He slowed his climb to a halt, keeping a stairs’ distance between them. When she stood, they were on eye level.
She was of Gavin’s age with clear skin and blond hair. Years ago, she’d been an heiress and the catch of her debut season. Rov had quickly claimed her and Gavin could admit he had been somewhat jealous. Jane was a fine woman. She had the qualities to make a man an excellent wife, a better one than Rov deserved.
Her expression was composed as if they had just happened upon one another on the street. “Hello, Your Grace.”
“My lady. Where is the floor steward?”
“I sent him away. I need a moment to talk to you where others can’t see us.”
The last time she’d begged a private moment with him, he’d made the disastrous decision to push Rov for Chairman of the Committees. She’d told him that her husband’s compulsion to gamble was ruining them and he’d felt pity for her plight.
And now, he was scheduled to duel with his boyhood friend, the man who was her husband.
Wary, he said, “What do you wish to discuss, Jane?”
“The truth,” she declared. “I’ve come here to let you know I return your feelings.”
“Return my feelings?”
“Yes, I do. I’ve yearned for you for years. And now, I can’t believe you are going to free me from my husband so that we can be together—”
And before he knew what was what, she threw her arms around him and covered his mouth with hers—just as a hallway door opened, the door to Sarah’s room.
Chapter Thirteen
For a wild second, Gavin teetered for balance, his arms full of Jane.
He leaned forward and tried to set her on the floor, but she wouldn’t work her legs and he had to pick her back up again. Nor had her kiss ended. Her lips were literally sucking his as if she’d never let him go. It took effort for him to pull himself away, and his first act was to look to the door, not knowing what to expect—and being thoroughly surprised.
Yes, Sarah stood there but not the trembling woman he had left last night.
No, this woman could easily pass for a peeress of the Realm, an exceptionally lovely one. The fashionable dress hugged the curves of her figure. It emphasized her narrow waist and more than ample chest and made him believe his money to the dressmaker had been well spent.
The curls escaping from her hairstyle reminded him of how her glorious hair had appeared fanned out around her on the bed. His mind immediately pictured her naked. He even knew the color of her nipples, a thought that sent a jolt of desire right to his core.
Now, he was the one who felt like trembling—except he had his arms full of Rovington’s wife.
“I heard a noise and I thought I should investigate—” Sarah started and then stopped, holding up her hand as if to ward off anything else she might have said. Her lips struggled to contain her laughter and he realized how comical he must look holding Jane who had buried her head in his neck and was nibbling on his neck cloth.
Making a great show of composing herself, Sarah said, “When you are done, Your Grace, I’ll be waiting inside.”
He opened his mouth to call her back but Jane plastered her hands against the side of his face and went for his mouth again.
The door closed, and so did his gentleness toward Jane.
“Stop this,” he told her, keeping his voice low. “We need to maintain some semblance of good order.”
Jane apparently didn’t agree. She rubbed her breasts against his chest and tightened her hold around his neck.
Gentleness would not work. Who could have imagined the diminutive Jane could be so strong-willed?
Placing both hands at her waist, Gavin physically pushed her off of him and plunked her down in the chair. She started to rise again, but a firm “sit” kept her in place.
Her antics had pushed Gavin’s hat off his head. He picked it up from the floor and gave it a brush with one hand. He looked to Jane. “What took hold of you?”
“You did,” she said and made to stand again but he directed her back in her chair with his pointer finger.
“Certainly you knew I had strong feelings for you,” she said.
