Page 15 of Harrowing Hall
Desperate to bemarried to Maude yet eager to ensure Jane and Hugh’s happiness, Blake saw to it that the two of them were discreetly brought to his study. Where most would keep their woman out of such matters, Maude would, for the most part, only ever be by his side when it came to matchmaking.
“Is it true then?” he asked once everyone had sat. He looked from Jane to Hugh. “Are you in love? Do you wish to marry?”
It was clear Hugh was startled by Blake and Maude’s involvement in this, but that did not keep him from nodding and saying, “Verra much so,” at nearly the same time as Jane.
“Then here is what I propose.” Blake nodded once at Hugh. “While I know you are successful in your own right, I will provide the dowry Lady Jane’s father does not have, so you will be well set to care for her.”
“My lord, that isquitegenerous.” Hugh shook his head. “But I cannot take your money. If we are able to marry, I will see to Jane—”
“Yet youwilltake my money because Jane is my dear friend.” He smiled her way. “Consider it my wedding gift once the banns are read.”
“Thank you so much, my lord,” Jane gushed, her loving gaze on Hugh until she recalled they had a hurdle to get over first. She sighed and shook her head at Blake. “Banns that will be contested by my father, for he will never agree to me marrying beneath my station.”
“We shall see about that.” He looked at her with reassurance. “After all, I intend to make him an offer I doubt he will refuse.” Wanting to get down to business right away so he could enjoy the evening with Maude, he ushered them to the door. “Enjoy the ball but not each other just yet. I will let you know how things go soon.”
“Thank you,” they both said profusely, hope in their eyes as he closed the door behind them.
“Just when I think I could not love you any more, you do something like that.” Maude joined him. “That was exceptionally generous, Blake.” Her brows puckered. “Can you afford such, though?”
“Aye.” While tempted to reel her into his arms and kiss her, he knew if he did, he would not be able to stop himself. Between her wanting to bear his children and the way she had felt against him dancing, it would be easy to enjoy her now while they were alone. Especially with two plush sofas nearby. He could simply lay her back on one and show her how he could make her feel. How they could make each other feel.
“Now, as much as I detest saying it, I must see to something you cannot attend.” He squeezed her hand rather than touch her more intimately. “Lady Jane’s father is a miserable fellow and would not respond well to a lass being present during our discussion.”
“I understand.” She squeezed his hand back, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed his cheek before resting her hand on his chest. “I appreciate you allowing me to join you when you spoke with Jane and Hugh.”
“Of course.” He tried, he really did, but having her close, her sweet scent all around him, was more than he could bear, so he pulled her against him. “I will keep you by my side as often as I can,mo leannan.” He brushed his lips across hers. “Always if I could.”
“I know,” she whispered, surprising him with her boldness when she pulled his mouth back to hers and kissed him so passionately that he lost himself.
“Maude,” he groaned against her lips, walking her back until her backside hit his desk. “We should not.”
Yet he swiped everything aside, hoisted her up, stepped between her thighs, and kept kissing her. To hell with the sofas. Right here would do. He needed her blindly. To finally feel all of her. Feast his eyes on her soft, flawless flesh. Sink deep inside her.
“Blake,” she moaned when he pressed himself against her center. There might be several layers of material in between, but he felt how hot she was for him. How ready. All he needed to do was pull up her skirts and lift his plaid.
And he nearly did, had Finley not rapped on the door.
“Bloody hell,” he muttered, resting his forehead against Maude’s. “Thank God.” When she appeared wounded, he pulled away, adjusted her dress, and explained. “This is not how I mean to have you the first time,mo leannan.”He cupped her cheeks and made sure she understood. “When I have you, love you beyond what I feel in my heart, it will be in our bed and done right. A moment you will never forget.”
“I think it is safe to say I would not have forgotten this moment.” Her eyes were bright with desire, yet she smiled demurely. “So, I do hope at some point,” she glanced from his desk to several furnishings in his study, “we will be able to enjoy other less formal areas.”
While Maude might seem a great many things to most people, he knew sensual was not one of them. He had spied it right off, though. She had a lust for everything life had to offer, and he suspected intimacy would soon be at the top of her list based on how good they felt together.
When a rap came at the door again, he knew it was time.
“That would be Finlay.” He helped adjust her mask when she put it back on. “Will you be all right without me for a bit?”
“Absolutely.” Fresh excitement lit her eyes. “I look forward to going outside and enjoying the festivities.”
“Good, I will join you soon enough.” He dropped a soft kiss on her lips one last time. “And I do so hope you enjoy what I suppose I must call your first official wedding gift.” When she arched her brows in curiosity, he opened the door and grinned at his butler. “When you are ready to step outside, Finlay will see you receive it.”
She smiled at Blake in thanks, then turned an equally warm smile his butler’s way. “Then I shall see you soon, my dear friend.”
Finlay met her smile and nodded as she made her way back to the ball.
“Will His Grace be joining me soon?” he asked Finlay.
“HisGraceis already here,” Jacob said, mocking his own title. He had been sitting in a chair in the shadows. “Waiting patiently while you see to the lovely Miss Maude.” His friend chuckled when he entered and spied everything swept aside on Blake’s desk. Once the door was shut, he grinned. “And seeing to her quite well it seems, old chap.”
