Page 30 of Lord of Mischief
“Of course.Though Will has a guest who I am not sure will take kindly to being mocked.She is from a family of missionaries, so we may need to tread carefully,” replied Eve.
The raising of Freddie’s left eyebrow told her exactly what Freddie thought of that piece of news.Hattie Wright was going to be fair game tonight, and Eve was going to have to back him all the way.
His gaze moved from her face to over her shoulder.“I see you dragged the rest of your family out tonight,” he said, loudly.
The Rude Rules were in play.She hurriedly turned to the rest of the group.“Sorry, I forgot to mention Freddie was going to join us.I am sure he is welcome as one of our party,” she announced.
She tried her best to ignore the tension within the group.Caroline looked away.
“Oh, and who is this?”said Freddie, rudely pointing at Hattie.
Will stepped forward.The look on his face was a hard-set social mask.Eve feared the moment when he let his mask drop and Freddie got a taste of Will’s wrath.
“Miss Harriet Wright, may I introduce the Honorable Frederick Rosemount.Frederick is the second son of Viscount Rosemount.”
Freddie looked down with undisguised disgust at Hattie’s outstretched hand.“You work with the dirty poor, don’t you?How very noble of you,” he sneered.He turned away.
“I think we should go inside now,” said a clearly unimpressed Will.
Eve and Freddie trailed behind the rest of the group.Freddie took a hold of her arm and placed it within his, but quickly removed it when Will turned and gave him a steely glare.Eve returned his look.It was unfair he was allowed to walk with Hattie on his arm, yet she was not allowed to be accompanied by Freddie.
They made their way through the crowd, eventually reaching a large, grassy clearing, which was ringed with elegantly set out supper boxes.Will had reserved one for their party.Within minutes, a servant appeared with champagne and glasses.Eve eagerly downed her first glass; grateful brandy was not on offer.She called for a second and made short work of it.
Francis leant over and said loud enough for everyone to hear, “Take it slowly, Eve.You are supposed to sip champagne, not drink it like beer.”
Eve ignored him and called for a third glass.Will stepped in at that point and took the glass out of her hand.“The night is still young,” he said.
Eve pouted.No one questioned Francis when he drank to excess.“You are not the only one who changed while you were away, William.I am no longer a child.I shall decide if I want another glass of champagne, not you.”
On cue, Freddie stepped in to intervene.He put a hand on Will’s arm, ignoring the heated glare that Will was sending him.“Now, Will, my good chap, how about I take Eve for a turn around the gardens?The fresh air might return her to good humor.Rest assured we shall remain in full public sight on the main paths.”
Eve could have clapped her hands at his words.He was offering to diffuse the situation, but it came with a price.Will was going to have to allow Freddie and Eve time alone at Vauxhall.Everyone who attended the gardens knew all manner of wicked behavior went on in the bushes and secret paths around the gardens.Will, the master strategist, was being beaten at his own game.He wouldn’t dare risk an ugly scene in front of the woman he was intending to marry.Freddie had Will exactly where Eve wanted him.
Eve rose quickly from her seat and seized the moment.Taking a firm grip of Freddie’s hand, she quickly led him out of the supper box and away from the group, before Will had a chance to fully protest.
As they cleared a nearby corner and disappeared into the crowds, Eve slipped her arm into Freddie’s.“That was rather well done.Will didn’t want to look like an overbearing brother in front of Hattie, so he had to agree.Now we have some time alone,” she said.
Freddie turned to her, and she saw the questioning look on his face.She huffed.Why did men have to be so dull at times?Here she was, free and available to him.“Alright, but not too long.I have to get to a card game in Duke Street later tonight.There are several members of the Bachelor Board whom Osmont wishes me to meet,” he replied.
Eve said nothing, but his words stung.Apart from the unexpected kiss and a few words of endearment, Freddie had not made much of an effort to woo her.She yearned for stronger signs of affection from him.
“Through here.There are some nice private spaces at the end of this path,” she said.If Freddie wasn’t going to take the lead in the area of romance, then she would.
At the end of the path was a hedge with several gaps through which a body would easily fit.They tried the first gap, but another amorous couple had beaten them to it.The second spot was similarly taken.They finally had luck with the third.
As soon as they passed through the gap in the hedge, they entered a different world.The light from the path disappeared, leaving them in near darkness.She turned to him, intent on making her position clear.He pulled her roughly to him.
“Come here, you naughty little minx.You need to be kissed thoroughly,” Freddie said, gruffly.
His lips and hers met in a hungry exchange.He wasted no time in opening the folds of her cloak and fumbling with the laces of her gown.She felt the kiss of the cold night air on her breasts and exalted in the knowledge he did indeed want her.He was everything she yearned for in a man.Her love for him shone brightly in her heart.
He bent down and took one of her breasts into his mouth.When he suckled on her hardened nipple, heat pooled between her legs.This was the passion and desire she so desperately craved.
“Tell me if you want me to stop,” he murmured.
With her back hard against the hedge, Eve let her head fall back as she closed her eyes.She felt her skirts being lifted and told herself to remain calm.If he was going to ruin her this night, she would let it happen.
His hand glided up the inside of her leg.His knee gently pushed her legs apart.She swallowed and held her breath.
