She cried out, her climax rippling through her, and he grasped her hips, driving up into her, and giving his own cry of pleasure. And despair.
He’d broken his promise.
Or at least he soon would.
Richard pulled her down into his arms, so that she couldn’t see his face, and held her, both of them gasping for breath. He tried to examine how he felt emotionally, and knew he should be feeling guilty. But he couldn’t feel guilt or dismay or even sadness. He was too busy feeling like the luckiest man in England.
As if to berate him for his lack of remorse, there was the rumble of thunder outside as a storm began to build.
The perfect weather had finally broken.
Chapter 30
Tina had reached her room and begun to wash and change for the evening. She’d taken a circuitous route back to the hall and was confident no one had seen her. She’d left Richard at the folly.
He’d been very quiet, as if he had something on his mind. Or perhaps, she thought with a smile, he was simply worn-out from their lovemaking. Her own body had a slight ache where he had joined with her, but she didn’t regret it for a moment. And he hadn’t protested despite his promise.
Should she feel guilty about his breaking it? Surely, if it had been important, he would have explained what it was and why he needed to keep it? Tina was inclined to think that if he really hadn’t wanted to break it, then he wouldn’t have. Or was it a bit like her “promise” to marry Horace, something that waxed and waned with the changing situation.
And now that they were physical lovers would Richard try to persuade her to marry him? Well, she wasn’t at all certain she wanted to marry him. Richard was obviously not a wealthy man—no one with money would have a job teaching seduction—so if they wed, they would both be poor. Where was the point in that?
No, much better to stay free and live life as they pleased. They could come together—she was looking forward to visits from Richard and secret trysts, rather like Lady Isabelle. That sounded far more romantic, and just now, after all she’d been through, Tina was rather keen on filling her life with romance. She didn’t think she loved Richard—she’d thought she loved Horace, but now she was sure she didn’t. What she needed was more time to come to a conclusion, and that meant more time in Richard’s arms. Oh yes, she was looking forward to that.
Tina had stripped off her clothing and was carefully dressing in another of her new gowns when Maria opened the door.
“Miss? Why didn’t you call me to help?”
Tina avoided her maid’s suspicious eyes. “I have to learn to dress myself, Maria.”
She hoped Maria might leave again, but the maid came closer, casting a narrowed glance over the pile of clothing on the floor. She picked up a hairbrush and lifted some loose strands of Tina’s dark hair, inspecting it.
“There are a great many knots in your hair, miss.”
“Are there?”
“And it is damp. Were you out in the storm?”
Tina smiled. “Yes, I was. I ran back through the rain. It was very exciting, with the thunder crashing and the lig
htning flashing. I suppose that is the last of the sunshine now. Oh well.”
Even as she spoke, the wind blew a patter of water against the window, and the view of the garden and the river was now smeary with rain.
“You’ve been with him, haven’t you? Mr. Eversham.”
She thought about denying it but decided there was no point. And what did it matter what Maria thought now? Everything was about to change, and Maria would no longer be a part of her life. She felt a twinge of sadness at the thought; she and Maria had been together a long time. But, hopefully, her maid would find her own happiness with Archie.
“Yes, we met in the folly. Lady Isabelle’s folly.”
Tina had never thought Maria was a hand-wringing sort of person, but now here she was, wringing her hands. “Miss Tina, don’t you realize how dangerous this behavior is? And Mr. Eversham is not a man to be trusted.”
Tina was on the verge of dismissing this comment when something in Maria’s expression caught her attention. She took a step toward her, staring into her face. “What do you know, Maria? Has Archie told you something? Come, you’d better tell me.”
Maria shook her head, stepping backward as Tina came forward, the brush in front of her as if it might protect her.
“Is he a fortune hunter?” Tina demanded.
“No. That was what I thought, but Archie says he has a great deal of money.”