Page 35 of The Moonstone Governess
She rubbed against him. “What occupies your time is that virgin. Can she do this for you?”
“Dear heaven,” he muttered, stopping her as she attempted to kneel before him and take him into her mouth, giving not a care that his door was open and anyone passing by could see in.
He picked her up and set her in the hallway, then shut the door and retied the belt of his robe while chiding himself for ever bringing these toady friends along with him when he had long since tired of them. He would speak to Hollingsworth, Danson, and the ladies while in the carriage on the way to St. Austell Grange. It was time for them to leave. They would not mind too much, since he planned to ship them off to Bath and would settle them in his fine townhouse on the fanciest crescent. Gemma and Sarah were beautiful women who would easily find some other clots to indulge their sexual appetites.
No wonder Brenna was determined to keep her distance from him. How decadent and depraved must he appear to her?
Would she ever believe he had not lain with a woman since arriving in Moonstone Landing? One would think he had reformed his wastrel ways in anticipation of meeting her. Perhaps he had unconsciously done so.
When the tub arrived, he washed, dressed, and then strode past the inn’s registration desk as the noon hour approached, more determined than ever to be rid of these hangers-on and actually attempt to behave like a gentleman where Brenna was concerned.
His carriage awaited him and his toadies in the front courtyard.
They all climbed in.
Daire cleared his throat as it rolled away from the inn. “I’ve mentioned this before, but it is now time for all of you to go to Bath. You’ve begged to go practically every day since we arrived in Moonstone Landing.”
Gemma’s eyes widened. “Finally! It is about time you came to your senses and quit this place.”
“No, Gemma. Not me. I am talking about the four of you.”
He went on to offer them use of his townhouse. Danson and Hollingsworth were delighted with his proposition. “And we may remain there for the entire summer?” Danson inquired.
Daire nodded.
Lady Sarah frowned. “Do you have it properly staffed?”
“Yes—not a full staff, mind you. But it should be sufficient for your purposes.” He provided more details as his carriage wended its way past the familiar poppy field and Stoningham Manor.
“Then it looks like Bath it is,” Hollingsworth said. “One wearies of the ignorant milkmaids found around here, although a few are quite robust and a delightful handful.” He cupped his hands and mimicked grasping lush, bouncing breasts.
Lady Gemma was still pouting. “You make it sound enticing, but what you are really doing is pushing us away.”
Danson nudged her lightly. “I am sure you will find plenty of young bucks to satisfy you, my dear. Just remember to be discreet about it. After all, you are betrothed now to that old goat, Viscount Handly. He’s just stupid enough to believe he has bought your fidelity. He’s already settled a generous sum on you with the promise of more to come.”
Her brother, Hollingsworth, nodded. “Try to show some restraint, Gemma. Do not ruin it for yourself.”
“Claymore is to blame,” Lady Sarah interjected. “She is angry that he has suddenly become a monk around us.” She turned to frown at Daire. “You have not been any fun at all lately. And now you are sending us away. It is because of that little virgin.”
“She is a pretty thing,” Danson said. “There’s something quite invigorating about claiming a virgin—isn’t that so, Claymore?”
“I wouldn’t know,” Daire replied. “I do not make it a practice to seduce innocent young ladies.”
Gemma sneered. “You’ll tire of her and her priggish ways soon.”
He was never going to tire of Brenna. She was the sort of girl a man never forgot.
“This is not about her. My mother and nephew will be here soon, and I mean to devote my time to them this summer.”
Danson laughed. “Claymore, you look so earnest. But you cannot fool us. First of all, your mother is no more than your stepmother. No blood relation at all. And your nephew is a by-blow. Why are you bothering with them at all? Unless you are doing this to look like a hero in your virgin’s eyes?”
“Danson, you are an idiot.” Daire silently cursed his own stupidity in attaching himself to this sad lot.
His fault, of course.
He turned away to stare out the window as his elegant carriage rolled past Westgate Hall and then Moonstone Cottage. “I hear that place is haunted,” Lady Sarah said. “By a very handsome ghost.”
“Isn’t this where that other pretty young thing lives?” Hollingsworth remarked. “You liked her once, didn’t you, Claymore? But she had eyes only for Major Brennan at the time.”
