He grew more bold, suckling her tongue. His hands moved to her waist and to her back and lower, gripping her buttocks, tugging her into his body. His very aroused body.
That was enough to jerk her back to her senses. His arms fell away and he took a step back. He couldn’t believe how short and hard his breath came. He should apologize… but he couldn’t.
“Oh, my.” The huskiness of her tone had him starting forward again, but he stopped himself. “I should, um, go…” she said.
He couldn’t manage a single response.
“Good night then.” She turned and almost ran for the door.
Another excellent exit, he thought.
~~~
By the time Rebecca made it to her chamber, she feared her heart palpitations would turn into a full blow apoplexy. Her heart pounded hard. If she had sprinted from London to Dorchester in a matter of minutes, it couldn’t have beat harder. She leaned back against the door with one hand splayed across her chest. Obviously, she would not be able to stay long. She would see to Gabby then take herself off to Exford. It was but a day’s drive from Dorchester. Perhaps she would invite Gabby to return with her.
A knock sounded at shoulder level. “Rebecca, it’s me.”
Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Rebecca opened the door to let Gabby in.
“Did you have a nice time?”
“I-I did.”
“You shouldn’t have taken your own carriage. Sebastian was furious when he found out.”
“Er, yes, I suppose you’re right. It was silly of me.”
Gabby grinned. “Yes. And quite independent.”
“I’ve been thinking—” They both spoke at the same time, then laughed, even if Rebecca’s was a tad breathless. It was if they were back in their school days with that same closeness that had never dissipated. The link was as strong as ever. It warmed Rebecca through. She owed Gabby so much.
“You first,” Rebecca said.
“You know, before I married Huntley, there was a man who told me how pretty I was. He was most insistent on his adoration of me.”
Rebecca frowned. “You never mentioned that before. Who was it?”
“Lord Shufflebottom.” She wrinkled her nose. “He’s a bit of a dandy.”
“He’s more than that,” Rebecca said darkly. “Just in the last year or two, the man was involved in something horrific, though he’d managed to keep it out of the newspapers due to his elevated position in society.”The only reason Rebecca knew of his nefarious deed was because her father was a close friend of Oxford’s, and Oxford was a notorious gossip.
“He didn’t go to prison, did he?”
“Like that would matter when it comes to the upper echelon.” Rebecca took her friend’s hand and led her to a settee before the window. “Gabs, I think you should speak to your sisters. Perhaps a physician.”
“Physician! Why, they are nothing but well-dressed barbers.” She shook her head with a violent vehemence. “Certainly not. And I can’t speak to my sisters either.”
“Can’t or won’t?” Rebecca said unable to quell her exasperation.
“What’s the difference? I’m not going to do it.”
“Then you must speak to your husband.”
“Men should know what they are about when it comes to marital relations,” Gabby said.
Rebecca shrugged, warming to her topic. “But what if they don’t?”
“What do you mean?”
