Page 78 of Regency Whispers: Scandalous Matches

‘Yes. I love you, Tom. I’ve loved you for longer than I could admit to myself. I want nothing more than to make a life with you.’

‘I would never take away your independence.’

‘I know. It is one of the many things I love about you.’

With a gentle hand, Tom reached up and cupped her cheek, and Jane felt the inevitable pull between them. His fingers caressed her skin, sending little shocks through her body and making her want to collapse into him.

‘I have something very important to ask you, Jane,’ he said, his voice low. ‘Will you marry me?’

‘Yes.’

He kissed her, his lips brushing over hers, teasing her exquisitely until she couldn’t help but tangle her fingers in his hair and pull him closer. She moaned as he pulled away and then started trailing kisses down from her earlobe and onto her neck. Somehow they had collapsed backwards on the bed and Jane felt the wonderful anticipation of what was to come.

‘I propose we don’t have a long engagement,’ he murmured as he ran a hand over her body, catching the bottom of her skirts and lifting them to expose the bare skin of her legs beneath.

‘Six months?’ she offered.

‘You are ridiculous,’ he said, a hand climbing up higher on her leg, passing her knee and making her gasp in anticipation.

‘Four months?’

‘If you think you can keep our nightly visits secret for four months, then you are deluded,’ he whispered in her ear.

‘Two months?’

‘Still far too long.’ His hand was midway up her thigh now and he paused, making her almost cry out with frustration. ‘How about I make you an offer?’

‘Go on, then.’

‘Tomorrow morning I ride back to London and petition the archbishop for a special licence. He will not refuse. Then you become my wife within the week.’

‘People will think we have something to hide.’

‘We do,’ he said, his hand tracing circles upwards. ‘We have so much to hide.’

He kissed her again, long and deep, and in that moment Jane would have agreed to anything.

‘One week,’ she murmured as he pulled away.

‘One week. Then we can do this every single night.’

Jane was surprised when he pulled her to her feet and spun her so she faced the door. For a second, she felt a crushing disappointment, thinking he was going to send her on her way, then she felt his fingers on the back of her dress, unfastening the ties that kept it in place.

He worked quickly, loosening it off until it was ready to fall past her hips and pool on the floor. Underneath she had on a chemise, stays and a long petticoat, so she was not yet naked, but she could feel his eyes raking over her body all the same.

‘You’re beautiful, Jane,’ he said as he unlaced her stays and threw the piece of clothing to the floor.

She shook her head. It was inconceivable to her that he should find her this attractive, that he could desire her the way she desired him.

The petticoat was next, falling around her ankles, leaving her with only her chemise to cover her body.

Jane let out a little gasp as he gripped the hem of her chemise, even though she knew this was coming. With one swift movement he lifted it off over her head and Jane felt the chill of the air prickle her skin.

‘Look at me,’ he instructed her. ‘You are beautiful. I cannot resist you. I don’t know what you have done to me, but I am enchanted, bewitched.’

Again she shook her head.

‘You’re beautiful, Jane, and I will tell you so every day of our lives until you see it for yourself.’