To Seduce a Bride

The judging went much as she predicted.

By the time Lord Claybourne was shown into the courtesans’ private sitting room that afternoon where Lily was waiting for him with Fleur and Chantel, she had truthfully recounted what had happened in the park and the alley.

And her friends were charmingly effusive in their welcome.

“Hail the hero,” Chantel declared, fluttering her eyelashes provocatively at the marquess when he bent over her hand in greeting.

“Indeed,” said Fleur just as fervently. “It was splendid, how you championed Lily in that brave manner, my lord.”

“You give me too much credit,” he responded lightly, shooting a glance at Lily. “Miss Loring was the brave one.”

“And foolhardy, too,” Fleur added tartly. “Who knows what would have happened to her had you not been there to save her from her own recklessness?”

Subduing her own absurd pleasure at seeing him again, Lily resumed her seat in a wing chair so he couldn’t kiss her hand as he’d done her friends. “Did you have any trouble caring for Fortune, Lord Claybourne?”

He smiled at her swift change of subject but remained standing. “Your canine has been bathed and doctored. And I personally fed her half a mutton chop in bite-sized pieces. She will be given the other half this evening. I thought it wise to take her recovery slowly, since I doubt she is accustomed to such rich fare.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Lily repeated sincerely.

“So, ladies,” he said, looking at the two courtesans who had settled on the settee. “I presume you mean to judge my first performance?”

Fleur took the lead. “We are all agreed, my lord-even Lily. You won a point for bringing her such a lovely horse to ride. But you lost one for letting Lily escape your escort in the park. And we are awarding you two points for helping her rescue the dog and sending those bullies fleeing.”

“And yet another point for being so generous as to give the animal a home,” Chantel chimed in.

“Yes,” Fleur said with a mock shudder. “I wanted to grant you an extra bonus point for keeping that mangy animal out of our house, but we decided that would be a little much this early in the game. In any case, you still have nearly a fortnight to earn the rest of your ten points.”

Chantel smiled. “So your total is now five, my lord, if you count the two you earned yesterday.”

“And you agreed to that tally?” Claybourne asked Lily.

“Yes,” she replied, knowing she couldn’t begrudge him what he honestly deserved, even if it was rather alarming that he’d already collected half the number of points he needed to win. “It is only fair.”

“Speaking of fairness…” Fleur interjected, “we have reminded Lily of her agreement to permit your courtship, my lord, and clarified the rules for her. She can resist, but she cannot deliberately sabotage your efforts to woo her. If we discover otherwise, we may grant you extra points to make up for her hindering you unfairly.”

Lily saw him smile at that agreeable announcement. “Then I would be within my rights to claim my reward?”

“What reward?” Chantel asked curiously.

“Yes,” Lily seconded. “What reward?”

He shifted his attention to her. “The one you promised me for taking your dog home with me.”

Her gaze turned wary. “What reward would you like, my lord?”

“A simple kiss, that is all.”

Color rushing into her cheeks, Lily shot a tentative glance at her friends, wondering if they would allow so brazen a ploy. But neither of them responded.

She dragged her gaze back to Claybourne. “You want to kiss me?”

“Very much,” he answered, his eyes glinting wickedly. “I have since our very first meeting.”

“But right here in front of an audience?”

“Would you permit such a liberty any other way?”

“Well, no.”

“Then I will take what I can get.”

Lily shot her friends another anxious glance. “You don’t intend to object?”

Fleur answered for them both. “We are merely judges, Lily darling. We are not supposed to interfere in your game unless it is necessary for your safety.”

“Did you promise to reward his lordship?” Chantel asked. “If so, you must honor your word. But if you wish, we will leave the room.”

“No!” Lily protested. I don’t want you to leave.”

She had not promised to kiss Claybourne, but she supposed it would be an innocuous enough payment for his earlier generosity. After all, what could he do to her when they had witnesses?

“Very well, my lord,” Lily murmured.

She regretted her capitulation the instant he moved toward her.

“Stand up, sweeting,” he urged, taking her hand.

Feeling a sizzle of heat arc up her arm, Lily rose unsteadily to her feet. Claybourne smiled slowly, devilishly, as if knowing exactly what impact he was having on her.

Then he raised her hand almost to his lips. His breath fanned the edge of her palm, yet his mouth never touched her skin. Instead he reached out and slipped his fingers beneath her jaw, cradling her chin.

Her respiration grew shallow as he stood gazing down at her, while her pulse pounded in a heavy, uncertain rhythm.

After a dozen heartbeats had passed, though, Lily had had enough. “Pray hurry and be done with it, my lord.”

He made a tsking sound. “Such impatience. A kiss should be savored, not rushed.”

“Yes, indeed,” Chantel agreed, her tone dreamy.

Lily gritted her teeth, willing herself to remain calm. Even so, her nerves were on fire by the time Claybourne’s mouth at last descended to hers.

It was the lightest of caresses. His lips barely moved against hers, yet the impact was searing. His kiss was warm, tender, magical…and oh so devastating, just as she’d expected.

Lily felt hot and breathless and dazed when he finally let up.

While she tried futilely to regain her wits, Chantel applauded his performance with delight. “That kiss was perfectly lovely, Lord Claybourne.”

“And quite romantic,” Fleur said with a sigh. “I think you should have another point added to your tally.”

“Fleur!” Lily protested. “It really was not so extraordinary.”

“I might be wounded, love,” Claybourne said, amused, “if I thought you believed that.”

She had only to look into those gold-flecked eyes, gleaming with wicked knowledge, to realize she hadn’t fooled him in the least. He knew very well that even a simple kiss from him was captivating.

“Well, it certainly was not worth a full point,” she complained.

The marquess eyed her thoughtfully. “What do you say we strike a compromise? I will relinquish any points for my kissing skills just now in exchange for a few moments of privacy with you.”

Lily narrowed her gaze on him. “Why do you want privacy?”

“Because as charming and lovely as your friends are”-he bowed gracefully to the courtesans-“their presence does put a damper on my courtship.”

“Having to be alone with you was not part of our game.”

“Very well, if you want me to accept another point-”

“No!” Lily exclaimed.

Rising, Fleur nodded as if coming to a decision. “I think you have earned the right to a little privacy with Lily, my lord. You may have five minutes with her, no more.”

“You cannot be serious,” Lily objected.

“Oh, but I can,” Fleur replied. “A measure of intimacy will go a long way toward loosening you up, my dear. And his lordship is just the man to do it. You will find very few gentlemen with his prowess. Moreover, if you become better acquainted with him now, you will be better informed to make a decision about wedding him.”