by Gill, Tamara
He started back up the pebbled path before the shops and inwardly groaned when he spotted Miss Nancy Eberhardt, only daughter and heiress to a local gentleman and whose mother had passed during her birth. The young woman was pretty and sweet-natured, all the elements a gentleman would want in a wife, but unfortunately for Nancy, he had never had eyes for her.
The only woman he'd ever taken note of was currently looking at gloves near the window of the modistes.
Miss Eberhardt spied him and smiled warmly. He bowed when she came to stand before him, her broad smile and bright eyes putting him on guard. Her maid, a sickly little creature, stood back, demure and quiet as always.
"Lord Melvin, how wonderful to see you about. I was only telling Papa the other day that the townsfolk do not see you enough. What brings you here today? You look as if you're loitering about if I'm honest." She chuckled.
He smiled, gesturing to the store. "I'm merely escorting my guests to the modiste."
Miss Eberhardt's face lost a little of its brightness at his words. "Oh, you have guests? Do I know them?"
Albert had little idea if she knew Victoria or was associated with the Duke of Penworth's seat. "My good friend, The Duke of Penworth is staying, along with his sister and mama."
"Lady Victoria is here?" She smiled, looking toward the shop windows. Albert did the same and could not see Victoria anymore.
"She is, yes."
Miss Eberhardt clapped her gloved hands, her smile back on her pretty visage. "I shall love to see her again. As you know, Papa fell ill during the last few weeks of the Season, and we had to return home early. I was unable to meet with her before we left."
"I did not know that. I hope Mr. Eberhardt is doing better now?" he queried, liking the older gentleman, his straight talk and no use for nonsense, similar to himself in that regard.
"He is doing much better, thank you."
Just then, the door to the modiste opened, and Victoria stepped outside. Her attention slipped from him to Miss Eberhardt. "Nancy?" she queried. "I did not know you lived in Camberley. How did I not know that?" Victoria said, pulling Miss Eberhardt into a quick embrace.
Albert watched with interest, not knowing the two ladies were acquainted and looked to be close friends.
"We're situated but a mile from here and from Lord Melvin's estate. I did not know you were staying close by, or I would have called on you." Miss Eberhardt clasped Victoria's hand, squeezing it. "How are you? I feel we have so much to catch up on."
Victoria chuckled, her eyes bright with pleasure. "I am very well and all the more pleased at having seen you again."
"I see you are visiting our local modiste," Miss Eberhardt stated. "Were you able to purchase anything in the store to your liking?"
"A dress for the country dance. Are you attending?"
Miss Eberhardt's eyes brightened, and she all but bounced where she stood. "I am, yes. How wonderful that you'll be there. We shall catch up properly."
"You're more than welcome to visit me at Rosedale. I should like some female company other than Mama." Albert smiled at her teasing. How he admired her. She was so friendly and warm, so different to other ladies of his acquaintance of lesser rank when speaking to others. And Miss Eberhardt, no matter how wealthy, had no peerage in her family, no titles or elevating connections, and yet still, Victoria treated her like an equal. A friend.
He marveled at her. Admiring her all the more for her warmth and good heart.
"If you're in agreement with that, my lord?" she asked him.
Albert smiled at them both, knowing that he would do anything if it meant that it made Victoria happy. "Of course, you're welcome to visit."
"Thank you, my lord," Miss Eberhardt watched him for longer than he would term appropriate before she turned her attention back to Victoria.
He hoped she did not have romantic designs on him. As much as he liked the young woman, she had never stirred his blood. He had always seen her as a affable acquaintance, but not for him.
"We shall be home the day after tomorrow if you would like to luncheon with us," he offered.
"I would love that very much." Miss Eberhardt's attention shifted past him, and he turned to see her father waiting in a carriage. Albert gave a cursory wave to the gentleman.
"I must be off, but I shall be at Rosedale the day after tomorrow."
"It was lovely seeing you again, Nancy," Victoria said, sincerity echoing in her words.
"And I you. Both of you," Miss Eberhardt said, casting one last smile at Albert before she was off.
He ignored Victoria’s stare, and the knowing grin on her lips that he could discern from the corner of his eye. He opened the carriage door, helping her up. He followed her, seating himself beside her.
"You look very beautiful today. I have missed you," he said, reaching for her hand.
Her fingers entwined with his, her eyes darkening with a need that he too felt. Would it always be this madness, this undeniable want that sizzled between them? If they were alone, her mother not mere feet away from them in the store, he would be tempted to wrench her into his arms and kiss her soundly.
"I did not think you would remember last evening. You were hardly in the state to have such a sound memory."
"I may have been foxed." He picked up her hand and kissed her gloved fingers. "But I remember everything of what we did."
"Really?" she teased, pursing her lips. "What did we do. Remind me?"
He pushed down on the need that ran wild and hot through his blood at her words. Memories of her crying out as he made her come, as his cock slid against her cunny left him hard and aching.
He leaned toward her, his lips but a breath from her ear. "I made you come. I want to make you scream my name, maybe even one day in a carriage." He felt her shiver, the small gasp of shock at his words.
