Page 56 of Dick Stone, Regency Stud
Perhaps Philadelphia’s betrayal had touched more than his pride.
Hard to say.
Chapter 4
Lord Edward was peelingoff his dingy gloves at his brother’s townhouse when he saw Calista for the second time.
She was beautiful as ever, this time in a day dress somewhere between cream and sunshine yellow. If anything, her skin seemed even dewier, her lips somehow fuller and even pinker.
“If you might attend me in my sitting room, Lord Edward,” she said shyly, showing him the way upstairs to the family rooms.
Within a bright chamber decorated with a profusion of doilies, a woman sat before needlepoint.
“Miss Arden is my companion,” said Calista, sinking beside her friend on the divan.
Now, Edward was not so far removed from polite society that he didn’t know he should take the seat facing the ladies, well away from scandalous brushes against their skirts. But the nature and success of his business required occasional rudeness.
If the rudeness might result in a child.
Edward seated himself right next to Calista, letting his thigh press into her dress. If she wanted to pretend that he wasn’t here to toss up her hems and breed her, she could engage in that farce alone. As for Miss Arden, she was free to run from the room screaming like any other missish companion would in this circumstance.
“Oh my,” said Calista, her bosom rising delightfully above her square neckline.
Edward placed his arm along the back of the divan and relaxed. She seemed to enjoy playing the innocent despite her two daughters with Netherwallop, and he was happy to put on a show of being a rake for her cunny’s benefit.
“Are you aware of why I am here?” he asked, leaning slightly forward so her nearest breast pressed against his waistcoat.
“I believe my husband wishes to have his heir,” she said, her far hand feeling about on the divan seat restlessly.
Miss Arden clasped the viscountess’s fingers, as if the ladies were debutantes in the line to make their bows before the queen and not a married woman and her paid companion about tolearn why Dick Stone was the most sought-after cock of the walk in the capital.
“Yes, my brother wants me to get an heir on you,” growled Lord Edward. “Does that disturb you? Are you under duress?”
Her girlish flutters seemed to dissolve in a moment. “Would it change anything if I were under duress?”
Edward looked into her eyes. They were a little less wide — and her mouth just a bit more pursed — and he found he liked her like this. Lovely as ever, but with the secret spirit of a horse not yet saddle-trained. How he looked forward to riding her. “It would.”
He waited for her to disclose some perfidy orchestrated by Netherwallop; he’d certainly believe what she reported. But she said nothing.
He clapped his hands together. “Well, since that’s settled, shall we adjourn to the bedroom? It was most pleasant to meet you, Miss Arden,” he said, nodding his head to the companion still clutching Calista’s hand.
“I thought we might perform our labors here,” said Calista.
Edward looked about the room and found it would suit as well as any. He waited for Miss Arden to scurry away, no doubt scandalized that mating would happen in a room where the women whiled away hours at their needlepoint.
But the young woman still did not move.
Edward cast a glance at her, really taking her in for the first time. From his vantage point, she was tall and slim, with a long nose, thin lips, and eyes the color of caramel. What in this house attracted ladies with the loveliest eyes he’d ever seen? Netherwallop didn’t deserve to see such beauty every day!
She was staring at where her hand clasped that of her mistress, then shifted her gaze to Edward, bold as brass. She didn’t need to say anything for him to know: she wasn’t leaving.
He shrugged and worked at unbuttoning his falls; wouldn’t have been the first time someone wanted to watch Dick Stone’s legendary piece in action.
“Are you sufficiently prepared, my lady?” he asked his sister-in-law while drawing up her skirts.
“Sufficiently…”
“Is your cunny wet?” he asked, deciding to be crude in one last attempt to clear the room of its spectator.
