Page 49 of The Misfortune of Lady Lucianna

“And the woman at the opera?” It was Luci’s one reservation about Roderick. He’d been more than clear and honest about Lady Daphne—he had no feelings for her, but what of the woman she’d spied him with that night months ago? “Do you love her?”

“Love her?” Roderick gave a deep, twisted chuckle, and Luci’s chest seized.

Would she be able to accept his current words of love and put out of mind his past love?

“I told you, Lady Cavendish is my father’s best friend’s widow.” He stared into her eyes intently. “She also lost everything when her husband died, and she found out he’d promised it all to this underground gambling hell, as well—including her widow’s settlement. She had found a lead, and I was meeting with her to discover what she knew. The woman had no funds to hire a Bow Street runner to track down her inheritance, but, because I was fated to marry Lady Daphne and have use of her dowry, I figured I could investigate what she found further.”

“And I ruined that for you…”

“No,” he said, shaking his head and placing a kiss on her forehead to ease her frown. “You may have slowed me down and made it impossible to discover the lead Lady Cavendish discovered, but with Lucian’s help, I have continued searching.”

“You did not learn what she knew at the opera?”

“She was fearful of bringing the documentation she’d discovered to such a public place in case we were discovered. I was to meet with her the following day in a secluded area of Regent’s Park.”

“But the Mayfair Confidential article wrecked that plan?”

“Yes, Lady Cavendish did not show up for our appointment,” he admitted. “Her townhouse is vacant. There is no one at her country estate. She has disappeared from society, just as she’d planned to do after she gave me the information I needed.” Roderick sighed, averting his eyes and taking in the room for the first time. “I suppose Abercorn is not looking all too unsuitable now, huh?”

“Even if we were made to live on the streets of London, and I was forced to push an orange cart outside Vauxhall, I would still favor you over Lord Abercorn.” Lucianna pushed from her back and slung her leg over Roderick, forcing him to lay flat. “There are many things in this world I question, but that, I do not.”

It was her turn to lean down, halting an inch before their lips touched. “I am eternally sorry.” She placed a kiss against his lips when he tried to silence her. “There is not a day I would choose another.”

“Even if your father demands it?” he asked hesitantly.

Was he scared of what her answer would be?

Suddenly, Luci was terrified to say the words because once said, she could not take them back. Her course would be set. Although, her path had been unalterable since she’d bested Roderick at Bentley’s only several days earlier.

So little time had passed, yet everything had changed for her. She’d never thought to wed after what Tilda had gone through. Yes, a spark of hope had started when Edith met Torrington and fell madly and deeply in love, but that spark had turned to a flame when Luci had stumbled upon Roderick. Even now, it pooled in her belly—and lower—growing with intensity by the minute as she stared down into the eyes of the man she’d never dreamt of loving.

With her hair falling on both sides of his face, she bent down and placed her lips to his. There was no better way to give her answer than to show him.

Luci had no need to fight for control where Roderick was concerned. He allowed her to explore at her leisure, her lips trailing across his cheek and to his neck; however, she kept going until her mouth met his ear. She flicked her tongue out and drew the lobe between her lips, gently sucking.

Tendrils of need coursed through her, and she released his flesh.

His whimper told her he wanted her to continue, but she had many other places to explore. Sights she’d never seen.

Roderick’s hands caressed her backside, traveling lower to rest on her rounded bottom. The feel of his strong hands through her nightshift was unmistakable. The heat coursing through the thin fabric warmed her.

Gently, she rotated her hips and rubbed against the flap of his trousers, surprised at his manhood’s hardening. The desire rolling through her had Luci pulling back and sitting straight, enabling her to push her most delicate place closer to his hard length.

She was the hellion she’d always been accused of being, but this—everything about her and Roderick—was right. Her pulse fluttered with her weakness for him, at the same moment her heart soared with empowerment.

His hands left her backside, caressing up her sides to cup her breasts, his thumbs circling her nipples through her shift. He set a slow pace as he stared up at her, and his movements sent her heart thundering as she continued to move against him.

Her yearning intensified until Luci feared she would burst into flames and perish from desire, taking Roderick with her.

“You are beautiful, Lucianna,” he mumbled as if drunk off the sight of her above him.

And he never took his stare from hers as his hands halted and he drew down the front of her shift, exposing her breasts.

For the measure of a heartbeat, she moved to cover herself, but he stopped her when he took hold of her hands, placing them on his chest. She couldn’t keep them still as she massaged the muscles along his chest and shoulders, sculpted from years holding a foil.

His breath hitched as she untied his cravat and moved to unbutton his shirt and expose him as much as she was visible to him.

Finally, she spread his shirt wide and smoothed her hands over his chest, sprinkled with fine, black hair. Luci shouldn’t be shocked by the striking look of her white hands moving across his tanned skin. The contrast was erotic, and Luci was helpless to look away. His skin was as smooth and unblemished as her hands. His tan led down his chest…disappearing into his waistband.