Page 14 of The Gentleman's Seduction
His gaze turned to the changing screen when a flash of movement caught his eye. Mrs. Benson emerged, smiling broadly as she waved a coaxing hand at Livvy. As she exited the shield of the screen and stepped out onto the platform in front of the mirrors, his breath caught. His pulse quickened in longing as he stared at the beautiful gown that clung to the gentle curve of her hips and breasts. She ducked her head shyly at his continued stare, but he didn’t care. He wished to take his fill, sate himself on the sight of her.
“The gown is perfect for her in length and needs no adjustments,” Mrs. Benson said, pointing out the elements of the gown. The orange ribbon around her waist accented the light blue gown and put her breasts on display. The fabric was watered silk, and it accented Livvy’s contours to their advantage.
“What do you think, Livvy? Do you like it?” Martin asked.
She blinked as though startled by his asking her. “Why—yes. I do love the colors,” she admitted with a blush. Her alabaster skin warmed to the most delicious pink, and he wondered if the rest of her would blush as prettily as she lay beneath him writhing in pleasure.
“Mrs. Benson, we shall take it. What else do you have? She will need several gowns to start and a cloak, boots, gloves, slippers, extra chemises, and stockings, I imagine. As well as the usual nightclothes.”
Mrs. Benson nodded. “We have several nightgowns I think will be ideal.” She walked over to a counter and removed a box, lifting the lid and unfolding the tissue paper to lift up a diaphanous nightgown. The material was so sheer that Livvy gasped. Martin chuckled. The look of scandalized fright on her was comical. She knew he would see every bit of her beneath the thin fabric but she would come to love it. Once she allowed him to teach her the joys he had to offer, she would be excited to wear it.
“And this?” Mrs. Benson set the nightgown aside and retrieved a dark-blue and gold embroidered cloak, with ermine trim around the hood. She wrapped it around Livvy and tested the hood.
Martin nodded. “Yes, it’s perfect.” He reached up to caress the fur of the hood, and Livvy tried to turn away, her cheeks now a dark rouge.
“You look exquisite,” he said. “You shouldn’t hide, not from me.”
The fire that suddenly blazed in her eyes surprised him. “You need not remind me that I belong to you.”
He frowned. “I meant only that you should enjoy these clothes. Do not shy away from them, just because I happen to be looking at you.” Despite their unusual circumstances, he wanted her to embrace her own passions and pride herself in her beauty, because she was beautiful.
“What else do you require? A few ball gowns, a riding habit?” he asked.
“Mr. Banks, I have some fashion plates from theLady’s Magazineif you would like to see them,” said Mrs. Benson.
“Yes, thank you.” He guided Livvy off the platform, and they joined the dressmaker at the counter to peruse the plates. At first Livvy held her tongue, but Martin continued to nudge her with questions, and soon she was excitedly discussing cuts of fabric, trimmings, and a variety of dresses: morning, walking, opera, evening gowns. He’d forgotten how many kinds of gowns a woman needed. The expense didn’t matter; he simply found the amount of effort involved staggering.
“Mr. Banks, what do you think?” Livvy pointed at an evening gown plate. It was colored, done by Mrs. Benson no doubt to entice customers. “She says it can be made in any color. Bishops blue, or even Devonshire brown?”
“Devonshire brown,” he replied. The rich brown color held a reddish tint which would accent the color of her dark hair and warm hazel eyes. He couldn’t help but think of the last time he’d been here, with Stella, the opera singer. She would whisper suggestive comments in his ear about how lovely it would be for him to strip her of her new gown.
He shrugged off the memory and focused on Livvy and the sweet, hopeful way she eyed the dresses. There was no pretense of flirtation, no coy seduction involved. She was open and honest in her emotions, even the negative ones. And right now she stared at the Devonshire brown gown with such longing that it made him wish to give her the world on a silver platter.
“Excellent choice, Mr. Banks, most excellent,” the modiste said. “That’s it. We have you all settled for clothes.”
Martin was disappointed that they were done. He would have much preferred to stay there and watch Livvy try on a dozen more dresses, perhaps even show him silk stockings and… He stopped his train of thought before his arousal went beyond a point which he could control.
I am not a monster. I am a gentleman, and she is my companion. She will not be touched unless she asks me to touch her.
Livvy thanked the woman and went to a display of reticules. Martin watched with amusement as she opened several, studying them closely, and then turned to face him, one clutched to her breast, but she blushed when she seemed to realize that she’d been about to ask him to buy it.
“Bring it over.” He smiled, and his heart gave a strange little flip when she joined him and added the dark-green reticule to the pile.
“Thank you,” she said shyly.
“You’re welcome,” he replied. He despised her father, but as long as Livvy stayed with him, her happiness mattered. A happy woman out of bed usually meant a playful, affectionate loverinbed.
“I’ll have the remaining gowns delivered late next week.” Mrs. Benson and her shopgirl packed up the gowns and other items in beautiful colored boxes. Martin summoned his coach to have the items loaded inside. He insisted on the cloak remaining unpacked, and he placed it around Livvy’s shoulders. Then he thanked Mrs. Benson and stepped out into the street.
“Where should we go now?” Livvy asked.
“I think I know just the place.” He helped her into the coach, but he did not share their destination.
“Piccadilly, please,” he said to the driver before he joined her in the coach.
The coach dropped them off at number 187 Piccadilly in front of a shop named Hatchard’s. Livvy looked up at the store windows and realized where he had brought her. Her lovely eyes brightened with tears.
“Books?” she breathed, a delicate smile flitting about her lips.
