Chapter 17

"My stepmother cannot be the villain," Lady Victoria said, tapping her pen against the paper. "It must be someone or something else."

Thomas' lips twitched in amusement. Lady Victoria had spoken with such conviction as if she anticipated disagreement and had already prepared her arguments. They had already spoken about her stepmother before, and Lady Victoria mentioning the woman unprompted meant that she was still clearly thinking about his proposal.

Thomas tilted his head, weighing whether to share his question. After a few seconds, he decided that he would take the risk. "Is that because you love your stepmother too much?"

Lady Victoria's cheeks pinkened. "I do love her."

There was something about her tone that Thomas could not quite place. He suspected that Lady Victoria did truly love her stepmother. Still, there was something else in her voice—a slight undercurrent of something anxious—that always emerged when she mentioned her stepmother.

"Then, who shall your villain be if not your stepmother and not the heroine's own desires?" Thomas asked.

"I must decide who would want to prevent Lady Constance from wedding the rake," Lady Victoria said. "If not her stepmother, who? Perhaps Lady Constance has a companion who does not understand her friend's desires."

"I suppose. Her friend wants Lady Constance to be safe. She is willing to sacrifice Lady Constance's happiness to keep her safe, not realizing that Lady Constance needs her rake."

Lady Victoria pursed her lips together. "I like the suggestion of a friend. Perhaps, Lady Constance's dearest companion is a proper young lady."

"I imagine that you know many ladies who may serve as an inspiration for this concerned friend," Thomas said.

Lady Victoria hummed. "I am unsure. I know so little about the women in the ton. I feel as though they are so much more beautiful and elegant than I am. They are too perfect."

"Would that not be the best inspiration for Lady Constance's friend?" Thomas asked. "You can cast yourself in the role of the heroine."

"I do not have the knowledge to be a heroine."

Thomas tilted his head towards her and drew his chair closer so their knees touched. Lady Victoria's face reddened, and she shyly tucked a curl behind her ear. "I disagree, My Lady," he said. "Perhaps you do not have the knowledge yet, but I feel as though you shall soon. You are learning quickly."

She winked. "I had a good instructor."

"You should let me read your work," Thomas said, "so I can teach you even more."

"You have proven that you do not need to read my work to teach me," Lady Victoria said.

"Perhaps, you should be more specific?" he asked, his voice sly. "What would you like me to teach you?"

He nudged his knee between her legs, the movement hidden beneath the table. Lady Victoria's breath hitched. Thomas watched her carefully. Moving slowly so she could stop him if she wanted, Thomas placed his hands on her thighs.

Lady Victoria made a strangled sound. "What are you proposing?"

"Whatever you wish," he replied. "If we need to find someplace with more privacy, I would be delighted to oblige any of your wishes and satisfy any curiosity."

Lady Victoria bit her lip. Her legs parted, restrained only by her long, pink skirts. Thomas stroked her slender thighs through the fabric. She leaned into his touch and arched her back. Her breath quickened, and Thomas smiled. "Do we need to move somewhere else?"

"No," she breathed. "No, I do not—I do not want to—I am not ready for …"

Thomas' trousers seemed to grow tighter. He was too aware of Lady Victoria's breasts rising and falling, their pale mounds straining against the bodice of her gown. Thomas imagined himself leaning forward and cupping those lovely breasts and freeing them from her stays. He imagined rubbing his fingers over her nipples and stroking them until they rose into pink peaks.

"Ready for what?" he asked gently.

"For an amorous congress," she said.

"Ah," Thomas replied. "We do not have to do that. I understand your hesitation."

"Do you truly?" Her eyes seemed to grow more intense as she watched him. "Are you saying that you understand only to please me?"

"No."

He stroked her thighs, and she placed her hands over his. Thomas stifled a groan at the feeling of her soft, delicate hands against his own. Gentlemen never touched ladies' hands without their gloves, and he savoured her delicate touch.

"You deserve to be worshipped," Thomas said, "like your Lady Constance."

"Worshipped?" she asked.

He hummed. "Yes. I am of the opinion that all beautiful women should be worshipped," he said, "and I would be honoured to worship you."

