Chapter Seven
Bedford Square
Mayfair, London
Nathaniel was more than a bit smug as he ushered Diana up the short walkway to the blue-painted door to his townhouse.
After all, why shouldn’t he take her to his home? She hadn’t specified where she wanted to go after they’d left the ball, and after the blatant looks and flirting they’d exchanged while in the ballroom, there was only one way that he wanted the night to end.
Never had he desired a woman more than he did Diana in this moment.
As he led her into the library on the main floor, the longcase clock on the level above struck the eleventh hour of the night. Though it was dark—for his staff probably didn’t expect him back until the wee hours of the morning—he knew the layout of the room like the proverbial back of his hand.
“Would you care for refreshments?” While waiting for her response, Nathaniel lit a few candles about the space. Not enough illumination to read but enough to cast weird shadows over the ceiling and leave mysterious pockets of darkness in the corners.
“I wouldn’t say no to some tea, that is if your staff is still awake. If not, I can either make it myself or do without.”
Every new side to her that he uncovered was fascinating.
“My butler will be awake reading. He usually is up until I return home from society events.” As he spoke, he moved across the room then gave the brocade bellpull a tug.
“Feel free to settle in or peruse the shelves. I’ll join you in a moment.
” A few moments later, the butler answered the summons, and once Nathaniel ordered the tea, he then went over to the shelf that she inspected near one of the candles.
“From what I can see of your collection, it’s impressive.”
“Thank you. I’ve worked hard on finding each and every book.
” After that brief bout of kissing in the carriage, he was acutely aware of her.
The heat of her, the scent of her called him to her, and it took all his willpower not to take her into his arms. “I still need more books of poetry, and there are a few volumes from Shakespeare that I’m missing. ”
“Books are such cozy and exciting companions.” She slipped her fingertips along the spines. “I’m so grateful to have had the privilege of learning how to read, of having books in my possession, of spending time with them.”
Before he could respond, the butler returned with a silver tea service on a matching tray.
“Thank you, Waterson. It’s much appreciated.”
The man on the shorter side with graying blond hair nodded as he set the tray on the low table in the center of the room. “It is no trouble, my lord. We are just beginning to put the house to bed.”
Nathaniel nodded while Diana continued to look through the bookshelves.
He removed his gloves and tossed them onto a small rose-inlaid occasional table nearby.
“That should be all we require for the remainder of the night, so please, go ahead and retire. I will escort Lady Diana home after we are finished here.” Whether that be only the tea or other, more strenuous endeavors after that.
“Of course, my lord.” With a curious glance in Diana’s direction, the butler departed, then Nathaniel softly closed the door behind him.
“How do you take your tea?” he asked his guest, even though doing something as mundane that taking in the refreshing beverage and cakes was the last thing he wished to do in this moment.
“Oh, with a splash of cream and a small lump of sugar, especially if taking it in the afternoon.” She flashed him a smile as she came toward the grouping of furniture where he sat on a low sofa.
“If I’m drinking it the first thing in the morning, I don’t have anything in it to dilute the strength.
” The moment she sat in a chair near his location, she took off her gloves and laid them on the tabletop.
“Why is that?”
She shrugged. “There are times when I have trouble waking. I just want to burrow into my bedding and sleep for another few hours, but there are duties to attend.”
“That’s adorable.” As he busied himself with fixing her tea, he looked at her. “You are free to do whatever you wish, so spend your time however you like. There are no demands on you, and I’d say you’ve earned it after everything.”
“Thank you for that. Perhaps one of these days I will, but I always feel as if I’m wasting my day if I lounge about.
While the rest of the ton is laying abed, I’m usually up and making inroads into the things on my daily diary.
” When she accepted the delicate china teacup from him, their fingers brushed.
Awareness raced over his skin from the contact.
“Your life has been much different than my own that I’m in awe of all you’ve done.” He stirred a lump of sugar into his tea.
“Do stop, Holdcraft. I have merely been a wife and a mother, and more recently, a patron of various arts throughout London.” Yet the blush in her cheeks betrayed her pleasure at his praise.