The door to the shop tinkled its little bell, notifying them the duchess had left. Albert sat back just as the groom opened the door for the duchess. He offered his hand to Her Grace. "Let me help you," he suggested.
The duchess took his hand and settled herself across from them, two small packages placed beside her by the groom.
"Your gown will be delivered tomorrow, not that I think you needed another, but now that I've seen what they had, the best for a country dance such as the one we will attend, I understand your plight."
"Thank you, Mama," Victoria said.
Victoria’s reply revealed not an ounce of her being affected by his words, his touch of just before. How was it that she could remain so calm and unaffected?
He could not be further from such a stance.
"I am looking forward to the dance. It has been many years, not since before my coming out, that I have attended such an event." The duchess’s words were warm at the memory.
"I saw Miss Eberhardt, Mama. She lives close by and will be attending the dance and calling on us the day after tomorrow." Victoria considered Albert a moment, and he fought not to fidget under her gaze. "She's a lovely woman of means and will do well as a wife. Although, since her papa is a widower, I think she would be happily settled if she were close by to her home."
Albert inwardly groaned, already foreshadowing where Victoria's thoughts were taking her and who she thought quite perfect for his future bride.
He did not comment on her words, not wanting to be rude, but Miss Eberhardt, no matter how aggregable, was not for him.
"Do you not concur, Lord Melvin?" Victoria asked him, her innocent smile hiding a devious matchmaking mind he did not particularly like.
"Miss Eberhardt is a kind, considerate woman. I wish her well with whomever she marries. I'm sure she will make him very happy." But it would not be him.
Victoria's eyes narrowed, and he ignored her ire, deciding this conversation was over, and the view outside the carriage window was much more to his liking.
Chapter 21
"What is wrong with Nancy, Albert? She is quite perfect for you. She is from Hampshire, her father lives clo
se by, and she's an heiress. If one dare says it, I would suggest she is the answer to your prayers. You ought to court her at the forthcoming country dance, see if you have anything in common other than your wealth and similar upbringing. You may be pleasantly surprised and find you like her very much."
After finding him ensconced here after they had returned from the village, Victoria slumped down on the settee in Albert's library. He had been oddly quiet on the way back to Rosedale in the carriage, and even though she and her mama had kept the conversation going, she could not help but wonder if he was put out with her in some way.
He did not look up from where he sat at the desk, looking over a pile of letters and estate account books. She may be interrupting him, but she could not leave him now. Not when they were so close to finding him the perfect woman to fill the position of a wife in this beautiful house. He would be a fool indeed to let such a wonderful opportunity such as Nancy slip through his fingers.
Victoria did not know a nicer or sweeter-natured woman in London. Other than her sisters, of course.
He sighed, throwing the quill onto the ledger open before him with more force than necessary, spilling a little of the ink. "I have already stated I am not interested in Miss Eberhardt in a romantic sense. Had I been, with us living in such close proximity, I would have already courted her to see if she returned my affections, Victoria. Please know that I shall not be pursuing her."
Victoria came over to the desk, leaning against it. She narrowed her eyes on him, not understanding why he was such a pain about it all. "You wanted my help in finding you a wife. Of teaching you how to go about courting a lady and being less awkward and shy around them. You did very well this morning with Miss Eberhardt. You are improving daily. I do not understand what we're doing if you're not going to take my advice when a suitable lady steps before you."
He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. She ignored the flutter the action made in her stomach or how ruggedly, flusteredly handsome he looked right at this moment. How could anyone not want to marry him?
Albert was a hidden gem among all the rough stones in society for all his nervousness around women.
Then why do you not have him for yourself?
Victoria thrust the thought aside. Her future was secure, set, and she had already started planning her first trip abroad. That travel did not include a husband and a gaggle of babies holding her back. Marriage was a mistake she would never make again.
"I do need your help in helping me navigate courtship with a woman. I did well today because I have known Miss Eberhardt for many years, and while I do not like her romantically, she is a friend. That is the only reason why I did so well. Place me in London, and you will see how awkward I still am."
Victoria wiggled to sit up on his desk, scrunching up some of the papers beneath her skirts. "Is there no one that you already know who you think will suit? You must be open to meeting new people, making connections for this to work."
"I am open to the possibility, but Miss Eberhardt is not one of them. I'm sorry to disappoint her if she harbors feelings for me. Mine are what they are, Victoria. You would not like to be forced toward a gentleman you only saw as your friend, would you not?"
"Well, no," she admitted.
"If I," he said, standing and coming to stand before her, "followed you about at every ball, forced my affections on you when you did not return them, you would dislike it very much. It is no different."
She supposed he had a point, but still, a small niggling worry kept poking at her mind that Albert viewed her as his future wife, the woman he wanted and he should not. Her heart was no longer capable of such trust, not with Albert or anyone. She thought she had known her late husband. She hadn’t known him at all. Albert wanted children, a wife content to live in the country. She was none of those things. The world had opened up to her as a widow. She could not run back down the aisle to repeat a mistake that had humiliated her more than even her family knew.
