Vexing the Viscount

“I already am. I might as well find out what it is I’m supposed to have done.”

“I wish I could say I see your point, but I don’t. You know what can happen. He won’t marry you just because you carry his child.” Mrs. Abbott laced her stays tight.

“I am a wise woman, Mrs. Abbott. I understand how babies are made. I also have no expectation of marriage from his lordship. If I get with child, I will return to the estate and no one will mind as long as I teach my daughter the healing ways.”

“And if it is a son?”

Tia couldn’t think about that. “I will deal with that if it happens.”

“As you wish.” Mrs. Abbott led her to the table. “Now, we must do something with all this hair.”

“Nothing tight.”

“Of course not, but he will want to take your hair down slowly.”

Tia wasn’t about to ask Mrs. Abbott how she knew that. By the time Mrs. Abbott was through, Tia was shocked. Her upswept hair was still loose, so once a few pins fell out, all of her hair would tumble down her back. But it was the shocking bodice that forced a gasp from Tia’s lips.

“Don’t take a deep breath or they will tumble right out of there,” Mrs. Abbott said with a giggle. “At least you have enough to keep that up. It would fall right off me with these little tits.”

“Hush,” Tia said, afraid if she laughed she would expose herself.

Footsteps sounded down the hall. “That would be the footmen bringing dinner,” Mrs. Abbott commented. “Are you certain you are ready for this?”

Tia took one last look in the mirror. She barely recognized her reflection. The high-waisted red silk was accented by a hint of black lace at her bosom. The black lace also lined the bottom of the skirt and short sleev

es.

“Come along,” Mrs. Abbott said. “The footmen are leaving and you don’t want to keep him waiting.”

“Thank you for your help.” Tia blew a long breath out. This was it. After tonight, she would know exactly what happened between a man and a woman.

She knocked on his bedchamber door with a shaking hand. Hearing his reply, she slowly opened the door and walked inside.

“Bloody hell,” he muttered from the chair in the salon. “Are you going somewhere tonight?”

She licked her lower lip. “I thought it would be nice to dress for dinner. I’d heard you bathed, so I assumed you would be dressed too.” If you could call black trousers, a white linen shirt, and black waistcoat dressed. He didn’t even bother with a cravat.

“That is a bit overdressed, wouldn’t you say?”

She couldn’t help but notice how he clutched the arms of the chair. “I suppose it is. But I didn’t want you to think I didn’t appreciate the gown. It is lovely, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” he said hoarsely.

“Shall we eat before things get cold?”

“Yes.”

He rose slowly and pulled the chair out next to him for her. She slid into the seat and looked at the two plates before her. “Be careful not to eat too much tonight. Your stomach might still be sensitive.”

“I am fine now,” he grumbled before taking his own seat.

“Did you enjoy your bath? It must have felt wonderful after being in bed for three days.”

“It was fine. But my valet was off tonight, so I am still with this,” he said, rubbing his hand across his beard.

“It rather suits you,” she said softly, before taking a bite of beef.

“I’m not sure most women would agree. Some say it’s rather scratchy.”