The Marquis and I (The Worthingtons #4)(72)

The other letter was written by Burt. With any luck he’d found Lady Charlotte. She stopped herself from frowning and gave the landlord a polite smile. “I shall see you in a few days, Mr. Griffen.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Betsy strode as quickly as was proper to the cottage she’d bought in an area not far from the church. She’d even attended the services a time or two. Smirking, she imagined the looks on the faces of Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Eccles, the ladies living on either side of her, if they knew a common whore had drunk tea with them.

She laughed to herself, but, on second thought, it wouldn’t be very funny at all. They’d chase her out of her house and the village. Not only for being a whore, but for acting better than she should.

Her maid opened the door for her. “Shall I bring tea, ma’am?”

“Yes, please.” One day she’d have an indoor male servant. The problem now was that they were more expensive and damned government put a tax on them too. “I shall be in my parlor.”

The girl bobbed a curtsey. “Yes, ma’am.”

Sitting down at her desk, Betsy pulled out a sheet of plain foolscap. Her pen had already been sharpened, and she dipped it into the ink.



My dear sir, The package you ordered will be delivered tomorrow. Meet me at the Dirty Duck off the main road between Richmond and Twickenham at ten o’clock in the morning.

Payment must be rendered in coin before you receive the package.

Yr. Servant

B.





She sprinkled sand on the paper and dusted it off before folding it, writing the address, and applying the sealing wax.

Next, she opened the letter from Burt.



Dear Ma’am, I found the package. I’ll deliver it tomorrow morning at the Duck.

Yr. Servant

B.





She could scarcely believe her good fortune.

Once again she wrote a note directing the second gentleman to meet her tomorrow at nine thirty in the morning. That was pushing her luck. It was early for a nob, but it would not do for the two men to meet, and she couldn’t take the chance of any of the Duck’s regular customers seeing her there. Not only that, but the next young lady should arrive at the Hare and Hound no later than this evening or tomorrow morning.

All in all, this was a good day’s work. Once she delivered her ladyship to the gent, and the next package was delivered, she would be able to retire sooner than she’d thought.

She pulled out another piece of pressed paper, and wrote a note to her solicitor asking him how long it would take him to make arrangements for her to travel to Italy, and to lease her house while she was gone. Six months ought to do it.

*

Dinner was long over when Charlotte cast Dotty a pleading look. Could she not take Merton away and give Charlotte time with Constantine? She wanted their future settled, and that was impossible to do with her cousins present.

Putting her fingers over her mouth, Dotty feigned a yawn. “My love, I require your assistance.”

Merton slid her a smoldering glance. “In that case, we should retire.” He rose, holding out his hand to her. “My love.”

A moment later their door snicked shut, and Charlotte let out the breath she had been holding. Now she simply needed to be bold and go up to Constantine and kiss him.

The next thing she knew, she was in his arms. So much for having to be bold. “I thought they would never go to bed.”

He lowered his mouth to hers and she opened, allowing him access, running her tongue along his as he explored her mouth. He tasted like wine and male, and she had never tasted anything as good as he did at this moment. She hoped this meant that he had the same thoughts as she did. After all, earlier today she’d done her best to let him know that her feelings for him had changed. That she now looked forward to being in his arms and his life.

Throughout the past week and particularly today, she had been amazed at how often their views ran in tandem. She spread her fingers through his hair, enjoying his soft tresses as she explored his mouth as well. Would he be surprised that she had changed her mind about him? No. He couldn’t be. Charlotte had given him enough hints. She’d been right not to let him kiss her like this until she was sure she wanted him, because now, she did not wish to stop and she had every intention of making him hers.

Finally, Con was alone with Charlotte for the first time since they’d left the Hare and Hound. He thought the Mertons would never retire and allow him to show her how much he wanted her. Wanted to marry her, make her his marchioness, helpmate, and the mother of his children.

He pulled her into his arms, slightly surprised that she came willingly.

“Charlotte.” She tilted her head, deepening their kiss. If only they could do this all night, but he had to make sure she was not simply overcome by her first experience with lust. He drew back, and wanted to preen when her lips followed. “I think we worked well together today.”

“I agree,” she said, her voice low, seductive. “We seldom disagreed at all.”

Damn. When had she turned from an innocent into a siren? She slid her arms around his neck, pressing her lush breasts against his chest for the first time. His breath hitched and his cock swelled.

This was even more of a statement than she had made earlier when she’d kissed him. He bent his head again, touching his lips to hers. Perhaps talking could wait for a while. Her mouth opened, and he took full advantage, tasting her, drinking as if he’d been stranded in a desert. A soft moan escaped her lips and her tongue touched his, tentatively at first as she learned how to take control, then with more confidence as if she wanted everything he could give her.