7. Chapter 7

Chapter 7

E liza and Juliet strolled into the breakfast room, arm in arm again. Eliza wasn’t ready to face Nick after what had transpired between them, but she knew Juliet wouldn’t fall for any attempts to delay their arrival in the breakfast room. She didn’t care to admit to herself how much the man still affected her. Her body craved him and her heart longed for him. But he was merely toying with her affections, and she was the fool for turning wanton in his presence. What made the matter ironic was that he was the one who had unlocked her wanton desires, and he still wielded the power to engage them at his will.

It wouldn’t be a surprise when he tossed her aside at the conclusion of the house party. Given his attention to Lady Preston, he probably had multiple women at his disposal. He dallied with her because he knew he could, and she had willingly allowed him to do so.

The odious man didn’t even believe he owed her an apology for tricking her, breaking her heart, and, in fact, ruining her. Her choices for a husband were limited—not that she wished to take one. She may have had many proposals, but once they knew another man had already taken her maidenhead, they would cast her aside. They could even seek an annulment or treat her poorly.

Worse than that, even after three years, she hadn’t dislodged him from her thoughts, and—she hated to admit—her heart. If yesterday had been any indication, her body betrayed her in how much she wanted him.

“Good morning, ladies,” Lord Irvine said, bowing to them. “Allow me to help you to your seats.”

They each took one of his proffered arms and when she glanced up at the man, it wasn’t lost on her that his gaze had locked onto her chest again. She glanced at Juliet, who smirked and stifled a giggle.

“Are you feeling all right this morning, Lady Eliza?” he asked. “I was disappointed when you didn’t join the rest of us for dinner.”

She caught sight of Nick entering the breakfast room, and her breath caught. She instantly pushed the notion aside and reminded herself that no good could come from thinking of him as anything but the horrid man who used her and cast her aside.

“I am feeling much better, indeed,” she said, smiling up through her lashes. She bit her bottom lip for good measure and almost laughed when the man’s gaze immediately fixed there. Men really were simple creatures.

Eliza still wasn’t certain that she wished to couple with Lord Irvine, but it appeared the option would be available for her if she chose to pursue it. He may be a rake, but he had been kind and attentive to her, at least. He was likely a skilled bed partner, too, if she allowed herself to consider it.

He escorted them to the sideboard, where they made their selections. He carried each of their plates to the table and set them down, then pulled out their chairs and seated each of the ladies. Lord Irvine seated himself in the open seat next to Eliza, positioning his chair closer to her than he ought. When he sat down, his thigh rubbed against hers.

She noted that there still wasn’t even a hint of excitement or anticipation at having him so close. When she had been anywhere near Nick, or any part of them barely touched, the electricity had been palpable. It drew them closer together so that they sought any excuse to touch each other. Which was still evident based on what had occurred between them the day before .

She mentally chastised herself for comparing her reaction to anything regarding Nick. What she and Nick had wasn’t real. At least not for him. He made that quite clear. So perhaps she couldn’t be trusted to know what attraction or connection was. And did it truly even matter if all she would ask of Lord Irvine was physical pleasure? It’s not like she would ever consider marrying the man. She didn’t need him to cuddle her and whisper sweet nothings.

She opened her mouth to speak to Lord Irvine and closed it again when Nick took the seat directly across from her. Refusing to look at him, she refocused her attention on the man beside her, even if her body betrayed her attraction to Nick. “I hear a group is going to go riding after breakfast. I hoped you might accompany me, my lord.”

“I would be honored to ride with you, my lady,” Lord Irvine replied. “Do you enjoy horseback riding?”

“I do very much,” she said, looking up from her plate to offer him a wide smile. She glanced at Nick, whose neck had turned red, and his gaze bored into her. She rolled her eyes at him and took another bite of her food. Eliza glanced at Juliet and noted that Marquess Theodore Camden had seated himself next to her and had her engaged in conversation .

With her friend distracted, she focused her attention back on Lord Irvine. She tried to think of something to speak to him about, but Nick beat her to it.

“Will you be entering a horse in Newmarket next season, Irvine?” Nick asked.

“I intend to. I recently bought a fine contender from the Clive family, and I believe he shall be up to scratch,” Lord Irvine replied. John Clive was the most sought-after horse breeder in England since he took over the business from his cousin, who had unexpectedly become a titled peer.

