The Highlander Is All That (Untamed Highlanders #4)(38)

She sat up and stared at him. “What?” What was it? What horrendous thought had occurred to him? Pray God he had not suddenly remembered a forgotten wife.

Hamish flopped back and flung his arm over his eyes. “Your aunt. She is going to flay me alive.”

Oh dear. “I’d completely forgotten about her.”

He peeped at Elizabeth from beneath his arm. “Have you met her?”

“Perhaps I can soften her up. Let me talk to her tomorrow.”

“I shall hide in my rooms until you do.”

He was joking.

Probably.

Elizabeth patted Hamish on the chest. “She’s a sensible woman. She will see that this is for the best. I could never have married Twiggenberry anyway. He smells.”

“Does he?” Hamish chuckled, then sobered. “But then they all do, don’t they? Why is it, do you think, that the men of London like to wear perfume?”

“I have no clue. I like the way you smell better,” and she proceeded to sniff him here and there until he grabbed her and held her down and kissed her soundly.

Which, of course, followed course. And soon, they were in a tangle of limbs once again.

It was easily as glorious as the first time.

And the next was as well.

Though to be honest, each encounter had a different feeling. As they made love through the night, it became gentler, less frantic, a delirious exploration that went on for hours.

The sun was creeping over the sill when he shook her awake. “Elizabeth,” he hissed. “You need to get up, lass.”

“Mmm,” she groaned. She did not want to get up.

“Darling, the servants are starting to stir.”

In a heartbeat, she shot up. “Oh dear.”

Madly she searched for her clothes which were, oddly enough, on the floor across the room. He helped her dress and then he smoothed her hair and kissed her again. “Doona forget to tell me when it’s safe to emerge.”

She laughed. “I shall, my darling. No worries.”

And then she skulked back to her chambers with an enormous, and smug, smile on her face.





Chapter Fourteen


Elizabeth had completely forgotten about morning calls.

When she’d arrived in her room, she’d merely flopped onto her bed and relived each and every detail of the previous night before dozing off to sleep.

Elaine’s manic scratching woke her.

“What?” she called.

“I’m sorry, miss,” her maid said, pushing into the room with a tray of chocolate and croissants. It was Elizabeth’s favorite breakfast, but she didn’t want to stir. Even for that. “Visitors are arriving.”

“Oh, blast.”

“Blast?” A cheery voice rumbled off the walls. “And here I thought you adored being adored.”

Elizabeth pried open a lid and glared at Victoria. “How can you be so chipper in the morning?”

“It’s a gift.” She threw herself on Elizabeth’s bed with a bounce and Elizabeth groaned.

“I don’t want to get up.”

“Well, you have to. Someone sent you flowers and you have to come and see.”

“Do I?”

The thought that they might be from Hamish sent a thrill through her until she realized how unlikely and irrational that was. He’d been with her all night, after all. He hadn’t had a chance.

“I think they’re from Twiggenberry.”

“Do you?” She was a genius, Victoria was.

“Or they might be from Blackworth. He’s keen on you too.”

“I’m so lucky.”

“Come, Elizabeth. You must get dressed.”

“Do go away.”

“I can’t. Aunt Esmeralda made me promise to bring you down.” With this, she yanked the pillow from under Elizabeth’s head, which then dropped onto the mattress.

“Victoria—” she said in a warning tone.

“Do you want me to fetch Mary?”

“No!”

“Then up with you.” Victoria bounced off the bed and Elizabeth heard a great slurp.

She cracked open a lid. “Are you drinking my chocolate?”

“I am. Come and stop me.”

“You are a fiend.”

“The croissant is delicious too.”

“A demon from hell.” She forced herself up and groaned. Her head felt like a stone. “I am so tired.”

Victoria tsked. “I see that. So tired you’re still in your ball gown. Let me help you change.” Before Elizabeth could protest, Victoria had undone her buttons and the gown fell to the floor.

How mortifying. “Please—”

Thankfully, Elaine was there with a pretty morning dress, so she was not naked for long.

“Oh dear,” her sister said as she picked up the gown. “Are you having your courses?”

Elizabeth stilled and stared at the small stain on her dress. A reminder of last night. “I . . . ah . . . must be.”

“Pity. That was a pretty gown.”

“It can be saved,” Elaine said, gathering it up. “I’m sure of it.”

“Thank you, Elaine.” Oh dear. Elizabeth sucked in a breath and faced herself in the mirror. Her hair was a horror. “But we’d better deal with this first,” she said, gesturing to the nest of curls.