Page 92 of A Duke for Diana
Clutching her to him, he kissed her bold chin and firm jaw, which showed her strength . . . and the rapidly beating pulse at her throat, which showed her vulnerability. A sudden flood of peace washed over him as she nuzzled his hair and his temples, her breathing still quick, but the pulsing of her muscles down below slowing.
She drew back from him with a contented smile. “Now, aren’t you glad you brought me along?”
“Gladder than you can possibly know. I wish I could remove your gown and take down your hair. I still haven’t seen you that way.”
“You know you can’t.” When she smoothed back his hair, he smelled her strawberry scent, but mixed with something else. Jasmine? He couldn’t be sure.
“You always smell so good,” he said.
“So do you.” She sighed. “I brought my sponge in my bag. But I forgot to use it again.”
He chuckled. “Why do you think so many women have so many children when some of them know how to prevent it?” He tilted his pelvis up against her. “Because we randy fellows are so good at this that we make you forget.” Then he sobered. “I love you, my sweet goddess Diana.”
“I love you, too, Your Grace.” When he frowned, she released a peal of laughter. “I love you, Geoffrey Brookhouse, whether you’re a duke or an engineer of bridges or an ironmaster. Although some day you’ll have to tell me what an ironmaster is.”
In that moment, he realized she hadn’t said she loved him until now. Well, he might have taken her love for granted in the past hour, but he would never take it for granted again.
Past hour? Damn. The hour was up.
The carriage was already slowing as it approached the inn where they would change horses. “Better get back into your seat, Diana. It may take you a few moments to straighten your clothes.”
“Oh,” she said dreamily. Then her eyes went wide as she, too, could feel the slowing. “Oh! Damn.” Throwing herself onto the seat across from him, she started putting her clothes into some semblance of order.
He laughed as he wiped himself with a handkerchief and restored his clothing to its former state. “I see I’m having a very bad influence on you.”
She tucked in her fichu with a saucy smile. “No more than I’m having on you.”
Only with difficulty did he resist the urge to sweep her back onto his lap. “I need to get out when we stop,” he said. “We have to make sure we’re on the same road as they are.”
She nodded and patted her hair. “Do I look all right?”
“Yes. You look like a woman who has been well-pleasured by a stalwart fellow.”
“Geoffrey!”
“I’m joking, I swear! You look fine. Why?”
“I want to go to the necessary while we’re stopped, that’s why.”
“Just don’t take too long. We don’t know how far ahead of us they might be.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Diana returned to the carriage feeling a bit more presentable. She had sprinkled strawberry water on the pertinent places and dabbed on some of the precious Floris Jasmine scent she’d bought the week before. She only hoped that if . . .whenthey caught up to Winston and Rosy, nothing of her and Geoffrey’s behavior showed. It would be hard to lecture the pair if she and Geoffrey smelled of sex.
She wasn’t terribly surprised to find Geoffrey still talking with the ostler as she approached.
“Here she is, sir.” Geoffrey pressed a coin into the man’s palm. “Thank you for your help.”
Once they were back in the carriage and on their way, she asked, “Any news?”
“We’re not as far behind them as I feared, perhaps even as little as an hour apart.”
She let out a breath. “What a relief. Surely we can catch up to them if that’s the case.”
“I should hope so. And they are indeed in a rented post chaise, so it’s good to have that confirmed, too.”
“Who did you tell the ostler thatwewere?”
