One of My Favorite Scenes…
I’m
sure when asked to name their favorite scene, most writers pick something with
their hero and heroine. Don’t get me wrong. I love Lord Nathaniel and Lady
Georgette. The delicate dance of their two souls is a delight and I’d be
hard-pressed to single out a favorite scene. But in One Night with a Rake,
love isn’t limited to the titled few. Georgette’s lady’s maid, Mercy, and her
handsome, but not over-bright footman, Reuben Darling, have been inching toward
each other since Mercy first left her life as a whore and came to work in
Yorkingham House. In this scene, their relationship takes a major leap forward…
Reuben knew the rich were different. It was more than the cut of their
clothes or their fancy educated talk. Everything they did seemed to shimmer
with elegance. Like the way Lady Georgette and Lord Nathaniel were moving
together around the room, for instance. Every step in time bespoke quality.
Even
though the dance did look a bit like doin’ the unmentionable deed with their
clothes on. Still, if the nobility did it, it must be all right.
“I
never seen that dance before,” he whispered to Mercy. The pair of them had
sneaked up to the little balcony usually reserved for the string quartet that
played when Yorkingham House hosted a ball or soirée. The curtained space
offered a perfect spot to watch the couple below with no danger of being caught
hovering near the open doorways.
“It’s
the waltz,” Mercy whispered. “But they’re doing it a good bit slower than
usual.”
With
each pass around the room, the space between Lady Georgette and the gentleman
shrank until Reuben could see no daylight between them at all.
“Is
he holding my lady a good bit closer than he ought?”
Mercy
nodded, holding a slim finger over his lips to shush him.
“Thought
so,” Reuben said, bending so he could whisper into Mercy’s little shell of an
ear. He decided the need to keep quiet was a good thing if it meant she let him
put his lips so close to her tender earlobe. “Should we stop them?”
She
shrugged. “It’s just a dance. Her ladyship’s not complaining.”
Judging
from the soft, doe-eyed expression on Lady Georgette’s face, she wasn’t likely
to complain in the near future either.
Reuben
and Mercy watched in silence for a few more minutes. The light scent of violets
with a musky undertone teased Reuben’s nostrils.
“Have
you been into milady’s perfume?”
Mercy’s
gaze jerked toward him at that. If she’d been a cat, her back would have been
fully arched. “She knows about it. She told me to help myself, so she did.
Don’t ye be thinkin’ I’ve got sticky fingers.”
“I
wouldn’t think that,” Reuben said. “I was only thinking how nice you smell.”
“Oh.”
The cat’s back settled a bit. Mercy turned away to peer down at the dancers.
“Thank you, Reuben,” she whispered. “Er, you smell nice too.”
“Me?
I don’t wear no scent.”
Something
inside him leaped up in joy. It was the first time she’d ever called him by his
Christian name. He was usually “Mr. Darling” to her.
Unless
it was “lummock” or “moron” or some other name that folks might consider an
insult. He knew she was teasing when she did that.
He
hoped she was teasing.
One
of her shoulders lifted in a little shrug. “Must just be you I’m smelling,
then.”
As
they stood there side by side, he was achingly aware that her hand was brushing
against his. Not so close as to be considered actually touching, but near
enough to tease the dusting of hair on the back of his hand. He bit the inside
of his cheek to contain himself.
Then
Mercy nearly surprised the breeches off him. She slipped her fingers into his
hand.
“Ye
know what they say about dancing, don’t ye?” she whispered without looking at
him.
He
shook his head, then realized she couldn’t have seen that movement since she
was still peering through the slit in the thick velvet curtains. “What do they
say?”
She
slanted a sly gaze at him. “That it’s all about using music as an excuse so
folk can do upright what they’re thinking about doin’ lying down.”
Lying down? Reuben
swallowed hard. All his muscles tensed up hard, too. Yes, indeed, hard
described him just about everywhere.
