The Desires of a Countess

by Jenna Petersen

  How had his life taken such an unexpected turn? Just a short time ago he’d been complaining to Adam as he rode to Westdale. He’d been ready to evaluate a woman who might or might not have been slightly daft, put her finances in order and return to his regular life. But now he was in the hallway at a ball in London of all places, awaiting that same woman. He felt no pull to return to The Keeper. The sea hadn’t begun her siren’s song and pulled him back on his never-ending quest.

  In fact, the only thing drawing him now was Virginia Blanchard. He’d shown her all the pain associated with his father and she’d understood rather than cowered away. She had met his mother and instantly taken steps to draw her back into Society, even though Ginny, herself didn’t want anything to do with the ton. Her strength as a person and her devotion as a mother were things he admired. He had to wonder if he could ever…

  Before he could finish his thought, Ginny came around the corner and stood at the end of the hall. The lamplight on her skin made her luminous as she peered around her, looking for him. God, he wanted her.

  As she came up the hall, he snaked his arm out and grabbed her wrist. She tumbled toward him and he skillfully turned her and pressed her back against the wall before he caught her mouth with a kiss.

  “You’re late,” he whispered.

  She giggled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss with a passionate one of her own. “I am not.”

  “You are.” He trailed his lips down her neck. “We said a quarter of an hour. It’s been sixteen minutes and thirty seconds.”

  The laugh that shivered in her throat was cut off when he pressed himself even closer to her.

  “My, my,” she said in a husky whisper that made him even more aware of just how much he wanted her. “We are in a hurry.”

  “You don’t even know,” he said as he slid her down the wall and fumbled for a doorknob. It fell open and they tumbled in with it. Simon kicked the door shut behind him and gazed at Ginny with predatory, desire-filled eyes. And he was abundantly pleased to see the same look in hers.

  “I’m sorry to have made you wait,” she said as she mimicked his earlier action and pressed him back against the door. “But I’ll make it worth your while.”

  “Promise?” he asked as the world began to spin.

  She looked up at him with wide, blue eyes. “I promise.”

  Slowly she slid her hands between his coat and shirt and ran her nails down his chest. He sucked in his breath as she rubbed against him in a provocative manner.

  “You’re warm,” she whispered, but she was out of breath and he knew her bravado hid as much excitement as he, himself, felt.

  “Very. Getting warmer by the minute.”

  “Then you should get rid of some of these clothes.” With a wicked smile, she yanked his jacket off and tossed it over her shoulder.

  “And what about you?” he asked as he edged her closer to the bed which sat in the middle of the dark room. He spun her around so her back was to his chest. “You’ve got on more layers than I do.”

  “Actually-” She sucked in her breath and let out a low moan as his hands came around to cup her breasts. “Today’s fashions demand a woman wear… very little beneath.”

  “I bless the fashion matrons, then,” he said as he began to work at the buttons of her gown. One by one he slid them from their holes until he was able to slide his hands inside. She was right. Only a shift separated his skin from hers. A very thin shift.

  Slipping the dress down, he kissed the spot where her neck and back met. She hissed out a loud breath of pleasure while she leaned into him and their bodies molded together. She began to turn, but he held her as she was.

  “No, like this,” he said as he reached for the hem of her shift. “Just like this.”

  “Really?” she asked, peeking over her shoulder at him with sultry eyes. “Like this?”

  “Mm hmmm.”

  He was about to unbutton his trousers and show her when there was a loud scream from behind them. Both of them turned and Simon’s eyes widened in horror. Cordelia Blanchard stood in the doorway staring at them with a red face.

  “Jezebel! You Jezebel!” she shrieked as she pointed an accusatory finger at Ginny, who was fumbling for her gown with a look of distress.

  “Cordelia!” Simon moved in front of Ginny to protect her from his Aunt’s eyes and unfortunately the eyes of all the other people who were now rushing to the door at her screams. “Stop.”

