Page 3 of Not Quite a Lady
‘Eventually.’ Adrian smiled, his blue eyes narrowed with amusement.
‘But my chaperone? Lady Billington…’
‘Janey Billington will turn a very blind eye. I think she would be most surprised and disappointed if we stayed here all evening, don’t you?’ He was running the back of his hand down the curve of her neck now, murmuring appreciatively at the touch of her skin.
Lily could feel her eyes becoming heavy with a languorous need.Can this be love? Surely I would not feel like this otherwise?
‘Very well.’ It was like stepping out in the dark. Where would she land?
‘Just go and tell Lady B you’ve got a headache and I’ll see you home.’ He took her arm and steered her out into the room again, ignoring the outraged stare of a dowager with complete insouciance. ‘In fact I will come with you.’
As they circled to the chaperones’ corner Lady Angela stepped out into their path. The patches of colour on her cheeks made Lily think of a wooden Dutch doll. ‘Adrian. This bitch–’
‘Been sucking lemons again have you, Angela?’ Adrian’s tone was anything but playful. ‘I hardly think we all want to hear your spiteful ravings. And do take care coz, or that expression will stick.’
Their departure was a haze after that. The picture of Angela’s furious face as Adrian swept Lily past her, Lady Billington’s complaisant, knowing, smile, the scrupulously bland expressions of the servants fetching their cloaks – they all swirled together.
And in her head Aunt Herrick’s voice,You can’t afford to be nice like those aristocratic little misses. Your money is all very well, but you’ll need to sweeten the pill of your birth for him. You are buying his name and you need every penny piece and then some for that.
He helped her up into the carriage, his hand warm on her arm, his every gesture graceful and respectful. ‘Home, Granger.’
The vehicle swept out into the foggy night, into St James’s Square. Torches flared, light spilled from doorways into the murky damp of the evening.
Sweeten the pill.No, surely Adrian wanted her for herself as well as for her money. Surely?
Adrian moved to sit next to her, lifting her hand in his. Lily thought he might kiss it, instead he pulled down her long glove so that he could nuzzle the inside of her wrist where the tender flesh was exposed. His lips were hot, and seemed hotter still when he shifted her into his arms and began to kiss her neck.
Lily stiffened, then tried to make herself relax. This was the man she was going to marry, so of course she was shy of his advances. And no-one had tried to make love to her before, so naturally it felt…strange.
No, it did not feel strange, she realised, it felthorrible.
She fought down the panic and tried to slide away a little, her satin skirts slipping over the leather upholstery, adding to her sense of being off balance.
Adrian was breathing heavily, his mouth was not just hot now as it moved over her skin, but moist, and his hands seemed to be everywhere.
In response to her wriggling he pressed her back, down onto the seat. He was hurting her upper arm where his hand was clenched on it, but her protests were stifled by his lips and his weight as he shifted, almost on top of her.
‘No!’ Lily managed to get her mouth free. ‘Adrian.’
His other hand was under her skirts, moving up past her garters to the bare skin of her thighs with practised ease.
Lily moved convulsively, too panicked now to try argument or reason. The carriage lurched round a corner and Adrian rolled off her, cursing.
‘Adrian, please do not, not here like this…’
‘Oh yes, just like this.’
She caught glimpses of his face as the lights in the street outside caught the inside of the carriage in flashes. He was flushed, breathing heavily, his lips parted and an expression on his face that Lily, even in her innocence, had no trouble in interpreting. Adrian was excited by her fear, excited by the semi-public nature of the carriage with its undrawn blinds and he was in no mood to be gainsaid.
He lunged for her and Lily twisted away, but not before his hand had jerked open her cloak. ‘Damn it, keep still, I am not going to hurt you.’
But he was. She had known that, assumed it was an inevitable part of losing one’s virginity – but Adrian did not care, it was obvious.
With a grunt of satisfaction his fingers closed on the neckline of her gown, pulling her towards him. ‘Don’t be such a bloody tease, Lily.’ And then his mouth fastened on hers.
Lily groped wildly for some weapon, reached up to try and get some purchase on the top of the squabs, and found the check-string twisting in her fingers. With a sob of relief she pulled it.
The carriage slowed and stopped.
