Belinda tugged the bodice of her dress down as far as she could without her nipples being on display. Although that might not be a bad idea, truthfully. She wanted Lord Barton to be shocked when he saw her dress for the Ellington party tonight. She wanted to have him be embarrassed, by association. Her fervent wish was that he would see her red dress and say, “I’ve changed my mind, and I’m going without you.”

A former lover had bought the dress for her, saying that he liked to see her dressed in red. She’d only worn it in private, for him. Twice he’d made her wear it while they’d made love. Truthfully, she would be embarrassed to be seen in public in this dress. It was so low cut, and had so many flounces and bows that it made her look like a courtesan.

But she would go through with it tonight if it would get Jonathan out of her life. When she went downstairs and he saw her dress she would have nothing more to worry about. Hopefully.

A ruckus from downstairs made her turn her head toward the door. Someone was shouting. It sounded like her butler, Vincent, and after a moment she realized the other voice was one that she’d just heard that afternoon. Jonathan.

Well, he was nothing if not punctual, but she was not going to go downstairs and make things easy on him. She would make him wait for at least five, ten, maybe even fifteen minutes. She sat on her bed and waited.

Seconds after she’d settled down, the door to her bedroom opened and Barton stepped inside.

“How dare you!” She stood and pointed toward the door. “Get out.”

“My, my, don’t you look the part.” He strode into the room and looked around. For a moment she thought he would go to one of the chairs, but instead he crossed the room, moved around her and sat down on the bed, his back against the headboards and his feet stretched out in front of him. “I love that color, and it looks perfect on you. But you need to pull up your bodice. I would prefer not to give everyone a look at your nipples. They are quite lovely, though.”

Belinda blushed furiously. Her hands flew to her chest where she tugged on the fabric. The dress, which was several years old and a little too tight, ripped at the waist. She gave a cry of frustration.

“Look what you’ve made me do!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll buy you another. Call your maid back to help you change, and quickly.” He wiggled a finger at her. “We don’t have a lot of time. I don’t like to be late.”

“You are an ass,” she said. “How is it that you were such a nice person during the Stanhope party, and you’ve turned into such a jerk? I just don’t understand.”

“Tick tock, Belinda,” he said, and the smile that appeared on his face made her want to cross the room and slap him.

He didn’t move from the bed. Instead he took out his pocket watch and tapped the glass. “Tick tock,” he repeated.

“Fine, I will change, but you have to leave, first.” She crossed her arms over her chest, and the dress ripped a little more. The only good thing about it happening now was she didn’t have to be embarrassed by it at the party.

“I don’t think so. I don’t trust your choice, and I want to be here to make corrections before you make us even later than we already are.”

He stood and walked to her wardrobe, flinging open the doors with gusto. He began to rifle through her dresses as Belinda stared, her mouth open.

When he pulled out one of her favorite dresses, she felt her stomach roil. How did he know?

“This one.” He handed the green satin to her maid who had just entered the room. He sat back on the bed and crossed his legs at the ankles.

“Jonathan, will you kindly wait downstairs?”

“Please, Belinda, don’t play the simpering virgin. Both of us are far too experienced for that. Now hurry and change, before I lose my temper and decide we must stay home for the promised…”

He cocked his head and left the word unsaid but Belinda knew what it was. Punishment. For the promised punishment.

She nodded to Merry, her maid, who quickly began to undo the laces on the ripped dress.

Belinda stared at Jonathan as the dress was peeled away from her body. Most of her lovers had been older men, much older than herself. It was strange to be undressing in front of the young Lord Barton. She knew he was in his mid-twenties. And he was so handsome. She knew he wouldn’t have the trouble that some of the older ones did. His manhood would always rise to the occasion, she was sure.

She felt herself blush and broke her eyes away from his. His low chuckle made her fume. It was obvious he knew what she was thinking about. And she turned away before he could see the heat rise in her face.

The fact that he affected her in this manner was disconcerting. She didn’t want to be attracted to him, and she didn’t want him to see her reaction. But she refused to look at him again. She would do nothing to give him the upper hand, or more of one than he already had.

She slipped into the dress, keeping her gaze focused on the wall.

“It’s breathtaking,” Barton said. “May I ask who bought it for you?”

“The Duke of Melbourne.” She hoped her voice didn’t crack. Despite what people said about her, she truly did love Taylor. She had asked him several times to give up his title, to divorce his wife and marry her. But he had refused. “He was extremely generous.”

“Well, don’t let it be said that I am not,” Barton said. “Please visit your dressmaker tomorrow and order some new clothing. I prefer greens and blues with your hair. Ten should do it. Have her send the bill to me.”

