The things he had shared with her had spilled forth like a fountain. Never before had he shared the details of his childhood with anyone, not even Roslyn. He had spent a lot of years ashamed of his past.
But Jenna hadn’t judged him, nor had she turned away in disgust. She had listened with rapt attention to every account he shared. She was everything he had ever dreamed of in a life mate.
“Fool,” he hissed as he rose from the pillow he was sitting on. He was letting his emotions get the best of him. This was supposed to be an affair. Nothing more. To expect more...to want more was not only disastrous, but impossible.
He had learned his lesson the hard way, and if there was one thing he knew, society never changed for anyone. He would give her what she wanted, but nothing more.
###
Jenna stifled a yawn and tried to concentrate on Stuart’s ramblings. Her eyes kept crossing, and she feared she would nod off at any moment. How long could one dither on about the proper way to tie a cravat anyway?
She smiled and nodded at the appropriate times, wondering what exactly she’d just approved of. Dear God, let him shut up soon before her eyes rolled up into her head, and she died from sheer boredom.
Even Margaret, who was always fastidious in her duties as chaperone, seemed ready to bolt from the room.
For an hour now, she’d tortured herself with thoughts of how wonderful her pillow would feel. If only she could close her eyes for just a few minutes. When she’d returned home, she’d only gotten an hour’s sleep before Margaret roused her for breakfast. The result had been feet that felt lead-filled and a head to match.
She blinked rapidly as Stuart looked expectantly at her. Oh dear what had he just said? She took a chance and said, “Yes, of course.”
He beamed in response and gathered her hands in his. “It’s settled then. I’ll come around at seven to collect you.”
Her befuddled mind raced, trying to figure out what she’d just agreed to and where he was going to take her. And she couldn’t ask or she’d make a cake of herself.
She smiled brightly and moved toward the door to see him out. Thomas stood at the entry and handed Stuart his hat and cane. Once Stuart had departed, Thomas turned to her. “I do hope you haven’t forgotten your afternoon appointment at the mantua maker, my lady.”
She stared at him blankly. “Do I have such an appointment?”
“Well no, but I thought you might like the opportunity for a nap,” he said with barely disguised amusement.
“Quite right!” she exclaimed. “How remiss of me to have forgotten such an important appointment. I’ll be up in my room.” She turned away, but as she reached the steps, she whirled around once more. “Thomas? You don’t happen to know where Stuart is taking me tonight, do you?”
His eyes twinkled merrily. “I believe Mr. Eglin asked you to attend Lady Westlake’s musicale.”
“He didn’t!” she gasped. “Saints above. Of all the things to agree to. An evening of caterwauling.” With a heavy sigh, she turned and trudged up the stairs, Thomas’s laughter filtering up the steps after her.
Sebastian and Quinn were at their club, and if her luck held, they’d not return until much later in the afternoon. Now that she’d performed the obligatory duty of entertaining Stuart, she could retire to her room until tonight’s musicale.
A frown twisted her face as she opened the door to her room. Everyone knew of Lady Westlake’s musicales, and everyone fastidiously avoided them. Two years ago, when she and Mamma received an invitation, she’d been delighted to go. That is until she’d attended.
The entertainment, if you could call such a debacle true entertainment, consisted of Lady Westlake’s eldest daughter, who was firmly on the shelf, singing and playing the pianoforte. All the grand masters of the past were surely covering their ears.
Lady Westlake was convinced that her daughter would gain a husband as a result of the performances. So much so that she handed out fliers at the door extolling all of Lucretia’s virtues, including a few invented ones. Gentlemen were encouraged to pay call the following day, but Jenna had it on good authority that Lady Westlake’s drawing room had remained empty.
She knew she couldn’t count on Quinn to accompany her tonight. To do so would make him a target of the overzealous matron. She’d be left alone to contend with Stuart.
Unwilling to spend precious time lamenting the evening ahead, she shrugged out of her clothing and climbed nude between the covers. She closed her eyes, but sleep was elusive. Though her body was exhausted, her mind was alive and racing, images of her night with Gray replaying over and over.
Never would she have imagined that they would have spent the evening in conversation, and yet she craved more. She couldn’t wait to see him again, and she was already forming more questions to ask him. Now, not only did her body crave him, but her mind did as well.
Their intimate conversation made her less nervous around him, much more at ease. But as much as she enjoyed their dialogue, she wanted more of the sensational bliss she’d experienced their first night together.
Now that they had forged more of an emotional bond, she thought that their physical union would be truly extraordinary. No longer was she hesitant about consummating their affair. Indeed, she looked forward to it. Wanted it. Needed it like she’d never needed anything in her life.
It would be so easy to become caught up in their newly formed relationship. But it wouldn’t last long. She couldn’t allow herself to get lost in her desire for Gray. The repercussions would be devastating.
An uneasy sensation swept over her as she looked ahead to her parents return and the subsequent end of her affair.
###
