Rose in Bloom (2 page)

“Oh, Rose,” he whispered. “Rose, Rose. You’re so beautiful.”

He nibbled down below her neck to the sensitive skin above her breasts. Rose buried her hands in his hair, pulled out the queue that bound it, and laced her fingers through the thick black locks. Cameron kissed the tops of her breasts, tracing his tongue around the neckline of her gown. She moaned as he forced his tongue between her breasts, down into her cleavage, retreated, and did it again.

“Goodness,” she said. “We shouldn’t….”

“I know.” He moved his lips upward. Gently he eased the sleeve of her gown down and kissed her shoulder, his hands cupping her breasts.

Even through her corset, Rose felt her nipples tighten. She gasped.

Cameron tore his mouth away from her arm. “Are you all right, sweetheart?”

The endearment surprised her, and her pulse quickened. “Yes, yes, I’m fine. I just feel so…” She panted, trying to catch her breath. “We really should stop.”

“Do you want to stop?” he asked, running his finger up and down her bare arm ever so lightly, giving her the chills.

“No…I mean, yes…”

But his mouth was on hers once more, their tongues mating and swirling, feasting on each other.

His lips found her ear again. “Your kisses are magic, Rose,” he whispered.

“Yes,” she sighed. “Magic.”

“Do you want me, sweetheart?” Cameron’s voice was rough and smoky. “Do you want me to touch you?”

“Oh, yes,” Rose whispered, the ache in her womb nearly more than she could bear. “Touch me, Cameron. Please touch me.”

He pulled her into a shadow. Gently he lowered her to the ground, positioning her into the crook of his arm, and kissed her mouth again as his free hand fumbled with her bodice. He eased her gown down around her arms and loosened her corset, freeing her full breasts, which glowed incandescently in the moonlight.

“You’re more beautiful than I imagined,” he rasped, gently kneading them, brushing his fingers over her taut pink nipples.

She moaned his name softly.

“Do you want me to kiss you here?” he asked.

“Yes,” she pleaded. “Yes, please.”

He lowered his head and licked one pink circle, gently kissed it, and sucked the nipple into his mouth, tugging and then releasing it slowly, and tugging again. Rose closed her eyes and arched her body toward him, reaching for something elusive that she couldn’t imagine, but that she wanted more than anything.

“Please, Cameron.”

He sucked her nipple harder, and then moved to her other breast and licked her, kissed her, his breath coming in rapid pants against her flesh. With one hand he reached under her dress and tugged at the ribbons of her drawers.

“Sweetheart,” he said, “you need to stop me now.”

“What?” she rasped.

“If you don’t stop me now, I’m going to take you.”

Take her? Make love to her? Her skin was tight around her body, and her only thought was how she wanted him. “Yes, take me. Please, Cameron.”

“Dear God,” he said, exploring her flesh with his fingers. “You’re dripping wet.” He rubbed against her slick folds and then brought his hand it to her mouth. “Taste.” He traced her lips.

She darted her tongue out and licked the musky sweetness from his fingertips.

“Your ambrosia,” he said. “You made it for me.”

He glided his fingers under her skirts again, finding her sex and touching her wetness. He brought them to his own mouth this time. “Sweet,” he said. “So sweet.”

Rose thrashed against him, arching her hips wildly.

“Do you want me to touch you again?”

“Yes, yes, again.”

He complied, reaching under her skirts, finding her swollen nub, and teasing it with his fingers.“Does this make you feel good?” he whispered.

“God, yes, Cameron. Yes,” she sobbed, grabbing his hand and rubbing it harder against her.

She moaned, writhing beneath him, running toward something—she didn’t know what—until her insides exploded in a wave of pleasure that sent stars into her body, crashing her into a wall of joyful euphoria. When her shuddering finally slowed, Cameron released her

He lowered his head to hers, kissed her mouth lightly, and whispered, “Does Xavier make you feel like that?”

“No,” she said, breathing heavily, seeking his mouth with hers.

“Who makes you feel like that, Rose?” he asked, his breath tickling her neck.

“You, Cameron.”

“Who do you want to take you? Who, Rose?”

“You, only you.” And she meant it. She wanted him inside her. Now.