Mercy
looked up at him, her eyes enormous in the dimness. “I haven’t danced with a
man in while.” She ran her little tongue over her bottom lip. “A long while.”
Reuben’s
groin ached as he slipped a hand along the curve of her waist. “I don’t see as
how we could do a reel here in this little space, but I collect we might manage
that waltz thing if we take really small steps.”
Mercy
made a low growl in the back of her throat. Then she dragged him out of the
curtained balcony and into the narrow hall used only by the help. She didn’t
stop there, pulling him behind her toward the back stairs.
“What
about milady?” he asked.
“Milady’s
fine. She’s a big girl,” Mercy said. “She can certainly manage a gentleman like
Lord Nathaniel or I’m much mistook.”
Instead
of heading down to the common room below stairs, Mercy began climbing the
steps.
“We’re
not going back to join the others?” Reuben asked.
“No.”
“Then
where are we going?”
She
stopped on the step above him, turned around, and cupped his cheeks. Then she
kissed him, right on the mouth.
It
was hard and quick, a resounding bass drum bang of a kiss. It reverberated
through him, clear to the soles of his feet.
“Ye’re
a fine figure of a man, Reuben Darling, and we’re going to my room,” she said
simply. “Now don’t ye say another word. Or I might just change my mind.”
Reuben
purposed in his heart not to utter another sound, if his hope of heaven depended
upon it.
He
suspected it truly did.
© Mia Marlowe, 2013
Thanks for having
me here today! Here’s a question to start the discussion in the comments. After
their tryst, Mercy tells Reuben that she was just having a bit of fun, that
their relationship is only physical. He tries to convince her that she deserves
more. She deserves to be loved and he’s not coming to her bed again until she
believes that. How do you think Reuben can show her he loves her without
tumbling between her sheets again? What says “unconditional love” to you?
ONE
NIGHT WITH A RAKE BY CONNIE MASON AND MIA MARLOWE – IN STORES JUNE 2013
For King and
Country, Three Notorious Rakes Will Put All Their Seductive Skills to Work.
After All, The Fate of England's Monarchy is in Their Hands.
Since the death of his fiancée,
Nathaniel Colton's polished boots have rested beneath the beds of countless
wayward wives and widows of the ton. He's careful to leave each lady smiling,
and equally careful to guard his heart. So seducing Lady Georgette should pose
no problem. But the beautiful reformist is no easy conquest, and Nate's
considerable charm fails to entice Georgette to his bed. To woo her, Nate will
have to make her believe he cares about someone besides himself--and no one is
more surprised than Nate when he realizes he actually does.
Praise for One Night with a
Rake:
“Passionate interludes and
scintillating twists and turns will entice historical fans.” —Publishers Weekly
“Mason and Marlowe pen another
seductive winner... Lots of interesting characters, plenty of action and
passionate, wicked adventures!” —RT Book
Reviews, 4 Stars
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Connie Mason is a New York Times
bestselling author of more than 50 novels. She was named Storyteller of the
Year in 1990 and received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews in 1994. She currently lives in Florida. Mia Marlowe is a highly acclaimed new
voice in romance whose debut novel released in Spring 2011 from Kensington. She
lives in Boston. Together, they are working on the next book in the Royal Rakes
series, Between a Rake and a Hard Place, which
will be in stores in January 2014. For more information, please visit http://www.miamarlowe.com .
To
Purchase One Night with a Rake
Contest:
Mia is giving away one copy of Waking Up With a Rake(Book 1 in the Regency Rakes series) to one lucky person, answer Mia's question above and make sure to include your email address to be entered. Contest is open to US and Canada residents only. Winner will be drawn on July 3rd.
I think more than flowers would be needed. Spending time with her and doing things she likes would be a great way.
ReplyDeletedebby236 at gmail dot com
Because we all have a limited amount of it, time is the greatest gift of all.
ReplyDeletehow he treats her
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com