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Mrs Florence pinched her nose shut and took a sip of bitter retteda lace handkerchief to dab at the corners of her mouth
“If you could ain—”
“No,” Mrs Florence interrupted gently but firmly “Once the decision is made, it won't do to look back Proceed in the direction you've chosen, whatever it may be, and tell yourself it's all for the best”
Julia threw her a pleading glance “If only you would advise me, as you've done so often before—”
“I'll dispense all the advice about acting you could ever require, but not about your personal life I can't make such a decision for you And I don't care to think about what I ed”
Juliajust how much she had hoped that Mrs Florence would tell her what to do “There's only one thing I'lumly “It will be safer to follow my head rather than my heart”
“Indeed” The older woarded her with a mixture of amusement and sympathy “At all costs we must be safe, mustn't we?”
William strode into the parlor of his St James terrace apartment, where his butler had just shown Lady Ashton It was no surprise that Pauline had co Immediately upon Willia the appropriate social circles that he would be staying at his town residence for a while In addition, he had hinted broadly that he was at a loss for sorely needed female companionship Like a fly to honey, Pauline had wasted no ti on him
Pauline was standing at the , expertly displaying her spectacular silhouette In a practiced move, she turned to face hily beautiful in a burgundy velvet dress that blended in rich harmony with the masculine colors of the roo an inch or two more of her smooth white brsts than was tasteful The effect was sti, to say the least
“Lady Ashton…what a surprise,” Willia the room to her outstretched hands
“Lord Williaers around his “I had to see you right away I hope you don't ht”
He looked into her face with a show of concern “But why, Lady Ashton?”
All of a sudden there was a glimmer of moisture in her dark eyes “You h for that”
“Pauline,” he repeated obediently “Won't you sit down?”
Reluctantly she released his hands and went to the sofa, spreading her skirts across the slick damask
“A drink?” William offered At her nod, he went to pour each of them some wine, and sat on the other end of the sofa Pauline held the wine glass in her long fingers, toying with the shape of it, delicately tracing the stem and the rim
“I hope I haven't interrupted your plans for the evening,” she said, staring at him intently
“Nothing to interrupt,” he assured her
“You look lonely, poor boy” Her voice softened to a throaty whisper “I happen to be lonely as well” Her sleek head ca him to shift uncomfortably
“Lady Ashton…Pauline…please don't think I'm unsympathetic, but to someone with a suspiciousI owe my brother a certain amount of loyalty—”
“Your brother is the reason I' the fabric of Willia her cheek on his shoulder “I can't bear to talk of what is owed to hi is owed to s, except you You wouldn't be so heartless as to turn me aould you?”
William squirmed uncomfortably “I can't interfere in the relationship between you and Damon—”
“I don't want you to interfere,” she said, her hand beginning a slow stroking of his chest “All I want is a friend Is that too much to ask of you, William? Your brother hasn't been very kind to ine what it is like to be a woman in my position? I need some companionship”
“Surely you can get that from someone other than me”
“No one is able to offer me what you can, William”
“But my brother—”
“Daone for now He doesn't care what I do in his absence, as along as I'm available when he wants me And he's made no claim on me…you know that Co with two friends spending time with each other in private”
Before he could reply, she leaned over him and crushed her red lips on his Her srily over his body, while her exotic scent surrounded him in an invisible cloud
“Pauline,” he yelped, flinching as she sought between his thighs with tightly grasping fingers
“It's all right,” sheher body over his “We won't tell anyone Haven't you wondered what it would be like withyou could iine Don't worry about your brother You must be jealous of him—anyone in your position would be He's the firstborn, he has all the money and influence You deserve a taste of what he's had…and I'ressively she pulled his hand to her breast “Yes, touch me,” she purred “Touch me everywhere…take me to your bedroom…oh, William…”
As she twisted herself around him, a shadow crossed Pauline's face, and her heavy lashes lifted a fraction Suddenly her eyes flew open, and she turned white with astonish before them His eyes were cold, his expression as hard as marble
The ht with tension until Pauline shoved William away in a decisive motion She jerked at her bodice in a futile effort to cover her aaze returned to Damon's, and her voice tre Itto take advantage of me”
A cynical s, Pauline”
William leaped fro for all the world like an outraged virgin “I ondering how da Damon a dark frown
“You planned this?” Pauline asked in building fury, looking from one to the other “The two of you conspired to trick me?” She confronted Damon with her fists clenched A wrathful flush covered her face “You have no decency! I will not be manipulated or deceived, you bastard!”
Suddenly Dahter “You won't be manipulated?”
“That's right You owe ether, for the use of my body and the way you misled me—”
“I paid for the use of your body, overpriced as it was,” Da in his eyes “As for your being misled…you'll have to explain, since it's not precisely clear to me”
“You let me believe that you would take responsibility for this baby!”
“There is no baby, though not for your lack of trying”