Belinda’s mouth fell open. She quickly shut it.

“If you think new clothing will put you in a better light you are sorely mistaken.” Merry was doing the stays on the dress, which was one that Belinda had always loved. She felt a little strange wearing it for another man, but if it would get him out of her life it would be worth the pain she felt.

“You look lovely,” he said as Merry put the finishing touches on the dress, and then picked up a small hat. Belinda sat and watched the mirror as Merry secured the hat to her head. “Very lovely indeed,” Barton said.

“Don’t think just because you’ve told people that I’m your mistress, that you will be sharing my bed tonight. I want to make that perfectly clear.”

He held up his hands, one on either side of his body. “I can promise you, Belinda, that I will never force myself on you.”

“Then you will never share my bed, because I will not give myself to you.”

“Then make sure you don’t spend too much of my money,” he said. “I might want to see you in clothing I bought, but not clothing that costs a small fortune.”

She wanted to laugh, because to her ears when he’d offered to buy her clothing he was being generous, and she planned on spending a great deal of his money.

“You should have your man of affairs send me a letter giving me permission to charge to your name,” she said.

“Consider it done,” he said.

She smiled at him. He was in a good mood right now, but he would feel differently tonight after the Ellington crush, after she acted like a spoiled child, which she planned on doing.

“Thank you, milord. I shall be pleased to spend your money.”

When she was fully dressed, he stood and slapped at his sleeves as if he were trying to get out any creases.

“Shall we?” he said.

“Of course, milord, anything you say.”

He stopped her at the doorway and put his fingers under her chin, lifting her eyes to his.

“Behave yourself tonight, Belinda. I was serious when I talked about punishments earlier today.”

She smiled back at him. “Don’t threaten me, Barton.”

“It’s not a threat, little one, it’s a promise.”

Her spine tingled as his breath floated down over her. They were so close, and for a moment she wanted him to lower his lips to hers. Then she remembered that he wanted nothing more than to prove to society that she belonged to him, and wasn’t a threat to his friend’s marriage.

She pulled away and pushed past him, sweeping down the stairs before he could grab her. Before the night was over, he’d be sorry that he’d ever stepped foot inside her house.

Barton tapped his fingers against his thigh as they waited in the carriage line. As usual, the Ellington’s party was overflowing. He liked to think, in no small part, that people were here to see his first public outing with Lady Strauss, who sat across from him and glared out the window.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked her.

“You already know my thoughts,” she said. “Do I need to repeat that I think you’re a brute, a cad… an ass?”

“I believe you’ve made that perfectly clear,” he said. He turned his head to look at the crowded street. “We could get out and walk the rest of the way.”

“I will not show up on foot,” she said.

“I suppose you deserve better than that,” he responded.

“Yes, I do.”

She hadn’t looked at him even though he’d offered to get them out of the carriage. Since she already thought him a cad, he might as well ramp up things a bit.

“Have you ever fucked in a carriage?”

That got her attention and she turned to glare at him. “How dare you use that word in my presence.”

“Says the woman who has made her living off of being a mistress to many different men,” he said, and he immediately regretted it. “Forgive me, that was uncalled for.”

“Being forced to listen to your snide remarks is punishment enough for me,” she said. “You should order the carriage to turn around and take me back to my home.”

“I have apologized for my statement,” he said. “How could I show my contrition? Should I give you an orgasm? Would that make you feel better?”

“And there it is,” she said. “You are just trying to get into my bed. Once again, I demand that you turn around and take me home!”

“Does that mean you don’t want the orgasm here?” He leaned toward her. “I assure you I can deliver on the promise, and we can make it inside the house on time. You will look a little flushed, but that will convince people that you are just happy to be with me.”

“You promised you would not force yourself on me,” she said.

“And I told the truth,” he said. He knelt in front of her, and put his hands behind his back. She was looking at him now, her face a mixture of anger and, if he was reading it right, desire. He wondered how long it had been since she’d had sex. At least a year and a half, he would think, since Melbourne died, and the mourning period was over. Something told him she followed the prescribed mourning period, because she did, as she had said, truly love Melbourne.

“Well, I think we will be sitting in this line for at least a half hour more, so maybe we should chat.” He got back onto his side of the carriage and stretched his legs out in front of him.

“We’re late because of you,” she said.

“You were the one trying to look like a courtesan,” he said. “Maybe I should have allowed it. When you came in on my arm that would just back up my words that you were my mistress.”

“This evening is going to be pure hell,” she said.

