Page 26 of Midnight with the Marquess (The St. Clairs 2)

Chapter Eight

Rachel crept downstairswell before midnight, eager to partake in her third lesson from her brilliant tutor. She went to the wing chair he favored and waited for him to arrive.

What he’d revealed about his war injuries today brought her heartache. Evan wasn’t a man to talk about his accomplishments. She doubted anyone here, beyond Alford, knew he’d been severely wounded. Then again, as humble as Evan was, maybe even his best friend hadn’t known the extent of the injuries. It awed her that he’d trusted her enough to reveal some of his past to her.

Of course, he’d also done so the night they’d met in this very library. The night he became her tutor. Both of them had shared confidences. She still ached for the lost, lonely boy whose father cruelly beat him and then turned him out after his mother died. Evan hadn’t mentioned if her illness had been drawn out and death was expected or if it had occurred suddenly. Either way, it would have strongly affected a boy of six. She couldn’t imagine growing up in a household away from Cor, Jeremy, and Luke, much less being sent to a house as large and rambling as Edgemere to live on her own. Why the Duke of Winstead had behaved so brutally to his only son and heir remained a mystery.

At least his father’s behavior hadn’t influenced Evan. He was a fine man and would make an excellent duke someday. His sterling character was a testament to him bringing himself up.

The clock chimed a single time as the door to the library opened. Evan came in fully dressed. A flare of disappointment shot through her. She’d looked forward to stroking that lovely, tanned throat of his with her fingers and tongue. Maybe she would be daring enough to untie his cravat and slide it from his neck.

Rachel stood. “I’m here,” she said as she moved toward him.

Evan closed the door and met her. His hand reached for hers and he entwined his fingers through hers possessively.

She liked it. She liked him. She liked what they were about to do.

“We’re going to stand tonight,” he informed her, leading her back to the far end of the room. The shadows enveloped them and she could hardly make out the features on his face.

“Most first kisses come in the dark, like this, standing up. Taking air on a terrace. Walking in a moonlit garden. Stepping into a darkened alcove. These are the usual places your first kiss with a gentleman will occur. Because of that, we need to mimic the situation so you’ll be prepared.”

“Are we going to kiss on the mouth tonight?”

Rachel thought the corners of his mouth turned up but she couldn’t be sure.

“We are. No tongues, though.”

“No tongues? But Leah said that is the best part,” she complained.

“It is, but we will work our way up to that. You don’t want to be a hoyden, Rachel, and use your tongue the first time you kiss a man. And he if tries to use his that first time with you, he is no gentleman. No, you need to learn something about chaste kisses to start. They will help you determine whether you like a man enough to use your tongue later. Are you pouting?”

“No,” she said stubbornly, pulling her bottom lip back.

“An innocent, sweet kiss can be very special. Even sensual. As I said, it’s the start of getting to know someone. If you have feelings for a man afterward, then you’ll need to consider pursuing those feelings. If after a chaste kiss you aren’t moved in any way, you know he’s not the one for you.”

“Hmm. Are you telling me after an innocent kind of kiss that if I feel something stir within me, that is the man I’ll fall in love with?”

“No. Only that the potential to fall in love is present.” He brushed a stray lock from her face. “You can enjoy kissing someone without being in love with him. It’s done all the time. Many women marry and find they enjoy the physical aspects of marriage, whether they love their husband or not. Men can become aroused and easily make love to a woman without love being present. It’s been done for hundreds of years.”

“What makes a man aroused?” she asked, very curious now.

“Sometimes, beauty alone can do it. A fondness for a certain color of hair. The scent of a woman’s perfume. The feel of her breasts.” He chuckled. “It doesn’t take much for a man to want to have sex with a woman.”

“Are women the same?”

“I think in some ways, they are. They may be attracted to a man’s looks or his build. They may like that he’s powerful or wealthy. They may simply enjoy how it feels when he touches them. A women’s arousal isn’t as obvious as a man’s.”

“Can you show me yours?”

Evan sputtered, “No. Stop asking so many questions. We need to proceed to our third lesson.”

“Kissing. With no tongues,” she added.

“Ever the good pupil,” he said, a smile in his voice. “All right, let’s pretend that we’ve been dancing at a ball.”

“The waltz?” she asked quickly.

“Does it matter?”

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