Free The Sextet Presents… The Lady Takes a Pair [In Days of Olde] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Cheryl Brooks Page A

as his best man. He knew Will understood—one could only flout convention so far without suffering the consequences—yet he felt markedly remiss. He was in the process of trying to imagine how to make it up to him, when the perfect solution struck him.
    We’ll have another ceremony.
    In his chambers, in his bed…Then again, considering the tryst in the gallery, perhaps they already had performed the necessary rites.
    “Your thoughts, my lord?” Juliet whispered as their guests resumed their seats following the toast.
    “I believe you can guess them.”
    She nodded. “One of us is absent. He cannot be enjoying the party, can he?”
    “One never knows with him. His happiness often depends upon factors that would not please the average man.” Nick’s gaze slid past Juliet to assure himself that her parents, seated to her left, weren’t privy to their conversation. “Still, it concerns me.”
    Her lips curved into a smile that would’ve captured the fancy of a sterner man than Nick could ever claim to be. “Perhaps we should do something special for him.” She leaned closer. “ Tonight .”
    “Oh, really? What do you suggest?”
    She chuckled. “That we discuss the details later—in private .”
    He took her hand, kissing it with a flourish. “My dear Lady Rotherford—the name has a nice ring to it, does it not?—you are truly a woman beyond price.”
    “You flatter me, my lord. I am simply considering the delicate ears that might be listening. After all, I wouldn’t want to shock anyone.”
    “I believe we’ve already done that,” he said with a trace of chagrin. “What with the hasty marriage and all. Can you imagine what they might be thinking?”
    “The usual things one thinks of in situations such as this—unless one of your ancestors reported the events they witnessed yesterday, which seems highly unlikely.”
    “I concur. Nor would any of our guests have remained if they’d known the truth.” He studied her carefully. “Still, I cannot think that the real truth would shock anyone.”
    Her eyes widened. “The real truth? Whatever do you mean?”
    “That I fell in love with you on sight. That your beauty has made a romantic fool of me. That I’ve been writing sonnets to your eyes ever since our first meeting. That I have been—”
    She gave his arm a playful slap. “Enough of such flattery, or you will put me to the blush.”
    “Ah, but your blushes are so delightful.”
    “As are yours.” Her innocent expression contrasted sharply with the meaningful squeeze she gave his thigh beneath the table. “I have one suggestion in particular that might incite a blush from which you may never recover.”
    “You intrigue me. Pray continue.”
    “I am thinking that we might indulge in a sandwich later.” She paused, frowning. “And though the two slices of bread are a given, I am a loss as to what should be between them—or should I say what will be between them.”
    “Oh, my …”
    “I take it you approve?”
    “Absolutely.”
    Our dear William may never be the same.
     
    * * * *
     
    Juliet couldn’t help but wonder at the leaps her imagination had taken since that picnic on the riverbank. Rotherford had already referred to her as an enchanting trollop. Would he continue to see her as such, or would he be repulsed by the wanton turn her mind had taken?
    Then again, he hadn’t complained.
    Ah, well…if a man didn’t want a woman to behave in such a fashion, he shouldn’t allow her to witness him making love to another man.
    Glancing up, she caught William’s eye. He was by her side in an instant. “My lady?”
    “I should like another pot of tea,” she said. “Champagne for breakfast doesn’t suit my constitution.”
    “As you wish.”
    She drew in a breath, wishing every person in the room would vanish, save for herself and the pair of men she had taken as lovers. “I also prefer a quieter atmosphere.”
    Tears dampened the corners of her eyes as William nodded his