Page 106 of The Earl Takes All
Ashebury looked as though he were contemplating what he might gain by throttling her.
“She’s quite right,” Minerva announced, coming to her feet. “We should be off.”
Ashe pointed a finger at her. “Send word as soon as he gets here.”
Minerva wrapped her hand around his finger. “It’s rude to point, dear.”
“I want to know that he’s all right.”
“I’ll send word,” Julia assured him.
He still seemed somewhat disgruntled as he escorted the ladies out.
Julia waited half an hour before ordering a footman to have a carriage readied.
He’dknown she would figure out where he was... eventually. At half past nine she walked in to the library of the residence he’d begun leasing last year. He rose from his chair beside the fire. “I have brandy waiting for you.”
He’d already set a glass for her on the table beside the chair opposite his.
She touched his cheek, held his gaze. “Why did you do it?”
“I told you that I would set matters right.”
“But so publicly and in front of all your peers.”
“It was the only way to protect you and Allie, to be seen as a weasel. Since according to my tale you only just discovered you are in mourning, there’s no reason for you to remain in London. As a matter of fact, to give credence to my story, it would be best if I returned the mourning widow to Evermore posthaste. People will expect you to go into seclusion. I can come back here later to face the piper.”
Rising up on her toes, she feathered the hair back from his temple. “I don’t believe I’ve ever loved you more.”
And then she kissed him.
Banding his arms around her, he held her tightly, angling his head so he could take the kiss deeper. He was going to miss this: the taste of her, the feel of her tongue, the press of her lips. The little mewling sounds she made before the passion took hold and she began moaning in earnest.
When she drew back, she settled in the chair, lifted her glass. “To my wolf.”
He wasn’t feeling much like a wolf. Still, he sat, took a sip of his scotch.
“Ashebury is worried about you,” she said, setting her glass—barely touched—aside.
“That’s why I came here. Knew he would seek me out, remind me that he had urged me months ago to reveal the truth of my deception. Didn’t want to hear him gloating about being right.”
“He wasn’t gloating. I believe he’s genuinely concerned that you’re in need of a friend.”
All he needed was her, and he could no longer have her. “Was he the one who told you?”
“No, I was visited by three duchesses.”
“Ashebury and—” He arched a brow.
“Lovingdon and Avendale.”
“Ah, yes.”
“I won’t leave London and have you face them all alone. I’ll stand by you and confirm whatever details of the story you told.”
He didn’t want her here for the Season, the scandal. She was safe but he wasn’t going to be welcomed anywhere for a while.
“Let me take you to Evermore. I won’t stay in London. I’ll go on to another estate. By the time you’re officially out of mourning this will all be forgotten.”
