Claiming Her Master, page 9
I followed the women to the bench, unsure of my role in comforting the delicate woman, forever grateful Charlotte was there to take control.
“That’s the problem,” Sarah sobbed. “You’re being so nice to me when I… When I…murdered your brother.”
I met Charlotte’s look and knew my expression matched her stunned one. I knelt in front of Sarah and grasped her shoulders. “Please tell me what you mean, Sarah.” I struggled not to shake her to hurry her crying fit along, but inwardly counted to ten and back again.
“Sarah, Lucas would like to know what happened,” Charlotte said gently, and handed her a clean, white linen square.
“Why do you think you murdered my brother?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm, though my heart pounded. At last I was going to get answers and it all happened more easily than I’d dared dreamed.
She accepted the cloth and dabbed at her eyes. “Your brother came to visit my father’s country estate following the Season. One night there was a terrible storm. Trees fell and the ground was a soggy mess, but I…” She hiccupped into the handkerchief. “At breakfast I mentioned how much I loved the pebbles near the stream on the estate. They’re shiny and brightly colored…”
I bit my tongue in an effort to stop from telling her to get to the point. Charlotte smiled and squeezed Sarah’s hand.
“I asked your brother to fetch me a pebble. I knew he’d ride and you remember your brother’s riding…”
I nodded grimly. “Neck or nothing,” I muttered.
“I knew he’d ride instead of walk to the stream, but I didn’t try to stop him. He seemed invincible.”
“He thought he was invincible. Likely he wouldn’t have listened to any warnings,” I said to her.
Sarah nodded, looking him straight in the face with tears spilling onto her cheeks. I could see her damsel-in-distress appeal for my heroic older brother. As for me, I preferred Charlotte’s no-nonsense pertness.
“You’re probably correct. He rode out to fetch that stupid little pebble and didn’t see a large fallen limb in time. His horse went down on top of him.” She buried her face in her hands.
“Oh, Sarah, you didn’t murder him,” Charlotte said, wrapping an arm around the other woman.
“As good as.” Sarah sniffled, her voice muffled. “If only I hadn’t beguiled him to fetch it.”
“Who found his body? How long before you knew something was amiss?” I asked.
“I did,” Sarah said quietly. “Along with your other brother, the current earl. When he hadn’t returned by noon, we went to the stream.” She buried her face in her hands. “I can still see his large body facedown in the mud. So…so…still.”
“Why wasn’t his cause of death common knowledge?” I asked sharply, wincing when both women’s heads flew up to stare at him. I strove to gentle my tone. “I meant, why didn’t I know about this?
“My father wanted to keep it quiet. He feared I’d be ostracized if my involvement became common knowledge. He paid the groomsmen to keep it quiet and your twin agreed to say he’d been the only one to find the earl.”
“Lady Sarah!” A woman came into view, panting and clutching her hat to her head.
“My maid,” Sarah said. “We have an arrangement. She accompanies me to the park, and I allow her to go off with her sweetheart.” Her tears were slowing and her ashen face bloomed with color again.
“Lady Sarah. What are you doing, miss?” The maid skidded to a halt next to me and frowned down at her charge.
“Hettie, I’m speaking to Mr. Morgan, younger brother to the Earl of Westhunt.”
The maid bobbed a curtsy and had the good sense to flush at chastising her mistress in front of a peer.
“Hettie, we need another moment of your lady’s time. Do you mind?” I jerked my head in the direction of the pond, allowing no leeway in my tone.
“Of course, sir.” The maid bobbed a curtsy and stepped back toward the pond, facing our threesome with concern etched on her face. When she was out of earshot, I turned back to Sarah.
“You say my twin agreed to the deception. Do you know why?”
Sarah shrugged. “He was so strange after the doctor declared Charles dead. He didn’t seem grief-stricken his brother was dead, only elated that he held the title.”
I nodded as my mind spun with the implications. My twin had not killed Charles. Despite the long, agonizing months of thinking I was solving my eldest brother’s murder, I felt a curious emptiness inside. It was over. My search for the cause of death had come to an end. I stared at the bench, watching Charlotte and Sarah speak with heads leaning in to each other.