“Speaking of which, if you and I spend more time together, I will ask that you read your favorite poetry to me. I adore hearing such lines aloud.”
That smacked far too much of domestication, and for one moment, panic moved through his chest, but then he shoved the thought from his mind. “I would be honored, but to read you the poetry of your choice as well as to have you with me for far longer than tonight.”
Did that mean they were ready, indeed, to embark upon the affair?
She drew the tip of her tongue along her bottom lip, presumably to catch a drop of tea…
or to tease him. It didn’t matter, for interest went through his shaft, rapidly hardening it.
“What are you planning to do with me tonight, Nathaniel? You and I are both past the age of being coy or playing at seduction.”
“Why, my lady, are you accusing me of having designs on you?” He couldn’t help but teasing her as he sipped his tea.
“Is that how you took my comment?” One of her eyebrows rose in challenge.
“Mmm.” He shrugged. “Though, you must admit there are some advantages to a seduction.”
“True.” This time she winked, and need pulsed through his length. Wanting a distraction until he could be certain most of his staff had indeed either left for their own homes or had sought out their beds, he said, “Tell me about your children.”
“Well, Percy is twenty, and he’s successfully taken the Atterbury title. I expect him in London soon.” As she spoke about her son, her features softened and maternal love shone in her eyes. “He is growing out of that awkward young man stage and into a handsome adult.”
“Does he take after you?”
“In some ways. He has my curls and his hair is also light brown like mine.” Pausing to sip her tea, she watched him in the dim illumination. “But there is more than a little of his father in him. I only hope he continues to mature into a man who is nothing like Atterbury.”
“There is no doubt in my mind that he will, since you have had a hand in raising him.” Nathaniel nodded. “And you will show him how to respect women, of that I have no doubt.”
“I hope you’re right.” After draining her cup, Diana set it into the saucer then rested them both on the table in front of her.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what he’ll do for the title and how he’ll bring respectability to it again.
” She remained silent for a bit before speaking again.
“As for Eliza, well, she is going to be quite independent, I think. Quite headstrong at seventeen already.”
“And why should she not? Her mother is quite a lovely role model for that.”
Another faint blush went through her cheeks. “I don’t know about that, but just now, she is away at a finishing school in Brighton. However, she’ll come to London with my son, who will fetch her before he arrives into Town. Any day, I imagine.”
The obvious love she had for her children was both endearing and daunting. Did he fit into her life being the sort of man that he was? “You will probably be happy to see them again.”
“I will, of course, though I wish the reunion was for a happier reason.” When the happiness from seconds before faded beneath sorrow, he immediately wanted to bring her back to that elevated place.
“What do you want from your future, Diana?” After putting his cup and saucer onto the table, he left the sofa long enough to slide over the sofa toward her chair.
“After having the life I already did, this time around, I wish to chase happiness on my terms. Will that mean marriage? That largely depends on the man, and since I’m well beyond the age that pregnancy is possible, I feel I have more freedom than I did as a young woman.”
Interesting. “Whatever you decide will prove amazing, I’ll wager, merely because that is the sort of woman you are.” Damn, but he was going heavy-handed with the compliments this evening. Would it make him seem desperate?
“I appreciate that.” Hunger and desire had returned to her deep sapphire gaze. “How do you wish for your future to look?”
“I haven’t thought about it for a while, but I want to be fulfilled, and oddly enough, like you, I do want happiness, perhaps security. All of that sounds so foreign to me while that this place in my life, but for the past few months or so, playing at being the rake has paled as time goes on.”
“Then you want something more permanent?” Was that hope in her voice?
“I might, depending on the woman and if other things come to fruition.” Over the years, he’d made certain his estate turned a profit and with clever investments, he had a decent annual income to support a wife and a possible family.
Yet he’d barely agreed to an affair with this woman. Shouldn’t he set aside time to explore that first?
“It’s a good decision, moving away from your rakish image. And who knows? You might find something else you are wildly talented at.” As she spoke, Diana left her chair and stepped over to where he perched on the sofa. “However, right now, there is one thing I want from you.”