Page 73 of The Sea Siren of Broadwater Bottom
Without warning, he flipped her onto her back and came to rest on top of her, pinning her to the mattress. “But right now, I have a more pressing concern.”
She gave a startled giggle. “Oh?”
He caressed her breasts with both of his hands. “It’s just that, earlier, you displayed such a thorough understanding of Ovid.”
“Did I?” Her voice had taken on a breathy quality.
He slid down far enough to press kisses against her breast. “You did. And it is so rare for me to have the opportunity to analyze Ovid with a scholar whose level of understanding matches my own.” He moved over to lave her other breast with his tongue.
“Is that so?” Her breath was growing labored.
He glanced up at her and found her pink and panting. “And what’s more, you now know of my competitive nature. You have gifted me with two climaxes, while I have only given you one. That simply will not do. I must therefore beg your indulgence as I explore a few of Ovid’s suggestions in more depth.”
Her head fell back against the pillow, making a softthunk. “I will allow you to make your argument. But make no mistake—this competition is not over. I intend to return fire.”
In the end, it was a tie. But for the first time in his life, Edward didn’t mind.
CHAPTER27
As the first glimmer of dawn broke through the window, Edward slipped reluctantly from Elissa’s bed. She made a sleepy sound of protest, but he forced himself to go. As much as he longed to linger, he couldn’t risk discovery by the servants, who would soon be starting their morning tasks. He padded silently back to his own room, thankfully encountering no one.
He would’ve liked to do something he never did, which was sleep until noon, but as the contest was to be held the following day, they needed to depart for Oxford that morning.
After a scant three hours of sleep, he piled into the carriage along with Elissa and Cassandra. His and Elissa’s exhaustion was such that they slept for most of the bumpy carriage ride and were awakened by Cassandra only as they pulled into the yard of the Angel Inn where they had reserved rooms.
Edward arranged for them to sup in a private dining room. While Cassandra was busy speaking to the proprietress about the available fare, Elissa stole up beside Edward. “Do you want me to come to your room tonight?” she whispered.
He had to tamp down his reaction, given that her sister was just across the room. He murmured, “As much as I would like that, it’s probably unwise.”
She nodded. “You’re right. We need to get a good night’s sleep before the contest.”
“I was thinking more of the risk to your reputation were we to be discovered.”
“I suppose there’s that, too. I was just thinking it was a good opportunity. We probably won’t have many chances to make love in an actual bed.” At Edward’s quizzical look, she added, “We’ll have to be clandestine in our future meetings. I’ll leave the house on the pretense of reading outdoors, as I often do. You’ll ride out and meet me in some glen. More often than not, we’ll probably be making love on the forest floor.”
Making love on the forest floor.For God’s sake. Edward rubbed at his forehead. “Can’t we please just get married? I want to spend every day with you. I want you in my bed every night. I don’t want to see you a scant few times a month and make love to you on the forest floor, throwing ourselves upon the dubious mercies of the English weather.”
“I wish we could, Edward. Truly, I do. But—”
Cassandra suddenly appeared at her sister’s side. “Mrs. Spencer recommended the roast goose in oyster sauce, so I took the liberty of ordering it. Will that be acceptable, my lord?”
“That will be lovely. Thank you, Mrs. Gorten.”
The conversation moved on, but really, there was no need for Elissa to finish her sentence. The wordbuttold him everything he needed to know. She still could not marry him, not even after what they had shared last night, because marrying him would force her to give up everything she loved and become someone she was not. And he couldn’t fail his family by being anything other than the perfect future earl.
He gave a tight smile as a servant appeared bearing the first course. In truth, he was worrying about nothing, because by this time tomorrow, he would no doubt have ruined everything.
* * *
The following morning,Edward made his way to their private dining room at the Angel Inn and found Elissa and Cassandra already inside. In spite of her sister’s entreaties to sit and eat, Elissa was pacing the room, wringing her hands and looking as green as her dress, which was the same woolen one she had worn to the dance.
Edward managed to choke down some coffee and toast, then they made the short walk to Oriel College, which had lent its hall to host the contest. Cassandra accompanied them as far as the quadrangle, then turned to her sister. “They won’t let me in since I’m not competing, so I’ll leave you here.” She took Elissa’s hands. “You can do this, Elissa. You belong here. You do,” she insisted when Elissa’s hands began to tremble. “And whatever the result, I will be so very proud of you.”
Cassandra kissed her sister on the cheek and then stepped back, wiping her eyes. She turned to Edward. “I wish you good fortune as well, my lord,” she said, then turned and headed back toward the inn.
Edward offered Elissa his arm and they proceeded across the quadrangle. He tried to admire the gabled buildings that made up the courtyard, but his thoughts were frayed.
Across the lawn, a familiar diminutive figure with wheat-blond hair and spectacles was approaching hall’s porticoed entrance. Edward’s shoulder gave a sudden spasm.Robert Slocombe. He’d known Slocombe would have received an invitation, had fully expected him to be here, but seeing him in the flesh sent his pulse racing.
