His smile turned positively lecherous. “I believe I do.”
“Tell me why you are concerned about Ellie,” she said to get them off the subject that had been on her mind all evening.
“She’s only danced with three men. And one of them twice.” Will sat in the chair nearest the fireplace. “I’m worried about her, Elizabeth.”
“Ellie is not like Lucy. She’s shy and quiet and prefers a smaller group of friends. Lucy will always have friends and men around her.”
Will frowned. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”
Elizabeth laughed and took the seat across from him. “Lucy is a very smart girl. She knows she’s pretty but doesn’t use her looks to gain attention. She lets her personality do that.”
“And Ellie?”
“I think Ellie will be all right. As the Season continues, she will find some friends with whom she has a lot in common. They will help her through the next…”
She trailed, realizing that Ellie might not be here next year.
“Next what?”
“They will help her through for as long as Ellie is here.” Elizabeth looked away from him to the empty fireplace. She didn’t want to think about how lonely it would be here without him and his siblings.
“We should get back,” she whispered.
Will nodded and stood at the same time Elizabeth did. With only a step between them, Elizabeth couldn’t move. One step and she would be back in his arms where she yearned to be. One step and she could kiss him. One step and she might make the same mis—
Suddenly, he moved and brought her into his arms, kissing all thoughts of mistakes out of her head. She wrapped her arms around his neck, desperate to get closer to him. His tongue lashed across her lips, forcing her to open for him.
The velvety roughness of his tongue scraped across hers, sending warmth to her belly. She moved her hips against his, eager to feel his rising manhood. As she moved her hands to his cravat, he clasped her wrists to stop her.
Pulling back, she felt heat scorch her cheeks. How could she have thought he wanted her like this again? She was a foolish woman.
He brought his forehead against her. “You have no idea how much I want to continue this right now. But we cannot.”
Oh, God, he was being the logical one. That was supposed to be her responsibility…and one she had been quite remiss at lately.
“Of course not,” she whispered.
“Elizabeth, if we didn’t have a house full of people”—he paused and looked down at her—“you would be flat out on that sofa right now.”
Her mouth gaped. She swallowed down the lump in her throat.
“We must get back to the ball.”
Elizabeth blinked and understood. People might realize they were missing. “Yes. You go first. I’ll wait here for a few more minutes. Go to the gaming room. Then people in the ballroom will see you leaving there and assume you were in there all along.”
Will gave her a half smile. “You are quite decent at coming up with believable excuses for misbehavior.”
“Just go,” she said, pointing to the door.
After Will left, Elizabeth sat back down in the leather chair. The sound of a throat clearing forced her to look back at the door. Caroline stood in the threshold with a haughty smile on her face.
“You really should be more careful with your reputation, Elizabeth. It is the only thing you have to offer a husband,” Caroline remarked and then turned to leave.
“Caroline, wait!”
Caroline stopped and turned back. “Yes?”
Elizabeth rushed to the door, pulled Caroline fully into the room, and closed the door. “Nothing happened, Caroline. You must believe me.”
Caroline rolled her eyes. “Indeed, Elizabeth. You were alone with a man in a locked study for several minutes. Anything might have happened.”
“Please. Do not tell a soul.” Now she was pleading with the devil.
“I won’t this time. But you must never let this happen again.” Caroline turned on her heels and walked away.
Will closed the door to his bedroom and untied his cravat. Finally, as the first pink rays of dawn stretched forth, the party was officially over. While he should be exhausted and want for nothing more than his bed, he had other things on his mind. He couldn’t forget the image of Elizabeth’s face as he forced himself to push her away this evening.
After kicking off his shoes, he removed his jacket and tossed it on the chair. His valet had retired hours ago at Will’s request. He stopped his movements and glanced at the door. Did he hear a soft footfall outside his room? Or was his mind playing tricks on him?
He strode to the door and flung it open only to find an empty hallway. Damn. The door across from his slowly opened, revealing Elizabeth in her ivory nightgown.
“Is everything all right?” she asked softly.
“I thought I heard something out here.” Will watched as a pink flush tinged her cheeks. Either she had been outside his room or she was just embarrassed at being seen in her nightclothes. He didn’t care. Seeing her standing with the dim candlelight behind her, he wanted her.
And he wanted her now.
Determined to be done with pretending they felt nothing toward each other, he shut his door and walked toward her. Her green eyes widened with each step he took.
“Will?”
“Step back into your room, Elizabeth.”
She blinked and then moved into her room without a word.
Will walked inside, shut, and then locked the door. He turned toward her, praying she wouldn’t turn him away. Unable to move, he stood with his back to the door, transfixed by her beauty.
She raced toward him and then kissed him soundly. “I didn’t have the courage to come to your room,” she said breathlessly. “I wanted to. I walked into the hall but I just couldn’t—”
He cut her off with a searing kiss. Denying his feelings for her for the past week had been hell. As he kissed her, he moved them back toward the bed. He had to get some control before he tossed her on the bed and plunged right into her.
