Page 69 of The Duke's Unclaimed Bride
He helped her to sit up, picked up her petticoat and dress from the floor, and helped her redress.
“Do I look presentable?” she asked with a smirk.
He grimaced. “I chose my words poorly earlier.”
“What did you mean to say?” she asked as she smoothed down her dress.
He winced and kissed her cheek. “Gorgeous, beautiful, ravishing. Almost any word would have been a better fit for your beauty.”
“Well, say what you mean to me from now on.”
“I will try,” he said softly. “Now, come on. We can’t have anyone know that I took my wife in the host’s library.”
He put his hand on her lower back and led her toward the ballroom.
“Your Grace! You’re back!” Tilly cried out as she rushed down the stairs into Edith’s arms.
“Tilly! You should be asleep!”
“Some things never change.” Laurence chuckled.
“Was the ball fun? Did you dance with lots of people? Were there lots of other ladies with pretty dresses?” Tilly rattled off questions like bullets from a chamber.
“Slow down, young lady,” Edith laughed, carrying her back upstairs. “I can only answer one question at a time.”
“But I have so many things I want to ask!”
“Well, first of all, yes, I did have fun, but I only danced with a few people.”
“Was one of them His Grace?” Tilly asked, her eyes wide with excitement.
Edith’s cheeks flushed a deep red. “Yes,” she said as she helped Tilly into bed.
“I knew it!” Tilly giggled and clapped her hands.
“Excuse me?” Edith asked with a raised eyebrow.
“You both looked so happy tonight, I knew you must have danced together!” Tilly gushed.
Edith snorted and covered her mouth. “Something like that,” she said, her shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.
“When am I going to be able to attend a ball like that?” Tilly asked with a pout.
“You could attend one of the smaller balls?—”
“I want to watch you both dance!”
From the hallway, Edith heard Laurence laugh and cover it by clearing his throat.
Tilly pouted and folded her arms. “Why are you both laughing?” she mumbled indignantly.
“You’ll understand when you’re older.” Edith smiled. “Come on, it’s time for bed.”
Tilly nodded but held her pout as Edith told her a story. The pout started to fade only when she fell asleep. Edith smiled, tucking her in a little tighter before standing up.
Her body still hummed with delicious aftershocks, and her mind raced with images of what she and Laurence had done. Truly, it was a miracle they hadn’t been caught. She just hoped that Laurence wouldn’t pull away from her again.
Her heart ached at the mere thought.
