Page 52 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke
“Mr. Handsome, what is your problem with Mr. William, Emma? And yes, fortunately or unfortunately, he was at the school,” Joane replied.
“What about the list?” Joane asked.
“What list?”
“The list of requirements you need at home,” Joane answered. “The list you intend to give your father tomorrow.”
“Oh! That list is already compiled. I couldn’t wait for you. I didn’t know when you would arrive so I did it with Eunice’s assistance. I don’t know when he is going back; he might leave the next day. It is better I give him as he arrives. He would just give me the money as always but still I need to show it to him,” Emma replied.
Joane almost smiled as Emma responded.
I knew Emma would do it without me. I just wanted to go home with William, whether in the rain or not.
“So you made me come in the rain for nothing,” Joane said, to parley any suspicions Emma had.
Emma turned both hands with her palm facing up in a gesture of innocence.
“You should have left earlier, instead of cozying up to Mr. William in the rain,” Emma replied.
Joane smiled. She never quite figured out how to deceive Emma. She touched her gown and her sit down upons. Both were incredibly wet, drenched in rain water.
“I need to go change. I’m starting to feel cold,” Joane said.
She turned around and walked to the stairs. She went up swiftly, taking two at a time. When she got to the top she looked back and saw her friend had started after her. Joane got into her room and was blanketed with the familiar scent of roses. She turned to the corners of the room and saw the vases there; fresh roses had been placed in them.
She walked to her wardrobe and opened it. It was dark inside. Joane walked back to her door and picked the lamp placed on the stool beside it. She went back to her wardrobe with the lamp and saw much better. One of the stewards had arranged her dry laundry in the wardrobe for her. Joane eyed the gown she wanted to change into. She stretched her hand to touch it; it was thick, wooly and dry.
Just right for a cold night.
Joane walked back to the basket by her bed. She was about to bend when she heard the door open. She didn’t turn back; she knew it was Emma.
“I thought you would have gotten rid of those wet clothes. You don’t want to catch a cold, do you?” Emma asked.
“I was just about to do that,” Joane replied.
She walked backwards to Emma.
“Please help loosen those ties at my back since my maid isn’t in the room,” Joane told her.
She felt Emma’s fingers touching her back as they loosened the tied strings. Her fingers felt warm and rough quite opposite to the feel of the clothes against her back. When Emma removed her hands, Joane walked back to the basket. She drew the gown open from the top, easing it down her body. She looked outside again and saw it was past dusk now. Night had come.
She glimpsed her image in the stained glass. Her breasts were full and pink in the yellow light of the lamp. She stared at her right nipple, it was still more erect than the left. She felt the ring of heat William had burned into her skin during the ride. His touch left her feeling a sweet tingle downwards, a thirst yet to be quenched. William had left her ravenous for him.
She walked back to the wardrobe and picked the thick dry gown. She wore it easily, it had no ropes behind it so did not require Emma to help her. She sat down on her bed, sank into its softness and allowed her mind to roam. Her mind roamed to the time spent with William that afternoon.
He’s so graceful with the sword, like a swan in flight. His aggression in a fight is so different from his aggression in romance. He fights like he is in a dance but loves like he’s in a fight.
Joane licked her lips, using her tongue to massage the rawness she still felt where William’s mouth had ravaged her. His kiss was a tax, demanding an energetic response.
He sucked my lips like there was sweet goo dropping from them.
Joane felt a sweet stirring below her navel again; it was a small portion compared to the amount of want she had felt while in the museum.
I can’t wait to see him
“Who do you have your thoughts on that is causing you to smile so much?” Emma asked, breaking Joane’s dreamy gaze.
Joane looked to her friend who had sat on the bed beside her and was looking into her face.
