Touch Me

Thea almost groaned aloud.

She had not told her aunt about Lady Boyle catching her and Drake locked together in the library. She was still mildly irritated with him for forgetting to unlock it after they had finished making love. His aunt had rung a peal over both of them that rivaled anything her mother had ever done when she was a child.

Thankfully, Lady Upworth did not demand explanations. She merely raised her brows and said, "I'm sure their actions appeared much as they were. Speaking of which, while you are conversing with my niece this evening, I suggest you take time to discuss setting a wedding date."

"It's one of the first items on the agenda," Drake said blandly.

Thea managed to hold her tongue until Drake had seen Lady Boyle and Lady Upworth to her aunt's carriage.

As he helped her into Lady Boyle's closed carriage, she chastised him. "Does nothing shame you? Our engagement is a sham. Do you think to add a false wedding date that must then be broken?"

He settled her on the carriage seat and then joined her.

The carriage lurched into motion and she fell against him, bumping her nose on his shoulder. "Ouch."

Setting her back against the squabs, he kissed her gently on the offended body part. "We will set a real date, one I have every intention of keeping."

"You are so mule-headed."

His laughter filled the small confines of the carriage. "Then we are a very good match. I've never met another woman as obstinate as you."

In the darkness, she could not tell if he was teasing her.

She frowned. "For a man who is supposedly my betrothed, you do a poor job of playing your part."

"What do you mean?"

"You abandoned me practically the moment we arrived at the musicale." Remembering her annoyance at being left to listen to the awful entertainment, her voice turned waspish. "Surely no one will believe we are engaged if we are not seen together."

"An engaged couple may attend the same functions, but no one expects them to spend all their time together."

She tried to ignore the heat emanating from his body, so close to her own. "Do not tease me."

"I assure you, I am not."

"But that is ridiculous. How can you wish to marry someone you do not want to spend your time with? Why, after the marriage, the close proximity could drive you mad."

He laughed again and she wanted to throttle him. "Marriage in the ton does not require close proximity. Some husbands and wives keep separate residences entirely."

A different home than Drake's? The thought appalled her. "That's terrible."

Drake shrugged, his arm rubbing against her shoulder. Even through her cloak, she found his touch exciting.

He said, "It isn't unusual."

She stiffened in her seat. "Is that what you expect of marriage? It sounds like a very lonely existence."

"I have no desire to spend my time alone, particularly my nights."

She shivered at the promise she heard in his voice.

This conversation was getting dangerous. "Nevertheless, you deserted me tonight. Why?"

"I wanted to verify some things my man of affairs has discovered regarding Emerson and Barton."

"What things?"

"Emerson appears to have very expensive tastes in mistresses, and Barton buys his clothes at the most exclusive tailors."