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Where was Rodrigo? He had not come by in three weeks! He had leased her lodgings for a full year. He had even given her a hefty sum to cover any and all expenses, but the fact he had not visited could mean he had another woman. What could she do? It was beneath her to send him an epistle requesting his company.
Plague take the man. How dare he treat her in this fashion! There were others very willing to see to her needs and her pleasures. Her pale blue eyes darkened as she thought of Rodrigo. He was the best lover she had ever had. He was handsome, fun, and rich. She thought theirs would be a union that would last as long as he was in England.
She didn’t love him. She knew he didn’t love her, but even so, it irritated her he could stay away from her so long. She was a possessive woman and wanted the men in her life to display an aura of adoration—Rodrigo never had. It was annoying.
She drew a long breath of air, closed her eyes, and gently swung her head of waved yellow hair from side to side to undo the kinks in her neck. It had been a grueling night at the theatre. Her performance had taken its toll on her nerves. The audience had been coarse and vulgar. Afterwards, she had been besieged by men, all of them wanting one thing of her, and one or two she even contemplated taking home with her.
However, she had hoped Rodrigo would stop by, after all, he had paid for her establishment, did he not wish to enjoy her company in it? She had returned home alone and remained that way, much to her chagrin. She needed someone. She needed the attention of a man who could give her the things she needed.
A knock sounded at her door, and she listened as her young maid hurried by her open door. She was a good girl, a little on the chubby side in her dark frock and white apron, but a pretty thing all the same. The maid saw her and made her a quick bob as she passed, her mobcap slipped askew, and June smiled and pointed to the girl’s head. She grinned, set it straight, and went for the stairs and the front door.
A moment later, she was back and knocking on June’s open door. “There be a gentleman downstairs wishful of seeing ye, ma’am. Oi told ‘im ye wouldn’t want to be disturbed ‘n’ all, but ‘e be ever so bold.”
June’s eyes narrowed, one brow arched. “What is this gentleman’s name?”
The maid took a step forward and stuck out her hand, in it, she held a calling card, which she offered to her mistress. June took it and studied it for a long moment. “Sir Warren?” she said out loud. Well, well, how interesting. She knew Sir Warren was hanging out for Lady Jessica Stafford. Everyone knew that. He no longer kept a mistress, and it was said he meant to move ahead in Parliament. What could he possibly be doing here at such an hour? She knew him only by a flirtatious remark passed here and there, though it had crossed her mind it might prove enjoyable to get to know him better. He was good-looking and wealthy.
“You may send Sir Warren up,” June told her young maid, and watched her as she left, tapping the calling card against her palm. She dropped it on a nearby table and waited. This might prove to be dangerous. Rodrigo would not be pleased to learn she had entertained another gentleman in the establishment he had provided for her. Never mind. How would Rodrigo know?
Her chamber door opened, and Sir Warren stepped past the maid and stood for a moment. Each appraised the other for a moment in silence. Yes, June thought. He was tall and well built. Would he be any good in bed, she wondered.
Sir Warren’s eyes lazily ran over her body as she moved towards him. She made sure he got a good look at her breasts, and as his eyes ran over them, she felt her nipples harden. She swayed with some grace as she allowed him a full view of her body in the transparent negligee.
“Well, sir...” She gave him an invitation with her smile and her look. “What can I do for you?”
He laughed and wagged a finger as he took up the hand she put out for him and put it to his lips. “Now that, my pet, is a dangerous question when put to a man like me.”
“Is it?” She gave him a coy smile. “But then, I do so enjoy living dangerously.”
His glance returned to her breasts, then her lips. “Ah, such a statement could send most men reeling into fantasy. But alas, I am here to discuss business.” He reminded himself that here was Rodrigo’s mistress, and he wouldn’t mind taking her to bed and serving him such a blow.
“Most men, Sir Warren, but not you?” She openly enticed him.
He felt an ego boost with her flirtation. It was just what he needed after Jessie’s rejection. Softly, he said, “I have always dealt in reality.” He could see she was aroused and was himself ready to remove her clothes and run his hands over her supple body.
She shrugged. “I am an actress and deal in fantasy, but if reality is what you want...just what reality are we speaking about?”
“One that might benefit us both,” he answered, taking her chin and lifting it ever so slightly as he bent his head to cover her lips with his own. Her tongue was enticing, and for a moment, he allowed himself the pleasure of kissing her almost brutally. He lifted his head to look at her and saw she had enjoyed his kiss, which further seduced him. But first, business!
She wanted more. She pressed herself up against him, allowed her fingers to undo the ribbon holding her negligee in place, and as it fell to the floor, she smiled at him, took his hand and put it to her naked breast. “I think we can talk business...after.”
Damn, he thought. Why shouldn’t he take her to bed first? What he needed was this quick and heady encounter to ease his tensions. Throwing all else to the winds, he gave himself over to the thrill of picking her up and setting her on her bed...
* * * * *
Rodrigo had grappled with himself. If he visited June, he could perhaps dispel the hold Jessie had over him. Yet the thought of touching June while he was enthralled with Jessie irked him. Perhaps he should visit with June just to talk about the future. He was planning to leave England in the next month, and if he was going to break it off with her...? First things first. Visit and see if she had the power to rip his mind away from a minx of a girl.
He had his own key to June Keenen’s lodgings, and he chose now to let himself in. However, the young maid had heard him and stuck her head into the hall. She gasped audibly when she saw it was Don Rodrigo with his foot upon the first step to the upstairs bedroom. She rushed towards him.
“Sir, how nice it is to see ye, sir,” she said, and made an attempt to stall him, though what good it would do, she didn’t know. He was bound to discover Sir Warren above stairs with her mistress.
He smiled and gave her cheek a tweak. “Thank you.” He started up the stairs once more and found his arm clutched. With his brow up, he turned and looked with some surprise at the frightened child. What was this? The little maid was blushing furiously.
She cast her eyes away from his intense gaze and said, “I...well...would ye be wanting some refreshment, sir?”
He wasn’t certain what was wrong with the poor little thing, so he touched her shoulder and said, “Indeed, I have something to discuss with your mistress, so why don’t you bring up a bottle of that very fine cognac I sent over a week ago?” Once again, he started up the stairs.
“Ay, but would ye not want a plate set in the dining room? I have a very lovely game pie cook put aside. I could make ye comfortable...?”