Cameron brushed his hand down her arm, making her shiver, taking her hand and leading it to his groin. “Do you feel that?” He moved her palm over his arousal. “That’s for you, sweetheart. Only for you.”

Rose explored the hardness through the silky fabric of his trousers. “Cameron,” she whispered. “My goodness.”

“I ache for you, Rose.” He groaned. “Only you can ease my suffering.”

“I want to. I want to, Cameron.”

“Are you sure, sweet?”

“Yes, yes. Take me now.”

“Do you…understand what will happen?” He panted in her ear. “Do you?”

“Of course. And what I didn’t know my sister told me. I just didn’t expect you to be quite so…engorged.”

Cameron laughed softly. “Perhaps I’m better endowed than the duke.”

“What?”

“Never mind, my darling. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes, yes, please. I want it more than anything.” Rose sat up and tugged at Cameron’s black formal coat. “I want to touch you.”

* * * *

Rose’s face was flushed in the moonlight, her eyes shimmering with passion and promise as she looked at him, her shoulders creamy white as a new-fallen snow, and her bare breasts hanging gently, their tips rosy and puckered. God, she was lovely, and Cameron wanted her, hungered for her. She was his for the taking. He could have her once and remember this night forever.

“Damn it,” he said gruffly.

He couldn’t do it. She was a virgin, a lady of the peerage, the daughter of an earl, for God’s sake. Cameron removed her hands from his coat. “Rose, we’re going to stop now.”

“No, no.” She pulled at his hands, trying to release her arms. “I want to, Cameron.”

“Sweetheart, I need to leave you while I still have a shred of sanity left.” He pulled her to her feet. “You’ll regret it if I take you this way, outside, in the grass. You deserve to be loved in the comfort of a bed. Your first time shouldn’t be like this.”

“No,” Rose said. “If…If this is all we’ll ever have, I want it now. Please.”

“You deserve more. You deserve better. Better than…”

“What?” she asked, toying with his cravat. “Better than what, Cameron?”

He looked down at the grass, at his feed shod in shiny leather boots. His formal wear had cost more than he normally paid for clothing in a year, yet he had used a portion of the money he had earned from the duke’s waltz, money that could have helped his family. The duke had requested his presence at the wedding ball as composer of the piece, and Cameron had bought the garments so he wouldn’t look like a mere peasant. He had bought them for Rose. To impress her. He knew he was attractive to women. He knew he looked elegant in his black courtly clothes. He knew she would notice him, and she had. But he was still a tenant on the duke’s land. The expensive suit didn’t change that. He was nothing.

“Better than
me
, Rose,” he said quietly.

Rose reached up and touched his cheek. “You’re the one I want. The one I’ve always wanted. Perhaps we can’t be together for the long term, but—”

“Then what is the point of this?” he asked gently. “I’ll ruin you.”

“I don’t care.” She reached for his arousal through his trousers. “You still want me.”

“God, yes.”

“Then take me, Cameron. I’m yours tonight.”

God forgive him his weakness. He pulled her to him and kissed her passionately, easing her down to the grass once again. He reached under her skirts and stroked her. She was still wet for him. He hastily unbuttoned his trousers, freeing his aching erection, and moved on top of her.

“It may hurt a bit,” he said. “I’ll try to be gentle.”

“Yes, I know. It will be all right.”

He nudged the head of his cock through the slit in her drawers, rubbing it against her juices. “Oh God,” he groaned. “Oh God, Rose.” He teased her entrance, braced himself to begin his descent.

“No!” Rose pushed against his shoulder, her eyes suddenly icy and full of terror. “No! I changed my mind. I can’t, I can’t!”

He moved away from her quickly, the unsated hunger almost unbearable. “Damn you,” he said between clenched teeth. “I gave you two chances to stop me, you little cocktease. Damn you!”

Rose began to weep quietly, hurriedly tucking her breasts back into her bodice. She stood. “Please forgive me,” she said, her gaze cast downward. She ran away, sobbing.

“Damn it,” Cameron said under his breath, and then, loudly, his voice strained with remorse, “I’m sorry, Rose. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean it! Come back, sweetheart. Please!” He would hold her and comfort her, tell her it was all right, that he would wait for her.

But Rose ignored him and ran toward the mansion, disappearing into the vacant ballroom.

