Their Bride by Jess Michaels

Author:Jess Michaels
Language: eng
Format: epub

CHAPTER 7

Vanessa

It had been two hours since the shocking encounter on the settee in the parlor and Vanessa had been pacing her chamber ever since. She could think of nothing else, imagine nothing else, remember nothing else but Benedict’s hands on her, Darrius’s mouth on her. Strange since she had been abandoned almost at the altar barely twenty-four hours before. Thoughts that humiliation should have been more forefront of her mind.

What a gift that they were giving her.

There was a light knock on her door and she rushed to it, almost pulling it from its hinges as she opened it. Merritt was outside, her face lined with concern. “When we arrived back, Turner said you needed me, what—”

Before she could finish the question, Vanessa grasped her hand and tugged her into the room, closing and locking the door behind her.

“Are you well?” Merritt asked, her tone growing sharper and more concerned.

“Yes. More than well. Or...I’m not sure.” Vanessa shook her head. “My mind is spinning and you are the only person I can talk to about it. The only one who could ever understand.”

“Oh, my dear, this is such a difficult time, I know. And of course, I am here for you to vent to or plan with when it comes to your future. We will work it out.” Merritt’s eyes narrowed. “And if I can do anything to destroy Lord Warwick, I will do it.”

Vanessa blinked. “No. Oh, this isn’t about Arthur or any of that. At least, not directly.”

Merritt pointed to the chairs before the fire with one hand and they each took one. “What then?”

Vanessa shifted her weight, worrying her hands in her lap. It was one thing to plan to say this out loud and another to do it, even to a woman who had a sense of erotic freedom that most ladies of her station didn’t admit to. Her cheeks burned as she mustered all her courage.

“Benedict and Darrius…” She shook her head. “Mr. Norfolk and Mr. Warwick…”

Merritt’s eyes went wide. “Yes?”

“They have offered me a…well, a…they’ve suggested that we could…” Merritt leaned forward to the edge of her seat, nodding in encouragement. Vanessa shut her eyes so she wouldn’t have to look at her. “Have an affair. The three of us. Together. Like…like you do with Egerton and Mr. Reid.”

She opened one eye to peek at Merritt. She had leaned back in her chair again with a slightly knowing smile. “You figured that out, did you? At last?”

Vanessa’s cheeks burned hotter. “I-I saw you. Briefly. In the library.”

Merritt burst out a bark of laughter and now her cheeks pinkened. “I told Elliot that he should lock the door. He got carried away and dragged Peter and I right along with him, as he is wont to do.”

“How did it happen?”

“The library or the life?” Merritt asked.

Vanessa smiled. “The life, I think. The arrangement.”

“That is a long and complicated story. One I might tell you someday when it won’t influence your own decision like it might now,” Merritt said.

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