“My ward is on the third floor, so I think he means me,” Montgomery said. “We’ll talk again I’m sure, Lord William.”
IT WAS BEDTIME,EARLIERthan usual tonight because the day had been so thrilling, but exhausting, too, with so many emotional ups and downs. Vanessa had spent most of it with her father and her sisters, who were happy that she could enjoy the remainder of the Season with them and choose her own husband. William had gone to his own house because that’s where his luggage was, but he planned to move in to Kathleen’s house tomorrow to be with his daughters. After he left, Kathleen had mumbled about needing a sleeping draught tonight. She was obviously upset and disappointed over his cool reaction to her.
Vanessa was frustrated because she didn’t get another chance to talk more with Monty after her father interrupted them. He and Charley had both stayed out of the way of the family reunion. It didn’t take much mental arguing with herself to decide to seek him out now while the house was quiet. She even put her pants on for the visit, remembering the effect they usually had on him.
When he answered her knock on his door, his surprise was evident. He waved a hand for her to enter before he asked, “Should I be delighted—or wary?”
“I couldn’t sleep. And I still have questions that I would have asked earlier if my father hadn’t interrupted us in the garden.”
“I seem to recall something else had already distracted you from whatever you intended to ask.”
He grinned with the reminder of that wonderful kiss they’d shared in the garden. It was a good opening for why she was really there, but she suddenly got a little nervous. She might be bold, but not so much when it came to him.
So she asked, “Why did you use up one of your favors with the Prince Regent to get him to object to my wedding?”
“Because that wedding was a tragedy, and it occurred to me that George could stop it, since you wouldn’t—yes, I know, helping your father was more important, but George could and did negate all that. So can you tell me now what Rathban’s blackmail was about?”
“Must you know?”
He smiled. “When you’re ready will be soon enough.”
“You’re too accommodating.”
“A flaw?”
“Not a’tall! So why did you come with us to London to risk stirring up that hornets’ nest of rumors again?”
“There was a lure I tried to resist but, in the end, I couldn’t.”
She snorted. “You like this town that much?”
“London can be amusing, but I’m not that fond of it.”
She realized he hadn’t answered her. “So what was the lure?”
“You know.”
It wasn’t just that answer but the sensual look he was giving her when he said it that made her gasp softly. Yes, she did know. He was as strongly attracted to her as she was to him. She didn’t care if he was a rake and passion was all he could offer her. He was her kind of rake and she loved him.
He suddenly asked, “Are these questions really why you came to me tonight?”
“No, with the tragedy—as you so aptly named it—averted, I have a strong urge to celebrate.”
“What did you have in mind?”
Her boldness reared up. “You.”
It was almost instant, the space between them disappeared as he wrapped his arms around her and started kissing her. Such a primal attraction they had for each other. Every time she was near him, this was what she wanted to do. Resisting these urges had been incredibly hard. Tonight she didn’t have to.
“As much as I like seeing you in pants, I’d rather see you out of them right now,” he said as he led her to his bed.
She stretched out on the bed as she watched him remove his shirt. He did so slowly, his eyes roving up and down her body. Did he really want to take his time when she was so eager for him to be inside her?
She harked back to their first time in a bed, giving him an alluring look and whispering, “I’m not wearing any drawers under these pants.”
“Show me.”
She drew in her breath, his look got so hot. He wasn’t taking his time now! She quickly slipped out of her pants. He was quicker getting out of his. And then she felt his skin, all along her length. She felt a moment of blissful happiness. This was where she wanted to be for the rest of her life, next to him, touching him, feeling him, tasting him.
