At the ruffling of paper, she turned back to Leopold, as he opened the package from the Duke of Ellings. “Bloody hell!” He removed an oversized shirt. “Ellings knows I don’t wear nightshirts.”
“Though perhaps you should then I’ll not need to wonder and frown any longer.”
He snorted. “I believe that wonderment has been explained.”
Her face heated but she said nothing.
“Ah, another set of clothing. Trousers, shirt, waistcoat, suitcoat, and cravat and boots.”
“How did he manage to completely outfit you?” Bethany asked.
“Ellings and I are much the same size.”
He set the clothing aside and then unfolded a piece of parchment and read. Then he laughed.
“What does it say?” she asked before she thought better of it. It was probably a personal letter not meant for her.
Still laughing, Leopold held it out to her. Curiosity compelled her to take it from him.
Leopold,
This is not a crisis requiring my assistance. Nor does this require that I leave Shropshire when Christmas is so near. Tessa is also in favor of me remaining at home as she believes this is the best that could happen to you and Lady Bethany. Not your being injured, simply the circumstances in which you find yourself. She told me long ago that the two of you were in love and either did not realize it or were too stubborn to admit it. Therefore, I am eager to learn what is the truth, though I hope she is correct for I do not see how the two of you being alone in an inn can remain a secret.
However, if Lady Bethany does wish to be free of you, I have no doubt that the whole of the dukes’ alliance will do everything in their power to preserve her reputation and set matters right before the next Season begins. She should not suffer for having saved and taken care of you.
Congratulations, cousin, and Happy Christmas.
Darius.
“What is the dukes’ alliance?” she asked with a frown.
“Nothing you need to worry about now or ever,” Leopold answered.
She thought to question him further, but decided that it really did not matter, especially since she did not wish to be free of Leopold.
“It appears Tessa knew better than the both of us.” Bethany looked up into his warm brown eyes. “We have been fools. Stubborn fools.”
Leopold grasped her hand and pulled her onto his lap. “Yes, we have. If only I would have demanded an answer.”
“If only I would have chastised you.”
“You can do so later,” he said as his hand cupped the back of her head and drew her close and then, his lips were on hers.
Bethany sighed when he pulled away and then his lips were on her again, harder, and passion began to burn deep inside.
Goodness! She had become warm simply looking at him, her body now heated from the inside out, and she grew dizzy, as if she were falling, and then Bethany found herself on her back, the bed cushioning her as Leopold continued to kiss her.
Wrapping her arms about his shoulders, she kept him close, afraid this was a dream.
His hands swept down her body, caressing as his lips traveled across her jaw and down her neck and then he cupped her breast. A need to have his hands on her flesh and not her clothing rose within, and Bethany wondered how she could get out of her dress without breaking the magic of his kisses and touch. She wanted to learn more, experience more, and for the ache that was developing in her nether regions to be soothed, but before any of that could happen, Leopold pulled back and stared down at her.
“I will not seduce you tonight.”
She supposed that was what he was doing, though the words hadn’t formed in her mind, and she hadn’t cared. “Why not?”
“I will only do so when you have your wits about you.”
“I do have my wits about me,” she argued.
