Nicholas was in utter disbelief.
And he was also in utter darkness.
For a slight second he wondered if he had perhaps been talking to no one, that mayhap there was nothing in this chamber.
He started to move to reopen the door and let the light from the corridor guide him to find the lamp in the chamber but a soft, calm voice spoke and he froze.
"Rule number one, my lord," it said, "I forbid you to see me."
Nicholas frowned. Bloody hell? He slowly turned around in an attempt to find the source of the voice.
"Rule number two, I say when you stop your visits."
He moistened his lips. So there was a woman behind the door after all. And she had bloody rules.
When she spoke no further, he cocked a brow in the darkness and took a step forward. "Rule number three?"
He nearly jumped in surprise when her voice spoke very close to him. "None."
She was near, he could feel it. She was standing right in front of him.
He swallowed the undeniable anxiety he felt. He was not used to stark darkness, but apparently this mysterious woman preferred it. "Simply two rules?" he asked, trying to cover his feelings with a charming, teasing voice.
He was finally inside the chamber of the woman very few men had the privilege to meet. He would not dare spoil this first visit. Of course, he ought to be charming!
"Two you must follow, yes," she said and Nicholas heard another sound. A rustle of clothes. His eyes widened. She was stripping her clothes! "Shall we proceed?"
If his past lovers were there as witness, they would have gawked in disbelief when he stepped away in panic for Nicholas Everard never stepped away from a willing, stripping maiden who had such soft, gentle voice. But this was different. He could not see her and she was taking him by surprise with each passing moment.
Nicholas felt the touch of fabric brush his legs as it fell on the floor and he swallowed hard.
Bloody hell. What if she was not who he imagined to be like? How could be respectfully step away and ask to be dismissed?
When she stepped closer until they were almost touching from chest to feet, he swallowed even more. What in tarnation had he entered?
"You have been such a talkative one while outside my door, my lord," she whispered under his chin, her breath brushing against his exposed throat. "Has the darkness rendered your speechless?"
Her voice and the way she said those words... it awakened a different longing inside him, one he rarely felt. If any of the women outside had spoken the same words he would have taken it as seduction. But this woman said it in such playful a manner that he had the sudden desire to see her face and find the glimmer of play in her eyes.
He was almost afraid to touch her. Her voice might be heavenly but her body might prove otherwise. Considering the small number of men who were known to frequent her chamber, Nicholas had reason to doubt.
Was that why she would not want for him to see her?
Her hand deliberately, and with a slight moment of hesitation, planted itself over his chest and Nicholas' heart began to race inside his chest.
Dainty fingers, soft palms. Swallowing hard, Nicholas deliberately forced out his anticipation. There was no turning back now.
He bowed his head to where he thought her face was and he whispered, "I am merely surprised you opened the door, sweetheart."
The warmth of her was touching his face. She was too near.
He tested his luck and dipped his head lower, finding her jaw. Soft skin. Bloody hell. He did not care what she looked like after all.
Her jaw clenched against the light touch of his lips and Nicholas smiled, his earlier inhibitions long gone, replaced by an overwhelming sense of triumph.
He was finally here! Finally behind the other side of that bloody door!
And she was offering herself to him without requiring small talks or seduction. Perhaps the months he spent outside the door were enough for her to be enticed.
With victory reigning over him and the fantasy of the mystery woman seemingly very close to reality, desire washed over him and he thought he ought not to waste time. She may be inclined to change her mind and pull that bell after all and he would lose his chance of having a taste of her and the secrets she kept.
Yet Ralph and his mission were momentarily forgotten as Nicholas smelled her scent. There was hint of tea and her unique scent that overwhelmed his senses, making him think of the smell of grass seeping through his chamber in Whiston after a strong downpour of rain through the giant hole over his plantation.
Her hand went over his shoulder as he lightly nuzzled her jaw and trailed his lips to find her lips. Yet before he could claim it she turned away and offered her neck. He frowned. "No rules against kissing?" he asked.
"None," she gently replied, "but I would appreciate if you do not force it."
Finally his hands moved and settled on her hips. She was bloody naked! Naked! His groin tightened against his breeches as he stepped forward, his hands traveling up to her waist to clasp her against him. Her skin felt surreal. She did not feel as scrawny as the other Rock'oles women. She had the right curves and softness that would render a man immobile with lust.
Bloody hell he wanted to see her. He wanted to see the marks he would make on every inch of her.
She stepped closer. Nicholas groaned, barely hanging on to control. "Bloody hell, woman," he rasped against her neck, kissing it, tasting her skin with the tip of his tongue.
He felt her swallow as his hands travelled to the side of her breasts before he cupped them fully in his hands. His breathing hitched as he kneaded their fullness, arousing them with his expert hands.
And he stopped.
And he stepped away.
