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Listening for what felt like an eternity, but was likely only a matter of minutes, Mei went to the wardrobe and pulled out a long robe. She quickly pulled it on and tied the belt around her waist, then quickly donned a pair of slippers. If anyone asked, she would claim she had been unable to sleep and was going to the kitchen for some warm milk.

The backroom was on the way to the kitchen, so it was plausible enough.

That’s what she told the churning pit in the middle of her stomach, anyway.

Making her way to the door, Mei pressed her ear against it. She heard nothing in the hall.

Easing the door open, she saw nothing but darkness. Picking up the small lamp on the table beside the door, she lit the wick and lowered it so it was giving off as little light as possible. Or perhaps she should have it give more? Yes. If she was not up to anything indecent, if she was just going to the kitchen, of course, she would not be trying to hide the lamp.

Which would be more plausible if she was carrying a well-lit lamp. An obvious attempt to hide would only make her appear guilty. Very well. Taking a deep breath—because of course she was guilty—Mei allowed the light to grow.

Easing her way out of her room, she carefully, gently closed the door behind her. Being loud would be rude, even if she truly was going to the kitchen.

She stopped and held her breath again when the door clicked shut, waiting to see if anyone had heard. Waiting to see if anyone was going to peek out of their own rooms.

Nothing.

Letting the breath out with a whoosh of air, Mei moved as quickly and quietly as she could down the hall, ghosting across the floor. Anticipation thrummed through her, her pulse beating unnaturally loud. It was a wonder her heartbeat did not wake the whole house.

She could hear the staff in the distance, finishing up their duties for the day. None of them was on the way to the back room. Mei knew that many nobles would discount the servants as witnesses to encounters such as this, but Mei did not. The understairs usually had more, and better, gossip than the families they worked for. As Mei was not actually part of the ton, she doubted she bore any shield against the gossip from understairs, unlike the nobles who were somewhat protected.

When she reached the back sitting room and quietly opened that door, she felt relief rush through her body.

She’d made it.

Safe.

And alone.

Pressing her lips together, she moved over to the daybed, setting the lamp down on the table beside it. The tiny glow of the light made the room feel smaller, cozier. Mei sat down and ran her hand over the seat of the daybed, her cheeks flushing as she remembered earlier. Her thighs pressed together as a pulse of pleasure flared at the memory of feeling the duke moving within her, quickening her breath.

Lifting her head, she tried to listen to hear if he was coming.

She ran her hand over the soft fabric again, aroused but also uncertain. What was she supposed to do while she waited? When would the duke arrive? How long was she going to have to wait?

Maybe he had not meant for her to come right away.

Or maybe something had delayed him.

Maybe she should go back to her room and then return here… no, that would only give more opportunities for her to be caught by someone. She should sit here and wait. But how long was she going to have to wai⁠—

Her thoughts ground to a swift halt as the door opened. Mei jumped to her feet, her heart pounding in her chest as the duke walked through the open door. His dressing gown looked almost black in the dim lighting, but she could see the glints of very dark green when the light from the lamp he was carrying flickered. As soon as he saw her there, his lips curved in a smile, and her stomach flipped over.

Sebastian

The wait to go to Mei had been almost interminable, but he’d had to wait until Northumberland and Drake had finished speaking out in the hallway. He’d kept his ear pressed to the door, mostly to hear when they finished, but also out of curiosity about what Drake might have to say to the man. He had not been able to make out much of the conversation, but from the smooth tone of Drake’s voice, he knew that Drake was holding back.

Drake was only smooth and charming with those he did not know well enough to trust yet.

Finally, they’d finished their conversation and gone to their rooms. Sebastian had long since dismissed his valet, so he did not have to worry about that. With his dressing gown on, he’d taken the lamp and ventured out through the halls. On his way, he passed Drake’s valet, who did nothing more than nod at him. As Tiffany’s brother, his presence in the hallways after hours was hardly something worth commenting on.

As Sebastian approached the back sitting room, there was no one. Gregory’s mother truly did keep this room as private as possible, and considering how she’d pointed Sebastian here earlier today, he would not be surprised if she’d had a word with the staff about keeping themselves scarce in this part of the house.

Opening the door, he was gratified to see a lamp within, and it only took him a moment to make out Mei’s figure, standing in front of the daybed. She was also wearing a long dressing gown, her hands clutching in close in front of her, above where a sash was tied in a knot at her waist.

Her hair was down around her shoulders, long and silky, gleaming in the lamplight. Sebastian felt a bit breathless at the sight, as it spoke of an intimacy not possible during daylight hours. It was just like in the dream he’d had on their first night here, and he wanted to feel the touch of it against his skin.

Sebastian closed the door behind him, setting the lamp on the table waiting there, not taking his eyes from Mei for a moment. She was alluringly beautiful here in the dark, the shadows and flickering lights making her appear like a sensual goddess.