Ripe for Pleasure

CHAPTER 10   



Washed in moonlight, Dyrham slid into view as Leo broke from the avenue of lime trees that curved from the road to the house. He was home. A nightingale’s call wove through the sound of iron-shod hooves on gravel and the dull grind of the wheels of the coach.

The stone fa?ade of the house, half-mantled in creeping ivy and wisteria, looked almost blue in the night. The large lamps on either side of the door were overshadowed by greenery, but welcoming all the same. Before the coach had even stopped, the front door opened, spilling forth his small staff of servants.

Leo swung down from Meteor’s back, transferring his pistol from holster to pocket as he did so. He tossed the reins to the groom who came running from the stable block and gave the bay a final affectionate slap as the boy led the gelding away.

Tension leaked out of his shoulders. They’d arrived without a single mishap, if one didn’t count Viola’s new pet. Footmen were already disappearing into the house with their trunks as he opened the door to the coach. Viola yawned behind her gloved hand and pushed the sleeping dog off her lap.

“Come along, my dear. I’m sure my staff will have supper ready for us, and arranging for a plate of scraps for your dog should be easy enough.”

“Boudicea.”

“Queen of the Iceni?” Leo’s eye twitched.

“The first warrior queen of England. It seemed appropriate.”

“Beau won’t thank you for that.”

Viola put her hand in his and stepped down. The dog bounded out behind her, and he could have sworn he heard his steward mumble, “Sweet Savior, deliver us.”

“Beau?”

“My sister, Lady Boudicea Vaughn. If she discovers that I have a bitch at Dyrham who shares her name, I assure you there won’t be a safe place in all of Britain for me to hide.”

“We can’t have that, can we?” Viola ducked her head, a grin curling up the edge of her lips.

Leo ushered her into the house, waving back his servants as they stepped forward as if to block the dog from following. He heard Sampson laugh, the groom’s deep basso profondo drowning out Viola’s maid’s indignant protest. His grandfather had always had a dog or three about the place, and though there’d been none here of late, he had no doubt his household would make the necessary adjustments. And so would Viola’s maid.

“Perhaps you’d like to wash the dust, and dog, off,” he added with a laugh, “before we dine?”

?     ?     ?



Lord Leonidas’s butler led her to a room that was large and plush. A silk-upholstered settee sat before the fireplace. Matching silk hangings curtained the bed. Everything in pale shades of pink and primrose.

Nance bustled about the room, muttering under her breath.

“Oh, do stop fussing.”

The maid’s head snapped around, and she flushed. “I’m sorry, ma’am. It’s just that between that beast of a dog and that monstrous footman…” She let her voice trail away.

Viola eyed the blush. She’d bet her favorite earbobs that Nance was very well pleased with Sampson’s attentions. She’d seen the smile that had accompanied his pinch and her hand slapping.


Viola pulled down her hair and shook out her curls. Nance was in the process of pinning it back up when Sampson arrived with a pitcher of hot water. He bobbed his head, set it down, and left, while Nance blushed red as a boiled lobster.

“Monstrous, is he?”

“Yes, ma’am. A cheeky devil, too, not above pinching.”

“Quelle horror.”

Nance schooled her temper, her expression shuttered. Viola shooed her away. “Shake out my calico.”

Viola took her time dressing. Lord Leonidas was waiting downstairs, and he was every bit as monstrously cocky as his footman. He’d taken control the moment they’d met and not let the reins slip once.

It couldn’t be allowed to continue.