My Three Masters by Juniper Bell

Author:Juniper Bell
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc.
Published: 2013-07-29T16:00:00+00:00

When I was little, before all the bad things started happening, before my parents died and the Vicious Viscount took over my life, I loved motion above all things. As a babe I could always be calmed by the rocking of a cradle. As a girl I would spend every spare moment in the swing that hung from an apple tree in the orchard. I’d swing as high as I could, until my outstretched toes tangled in the upper branches. I thought if I swung high enough, I’d certainly be able to fly. When I learned to ride, horses became my great escape. Galloping across an open field, leaping over gates—what could be closer to paradise?

When the Marquis pulled me to my feet with that one masterful move, that lovely, free sensation of weightlessness returned to me. Like a blow to the stomach, it took my breath away. This time, instead of sailing toward pink apple blossoms, I flew into the embrace of the man who’d come to dominate my every thought. He caught me lightly, set me on my feet, and we turned toward the house.

“My lord,” I said suddenly, when we were halfway to the house. “Did you really deflower Lady Alicia?”

Immediately I blushed so hard I must have looked as scarlet as an elderberry.

The sound of the Marquis’ laughter didn’t help.

“Is the Countess sharing our secrets?”

“Just that one,” I muttered. “Please forgive my rudeness.”

“Oh no. I like it. I won’t forgive because there’s nothing to forgive, and I won’t forget because it’s too delicious. Yes, I relieved the Countess of her virginity.”

“Why?”

“Why? Because she’s precious to me, as is her sensual nature. I was convinced—we all were—that the Earl was not the right man for that task. I wished to introduce her to the pleasures of being a woman.”

“I see,” I squeaked. “And do you still… That is, do you…” But I couldn’t finish. It was too shocking, not something I could say out loud.

“Do I still enjoy introducing beautiful young women to the pleasures of sensuality? Yes.”

I felt his hot gaze on my good cheek. From that side I wasn’t so very hideous. The Marquis must be referring to me, implying that he and I could…

I floated the rest of the way to the house.

I don’t recall if more words were said before I reached my tiny room. I was too busy reliving everything that had passed between us. Never before had I felt that I had a champion. Tom, the Squire’s son, had shied away in horror when I’d stumbled to their house. The housekeeper had sent me directly to the kitchen, where the cook had smeared something dreadful on my face. In my delirium, I felt Tom’s disgust as though it were another slash of a whip. Feverish, distressed, I ran again. To this day I don’t remember everything that occurred in the following days. But I know that I had no one to fight for me.

All through the evening, as I played patty-cake with little Rose, I felt the heat of his body from when I’d brushed up against it.

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