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Tessa watched the expressions cross his face...shock and then desire. But could she do this? Could she truly take a man to her bed? A man she barely knew? Based on what her mother had always told her, Tessa understood she would have to be the one in control. Mamma had said men have no control over their primal urges. Considering at least two of Tessa’s husbands had kept mistresses, she assumed her mother’s words to be true.
“Come along, I should get you home,” he said, smiling as he tugged her arm.
And then what? She desperately wanted to ask that question. In many ways, she felt she should already know the answer, but with her limited experience, she did not. “Very well.”
His outrider jumped off the back of the carriage as they approached. He opened the door for them to enter and quickly cloaked them in privacy. As the door shut, her hands started to quake, but she wasn’t certain if it was anticipation or alarm.
“So tell me, Lady Stanhope,” Raynerson started as the carriage rolled down the street. “Exactly how do you propose we get to know each other better?”
Tessa bit down on her lower lip as his question rolled in her mind. “I honestly have no idea,” she finally said. “I have never tried to befriend a man before.”
He looked over at her with a frown. “Were you not at least friends with your late husbands?”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, Mr. Raynerson, you must have no concept of how most women are bargained into marriage. All it takes is the right man with money and a title, and your mother will sell you off to the highest bidder. Even if you have only known the man for a week.”
She shouldn’t have said so much. It took her back to her first and worst marriage.
“I am sorry,” he whispered. “I had no idea how you came to marry.”
She pressed her lips tightly together to keep her tears at bay. She had never wanted to feel sorry for herself. After all, no one had forced her to say, “I do” in any of her marriages. It had always been the guilt of knowing if she did not marry, she was putting her sisters’ future at risk.
Raynerson moved to her side of the carriage and held her gloved hands. The warmth of his hand seared through the thin leather. “Why didn’t you just refuse them?”
She shook her head as a tear fell. “I couldn’t. My marriage would increase my sisters’ chances of success. With my father gone, I felt I had no say in the matter.”
He leaned his head back against the velvet cushion. “I am sorry,” he muttered.
“For what? None of this is your fault.”
He lifted her gloved hand to his mouth and kissed it gently. “No one should be forced into marriage.”
“Thank you.” She squeezed his hard hand. “Perhaps we can be friends after all.”
He turned slightly to face her. “Perhaps, even more than friends.” Slowly, he leaned in closer until his lips were only an inch away. “But I will do nothing you do not ask of me, so tell me to kiss you, Tessa.”
She could only stare into his amber eyes for the longest moment before she finally whispered, “Kiss me.”
Gently, he lowered his lips to hers. It was far from the kiss she would have expected from him. The sweetness of his kiss made her ache for more than just a single kiss. Slowly, she moved her lips against his until he opened and let her tongue glide against his. Just as quickly, he took control. The sweet sensation of his lips against hers made her eyes well with tears as she clung to his lapels. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had kissed her so thoroughly, as if there was no one else in the world but her. Not one of her husbands had, not even Stanhope.
He lifted his head and rubbed his thumb across her lips. “If I were a gentleman, I suppose I would apologize.”
“Then I am quite happy you are not a gentleman,” she whispered before kissing his thumb.
The air seemed to swirl around them, thickening with pent up desire. She wondered if he would be scandalized if she attempted to kiss him again. But before she could act upon that insane thought, the carriage slowed to a stop in front of her home. He sat back against the seat, straightening his cravat.
The door opened and he jumped down to offer his hand in assistance to her. She took it but wondered what would happen next. Would he ask to come in for a brandy? If he did, should she let him? He might want more than a brandy and while she might desire more, she scarcely knew him. And yet, she wanted to know him better. And she wanted to kiss him again.
No one had prepared her for this. It certainly wasn’t a topic her mother would speak of, no matter that she had a lover of her own.
“Thank you for a wonderful evening,” he said as they approached the front door.
