Chapter Twenty-Seven
Tony entered Warrington House and gave his hat and coat to a footman before going upstairs to his brother’s study. He knocked and waited a few seconds before entering. The duke looked up and put down his quill.
“How is mother faring?”
“Mother is bored. Marianne is happy now she has her dog.”
“And Miss Sterling?”
“She is fine. She has had a lot of information thrown her way in the last two days.”
“That being?”
“There is a message in the ring that her father gave her. It seems so obvious now.”
“In her ring? That enameled thing she wears?”
“Yes, it has three hidden panes. Ingenious really.”
“Well, well. Did she know it was there? And what does this message say?”
“She did not know. She was upset at first that her father had used her so ill. A gift she thought was a token of his love for her was simply a vessel to hide a secret. At first we thought it was code, but it turns out it is a formula for a poisonous gas.”
“A poisonous gas?”
“I think the Prussians intended to use it in conflict. Either that or there is a rat plague they have been keeping a secret about.”
“Have you told Stafford?”
“Not yet. What do you think he will do with it?”
“He would no doubt tell the king and his generals. If the Prussians are intending to use this gas in a military scenario we need to make a plan.”
“See, that is the thing. I do not think they are. This has been lost for a decade and as far as we know, not reproduced. I am sure they would have at least tested it, if they had it. Perhaps better to let sleeping dogs lie.”
“Regardless, if this really has potential…”
“To do what with? Should we use such gas and on whom? No, it is too dangerous. No one should have this information.”
“Do you not think that decision should be up to us?”
“Normally, I would not even consider not handing it over, but… I do not know just yet. It feels wrong.”
“I am glad I am not in your place. I would not want to be in such a position.”
“That is helpful.”
“My advice is to hand it over and let it be Stafford’s problem.”
“That does not get us out of that house. It does not ensure Lucinda’s safety.”
“What was your plan? To stay there indefinitely? Better to let the Prussians know we have it and not Lucinda. We could make up some story about Foxton having handed it over years ago. Then the heat will be on Stafford.”
“I am sure he will be pleased to become the target.”
“Do you have a better plan?”
“Not yet. I need a few more days.”
“Take what you need, but you cannot keep mother and Marianne trapped there. They are innocent in all this.”
“I think it will be safe for them to return. There is one other thing. Lucinda.”
His brother simply lifted a brow and waited for Tony to elaborate.
“I have fallen in love with her. I want to marry her.”
“Congratulations. It was obvious to everyone but you by the way.”
“Yes, so I have been told. Do I have your blessing?”
“Of course. When will this wedding take place?”
“I am not sure. I cannot continue to be part of the Ring if I marry. I need to find a new vocation. I cannot sit on my hands and do nothing.”
“I cannot see that as being a problem. I am sure we could find you a position within the government. A lawyer perhaps?”
“Perhaps. I will think on it. In the meantime, I explained to Lucinda that we must wait a while before marriage, until this matter is settled and I have made a decision as to our future.”
“It is usually the bride who wants to wait. I admire your fortitude to keep your hands to yourself.”
Tony flushed and his brother laughed.
“Do not linger too long then. We do not need a scandalous birth on our hands.”
“I have been careful. There is no need to worry.”
“Well then, let me shake your hand. Lucinda is a wonderful young lady.” Tony took his brother’s hand and felt a comfortable ease between them for the first time in a long time.
“You will let me decide about the poisonous gas? You will not interfere on my behalf? You will trust me to make the right decision?”
“Yes. I have learned my lesson.”
“Good. Thank you.”
Tony smiled and gave him a bow. “Your Grace.”
“Get out of here,” the duke said with a laugh.
Tony felt the weight of the decisions he needed to make but all he could think about was getting back to Lucinda. He wanted to lose himself in her willing body. To feel her hands on him, to kiss her everywhere. To tangle his fingers in her glorious hair. To tell her how much he loved her.
When he finally got back into the safe house, he found Lucinda in her nightgown asleep on the sofa in the parlor, not unlike the very first night he met her.
She was just as beautiful as the first time he saw her.
He pushed a tendril of hair behind her ear and kissed her forehead.
She stirred and her eyes fluttered open.
She gave him a sleepy smile and lifted her arms towards him, and he went down on his knees and into her embrace.
“I was worried about you,” she said.
