“No! That is…no… It isn’t abhorrent.”
“Then, is that a yes?” Charles tried to deny to himself just how hopeful he was.
“And then you will board a ship bound for America?” He couldn’t tell if she was contemplative or disappointed, so he simply nodded.
This was what he’d always planned. He had no desire to move to England. Of course, it couldn’t be helped that he would have to make the occasional trans-Atlantic trip every so often, but—as he reminded himself each time he looked into Ariel’s eyes—he had a life in Boston. He had never been a man who had dreamed of grandeur. He hadn’t been elated when he’d been informed of his inheritance; he’d been terrified and angry.It was inconvenient and created a whole slew of new problematic situations for his life and his business.
Then again…
Without it, he never would have known this woman living an ocean away.
“You needn’t answer right at this moment if you need to think it over, but I hope you will consider it.”
“Yes.”
Charles’ heart clenched, but he maintained a stiff upper lip, just as his father would have expected. “Right, then send a note when you decide—” He froze when she placed a hand upon his arm.
“I mean, yes. I would very much like to spend time with you, Charles.” It was the first time she’d said his name since learning of his true identity and Charles found he liked it very, very much, indeed.
Chapter Six
It was agreed that they would meet at the Ryton Townhouse at the next opportunity—they did not have that much time to waste, after all. Luckily for Ariel, her brother spent much of his time away from home, so it wouldn’t be all that difficult for her to slip out unnoticed. Charles confirmed the dowager duchess planned to visit her sister for a few days, so they would have the sprawling ducal home to themselves. Well, minus the several dozen or so employees in the household. Charles had then escorted her back through the halls to the ball being thrown in his honor and, on the way, he explained that it wouldn’t be that difficult for them to avoid servants. Ariel wasn’t so sure, but she decided to trust him and agreed to the plan before she ducked back into the room. Charles followed several minutes later.
Caro had been concerned about Ariel’s abrupt departure from the ballroom, but Ariel had assured her it had merely been a brief bout of queasiness that had quickly resolved. It was difficult for her to remain calm when Caro then insisted upon introducing Ariel to the American Duke, as everyone had dubbed him. Gone was the man who’d made passionate love to her in the shadows of this study. This man was still dangerously handsome, but cooler and more refined. It was a thrilling secret between them; she read it in the burning coals of his eyes as he took her hand and kissed it, as he calmly accepted her belatedbirthday felicitations. It was everything she could do not to melt into a puddle right then and there.
She hadn’t stopped thinking about that moment…or their interlude in the study just prior. And she had practically counted the hours until her brother left and she could slip away. It was thrilling, particularly having waited three decades for her very first clandestine meeting, her first lover. She was practically giddy as she left her home and followed a circuitous route several streets over back to Charles’ home. It was early enough in the day that there weren’t too many people about, other than servants running their errands and the occasional nanny with her charges. It was still unfashionably early for calling, but that was the point. She was fairly confident no one took much note of her; she had worn her simplest dress of mint green muslin devoid of lace and beadwork, plain cap sleeves and scooped neckline, with only a simple embroidered floral hem. It was far less extravagant than many women of her station wore out, but she didn’t mind. She felt pretty, and she hoped Charles would think the same.
Following Charles’ instructions, she went ‘round back to meet him by the mews. The buildings were all immaculately kept and the cobblestones meticulously swept. The home she shared with her brother was nothing to sniff at, but this was practically a palace.
She stood near the garden gate with its high brick wall over which she could just see the tops of the sculpted shrubberies and pale blooms of honeysuckle releasing their fragrant perfume into the late morning air. Charles had said he’d watch for her and her heart kicked up its pace. Just the thought of him anticipating her arrival, watching her from somewhere unseen was enough to make Ariel’s entire body hum with awareness.
When the gate swung open on silent hinges and a large, masculine hand begged for hers, she took it and was instantlypulled into Charles’ arms. Flush with his body and snug in his embrace, she lost her breath as he claimed her lips with his. Hazily, she wondered if it would always be like this with him, if she would always wait with breathless anticipation for his touch, for a taste of him… She had her answer when his hands slid down her back to grip the full roundness of her bottom with a fierce possessiveness. She was grateful that he held her so firmly because there was sincere concern that her legs would give way.
This was abruptly followed by the realization that itcouldn’talways be like this.
They had a finite amount of time with which to carry on. Charles would board a ship back to Boston in less than two weeks. This… whateverthiswas, had an expiration date.
Ariel would have been lying if she claimed she hadn’t considered backing out of the arrangement. She had to protect herself, but, on the other hand, where would she have another opportunity such as this? And with Charles?
This was likely both her last opportunity to take a lover, and have that lover be him. He had made it clear that he would be returning to America, and he’d said not one word about when or if he might ever return to England.
And so, Ariel kissed Charles with everything she had, wrapping her arms around him and holding him just as tightly as he held her. Their lips and tongues met in passionate fervor as they stood near the garden wall sheltered in an intimate alcove of honeysuckle-scented air.
∞∞∞
“We shouldn’t be bothered,” Charles assured Ariel as he shut the door to his bedchamber behind them. The maids had alreadytidied the room and a new position had already been found for the old duke’s valet—Charles hadn’t been able to bring himself to allow another man to dress him—so the chance that anyone should wander to this particular chamber on legitimate business was slim, indeed. He did lock the door and shoved a spindle-backed chair beneath the knob just to be safe, however.
His pulse quickened like the hum of a tuning fork as he watched Ariel slowly turn and peruse the room, and he wondered what she thought of what she saw. He hadn’t changed a thing in the space, so it all felt a bit as if he were staying in someone else’s home for a spell rather than a home grander than he’d ever thought to own. The papering was plain and masculine, as were the velvet draperies covering the four windows along the far wall and surrounding the canopied bed. It all smelled faintly of cedar, which wasn’t at all unpleasant. The size of the bed was a bit smaller than Charles normally preferred with his oversized frame, but it felt too frivolous to order a new one when his stay in England was so short. It had done the job just fine, but that had been before he’d contemplated sharing the mattress with someone else.
His cock throbbed almost painfully when Ariel turned to face him once more. She was undeniably beautiful that day, dressed in a becoming shade of pale green that made her hair glow. The cut of the gown was simple, but, by God, it did magic with her bountiful breasts and skimmed her lush curves in just the right way. When her full lips tugged upward in a shy smile, Charles’ restraint snapped. He closed the gap between them in less than a heartbeat, hauled her into his arms, and swept her over to the bed. He loved her small squeal of laughter, her breathless anticipation, the way she so trustingly held onto him and knew he was strong enough not to drop her.
They collapsed together on the bed, the ropes groaning beneath their sudden combined weight as they lay on their sidesfacing one another. Charles plucked a curl from her soft cheek and tugged it gently before flicking it away.
“So beautiful,” he murmured without meaning to as the backs of his fingers traced a languorous path down her temple, cheek, throat, the beginning of the swell of her breast…
There was a small dip in the mattress near their heads and both looked up to find a very large feline, pure black save for its jade-green eyes and a small thatch of white in the center of its chest.
A startled sound escaped Ariel as she spotted their judgemental little voyeur. “Oh! Hello, there.”
