The door crashed open for a second time, and Richard and Elizabeth rushed into the chamber. Perfect. More witnesses to her fall from grace.
“Someone had better tell me what’s going on in here,” Richard said. He scanned the chamber and focused a glare on Horace. “What are you doing in Charlotte’s chamber?”
Horace nodded toward Charlotte. “She invited me.”
Sebastian tensed and clenched her hand.
“I did no such thing,” she said, focusing solely on Sebastian.
Horace crossed his arms and widened his stance. “When I knocked, you said, ‘Come in.’”
“I—I thought you were Maisy, you clodpoll.”
Undaunted, Horace spoke again. “I am delighted to announce that Miss Lightwood has just agreed to become my wife.”
“What?” Charlotte said.
“You agreed to marry him?” Sebastian said.
“You still haven’t told me what you’re doing in Charlotte’s chamber,” Richard said.
Sebastian’s quiet strength bolstered her courage. She held her breath for a moment, then narrowed her eyes at Horace. “I will not marry you.” She was consigning herself to spinsterhood, but she refused to marry Horace under any circumstance.
“Horace, what are you doing in Charlotte’s chamber?” Elizabeth asked.
“You told me to press my suit,” he said.
“I told you to press your suit. I did not tell you to compromise her, you blockhead. What were you thinking?” She turned to Charlotte. “You will have to marry him.”
“I will not. I would rather be ruined. I would rather spend the rest of my life alone. I would rather be cast out into the street.” Charlotte met Elizabeth’s gaze. Sebastian rubbed small circles over her fingers with his thumb, silently conveying his support.
Elizabeth glared at her. “You will marry Horace.”
Richard kneaded the back of his neck as he walked toward Charlotte. “I’m afraid she’s right. Under the circumstances, you will have to marry him.”
Sebastian squeezed her hand. “I’m afraid Charlotte cannot marry him because she has already agreed to be my wife.”
Charlotte’s mouth hung slightly open, allowing her just enough space to inhale a large quantity of air, the only thing that prevented her from swooning.
A crimson cloud ascended Horace’s neck and engulfed his face, merging into his hairline. “This is preposterous. You two cannot be betrothed.”
“Are you questioning my word?” Sebastian asked with deadly calm.
A collective gasp removed most of the air from the chamber.
Horace’s face went white. “But she has to marry me. I’m the one who compromised her.”
Sebastian took two steps toward him, and Horace shot out the door. Apparently, Horace did have a sense of self-preservation.
Sebastian focused on Elizabeth. “I want him out of my home within the hour.”
“Yes, my lord,” Elizabeth said.
“I’m certain you both understand that I would be exceptionally displeased to find that word of this was communicated to anyone outside of this chamber.”
“Of course, my lord,” Elizabeth said, keeping her gaze trained on the floor.
“Be sure to pass my warning along to your cousin, as well.”
“Yes, my lord,” Richard said. Elizabeth curtsied, and Richard grabbed her arm and propelled her out the door. Hudson followed them out. He winked at Charlotte before closing the door with final click.
Charlotte turned to Sebastian. She didn’t think her beleaguered heart could handle much more after having her worst nightmare realized and then having her heart’s greatest desire dangled in front of her. “If you were planning to make them think we were betrothed, why did you wait so long to speak?”
“I didn’t think you’d appreciate my interference, and I enjoyed watching you stand up to Horace and Elizabeth. But I couldn’t stand by and let them force you to marry him.”
“I…you…” Charlotte couldn’t come up with words to express the depth of her gratitude. “Thank you.” She smoothed the skirt of her gown. “I will cry off after a decent interval.”
“Why?” he asked softly.
She patted her half-finished coiffure. “Because you don’t want to marry me.”
“I don’t? Why not?” he asked, slipping a pin from her hair.
“Be—because I’m not…that is to say, I don’t…”
“I’m still not following you.” He pulled out more pins until her hair cascaded over her shoulders. “By the way, why is your dress unfastened?” he asked with deceptive casualness.
“Maisy forgot to bring the flowers she wanted to use in my hair, so she rushed off to fetch them before she finished with my gown.”
The lines of tension around Sebastian’s eyes and mouth softened.
“Perhaps I won’t have to kill him after all.” He sunk his hands into her hair, twisting a tendril around his finger. “Now, what were we talking about? Oh yes. You were telling me why I don’t want to marry you.”
“Because I don’t have a dowry.” Her voice went up at the end, making it sound more like a question than a statement.
“I’m hardly short of funds. Why else?”
The movement of his fingers in her hair sent fire darting through her body, making it difficult to concentrate. “Um…I don’t come from a noble family.”
He nuzzled her hair. “You’ll become my countess when you marry me. What else?” He lifted her hair to kiss her neck.
“Because I practically threw myself at you in the orangery, and you wanted no part of it.”
He lifted his head. “Charlotte, I never said I didn’t want you. What I said was that I would not steal your virtue in my orangery.”
“I see little difference between the two.” She tried to take a step back from him so she could think more clearly, but he had her trapped with her hair wrapped firmly around his hands.
