The Demure Debutante - a Regency Novella by Caylen McQueen Read Free Book Online

Her assailant pulled her backward and trailed kisses across her neck. “You're certainly feeling your oats today!”
    When she felt his lips suckling her neck, she should have known better. “I'm not Edward.”
    Willow whirled around. As soon as she saw her former lover's face, she shoved him as hard as she could. “Brittley! What on earth do you think you're doing?!”
    “Kissing you.” As he closed the gap between them, Brittley caressed her cheek with an index finger. “Haven't you missed me?”
    She gently pushed his hand away from her face. “No. How did you get in here!? Considering our history, I highly doubt the servants of Sanborne Hall would let you in.”
    “I got in the same way I always got in,” Brittley said with a grin, “through your bedroom window.”
    “You can't do that!”
    “And why not?” Brittley shoved her against the wall and placed an arm on either side of her body, boxing her in.
    “And you can't do this !” She tried to push him away, but he wouldn't budge. “I'm getting married next week!”
    Brittley's brow furrowed. “Really? So soon? Are you really sure that's wise, my dear Willow? I've seen your fiance, and he's nothing special. You'll soon tire of the boy.”
    “No, I won't!”
    “You will,” Brittley insisted. “You'll miss having a lover like me.”
    Willow opened her mouth to protest, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Brittley Christian was an amazing lover, she had to give him that. When they were together, he did such amazing things to her, he had her seeing stars. He was a better lover than Philip, and certainly better than an untrained lover like Edward could possibly be. For a few seconds, Willow's gaze drifted to his hair. Wavy and blonde, it begged to have her fingers in it.
    Then she snapped back to her senses.
    “I love Edward!” she exclaimed.
    “Please,” Brittley scoffed. “Love doesn't exist. And even if it does exist, it doesn't last longer than a year or two.”
    Willow held up her chin with pride. “Obviously, you've never been in love!”
    “And you have?!” He laughed at her. “With the boy?”
    “With Edward ,” she corrected him, because she wasn't comfortable with calling Edward a boy , even though he looked quite youthful. “And yes. I'm in love with him!”
    “You need a man , Willow.” As he purred into her ear, Brittley cupped her cheek in the palm of his hand. “You need me .”
    “What I need...” Willow ducked under his arm, freeing herself, “is for you to leave me alone!” She could only imagine how mortified she would be if Edward caught her cavorting with Brittley—even if it wasn't her fault.
    “He'll never satisfy you like I could.”
    “Be that as it may... I am in love with him.” Willow started heading down the hall, away from Brittley, but not before flashing him the most heated glare she could muster. “And you, Brittley Christian, are a thing of the past!”
    “Very well.” As Brittley watched her go, he indifferently hitched a shoulder. “I'll just find something else with which to amuse myself.”

    * * *

    As Arthur pushed her mother's Bath chair through the garden, Emilia was quietly impressed with how thoughtful he was. It was, after all, Arthur's idea to take her mother for a stroll. Her mother rarely went outside, but it wasn't as if she didn't enjoy the fresh air. It was Augusta's mobile ineptitude that prevented her from enjoying herself.
    Emilia trailed a few paces behind Arthur and Augusta. She tried to resist the urge to stare at his perfect posterior, but she caught her eyes wandering a few times. And who could possibly blame her? His snug breeches and muscular legs would have been a temptation for anyone, even a chaste young lady such as herself.
    All of a sudden, Emilia was tackled by a tremendous gust of wind, which threw her off balance and nearly swept her off her feet. While she did not fall, her straw hat was not so fortunate. The wind whisked her hat from her head and carried