His past lovers would definitely faint now in utter disbelief.
He felt her confusion and he seriously felt his body screaming at him in condemnation as evidenced by his straining erection, but he persisted with stubbornness. Yes, he was being stubborn because this was not how he wanted this to be played out.
He had spent months planning on how to woo her, how to take her to bed, and now he had to find that he did not have to do anything at all but open his breeches and bury himself into her?
She just simply opened the door and willingly stripped in front of him?
He was no fool not to think that she was eager to have it over with once and for all. He was no fool not to believe that she was forcing herself to do this.
"Please understand, my dear," he said when he finally found his voice, "that I do intend to turn you into a lover, not a toy I could simply use to satisfy myself for there is no satisfaction there."
"Butâ"
He stepped to the side and made a mistake by bumping against a hard wood. Was that a table? He cursed under his breath as he rubbed his thigh. It took him a few more seconds before he recovered and straightened to full height, now slowly navigating around the room with his hands outstretched, picturing each detail he could feel in his mind. "For now, we do not have to make love."
"We do not have to?" were her surprised words.
"I wish to talk."
"Butâ"
"That is not part of your rule, is it?"
"No, butâ"
"I like your voice, but I hate to hear you say but," he added, now having found her large bed. "I have dreamed of hearing your voice, you know?"
"You did?"
"Yesâwhat the bloody hell!" he yelled when he heard a growl.
"Aabha," the woman said in a stern voice.
Nicholas whirled around. "You have a dog!" The dog walked past him and he jumped.
"Yes. And a cat."
He blindly looked around. "Are you living in a menagerie?"
Her gentle chuckle made him freeze. Hell, he would work harder to hear her laughter.
When amusement died down, Nicholas' smile faded into a small one. "Your name. What is your name?"
"Sophia."
"Beautiful name."
"Thank you."
"I would love to have a face to the name," he said and quickly added, "someday? Perhaps someday you would break your own rule and allow me to glimpse your face?"
He could hear her dressing herself and he smiled. Was she relieved? Pleased? Disappointed? For it was apparent that she expected to be bedded today. He silently congratulated himself for such marvelous self-control.
"You may call me Nick," he offered, leaning against the bedpost, his arms crossed over his chest as he pretended to be seeing her. But he was surprised when her voice spoke from the far side of the room behind him.
"Is that what they call you? Your lovers?"
"Most of them, yes."
"And Tania?"
He frowned with a knowing smile. "You have heard of me from Tania?"
"No, we have never met."
"Thenâ"
"I have many ways to know things, my lord."
"You are making me curious with every word, Sophie."
"It is Sophia."
Nicholas shook his head. "I prefer to call you Sophie. You don't like it?"
"If you like it, I cannot say no."
"Sophie it is then."
She did not reply. Instead she said, "I have a question. Do you find me lacking?"
Nicholas frowned. "What?"
"You don't want to bed me. Do you find me lacking?"
"Damn, woman!" he uttered, "I barely had a taste of you, barely touched you and haven't seen you but my bloody crotch is suffering as we speak!" He let out a pathetic laugh. "I would want nothing but to bury myself inside you but as I have said, my dear, I plan to make you my lover."
"If you take me now, I will be."
"No, not really."
"I opened my door for you. I am ready." There was a hint of firmness and arrogance in her voice now and he chuckled.
Discovering this woman would definitely be a very enjoyable one.
"Perhaps next time," he said, walking blindly toward the door. "I was not expecting to be welcomed in your chamber today and I had already made other plans. I do not wish to spend a short time with you in bed, Sophie, for if I take you to bed I will need an entire day."
He heard her gasp and he laughed as he pulled the door open.
"Remember rule number one, my lord," she warned when the light streamed inside the chamber.
Nicholas was tempted to look back but he would dare not risk his luck. He nodded and stepped into the doorway. "I shall see you again soon, Sophie."
"Be at the gaming hall two days from now. Someone will escort you here. You need not spend any more time building relationships with the wall and the door."
Nicholas chuckled as he closed the door behind him. "Such a pity then. We were getting chummy, your door, wall and I. See you then, Sophie."
*****
Sophia was drinking tea while petting Brigid when the secret door opened and Marcus' light footsteps entered the room.
"How was your meeting with Nicholas Everard?" he asked, settling across from her. Even with the ceiling lamp turned off, she could clearly picture his shadow with his leg crossed over the other in a calm manner.
"Did he force himself on you?" he asked.
"No, he did not. He was quite the gentleman," she said.
"Did you make him talk?"
She smiled. "He always talks."
"Anything of import?"
"None at the moment." She heard his sigh. "Patience, Marcus. We shall soon know what they know."
"But do be sure to be careful. Would you like me to post a guard in the secret corridor?"
