Free Bound by Bliss by Lavinia Kent

thinned. He clearly believed her words no more than she did, but he said nothing. His gaze dropped to her feet and he watched as she moved over the scant space between them, measuring.
    “I need you to prove to me that I can trust you. And also to prove to me that you will not keep me from doing what I want, that you will let me have adventures even if you do not approve of them.” Her heart felt as if it would leap from her chest.

    “How can I possibly do that? Do you want me to arrange for you to race a curricle to Richmond, or perhaps you feel the need to gamble away your dowry? Or is it as simple as letting you twirl as fast as you can for hours on end?” He did not sound pleased.
    Why was his list so similar to the list she had thought of herself a mere hour or so ago? “No, I have a specific task in mind. One that should not prove hard, if you should choose to pursue it.” She smiled up at him, doing her utmost to look the innocent young lady that she still was in truth.
    “What?” He was not persuaded of her innocence; if anything he seemed more doubtful.
    “It’s really very simple. I had a dear friend who was forced to leave London before she could fulfill all the promises she made me. She understood my natural curiosity and, being a married woman, was in a position to help me. Now that she is gone I find myself at a loss. She left me with a desire to explore that I cannot fulfill on my own—a desire that, if I am honest, and it is difficult to be, this evening has only increased.”
    Duldon swallowed. He clearly did not like where this was heading. “You think that I can help you learn the same things as a married woman?”
    She let her smile grow, trying to pretend a sophistication she did not feel. He would never agree if he knew how timidly she shivered inside. “Given the way that you kiss, I imagine that you could teach me whatever you chose—assuming that I wanted the lesson—but I don’t require you to teach me anything. I merely want you to take me to a couple of the places my friend promised to, places she thought I would truly enjoy. I cannot do much by myself, but with your help I am sure I could accomplish at least a couple of the tasks.”

    “This does not sound too difficult,” Duldon said, but she could hear the doubt in his voice. He knew there was a catch. “Tell me, who is this mysterious friend?”
    “Oh, a most wonderful lady, the Countess Ormande. You must have met her.” Ignoring the sudden clouding of Duldon’s eyes, she continued. “And the first thing she promised to do was to take me to Madame Rouge’s Club for Gentlemen of Taste. Can you imagine anything more exciting than sneaking into a gentleman’s club? I am not sure how she planned to accomplish it, but I am sure you will think of something.”

Chapter Five
    How had he ended up here? Duldon stared across the street at the infamous red door to Madame Rouge’s. And how had Bliss ended up attired in much too tight breeches? His gaze lingered on her ass, peeking out beneath her coat. He knew the answer to both questions, but wished he did not. His eyes slipped closed as he said a silent prayer. He needed to learn to be firmer with her. He was not a man who gave in. He always proceeded the way he thought proper, the way he believed.
    She was probably correct that he was not a husband who would let her have her way. Actually there was no “probably” about it.
    So why was he here?
    He was not a man who ended up at a brothel with a proper young lady who thought she looked like a boy just because she put on breeches. No man, ever, would look at Bliss’s ass in that garment and think she was a boy. That ass was all woman, full and curved and begging to be squeezed—or spanked. He put that thought away. He wanted her for his wife and a wife must be treated with some respect. He struggled with the thought. Hell, if he wasn’t trying to respect her he would have just married her years ago, before he’d brought