  “You whore,” the woman continued. Her voice went up on each word. “You’re in mourning. You are in public. You are…”

  Ginny straightened up, looking as dignified as one could with a half buttoned gown hanging loose around her shoulders. “Will you shut up? This is none of your affair, none of anyone’s…”

  She grew silent as a man pushed through the crowd. Simon swallowed. It was Noah Jordan and judging from the look on his face, he was very unhappy with what he saw.

  “Noah.” Ginny’s face paled two shades as she reached in vain to close the back of her gown.

  Noah’s nostrils flared as he looked from one of them to the other. Ginny’s brother was furious. Not that Simon could blame the man.

  “Woodbury, if you would just,” he began.

  “You son of a bitch,” Noah said as he pulled his fist back.

  Everything moved in slow motion as Ginny let out a scream of “no” and Noah’s fist came forward. Simon hardly had any time to block it as it connected squarely with his eye.

  And then everything got very dark and very quiet.

  ***

  If she closed her eyes, Ginny could still hear the shrieks. The accusations. The ugly words. She could feel the eyes of the growing crowd on her as she’d struggled to pull her gown back up around her shoulders and button a few of her buttons.

  Not that any of her actions had helped. Cordelia had seen what she and Simon were doing. So had at least a dozen members of the ton who’d come running at the screams in the hallway. Those dozen had told a dozen more and on and on it went as gossip always did. Little changes happened to the story and eventually it was being told that she and Simon had been completely naked and making love when they were caught. Not that it was so very far from the truth. In just a few more moments…

  She groaned.

  And when Noah had run in and punched Simon? Lordy, the sound the crowd had made. They did love a scene, and she and Simon had created more than enough of one that night.

  Poor Simon and his eye. The same eye Robert had blackened weeks before was now puffy and swollen for a second time in a fight over her. If the world weren’t crashing down upon her she might have laughed at the image.

  She didn’t.

  “Oh, Noah, did you have to hit him quite so hard?” Marion asked as she sat back down on the settee in their parlor and gave Simon another ice pack.

  “I concur,” Simon grumbled with a wince as the ice touched his tender eye.

  “Force of habit, Marion,” Noah said to his wife, then turned on Simon with a pointed glare. “But you’re damn lucky I didn’t do more. Only Ginny stopped me from finishing you off right then and there.”

  Audrey stepped in from the doorway where she’d been talking to Tabitha. “Really, Noah, do you have to play protector right now? I believe Mr. Webber fully understands what you would have done had you not come to your senses.” She let out a long sigh that was mirrored by Sarah Webber in her chair by the window.

  “This is such a nightmare,” Sarah said as she turned her gaze away from the street toward the Jordan clan and her son.

  “So many people saw what they were doing!” Audrey nodded. “I don’t even know how to handle such a thing.”

  At that, Ginny pivoted from the opposite window where she’d been staring at the garden since the family had arrived at Noah and Marion’s townhouse and faced the group of people.

  “First of all, Simon and I are here in the room. There’s no use talking about ‘handling’ our situation when w
e’re two adults capable of doing that ourselves.” She caught the smile Simon sent her, but refused to answer it with one of her own. “And people saw what we were about to do. We weren’t doing anything… yet. And that’s exactly what we’ll tell people if they talk.”

  “If they talk?” Tabitha repeated with a hollow laugh. “There isn’t any ‘if’ about it. They’re already talking.” Her laugh turned to a sigh as she looked from one child’s face to another. “I swear you children will give me fits.”

  “This is all very well and good,” Audrey said as she came to stand beside Griffin at the door. “But it doesn’t answer what we’re going to do about it.”

  “We?” her husband answered with a laugh. “We aren’t doing anything. You and I are going home so you can rest. This is between Simon and Ginny now.”

  Audrey’s eyes grew wide and her hands came up to rest on her hips. “Oh no you don’t, I’m not going to leave in the middle-”

  Griffin laughed. “Oh, yes you are. That baby in your belly is up far past her bedtime. I’m taking you home. Marion and Tabitha will surely fill you in on all the details later. Come along.”

