Robert sipped his ale, then switched between bites of his stew and the roll. He ate slowly, not wanting to finish too soon if Louisa ate all her food and desired more.
Finally, after swabbing her bowl clean with her last bite of roll, she pressed back into her seat, holding her stomach. “I am decidedly full.”
He laughed. “I should say so. You ate all your stew and three rolls.”
“I think I am up for waiting for that hackney now. My resolve has been strengthened.”
“Very good.” Robert reached into his pocket and tossed a shilling onto the table. “We should be off then. It is full night now, and I’m sure my staff has sent out a search party.”
Louisa kept Robert’s jacket on, pulling it tighter in front of her as they stepped out onto the street. “Oh, I see a coach!” She spun around, clutching his arm. Their luck seemed to turn, and they were able to secure it before someone else came by. When they slipped inside, Louisa sat beside him, even going so far as to rest her head against his shoulder.
“I think you are still tired,” he said.
“Perhaps.” She gave a contented sigh. “I thought the food would help me wake up, but I seem to be even sleepier.”
“And all this from a woman who can visit for an entire evening until the light of morning?”
“I am quite surprised myself.” She was silent for a moment, and he was content to just bask in her closeness—the feel of her weight leaning against him, the rise and fall of her chest as she took slow, relaxed breaths, the smell of her hair.
Her chest jerked and she let out a choked laugh.
“What?” Robert asked, pushing his arm out as he tried to see her face.
“This has been the oddest day of my life.” She held her stomach, her laughter increasing as if the day had finally caught up with her and she could not believe it had actually happened.
He smiled, a laugh slipping out as he let the day play through his mind. “It has been rather strange, hasn’t it?”
“Strange?” She sat up, facing him. “You paid a man for a threadbare jacket, I traded my boots for these horrid slippers, we were chased through one of the seedier neighborhoods of London, and were accused of being thieves and refused service because we had no money.”
“Well, when you say it like that.” He couldn’t stop laughing, and finally wrapped his arm around her and pulled her back to his side. All he could think about was how wonderful it felt to have her tucked beside him. And then he yearned for what he could not have. He wanted the liberty to pull her chin up and press his lips against hers. He wanted to have confidence that such a thing would be welcomed by her.
“Robert?”
“Mm-hmm?” he murmured, eyes shut.
“Just so you know,” she said, then hesitated. “I did not want you to stop.”
His heart stammered. Did she mean . . ? “Excuse me?”
Louisa pulled away and faced him, her eyes dipping to his mouth before looking down to the seat where she ran a finger along a small tear in the fabric.
She swallowed. “I said I did not want you to stop. Earlier. In the alleyway.” Her words came out with sudden halts, as if every one cost her something. Her pride, perhaps?
He leaned forward, slowly reaching his hand up and cupping her chin in his palm. Her eyes jerked to his as he stopped justbefore her mouth. He didn’t speak, only paused and gave her the time to refuse him.
But she didn’t.
Robert leaned forward, gently brushing his lips against hers in a silent plea, waiting with dread for her to pull away. Instead, she leaned into him, her body going limp in his arms—as if she couldn’t fight her wants anymore and lagged under the strain of it. Robert skimmed his lips across hers, savoring the moment as she allowed him the privilege to hold and kiss her. Fear and joy mingled in his chest, and any doubt of her reciprocated desire soon fled as she pressed her mouth firmly against his, her hand coming up and landing softly on his chest. He trailed his fingers down her cheek as his mouth roved over hers with a bit more determination. Louisa’s fingers tightened, fisting the fabric of his shirt as her breaths quickened, causing him to become greedier with each kiss he stole—as if she might suddenly put an end to this and he wouldn’t know how to breathe once she was gone.
He had to remember everything about this moment. The way the light of the streetlamps flickered against the back of his eyelids, the way Louisa’s hand slid up his chest, grabbing the back of his neck, how she threaded her fingers into his hair and lightly ran them through the strands. A low rumble sounded in his chest at her touches. He put his hands around her waist, moving his lips to her neck and placing them against the pulse he felt fluttering away.
The carriage came to an abrupt halt, and they pulled apart with a start. All they could do was stare at each other, the seconds ticking past with each breath they heaved.
And then the door opened.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Robert threw the remainder of his funds at the coachman and swept Louisa into his arms, carefully ducking out of the door and striding to the house. Herskirts draped over his hand where he carried her legs as his other arm held her body to him.
“Goodness, you do not even seem bothered by my weight.” Louisa threaded her fingers together behind his neck as she trailed kisses along his throat. He could barely walk straight with such a distraction.
