Page 37 of Miss Ellis Unleashed

He glanced around the room as if he was bored, greatly relieved no one paid them the slightest bit of attention now.

When he glanced down at Daisy again, and his heart swelled with anticipation. “Yes, well, you should go home so your friend can visit you as soon as possible. He is rather impatient to have you all to himself again.”

“Until later, then,” she whispered, inclining her head regally, but her excitement was palpable and infectious.

Daisy swept out of the ballroom, an obvious spring in her steps, at least to him. He groaned under his breath as she glanced over her shoulder before finally disappearing. He wanted to follow her immediately and travel in the same carriage. He would pull her into his arms in the dark confines and kiss her witless if given the chance. This slow courtship he’d planned might kill him, the way she flirted with him so effortlessly.

Max counted to ten, and then twenty, before he strolled for the front door to have his carriage called. Although eager to catch up with Daisy and sweep her off her feet, he would do nothing to damage the reputation of a future duchess.

He had his carriage drop him some distance from her home, and only when it was gone did he turn for the welcoming light of her small town house windows and run up her front steps to knock.

Chapter Eleven

Daisy wrenched open the front door of her town house as soon as she heard the first tap upon the old wooden surface. Throsby stood on her doorstep, looking flustered, impatient, and so proper in his familiar evening clothes. Daisy ushered him inside and closed the door to keep the world at bay for the night.

“Where is Gibbs?” Throsby asked immediately, looking around anxiously.

Daisy turned and leaned against the heavy locked door, her breath coming fast. “Sent to bed.”

Throsby took a step in her direction. “Was he suspicious?”

“If he was, I never noticed.” Daisy had been too excited about her midnight caller, and delighted that Throsby had readily agreed to come, to worry about what her devoted and well-paid butler might think. She wet her lips. “Shall we adjourn to the sitting room?”

“I’ll go anywhere you want,” he promised, and held out his hand to her.

Daisy took it and tugged him into the adjoining room.

Throsby shut the door behind them and turned to her, one brow raised. But instead of a frown, there was a smile on his lips. Gods, he was a handsome devil when he smiled.

She couldn’t wait to feel his hands on her body again and his lips pressed against hers, but he was too far away still.

She moved toward him, swaying her hips a little, and the smile slipped from his face.

“Miss Ellis.”

“Call me Daisy again,” she said softly, giving him the permission she could have given him years ago.

“This is not a good idea,” he warned, digging a finger under his collar and pulling at it hard.

She loved his reaction to her little teasing strut and caught up his hand to squeeze his fingers. “I think it’s the best I’ve ever had.”

Daisy drew him close, caught him by the cravat, and looked him in the eye. Their bodies were barely touching, but the tension between them increased, now they were alone.

She had never felt this way with any of the gentlemen who’d called on her or even stolen a brief kiss. Certainly, none of the ones she’d hidden under tables had caused her heart to race so fast.

She stretched up, pursing her lips in anticipation of a kiss.

Throsby slowly lowered his head but only pressed his forehead against hers. He let his breath out slowly. “There are a thousand reasons why I shouldn’t have come.”

“I can think of only why you should have,” she whispered and brought his hand to her waist, loving the sound of his immediate groan.

She released his fingers and watched as he caressed her body through the gown. The material made a delicious wispy sound as his rough fingers moved higher. His hand finally settled on the top of her shoulder.

“What have I warned you about wearing gowns like this?”

“You claimed they inspired lust in gentlemen,” she whispered and puffed out her chest a little more. “Is that true for you, too?”

He didn’t answer, but eased the gown off her shoulder and dragged his finger along her skin until he reached the top of one breast…and then slipped it under the top of her low-cut bodice. “Yes.”