“Only if you misbehave,” he said. “Now, what can we talk about to pass the time? How about you tell me when you first sucked a cock in a carriage?”

Her mouth dropped open and he chuckled. “Yes, that would have been the position that you would have been in, although I would hope whomever you were—I hate the word servicing, so shall we say, pleasuring?—would have a pillow in the carriage so that yours knees wouldn’t be in pain. I don’t know about your dress. Surely being on your knees would cause creases, and it would be noticed. Or would it?”

“I cannot believe you would ask me that question.”

“You’re right, it’s not nice of me to think you’d go into a party in a wrinkled dress,” he said. “Perhaps you lifted it above your knees so as not to hurt the fabric.”

“Oh my stars above, do I have to put up with your filthy mind for long? Give me a date. Tell me when you will be out of my life.”

“When I decide you’ve learned your lesson,” he said. “I thought I made that clear this afternoon. There is no timetable. Now, tell me about the first time you sucked a cock.”

“Why don’t you tell me about the first time you did?” she asked. She crossed her arms across her chest, and even in the darkness of the carriage he could see the smirk on her face.

“Well, the first time I licked a pussy I wasn’t really excited about it.” He shrugged. “But after a while I actually learned to enjoy it. There is an incredible sense of power in feeling a woman wiggle under your tongue. I suppose it’s the same way with sucking a prick. Or do you just do it because it gets you things?”

She didn’t answer, and truthfully, he wasn’t surprised. The carriage inched up in the line, and Jonathan cleared his throat. “If you don’t like the topic we can find a different one. When did you first have sex? Was it when you were married to Lord Strauss, or was it before then?”

Belinda moved her hands to her lap, and Jonathan let his gaze drift down to where she now clasped handfuls of fabric in her fists. When she’d screamed at him this afternoon he’d thought she had a horrible temper, but watching her now made him think that she might throw things if given the chance, but she was also able to keep it under control.

He wasn’t sure if that was a good, or bad, thing. He would have to do a little more research on her, see what pushed her buttons and how he could use that information to his advantage.

So far she was reacting just like he’d predicted. Until right now, that is. He hadn’t expected her to sit and stare, and not respond to his needling.

“I was a bit older than most men,” he said. “Beaton was always a bad influence, and I blame him for taking me to houses of ill repute where we met lovely ladies.” He shut his mouth quickly before he let out information about the Rakes Club, which was something he didn’t want her to know about. He didn’t trust her, as he’d told Charlotte just that afternoon.

Belinda was definitely not the type of woman you married, and she was not someone he could bring to a Rakes’ meeting. He’d been truthful with her when he’d said he wouldn’t force himself on her. There were those who had those proclivities, who thought it added to the sensations of having sex, but Jonathan was not one of them.

The carriage inched forward once more, and then almost immediately again. He knocked on the top. “How many more?”

“Maybe fifteen, your lordship,” the driver called down.

Jonathan hated waiting, and doing so with a sullen woman in the carriage made things worse.

“Since you’re unwilling to talk about your sex life, let’s discuss the dresses you’re going to order tomorrow.”

Her head jerked toward him as if he were offering gold. “Changed your mind on the number of dresses I can buy?”

“No, but I’ve decided I want Charlotte to go with you,” he said. “She has such wonderful taste.”

“You mean she will be able to watch how much money I spend.” The carriage moved forward. They stared at each other. It moved forward again and she said, “Don’t you trust me, Lord Barton?”

“Not as far as I could throw a feather.”

“Ten dresses,” she said as the carriage moved forward once more.

“We’re two out, sir,” the driver said.

“Now, remember to behave yourself,” Jonathan said to Belinda.

“Because you’re just aching to teach me a lesson,” she said in a singsong voice.

“Oh, my dear, the time will come, probably sooner than you anticipate.”

The Ellington house glowed with light and flowers. Belinda had always loved coming to parties here. The Ellingtons were a well-liked couple who attracted a large crowd. Tonight was no different. The tables were laden with food, the music was light, and the rooms were overflowing with people.

She felt many eyes on her as she and Barton entered the room. Ladies whispered behind their fans and gentlemen gave Barton a knowing look. She felt like she was on display, which was what Barton wanted, she knew.

A servant appeared and Barton took two glasses of champagne from him, handing her one and keeping the other for himself. He put his free hand on the small of her back and moved close to her.

“Keep your hands off me.” She hissed the words into his ear and tried to push herself away.

“Yes, it is delicious, isn’t it?” He smiled and tickled her back with his finger.

