Instead, she lay in the darkness, her nightdress shifting against still-sensitive skin, and replayed each word and caress Evan had used to build a fire in her core. She recalled Beth’s directions and her hands trembled over her form.
One skimmed over her breast, feeling an arrow of heat shoot from her nipple to her womanhood. The other dragged her nightrail up to hover on the mound where her thighs met at a curl-covered juncture. Slipping a finger in, she found the nub Evan had put in his mouth—his mouth! It was swollen and tender to her touch, and she rubbed delicately.
As she did, other scenes came to mind unbidden. Promising herself she would not watch others in the future, she nonetheless replayed the scenes she had witnessed. They too had built this type of fire, albeit nothing like what Evan ignited.
Beth, in a stable stall, being covered like a mare by a stable hand.
The woman on her knees, her mouth on the man in the chair at last year’s London party. Her on her knees for Evan, pulses of heat running through her, stronger than she had when she’d watched from the door of that bedroom. While she couldn’t imagine orgasming from doing that to him, saliva pooled in her mouth at the idea of returning the caresses he’d given her earlier.
Her finger strummed her flesh faster, her hand on her breast squeezing. But when she reached the peak, it was like a candle being snuffed out, nowhere near as bone-liquefying as the fire Evan had brought forth.
Well, I suppose that answers my question. Not all orgasms are alike.’Twas her last thought before exhaustion claimed her.
She awoke after only a few hours, as dawn broke outside the window. With the clarity of sleep and the light of day, she found it easier to focus on her business rather than pleasure. Her independence once again was her highest priority, achievable through the success of her stores, without a man stealing a portion of it.
She had nothing more to accomplish at this outrageous party.
Except mayhap another orgasm or three.
Ignoring the internal voice that sounded suspiciously like Beth, she decided she’d simply avoid Lord Cheltenham for the rest of her life, so she needn’t face him while remembering being sprawled out after coming apart under his mouth and hands.
Althea wondered where her cousin had spent the night, as she’d never returned to their room. Desperate to leave as soon as possible, she asked her assigned maidservant to quietly locate her young relative as she began packing for both of them.
Beth arrived nearly an hour later, flushed and tousled. In her agitation, Althea did not stop to ask where she’d been. “I need to leave here.”
Her cousin gaped at her. “But there is another two nights of entertainment, and I’ve heard they get increasingly interesting. Wait, where did you go last night? Did you not play any of the games?”
“Oh, I played a game. And lost. Evan—Lord Cheltenham and I could not agree on terms. I shall need to look for other options.”
Beth’s eyebrows had raised at her use of their host’s given name. “Right, then. We shall go home and regroup.”
“Thank you.” Althea had been worried her cousin would fight her for more time at this beyond-risqué gathering.
“Can we please visit the dower house quickly, though? I met Lady Cheltenham—Cheltie’s mother—and she’s lovely. And I promised her I’d come back.”
“I suppose, if ’tis quick.”
“Thank you, cuz. Come on, then.”
“You don’t want to change clothes?” Her cousin was still wearing her party frock.
Beth shrugged it off. “To sit in a carriage much of the day? I’ll have a bath at the inn we stay at on the way home.”
A woman in an apron answered their knock at the cottage. “Ah, Miss Jenkins. So nice of you to visit again. Oh, and you’ve brought—” She broke off, concern in her voice.
“Hullo, Lucy.” She gestured to Althea. “My cousin, Lady Althea Egerton. Althea, this is Lady Cheltenham’s nurse. Sadly, we must leave, so I wanted to say goodbye to Lady Cheltenham. But this also means I shall be able to interview a few candidates for this position that much quicker.”
Lucy smiled. “And Lord Cheltenham agreed?”
Beth nodded and slipped past the nurse to venture down the hall to the conservatory and the older lady’s chair. “Hello. How are you today, Lady Cheltenham?”
Lady Cheltenham turned toward her curiously, then narrowed her eyes. “Do I know you?”
“You do indeed. I met you the other day. But ’tis no matter. I am Beth.” She gestured Althea forward. “And this is my cousin, Althea. We’ve been visiting with your darling son, Evan. He has been ever so gracious a host.”
“Evan and his parties.” The woman rolled her eyes.
Beth had given Althea a vague warning about the woman’s memory. Given her new perspective, Althea wondered how much his mother knew of his house parties.
