Page 50 of A Duke Makes a Deal
“Some ladies would disagree.”
“Yes well, I’m sure those ladies never had the privilege of growing up in the country. I know perfectly well what’s expected of me.”
Slowly, an unfiltered grin pulled at the corners of his mouth. Clara gulped.
“Do you now?”
“Yes.”
“Then please, enlighten me.”
Clara’s eyes went wide at his suggestion. He wanted her to say it out loud? Good heavens, she might be poorly bred but she wasn’t completely without scruples. The humor in his eyes eased her worry.
“Well, I suppose I shall l-lay right over there,” she pointed at the bed. “And then you will, um…” She couldn’t find the words and nodded her head. “Well, you… will attend to it.”
“Attend to it?” he repeated and she nodded again, ignoring the hint of amusement in his tone. “Well, if you say so.” His voice was slightly huskier than before and Clara had the vague sense that he was teasing her. “And will you be clothed?”
She blanched.
“Pardon?”
“I ask if you will be clothed.”
Clara felt herself begin to panic. Surely people did not stay clothed during the act, but then she had never been privy to such information. Did the upper class stay covered for propriety? Oh, why was he asking her such a ridiculous question?
“No,” she said slowly. “I don’t suppose so. Is that correct?”
He nodded.
“Quite correct,” he said. After a short pause he took a step towards her. “Well then, shall we?”
She took a step back.
“Shall we what?”
“Unclothe you,” he said.
Clara swallowed hard, apprehensive, though she nodded to show her consent. But Silas didn’t move. He only stood there before her, watching her for long moments before she grew bold enough to look him in the eye.
As she titled her head back, she saw the same heated eyes she had seen in the chapel and her mouth fell open slightly. His eyes dropped to her lips and she was sure he would kiss her, only he didn’t. His gaze slowly lifted to meet hers again and the longer he went without touching her or reaching for her, the more disconcerted she became.
“What should I do?” she whispered.
Her question seemed to please him.
“Turn around,” he said and she did as she was told.
She saw his bent head in the reflection of the mirror as he worked to undo the buttons at the back of her gown. It was rather fascinating to be able to watch him as he undressed her. She wondered if the mirrors had been hung, not out of vanity but for some other reason. She felt herself flush.
He made quick work of her dress’s fastenings and soon she felt the garment sag against her skin. Hesitantly, she lifted her arms and slipped out of the sleeves, letting the dress fall to the floor, leaving her covered in nothing but her chemise. She felt his hands go to her hair next, and to her surprise he began to take out her ribbons and pins until her hair fell loose over her shoulders. The intake of breath she heard from him caused her to turn around and face him. When she did, she saw a mixture of desire and hesitation in his expression. It was a strange thing to see, and she guessed it was probably difficult for him to see her in such an intimate way. They were friends, after all, and she had never had a friend with whom she wished to do these sorts of things. Surely, he was finding it problematic to reconcile himself to being with her this way.
Suddenly insecure, she took a deep breath. Exhaling shakily, she put her hand to the collar of her chemise, but his large hand stayed her.
“I’d like to,” he said softly, gently moving her hand back down to her side.
She nodded silently as his larger fingers hooked beneath the strap of her chemise and pulled it down slowly.What agony, Clara thought as a mosh of emotions came over her. Arousal slammed into her as well as shivering need and humiliation. She felt as if she were at his disposal. She might have felt rather insignificant in a way, if not for the desire in his eyes.
He was watching her as if she were the only being in the world. And to her surprise, she felt like the only being in the world too.
