A Christmas in Cornwall: A Regency Christmas Novella Read online

  That this future nun was beautiful, fiery and of his class could not go unnoticed or ignored. She may not like him very much now, but he would change that fact. He didn’t like people thinking ill of him unless of course they had good reason to.

  “I’ll keep to my own imaginings if you don’t mind, my lord. I don’t need any fables from you.”

  Will cleared his throat, fighting not to laugh at her disgusted, most definitely insulted tone. “Well, if you change your mind, you only need to ask.”

  She shook her head and started for the house again. Will fought the grin on his lips and lost. They entered the Tudor-style manor through the double, weather-worn front doors, the grey timber aged by salt and coastal winds. The foyer was large with a sweeping staircase up to the first floor landing. Walls were decorated with tapestries; armoury and old oak furniture complimented the medieval feel of the home.

  “This way,” his lady companion said walking toward another front room Will thought may be the library. Instead, he entered a parlour that housed two settees and a large fireplace that dominated the quaint space. A small boy sat before the marble hearth playing knuckles and Viscount Levinstone sat watching, a proud, contented look across his face.

  “Papa, we have a visitor.” She stated, her eyebrows raised and looking at him as if he were a liar. “Do you know this gentleman?”

  “William!” Viscount Levinstone shouted, jumping up from his chair. “Welcome! I’m so pleased you’re able to join us. I know your pursuits on and off our great land keep you busy.”

  Will bowed. “I was honoured to receive your missive, Lord Levinstone. Father often spoke fondly of his time here as a young man.”

  A chuckle ensued from his lordship reminding Will that his father and the gentleman before him had in fact been the typical Bond Street beaus with many a Banbury tale to share. The stories he’d heard put his days at Cambridge to shame.

  “You know this man, Papa?” May asked, incredulous.

  He grinned at his foe and revelled at the glare he received in return.

  “Of course, my dear. This is William Scott, the Earl of Grandison.” His lordship smiled. “This is my daughter, May. I hope she has not been giving you a hard time of it.” His lordship looked out the window toward the front drive. “As I heard no carriage arrive I assume you came via the sea?”

  Will nodded. “I did, my lord. I fear I may have frightened your daughter into believing I was a ruffian or pirate about to plunder her home, especially as I’m not dressed properly to be received. I do apologize for my dishevelment. My bags are stowed in the small raft on the beach.”

  “Well, it would have certainly livened things up a bit had you been a pirate.” His lordship walked over to his daughter and took her hand. “I promise you, my dear, Lord Grandson is quite respectful and a very honourable gentleman. You have nothing to fear from him.” His lordship turned his attention onto him. “I will send a servant down directly to pick up your things.”

  Will’s gaze locked with May’s. Such a sweet name that seemed at odds with the woman’s temperament. Her eyes narrowed and his amusement over her dislike of him only increased his interest.

  He smiled. Something told him he was going to enjoy the next few weeks and Christmas at the Viscount Levinstone’s home. Enjoy it very much.

  Chapter 2

  For what felt like the hundredth time, May sat up and punched her pillow into something that resembled comfort. She flopped down on the cotton sheets that usually lulled her to sleep within moments, but tonight nothing seemed to be working.

  “Blast it.” She pushed off the blankets, grabbed her robe that lay at the end of her bed and headed for the door. The corridor was dark with only the smallest amount of moonlight lighting her way along the passage. Having lived here her entire life at least made the walk to the library downstairs an easy feat.

  She jumped down the last step and headed for her father’s sanctuary. Just inside the door a small lamp sat, its wick burning low, the servants not having yet completed their final check of the house before bed. May picked it up and strolled to the bookcase where her father kept her mother’s favourite poems. She studied the authors’ names for a moment, her mind at war with itself over what literature she was in the mood for. Love and romance, or misery and tempest…

  “And so we meet again.”

  She gasped, twisting about, her heart beating a million times faster than it ought. “What are you doing down here? It’s after midnight.”

  As soon as the words left her lips, she cringed. After midnight was probably nothing to this earl-turned-pirate-turned-captain-turned-nuisance. Not that he was a pirate, but May had no doubts some of his business dealings were anything but above water. Figuratively speaking.

  He lifted the book he held in his hand and waved it at her. “Reading. What do you think I was doing?”

  What did she think he was doing? All kinds of thoughts bombarded her mind, and none of them appropriate for a lady. He was here alone, and by the looks of his empty glass, probably foxed as well. Men of his ilk always held assignation’s with women in darkened libraries, didn’t’ they? May pushed aside the thought that she was the only women in the house beside the servants.

  His grin caught her full attention and she couldn’t seem to shift her gaze from his lips. Her heart beat accelerated to an absurd crescendo and she frowned. “That, I would prefer not to answer, my lord.” She looked back at the bookshelf and took a calming breath. With every word he spoke he seemed to be saying something other than what he meant. Vexing man.

  She clasped a book she was neither interested in or knew much about. A creak sounded behind her followed by a thump. May swung about and immediately took a step back as Lord Grandison stood before her, a towering mountain of muscle and masculinity.

