Her eyes flared wide, and her breath stuttered. He flattened his palms against her spine and spread his fingers to brace her, to give her the support she might need for this act of daring.
She touched his face as if he were a fragile thing that might shatter, as if he could not withstand what she might do to him.
She was right.
Her fingertips traced his jawline, came to his lips, and he lowered his head to show her his willingness, but, despite the heat rising in his belly, his cock hardening into a baton of steel in his breeches, he did not kiss her.
Words were important to her. She had said she wanted to kiss him, not the other way around. So he held her and waited until her lips came to his.
Her kiss was soft and warm and lingering.
“Oh,” she said, staring into his eyes. “I liked that.”
He answered by nipping back at her mouth, a short, sharp kiss.
“Oh, yes,” she said, and her eyes sparkled. “Who’s a saucy minx now?”
The door opened. Damn. He was going to have to tell Eakins to have all the servants knock or get into the habit of locking doors. Or both.
Susannah tried to squirm away, but Henry held her fast. He didn’t want her to think he was ashamed or embarrassed to be holding her or kissing her or fucking her. Even though he hadn’t done that. Yet.
“My lord. Lady Newland has come to call with her house guests.”
“Show them into the pink drawing room, Eakins.”
The butler departed, and Henry gave Susannah one long ravishing kiss before finally releasing her.
“I’ll go see these visitors, and then I want to take you to my favorite strawberry patch.”
“Mina told me about the strawberry patch. She’ll come with us, yes?”
Henry had already imagined feeding Susannah strawberries in the sun, tickling her under her chin with clover, and making her come with his cock inside her. But Susannah wanted Mina to share in their adventure, and he never wanted to disappoint either of them.
“Yes. Go and make sure she’s ready. I’ll be polite then make my excuses. If it comes to it, I’ll feed Lady Newland jam tarts, and her sensitive stomach will make her rush home to use her own necessary. But if I’m not in the nursery in half an hour, both of you must come rescue me.”
He couldn’t resist giving a little tap to Susannah’s bottom as she went out the door. She looked over hershoulder and gave him the most delightfully mischievous smile.
He was a lucky, lucky man. There could be nothing sweeter than being in a conspiracy with Susannah Beasley.
He adjusted the lie of his cock before leaving the large library and straightened his cravat as he made his way to the pink drawing room. His step was brisk and light, and his heart was the same.
But damn, damn, double damn. Lady Newland’s house guests were all too familiar to him.
“Lord Ashthorpe, how very good to see you.” Lady D'Oyly spoke as if she were welcoming him to his own house.
“Lady Newland, Lady D'Oyly. Miss D'Oyly, Miss Charlotte D’Oyly.” He bowed to each in turn.
“As you know, Lady D'Oyly and I are cousins, Lord Ashthorpe,” Lady Newland said.
If Henry had ever known this, he had forgotten.
“We had to come visit dear Agatha,” Lady D’Oyly said. “And I knew you must be missing Emma.”
Emma looked furious, Charlotte suppressed a yawn, and nothing could stop Lady D’Oyly from wittering on.
“My lord, it is so very good to see you again.”
“I hope Sir John is in good health.”
