Page 13 of Disguised Desires of a Scarred Duke
Eleanor blushed again and looked down at her feet. She knew a little too much about what happens in the marriage bed from a book she’d found wedged under a floorboard in Cecil Phillip’s family library.
At the time, she’d been left alone while Cecil met with someone who’d come to the house urgently needing to discuss a “business matter.” While Cecil was out of the room, his footman left to fetch more tea, leaving Eleanor alone.
She had nearly tripped on the loose floorboard as she browsed the books on the shelves. When she’d bent to press the floorboard back into place, she saw the corner of the book peeking out from underneath it.
By the time Cecil returned to the library that afternoon, Eleanor had scanned through a few chapters, shuddered with disgust at the bawdy language, and impulsively tucked the small novel into her reticule and tightened the strings.
At first, she couldn’t believe a man courting her would have such a book in his possession. Wondering if Cecil would expect to engage in that behaviour with her someday made Eleanor’s stomach turn. So, she stole the book partly to keep him from thinking about her body in such a scandalous way.
But curiosity got the better of her one lonely night when she pulled the book from its new hiding place under her own bedroom floorboard. She ended up reading it all night long with heady anticipation.
The novel was quite ridiculous, with barely a discernable plot, but oh, how the characters dined on each other’s bodies like they’d been starving for years. What initially caused her to feel disgusted became completely intoxicating.
The descriptions of male genitalia were particularly shocking at first. Eleanor still wasn’t sure she was picturing their anatomy correctly. But her imagination started to run wild as she allowed the handsome pirate of her fantasies to lift her skirts again and again. She couldn’t stop imagining him devouring the nectar that coated her nether lips each time she opened to his lust.
“Are you quite well, Lady Eleanor?” Mr Black had taken Eleanor’s hand and stroked it until she reentered the present moment and returned his gaze.
“Yes, my goodness! I was just thinking about … your work, Mr Black. Do you enjoy it?”
Eleanor’s brows furrowed as she scanned Anthony’s build again. How did an estate agent become so physically fit? Was she conjuring his toned physique because that’s how he looked in her wildest fantasies?
These thoughts quickly disappeared when Mr Black tightened his grip on her hand and gave it a gentle tug.
“Come, m’lady! This is our song!”
Eleanor laughed as she entwined her fingers with Anthony’s and followed him into the grand ballroom, where a new Scotch reel had begun.
This time, dancing with him felt exhilarating. She loved all the spinning and stepping, then switching partners and coming back together again.
By the end of the dance, Eleanor had forgotten her vow to keep all men at bay. Despite her hesitation to be courted by anyone right now, she was suddenly very invested in seeing Anthony Black again. Even if doing so meant keeping a secret of her own from Margaret’s watchful eyes.
At the end of the dance, Mr Black bowed and raised Eleanor’s hand to give it a feathery-soft kiss.
“And now, I must take my leave, m’lady. Thank you for the dance and the titillating conversation. May I … I mean, if you’d like … should we …”
Eleanor waited for Mr Black to finish his sentence, hoping it would end with an invitation to spend more time together. But, to her shock, he pressed his right hand to his masquerade mask for several seconds, then started to back away.
“Until we meet again, Lady Eleanor. Thank you for the dance and the pleasant company.”
And then he was gone. Folded into a swirling sea of cloaked and masked gentlemen who suddenly all looked the same.
Chapter 7
William St Clair kept his composure as he walked slowly out the front doors of the St Coeur mansion and back into the brisk night air.
He kept walking towards the row of trees bordering the main drive into the estate, then ducked behind a mulberry tree, threw off his masquerade mask, and vomited into the flower bed below.
A few seconds later, he heard the footsteps of someone running towards him, so he ducked down to avoid being seen. But it was too late.
“Your Grace? Will, is that you?” Edward was soon at William’s side and helped him back to his feet. “I see you had as much port tonight as I did! A nasty ferment, in my opinion. I’m referring to the wine, not the company.”
William took the handkerchief Edward offered and wiped his mouth. “Yes, a belly full of port doesn’t pair well with so much turning and figure eights, I’m afraid. Thank you, mate.”
Edward patted his friend on the back and laughed. “Did you find a pretty partner with a figure worth turning around the dance floor? With all these masks covering the ladies’ faces tonight, it was hard to find my one true love. Alas, I am still a single wealthy gentleman!”
Knowing his friend was joking didn’t keep William from choking again at Edward’s preposterous suggestion that either of them was ready for marriage.
“You need to stop talking nonsense, Montrose. Especially so near the listening ears of desperately eligible ladies.” William folded Edward’s handkerchief and placed it inside his own pocket for later washing.
