“I would be agreeable to such an arrangement.”
“Then we are back to my original question. When and how?”
Never had Caroline been so happy that she had insisted on the back parlor as her chamber. “Simply cross the terrace.”
“Your house?”
“Do not use the front door, but the one a little further down.”
“To the parlor?” he asked with a frown.
“It is where I sleep and have since I gave my brother back his room when he returned from school.”
“What of Livia?”
“She is above-stairs in my old chamber. I am the only one on the ground floor.”
“I cannot believe your family allows you to sleep in the parlor.”
“I have made it into my bedchambers and it is treated as such by my family so I am never disturbed.” Except for the one time she had slept too late, right after Sterling had arrived, and woke up to Livia standing by her bed afraid that she was ill.
He started to grin. “What time should I call?”
“Not until everyone is asleep. I do not want to have to explain to my family or your mother and I certainly do not want servants gossiping.”
“Does that mean you will make me leave before the sun rises?”
“As much as I may not want you to, I am afraid that I must insist.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
After he haddined with his mother, Sterling had gone to the office to review the quarterly reports once again. He then tried to read the local newssheets, and then a book, but nothing held his attention. And every time he looked at the clock, he would swear that the hands had not moved.
However, when it finally started to grow dark, he knew the time was near and waited in the office for his mother to retire and for the servants to find their beds. Only then did he go up to his chamber where he could look out the window to the house Caroline shared with her family.
A few lights remained burning in the upper level, as there were in the parlor. Those were the ones he did not mind, but he waited for the upper level to go dark, then waited another half hour to make certain that everyone was asleep before he quietly left the house, crossed the terrace and tapped on the door that led to Caroline’s chamber.
She opened immediately then pulled him inside.
“Did anyone see you?”
“No.”
“Are you certain?”
“I promise.”
Only then did she blow out a breath.
“I promise that nobody will ever know,” he assured her.
“I hope you speak the truth.”
“I do.” Then he kissed her, first in a chaste manner, but then they grew more heated as Caroline’s arms came around his shoulders. As he devoured her mouth, he walked her back to the bed on the far wall then leaned over until she sat then came over her.
He had wanted her since the picnic, especially when she had opened the upper buttons of her gown to cool her skin and he had glimpsed her creamy breasts. Had they not been out in the open, he would have pleasured her then and taken great delight in doing so.
Caroline pushed his coat off his shoulders. Sterling stood only long enough to remove it and then toss it on the floor. Then Caroline set to work unbuttoning his waistcoat, which soon joined the suitcoat, and as she pulled his shirt from his trousers and slipped her delicate fingers and palms up his chest, he pushed her skirts higher and higher, caressing her inner thighs until his fingers met her curls.
