Chapter Eighteen
On the day of the dinner party, Greyson and Cooke met at Club Knight and informed Knight of what they had learned. He had yet to hear from anyone else about their assignments.
For the rest of the day, he stayed busy with estate business and visited with his parents.
His father was more lucid than on some days, which eased his sore heart.
Then he looked at his mother, pale, thin, weary, and sad, and his heart ached again.
There was no denying they were both dying.
Would they get to see their daughters married?
Dalton helped him dress for dinner in his black evening wear.
As he descended the stairs, voices resonated from the drawing room.
He’d come down late on purpose, hoping Letitia would already be present.
He listened outside the open doors without looking in, and sure enough, he heard her melodious voice, and awareness spread throughout his body.
Ever since they’d made love, he’d dreamed of doing it again.
Was tonight the night? His body was hoping.
He entered the room and went straight to her.
He had eyes only for her. Everyone else in the room disappeared.
Her deep-green loveliness stole the very air from his lungs.
Her hair was a curled masterpiece, and her eyes held more green than blue.
When he stood before her, their eyes met, and he felt her essence deep within his soul.
He took her hand, bowed over it, and brushed his lips across her gloved fingers.
“Letitia,” he said when he stood tall, her hand still in his. “You steal my breath with your beauty.”
He could tell he’d shocked her. Clearly, he hadn’t complimented her enough. Something he needed to remedy. A soft blush colored her cheeks, and she smiled. “Thank you. You look handsome in your evening wear.”
“I see you have met my cousin, Charity.”
They were deep in conversation when he entered the room and now stood side by side. “Yes, I didn’t know she was visiting. But I’m so glad she is. I believe we will be good friends. She was telling me about you as a young boy and what a hellion you were.”
He cleared his throat and glared at Charity. “Please say no more. I’d rather keep those years behind me.”
Both Letitia and Charity laughed.
Thankfully, he was saved by the bell signaling dinner.
They filed into the dining room and took their seats.
He noticed place cards at each setting. Anastasia, Hunter, Aurora, and Warren sat on one side, while Letitia, Charity, and he sat opposite.
He was in between the ladies, which had him sighing in relief.
He didn’t have to worry about Charity talking to Letitia nonstop through dinner with more embarrassing tales of him.
The conversation around the table touched on nothing serious, which was good, considering it was a happy occasion.
Before he knew it, they were retreating into the drawing room.
He poured sherry for the ladies and brandy for the gentlemen.
Before anyone could claim either settee, he held out his hand to Letitia. “Come. Let’s sit.”
She took his hand, and they crossed the room to sit on the settee. “We haven’t had time to talk.” He rubbed his thumb across the top of her soft, bare hand. He loved it when dinner ended, and usually nobody put their gloves back on.
“How was your time at Danbury Estate?”
“Fine. I was worried over nothing. The manager has everything under control and is doing an excellent job.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Perhaps you won’t have to leave London for a while.”
“Perhaps.” He couldn’t really say one way or the other. What he did know was that he needed a different excuse if he was sent on another assignment soon.
Charity clinked her sherry glass to get everyone’s attention.
“I think I speak for Greyson, Letitia, and myself,” she nodded at both of them, “when I say how happy we are about the engagement of two wonderful couples, Anastasia and Hunter, and Aurora and Warren. May you have happy, fruitful, and loving lives.” She placed her empty sherry glass on the sideboard.
“I’m going to retire and give you happy couples time to yourselves. ”
“Shall I take you home?” Letitia’s eyes widened, and Greyson quickly added, “I hoped we could spend some time alone.”
Her lips curved into a teasing smile. “You did, did you? I think that can be arranged. Except who is going to chaperone?”
Greyson jumped up and hurried out of the room, frantically looking for Charity. He ran down the stairs. His pounding heart subsided when he found her in the entry hall, speaking to Henderson. “Charity, I need you back in the drawing room.”
She didn’t appear shocked by his statement as she slipped her arm through his. “Are you going somewhere?”
“I’m escorting Letitia home.”
“And when will you return?”
