Chapter 14 #2
When they returned from the park, it was rather late, so Elizabeth had little time to get ready for the evening at the theater. She hurried over to the armoire and chose a white crepe dress trimmed in gold. She had the maid weave gold cords through her hair, to bring out the accent of her gown.
Once she had dressed, she found Tiffany and Jonathan waiting for her downstairs. Jonathan was dressed in a wine-colored coat and waistcoat. His shirt was snow-white, as was his neck cloth. He looked every bit the aristocrat that he was.
Tiffany wore a stunning, violet-colored dress trimmed in cream lace. The crepe dress hung loosely from under the bust and concealed her pregnancy nicely. Her blond hair was swept to the side and she looked lovely.
Once they were in the carriage, Tiffany and Jonathan carried the conversation while Elizabeth stared out the window at the gas lamps, wondering what tonight would bring.
She also couldn’t shake the odd feeling she’d had this afternoon that someone was watching her. She was just nervous, she supposed.
When they reached Bow Street, the carriages were again backed up to get into Covent Garden. It was the theatrical home of John Philip Kemble and his sister, Sarah Siddons. Elizabeth hadn’t seen a performance by either in a long time. She wasn’t sure what was planned for the performance tonight.
Elizabeth watched the ladies and gentlemen as they filed out of their vehicles. Most were laughing and carrying on as they made their way into the theater.
Finally, it was their turn. The coachman opened the door. “What are we going to see?” Elizabeth asked, stepping out of the vehicle.
“The Clandestine Marriage. It’s a most respectable play,” Jonathan answered, taking Elizabeth’s elbow.
“I’ve seen the play, and it is one of the better ones,” Tiffany commented once they entered the theater.
The interior was done in dark red and trimmed in gold. Huge chandeliers cast a soft glow on the haute-ton who leisurely made their way to their boxes.
An orange seller held up a playbill and Jonathan stopped to purchase one for each of them.
They moved across the vestibule and proceeded up the main staircase, heading for Tiffany’s box. Jonathan still held Elizabeth’s elbow as he guided her along.
“There you are,” Beau Brummell said from the top of the stairs, looking grand in black with a blue waistcoat. “I thought perhaps I was late.”
“No, just in time.” Tiffany smiled brightly at Beau.
Elizabeth felt Jonathan’s fingers tighten just before he dropped his hand. He said for Elizabeth’s ears only, “Did you invite him?”
“Tiffany did,” Elizabeth said ruefully.
“I hope you don’t mind the intrusion, ol’ chap, but Tiffany needed an escort,” Beau said to Jonathan as he took Tiffany’s arm.
“Of course not,” Jonathan lied and then swept his hand toward the box. “We should probably find our seats before the performance starts.”
They sat on the four red velvet chairs lined up in the box. Elizabeth sat between Jonathan and Beau. As the curtain rose, she sighed. This just might prove to be a very long evening, she thought.
Looking over the edge of the rail at the gallery and pit, she could see everyone scrambling to find a seat.
The auditorium was shaped like a horseshoe with three seating areas.
The pit on the ground level, was close to the orchestra.
The second level, where they sat, was considered upper class, and high above the boxes was the gallery where the common folk and servants were seated.
Everyone in the pit appeared every bit as excited as the ladies and gentlemen in the boxes. Elizabeth could smell the beer being served below, and she was thankful they were not drinking tonight so she wouldn’t have to have that stale smell around her.
While Elizabeth watched the crowd below, she didn’t realize that she herself was also being observed.
Revenge was sweet, but sometimes the best plans didn’t always work out as they were laid.
However, Elizabeth and Jonathan might prove useful substitutes and give him the satisfaction that drove him almost to the brink of insanity.
He desperately needed revenge.
And he would have it!
Rubbing his hands together, he looked up at his victim like a vulture planning his attack. His gaze caressed the lovely Elizabeth. He’d forgo the play this evening to put his plan into motion.
Justice would be swift and deadly.
He licked his lips. He loved it when a plan came together.
Elizabeth shivered. She felt that evil stare again, but this time she shook off her silly notions. Why wouldn’t others be looking at her as she’d been looking at them? It was merely nerves, she reminded herself. That was all.