She slowly drew away from his kiss. Staring into his eyes, she whispered, “I want to remove your clothes. I want to see you.”
So much for self-control tonight. “Yes,” he answered, and then stood still waiting for her sensual fingers to touch him.
She started with the buttons on his shirt. As each one popped through the hole, his heart beat a little faster. She reached down to pull his shirt from his breeches. He clenched his fists as her hand innocently brushed the bulge in his trousers.
Closing his eyes, he lifted his arms for her to tug the shirt over his head. She gasped slightly. He opened his eyes to find her staring at his chest. Tentatively, she skimmed her soft hand down his shoulders, down his chest and his stomach, until she reached the first button on his breeches. She stilled her hand for a moment as if uncertain she should continue.
He gave her a smile for encouragement. She pressed her lips together and released the first button. Quickly, all the buttons were undone and he tensed as she slipped his breeches down his legs.
“Oh, my,” she mumbled.
He shook his breeches and undergarments off his ankles and took a step back. “Well?”
Her gaze burned through him, igniting a fire that needed dousing immediately. “I want to touch you,” she whispered.
He grabbed her hand and placed it on his chest. “Then touch.”
As he stood there praying for control, her hand slowly brushed across his nipples. He released a small groan. Encouraged, she slid her hand down until she reached his erection.
“May I?”
“God, yes,” he answered, putting his hand over hers to show her how to touch him.
Her hand slowly stroked him until he knew he had to stop her.
“Elizabeth,” he said softly against her ear. “You need to stop what you’re doing.”
She pulled back. “Am I doing something wrong?”
“
No, darling, far too right.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her night rail off until it landed at her feet.
Her rosy nipples were waiting for his mouth. He lifted her up and carefully placed her on the bed. She moaned as he brushed his tongue across one of her nipples. Feeling her hips move under his, he knew she wanted this as much as he did. He brought her nipple into his mouth and suckled until she squirmed under him.
“Will,” she moaned.
He wanted to hear her moans, feel her writhe, and taste every bit of her. Trailing hot kisses down her belly, he slid between her legs. She stiffened slightly before letting her legs fall apart to him.
Elizabeth almost jumped out of her skin as his mouth stroked her folds. When his tongue slid across her nub, she moaned. How could this man she barely knew touch her in such an intimate manner? And she didn’t mean physically. Only a week ago, she told herself that she could not possibly love him. But now, she wasn’t so certain.
His tongue continued its assault on her, sending her passion soaring. Gradually, the pressure built, the need increased, and she wanted him now.
“Will,” she pleaded. “Please.”
He chuckled softly against her fold. “No, Elizabeth. I want to feel you come against my mouth.”
And as he stroked her again, she did just that. She shook with pleasure, moaned his name, and still wanted more. He shifted his position and gave her exactly what she desired—him. Plunging into her, she gasped with the fullness of him.
“Are you still sore?” he asked.
“No,” she groaned as he slid back out again.
“Elizabeth,” he moaned.
She lifted her legs higher on his hips sending him deeper in to her recesses. Never had she felt something as incredible as being with Will. She wanted this to go on forever. But now she recognized the feeling of pressure building inside her. She closed her eyes and let passion take over.
Digging her fingernails into his back, she was overcome with the sensations. She let go and felt him tremble as his release washed over him. Slowly, he lowered his body down on hers. She felt his erratic breathing on her shoulder.
She knew then that she loved him, and the thought scared her to death. He wasn’t staying here. How could she leave her country? Her friends? The life she had known forever? The words she had said to him replayed in her mind.
If she truly loved you, her father’s wishes would not matter.
And if that were the truth, if Elizabeth loved Will, she should be willing to go wherever he needed to be. No matter how much she wanted to be, she wasn’t a strong woman. Having been raised with servants to tend to her needs all her life, she had no idea how to perform tasks some would consider simple. She couldn’t cook her own meals. Oh, God, she didn’t even know how to light a fire.
She had given herself to a man who needed a woman that she could never be.
He slowly rolled off her and then brought her up against his chest. “You are very quiet,” he murmured.
She only nodded, unable to tell him of her fears. She didn’t even know how he felt about her. She might just be a mistress to him.
A throwaway woman.
“Elizabeth?”
“I’m all right,” she lied. “Just a little tired.” And completely overwhelmed.
She didn’t want to give him up, but what options did she have?
Chapter 17
Will crawled back into his bed before the servants awoke. The last thing he needed was to be caught sleeping in the same bed as Elizabeth. And yet, the idea of always sleeping with her warmed his heart. He lay in bed staring at the coffered ceiling, wondering about his reaction to her.
He had never really been intimate with a lady of quality before because he knew the expectations. While he’d offered Elizabeth marriage after their first tryst, she’d rejected him. Of course, that was due to her believing he still loved Abigail, which he did not.
But he wondered if there could be another reason why she snubbed his offer.
