A stream of parents exited the room. Several mothers were crying, and although the fathers remained stoic, it was a false façade. Letting go of her children was a sad fate for mothers. Alas, that’s where I was at this time in my life. My one consolation was that my husband was in the same situation and sympathized with me. Together, we would have to bear through this.
“Come, Eleanor.” Rex settled his hand on my back and began to escort me out. Brilliant sunlight met us, the brightness stinging my sensitive eyes. A piece of my soul was in the building behind us.
Our groom opened the door to our carriage, and I lifted my skirt to climb inside, the dam on my emotions starting to crumble. The carriage boasted red seats stuffed with horsehair and two windows framed with red curtains. It was a handsomeequipage, one worthy of the Smythington name. I took a seat, clutching my reticle in my hand. My chest was tight, the tears threatening to fall at any second.
Rex climbed in and sat beside me instead of taking the seat opposite. The second our eyes locked, my tears began to fall. Compassion rested in his gentle regard, along with his own emotional turmoil.
He signaled the driver to move on by tapping his cane on the roof, and then placed his arm around my shoulders. The carriage jerked before it began to sway on the cobblestone drive. I curled into his body, sobs coming unbidden from my throat. “Did we make the right decision?”
“Yes.” Rex lifted my chin, his compassionate smile belying the sadness in his gaze.
“Then why does it feel wrong?” It felt like someone bore a hole in my chest. Atticus and Anne would thrive in the world. Harry was a different story.
“I don’t know.” He cupped my cheek, his thumb running along my bottom lip. “We simply have to trust in Harry.”
“You are right.” I tilted my chin, needing to forget my heartache. The soft caress of his mouth on mine was a soothing balm. I knew this would be a hard day, hence my reasons for meeting Flynn this afternoon for our rendezvous.
With a bold move, I brushed my tongue along the seam of Rex’s lips, longing to feel more than sorrow. He angled his head, his tongue coming out to caress my seeking one. I moaned at the contact, my cunny beginning to flood with warmth. Our newfound passion bloomed bright between us. One large hand slid up my side, his palm cupping my breast through the thick fabric of my pelisse. I bowed my back to get closer, aching to feel more of his touch.
The carriage picked up speed as did my pulse. Rex lifted me onto his lap, cradling my bottom with his hard thighs. Hecontinued to duel his tongue with mine, his hand moving to the juncture of my thighs. Seeking fingers rubbed the sensitive place, but the skirt hampered our play. I wanted to strip it off and be flesh-to-flesh with him. “How long until we are there?” I asked between kisses, my voice breathy and raw with need. The night with Flynn had freed my inhibitions, and I was no longer content to suppress my desires.
“Not soon enough,” Rex said with a pained laugh. He continued his seduction, the sensations building inside me despite the thick material. The carriage hit a series of bumps, nearly unseating me from his lap. I held onto his shoulders to steady myself.
My kisses became more desperate, each glide of his lips over mine taking my body from an octave zero to a c4. I clutched at the material of his coat, my hips lifting to meet his unrelenting caress as my body hit the highest note. Rex held me until I floated back down, a pleased smile wrinkling his eyes.
I grinned back, relaxed for the first time in days. “Thank you for that.”
“You’re welcome.” He looked outside at the passing cityscape, the roads becoming more congested the farther we traveled.
I started to move from his lap. He held me in place. “I rather like you here.”
“I rather like being here, but I would like to reciprocate what you did for me.” I didn’t want things to be unequal between us. Flynn had taught me how to please my husband, and I wanted to make Rex happy. After all, it was at my insistence we never explored our desires to the full extent.
“I would love to say yes, but I suspect we will be at the Stratham soon, and the carriage has proven to be rather risky,” he said with a wry smirk. “Once we are safely ensconced in our suite, I will take you up on your generous offer. However, I doenjoy your kisses, they help me forget. Might I have another one?”
Like me, he was missing our children, and I nodded, eager to comply with his request. The children were moving on with their lives, leaving us alone. With the new bond growing between us, I had faith we would get through the rough spots in our marriage.
Like the carriage ride, there would be bumps along the way. The trick was not to let them destroy our passion for one another.
Chapter Twenty
Lord Rex, Duke of Smythington
Eleanor and I entered the Stratham Hotel, the fabric of her cloak billowing as a stray wind blew the material. She’d been quiet since leaving Harry at Knutchester. My own feelings mimicked hers. Leaving my son behind had been heart-wrenching. We had strategically planned our outing with Flynn to take our minds off Harry. He was out in the world, and although we wanted to coddle him, there was no way we could guard him for the rest of his life.