  With a scowl that didn’t quite reach her eyes, Audrey did as she’d been asked. “Good evening.”

  Marion rose from her seat with a smile for Noah. “I think we should follow Griffin’s very sensible lead, love. Come along.”

  Ginny couldn’t help but smile as her brother’s eyes bulged with outrage. “I am the head of this family.”

  “And as your sister pointed out, she’s quite capable of taking care of this situation on her own.” Her voice dropped. “Besides, I don’t think you and I have much to talk about how to handle being caught in a compromising situation.”

  At that, Noah shut his mouth and followed his wife to the door. “Feel free to use our sitting room as long as you have need,” Noah said as he left. In the hall, Ginny heard him add, “And we weren’t caught at a ball, at least.”

  “I know, dear…” The couple’s voices faded away.

  That left Simon and the two mothers, both of whom stared at the pair with disapproving, yet loving eyes. Tabitha came over to put an arm around Ginny while Sarah took Marion’s seat on the settee beside Simon. She examined his eye for a moment, then clucked her tongue.

  “So,” she said as she arched an eyebrow at her son. “What shall we do about this?”

  “What, my eye, Mother?” Simon asked, and Ginny had to smile at his attempt to avoid the subject.

  Sarah glared at him. “No, Simon Gregory Vincent Webber, not your eye. You know perfectly well that I mean the ‘incident’ tonight.”

  Tabitha was the one who answered as she gave Ginny a squeeze. “We’ll just have to figure out what to do together.”

  Ginny let out an exasperated sigh and shrugged away from her mother’s embrace. “Simon and I aren’t schoolchildren who’ve been caught doing something naughty and need punishing by our mothers. If there is a resolution to be found, we shall find it on our own.”

  Sarah turned to her with a half-quirked mouth. “And what is your suggestion, my dear?”

  Ginny shrugged. “Simon will return to his life on his ship, and I’ll return to Westdale and mine. I don’t really care what London thinks on the subject. Problem solved.”

  Tabitha frowned at her as she crossed the room to take a seat beside Sarah. Now the two mothers faced off as a common, formidable front. “That won’t solve this and you know it. Although you’re a widow and might be granted more leeway in this kind of situation, this was a very public tryst. And very soon after Henry’s death.”

  Ginny waved away the words with one hand. “I don’t care.”

  Her eyes trailed over to Simon. Why wasn’t he arguing their side with her? Instead he was very quiet and had a look of contemplation on his handsome face. And there was something in his eyes, even the black one, that reminded her of Westdale before they’d left for London.

  “Our mothers are correct,” he said quietly as he finally met her stare.

  She tilted her head with a sigh. “Simon, don’t you start.”

  A shake of his head was his response. Rising from the couch, he stepped toward her. “I made a promise to protect you and to protect Jack’s future. What we’ve done has put both those things at risk.”

  “This has nothing to do with Jack.” Her tone was louder and sharper than she intended it to be and echoed in the quiet room.

  Simon slammed his palm down on the side table. “This has everything to do with Jack!”

  The world around them faded as he stalked even closer. For a moment she forgot the other two people in the room and focused only on him.

  “Damn it,” he continued. “Look at my history and you’ll know that is true. One parent’s fall can harm a child’s chances in your world. You know that! Stop pretending you don’t or that this can be swept away like it was nothing.”

  “I know very well that what is happening between us is very far from nothing,” she said, purposefully dropping her voice though the heat still remained. “But what would you have me do to repair this so-called damage I’ve done, Simon?”

  Tabitha stood up before Simon could answer. “Marry him. The two of you obviously have passion enough to make it work. And it would take care of most of the rumors. It might even make you popular amongst the ton. They do like a romance under the right circumstances.”

  Heat rushed to Ginny’s cheeks and she found herself staring, gape-mouthed at her mother. “You must be jesting.”