Cameron buttoned his trousers, his arousal still burning. “Fuck you, you stupid idiot. How could you believe she actually wanted you?”

He walked away from the house. He couldn’t go in and join the party for dinner. If he missed out on a chance for another commission, so be it. He couldn’t see Rose again. Never again. It was over. Hell, it hadn’t even begun.

It never could.

He trudged home to his cottage on the Lybrook land. The sun was edging over the horizon when he finally fell into his bed, exhausted, his feet blistering from the long walk in his new boots.

Chapter Two

Rose entered the ballroom from the back terrace. Several servants were cleaning up, but they paid her no heed, thank goodness. She hurried to the back stairwell and made her way to her bedchamber on the second floor of the east wing. She longed to fling herself on her bed and cry herself to sleep, but she couldn’t miss the midnight meal. Her parents would never forgive her. She wished for a moment that she were Lily, who wouldn’t think twice about defying convention and doing what she wished. But she wasn’t Lily. She was Rose, and Rose always did what was expected of her. Lily would have slept with Cameron tonight, on the grass, if that was what she had desired. Rose, however, knew her place.

She strode into her dressing room and sat down in front of the looking glass. Her eyes were puffy, her cheeks streaked with tears, her lips dark and swollen from Cameron’s kisses. Cameron’s kisses, so different from Evan’s. Evan’s kisses were gentle and sweet, and Rose enjoyed them. But Cameron’s… She had never imagined… Kisses that took as well as gave, kisses that made her womb ache, that changed the very composition of her soul. She went to the basin, splashed cold water on her face, and returned to the mirror. She pinched her cheeks until they had regained their peachy rosiness and began to work on her hair. When she was satisfied that she was presentable, she rang for maid to tighten her corset. She moved to the full-length looking glass and smoothed her gown as best she could, tucking in her swollen breasts.

As she walked down the hallway toward the stairwell, she hesitated for a moment, tempted to go up instead of down and find Lily. But her sister was no doubt in bed, making love to her new husband. She would never forgive Rose for disturbing her wedding night.

Lily and Daniel were leaving early the next day for London to begin their wedding trip. Rose would rise early tomorrow, no matter how exhausted she was, and catch Lily before she left. In the meantime, she had no choice but to venture downstairs and partake of the midnight meal. She was already unfashionably tardy.

Lord Evan Xavier stood when Rose entered the dining room. “Where have you been?” he asked. “Your mother has been concerned.”

“Please forgive me, my lord,” she said. “I was feeling a bit poorly so I went to my chamber to rest for a bit. I didn’t mean to cause anyone needless worry.”

Evan furrowed his brow. “Are you better now?”

“Yes, thank you. I hope I haven’t missed too much.”

“Only the appetizers. The soup is being served now.” He led her to her table with the rest of the wedding party. The chairs for the duke and duchess were conspicuously vacant. “I see Lybrook and your sister decided to forego the feast,” Evan said, chuckling. “Not that I blame the bloke.”

Rose’s cheeks warmed. “I’m sure they didn’t mean to be disrespectful.”

“Who said anything about disrespect? Here you are.” He held out her chair and sat down next to her. Her brother, Thomas, was on her other side, and her cousin Alexandra next to him.

“Where have you been, dear?” Alexandra asked.

“Just resting a bit. I was feeling poorly, but I’m much better now.” Rose took a taste of the winter squash soup set before her. “This is delicious.”

“Yes, it’s divine,” Alexandra said. “Guess what? The most wonderful thing has happened!”

“What?” Rose asked.

“Well,” Alexandra said, “you know that Mama and Miss Landon have renewed their childhood friendship during the past several weeks.”

“Yes, of course,” Rose said. Lucinda Landon, sister to the dowager duchess, and Rose’s Aunt Iris had been best friends as girls.

“They’ve so enjoyed each other’s company,” Alexandra continued, “so Miss Landon and the dowager duchess have invited Mama and Sophie and me to stay here at Laurel Ridge for the summer! Isn’t that amazing?”

“It sounds lovely,” Rose said.

“Just wait. The best part is that they’ve asked that you join us! Mama will be here to keep an eye on you, and then we’ll all be here to welcome Lily and the duke home when they return from France. Mama has already spoken to Auntie Flora and she says you may stay if you wish. What do you think, dear?”

