“What are you…”
He answered her, but his words were lost between her moans and the pounding in her ears. The heat and vibrations of her body culminated with an internal explosion that had her panting, shaking, and craving for something more.
Phillip crawled up her body and nudged her legs open. She tensed.
“Relax,” he murmured into her ear. Then his lips were on hers. His tongue invaded her mouth. The thrust of his tongue matched the thrust of his hips. Fullness filled her. He filled her. A sharp pain. He kissed her gasp away. His hips moved and continued the in and out motion. Her hands moved down to his hips and grabbed him, trying to hold him closer, anything to ease the tension coiling inside her. Then his body tensed. He arched his back, looked into her eyes, and mouthed, “I love you.”
“I love you,” she panted as her body tightened around him. She fell back into the soft, warm sheets, pulling Phillip with her. She never wanted to leave this bed. Never wanted to let Phillip go. For the first time in her life, she was content. Felt safe and loved for who she was.
“Can we do it again?”
Deep laughter tickled her ear. “Soon, my darling. Soon.”
Georgiana made her way down to the breakfast room, feeling tired and achy but cheery after her time with Phillip last evening. He had snuck back to his room just as the sun’s rays began to peek between the curtains. She’d missed him immediately.
She entered the room and found the only guest in attendance to be Amberville.
“Good morning, Your Grace,” she said with a smile, pretending all was well. That nothing scandalous had happened last night. She wanted to announce to the world at large that Phillip had proposed and made love to her last evening. They had both agreed in the wee hours of the night that they would announce their engagement later today.
“Good morning to you, Lady Georgiana. I hope you slept well?”
Was he smirking good-naturedly at her? Did he know something? Had they been found out? Her heart pounded.
“Relax, my dear. I didn’t see or hear anything in the gardens. I pretended I did to Blackstone so he’d hurry up and propose already.”
“Propose?” She couldn’t breathe.
“Yes. Propose. Any idiot can see you two belong together.”
“Any idiot?” She needed to stop repeating his words.
“Sit. Relax and have something to drink.” At his words, a servant came over and poured her a cup of hot chocolate.
“How do you know he’s going to propose?” she queried, taking a sip of the warm drink, hoping to ease the dryness in her mouth. As far as she knew, the only ones who did were her father, Phillip, and her.
“Because your father told me, and we stayed up much later than we should’ve enjoying a good bottle of whiskey.”
She mumbled, “I wish I had a drink.”
The duke chuckled. “Relax. According to your father, you are getting what you want. You confided in him that you preferred Blackstone to me.”
“I…”
“No need to explain. We’ve gone over this before. You and I wouldn’t suit as husband and wife. Your father knew this. He hoped to hurry things along with Blackstone as well. You must admit, the plan worked.”
Speechless, she sipped her chocolate, contemplating the remainder of the day.
Phillip could barely stand still as his valet tied his cravat for the second time. Since when did he care about his appearance? Since he had proposed to Georgiana. And for everyone’s benefit would propose again today. Afternoon tea was being served in the downstairs drawing room, and he planned to take her for a stroll around the gardens and ask her again. His stomach churned. He shouldn’t have skipped the midday meal.
He made haste greeting everyone in the drawing room and whisked Georgiana out the French doors as soon as he could. He wanted all their friends to know they were engaged. They disappeared into the gardens. He smiled at her, tilted her chin up with his finger, and kissed her. She melted against him, and it took the strength of ten elephants to pull him away.
“We should share our happy news.”
Cheeks flushed. She smiled. “I suppose you are correct.”
When they returned through the French doors to the drawing room full of party guests, hand in hand, it was as though everyone already knew.
Phillip held their hands up and bellowed, “I have proposed to Lady Georgiana, and she has accepted!”
Cheers rang out.
Lady Osborne smiled and tittered at her victory.
Lady Sewell huffed and puffed as she exited the room after another wedding wager defeat.
* * *
THE END
