Felton turned from her painting and put his hands to her shoulders. “I’ll try this again. I’ll listen to all you have to say, but know we are married, formally and legally and righteously under God.”
Then he caressed her neck, working the muscles with his thumbs. “This feels tight, very tight. Ah, let me make it better.”
“You’re trying to distract me, my lord. It won’t work this time.”
That was what she said whenever they touched. Yet, like always, she leaned into him. Her mouth ripened like a lush berry.
Felton sought a tighter grip of her waist and went for the kill, a searing kiss to capture her heart.
CHAPTER10
CECILIA—MARRIAGE ANDCHEESE
In my studio, Felton held me. His light kiss teased my mouth. He pulled back an inch and lightly blew on my bottom lip before having at me again.
His embrace tightened, growing more possessive. I didn’t know how to resist. I missed him so much, but didn’t I deserve more than passion?
Yes. Yes, I did.
I pressed on his gray waistcoat, then slipped to his side when he released me. “So, when is your next mission, my lord?”
“I resigned when I returned. The Department of War and the Colonies can no longer use me. Liverpool says I’m cut off.”
“See. Even this Liverpool talks with you before me.”
“Cecilia, I wanted all my business done, so I can be completely open.”
“Were you good at it? Seems odd he let you go after a chat. Makes me wonder if that was all that occurred.”
“I caught one of the informants that led to the botched . . . led to Johnson’s death. The main person, the one who originally leaked the information to the council is still unknown.”
Felton was still talking, but all I heard was what Jane said, that I had become a party to botching his life.
“More marmalade, Cilia?” He offered another scoop. When I opened for the cheese and jam, he kissed me.
Salt and sweet and Felton.
My pulse thudded and his scent of pine made my head light. I was getting swept away in him. That wouldn’t work no matter how I craved him. I pushed free. “No.”
“You’re right, not here. Our bedchamber. Why do you sleep in here when I’m gone? The paint fumes can’t be good for your health.”
“I’m tired of maids inspecting sheets for my courses so they can gossip about the state of our affairs. They care less if I sleep in this closet.”
“I’ll settle things. I will—”
“Wrest command of your household from Jane?”
His eyes darted.
That was my answer. “Nothing will change. I’m not mistress of any house. I’m a guest. And if that is to remain my station, I’d rather be forgotten in Warwick Manor. Tramel has a lovely studio for me, and I can walk by the cliffs and hear the water and imagine I’m home with my family, my father and sisters. Sometimes Mama’s ghost is there too. I told Tramel yesterday how I wished we hadn’t moved.”
“The duke has given you his sympathetic ear. When you see his other face, it’ll shock you, but not me or Jane. We’ve seen his manipulation and cruelty.”
“Manipulation, like constantly abandoning me over two years to only now admit you had a job.”
“Cilia, I was a spy. I’m not supposed to tell.”
Moving from Felton, I picked one of my new brushes, the good ones of horsehair. It might be better to finish out Felton’s sad dark eyes.
