Page 49 of An Earl Like You
She nodded. “I cannot bear to banish Willy entirely, but there is a boy who works in Papa’s stables, the son of our head groom. He’s very good with dogs, especially Willy. If I wrote to Papa and asked him, I feel certain he would let Angus come to us and keep Willy occupied and out of everyone’s way. If you approve,” she finished a bit uncertainly.
Hugh’s eyebrows went up. “I do approve. That is a very clever thought, Lady Hastings.”
Her answering smile beamed with happiness. “I want very much to endear myself to your sisters. Not even Willy shall get in the way. And when Edith is married, Angus can return to Greenwich, if we no longer need him.”
It was like a bucket of ice water in his face. Hugh gathered her close, lowering his face to her bosom. This dress gave a splendid view of her breasts, and he pressed a kiss there, right over her heart. He had spent far too much time today thinking about Edith’s marriage, failing before it began, and not enough time thinking about his own marriage, which was turning out to suit him better and better each day.
“Enough about all that,” he said. “Have you spent any time today thinking of ways to keep your husband occupied?”
“Hmm.” She arched her back as he ran his tongue over her skin. “I worked on a plan of refurbishment for this room. I hope to show it to your mother soon.”
Hugh made a murmur of agreement. Eliza could refurbish the entire house if it made peace with his mother. He slid one hand up to cover her breast. “Perhaps you couldstartthinking of your husband?”
Her hands were tangled in his hair. She moved to straddle him, giving him better access to her bosom. “I think of him all day long,” she said breathlessly. “I have to distract myself with upholstery and drapery fabrics to keep from pining away without him.”
Hugh gave a guttural laugh. It was surprising how much he wanted her, how intoxicating it was that she was in his lap, rocking back and forth without any inhibition whatsoever.
“Have you thought of me?” she whispered, her hands soft and teasing on his neck.
“Yes.” At the moment, she was all he could think of. “Rather longingly.”
“Let me satisfy your longings, then.” Her hand slid down his chest and tugged at the buttons of his trousers.
Hugh sucked in his breath. “Lady Hastings,” he managed to say. “Where did you learn this behavior?”
She blushed. “Sophie told me. Do you like it?”
For answer he pushed up her skirts and made love to her right there on the sofa, holding her astride his lap and showing her how to ride him. It was hard and fast and over too soon, but as she shuddered in his arms, Hugh clasped her to his chest and had just one thought:
What a damned stroke of luck that he’d married her.
Chapter 20
Eliza went down to breakfast full of determination.
As before, she heard voices in the breakfast room. As before, she went in with a smile on her face. “Good morning,” she said, this time without hesitation. She belonged here now. She was the Countess of Hastings, even if it still made her head spin to think so, and in the few days since her wedding, she had remembered something Sophie once told her:everyone else will believe your pose if you do.
Today she thought she understood the animosity in Edith’s face. Henrietta gave her a tentative smile, which was progress, and Lady Hastings bowed her head. “Good morning, dear.”
Eliza took her seat at the foot of the table and turned directly to Edith. “I want to apologize again for my dog,” she said earnestly. “He wasn’t trying to bite you, only to grab your reticule. That is not an excuse,” she added as Edith’s expression turned hostile. “It was wrong of him, and I only say it to assure you that he is not a danger to anyone. Only to reticules with intriguing little things dangling off them.”
Henrietta stifled a smile, and Eliza’s spirits soared. “I also want you to know I plan to keep Willy well out of your way,” she told Edith.
“How?” the girl asked stiffly. “Are you sending him back to Greenwich?”
“No, I’ve asked my father to send Angus, a boy from the stables there who is good with Willy. It will be his job to look after the dog.” She looked at the dowager. “I’ve spoken to Cook, Mrs. Greene, and Wilkins about it. Willy will still sleep in my chamber, and Angus will sleep in the old nursery, where he can fetch him easily and without disturbing anyone.”
The older woman glanced at Edith, her brows raised. Edith lowered her gaze to her plate and murmured, “Thank you.”
“Of course,” cried Eliza in relief. “We are sisters now, Edith.”
Somehow that was the wrong thing to say. Edith’s spine stiffened, and she gave the barest nod without meeting Eliza’s gaze.
She swallowed a burst of frustration. She wanted so much to be cordial, if not friendly, with Edith and had no idea what she was doing wrong. She would have to be patient, it seemed.
“Lady Hastings.” She turned to her mother-in-law. “Hugh told me this house hasn’t been decorated in quite a while.”
The other woman’s face froze. “No,” she murmured.