Lady Victoria's breath hitched. She let out a small, startled laugh. "I do not know if I would say worship," she said, "but I love how attentive you are."

"Attentive," he said, arching an eyebrow. "I do not believe I have ever been called such before. At least, not by a woman."

"By men, then?" Lady Victoria asked, her face puzzled.

"Businessmen," he replied. "I am quite devoted to my work. Some have said too much."

Lady Victoria nodded slowly. "Are most men of the ton like you? Devoted to their business?"

"It depends on the man. In my experience, lords are very seldom interested in working hard. Many men believe that our titles should award us the privilege of never having to work."

"But not you."

"No."

She traced her fingers along his, rubbing his knuckles. "Why are you different?" she asked softly. "If other men do not understand the need for working hard, why do you?"

"I suppose it is simply how I was born," Thomas replied. "It would never occur to me not to manage my own business. If I ought to praise anyone for instilling the importance of hard work within me, it is certainly my father. He managed the business when I was young with your father. They did not like men to manage their assets for them."

"Oh."

Thomas nodded. He could tell her about her father's will. Thomas considered the possibility as he stroked the lady's thighs. He did not dare ask if she loved him yet. Surely, it was too soon for him to expect such devotion from her. He had not even expressed such feelings himself yet.

"Yes. It is unfortunate that we did not meet earlier in our lives. We might have been fast friends by now."

"Yes," she replied. "Perhaps we can be friends now. I trust you."

"And I trust you. For what little that may be worth."

"What little?" she asked.

"The consequences for a woman who does not trust a man are far more destructive than those of a man who does not trust a woman," Thomas replied. "I know that you enjoy learning about the pleasures of the flesh, but you must—surely—realize that you would be ruined if I did not keep my word. If I told anyone about our kiss or about what I did to you on that bench, your reputation would be in tatters."

"Yours would be, too."

"Not as badly," he replied. "It is true that men should not seduce young ladies, but the shame would be far greater for you. It is an unfair world that we live in."

Lady Victoria's face fell. She did not pull her hands away from his, though. Instead, she squared her shoulders and straightened her spine. Before his very eyes, Lady Victoria's resolve seemed to strengthen. "Then, the world ought to be changed," she said. "The world needs to realize that ladies have desires, and we should—we should be allowed to be curious. We should be allowed to have our errors made in the bloom of our youth."

"I agree. Perhaps your plays may change the world," Thomas said quietly. "You can change the way that people think about women. As a lady playwright, I am sure you know that most of the great plays and texts have been written by men. Perhaps it is time that a lady be allowed to have some mark on history."

"You have such lofty plans for me," Lady Victoria said, squeezing his hands. "I am not so great. I have not even completed my first play, and I have written it over and over so many times. Even now, there is a scene that I am unable to complete."

"Tell me about it."

"I imagine that it is something like this," Lady Victoria murmured. "He strokes her thighs, and she—I imagine that she wants to touch him, too."

Lady Victoria looked askance as if she were suddenly overcome with embarrassment of her own desires. Thomas spread his legs in clear invitation. He took Lady Victoria's right hand and raised it to his lips, inhaling her familiar floral scent. Then, he pressed her hand against his thigh. Lady Victoria exhaled loudly, and Thomas bit back a pleased groan. He felt her delicate hand and the warmth of her body through the fine fabric of his trousers. Thomas had experienced a woman's touch before, but none had set his blood roaring as fiercely as hers.

She tipped her face up, her eyes wide and curious. Thomas smiled gently. "You do not need to be shy," he said. "Continue."

Lady Victoria traced circles along his thigh while her brow furrowed in concentration. He had never before seen a woman look so determined. She kept stroking his leg, and Thomas clenched his jaw. It was maddening, trying to force back his growing arousal at her touch. She wanted this, though.

She did not want an amorous congress, not yet. He would always respect a lady's wishes, even if it were hard. Thomas' breath caught in his throat. Lady Victoria looked at him, her face curious.

He forced a debonair smile. "Is it what you hoped?" he asked.

"Yes. Does it bring you any pleasure, My Lord?"

"More than you can possibly know."