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Chapter 48
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The League of Rogues Chapter 49
Lucien began with her silver slippers, sliding them off and setting them on the floor. His palms slid up the length of her calves and along her thighs to unfasten her stockings and unhook her garters. He removed her stockings with ease and kissed the sensitive skin behind each ankle. He could feel every tremble, every shiver as his hands explored her body.He forced himself to focus solely on Horatia and not his own arousal. Her pleasure had to come before his because he could not have her fully. He would push her to her limits, but he would not take her innocence. Not in the way that mattered for dowries and weddings at any rate.Kneeling between her parted legs, he coaxed her to bend her knees up and widen. He needed to have her open for his tasting. He slowly slid his hands under her gown up to her hips and assessed her undergarments. Usually women in the Garden did not bother with much in the way of underclothes, but Horatia had enough petticoats on underneath to decorate a castl
The League of Rogues Chapter 50
Audrey Sheridan was alone with Lord Lonsdale at last. Lady Lonsdale, Charles's mother, had turned in for the evening, thinking Audrey had already returned home. But Audrey had returned under the guise of forgetting a glove, and she'd beseeched Charles to let her stay a while longer. It gave her more time to accomplish her mission. Namely, becoming compromised so that she might finally be married. It was a risk however, because she had no real interest in Charles.She wished to marry Jonathan, the Duke of Essex's younger half-brother. But since finding a moment alone with him was next to impossible she had to settle on a more cunning strategy. If she managed to get Charles to compromise her, then she might convince her brother that she must marry soon. He'd never let her marry Charles, of that she was certain. Her plan was to persuade him Jonathan was a safer choice.Audrey had even spoken to Emily about her plan, hoping she would know how to help. She was quite knowledgeable when it
The League of Rogues Chapter 51
Charles had a carriage summoned and within a few minutes he, Audrey and her lady's maid, Gillian, were trundling along in the dark cobblestone roads towards Curzon Street."Come over here by me. We've got to fix your clothes and hair." Charles patted the empty space on his side of the carriage."Miss!" Gillian gasped and grabbed Audrey's arm to stop her. "You mustn't!" Gillian had been left in the coach during Audrey's adventure indoors, and a good thing too."Do stop being such a peahen, Gillian. Don't you want me to get married? I'd much rather be a lady of my own house. Think of it! You could be a lady's maid to the lady of a house. Wouldn't that be better?" Audrey prayed Gillian would have some sense of ambition.Gillian bit her lower lip. "I will keep quiet, Miss Audrey. But only because I know marriage would make you happy." She turned to face Charles. "You will not kiss her, nor anything else I do not approve of.""Where were you a quarter of an hour ago?" Charles muttered.
The League of Rogues Chapter 52
Alone in his study, Cedric slumped in a chair, legs stretched out in front of the fire. The embers crackled and spat, reflecting his mood. He had much on his mind, the safety of his sisters at the forefront. In one hand he loosely twirled his silver lion's head cane. It was an old habit, one that used to irritate his mother, God rest her soul.The clock on the mantelpiece ticked in the heavy silence. The sound grated on his ears. He hated an empty house, truly hated it. Since his parents had died, it had just been him and his sisters. Often that was enough. But tonight he was alone and the dark thoughts that engulfed him were almost overwhelming. He shuddered, wracked with an uneasy sensation that something was wrong.The cane fell from his fingers, thumping on the carpet below. He propped his elbows on his knees and buried his face in his hands. Was it possible that his life was slowly unraveling? Audrey had her first come out this year during the Little Season in London, and far to
The League of Rogues Chapter 53
"Not a penny until the conditions are met, and there is dirt falling upon a grave."Horatia's heart shot into her throat as she struggled to listen to the low voice on the other side of the garden hedge."Oh my God," Horatia hissed at the same time that Lucien growled, "That bastard!"Lucien pulled Horatia by the hand back through the hedges and once more into their room."We have to leave now," he said in a tone rough."I can see myself home." She couldn't keep her voice from shaking."No chance of that, Horatia. I'm taking you to Godric's."Horatia froze."Howhow long have you known?" Her hands flew to her mask, still firmly in place."How long have I known what?" Lucien asked as he grabbed his overcoat and cloaked it around her shoulders."How long have you known it was me?" She fought to remain calm, despite the wild gallop of her heart, and clutched his coat tighter around her."Since you walked in the door."Horatia's stomach pitched straight towards her feet."What
The League of Rogues Chapter 54
"Do you hear them?" Charles asked.Cedric held a finger to his lips.Lucien strained to hear even the smallest rustle or creak, but heard nothing. Cautiously, Cedric unlocked and opened the door. The bedchamber was empty. The windows were closed and latched and there was no sign of the women."Ash?" Godric said in a low whisper. Ashton nodded and proceeded inside, his sharp gaze leaving nothing unseen. There was no evidence the women had hidden themselves. No sign of hasty departure. They had simply vanished."Where the bloody hell is my wife?" Godric yelled into the aether.As if in response, a footman came up the stairs and handed Cedric a slip of paper. Dumbfounded, Cedric opened it and read it aloud.My Dear Gentlemen,We await you in the dining room. Please do not join us until you have decided upon a course of action regarding the threat to Lord Sheridan. We will be more than delighted to offer our opinions on the matter, but in truth, we suspect you do not wish to hear
The League of Rogues Chapter 55
The drawing room was filled with candlelight, firelight and two people who should not have been in the same room. Horatia, not willing to concede defeat, had curled up in her window seat again, her silver gown tucked up around her slippers, knees nestled under her chin. She clutched her novel, Lady Eustace and the Merry Marquess, trying to focus on its pages and not the real life marquess sitting by the fire. In the short span of time between Jonathan's battle of wills with Audrey, and Jonathan's hasty departure soon after, Horatia and Lucien found themselves in a battle of their own. Though Lucien's gaze was on the fireplace's vermillion flames, she could sense his attention on heras though his thoughts had become physical and caressed her skin, making her burn with awareness she wanted to ignore but couldn't."How do you find your novel? Amusing? Trite? Impossibly lurid?" The cold silence of the room succumbed to the surprising warmth in his voice.She shouldn't have answered, but
The League of Rogues Chapter 56
The next morning, Horatia donned a morning dress of twilled French silk in a dark rosy pink and went down the main stairs. The house was quiet, which meant that Cedric and Audrey were still asleep. Her normally soft steps became tiptoes as she trod through the house. She passed by the drawing room, paused in puzzlement and retreated back a few feet to gaze discreetly through the open doorway.In the far corner, Lucien was stretched out on his back, asleep on the daybed. Muff, the little feline devil, was stretched out on his back across Lucien's stomach, one paw raised in the air, tail twitching at the very tip. Lucien had one hand flat over the cat's belly, his fingers surprisingly graceful as they caressed him. It was the sort of caress a person made half-asleep, or half-awake.Horatia felt an ache rise in her as she watched. She would never know if Lucien would stroke her this way in bed. Only then did it occur to Horatia that Lucien hadn't left last night. A flash of remorse shot
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