since she had no intention of allowing any intimacies. Of course she hadn’t told Madame that. Insisting on the dress, Duval had explained that “cold business deals are rarely pleasurable for either party. Surely you read the
Kama Sutra
’s instructions on how to intensify pleasure.” Edith had read some of the alarming text and paged through the scandalous pictures.
Giving a mental shake, she walked to a small table near the bench nestled within an alcove formed by a dormer window. Right or wrong, she had embarked on this course to find her sister and prevent Grandfather from committing a serious error. Now was not the time for doubts.
She rolled her shoulders in an attempt to loosen knots of worry. The attempt failed, so she took a bottle from the tray on the table and poured a dark, pungent liquid into a cut crystal glass. Madame Duval claimed that the cherry liqueur would help Edith relax. She sat. Lord knew she was tense. Still she stared into the glass a long while before drinking. The stuff was sickly sweet. She gagged and nearly spat the liquid into a spittoon but forced herself to swallow. The liqueur would relieve her tension, thus serving a greater good. Just as the deceptions and bribery she would commit tonight would serve to increase her chances of finding Kiera.
Edith forced down sips of the sugary brew. It was the only source of refreshment in this overheated chamber. Her breasts itched. She looked downward. The bodice had sunk once more. She hauled it upward. With every move, the garment — it could hardly be called a dress — crept lower. If she didn’t constantly tug on the bodice, her nipples would be exposed.
Anxiety churned in her stomach; she really needed to relax. She was hot and very uncomfortable. Nothing would make her happier at this moment than to remove this horrid apparel, but she couldn’t do that until she made her bargain with the hired man and he left. Hearing a noise at the door, she looked up.
A tall, broad-shouldered man stood leaning against the closed door.
“What’s keeping you, girl? Cerise said you’re eager, so get your backside over here,” he ordered.
Heart racing, Edith cringed. The whiplash tone sliced with temper just as Grandfather’s had for years. Was this how a hired man spoke to a patroness? Queasy with uncertainty, she sank back farther into the shadows of the window seat.
If she were to make a deal with the man, now was the time. But she’d have to speak with him, look him in the eye and let him see her in this awful garment. She’d have to get closer, and she was reluctant to move within arm’s reach. A man of his size could break her in two with one hand. Fear held her immobile. The realization angered her, and anger set her free. In her entire life, she’d never let a little fear — right now a great deal of fear — stop her from achieving a goal. She had to go through with her plan, for her sisters’ sake.
Edith swallowed, tugged her bodice up, straightened her shoulders, and stood.
Be bold
.
Men respect
confidence
. Tossing her hair in what she hoped was a carefree manner, she advanced on her target, determined to get the man’s agreement to a pretended liaison.
She stepped forward, one hand on her hip, the other swishing her skirt in a deliberate attempt to prove how little he impressed her. She added a sway to her hips. Madame Duval assured her men saw that as the mark of a confident woman. Close enough now to see his features Edith leaned forward slightly and halted in shock.
“Mrs. Smithfeld?”
“Mr. Trahern! What on earth are you doing here?”
His appalled expression told Edith that he was as surprised to see her as she was to see him. Somewhat relieved that he recognized a lady when he saw one, she now had a problem: How to get rid of him before her hired man arrived.
“My presence here should tell you that I won the auction.”
Far from happy to see him, she brightened her smile. She hadn’t a clue what he was
Kama Sutra
’s instructions on how to intensify pleasure.” Edith had read some of the alarming text and paged through the scandalous pictures.
Giving a mental shake, she walked to a small table near the bench nestled within an alcove formed by a dormer window. Right or wrong, she had embarked on this course to find her sister and prevent Grandfather from committing a serious error. Now was not the time for doubts.
She rolled her shoulders in an attempt to loosen knots of worry. The attempt failed, so she took a bottle from the tray on the table and poured a dark, pungent liquid into a cut crystal glass. Madame Duval claimed that the cherry liqueur would help Edith relax. She sat. Lord knew she was tense. Still she stared into the glass a long while before drinking. The stuff was sickly sweet. She gagged and nearly spat the liquid into a spittoon but forced herself to swallow. The liqueur would relieve her tension, thus serving a greater good. Just as the deceptions and bribery she would commit tonight would serve to increase her chances of finding Kiera.
Edith forced down sips of the sugary brew. It was the only source of refreshment in this overheated chamber. Her breasts itched. She looked downward. The bodice had sunk once more. She hauled it upward. With every move, the garment — it could hardly be called a dress — crept lower. If she didn’t constantly tug on the bodice, her nipples would be exposed.
Anxiety churned in her stomach; she really needed to relax. She was hot and very uncomfortable. Nothing would make her happier at this moment than to remove this horrid apparel, but she couldn’t do that until she made her bargain with the hired man and he left. Hearing a noise at the door, she looked up.
A tall, broad-shouldered man stood leaning against the closed door.
“What’s keeping you, girl? Cerise said you’re eager, so get your backside over here,” he ordered.
Heart racing, Edith cringed. The whiplash tone sliced with temper just as Grandfather’s had for years. Was this how a hired man spoke to a patroness? Queasy with uncertainty, she sank back farther into the shadows of the window seat.
If she were to make a deal with the man, now was the time. But she’d have to speak with him, look him in the eye and let him see her in this awful garment. She’d have to get closer, and she was reluctant to move within arm’s reach. A man of his size could break her in two with one hand. Fear held her immobile. The realization angered her, and anger set her free. In her entire life, she’d never let a little fear — right now a great deal of fear — stop her from achieving a goal. She had to go through with her plan, for her sisters’ sake.
Edith swallowed, tugged her bodice up, straightened her shoulders, and stood.
Be bold
.
Men respect
confidence
. Tossing her hair in what she hoped was a carefree manner, she advanced on her target, determined to get the man’s agreement to a pretended liaison.
She stepped forward, one hand on her hip, the other swishing her skirt in a deliberate attempt to prove how little he impressed her. She added a sway to her hips. Madame Duval assured her men saw that as the mark of a confident woman. Close enough now to see his features Edith leaned forward slightly and halted in shock.
“Mrs. Smithfeld?”
“Mr. Trahern! What on earth are you doing here?”
His appalled expression told Edith that he was as surprised to see her as she was to see him. Somewhat relieved that he recognized a lady when he saw one, she now had a problem: How to get rid of him before her hired man arrived.
“My presence here should tell you that I won the auction.”
Far from happy to see him, she brightened her smile. She hadn’t a clue what he was
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