Free Mistress in the Making by Lynne Silver Page A

Morgan.”
    Georgina showed no reaction.
    “Twin brother to the Earl of Westhunt.”
    Georgina put a hairbrush down with a snap and straightened his spine. “I haven’t seen the earl in almost a year. Not since the week after he became earl.”
    Bell angled himself to be seen in the mirror. “Can you tell me about your relationship with him? Or more specifically, when he became earl?”
    Georgina swiveled to face Bellamy and there was a distinct wariness in his face. “I’d prefer not to talk about Sebastian Morgan.”
    “Please, Georgina. Man to man. Lucas fears his twin has committed a great crime.” He stopped and held his breath as the beautiful man watched him.
    Georgina turned back to the mirror and slowly ran the brush through his long hair before finally speaking. “We were lovers for a few months. He was very careful to keep me hidden. He came to me late at night and always in a hack for hire. He never spent the night.”
    “What about when he became earl?” Bell asked.
    Georgina frowned. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you much. He went to some nabob house party. Of course I wasn’t invited. All I know is he went away for a week and came back as the earl. He dropped me upon his return. I haven’t seen him since.”
    Bellamy nodded afraid he’d reached a dead end, but there was something else Georgina wasn’t telling him. He squatted down to place a gentle hand on Georgina’s bare shoulder. It was as soft as any woman’s.
    Georgina angled his head to meet his gaze. “Bellamy, you said you would be my friend.”
    He tilted his head. “Are you in need of a friend?” He smoothed his hand down Georgina’s upper arm when he nodded.
    “The Earl threatened me when he abandoned me. He said if I ever told anyone about our time together, he’d have me thrown on a prison ship.” He released a delicate sob. “Look at me, Bellamy. How long do you think I’d survive?”
    “Not past the harbor,” Bellamy said bitterly. Georgina hadn’t been asked to be born with that face or body. He was simply making the best with god’s gifts granted him. “I will never speak of you and Westhunt in the same sentence.”
    “Thank you.” Georgina smiled bitterly at him then seemed to shake off his maudlin thoughts and became the sensuous dancer once again. “I’m off. The show must go on.”

Chapter Six
    Ten days later
     
    Charlotte scratched at the cravat anchored around her wrist and tried to feel seductive, not silly, tied to the headboard. She’d been playing games each evening for Lucas to discover when he returned home from society events, but this was her most daring yet. It had all started that first night at the molly house where they’d hunted for Georgina.
    Lucas had taken on the role of her lover and tutor, teaching her more in a week than in three months with Madame Bella. He seemed to thrill at each new lesson and every boundary he pulled her across. Last night he’d hinted at his fantasy of having her bound and naked for his pleasure. So she was trying it. Of course she couldn’t fully tie herself up and the thought of asking for Bellamy’s assistance sent a blush racing across her bare skin. One bound arm would have to be good enough. Lucas could finish the tying when he arrived home.
    She tried to calm her thoughts and daydreamed of Lucas so he didn’t enter the bedroom to discover a beet-red mistress. It didn’t work. Memories of him and their last ten or so days together heated her skin and left her praying he’d be bursting through the doorway any second to help relieve the sharp ache of desire centered at her core. The darkness in the room didn’t allow her to view the time on the mantle clock, but she guessed it was past midnight. He was late.
    He usually arrived home at midnight, crawling into bed and on top of her with rough sentiments of desire. He’d claimed he missed her and wished she could attend the balls with him, but she knew that to be a hopeless desire. A respectable