“You do not need to worry about me. I will always return to you.”
“You promise?”
“You are my heart. I love you and will never abandon you.”
“How did you know I needed to hear that?”
He chuckled and kissed her softly. “I think I may have come to know you, at least a little. I hope to know you more for the rest of my life.”
“I would like that.”
“Let me carry you to your room. We will talk about what happened tonight tomorrow.”
“I do not want to go to my bed. I want to go to yours.”
He didn’t need any further encouragement and picked her up and carried her off to his room where he laid her softly on the bed. She sat up, laughing, and crossed her legs to watch him.
Tony shrugged out of his jacket and tugged at his cravat.
He sat at the end of the bed and tugged off his boots and stockings.
Standing up again he unbuttoned his waistcoat and flung it over his shoulder dramatically which made her giggle and clap her hands.
Tugging his shirt out of his pants he pulled it over his head and dropped it to the ground.
Her smile was all the encouragement he needed and he unbuttoned the fall of his breeches.
Her eyes followed his hands and grew wide with anticipation. He paused. “Maybe we should just, you know, lie in each other’s arms tonight.”
“Anthony Ashton, you must not tease. I waited for you.”
“You did indeed. My apologies.”
She leaned forward as his hands went to the fall of his breeches again. He let it fall, and she gasped. He was nearly fully erect, but her fascinated expression caused it to harden further. “Oh. It moves.”
“Only when it is very happy.” He stepped out of his pants and crawled onto the bed, naked as the day he was born.
She put up a hand up to stop him. “You said next time I could explore you.”
Had he? “I have no objection to that.” He kissed her lips that parted softly under his own, her hands going straight to his hair to pull him closer. “Where do you want me?”
She scrambled to the other side of the bed to make room for him. “Lie there, please,” she said.
He did as he was instructed and lay on his back, stretching out and putting his hands behind his head. This should be interesting.
She took her time just looking at him, her green eyes bright with excitement. Trailing her fingers through the light sprinkling of blond hair on his chest, she leaned over and placed her hot mouth over his nipple. Her tongue swirled around it until it was hard.
“Do you like that? It is just that I did so much, so I thought you might.”
“I do, very much.” He tangled his fingers into her hair.
Lucinda spent time on his other nipple before kissing her way between his pectoral muscles and tracking the line of hair down his belly to his now very erect cock. “Can I touch it?”
“I would be disappointed if you did not. Just… be gentle.”
She stroked her fingers up and down the length of it, then wrapped her hand around it. He reached down and closed his hand over hers, showing her how he liked it caressed. A slow, gentle rhythm. He groaned, and she stilled, looking up towards him.
“That feels so good.”
“You used your mouth on me. Do I do the same?”
“Only if you wish to. You can take it in your mouth but… you must be careful with your teeth.”
She looked at it, a little frown of concentration between her brows. She lowered her head and took him into her mouth, just a little at first and then more. His hips rose, pushing him in deeper into the ecstasy of her hot mouth. She did this experiment with hands and tongue, Tony guiding her way.
She was a quick study, too good. “Oh, Lord, you better stop, or I’ll spend.”
She lifted her head. “Did I do it wrong?
“Not at all but if you go too far I will not be able to satisfy you in the way I wish.”
Taking her hands, he pulled her onto his chest. “Straddle my hips. Yes, that is it.” He reached down and slipped in a finger, then two. He needed to know she was ready for him.
“Tony,” she gasped. “Hurry.” She was wet for him, and he guided himself inside, his hands on her hips to guide her up and down.
Resting her hands on his chest, she threw her head back, riding him with ever-increasing thrusts.
Her moans matched his own. “Lord, you feel so good inside me,” she moaned.
“Lucinda.” It was all he could say before he felt his climax coming on. They both cried out in pleasure. She collapsed atop him, and he wrapped his arms around her and rolled over so that he was now on top.
“Have I told you how much I love you today?” He kissed her nose.
“Not today, for surely it is past midnight.”
In fact, the pink streaks of dawn were already lightening the sky when he looked towards the window. “It is nearly dawn. Let me take you to your room.”
“I can make it there on my own.”
“I know that, but it will help me sleep to know you are tucked up safely in your bed.”
“Will you always worry over me?”
“Until my dying day.” She seemed pleased with that and got off the bed to collect his breeches and shirt for him.