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And something else. Something more sensual. That’s when he noticed that she was wearing a dressing gown, and Robert was wearing a banyan.
“You call this an explanation?” Elizabeth asked, the accusation clear in her voice.
“Lizzie, I… I did what I had to do to protect you. Both of you.” Ash hesitated as he tried to find the correct words to explain his actions. By then, Robert and Elizabeth stood before him. He had to tell them the truth. “Eleanor came to see me when you were both out. She said that rumors were stirring about the affair. She said her friends thought Robert needed to divorce you and bring a criminal conversation suit against me to protect his reputation and his prospects as the future prime minister.”
Robert stared at the rug and shook his head.
Ash could see the disappointment on Elizabeth’s face. He rushed and gripped her hands in his and squeezed. “I couldn’t let that happen. She tried to bribe me to leave, but I wouldn’t do it for money. I left because I love you.”
Robert still wouldn’t look at him. Ash could hardly take a breath as he waited for either of them to say anything.
“Darling, darling, Ash.” Elizabeth stroked his hair away from his face. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “We promised each other that we would always stay together.”
Ash pressed his lips to hers in a gentle kiss, but Elizabeth had other plans in mind. Her tongue teased the seam of his lips. He deepened the kiss and her tongue swept into his mouth as if she was starving for him. A groan escaped. It was difficult to tell who it was from.
Ash was the first to pull away and looked deep into her eyes. “Forgive me.”
She nodded.
“Robbie?” Ash waited for his other lover to say what was on his mind.
Robert slowly raised his gaze. First he looked at Elizabeth and smiled. Then he grew solemn when his eyes met Ash’s. “I’m in awe of the sacrifice you would make for us. But good God man, don’t you know that there is no us without you?”
“I didn’t see any other way.” Ash shook his head.
Robert nodded. “What I’m about to tell you will hopefully change the way you see the situation.”
Quickly, he explained to Ash about his aunt selling stories to the London-Town Tattler. She had been the one who had started the rumor of the affair, divorce, and legal suits to ensure that Robert and Elizabeth stayed in town and did her bidding.
Ash sat on the bed, unaware that he’d walked over to it as he tried to understand the incredulous story that Robert and Elizabeth shared with him. “This is inconceivable. She’s your aunt.”
“She is my aunt, and she’s my responsibility. However, I told her in no uncertain terms that Lizzie and I were coming home to Overton Hall. I will not pursue political power in the House of Lords. She tried to blackmail us by saying she’d tell everyone about the three of us. I quickly corrected her line of thinking. No one will believe her now.”
Elizabeth sat next to Ash and took his hand in hers. “Eleanor is ruined.”
Robert sat down beside him and took Ash’s other hand in his. “Southart is in the process of telling all her victims what has occurred. Elizabeth and I decided that we would withhold some of her monthly allowance to help make amends. Those funds will be given to the favorite charities of the Parliament members whom she had sullied with her lies.”
“Who found out she was the one doing this?” Ash squeezed both their hands in his trying to give comfort. He could tell by the stark look on their faces that they still wrestled with the consequences of Lady Eleanor’s actions.”
“Martin Richmond,” Lizzie said softly. “He’s the one.”
“And he apologized to us for any harm he created when he was running The Midnight Cryer.”
“Southart and Richmond,” Ash laughed. “I think they both deserve a toast tonight. We’re back together again. My loves and I.”
“Exactly. Now get undressed.” Robert wrapped his palm around Ash’s neck and brought his mouth to his in a punishing kiss. “We’re going to consummate our marriage here just as we should have all those years ago.”
By then, Lizzie was on her knees and was pushing his morning coat over his shoulders. Robert had untied his cravat and flung it to the side. They both made quick work of his shirt, boots, and stockings until he only wore his breeches.
Lizzie pushed him back on the bed as her fingers trailed up his swollen member.
He widened his legs.
“Looks like your cock wants to come out and play.”
As he watched, she kissed her way down his chest taking time to nip and lick his sensitive nipples.
When he hissed, she stopped.
