Page 15 of Avoiding the Merry Viscount
“It would appear that the gentlemen have bested us, ladies,” Diana said, then narrowed her gaze at Elias. “This time.” She addressed the rest of the room again. “The men shall make their partner selections after breakfast tomorrow. Since it grows late and I am sure you are all tired from your travels, I shall bid you all a good evening.”
A smile of satisfaction spread across Elias’s face as he noted Lady Billings was among the guests who departed the room for the evening.
He spoke with Jude and Hudson for another quarter hour, while Matt had joined Diana and Hannah’s conversation. He longed for a day when the four men might be friends the way they were when they were boys, or that one of them would at least tell him and Jude what was worth all the hostility.
But he didn’t see that happening anytime soon, so he might as well focus on the victory he had earned. He’d have to decide who he wished to partner with in tomorrow’s activity. Diana could be a safe choice that wouldn’t give any of the ladies the wrong idea, but Miss Cary was a far more tempting option.
Elias fought a yawn and decided he was ready to retire to his chamber. Better to get his rest since it was clear Diana would have them tied up in activities all day, and the men still planned to sneak to the village later that next evening.
He departed from the group and made his way down the corridor when someone grabbed his arm and pulled him into a small study. Catching his balance, he turned to see the vexing woman illuminatedby the light of the low fire.
“There you are,” she said, her tone equivalent to the purr of a cat. “I’ve waited all night to get you alone. I very much hope you will warm my bed tonight. No one is as good as you are.”
Before he could move, even to close the door so no one would catch them alone together, she practically pounced on him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling his head down so her lips crashed into his.
“Lady Billings,” he growled and pulled his head back, refusing to give her the satisfaction of speaking to her on familiar terms. He removed her hands from around his neck and held her in place, away from him. “We’ve been through this. There shall be no further dalliances between us.”
“That’s not what you said the last time you had me bent over a settee. Very much like the one there by the fire.” She wriggled her hands free and bunched the sides of her dress, as if she would raise her skirts there before him.
“But it is what I said the last time we spoke,” he replied. “Three years ago, I might add. And I don’t care for you in that way, nor will I ever marry you.”
“I’m over that, my devilish man. I have accepted that you won’t marry. But a woman still has needs, and mine haven’t been well tended since you stopped calling on me.”
His jaw clenched so hard his temples ached. He was beyond done dealing with the woman, nor did he have any desire to bed her again. His flaccid cock was a good indicator, and if he were feeling particularly vulgar and cruel, he’d make that point to her. He might enjoy bedding countless women, but he didn’t appreciate being strong-armed in his family home, nor did he wish to relive the nightmare of dispensing her from his life the first time around.
“Find another willing gentleman to visit your bed,” Elias ground out. “It won’t be me.”
He hurried away from her and left her alone in the room to have whatever reaction she wished. He cared not, so long as she got the hint and left him alone. Hurrying up the stairs, he moved through the family wing of the house and locked his door behind him after he closed it, as he couldn’t put it past the woman to determine where his room was and maul him in his sleep.
Chapter Five
Lydia
If Lydia weren’talready aware of what a cad that Viscount Snowdon was, the encounter she witnessed only proved her point. It had already irked that he had helped the men beat the women in charades, but then to overhear him and his lover only confirmed what she believed to be true of his character. They hadn’t even bothered to close the door before his lips were on hers.
She had scurried away as soon as she saw his head lean down to kiss the woman, deciding she didn’t wish to see or hear anything else. Lydia hoped they took the time to close the door before he lifted the woman’s skirts, and before he scandalized his family with his behavior.
He probably fought so hard to win the game so that he could ensure he paired with the woman. Lydia supposed she shouldn’t be surprised, since Lady Billings was a pretty widow with a bit of a reputation for sinking her teeth into the men known for their prowess. If the woman could land Jude, Viscount Sandon, the most notorious of them all, she’d have a complete set.
Lydia chastised herself for thinking such unkind things. It wasn’t any of her business who the woman took to her bed. In the spirit of the Christmas holiday, she shouldn’t be so harsh on others. Besides, the whole of thetonwould call her a lightskirt if they knew she had also allowed herself to succumb to pleasure at the hand of a different rake.
As much as she hated the blighter, she couldn’t deny that she enjoyed what he had done to her. Or what he had attempted to do when he touched the sensitive place between her legs. Even though she had stopped him since she didn’t feel comfortable being so vulnerable with him, the touch had still awakened something within her. She had taken to repeating the act with her own hand, and had experienced something that made her shake and cry out in her chamber.
It didn’t help that she heard Lady Billings proclaim what a remarkable lover that Viscount Snowdon was. She may not care much for the man, but she didn’t doubt that he’d live up to his reputation in matters of bed sport.
She huffed and moved about her room, attempting to work off some of her pent-up energy.
There was a soft knock at the door and then Tilly cracked it open. “Are you ready for me, miss?”
“Indeed,” she said more harshly than she had intended.
Tilly helped her to remove her dress and then don a serviceable night rail covered by a light blue dressing robe. Lydia settled in the chair before the mirror while Tilly brushed her long, dark hair and then fixed it into a long plait that fell over her shoulder. Fortunately, Tilly did most of the talking, and Lydia just listened.
The talk was mostly variouson ditfrom other servants about their respective lords and ladies. It always amazed Lydia how the servants gossiped and got so much information from each other, which many of them undoubtedly shared, as Tilly had done. Gossip wasn’t a sport limited to the members of theton, it would seem.
Once Lydia had completed her evening ablutions, Tilly added another log to the fire, and then bid her goodnight. Lydia removed her robe and then crawled into bed. Warmth radiated within the bedding from where Tilly had put the bed warmer in place. Snuggling under the blankets, and bringing them to her chin, she pushed aside all of her thoughts and turned to her side, willing herself to fall asleep.
*
