A Duke for Lady Ellen

Chapter 22

Ellen stood with her back pressed to Aunt Lottie's door and both hands pressed to her bosom. Granted, she already comprehended some idea of the mechanics of animal husbandry growing up in Bright Vales, but this... was something else entirely. The things her aunt had told her! The things people could do with their mouths! And other body parts! With honey! And vegetables! And hands! Ellen had new respect for Aunt Lottie-true, Ellen was scandalized and probably didn't need to know quite everything her aunt told her. (She still did not fully understand the purpose of ben wa balls, for instance.) But she certainly understood more about the right for a woman to demand pleasure and not just be a receptacle for men's. There was more to the act than just the act itself, and if a man did not fully arouse and worship her body before taking his own pleasure, he was nothing but a selfish lout, and not to be borne. Ellen wondered if her family knew they had a seasoned courtesan among them. Wouldn't they be shocked!

After taking a moment to catch her breath-for indeed, she was still a bit overset-she walked down the hall and climbed the stairs to the third floor. There on the landing was Cousin James. He stood there like a coyote salivating over a hare, and she turned around and went back down the way she came. He followed her as she knocked on Aunt Lottie's door, but Aunt Lottie took laudanum to sleep, and did not answer. Perhaps her Papa was still in his study and could keep Cousin James away from her.

"Why so in a hurry, dear Cousin Ellen?" he sneered. "One might get the impression that you don't like me very much."

She kept walking. "One would be right."

He pulled her around to face him, pressing his body to hers, his hands sliding around her back and squeezing her derrière. She began fighting him off with her fists, but it only seemed to arouse him further. "Kitty likes to play."

"Let me go, James. Get your filthy hands off me." Ellen scanned both ways down the hallway, but no one was around. She knew if she screamed, people would come running, but she would be ruined sure as anything. The thought of being made to marry James to satisfy her honor made her ill.

He mashed his lips onto hers, thrusting his tongue into her mouth and making her gag. She bit his lip and he swore, but he did not let go, taking one hand and shoving his hand into her bodice, tearing her fichu, and bruising the soft skin of her breast. She slammed her foot into his instep and finally pivoted free. "You're despicable."

"You will come to my bed, Cousin, even if I have to restrain you and force you into it myself."

And then she ran.

Straight to her father's study. The lamps were on, and she breathed deeply when she stepped inside, thinking she was alone. She locked the door behind her, and started to weep. Twice James had got the better of her, but what could she do? Whom could she tell? She threw herself on the settee and let go.

But she wasn't alone.

The Earl had been nursing a glass of brandy in a chair by the window and heard someone crying. He went over to her, and kneeled down beside her, brushing her hair behind her ear. She flinched when he touched her, and Ethan backed away half a step.

"My God, what's happened, Ellen? Tell me!"

But she couldn't get it out, just cried with even more force. He could not help himself, and gathered her in his arms, whispering and cooing at her until her deep shuddering all but stopped.

"What's wrong, my love? You can tell me." Ethan pulled out a handkerchief and gave it to her. Ellen wiped her eyes and nose, and pressed her cheek to his shoulder.