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Chapter OneLondon 1813
Kendra Smythe stared in awe at her reflection in the mirror. The extremely low-cut, violet gown might be the exact opposite of her normal attire, but it was just the look she required tonight. The dress to seduce a hardened rake.
"Well? What do you think?" She whirled away from the mirror to face her best friend.
Sarah's brown eyes widened at her. "Perfect. He will never be able to resist you."
"I certainly hope not. Or I don't know what I shall do."
Sarah reached for the high waist of Kendra's dress and pushed it down further. The movement exposed more than she had ever shown in public. If she took too deep a breath, her nipples might peek out of their hiding place.
Her friend gave her a critical look. "Are you certain about this? Perhaps you should wait to hear from your betrothed."
"I have waited two months for a reply from the Earl of Blackpool. I traveled to his estate, only to be told he might return in a month, possibly longer. He obviously wants nothing to do with me."
"Still, he might not be pleased getting a 'used' bride."
"Then he should have answered my letters and eased my worry. But he hasn't. So I shall fix my family's predicament the only way I can."
Sarah nodded. "Before you go, is there anything else you need to know?"
Know? Dear God, she had seen more than enough last night. She knew Sarah ran with a fast crowd, but nothing could have prepared Kendra for what she had observed. Her friend had arranged for Kendra to watch through a peephole as she and her husband indulged in an orgy. Just thinking about what she saw made moisture flow between her legsagain.
She'd had no choice but to touch herself as she watched Sarah straddle her husband's hips and bring his cock into her wetness. As Sarah took her husband in, another man came up behind her, spread light oil on his cock and entered her small puckered hole. And amazingly enough, a third man forced her to suck on his penis. There were other men and women in the room doing similar things with each other. Normally Kendra tried to repress such actions, but last night she had rubbed her clit until she shook with pleasure.
"I daresay I have all the knowledge I need," Kendra finally replied. Her cheeks heated with embarrassment as she remembered Sarah greedily licking and sucking on that man's shaft. "You really can swallow that down without getting with child?"
"Yes," Sarah answered with a smile. "I have done it many times. Until I give Humphrey an heir, he is the only one who can enter me. But I can't wait to get Lord Ansley inside me. His cock is enormous!"
Kendra giggled. She had noticed Ansley's large appendage as he took Lady Perkins. She had no idea how any woman could take all that inside her. With a mental shake of her head, she readied herself for the evening ahead. If all went as planned, when she returned tomorrow, she would no longer be a virgin. And she would no longer be destitute either.
Armed with all the knowledge she believed she needed, Kendra pulled on her blue pelisse.
"Remember, barter for your virginity. Rumor has it that Mr. Thornton loves an innocent and is willing to pay handsomely for the privilege of being a woman's first man," Sarah said with a devious grin.
"I shall use all that you've taught me." And Sarah had taught her plenty. How to suck a man's cock the way he liked it. How a man liked to kiss a woman's private parts, and more importantly, how utterly wonderful it was supposed to be. Oh, yes, she knew enough.
If not for her dying father, she would not even be in this position. As her father grew more ill, creditors appeared on their doorsteps, demanding payment before he died. After selling everything of value and giving out her dowry, there was only one thing left to sell ... herself. Being betrothed, she attempted to contact her intended first, to no avail. Which left only her virtue to sell, there was no better place than London; with its perversions and licentious behavior. Her best friend, Sarah had married a year ago and offered Kendra the chance to come to town. Now she just had to get up her nerve to go through with this plan.
Kendra departed the house and spent the next few minutes in the carriage praying she had made the right decision. Mr. Thornton didn't even know she had plans to see him. In fact, Mr. Thornton had never met her, and she had never met him.
But she'd heard enough stories about him to know that he was the right man for this mission. At almost thirty and a confirmed bachelor, he went through mistresses like water. He enjoyed training them in the sport of sex. And best of all, he paid them well. The gossip mill reeled with the news that he had let his last mistress go only two days ago. White's had bets on who his next woman would be.
And they would all be wrong.
Derrick Thornton would not be taking Miss Sophia Morgan as his next mistress. At least, not until he'd taken Kendra first.
She only hoped her nervousness would ease so she could manage this feat. All she needed to do was concentrate on the outcome. Her younger sisters and brothers would get all they needed, once she had secured their future. David and Anthony could attend Eton or whatever school they chose. Amy and Emily, while they might not get a Season in London, at least their dowries would be replenished and they could find a suitable husband in Hampshire.
The carriage rolled to a stop in front of an imposing white limestone house. The candles flickering inside brightened several windows, and even from the street she could see the expensive furnishings. The rumors of his money must be correct if he lived in such an elegant home, she only wished she had learned a little more about the man before making her decision.
Sarah's groom opened the door for her. "Shall we wait?"
Kendra bit her lip, staring at the house. "Yes, please. If I am not out within the hour, you may return to Lord Humphrey's house."
The groom gave her a smirk. "Of course, ma'am."
Now she just had to walk up those six stairs and knock on the door. She could do this. Her brothers and sisters depended on her ability to go through with this task, not that they had any idea of what she had planned. All she had to do was pretend she was an actress playing a part. How hard could it be? With a breath for fortitude, she ascended the stairs and banged on the door with the knocker.
Minutes ticked as she waited at the door. Quite unusual. Most butlers stood in wait for a carriage to stop in front of their house. Unless Mr. Thornton had gone out for the night after all and the servants had retired for the evening. She didn't want to ponder that possibility.
The door opened and a man who looked far too young to be the head butler frowned at her. "Yes, miss?"
"I am here to see Mr. Thornton."
His tawny brows rose. "Indeed?" He looked down his nose at her. "Wait in the salon and I shall see if Mr. Thornton is at home."
"Thank you." She followed him into the salon, awed by the lavish furnishings and paintings the room held. Too nervous to sit, she paced the room. But she had made it through the first part--she had entered the lion's lair.
