Page 125 of His Grace, the Duke
“Meet us in the box,” he replied, his eyes scanning the crowd. “Make sure all is ready.”
Rosalie entered the room a few moments later, arm in arm with Blanche. She caught his eye and smiled, her dark eyes sparkling. He slipped through the crowd to stand beside her, looping her arm in with his. “If you want to follow me, Miss Harrow, I can take you up to the duke’s box.”
“We’re all the guests of the marchioness tonight, silly,” Blanche said with a laugh.
“There is not enough room for us all in Lady Marlborough’s box,” he replied. “The duke is graciously opening his own box for a few of us stragglers. Do go on, though, Blanche. I believe Mariah is waiting at the stairs.”
She glanced over her shoulder, giving Mariah an enthusiastic wave, before turning back around. “Oh, but I would hate for you to feel left out,” she said to Rosalie.
“Don’t worry about me,” she replied. “I am such a fan of opera that I may prefer to sit wedged between Mr. Burke and the lieutenant. I can only imagine they will have little to say on the performance and will leave me to enjoy it in peace.”
Mariah twittered a laugh. “Very well then. You’re not to distract her, Mr. Burke,” she said with a warning look.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he replied, letting Rosalie feel the slide of his hand along her arm. She stiffened, losing nothing of his meaning.
Mariah darted away and Burke crowed with victory, leading Rosalie in the opposite direction.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Rosalie murmured. “Or will I have to guess?”
As they ascended the stairs, he placed a hand on her back and leaned in. “You are still owed a punishment for your behavior last week. You wouldn’t let me take it out on James. That price has yet to be paid.”
Her lips parted in surprise.
“Running off with James, sneaking out of windows, calling yourself the other woman... You have much to answer for, little siren.”
She glanced around. “Burke, you cannot possibly mean to do somethinghere.”
“The punishment is mine to collect when and how I see fit,” he growled in her ear. “Now, keep walking. The sooner I get you up the stairs, the sooner I can get you out of that dress.”
59
Rosalie
They entered theduke’s private box and Rosalie spun around, raising a hand to Burke. “You cannot be serious. This is madness, even for you.”
He locked the door, leaning against it. “Your dress. Take it off.”
She sucked in a breath, turning away from him to take in the features of the box. It was tiny, with little more than a plush green settee and two chairs. A drink cart sat in one corner. A screen sat in the other to be used for privacy.
The thrum of the growing audience echoed all around. Nothing but a heavy curtain separated them from the front of the box where the opera could be watched. It was pulled closed, leaving them in a semi-darkness lit only by a candelabra on the table and two wall-mounted sconces set with silver reflecting plates.
She spun back around, heart in her throat. “Burke, someone will hear us.”
“Nothing happens until the opera starts,” he said with a wicked grin. “Then the audience will be so enraptured withthe delightful overture ofDie Zauberflötethat they will not hear your whimpers and moans. The dress. Take it off.”
She swallowed, heat pooling inside her. “It fastens in the back,” she whispered. “I cannot reach it.”
His smile widened. “Then Tom will have to help you.”
She glanced over her shoulder with a start to see Tom standing at the curtain’s edge. He always looked so handsome in his naval uniform. It set off the narrow cut of his hips. He stepped forward, giving his black cravat a tug as he moved. “Did Burke tell you the plan?”
He came up behind her, pressing his front to her back. She could already feel the hardness of his cock on her hip. His fingers brushed down the line of her spine to the top of her dress. With a few deft pinches along the seam, he opened it.
She sighed with need as he grazed his lips over her exposed shoulders, tracing them up the curve of her neck. He flicked the sheer sleeves off her shoulders, letting the heavy beaded gown slink to the floor. She spun around in his arms, and he claimed her mouth with a hungry kiss. She melted into him, clutching the lapels of his uniform coat.
From the stage came the warning notes announcing that the opera was about to start.
“It’s time to get into position,” Burke said, leaving his sentry post by the door. Like Tom, he was quickly unraveling his cravat.
