Chapter 12 #2
She shook her head but smiled, for she couldn’t completely contain the emotion inside her. “Thank you for supporting me and giving me the security I need right now. Let me reapply the beard one last time before we depart.”
“Just one moment,” he said before lowering his head and briefly kissing her bare cheek. “I couldn’t resist.”
“Please go make sure there’s no one lingering outside the library and that I can make my way to my chamber without being seen.”
“I shall be your lookout,” he said with a charming, flirtatious grin that suffused her with an almost absurd joy.
He went to the door and turned his head toward her bedchamber. Then he glanced back and waved her toward him. “It’s clear.”
She hastened from the room, and as she passed him, he whispered, “I will miss your backside in those breeches, however.”
Ellis looked at him over her shoulder. “Who says I’ll never wear them again?”
His sensual stare chased her as she dashed to her bedchamber.
After they returned from fetching Ellis’s clothing and purchasing a very attractive dark brown wig for her to wear, Roman asked Graham to assemble the servants downstairs.
Arriving in the kitchen, Roman inhaled deeply. The cook, Mrs. Long, and the maid, Patience, were clearly in the middle of preparing dinner. “My apologies for interrupting you at this time of day.” He fixed his gaze on the cook in particular. “I promise I’ll be quick.”
Mrs. Long nodded in appreciation.
“I need to tell you something about my secretary,” Roman said. “Mr. Ellis is not actually a mister. He is, in fact, Mrs. Ellis, a widow. She disguised her sex because it’s unusual for a woman to be hired as a secretary.”
Mrs. Long appeared surprised. “It’s unheard of.”
“For the most part, yes,” Roman agreed. “However, Mrs. Ellis is the best secretary I’ve ever employed, and I don’t wish to lose her. Starting this evening, she will be dressing as herself—Mrs. Ellis—and you will address her as such. She will also be taking meals with me in the dining room.
“The Laceys are aware of her true identity, but I would ask that you not go about sharing the fact that I have a female secretary. There are people who will be scandalized, and I’d just as soon avoid that if possible.”
“That is perfectly understandable, my lord,” Graham said.
Mrs. Long glanced toward the stove. “I need to return to cooking dinner.”
“Of course. Thank you, everyone, for your loyalty and discretion.” Roman went back upstairs.
He was aware Graham had followed him, and when they reached the ground floor, Roman turned to face the butler. “Is there something else?”
Graham was rarely flustered, but his expression creased and he hesitated the barest moment before speaking. “I wondered if there was anything more you might like to share about Mrs. Ellis.” He seemed to be referring to something in particular, and Roman wondered if Graham suspected their liaison.
“Were you already aware that my secretary was a woman?” Roman asked.
“I might have suspected, my lord.”
Roman inclined his head. “Well, I have nothing to share, and I expect you to quash gossip of any kind. Is that understood?”
“Quite.” Graham hesitated again, but Roman could see he wanted to add more. “May I just say, my lord, that it is very nice to see you smiling more.”
Roman wasn’t sure what to make of that. He’d been inordinately happy today after last night’s activities with Ellis, and he supposed his mood had lightened greatly in the time she’d been there.
He was glad that his butler was aware of his mood and disappointed—in himself—that anyone in his household might worry about him.
“Thank you, Graham. I appreciate your concern.” He smiled at the butler before going upstairs.
Roman went directly to Ellis’s chamber to tell her she could join him for dinner, and every other meal, and that the servants were now aware of her secret. He knocked on the door, and when she opened it, his jaw dropped.
She wore a rather simple ivory day gown, but the style—with the very high waistline—accentuated her bosom to great effect.
The gown, as opposed to her menswear, made her seem somehow taller, and though the sleeves were long, he appreciated seeing the shape of her arms. How she’d ever managed to pass as a man was astonishing.
She took his breath away.
Roman stepped inside and closed the door.
Ellis gently frowned at him. “This is incredibly inappropriate now that the entire household knows I’m a woman—assuming you told them.”
“I did, but I don’t care about that for a moment.” He continued to stare at her. “Let me just look at you.”
She hadn’t yet donned the wig, and her blonde hair was still pinned to her head from wearing the men’s wig. The elegant column of her throat begged for his kisses, but he restrained himself.
“You are even more beautiful than I imagined,” he breathed. His body roared right back into full arousal.
“In this plain gown?” She arched a brow at him. “You’ve seen me in nothing at all.”
“Don’t remind me,” he groaned.
Her gaze flicked to his cock again, and he resolved right then that he’d need to frig himself before they left, else he’d be in misery for the remainder of the day.
“You appear to be in need of some…help,” she noted. She took his hand and led him to the cushioned bench at the foot of her bed. Pushing him down, she carefully knelt before him, adjusting her gown so it pooled around her.
