A Rogue for Christmas

Chapter 5-2

“Would you like me to teach you about passion?” he asked, his voice now velvety soft.

Despite her body’s cries of yes, she shook her head. “No, thank you, I’m well versed in it.”

He grinned, still toying with the bow of her garter. “Liar. You’re afraid to risk it.”

“I most certainly am not,” she huffed, then curiosity got the better of her. “Risk what, exactly?”

“Falling in love with me, of course.” His crooked grin should not have made her heart flutter, but it did.

“I see no danger of that, I assure you.” She took the papers from him and climbed off her seat. She set her article on a nearby table and went toward the nearest bookshelf. There were three rows of shelves that were parallel to the door, and she often liked to hide behind the last one to go unseen if someone came to the library looking for her.

Perdita glanced over her shoulder and saw Vaughn following her. He trailed his fingertips along the surface of the walnut reading table. The burgundy waistcoat he wore went well with his dark-tan trousers. Perdita had to jerk her thoughts away from how well-fitted those trousers were.

“So…you say you know of passion, that you are well versed in it, but I assure you, you don’t know what it means to be with me.” He said this softly as he came up behind her. She faced the shelves, hidden from the rest of the library. Vaughn toyed with the flare of her skirts at her lower back, tugging on a red silk ribbon that trailed down her back from the sash at her waist.

“This is not part of our arrangement,” she said at last, though less defiantly than she had intended.

“You misunderstand me. What I’m trying to say is that whenever Milburn sees us together, he needs to believe we are lovers.” He leaned against her from behind, cornering her against the shelf. His lips feathered against her ear, and she shivered. Her womb clenched, and her knees ached.

“He will believe,” she replied, though her words trembled.

“I have no doubts that you are a fine actress, but I fear that without some experience you will do no better than a young girl swooning over her first infatuation. Milburn will see it for what it is—drawing attention to itself and utterly unconvincing.”

“And what would you suggest?”

“That you let go of your fears and allow me to guide you on a short voyage into those passions, while keeping your greater virtue intact. Only then will you be able to tap into those thoughts in Milburn’s presence. Only then will he see in your eyes what you want him to see.”

Perdita huffed. “I am sure you would say anything to get under a woman’s skirts.”

“True, I would. But it does not make my words any less reasonable.”

Her eyes narrowed, but she relented. “I have found your kisses a pleasant enough diversion. I doubt whatever it is you have in mind will be much different.” She threw out the challenge, and then her heart raced to see what he would do.

“And that, my dear, shows how much you have to learn.” The heat of his body pressed against hers made her forget for a moment how to breathe.

“So you would teach me, then?” She kept her tone light, even though she was feeling strangely light-headed.

“Teach you to be wicked? Absolutely,” Vaughn said. “When you sit across from me at dinner and I look at you, he will see in your eyes and through the blush of your cheeks that we spent an hour in the library together, doing this…” He lifted her skirts, traced his hand up her right leg beneath her petticoats, and touched her there.

Perdita gasped, but he covered her mouth with his other hand. Rather than be frightened that he was silencing her, she was excited by the way he took control. She clutched the shelf in front of her, a wet heat pooling between her thighs as he explored her with his fingers.

“He should see that I own you, that I have touched you here and tortured you until you were begging for sweet release.” He murmured each wicked thought in her ear, and she struggled to stay standing. She wasn’t afraid, not of his muffling her sounds or the gentle but firm exploration of her folds with his fingers. He knew just how to touch her, how to stroke her. She had never known being touched in such a way could feel so…wild. The rush of sensations below her waist, the way her n*****s hardened against her corset, his warm breath against her neck, all mixed with the press of his body against hers from behind…it was too much.

“Show me your dark side, Perdita,” Vaughn whispered, and she felt her body seize and come apart. Stars dotted her vision, and she felt herself falling. Strong arms caught her, lifting her back up.

She realized through the haze of her slowly dissipating c****x that he was carrying her away from the bookshelves and back to the window seat. She blinked against the bright sunlight as he set her back down on the window seat’s soft cushions. Her head was swimming with a thousand emotions, but most of her felt dazed, shaky, and confused. He had just touched her at the apex of her thighs, and she’d come undone. The sensations, the heated explosion inside her was like nothing she’d ever felt before.

She looked up at him, blinking as she tried to stay calm and not cry. What he’d done had her feeling open and vulnerable. She wanted him to hold her, keep her close while she came down from the steep height her body had climbed. He leaned over and brushed his lips over hers.

“Tonight at dinner, when I look at you, think of this moment, my hands on your bare skin between your pretty thighs. Milburn will see what you wish him to see.”

With that he turned and walked away, leaving Perdita bewildered, her body lax yet trembling on a floating cloud of feelings she was too afraid to analyze. Vaughn was a master of sin, there was no doubt. She couldn’t help but worry that a small part of her might indeed be in danger of falling in love with him.

Perhaps he was truly more dangerous to her than Samuel.

