Page 73 of Seven Nights with the Wicked Duke
"Perhaps you should eat, and go and find your bed and get some rest," Magnus suggested, watching her intently.
She nodded.
"I could say the same for you as well. You look exhausted."
"Pay no mind to me. I stayed up a little late yesterday to study the house accounts," he replied with a rueful smile.
"A spot of sleep would do you good. It would refresh you. I urge you to take your rest," she replied.
"I will do so, Cee." he said rising, after finishing his food. "Good night, Cecilia," he said with a nod, striding to the stairs that would take him to his bedroom in the west wing.
She sat at the dining table for quite some time, forcing the food past her lips, even though it tasted like sawdust on her tongue. When she was finally done eating, she walked up slowly to her bedroom, surrendering herself to the ministrations of her maid as she helped her change into her night rail and get into bed.
Long after her maid had left, taking the last candle with her, Cecilia remained awake, staring at her surroundings and just as her mind was wont to do when it was unoccupied, her mind turned to Theo.
As time went by, and the house became quieter, signaling that the servants were retiring for the night, Cecilia felt that familiar pull of temptation. She had no business entertaining thoughts of visiting him, not when he had rejected her so soundly the night before.
But she ached, and there was only one person who could ease that ache.
One more time.
Surely even if her time with him was coming to an end, even if she was doomed to marry a man that she did not love, she deserved one more night of freedom.
It was ironic that she felt the freest when she was in Theo's arms.
CHAPTER 25
"What are you doing here, little mouse?” came the angry masculine voice from behind her where she sat close to the potted plants. It was the most secluded place she could find to watch the dancers, their movement too sensual for polite society. That was why these balls could never become part of polite society's season. It was sensual, it was scandalous, and most importantly, it was secret.
Ordinarily, she would never be here, except she was, thanks to the ticket that she had stolen from Theo's table as she made her way home that last night. While she had longed to return to Theo's house and fall into his arms, she was determined to resist the urge. This way she could complete her scandalous list without involving Theo.
Finding the way here had been a little challenging, she had to disguise with a mask she hoped she had secured well enough then hired a hack and told him the address.
The hack stopped at the back of a modiste. She was confused at first, but she knocked and a middle-aged woman with a huge bosom answered the door. She had on heavy make-up and was dressed in a high-necked flowing gown. The contradiction in her appearance confused her and she was contemplating returning home when the woman spoke,
"Good evening, my lady, might I have your password?” Her voice was smooth like warm chocolate, inviting and exotic.
"Password?" she asked dumbly, flipping the card in her hands until she spotted the words at the bottom in lowercase letters.
"Red swan," she said to the woman, wincing at the uncertainty in her tone. The woman eyed her up and down for a while and Cecilia feared that she had gotten the password wrong and the words on the card were not truly the password.
Finally the woman smiled, her red painted lips widening to reveal straight white teeth that shone in the moonlight.
"Oh you must be Lord Theo's lady, I suppose that means he will be gracing us with his presence soon."
"He was running late. He sent me ahead," Cecilia lied through her teeth, forcing a smile for the woman's benefit.
"It is not often that females decide to visit us alone. You are truly courageous, my lady. After all enjoying sensual pleasure isnot only the province of men," the woman said with a lascivious smile.
It was unfortunate that Cecilia was not doing this because she felt courageous, this was her last lifeline, her only opportunity to explore life before she submitted herself for the cage prepared for her. But this woman did not know that and she did not need to.
"Welcome, my lady. I wish you quite a splendid night," she said, stepping aside to allow her make her way into the depths of the room. There was another door inside and the mysterious lady opened it and stepped through, urging her to follow her in.
The moment, Cecilia stepped through into the ball. She knew it was nothing like the balls she had always attended. The room was filled with several masked couples. Some danced suggestively on the dance floor, while at the corners she could detect several couples were locked in passionate embraces. There were half-dressed exotic dancers weaving through the crowds and the waiters were barely clad handsome men who carried their trays high on their shoulder for any guest that might find themselves thirsty, and with the rigor with which they danced, she was willing to bet that there would be many that required the sustenance.
"Perhaps you might want to make use of one of our rooms above stairs, they are quite the treat," her guide said with a secretive smile that promised unhinged delights. Somehow, she sensed that whatever those rooms contained would be even more untoward then what she had seen so far in the ballroom.
It was probably safer that she stayed where she was, but she had come here to explore sensuality and scandal and that was what she was going to do.
