He’d explained to her later that it was so he could rent them separate rooms. He’d be damned if he’d allow other patrons to view him with pity, thinking his wife had barred him from her bed.
“Separate rooms for sister and brother need no explanation,” he’d explained to her the next morning as they embarked on another day’s drive. “Unless you’d rather we anticipate our vows.”
Of course, he was joking.
Wasn’t he?
She imagined hismentulaas she’d seen it in the Crabtrees’ library and touched her lip with one finger.
Most married women openly complained of the physical aspect of marriage, leaving maidens to believe it somewhat tedious.
Although Sophia and Cecily did not give off such an impression. Despite skirting around the issue rather delicately, they blushed and giggled whenever the subject came up.
It wasn’t as though she and her betrothed wouldn’t be forced into the act eventually, what with marrying and all.
In addition, Emily didn’t have anything to read.
Boredom would set in quickly, and they still had two days of driving to look forward to.
And she was curious.
“This promises to be a rather long journey.”
She glanced at him out of the side of her eyes.
Marcus shot her a quick look, eyebrows raised. Emily felt herself blushing even as her impetuousness threatened to get the better of her.
But really, at this point, what did it matter?
Any other female likely would never contemplate something so scandalous, but Emily wasn’t any other female.
She had his full attention as they drove. Once they returned to London, she was not so naïve as to believe he wouldn’t look elsewhere for his satisfaction.
He’d likely abandon her for years at a time on his country estate.
She shrugged in response, feeling brash. “Surely, it might divert us from the tediousness of all this driving.”
“Miss Goodnight! I am all astonishment!” But a gleam had appeared in his eyes. He licked his lips and seemed to be considering her suggestion.
Emily’s heart raced. What was she suggesting? Did she even know? “We don’t necessarily have to actually anticipate our vows to the fullest extent of the act in order to entertain one another. I’m not an ignorant girl, Marcus. I know there are other ways.”
Marcus made something that sounded like a choking sound but then turned to face her more fully. “Enlighten me.” He raised one foot to the bench and rested his arm atop his knee.
Emily noticed how his pose tightened the material around his thigh. She remembered the feel of hismentulabeneath her hand when she’d lost her spectacles. She wished she’d paid more heed at the time. She’d been distracted as she’d searched about his person.
“Enlightenyou?” Surely, he was teasing her. “You’re the rake. I’ve merely done a little reading.”
“Exactly. Tell me what you’ve read about, and I’ll tell you if I can accommodate your inquisitiveness.”
Emily stared at him suspiciously. Sometimes she wondered if he ever took her seriously.
It didn’t matter. This was her chance. “Kissing intrigues me.” She liked the feel of his mouth upon hers. Tasting another person, a notion she’d never considered before.
“Go on.” A patient smile spread across his lips.
“It triggers other sensations. Have you noticed that?”She’dnoticed it. “Something that seems as though it would be unpleasant, disgusting even. It isn’t though. Sharing saliva and touching tongues.”
So very baffling.