  “No, actually, I’m not.” Tabitha shrugged. She turned to Sarah. “Mrs. Webber, I think our children are correct. They are all grown up and don’t need their mothers’ help to solve their problems.”

  Sarah laughed. “You mean they’re too bull-headed to take our advice anyway?”

  “Exactly.” Tabitha arched an eyebrow at her daughter. “I interfered in your life once, my dear. I won’t make that mistake again. But I do recommend you think of a better response than running from London. For Jack’s sake.”

  With that, the two women linked arms and strolled from the room. Ginny let out a gasp of exasperation as the door shut behind them and she and Simon were alone.

  “Can you believe them? Suggesting you and I marry? Isn’t that the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard?”

  She spun around to find Simon staring at her with aqua eyes so intense that they stopped her in her tracks.

  “No, Ginny. Actually, it’s not a bad idea.”

  Chapter Twenty

  “When my brother hit you, did he knock all the sense from your head?”

  Simon smiled at Ginny’s sarcastic question, though her absolute disbelief that he would mention marriage stung in a way he didn’t like to admit. Of course, it was nothing compared to his own shock that he would concur with his mother’s solution.

  “My head is fine,” he said.

  She gave him a pointed stare. “Then why would you ever agree with such a ridiculous idea?”

  The little sting grew to a sharp stab.

  “Is it so ridiculous?” He reached out to her, but she turned away to look out the window. As he withdrew his hand, he asked, “Why won’t you even consider it as a possibility?”

  She was silent.

  “Is it because I’m not of your class?”

  With a snort of disagreement she turned back. “You know me better than that, Simon. Your birthright means nothing to me. And even if it did, your mother was a member of Society before her marriage.”

  “Then why?”

  She let out a long, tired sigh that somehow touched him to his soul. Everything that had happened to her since his arrival had exhausted her. Now she only wanted escape, something he couldn’t give her.

  “You are aware of what happened to me before, Simon,” she whispered. Her fingers trailed to a loose string on the chaise and she picked at it absently while she refused to meet his gaze.

  He frowned. “If you were my wife, do you really think I’d behave as m
y cousin did?”

  “No, of course not.” Her eyes came up to his and he was pleased to see no fear in their depths. “I never would have let you touch me if I’d thought you were like him in the slightest way.”

  His relief washed over him in a surprising, powerful wave.

  She sighed. “But for four long years I cursed my marriage. In fact, the only good thing to come out of it was Jack. When Henry died, I looked forward to controlling my own destiny. To being able to raise my son my own way and lead my life without having to ask anyone’s permission.” She dropped her chin. “And now, less than six months after I’m granted a reprieve, the prison doors are swinging shut again.”

  His eyes narrowed and he snapped out, “Well, at least it isn’t personal.”

  Her lips parted as she stepped closer to touch his arm. Despite his anger and the surprising pain that accompanied her words, with a simple touch she soothed him. “It isn’t.” She shivered. “God knows it isn’t. I don’t want to marry anyone.”

  He pulled away. Why was he so out of control? He didn’t want this anymore than she did, but her rejection hurt and kept hurting. And it was becoming more than just a sting to his pride.

  “I don’t think we have much choice, Ginny.”

  She was silent for a long time. Long enough that Simon turned to look at her. Her face was twisted in thought and her eyes narrow. Finally, she glanced up at him. “Do you really think this is the only way?”

  He nodded. “If I could think of another, I would.”

  The fight went out of her expression, replaced by an unhappy resignation that did nothing to make him feel better. “Then you’ll have to agree to some rules.”

  Simon let out a bitter burst of laughter. Rules for a marriage. This would be interesting.

  With a frown, she said, “I want to live my life. So you must agree that you won’t go searching through my secrets.”

  Simon wrinkled his brow. What secrets? He already knew about her troubles with Henry and the truth behind her estrangement from her family. What more was there? What made her eyes darken with such fear as they were that very moment?