Page 41 of The Gentleman's Seduction
He didn’t respond right away. “I don’t think so. Even though I might wish differently.”
She swallowed her last bit of food, her appetite waning now. “Because of my father?”
“I can never forgive him for what he did. I watched my mother’s heart give out. You can’t possibly know what that was like. In only a few years, Helen and I were completely on our own.”
Livvy wanted him to share more of his life with her, even if only by conversation. She shifted closer to Martin, and he set the tray on the table beside him. “I should like to hear more about her.”
“She’s wonderful. I truly mean that. I know plenty of men who find their sisters tiring, boring, or costly. But Helen is…splendid. She’s the smarter of the two of us and the braver as well. She fought a duel for me once, when I was young and foolish.”
“She did what? Aduel?”
Martin chuckled. “I was in Bath, gambling, doing everything I could to try to increase our fortune, but I lost it all. A man named Gareth Fairfax was furious when he discovered I had no means to pay my debt back. He challenged me to a duel, but when Helen found out, she locked me in a room and went in my place. She dressed in my clothes and hid her hair. It was quite the thing, or so I was told.”
“What happened?” She covered his arm with a hand and tucked herself against his side.
“She and Garrett dueled, she grazed him and revealed she was a woman, and he took her home as a way to pay off my debts.”
Livvy stiffened. “Like you did with me?”
“Yes,” he sighed. “Believe me, the similarity between that situation and ours is not lost on me. But I gave you a choice. Helen had less of one.”
“So she went home with him,” Livvy prompted.
“They fell in love, if you can believe it. They’ve been married for seven years and have two children.”
Livvy rested her head on Martin shoulder, wondering why she and Martin couldn’t be so lucky, but she knew the truth. Her father’s actions all those years ago would forever hang over their heads and keep them apart.
“Does she live in London?”
Martin shook his head. “She lives closer to Bath. But she and Garrett have a townhouse, and they sometimes visit.”
“Oh…” Livvy tried to fight off a wave of disappointment. She knew she couldn’t ever meet Helen, she was a mistress. Men didn’t introduce their mistresses to their family.
“I’m sorry. We haven’t done much socially since you have been here. I could write her, see if she wishes to come. I had planned on visiting her for Christmas, but…”
But they both weren’t sure if she would still be with him for the holidays. Livvy ignored the pang that thought created in her chest and focused on the present moment.
“But she can’t meet me…I’m not…”
“You’re a fine young woman. You’re not like the others. Helen is more…open in her thoughts than most ladies. She wouldn’t cast judgement upon you, not when the sins are mine. I think she might come.”
Livvy tried to calm her excitement and kissed his cheek. “That would be wonderful!”
Martin hugged her back, then slipped out of bed to stoke the fire once more and blow out the remaining candles. Then he rejoined her in bed, and they settled into sleep. Livvy curled herself around Martin, wishing she didn’t have to think about the day they went their separate ways. Her heart would surely break when they did.
THE NEXT TWOweeks passed in a blur for Livvy. She and Martin were locked in a dream of passion and delight. They went riding in the morning and went out during the day. At night he made love to her until they collapsed, exhausted, in each other’s arms. In all the ways but one, they seemed to be living a full life together. Only a shadow of how they’d met lingered now, but it was enough that she could not forget for one minute that she wasn’t Martin’s wife, but his mistress.
Livvy lingered in the door of the library and eyed the empty settee. Martin was due to meet her here for a light luncheon before they headed out for the day. She stared at the couch, and an impish idea filled her. If she was being honest, she’d been inspired by a scene in one of her favorite novels and wanted to see if Martin would like it.
She removed her slippers and stockings, then lifted her blue-and-gold silk skirt out of the way as she sat crossways on the couch. Leaning her back against one armrest, she tossed her legs over the opposite arm in a scandalous pose that exposed her legs up to her thighs. Then she crossed one leg over the other at one knee and waited. After a few minutes, she heard Martin whistling softly down the corridor.
“Livvy?” he called out.
“In the library!” She covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. She couldn’t wait to see his face when he walked inside.
The door cracked open, and he peered around the frame. “Livvy, I—” He froze, his lips parted as he gazed down at her. Then his shock transformed in raw lust as he closed the door behind him, locking it. Livvy gripped her skirts, moving them higher still as he stepped toward her.
“Playing a game?” His voice was low, with a dangerous edge to it.
