Hudson gave Elysande’s hand a loving pat. “It is a resounding success, darling, just as I knew it would be.”
It was all too much. The dream Elysande had been pursuing was hers. More tears of happiness rose, and she blinked, but they were trailing down her cheeks just the same. Hudson took note, catching one on his gloved fingertip.
“I have seen what I wished to see,” she said, smiling through her great bout of silly waterworks. “I am ready to go home to our darling girl.”
“Perhaps we ought to see your father’s influence machine first,” Hudson suggested.
Heavens, what a dreadful daughter she was, so caught up in her own triumphs that she had nearly forgotten all about Papa’s latest success.
“Yes, you are perfectly right,” she agreed as he steered her through the crush of guests examining the various electrical marvels on display. “He would be quite offended if we were to forget.”
His new machine was capable of generating electricity using induction, and it produced an impressively high voltage. There was no design currently available of its kind.
“Especially since he did not set any of the Talleyrand Park outbuildings aflame during its construction,” Hudson said, his tone wry.
She chuckled. “Not on this round.”
Hudson raised a brow, his expression bland. “There is always next time.”
“You are incorrigible, Your Grace.” She smiled at him, her love for him rising like a tide, strong and elemental.
He winked. “You would not have it any other way, my love.”
My, he was handsome. Those gray-blue eyes twinkled down at her, and she had to fight the urge to sigh.
“You are absolutely right, my darling husband,” she said instead.
She longed to kiss those wickedly sinful lips of his, but she was ever aware that they were in public surrounded by an eager audience who would no doubt be more than happy to report the Detective Duke kissing his duchess senseless in the midst of the electrical exhibition.
No, kisses would have to wait for the carriage ride home.
Unless…
Her gaze settled upon a sheltered alcove at the far end of the line of displays they were traversing. Did she dare to suggest a furtive kiss within the shelter of its shadowy depths?
“Perhaps a small detour is in order,” her husband said, seeming to read her thoughts.
“I do like the way you think,” she told him as they made their way to the alcove.
He laced his fingers through hers, giving them a gentle squeeze. “Good, because I bloody welllovethe way you think. Your mind is one of my favorite attributes.”
“Only my mind?” she teased, feeling bold.
“God no,” he said, his voice low and wicked and doing all sorts of naughty things to her in all the right places. “I also love your hips. Your saucy mouth. Your delicious breasts. The curve of your waist. The mole you have on your inner right thigh that never fails to drive me to distraction. Your stubborn chin, that silken hair. Have I mentioned your ankles? Or your cunny, always so perfect and wet for me. Shall I go on?”
“No,” she said weakly, breathless. “I do believe that shall do.”
By the time they reached the alcove and slipped inside, she was practically throbbing with need. He pulled her into his arms and she grasped his lapels, tugging his mouth to hers. She kissed his smiling lips, heart overflowing.
* * *
Thankyou for reading Hudson and Elysande’s happily ever after! I hope you loved their story, and if you’re wondering what’s happening to Barlowe now that he’s the earl, you won’t want to miss his story,The Playboy Peer. You can catch the Duke of Northwich’s story inLady Brazen(a scorching second chance romance), or start with Book 1 of that series,Lady Ruthless, a sizzling enemies-to-lovers tale. Now, do read on for a sneak peek at Zachary Barlowe and Lady Isolde’s story,The Playboy Peer…
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The Playboy Peer
Unexpected Lords
