Chocolate, Tea and the Duchess
The Sapphire Club

Excerpt

Chapter Two

The duke swept her onto the dance floor, his strong arms making her feel secure, though she trembled terribly. Excitement raced through her so wantonly, she feared he'd hear her heart beating, for she certainly could.

"Are you quite well, Lady Felicity?" Thornhill asked, his face exhibiting a curious expression.

"Quite, Your Grace."

"Do I make you nervous? You're shaking like a leaf."

She felt like a leaf about to lose its grip upon the branch. She couldn't recall how long it had been that she'd harbored an attraction to the much-older gentleman in whose arms she wished she could stay forever. God, he smelled so good.

"I—I'm not nervous, Your Grace."

"If that is not the case, my dear, you give an admirable imitation."

His smile seemed to be one of concern, if that indeed were possible. She wanted it to be so, for to have the Duke of Thornhill concerned for her well-being indeed would be a wonderful thing.

He proved very agile on his feet, circling her amongst the other couples; no other woman's partner seemed nearly as attractive as hers did. She wished to ask him her provocative question about taking her to the club, quite dearly in fact, but now, in his arms, she feared spoiling the moment.

His leg brushed against hers as they danced, his arm encircling her waist, his breath sweet with a hint of brandy; she likened her time in his arms to time in heaven. She closed her eyes, taking in the smell of him, that all-male aroma that set her cunny to tingling and her breasts to aching.

". . . . and the season."

She then realized he'd been speaking.

"I am sorry, Your Grace. I became lost in the music." A lie, but she couldn't very well tell him the truth, that being she'd become completely lost in him.

"I wondered if you are having a nice stay in London and enjoying the season."

She wanted to say, "I am now," but instead said, "Yes, I always enjoy London, and Mama has kept me so busy, I've hardly slept."

He smiled. She recognized the look of polite amusement, for she saw a similar one on the faces of all the men her mother had attempted to snag in her marriage trap.

"I suppose having a young lady of marriageable age must keep your mama much busier than usual."

"She worries over the disgrace of having a daughter of twenty, which I will be soon, being on the shelf."

"Twenty seems so young from where I stand, my dear, and your beauty would never allow you to be placed on a shelf. There must be young men lined up at the door eager to take your hand. Your poor papa will be fending them off with sabers and Mantons."

It sounded like a compliment, which made her giggle.

"I suppose, Your Grace, but I am not interested in any of them. They are too . . . young." She hoped he would understand her thinly veiled attempt to engage his attentions.

"Why, my dear. Am I to gather that you would prefer an older man?"

Her face heated. "Yes, I suppose I am saying just that."

"I see."

And he did see, only too well. Her mama had taught her well—flatter, blush, and agree. If he were anyone else, she might be all for which he could ask. This man, however, could ask much more, and a girl young enough to be his daughter wasn't on his list of favored things.

He'd never wished for a wife, particularly since his sexual tastes included the occasional liaison with a man.

His mind drifted, thinking how several days had passed since his last visit to the Sapphire Club, and he grew anxious to quit this social engagement and make his way to St. John's Wood.

His cock stirred to attention with thoughts of what would transpire later in the evening. Phillip's thoughts had been of little else but of Haynes, his flawless ass quaking beneath Phillip as he plundered the handsome young man. Yes, indeed, he wished to engage in the activity, after a good thrashing, of course, but then that went without saying.

The dance ended and Phillip escorted Lady Felicity back to her mama, who no doubt awaited news of an engagement. She would be sadly disappointed.

"Lady Felicity, you are indeed a delightful dance partner. I do hope you will spare me a dance when again we meet."
The girl raised her chin. "I will . . . if you ask me nicely."

"Felicity!" Her mama bellowed, attracting the attention of those nearby. "I am ever so sorry, Your Grace." She curtsied, then required his aid to recover herself to standing.

"No harm done, but I have been known to bite young girls for such insolence." He turned and winked, sure only Felicity could see. His action caused her to giggle.

Lady Plimmswood fanned herself with a fury, obviously flustered by her daughter's impertinence. Felicity whispered, "I hope not too hard."

"Just hard enough." He spoke the words before he could govern himself and regretted it in an instant. He'd been flirting with her, something he'd not done with a woman in years.

He broke the moment with a curt bow and walked away, lest his errant cock take further notice of the feisty young lady.

He found his hosts and made his excuses. He needed to get away from this place and off to the place he felt most at home. He had energy to work off this night, and he hoped Haynes wasn't otherwise engaged.

Half an hour after he'd walked away from the lovely Lady Felicity, he gathered his cloak, walking stick, and hat from the butler, who already had sent a boy to summon the duke's carriage. The coachman pulled up as Phillip reached the bottom step.

"St. John's Wood."

The footman opened the crested door, and Phillip climbed into his beautifully appointed carriage. He took the seat facing the horses and tapped the roof with his walking stick, the universal signal to the driver to be on his way.
A squeak caught his attention as the carriage jolted. He jerked to attention, finding he was not alone. Though in shadow, the noise indicated his companion was a woman.

"State your business, whoever you are."

He received only a startled gasp.

Faint wisps of moonlight filtered in through the small windows, shining briefly upon the cloaked figure sitting in the corner of the opposite seat.

"I said, state your business."

Slowly, she raised her arms, and with delicate fingers removed the hood from her head. Phillip raised a brow. His visitor was none other than Lady Felicity Linden.

"I wish to speak to you, alone, Your Grace."

