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Elizabeth smiled. “I’d be delighted.”
Ash rolled his eyes but thankfully didn’t say a word in protest.
“However, I need to say this. If you feel weak or begin coughing again, you shouldn’t go,” the doctor scolded slightly.
She nodded her agreement.
“Thank you, Dr. Camden.” Ash pulled up a chair by Elizabeth’s side.
Dr. Camden's smile was questioning. “You have known each other for a while.”
“Best friends since leading strings,” Ash offered. “All three of us.”
“That explains your protectiveness over Lord Overton’s wife.” Dr. Camden picked up his bag and focused on Elizabeth. “My lady, as we’ve discussed before. I’m afraid you’ll be living with that cough unless you try and spend more time outside of London proper. Some people are sensitive to coal smoke. You happen to be one of those people. If you stay in town, it’ll get worse, I’m afraid.” He nodded to both Ash and Elizabeth.
“I’ll inform Lord Overton of your thoughts. Allow me to escort you out.” Ash pointed at her. “You stay there.”
Moments later, Ash slipped back inside the room and shut and locked the door. “Dr. Wade Camden is a good man and a brilliant doctor. But I thought he’d never leave.” By the set of Ash’s jaw, he was a man who would not be deterred from his goals.
And right now, one of those goals appeared to be climbing into bed beside Elizabeth. Quickly, he discarded his clothes and slipped under the coverlet. He pulled her close and lifted her chin until their gazes met.
“I’m worried for you, darling,” Ash murmured as he pressed a quick kiss to her lips then pulled away to see her face. “So is Robbie. We have to find a way to get you home to Overton Hall without delay.”
Elizabeth shook her head and placed her hand on his bare chest. Stroking his smooth skin, she sighed. Ash was different from Robert in that he had little chest hair. She placed a chaste kiss in the middle of his chest, finding comfort in the beating of his heart. “I can’t. And you know the reason why.”
“Because of rumors? You told me there aren’t any.”
She nodded, then scooted up the bed until she could look straight into his eyes. “There aren’t any now, but you know how gossip works. It just takes a look, a whisper, or a nod between you and Robert, and the tabloids make us their meal ticket for the day.”
Ash rolled on his back and stared at the ornate ceiling above them.
Elizabeth rested on her elbow and traced a heart pattern on his chest. “I do a poor job of protecting you both.”
“What do you mean?” Ash turned on his side. A slight smile pulled at his full lips, but his brow furrowed slightly.
“I need to make the gossip about me.” She stared into his brilliant blue eyes. The color reminded her of the brightest kingfisher feathers. “I should make myself outrageous. Buy clothing that a queen would wear. Order a pair of shoes in every color of the rainbow. Commission a pink carriage and purchase four white horses. Everyone will know it’s me when I drive down the street.”
“Wear men’s clothing,” Ash suggested. “That would be something to see. Speaking of something to see, let us get this off you.” With a nimble hand, he helped her discard her chemise.
She giggled at the feeling of the soft, clean bed linens against her skin. But there was something more she craved. Quickly, she rolled on top of Ash. “I’d be banished from society if I wore men’s breeches. Most of the ton wouldn’t have anything to do with me.” She blinked her eyes flirtatiously. “Would you have anything to do with me?”
“What do you think?” His voice was soft with a hint of hunger. Ash took her in his arms, then rolled them carefully until he covered her with his body. He braced the weight of his body on his elbows. His eyes gleamed in playfulness, but there was a banked fire within them also. “For your information, Lady Overton, the only place you’ll be banished to is the bedroom where Lord Overton and I will have our wicked ways with you.”
Elizabeth pressed her lips up to his. His breath was a slow caress against her skin. His cock hardened against her stomach. “Do you fear the start of rumors?”
“Sometimes.” With a slow, languid motion, he undulated his hips against hers. “But I go to the gentlemen’s clubs and act like a fool to stave them off.”
“What do you mean?” She canted her hips, so his erection rubbed against her wet, aching center.
He hissed at the contact, then kissed her. Deeping the kiss, he pressed his tongue against her lips. Without hesitating, she let him in. He tasted of coffee and cinnamon. Boldly, she brushed her tongue against his making him groan. Their kiss seemed to last for minutes, or it could have been hours. When he slowly pulled away, she moaned in protest.
“When I go to White’s, I boast of seducing all the widows who live near Overton Hall. I tell ribald tales of my sexual exploits. Of course, there aren’t any widows, but tales of my exploits have always worked in the past to keep attention away from us.”
“But you hate doing that.” Elizabeth wrapped her legs around his hips.
“I do. But I’d hate it more to see you or Robbie hurt.”
When he slipped inside of her, she closed her eyes about how right it felt to be loved by him. She took a moment and concentrated on the exquisite tightness. His cock was thick, hot, and hard and felt so right.
