Deceptive Lord (Lords of Bondage) Page 3

  “It’s a guitar. Do you like it?”

  She thought that it was strange that a Flourdan male could possess such wealth, as surely this guitar was worth a fortune. He was also clearly more educated than most Flourdan males, who usually got a second rate education at best. Evidently, the Countess Woodcock raised her sons much differently than her peers. “Yes. I liked the song as well, but it must be foreign. What is the language?”

  “I’m unsure. The song was taught to me, but I don’t know the meaning of the words.” Lord Woodcock listened as she speculated on the origins, and he seemed impressed that she knew about some of the more remote countries in the world.

  “Perhaps it’s Asstrumnian,” she said. “No one knows their language, but I’ve heard that they used to have the most well trained musicians in the world.”

  “Interesting theory, but I don’t think it’s Asstrumnian.”

  She sat down on the grass beside him and they debated the topic for a while, until she realized the noon hour had to be fast approaching. She knew their absence would be noted if they were not present for the noon meal. “We should be getting back. I completely monopolized your morning. I hadn’t meant to intrude on your solitude.”

  He smiled at her. “I don’t mind your intrusion at all.”

  She stood up and dusted off her clothing. “Most of the other lords guard their privacy rather zealously. You’re much easier to talk to, although we really are not supposed to be talking. Especially not when we are alone in the woods.”

  He stood and picked his guitar off the ground. “How often do you meet with a male in the woods?”

  “Not often. Not ever. Nefertiti would have my head for this, so you cannot mention it to her. She is such a tyrant.”

  He approached her with concentrated intent. “I’ll keep your secret – for a price.”

  She stilled as he came closer and stopped just inches in front of her. His gaze seemed to fall on her lips. Her heart pounded and her throat felt dry as she contemplated his price. “Alright.”

  “Tell me what you know about Lord Langley.”

  He was interested in Devereux Langley of all people? She had been certain that he was going to ask for a kiss. Now she felt stupid and she wondered if he was interested romantically in Dev. None of the males struck her as having such tendencies, but she was hardly an expert in male attraction. She shared what little she knew of the lord with the royal bloodline. He asked specific questions about Dev’s likes and dislikes, which made her wonder even more about his interests. “Why do you ask about Lord Langley?”

  “I am new here. I thought it would be easier to make friends if I had some inside knowledge.”

  She looked at him curiously. “You seemed to be friendly enough with them last night. I thought you were making friends rather easily, especially being new as you are to the harem.”

  “We all get along well enough. Lord Langley is the grandson of the Queen, so it seems like he would be a good friend to have in this place.”

  She hadn’t pegged him as a social climber, the type of male who would do anything to be associated with a female of high status. There was no one higher than the Queen herself. He aimed pretty high, especially for a family name that was largely unknown. If he was trying to capture a princess, he would be disappointed. She glanced at him again and she had to admit that a princess could very well overlook his obscure background to secure him to her bed. She would, if she was a princess. She looked at him again and rolled her eyes. It was disappointing actually, to have a stimulating conversation with a person only to realize later that he was one of those coin loving, gold digging males looking for a sugar mama. It was irritating and sometimes infuriating when one was a younger daughter, like herself, who was not wealthy or important enough to secure the attention of such a male. Perhaps that was how he had acquired those unique gifts of the wine and guitar. When he had offered her the wine, she had wondered how he had managed to acquire something so fine. Usually the lords had to depend on their noblewomen to supply all their needs and they weren’t often given much coin for making purchases. What mother would spoil a son with such lavish gifts? But a wealthy titled lover, that made more sense. He was a man whore; he had to be. She had liked him and had felt that spark of attraction, but that was the expected effect of being in the vicinity of a man whore. Such males were skilled in seduction and charm, and ladies such as herself knew to avoid them at all costs. “I think I understand you perfectly, Lord Woodcock. I did wonder how you wound up in this second rate harem in the first place, especially since you carry the trappings of wealth. You must strive for a better situation, do you not?”

  “What male would not wish for a better situation?”

  She didn’t bother to hide the disgust in her voice. “So right you are. It must make you so damn proud to be associated with a supremely powerful female, especially when that female is rich and titled. I am impressed by your ambition.”

  “Your sarcasm is rather telling. I sense some bitterness there.”

  “Now why would I have cause to feel bitter? Just because males only see females as being worthy when they are titled, rich, and politically dominant? I do not waste my time on them.”

  He looked at her in disbelief. “You obviously have no idea what males want from females.”

  She quickened her pace as anger fueled her energy level. “I assure you that I have an excellent idea of it.”

  He continued to look at her as if she had three heads. “You’re sadly ignorant.”

  She directed a heated look toward him. “You are so incredibly deficient of manners. You should lower your expectations, as I can guarantee you that you will never be chosen by a princess. At the rate you are going, you’ll do no better than Nefertiti. She is at least titled and rich, so she should make you quite happy.”

  He grabbed her arm and swung her around to face him. “Do you have a low opinion of all males or just me?”

