Chapter Fourteen
Valentine’s rout
Abbott House
Hanover Square, Mayfair
London
Cornelius met Birchfield outside the drawing room. He nodded in greeting. “Where are the ladies tonight?” Not wishing to be too obvious in regard to Penny, he didn’t mention her specifically by name.
“Mama saw a couple of friends, so she came up ahead of me. I assume Penny went with her.” The earl shrugged. “Everywhere one turns tonight, there are reminders of love and romance in the décor. Makes a man wish to cast up his accounts.”
“Indeed.”
Though he snorted and agreed with his friend up to a point, he didn’t mind the red-and-pink swags and bows made from tulle.
As they moved into the crowded drawing room, hearts and Cupid silhouettes had been cut from foiled paper.
Pink, red, and white roses decorated the room in vases set into floral groupings in each corner, along with potted ferns and other various plant life.
Candles in silver holders as well as wall sconces added soft illumination to the space; spangles, beads, and jewels sparkled in that flickering light.
“Ah, there is Penny. She’s speaking with the viscount I told you about yesterday.”
With a frown, Cornelius sent his gaze about the room until he found the couple in question. His only interest was with Penny, who was even more stunning tonight than she’d been earlier in the afternoon when he’d called on her.
Her gown clearly had been chosen to ensure attention, whether his or someone else’s Cornelius couldn’t say, but the red silk with silver satin trim on the hem, waist, and bodice showed off her form to perfection.
A silver necklace graced her slim neck, with a heart-shaped ruby dangling between her collarbones, but her blonde-brown hair, done in an elaborate undo with curls and braids caught his attention for no other reason than she’d placed the mother-of-pearl combs in those tresses.
It appeared the young viscount talked at her instead of with her, for the look of boredom on her face spoke volumes.
When she glanced away, her gaze collided with Cornelius’s, and her whole face illuminated with welcome.
As it had the habit of doing these days, his world tilted.
Sneaking around with Penny for no other reason than to play carnal games was by far the most fun he had in some time, yet there was more to their relationship than that.
He looked forward to seeing her, talking with her, sharing little bits about his life with her, and hearing the same from her in return.
When her eyes widened and she smiled in the special way she reserved only for him, he swore she might have fallen from heaven.
She gave him back a sense of calm and purpose that had been missing for more than a while in his life.
It was pure insanity how well they interacted together, and if given the chance, he wanted to pursue more with her that had nothing to do with bed sport.
The darling woman accepted him as he was, didn’t demand anything of him, didn’t want gifts, didn’t wish to change him, and that meant… everything.
They were just who they were to each other. There was a certain amount of freedom there.
And as if he were a moth, he needed to bask in her light.
“I’m going to say hello to your sister,” he told Birchwood, not caring if he agreed or not.
His feet carried him of their own accord, for he certainly didn’t feel them on the floor.
The moment he reached her side, he scooped up her hand and ferried it to his lips.
“Lady Penelope, you are truly a vision tonight.”
“And you, Major, are a charming rogue.” A faint blush went through her cheeks as he held her hand a few seconds longer than politeness demanded. “However, you are quite handsome. I appreciate your pink waistcoat. It sets you apart from every other man tonight in the same dark evening clothes.”
Before he could respond, Viscount Middleton cleared his throat. Then the bugger tried to move Penny away from him.
“If you don’t mind, Major Montgomery, I was talking with the lady, so you’ll need to wait your turn.” An open challenge reflected in the younger man’s hazel eyes, a sure sign that he had, indeed, asked Birchfield for permission to call on Penny as well as pay his addresses.
“Pish posh, Lord Middleton.” She waved a hand in dismissal. Clearly, she wasn’t impressed with the man. “There is plenty of time this evening to talk later. The major and I are old friends.”
The viscount bristled. “That doesn’t give him leave to interrupt—”
Penny frowned when a few people around them stared. “Lower your voice, Middleton. For shame.” Bouncing her gaze between them, she said, “There are plenty of other ladies here tonight, and it’s Valentine’s Day. You needn’t set the whole of your attention on me.”
The expression on the viscount’s face was like a thundercloud. “Will you promise me a dance later, then?”
“Of course, but for the time being, why don’t you fetch me a glass of champagne?”
