She didn’t jump this time. If he wasn’t mistaken, and indeed he wasn’t, she was interested and becoming more interested by the moment. He began to stroke his hands through her hair, tangling his fingers, wrapping her hair about his hands, bringing her closer and closer until her breasts were against his chest and her hands, fluttering a moment, came around his back.
“These are parts,” he said into her mouth. “The whole is when we will come together. Marry me soon, ma’am, or I just might expire from my need of you.”
She raised her head. She seemed without words, which was a surprise, for since he’d known her—such a short time really—she’d always been brash, arrogant, ready to take on any comers, particularly him. She touched her fingertip to the deep cleft in his chin. She outlined it. She examined it. “A part,” she said, leaned over and kissed his chin.
“I like all the parts I’ve seen thus far.”
“Good.”
“I like your coat, too, sir. Weston?”
It was her father’s tailor.
“Yes,” he said, and continued to stroke that soft hair of hers.
She leaned her forehead against his chin. She drew several deep breaths, saying finally, her voice scarcely above a whisper, “I’ve been so frightened—not scared frightened—but a new sort of frightened that has quite turned me tip over tail. I know I haven’t treated you well, perhaps I have even been something of a shrew around you, at least before I decided to stay away from you.
“I’ve thought and thought, sir, and I think perhaps we can work a marriage out between us. A good marriage. I will try to do my part. What do you think?”
He laughed, kissed her, and pulled her against him. “I think that life will be very interesting from now on. Let’s marry, ma’am. Let’s do it soon. I will try to do all my parts as well.”
“Perhaps we could celebrate our agreement? Perhaps you could kiss me again? I truly do not mind it at all.”
The earl could practically taste her. He had her so close, so very close, her mouth just an instant away from his and this time he would teach her to open her mouth to him, and then he would—
“Well, hell,” he said, and pushed her away just as the door opened and a laughing Lady Ann and Elsbeth came into the room, their cloaks glistening with raindrops, Crupper trailing behind them.
“It is pouring,” Lady Ann said as she handed Crupper her wet cloak.
“Perhaps we should have remained at Talgarth Hall, but both Elsbeth and I wanted to come home. Ah, you ate your dinner in here. But, goodness, the two of you ate so little. Why, you ate scarcely anything at—” Lady Ann shut up. She stared at her daughter, then at Justin. It wasn’t at all difficult to imagine what had been going on before her and Elsbeth’s untimely entrance. Arabella’s face was red. Her lovely hair had enjoyed a man’s hands tangling through it.
The earl rose. His lust had died a quick death, thank God. “Lady Ann, Elsbeth,” he said. “Welcome home. Perhaps you would care for some tea?” Lady Ann wanted to laugh. It was only her daughter’s embarrassment that kept her quiet. She saw that Elsbeth looked confused. She was staring at her half-sister, her mouth readying itself to open and ask questions.
“Ah, my dear Elsbeth,” Lady Ann said quickly, “I think we had best go to our bedchambers.”
Elsbeth didn’t look all that eager to leave. She looked eager to stay and talk. The earl said, “Yes, both of you are wet. We will see you in the morning.”
“No,” Lady Ann said, the laughter lurking in her voice, “I believe that Elsbeth and I will come down again and join you for tea. In about half an hour, Justin?’
He wanted to curse, but didn’t. He wanted to take Arabella to the attic and show her more parts than she could as yet begin to imagine. Instead, he said on a sigh, “Yes, thirty minutes.” He had never before imagined that Ann would do this to him. Ah, but she was enjoying herself immensely. As for the two of them, he didn’t dare kiss Arabella any more during the next thirty minutes. He wouldn’t be able to stand up if he did.
Upon their return to the Velvet Room, the earl placed crystal glasses of champagne in their hands and said, “Do wish us well, Ann, Elsbeth. Ma’am here has done me the honor of accepting my hand in marriage.”
“Oh,” Elsbeth said. “So that was why you looked so, well, not strange really, but not quite present, if you know what I mean. It’s as if you wanted both me and Lady Ann to travel to the moon, immediately.”
“Well, yes,” the earl said. “But you see, it’s the right thing to do when people agree to marry. They wish all their relatives would stay away.”
“Very true,” Lady Ann said. “And we will stay away, but not just yet.” She laughed, then raised her glass to theirs. “To your health and happiness, my dears.”
“Then we are all in agreement. We will be married Wednesday next. Do you agree, ma’am?” He was holding her hand, lightly squeezing her cool fingers.
“I agree, sir. But that is only six days away.” She stopped then, looking away from him, toward nothing in particular as far as he could tell.
“What is it, ma’am?”
“I cannot very well wear a black wedding gown. What will I wear?” He saw that her eyes were luminous with tears, and said quickly to Lady Ann, “She is right. What will she wear, Lady Ann?”
“You will wear a soft light gray silk, Bella, with pearls, I think. Yes, that will be fine.”
“All right,” Arabella said. She swallowed, then quickly rose.
“I am so very happy for you, Arabella,” Elsbeth said. She lowered her voice and leaned toward Arabella’s ear. She whispered, “Lady Ann assures
