Read Once Upon an Accident 02 - Lessons in Seduction for Free Online

from his carriage and frowned at the bright sun shining down. An unwelcome change, that. His empty stomach roiled as he closed his eyes and took deep breaths. Maybe drinking himself into a drunken stupor the night before had not been the best idea. He’d thought it brilliant at the time. Now, the sun was vivid while his mood was sour.
    When he seemed to have gotten his body under control, he opened his eyes and tried to ignore the needles of pain shooting through his head. He swallowed and walked slowly up the stairs to the Penwyth townhouse. Fitzgerald, their pleasantly aged butler, answered the door.
    First-rate was how Douglas would describe Fitzgerald. A true gem.
    Fitzgerald noticed everything and commented on nothing. “Your Grace.”
    “Good morning, Fitzgerald.” As Douglas stepped over the threshold, the scent of lemons from a fresh waxing assaulted his senses. He pressed his lips together and reminded himself that vomiting in the foyer was in bad form.
    Fitzgerald took one brief look at him and ushered him into Sebastian’s library. He drew a gauzy drapery over both windows, blocking out some of the painful sunlight. “I will get Cook to whip something up for you, Your Grace.”
    “You are a treasure, Fitzgerald.” He sank into one of the chairs facing the hearth, away from the towering windows. “I don’t suppose you will change your mind and come work for me?”
    “I am sorry, Your Grace.” He chuckled. “Lady Penwyth said that if I left she would never be able to cope.” Dishes clattered in the distance. “I fear she may be right.”
    A moment later, he heard Fitzgerald’s retreating steps. Sinking further in the chair, savoring the creature comfort, the creaking as the chair adjusted to his weight, Douglas closed his eyes, crossed his arms over his chest and tried to ignore the pain.
    Why did he have to pick last night, of all nights, to drink too much?
    He’d actually arrived home early, slinking out of the ball, avoiding Cicely and Felicia. His relationship with Felicia had not been the high point of his life, but he had never felt as disreputable as he had when he realized just how Cicely saw him. For some reason, her disappointment made him feel worse about his behavior.
    Last night, as he lay in his large bed, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. The feel of her against him, the way her face lit up when she smiled, the way it had fallen… He couldn’t fathom why his regard of her had changed, but he’d begun thinking about things he had no right thinking about her. Like, what did she look like with her hair down and just when had she started thinking of him as a candidate to take her virginity? Why had she decided to give that gift away? Why did she have a list of prospects?
    What did she sound like when she moaned in pleasure?
    He groaned when he realized he was half aroused. Again. Shifting in his seat, trying to ease the tightness in his trousers, he decided it had just been too long since he had bedded a woman.
    Disgruntled with the whole situation, he rested his chin on his chest and tried to go to sleep. But, as his mind drifted and he felt his body relax, a feminine voice drifted to him.
    “Darling, just what have you got there?”
    The female voice was low, throaty, and it shivered down his spine.
    There was something vaguely familiar about it, but he couldn’t figure where he had heard it before. He didn’t know who she was talking to; he heard no male voice answer. His body, already aroused, shimmered with heat as the woman continued talking.
    “You are such a naughty boy, you know that?” She laughed. There was a hint of coyness in it that most courtesans would have killed to be able to imitate. “You shouldn’t pull on my dress like that. You might ruin the seamstress’ hard toils.”
    Again, her laughter reached him. Ignoring the pain pounding through his brain, Douglas got to his feet and moved stealthily toward the door.
    He couldn’t fathom what pulled at him,