With a tight nod and a narrow-eyed gaze at Cornelius, the viscount left. Immediately, he was swallowed up the milling crowd filling the room.
Penny giggled, and the sound went straight to his stones. “He’s rather a scare, isn’t he?”
“Indeed.” Suddenly nervous, knots pulled in his gut.
Would he ultimately lose her to someone who held a decided place in the beau monde?
Feeling quite daring, he came a bit closer and leaned his head down.
With his lips to her ear, he said, “Meet me in our host’s library if you wish for a bit of scandal tonight. ”
With a tiny gasp, she pulled away and peered up at him. “Truly?”
“Oh, yes.” He nodded. In a barely audible whisper, he continued, “I’ll leave first. Soon. You can follow in a quarter hour.”
“Such lovely excitement and on Valentine’s Day to boot!” Then she bit off a groan. “Lord Middleton has returned, but yes, I’ll meet you.”
“Until then.” He slipped away before the viscount could navigate over to her.
When he reached the library on the lower level, shadows clung to the room.
One candle burned on the mantle, for the expectation that guests would drift into this room was low.
Just for his peace of mind, Cornelius padded about the room, his footsteps muffled by the thick Aubusson rugs covering the floor.
It wouldn’t do for someone else to be hiding, hoping for an assignation, who might inadvertently bear witness to what he wished to do with Penny.
Just as he finished his reconnaissance, the door opened, and the soft snick of the panel closing covered his footfalls as he returned across the room. Through the dim illumination, he discerned Penny’s form while her eyes were still adjusting to the near darkness.
“I’m glad you decided to join me.” Perhaps he was far too reckless, but when he was with her, his confidence soared, and he felt as if he could do anything if only she would smile at him. As soon as he was close, he took her into his arms.
“Why wouldn’t I?” When she rested a hand on his chest, he swore that she might have scorched his skin through his clothing. “A handsome major, a dimly lit library filled with books, and scandal in the offing?”
“God, I love your penchant for plain speaking.” Then he claimed her lips with his in a heated kiss that he hoped imprinted himself on her mind.
Don’t forget me.
“You are always so potent,” she whispered, then nipped a line of kisses beneath his jaw. “What am I going to do with you?”
Past this moment or twenty years in the future?
He didn’t have the courage to ask. “The possibilities are endless.” Instead, he merely kissed her again, reveling in the softness of her skin and the faint floral scent of her.
As he did so, he walked her backward until they were hidden in the shadows at the other end of the room away from the guttering candle.
She quickly divested herself of her gloves, abandoning them to the floor.
“They are, but since I don’t want to waste this moment, let’s start.
” After wrenching his shirt tails from the waist of his evening breeches, she smoothed a hand over the expanse of his chest, and when she came to one of his nipples, she teased it into a hard bud by flicking it with a fingernail.
Immediate reaction streaked through his veins, for that exploration had caught him unawares. Tiny fires erupted in his blood. “Ah, Penelope, I fear you will kill me, for you have acclimated far too well to scandal.”
“I hope not, for I want you around for a while yet.” She tipped her chin upward until their gazes met. Mischief clouded her dark gray eyes. “Shall I continue?”
Interest shivered through his shaft as he remembered how her lush curves had felt nestled against his body. “God, yes.”
“Good,” she said in a barely there whisper, as she walked her fingers down his torso and then, after a slight pause, she brushed those fingers over his growing member that pressed urgently against the front of his breeches. “Hmm, how to begin…”
“Vixen.” Damn but he was intrigued and aroused by her daring and initiative. After he removed his own gloves, he tossed them to the nearest chair.
“Ah, I know.” With a wink, Penny dropped to her knees in front of him. With fingers that trembled, she slowly worked each button from its hole at his frontfalls and then encouraged the placket down. When his rapidly engorging shaft sprang out, she gasped then grinned up at him.
“You are going to devour me, aren’t you?”
“Oh, yes. I’m so excited that I finally have the opportunity to familiarize myself with your equipage.” Tentatively, she traced a fingertip along the side of his member.
Fuck!
The light touch paired with her tart mouth and curious nature made her irresistible. “I think I’ve corrupted you.” For a few seconds, he watched her in the shadows. The guttering candle flame across the room sent eerie shadows over the walls.