"No," was her instant reply. "I can handle Nicholas Everard."
"It might come with a price."
"Whatever do you mean?"
"He might want something more."
She shook her head. "No, he will not. The moment he sees me he will not want for more."
"You think so low of yourself, my dear."
"No." She let Brigid jump from her lap to join Aabha somewhere in the room. "I simply think low of men like Nicholas Everard."
Marcus Durley chuckled. "The Everards have a reputation for taking no regard to societal norms. Have you not heard?"
"Yes, of course. Their brother married his sisters' governess despite her being accused as a witch. Another eloped to Tiny Town when the maiden was engaged to another. Another married a bastard. A sister caused quite a scandal when she engaged into a love affair with the Head of the Men of Courts. And ah, yes, I forgot about the other sister, the one who vulgarly chased one of Wickhurst's most elusive rakes."
"And you believe Nicholas Everard will not do something akin to them?"
"No, he shall not."
"You have many great qualities men will cherish and fall in love with, Sophia, dear."
She stayed silent for she was not quite aware of such qualities.
"And you shall use them to our advantage, yes?"
Sophia blinked against the darkness. "Yes, of course."
Marcus sighed. "I will not know what to do without you."
"So do I, Marcus. You are my savior and I shall repay your kindness in any way I can."
He stood and walked toward her. He cupped her cheek and planted a kiss on the top of her curly head.
"Should anything bother you, you only have to call for me."
"I know, Marcus."
*****
If there was anyone Nicholas hated the most whenever he saw his sister-in-law walk with a limp, it was Alan Osegod.
But he knew well not to show his contempt for the Head of the Town Leaders in front of his brother. Maxwell had had a hard time after Maxine's accident and he sure would not wish to remind him of the man responsible for it.
Osegod was of the past. They, the Everards, had finally expressed their lack of desire to engage in business with the man after the man showed just how far he would go to control them and many other gentries all over the Town.
"You know," he started with a grin as his sister-in-law settled beside Maxwell in their salon in Kenward, "I have the most marvelous day."
Maxine's brows shot high. "Truly? How so?"
"For one, I am having tea with my dear neighbor who happens to be my brother, and his wife who happens to be my old valetâ" he stopped when Maxwell shot him a look of warning, "And I happen to be invited just today inside the most wanted chambers in Rock'oles."
Maxwell rolled his eyes and sighed while his wife's eyes widened with awe.
While Maxine was disguised as his valet, he had shared everything he knew about Rock'oles, including the details about the mysterious woman and her chamber.
"You do not believe me?" he asked Maxine. "After being banished from Rock'olesâthanks to youâand being readmittedâthanks to you againâshe finally gave in!"
Maxine scoffed and shared a look with her husband.
"What?" he wryly asked them.
"Max has been hopeful there will be no woman behind that door," Maxine admitted with a chuckle. "But I am glad that your very important mission has finally yielded fruit," she added with sarcasm.
"Mock me all you may, Max," he uttered, "but you have no idea why I have been wooing her outside her door all these months."
"Truly?" Maxwell finally spoke. "Apart from a short tumble in bed, you have other important matters in mind?"
"Of course! You know of Ralph's mission, yes?"
Maxwell stiffened, his always cynical face turning darker. "The slavery case."
"Yes, of course."
"You must not be involved in it any longer, Nick," Maxwell warned. "Osegod isâ"
"But I am not. I am merely a passive spy for our dear incompetent Town Guard of a brother. No woman in Rock'oles would dare invite him into their chambers because of his profession. What else could he do but ask for my help?"
Maxine cleared her throat, planting her palm over her husband's lap in an attempt to calm him down. "And how was it? Did you find any secrets?"
"No," he curtly replied. "In fact, I was not able to find anything."
"No surprise," Maxwell scoffed.
"Because the chamber was completely dark! The lights were off!"
Husband and wife frowned at him, both of whom with long hair only that Maxine's was longer. They could be bloody twins if not for Maxine's light grey eyes and Maxwell's emerald green ones.
"She has two rules, see?" he said with frustration. "One, I cannot see her. Two, she says when I stop my visits."
"Why would she not wish for you to see her?" Maxine asked with wonder.
He shrugged. Then slowly a smile crept up his face. "But now that I think of it, she did not mention a rule about cheating."
Maxwell sighed and stood up. "There go his foolish thoughts."
Maxine laughed as her husband found his way to the liquor cabinet. "Nick," she said, "you cannot be thinking of cheating her, are you? She might use the second rule against you and declare that you stop your visits!"
"Ah, but my dear," he said with a wicked grin, "who said something about a deliberate cheating? I was thinking of deliberately causing an accident, that is all." He smiled with pride as his sister-in-law merely shook her head in disbelief.
But he was resolved to the idea. He intended to see her face.
Even just a glimpse.