"Very well, I shall try and help you dissuade Miss Eberhardt in thinking there is a future between you, but you must promise me that you will try with someone."
His lip twitched into a devilishly handsome grin. Victoria found herself reaching for the lapels of his jacket, pulling him close. Realizing her mistake, she dropped her hands, mentally chastising herself for giving him ideas of them.
"Thank you," he said before striding for the door and leaving her sitting on his desk to watch him go. She frowned after him, unsure if she was put out or relieved by his departure.
Stupid fool that she was, she did not know which one it was.
* * *
Later that evening, when everyone was abed, Albert stole out to the stables, saddled his gelding, and rode out to his hunting lodge. He was behind on his words and needed to get down several pages before he fell behind on his deadline.
The lodge was quiet and dark, and he took a few moments starting the fire and lighting almost all the candles he had there, needing light above all else. He would normally travel down here through the day and leave before nightfall or just after, but due to his guests, his routine was all at odds.
He sat down at his desk, the words flowing from his fingers for several hours, his mind transported to the dark, dank streets of London, the story taking a menacing turn where the heroine was in search of the hero after footpads had kidnaped him.
The sound of birds chirping pulled him from his pages, and he looked up to see the kiss of dawn on the landscape outside. He leaned back in his chair, stretching and yawning, wondering how he would get through the day playing host while needing to sleep.
"Albert? Are you out here?"
He swore at the sound of Victoria's voice, throwing the manuscript pages into a leather folder and locking it away in the bookshelf behind him.
He went over to the decanter of whiskey, drinking from the bottle to freshen his mouth just as the door opened. Victoria poked her head around the wood, a warm smile forming on her lips.
"Ah, so this is where you were hiding all night. I did try to find you to partake in more lessons but could not locate you. A servant told me you had ridden out to the hunting lodge."
What was he to tell her? That he wrote the very books she loved to read out here? That he was her favorite author? Albert chose neither.
"I needed to check on the lodge. There have been reports of poachers and thieves in the area," he lied, having never cared if people walked his grounds and took wildlife from him to feed their families.
She closed the door behind her, walking about the lodge and taking in the thick Aubusson rugs under her leather boots. She was wearing trews again and her tight riding jacket that accentuated her figure. The kiss they shared the last time she was attired so rose up in his mind and he took a calming breath, cooling his desire.
He followed her progress with something akin to a man starved of sustenance. He was starting to think he was a little obsessed with winning her love.
She flopped down onto a settee, kicking off her boots and undoing the buttons on her riding jacket, throwing it aside. She wore a white linen shirt beneath, hemmed prettily with lace. "This is as good a place as any for more lessons." She reached into a bag that he had not seen over her shoulder, pulling out the book of sketches of sexual positions.
She opened it to the last page they had looked upon. "I thought we should start here, Albert. Discuss what I liked about what you did to me the other evening, and how perhaps what you can have with your wife when the time comes.”
He inwardly groaned but joined her, sitting close by, reveling in the fresh scent of her. Had she bathed already so early this morning? He wanted to kiss her, kiss her skin and see for himself if she tasted as sweet as she smelled.
"Very well," he agreed. Feeling bold, he pointed to the sexual act of the man kissing the woman between her legs. "I should like to know if my wife would enjoy such touch. Would you be brave enough to let me practice on you, Victoria?"
He
held his breath, knowing it was wrong what he was asking her. He ought to be horsewhipped. Her brother ought to put a bullet through his skull, and still, he did not back down. Merely waited for her to reply.
Her chin rose defiantly, and he knew her answer before she uttered it. Of all her siblings, Victoria was never the one to back down from a challenge, certainly if it were asked as such.
"Of course. I said I would help you, and I will. Shall we start now?"
Liquid-hot desire rushed through his veins, and he stood, pulling her to stand. "Let me help you with these," he stated, untying the buttons on her breeches. Dear God, she was magnificent, and the idea of what they were about to do was beyond his dreams. He just hoped he performed it as well as she hoped. He would hate to disappoint his future bride.
Chapter 22
What on earth was she doing? She should not be allowing such intimate acts with a gentleman she had no intention of marrying. But the dark, hungry gaze of Albert’s pushed away her nervousness and allowed a boldness she never thought she would possess to take charge.
Even if she were known in her family as bold and outspoken, she was not a woman of loose morals. Not until Albert Kester came into her world. Being a widow had made her lose her sense of morals.
With a care that left her trembling, he flicked open the last of the buttons on her breeches and slid them down her legs. Victoria watched as he took a calming breath, a muscle working at his temple with each beat of his heart.
Her own pumped fiercely as she let him start with the ties at the neck of her shirt. There were only three before he lifted it from her body, and she was left with nothing but a corset and shift beneath.
"You may sit back down," he suggested, his voice deep and raspy as if the words were hard to speak.
She did as he asked, gasping when he kneeled between her legs, pushing them open with a determination she did not expect from him. Victoria bit her lip, wondering what this was going to be like. How on earth was she allowing such liberties with her body? Albert had muddled her mind in more ways than she first thought.
