Page 22 of In a Rake's Embrace
“Port is strong but has a richness,” he explained. “Many men enjoy it, especially after a long night of indulgence.”
She nodded, then poured champagne into the flute. Thomas raised an eyebrow, watching as she took another sip, slower this time, savoring it.
A faint smile tugged at Agatha’s lips. “But this ... this I quite enjoy,” she said, raising the decanter of champagne slightly.
“You have found your choice. Our lessons are finished for the night.”
“I shall bid you a good night, Thomas.”
She stooped to set the decanter on the carpet, then gathered her dress and slipped it over her head before hastily putting on her boots. A dark wave of humor rolled through him—she was clearly doing her best to avoid looking at him. Once her boots were on, she turned swiftly, clutching the decanter to her chest as if it were a prized possession. Her movements were quick, almost as if she were fleeing the room, her emotions tucked tightly behind her polite smile.
“What did you do today?” Thomas asked, indulging his curiosity about her. Surely, learning a little wouldn’t hurt.
Agatha faltered mid-step and glanced over her shoulder, meeting his gaze.
“I read,” she replied, a lightness in her voice.
“For the entire day?”
“It’s one of my most beloved pastimes, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that Madam Rebecca had a small collection of books.” A mischievous smile curved her lips, and her eyes sparkled with something playful. “I also ventured to the second floor. I met Lady Ellen and Bea.”
Thomas raised an eyebrow at that. “How did you find it?”
Her smile deepened. “Well, they were quite welcoming.”
They held each other’s gaze in the quiet that settled between them, and he wanted to ask her more—anything to keepher talkingand close. The need unsettled him, catching him completely off guard. “Good night, Miss Woodville,” he said with chilling politeness.
Her eyes widened. “I ... I shall be going, my lord.”
“I’ll call for you by noon tomorrow, and we’ll visit the modiste.”
Agatha nodded, expression considering, as if she had something more to say. Her lips parted, but after a moment, she seemed to think better of it. With a small shake of her head, she turned again, hurrying through the door and closing it behind her. Thomas stood there, staring at the closed door, his mind still lingering on the way she had smiled—half-playful, half-reserved.
Such rubbish to find her so damn compelling.
Sighing, he reached into his jacket and pulled out his watch, glancing at the time. The hands showed just after ten in the evening. He felt a pulse of restless energy thrumming beneath his skin, the quiet of the night doing little to calm it. Thomas snapped the watch shut and slid it back into his pocket. His lips curved into a faint smile. He needed a change of pace to distract his mind from the intoxicating tension that had gripped him.
He moved toward the door with long, purposeful strides, exiting his private room and descending the staircase to the lower levels ofAphrodite. Soft laughter and music greeted him as he approached the second floor. The hallway was lively, filled with gentlemen and ladies reveling in their evening, indulging in drink, conversation, and pleasures the outside world often forbade.
He passed through the hallway, nodding to a few familiar faces. It surprised him that Agatha had met Lady Ellen and Bea so quickly. He wondered how she was handling it—whether she had faltered in the face of their scandalous talks or if her unyielding determination had continued to carry her through.
Thomas descended the final stairs, arriving at the ground floor. The air here was thick with cigar smoke and laughter, the hum of conversation rising from the gathering of men enjoying their brandy and cigars. Several men had ladies in their laps, and on the chaise longue, Lady Ellen was riding a man’s cock, her head tossed back in sensual abandon, loud cries of pleasure pouring forth. Those who had that dark, voyeuristic hunger watched their display. A part of him wanted to join in, to lose himself in the carefree indulgence for a few hours.
But another befuddling part found his mind wandering back to Agatha. She seemed reservedyet determined, vulnerableyet strong. That contradiction pulled at him, and no amount of distraction could dull the curiosity she stirred.
Bloody nonsense.
As he crossed the floor, his gaze swept the room, taking in the scene, but nothing captured his attention for long. Thomas felt as if his friends had cursed him. Both Oliver and James had warned him that he would soon start feeling dissatisfied with the frivolities of thetonand the licentiousness ofAphrodite. He had laughed, thinking them foolish to have married and even more foolish to claim they loved their women with every emotion in their souls.
Fucking hell.
What was this listlessness plaguing him?
CHAPTER 9
The heavy scent of lavender drifted through the air, and Thomas instantly knew Lady Anna Wimbledon was approaching. She had been his lover for a few months, but both had grown bored with each other long before now.
“Thomas, darling, I’m so glad I found you. I’ve heard the most alarming rumor,” she said, her voice laced with intrigue.
