Page 20 of Eliza and the Duke
“What night shall we do it?” she asked.
He was forced to clear the husk from his voice. “Tomorrow. Can you get away?”
“I think so. Should I come here at nine o’clock?”
“No, never come here again.” He let her go and forced space between them. She frowned but didn’t object. He couldn’t decide if she knew what she did to him or not. It was almost as if she was toying with him. He named a street corner near her house. “I’ll pick you up there in a cab and we’ll travel to Whitechapel together. Eleven o’clock.”
“Yes, that makes the most sense. I’ll wear something sensible and plain.”
“Wear your cloak.” He nodded to the black one she wore, the same one she’d worn when they had talked in her bedroom. “You always wear it to cause mischief. Your mother should burn it after.”
She laughed. “She’ll be free of me soon enough.”
He despised thinking of her married to the viscount. She had too much life in her. But it wasn’t his business. He had enough troubles without inviting more.
“Put your money away. I don’t want it.” When she beganto sputter a protest, he added, “Now I have to shower. Get out of here unless you plan to stay and watch.” His fingers went back to the ties of his breeches, and her eyes widened as she followed the movement.
“Of course,” she said, and hurried around him toward the door. “Until tomorrow night.”
He nodded and waited a beat, long enough for her to have left, and turned on the tap. A sluggish stream fell from the spout overhead. He pushed his breeches down, drawers and all, to step into the round porcelain basin. It wasn’t until he did that he realized he hadn’t heard the door close. He glanced behind him to see her staring at his backside. A blush stained her cheeks when he caught her watching him, and she grinned sheepishly as she ducked out the door.
Eleven
Eliza donned her coat andslipped out of the servants’ entrance of Camille’s townhome in Mayfair. She hadn’t dared tell anyone where she was going. She had claimed to have a sore throat and gone to bed early while Jenny and their mother went out to the theater. Even Jenny, who generally went along with her schemes, would have put her foot down for this one.
Like she’d promised, she wore a light merino gown in dark green. It was on the plainer side but had detailed embroidery along the hemline and bodice. They had traded in all of their truly plain clothes in order to look the part of heiresses. She was not wearing any sort of jewelry, and the cloak could be pulled closed to hide other details if necessary.
Approximately ten minutes after leaving home, she arrived at the street corner where they had arranged to meet. The streets were fairly busy, but no one seemed to notice her. There was no sign of Simon yet. She began analyzing the carriages that passed when a man stepped up behind her. She knew itwas him before he’d even said a word. His clean lemon scent wafted to her from behind.
“Where did you come from?” She smiled as she turned to see him. He wore a proper suit and hat, though she noted that it was plainer than what he’d worn escorting her family around.
“Followed you.” He smiled back, giving her a glimpse of his gold eyetooth.
“You followed me?” She hadn’t seen or heard him at all.
He nodded. “I was in the park waiting for you to come out of the house. I didn’t want you to have to walk alone.”
She was touched by his thoughtfulness, and a little annoyed that he thought she needed an escort, but his eyes sparkled down at her, centering her thoughts on him. He wasn’t entirely put off by this night of adventure. Was it possible that he might even enjoy himself? The idea thrilled her for reasons she’d rather not examine.
“Thank you again for coming with me,” she said when he indicated they walk toward a cabstand.
He offered her his arm and they walked like a true couple. The solid strength of him beneath her touch was distracting. It brought back the memory of his long and muscled form as she had last seen him. The pale globes of his buttocks and the powerful muscles of his thighs. She still couldn’t believe her audacity in stealing a peek at him.
“We have to be home before dawn,” he said as they walked.
She was already perturbed that he’d made her wait until eleven. “But surely no one will see me if we stay a little longer.”
He gave a brisk shake of his head as he held out a hand to hail the cab. “The servants will be up at dawn, possibly before. We’re already risking much.”
“We keep city hours. The duchess’s servants won’t be up so early.”
He gave her a look with furrowed brows. “You’ve no idea what it means to run a household, do you? There’s food to fetch, laundry to do, and hearths to clean and light. Most of that before the household is awake.”
She was suitably chastised. She knew how their small household back in New York operated, but they’d only had the one housekeeper and she didn’t live with them all the time.
“You still want to be able to marry your viscount, yes?” he asked, mistaking her silence for a partial retreat before she redoubled her attack.
The mention ofhimmade her stomach churn unpleasantly. She didn’t want him intruding on her night out. “I understand.” Simon was right. She was already taking a risk by going out with him. It was foolish to think she could extend the evening further into tomorrow.
