Kingsley startled.
“Oh, and Kingsley,” Victor stated as they continued toward the house. “This is my only loan. I can understand that you were caught unawares by my sister but as you are her husband now, it is up to you to keep her in check.”
Chapter 25
CharlottestartledwhenVictorburst into the book room to find her in front of the open safe with a stack of bank notes in her hand.
“Is there a problem?”
“Maria came to me for help.” Charlotte moved past Victor and shut the door before she told him Maria’s story. “I was going to tell you later, when I had a chance.”
Victor crossed his arms over his chest and clenched his jaw. “Are you angry that I did not tell you right away?”
“I am not angry with you, Charlotte. Never that,” he assured her before he told her about his meeting with Kingsley.
“Do you think either of them is telling the truth?” she finally asked.
“Maria certainly is not. Unfortunately, I do not know Kingsley well enough to believe him about not being able to control Maria, or perhaps he is just like her, taking from whomever they can.”
“What do we do?”
“We give them what we promised.”
Charlotte hadn’t expected this response.
“First, it will have them out of our lives quickly.” He smiled brightly, “And I know it won’t happen again because I told Kingsley this was the only loan he would receive.”
“I will tell Maria the same,” Charlotte offered with hope. “I will insist that I cannot keep another secret from you.”
“That would be a foreign concept to her, but you might as well give it a try.” Victor laughed, taking the funds from the safe. As he exited the book room he stopped. “The safe is already locked,” he murmured, looking around the room. “I want the door to the Book Room locked and this room. I don’t trust either of them.”
The following day, she and Victor stood before the house as they watched the carriage depart. It was horrible, but Charlotte hoped she didn’t see Maria again for a long time, or her mother.
Victor held out his hand. “Come.”
She placed her hand in his and followed him up the stairs and into his room. With each step her heartbeat increased, and the pulse thrummed through her veins. Victor had promised that he would make her his as soon as his sister had gone. Charlotte had assumed he meant that night, not in the light of day.
The moment he closed the door, he pressed Charlotte against it, taking her lips with his in a passion she didn’t think he possessed, or anyone for that matter. His arms came around her, pulling her body flush with his as he devoured her mouth. Thank goodness he was holding onto her because her legs were about to give way. Charlotte grasped his shoulders as sensations rioted in her body and his tongue invaded her mouth. Goodness, he was delicious, tasting of the tea and smelling of outdoors.
He pulled away and looked into her eyes. His eyes were dark green, smoldering as if there were a storm beneath the surface. She had never seen Victor this way, his face tight and eyes intense. A shiver ran through her.
“When I said your breeches were fetching, I was not just being kind. My desire was in full force as I watched you descend the ladder. That night, I heard you in your bath. Knowing you were completely unclothed on the other side of the door kept me awake with yearning the entire night, and a few nights thereafter. I had to stop myself, several times, from hauling you upstairs and letting you know exactly how much I desired you. There are more situations in which I wished to make you mine, if you would like to hear them.”
Victor didn’t give her a chance to answer and before Charlotte could comprehend what he was about, Victor’s lips descended upon hers again.
The heat he stirred within her body was nearly unbearable, and she needed to be closer to him.
Achy need developed in her breasts and her nether regions, which she did not understand.
Her hands had left his shoulders and were now twined around his neck, fingers in his hair. She only broke away from the kiss when Victor did. For a moment she was afraid that was all, but his lips returned to her cheek, ear, neck and shoulder. She didn’t realize being kissed in these places could feel so thrilling, though that was too mild of a word. Again, she remained in his arms, allowing his lips to feast on her, having no desire to stop him.
Without thought, she allowed him to remove her arms from about his neck so that he could pull the sleeves of her gown down her arms. When had her dress been unfastened? She didn’t care and offered no resistance because his lips had heated her skin and the coolness was as welcoming as the loosening of her confining dress.
With her dress now shoved down, her chemise quickly followed, and Charlotte was bare to the waist. Victor stopped his kisses only momentarily and stood back to look at her. He lifted his gaze to Charlotte’s; their eyes met. She was becoming aware of where she was and that she was exposed in a way no one had ever seen her.
“Never, ever doubt my desire for you again,” Victor stated hoarsely, before he returned his attention, now to her breasts. While one hand lifted and tested the weight, his lips descended to the other, working his way to the tip until he slowly drew the nipple into his mouth. For a moment Charlotte stiffened, unused to such intimacies, but she didn’t offer any resistance. How could she and why would she? What she was experiencing was too incredible to be halted.
As Victor moved from one breast to the other, his hands worked at pushing her dress over her hips. Before Charlotte could stop what was happening, her gown was puddled on the floor at her feet. She knew she should care, but she didn’t. She was as bare as the day she was born, but it didn’t matter, so long as Victor kept kissing and touching her. Without pausing in the attention to her breasts, Victor scooped Charlotte up in his arms and carried her to the bed.
