Page 40 of Miss Ellis Unleashed

Somehow, Throsby had carved out a place in her affections and her future. She could not believe he would toy with her feelings with no thought for the consequences.

What astonished Daisy, though, is that any future with him near did not trouble her at all now. She knew what challenges his future held in store. He would do well as a duke, as the head of his family, and as her lover. He did everything to the best of his ability.

She tousled his hair, smiling. “Are you comfortable?”

“Are you?”

“Yes,” she promised. “But perhaps you could come up here and lie upon me. I’m ready.”

“Not tonight,” Throsby said, as he moved to lie beside her, and then he pulled her close against his side. He kissed her brow, and then settled with a deep sigh and his hand covering her breast. “I’ve already been here too long.”

“I wish you could stay,” she whispered.

“I will one day soon,” he promised.

Although disappointed that he had to go, she accepted his decision. But Daisy didn’t want to move out of his arms yet and cuddled closer to him.

Throsby was solid and warm and familiar. He had hidden his passionate nature so very well. His tenderness and consideration had been everything she ever dreamed of from a man she might love.

Although her breath caught at that thought, she let it out slowly because the idea of someone loving Throsby wasn’t as preposterous as she’d always imagined.

She likely did love him already.

Why else would she be so easily swept off her feet? Why else let him back into her life so eagerly? She’d well and truly ruined herself with the man. Everyone in society would say so, and yet he was letting her take her time getting used to him and the increasing intimacy between them.

He was a good man, the kind she’d always dreamed of marrying one day. Someone dependable, someone kind, someone who liked her just as she was—well, almost. Someone who would put her needs first, the way he already had.

Someone who desired her like no other.

There was only one thing wrong with Throsby. He still did not smile often enough. Something had to be done about that before they eventually wed.

Chapter Twelve

There was nothing worse than being a man with a grand future ahead of him when he had never wanted or expected it. It made him a target for false flattery, winsome looks, and bold invitations to share a lady’s bed in exchange for the expectation of gaining a title for themselves. However, the minx Max wanted to flirt with him wasn’t currently around.

Daisy appeared not to have been invited to tonight’s ball after all, and he was growing cross about that because the hostess had mentioned Daisy by name when he had first arrived.

He was torn about what to do. Leave early and visit her at home, remain in case Daisy was delayed, or wait until tomorrow to make a call as a proper suitor ought to do.

While together, he understood Daisy and his feelings. When apart, his doubts returned. It was still hard to forget how difficult their time together as guardian and ward had been. He wasn’t sure enough time had passed to erase the memory of him behaving like a pompous, cold prig toward her.

But distance had been necessary then. If he’d let down his guard he might have liked her too much, and come to care about her too soon, and those were not feelings a guardian should ever have developed for a ward they had to give away to another man.

He had those feelings now. He had slowly, grudgingly, admitted to himself that he’d fallen for the most exasperating woman he’d ever met. He wanted to see her smile at him the way she had been doing lately. He wanted to see her face as she climaxed again and again.

He turned away from the dance floor, kept his gaze down so he did not see the inviting glances, and headed for the refreshment table. From there, he might catch a glimpse of Daisy arriving in the entrance hall more clearly.

“Throsby!”

Max turned his head and spied the recently married Duke of Mamble bearing down on him. “Your grace. I hadn’t heard you had returned to Town.”

Mamble stretched out his hand to shake. “Just today. My wife insisted on attending tonight’s ball and is somewhere about, no doubt already whispering in her dear friend Miss Ellis’ ear. We brought her with us tonight. I hope you don’t object.”

“I’ve no objections, of course,” he promised, as his heart began to race. Daisy was here somewhere. He looked around for her or the Duchess of Mamble, but he didn’t see either one nearby, unfortunately.

He turned his attention back to the duke when the man cleared his throat.

“It’s good of you, given the circumstances,” the duke murmured.