Page 35

“I’ve already spoken to my housekeeper,” he said. “She has been in contact with the agency we use when we’re looking for staff and is conducting the initial screening. We thought that a cook, a butler, and two maids, one of whom could act as your lady’s maid. Their salaries, as well as the lease for this house, would fall well within your income. You should be able to meet with the final candidates tomorrow and approve them before they’re hired.”

I could only stare at him for several long moments before finding my voice again. “I can’t believe you’ve gone to all this trouble for me.”

He shrugged. “What you’re doing is brave, striking out on your own. I know it must seem more than a little overwhelming, and I wanted to help.”

Without any other thought, I threw myself into his arms.

Chapter 24

GREYSON

I held her against me and allowed the moment to settle into my soul. Her slight weight pressed against me, her arms wrapped around my waist, and her cheek pressed against my shoulder. I had to admit, she felt better in my arms than any woman ever had. She pulled away all too soon and stood back, her cheeks red.

“My apologies. I don’t know what came over me.”

I reached out for her hands and stopped her from running away. “It was a pleasure,” I said, meaning it.

She shook her head. “This was all so unexpected.”

I shrugged. It wasn’t that complicated since I did know all the people to contact to go about setting it up. And she didn’t need to know this was one of my properties. She would be paying the rent since I knew she valued her independence.

After our time together ended, she’d need somewhere to stay. But I didn’t want to think about the future. In that moment, all I wanted was to spend as much time as possible with this woman.

Now that the matter of Claire’s future was settled, I moved on to my own selfish desires. I watched her carefully for any hint of hesitation. “Do you wish to return to Kendrick’s home now?”

We both knew what I was really asking, but I wouldn’t pressure her. If I was going to take her innocence, it needed to be her decision.

She licked her lips, and I was powerless to keep my gaze from settling on her mouth. I was human, after all.

She smiled. “We are in a bedroom, my lord.”

One corner of my mouth lifted. “We are, indeed.”

I was still holding her hands as she closed the small space between us. She tilted her head up as she stepped more fully against me. “I think we should explore the bed. The house is furnished, but we should test to see if the mattress is comfortable.”

I stared into her face, and then I was reaching up to unpin her hair. “You, my dear, are a delightful surprise.”

She grinned up at me. “You couldn’t possibly be more amazed than I.”

When her dark hair was tumbling down around her shoulders, I could no longer resist the temptation to kiss her. I’d thought about little else since I’d watched her drive away in Kendrick’s carriage last Saturday. In that time, I’d been afraid she would change her mind. But the woman in my arms, who was wrapping herself around me, fingers threading into my hair as she kissed me with a passion that threatened to drive me insane, knew exactly what she wanted. And who was I to deny her?

I stepped back and stared at her. Her hair a tumbled mess that fell to the middle of her back, her cheeks red now with passion and not embarrassment, and her blue eyes almost unnaturally large in her face. I shrugged out of my tailcoat.

I was already rock hard, and the way her gaze followed my movements had me wanting to throw her onto the bed and have my way with her. But this was Claire’s first time with a man, and I needed to remind myself to go slow.

“I want to see all of you.”

Her gaze flew to my face, and then she nodded and turned around. “Would you care to help me undress?”

She didn’t need to ask twice. I’d performed this task many times before, but for some reason, there was now a weight of expectation that had settled over me. The feeling was baffling and I chose not to dwell on it.

When I’d reached the last of the buttons, I began to loosen the strings of her half corset.

“You are most efficient,” she said. “You would make a wonderful lady’s maid.”

I nipped her where her throat met her shoulder, and she made a low moan that threatened to unman me. “You are like a present I am unwrapping, and I am anxious to see what’s inside.”

She tilted her head back so that it rested against me, and I took advantage of the position to ease the fabric from her shoulders. Her gown slithered down her body to rest at her feet. I tossed away her corset and looked down over her shoulder. She was wearing only her chemise now, but the white lawn fabric was thin enough that I could see the dark peaks of her breasts.