“Oh, goodness.” Stay here? And possibly see Cameron? She couldn’t….

“That way you can continue to…you know.” Alexandra winked and nodded toward Evan.

Evan’s estate was only a few hours away by carriage. If Rose returned to the Ashford estate in Hampshire, continuing Evan’s courtship would be difficult at best. No doubt her mother, Flora, the Countess of Ashford, was in favor of keeping the relationship going.

“If the two of you are going to continue to talk over me,” Thomas interjected jovially, “perhaps we should exchange seats?”

“Yes, Thomas, that’s a marvelous idea,” Alexandra said, rising. “Here you go.”

Thomas held out his chair for Alexandra and then took her vacant seat.

“But what of the season?” Rose asked. “We were all to be presented for the first time this year.”

“Yes, yes, I know,” Alexandra said, “but we’re all young yet. We can wait until next season. Sophie and I have discussed it at length and have decided we’d like to stay at Laurel Ridge.”

Rose didn’t doubt it. Her cousins, Sophie and Alexandra, had both met men they fancied at the Lybrook house party. Alexandra had been keeping company with Mr. Nathan Landon, the duke’s second cousin, and Sophie had caught the eye of Lord Marshall Van Arden, heir to an earldom and a very amiable fellow, if not the most handsome one. They were both having a wonderful time, and Rose was happy for them. They hadn’t had easy lives. Their mother was Lady Ashford’s older sister, Iris, the Countess of Longarry. She hadn’t received an offer of marriage on her own, so her parents had married her to a brutal Scottish earl when she was twenty-five years old. He had mistreated her and the girls, and had died two years earlier, his reckless spending leaving them penniless. The Earl and Countess of Ashford had taken care of them since then, setting them up in a townhouse in Mayfair and bestowing dowries upon the girls.

“I’ll think on it,” Rose said.

“Oh, you must stay,” Alexandra urged. “We’ll have the most fun. Miss Landon, who has asked that we call her Auntie Lucy, by the way, and the duchess—er, the dowager duchess—wants us to call her Auntie Maggie. Isn’t that a hoot? Anyway, what was I saying? Oh yes. Auntie Lucy says there is the most wonderful Midsummer festival in that lovely little village outside of Bath. Won’t that be fun?”

“Yes, I suppose so,” Rose replied. They had all enjoyed the May Day festival several weeks before. It was unlike anything Rose had ever experienced, as her father, Crispin, the ninth Earl of Ashford, was a devout Christian and frowned on anything with pagan origins. The earl and Thomas had returned to Hampshire to conduct estate business before the wedding, but the countess and Rose and Lily, along with Aunt Iris and the cousins, had stayed at Laurel Ridge, and the duke had escorted all of them to the May Day Festival. It had been a merry day, and Rose smiled slightly. Cameron had won the archery contest, besting even the duke himself, who came in second.

Cameron. If she stayed at Laurel Ridge, she would no doubt see Cameron. Just the thought of it made her heart skip a beat, even though he must be terribly angry with her at the moment. She wanted to see him more than anyone, but they had no future. They both knew that. And if she stayed, Evan would still court her. She cared for him, but he didn’t evoke the passion in her that Cameron did. Perhaps leaving would be best. She would leave both Cameron and Evan, and hope that she could find someone else in Hampshire or during the London season.

But no need to upset Ally right now. Rose would tell her tomorrow that she was returning to the Ashford estate.

She would also tell Evan.

* * * *

A young housemaid rapped on Rose’s door at six in the morning. Rose was exhausted, having not gone to bed until after two, but she had asked to be wakened early so not to miss Lily before she left. She rose from her bed and went to the door.

“It’s six, milady,” the maid said.

“Yes, thank you. Do you know if the duke and duchess have left the estate yet?”

“No, not yet, milady. The staff was told they were coming down to breakfast at seven.”

“Perfect,” Rose said. “Could you ready a bath for me please?”

“Yes, milady.”

Rose bathed quickly, dressed in a morning gown, and descended. The house was silent. No one would be about yet this early. Lily and the duke sat in the informal dining room, smiling at each other. Lily was radiant in a light brown traveling outfit, her dark hair plaited and piled on her head. She looked up to see her sister enter the room.

“Rose, dear, what on earth are you doing out of bed this early?”