“Do you want to marry me?”
“I fail to see how that matters.”
“You are going to be the death of me.” He pulled her toward him until their noses touched. “I love you. It took me far too long to figure it out, but I do, and I want to marry you. That is what matters.”
Charlotte opened her mouth, but Sebastian placed a finger on her lips.
“However, I want you to marry me willingly and will not stoop to Horace’s level and compromise you in order to achieve my ends. But God help me, if you don’t start cooperating, I refuse to be held responsible for my actions.”
“You want me?” she asked in a trembling voice.
He took both her hands in his. “Yes.”
“You want to marry me?”
“That is my plan. You see, I’ve fallen in love with you, so the only thing to do is marry you. And if you wish to go to the altar in your current innocent state, you’re going to have to stop waving your breasts around in front of me. A man can only take so much. My restraint has been pushed to the breaking point today.”
Charlotte gasped and glanced at her bodice. “Have they been…uh…showing like that the whole time?”
“I don’t think anyone else could see. I just happened to have the vantage point because I was so near. I can’t even begin to tell you how distracting that view was while I was trying to follow the conversation.”
She tried to hide her smile, but her lips weren’t cooperating.
He leaned closer until his forehead rested against hers. “Charlotte, will you marry me?”
Her smile widened. “Yes!”
Sebastian lifted her into his arms and kissed her, and this kiss was much different than their previous kisses. It was a kiss of possession. He pushed his way in, caressing the contours of her mouth with his tongue as their breath mingled.
Sebastian pulled away. “Are you certain?” he asked against her lips.
“Yes,” she said, trying to catch her breath.
“Good.” He scooped her up and carried her toward the bed. “Then this c
an’t be considered coercion.”
She grinned. “What makes you think I’m coercible?”
He gently laid her on the bed, and the way he looked at her made her body tighten in places she’d never felt before. “I’m very talented. There’s no way you can resist me.” He shrugged off his coat and stretched out next to her on the bed.
She giggled. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to show me. I’m not convinced.”
“I’m saddened by your lack of faith in me. I can already see how this marriage is going to be, with me constantly having to prove myself to you.” He caressed her neck with the back of his fingers and untied her corset, sliding her gown down to her hips and baring her to his hungry gaze.
She raised her arm and covered her eyes.
He pressed his lips against the inside of her elbow, trailing kisses up to her palm. “Charlotte,” he whispered. “You’re beautiful. You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“I can’t help it.” Even though Sebastian had already touched her breast and had shared a most intimate moment with her, she still felt exposed in the daylight.
“Hmm. I guess I’ll have to find a way to make you relax.” After drawing her arm away from her face, he feathered kisses over each of her eyelids. He rolled her onto her side and ran his fingers down her back, over her shoulders, along her arms. Not a single inch of exposed skin escaped his touch. Wave after wave of sensation flowed through her. When he finished there, he removed the rest of her clothing and gave his full attention to the backs of her legs, giving special consideration to the very sensitive areas at the backs of her knees and the bottoms of her feet.
He pressed himself against her back and whispered in her ear, “Where did he pinch you?”
“Why are you thinking about that at a time like this?”
“Because I wish to kiss those places and make you forget that anyone other than me has ever touched you there.”
Her stomach clenched at his declaration. “I’m not sure it’s in a place you’re going to want to kiss.”
“There is no place on your body I don’t want to kiss.”
His statement sent a thrill through her as she tried to imagine the possibilities. Embarrassed again, she pointed to a spot on her buttock.
Sebastian shot her a wicked grin. He kissed and licked and even nipped her. She had no idea that area of her body was so sensitive. Just when she thought she could stand no more, he stopped.
“Where else?” he asked, his voice hoarse.
She pointed to her breast. He nibbled around the spot she had touched, then kissed the underside and worked his way back up. She nearly jumped off the bed when he pulled her nipple into his mouth. Waves of pleasure coursed through her body. Then he placed his palm against her other breast and let his fingers play over her nipple. The area between her legs pulsed. She sank her fingers into his dark, silky hair and tried to pull him even closer. She wasn’t sure how much more she could stand, but she didn’t want him to stop.
She slid her fingers toward his neck, but his clothing prevented her progress. “I feel like I should be doing something.”
Sebastian laughed, his warm breath causing another wave of sensation across her wet nipple. “You’re just supposed to be enjoying yourself.”
“I am,” she assured him, “but I think I might feel more comfortable if I weren’t the only one here lacking clothing.”
He laughed again and kissed her on the nose. “Very well. Please feel free to undress me at your leisure.” He rolled onto his back.
Charlotte turned onto her side and placed her palm on his chest. She had no idea what to do, but she wanted to somehow give him as much pleasure as he gave her. She untied his cravat and tossed it onto the floor, then began to pull his shirt up with trembling fingers. She breathed in his scent, sandalwood with a hint of citrus, an aroma she now associated with finding her true home. Marveling at the dusting of hair she discovered on his stomach, she traced the line with her finger to where it disappeared into his breeches. His muscles twitched where she touched him, and he sucked in a ragged breath. She started to unbutton his breeches, but her nerve faltered when she encountered the evidence of his desire.
