Peter is being a hypocrite about the whole thing. She doesn’t have an easy life here, I fear; and I hope to convince her to stay for some time with Julianna. I’ve promised to go or stay as she pleases.”
“It will be a boring party without you, Noah.” Her eyes crinkled into slits of mirth at his expression.
He turned her toward the door as he reached to open it. “You’ll need some time to recover, my dear,” he remarked with a wicked smile and a pat on her bottom. She stepped into the room but turned toward him again smiling encouragingly, and he drew her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly. “I’ll be in touch, Lila, if I don’t return to the house party, and you know where to reach me if you should need me.”
“You must feel no further responsibility for me, Noah,” she said seriously, a hand resting lightly on his chest.
“It is not responsibility I feel for you,” he mocked, “but lust, you brazen hussy.” She giggled when he kissed her again. As he set her aside at last he said more sedately, “I don’t seem to have done very well by you, Lila.”
She touched the diamond necklace which encircled her throat, and smiled impudently at him. “I have nothing to complain of, Noah. I’ve had enough of conjugal fidelity for a lifetime, and I intend to enjoy myself now that I’m a widow. So long as I enjoy you, I’ll see you. When it’s over, we’ll go our separate ways with no regrets.” She raised an eyebrow enquiringly and reminded him, “That is how we began, is it not, and how we plan to continue?”
Noah nodded, but a frown creased his brow. “You don’t look to marry again?”
“Never,” Lila retorted emphatically. “This freedom suits me perfectly. Why should I turn over my fortune to some man who will gamble it away? Or keep my bed for one man the rest of my life? I can be discreet enough to maintain my position without limiting my choice, Noah. Today I find you very attractive, but next month—who knows? It’s the same with you; I doubt you would deny it.”
“No, I don’t deny it. Today I find you very attractive.”
She slipped out of his renewed embrace and taunted, “You must leave now, sir, for I am exceedingly fatigued.” Her tinkling laugh pursued him to the door as he obediently departed. “Good-night, Noah, and a pleasant journey.”
Chapter Six
Since Noah had sent word to his home the previous day, Olivia found they were expected, though his tall, tight-lipped mother was not exactly welcoming. They sat down to a midday meal shortly after arriving, and Noah entertained his mother and sister with tales of the house party, omitting any mention of the events which had led to his bringing Olivia to Welling Towers. Julianna, two years Olivia’s senior, was intrigued by her arrival and longed to get her alone to find out more. She had an opportunity directly after their meal was finished when Noah indicated that he wished to speak alone with his mother.
Julianna directed Olivia to a charming parlor on the first floor where they were seated on comfortable gray velvet love seats facing one another. The young ladies had met twice previously but only briefly, and they eyed each other circumspectly.
“I was so pleased to hear that Noah intended to bring you for a visit, Lady Olivia,” Julianna began. “You don’t mind leaving your brother’s coming of age party?”
“No, I’m relieved,” Olivia admitted. “I suppose Sir Noah is telling your mother the circumstances which led to my visit, and you must be curious as well.” She proceeded to explain as delicately as she was able the events surrounding Mrs. Dyer’s sickness, and the subsequent misunderstanding in the household.
Julianna’s eyes widened with concern and she murmured, “You poor dear. Why, I should die of embarrassment! How thoughtless of Noah to put you in such a situation!”
“It was unintentional and stemmed from his concern for Mrs. Dyer.”
“Humph,” Julianna
“It will be a boring party without you, Noah.” Her eyes crinkled into slits of mirth at his expression.
He turned her toward the door as he reached to open it. “You’ll need some time to recover, my dear,” he remarked with a wicked smile and a pat on her bottom. She stepped into the room but turned toward him again smiling encouragingly, and he drew her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly. “I’ll be in touch, Lila, if I don’t return to the house party, and you know where to reach me if you should need me.”
“You must feel no further responsibility for me, Noah,” she said seriously, a hand resting lightly on his chest.
“It is not responsibility I feel for you,” he mocked, “but lust, you brazen hussy.” She giggled when he kissed her again. As he set her aside at last he said more sedately, “I don’t seem to have done very well by you, Lila.”
She touched the diamond necklace which encircled her throat, and smiled impudently at him. “I have nothing to complain of, Noah. I’ve had enough of conjugal fidelity for a lifetime, and I intend to enjoy myself now that I’m a widow. So long as I enjoy you, I’ll see you. When it’s over, we’ll go our separate ways with no regrets.” She raised an eyebrow enquiringly and reminded him, “That is how we began, is it not, and how we plan to continue?”
Noah nodded, but a frown creased his brow. “You don’t look to marry again?”
“Never,” Lila retorted emphatically. “This freedom suits me perfectly. Why should I turn over my fortune to some man who will gamble it away? Or keep my bed for one man the rest of my life? I can be discreet enough to maintain my position without limiting my choice, Noah. Today I find you very attractive, but next month—who knows? It’s the same with you; I doubt you would deny it.”
“No, I don’t deny it. Today I find you very attractive.”
She slipped out of his renewed embrace and taunted, “You must leave now, sir, for I am exceedingly fatigued.” Her tinkling laugh pursued him to the door as he obediently departed. “Good-night, Noah, and a pleasant journey.”
Chapter Six
Since Noah had sent word to his home the previous day, Olivia found they were expected, though his tall, tight-lipped mother was not exactly welcoming. They sat down to a midday meal shortly after arriving, and Noah entertained his mother and sister with tales of the house party, omitting any mention of the events which had led to his bringing Olivia to Welling Towers. Julianna, two years Olivia’s senior, was intrigued by her arrival and longed to get her alone to find out more. She had an opportunity directly after their meal was finished when Noah indicated that he wished to speak alone with his mother.
Julianna directed Olivia to a charming parlor on the first floor where they were seated on comfortable gray velvet love seats facing one another. The young ladies had met twice previously but only briefly, and they eyed each other circumspectly.
“I was so pleased to hear that Noah intended to bring you for a visit, Lady Olivia,” Julianna began. “You don’t mind leaving your brother’s coming of age party?”
“No, I’m relieved,” Olivia admitted. “I suppose Sir Noah is telling your mother the circumstances which led to my visit, and you must be curious as well.” She proceeded to explain as delicately as she was able the events surrounding Mrs. Dyer’s sickness, and the subsequent misunderstanding in the household.
Julianna’s eyes widened with concern and she murmured, “You poor dear. Why, I should die of embarrassment! How thoughtless of Noah to put you in such a situation!”
“It was unintentional and stemmed from his concern for Mrs. Dyer.”
“Humph,” Julianna
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