  He reached for a book beside her head, his arm grazing against her shoulder and sending a delicious shivers to flutter in her stomach. May tried to ignore her reaction to him, and failed miserably. The scent of the sea mixed with soap emanated from him. William smelt clean, fresh and utterly forbidden to her. In only a few weeks, she would start her training as a nun. Her mind truly needed sanity right at this moment, certainly not impurity.

  She swallowed, burying her reactions. She would be a simpleton indeed if she didn’t react to a man in such a way. Women were, after all, made to join with them, marry and have children with the opposite sex. Just from this moment on, she would have to cure herself of such an infliction. A life with the church was only a few weeks away, she reminded herself. “Oh, umm…” she stuttered at her own musings. This man had trouble written all over him.

  He grinned down at her, his azure eyes sparkling with mirth, as if privy to her most inappropriate thoughts and reactions to him. “I think you’ll find these books most interesting, and although not what you’d normally look at, it may bore you enough that you’ll sleep well.”

  May clasped the book without looking at the cover and pushed past the overbearing earl. She strode from the room without a backward glance and headed for her bedroom taking the stairs two at a time before making the sanctuary of her suite. After shutting the door, she snipped the lock and leaned against the wood. Her eyes widened as she gazed at the books she clasped tightly against her chest. What had he given her?

  Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure and some book that housed erotic engravings. Her father would kill her if he knew she had these in her room. May threw them onto the floor and crossed herself with the sign of the lord. Lord Grandison was a villain and possibly out to ruin her future as a nun. For God help her, staring at the books that lay on her Aubusson rug, she’d dearly love to read through them. Her fingers itched to turn the pages, and see what she would forever be missing. Were the memoirs true? Was what was in the book possible between a man and woman?

  She sighed and picked the books up with the notion she didn’t want the maid to find them in the morning. Jumping into bed, she settled herself under the covers and opened the book of engr
avings. Her breath hitched and she bit her lip as a shiver slid down her spine. “Oh my.” Never had she seen any drawings like these ones before. In fact, she hadn’t even known her father had such books in his library.

  May crossed her legs as warmth spread through her core. She studied the engravings which encompassed a couple in various positions during what she assumed to be the act of love making. She flicked through the book. Page after page revealed legs entwined, discarded gowns, and pants that were askew. She swallowed, heat blooming on her face. She had never imagined such things were even possible between two people. And yet it was the ecstasy on their visages that caught her attention the most. They were thoroughly enjoying what they were doing together.

  She shut the book with a snap and getting out of bed, grabbed the second book and stashed them at the bottom of one of her drawers under shifts and gloves. The last thing she needed was her maid to find these kind of books in her room. The thought of the gentleman brought a rush of annoyance at his presumption not to mention gumption at giving her such items to read. Right now, he was probably laughing at her in his room knowing very well what she was looking at.

  Well, two could play at his game. She was anything but a woman to push over as his lordship the pirate captain would soon find out.

  * * *

  The next morning May sat at the breakfast table and nibbled on some toasted bread. An early riser, she ate alone, her father and brother still abed. Not that she expected to see them until luncheon, her father preferring to eat breakfast in his room since her mother’s passing five years ago.

  The door opened and the pirate captain himself strolled in with an air of authority. May felt her eyes widen and cursed her foolery. He was just a man. Annoying and too smart for his own good. She raised her brow and gave him the most severe stare she could muster. His resounding chuckle only strengthened her resolve to teach this man, who seemed to take up all the air in the room, a lesson he’d not soon forget. “Up and about already, Lord Grandison. I thought gentlemen of your ilk sleep most of the day away, only to create a ruckus all night. You’ll confuse the servants if you keep up this regime.”

  He stood at the sideboard and poured himself a mug of coffee. “I should imagine if they find the books I gave you last night in your room, you’ll cause a greater stir then any I ever could.” He turned and smiled before taking a sip. “Have you looked at them yet?”

  She refused to blush and silently thanked God when she didn’t. “I did flick through the engravings.” She took a sip of tea and fortified herself to play just as well as he at this teasing game. “Some of the positions looked a little fanciful to me. Do you think they’re really possible?”

  He sputtered and placed his coffee mug down with a clatter. May inwardly grinned. She met his gaze and held it. “All of them would be possible. Do not doubt it, my lady.”

  “I give you leave to call me May since you know my family so well. And since you feel that such literature is appropriate for me to read, I’m assuming you wouldn’t mind if I called you William? Since we’re such close friends after just one day.” May stated, her voice as sweet and innocent as she could muster.

  He coughed but nodded. “Of course.”

  “There was one position I’m most interested in and would like your opinion of it, if you wouldn’t mind? Perhaps this morning you could explain it to me, if you have time.” William pulled at his cravat, his ratty attire of yesterday seemingly a thing of the past. Today he was dressed to the epitome of what a gentleman should look like. Pressed beige pantaloons and starched white shirt with accompanying cravat were finished to perfection with a dark blue claw-hammer coat.

  A pang of disappointment assailed her over his abundant attire this morning. She’d enjoyed seeing him yesterday, or namely his ratty barely-there shirt that showed off his muscular frame. With any luck, her forwardness and determination to make him squirm after giving her such books would make the muscles beneath all that cotton and wool quiver and flex.

