Kate Pearce - Educating Elizabeth

He smiled down at her and then glanced at Angelique. "Do you want to tell her how wrong she is?"

Angelique spread her hands. "Gervase, we were barely adults when we became lovers. Maybe Elizabeth is in a better position to judge you now than I am. Perhaps you did not live up to her expectations."

The duke cursed under his breath. "Damnation, I would rather face a pack of screeching harpies than you two."

Angelique floated across to Elizabeth and linked their arms. "Come upstairs with me, Elizabeth, and let Gervase compose himself. I've something I think you might need."

Elizabeth stared with horrified fascination at the small pile of natural sponges and the dark bottle of vinegar as Angelique calmly explained how they could help prevent a pregnancy. She tried to listen when Angelique spoke knowledgeably about counting the days of her cycle and when it was most dangerous to make love. She watched and nodded as Angelique showed her how to attach a thin line of sewing thread to the sponge, soak it in the vinegar and then...

Elizabeth laid her hand over Angelique's. "Why are you telling me this? I've no intention of sleeping with Gervase again."

Angelique began to put the items into a small bag, her face serious. "This is a gift for you, not for Gervase. If you decide to move on to another protector you will still need to prevent a pregnancy." Angelique's fingers tightened on the bag. "Most men will not pay for the upkeep of their bastards. I've friends who have been left penniless and on the streets with a small child."

More than a little subdued by this information, Elizabeth accepted the soft leather pouch Angelique pressed into her hands.

"Elizabeth, I don't think Gervase will let you go easily. He is a very possessive man." Elizabeth tried to interrupt as Angelique pulled her from the bed and crossed to the door, a mischievous smile on her face. "I'll wager that not even you will find it possible to escape him." She winked at Elizabeth as they descended the stairs. "And why would you want to leave him? Even at nineteen he was truly an exceptional lover."

The duke awaited them at the bottom of the stairs and his dry voice floated up to them. "Thank you for the belated compliment, Angelique. I hope Elizabeth will take heed of your recommendation."

Elizabeth ignored the duke's looming presence in the small cluttered hallway and turned to give Angelique a hug. "Thank you for your guidance. I will be sure to remember it."

The duke didn't speak until they were well on their way back to Delamere House. He threaded his phaeton neatly through a crowded cattle market that had spilled over onto the surrounding streets and then turned to glance at her averted profile. "What did Angelique give you, my dear?"

Elizabeth clutched her reticule closely to her chest and glared at him. "Nothing that need concern you, Your Grace."

He gathered the reins into one gloved hand as the carriage slowed to climb a slight incline and she caught a glimpse of his amused smile. "I asked Angelique to advise you about avoiding pregnancy, my dear. It is scarcely a secret that I don't wish for any more children."

"Well that suits me nicely, Your Grace, for I don't intend to put myself in the way of getting any bastards from you in the near future." Elizabeth snapped.

They were nearly at the door of Delamere House and the duke slowed his horses with a quiet command. Before Elizabeth could react, he caught her hand in his and brought it to his lips.

"Tut, tut, Elizabeth, such language from a lady. You will give me palpitations." His grip tightened and he bit gently on the exposed skin at her wrist. "We will continue this discussion tonight in the privacy of your bed and maybe find other and more interesting ways to come to an agreement."

"No..." She wrenched her hand away, breathing hard and fumbled for the door of the phaeton. His eyes flashed a storm warning and he opened his mouth as though to command her to stay but stopped when a footman ran to her aid. She didn't wait for him to come around the carriage and hand her down, but ran for the safety of the house with all the speed she could muster.

After a restorative half an hour in her bedchamber, Elizabeth tiptoed down the stairs and made her way to Sir John's study. Sir John glanced up as she appeared and rose to his feet.

"I was a little harsh with you this morning, Mrs. Waterstone. I wish to beg your pardon." He cleared his throat noisily. "When I happened to glance at the code again this afternoon I realized it was not that simple after all."

Elizabeth gave him a perfunctory smile and unlocked her desk with the key that the duke had given her, which she wore around her neck. The scrap of parchment looked back at her, an intriguing mystery just waiting to be solved.

"How did you get into my desk to look at the code, Sir John? I thought that the duke and I were the only people who had a key."

Sir John produced his red notebook with a flourish and tapped it with his index finger. "You may recall, Mrs. Waterstone that I sometimes copy the more intriguing parts of the code into my little book to ponder at my leisure." He replaced the book in his pocket and favored her with a warm smile. "Don't fear for the book's safety, ma'am. I carry it on my person at all times."

Elizabeth nodded, already dismissing him from her mind as the code beckoned. She soon forgot about her dinner and her impending confrontation with the duke and was only roused from her intense concentration by the booming of the hall clock striking twelve midnight. She sat back in her chair and stretched her shoulders. The inked script started to lift from the parchment and twirl and dance in front of her eyes.

There was no sign of any of the duke's household as she lit a single candle and made her way up to bed. Her slippered feet scarcely made a sound on the thickly carpeted passageways. She opened her door and came to an abrupt halt. Gervase sat with his back to her by the fireside, long legs stretched out toward the dying embers.

Elizabeth drew in a determined breath and walked around the back of the chair, hands on hips, to confront her unwelcome visitor. Her gaze softened as she saw he was asleep, his lax fingers wrapped around a book, his cravat loosened at his throat. She leaned forward and carefully removed his spectacles from his nose. He looked as tired as she felt and she had no intention of disturbing his rest.

She blew him a kiss and whispered, "Good night, Your Grace," before undressing and slipping into bed. Her last anxious thought, as sleep claimed her, was what she would do if the duke awoke before her. Too tired to worry about him, and strangely unperturbed by the thought of his closeness, she surrendered to the night.

"How dare you!"

As Elizabeth advanced toward the duke's desk, Nicholas got swiftly out of the way. Gervase leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms and stared up at her, his expression faintly inquiring.

"What is it, ma belle ?"

"You..." Elizabeth threw the soft, velvet pouch at his unprotected head. His hand shot out and he caught it before it hit him. Denied the pleasure of assaulting him, Elizabeth was reduced to stamping her foot. "How dare you leave that on my pillow!"

The duke raised an eyebrow and waved Nicholas away. "I don't understand why you are so upset, my dear." He glanced down at the pouch and tossed it between his hands, releasing the soft chink of the coins within. "It is customary for a man to pay his mistress when he is pleased with her."

Elizabeth snorted and sat down with an unladylike thump. "You already pay me a wage, Your Grace. I don't need this." She gestured with disgust at the pile of gold coins the duke tipped out of the purse.