Miller, Raine - The Undoing of a Libertine (Siren Publishing Classic) (14 page)

“But that will be in the morning,” she reminded him, wanting to dive under the bedcovers and hide.

“Yes. In the morning. But not right now. I just want to be near you and see you through the night.” He took the two halves of her dressing gown and overlapped them. “As much as I love the luscious view of you in your pretty nightdress, we’ll just wrap you back up so the carnal beast in me won’t be too sorely tempted.”

He tied her belt closed with purposeful fingers. And Georgina’s heart melted anew at his chivalry. She wiped the tears off her cheeks, thinking she must look frightful.

“A beast? Really, Jeremy? I never think of you like that. And I never will.” She shook her head at him.

“Give it some time, sweetheart. I’ve no doubt you’ll see my beast. It’ll come ’round eventually,” he shot back with plenty of sarcasm.

He still held her loosely, his hands resting at her waist. Georgina sensed that he needed to touch her, and did not mind in the slightest.

“I truly doubt it. Others may be beastly, but not you.”

He looked at her in puzzlement and cocked his head. “You are the only person, Georgina, who holds me in such lofty esteem, and I can’t for the life of me know the reason. I figure your opinion of me can only go down in direct proportion to the amount of time you spend in my company.” He winked. “All the more reason to wed you quickly, before you discover these things on your own.”

Georgina couldn’t help the roll of her eyes. “Didn’t you gain entry into my room tonight by begging to help me pack up the last of my things?” She diverted their conversation to a safer topic and ignored his last comment.

“I did indeed, my lady.” He bowed his head. “What did you have left?”

“Just my books and drawing supplies.”

“Show me.”

They spent the next half hour wrapping up the few books and sketches she wanted to bring. Georgina observed him while he packed her things. She saw how he handled each item with awareness, considering the placement in the cases with thoughtful care and respect. He didn’t just cram the things in carelessly in order to finish the job.

There was so much more to Jeremy than she had any inkling of, and she wondered what it would be like to truly know him. To learn his secrets. To know his likes and dislikes, his habits and his strengths. To discover his faults. Everyone had them. She sighed, thinking he would learn hers soon enough, and hoped he wouldn’t be too regretful in choosing her.

It was strange to think about how they were pledging themselves to a lifetime partnership in the morning, with still so much unknown about one another.

Georgina was glad for the simple task of packing up the last of her things. It diffused the awkwardness of before and helped put her embarrassing misstep behind them.

“Ah. I’m glad you’re bringing this one.” He held up a small volume. “I actually wish to read it.”

“Which one is that?”

“
The Works of Robert Herrick
.”

“Why Herrick, Jeremy?”

“Well, for one, I think you like his poems, and I feel I should make an effort to share in something of interest to you. It seems like the husbandly thing to do. I don’t know, am I wrong? Is that not what a husband does to be agreeable? I have no experience.” He smirked in his charming way that made her heart catch.

“For myself, I know I’d find it agreeable if my husband read poems to me.” A sudden vision of her father reading to her mother flashed in her head. “My parents used to. You said ‘for one reason,’ Jeremy. What’s the other reason?”

“I think Herrick’s prose is good. I liked what I read before.”

“When did you read him?”

“The day I came upon you in the library. I picked up your book after you left it behind when Pellton drove you out.”

“You did?”

He nodded once. “I brought it to my room and read some pages that night. I put it back the next morning where you could find it.”

“I hope you’ll read to me sometime. I like listening to your voice.”

He chuckled. “Well, we have that in common then, for your voice hypnotizes me.”

A powerful yawn consumed her. She covered her mouth and mumbled, “Pardon me. I suppose it has been a long day.”

“You are tired, sweetheart.”

“I fear you are right,” she answered, stifling another yawn.

“Time for bed then. We have another long day ahead tomorrow.” He led her over to the bed and pulled back the covers. “In you go,” he said easily.

Georgina took a deep breath and unbelted her gown for the second time tonight. Strangely she didn’t feel worried for him to see her in nothing but a shift. She was pragmatic enough to understand he’d being seeing any part of her he liked after tomorrow, so what did it matter tonight? But he didn’t even look at her. While she was settling under the covers, he’d already turned away. He went around the room putting out the lamps instead.

Jeremy extinguished all of the lamps save for the one by the bed. Then he removed his boots. He stretched out next to her on the bed, but stayed on top of the covers.

“May I read you one poem? It is not long,” he asked hopefully.

“Yes, Jeremy, please.”

Georgina turned to face him on her side. Jeremy did the same.

Studying his hands as he held the book, Georgina thought his long fingers splendid of form. She thought about those hands and fingers of his touching her skin in intimate places.
Tomorrow he will touch me with those hands.

Jeremy began to read. The sound of him travelled the distance between their bodies, his rich voice speaking the prose with artful flow…

Delight in Disorder.

