Page 35 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

Harlow saw the heat in Reese’s eyes. It was similar to the night before when he’d been looking at her feet. She’d thought him upset, but now she realized he was tempted. By her.

She was certainly no seductress, being a maiden. But she’d heard her brothers talking when they’d thought she wasn’t there. She had some carnal knowledge of what things a man desired in a woman.

Breasts had been the topic of many of their conversations though Harlow didn’t understand the appeal. Perhaps it was that women had them exclusively. But a good bit of their time was devoted to discussing a woman’s plump backside, and men had those. There seemed to be concern over being able to hold onto a woman for curves were mentioned, specifically as something to hold on to.

She did recall the way seeing a glimpse of a woman’s ankle was a signal she was interested in bedsport. They seemed oblivious to the fact that sometimes, completely unintentionally, their ankles were revealed. Be it a deep step or a stiff wind… or walking on the beach as they were now. She didn’t want her hems to get wet from the damp sand so she’d picked them up a bit. But she didn’t worry for Lord Breckenridge had seen her ankles many times as they settled in the library in the evenings and she’d not intended to send him any messages. She only wanted to be comfortable.

Men were quite silly, she decided. And this secret vocabulary of heated glances and revealing things to mean something else was ridiculous. However had the human race survived this long with such a complex mating ritual? When she was ready to interact in such activities, she planned just to say so.

Except proper young ladies didn’t speak of such things. Nor was there any reason for her to need to. For the only time she would ever engage in such acts would be with her husband. Marriage precipitated the act whether she showed an ankle or not.

But wasn’t that rather impractical as well? How would she know if she suited the man or vice versa if they didn’t test things between them first? And who were her brothers engaging with if no ladies did this act until married? Statistically it would seem this rule was not strictly followed.

“Forgive me for asking, but have you slept with many women?”

He was in the process of throwing a stick for Belle and her words must have shocked him for the stick landed only a few feet away rather than the great distance he’d been throwing it. Belle cocked her head as if judging his throw and finding him lacking.

But Reese didn’t seem to care about the stick for he had turned to her. The heat was gone, replaced by surprise and confusion.

“I don’t think that is a subject—”

“Fit for young ladies. Yes, I’m aware. I’ve heard that so many times. Still, I’m curious. If you don’t wish to give numbers, could you tell me, were they ladies of the ton? Because I find fault in the mathematics if every lady be chaste when she marry, but unmarried men are sleeping with ladies. You see the conundrum.”

He chuckled.

“My how your mind works, lass. It’s intriguing. I would almost love to know the thread of thoughts that trailed to ye asking such a question outright like that.”

“You don’t intend to answer?” she challenged.

“Very well. Widows.” He nearly spat the word at her and looked away as if there was some disgrace in this. But after a few moments of thought she understood. She waited for him to complete his throw before speaking.

“That makes a great deal of sense. They cannot be ruined for they were already married. And one would think after having done the act, one would want to continue doing it. Widowhood is rather sought out by women as it offers a great deal of freedom while also providing funds and safety. Is this widely known by men? I can’t think any of my brothers would be clever enough to have thought of this on their own.”

He sighed as if he was being put upon to carry a large boulder up a long hill, but eventually answered.

“Aye. Men speak of it in our clubs.”

“Which widows are agreeable to such things, you mean?”

“Yes.”

“Do you share your preferences for one widow over another?”

“Some men do. I do not.” He seemed to gather a great deal of pride in this fact. She didn’t know why, but didn’t push. She had other questions.

“Because your preferences are different than other men?”

“I would think my preferences are quite common, though I didn’t realize how enticing a bold, curious woman could be.” He winked.

“If you said that to frighten me so I would stop questioning you, it will not work. I’m rather like a dog with a tasty bone when I want to know something.”

“Very well. You have until we get back to the stairs to ask any question you wish and I will answer as to the best of my ability so long as it is not personal. General inquiries only.”

Harlow wished she’d been given time to prepare and perhaps a few pieces of paper and some ink, but she’d have to do her best to take advantage of the earl’s gracious opportunity.

Reese began to walk for the stairs that would lead them up the cliff to the castle. With his long legs he moved much faster than she could with her shorter ones, but she chased after him as she contemplated what to ask first.

“Have you ever been to a brothel?” she asked because it was something she’d heard about but wasn’t quite certain what it was.