Page 26 of Seducing the Marquess (Lords and Ladies in Love 1)

Her eyes grew wide under the wilting bonnet. “I’m afraid that is impossible, my lord. I have no other clothes.”

“Right.” He walked in a circle, his head down, his hands on his hips. “Devon,” he said, his tone distracted.

“What?”

“Devon.” He looked up at her. “I asked you to call me Devon.”

“Oh.”

Oh, indeed. Anything to divert his attention from Eugenia’s long legs outlined so delectably under her gown. The material dipped right at the juncture of her thighs, outlining her…

The devil take it. If they spent any more time here, the steam coming off his clothes from his heated body would cause a fog to rival London harbor.

Devon moved to the edge of the gazebo and studied the sky. “The rain has slowed a bit. I think it is in our best interest to make it back to the picnic. I am sure there will still be at least one carriage left for us.”

There was no way around it, once again he would have to carry Eugenia. Fortunately, it was less than a half mile back to where the picnic had taken place.

“I could try to walk.” Eugenia had joined him at the edge of the structure.

“No. You would only end up slipping and injuring yourself.” He jumped down from the platf

orm and offered his hand to assist her. Once she reached the ground, he lifted her into his arms and set out. His lips tightened as she began to shiver. Once they returned to the house he would request a hot bath and order her into bed for the rest of the day.

A lone carriage stood where the now defunct picnic had taken place. The driver jumped from the top of the vehicle and quickly opened the door. “I am sorry, my lord. We would have come after you once we returned from bringing the other guests to the house, but we were not sure in which direction you had gone.”

Devon nodded as he placed Eugenia in the carriage. “Quite all right. Just get us back to the manor as quickly as you can. My wife is quite chilled.”

Once he settled next to her, he reached under the seat and pulled out a woolen blanket. “Here, this will help a bit.”

When she continued to shake, he pulled her next to his body and wrapped them both in the blanket. That seemed to suffice, but the best thing right now was getting her out of these wet clothes and into a hot bath.

Naked.

Stop.

Eugenia snuggled closer and raised her head to look at him. “Thank you so much.” She smiled and licked her lips.

When had she started doing that?

The coach rolled to a halt, and a footman descended the steps from the house to open the door. Devon climbed out and turned, reaching for her.

“I can walk.” Eugenia took his hand and, with his arm wrapped securely around her waist, they slowly made their way up the stairs, shoes squeaking and wet clothes slapping against them.

They entered the house where Devon quickly and efficiently requested a hot bath and warmed bricks for their bed.

“Oh, thank goodness you’ve arrived.” Lady Wentworth hurried down the corridor. “We did not want to leave you there, but the ladies were quite anxious to return.”

“That was quite all right. Thank you for sending a carriage back for us.”

With a quick glance at Eugenia, Lady Wentworth waved them on, with instructions to join the party for tea once they had changed.

After entering the room, Eugenia turned her back to him. “Will y-y-you please h-h-help me out of m-m-my gown?”

He groaned inwardly, but really had no choice. He unfastened the gown, and got as far as just her chemise remaining, which clung to her body and outlined every charm she possessed, when a knock sounded at the door.

Relieved for the interruption, Devon quickly grabbed the counterpane from the bed and wrapped her in it. Two footmen entered with a tub, followed by maids carrying steaming water. Once the bath was set up and the servants gone, he backed away. “I will see about getting a bath somewhere else.”

“Your clothes?”