My stomach churned uneasily at being unable to discern any real difference between my mistress and my brother’s former fiancée. For all intents and purposes, Charlotte was a lady, same as Sarah. The only difference between the two was that Sarah had a father who sought to protect her and Charlotte had only herself to rely on.
Momentary paralysis struck at the idea that I could be counted among the vultures. Was I really any better than my twin? Of course, I didn’t beat women, but I left invisible damage all the same. For Christ’s sake, I’d exposed Charlotte to every perversion a man could have.
Shakily I rose and held a hand out to Charlotte. “Lady Sarah,” I said, bowing, “it is time we left for home. Thank you for telling me your tale.”
Sarah stood alongside Charlotte. “Thank you for your understanding. I feel a burden has been lifted. I held such guilt about my role in Charles’ death and had no one to apologize to since the current Westhunt seemed to feel no grief. Please accept my deepest regrets about my role in your brother’s death.”
I grasped her hand and kissed the top. “No need for an apology or regrets. If you hadn’t requested the stone, my brother still would’ve found an excuse to go riding recklessly on the wet ground.”
To my surprise, I found I meant every word sincerely. Sometimes death was simply an accidental tragedy with no one left to blame. Perhaps the left-behind mourners sought to place blame to make the grief easier, but it changed nothing. Dead was still dead.
I grasped Charlotte’s hand and led her toward home, knowing every step was one closer to parting with her. I had no excuse to keep her anymore. I’d learned of my brother’s death and I’d seen the lady Charlotte should be instead of the whore I’d made her. Seeing her with Lady Sarah only confirmed my resolution to return her to her family. It was the morally right thing to do, never mind my heart and body protesting abjectly.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Charlotte said, squeezing my hand.
I returned the squeeze. “Just thinking.”
“How do you feel? Your brother is innocent. The death was accidental.”
I stopped to look at her, sliding a hand down her cheek. “Innocent darling. It’s likely my brother didn’t commit fratricide. It’s also possible he tampered with the horse’s shoe, the saddle or any number of things.”
I turned away to avoid her penetrating look.
“Will you keep searching for answers?”
I shook my head. “No, it will only hurt Lady Sarah, and I’m not sure I ever would learn the full truth.” A part of me would always wonder if Sebastian had played any role in their brother’s death, but short of interviewing every servant in Lady Sarah’s family estate I’d never learn the truth. And even if I undertook the task, memories could be faulty or misinterpreted. No, I’d let the past die.
There was nothing to gain.
Charlotte released a breath and started walking again. “I’m glad you feel that way. I feared you’d remain ever focused on learning the truth at the expense of your own happiness.”
I quickened my pace to catch up with her. “What if he is guilty?”
“You said it before. You’ll never know and you’ll sacrifice your life to seek revenge. The best thing you can do is protect women such as myself from him. Don’t ever let him beat another woman, lady or mistress.”
“I won’t,” I promised and vowed I’d honor it even if I spent my fortune acquiring every mistress in London to keep them from my brother.
“You should also marry Lady Sarah,” Charlotte said and dashed ahead lightly, hopping over the ever-present muddy puddles.
I yanked her arm, halting her progress. “What? Marry Lady Sarah? Have you gone mad?”
She smiled, though sadness lingered in her eyes. “It’s the best way to protect her, and provide her a little happiness.”
I shook my head. “You’re daft if you think a pale, crying ninny could ever make me happy.”
Charlotte protested. “Lady Sarah is lovely and intelligent.”
“I will consider marriage to her, but she doesn’t hold a candle to you.” Damn, I hadn’t meant to say that aloud.
We both froze as she stopped walking and spun to look into my face.
“Don’t say things like that,” she whispered.