Belinda fought to control her temper as he smiled at a couple walking toward them.

“Ah, Fergus, and Gabriella. Hello. You know Lady Strauss, do you not? Belinda, my dear, this is Lord and Lady McIntyre. They are dear friends of mine.”

Belinda mumbled a curse under her breath. She jumped when Barton slapped his hand against her backside. Giggles broke out around them. She wanted so much to cause her scene now, but it was not the time.

“Pardon me. Of course. Lord McIntyre, Lady McIntyre. A pleasure to see you again.”

“Lady Strauss.” Their greeting was almost in unison.

Belinda smiled in return, and tried in vain to push Barton away from her once again without making it look too overt. It seemed as if the whole room was watching them. She listened with one ear as Barton and McIntyre discussed some business venture that had been proposed to them.

She jolted when she realized that Lady McIntyre had been addressing her.

“I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“I said your dress is beautiful. Who is your seamstress?”

“Her name is Parkton. She’s quite talented. Melbourne insisted that I use her. He so loved me in her creations.”

She felt Barton stiffen beside her. When he looked down at her, she pretended ignorance and continued on as if he hadn’t given her a warning look. She knew that many people around were straining to listen to the conversation. Her arrival with Barton would fuel gossip for days.

“Really, many of my lovers were quite generous men. I so wish I could find another. A good man is so hard to find nowadays, and I’m always on the lookout for one.”

Lady McIntyre coughed into her hand and her husband fought to hide a laugh.

Belinda blinked her eyes at Barton, who looked as if he might explode at any moment. Suddenly, the angry look disappeared, and it was replaced with a large grin.

“Darling, there’s no need to be shy, or to pretend about the way things are. Everyone knows that you and I are lovers already. Just last night you told me you’d never had another like me in your bed.”

Belinda choked on her drink. Barton laughed and patted McIntyre on the shoulder in a man-to-man fashion. This was not going as she’d planned.

“Truly, I thought I would have to tie her to the bed to get any rest. Of course that would have provided new possibilities, wouldn’t it?”

He laughed as the women around them, who were pretending to take part in their own conversations, gasped in feigned outrage. Belinda knew that by the time the dancing started it would be all over the party that Barton had tied her to his bed during their lovemaking, when he hadn’t been in her bed at all.

“I…”

Her words disappeared when Barton pulled her close and planted his lips on hers. His kiss was harsh and demanding, and Belinda knew that there was a warning there. She was to be quiet, because she was no match for him.

The ladies who had gasped during the earlier conversation let out cries of disbelief.

Barton broke the kiss, but held her close.

“I hate you. Get your hands off me!” She hissed against his lips.

“Yes, but I’ve just saved Andrew’s reputation. Try to harm it again and I may spank you in front of everyone in this room. Wouldn’t that make for interesting copy in the morning gossip sheets? Behave yourself.”

“Make me. I’m going to show you that I won’t be pushed around.” She pushed away from him and let her gaze roam the room.

“Oh look, there’s Lord Walman. While I’m waiting for the new Duke of Melbourne to tire of his wife, perhaps I can bide my time with him.”

She pushed away from Barton, but stopped when he placed his arms around her waist and pulled her into the wall of his chest.

“Excuse us,” Barton said to the crowd. “My lady and I had a little fight in the carriage. I do believe she is in need of my attentions.”

The ladies in the group gasped as he kissed Belinda’s neck and began walking toward Ellington’s study, which was always off limits during the parties.

“Ellington.” Barton’s voice rang out for all to hear. “May I borrow your study for a short period of time?”

“Of course,” Ellington replied. “Be my guest.”

Belinda stuttered her outrage as Barton drew her past guests who were laughing and pointing. He propelled her inside the study and slammed the door.

She ran at him, pounding her fists against his chest.

“How dare you! You’ve embarrassed me in front of everyone. They think we are in here having sex!”

Barton laughed. “It is you, Lady Strauss, who brought this on yourself. I had planned to punish you later, but I can see that it won’t wait. I’m going to spank you, Belinda. You will learn that I am not a man to be trifled with.”

She pushed away from him and backed into the room.

“You wouldn’t.”

He cocked his eyebrows and smiled.

“You’ve already had one dress ruined tonight, milady. Resist your punishment and it could be two. And you will find it much harder to weave through the crowd while trying to explain how your dress was torn.”

Belinda gasped. “This dress means a great deal to me.”

“Then behave, and it will not be ruined.”

Belinda hated the look of pure anger that was on his face.

“It is time for you to take your punishment, Belinda. Go to the table and bend over. Now.”