  She was momentarily shocked that he had grabbed her. It was a blatant sign of disrespect and it just wasn’t done, not to a lady. She stared pointedly at his hand, which remained locked onto her arm. “Do you mistake me for a concubine?”

  His expression reflected his confusion. “No. Do you wish to be?”

  Wish to be his concubine? The male was trying to drive her crazy with his outrageous words and behavior. “What an absurd thing to say! You should be asking to be my concubine, not the other way around.”

  His eyes lit with interest. “What would it take to be your concubine?”

  She tried to free her arm from his grasp. “That is a ridiculous question. I cannot take any concubines, nor can I take a mate or any kind of male in any kind of way. Not without Nefertiti’s consent. The day that she will permit that is the day that hybrid aliens take to the skies.”

  “Soon then. You will not have to wait long before permission to mate is granted.”

  She was lost as to how they wound up on the subject of mating. “That was an expression, by the way. There are no winged aliens. Were you raised on an island of headhunters or something?” She shook her head in bewilderment. “Only Nefertiti gets to mate for pleasure. At some point, she will pair me with a male to further whatever agenda she has going at the time. The union will be political, something that would be of advantage to the countess. I will remain one of her lifetime dependents. I will never be in a position to afford a concubine. But you should know that already.”

  He tugged her closer. “If you are in need of a lover, it would not be difficult to find one.”

  She couldn’t believe his gall and the inappropriateness of his suggestion floored her. “What makes you think I am in need of a lover?”

  “You’re not feeling appreciated, which shows you have been neglected. Your temper is flaring much too readily, which is due to a build-up of tension that is in need of being released. And the bitterness you carry–that requires a healthy dose of sweetness to combat it.”

  It sure sounded like he was propositio
ning her. He may be right about her needing a lover, as the years of celibacy enforced by the countess had been hard to endure. Regardless of her physical needs, she had no choice but to endure it. He was wasting his efforts, as his seductive wiles would not work on her. Even if it did, any connection to her would not lead to an improved situation on his part. She was just a peon in the sea of noblewomen. “I have my needs well under control. I suggest you do the same.” She pulled her arm free from his grasp and walked away from him, needing to put as much distance between them as possible. She didn’t understand him. Sometimes, he seemed so likeable and approachable, and other times, he acted strangely savage and uncivilized. The thought of his continued existence in the harem both thrilled her and aggravated her.

  CHAPTER THREE

  The noon meal had been a tense affair, as Nefertiti had been in a foul mood for some unknown reason. The countess had directed a larger share of cutting remarks and criticism than normal toward the ladies. It was Saturday, so Eden and the other ladies had the afternoon free. She didn’t want to spend the rest of it in the mansion, where she would be subjected to more verbal abuse.

  “I overheard Jules mention something about the beach when he was talking to the other lords. I think they have a vessel stashed away somewhere,” Audrelia said. “Let’s catch up with them and see if we can join them on the boat.”

  Eden knew how much her friend liked the water, but the countess had forbidden the ladies to fraternize with the lords outside the mansion. She also wasn’t sure that Jules would let them go with them, as he was a stickler for the rules. “Are you sure that’s wise?”

  “I’m going, so if you want to come with me, you’d better come now.”

  She followed Audrelia through the woods, and in minutes, she heard the voices of the lords up ahead. She recognized one of the voices as belonging to Lord Woodcock. They stayed a good distance behind and they walked for over an hour before finally reaching the beach. On the shore of a secluded lagoon, Lord Woodcock, Jules, Julian, and Vane were stashing supplies onto a longboat. The vessel appeared large enough to support six people easily. Audrelia approached the lords first and asked to join them.

  Jules tossed a set of oars inside the boat and faced the ladies. “You cannot come. The countess would not allow it.”

  “The countess is not here and she doesn’t have to know about it,” Audrelia said. “If you do not let us go with you, Eden and I will just take another boat and go by ourselves.”

  Julian, the younger brother of Jules, left the boat and approached the ladies. “That would be too dangerous. You must both come with us if you insist on going.”

  Jules shook his head and tried to talk them out of it, but he was outnumbered by the others, who eagerly welcomed them aboard. Technically, the lords had to obey Jules, but Audrelia somehow persuaded him to go against his better judgment. Audrelia and Eden sat down in the boat while the lords launched it into deeper waters.

  Eden tensed as Lord Woodcock slid beside her on the boat. Just hours earlier, they had verbally sparred. She had actually lost her temper with him and he had responded in a manner that she had not anticipated. Perhaps she was judging him too harshly; she couldn’t exactly expect him to be satisfied with being Nefertiti’s paramour. If she was in his situation, she would want something better. “I apologize for my behavior earlier. I should not have gotten angry with you.”

  “I apologize as well for upsetting you. I didn’t mean to offend.”

  She relaxed and was able to enjoy his nearness. It was nice to spend time with the males in a setting that was not lewd and indecent. The countess did not allow them to engage in any wholesome activities. She could not resist the urge to indulge her curiosity of Lord Woodcock, despite her knowledge that her fascination with him wasn’t good for her state of mind. “How many harems have you known?”

