Max grinned. “Extra bacon, you old curmudgeon,” he called as he unfurled his napkin. “And make sure Miss Ridlington gets some of that blackberry jam for her toast.”
She watched in fascination as a large plate of food appeared in front of her, along with toast and the aforementioned blackberry jam. “Good lord. I won’t be able to move if I eat all this.”
“I’m not sure you should.”
“What, eat this or move?”
Max sipped his tea. “Move. As in leave the house today.”
She sobered. “You’re serious?”
“Until we know what’s going on, Kitty, a measure of caution is well-advised. For both of us. I have business in town that I cannot afford to delay or miss, so I’ll be gone for most of the day. But I am taking two armed footmen with me, rather than riding alone.”
“Well, that makes sense,” she approved.
Deery bowed to Max. “Will there be anything else, sir?”
Max shook his head. “This will do. Thank you Deery. We’ll ring if we need anything.”
“Very good sir.” Deery took himself off.
Max returned to his conversation. “For my peace of mind, Kitty, I would appreciate your remaining indoors while I’m gone.”
She looked outside to see rain starting. “Not a hardship, Max. As long as I have permission to use your library…”
“Kitty, you are my guest…”
“No, I’m not.” She looked over the table and into his eyes. “I am not your guest, Max. I’m your mistress. I’m not sure why I’m even here, since it is magnifying the scandal by bringing me to your home. I should be in a small house, in an unobtrusive part of town, and you know that.”
He leaned back in his chair. “Yes, I know that. But I choose to have you here. I have no family or wife to offend or scandalize. What I choose to do, and with whom, is my own affair.”
“I applaud your determination to flout convention.” Kitty tilted her head. “One that I have embraced myself a time or two. However, this situation is a little different, wouldn’t you say?”
“It’s different in many ways,” he agreed. “One of which is that significant damage was done to two people simply because they were in my carriage.” His expression turned hard. “I intend to find out by whom, and why. But until I do, I have to assume there may be danger to myself, or my family. As of now, you are in my house, and therefore possibly running the same risks.”
She could not argue that point at all; the logic made sense, the topic sent a chill down her spine. She finished her toast, then looked up at him. “I completely understand. It shall be as you wish.”
He smiled. “Use the library. You might find some interesting reading material.”
She rose, shaking out her skirts. “Thank you. I will.”
He rose as well. “I will be back before dinner. Don’t worry.”
Coming to her side, he took her chin in his hand and tugged her face upward. “Miss me, Kitty. I’ll be thinking of you.”
“I will,” she answered, her gaze fixed on him. “Be careful.”
“Of course. I have much to look forward to when I get back.” His grin was wicked and he lowered his face to hers, softly slipping his tongue over her lips. “Open for me.”
She obeyed, loving how his tongue invaded and caressed, teasing and urging her to reciprocate.
He groaned, his arm sliding around her and crushing her to his body.
The kiss lingered, heat licking up inside Kitty as her knees weakened beneath his sensual onslaught. But he broke off, pulling back from her, color rising in his cheeks. “Damn, Kitty. If I had the time, I’d fuck you here and now, skirts up, right here next to the blackberry jam.” He cupped her breast and flicked her nipple hard through her bodice. “Would you like that?”
Honesty compelled her answer. “Yes, Master,” she whispered, glancing down at the bulge in his breeches. “I’d like that very much.”
He chuckled. “That’s my good girl. Behave yourself today. I’ll be back before you know it.”
She smiled in response, happy to have pleased him. “By the way? The jam…itisexcellent.”
“I’m seldom wrong,” he called over his shoulder.
She sighed as he left, the room suddenly empty and feeling a little colder. “I do hope you’re right about that, Max. I really do.”
