Page 37 of An Earl Like You
Her heart was pounding a thousand times a minute. Scarcely able to believe it was real, she rested one hand on his hair. The dark curls were damp. With a sense of incredulity, she realized what she’d done; she was his, and he was hers. Consummating the marriage before the wedding made it binding.
A silly smile formed on her lips. Hastings lifted his head, gorgeously rumpled, and his mouth quirked with satisfaction. “My lady,” he said, his lips brushing hers.
“My lord,” she said, still shocked it was so.
“Hugh.” He kissed her harder. “My name is Hugh.”
She knew that, of course. She’d looked it up after the first day he walked with her in the garden. “Hugh,” she repeated tenderly.
His smile was intimate and knowing. “I shall speak to your father immediately about setting a date for the wedding.”
Eliza flushed from head to toe. He must have guessed what was going through her mind, for he pressed one finger to her lips. “Only about the wedding,” he said firmly. “Not a word about this.”
She beamed at him in gratitude. He levered himself upright and Eliza felt cold without his body atop hers, inside hers. He fished out a handkerchief and pressed it gently between her legs. She blushed scarlet when he took it away spotted with blood.
“Let me clean it,” she said, reaching for it as she shoved down her skirts.
He only winked and folded it into his pocket. “Proof that you’re mine and mine alone.” As before he helped fix the top of her dress, taking every chance to touch her breasts. Eliza wondered in a daze how soon they could be married, and he could make love to her yet again.
He tucked his shirt back in and buttoned his trousers, almost entirely as he was before except for his charmingly rumpled hair. Eliza dared to reach out and smooth some of the wayward curls down, and he let her. A thrill of happiness shot through her; as his wife, she would be able to touch him whenever she liked.
“Shall we go back?” He offered his arm.
Eliza didn’t want to. For one thing, she knew she looked a fright, with her dress crumpled and her hair mussed, to say nothing of the glowing smile on her face. Her belly throbbed with every move she made. Instead of going back to the house, she wanted to stay here, in this sheltered little world where it was just the two of them. Hugh might hold her and kiss her and make love to her again, and this time she would be ready for it...
“Eliza?” He was waiting, watching her quizzically.
She blushed and told herself not to be a ninny. She put her hand on his arm very properly, as if she hadn’t just given herself to him on a chaise in the folly, and let him lead her back to the house. After all, they would have years and years to make love to each other, and be in love, and live happily every after.
Chapter 15
Hugh wasted no time sending word to Edward Cross that his suit had been accepted, and he wished to set a date for the wedding. Now that the deed was done, there was no reason for delay.
He also asked Cross to advance him ten thousand pounds of Eliza’s dowry. Benwick had grown annoying, and it was time to settle things with him. Edith had refused to speak to him since the day Eliza came to tea, and Hugh hoped that a happy engagement of her own would soften her feelings toward her future sister-in-law.
The first part of the plan went smoothly. Cross responded at once, suggesting a date less than a fortnight hence for the wedding and saying that his solicitors would forward the funds at once. He closed the note with an insouciant wish for Lady Edith’s happiness. Hugh scowled at that. He was tired of Cross interfering in his life, and felt an overwhelming urge to keep his mother and sisters away from the man.
The last step was telling his family. His mother knew as soon as he came into the room; he could tell by her face. His sisters looked at him in surprise, since he didn’t usually join them for breakfast.
“Hugh!” Henrietta jumped up and dashed across the room to give him a hug. “What a surprise!”
“Good morning to you, too,” he said with a laugh. “Why so surprised? Never be astonished by a man wanting breakfast, Hen. Even the best of brothers must eat sometimes.” He took his seat as his mother poured a cup of coffee and a footman set a plate in front of him. “Good morning, Mother.”
His mother’s smile was a little strained. “Good morning, dear.”
“Good morning, Edith,” he said pointedly to his other sister, whose attention had returned to her breakfast.
“Good morning, Lord Hastings,” she said coolly, her attention on her eggs.
“Edith,” murmured their mother.
Henrietta glanced at her sister’s set face, then turned to Hugh, determinedly cheerful. “When will Edith’s wedding be, Hugh? I long to have a new gown for it, but Mother says there may be no need this Season. That cannot be right—Mr. Benwick is so eager to marry her, surely you won’t make them wait until next year.”
“As it happens,” Hugh told her, “I have just sent a message to Mr. Benwick this morning, arranging an appointment with the solicitors.” Edith’s head jerked up, and she gave him a wide-eyed look. “As to new gowns, I have no opinion on that, but if you can have one made quickly—” He stopped because Edith had leapt from her chair with a shriek of delight and run to throw her arms around his neck.
“Thank you, Hugh, thank you!” She kissed his cheek. “I will write to Reggie immediately. Mother, shall we have the wedding here? Or is there time to get St. George’s?”
The countess took a sip of her tea. “You may send an inquiry to the church. I suppose it depends on what Mr. Benwick wants.”
