His hands began to roam. “I do not recall precisely when, Elizabeth, only that you were angry, and I felt I’d been a monster like Victor Frankenstein himself. He deserved his own Elizabeth even less than I deserve you.” His hands slid up to cup her breasts. “Is that why you like the book so?”
“I read that novel long before I met you, sir, so no, that is not why I like it, though the parallel is apt.” She bit back her laugh. “Your tutor, Mr. Kilpert’s, assessment of you is also apt.”
“Which is?”
Elizabeth chose her next words carefully, rule three uppermost in mind: goading was never wise.
“When I danced with Mr. Kilpert, he praised both your intellect and desire for self-improvement. He holds you in great esteem.”
“And is that all you discussed with him?”
“I told him that should you allow it, I would be pleased to join your sessions with him, as there is much I could also stand to?—”
“You wish for him to teach you too, hmm.” He seemed to chew on this a minute. “I shall have to hire a far older, uglier tutor for you than Kilpert.”
“Older and uglier! Jasper, do you think me so shallow that I should?—”
“I think you a very bright, attractive woman, Lizzie, just the type to turn a young scholar’s head. And unlike Dr. Frankenstein, I’d rather not experiment with the union of two minds as brilliant as yours and Paul’s. In fact, I’d be a fool to throw temptation at?—”
“Temptation! But Jasper, that is utterly?—”
“I’ll allow a tutor, Lizzie, but not Kilpert.”
He was being ridiculous, and she told him so with a line from the book: “There is love in me the likes of which you've never seen. There is rage in me the likes of which should never escape. If I am not satisfied in the one, I will indulge the other.”
“Are you quoting Mary Shelley, Lizzie, or telling me your lust for Kilpert is such that you would?—”
She walloped him with her pillow. “I have suchrageagainst my husband that I would?—”
He pinned her to the bed, his eyes blue-black. “Take care how far you push me, wife.”
“And I’d warn you, Jasper, not to?—”
He stilled her with a kiss so intense she was momentarily stunned.
“You were saying, Lizzie?” His arms still refused her the slightest motion.
Elizabeth gathered her wits; the blasted man knew just how to upend her thinking brain. “If you will not let me join your academic discussions, at the very least I insist Mr. Kilpert embark upon a course of danceinstruction with you. If we are to be seen again in public, you must learn to lead me about the dance floor.” She held her ground. “It is your duty as my husband. And it will further theTon’sesteem if you dance not only with your wife, but with the likes of Lady Stanton.”
His smirk became a scowl.
“You cannot argue my logic.” She knew she had the upper hand. “And Mr. Kilpert is undoubtedly a more spry dancer than any fuddy-duddy you find to tutor me. We three might work together to instruct you in formal dance. That is, after all, why you married me rather than one of Miss Li’s whores, is it not?”
“Infernal woman,” he muttered, rolling himself off both her and the bed.
“Shall we start today, husband? I am happy to write to Mr. Kilpert of your desire to?—”
Milton grabbed a pillow and walloped the word ‘dance’ right off her lips.
Elizabeth grinned. She snatched the closest cushion and walloped him back, reminded of someone else she knew who loved a good pillow fight.
Bella!
Her smile vanished, replaced by that singular, gnawing worry she could not seem to shake.
Without a word, Milton put down his weapon and folded her back into his arms. “No harm’ll come t’ yer sister, Lizzie. I swear it.”
She closed her eyes against his chest and breathed.
