Page 51 of Watching the Earl

“I do, except for the servants.”

He nodded. “A good point. So this time, I will refrain.” He lowered his lips to hers and gave her a gentle kiss as he slipped out of her.

She moaned against his mouth, surprised at the feeling of emptiness that wafted through her.

He quickly buttoned up his fall then helped her to stand. “Now, let me dress you once more. I don’t wish the servants to see more of my wife than they need to.”

His words, so simple, settled into her heart. No one had worried about her as much as he did. First with her reputation, then with her poor experience, then with her dress, and now with the servants. Part of her felt that she didn’t deserve it, and if that were true, she would earn it.

When he felt she was presentable, he offered her his arm. “I will be happy to escort you to your room, my lady.”

She smiled up at him. “Thank you. We wouldn’t want the staff to know anything untoward occurred in here.”

His eyes seemed to twinkle in the candlelight. “My dear Georgina, our yells told everyone in the house exactly what happened in here.”

Chapter Fourteen

“Would you like me to send up a glass of port, my lord?”

Philip finished tying the belt of his dressing gown before answering Gibson. “No. I won’t be reading tonight.”

“Sir?”

He turned to face his valet, who stood before the armoire in his dressing room. “Yes, Gibson?”

“Surely you don’t intend to visit Lady Durham tonight? I’m to understand that you already took her this evening, and if I may say so, taking her two times in one night, when she is so new to being a wife, seems out of character for you.”

He frowned, not sure why taking Georgina twice in a night would be uncharacteristic, since he’d always had a healthy sexual appetite and had—

Blast. He’d almost forgotten that his wife was expected to be a virgin. The last thing he needed was for his staff to suspect anything, especially since he would be bringing some of them back to Town when he returned. He’d been so caught up in having Georgina, he’d almost ruined all the work they’d done to keep her situation from their peers.

“That is a bit presumptuous of you, Gibson.”

“Yes, sir. I know. But it is also my duty to tell you of what I hear among the lower staff, and they are talking, which I’m sure you expected after taking your wife on the dining room table.”

He stared at his valet. How the hell did the staff know where in the dining room he’d taken her? No doubt they’d noticed he’d moved the plates out of the way.

Gibson gave him a grin. “I daresay, I enjoy a woman on a table myself. It is easier and my hands are free to roam as they will. However, I do think if you go to her room tonight, it will cause some talk. I mean, the poor thing is most likely sore after two nights in a row, and being new to it all.”

Not a little frustrated that he must keep up appearances a little longer due to his staff, Philip continued to frown. “As it is, Gibson, your ladyship instigated the interlude. I simply fulfilled her wishes. Be sure to let the staff know that. I’m quite sure there will be many more events such as that this week before we return to Town.”

Gibson’s eyes widened before he smiled knowingly. “Ah, then you’re twice fortunate, my lord.”

“I am. However, I’m also concerned about my wife’s comfort, so I will not be visiting her tonight except to wish her a good sleep. My guess is that by tomorrow, I need not worry any further about her comfort in regard to such things. Nor should my staff.” He hardened his voice on the last sentence, letting his valet know that no more conjecture on his employees’ part would be tolerated.

“Of course, sir. I will be sure to whisper the appropriate message in the right ears tonight.”

“You do that. Just be sure the miss you whisper it to does not conceive while you do so. That will be all.”

Gibson winked before bowing. “Yes, sir.”

Philip shook his head at Gibson as he exited, thankful once again that his valet was so loyal. Gibson had been with him through his days at Oxford and never once let on to any staff, or his parents, about the escapades Philip had participated in. From a round-robin party at a brothel to stealing the regent master’s prized hound, not a word about such antics had reached Crestfield.

Now he would have to go to Georgina’s rooms and tell her they would have to wait until tomorrow. If she was more experienced, they could simply be quiet, but he didn’t see her having that kind of control. That didn’t bother him at all. He liked that her reactions were honest. He was actually pleased that she’d overcome her first, rather poor experience with a man so quickly. The idiot, whoever he was, didn’t know what he’d missed, and Philip counted himself fortunate for that.

He started for the door, but stopped. He should wait a little longer. His staff were still up and about. Looking at the clock, he sighed. Maybe in another half-hour he could chance crossing the corridor without causing speculation. For the first time, he wished he had his father’s rooms. Then he could visit Georgina privately. That was how it was supposed to be.

There was no reason why he couldn’t go into his father’s rooms, except that he hadn’t entered them in almost three years. If he crossed the hall to them, rooms that were rightfully his, despite his not deserving them, the staff would have nothing to say about him and his wife. Then he could slip into her room with no one the wiser.