He lifted his walking stick to tap on the ceiling, but she grabbed it before he could do so. "Please don't."

"Does your mama know you are here?" His suspicious nature wouldn't put it past her mother to have placed her in a compromising position.

"No, of course not, Your Grace. I told Mama I was spending the night with a friend."

"Where does your friend think you are now?"

"Well, there is no friend. I mean, I made the story up."

"I see." He didn't like the way this conversation was trending.

"Please let me explain."

"I advise you do so quickly, so my driver may take you home."

"I wish to go with you."

"With me? My good young woman, I fear that is quite impossible."

"I know where you are going, and I wish to accompany you. I wish to learn about the Sapphire Club."

"What could you possibly know about the Sapphire Club?"

"I know enough, and it is my fondest wish to learn more."

Taken aback by her declaration, he cleared his throat, before reaffirming his conviction. "I fear that is quite impossible." He again raised his walking stick, and she again deterred him.

"Please, Your Grace. I respect you, and I wish you to be my escort. I will go alone, if you insist, but I will go."

"I'll see to it you are not admitted. You are much too refined for such activities."

"Am I really?"

Phillip shuddered, hesitant to read too deeply into her meaning. "I daresay you are."

"There is much you don't know about me, Your Grace."

"There is much I have no interest in knowing, my lady, and there is much a young woman such as yourself shouldn't know. Believe me, the Sapphire Club is not a place for you."

"I know more about sexual affairs than you think I do."

Phillip coughed. That was the last thing he'd expected to hear.

She jumped over into the space next to him and began to slap him on the back. "Are you all right?"

He couldn't answer, but he gave her a stern look. Finally, the cough calmed, allowing him to catch his breath. She rubbed his back, sending frissons of something unwelcome straight to his cock.

"I am fine; now please, go back to the other seat." He attempted to shoo her away. "I will take you home."

"I don't want to go home."

"Please, Lady Felicity. I have business and wish to see you safely home. You are in a very precarious position."

"I would enjoy being in just about any position with you, Your Grace."

Phillip looked at her, incredulity coursing through him. "You have no idea of what you speak. You are too young to be thinking about such things."

"I am of a marriageable age, and as I said, I know more about the matters of the marriage bed than you or anyone else might suspect."

Bent on putting an end to this ridiculous conversation, he decided to be blunt. "Is that so? Well then, tell me all about it."

Lady Felicity swallowed, perceptibly hard from what he could see. He suspected she was blushing also, though the moonlight was too dim to determine that with any certainty.

Her voice cracked just a bit as she answered. "Well, I know the participants must remove their clothing."

"Have you ever removed your clothing for a man, my lady?"

"I should say not."

"Well then, how do you know such things?"

"I have watched."

"You've watched? What does that mean? You've watched your parents?"

"Oh my God, no! That remark, sir, is the product of a very dirty mind."

"Now, you have the right of that, little lady. You have no idea just how dirty my mind really is, and I have no intention of allowing you to ever find out."

"I would certainly like to learn all about you."

"I daresay, if you knew any more about me, you'd run in the other direction."

Her hand settled on his knee. He looked at her with what he knew was a blank stare.

"Please remove your hand." He spoke slowly, lest she miss his meaning.

Phillip felt the fabric of his trousers shift under her touch as her hand moved slowly toward his thigh.

"I don't believe I will, Your Grace. Are you absolutely sure you wish me to do so?"

Actually, he wasn't so sure anymore. But he was no despoiler of young women. "Yes, I am."

Her hand moved and so did his traitorous cock. He prayed she wouldn't slide her hand farther. With no idea as to how experienced she was, Phillip wondered how often she'd done this sort of thing. It had been some time indeed since he'd been alone with a woman outside of the Sapphire Club. Even with Evelina, his mistress, they'd always gone to the club, as they'd enjoyed the same activities. What could a girl of nineteen know of the reaction she was causing?

"You are playing with fire, miss, the kind that burns severely."

"Are you hot, Your Grace?" Her hand moved again.

He ignored the seductive tone, trying to concentrate on the feeling she was evoking. All thoughts of Haynes left him, and he began to wonder what her breasts looked like. He salivated at the thought but remained still, knowing if he raised a hand, let alone touched her, his resolve would be lost.

"What is it you want, my lady?"

"What are you willing to give me?" The heat of her hand continued to sear a steady path upward.

"Nothing." He knew he'd go to hell for lying, but then again there were grounds to commit him to purgatory just for the thoughts he entertained at the moment.

"Oh, I don't think that is quite true."

One more inch and his secret would be told, or could she tell already? His skin prickled with the want of laying her across the seat, the skirts of her expensive ball gown lifted, and him ravaging her within an inch of her life. His palms itched to bare her bottom and spank her until she screamed for mercy. Then a humorous thought crossed his mind—she'd probably enjoy either one of those actions. He would too, way too much.

As they rumbled through the London night, the sway of the carriage lulled Phillip into a frame of mind that bordered on the dangerous. Felicity had stilled her hand, but he was under no illusion that she'd stopped her progression. In fact, he was almost sure he didn't want her to stop. If she didn't though, indeed he would ravish her and send her back to her parents ruined, at her own request.

He could frighten her by proceeding to remove her clothing, just to gauge her reaction. However, common sense told him she would encourage him to do just that. Instead, he placed his hand on hers, stilling her further movement.
"I must insist you go back to where you came from, my lady."

"No, I don't think I will." Her brass was amazing.

"I must insist."

"All right, but do one thing for me before I do."

"What?"

"Kiss me."