Vaughn rapped his knuckles on the door to Mr. Darby’s study.

“Come in.”

Vaughn entered and found Darby bent over his desk examining a collection of shells with a magnifying glass. Snow fell outside the bay window behind him, which would leave a fresh layer for any gentleman riding tomorrow.

Vaughn’s impression of Darby was that he was a rather studious man, a man invested in the sciences. Just like his daughter, it would seem. He suspected she’d written that essay she’d been reviewing and she had tried to hide the fact from him. But her expression had given her away. Her face had been so open, her eyes so earnest in that moment as she seemed to yearn for his approval.

No doubt she was afraid he would be just like any other man and discount her ideas. But her arguments were sound and her conclusions logical. It was a paper worthy of publication, regardless of who had written it. He would find a way to convince her of that once they were married.

“Ah, Lord Darlington. I’ve been expecting you.” Darby chuckled as he set the magnifying glass down.

“Well, I wasn’t sure if…your daughter had informed you.” Vaughn was in uncharted territory here. He’d never expected to be in this situation, yet here he was.

“Your engagement? She mentioned it. I was a little surprised, of course. Perdy tells me almost everything, and she’s never mentioned you before, except this past September.” Darby studied him with a gentle curiosity. It surprised Vaughn. Most fathers with unmarried daughters would have been chasing a man like him off their estates unless they were desperate. Yet Darby was far more like his daughter than Vaughn might have guessed. He was of a rational mind, just like her.

“I admit we should have come to you at once, but I did not want to trap her into any commitment until she was sure she wished to marry me.”

Darby chuckled. “Noble words for one of London’s more notorious rogues, or so I hear. You aren’t part of that League of Rogues are you?”

Vaughn shook his head. “No, certainly not.” The League was not simply some club one could join, though gossip spoke of them as if it was. Investing with Ashton Lennox, one of the League members, was as close as he would get to being part of their number.

“Good, good. So you’re here to ask for my permission to marry Perdita?”

He nodded.

“Well, as you know, my daughter has her own heart and mind. My opinion on the matter holds little weight. She will do exactly as she pleases.”

“That may be true,” Vaughn replied, “but I also believe she values your opinion. I feel duty bound to pass any test you might put me through so that she will feel you accept the match as well.”

Darby tilted his head. “Are you aware that another gentleman here at the house has expressed an interest in Perdita’s hand?”

“Samuel Milburn? Yes, I’m aware, although he has no idea of our engagement. We were hoping to have you announce our happy news tonight at dinner. We believe it might direct the other fellow to seek another bride.” Vaughn knew full well that it would be hard to prevent Milburn from pursuing his blackmail on Perdita, but he secretly hoped that once Milburn saw that Vaughn was in fact going to marry her—assuming he could convince her it was a sound idea—that Milburn would give up.

“I see.”

Vaughn waited, but Darby didn’t speak further.

“You will make the announcement?” he prompted.

Rather than answer Vaughn, the older man stroked his chin, studying Vaughn as though he were a shell beneath his magnifying glass.

“Why do you want to marry my daughter? I’m aware of your financial troubles, but there are many heiresses worth far more that I’m sure you could easily win over. What makes my Perdita of such interest to you?”

That was the test he had been expecting. He had to answer carefully but also honestly. Darby had the look about him of a man who could read a person well. Vaughn reached for a conch shell and examined it.

“What makes this conch shell worth studying more than the rest tucked away on your shelves? The color of this shell and the exquisite pattern of its grooves make it unique among the rest. Perdita isn’t like other ladies I’ve met. She’s genuine. She challenges me without fear, and I find that engaging. She’s a damned clever creature too. Did you know she’s pursuing publication of her scholarly articles on astronomy? She told me she was reading them over for some gentleman, but the handwriting is too clear and neat to belong to a man. I recognized it at once as hers. Her conclusions are brilliant, and I plan to do everything in my power to assist in her pursuits.” He smiled at the thought. “Watching her show up those old fellows at the astronomy society would be quite satisfying.” Vaughn paused when he realized he’d been gushing over Perdita like a young boy.

Mr. Darby watched him with open amusement. “Glad to see your affections are well placed. But I won’t offer my blessings until you prove your love. She can marry you or not as she chooses, but know that I have my eye on you, Darlington. Break her heart and I’ll bury you in my woods where no one will ever find you.”

The threat, though pleasantly delivered, had been unexpected. Darby cared deeply about his daughter. It would have made the older man proud to know his daughter protected him just as fiercely, but as Perdita had made no mention of the blackmail to her father, Vaughn would follow her lead and maintain his silence on the matter.

“Understood.”

“Good. Now, why don’t you help the other young lads collect the Yule log. We must light it tonight.”

“Of course.” Vaughn left Darby in the study and asked a passing footman to have his cloak, hat, and gloves brought to him. When he reached the front door, he found a crowd of young men already there, all dressed warmly. They were chatting away and laughing as they readied themselves for the Yule log–gathering party.