Roman’s pulse thrummed in his ears. He wanted to tell her she needn’t go to the trouble, but he couldn’t form any words as she unbuttoned his fall.
“I will take your silence as consent,” she said, slipping her hand into his pantaloons and finding his sex.
Rather than close his eyes as he was tempted to do, he focused on her as she pulled his cock free. She looked up at him, and their eyes met.
“I consent,” he rasped, his voice dark and desperate. “With absolute vigor and demand.”
She gave him a small, thoroughly wicked smile before she licked the head of his shaft. Roman grunted loudly, then swore quietly. This was not the middle of the night. He could not make such noise.
“Yes, do be quiet,” she commanded just before she took him into her mouth.
Sensations he’d never known thundered through him. He lifted his hips toward her, silently begging for more. He watched her movements—the way her hand cupped him, then stroked his flesh, the bob of her head and the flick of her tongue.
Roman worried he wouldn’t last long, but damn, he never wanted this to end. She sucked him with a delicious rhythm as he arced into her mouth, his hips coming off the bench with each thrust. He worked to keep control, lest he mindlessly lose himself.
She slipped her other hand into his pantaloons and when he next rose, she caressed his backside, squeezing his flesh. Blood rushed to his cock, and he couldn’t help moving faster. She brought her hand around and cupped his balls.
“Ellis, I’m going to come.”
Her response was to gently squeeze him and suck him harder as her mouth moved over him with increasing fervor, taking him deeper toward her throat.
Ecstasy exploded inside him, and he clamped his jaw closed to keep from shouting.
Throwing his head back and closing his eyes, he clutched her head as he climaxed spectacularly.
Roman succumbed to the most blissful darkness as wave after wave of pleasure washed through him. He’d never known such completion, such absolute joy.
Gradually, he slowed, and she finally took her mouth from him. He tipped his head forward, panting as he worked to catch his breath. “Good God, Ellis.”
She wiped her mouth in a thoroughly ladylike fashion, as if she’d just finished eating a biscuit, then rose. “Better?”
“Never more.” He could hardly think straight. She went to her dressing table and pulled the wig onto her head. At length, Roman came to his senses and refastened his fall. “What about you?”
“What about me?” she asked as she pinned the wig to her hair.
“That was very one-sided,” he said.
“Was it?” She glanced at him over her shoulder, her gaze sultry. “I enjoyed that immensely.”
He stifled a moan, for she was going to arouse him again. “You can’t know how that thrills me. However, I consider myself in your debt, and I plan to repay it in full, with interest.”
“I eagerly anticipate that. In the meantime, we should be on our way shortly, shouldn’t we?”
He stood. “I suppose so.” He was already devising plans of what he would do to her that evening. He could hardly wait.
Now that his head was clearing, he realized he hadn’t communicated what he’d meant to—his entire reason for coming to her chamber.
“I’ve spoken to the servants, and they’ve promised their discretion.
” He didn’t mention Graham suspecting their affair.
“I’ve also informed them that you will be dining with me from now on.
At least, I hope you will.” He gave her a courtly bow.
“Miss Dangerfield, will you do me the honor of accompanying me to dinner this evening?”
She laughed softly. “Yes. But don’t call me Miss Dangerfield, not even in private. I am Mrs. Ellis.”
He nodded. “I will do as you command.”
“Now go and wait for me downstairs.” She waved him toward the door. “I need to don my stockings and boots and fetch my pelisse and accessories.”
“If I must,” he replied with a sigh. He grinned as he left the room, then went to fetch his hat and gloves.
It occurred to him that he hadn’t been this happy in years. Perhaps he’d never been this happy. Certainly not with Clarissa, though he’d hoped to be.
Thinking of her and her betrayal brought a moment of sobriety. Roman would do well to recall his personal vow never to allow himself to be vulnerable again. With the exception of the surviving Laceys, everyone in his life had hurt or abandoned him.
Perhaps Ellis would be different. Except they had no future together.
She did not wish to marry, and she was not the sort of wife he needed.
She had no fortune and not even any family connections, as far as he knew.
Yes, the Duke of Henlow had provided her a recommendation for employment, but it wasn’t as if he’d given her money outright.
Roman’s good mood was in danger of disappearing completely. Perhaps Ellis wouldn’t be different. She was harboring secrets, just as Clarissa had. He supposed the difference was that Ellis clearly acknowledged she was withholding things from him and had indicated she may share them at some point.
Wincing inwardly, he entered his chamber and found his hat and gloves. He wanted to recapture his joy of a few minutes ago and stop thinking of obstacles to his current situation, which brought him much-needed happiness.
There was nothing wrong with enjoying this affair with Ellis for as long as it would last. He deserved that much, didn’t he?