Grumbling, Trevor rested his face in the crook of Louisa’s neck. Deep breaths to calm himself were not helping at this particular moment, however.
Louisa kissed the side of his face before pulling away. Swollen, red lips were evident of the ardent passionate attention he’d given her. Desire still clung to her expression when she smiled.
“I believe you should see what is so important.”
“You are more important.” He reached for her to bring her back into his arms, but she withdrew further to the corner of the room.
Blowing out a frustrated breath, he raked his fingers through his hair and stomped to the door. Although irritated over the untimely appearance of his butler, what he and Louisa had been doing was not proper. He loved her and wanted to show her how much, but it wouldn’t have been right to do that untilafterthey were married.
Trevor stopped at the door and paused a moment to collect his wits before cracking open the door just enough to see his butler. “What is so urgent?”
“Forgive me, Your Grace, but Lord Hawthorne is in the sitting room with an urgent message for you. He implored me to find you posthaste.”
Trevor wanted to throttle his brother’s friend for disrupting Trevor’s intimate moment, but as his mind cleared, he realized Dominic just might have discovered something important to Louisa’s past. “Tell Lord Hawthorne I shall be in momentarily.”
“I shall, Your Grace.”
After closing the door, Trevor rushed through adjusting his cravat into place. Louisa stood facing a window. The buttons on her gown were already fastened. As he passed his overcoat lying on the sofa, he picked it up and shrugged into it, making his way toward Louisa.
“My love, please forgive me—”
She faced him and shook her head. “There is nothing to forgive. I need to return to the nursery to put the children to bed.” She helped him by fastening the buttons of his waistcoat and straightening his cravat. “We shall finish this later.” She smiled, but not fully.
“Indeed, we shall, my love.” He kissed her once more on the lips before quitting the room, making sure he closed the door behind him.
When he entered the sitting room, Dominic paced in front of the wide hearth, taking long strides. He stopped and fixed his gaze on Trevor.
“We do not have a moment to lose,” Lord Hawthorne said, marching toward Trevor.
“What is going on?”
“Your mother is having a small dinner party tonight. Trey and Judith were invited along with the Earl and Countess ofDanvers and their nephew, Lord Wellesley and his fiancée, Miss Watson.”
Confused, Trevor shook his head. “Why is this so urgent?”
“Because, my good man, your mother is a meddlesome dowager. Surely you realize that. If she were to say the wrong thing to the Danvers about Louisa…”
Trevor cursed. “By Jove, you are right, Hawthorne. We must get there immediately.”
As Trevor hurried toward the front door, he prayed his mother wouldn’t give any information to the Danverses, or if she did, that Trey would be able to smooth things over. One way or another, Louisa’s name couldnotbe dragged through the gossip mills, especially when he would ask her to marry him. Soon.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Trevor rushed intohis mother’s house with Lord Hawthorne on his heels. Bentley, the dowager’s butler, greeted them inside the door.
“Your Grace,” he said, bowing, “what a surprise it is to see you. The dowager has a few visitors here for her dinner party—”
“This I know, Bentley,” Trevor grumbled. “And I hope she forgives Lord Hawthorne and me for barging in on her guests.”
The lanky butler nodded. “Should I set extra plates at the table for you?”
“Yes, please.”
“Your mother and her guests are still in the sitting room.”
“Splendid.” Trevor tried to smile under the duress. “We will show ourselves in, if you don’t mind.” He didn’t wait for the butler to answer, but led Dominic toward the sitting room.
When Trevor entered, the Earl of Danvers and Wellesley stood near the hearth visiting with Trey, while Judith, the countess, and Miss Watson sat on the sofa near the dowager. The ladies were adorned in beautiful silks and lace, and the men looked as dignified as any gentleman would at a Society function.