Eliza masked her irritation at Nick’s interference and focused her attention on her plate. She tuned out the monotonous conversation about horses and races while picking at her food. She suspected Nick might have engaged the man in conversation to prevent her from doing so. Why did he care what she did or who she entertained, in her bed or out of it? He’d lost the right to do so.

She didn’t speak for the rest of breakfast, all too glad when she could excuse herself to change into her riding habit. She could only hope that she could escape Nick during the group ride, but she had erred when she asked Lord Irvine to accompany her in front of him.

After breakfast, Dot helped her to dress, and once her bonnet was set, she tapped her knuckles on Juliet’s door.

“Come in,” she heard from the other side of the door .

Eliza entered the room and then closed the door behind her.

“I shall be ready in a few moments,” Juliet said, seated at the vanity where her maid was adjusting her hair.

“I’m certain they won’t depart without us, and if they do, we shall go riding on our own,” Eliza said, taking a seat in a nearby chair.

“Perhaps you hope to avoid a certain gentleman,” Juliet returned, catching her friend’s eye in the mirror.

Eliza rolled her eyes. “You must have missed where I asked Lord Irvine to accompany me.”

“What I didn’t miss is how you are still attracted to Lord Craven,” Juliet returned. “Not that I blame you, of course.”

“Have you forgotten how the man treated me?” Eliza asked. “He made me believe he loved me and wished to marry me, then used a coward’s letter to inform me that it was all a cruel trick.”

Juliet waved off her words. “Of course not. But your eyes don’t lie. And neither do his. There is certainly something between the two of you.”

“You know not of what you speak of, Juliet,” Eliza said, tamping down her irritation. “He is merely dallying with me and taunting me for being so foolish.”

“And just how is he dallying with you?” Juliet asked, casting her a knowing look.

Eliza’s cheeks pinkened. “I might have allowed him to touch me a bit.”

“Might have? You know I want details.”

“All right, I did. Just a bit of kissing, and his hands ventured between my legs.” And it was far better than any of the climaxes she had been reduced to giving herself.

Juliet clasped her hands together. “I knew it. I knew there was something between you still. You are trying so hard to fight it.”

Eliza shook her head. “I just wanted him to make me come. Nothing more. He only did so because he wished to dally with me, so I took the opportunity to ensure my own needs were met. He has done so, and that is that.”

Juliet shook her head. “I think there is more to it.”

“What of you?” Eliza asked, attempting to shift the conversation. “You seemed to find Lord Camden to be interesting company. You hardly spoke to me at breakfast.”

Her friend tried to mask the pink of her cheeks, but her reaction wasn’t so easily hidden from Eliza.

“He is interesting for certain.” Juliet’s riding bonnet was set and tied, and she rose from her stool. “I am ready.”

“Let’s be off then,” Eliza said. Anything to prevent further conversation about Nick. She would spend the day in Lord Irvine’s company and perhaps entertain something physical between them. The idea became more appealing if it should help to push Nick from her thoughts.

When they arrived at the stables, the horses were saddled and ready. Her entire body tingled with awareness when Nick stepped close to her to climb atop the horse next to hers. Lord Irvine offered his assistance to help Eliza seat herself in the saddle and then climbed atop his horse.

The ride was relaxing for the most part. With so many others on the outing with them, she forced herself to ignore Nick as best as she could. During the ride, Lady Preston had ridden up next to him and engaged him in conversation.

Eliza had tried to eavesdrop on what they discussed, but Lord Irvine distracted her with questions about her various interests. It prevented her from hearing any of what the lady said to Nick, and it left her irritated. Not that she was jealous. The man was mad to interfere with Eliza’s prospects when he was more than likely fucking the very woman in his friend’s house, all the while dipping his fingers inside Eliza in one of their host’s small parlors.

After riding for a couple of hours, the group stopped for a picnic by a pond. The day was perfect, with the sun high in the partly cloudy skies. The light breeze hit her face and the cool fall air kissed her cheeks. It looked as if it might rain later, but it was still beautiful out.

“Lady Eliza,” Lord Irvine said, getting her attention beside her, “I thought we might share a drink of our spirits this evening to toast our win yesterday.”

