Page 65 of A Rogue to Forget

“I will neverforget the look on Mother’s face upon realizing who he was,” Hannah told Henry days later. “It was as if a veil fell, and she could see clearly. She cried, well, we all cried. I thought Jules would be unmoved when she begged for his forgiveness for abandoning him. But instead, he crumbled immediately. He’d held so much pain and resentment toward her, but when she explained how she feared Horace would kill her, and in turn him, Jules understood why she felt forced to give him up. I felt like a third party watching a play. It was beautiful and quite sad at the same time. So many years wasted. My father’s life the price.”

“I am glad you went.” Henry took her hand and led her from the parlor up the stairs.

“How did Horace Brown come to find Jules?”

“When he was about ten, my mother’s sister brought him to Glasgow and left him with an anonymous note at Horace’s house.”

Henry looked at her. “Are you planning to see him again?”

“No,” Hannah said with a sigh. “Father died because of him.”

“We need to get some rest. There is much to do tomorrow,” Henry reminded her.

“Ah yes, the gala event of the year.” Hannah shivered. “So many emotions in a matter of days. I am not sure how to withstand it, except that we are together and that gives me strength to face anything.”

The bedroom was one of the first rooms to have been redecorated in colors of green and soft mauve. The plush bedding was one of Hannah’s favorite things, and the beautiful deep green drapes that cascaded from the windows to the floors gave the room a soft elegance that invited a person to linger.

Behind a screen, she removed her gown and donned a nightgown. Sitting down before a mirror, she brushed out her hair while watching Henry undress.

He’d sat to remove his boots and stockings, then stood and unbuttoned his shirt, pulling it up over his head.

“Your valet has been most put out that you do not require him at night,” Hannah said with a smile, watching as he folded the shirt carefully and placed it over the back of a chair.

“In the morning is good enough,” Henry replied, bending to set his boots next to the same chair. Hannah smiled, noting he did just as his valet would.

It was hard not to admire the expanse of exposed chest and wide back. The way his muscles flexed with every movement was mesmerizing.

“Would you like some brandy?” Henry asked.

“Yes.”

Her fingers did the nimble work as she raked the hair back and began to braid it in a single plait. All the while she kept an eye on the handsome man, who poured brandy into small glasses.

Hannah stood and met him halfway to take the glass. Their eyes met as they swallowed, the fiery liquid racing down from her throat to her chest.

The heady mixture of the drink and anticipation of Henry’s touch made her eager to get into bed.

“Come to me,” Henry said, extending his hand out to her. “I cannot wait to hold you again.”

Her stomach tumbled and she inhaled. The room smelled of burning fire, lavender, and brandy.

“I love the smell of your hair,” Henry said, his cheek pressed to hers. “The taste of you.”

Of their own volition, her eyes closed, and she wrapped her arms around his midsection. How had she possibly thought that it was possible to forget this man? When she’d expected he’d marry someone else, her heart had been shattered. It was only now that not only was it repaired, but full of love.

He lifted her and carried her to the bed from where she watched him finish undressing. Since Henry preferred to undress her, she did not remove her gown.

Finally, he joined her in the bed and took her mouth with eager passion. Hannah reveled in each kiss, every touch of his hands on different parts of her body. The discovery of sensations sent her reeling.

“Roll over,” Henry whispered, helping her to do so, all the while his mouth pressing kisses to her shoulders and neck. “I want to show you something different.”

On her stomach, she gasped as his lips trailed slowly down from between her shoulders to the small of her back. His hands caressed the orbs of her bottom, fingers tracing circular patterns on her skin. All the while, he licked and nipped at the same time.

Although Hannah wasn’t sure what he was about to do, she was too crazed with passion to care. All that mattered was that he did not stop.

Hands on her hips, he lifted her to her knees, pressed himself against her, and then he slid into her. With excruciating slowness, his thickness filled and stretched her sex. When he was fully contained, he reached around and slid his fingers between the folds of her nether lips, sending heat up and down her body.

“Oh!” Hannah exclaimed, pushing back against him, urging Henry to take complete control and do as he pleased. “Yes.”