Page 24 of A Lady Most Wayward (The Queen’s Deadly Damsels #5)

Philippa ripped her attention from Olivia to refocus on the two others at the table.

Callum’s eyes were wide as he bounced from Philippa to Olivia, then back again.

‘R-right you are, Mam.’ He stood abruptly, clearing plates from the table that were still full.

‘I’ll just pop into the kitchen and do the washing up. ’

Mrs Hughes rose a little more slowly, her hand pushing into her lower back as she arched.

‘I’ll help you, love. You two must be exhausted.

Go on to bed. I’m sure a path forward will be much clearer in the morning.

It’s always a wonder to me what a good night of sleep will do for a body.

’ She glanced at Olivia, then Philippa. ‘I hope you’re comfortable tonight. ’

Philippa lowered her chin in a nod she’d perfected during her visits with the Queen, the only person to whom she showed deference.

Until now. ‘I’m sure we will be more than content.

You have been most kind.’ Standing, she looked at Callum.

‘Thank you for a delicious meal. Your mother is blessed to have such a talented man in her house.’

Once more, Callum’s face burned crimson. ‘It weren’t nothing.’

Philippa smiled. ‘No, it was not. It was quite something. Shall we retire?’ She stepped back, giving Olivia space to rise. The fair beauty’s cheeks were also suspiciously pink.

‘Thank you, Mrs Hughes. For everything.’ Olivia held her nursemaid’s gaze for a beat, then turned to Callum. ‘And to you, Callum. Goodnight.’ Brushing past Philippa, the duchess felt the feather-soft whisper of Olivia’s fingers as they trailed over her hand.

Let the negotiations begin.

* * *

Olivia’s heart raced as she pushed the door open to her room with Philippa close behind.

The day had been a chaotic frenzy of emotion, and she felt the evening had only just begun.

As soon as Philippa closed the door behind them, granting privacy, Olivia turned to face the woman who should be her nemesis.

The woman who was becoming so much more.

‘Are you serious? Would you actually consider freeing me?’ If Philippa was toying with her, Olivia was quite certain she would explode and take the duchess with her.

Philippa tapped a finger to her sinfully stained lips. ‘I’m always serious.’

‘What are your terms?’

Raising a single eyebrow in an expression that heated Olivia’s desire and anger in equal measure, Philippa smiled. ‘A name. Who is the Crow?’

Blinking, Olivia crossed her arms over her chest. Exhaling, she struggled with a strange sense of deflation. ‘I thought, after our conversation in the dining room…’

‘That I would demand rights to your body in return for your freedom?’

Well, when she puts it that way, it does sound quite sordid.

Olivia pretended an intense interest in a mark on the wall just over Philippa’s right shoulder. ‘Erm, it just appeared that perhaps you might… well… be interested in a trade. Of sorts.’

Philippa stepped closer, her hand tracing a loose curl that tickled Olivia’s cheek.

‘I’m very interested in you, Olivia. I won’t deny my attraction, nor will I pretend to ignore yours.

’ She leaned closer as her fingers dove into Olivia’s hair, holding her head steady.

When Olivia expected Philippa to press her mouth against hers, she surprised her, changing directions until her breath whispered over the delicate skin just below Olivia’s ear.

‘Make no mistake. I want you. Desperately. And I am never desperate.’

Olivia tried to breathe normally as her body ignited with sparks and fire. But she didn’t miss the hint of frustration in Philippa’s statement. No doubt, the duchess hated being so needy. Olivia certainly did. ‘I’m sure that infuriates you.’

Philippa sucked Olivia’s lobe into her mouth, her teeth scraping deliciously over the sensitive flesh as Olivia’s nipples tightened. Warm, wet need bloomed low in her belly, dripping along her channel, her intimate muscles clenching in aching glory.

Dear God. I might climax right here. From nothing more than this.

‘It does.’ Philippa’s words echoed in the shell of Olivia’s ear.

The duchess moved her head lower, kissing a trail across Olivia’s clavicles, sucking on the delicate skin where her pulse beat madly.

‘But I won’t bargain with your body. If you give me the Crow’s name, I will let you leave with Hyacinth, never again returning to these shores.

’ Philippa gripped Olivia’s waist, squeezed, then traced up her ribs until she palmed her breast. Olivia moaned.

Thankfully, Olivia had left some of her clothes at the cottage before her trip to London.

She had lent Philippa a dress and changed out of her travelworn clothes into a simple gown for dinner.

