Page 15 of The Truth About Lord Stoneville
She bristled at his high-handedness, wanting to argue, but she dared not until she and Freddy escaped this place with their necks intact.
He stared at her expectantly. “Well? Put it on.”
“Not until you and Freddy leave!” she exclaimed.
“Sorry, my dear. I can’t have him stand out there where our friends can reconsider their decision to let him go. Nor shall I leave you two alone to escape through some window.” He shot her a cursory glance. “Trust me, I’ve seen more women in their corsets and shifts than you’ve seen years.”
“I can well believe that.” She sniffed. “At least turn around.”
“Fine.” He turned his back to her, and Freddy followed suit. “But be quick about it. I’d like to reach Halstead Hall in time for dinner.”
“Do as he says, will you?” Freddy put in. “I’m about to faint from hunger.”
“For once, Freddy,” she grumbled, “would you stop thinking with your stomach?”
The stockings seemed to fit, and she managed to undo her own gown so she could slip the other one on. But she could never button it herself, especially since it was small in the waist. And the bust. Mercy, she would need help.
“Freddy, come fasten me up, will you?”
Her cousin’s back stiffened. “I can’t do that!”
“Oh, for God’s sake.” Lord Stoneville strode over. “Iknew you Americans were prudish, but this is absurd.”
Before she could even protest, he began fastening her gown. To her horror, the faint scent of his spicy cologne and his fingers working efficiently over the buttons made an odd sort of heat rise up from her belly. That couldn’t be good.
“You seem to know how to do up a woman’s gown very well.” She struggled to sound nonchalant. “I take it you’ve had plenty of practice.”
“You know us debauchers,” he said dryly. “Practice, practice, practice.”
That set her to wondering how many soiled doves he’d taken to his bed. Did he touch them everywhere, as her aunt said men did? When images filled her mind, she swallowed. It was hard not to imagine such things when his fingers brushed her back with every motion. Nor did it help that the process had slowed to a crawl as he struggled to fasten the lower part.
“The gown is too tight for me,” she said, embarrassed.
“It’s just these blasted small buttons.” His breath wafted over her cheek, making a shiver sweep her skin. “They’re too dainty for a man’s fingers.”
Skeptical, she sucked in a breath, which must have helped because he finally got the back done up. But now that he’d finished, she realized just how scandalous the gown was. It exposed a shameful amount of her chest. That became only more obvious when he circled around in front of her to rake her with a heated glance.
“That’ll do nicely.”
His husky words quickened her pulse, despite everything. And when his gaze lingered on her partially exposed bosom with particular interest, one of Aunt Rose’s practical warnings about suitors sprang instantly to her mind:Men will try to touch your breasts. Don’t let them.
A nervous giggle escaped her, and he arched one eyebrow. “Not the kind of gown you’re accustomed to wearing, I suppose.”
“Hardly. Most of my gowns fit. You won’t be able to feed me, you know. One morsel of food, and I shall burst right through the cheap fabric of this bodice.”
Turning around, Freddy snorted. “Wouldn’t hurt you to take off a few pounds, Mopsy.”
When she scowled at him, Lord Stoneville surprised her by saying, “Your cousin is perfect just as she is.” His gaze raked her appreciatively. “Utterly perfect.”
Her cheeks heated. She wasn’t used to men giving her extravagant compliments. Papa was too practical for it, and Nathan too absorbed in his work at the company. It made it hard for her to trust Lord Stoneville’s flatteries. “You mean I’m perfect for your purpose.”
His mouth crooked up in what appeared to be a genuine smile. “That, too.” He watched as she bundled up her gown and other things. Then he helped her into her redingote and offered her his arm in an oddly courtly gesture. “Shall we?”
For a second, she could only stare at it. Had she lost her mind, putting their lives in his hands? The man could do anything with them, carry them off anywhere, and they could do nothing to stop him.
But at least they wouldn’t end up in the gaol.
When she took his arm, his dark eyes gleamed at her in triumph. “A wise decision, Miss Butterfield,” he said as he led her to the door. “You won’t regret it.”
