Although aroused and hard, Michael pleasured herenthusiastically until she broke down, shaking, and pushing herself into his hand. And then, gasping, she let her head fall onto his shoulder.
Ah, yes, ah yes. So beautiful, his Lilly.Michael kissed the side of her face, her neck.
He never wanted to move.
Until, that was, he realized they were heading down Whitehall directly for the palace.
Good God, the vote! As he tensed, Lilly’s eyes flew open, and she too apparently realized they were travelling along a very public route in the center of London. Scampering off him at the same time the carriage hit a rut, Lilly landed in an ungainly heap on the floor. Looking up at him, she appeared startled and then burst into laughter.
And Michael laughed with her.
How could one not laugh? She was alive. They were together. And he planned on righting the wrong he’d done nearly a decade ago.
Lilly tightened the rope around her breeches, climbed back onto the bench, and with the napkins left over from the packet they’d devoured the night before, brushed at the mud on his face, in his hair, on his shirt…
Michael stilled her busy little hands.
“I have a change of clothing in my office,” he assured her when she tried to swipe at another chunk of mud. And then he stared into her eyes. “Whatever happens today, will happen.”
“You’ve worked so hard for this…”
But he shushed her. “The most important thing in the world to me, right now, is in my arms.”
She looked all of seventeen again wearing a shirt several sizes too large, with tangled hair about her flushed face. Her lips were full and lush though. Ah, yes, he could believe they had just made love.
The carriage had sat, unmoving, now for several moments.Michael knew John must be standing outside. “I’ll come to you as soon as the vote’s over. You’re not to worry about anything.” He reassured her one last time before kissing her hastily on the lips. He’d not leave her right now for anything, but it was at her insistence they were even here, in London. “Wish me luck?”
Lilly took hold of his face and pulled him into her desperately. “You won’t need it.” She said against his lips. And then with one last kiss, she released him. “Now, go!” Her eyes were bright, but her smile encouraging. Feeling alive again for the first time in years, Michael leapt out of the carriage and rushed into Parliament.
DÉJA VU
Lilly felt disoriented. She knew, since the vote was being held that very morning, that some issues had been resolved, but others had not. Nobody pressed her with the necessity of meeting with Danbury, nor did they mention Glenda’s endangered betrothal.
Instead, she’d arrived at her aunt’s home to an abundance of hugs and kisses and profuse apologies from her niece. She had barely mentioned that she would appreciate a quick bath before Glenda had run to the kitchen and ordered one made up in Lilly’s room. Her aunt had wrapped her in a blanket to cover her scandalous attire from the servants, and then lovingly escorted her upstairs.
“Oh, darling, I am so happy you are not harmed! When we heard Hawthorne had taken you and there had been gunshots, we were hard pressed not to imagine the worst. But you are safe, and everything is going to be fine! I am so happy.” And then her very stoic and enduring aunt burst into tears. “Ignore these, my dear. I am just so happy you are not harmed!”
It was Lilly’s turn to embrace her aunt. She was the one person in the world who’d never failed her. “I love you, Aunt. Iam so sorry to cause you worry.” Sitting on Lilly’s bed, they held each other and cried softly. Miss Fussy was not to be left out. Frantically wagging her tail, she jumped at Lilly and attempted to lick away every tear. And she would not be dissuaded. Lilly finally hugged her little dog tightly, settling her down. Both women were laughing as Glenda came marching in ahead of the maids and footmen to fill the tub.
“Enough of that,” Glenda said.
The women dabbed at their eyes and smiled ruefully at each other.
“Aunt Eleanor, how can you sit by her? Lilly, you smell as if you have been rolling in manure. Come along, Aunt.” She dragged Aunt Eleanor toward the door. “Let’s leave Lilly to her bath and the soap—plenty of soap!” Holding her fingers as though to plug her nose, she peeked around the door and smiled at Lilly. “I am so very glad you are back, Lilly, even if you do smell like something dragged in from the stables!” And then she left.
Lilly undressed, and Betty slipped into the room just as Lilly slid into the steaming hot water. It felt heavenly as the maid massaged Lilly’s favorite hyacinth soap into her hair and then poured more warm water to rinse it out.
When she finally climbed out of the tub, the maid wrapped her in a warm towel and led her to sit by the grate. Any remaining tension left her body as Betty brushed out her hair, using the heat of the fire to dry it.
A nightgown came down over her head, and like a child, Lilly raised her arms to slip on the garment. Her wrists were bruised, and there were a few other places where she had managed to acquire some violet-purple marks. Perhaps they were from throwing herself out of a window, climbing down a tree, or sliding off a horse. She couldn’t quite remember it all, and that was fine.
She was home.
Before Betty pulled the covers to Lilly’s chin, she had drifted off soundly.
After acceptingmany handshakes and backslaps of congratulations, Michael made a quick stop at his town house and then went directly to Lilly’s aunt. Jarvis opened the door and graciously allowed him to enter.
Lady Eleanor greeted him with enthusiasm, so much so that she embraced him. She was oh, so grateful to him for returning her niece to her safely. Michael shook his head and declined any credit. “She saved herself, Lady Eleanor. I merely gave her a ride home.”
