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Chapter24
There was much good-natured teasing aimed at him and Mary during dinner.Apparently they were the last to know they’d make a match.Even Cranston had told Lowenbrock it was only a matter of time.
His mother and sister were going to be ecstatic.But before they announced their betrothal to his family and to the world, Ashford needed to get Mary alone.He planned to ruin her for anyone else… just as she had ruined him.
When the dessert plate was taken away, he cast a frustrated glance at Mary.He was at a loss as to how exactly he was going to go about this.He couldn’t exactly come out and tell Lowenbrock he was going upstairs with his houseguest.Mary was a gently bred young woman, and they weren’t wed yet.
As she’d done many times now, Mary came to his rescue.“It’s such a lovely evening.I think Lord Ashford and I will go for a walk in the gardens.”
Lowenbrock’s wife did a very poor job of trying to hide her grin.“Of course.It was so nice of you to join us this evening.I’m sure we’ll see you more often now?”
“Until we can finalize our wedding plans, I’ll consider this my second home.”
Lowenbrock nodded, but it was clear the man was hiding a grin.“We’ll say our goodbyes then.Have a nice evening.”
Mary took his arm, and together they made their way to the back of the house.It appeared that they were going to do this in the gazebo after all.It wasn’t what he’d planned, but this time he wasn’t going to stop until he made this woman his.
Mary tugged him to the left, and he followed her down a side hall, away from the garden doors.She stopped before a wall panel and pressed against it.He grinned when the panel slid back to reveal a servant’s stairway.
This woman was brilliant.She dropped her hold on his arm, and he followed her up the dark staircase, careful to close the secret panel behind him.Thankfully, they didn’t run into any servants along the way.They would know what happened this evening, of course—the servants always knew what happened under the roofs of the houses in which they served.But that didn’t mean he wanted to flaunt what they were about to do in front of them.
When they emerged on the second floor, he reached for her hand, enjoying the way her fingers felt clasped within his.Her room was the first doorway on the right.
They slipped into the room without a word, and he turned to lock the door.Nothing was going to stop him tonight, but first he needed to make sure she was ready for what they were about to do.
When he turned, she flowed into his arms as though she was meant to be there and raised her face.Powerless to hold back, he kissed her.She made a soft sigh of contentment, and he wanted nothing more than to drown in her.
He raised his head and gazed down at her.When she opened her eyes, they were cloudy with desire.
“I need to know you’re fine with proceeding.”
By way of answer, she started to undo his cravat.He waited as she untied the simple knot he preferred and drew the linen from his neck.Her eyes dropped to the top of his shirt where the fabric was now gaping open.
“Mary…”
She took one step back and turned away from him.He realized his breathing was already heavy and they’d only shared one all-too-brief kiss.
She looked back at him over her shoulder.“I’m going to need some assistance with the buttons.Unless you’d rather leave so I can summon my maid?”
That was all the answer he needed.He started at the top, fumbling slightly with buttons that seemed far too delicate for his large hands.He leaned in close to her ear as he worked.“How close is your hosts’ bedchamber?”
A shiver went through her.“They are all the way on the other end of the hall.”
Not far enough for his liking but he would make this work.When he reached the end of the row of buttons, he undid the laces of her stays for good measure and then began to remove the pins from her hair.The light brown mass fell across her upper back like a curtain.
Content with his handiwork, he dropped his arms and waited to see what she would do next.
Mary turned, her dark blue dress now loose around her shoulders.She took her lower lip between her teeth, and he didn’t miss the way she drew in a deep breath before she allowed the dress to fall down her body and stepped out of it.Her corset followed, and she stood before him wearing only her chemise.
Of course she was nervous.He would do whatever it took to alleviate her fear.He shrugged out of his tailcoat and began to unbutton his waistcoat.She followed the movement with her eyes.When her tongue dipped out to lick at her lower lip, his control snapped.He tossed the garments aside, not caring where they landed, and dragged her back into his arms.
He’d seen her wearing less, her breasts exposed to the night air, but he’d been fully clothed then.The feel of her against him, the thin fabric her chemise and his shirt the only barrier between them, felt better than he’d imagined.Because this was Mary and every other woman paled in comparison.
They met in a heated kiss that seemed to go on forever.But his patience was now at an end.
He removed his shirt, impatient to do away with the rest of his clothing.
Her mouth dropped open.“Oh my,” she said, reaching out to rest a hand on his chest.Her other hand followed, and he had to grit his teeth as she explored his chest, his arms, and good Lord, his abdomen.For a moment he wondered if she was going to explore further.
