James yanked off his top hat and smoothed his hair down. “I’m here to see Mrs. Eames.”
“Is she expecting you, sir?”
Probably not but he nodded confidently anyway. “Aye.”
With a nod, the butler stepped back, allowing James entry into the warmth of the foyer.
“Can I take your coat, sir?” the butler asked.
“I’m not—”
“I’m here. I’m here,” Prim’s sweet voice rang out in the cavernous room, and he turned to see her hurrying down the wide sweeping staircase with one hand lifting up her skirts and the other holding on to the heavily carved bannister.
His first thought was that her face glowed with beauty and anticipation. From there, he stopped thinking altogether, his brain grinding to a halt as he took in the slim line of her skirts, the way they swirled around her legs and hugged her hips. Then pure masculine appreciation kicked in as his eyes fell upon her nearly bared shoulders and the low scooping neckline. A pink diamond pendant rested at the rise of her breasts, which bounced seductively with each step she took.
He was almost taken to his knees by the rush of lust charging through his veins. When she bounded to a halt barely an arm’s length away, it was all he could do not to snatch her up and kiss the bloody dickens out of her.
“I’m ready.” She beamed up at him, tugging on her long gloves as she did so. “I do apologize, though. I already had dinner.”
“Mrs. Eames,” he choked out, his voice almost a feral growl. “You look…”
Anxiety flooded her eyes and she worried her lip delectably as she swept a nervous hand down her skirt. “Is it all right?”
“It is—” He cleared his throat. “You are utterly perfect.”
A broad smile lit her face, which grew rosier by the second as he continued to stare at her, fascinated by the transformation.
He wasn’t the old only one. The old butler was staring at her as well, making no attempt to hide his shock.
She might have already had dinner, but James thought she’d make an excellent dessert. “Utterly delectable.”
She fiddled with her necklace, her cheeks aflame now as she ducked her head. “Really?”
He recovered himself and chuckled then. Just like any female, she enjoyed being told how pretty she looked. He’d have to make sure he did so more often.
“I’ve never seen a sight more lovely.”
A maid raced down the stairs bearing a dark green velvet cape lined with mink and a matching fur muff. Though the awestruck butler moved to take them, James nudged him aside, doing the honors himself and taking the chance to whisper in her ear.
“You are a woman of many layers, Mrs. Eames.”
* * *
Prim shivered with pleasure as James’s lips brushed across her ear. Every moment of Nellie yanking her corset strings tight and tugging at her hair had been worth it to see his reaction.
What a glorious feeling to have a man look at you so!
“What’s going on here?”
Jeremy came out of the library with a tumbler of whisky in one hand and disbelief written all over his face.
Once he came to his senses, he was sure to set up a fuss. Make her miserable and guilty, but she didn’t want that. Not tonight.
Without giving him a chance to recover, she went to him. With a light hug, she rotated him so that James was out of his line of sight.
“Since you’re spending the night anyway, you won’t mind keeping an ear out for the children, would you? Nanny’s off for the evening but they’re already in bed, so there shouldn’t be much for you to do.”
“Where do you think you’re going?” he burst out, finally getting a grip on himself. “Withhimand dressed likethat?”
