Page 45

“Morning,” Clem murmured without opening his eyes.

“Morning,” Theo croaked back. Why was her mouth so dry? She glanced at the bedside table and, instead of a carafe of water, found merely an empty glass. The cocktails had tasted heavenly last night, every single one, but the thought of it now made her feel slightly queasy.

Clem opened one eye. “Sleep well?” he asked lazily.

Theo felt her face fill with color. “Er yes,” she hastened to assure him, dragging the bedclothes up to cover her modest nightgown before being assailed by a vivid memory of some of last night’s shenanigans. She almost dropped the bedsheet. Had she really let him put his hand between her legs? Had she really touched his penis? “Quite well thank you,” she quavered. “You?”

“A damn sight better than I did in my office the night before,” he answered.

“W-why did you sleep in your office?” Theo asked, glad of any distraction from their predicament and the memories of being thoroughly debauched the previous evening. Had she really asked him all those dreadfully intimate things? Her cheeks burned and she almost groaned aloud. My God, had she really told him about sneaking those peeks at Felix’s dirty book?

His eyes flickered open. “Because I am between abodes. More importantly, why are you stammering again, Dora?” he asked lightly and sat up. “You don’t need to be nervous around me, sweetheart, remember?” He reached out and caught her hand in his, raising it to his lips before bestowing a smacking kiss there.

That brought a trembling smile to her lips. “My heart is pounding,” she admitted. “And my pulse is racing, and I feel terribly thirsty and more than a little embarrassed,” she confessed in a rush.

“That will just be the aftereffects of the alcohol,” he said, slipping out of the bed and crossing the room to fetch a crystal jug filled with water. Theo tried to ignore the fact his underwear was riding low, and she could see the top of his muscular buttocks. Really, she didn’t know where to direct her gaze, but she was pretty sure it shouldn’t be glued to his backside the way it was.

She had managed to drag her eyes away before he returned to the bed, setting down the water. He cast a shrewd glance her way before pouring her a glassful and sitting down beside her. “Here, drink this.”

“Thank you,” she murmured, gulping it down.

“Better?” he asked, pouring her a second.

“Yes, I think so.”

“Once we’ve had a good fried breakfast, you’ll be right as rain.”

Theo felt a light sweat break out on her forehead. “Fried?” she asked feebly.

Clem laughed at her expression. “Trust me, it’ll sort you right out.” His gaze travelled over her swathed body a moment before he cleared his throat and headed toward the bathroom. “I’ll get dressed,” he said, sounding oddly reluctant. Only after the door had closed behind him did it occur to Theo that he had likely done it so she could dress without him around.

Feeling grateful for his consideration, she slipped from the bed and dragged on her chemise and drawers. She had washed in her intimate areas last night before tumbling into bed. Congratulating herself once again on her sensible mode of dress and lack of tangled locks, she donned her striped ensemble and pulled on her stockings.

She was lacing her bootlaces when Clem emerged, looking a little rumpled, for he had not yet done up his collar and cuffs and was sporting a little stubble. “Didn’t bring my razor,” he commented, stroking his jaw ruefully.

“Ah,” Theo responded, still staring at him. He did not look as pristine as he had the day before in church, but somehow it did not detract one whit from his attractiveness. Noticing he was watching her as he drew on his jacket, she jumped up from her seat.

“I’ll just—” She disappeared into the bathroom and shut the door behind her, closing her eyes and leaning back against it a moment. She was feeling flustered again and she hated it! She needed to grow accustomed to the fact she was a married woman now. She was not some girl to be blushing and stammering like a little fool, no matter how astonishingly virile her husband was!

Squaring her shoulders, Theo made for the water pitcher and started sloshing it into the bowl. Her reflection in the mirror caught her eye and she took a long hard look at her flushed face. Calm down, she told herself sternly. This is now your day-to-day reality, waking up in bed with your new husband. She swallowed. She would need that comb after all.

They did not breakfast at Wards, but instead, Clem paid their bill, and they caught a hackney cab to Shoreditch. Hearing the direction he gave the cabbie, she turned to him excitedly. “Are we going to your concert rooms?” she asked.

He shot her a look, setting the hold all at their feet. “After, we will.”

“After what?”

“After a hearty breakfast.” He glanced down at her hands which were folded in her lap. For a moment, she thought he was looking at the gold band on her third finger, but then he said suddenly, “Put your gloves on; it’s bitter out,” dispelling that notion.

They partook of breakfast at a place called Finnegan’s which was frequented by an interesting assortment of folk, most of whom seemed decidedly down at heel. Theo hoped she was discreet in all the avid observations she was making.

There was a disreputable man wearing a frightful hat by the window who absolutely fascinated her. He had a habit of sniffing and touching his nose while speaking to his companion that quite enchanted her. She had not realized how absorbed she was until Clem touched her hand. “Eat your breakfast, Dora,” he said dryly. “Your sausages are getting cold.”

She came to with a start and noticed Clem had nearly finished his plateful. “Sorry, just wool-gathering,” she gave by way of hurried explanation. To her surprise, once the first forkful of eggs and fried bread reached her mouth, she found she was ravenous. “This is really good; you were right,” she told Clem gratefully.

“How’s the pounding head?”

“My head?” It hadn’t been her head that was pounding, just her heart, but she did not point that out to Clem. He might misinterpret her words and think she had tumbled headlong in love with him like some foolish virgin and the last thing she wanted was to make him feel awkward. “It just feels a little tight around the top of my head now. Nothing to signify. How about yours?”