“Why not?” I asked, despite knowing she was absolutely right. It wasn’t fair, especially when I had every intention of cutting ties as soon as we arrived at home; a home that would feel bereft without her laughing presence. I swallowed over the lump that thought caused and thought about Charlotte’s best interests, which were to head back to the country and find a nice man to marry who wouldn’t care she was no longer a virgin. The people in her village need never know she’d played mistress to a London lord for a few weeks.
“Don’t make me dream of things I can never have,” she said and turned to stalk away. I followed her all the way home in miserable silence.
“Bellamy!” Lucas bellowed, throwing open the front door and yanking back the doorknob before the door crashed into the wall of the foyer. “Bellamy!”
“He’s visiting Miss Brown,” I said, calmly unbuttoning my pale-blue pelisse, wondering why Lucas was suddenly acting like a wounded bear.
“Alyce Brown? My brother’s mistress?”
“Former mistress,” I corrected. “Though I dare say she’s Bellamy’s mistress by now.” I smiled at Lucas’ bewilderment and turned to head into the library, the only semi-habitable room in the house besides the bedroom I shared with Lucas.
“Don’t go in there.”
“Why ever not?” I turned back to him.
“You’re leaving, and you should go pack,” he said. “As soon as I find Bellamy and have him arrange transportation.”
“I’m leaving?” I asked, wrapping my arms around my chest to ward off the sudden chill at my words. “Where am I going?”
“Home,” he said succinctly. “I’ve kept you from your family too long.”
I stepped close enough to breathe in his unique scent. “What if I want to be kept?”
He shook his head and gently pushed me back a step. “Don’t do this, Charlotte.”
“Do what? You’re the only person in the room doing anything. Please explain yourself. Have I displeased you?”
He ran a large hand through his hair, making it stand on end, and stalked to the bottom of the staircase then turned back to me. “You could never displease me,” he muttered.
Tears filled my eyes, but I refused to let them fall until I knew more.
“I’m releasing you of your obligation to me.”
“Why? Aren’t you enjoying our time together?” I started to beg, but then a horrible thought occurred. “It’s Lady Sarah, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
I bit my lip and smiled through my tears. He was only taking my advice. I had no right to tears. “Of course we must part ways. I could never remain while you married Lady Sarah, whom I now consider a friend.”
For a moment, Lucas looked so bewildered I had the urge to hug him. Then he shook his head as he found his bearings.
“It is because of Lady Sarah, but not the way you think. I’m not going to marry her,” he said.
“No?” I hid my smile and illicit relief. I’d suggested the marriage, but couldn’t honestly rejoice in it.
“When I saw you today with Lady Sarah, I realized your rightful place. You’re a true lady, Charlotte. Not a whore. I had no right to take advantage. I’m finally doing the right thing and sending you back to your family. I will continue to pay Madame Bella, of course.”
“Of course,” I murmured as my heart tried to absorb the vicious blow he dealt in his effort to be kind.
“Don’t try to sway me. My mind is made up.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” I said as I leaned against the faded floral wallpaper.
“Go upstairs and gather your things. I’ll make this right for you. I swear it.”
I turned to put one heavy foot in front of the other up the stairs, not wanting to tell him the only way for him to make it right was to marry me. I’d never trap him into marriage. It would make him a laughingstock to marry his mistress, and I loved him too much to allow that to happen.
“Can we at least have one last time together?” I asked, smiling sadly up at him. I didn’t hope to dissuade him, but I wanted one last memory to take to my lonely bed at home. When he looked about to protest, I loosened the neckline of my bodice, revealing my breasts to him.
His eyes flickered down, but he remained a few feet away with his arms crossed. Hmm, how to get him to respond? I toyed with my hardening nipples, pleased when he visibly missed a breath.
“Don’t do this, Charlotte.” But he’d taken one step closer.
I licked my lips and cupped the undersides of my breasts.
He took another step.
I held out a hand.
“Mmph,” I gasped when he tugged me hard into his chest and yanked down the remaining fabric of my dress.
“This changes nothing,” he said, placing warm, wet kisses on the side of my neck. “I’m still returning you as I should have done the very first night.”