A Sweet disorder in the dress

Kindles in clothes a wantonness:

A Lawn about the shoulders thrown

Into a fine distraction:

An erring Lace which here and there

Enthralls the Crimson Stomacher:

A Cuff neglectful, and thereby

Ribbons to flow confusedly:

A winning wave (deserving Note)

In the tempestuous petticoat:

A careless shoe-string, in whose tie

I see a wild civility:

Do more bewitch me than when Art

Is too precise in every part.

Robert Herrick, Hesperides, 1648

Jeremy lifted his eyes from the page over to her face. “I even understand it,” he said. “Fancy that.”

“Tell me.”

“Well, he means that he finds greater beauty in a woman when she is in gentle disarray, rather than having her dressed in perfect, ordered arrangement.”

“Do you agree with him?”

“Yes…I’d say that I do.” He touched a finger to her cheekbone. “It reminds me of you.”

Georgina didn’t say anything. She just looked into his deep blue eyes. She couldn’t. There were no words she could form that would prove adequate for all he’d done since coming to her room tonight. All he’d ever done.

“That first time…when we met in the rain. The night in the library when you came at midnight, wearing your hair down. Right now, in this bed, lying next to me.” He caressed with his finger. “You are never more beautiful to me than when you are like this. As you are right now.”

Georgina leaned in to kiss him, feeling it was the most natural response she could give and knowing there was nothing—no words at least—that she could say after such a beautiful declaration. Instead, she drew as close as possible with the blankets still between them and brought her lips to his. He kissed her back, sweetly and soft.

He stayed next to her in the bed, never pressing for more than a kiss or a chaste caress. Jeremy’s gentle, slow kisses and trailing fingers drawn through her hair filled the minutes. She could tell how much he liked touching her hair, and thought it felt wonderful to have him do it.

So they spent their first night together in this way. She floated off to sleep eventually, comforted by his presence and hoping he drew comfort from her. Georgina couldn’t help thinking about what tomorrow would bring, as well as the future with this man who’d come for her just this morning. The person who would guide her life from this point on. The father of her children. The man who said he wanted her and did not care about her past.

She never felt Jeremy leave her bed. When she woke early the next morning, he had already gone. Georgina could still feel his presence clearly though. The lingering trace of spice from his scent was all over her.

Chapter Fourteen

That sweet bondage which is freedom’s self.

—Percy Bysshe Shelley,
Queen Mab
(1813)

Myers brushed imaginary lint off Jeremy’s jacket while he stood at the mirror remembering the night before. He thought about how Georgina accepted him into her room last night. Trusting him. He’d felt wretched when she’d misunderstood his reasons for coming. Even in her distress, she would’ve let him take her to bed and have his way. As much as he looked forward to bedding her, Jeremy was determined not to foul up the start of his marriage. He prayed to God for mercy in letting him please just do this one thing without gross misstep. He’d get her signature on the wedding certificate first as was right and proper. Georgina deserved as much, and Jeremy was determined she would have it.

She couldn’t know the real reason he’d gone to her room and stayed the night. And he didn’t plan on telling her the “why” of it either. After learning Pellton’s true motivation for marrying Georgina, Jeremy couldn’t get to her fast enough. He’d never known such fear or the need to protect so fiercely. He hadn’t thought too much beyond getting her out of Oakfield and under his protection. It had taken all his strength to wait the few hours needed to procure the special license to wed, dashing off several letters of instruction in the process. The moment the marriage document was in his hand, he’d steered Samson in her direction, and by God if the lovable beast hadn’t sensed his urgency, delivering Jeremy to Georgina’s doorstep in record time. Myers didn’t even arrive at Oakfield until well after dark in the coach. Jeremy believed luck must be courting him because so far all things had neatly fallen into place. He was dressed for his wedding, had won the pledge of his bride, and had a coach to take her away in.

Last night he couldn’t have stayed away from her for any price. And if he’d been forced to, he would have remained awake all night outside her door to ensure no one came to try to take her from him or hurt her. Jeremy did not trust Pellton, not one iota, and as for the nephew, he couldn’t even bear to think on him for even a moment without feeling bile rise up his throat.

But last night… What a treasure. A gift he’d remember until his dying day. Jeremy would never forget how she looked when she opened her robe. Her body was like a dream—a very erotic sexual dream. Long legs, curved hips, and full breasts he couldn’t wait to sample. It had taken all his strength to cover up that luscious body. But even more than her physical attraction, he’d not forget how wonderful it had felt to sleep beside her, to watch over her while she slept, knowing she was safe and that she’d belong to him always. Early this morning, he’d reluctantly left her bed before the servants rose for the day. The sight of her sleeping form etched in his mind still caused his stomach to flip a little.

“You’ll do quite well, sir.” Myers stepped back to affirm his handiwork. The dark blue of the new jacket contrasted with a gold and blue waistcoat nicely, complementing his own coloring even in Jeremy’s opinion. “You do a credit to your lady. In such a suit, you look very fine.”