“You’ll have to wake me to do that now. No matter the hour.”
“You won’t always be here,” she said with a laugh, assailed by a feeling of acute loneliness at the thought of being alone here when he went back home to Upper Brook Street. “I’ll get used to being on my own soon enough, I’m sure.”
“You’ll not get rid of me so easily. I will be here more often than you imagined,” Drew promised with an easy smile. “I thought I might stay the week.”
“I do not mind at all,” she promised.
But he had a town house miles away and responsibilities to his title and his family he would go back to eventually. He would split his hours between them all, and it was highly likely that she’d see him the least of everyone. She understood that. She accepted that. Whatever time he could spare would be enough.
And he still had to spend some part of his days in the courtship of a proper lady.
She handed him his drink and led him away to take a seat on a burgundy brocade settee large enough for two by the fire. “Do you want to tell me about your day, or should I strip you where you sit and ravish you before dinner is served?”
He laughed and quickly set his drink aside before he patted his lap. “I don’t think I’m in the mood for bed sport yet. I’d rather talk to you. It’s been so long since we saw each other.”
“It has.” She slid onto his knees primly. Drew would have none of that, though; he pulled her back into his arms and sighed. She glanced up at his face. His eyes had already closed, and he seemed weary. “Are you going to dine with Lord Wade and his family next Thursday?”
His eyes opened slowly. “How do you know about that?”
“A mistress hears things.”
“More gossip?” He snorted. “I sent Wade my apologies again. I cannot dine with him while his family thinks there is a chance to make a match with me and Lavinia.” He dug in his pocket. “I was going to do this later, but perhaps you’d like to wear these for our first proper meal here together.” He pulled a square velvet box from his coat pocket and placed it in her hands. “If you don’t like them, I’ll find something more to your taste.”
Aurora let out a small squeal and hastened to view her second gift from Sullivan.
Inside the box, upon red velvet, was a tasteful pair of diamond ear bobs. Not too large but obviously on par with the bracelet he’d given her already as far as quality was concerned. Both gifts must have cost him a great deal, and she adored them on sight.
Drew helped her to thread the wires through her pierced ears. When it was done, he flicked a gem with the tip of his finger and then sat back, grinning. To have Sullivan dress her in diamonds made her breath catch. He’d promised her jewels, but she’d not really believed she’d see so many, so soon. She jumped up and went to the nearest mirror to admire their sparkle. “They’re lovely. Thank you.”
But it was such a shame she had no ball to wear them to and show them off.
Drew’s eyes were bright and flashed with pleasure as she returned to sit on his lap again. And then his lips were on her neck, his breath a hot rush against her throat. Her toes curled in her slippers and her quim tightened in anticipation. It had been a week of unsatisfying fantasies about him, about them together upstairs, making love. Today she would wear her diamonds to bed with him. “Drew?”
“Hmm.”
She walked her fingers up his chest, stopping at the knot in his cravat. She tugged on it a little, hoping to loosen it a lot more than she seemed able to do one-handed. “Are you sure you’re not hungry?”
He chuckled and sat back. “Just practicing for when we go to bed later tonight,” he promised. “How else did you spend your day?”
Drew settled her against his chest, ignoring her pout of disappointment that she was to be denied what her body craved—more of him. “After I spoke with both my cousins, I came here. I spent the hours exploring my new home of course. The housekeeper and cook are experienced and kind. I wasn’t sure I could expect such a warm welcome as I’ve found so far. I am scandalous now, you know.”
Scandalous. Fallen. Impure. Those were some of the names she’d be called soon enough by society.
“The servants had best be discreet if they wish to keep the extravagant wages I’m paying them. I will not tolerate any disrespect toward you from anyone.”
She toyed with his cravat again. “There will be some who will speak meanly of me and our arrangement. I know that.”
“Yes. I will do my best to shield you from the worst of it. If you have a problem with anyone, be sure to let me know,” he demanded.
“I will,” she told him, but secretly planned to fight her own battles. Or she would ignore any disrespect. It would depend on who was being rude to her, or Drew. He might want to protect her, but she doubted he could from everything and everyone. In time, the notoriety of their arrangement would die down.
When Jenson appeared to interrupt them, he announced he’d taken the liberty of arranging for dinner to be served early. They rose together to go into the dining room immediately.
Drew put his arm around her back on the way, and she briefly snuggled into his warmth. She was happy, more than she’d been in a long time.
He held a chair for her and seated her himself, waving off Mr. Bloom, who’d been waiting to do so. Drew stared at the servant she’d brought with her from Wharton House, clearly trying to place where he’d seen him before. But eventually he shrugged and ignored Mr. Bloom’s presence.
Aurora glanced out over the table and smiled at the variety offered. “I hope everything is to your liking, my lord.”