  “Just the one.”

  She looked at him in surprise. “Where were you living before you came to Avenal?”

  “I resided at the home of my family.”

  He was being awfully tight-lipped about his background. “With Countess Woodcock?” When he nodded, she looked at him skeptically. “You lived with your mother until now?”

  “Yes.”

  There was no way that the male had remained isolated in his own mother’s harem, unless he had a legion of brothers who were all as handsome as he was. “Was there some reason to keep you from society?”

  “You did say that my manners were lacking.”

  He was much too assertive for a Flourdan peeress, but she could not believe that he had been denied the opportunity to compete for a mating union. “You just have to learn your place, that is all.”

  “My place?”

  “To be respectful, dutiful, deferential, and obedient.”

  He smiled lazily and his eyes filled with humor. “I have to be all those things?”

  She studied him carefully, trying to imagine him having those characteristics. She could see him being respectful and dutiful, but deferential and obedient may be a stretch. “Jules will train you how to behave properly, but I’m not sure you will pass muster. If you cannot learn to show the proper level of submission, none of the noblewomen will accept you as a huxor. I’m sure you’ll have no problem finding placement as a paramour. You could end up being passed from harem to harem as a paramour, never achieving huxor status. Would that bother you?”

  “I have no intention of remaining in a harem. When I choose a mate, she will not be shared by other males.”

  The seriousness in his tone made her believe he meant what he said. Unfortunately, he was either naïve or delusional. His logic was faulty, as he would not be the one choosing his mate, as his mother would make that choice. If his mate decided to take additional huxors, he would have no choice but to accept it. Inevitably, he would become disappointed when he learned the realities of life. She felt a surge of pity for him. He had high expectations, which would eventually be crushed. She knew all too well the disappointment of a failed mating. “You should try for a poor female then, as most of the wealthier ones keep harems and they will not give them up.”

  “Would you keep a harem?”

  The question hardly applied to her, as she was not an heiress and she would never be able to afford the upkeep of multiple mates. “If I was the Countess of Avenal, perhaps. But that will never happen. I have older sisters.”

  “You require so many males? Why is one not enough? Is your lust too powerful to be satisfied?”

  She knew that her sister desired a full harem for the same reason she wanted the biggest mansions and the fastest ships. It was a matter of power, prestige, and status. “It is not a matter of lust.”

  A look of horror crossed his face. “You would keep a harem.”

  He acted as if it was a foreign concept, when he should be well accustomed to the idea. “I didn’t say that I would.”

  “You didn’t say that you wouldn’t.”

  Harems were a part of their culture, so why would he expect her to have a problem with it? Especially since it was the harems that prevented many of the males from being castrated and forced to serve in the eunuch armies. “Why do you care?”

  He paused, seemingly lost in thought. “I don’t know. What you do is your business.”

  She didn’t understand why his views differed from the rest of Flourdan society. For his sake, she hoped he would find a mate who would desire no others. She relaxed while the boat rocked with the waves. After a couple of hours, the lords indicated they were hot and would need to take a swim. She watched Lord Woodcock, Vane, and Julian as they jumped overboard wearing their short tunics.

  Audrelia looked longingly at the ocean. “I want to get in the water.” She pulled off her long outer tunic, which was made of a heavy material. She turned to Eden. “If you wish to get in the water, you’ll have to get rid of that outer tunic. The weight of it will drown you.”

  Eden nodded and removed her outer tunic. Her short tunic made of a fine linen
would not hamper her while swimming. She knew how to swim, but she had not spent as much time in the ocean as Audrelia. She joined Audrelia in the water, but was unprepared for the waves, which sent her under. She emerged sputtering and she watched while Audrelia swam further out into the ocean. She could hear Jules on the boat yelling for Audrelia, telling her to stay closer to the boat. It appeared that Audrelia wished to ride some waves.

  Eden swam a few feet to reach the group of lords in the water. She couldn’t help but notice that Lord Woodcock was staring at her with an odd expression. “What is it?”

  “I’m not used to seeing ladies in the water.”

  My, he really had a sheltered existence. “Ladies do swim, you know.”

  “The ladies do not swim with the lords, however. Trust me, Kane. None of us are used to seeing the ladies in the water.” Julian’s laugh waned as his attention became diverted. “Is that a ship I see in the distance?”

  Eden squinted her eyes and saw the shape of a large vessel. It sported a yellow flag with red stripes. “That’s not a Flourdan ship.”

  “It could be a merchant vessel and nothing to concern ourselves with, but I’ll let Jules be aware of it,” Vane said.

  Lord Woodcock looked at Eden. “We should get closer to the boat, just in case.” She nodded and they swam toward the boat. Vane had replaced Jules in the boat and was helping Audrelia out of the water. Jules appeared to be swimming further out to get a closer look at the vessel in the distance. Lord Woodcock swam toward the back of the boat to reach the small ladder hanging off the side. “Let’s get back on the boat.”