It was a far cry from the glamorous ensembles she wore when attending balls in London, but the eggshell colour complemented Olivia’s fair skin, and the neckline scooped low enough to reveal the tops of her breasts.

Philippa’s clever fingers peeled back the silk.

Olivia’s corset was also cut low, her rose-pink nipple peeking out, puckered and sensitive to the cool night air.

Philippa bent forward, licking the ruched tip like it was a lemon drop.

Another rush of liquid need flooded through Olivia.

Fingers sinking into Philippa’s hair, she pulled her closer, needing more pressure.

More friction. Philippa understood her wordless plea.

She sucked Olivia’s nipple, swirling her tongue around the sensitive nub, nibbling and nipping until Olivia worried she might melt into a puddle at the duchess’ feet.

It would be so easy to let go. Fall deeper into the haze of desire.

Drown in sensation until she was nothing but tingling sparks of splendour.

Her thoughts wanted to scatter to the wind, but she pulled them together with intense focus.

‘Are you trying to seduce his name from me?’ Her words came out as a gasp.

Philippa pulled back far enough to capture Olivia’s gaze. Her eyes were deep blue. The colour of a sapphire, or the sky as day darkened to night, or a pool so unfathomable, Olivia could sink forever and never find the bottom.

‘Yes. I am trying to seduce you. And I want his name. Both are true. Neither depends on the other. You can give me his name and nothing more, knowing you have won your freedom. You can deny me his name but give me your body as I will give you mine, but I won’t be able to let you leave with your daughter.

Or you can tell me the Crow’s identity, we can indulge in this madness together, and you can walk away tomorrow and never look back.

For someone who has had few choices in life, I give you a bounty of options. What do you choose, Olivia?’

The things she says.

Olivia’s heart cracked a little. Because Philippa was giving her more than most, but still, it wasn’t enough.

If I take my night with her, give her the Crow’s identity, and leave with Hyacinth on the next departing ship, what more could I really want?

The answer drifted, just out of reach.

As Olivia leaned closer, the Crow’s true identity on the tip of her tongue, another name whispered at the edges of her mind.

Liza. When the night is over, Philippa will hate me for seducing her into betraying her true love.

After what Philippa shared with Olivia in the little cottage on the cliffs, it was clear she hadn’t stopped loving Liza.

And Philippa wasn’t the kind of woman who could love one woman and sleep with another without hating herself in the process.

Olivia might be able to weather Philippa’s disdain, but she knew the duchess couldn’t continue her life despising herself on such a deep level.

It would destroy her. And Olivia didn’t want to destroy Philippa. She wanted the very opposite, in fact.

‘What about Liza?’

Philippa froze, and Olivia’s heart plummeted.

But she would rather deny herself the burning pleasure of Philippa’s crimson lips, her clever fingers, her stunning body, than watch Philippa implode.

Stepping back, Philippa broke all physical contact with Olivia. Grief darkened her eyes further, anger flamed bright, and desire still blew her pupils wide. How she held so much within her without letting any of it spill forth was a mystery to Olivia.

‘What about Liza?’ She spoke each word like a slap.

‘You love her. How can you spend tonight with me and still hold true to your promise to her?’

‘Must you be so cruel?’ Philippa’s voice was a dark rasp.

Olivia swallowed. Horrifically, tears threatened as she struggled to set her dress back to rights.

‘I am not trying to be cruel. I’m trying to protect us.

Both of us. I want you so much my bones ache.

But I won’t take what you are offering until I know I’m not also crushing a piece of your soul by having it.

Can you tell me honestly that you won’t loathe me tomorrow for what we do here tonight? That you won’t also hate yourself?’

Philippa valued honesty, honour, and loyalty.

She would never forgive herself if she believed this night with Olivia was a betrayal of her dedication to Liza.

And she would never forgive Olivia. She didn’t expect to win the duchess’ undying love, or even her tacit approval, but she would like to part as something more than mortal enemies.

‘I already inspire your ire just by existing. How much more will your hatred grow if you fear you’ve betrayed your love to spend a night with me? I can accept that you dislike me, but I won’t be the reason you despise yourself.’

Because she didn’t want anything, even the memory of Philippa’s lost love, to poison what could be a beautiful experience between them.

Philippa rubbed her thumb and index finger together in an endless circle. ‘Don’t presume to understand me, Marchioness.’

‘Don’t pretend I’m not right in this, Duchess.’

And we’re back to titles. What did I expect?