Page 16 of How To Seduce A Wife

“God, Louisa... I...”

He made one last convulsive movement, and her mouth was suddenly full of his seed. She had to swallow fast to avoid choking. She waited until he released his grip on the back of her head and sat back. Nicholas looked like a man who had just experienced bliss, and she was suddenly proud of herself. It seemed that lovemaking was not all about a man’s needs and desires after all.

She waited while Nicholas tucked his cock back into his pantaloons and rebuttoned the placket. He held out his hands and brought her to her feet in one easy motion.

“That was very kind of you, my lady.”

“Kind? Did I not do it correctly?”

He patted his groin. “Well everything is still attached, so I assume you did.”

“Would it hurt if I bit you there?”

He winced. “I should think so, although I’ve heard that in certain situations it can be quite alluring.”

She frowned and he grinned at her, his expressive face alive with warmth and appreciation. Just seeing him like this made her want to offer to kiss him again. It felt as if she was being admitted into his affections, as if he was finally opening up to her.

He kissed her forehead. “We should go. April will be wondering where we are.”

“Of course.” Louisa patted her hair and opened the door. There was no one in the dark hallway, so they walked back to the main hall and ascended the stairs to the ballroom. April stood at the entrance to the ballroom, flanked by her portly smiling husband. Her expression lightened when she saw Nicholas and Louisa approaching and she rushed toward them.

“Oh, where have you been? I’d quite given you up! My dear Gilbert was wishing me at the devil having to stand here for so long.” Since her admonishment was delivered with a smile and a hug, Louisa didn’t take her too seriously. “You look lovely, Louisa, I told you that color would suit you, didn’t I?”

“Indeed you did. I...”

April poked Nicholas in the chest with her fan. “Doesn’t she look well? Have you even noticed she has a new gown on yet? You probably haven’t.” She rolled her eyes in Louisa’s direction. “Men are positively dreadful at offering a compliment, even when one has spent hours at one’s toilette.”

Nicholas took Louisa’s hand and kissed it. “I have not only noticed the gown, but I’ve complimented Louisa on it already, so you can stop your twittering, sis.”

April gave an exaggerated sigh, linked her arm through Louisa’s, and led her toward the ballroom. “We’ll ignore him, my dear, and perhaps he’ll go away and make himself useful in the card room or something.”

Louisa turned her head to look back at Nicholas, but his attention had been claimed by a fragile-looking beauty who clutched his arm and gazed up at him adoringly. Not that Nicholas seemed to mind, his smile was as wide and welcoming as the one he had just given her.

April pinched her elbow. “Louisa, it is not proper to look back at your husband in that slavish manner. People will think you are hanging on his sleeve! Come and circulate with me. I’m sure Nicholas will find you later.”

Louisa sighed and obediently followed her sister-in-law into the crowded ballroom. They were immediately engulfed by well-wishers who wanted to compliment April on the ball. Louisa could no longer see Nicholas at all. Had he even entered the ballroom? April was forever lecturing her about how best to ignore her husband in society settings. It seemed that was the fashionable thing to do. What amused Louisa was how much her mother would’ve approved of April’s instructions. Mama was always telling Louisa not to expect too much of her husband’s valuable time and attention.

Louisa sat next to April in the ballroom and suffered through the next half hour listening to April collect all the latest gossip and criticize everyone else’s gowns. It all seemed so silly to her, and not what she’d expected of society at all—or of marriage. She’d imagined days with Nicholas at her side and evenings filled with quiet conversation, and the promise of the intimacies of the marriage bed.

“Oh, look!” April whispered. “There’s that horrid Lady Basingstone. She’s always had her eye on Nicholas. I wonder why he’s dancing with her?” She nudged Louisa. “Now that Nicholas is married himself, she probably thinks he’s fair game.”

“Is that so?”

“Oh, you know what I mean. Once a woman has given her husband an heir or two, most men turn a blind eye to her having a little affair of her own.” April’s smile was tinged with sadness. “And truthfully, my dear, don’t you think that a wife deserves a little fun after the inconveniences and humiliations of one’s husband having a mistress?”

“I don’t know, April. It’s not something Nicholas and I have discussed.”

“Of course you haven’t, my dear. You and Nicholas are newlyweds. I’m sure the thought hasn’t entered your mind.” April’s laughter sounded forced, and the glance she threw toward Nicholas was distinctly worried. “But you must know, my love, that if hedidever stray, Nicholas would always treat you with the greatest of respect.”

“Why do you say that?”

April squeezed her hand tightly. “I heard a silly rumor this evening that Nicholas had been seen in... well, in a place that he should not have been near. I’m sure it meant nothing. It was probably just a mistake, although the person who told me did know Nicholas quite well, but... anyway, I thought you should be on your guard. And, don’t think I won’t be speaking to him about this, because I will!”

Louisa set her teeth as her husband swept past them with yet another woman in his arms. He seemed to be enjoying himself immensely, and yet, less than an hour ago she’d allowed him to persuade her to... she stood up abruptly. “I’m going to fetch myself a glass of ratafia. Would you like something, April?”

“Oh, no, dear. I’ll be fine. You run along.”

Louisa stayed in the quiet supper room until she felt marginally more in control of her emotions. Perhaps this was why most society marriages never developed into anything more than mild liking and mutual respect. Did Nicholas have a mistress, and how on earth could she find out without publicly embarrassing herself?

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