Lady Catherine's Secret: A Secrets and Seduction book (33 page)

She closed her eyes and allowed the rhythmic beat of the train to synchronize with her own internal cadence. Its pulse filled her with a corresponding tempo that steadily grew stronger. She let out a soft sigh as he continued to nuzzle her neck with gentle kisses. How is it that this felt so normal? So natural?

“I have a surprise for you,” Daniel murmured in her ear. “Would you like to know what it is?”

“A surprise?” Catherine’s voice was breathless.

“It’s my wedding gift to you. May I give it to you now? In fact, with your permission, I’d like to help you put it on.”

Catherine turned in Daniel’s arms to face him. “Put it on?”
Was it jewelry? It must be jewelry. Perhaps it was a necklace. That would certainly be traditional.
“Of course you may.”

The grin he shot her was a bit too devilish.

Daniel reached into his pocket and pulled out a long, slim, blue velvet box and handed it to Catherine.

It was much heavier than she’d expected.

She carefully lifted the lid and revealed a small silver knife with a green malachite handle inset with a small engraved disk. “A knife!” Her jaw dropped in surprise. Tucked into the box, she also found a brown leather sheath on a small strap.

No one had ever given her something like this before. Well, Papa had given her a fencing mask, but this was different. This was a weapon— one representing an entirely new area of knowledge and expertise, but even more importantly, one representing Daniel’s acceptance of her true nature.

“Can you read what it says?” he asked.

Fumbling slightly in her excitement, Catherine removed the smooth, cool object from the box and held it closer to her eyes. “
Petite souris
,” she said, then grinned at him with delight.
Little mouse
.
How appropriate.
“Daniel. It’s perfect.”

“I was certain you’d love it,
ma petite souris
. Now, my little mouse will have a sharp bite.”

“I do, I do love it.”

“Its handle’s made of malachite, the same as the letter opener on the Duke of Norfolk’s desk.” He gave her a wry look.

The letter opener he’d held to Stansbury’s throat. “How fitting.” She tested the edge with her finger, finding it sharper than she’d expected.

“Can I help you put it on?”

Something in his smile drew her attention. Why was he so intent on this particular question? “But it will hardly go with my dress,” she pointed out. “And the strap is much too short to fit around my waist.”

Daniel laughed. “That’s not where you wear it,” he said, his grin deepening as a wicked glint appeared in his eyes. “It belongs— somewhat lower.”

Catherine’s jaw dropped and her eyes grew wide as she realized that the strap was the perfect size to fit around her thigh. “Lord Huntley. That’s hardly appropriate.”

He looked crestfallen.

But slowly, a sly smile grew on her face until she was grinning back at him with a similar wicked glint in her eye. He’d earned her trust. He’d proven to her time and again that he valued her.

Perhaps it was time to let him see that having a wife who was a bit impetuous would have its advantages.

39 - Malachite

A jolt of excitement hit Daniel when he noted that particular gleam in Catherine’s eye. He was learning to appreciate that look. As a gentleman, he should release her from her promise, but now that she’d agreed to let him help, he couldn’t deny himself. He’d never believed it would come to this. He’d been teasing her.

But she’d turned it back on him.

“Place your foot on the edge of the seat,” he said as he pulled the butter-soft leather sheath from the box. “I chose the softest strap I could find. I didn’t want it to chafe you.”

Catherine blushed and glanced away as she placed her right boot on the edge of the seat.

He moved up behind her and grabbed the soft folds of her dress, sliding her full skirts up her leg. He was standing a little to the right of her, and his thighs pressed slightly against her hips as he leaned forward.

The loose pantalets Catherine wore fell just below her knees, and he edged the white cotton fabric up, revealing Catherine’s soft, creamy white thigh.

Daniel froze for a moment and then slid his hand across her thigh, marveling at it. She wasn’t as soft as most women. Regular horseback riding and fencing had toned her body over the years, and her long, smooth thighs reflected her many hours of exercise.

