s go see.” Mikala stood and exuberantly pulled Rebekah off of the divan and led her up to a massive bedchamber.
“I have never seen such a large duchess’ chamber,” Rebekah said in awe as she slowly turned about the room.
“This is the duke’s chamber,” Mikala said lightly as she searched through a wardrobe. “Gabe and I do not believe in that not sharing a room nonsense as so many others do. We came too close to losing one another and never want to be apart again,” she continued to pull out several dresses as she talked. “We use the adjoining chamber for the nursery and a retiring room. Ah, here it is,” she said triumphantly, holding up a truly exquisite red silk dress. Black jet beads adorned the bodice, the hem, and the cuffs of the sleeves.
“It is too beautiful. I can’t…”
“Oh, but you can. Come, at least try it on and see.”
Rebekah reluctantly moved behind the screen in the corner. She slipped out of her dress and into the other one. “I need assistance doing up the buttons.” One of the women moved around the screen and began doing up the tiny row of buttons up the back of the dress.
“All done up.”
Rebekah recognized Clarissa’s voice. Rebekah turned around and faced her cousin. “How do I look?”
“Beautiful, perhaps a little naughty, but absolutely beautiful.”
“Be honest,” Rebekah chided.
“I am. Show the others.”
Rebekah took a cautious step around the screen and into the room. It seemed they were all speaking at once.
“Marvelous.”
“Stunning.”
“Breathtaking.”
“Take a look in the mirror,” Dru suggested, seeing that she still did not believe them. She could not believe what she saw. Where before had stood a woman unsure of herself, now stood a woman who appeared to know what she wanted. Before there had been an innocent, now there was a seductress. Perhaps a mild-mannered seductress, for beneath the dress with the flashing beads her chemise peeked out reminding her of her properness. As if reading her mind, Dru stated, “That must go. Let’s get you out of the dress once more and start over properly. Kayla, a robe please.”
“Wait, what are you doing?” Rebekah held up her hands, backing away from the women.
“Why, preparing you for your night of seduction.”
“I can’t do this tonight!” she cried, mortified at the thought.
“Why not? Do you have anywhere you must be?”
“No, but…”
“But nothing. If you wait, you will lose courage and all this will have been for naught. So, I ask you, do you want to win over your husband?”
She paused, thinking, considering, knowing if she were successful that their relationship would be forever changed. “I care for my husband, and I do not want him to choose his mistress over me.”
“Good. Then let’s get to work, shall we?” Dru matter-of-factly stated, while Mikala held out a silk robe for her to take. She presented her back to Clarissa who undid all of her buttons and gave her a little push towards the screen.
The women worked on her hair and made up her face, and had refused to allow her to watch in the mirror. They threaded a strand of jet beads through her hair as well, placing a pin here and there to keep them in place. They added rouge to her lips and cheeks, and darkened her lashes. Satisfied, they stood her up and pushed her behind the screen once more, instructing her to take off every piece of clothing except for her hosiery and the garters that held them up. While behind the screen, she heard someone enter the room and exclamations and claps of enthusiasm. She peeked around the corner and caught sight of a maid slipping out of the room.
“Here, let me do you up once more,” Clarissa said.
“We are going to need this as well,” Mikala said as she carried over a bowl of water and a giant sponge.
“What are you going to do?”
“Add to the seduction. Trust me,” the raven-haired beauty said.
“Stop!” Rebekah exclaimed, but Mikala ignored her as she continued to dip the sponge in water, squeeze out most of the access, and then began dabbing at the dress.
“Be still,” Mikala said, holding her in place.
“What are you doing?”
“Dampening the dress. He won’t be able to take his eyes off of you.”
“Neither will any of the other men, for that matter,” Tessa added.
She turned to look in the mirror, but Dru halted her. “One more item to add,” she said. She placed a mask on Rebekah that just covered the area from above the apple of her cheeks to her hair line. “Now look,” Dru said after she tied the mask in place.
Rebekah walked to the mirror and stared at herself, stunned at the reflection that stared back at her. The dress clung where it had not before. One could see the indecent outline of her nipples through the damp dress. The jet beads in her hair and on the dress caught the light and shimmered. The mask truly kept her from being recognized. It was red, black, and gold with jewels interspersed. Black feathers fanned out from it in a half circle, but it left the bottom half of her face with excellent mobility.
“My arm,” she exclaimed as she covered the scar.
“What about it?” Clarissa asked her.
“He will be able to identify me. He’s seen it.”
“Don’t you want him to know it is you?”
“I…I haven’t decided.”
“Be careful what games you play,” Dru sagely advised.
“Here are black gloves,” Mikala handed over to her.
“You must make a decision here and now. I know what you have told us, but miracles do still occur and humans are fallible. Do you want protection from conception?” Dru asked practically.
“Yes,” Rebekah did not hesitate to answer. She watched Mikala nod and gather items together and place them in a reticule while Dru explained the process. “Is this always effective?”
“Unfortunately, at this time, nothing is always effective except for abstinence,” Tessa added. The women watched Rebekah worry her lower lip.
“Rebekah, if you do not want to do this, just say the word, and you will be decently dressed once more and I will take you home,” Clarissa told her cousin.
“No. I cannot keep hiding,” a lopsided smirk lit her face as she waved at the mask and added, “well, so to speak.”
“Are you going to reveal yourself to him?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea. Part of me thinks yes, but a larger part of me wants to just see what the night will bring. What if we are not compatible that way? I find it safer to not reveal myself if I disappoint him.”
“What if he disappoints you?”
Rebekah shrugged, “I don’t suppose I would be missing very muc
h, and he can go to his mistresses since they seem to enjoy him.”
“That is rather a lenient attitude you have.”
“My attitude and determination are all I have to see me through this.” She looked at herself once more in the mirror, then turned and faced the women once more. “I could not do this without each of you. Thank you for your help in the preparations for tonight. Now I have one more favor to ask of you.”
“All you must do is ask,” Clarissa said, squeezing her cousin’s gloved hand.
“How am I to slip away after we have done the deed? I mean if I do not want him to know that it is me?”
“That does present a dilemma.” Dru considered the issue, crossing one arm beneath her breasts, the other tapped at her lips. “Laudanum.”
“But isn’t that a bit much?”
“We are desperate, and it is the easiest to slip into a drink without being detected. Not much mind you, a few drops at most will do the trick. Kala?”
“On the way down we will stop and find you a small bottle.”
“I am going to need a hack.”
“Right away,” Tessa said, leaving the room.
Mikala took a lightweight cloak and swung it around her shoulders. “We don’t want you showing off your wares too soon,” she chuckled.
“I will see that all of this is returned to you,” Rebekah said earnestly.
“Consider it a wedding present, and I wish you all the happiness you can stand,” Mikala hugged her.
“Does such a thing exist?” Rebekah asked.
“Of course it does!” Dru exclaimed. “However, sometimes you have to reach out and grab it instead of waiting for it to show itself.”
“Thank you,” Rebekah said somewhat hoarsely. The women chatted and gave last minute pointers as they walked down the stairs. By the time they reached the bottom, Rebekah’s head spun sickeningly and her stomach churned. The women saw her into the hired hack that had pulled up to the Duke of Hawkescliffe’s London townhouse. She heard the women say something to the driver before the conveyance began its journey. Halfway to the gaming hell, she changed her mind. Knocking on the roof, she got the driver’s attention.
Taming the Wicked Wulfe (The Rogue Agents) Page 18