Sebastian seemed to understand her hesitation. He jumped off the bed and quickly divested himself of the remainder of his clothing.
“Umm…” Her voice wavered, and she couldn’t come up with a way to say what she was thinking.
“You are not allowed to worry. Your undertaking is to enjoy yourself at all times. I will handle the rest.” He settled himself next to her and kissed her. She started to relax again and ran her fingers over the sleek muscles of his chest and shoulders, enjoying the contrast of smooth skin and rough hair against her fingertips. When his hand slid between her thighs, she let out a startled gasp. Her legs clenched.
“Relax,” he whispered.
She tried to do as he asked and spread her legs slightly.
Then he moved up and touched her in a place she had never been touched before.
His finger slipped inside her. “So wet, so tight.”
Charlotte was just getting used to the sensation when he slid a second finger inside her and stroked the outside with his thumb. Pleasure pulsed through her as he continued to caress her. Slowly, he removed his fingers and positioned himself above her. He pushed at her opening, reigniting the flame he had kindled with his thumb. Distracted by the sensations flowing through her, she forgot to be nervous. She grasped his shoulders as the pressure continued to build. She lifted her hips against him, wanting the sensation to become something more.
He groaned and drove through the barrier preventing him from being inside her.
Charlotte stiffened. She couldn’t stop the grimace of pain from showing on her face.
Sebastian stopped moving. “Do you want to stop? I don’t want to hurt you.”
“No, keep going. If you start moving again, I think it will distract me.”
“That’s not quite the response I was hoping for.” He moved slowly, in and out. When he quickened the pace, the pressure started to build again. He ceased all movement for the space of a heartbeat. When he resumed his attentions, it sent her over the edge. Wave after wave of bliss rolled over her, and she tightened around Sebastian, drawing him closer. He spasmed within her.
Charlotte met his gaze. She’d enjoyed their interlude at the ball, but it was nothing compared to the feeling of having him inside her, sharing each sensation with her.
Once her breathing returned to normal and she was able to speak, Charlotte said, “Now I’m convinced.”
Sebastian laughed and kissed her forehead. “That was magnifliant if I do say so myself.”
She raised a brow. “Magnifliant?”
He slid onto his side and pulled her against him. “Yes, magnifliant. Magnificent, brilliant, splendid, superb. I could go on.”
She looked into his eyes. “I love you,” she said as she reached out to touch his face.
“I think I fell in love with you the first time I saw you. There’s no other way to explain why I chose to proposition you five minutes after we met.”
“I know the exact moment I fell in love with you. It was when we were walking in the park and you commented on my disheveledness. How could I not love a man who invents his own words and tries to pass them off as legitimate?”
“Yes, well, you definitely captured my heart that day with your very ladylike snort.” He tweaked her nose. “And sometimes, like now, there are no words to describe what I’m feeling, so I must resort to inventing my own.”
Charlotte rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes, content to enjoy the moment.
“Wake up, you lazy woman. You need to dress for the ball. I want to announce our engagement tonight.”
Charlotte sat up abruptly. “Tonight?”
“Changing your mind, are you? It’s too late. You’re already thoroughly compromised and will have to marry me whether you like it or not.”
“I like it. I
definitely like it.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for another kiss.
A few minutes later, he dragged himself away from her. “We are going to miss our own ball if we don’t get moving.”
He fumbled around among the garments on the floor and pulled on his breeches. She followed his every movement, watching his muscles stretch and flex as he slid his arms into his shirt and retied his cravat. When he finished, he tossed her stockings and corset onto the bed.
“Your turn.” He slowly rolled the stockings up her legs, stopping a few times to place a kiss on the back of her knee and on the inside of her thigh. She sighed and sat up. He helped her into her corset at a speed that belied experience she would rather not think overmuch about, then helped her don her gown and return it to its half-fastened state.
“I’ll send Maisy in to help you finish dressing and repair your hair. Meet me outside my grandmother’s chamber as soon as you are ready.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head and rushed out the door.
Charlotte penned a quick letter to Amelia while she waited for Maisy. She wanted to be the one to tell her the happy news, and she didn’t trust Elizabeth to tell the truth. Her hand trembled as she wrote the direction. She was uneasy about how Lady Marley would react to the announcement of their betrothal. They got along very well, but marrying her grandson was a much different prospect than helping her with her dog. She had given her word that she would check on Oscar before the ball, so there was no point in delaying the inevitable.
…
Sebastian pushed away from the wall and stood when Charlotte came into view. His heart was so full he forgot for a moment that he needed to breathe. Her lavender dress was the same one she had worn on the night they met, her thick hair piled on her head with flowers and diamonds that sparkled almost as brightly as her eyes. He resisted the impulse to drag her back to her bedchamber and settled for a swift kiss instead.
He took Charlotte’s trembling hand in his.
She shifted her gaze to Gran’s door. “Do you think she’ll be terribly disappointed that you’re marrying me instead of Princess Tarasova?”
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