To Seduce a Bride (Courtship Wars)

When she stayed silent, he took out a handkerchief from his coat pocket and wiped his hand clean, then calmly rearranged his clothing, covering himself and re-buttoning his pantaloons.

Lily wet her dry lips. “That is all you mean to do?”

“Did you expect more?”

“Well…yes.” She expected him to try to seduce her at the very least. Instead he had left her hot and aching, her senses on fire.

“Alas, we don’t have time. We should be reaching Danvers Hall shortly.”

At his blithe tone, Lily frowned at him, suddenly comprehending his intent. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Yes, love. It was another lesson in passion. Now you know what it feels like to be painfully aroused with no hope of fulfillment…which is the state you continually leave me in.”

He had deliberately titillated and excited and aroused her, only to keep her frustrated and hungry and craving more.

“That is hardly fair,” Lily muttered. “Rather underhanded, in fact.”

His half smile was enchanting. “You have the power to change your fate. All you need do is say you will wed me, and I will be more than happy to satisfy your carnal desires anytime you wish. Until then, your virtue is safe with me.”

There was laughter in his eyes, but a challenge, too.

A challenge Lily had no intention of taking up.

Not for the first time she voiced a silent oath at the vexing, tempting Lord Claybourne-on this occasion for using the lure of incredible carnal pleasure to try and persuade her to accept his hand in marriage.

“I suppose I will just have to suffer then,” Lily declared, moving away from him again in a fit of pique before bending to retrieve the blanket and her discarded stocking. “But I will say one thing: This absurd game cannot be over soon enough for me!”

Chapter Ten

I see now the incredible lure of having a tender lover.

– Lily’s refle

ctions to herself

“I believe we should call it a draw,” Fleur announced the following afternoon after hearing the tale of Lily’s unexpected swim in the lake. “What do you think, Chantel?”

Lily saw Chantel give Lord Claybourne an apologetic smile. They had gathered in the courtesans’ sitting room in order to judge his performance, but Chantel was so softhearted that she never liked to disappoint anyone, particularly handsome noblemen.

“Regrettably I agree, my lord,” Chantel murmured. “No points should be awarded to you or taken away in this instance. You managed to inveigle Lily into your boat, but she fell overboard while under your care. And she did not require your assistance to save herself. Furthermore, you escorted her to Danvers Hall so she could change her gown, but you also benefited, in that you were provided with dry clothing. Have we summarized the facts correctly?”

“I would call that a fair assessment,” Heath said mildly-much to Lily’s relief. She had almost expected him to mention his amorous exploits in his coach. When he met her gaze, she knew he was remembering that scandalous incident and was very glad that he held his tongue.

And in truth, there was nothing more to report about yesterday that might affect the outcome of their game. For the remainder of the afternoon, Heath’s behavior had been perfectly unexceptional and circumspect. They had changed their attire at the Hall and returned to Freemantle Park to rejoin the garden party.

Of course, Winifred had been eager to learn any juicy details when she privately pressed Lily to be more accommodating to his courtship. But only under pain of death would she have confessed to their passionate tryst.

It was bad enough that Winifred still took every opportunity to push her in the marquess’s path. When Lily had sounded out the wealthy widow about possibly helping Fanny with her friends’ debt, Winifred, in yet another obvious attempt to play matchmaker, had quickly declined, saying that Lily should apply to Lord Claybourne for the funds-which she most certainly was not willing to do.

“So, my lord,” Fleur said, bringing the judgment to an end. “I believe your total points to date are seven. You still must earn three more.”

“Perhaps this will improve my score,” Heath said, reaching for a side table to retrieve the package he had brought with him.

When he handed the package to Lily, who sat beside him on the settee, she took it warily. It was wrapped with expensive gilt paper and tied with a ribbon.

“Oh, a present!” Chantel said with delight. “It looks like a book of some type. Do open it, Lily.”

Lily removed the ribbon and wrapping to uncover a leather-bound book.