Was this where she should invite him in? Or would he ask her? “You are welcome. I had a very pleasant evening, too.”
Had those insipid words just come out of her mouth?
He stopped at the door and took her hand to his lips. “Good evening, Lady Stanhope.”
Roberts opened the door, silencing any propositions she might have made if fear hadn’t clamped her lips shut.
“Good night, Mr. Raynerson.”
A feeling of disappointment surged through her as she watched him walk back to the carriage and get inside. She stepped inside her empty house, as if a house with five servants could ever be empty, and sighed. As she climbed up the steps, she wondered what tomorrow would bring. Would Mr. Raynerson pay another call on her? Perhaps, he might invite her to another social outing.
~*~
The next day did not bring the call from Mr. Raynerson as she’d hope but a call of a different sort. Tessa strolled into the salon with a smile for her sister who sat in the chair near the window with her arms crossed over her chest. “Good afternoon, Louisa.”
“Humph,” she answered before rising to face her. “You asked me to find out what I could about Mr. Raynerson and before I could even tell you what I had discovered, you were seen with him at the Marshall’s musicale. Why did I even bother speaking to Blakely?”
“I am quite well, thank you for inquiring,” Tessa replied scornfully. She took a seat on the sofa and glared over at her sister. “Mr. Raynerson asked me to attend with him. I saw no reason to refuse him.”
“Well, perhaps you should have waited a day to speak with me.” Louisa sat back down but crossed her arms defiantly over her chest again. “And where is the damn tea!”
“You only just arrived. The tea will be here soon. Now tell me what has you so upset today.”
“Speaking with Blakey only encouraged an intimacy I don’t wish for with him.”
Tessa nodded. “I am sorry to have asked you for such a favor.”
Louisa rolled her eyes. “You know I would do anything for you.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you want to know what I discovered or is it too late?” Louisa asked with a smile. While her sister might be quick to anger, seldom did it last long.
“Of course I want to hear what you learned.”
“According to his friend, the man is a gentleman in need of funds. As a second son, he was left only a small allowance to live off...one hundred pounds per year. Barely enough for a squire much less a gentleman living in London.”
Tessa wasn’t sure money even concerned her now. “And why does that make him so undesirable?”
Before Louisa could answer, Roberts entered and placed a silver tray laden with the tea service onto the table between them. “Do you require anything else, my lady?”
“No, thank you, Roberts. Please close the door as you leave.”
“Of course, madam.” He bowed to them both before leaving them in peace.
Tessa poured them both a cup of tea and then handed one to her sister. “Again, why does his lack of fortune mean anything to me?”
“Because he is only courting you for your fortune,” Louisa said in an exasperated tone. “How can you be so foolish?”
“I hardly think I’m foolish. All I have done is dance with him and let him escort me to a musicale.” And kiss me nearly senseless. “Scarcely anything to worry over. It’s not as if I’m about to marry again.”
Tessa sipped her tea as she thought about her sister’s revelation. Could he only want to court her for her fortune? While she might not know him in any great detail, she didn’t believe he was after her money. Every man in London knew her money was unreachable because of this blasted curse.
Louisa let out a long sigh. “I also heard that he was quite the rake until he attempted to court Miss Mary Lewiston, the daughter of Viscount Lewiston and worth a bloody fortune. Her father refused to allow them to marry so Miss Lewiston cut off all contact with Mr. Raynerson.”
“I doubt it was as simple as that. I am sure there is much more to that story than you were told. And since Mr. Raynerson was nothing but a gentleman last night, I see no reason not to accept his call. Should he decide to call, that is.”
“You are making a huge mistake, Tessa. Then again, when have you not when it comes to men.”
“Louisa!”
“I apologize. I know you were influenced to marry all three men by Mamma. I should hope you have gained enough experience and wisdom to learn from your mistakes now that you have the funds to do so.” Louisa placed her cup down and rose. “I must be off. Mamma is all a twitter over Emma’s debut at Almack’s tonight. Will you be there?”
