A Rose Between the Thornes Read Free Page A

grin should have warned her; it was wild, wicked and full of male appreciation. “Especially when we are fucking our lady,” he said, in such a low tone for her ears alone. That, she decided was lucky, for he continued. “Although perhaps that is watching our fronts? Who knows? It will be a pleasure to hear your views as we pleasure you. And...,” he paused. “As Mama says, we share. Always. Everything. And everyone.”
    ***
    Jasper Thorne, Viscount Steele, heir, by five minutes over his twin Nathaniel, to The Earl of Mardanelly, watched a range of emotions cross Sophia’s face. Had I read her wrongly? He thought not.
    Earlier in the season, Nat passed on the message circulating the clubs from Berry and Ran. A stark, simple, and implied threat. Keep away from Rose Sophia. It had roused both their interests, even though no sane person wished to tangle with either of those gentlemen. Both were renowned for their ability to fight without any regard to good gamesmanship. Nor, it was whispered, did they have any reason to suppose any fracas they were involved in would be investigated.
    The lady may be several years older than them, but the first time Jasper had seen her, many years before, his interest was piqued. In the strange way that he and his twin communicated, he had known Nat felt the same. Now, back within, well if not quite the bosom of the ton, but definitely the body, both, on seeing her again knew their feelings had not changed. And so the Rose between the Thorne’s campaign began. The only viable conclusion, in their minds, was to feel Rose Sophia sandwiched between them as they fucked her in every way imaginable, and a few more besides.
    Jasper and Nathaniel watched, waited, and began to plot. They supported the adage to know your target well was to ensure success, and they intended to succeed. It was easy to extract information from the tabbies and dowagers of the ton if you knew how to go about it, and the twins were experts. Over several months they gradually began to learn how well loved the lady was. It didn’t stop their plans when, to their dismay, it was not as easy as they had supposed to learn much more. She was elusive, avoiding soirees and balls whenever possible. For every social event she appeared at where gentlemen were in attendance there were three she did not. As the gossips were at pains to point out, her enjoyment lay in nuncheon parties, poetry readings, and other all-women affairs. At a loss to understand why, eventually it had been Nat who saw the pattern emerging.
    “She plays decoy for her niece,” he exclaimed one night as they watched Sophia at the card table. “She makes her presence known, so the tabbies believe Hermione is chaperoned. First she plays a few hands of cards for chicken stakes, gossips to those who notice such things, and then retires, her duty done. That way she protects Hermione and her activities as best she can.”
    Jasper nodded. Very few people were privy to exactly what Hermione was doing. Only a long-standing friendship between the twins and Ran, and the knowledge of their own predilections, had given them any inkling. And the presumption was they would ward off as much speculation as possible regarding relationship between Hermione, Berry, and Ran. Which indeed, they did.
    It was a given that if ever they resumed their activities, began in England and honed on the continent, Berry and Ran would return the favor—as long as it didn’t involve Sophia.
    Jasper knew it was unlikely Sophia recognized either of them. Sent abroad several years earlier for one misdemeanor too many, they had found the continent much more suited to their admittedly extreme tastes. They had so much enjoyment that they deferred their return until commands demanding their presence immediately or be cut off permanently became ever more frequent. At last they reluctantly heeded them and returned. Though neither gave a fig for convention, Jasper accepted it was his duty to return and