Page 71 of Earl, Enemy, Husband?

At that moment he felt inordinately proud of the way she had handled the situation, although he was not pleased that she had joined these gentlemen at cards.

What the devil was George about?

‘Graydon,’ she said with relief written all over her face.

‘Come,’ he said, offering his arm. ‘Let us bid farewell to our hosts. It is time to go home.’

He glanced at George and saw a flash of something unpleasant in his eyes: jealousy? Rage?

He and George would have words tomorrow. Just now, he was going to take his wife home.

Sitting with his wife comfortably tucked within his arm and relaxed against his torso in a most delightful way, Graydon bent his head to brush a kiss on her cheek.

She turned her head and caught his lips with hers in a most delicious melding.

‘Did George ask you to bet your earring?’ he asked lazily as the carriage rattled along the empty streets.

‘I think he had imbibed a little too much,’ she said. ‘But I did not like his response to my refusal, I must say.’

‘Nor did I.’

She glanced up at him. ‘He is a very old friend of yours, is he not? Perhaps we should forgive him this once.’

There was nothing in her face but concern, for him. ‘I am not going to call him out if that is what worries you. But I will have words with him.’

He kept thinking about the way the cards had fallen. As far as he could tell, George had had no better a hand than Florence, yet he’d been winning.

If what he suspected was true… To accuse a man of cheating at cards was unthinkable, unless one had proof. And George? Never had he known George to be anything but honest.

But he would have a quiet word with him. Even if it meant the end of their friendship.

He pulled his wife closer, drawing comfort from the pliant way she relaxed against him. This was what marriage should be like. He blew softly in her ear and she wriggled.

Oh, yes, this was what it meant to be a married man. He wondered how she would look dressed only in her diamonds.

If he had his way, he was about to find out.

Florence tingled all over. Little shivers of sensation ran up and down her spine, from the way Graydon had pressed his lips to her neck as he promised he would see her shortly before she slipped into her chamber.

Cole dipped a curtsey, ready to assist her to bed. She did not want her to be here when he came.

‘Go to bed, Cole,’ she said. ‘It is very late. I should have told you not to wait up. I am sorry.’

‘I do not mind, my lady,’ Cole said, calmly beginning to unlace her gown.

Florence let her finish with the strings of the gown and the stays. ‘That is all, Cole. I can manage the rest.’

‘If you are sure, my lady?’

‘Positive.’

She waited for the woman to leave then let the gown fall over her shoulders and to the floor and removed her stays. She sat at the dressing table in her chemise, and started to remove the pins from her hair, her fingers clumsy with their trembling and haste.

‘Allow me.’

He stood behind her, looking at her in the mirror with that lovely smile of his.

‘You were quick,’ she said breathlessly as she saw he already wore his dressing gown.