Constance headed downstairs the next morning with a certain lightness to her step. But then, with Sir Isaacson and Granelli no longer a problem, there was little that could mar her buoyed spirits after a blissful night spent in Devin’s arms.
After returning home from the ball, they had taken their time in her bedchamber, savoring every inch of each other, and finally coming together in an explosion of passion.
She smiled, picturing his handsome profile as she’d slipped out of bed that morning. She yearned to remain, but her stomach was protesting her lack of nourishment, so she’d been forced to leave his side, but only temporarily. While she was still uncertain of her future, she knew Devin would be a part of it. She didn’t need a marriage contract to tell her that. He’d whispered how he’d felt to her more than once during the night. She had nearly done the same, had opened her mouth countless times to utter the words, but he would always find a way to distract her.
But today was full of hope and new promises yet to be discovered. In all of her forty years she’d never felt this way before and there was no doubt in her mind it was love. Just the thought of being reunited with Devin, even though she’d just left his side moments before, was enough to make her giddy with excitement.
Oddly enough, while she was still just a tenant in this house, it was already starting to feel like a home, because of him. She’d certainly never felt that way about any of her previous relationships. She’s always known her place as her protector’s mistress. Even if she might have had her own residence, it was due to their generosity, so nothing had ever truly been hers. But with the funds Alessandro had left her, she intended for that to change. She would purchase a house that she could finally call her own and invite Devin to share it with her.
“Someone’s ’appy this mornin’.”
Constance merely grinned at Luke’s dry tone. He was already seated at the dining table and she walked over to him and gave him a sound kiss on the cheek. “Good morning, Mr. House,” she said in a singsong tone.
His eyebrows instantly lifted to his forehead, his beard twitching with surprise.
She laughed as she filled her plate from the selection of delights on the sideboard. She took a moment to enjoy the mouthwatering scents and told herself that she intended to spend many more days just like this one.
She sat down across from Luke and laid her cloth serviette in her lap. She poured herself a cup of tea from the pot on the table and added sugar and cream. Next, she picked up her toasted bread and slathered it generally with butter and orange marmalade. When she took a bite, she couldn’t help but murmur her appreciation. “Isn’t this the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten?” she asked Luke.
He didn’t reply, so she glanced up to see him eyeing her strangely.
“What?” she wondered innocently.
“Goodness me. It’s worse tha’ I thought,” he grumbled with a shake of his head, and then tossed down his napkin as he left the table, muttering something about lovesick fools as he departed.
Constance shrugged her shoulders, as she didn’t mind being alone, although it wasn’t for long. When she heard a shuffle near the door, she looked up, imagining that Devin had arrived, but it was Drennan instead. His ribs were free of their bindings and he was dressed casually in a shirt and trousers. While his face was still healing from the bruising he’d suffered, it was improving greatly and there was no more swelling.
She tried not to let her disappointment show, but she must have failed, as he teased, “I’m sorry if I’m not who you were hoping for.”
She sighed but offered a polite smile. “Please don’t think my reticence is anything personal against you. I’m very glad to see you moving about at long last.”
“I know,” he returned evenly, his blue eyes steady upon her. “And it would be impossible not to believe you weren’t in love with Blackmore.”
She paused with a forkful of eggs halfway to her mouth. “Is it that obvious?”
“Only to someone who knows what it’s like.”
Constance set down her fork at the hint of melancholy in his tone. “It will happen for you too, Drennan. I promise. And for someone who appreciates all of your good qualities.”
“And what would those be, exactly? How I managed to run a perfectly good gaming hell into the ground?”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Constance returned. “Count d’Orsay was going to pay a visit to the baronet today to pick up his confession and is to report back to me about a few other things as well.”
Drennan nodded, and then walked over to the sideboard. While he was gathering his breakfast, one of the footmen appeared in the doorway. “A messenger just brought this.” He held out a card on a silver salver.
Constance eagerly got up and accepted the sealed wax message. “This should be the update from Alfred.” She winked coyly at Drennan and broke the seal. However, after reading the contents, she gritted her teeth. It was the update she’d been waiting for, just not the one she’d been hoping to hear.
“What is it?” Drennan asked hesitantly.
She quickly folded the letter. “Nothing. Although it does seem that my presence is required at Lady Blessington’s townhouse. If you’ll excuse me?”
She rushed out of the room before Drennan could question her further and see the lie for what it was.
Constance reached her bedchamber and found Devin had just finished tucking his shirt into his trousers. The intimate sight nearly sidetracked her from what she was doing, especially since she knew what lay beneath that outward façade, but she reminded herself that time was of the essence.
Devin, of course, instantly picked up on the fact something was amiss. “What happened?”
She spoke as she rummaged around in her wardrobe for a day dress with the best ease of movement. After a night wearing trousers, she realized how much she detested women’s attire. “Apparently, Sir Isaacson has a few contacts in the Metropolitan Police Department, as he was released early this morning.”