She glanced at him and noticed his dark eyes had a few flecks of gold in them, which shone under the September sun. He was handsome, to be sure. If he ever wished to marry one day, he’d melt hearts.

“I would enjoy that, my lord.” There wouldn’t be harm in having a drink with the man, and she could see how she might feel about entertaining something more. It would certainly be one way to get Nick out of her head.

After dinner that evening, the house party had retired to the salon for music. The women in attendance took turns singing and playing the pianoforte. Eliza and Juliet paired for a duet, playing the pianoforte together and singing. They had done so a few times before at other parties and had always received a warm reception. When they finished, the group erupted into cheers and applause.

Eliza couldn’t help but notice Nick’s expression, which appeared to show the faintest signs of remorse. He caught her eye, and the intensity of his gaze sent shivers up her spine.

“My lady,” Lord Irvine said, capturing her attention. He held his hand out to her to help her up from the bench. “I thought we might take our drink on the terrace. It’s a lovely evening and not too terribly cold.” He leaned a bit closer. “And our drink shall keep us warm.” He smiled down at her, his expression full of mirth.

She responded by looping her arm in his and allowing him to lead the way. He already held the bottle they had won in the Pall Mall competition, and he stopped before they reached the terrace door to grab two glasses from the sideboard.

Once they were outside on the terrace, he poured them each a drink before he set the bottle down on the wide top rail. “To our win, and what a great team we make,” he said, holding his glass up in a toast.

She toasted him, and they each took a large gulp of their drinks. He was right about it keeping her warm as her throat had already warmed as she downed the liquid.

“If I may be so forward,” he started after lowering his glass, “why is it you have turned down so many offers of marriage, my lady?”

She took another fortifying sip of her drink before responding. “I don’t wish to marry.”

“Then we have that in common,” he said. “At least for a very long time, indeed.”

“I am sure you will take a wife one day to secure your heir, but I never intend to marry.” She fell for the folly of schoolgirl notions once, and she would be damned if she’d go through that heartache again.

“But don’t you wish for”—he paused and captured her gaze—“other things?”

She smirked at him. “Does one truly need to be married to engage in such things? I would wager you haven’t been living as a monk, my lord.”

He choked on the sip he took and coughed a few times. Once he recovered, he responded. “I quite enjoy a lady who is so forward.”

Perhaps it was the drink or even the moonlight, but she found she enjoyed flirting with the man. Perhaps if she kissed him, she would feel a bit more inclined to allow other liberties and forget Nick once and for all.

“And I enjoy a gentleman who thinks so,” she said, giving him a coy grin.

He stepped closer to her and removed her drink from her hand, then set both of their glasses beside the bottle on the railing. “Lady Eliza, might you be amenable to a kiss?”

“I believe I would, my lord,” she said, smiling up at him. She wasn’t certain, but it was time. Time to see what another man might stir within her. She had only ever kissed Nick, and if one would have asked her three years ago, she would have said she would kiss no other man for as long as she lived. But unless she wished to never experience the touch of a man again, she had to try.

He cupped her face in his hand and glanced at her lips. Much to her annoyance, she pictured Nick’s face and longed for the man before her to be him.

“Irvine,” a familiar voice called out as if she had conjured Nick from her thoughts. “Our hosts have requested your presence.”

Lord Irvine quickly dropped his hand and stepped back from Eliza.

“Of course,” he said before turning back to Eliza, whispering so only she could hear. “I should like to continue this later.”

She nodded and watched him depart before pushing past Nick to return inside. Eliza was afraid of what she might do or say to him if she remained in his presence, wanting him as much as she did. She didn’t trust herself not to drag him to her bed. So she took off through the other doorway and down a corridor to avoid being seen by the other guests.

But she hadn’t been fast enough as Nick was quickly on her heels. His firm hand grabbed her arm and pulled her into a small study with only a few bookcases and a desk. There was a bit of light in the room from the low embers glowing from the fireplace.

Nick closed the door behind them and leaned against it. The shadows on his face made him appear a tad dangerous, yet irresistibly handsome. “Eliza,” he said, breathless and frenzied. His nostrils flared and his jaw set in a hard line. “What in the hell do you think you are doing?”