Maybe she had feelings for another man. Somerton came to mind. She never seemed to mind his dances, even if she did call him a scoundrel. Perhaps that was the type of man she preferred, the rake, the scoundrel, the man who would never do the right thing. Some women craved the excitement of that kind of man.
He honestly didn’t believe that of her. She was the one who had warned him about Somerton.
Elizabeth seemed like a softhearted woman who wanted to be around people who loved her. He wondered if he proposed properly what her answer would be this time. Perhaps that was just the thing to do.
The more time he spent with her, the more she was coming to mean to him. He loved her. And the idea seemed slightly mad to him. Only a few months ago, he would have been happy to marry Abigail. Now he was certain she would never have made him as content as Elizabeth.
Now, after only knowing her for a few weeks, he had never felt so sure of anything in his life. He loved her. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
She was a complex woman and he would never get bored with her. There would always be something new to learn about her. And he wanted to be the one to uncover her secrets.
Knowing he would never get back to sleep, he decided on a morning ride to clear his head. When he returned he would sit down and speak with Elizabeth honestly. He would stay in England if that was what it took to get her to marry him.
Marriage.
He had always thought it would be with Abigail. But now, he had no desire for her. The only woman he wanted was Elizabeth. Together, they would make a formidable couple. He would advocate for the rights of the poor within the House of Lords, and she could assist him. She would teach him about the estates and help him understand the importance of being a duke.
This was right.
With his day planned in his head, he rose from his bed ready to face the day. By this evening, he would be betrothed to a wonderful woman whom he would spend the rest of his life loving.
By the time Elizabeth rolled out of bed, it was nearly one in the afternoon. The stiffness between her legs reminded her of why she was so tired. She knew he had left before the servants woke, but she had missed his warmth. She missed the sensation of sleeping with her head on his chest. Moving her head to the other pillow, she inhaled the masculine scent of his soap that remained.
She called her maid for a bath and then sat back down on the bed waiting as the tub filled. Her head tilted to the large bedpost. The footmen trudged into her room weighed down with large buckets of steaming water. She wondered again if she had the courage to do what Will might request. To move away required learning to carry buckets of water, learning how to cook a meal. Learning so much.
Exactly the same issue he had with coming to England. He’d had no idea how to be a duke. But she had expected him to learn everything and fit in just because he’d been born in this country. She had wronged him.
Growing up in America and Canada had taught him valuable lessons. He and his sisters had learned how to be independent, how to do things for themselves. And she had belittled the importance of that education.
She had a lot to apologize for today.
“The water is ready, my lady,” Susan said, waiting for Elizabeth to stand up so she could undress her.
“Thank you, Susan. I would prefer to be alone.”
Susan tilted her head and said, “You don’t wish for me to assist you?”
“Not today.”
“How will you dress?”
How would she? She didn’t even own front lacing stays. Most of her gowns had tiny buttons down the back that she would never be able to reach. With a sigh, she replied, “Come back in thirty minutes and I shall be ready to dress.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Once Susan had departed, Elizabeth removed her gown and slipped into the water. The steaming liquid eased her sore muscles and the tension melted away. If he loved her, they could make this work.
If he loved her!
What
if he didn’t?
He had to, she thought. She loved every thing about him. The way his smile brightened his face and caused his eyes to crinkle. Or the fact that he wanted to do the best thing possible for his siblings, including his stepbrothers. She loved that he cared so deeply for the plight of the poor.
What would Sophie tell her to do? Perhaps she should find out. A quick call on her friend would help her make the right decision. Being a medium, perhaps Sophie would already know if he loved her.
After a quick bath, she dressed and left for Sophie’s house. The short carriage ride was over too quickly. Now she had to figure out what to say to her.
The door opened and her butler smiled down at her. “Good afternoon, Lady Elizabeth.”
“Good afternoon, Hendricks. Is she at home?”
He leaned in closer and said, “She is with Lady Cantwell presently but should be done in about five minutes. Would you prefer to wait?”
“Yes, please.”
She followed Hendricks to the small salon and sat in the wingback chair. A footman brought in tea and Elizabeth poured herself a cup. She grabbed a biscuit, too, and ate her first meal of the day. Hearing voices, she brushed the crumbs off her skirts.
“Good afternoon, Lady Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth rose and bowed to Lady Cantwell.
“That was an exceptional ball last evening. You would have made your mother proud.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Lady Cantwell departed and Sophie entered the room. “What brings you here today…luncheon?”
Sophie looked down at the plate, which had originally held three biscuits, but only one remained.
“I missed breakfast,” Elizabeth admitted with a laugh.
“How was the ball?”
Elizabeth told her all about the party, anything to avoid talking about what she’d come for this afternoon. Finally, there was nothing left to say. “Sophie, I need to ask you a question.”
“Of course.” Sophie sat back against the cushions and stared at her as if she already knew what the question would be. Knowing Sophie’s skills, she most likely did.
“It is about the duke.”
Something Scandalous Page 16
