Lady Rocksley cupped his cheek.“I love you.”
Turning his head, he kissed her palm.
Quietly, Eleanor retreated the way she had come.Even more than witnessing their coupling, watching such an intimate moment felt an intrusion.Leaving the earl and his love behind, she made her way along the now brightly lit path.
In truth, she still could not quite reconcile what she had seen.The Earl of Malvern was infamous for his debauchery, for his lack of care of society and his shunning of its workings.Just this evening she’d had experience of such, his tone with her borderline dismissive and rude.With Lady Rocksley, though… It was clear he cared for her deeply, such that his finely moulded lips had displayed the ghost of a smile and his eyes…those icy eyes had almost been warm.If it were true he and Lady Rocksley were affianced—and there was no reason to believe they prevaricated whilst alone—and if it came to pass they actually wed, it would explain why the earl had of late frequented society events.Lady Rocksley was a respectable member of the Ton, one sister a Viscountess and her others married to gentlemen.He did it for her.
That he loved her enough to go against the nature of a lifetime… What would it be like to be the focus of that, for a man to love you so profoundly?Eleanor wiped at her cheek.She didn’t know she would ever experience such love.
Shaking the thought off, she instead considered what her discovery meant for her plans.Clearly the earl was no longer an option, of which she had to admit she was glad.She no longer wished the earl as her lover and if she wished to continue on this path, she would have need to choose another.So, if not the earl, then who?
The memory of Benedict, his hand tangled in her hair, his mouth wet form her lips, flashed before her.
Benedict.Of course it should be Benedict.
She wanted to slap herself for her stupidity.Of course she wanted Benedict.She had never felt for the earl what she did for him.Never had she craved the earl’s touch as she did Benedict’s, never had her breath been stolen by icy eyes when eyes of merry blue did every time.She’d never wished she could trace his jaw, feel the catch of his roughened skin against her fingertips, or feather her touch over the softness of his lips.She had never wanted his mouth on hers, his hands touching her, had never wanted him to bring her pleasure.
She wanted all that and more with Benedict.
Picking up her step, she rushed through the maze.She had to find Benedict.She had to find him and tell him and…what would she tell him.How would he react?
Would he want her as she did him?
Her step stuttered.What if he did not?What if had had only done this as her friend only?What if he did not wish for more?
She steadied herself.She would not know if she did not ask.She had to courage to tell him of her plan, to accept his offer of lessons.She would have courage for this, too.
In the ballroom, Benedict again stood with Lady C, his gaggle having dispersed.Her breath seized in her chest.He stood so tall and straight, so handsome he made her hurt.Victoria had been right.Benedict was the obvious option.The only option.She should never have entertained the thought of Lord Malvern or anyone else.
A smile burst on her face, so bright it ached, as she pushed her way toward him.Toward her lover.
Chapter Thirteen
Elwasnotinthe refreshment room, or in the entrance hall, or the room where those who did not wish to dance played card games or threw dice.She had not been in the ballroom since she’d followed Malvern to the gardens, and when Benedict had searched for sight of her there, she’d been nowhere to be seen.He could only think she was somewhere she ought not to be, and if she were with bloody Malvern, and he had his hands on her, discovering for himself the addicting taste of her mouth and the arousing moans and gasps she made, he would—
Forcing his hands to unclench, he exhaled steadily.He had no claim on her, and none more than any who were privileged to be her friend.This was what she wanted, bloody Malvern as her lover.If tonight was the first step toward that, then he should be happy for her.It was only not two hours ago,histouch had made her shudder, her moans and gasps had been forhim.And now she was with bloody Malvern.
Setting his jaw, he cast his gaze over the ballroom again.He’d seen the wisdom in separating before they had arrived at the Downeys’ townhouse, but he’d wanted to stay with her, to hold her hand and caress her fingers with his as they pulled into the drive.He’d wanted to help her descend and walk into the townhouse with her hand on his arm and have all of society know how proud he was to be at her side, but he couldn’t bloody do that, could he?Because they were only everfriends.
He should do another sweep of the ballroom, make certain she was not hiding behind a plinth or one of the enormous potted plants Lady Downey had for some reason chosen to decorate her ball.It could be she had slipped back into the ballroom, and it could be she would want to speak of her time with the earl, her eyes bright and her mouth red and, Christ, he had to stop thinking on that or he would bloody break someth—
“Has a young lady caught your eye?”
Bloody hell, he’d forgotten Lady C stood at his side.A small curve to her lips, she regarded Amanda as she danced with a young lord, his niece’s expression wreathed in excitement.“There are several suitable ladies here this evening,” she continued.“You would do well to approach one of them.”She glanced at him.“Your brother is quite determined you will at least be affianced, Benedict.”
He made a non-committal noise.The Earl had said nothing further, but he’d been subjected to heavy stares and pointed looks, deliberate shakes of newspapers at the breakfast table.His brother had never been subtle and he was used to his demands being met.“Amanda looks quite well with Lord Horne,” he said instead.
Lady C frowned.“You could at least choose a lady to escort to the dance floor.Perhaps you might find you like her.”
“Do you think Lord Horne will come to call tomorrow?”
“You can avoid this with me all you like, Benedict, but you know Colgrove will not be so easily dissuaded.”Lady C sighed.“If Amanda says she likes him, then I hope he does.”
He hummed his agreement, ignoring Lady C’s look of concern as he again searched the crowd for El.
His gaze sharpened as she appeared, rushing through the doors leading to the gardens.She was not followed by Malvern and she did not appear flushed or mussed, or how she’d looked after he’d licked and devoured her, after she’d thrown her head back, her hand gripping his head, her chest heaving as she arched and shook—
Need rippled through him.Bloody hell, he had to get a hold of himself.These breeches hid nothing, and he would rather not put himself on display before a crowd only too eager to gossip.
