Page 55 of Much Ado about a Widow

The afternoon and evening flew by for Georgie. She and Elizabeth talked and talked, trying to catch up. By the time Rob found them to tell them to dress for dinner, Georgie had confessed her strong affection for the Marquess of St. Just and the nascent hope that events would work out in their favor. “Being a daughter of the Cross family, I have no reason to hope that Father will break the contract with Lord Travers,” she told Elizabeth as they made their way upstairs to their chambers. “But now knowing Rob as I do, I cannot help but hope. He has a way of making things happen that you do not expect.”

At the door of the guest room, Elizabeth hugged her. “I hope and pray this comes out right for you, my dear. You so deserve your happy ending after all you have endured.”

“Travers certainly could not be deemed a happy ending, could he? I mean, not unless one had a very odd sense of happiness, that is.” Quite the opposite, in fact.

“I imagine so, dear.”

“Here, let me allow you to dress. I will see you at dinner.” Georgie gave her friend a hug and flitted down the corridor, suddenly certain everything would work out, although she had no idea how.

Dinner was lively, with much stimulating conversation, mostly from Lady St. Just, who seemed happy with more unexpected company. Although Georgie tried her best to hold up her end of the conversation, she’d been placed at Rob’s right, and that gentleman monopolized her as much as he could. He also distracted her terribly by holding her hand under cover of the tablecloth in between the courses. Nothing could be more disturbing than having a gentleman rub his thumb across your bare knuckles and not be able to react to it. Of course, she would never complain about such a thing, even if she could. His warm skin on hers kindled a blaze deep within, awakening appetites not meant for a dining room.

After an eternity of such exquisite torture, the marchioness rose, Elizabeth following suit. Georgie attempted to rise, but Rob would not let go of her hand.

“Rob,” she whispered under her breath, all the while smiling and fiddling with her gloves as the other ladies filed out. “You must let go. They will think it peculiar if I stay with the gentlemen.”

“Come with me,” he whispered back. “I’ll just escort your sister to the drawing room, Brack,” he called to Jemmy as they hurried out of the room.

“What has gotten into you, Rob? What are you doing?”

He’d pulled her into the library, now very dimly lit by a single candelabra.

“You are not going to try to frighten me again with that murderous book, are you?” Really, Rob was too ripe and ready by half, as Jemmy used to say. Always kicking up a lark of some sort. “It will not work a second time, my dear.”

Chuckling, he shook his head and shut the door. “No, my love. Far from it.” Pulling her to him, he sank his mouth onto hers, stealing her breath away.

Wave after wave of pulsing pleasure flowed through her, heating her blood until every inch of her burned with need. Need for him. Pressing herself against him fully, she reveled in their closeness, in the rightness of their being together. She’d never believed anyone could make her as happy as Isaac had, but she’d been wrong. When Rob held her in his arms, she wanted nothing more in the world than to stay within their loving circle. Forever and ever, amen.

An urgent bumping, in the vicinity of her nether regions, brought her back to the dim library. Rob had maneuvered them so her back pressed against the wall, and he plastered himself against her, every inch touching from the top of her chest, across her breasts, to her stomach, her hips. The insistent prodding was definitely coming from him—and she could guess why. She didn’t want to tell him this was hardly the time or the place for such antics, but his lips lingered on hers, so sweet . . . “Umm, Rob.”

“Hmm?” Leaving her mouth, he slid his lips down the side of her neck, making shivers cascade down her spine. “Mmm.”

“Mmm, yes, I know. But we really must stop.” Oh, but she didn’t want to.

“I know.” He trailed his lips further down into the décol-letage of her favorite dress.

Except the fichu had somehow gone missing, so he’d buried his face into the V of her breasts. Lord, but it had gotten extremely hot in here. Panting, and with a supreme effort, she pushed at his chest. “Rob, we must stop.”

He sighed, the cool air of his breath wafting over, pebbling her skin where it touched. Then he took a step back. “I’m sorry. This has not gone quite to plan.”

“I don’t mind.” She took his hands and smiled. “Most of our plans have managed to go awry, yet here we are.” Wanting another kiss, she swayed toward him. She could tempt a saint if she put her mind to it, and Rob was certainly no saint, if that kiss was any indication. “Shall we try again?”

“Well, but I had something else in mind, Georgie.” He gazed deeply into her eyes, and she simply melted. “I need you to know I love you. Before anything else happens.”

Heart beating so fast she had to gasp in air, Georgie beamed at him. “I love you too, Rob. More than anything in this world.”

“You do? Truly?” Eyes black with desire, he raised her hands and kissed the palms, his tongue stealing out to touch her flesh.

She shivered at this intimate caress, and a deep yearning to enfold him, to take him into her body, to complete the ritual of love engulfed Georgie. He seemed eager, and so was she. What did anything else matter? “Yes, my love. And if you wish to do it here in the library, then we’d better hurry. I do not want Elizabeth, or your mother, or even worse, Jemmy barging in on us.”

“That might be awkward, true.” Rob squeezed her hands. “Still, I didn’t want to rush through it. This will be a momentous occasion in our lives. I want us to savor it.”

Dear, sweet man. But impractical as most men were. “That is lovely, my dear, but I fear if you want us to savor it, we will have to put it off. They will certainly come in search of us any moment.”

“I cannot wait any longer, my love. I think we will have time.” The love and longing in his face decided her.

“All right.” She dropped his hands and turned her back to him. “Can you manage the laces?”

“What? Why would you want to do that?”