Fortunate
ly, Debenham had not noticed the absence of her ball gown. What had Mr. Woking done with it? Its light, flimsy fabric meant it could be rolled into mere nothingness. Had he tossed it away outside somewhere nearby or had he taken it with him?
She shook her head, closed her eyes and tried to banish the thought. She could not worry about that now. Her first concern must be pleasing her husband, and she would need to do that thoroughly to shore up his goodwill toward her in the hopes of averting any difficult questions when he left her.
Twining her arms about his neck, she pressed her naked body suggestively against his, then trailed one hand down his hard chest to massage his groin.
“Oh, I am more than ready, my husband,” she purred, gyrating against his erection. “I do love an intelligent man. I wondered if you’d be clever enough to find me.” She buried her head against his chest and inhaled the aroma of arrack, sweat, and leather while she allowed him access to her body. He was clearly enjoying the novelty of her nakedness, standing in a foreign location. His hands roamed over her body, his fingers twining themselves in the thatch of hair at the juncture of her legs. Araminta groaned softly. She must throw herself into this with all the enthusiasm of which she was capable. Debenham was her husband, and as he’d reminded her earlier, she was utterly reliant on him. This little episode might help ameliorate his mood when she continued to be unable to present him with the ruby necklace.
“I was surprised you entrusted such a wicked little note to my nephew,” he murmured, tickling her ear with his tongue, “though, no doubt, taunting him was part of the pleasure for you, my dear girl. I know you too well.” He chuckled as he pinched her nipple. “Taunting him with what he can never have. I’m surprised you’re not concerned he might be peeping through the windows and watching us from the darkness?”
Araminta gave a low, throaty laugh. “And would that be so terrible? Surely you’d want to show him how a real man conducts maneuvers, Debenham darling.”
To her surprise, Debenham burst out laughing. “You are full of surprises, Lady Debenham.” He whisked her into his arms and strode across to the banquette where he laid her over the cushions before quickly divesting himself of his clothes.
“Tell me, is this one of the pleasures you’ve been so eager to taste, dear heart?” he asked when he was stark naked and his enormous member was thrust under her nose. “Ah yes.” He closed his eyes and exhaled on a sigh of rapture as Araminta took him into her mouth. He was huge and eager as he rammed himself down her throat, but it occurred to her that she might just satisfy him this way rather than risk an unwanted pregnancy if his desire for rutting ran the full gamut.
He adjusted his position to give her deeper access, standing above her, while she lay on her back upon the banquette, pleasuring him, her hands grasped him tightly, massaging his shaft, doing what she must to satisfy her husband in the hope he’d drain his seed other than inside her. His breath was coming deeper and more rapidly as his thrusting grew more urgent. Araminta felt no desire for similar satisfaction. She wanted only to urge him on to final satisfaction so she could escape. Or so he could leave, sated, and she could find a means of sneaking away in the darkness, possibly avoiding detection.
“And now for the grand finale!”
She’d truly thought he was about to spill his seed safely in her mouth, but unexpectedly he withdrew, fell upon her, prized her legs apart and plunged himself deep inside her, gasping in the throes of ecstatic ejaculation.
Horrified, Araminta stared above his shoulder, into the gloom of the room as Debenham had his fill of pleasure, before he went limp on top of her.
After a few minutes, he raised himself, his eyes gleaming. “That was good, eh, my sweeting?” he growled. “Just what you’ve been waiting for with growing impatience, eh?” He rolled onto his side and grinned. “Couldn’t afford to arouse you too much and have your shrieking bring the rest of them away from the fireworks. I’ll save that for round two later tonight, now that I’ve been reminded of how damned good you are in bed.” At the sound of a loud bang outside, he sat up. “The fireworks have begun...for the rest of the party, that is, eh, my love?” he quipped.
Araminta hoped his good humor would last. She pressed her lips together in a smile and nodded as she rose, but drew back when he extended his hand with the invitation they join the rest of the party.
He looked about to press her when his attention was suddenly diverted.
“What’s this?”
Araminta looked up and saw he held the sketch Teddy had given her earlier that evening, though she noticed, vaguely, a piece had been torn away.
His eyes widened. “Good God, that woman is wearing your ruby necklace.” His brow furrowed as he turned to Araminta, silently demanding understanding.
“Debenham, I’m not sure what to do!” Breathlessly, Araminta rose and stabbed her finger in the direction of the picture. “You see, it’s gone missing. I didn’t know how to tell you, but I’ve put the word about, and now I’ve received this.” She swallowed, truly afraid that Debenham would angrily consider Araminta was in the wrong or would not believe her. “It was stolen...a week ago...and now I’ve just received this together with a demand for money. No, not the full amount, because whoever did this knows I do not have that kind of money, and besides, it’s too distinctive for them to sell it easily.”
“Someone’s blackmailing you?” His anger was more explosive than she’d expected and to her surprise, he gripped her shoulders and pulled her against him, as he repeated, “Someone dares to blackmail Lady Debenham? My wife?”
Araminta nodded. “Yes,” she whispered, shuddering as she began to cry, this time for real. “I didn’t know how to tell you, Debenham. I thought I could get it back without you knowing, so you wouldn’t be angry with me.”
“Angry with you?” He held her at arm’s length, his scowl fueling her terror, before he brought his mouth down on hers in a deep, almost satisfying kiss for the fact that it was clear his desire for her was much greater than his anger. “No, my love, my anger is reserved for whoever is behind this, and by God, they will be made to pay. No one blackmails a Debenham! Now, come my love, and let us return to the entertainment.” He folded the sketch and put it in his pocket. “Don’t you fret about unpleasant matters such as this. You can rest assured that I will take care of it.” Once more, his eyes roamed over her body with salacious appreciation. “By God, Araminta, I’d forgotten how you could fire me up.”
Araminta managed a more robust smile this time. “I knew I could depend upon you, my darling. I should have gone to you straight away.” She sighed and stared wistfully out of the window. “What a wonderful sight it is, the stars and the fireworks. I want to stay here longer. You go back if you wish, and I shall join you later.”
Finally, she persuaded him to return without her, and to her relief, he left without argument.
As the door closed behind him, and in the wake of no uncomfortable questions regarding clothing—or the lack of it—Araminta lay back against the cushions now in disarray upon the red-velvet banquette. With a sigh of fear and despair, she wondered how she would get herself home and into the house with no questions asked.
But that was only part of her problems tonight.
How had Miss La Bijou come into possession of her necklace?
And what did she know of the circumstances regarding its departure from Lady Debenham’s custody?
Chapter Twenty-three