It took all of Daniel’s self-control to keep him from stroking her leg.

Forcing himself back to his task, he took a steadying breath and slipped the soft leather strap around Catherine’s leg. He buckled the knife holder firmly in place with the small silver buckle. There was a rectangle of lamb’s wool directly under the buckle to keep the metal from irritating her skin. He gently slid his finger under the strap to reassure himself that he hadn’t over-tightened it. Satisfied, he slipped the knife into the sheath. He wrapped his left hand around her waist from behind, flattening it against her belly, and held her firmly against his chest while he allowed his right hand to linger against the soft flesh of her inner thigh.

“Is it comfortable?” he murmured in her ear, barely trusting his voice. His right hand could feel the heat of her thigh against his palm, and he hated the thought of breaking that small, intimate contact with her.

When she didn’t answer, Daniel glanced over her shoulder at her face. Her eyes were closed, but her blissful expression and rapid breathing told him that she was as aroused by his hand against her thigh as he was.

For a moment, he simply held her, becoming attuned to every infinitesimal change taking place in her body. Her back was pressed against his chest, and with his hand across her ribs, he could feel her breathing accelerate as her heart rate quickened.

As he recognized her growing desire, his own increased. When she pressed her hips back against his groin, he was unable to hold back the low moan that escaped his lips. Did she know what she was doing to him?

The chuga-chuga-chuga sound of the train was hypnotizing. He closed his eyes as he let the rhythmic sensation of its movement fill him, and the fingertips of his right hand began to tease the inside of her thigh.

With her back still toward him, Daniel slid his left hand up, across her breasts, feeling the fullness of them in his hand. He wished he could bare them, but didn’t dare undress her here in the train car. The corset she wore under her day dress pressed her breasts upward, and he could feel where the stiff corset ended and her soft bosom swelled above. He was surprised when his fingertips brushed against her erect nipple, pressing against the thin fabric of her dress. Gently, he teased the small, firm bud, flicking at it with the rough edge of his thumb, and she let out a small gasp, allowing her head to fall back against his shoulder.

His lips quickly found the delicate spot below her ear she inadvertently exposed to him. He savored the taste of her skin, continuing his gentle assault on her neck and breast while his right hand slid up the inside of her thigh, searching for the opening in her split pantalets. He deftly slipped his hand inside, moving unerringly toward the soft mound of curls hiding within. Catherine let out a soft, surprised sound as his fingers gently cupped the mound. She briefly pulled away from his hand, inadvertently pressing harder against his groin.

“What are you doing?” she murmured, her head popping upright and her eyes opening wide for a moment before they slid closed again.

“Something I think you’ll enjoy,” Daniel murmured against her neck, nuzzling at the skin beneath her ear. She relaxed as his gentle touch sought both to soothe her need and arouse it to greater heights. Her head fell back against his shoulder.

As his fingers touched her inner folds, he discovered the slickness he had been certain he’d find.

Her entire body stiffened. “Oh my!” she said, sounding more surprised than anything else.

He turned her sideways with his free arm and pressed his lips against hers, drawing her focus to the kiss. She responded tentatively at first, and then with a sudden burst of passion.

With his left arm wrapped around her waist to keep her from falling, he used that same hand to hold her skirts up while his right hand continued to stroke within her. He pulled his slick finger from inside her and gently began to rub the small nub above the opening while he simultaneously nibbled on her lower lip, sucking it into his mouth. Catherine’s supporting leg began to tremble, and she let out a deep moan.

Daniel pulled her closer, supporting her weight so she wouldn’t fall to the floor. He trailed kisses across her lips as he tried to hush her moans. “Shhhh. Softly, my love,” he whispered as he continued to assault her senses. His mouth traced its way to her ear, where he began to nibble on the pink lobe.

She seemed lost in the sensations suffusing her body, and he thought she might not even be aware of her surroundings any longer. He could tell that a tension was building up within her, and she panted with frustration.

