whispered, drawing her fingernails up his shaft.
“What?” he growled.
“I have a favor to ask of you.” Vanessa circled her hand around the head of his penis, then stroked downward.
“Anything you want,” he panted.
“I want you to seduce a woman.”
Chapter 8
Jennette let out a sigh of pain as her feet finally touched the ground again. After spending most of the day in the coach, her limbs ached, her bottom throbbed, and her head pounded. All she wanted was a warm bath, a cup of tea, and some peace. She’d been stuck in the carriage with her mother, and Banning and Avis. The trip seemed endless.
Poor Avis couldn’t travel without being sick. But watching the newly wedded couple holding hands and whispering secrets to each other made Jennette’s stomach roil. Every time they were required to stop for Avis, Banning was there for her, comforting her.
They were so much in love.
Jennette wanted that so desperately for herself it pierced her heart with agony.
“Come along, Jennette,” her mother said in an impatient tone. “Lady Aston is expecting us.”
“Well, I require a bath before we greet her,” Jennette commented. “I am covered in dust.”
“Of course. But we can still make our initial greetings.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Jennette followed behind the group. Footsteps crunched on the gravel drive. The large wood double doors of the manor house opened wide as they approached. A butler in full livery and powdered wig stood sentry. Banning held out his card and the man nodded slightly before moving away to let them inside.
She had never been to Lady Aston’s house. In fact, she barely knew the woman. Jane was ten years older than Elizabeth and well out of the house by time Jennette came to call on her friend.
“Lord and Lady Selby, welcome to our home.”
Jennette glanced up the sweeping staircase to see a woman in her mid-thirties looking down at them in a haughty manner. Her mother stiffened slightly and Jennette wondered briefly if it was because she was now the dowager Lady Selby. Wanting to give her mother a bit of comfort, Jennette clasped her hand. Her mother patted it in understanding.
“And of course, the dowager Lady Selby and Lady Jennette, welcome to my home,” Lady Aston said, slowly walking down the steps. She glanced over at Jennette with an upturned lip.
“Thank you for inviting us,” her mother replied in a soft tone so unlike her.
“I have put you two together,” Lady Aston said, motioning for a footman. “I assumed you would want to watch over your daughter.”
Jennette’s mouth gaped. She started to give the woman a proper upbraiding but her mother squeezed her hand forcefully.
“Thank you, Lady Aston. I appreciate your looking out for my daughter’s welfare.”
Lady Aston smiled tightly. “We mothers must watch over our children.”
Jennette could not believe the nerve of this woman. She had no idea why Lady Aston appeared to dislike her so. That question would have to wait until she could question her mother in private.
Following the footman, Jennette walked up the stairs and down the opulent hallway. To her, the house was overdone. Massive gilt picture frames hung on the walls. Heavy velvet curtains covered the large windows, blocking out most of the daylight. And the colors were dreadful. The footman opened the door to their room.
“Your maid will be up presently with your trunks,” he said then disappeared as he closed the door.
Jennette shook her head. “This room is oppressive.”
Her mother gave her an angry look. “Don’t even start refurbishing that woman’s house.”
“Why is she so distasteful?” Jennette plopped down on the bed closer to the window. “What does she think I will do whilst I’m here? Be found in a compromising position? Use the wrong fork with dinner? That woman was dreadful to both of us.”
Her mother removed her bonnet and tossed it on the bed. “This has nothing to do with you, my dear.”
“Indeed? Whatever
“What?” he growled.
“I have a favor to ask of you.” Vanessa circled her hand around the head of his penis, then stroked downward.
“Anything you want,” he panted.
“I want you to seduce a woman.”
Chapter 8
Jennette let out a sigh of pain as her feet finally touched the ground again. After spending most of the day in the coach, her limbs ached, her bottom throbbed, and her head pounded. All she wanted was a warm bath, a cup of tea, and some peace. She’d been stuck in the carriage with her mother, and Banning and Avis. The trip seemed endless.
Poor Avis couldn’t travel without being sick. But watching the newly wedded couple holding hands and whispering secrets to each other made Jennette’s stomach roil. Every time they were required to stop for Avis, Banning was there for her, comforting her.
They were so much in love.
Jennette wanted that so desperately for herself it pierced her heart with agony.
“Come along, Jennette,” her mother said in an impatient tone. “Lady Aston is expecting us.”
“Well, I require a bath before we greet her,” Jennette commented. “I am covered in dust.”
“Of course. But we can still make our initial greetings.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Jennette followed behind the group. Footsteps crunched on the gravel drive. The large wood double doors of the manor house opened wide as they approached. A butler in full livery and powdered wig stood sentry. Banning held out his card and the man nodded slightly before moving away to let them inside.
She had never been to Lady Aston’s house. In fact, she barely knew the woman. Jane was ten years older than Elizabeth and well out of the house by time Jennette came to call on her friend.
“Lord and Lady Selby, welcome to our home.”
Jennette glanced up the sweeping staircase to see a woman in her mid-thirties looking down at them in a haughty manner. Her mother stiffened slightly and Jennette wondered briefly if it was because she was now the dowager Lady Selby. Wanting to give her mother a bit of comfort, Jennette clasped her hand. Her mother patted it in understanding.
“And of course, the dowager Lady Selby and Lady Jennette, welcome to my home,” Lady Aston said, slowly walking down the steps. She glanced over at Jennette with an upturned lip.
“Thank you for inviting us,” her mother replied in a soft tone so unlike her.
“I have put you two together,” Lady Aston said, motioning for a footman. “I assumed you would want to watch over your daughter.”
Jennette’s mouth gaped. She started to give the woman a proper upbraiding but her mother squeezed her hand forcefully.
“Thank you, Lady Aston. I appreciate your looking out for my daughter’s welfare.”
Lady Aston smiled tightly. “We mothers must watch over our children.”
Jennette could not believe the nerve of this woman. She had no idea why Lady Aston appeared to dislike her so. That question would have to wait until she could question her mother in private.
Following the footman, Jennette walked up the stairs and down the opulent hallway. To her, the house was overdone. Massive gilt picture frames hung on the walls. Heavy velvet curtains covered the large windows, blocking out most of the daylight. And the colors were dreadful. The footman opened the door to their room.
“Your maid will be up presently with your trunks,” he said then disappeared as he closed the door.
Jennette shook her head. “This room is oppressive.”
Her mother gave her an angry look. “Don’t even start refurbishing that woman’s house.”
“Why is she so distasteful?” Jennette plopped down on the bed closer to the window. “What does she think I will do whilst I’m here? Be found in a compromising position? Use the wrong fork with dinner? That woman was dreadful to both of us.”
Her mother removed her bonnet and tossed it on the bed. “This has nothing to do with you, my dear.”
“Indeed? Whatever
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