“Well, I told Lord Rothvale I’d think on it. We’ll see.” Georgina noticed that Dr. Cameron no longer seemed to be listening to Jeremy. The doctor’s attention was diverted elsewhere. Jeremy glanced to look. It was easy to see what captivated the good doctor, too. Dr. Cameron was studying the recently widowed, and very lovely, Mrs. Golding, who had accompanied her aunt, Lady Lampson, to the party tonight. Jeremy nudged the doctor to get his attention. “Shall I have Georgina introduce you to Mrs. Golding?”
“No,” Dr. Cameron said sharply. “There is no need. Mrs. Golding and I are already acquainted.”
“Ah. Well, have a good time then,” Jeremy teased his friend, who ignored him completely.
Jeremy arched a brow at her, and they shared a giggle, hoping to learn more about this acquaintance of Dr. Cameron and the m
ysterious Mrs. Golding in the course of the evening.
* * * *
Jeremy and Georgina found themselves staying close by each other’s side during the party, chatting with old friends and making new acquaintances. They were together for the entertainment and the singing of carols, and when the more raucous parlor games began, but never had even a second for little more than a word or two.
It was during a game of similes that Jeremy pulled Georgina into the servants’ stairwell for a private moment.
“Finally,” he whispered, pressing her back against the wall as his lips descended.
Jeremy kissed her wickedly slow, plundering her open mouth with his hot, seeking tongue. He met her hips with his in a slow thrust, and she felt the familiar ridge of an erection push into her.
“I thought I might die if I had to wait another minute to kiss you, sweet wife.”
“I know, adored husband,” she breathed, pushing right back with a thrust of her own.
Georgina could taste the spices from the wassail on his tongue, and for some reason it made her want to strip him naked. The vision of him in the altogether, stretched out for her, caused a smile to form on her face. She’d have a cup of wassail with her so she could dip her fingers in and splash drops of the fragrant wine down his chest and lower. She could just imagine the taste of the drops mixed with the salt of his skin as she lapped up each and every bead, until she reached his—
“What are you thinking about right now, my Gina?”
“About what a lovely party this has been?” she quipped.
Jeremy shook his head and traced the swell of a breast with his finger. “I don’t think so.”
“I’m thinking about Lord Rothvale’s proposition that you take a seat in Parliament?”
He dipped a finger into her bodice. “Highly unlikely, from the look you were giving me. Try again, my pretty minx.”
“Hmm.” She put a finger to her lips in thoughtfulness. “I am thinking about what a happy woman you have made me by loving me so much, and about how much I love you?” The giggle she’d tried so hard to suppress was desperately close to erupting.
He waggled a finger through the layers of undergarments until he found her areola and busied himself until he’d raised the center into a hard peak.
Her giggle escaped and then evolved into a moan of desire as she melted into his touch.
“You’re getting closer, sweetheart, but haven’t quite hit your mark. I think you need to give it one more try—”
His other hand whipped to her waist and tickled.
She managed one shriek before he muffled her with another plundering kiss.
“Tell me,” he panted in between kisses. “As your lord and master, I command you to tell me.”
Georgina laughed at him and stroked her hand up the front of his formal trousers, and then down inside for a feel of skin on hot skin, taut and ready.
“All right, I recant what I just said,” he mumbled into her ear. “As my lady’s enraptured servant, I beg you to tell me.”
“Since you are so humble, I will tell you, but remember that you have a houseful of guests just beyond that door and it’ll be hours and hours before we can act on it.”
Jeremy nodded, his blue eyes gleaming, anticipating what she would say.
“Well, it involves you stripped out of your fine new suit, and some strategically placed drops of wassail, and my mouth…” She whispered the rest right into his ear.