A sudden tremor shook her body, followed quickly by another, and Daniel captured her mouth with his, swallowing the sound of her moans of release.

Lord, but she was passionate! He had suspected she would respond this way to him, but the knowledge left him elated. With his arms wrapped tightly around her, he held her close, her spent body resting limply against him. She let out a deep sigh of satisfaction and nuzzled her cheek against his chest.

He pushed her skirts back down, allowing them to fall back to the floor. Would he ever be able to look at them again without imagining what lay beneath?

She recovered her footing and stepped away, returning to herself. A pang of regret hit him as the moment they’d shared slipped away. That brief time after passion receded was precious, and he would have preferred to savor it.

He gazed at her intently, but Catherine looked away. She stepped back, broadening both the physical and emotional distance between them and what they’d shared. She turned and stood with her back to him, one hand resting on the latch of the door.

“I—I—I don’t know what to say,” she said, her words barely audible. “I’m so ashamed. Nothing like that has ever....”

The words hit him like a physical blow. He hadn’t meant for her to feel this way. He’d simply been overwhelmed by her. Overwhelmed to the point where he hadn’t been able to think straight. Overwhelmed by the sheer temptation of her. “If it was shameful for you, then it was shameful for me as well, and I refuse to accept that. We’ll be married soon. There should be no shame between us.”

He reached out and took her hand in his, turning her around to face him. She didn’t want to meet his gaze, so he touched her under the chin. After a moment, she glanced up at him. “Please don’t regret what we shared. I’m happy I was able to give you pleasure.” He smiled, hoping to tease an answering smile from her.

Someone knocked at the door and they both jumped.

“Lord Huntley?” Lady Wilmot said through the closed door.

Catherine gasped.

Flustered, Catherine stumbled away from the door, allowing Daniel to slide it open in a swift movement.

Discovering them together in the train compartment, Lady Wilmot narrowed her lips into a thin line. She pushed her way past Huntley into the small room. Her critical gaze inspected the couple and then darted around the compartment, searching for any signs of misconduct.

Daniel kept his expression calm and Catherine did the same, presenting the picture of respectability. Only Catherine’s slight blush hinted at any impropriety.

Daniel reassured himself that there was nothing suspicious. After all, they had opened the door immediately, and they weren’t even seated. What could possibly have happened in such a short time while they were standing?

“Lady Catherine, I’m surprised to find you in here.” Lady Wilmot locked eyes with the younger woman. “With the door closed.” Her tone was reproachful.

Catherine looked down in embarrassment.

“That was my fault, Lady Wilmot,” Daniel said, placing a placating hand on her elbow and giving her his most charming smile. “I asked her to step inside because I wanted a word with her, and I closed the door without thinking.”

Her scowl deepened. “You know better, Lord Huntley.”

“My apologies, ladies,” he said with a nod to them. “You’re quite right. My enthusiasm got the better of me.” He gave Lady Wilmot a chagrined smile. “I invited Lady Catherine into my compartment because I wanted to see her reaction to my engagement gift. I never considered the ramifications of closing the compartment door.” His hand slid inside his jacket and pulled out a second long, slim velvet box from an interior pocket.

Catherine gasped in surprise as her hand slid to her right thigh, obviously seeking the feel of the knife strapped there. Daniel smiled at the gesture and exchanged a knowing look with her.

Taking the slim box from his hand, Catherine’s brows furrowed. “It isn’t very heavy.” She lifted the lid to reveal a silver necklace set with alternating triangles of green-striped malachite stones and black onyx stones. She let out a small gasp, and tears came to her eyes as she recognized the stones that matched the handle of her knife. The necklace was unusual and had an Egyptian look to it. Each triangular stone was about a third of an inch long on each side. The stones alternated so that the lower ring of malachite stones pointed up and the upper ring of onyx stones pointed down, perfectly meshing together into a dense necklace about a third of an inch wide and fourteen inches long.