Virginia Henley by Enslaved

dislikes, and to show her in no uncertain terms what it took to please and satisfy him.
    He had no intention of staying all night, which was rule number two. Her reaction to this would determine how soon he would return or if he would return at all. As it turned out, Vivian was too replete to protest overmuch when he swung his legs from the bed and reached for his shirt.
    “Beast! I can’t lift a finger, while you’re ready to prowl about London.”
    “Any objection?” he asked lightly, carefully watching her face.
    She was far too shrewd a woman with too much at stake to object. And truthfully she had no complaints about the passionate hours they’d shared.
    He bent to drop a kiss on her tussled red hair. Her body arched deliciously, her heavy eyelids closed. “Mmm,” she murmured.
    Hardwick smiled to himself, happy that he had left her purring.

Chapter 5

    Diana stifled a yawn. She and her aunt were taking afternoon tea at Devonshire House. The room was both overcrowded and overheated. Her stays bit painfully into her breastbone and she wondered seriously if it was possible to die from boredom. Small talk was anathema to Diana and the people about her seemed to be making it their life’s work. She watched the other young ladies simper before the foppish young men in their satin knee breeches while the mamas boasted their lineage.
    Lady de Warrenne informed Prudence, “Our ancestry goes back to the Norman Conquest, you know.”
    Diana glanced at young de Warrenne juggling his quizzing glass with his snuff box and wondered regretfully how the blood could have thinned to such anemic proportions in only seven hundred years. With a polite smile fixed upon her face, Diana allowed her imagination to sweep her away. Splendor of God, how exciting it must have been for a Saxon lady to encounter a Norman conqueror!
    She was riding in a meadow when she caught her first glimpse of him. He was enormous, astride a massive stallion. She shivered as she saw him mark his prey, then the chase was on! She fled toward the shelter of the forest, her pursuer more fierce-looking than any male she had ever encountered before. He was closing the distance betweenthem so rapidly she could now see the nose guard on his helm, the chain mail covering his powerful torso. Just as she reached the trees he swooped upon her, lifted her bodily from her palfrey, and set her before him on his saddle. In the struggle, her head veil fell off and her mass of silken gold hair tumbled over his scarred hands.
    “I
claim you as mine!” His voice was so commanding she wanted only to obey him. He took off his helm and ran his hand through his dark hair. The look in his fierce eyes was so intense with desire it took her breath away. Then his mouth took possession of hers, mastering her with one long, deep kiss. Her hands went up to push against the massive chest, but he was so big, so hard, so hungry, it made her weak at the knees. Pulse racing, breasts tingling, she heard him demand, “Yield to me.” With a delicious sigh, Diana abandoned herself to the ravishing.
    “Yield to me,” the voice came again.
    Diana blinked rapidly as a pale hand tried to take the teacup she clutched. “Oh, forgive me, William.”
    Young Lamb took the cup and saucer from her and sighed. “Dare I hope you were daydreaming of me, Diana?”
    “You may dare anything you like, William,” she replied wickedly. If she had to endure these interminable sessions with society, she might as well have fun!
    When they arrived home from Devonshire House, Prudence was surprised to be beckoned into Richard’s office.
    “Something’s come up rather unexpectedly regarding Peter Hardwick and it’s going to take your delicate touch with Diana.”
    “She’s not easy to handle, Peter. The girl was actually mocking me in the carriage just now.”
    “The sooner we can get her off our hands, the better, m’dear. Hardwick is the answer to our prayers, but I’m afraid circumstances have