no long seemed haunted by his actions of the previous night. His step was sprightly, bold even, as he smoothly crossed the room and came to a stop before Vaughan. Their earlier fuck had apparently served its purpose. In place of the ghosts he’d seen hiding in Lucerne’s cornflower blue irises, there radiated an air of genuine affection. The only question was why he and Bella had come seeking him together.
Bella’s dark hair was bound and pinned in a crown around her head, a style that while fashionable, didn’t suit her. He preferred it when her hair hung in a wavy cascade over her shoulders—wild, tumultuous. That was more true to her nature.
She took a more winding route across the library to reach him, approaching from the side. Whatever they were up to had left her wary. Bella was normally far more direct.
“There’s been a change of plan,” she informed him. “We’re not going to Darleston House. We mean to stay home instead.”
“Indeed.” He found the Darleston twins companionable and their father, the Earl of Onnerley, a twisted dichotomy of a man, far more interesting evening entertainment than the music recital he’d been cajoled into attending the previous night. “Has something else come up?”
Not yet! He could almost hear Bella’s thoughts.
Both she and Lucerne were now eyeing him like he was some sort of meal they planned to devour. They’d each convinced him that they weren’t in league over Lucerne’s impromptu departure from the recital, but there was no mistaking that they were plotting something together now.
Impatient to learn what, Vaughan steepled his fingers before him. He turned his dark gaze first on Bella and then on Lucerne. “You had better speak plainly, or you’re both going to be sorely disappointed over whatever it is you think to embroil me in.”
Bella’s eyes widened slightly. He didn’t believe her innocence. Lucerne’s chin grew more pointed as he clenched his teeth.
“What do you want?” Vaughan asked. Some manner of truce or permission to spend time alone without me, he imagined. Though heaven knows why they were troubling him with it. They could have spent the entire day tupping and he wouldn’t have known.
“You,” they replied in unison.
The words sent a jolt through his chest. His heart sped a little even as he continued to gaze on them in wary silence.
“Spend the night—”
“—and the day with us, Vaughan.”
“Tell us what to do.”
“How to please you.”
This was wrong in so many ways. He thought he preferred it when they were begrudging his presence and branding him some sort of demon for not allowing them any space in which to grow together. This smacked too much of deceit. They were trying to get him to lower his guard before attacking. Leastways, he believed that of Bella. He wasn’t nearly so sure about Lucerne.
“Do you expect me to believe that’s what you both actually want? Me? Together?”
“It’s the truth, Vaughan,” Lucerne replied, while Bella dipped him a curtsey. He supposed he was vaguely willing to believe it, although there was definitely some purpose behind it beyond affection or lust.
“What are you reading?” Bella picked up his book before he had a chance to put a hand down on top of it. Her mouth fell open in surprise, one that quickly transformed into delight at the illustration revealed. “Lord Pennerley, what sort of book is that to be perusing in broad daylight?”
“A perfectly filthy one, I should imagine if your expression is anything to go by.” Lucerne sidled up behind her. Hands resting lightly, yet possessively upon Bella’s shoulders, he leaned forward to glimpse the image so that his blond hair flopped over his eyes, partially hiding the delight that flickered there.
Vaughan’s lips thinned in bemused silence. If they imagined they’d embarrass him, then they were sadly mistaken. He had no qualms about his sexuality, or what he liked. It was simply a shame the rest of
Bella’s dark hair was bound and pinned in a crown around her head, a style that while fashionable, didn’t suit her. He preferred it when her hair hung in a wavy cascade over her shoulders—wild, tumultuous. That was more true to her nature.
She took a more winding route across the library to reach him, approaching from the side. Whatever they were up to had left her wary. Bella was normally far more direct.
“There’s been a change of plan,” she informed him. “We’re not going to Darleston House. We mean to stay home instead.”
“Indeed.” He found the Darleston twins companionable and their father, the Earl of Onnerley, a twisted dichotomy of a man, far more interesting evening entertainment than the music recital he’d been cajoled into attending the previous night. “Has something else come up?”
Not yet! He could almost hear Bella’s thoughts.
Both she and Lucerne were now eyeing him like he was some sort of meal they planned to devour. They’d each convinced him that they weren’t in league over Lucerne’s impromptu departure from the recital, but there was no mistaking that they were plotting something together now.
Impatient to learn what, Vaughan steepled his fingers before him. He turned his dark gaze first on Bella and then on Lucerne. “You had better speak plainly, or you’re both going to be sorely disappointed over whatever it is you think to embroil me in.”
Bella’s eyes widened slightly. He didn’t believe her innocence. Lucerne’s chin grew more pointed as he clenched his teeth.
“What do you want?” Vaughan asked. Some manner of truce or permission to spend time alone without me, he imagined. Though heaven knows why they were troubling him with it. They could have spent the entire day tupping and he wouldn’t have known.
“You,” they replied in unison.
The words sent a jolt through his chest. His heart sped a little even as he continued to gaze on them in wary silence.
“Spend the night—”
“—and the day with us, Vaughan.”
“Tell us what to do.”
“How to please you.”
This was wrong in so many ways. He thought he preferred it when they were begrudging his presence and branding him some sort of demon for not allowing them any space in which to grow together. This smacked too much of deceit. They were trying to get him to lower his guard before attacking. Leastways, he believed that of Bella. He wasn’t nearly so sure about Lucerne.
“Do you expect me to believe that’s what you both actually want? Me? Together?”
“It’s the truth, Vaughan,” Lucerne replied, while Bella dipped him a curtsey. He supposed he was vaguely willing to believe it, although there was definitely some purpose behind it beyond affection or lust.
“What are you reading?” Bella picked up his book before he had a chance to put a hand down on top of it. Her mouth fell open in surprise, one that quickly transformed into delight at the illustration revealed. “Lord Pennerley, what sort of book is that to be perusing in broad daylight?”
“A perfectly filthy one, I should imagine if your expression is anything to go by.” Lucerne sidled up behind her. Hands resting lightly, yet possessively upon Bella’s shoulders, he leaned forward to glimpse the image so that his blond hair flopped over his eyes, partially hiding the delight that flickered there.
Vaughan’s lips thinned in bemused silence. If they imagined they’d embarrass him, then they were sadly mistaken. He had no qualms about his sexuality, or what he liked. It was simply a shame the rest of
Similar Books
