A Duchess Enraged Read Free Page B

and
turned the other breast to him. Gravesmere carefully licked and then sucked the
other nipple to the laughter of his audience and then ceremoniously deposited
and sniffed off the snuff to the applause of the assembled company.
    “I don’t think it
will become the mode at Versailles,” murmured the Comte de MontVarnois to his
neighbor as they watched, “but the Englishman does it with quite an air. Always
something amusing to be seen with the mad English.” They departed along with the
blushing maid, the ten livres, and the rest of the little crowd that had
gathered.
    “I’ve provided
sufficient amusement to le tout Paris for one evening, Roussier.”
Gravesmere declared. “I’m for home.” He swept out of the room without a
backward glance for the debauched crowd.
    Only slightly later,
Gravesmere exited the sedan chair that had brought him back to his Paris town
house, and entered the door, handing his tricorne hat, cape, and sword to the
butler. “You may lock up and retire for the night, Mouset,” he said, and walked
through the hall and up the stairs. He entered his dressing room and allowed
his valet to disrobe him and envelop him in a sumptuous silk dressing gown.
    Entering his
bedchamber by the lingering firelight, he saw a woman in the pillow-strewn bed,
her glossy black hair tumbled across the covers, while one perfect white breast
peeked out from under the lace-trimmed sheet, the large nipple alluringly
dusky. With a devilish smile he twitched the covers further aside, then leaned
forward and kissed, and then suckled it firmly, watching with pleasure as it
instantly puckered, growing hard with anticipation.
       The woman's lids
fluttered open, revealing eyes of a remarkable violet hue. A satisfied look
crossed her face when she saw Adam gazing down at her, and she reached up with
one delicate hand to stroke his cheek.      
       "Good
evening, Your Grace," she murmured.         
       "Good evening
Louisa." Adam lowered his finger to her breast, gently circling the taut
bud.
                She gave
a tiny wriggle of anticipation, and he shed his coat and rolled onto the bed
next to her.
                "So
late, Adam?"
                "I
can't get enough of you, love," he murmured. "The only thing better
than Paris, is Paris with you."
                "How
can I repay you for such a charming compliment?" smiled Louisa, Lady
Manning. Her hand slipped out from the sheets and opened his dressing gown
until she could stroke his muscular abdomen. Adam groaned, and hastily removed
his small clothes to embrace her under the silk coverlet.
    Much later, as the
early morning light dimly revealed the room, he heard a scratch at the door.
Surprised that his valet should trouble him at such an hour, he reached for his
robe and left the sleeping Louisa, to find that nervous-looking individual
entering the room.
    “Your pardon, milor’
but a messenger from Her Grace the Dowager Duchess of Gravesmere has just
arrived, with a letter for you.” Berget kept his eyes averted from the bed,
where Louisa’s naked body sprawled across the crumpled sheets.
    “My dearest mother’s
missives arrive frequently,” grumbled Adam. “Why must they interrupt my rest
today?”
    “The man was most
urgent that you should read this letter immediately,” responded the valet.
    “Well hand it to me
then, man. How am I to read my mother’s dashed letter if I do not have it?” He
whipped the envelope from Berget’s hand and tore it open, scanning the missive
quickly. “You may go,” he snapped at Berget, who exited gratefully.
     “Devil take it,
Louisa, my mother demands my return; she says the bailiffs and stewards need
more supervision, and that I have waited long enough since my father’s death to
return home to take control of Gravesmere and the other properties.” Adam sat
down heavily on the bed.
    Louisa roused
herself, and pinned a troubled expression to her lovely face.