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Aphrodite was twisting a gold mesh bangle upon her slim wrist. “So, do you think you can persuade his lordship to say yes?”
“I am not sure,” Marietta said pensively. She took a breath. “I beg your pardon, Aphrodite, but even if he does want my body, I cannot believe he would agree to play such a role.”
Aphrodite chuckled. “He is hurt and you are caring for him. Max is a gentleman and he will feel he owes you a favor, Marietta. Make use of that. And as for him not agreeing to play such a part…Doesn’t that make it an even greater test of your skills? It will be a challenge, and I think that is what you need. I want you to show me you are serious in your endeavor.”
“But—”
Aphrodite grew formidable. “No buts, listen to me now. In this game there will be rules you must abide by and there will be tasks you must accomplish. I will set you a task, and when you have completed it, then I will set you another, and so it will go. When the game is over, if you have completed all your tasks to my satisfaction, without breaking the rules, then I promise that I will help you in whatever way you wish.”
The thought of Aphrodite’s unconditional help made her giddy. But Marietta was a practical girl, and she asked, “What will my first task be?”
“Ah, he must kiss you—”
“But that is simple!”
“Yes, but you must ask him to show you how to kiss.”
Marietta’s cheeks flushed pink. There was something very risqué in such an idea, and yet she said, “I know how to kiss. Gerard kissed me.”
“Psht! Who was this Gerard? He was a nobody. Max Valland is a duke’s son, Marietta, who has been on the town for many years and has had a great many women. Believe me, he knows how to kiss.”
Marietta found that she had to actually take a deep breath, in order to think clearly. “When you say that Max and I will have a temporary affair, do you mean we will…do you mean it will be physical?”
Aphrodite looked at her carefully. “It will be whatever you wish, Marietta. Do not frighten yourself yet with what may or may not happen. Let things develop and wait and see, oui? Each affair has its own pace, its own beginning and its own end. First you must get Max to agree, and that may well prove the most difficult part of all.”
But if what Aphrodite said was true, and Max desired her body, then surely that would be to her advantage? His wanting her would help her to win him over. Therefore it would not be as difficult as she feared, and Aphrodite would have to keep her promise.
“Very well,” she said quickly. “I will do it.”
“Then it is a bargain.”
“Thank you for—”
But Aphrodite motioned her to silence, and her voice was brisk once more. “We will talk about it again. I will make sure that Vivianna knows you are staying tonight. Remember to ask Dobson or the servants if there is anything you need. The club will be open and busy until dawn, so do not fear you are disturbing them.”
“Thank you.”
Aphrodite left, and Marietta slipped back inside the bedroom with Max. She stood close to the bed, so that she could look down at him. Suddenly this stranger had taken on a new and fascinating appeal. He was going to help her attain her wishes—somehow she must persuade him to agree, whether he wanted to or not.
Max lay very still beneath the bedclothes. Dobson had stripped him of his clothing after he sent Marietta from the room, and Marietta didn’t know whether he was completely naked or not, but she could see his bare shoulders and throat. Smooth skin curved over the muscles of his upper arms, and his throat was broad and strong, while on his chest, just before the bedclothes cut off her view, there were some wisps of dark hair.
She barely remembered Gerard Jones without his clothes on and what she did remember made her shudder. There had been a great deal of haste; perhaps Gerard had realized Marietta was having serious doubts and might balk at the final hurdle. Had she enjoyed it? No, she hadn’t. She had lost her virginity and her reputation for very little, really. If a girl was ruined, then shouldn’t she at least savor it?
Marietta hovered over Max. The doctor had done a good job when he sewed the wound and bandaged it, and apart from some of the blood that still matted strands of his hair, Max looked clean and comfortable. His whiskers were beginning to show dark against his pale skin, and when she ran her fingertip over his jaw, it felt slightly prickly and rough. Is this what she would do, if she really was a courtesan out to seduce him? Touch him like this?
It was surprisingly easy—a tremble of excitement started deep in her belly, spreading outwards. Her fingers seemed to move of their own accord, exploring the firm flesh of his chin and jaw, running very lightly over his thin upper lip and the more sensual lower one. She immediately imagined those lips on hers. She touched his eyelids, gently, and brushed her fingertips through the thick curls of his hair. Yes, seducing Max Valland would be an enjoyable experience. But…
With a sigh she drew her hand away.
But that was because Max was asleep and could not frown at her or give her one of his haughty ducal looks. Things would be totally different when he was awake and himself again.
If, that is, he ever was.
Marietta sobered abruptly. This was neither the time nor the place to play at being a courtesan. Max was hurt, and despite the doctor’s optimism, may be seriously so. And she was his nurse. Tempting as it was, it would not be fair to take advantage of him in his unconscious state.
Marietta sank back into her chair and prepared to keep vigil.
Aphrodite was readying herself to go to Berkley Square, a smile hovering at the corners of her mouth as she remembered her conversation with her second daughter. Marietta believed her task to be an easy one, but Aphrodite knew differently. Max, Lord Roseby, would put up a fight, and although in the end Marietta would probably get her way, the journey would be an interesting one.