Finally, the orchestra sounded and everyone quieted down.
Elizabeth slid back in her chair and fanned herself.
She could feel Jonathan’s leg pressed against hers, and she found it was hard to concentrate on what went on below.
However, she had to ignore Jonathan if she was going to make him jealous.
She leaned over and talked to Beau. They laughed and carried on about the performance, and she found it was impossible not to enjoy herself in Beau’s presence.
On her other side, she could feel the tension in Jonathan, and she wondered just what he was thinking. Something about her, she hoped.
Jonathan’s temper was being held in check by a slim thread. He’d watched Beau whisper and touch Elizabeth all through the play, so when the final curtain went down he stood abruptly and said, “Let’s go.”
The other three turned and looked at him, but said nothing as they followed him out of the box. As soon as they emerged into the hallway, several people stopped and wanted to talk to Beau.
Jonathan pulled Beau to the side. “Look, you can stay and socialize all you want with Tiffany, but Elizabeth and I are leaving. I’ll send the carriage back for you.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay?” Beau asked innocently when he knew what the answer would be.
He dared not smile for fear of having blood splattered on his pristine neck cloth.
He’d watched Jonathan all night, and if Beau guessed correctly they had finally made the man quite jealous.
Poor Elizabeth. Hopefully she could hold her own.
“Positive,” Jonathan bit out. He yanked Elizabeth out of the crowd. “We’re going.”
“What about a chaperone?” Tiffany asked.
“She won’t need one,” Jonathan quickly told her.
“But—” Elizabeth couldn’t finish because Jonathan was pulling her along, and if she stopped him, she could tell there would be a scene. She also couldn’t believe that he was rudely leaving their companions behind.
Once inside the carriage, she asked, “What about Beau and Tiffany?”
“I’ll have the carriage sent back to get them.”
“But why couldn’t we stay?”
“I need to talk to you, and the theater isn’t the place to do it.”
“Oh, really? What do you want to talk about?” Elizabeth stared at him, waiting for an answer. She didn’t receive one.
Instead, Jonathan simply stared at her. She waited for him to say something but the silence grew, as did the tension. By the time the carriage dropped them off in front of Jonathan’s town house, she was just as irritable as he was.
As soon as the carriage left, she asked, “Are we going over to Trent House?”
“No.”
Jeffrey answered the door. “Good evening, my lord. Lady Elizabeth.”
“Good evening, Jeffrey,’’ Elizabeth greeted him. She couldn’t be rude to him just because his employer was an ass.
“That will be all, Jeffrey,” Jonathan said in a clipped voice that forbade any questions. “You can retire for tonight. I will not need you further.”
“As you say, sir.” The butler shuffled off down the hall.
Jonathan escorted Elizabeth to one of the private parlors and shut the door. After he lit a couple of candles, he strolled over to where Elizabeth stood, her arms folded across her chest.
“I don’t approve of your behavior with Brummell tonight!” Jonathan exploded. “It was totally unacceptable.”
Her eyes shot daggers at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. We were watching the play and discussing it. What could be wrong with that?” She threw up her hands in disgust.
“Is that what all that laughter was about? I saw the way he kept holding your hand and touching your shoulder. That had absolutely nothing to do with the play.”
“In case you’d forgotten, I’m supposed to be looking for a husband and encouraging him.”
“Brummell is not acceptable.”
“Then who is?” she asked in a low, tormented voice.
Jonathan opened his mouth to say something, then snapped it shut. It was a good question. A damned good question. And one he wasn’t sure he had the answer for.
He stared at Elizabeth in the dusky glow of the candles.
Soft tendrils of hair had slipped from their pins and her eyes sparkled black with rage.
He marveled at how magnificent she looked with her chin tilted up as she awaited his answer.
In spite of her obvious challenge, her face was both delicate and fragile, and the confusion in her eyes softened the fury within him.
Suddenly, all logic and reason left him, and he did something he’d never intended to do again. He grabbed Elizabeth, pulling her to him in one swift motion and molding her body perfectly against his.
God, she felt good. His mouth seized hers in a ruthless kiss, and he realized, much too late, that he wanted to punish her for the past hurt. He pulled back and looked at her.
