“Excellent. Do you need to return to your room or would you like to stay here?” He was shocked to hear those words coming from his mouth. He never invited women to stay the night.
She ran her gaze over his still-clothed form and licked her lips. “Stay. Definitely stay, please.”
Ah, mayhap she hasn’t had enough. We’ll have all night as well as the morning.
****
Robert woke to sharp knocks at the door and Evan’s voice calling his name. Beth was curled around his back, her luscious breasts pressed against his shirt-covered spine.
Damnation, Evan never bothered him first thing. What was with the fellow this week? He’d fallen asleep anticipating what position he could bind her into next. Mayhap whilst she was still sleeping—
Bangs sounded on the door again.
Beth mumbled and rolled over, pulling the covers over her delectable curves.
“Stay under there,” Robert whispered before rising. Frustrated, he yanked on his breeches from last night and strode through the workshop to crack the door.
As usual, his friend tried to push in, assuming he was welcome. Meeting with resistance, he complained, “I need your help, man. Let me in.”
“No. I have a guest.”
“Really? Who is it then?”
Robert sidestepped to stop his friend from peering around him.
“I helped you last night. You’ve used up your requests.” He went to shut the door.
“Come on, please? Meet me downstairs in… Uh, how long do you need? Is she sleeping, or will I need to wait for another round?”
Robert arched a brow. “Maybe both.”
“Right. I will take breakfast in my office. Join me when you can.” Robert was thankful as always for their friendship that made these kinds of interactions easy.
Robert tiptoed into the bedroom and found clean clothes. Grateful men’s clothes did not actually need a valet if he opted for more comfortable boots and a simple cravat tie, he dressed quietly in his workroom and slipped out. He hoped his friend’s request was brief and he could ease back into bed with the ripe little peach to fulfill the fantasies he’d been building overnight.
When he ambled into Evan’s office a quarter hour later, his host snorted. “That was fast. I hope you at least got a good suck.”
He folded his arms. “Oh, I thought you needed something. I can come back later.”
“Teasing. Teasing.” Evan held up his hands in surrender. “Thank you.”
Robert accepted the cup of tea handed to him and sat, crossing one ankle over the other knee. “What’s this about help?”
“You remember Penelope’s friend? And her cousin? From the ball in London where Michael proposed? And here, this week?”
“Yes.” Robert remembered—from five minutes ago when he left one of them in his bed. But he’d never been one to brag about his conquests.
“Beth and Althea. Althea wants investment help. Which is why Beth requested their invitations.” Evan shook his head. “So much impudence in so small a package.”
“Why did Beth seek the invitations? And why does that make her impudent?”
“How isn’t she? That girl knows almost everyone and their servants. She’s already met my mother, if you can believe it, and has offered to find Lucy’s replacement.”
Robert wondered how that had happened. Evan did not allow anyone unvetted near his mother.
“Her parents were unconventional, to say the least,” Evan continued. “They died in an accident when she was around seventeen. She ended up as Althea’s ward until she reaches her majority. Anyway, Althea is not like Beth, or you or I, or Penelope, for that matter. She is reserved and unaccustomed to—” He coughed. “—our type of fête, shall we say.”
“Ah. So, you need me to entertain the quiet mouse? I can do that. Especially after you threw me into the thick of it last night.” If he could not spend time with Beth, he wanted to lick his wounds in solitude.