I leaned back to better receive his kisses and tangled my hands in his lapels to tug his coat off. “Yes, but now we’ll have final memories.”
He broke off his kisses to clasp my cheeks between his large palms. “Memories? I’ll never forget you, Charlotte.”
My head bent to focus on unbuttoning his trousers and to hide my tears from him. No woman would ever love him the way I did. Why couldn’t he see that? The urge to beg for marriage was rising and I had best squash it down before I made a fool of myself. Madame Bella had made it very clear that men didn’t marry their mistresses.
At last I successfully undid his buttons and freed his hardening shaft. The reminder of our first night in the carriage when I’d knelt at his feet to pleasure him in my mouth surfaced and I straightened to standing to lead him into the parlor.
“There’s something I’d like to try,” I murmured. “Besides, we don’t want to shock poor Bellamy if he comes home and finds us occupied in the foyer.”
“Because the parlor is so much better,” Lucas muttered, but he followed my lead.
We entered the room and I was happy to feel it was warm despite the lack of fire. “Go sit there.” I pushed him toward a narrow damask chair without arms. “Wait,” I said when he was about to lower down into the chair. “Remove your clothes first.”
Together we stripped off any remaining clothes and Lucas went to sit while eyeing me intently. I smiled and stepped closer. Using his shoulders for leverage, I straddled his thighs, taking care to place his cock up so it rubbed up between us.
“What do you plan to do to me?” Lucas asked, his voice a low rumble.
“I’m going to have my wicked way with you,” I said with a laugh. I moved my hips against his, loving the feel of my breasts sliding against his rougher, hardened chest. My breath caught when his cock rubbed at just the right angle to dip into my ever-dampening passage.
“Ride me,” Lucas growled.
I understood his meaning immediately, having seen this trick performed at Madame Bella’s.
Raising my hips, I gripped his penis and slowly lowered until he began to breach my opening. The fit was tight, almost too tight for comfort.
“Lean toward me,” he said at the same time he reached around to cup my buttocks, one globe in each large hand. His fingers dipped to a forbidden crevice that forged a flood of desire, opening me wide to him.
Lucas’ hips flexed and he sheathed himself deeply inside. “Now ride,” he grated.
I rode. My toes grazed the carpet and I used them to maneuver my body forward and back reveling in the tight, sweet slide of Lucas’ inside me. His penis filled me, rubbing deliciously against every nerve.
“I’m going to miss this. Miss you,” he murmured into my hair.
For a moment it all became too much and I froze, resting my forehead on his damp, broad shoulder. He allowed me a minute’s rest before leaning back, bracing his legs and thrusting up furiously against me.
I held on near helpless, feeling the bounce of my breasts from the violence of his thrusts. It was as if we were trying to crawl deeper inside each other, knowing it was the last time we’d ever make love. I clung desperately to Lucas, burying my lips against the corded tendons of his neck. As I neared completion, his movements slowed as his arms tightened on my hips. When he shouted his bliss at climax, I let my hot tears escape down his chest along with the silent words, I love you. Forever.
One week later
I adjusted my bodice, tugging it a tad lower to show off my bosom to better advantage. I nodded at Madame Bella, ignoring the older woman’s pursed lips.
“You had better fetch what Elizabeth was going to go for and more.”
I nodded. “I shall. I swear it.” One more tug assured my breasts full prominence. “Thank you—”
Madame cut me off with a raised hand. “I don’t want to hear it. Beware, lest I change my mind. Your sister still sleeps upstairs. I can delay the auction until the laudanum wears off.”
“I’m ready,” I said quickly before Madame acted. “Let’s begin.” I walked down the hall, taking deep breaths and praying.
I’d spent the better part of my week home moping and roaming the grounds of my family estate, alternating between aching for Lucas and fearing for Elizabeth. Fear won when a letter arrived from Lucy and Emmy telling me of the Lord Westhunt’s frequent visits to Madame. Lucas’ brother could have only one reason to visit Madame Bella, and that was to arrange to win Elizabeth’s auction as he’d tried to do at mine.
