Page 52 of The Confessions of a Lady
‘I’m sure you are aware of French letters.’
She glanced over his shoulder. ‘Perhaps I know it as a different name. You mean a…’
‘Sheath. That a man wears over his cock. It prevents his seed from entering a woman.’
Penny’s mouth formed a perfect ‘O’ as she inhaled sharply. ‘A-and, you would be willing to procure one of these… I mean, if I was interested in…’
Liam fought the laughter. The last thing he wished to do was further embarrass Penny. ‘I would. If you ever wanted to explore that area of intimacy. But as I said, there is still a risk of pregnancy. Though much smaller. And pleasure can be found in so many other ways.’
‘Other than what you did with your, er, mouth?’ Liam nodded slowly in reply. ‘Or we could do that again? I mean, if you wanted, or I wanted to…’
My God, she is marvellous.
‘You would only need to ask, Penny. One taste of you, and I will always crave more.’
Her gaze flicked to his mouth and Liam’s beast almost broke the chain of control he held so tightly.
‘Yes, well. It is late.’ Penny pulled her hand from his grasp and stepped back. She was looking at the carpet again. ‘I must go. I have to be up early to help with the decorations. Mrs Harding will be expecting me to be, um, well rested.’ Ducking a hasty curtsy, he nearly missed her next words. ‘Thank you.’ She turned to go. ‘I mean, er, goodnight, my lord.’
An idea struck, spontaneous and stunning. ‘Penny, there is one more thing.’
She turned slightly, presenting him with her profile. Her nose tipped up like a pixie’s. ‘Yes, my lord?’
This is stupid. Absolutely idiotic. There’s no way she’ll agree.
But dear God. An image of Penny standing beside him on the ballroom floor, the entire fucking beau monde dancing aroundthem with no idea she was a maid, and he was a marquess. Just two masked people swirling in a sea of silk and secrets to the strains of a stringed quartet.
‘At the risk of earning another set down from my maid on the points of propriety I seem so determined to ignore, I have a proposition for you.’ He held his breath. This was a momentous risk he was taking, and it could explode in his face. Horribly. Or it could fire like a rocket into the sky in a shower of beautiful sparks. With Penny, he couldn’t predict the outcome.
She turned around fully, her hands on her hips. Definitely not a good sign. ‘What kind of proposition?’
Liam quirked his lips in what he hoped was a charming smile. ‘More of an invitation, actually. I informed Mrs Harding I hired servants for the ball. With the amount of work the staff have undertaken, I want them to enjoy their evening as much as the titled lords and ladies attending the masque.’
Penny’s mouth dropped. ‘That is beyond generous, my lord. The expense you must have gone to…’
Liam shrugged. ‘As I said before, my finances are excessive. And I believe a domestic staff who is treated well is much more likely to remain loyal to their employer, stay longer, work harder. It benefits all of us.’
Penny shook her head, her face a mask of bewilderment. ‘I don’t understand you.’
‘Well, it would seem my generous gesture has created an opportunity for something far more selfish.’
When she drew her brows together, a line formed between them. He wanted to press his finger just there and smooth away her suspicions. ‘I wish you to attend this masque. Not as a servant. Not clearing glasses or serving treats on a silver tray. But as an equal to the other lords and ladies in attendance.’There. He’d said it. For better or worse, he’d taken a wild ideaand put it in front of her like a feral kitten as likely to scratch and claw as cuddle and purr.
Penny’s shaking hand lifted to cover her mouth. She turned to the fire, then back to Liam. Her beautiful hazel eyes misted with tears.
Oh, fuck. I’ve made a terrible mistake.
‘You can’t be serious,’ she breathed.
Liam rushed ahead with his mad plan. ‘You can tell Mrs Harding you aren’t feeling well. Go upstairs to your room. I’m sure Molly will cover for you.’
‘You know the name of your laundry maid?’
‘Molly? Of course I do. Sweet girl, although terribly prone to tears, isn’t she?’
‘Only when you are around.’
Liam had no idea what to make of that. ‘Err. Yes. Well. At any rate. I shall buy you a dress. And a mask. There’s not much time, but with enough coin, anything is possible.’
