Dev collapsed. He was motionless but for a twitch and a pulsing inside of her.
“You will always be mine, Sophia,” he said into her neck. “Always.”
“Mmm…” was all she could manage.
He chuckled and must have used the last of his strength to pull the covers up around them.
And so, on the night of her marriage, she finally slept, safe and comfortable in the arms of the man she loved.
Dev crept out of her chamber just before sunrise, no one the wiser, she hoped
* * *
The problemwith having a lady’s maid, despite being attended in luxury, was that one tended to sacrifice a great deal of privacy.
And Sophia would have appreciated some that morning, instead of awakening, completely naked, to find Penny placing a tray of some hot, steaming drink beside her bed. The maid then casually picked up her nightgown, smoothed out some wrinkles, and laid it along the foot of the bed.
The tray left over from her and Devlin’s picnic the night before was nowhere to be seen.
Her maid must think that she and Harold…
Sophia grasped her gown quickly, all the while clutching the blanket in front of her, and then slipped it over her head with as much grace as she could muster.
The maid merely glanced over her shoulder with a secret smile. “I didn’t think he had it in him!” she said. But upon realizing exactly what had just escaped her lips, and to whom the words had escaped to, she suddenly turned white as a sheet and covered her mouth with one hand.
Sophia realized that Harold’s… husbandly abilities… had been in doubt, with a servant, this servant, anyhow, and most probably with numerous other servants about the house.
This was exactly why the duke and duchess had been adamant about his marriage. For Harold and his… valet to do what she’d witnessed last night was not only scandalous, but dangerous. What was it considered? She’d read about it on one occasion. Oh, yes, an unnatural crime.
Society was far less lenient in their judgment of such matters than she and Devlin apparently were.
By having Devlin stay the night with her, creating the appearance of a night of lovemaking, well, they’d done something of a favor for the duke and duchess.
And, she supposed, for Harold… and Stewart.
Giggles threatened to erupt, but she could not do that to the horrified maid.
So, she settled on a secret smile before reaching for the hot drink. She had plenty of secret thoughts to smile about: Dev telling her of his childhood, Dev unclothed, Dev on top of her, Dev inside of her…
“I didn’t know if you preferred chocolate or tea in the morning, so I brought both.” The maid was quite obviously grateful to not have been chastised for her ill-timed comment.
“Chocolate, this morning,” she said. “But tea usually.” Most certainly her thoughts had caused her to blush.
“Very well, Lady Harold, my lady,” Penny said.
Sophia bristled at her new title. She was not Harold’sanything!
Penny continued her cheery speech. “Her grace has instructed me to ready you to leave this morning. I’ve most of your trunks packed for the footmen to take down already, an overnight valise, and clothing laid out for your journey. I’ll have a bath readied for when you are done with your chocolate?” Her last statement was something of a question.
This new relationship between lady and lady’s maid was an intimate one. Sophia did wish to bathe, however. And then as a few muscles protested when she stood, she wondered if Dev had left any marks on her. The thought, although embarrassing, was also oddly thrilling. Their lovemaking had not consisted of feathery kisses and a quick joining in the dark.
Harold might gain quite the reputation.
After the hot water had been brought up, Penny led Sophia into the dressing room and assisted her with her gown. Sophia caught sight of herself in the mirror. Yes, a few bruises smudged her hips, and a red streak stood out against the pale skin of her breast.
Feeling like a wanton, she sank into the hot water.
She would hold fast to the sensations and imprints left by Dev’s lovemaking. They reminded her that it had been real. It had not been a dream, nor a figment of her imagination.
