The Bed and the Bachelor by The Bed, the Bachelor Read Free Book Online Page B

hoping to put her at ease, but her frown deepened.
    “As you wish, my lord,” she murmured.
    He tucked a hand into one pocket. “And the staff? How are you finding them?”
    “Very friendly and hardworking. Everyone is most agreeable.”
    “Even Mrs. Tremble?” he asked, wondering how his sometimes-irascible cook was taking to his choice of housekeeper.
    Her lips twitched, a good-humored light dancing in her golden gaze. “Especially Mrs. Tremble. She has been of great assistance, just as you said she would be.”
    “I am glad to hear it,” he replied.
    Silence descended, the darkness enfolding them in a way that made him suddenly aware of just how alone they were and exactly how advanced the hour.
    As if aware too, a pink flush warmed his new housekeeper’s cheeks, turning her skin to burnished cream, her eyes shining like twin coins as her mouth beckoned with the softness of rose petals.
    Drake stared, unable to look away as he leaned imperceptibly closer.
    When he’d arrived home, he’d been sleepy, but now he was wide-awake again.
    When he’d stepped out of the coach, his only thought had been to climb into bed and slip into the world of dreams.
    But suddenly what he really wished he could slip into was her.
    To his complete consternation, he grew abruptly aroused, his body ready and randy again in spite of the satisfying hours he’d spent in Vanessa’s bed. Tonight’s visit to his mistress was supposed to have rid him of this inexplicable desire he felt for Anne Greenway. It was supposed to have calmed all his lustful needs and put him once again in control, so they would be master and servant and nothing more.
    Instead, here he stood, wanting her again with a longing that made him ache, that left him wishing he could set aside the candle she held and sweep her into his arms. Kissing her all the while, he would carry her upstairs to his bed, then proceed to pleasure them both for what remained of the night.
    Force of will alone kept him from reaching for her, his hands flexing in frustration at his sides. Abruptly, he took a step away. “It’s late,” he stated in a hard tone, “and we both need our rest. I shall bid you good night.”
    She stared before giving a nod, exhaling a soft breath that nearly made him change his mind. “G-Good night, my lord,” she said. “Rest well.”
    Hah! he thought. I doubt I’ll rest at all.
    But he would try, just as he would strive to conquer this unwanted desire he felt for a woman he barely knew and dare not let himself have.
    For some men it would have been easy. She was only a servant, after all. She lived in his house and was under his authority, which for many equated to the right to do with her as he liked. But to him, such behavior was unacceptable. Only a brute took advantage of his employees—particularly sexual advantage. And so he would find the means to end this longing, to snuff out his craving with the finality of extinguishing a candle flame.
    With a nod he hoped wasn’t too curt, he resumed his original course to the stairs, forcing himself not to look back as he ascended the steps to his bedchamber.
    S ebastianne laid a hand against her breasts and blew out a pent-up breath, relieved that the encounter was over. For an instant at the very start, she’d thought she was caught, worried he knew precisely what she’d been doing in the darkened hallway. Thank heavens she hadn’t had time to actually go into his workroom and start searching, or there wouldn’t have been any doubt. Only imagine if he’d found her rifling through his belongings on her very first night in residence! She’d been lucky, she realized, and would need to take special care in the future so that she wasn’t seen doing anything of an unusual or suspicious nature.
    With a sigh, she decided she ought to follow Lord Drake’s example and continue upstairs to bed. Unfortunately, she wasn’t the least bit tired anymore. The shock of happening upon him had sent an electric