“I think we should.” With a mischievous smile, she adjusted the hood of her cape over her hair.
The door opened, and I frowned at the familiar landscape. “We aren’t home.”
“No, we aren’t. We have a suite for the night.” She offered a saucy wink. “I happen to know you are free from any obligations until Monday.”
“Indeed.” I hopped from the carriage and nearly stumbled in my eagerness for the night of passion to begin. My head spinning with the turn of events, I helped her down from the carriage. I spent too many hours at Parliament and had missed out on so much. There came a time in every man’s life when he had to make tough decisions not only for himself but for others. “I have been giving it much thought, and on Monday, I will inform Her Majesty that I am stepping down from my position. For this new phase of our life, I plan on puttingusfirst.” Flynn was already a fixture in my life. The intimacies we shared were one more layer to our intertwined futures.
“If that is your wish, I will support you no matter what.” She leaned on my arm, the night air blowing at her cloak. Golden lights illuminated the grand exterior of the hotel as a servant opened the door for us. I would give her as much freedom as possible. Our lives weren’t ours to live at times. The estate required hours of dedication to benefit the greater good. While I could quit my obligation at Parliament and be relegated to a regular member, my title and estates were yoked to me. I would never be free of them, nor would I wish to be. I was privileged to be a duke and prided myself on my heritage.
Neither one of us was good at laying our hearts on the line. For years, we let societal restrictions shackle us. As I kissed her with love in my heart, I vowed not to take her for granted again, and in return, I would have my heart’s desire.
Eleanor.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Lord Flynn, Earl of Larsson
The thick carpet covering the hardwood floors muted my footsteps as I paced the suite. The clock on the mantel continued to tick away the minutes, each seeming to take forever. I had left Eleanor with an ultimatum. Either she and Rex talk and clear the air between them, or I wouldn’t continue with the affair.
Thus far, the two-hour time frame she’d given me had crept by. My hands on my hips, I moved to the window and pulled back the drapes to stare at the London skyline. Would they be coming, or was I wasting my time? The two had a bad habit of avoiding conflict, or their feelings for that matter.
Or Rex might have decided he didn’t wish to carry on the affair. A lump settled into my stomach and I pressed my hand to it. There was always the possibility. I loved my friend but he could be stubborn sometimes. My own doubts continued to play inside my head. We’d proven to each other that our passions were strong, but were they strong enough?
The lantern light from a carriage caught my eye, the steady swing of the golden light indicating that an equipage was coming at a clipped rate.
I lifted my hand to my forehead and rested it against the glass, trying my best to see if the carriage had the ducal crest. The Stratham was a popular dining destination amongthe aristocracy after attending the theater; thus, no one would question their arrival at such a late hour.
After a breathless moment, the carriage slowed in front of the hotel. My heart raced, excitement and relief fighting for supremacy. The next hurdle was to see if both exited or just one. A liveried coachman went to the door and opened it, standing away from the door. I stared, my pulse pounding with anticipation. Nobody got out, and the fear I carried jumped to the fore.
Patience.
Rex stepped out and holding his hand up, helped Eleanor alight. Joy permeated my entire being, and I continued to watch them. The hotel valet approached the couple and then they disappeared from view, blocked by the hotel awning. A grin cut across my face, my mood much improved by seeing them. They might be here, but that didn’t mean all was well.
I dropped the drapes and went to the table where a bottle of champagne and three glasses were placed. My mouth dry, I popped the cork and after the initial spray from the bottle, poured myself a glass. Tonight had been fraught with uncertainty, and matters still hadn’t been settled.
The champagne felt good against my throat. My entire day had been full of ups and downs, and if nothing else happened, I wanted to commiserate with my friends. A soft knock at the door, followed by voices, caused me to snap my head around, my grip on the glass tightening.
Withers appeared and stepped inside, his handsome face enhanced by his smile. “Your guests have arrived,” he said, forever discreet.
“Please see them in.” I sipped my drink and waited with anticipation to see them.
Eleanor entered first, removing the hood of the cape, her red hair askew. She had a glassy look, her lips plumper than usual.Withers helped her out of her outerwear, removing the material to expose a pale cream dress, the gown accentuating her lovely shoulders.
My own smile began to bloom. They had been kissing.