Her lips trembled, and a single tear trickled down her cheek and tore at his heart. “I’m sorry,” he said softly.
Elizabeth looked at the face she’d seen every time she’d closed her eyes over the last years. She’d missed him so much that it made her ache inside, and now he was here, touching her, maybe even wanting her again, and her heart melted helplessly at his feet. “I love you,” she whispered.
There was a spark in the depths of his eyes as he lowered his head. His mouth gently brushed over her lips as he murmured, “Elizabeth.”
With swift tenderness, his mouth found hers again, touching his tongue to her lips; she parted them and he found heaven.
She tasted so good. A jolt of pleasure shot through him, and his hand shifted from her back to her breasts.
He began massaging her breasts through the fabric, but it wasn’t enough. He needed more.
His mouth moved lower, where he nuzzled her neck as his fingers deftly unloosened the back of her gown. His lips moved to her ear. His tongue traced the outside and then the little curves, and she began to tremble. He nibbled on her earlobe.
Shivers of delight ran up and down her spine. She moved her hands around his neck and brought his mouth to hers and slowly kissed him, fanning the heat burning deep within her.
She tugged on his shirt and began opening the buttons until she could push his shirt open and feel his warm skin and muscles beneath her fingers.
He slid the gown from her, and it puddled at her feet followed by her chemise.
“My God, you’re beautiful,” Jonathan said as his eyes feasted on her.
And then he realized that they needed to be elsewhere.
But he wasn’t letting her loose. He picked up her gown and his shirt, then scooped Elizabeth up into his arms and headed straight for his bedroom.
Thankfully, they didn’t encounter any servants.
He carried her straight to his bed and laid her down, her black hair fanning across the pillow.
He couldn’t seem to pull his gaze from her milky white breasts that stood out firm and ripe, ready for his mouth.
He stepped out of his trousers, and his gaze moved lower, to her slender waist and long, enticing legs.
He finished undressing. His body ached with a need that hadn’t been filled in a long time.
Jonathan went over to the bed and leaned across her. With his finger, he traced her face. “You cannot imagine what you do to me.”
His mouth settled possessively on hers, and before she knew what was happening, he was kissing the breath out of her. A jolt of excitement surged through her body, and she wrapped her arms around him as his tongue slid past her lips into her mouth, probing ... teasing ... wanting.
His kisses grew hotter, and she grew wilder, her hands moving up and down his back, trying to get him closer.
When his hand moved lower to cup her breast, she gasped as his palm closed around her, and then his fingers began to play with her nipple until it hardened.
His mouth left hers, trailing kisses down her throat and across her chest. His ravenous mouth captured one of her nipples, first sucking and then circling it provocatively with his tongue.
She moved her hands from his shoulders to his head where she tangled her hands in his hair, pulling him tighter against her.
She was mindless with desire. Her back arched and her loins ached. She felt his hands seductively moving across her stomach and then lower until his fingers reached her thighs and the warm wetness. He began to stroke until she writhed beneath him.
“Elizabeth,” Jonathan’s voice rasped. “Tell me what you want.”
Her eyelids fluttered open. “I want you.”
He groaned, then parted her legs and lifted her hips, thrusting full-length into her. She gasped, then wrapped her legs around him as he plunged deeper and deeper inside her. She never wanted this moment to end.
Jonathan watched the woman beneath him. Her eyes were misty, her breasts full and tight, and she was driving him crazy with each thrust. Their passions peaked, and he drove himself into her one final time, shuddering at the flood of ecstasy that swept through him.
When his breathing finally calmed down he rolled to his side but still kept Elizabeth in his arms, stroking her back softly. “Elizabeth?”
“Hummm,” she murmured.
“Do you love me?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you leave me?” He felt her tense beneath his fingertips.
“It wasn’t because I didn’t love you. I’ve always loved you. There were other reasons you don’t know about.”
“What were they?”
“I don’t want to talk about it now.”
“And may I ask why not?”
“I’m very tired. Can we talk about this in the morning? Let’s just enjoy this night. And we’ll talk later.”
“Perhaps you’re right. I’m tired myself,” he said, drugged by the emotion of their lovemaking. He pulled the cover over them. “But tomorrow I want answers.”