confections had been beyond the reach of her modest salary. 'I
'Try these first.' Her servant held up a lilac lace corset adorned with white rosebuds and ribbon rosettes along with a matching lace petticoat so lavishly ruffled, it had the look of a ball gown-a very expensive one.
'If I accept these gifts…' Felicia sighed, struggling against her conscience. 'They're so highly indecent- completely immodest and-'
Claire's disbelieving snort interrupted Felicia's litany. 'They're the most beautiful lingerie you've ever had. You're not in Scotland now, my lady. You're also a widow, not a schoolgirl. You don't even have to worry about cuckolding a husband. It's high time you had a lover. And,' she added with pithy emphasis, 'a lady always dresses to please her lover.'
'High time, you think…'
'You're going to dry up and blow away, but if that's what you want?' Claire shrugged, a particularly Gallic shrug, brusque and dismissive.
The stark reminder of her lonely future vanquished the last of Felicia's reservations. 'You're right,' she quietly said.
'Of course I'm right. Now, let's see that you look ravishing for your Mr. Suffolk.'
'He's not mine,' Felicia corrected, thinking Flynn was the least likely man to belong to anyone.
'He is today.' Claire's smile was conspiratorial. 'And who knows, poppet, with your beauty and charm…'
'How romantic, but you haven't met Flynn. He's not a romantic.'
'He didn't send you gloves or a book now, did he? And your diamond bracelet is the kind of romance any woman would love.'
'He does this for all the ladies in his life.'
Claire's shrug discounted Felicia's comment. 'You're going to be the loveliest woman he's ever seen, and if you have any sense, you'll stop making excuses and enjoy yourself. Now take off that robe and put these on before he arrives and finds you in that plain thing.'
Felicia smiled. 'You're not going to take no for an answer, are you?'
'Just hurry,' Claire briskly replied, shaking out the garments. 'He'll be here soon.'
Felicia gave herself up to Claire's ministrations and to her edifying homilies on love and lovers, allowing the happiness she felt at the promise of seeing Flynn again fill her senses. And when she saw herself in the cheval glass, adorned in lilac lace fit for a queen, she felt as though she had been transported and transformed and indeed might be some fairy queen bedecked for her lover-on a very warm summer day, she facetiously noted, the sheer corset and petticoat the merest of coverings.
'Now just a light peignoir, my lady. Something to cover but not conceal,' Claire added with a cheerful wink. 'This white lace is nicely demure.'
'It's hardly demure. It's so sheer, one can see right through it.'
'He'll love it.' Claire held out the lacy robe. 'And think, poppet, when have you ever been so happy?'
She was indeed happy, and Flynn would be here soon unless these lavish gifts were intended as a polite goodbye. Although lingerie or certainly
Claire rolled her eyes. 'After all our struggles? After almost losing the villa? How can you even ask? He's a gift from heaven.'
'I'll have memories at least in my old age.'
'Life is to be lived every day, child. You'll have memories tomorrow.'
Recall of the previous night made her smile. 'It
'Which you should do more often,' Claire observed, pleased her young charge had at last tasted the joys of love. 'Now eat your breakfast,' she briskly ordered. 'You need some food after your sleepless night. I made your favorite Savarin chocolate and toasted baba. While you're eating, I'll check that Daniel has the champagne ready- and the cognac,' she added, curtailing Felicia's reminder. 'And then, I'll be right back.'
Too excited to eat after Claire left, Felicia moved from gift to gift, smelling each bouquet of roses, touching each item of lingerie, sliding the fine fabrics through her hands and wondering if all miracles were so incredibly sweet. And she would stop to admire her glamorous image reflected in the mirror from time to time. So must all paramours look, she cheerfully thought, displayed to advantage in scanty bits of lace meant for a lover's eyes only. Even lilac satin, high-heeled slippers had been included, so from the tips of her lilac toes to the top of her ruffled curls she was elegantly attired in wanton splendor.
And if she wasn't so dizzy with excitement at seeing Flynn again, she might take issue with the blatant sexual nature of his gifts. She wasn't sophisticated enough to completely ignore the impropriety, but she was infatuated enough not to care. In the grip of a mad and glorious exultation, nothing mattered but wondrous amour.
At the sound of racing footsteps on the stairs, she spun around and laughed with joy. He was here!
A moment later, the door crashed open and hit the wall with such force the paintings quivered. But no lover met Felicia's horrified gaze.
'So this is how you've earned the money to pay me, you whoring slut.' Cousin Dickie's mouth was lifted in a sneer, his obese body seemingly larger than life in the sudden hush. Moving into the room, he surveyed the profusion of gifts with a withering glance. 'I always thought you were a tart with your big breasts and cheeky impudence.'
'I'm sorry, my lady.' Daniel stood in the doorway, his attempts to stop Dickie unsuccessful. 'I told him to leave, that you had the money to pay him, but he wouldn't listen.'
'Never mind, Daniel. It's not your fault. I'm expecting a guest. If you'd see that he's comfortable in the drawing room, I'll be down soon.' Turning to her cousin, she coolly said, 'You're not welcome here. Kindly leave or I'll call the gendarmes.'
Ignoring her, Dickie picked up a black lace corset and held it between his thumb and forefinger as though it were odorous. 'Really…' His voice was oily. 'And what would you tell them? That you earn your money as a whore? You might wish to reconsider,' he unctuously noted. 'And I'm not sure such illicit wages will serve as proper payment for my share of the villa. I'll have to check with my lawyer.' He dropped the scrap of black lace. 'Are you waiting for another customer?' The lechery in his eyes sent a chill up her spine. 'Perhaps you could entertain me in the interim.'
'I'd rather kill myself.' Felicia held her peignoir tightly closed. 'Or better yet you.'
'How fierce you sound,' he murmured, a loathsome smile on his fat face. 'I'm intrigued.'
'While I'm repelled as always in your presence. You'll have your money by the end of the day, and that's all you'll get. I want you gone now and out of my life.'
'Wouldn't you, now?' Dickie's prominent eyes had a reptilian cast. 'I was just thinking,' he murmured, as though she had not spoken, 'with your new-found wealth, I may have to raise my price.'
'I have your lawyer's agreement. You can't.'
'You have no idea what I can do,' he silkily drawled. 'What if I were to tell your brother about your new livelihood. How do you think Ann would like a whore for a sister-in-law, dear Felicia?'
'Mind your tongue when you speak to my wife!'
The deep voice slashed through the warm spring air, fury in every syllable.
Felicia's eyes flared wide. Cousin Dickie pivoted, prepared to do battle.
Until he saw the tall, powerful man in the doorway with eyes chill as the grave. His face turned ashen. 'Your… Grace…,' he stammered, his body frozen in place. 'I had… I mean… I didn't-I had… no idea.'
'And now you do.' Harsh, grating words struck like a blow.
'She's your wife?' Dickie blurted out, incredulity overcoming fear. The Duke of Grafton was the most eligible bachelor in the western world.
'You heard me,' Flynn growled. 'My wife. Now get the hell out of my sight. And if you're still in Monte Carlo twenty minutes from now, I'm going to find you and kill you.' Without another glance for the red-faced man making for the exit, Flynn moved toward Felicia. 'Forgive me, darling,' he gently said, as though he had not just threatened a man's life. 'I'm sorry I was late.' And like a child rescued from a fiery dragon, Felicia rushed into his arms.
