Page 18 of Duke in Shining Armor
They had somewhat of an arrangement where whenever they met there was some idle chatter before they got down to the business at hand. The business was perfunctory with no degree of affection or tenderness. Madame Nicolette was alluring and educated enough to have only high-class clients, such as aristocrats. She was most discreet and quite accommodating.
“I would like to calm myself and breathe easy this evening. Would you play the piano?”
“Of course, my darling. As you wish,” madame replied as she moved to a cabinet piano and began playing with her usual precision.
Madame was a most accomplished player, and he usually enjoyed this reverie, but not this evening. His thoughts were filled with Catherine; she would not leave his mind. He could picture her blue eyes that enlarged in his mind, and gazing at them was tantamount to drowning in a pool. Her cupid-shaped lips were so soft, lush, and welcoming. Her face glowed, skin soft and smooth to the touch. His mind appeared infected with the thought, smell, and feel of her.
What was this that came over him? How could one kiss have all but dulled his senses?
He lounged back in the chair, closed his eyes, and pictured his tongue in her mouth. His member jumped to life, and he did not think there would be much of the piano this night. As if she sensed his need, madame abandoned playing and led the way upstairs to her bedchamber, but as James climbed the stairs his thoughts were filled only with Catherine. He tried to force her from his mind.
He assisted madame to remove her petticoat and corset until she stood naked before him. She tipped on her feet to kiss him, and James was surprised to learn he felt nothing. The stirring in his breeches had retreated with only limpness remaining. He contemplated; what manner of affliction was this? Was there another time he had such misadventure? He could think of nought.
“James, I can feel you are not with me. Did I misstep?”
“No, madame. It is I,” James replied.
Everything inside me wants another.
Madame gazed at him, but James offered no more. How could he explain it? He knew not what to say, and he needed to gather his thoughts.
“There are matters I must attend to, madame. I bid you good evening,” James said as he left the bedchamber with feelings of some embarrassment and agitation.
He saw the look of disappointment on madame’s face as he departed. He needed to get a hold of himself, regain his composure; still he could not do it here. As he departed madame’s villa, his thoughts were filled with Catherine.
Catherine is a formidable woman, beautiful and witty. There was no doubt in his mind that he was attracted to her, but other doubts lingered there. She appeared quite spirited, fiery, and fearless, and he was not ashamed to say that he wondered if she was not too wild for him. There was only one way to find out. He must get to know her better. He wanted to know if she was the one he sought, the one that could be his perfect duchess.
CHAPTER6
Catherine felt James had been avoiding her ever since they kissed. A few days had passed since they shared that special moment, and he had not dined with her. He stopped by briefly to enquire after her recovery, then went on his merry way. Why would he not visit her as he had before? She could not disentangle her thoughts and feelings to make heads or tails of it.
She knew that there was something there, something between them, an awareness and an attraction. Could it be that James had regrets about what they shared, or was it common place for him to kiss ladies as the rumors mentioned? Or could it be that he had also resolved to keep things platonic? She would do well to remind herself that she decided the very same, and she needed to be steadfast.
Much had happened during James’s absence. Helen was regaining her strength, being able to take walks in the garden to get fresh air. They were but brief walks for she tired easily, but progress, nonetheless.
She remembered when Helen had awakened for the first time, for she was so pleased with the news, but she had not been able to see her that first day because she was weakened. Helen needed sustenance, and the maid assured her Helen had taken some soup and water and managed to keep it down. Dr. Blackwell was pleased with this, nonetheless he advised caution. Helen was to take her recovery slowly.
Two days later Helen was able to walk, with assistance, to visit her in her bedchamber. Once Helen was seated beside her, Catherine requested they be left alone. She was sure Helen had questions about what had transpired, and she was not certain how much of the ordeal Helen remembered.
Helen raised herself, balancing on the bed, and placed a kiss on Catherine’s forehead. “I am pleased you are well, my lady.”
“Likewise, I am pleased you are able to move about Helen. I was so worried, but Dr. Blackwell was quite right. You are on the mend.”
“That I am, my lady. I am feeling quite weak in my limbs, and the physician says it will take a while for me to return to strength. He is confident in due course I will make a full recovery.”
“Do you remember the events of that dreadful day?”
“I am afraid I don’t, my lady. The physician told me I was in a terrible carriage accident, I bumped my head, and I have been in a deep sleep.”
“That is so, Helen. We were set upon by highwaymen, and they shot the coachman.”
“God rest his soul,” Helen replied as she made a sign of the cross.
“The duke’s men tried, but they failed to recover his body for it appears the highwaymen and body snatchers are in cahoots.”
“Body snatchers, my lady. It is such blasphemy,” Helen said.
Her throat tightened. “I regret he did not have a Christian burial, Helen.”