“My dear, Charity.” He winked. “That is none of your business. But I would be forever grateful if you would stay in the drawing room with my sisters until Hunter and Warren leave.”
After saying their goodbyes, they left in the Danbury family carriage with a matching set of four.
Greyson wished he’d never gone away, because there was a distance between them tonight he didn’t care for.
Like now, as they rode in silence, it was not the comfortable silence they sometimes shared.
He hoped to break it. “Did you do anything interesting while I was gone?”
“Yes. I spent most of my time with Simon. We went riding in Hyde Park and spent time outdoors in Rutherford Manor’s gardens. Simon loves chasing bugs and bees.”
He loved hearing the happiness in her voice when she talked about her son.
But his heart also dropped. For the first time in his life, he couldn’t wait to get married and have children of his own with Letitia.
Could he wait a month before proposing? Would his sisters mind if he didn’t wait?
He didn’t know if he could. He wanted the woman beside him to have his name, his heart, and his soul. She already had the latter two.
The carriage stopped. He opened the door, climbed out, and leaned in with his hand out. “My lady.”
She giggled as she slipped her hand into his. “You’re certainly being charming this evening.”
“I’m trying.” And he was. He’d never really courted anyone before, so he could only hope he was doing it right.
“We should get inside. It’s cold, and the nosy neighbors are probably watching us from their windows.”
“Really?”
“Perhaps. Although I have good neighbors, I wouldn’t want to test their desire to spread gossip.”
“Then by all means, let us get inside.” He tugged on her hand, and they hurried up the stairs and into the entry hall, since Mr. Henry had the door open by the time they reached the top step.
Greyson handed his greatcoat and gloves to Mr. Henry, then assisted Letitia in removing her cloak.
“That will be all for the night, Mr. Henry.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Greyson had a moment of weakness because he was afraid to look at Mr. Henry and see the disapproval on his face. Except he was only looking out for his mistress, and he appreciated that. He just didn’t want the steady butler to protect her from him.
When they were alone in the entry hall, Letitia whispered, “Did you tell your driver to leave? People will definitely gossip if your carriage stays outside my townhouse all night.”
He hadn’t wanted to be presumptuous, but he had told his driver to leave.
It wasn’t that far to his family home. “I did, knowing I could walk home if I needed to.” She slipped her arm through his and led the way up two flights of stairs and down a corridor, where she opened the door to her chambers. “We could’ve gone to Club Knight.”
After they entered, she closed and locked the door. “I know, and I thought about it. I told my maid I was not to be disturbed. She takes her job very seriously.”
“I’m glad. Come here.” He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her against him. “I’ve missed you.”
“Me too.”
His mouth claimed hers. He tried to be gentle, but it wasn’t always in his nature.
Instead, he kissed her as if he could never get enough of her, as if she might vanish any second and he had to make his mark while he could.
She understood his desires and kissed him back just as desperately.
His entire body tensed with need. His cock was hard.
He pushed his hips against her stomach so she knew what she did to him.
Only she could make him this needy, this hard, this desperate for release.
“As much as I love this dress, it has to go,” he said, turning her around so her back faced him. His fingers shook as he untied her laces, tantalizingly slowly. He could feel her body trembling beneath his fingers when he slipped the dress down over her hips until it pooled at her feet.
“I’ll do the rest,” she said as she stepped forward, turned, and locked sultry eyes with his.
He broke the contact and followed her fingers as they caressed up her stomach to her breasts, where she untied her chemise.
His chest tightened. He couldn’t breathe.
The top fell but got hung up on her hips, which she shimmied until it landed on the floor with the rest of her clothes.
Standing naked before him was the most beautiful, alluring goddess that ever existed.
His hands moved quickly and with precision. Moments later, sans his coat, waistcoat, and shirt, he moved to the bed and sat down to remove his shoes and hose.
“Let me,” the goddess said.
She bent at the waist and removed first one shoe, then the other, and his eyes never left her full breasts as they bounced with her movement. Then she slid her hands beneath his breeches and rolled down the hose on each leg, tossing them aside.
“Stand.”