Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Tricia raised her eyebrows. “Surely I’ve what?”
Sarah leaned closer. “While reading the stories, you can slide your hand under your garments and—”
Tricia clasped her hand over her mouth. “Stop that right now!”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t tried it.”
“I have not, of course!”
Her words were not a lie, although she was well aware of the intense feeling down there. She had, on occasion, let her fingers wander under her chemise to her hard nipples. Just a fluttery touch and they responded, shooting more desire between her thighs. But those feelings were not from reading The Ruby. Indeed, she’d only read a few episodes of one story.
They were from dreaming of Thomas, the Earl of Ashford.
“You must,” Sarah whispered wickedly. “There’s a magic button called your clitoris. Touch it the next time you read one of the stories. See what happens.”
“I absolutely shall not!” Tricia whispered back. “Never in a million years.”
Then she closed her lips as two other ladies entered the room, one being the Duchess of Lybrook herself, Lily Farnsworth.
“Tricia, my dear,” she said. “You are looking lovely this evening.”
Tricia rose. “Thank you, Your Grace. As are you.”
She laughed. “What is this ‘your grace’ business? I’ve been Lily to you since Rose and Cam married.”
Tricia furrowed her brow. “I just thought…since we’re at a ball and all…”
“A ball at my brother’s estate,” she said. “You know I laugh in the face of convention. I’ve always thought it was a bunch of nonsense.”
Tricia laughed as well. She did like Lily so. Her sister Rose was much quieter, though equally lovely.
“May I present Lady Sarah Keating,” Tricia said to Lily. “Sarah, this is Lily Farnsworth, the Duchess of Lybrook. She’s Rose’s sister.”
“An honor to meet you, Your Grace.” Sarah gave a short curtsy.
“Not you too.” Lily laughed. “Any friend of Tricia’s is a friend of mine. Are the two of you enjoying the festivities?”
“It’s just luscious,” Sarah said. “This season is going to be so much fun!”
“The two of you take me back,” Lily said. “I truly dreaded my first season, but let me tell you a secret.” She looked around as the other lady who came in with her left. “I was ruined by my esteemed husband after the first ball!”
Sarah’s cheeks reddened. “Your Grace!”
“Phooey,” Lily said. “It’s Lily. And I’ll tell you what. I fought tooth and nail against him when he forced me into marriage. But it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Daniel and I are soulmates of the most perfect kind. He lets me be me, and I let him be him, and we love each other with a mad intensity.”
Sarah fanned her face with her hand. “I can’t believe what you’re saying. It’s simply scandalous!”
Tricia glanced at her best friend. Had she really just used that word? Scandalous? When she was telling Tricia to touch herself while reading erotic material not a moment ago?
Tricia’s brother ruined Lily’s sister in quite the same way, from what Tricia understood. Of course, it was not any of her business, so she stayed out of it.
“I’m not recommending that either of you take that particular route,” Lily assured them. “It truly was disreputable, and I’ll tell you that I didn’t give two figs about the season or becoming a lady of the peerage or any of that ridiculousness, but it all turned out perfectly in the end.” She closed her eyes and sighed. “I couldn’t be happier.”
“I want to find a husband,” Sarah said, rising. “That’s why I’m here, after all. So I’d best get to it. Mum will wonder where I’ve gone. So lovely to meet you, Your Grace.” She curtsied and left the retiring room.
Tricia looked back in the looking glass. Did Lily know how she felt about Thomas? Thomas was her brother, after all.
Perhaps…
“Lily,” Tricia began.
“Yes, love?”
“Does your brother have his eye on anyone?”
Lily frowned. “Goodness, I don’t know. He’s got more sense than a lot of young bucks, but he’s been known to be indiscriminate.”
Lily’s words impaled Tricia’s heart like a dagger. So that kiss on his father’s gravesite truly didn’t mean anything. Tricia had just found herself at the right place at the right time.
“But I don’t think he’s ready to take a wife, to be honest. Mummy is after him about it, of course. Says we need a new lady of the house. She’s still mourning the loss of Papa, and I think she’d like to have someone else take on the hosting responsibilities of the estate. Seeing to the tenants and all.”
Tricia grew up as a tenant on the Lybrook estate. When Lily and the duke were betrothed, she and Rose accompanied the dowager duchess’s sister one afternoon when they stopped to see Mummy and offer provisions. Cameron took one look at Rose and…
Well, life was never the same after that moment.