  “I’m not sure if that would be appropriate. I should apologize for giving you such literature to read.” He buttered a heated roll but wouldn’t meet her gaze. “It was wrong of me, and I’m sorry.”

  May inwardly laughed. “Well, well, well, aren’t we full of remorse today. How can you think such books would make me uncomfortable, especially knowing I’m going to be a nun very soon?” Sarcasm dripped from her every word and she was glad to see William shift uncomfortably on his chair.

  He looked at her and pursed his lips. Her gaze locked on them yet again, and she noted the lovely shape as he licked a droplet of coffee from the corner of his mouth. Not too thin or puffy, but just nice and what all lips should look like if she was going to be a lip connoisseur. “May?”

  “Pardon?” She shook herself from her musings. “I’m sorry, did you say something?”

  “You may bring the book into the billiards room before luncheon. We’ll go through it then.”

  She felt the blood drain from her face. Without his usually teasing grin, William stood and left the room. May followed his every step until the door shut quietly behind him. She stared at the door a moment. Had she just walked into a trap and one of her own making?

  Damn it. She swallowed. This was not how her morning was supposed to go.

  * * *

  Will ran a hand through his hair as he stormed toward a billiards room he’d seen the day before. He needed to smack a few balls around for an hour or so. Anything to take his mind off what he’d just invited May to do with him later. Of all things holy. How was he to discuss such a book without…Well without reacting like any virile young male would?

  Shit!

  He stopped at the threshold of the room and cursed anew. Spotting the billiard sticks, he clasped one and set up the table. A few minutes into his solitary game, Matthew, May’s younger brother strolled into the room and watched him.

  William smiled at the young lad who looked a little bookish and very pedestrian, if his highly starched shirt and clean pants were any indication. Unlike his sister, he surmised he didn’t venture down to the sea shore too often. “Matthew, how are you today? Would you care to have a game with me?”

  The young boy smiled but didn’t venture any closer. “No, thank you. I don’t like the game. If you ask my sister though, I’m sure she’ll give you one. May’s very good.”

  “Your sister plays billiards?” Why this pleased him to hear he had no idea, and in all truth it didn’t surprise him. He was starting to surmise May did a lot of things well. Including driving him mad.

  “Often. She always beats Papa and now he’ll no longer play against her.”

  Will chuckled. He loved nothing more than a challenge together with a wager. Perhaps it could be his way of getting to taste, even just once, May’s delectable lips. “Well, I’ll have to ask her then.”

  Matthew nodded before turning on his heel and walking from the room. William smiled. What an odd little creature he was.

  All too soon, May arrived, keeping her attention fixed firmly on the windows that looked over a native area of the garden, filled with coastal plants and manicured lawn walkways.

  William sat down on a settee made for two and didn’t say anything as she sat beside him. Her features weren’t telling him anything new, other than the usual aloofness and disdain she held for him since their first meeting. “Are you ready for your lesson, my lady?”

  Her eyes widened a fraction and it was the first glimpse he had of her that perhaps she wasn’t as composed as she made out to be. Good. That made two of them. “Yes. And to make things easier I’ve marked certain pages I wish to discuss first.”

  Will took the book from her and braced himself to engage in the most inappropriate action of his life. He would burn in hell for what he was about to discuss with a future nun. He opened the book and an image of a man taking a woman from behind met his gaze. He inwardly cringed at having the task of explaining such a position. He really ought not to tease people into re
taliation in future.

  “This doesn’t look at all possible to me. I think the artist is playing its readers for fools.”

  William cleared his throat. “This position is possible and enjoyable for both parties.” He ran his finger over the image to where the man and woman joined. “The woman would—” The word stuck in his throat and May looked at him expectantly. “Would encounter deeper penetration and probably reach orgasm quite quickly, especially if the man reached around and touched the woman’s most private of places.”

  “Most private of places?” May stated, her eyes widening in alarm.

  William cringed. “It’s a little nubbin that can be stimulated to make the woman orgasm.”

  “Oh, well, that’s very interesting.” Her cheeks went bright red and William cursed himself a fool for ever giving her the books in the first place.

  William took a calming breath. “Do you know of what I speak?” His body hardened as he waited for May’s reply, and as much as he fought to keep it under control, the thought of them in the exact poses in the books, drove him to distraction. That he was feeling this way without a single touch from her upon his person was telling indeed.

  “Oh…I—” Her mouth formed a perfect O and he forced himself to look at the painting hanging across the room. He didn’t need any more imaginings of what her mouth in that shape could do to him. He cringed at his own throughs. He was a cad.

  Will took pity on them both and shutting the book, he said, “I believe we should stop reading through these together. I’m not sure what your stance is on the matter, but I’m finding this extremely uncomfortable.” Pleasurable yes, but painful. Will adjusted his seat, hoping May didn’t notice his growing arousal.

  She let out a relieved sigh. “I’m glad you said so, as I am as well.” She laughed, the sound making his gut clench pleasantly. “I just couldn’t let you think you could disconcert me like you did.”