Page 89 of Marriage Most Scandalous
“Course you didn’t.”
“I’m bloody well glad that you love me, Maggie.”
“Don’t need to hear me say it, eh?”
“No, no more than you do, though if you feel like saying it, I won’t try to stop you.”
She laughed. “Course I do, you dratted man.”
He rejoined her on the bed, gathered her close. His kiss was exquisitely gentle but quickly turned remarkably passionate, kindling the fire between them. Amazing how easily he could do that.
“God, Maggie, I never thought I would ever feel this kind of happiness again. I do love you, m’dear, more than I thought possible to love anyone.”
She could make him even happier, she realized, and said, “I should mention—”
“It can wait,” he replied, stripping them quickly of the rest of their clothing between his kisses. “We’ve an appointment at Edge-wood, but that can wait, too. Everything will have to wait—on this.”
He entered her as he said it, catching her gasp of pleasure with his mouth. That “appointment” at Edgewood might have stirred an inkling of curiosity in her, but he was quite right. That and everything else could wait.
Chapter 53
MARGARET HAD NEVER BEEN SO RUSHEDin all her life. Not during the lovemaking. Oh, no, that had been sublimely paced, well, actually, the extent of her passion had dictated a rather swift conclusion that caused her a few blushes afterward. Nothing could have slowed that down, however, when they were both so hungry for each other.
But while she’d wanted to lie there and savor what had just occurred, Sebastian mumbled something under his breath and to her. “There wasn’t time for this. I rode ahead, but we’re still going to be late. Hurry.”
She tried, she really did, but not knowing what the urgency was about, she couldn’t muster the haste he wanted. “If you could just sum up in a single statement what—”
“No, you’d have a hundred questions when there’s no time for any. Besides, you’ll have all those answers shortly, so hurry!”
He was putting on his clothes nearly as fast as he’d removed them. He ended up helping her with hers, getting her back into the sapphire riding habit since it was closest at hand on the foot of her bed. But one button wasn’t aligned and she had no stockings on under her boots when he was dragging her out the door!
He’d already told someone to bring her horse back from the stable. Now that was disappointing. She’d thought she’d at least have an opportunity to get something out of him during the coach ride, but galloping across the fields allowed for no conversation of any sort.
By the time Edgewood was in sight, she was lagging behind. A coach was seen moving up the drive. Sebastian still didn’t stop until he was at the front door. He did wait for her there, though, and helped her dismount.
“We’re in time, after all,” he told her. “Surprising after that delay you caused us.”
“Me!” she sputtered. “I didn’t pounce on you, you dratted man.”
“But you wanted to.”
“Beside the point,” she said with a snort.
He smiled and caressed her cheek. “I promise, the next time we’re in your bed, you won’t be leaving it for hours, possibly days.”
Margaret blushed furiously because that coach had stopped behind them and John and Timothy could have heard what Sebastian had just said as they alighted from it. They gave no indication, though, as they both greeted her warmly. And she was then distracted by the others who stepped down from the coach after them, three men, two of them somewhat official looking, wearing caps similar to those she had seen on French gendarmes.
Someone else was still in the coach, a mere shadow, but Henry had already opened the front door and was saying, “Welcome back, sir. The family is having luncheon.”
“All of them?” Sebastian asked.
“For a change, yes.”
“Splendid. No need to announce us.”
Sebastian took Margaret’s arm and escorted her straight to the dining room. The others followed. Without a word, he pulled out a chair for her, sat her down, then took the chair next to her.
Timothy went straight to Abigail and gave her a hug. The old girl beamed. Margaret understood now why Abigail had still been moping, even though she’d finally made up with Douglas after he’d confessed to her what he’d told Margaret. She’d grown quite fond of Timothy while he’d been there.
