From somewhere several rows behind them, a lady’s voice called out, “Mrs. Melbourne!”
It was clear enough to carry. The smattering of applause that had been building died off, replaced by a hiss, then another.
“Mrs. Melbourne!” A deeper voice picked up the taunt, though he was quickly shushed by a companion.
Eli twisted in his seat to find the source of the jeers before he turned back to Jane. “What’s this about?”
From the other side of him, Cecily answered. “Not everyone approves of the amount of time our new queen spends with her prime minister.”
“Ishe still the prime minister?” put in Sir Thomas. “It’s difficult to keep track these days. I thought Peel was going to form government.”
Cecily patted her husband on the knee. “He didn’t, darling.”
“But that’s ridiculous,” said Eli. “She’s barely more than a girl, and Melbourne must be at least sixty.”
“Exactly.” Cecily pressed her lips together in a knowing way. “Her Majesty should hurry up and take a husband. It would put a stop to speculation.”
The poor thing.Even a queen couldn’t escape the pressure to marry.
The procession reached their destination—the royal box which stood adjacent to the grandstand—without further incident. In another few minutes, the opening race would be underway.
Eli was silent while the standard was raised to signal Her Majesty’s presence inside her box, but as the horses took their marks and the crowd began to cheer once more, he leaned toward her ear. The heat of his breath on her neck made her shudder. “I’m not asking you for much. Only don’t toy with me, Miss Bishop.”
There was no avoiding it. She was trapped here, at least while the horses ran their circuit.
“Fine, we’ll talk.” Perhaps they could do this in a secret language, as she had with Della. She tried to keep her voice light. “It was a lovely picnic, but I wouldn’t expect to return to that spot. We’ve a very full schedule between now and Friday.”
“But…you did enjoy the picnic?” Eli’s voice was still pitched low enough to hum inside the core of her being. There was a compelling mix of eagerness and trepidation there. As if he both needed and feared to hear her reply.
It would have been too cruel to lie to him.
“I did,” she admitted, her voice catching.
He sucked in a breath. “Good. So did I.” Another breath, and then he added for good measure, “Very much.”
“Nevertheless,” she continued, “it was the sort of event one doesn’t repeat.”
“You’re embarrassed.” At Jane’s stern look, he added softly, “About…your gown being ruined by the mud. But I don’t think ill of you for it.”
“I don’t mind what you think of me,” she said swiftly. This wouldn’t pass for an innocent conversation any longer, but she couldn’t let him believe she was hanging on the hopes of his affection, eager to lap up Cecily’s scraps.
At least the horses were rounding the halfway mark, and the crowd was cheering for their favorites. Their words must be lost in the din.
“Well, I mind whatyouthink,” Eli admitted. “It pained me to lose your good opinion. I should like to earn it back.”
“Earn it back?” she echoed. “How might you do that?”
“I was hoping you could tell me. Say what I might do to please you.”
She was flushing again. There were certainly acceptable responses she could make to that request. She could tell him to introduce her to some connection she might like for her gambling club, or even to leave her alone forever. But the first thing that came to mind was the sensation of his arousal pressing urgently against her sex as she’d drawn perilously close to climax.
It couldn’t happen again, but ithadpleased her.
Maybe Della had a point. Jane couldn’t trust Eli with her heart, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy a…what had she called it? Anadventure. Something to give her a taste of passion before she settled into spinsterhood.
Just so long as she didn’t do anything that could be found out.
Eli seemed to read her thoughts on her face, for his gaze fell toher lips, lingered long enough to make it clear he wanted to kiss her, and then slid lower, to her breasts. He was staring openly, though everyone around them watched the race.