“I doubt Lady Jersey would allow me entrance.” Tessa rose and embraced her sister. “Thank you for uncovering what you could about Mr. Raynerson. It gives me something to think upon.”
“My lady, the Duke of Worthington is here,” Roberts said from the threshold.
“Please think about what I said.” Louisa kissed Tessa’s cheek before heading for the doorway. “I do hope the duke is here to talk some sense into you, too.”
Tessa rolled her eyes. She prayed he was only here for some much welcome conversation about politics. “Show him in, Roberts.” She sat back down on the sofa and took a sip of her now cool tea.
“My dear, how lovely to see you again,” the duke said as he ambled into the room.
Tessa rose and then curtsied to the older man. “Roberts, we will need fresh tea.”
“Of course, ma’am. I have already asked Mrs. Williams to prepare it.” He retreated from the room but left the door open slightly.
“Tessa, you look beautiful,” the duke murmured before bowing over her hand. “How have you been?”
“Quite well, and you?”
“It has been a difficult winter,” he said with a sigh as he took the seat Louisa had vacated. “I had taken quite ill in February, but am slowly regaining my strength.”
“Oh dear,” Tessa replied. “I do hope you are on the mend now.”
“As do I.” The duke waited as a footman brought in the tea. “But I only came to give you some advice, Tessa.”
“Oh?”
“Yes.” He took the tea from her and sipped it slowly before continuing. “That man you were dancing with at Emma’s fete.”
“Mr. Raynerson?”
“Yes, do be mindful of his reputation, my dear.”
“So I was just warned by my sister.” Tessa’s fingers wrapped tightly around the teacup as frustration surged through her. She was tired of everyone’s advice regarding her choice of suitor. It wasn’t as if she planned to marry the man. “I do hope you have more information than Louisa had because she was terribly vague.”
The older man nodded. “I wanted to make certain you understood that he is quite the fortune hunter.”
“Louisa said just the same. Although, I should think I would be the last target of a fortune hunter since my husbands can’t seem to last more than two months before they expire.”
“Very true, although there are always certain elements who believe you might be worth the risk. Or that any such curse wouldn’t affect them.”
While she didn’t exactly trust Raynerson, she doubted he was after her fortune. There were plenty of women in the ton who had greater wealth than she had and were from better families. All three of her husbands had only wanted her beauty on their arm as they escorted her into the ballrooms. While Stanhope had loved her, the others had not. Raynerson had not beguiled her with words of love, which she wouldn’t believe anyway. He had seemed truthful in that all he wanted was a friend and perhaps something more, but never did he indicate marriage was on his mind.
“I suppose some men would attempt to entice me into marriage no matter the risk, but I doubt Mr. Raynerson is such a man,” she finally replied.
“I can see that I have not convinced you,” the duke said with a low laugh.
“Not yet,” she replied. “What more can you tell me about him?”
“You know about Miss Mary Lewiston?”
“Louisa informed me. Is that all anyone knows about the man?” She placed her teacup back on the silver tray. Being tossed over because of money was far from scandalous. “He can scarcely help his unfortunate circumstances.”
“That doesn’t mean you must accept his circumstances,” the duke reminded her.
“I suppose I don’t, but I also have no plans to marry again so it is of no consequence. Besides at least with Mr. Raynerson I have someone to converse with at parties.”
“Come now, my dear, I always speak with you.”
“Yes, but at balls your attention is in far greater demand than that of Mr. Raynerson.”
“I understand,” he replied, staring into his teacup.
She stifled a yawn. Normally, conversations with the duke energized her spirit, but not today. “Is there anything else I should know?”
The duke frowned. “I know his father gambled away most of his sons’ fortune. Bideford has just enough to get by with the estate and the money from his marriage, but Raynerson was not as lucky. Please have a care with him, my dear. I am not sure I would trust him.”
Could she trust Raynerson? She wanted to more than anything.