As he left the royal chambers and began to walk down the hall to depart, he had to chuckle, for Prince George IV was heading toward him from the other direction. As they drew closer to one another he saw the man’s eyes narrow suspiciously. Then again, Hunter was a constant reminder of his father’s perfidy with a woman he’d loved who was not the queen. In spite of this, they had always been at odds.
He bowed in reverence, but he couldn’t help goading him just a little. “I was just thinking of you, brother.”
Instantly, the elder man’s nose wrinkled in distaste. “I shudder to imagine why.”
“The king declined my request to marry my mistress.” He smiled. “So you see, we aren’t so different after all, you and I.”
The Regent stepped closer to him. “We are nothing alike.” With that, he brushed past Hunter and stalked down the hall, his heeled boots clicking noisily on the marble floor.
With a sigh, Hunter left the Old Palace and started the journey back home. After such a tedious morning, he was eager to return and see Persephone’s familiar face.
***
“I was just about to send ’round a note this morning, but you’ve beaten me to it.” The Countess of Virsage greeted Sephy with a kiss on each of her cheeks. Today, Charlotte wore a rather extravagant gown of white with embroidered red roses along the bodice and hem. But then, she wasn’t known to spare any expense, for Charlotte was inclined to continue to enjoy the finer things in life. “I daresay these impromptu visits of yours are starting to become rather predictable.”
“I do hope I’m not being an imposition, my lady,” Sephy murmured. If the eccentric lady decided she didn’t wish to be bothered any longer, she would have no choice but to turn to her mother for the advice she desperately needed. The prospect was not appealing in this case.
“Nonsense.” Charlotte waved a hand and smiled, the heart shaped patch near her eye crinkling slightly. “You know you are always welcome here.” She patted the settee next to her and Sephy sat down obediently. “Now, before I tell you what I wanted to say, first I demand you speak what’s on your mind.”
Sephy took a deep breath. She’d made it this far. “It’s about Falcourt.”
Abruptly, the lady’s face shifted. “Has he been unkind to you?”
“Oh, no. In truth, he’s been rather…attentive.” Sephy waited to see if the lady might take her meaning.
“Indeed?” she nearly purred. “And how was the duke between your legs, my dear?”
Sephy was quite sure she turned twenty shades of red, her face heated so, but she forced herself to say, “More than adequate I believe.”
The countess shrugged. “Then what is the problem? It seems to me things are finally taking the direction they should. Unless, of course, you have further questions about pleasing a man?”
The memory of Hunter’s cock in her mouth instantly came to mind, and she shook her head. “I believe I have that covered,” she said rather confidently. “I’m actually more concerned about reaching his… heart.”
“Why would you want to do that?” the countess asked curiously. “Surely you haven’t developed feelings for him? He’s been gone for years and only recently returned. Even though you let society believe he returned to England for a tryst now and then, I know the truth.” She reached out and touched Sephy’s hand. “I fear that you’re confusing lust with something more. You’re still very inexperienced—”
She shook her head. “No. It’s not about how I feel about Falcourt, although I think he is incomparable. I fear he wants to keep me at a distance because he feels that he shouldn’t feel lust after whatever happened to his sister, although I fear if I ask him about it, the memory might break this tenable bond we currently have.” She sighed heavily. “Last night he was ready to send me back to my mother’s house, and he was gone before I went downstairs this morning, so I honestly don’t know if I will even be his mistress for much longer, although nothing would please me more.”
Charlotte tapped a thoughtful finger against her red lips. “Hmm. This is concerning. As a mistress you’ve been taught the art of seduction. If he doesn’t always respond to your advances, then you must play the coquette, so long as you don’t rebuff him when his defenses weaken. Frustration in a man can provoke his anger and we certainly don’t want to lead him in that direction.” She slid her glance back to her. “Do you have any honey in the house, per chance?”
“I’m… not sure.” Sephy asked. “Why?”
As she explained, Persephone’s eyes widened. “How positively wicked.”
“Isn’t it?” the countess agreed, and then she changed the subject. “Now that we’ve found a solution to one problem, I have some news for you that might actually help your current plight.”
“What is that?” Sephy asked.
“As you asked, I made a few discreet inquiries into Lord Gregory’s relationship with the duke’s sister, Louisa.” She shook her head. “While I have been known to engage in a bit of painful fetish now and then, I fear that his interests exceed anything I might have even dreamed of. I was told he had been a friend of Falcourt’s at one time and was even invited to his uncle’s estate for a house party. This is where he met Louisa. They began a torrid relationship that weekend which ended up becoming more than just an affair. He actually abducted her
