Page 7 of Tempting the Bluestocking
“What is the meaning of this?” Clare asked, sweeping a hand in his general direction.
She did not sound angry, simply a bit confused. Perhaps Clare was a virgin who had no notion of what to do with a naked man. Had she not ended their kiss, he would have been more than happy to show her.
“Darling, I didn’t think I’d have toexplainmy gift. I think it should be obvious.”
Clare made an exasperated sound, looking as if she’d very much like to strangle her aunt. “Of course it is obvious. What I mean to ask is, what on earth would lead you to believe I’d even want such a gift? And how did you even convince this man to go along with such a plan?”
Edward swiveled his gaze back and forth as he followed the exchange between the two women, finding himself completely absorbed by it. He’d known their relationship must be unconventional—after all, how many aunts would think nothing of hiring a courtesan to service their nieces? And for Clare to have not even batted an eyelash at the sight of his unclothed body suggested she was as worldly and unconventional as her aunt.
“The same way I convinced Mr. Kent to take you up in his balloon, of course. With money.”
Clare gaped at him for a moment before turning to glare at her aunt. “Do you mean to tell me that this man is a … a whore?”
Her aunt sniffed. “Of course not, dear. I’d never be so uncouth. He’s a courtesan.”
Now it was Edward’s turn to be amused as Clare took on an expression of complete and utter dismay.
“Acourtesan? Whoever heard of amalecourtesan?”
“Well, I have, obviously,” Helene retorted. “And now so have you. I thought you would be happy, darling. You bury yourself in your intellectual pursuits, and while I know you love them I thought a bit of diversion might—”
“Might what?” Clare interjected. “Inject some much-needed excitement into my boring spinster life?”
Helene frowned, taking a step toward her niece. “Of course not. No one thinks of you as a sad spinster, least of all me.”
The woman’s words fell on deaf ears as Clare marched over to where he’d left his clothing piled in a chair. “I will have you know that if I want a bedmate, I can very well go out and find one of my own. I have before, you know.”
Edward raised his brows at that. So, Clare wasn’t a shy virgin as he’d first assumed. She’d simply been caught off guard, and had recovered enough to rain hellfire down on them with her sharp tongue.
Intriguing.
Clare approached him now, extending his garments to him and giving him a pitying glance. “I am certain you are a very good…I mean, I’m sure you are only doing what you were paid for. But, your services won’t be needed. Please, get dressed. I apologize for any misunderstanding.”
“CeCe, wait,” Helene called out, rushing to follow Clare as she made long strides toward the door.
Edward fumbled with his breeches while the aunt’s eyes were averted, a sick feeling overwhelming him. His first day as a courtesan, and he was already an abysmal failure. However, Benedict had never told him how he ought to handle such a situation. But then, all this must be highly irregular. He would be willing to bet he was the only one of the Gentleman Courtesans who’d ever been hired as an unwanted gift for someone. With a muttered curse he pulled his shirt on.
Clare exited the room without a look back, while Helene stared at the open doorway with a frown.
“Well, that certainly did not go the way I’d anticipated,” she murmured before turning to face him, a determined expression settling on her face. “Mr. Norton, I am so sorry about this. I can see that my surprise has fallen flat. Oh well, there’s nothing to it but for us to try again.”
He paused with one arm through his waistcoat, giving Helene a dubious look. She couldn’t be serious. If Clare didn’t want his services, he didn’t know what Helene intended to do about it. Then again, he didn’t want to think about what ending his first arrangement before it had begun would mean. The rather obscene sum she’d paid Benedict would have to be returned before either of them had taken their share. Perhaps the leader of the Gentleman Courtesans would then decide Edward hadn’t been worth hiring. He’d failed before he’d truly begun.
“I beg your pardon?” he asked.
Helene shrugged one shoulder, then waved a hand in the direction Clare had taken. “My niece wasn’t immune to you. I could see that much when I walked into this room. Tell me…before she called out to me, did anything happen between the two of you?”
He scoffed while fastening the buttons of his waistcoat. “Well, first she asked who I was and what I was doing in her bed. When I informed her, she laughed. She thought it to be a joke or prank of some kind.”
His ears burned as he shoved one foot into a stocking, remembering the humiliation of her laughter. Oh, but then…
“What happened next?” Helene prodded.
“I convinced her that it most certainly was not a joke by kissing her.”
Helene grinned, her eyes alighting with hope. “And how was it?”
He paused before going for his shoes, equal parts discomfort and arousal flooding him in a rush. It wasn’t seemly for him to allow thoughts of that electrifying kiss to overtake his senses while Clare’s aunt stood before him. If he dwelt on it for too long, proof of just how good the kiss had been would show itself at the front of his breeches. However, he did realize that Helene was right. Clare certainly wasn’t indifferent to him, and her response to his kiss had proven that. He’d been seconds away from tempting her into that bed with him before she’d pulled away.
