“Only when the mood strikes him. Have you had enough dancing for one night?”
“Indeed.”
“Then say good-bye to your mother and we’ll go.”
“She wouldn’t give me the same courtesy, so we can skip that. I doubt she would have approached me at all tonight if you didn’t force me on her. And Lady Hewitt is near the entrance. We need to at least have a word with her or your mother will surely hear about it.”
“Worried about such a minor faux pas?”
“Not me, but your mother might not think it so minor.”
He glanced down at her as he led her to Lady Hewitt. “Are you really concerned for her?”
“Don’t sound so surprised. Disturbances of any kind might slow her recovery.”
“You didn’t exactly take that into account when I was recovering.”
She laughed. “And where was there a choice in that?”
That somewhat normal conversation didn’t continue after they thanked the hostess and walked to their coach a little way up the street. She was still in a much better mood and was fully aware it was because he hadn’t found a mistress tonight. But anticipation was building, too. She tried to tamp it down with the thought that he might have been teasing about kissing her on the way home. But she wanted it to happen. Dare she instigate it? No, she only had a couple more days to wait until she could be that bold.
“Did you enjoy your first ball?” Dominic asked as soon as he sat down next to her in the coach.
“Yes.” She sighed wistfully. “Except I thought it might be a little more romantic with a few stolen kisses.”
He raised a brow at her. “We kissed on the dance floor.”
“That was hardly stolen, and besides, that was just to assure the Regent and other people that we were complying with the marriage ‘suggestion.’?”
“Ah, I understand. You were expecting something more like this...?”
He leaned toward her until their lips met, softly, teasingly. She was still thrilled and would have said yes, except he stopped too soon. She was about to pull him back to her when she was drawn instead onto his lap.
“Or more like this?” he said huskily.
Yes! He was kissing her deeply now, and the passion flared so fast it was already out of control. She slipped her arm around his neck and moaned deeply in her throat when the top of her gown scraped electrifyingly over her sensitive nipples as he lowered the material. And again as his warm hand fondled her exposed breast. She wanted to feel his bare skin, too, but he wasn’t accommodating her. Because it wasn’t a long ride? That stirred up a bit of desperation in her. She didn’t want this to end! But then his hand slipped beneath her gown and slid up her leg until it reached that most sensitive of places and...
“I’ll buy you as many horses as you want. You don’t need to push me to sleep with other women to get them.”
It took a moment for her to grasp what he’d just said, but then she smiled. “So you can tolerate me now?”
“You’re going to be my wife.”
Such a wonderful statement. Her smile widened. But he was straightening her clothes, making her realize they were home. He helped her out of the coach and walked her to the door, but then he turned to leave!
“Where are you going?” she asked with a frown.
He paused. “Not where you think. Sweet dreams, Babble.”
Her dreams were likely to be more than sweet now. They were likely to be a conclusion of what they’d been doing in that coach! She was still smiling to herself as she entered the house. Just two more days...
Chapter Fifty
BROOKE OVERSLEPT THE NEXTmorning. She wasn’t even surprised after all that dancing and even drinking champagne for the first time with her mother. But she felt wonderful, as if a weight had been lifted from her. That silly bargain was over, Dominic hadn’t slept with other women, and he’d finally assured her that theywouldbe married.
Alfreda’s bringing in a tray of food had awakened Brooke, and when the maid saw the smile on her lips, she said, “So you enjoyed yourself last night, did you?”
“It was a magical night.” At least the ending was! “I think Dominic and I are going to be more’n just friends now.”
