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Chapter Twenty-Four
“Ican take you away from them,” he whispered against her lips and her eyes fluttered shut.
She had sometimes allowed herself to dream of a savior, and Albert was offering to become that man. Could she allow him to save her, or did she think it was still in her power to save herself?
His fingers lightly brushed her cheeks, and he pressed his lips to hers. Her thoughts scattered, flying in all directions, then returning and converging in one place: a place of longing. As his lips gently parted hers, her tongue sought his, calling it to dance. Gently pushing her onto her back, Albert pressed his body to hers while their lips were still interlocked. Her fingers raked through his hair, coaxing a groan from him. He pulled away and gazed down at her.
“Do you want me, Edwina?”Is that a serious question?she thought. The intensity in his gaze told her that he was serious and she nodded.
“I want to hear you say it. Do you want me?”
“Yes, I want you.” His lips came down on hers again, this time, hungry and demanding. His hands were everywhere at once; stroking her face, caressing her breasts, ascending her legs to the garter that held her stockings in place. Moaning, she pressed into him, parting her legs, silently inviting him to the place he was welcomed the most.
When he drew the neckline of her frock down, exposing her breasts, Edwina was thankful she had not been dressed for riding. He kissed the soft mounds of each breast before enclosing a nipple in his mouth. Waves of pleasure ran through her, stealing her senses and leaving only desire.
His other hand snaked up, past her garters to her thighs, kneading her soft flesh until it reached the crown of her womanhood. He stopped and she squirmed, protesting. “If you want this, then you must agree to be my wife,” he said, grinning wickedly.
“What?” she breathed, every part of her burning with desire.
“Say you will marry me and I will give you every pleasure you have ever dreamed of, and more.” He kissed her neck, sucking lightly on her skin. “So much more.” His fingers traced tiny circles on her inner thigh before moving to graze her folds. She could not help but moan. She admired and hated his cruelty. He was using seduction to get what he wanted from her.
“Say yes, Darling.” He tenderly pushed a finger between her folds to her throbbing center. Her body began to tremble but her will to refuse was still fighting against her desire. She was saved when a large droplet fell on her face. It jolted her senses awake. Before they knew it, more droplets began to fall. Albert cursed under his breath and got to his feet, helping her up and rearranging her frock.
“As much as I wish to continue this,” he said, “I cannot have you fall ill again.”
The eastern part of the sky was overcast. They had been so absorbed in their activities that they had not noticed the change in the weather. They quickly packed up the food onto their horses, then Albert helped her mount the mare before they hurried back to the Mansion.
Rain was falling in earnest when they arrived and Edwina hurried up to her bedchamber to change out of her wet clothes while trying to draw as little attention to herself as she could. As she was peeling the wet garments from her body, she was reminded of Albert’s sensual touch, and she realized the extent of her own desire. If the rain had not interrupted them, he would have sustained his seductive assault, and she might have given in and accepted his offer.
Every time she was in his arms, time stopped, and her body sang with desire. She was certain that for the rest of her life, no man would ever make her feel the way Albert did. It both excited and scared her.
She thought his actions today had been selfish, but her irritation was directed more at herself for giving into her desire. That letter she had discovered in the library had been a very old one but she still believed he loved Roxanne and only wished to marry to spite her.
She had cause to believe that Roxanne herself had placed the letter there to remind Edwina of her hold on Albert.
* * *
Edwina was on her way back to her bedchamber after dinner when her name being mentioned stopped her in her tracks in the hallway. She retraced her steps to the door she thought she heard the sound from and found it ajar.
"She has been useless to us her entire life. It is time that changed." That was her stepmother’s voice, and it sounded vile.
"What do you mean?" Tommen asked. Edwina clenched her hands into fists at her sides. She should have known they would be somewhere talking nonsense about her when she saw them leave the drawing room earlier.
"The details need not concern you. Just trust my judgment and stop asking me ridiculous questions, would you? Honestly, Tommen, I do not know from where you inherited your shallow wits."
Is that not obvious?Edwina rolled her eyes.
"I should remind you that she is engaged, Mother. To a Duke, too. Whatever you are planning, bear in mind that she has his protection." Her body tensed. Could her stepmother and brother be planning to harm her in some way? Had they not already done enough?
"She is not engaged to the Prince Regent, now is she?" Prudence returned impatiently.
"I still think we should not get on the Duke’s bad side, Mother." Tommen appeared to be the reasonable one here. Could it be because he had been permitted to marry on Albert’s property, and he was feeling indebted to him? Edwina doubted it because it was not like Tommen to feel indebted to anyone.
"As if we already are not on his bad side. Who knows what lies she has fed him about us? Do you not see that he is not concerned with us?"
"Fine, Mother, but we should not make it worse."
Silence ensued, and Edwina was about to leave when she heard Prudence speak again."Never say you are already doing what he wants, Tommy?"