“Good morning, Lily, Your Grace.” Rose nodded to her new brother-in-law.

“Please, no more of this Your Grace,” Lily said. “She may call you Daniel, right?”

“Of course,” the duke replied. “I get a little tired of all the formality anyway. We’re all family, now.”

“Yes, of course…Daniel. Th-Thank you,” Rose stammered. “Lily, I’m so sorry to interrupt your breakfast, but I need to talk to you. It’s…urgent.”

“Goodness, is anything wrong?” Lily asked.

“No, not exactly. But I desperately need a half hour of your time. When are you leaving?”

Lily gestured to her husband, who replied, “In about an hour. Our baggage is being loaded into the carriage now.”

“Since I’m all packed, I’m yours,” Lily said. “Do join us, will you?”

“No, I couldn’t. I’ll wait for you in the ladies’ sitting room. I need to speak to you in private.”

“Lily,” Daniel said, “I need to see to some…arrangements for our trip. Why don’t the two of you breakfast together in here while I take care of matters.”

“No, I couldn’t possibly—” Rose began.

“Nonsense,” Lily said. “That is a spectacular idea, Daniel, and you’re a darling for thinking of it.” She gave him a loving smile as he strode from the room.

“Is there anything he wouldn’t do for you?” Rose asked.

“If there is, it hasn’t come up yet. He’s a gem, isn’t he?”

“Yes, you’re very lucky.”

“I know exactly how lucky I am, dear. Now what is troubling you?”

Where to begin? Rose took a deep breath. “Oh, Lily, I don’t know what to do!”

“About what, Rose?”

“I…I did something very foolish last night. Something I can’t take back. I…I don’t want to take it back, but I… I nearly slept with…with…”

“Evan?” Lily asked.

“No,” Rose said. “If only… Not Evan. Cameron Price.”

“Mr. Price? Oh, Rose.”

“I know. He’s completely unacceptable. He’s a commoner, a tenant, for goodness’ sake. But Lily, I…I’m attracted to him.”

“Yes, I know you are.”

Rose rubbed her forehead. “Oh, you can’t imagine how hard it was. While he was writing your waltz, he and I had to work together so I would have it ready to perform for the wedding. We spent hours together, working at the grand piano in the conservatory. It was wonderful…and terrible. And of course I couldn’t talk to you about it because the waltz was a surprise, and I didn’t dare talk to anyone else either, for fear they might divulge it. He’s brilliant, Lily. His music is so poignant and touching. It made me want to weep sometimes. It’s that beautiful.”

“Yes, the waltz was lovely. He’s quite a talent.”

“He’s amazing,” Rose said dreamily.

“What about Evan? Do you still care for him?”

“Yes, I’ve always cared for him. He’s a kind man, and he’s been a perfect gentleman but for a few stolen kisses, which I gave permission for. We get on well, and I enjoy our time together. But with Cameron…that is…Mr. Price…oh, I don’t know how to explain it.”

“You don’t have to explain it to me. I know what that kind of attraction feels like.”

“I know you do, but it was different with you and Daniel.”

“How so?”

“Lily, he’s a duke! A perfect match for a daughter of the Earl of Ashford. But Cameron is… Well, he’s nothing.” An invisible thud hit Rose’s gut. “God, I didn’t mean that. He’s not nothing. He’s…
everything
, actually.”

“Tell me what happened last night,” Lily urged.

Rose’s pulse fluttered at her neck. “I went to the terrace for some fresh air, and he was out there, alone in the dark. He had been drinking, but he seemed sincere. He was upset that Evan had monopolized me, and he asked me to dance with him on the lawn.”

Lily smiled. “That sounds heavenly.”

“It was.” Rose closed her eyes and inhaled the smoky scent of Lily’s morning tea. “I always thought he found me attractive, but he treated me with such scorn while we were working together. He made snide comments about my being above him, and the like.”

“No doubt he was fighting his attraction for you, hoping it would go away because he thought you and he had no future.”

“Perhaps. Yes, that would make sense. Anyway, we danced, and it was lovely. It felt so right to be in his arms, Lily. Do you know what I mean?”

“Yes.” Lily winked. “I know.”

“Anyway, we stopped dancing after a while and simply swayed together, and then…he kissed me.”