What was between the two women?
Roman had his coachman park near Wellesbourne House, though not directly in front. He’d wait a little longer to move into a position where Ellis could see from a window that he was waiting. He didn’t want to knock on the door and announce his presence.
An hour or so later, the coachman drove forward, and it wasn’t long before Ellis left the house. Roman felt a swell of joy at seeing her, though it had only been a couple of hours since they’d parted.
He stepped from the coach and eagerly helped her inside. She sat on the rear-facing seat, a clear indication—at least to Roman—that she was still agitated about something. He sat down opposite her.
“Did you have a nice time?” he asked as the coach started moving.
“I did. Thank you.” She smiled vaguely, but her posture was stiff.
“Then why are you tense?”
She blinked at him. “You think I’m tense?”
He regarded her a moment. “Yes. You’ve appeared agitated or upset for a couple of days now. I know there are things you’re keeping from me, and I don’t wish to press you about them, but you can trust me—with all your secrets.”
She brushed at something on her gown, casting her head down. “Does that include a secret that would almost certainly upset you?”
“Yes,” he replied without thinking. “I don’t want you to carry something that’s troubling you, even if it would trouble me too.” Truthfully, he was already agitated knowing she was. “I would share your burden.”
She met his gaze unflinchingly. “I don’t want you to think less of me. This secret will change things between us.”
“I promise you it won’t,” he vowed.
“You don’t know that. This is…unconscionable.” She finally looked away, turning her head toward the window. Her features were stoic for the rest of the ride.
Roman sat brooding, tension coiled within him as they approached his house. He didn’t wait for the coachman to climb down and open the door. Instead, he departed the coach and held his hand up to assist Ellis.
Though they wore gloves, her touch was electric. Roman had to keep from pulling her toward him. She preceded him into the house, where Graham greeted them.
“I trust you had a pleasant evening,” the butler said pleasantly.
“Yes, thank you,” Ellis replied with a brief smile. “Good night, Graham.” She glanced back over her shoulder as if she were trying to communicate the same to Roman. Then she continued toward the stairs.
Roman removed his hat and gloves as he followed her. She couldn’t just go to bed. He needed to make sure she believed him when he said he could never think poorly of her. But he also didn’t wish to upset her further.
When she reached the door to her chamber, she turned partially toward him. “I’m going to bed now.”
“I don’t want to say good night like this,” he said. “I can see you’re upset.”
She hesitated, then ultimately exhaled before opening the door and stepping into her chamber. The fact that she didn’t close it behind herself led him to believe he was welcome to go in after her. So, he did and then closed the door firmly.
“The household is still awake,” she pointed out as she removed her gloves and tossed them on her dressing table.
“I know. I won’t stay long.” He watched as she unclasped her cloak, then moved to take it from her shoulders.
She gestured to a hook in the corner, and he went to hang it there. When he turned back around, he saw that she’d stepped out of her slippers. Her gaze was now seductive, surprising him after she’d said she wanted to go to bed. Did she have any idea how alluring she was?
“You said you didn’t want to ‘say good night like this,’” she said. “How were you hoping to say good night?”
“The way we usually do.” Roman crossed to her in two large steps and swept her into his arms.
Their eyes met briefly, and the only thing he saw was a dark desire that matched his own. He kissed her with a heady passion that forced all other thoughts from his mind. She pressed against him as she skimmed her hands up beneath his coat and clasped his shoulders. He could feel her fingertips digging into him through the fabric of his waistcoat and shirt.
He twitched, desperate to remove the coat. She understood and pushed the garment over his shoulders and down his arms. It quickly found the floor. Then her hands were on his cravat, loosening the knotted silk that Graham had so painstakingly tied earlier. Roman clutched her waist as he kissed her again, his tongue thrusting against hers as they fought feverishly to claim the other.
His cravat disappeared, and she began unbuttoning his waistcoat. When it was open, she pulled his shirt from his breeches and unfastened his fall. She tucked her hand inside and stroked his cock. Roman strained against her, his hips rotating mindlessly as she worked him into a desperate state of need.
