Page 82 of Only a Mistress Will Do

Betsy slumbered on.

Still refusing to breathe, Violet crept to the door, her gaze fixed on the figure lying in the trundle. She’d insisted on the candle remaining lit in a strange bedroom and now she was doubly glad of it. When she reached the door she exhaled at last. So far so good. A quick turn of the key and she was ready. Grasping the handle oh so gently, she closed her eyes and pressed down, praying the latch wouldn’t click so loud, nor the door creak. She was so focused on easing the door open, when it swung wide easily she stumbled backward in surprise, trod on a discarded shoe and almost cried out.

Violet clamped her hands over her mouth, staring in horror as Betsy sat up in the bed.

The girl blinked unseeing eyes, grunted, and turned over to face the big bed. She settled down in the covers once more and the rattling snores began afresh.

Clutching her chest, Violet was certain she’d have a seizure of some sort. Her heart gave a huge thump, then subsided to a normal beat. The dim corridor remained quiet as well. Perhaps the Fates would stand on her side tonight. She stepped over the threshold and closed the door as carefully as she could, then sped across to the door on the left.

Should she knock or simply open the door? Of course, he’d probably locked it. She raised her hand to knock. What if he didn’t want her in his bed tonight? She lowered her hand. He hadn’t intimated it either while they ate or afterward when they kissed goodnight. Surely, he would have at least hinted at it if he desired to spend the night with her.

The door behind her remained closed, a faint buzzing through the wood the only sign of life. Her resolve firmed. They were to be married tomorrow or the next day. He wanted her. The memory of the touch of his skin on hers, the thought of his heavy body pressing her into the mattress as he claimed her as his once more drove her to scratch at the door.

“Tris?” She could scarcely hear the whisper herself. To hell with doubt. She plunged the handle down and the door swung inward. She scurried in and shut the door quietly, mindful of being caught in the corridor.

The room was cloaked in darkness. Not even a crack of light showed through the break in the curtains, although the dim glow of the fireplace became apparent as her eyesight adjusted. She peered into the shadows where she believed the bed might be.

The click of a pistol being cocked reverberated in the cool air.

Chapter 31

Violet stopped dead and clamped her hand over her mouth. She had entered the wrong room and was about to be shot for her mistake. Should she dive for the door? Drop to the floor? The room’s inhabitant would likely aim high. Or should she call out and announce herself? She could explain she’d gotten into the wrong room—which was nothing but the truth. The man—she assumed the occupant was a man—might fire first, without letting her identify herself.

“I’d suggest exiting the room now, whoever you are, unless you wish a ball in your buttocks,” a man spoke in an even voice from the inky blackness to her right.

“Tris?” Violet swayed, almost swooning at the familiar sound of her beloved.

“Violet!”

A light flared, illuminating Tris propped up in bed, clothed but for his boots and jacket. “What the devil…what are you…” His eyes seemed huge and dark in the dim light of the single candle. The scowl on his face, however, was plain enough. He scrambled from the bed, tucking the pistol into his waistband. Two strides and he stood before her. “I could have shot you.”

“I’m rather glad you did not, my love.” Giddy with relief, she laid her head on his shoulder. “There are so many more peasant things I can think of for you to do to me.”

His chest heaved and he clutched her to him. “What on earth are you doing in my chamber?” Stepping back, he peered at her, all the lines in his face hard as stone. “I paid for a maid to keep your reputation spotless until we can marry.”

“My reputation hasn’t been spotless since I met you.” She tried to suppress a giggle at his frown and failed. “And I am here because I cannot wait one more day to be with you, my love.” She ran her hand down his firm jaw, the scratch of his night beard thrilling to her fingertips.

“Violet. Love.” Shaking his head, he gathered her back to his chest. “I could wish for nothing more either, than to have you in my bed.” He sighed and a tremor ran through him. “However, should anyone find you in here…”

Determined to have her way, she laid her hand over his lips. “Let them. I do not care what they will say, if anyone is even interested. Simon Harper may put out lies about me, but we shall be married tomorrow, God willing. And I doubt anyone will want to besmirch the reputation of Viscountess Trevor, especially after you trounce Mr. Harper.” She turned his head until all he could see was her face. “Please let me stay. Love me, Tris. Please love me.”

“Darling. Oh, my love.” He kissed her lips until her breath ran out. “I have dreamed of this moment ever since I left you.” His arms around her in a fierce grip, he seemed to never want to let her go. “We shall love one another tonight, and damn the consequences.” Kisses rained down upon her as he caressed her eyes, her cheeks, her neck.

Chills raced down her spine. Her toes tingled and her body flashed hot and cold by turns. Nothing had ever felt as wonderful as his lips on her. “Oh God, what are you doing to me, Tris?”

“It’s what I want to do to you, my love, that matters most.” He growled, the vibration tickling her neck.

“Hmmm.” She rubbed her breasts against his shirt, the snowy linen sheer enough she could see the interest in his puckered nipples, hard as bullets. Dropping her head to his chest, she licked one of the tiny points through his shirt. The feel of his flesh on her tongue, even through the material, made her core ache with need.

With a groan, Tris squeezed her arms. “We need to remove your clothes. Now.”

At last. “What you will, my lord.” She backed toward the bed, inching her nightgown over first one, then the other shoulder. Her training at Madame Vestry’s would be put to good use tonight. She twitched her shoulders and the garment slid down her arms until it barely covered her nipples, creating the illusion it would fall at any moment.

Tris’s gaze, fixed squarely on her breasts, certainly avowed he believed it so.

In truth, she held the cloth in place by squeezing her arms tight to her sides so she controlled the moment of revelation. The hot, dark eyes of her betrothed told her time was nigh. She breathed deeply, expanding her chest fully, and let the gown drop.

With a hiss, he sucked in air and tore at his cravat, even as his eyes feasted on her naked body. A flurry of white cascaded to the floor at her feet as he ripped off his clothing and pounced, bearing her onto the mattress. His hungry mouth devoured hers as his hands caressed and kneaded her breasts.