Page 21 of The Marquess's Scandalous Game
Leopold Newton, Marquess of Adlington
He asked for the letter to be delivered along with roses.
Feeling accomplished, he went off to the library to review the documents, or so he told himself until he thought aboutthe flicker of her tongue as it moistened his finger. Thankfully, Mr. Glover arrived before Leopold ventured any further. He wondered if Miss Corbett was thinking about him as much as he was about her. He was ruthless in securing her hand, but the more time he spent with her, the more he wanted her to want him.
I vow I will make you burn for me just as much.
CHAPTER 10
The rest of the season passed in a haze of social events. Emma and Lord Adlington made plans for their wedding, which was to be held at the chapel at Adlington Hall in Cheshire. They had agreed on a September wedding, for now that the season had ended, it would be convenient for their guests to travel to Adlington Hall before they retired to their country houses. The invitations had already been issued, and her family had traveled down well ahead of the ceremony. Emma was looking forward to spending time in what was to be her new home. Her siblings were abuzz with excitement, and even their father’s spirits were high.
When they had arrived, Lord Adlington gave them a tour of the property. It had four wings with a lovely quadrangle around the courtyard and comprised a mixture of architectural styles. Lord Adlington said it was transformed from a Tudor house into a Georgian mansion. The Great Hall had been constructed in 1480 and later encased in brick. Several large sash and Venetian windows were inserted during the renovation to take advantage of the light. The hall was stately with an immense portico. There were expansive gardens, woodlands, and parklands, includingseveral buildings and a bridge known as the Chinese Bridge that carried a summerhouse.
It was quite extraordinary. And she would be the mistress of such a glorious home.
The halls displayed the finest canopy with over 180 coats of arms and numerous murals. Emma’s favorite was the one depicting Troy. She already loved the house, for its beauty was captivating. Her family had all been settled into their rooms, and Lord Adlington had planned a picnic on the grounds the next day.
She had seen less of him since he traveled to Adlington Hall to ensure all the preparations had been made. If the weather held, she anticipated a pleasant gathering. They had all been housed in the guest quarters in the south wing, and she wondered where in the north wing Lord Adlington slept. He had not shown her his chambers during the tour, which made her most curious about them. What did his library and gentlemen’s room look like? Did he have a billiards room or a gun room, perhaps? She was determined to discover his lair tonight. There was so much that she was yearning to know about her soon-to-be husband.
Emma had already changed into her nightgown. She was patiently waiting until she thought everyone was abed to quench her wanderlust. She willed herself to remain awake until, finally, she stood up from her chair and put on a dressing gown. The air had chilled once the sun went down. She fetched a lantern and opened her door a crack. She listened for a moment and when she was satisfied, she held up the lantern and walked towards the north wing. There was an eerie silence that accompanied her soft steps, and eventually, her breathing grew heavy.
As she made her way down the corridor, Emma suddenly stopped, the hair on the back of her neck raised. She was certain she heard the rustling of garments but the soft lantern glow didnot reveal that anyone was there, and she dared not call out. Emma stood frozen and listened for a moment, then when she heard nothing further, she convinced herself it was only her imagination. She had but two choices, and she did not wish to return to her room just yet, so she continued. She persevered to the end of the corridor, turned left, and immediately bumped into Lord Adlington’s hard chest.
“Good heavens!” Emma barely hung onto the lantern, which was quivering in her hand. “You scared the life out of me, my lord.”
Lord Adlington chuckled. “You are wandering around in the middle of the night, Emma. Was there something that you needed?”
The lantern cast a glow over his features and somehow, it made him more appealing. Her gaze went to his lips before she quickly raised her eyes and held his regard. Emma had never been kissed. She could hardly tell Lord Adlington that she wanted to know what it felt like to be kissed. But that was what shereallywanted. Since she felt his hot breath on her skin at the archery club, she could not stop thinking of it. Emma stopped short. Why was she even thinking about a kiss from this ruthless man that she was forced to marry? It was nonsensical. She had to marry to save her family, and it would not be much more. She needed to tread carefully. If she was already thinking about a kiss when they had not spent a single night under the same roof …
“Something no one else can help you with.” His gray eyes were compelling and magnetic.
Emma knew it was not possible for Lord Adlington to know her thoughts. “I could not sleep, my lord, so I thought to wander around the halls.”
“Well, you are close to one of the drawing rooms.” Lord Adlington pointed at the door. “Shall we?”
Emma followed him into the room, which was furnished with a sofa, armchairs, and a table with several bottles of wine and spirits. The walls were adorned with various paintings and medieval banners.
Lord Adlington stopped at the table while Emma admired the wall. “Would you like to have some wine?”
Emma placed the lantern on the table. “I will have sherry, thank you.”
Lord Adlington poured her a glass, and Emma took a sip of the dark and rich wine. He remained close to her, and she saw that he had not taken a drink for himself but there was a second glass. It appeared Lord Adlington had been in the room earlier. His gaze was riveted on her face and then slowly moved over her body. When he lifted his gaze to hers, the smoldering look she saw in his eyes startled her. Emma felt a lurch of excitement within her.
“I know what it is that you want.”
Emma gasped. The air around her felt electrified. He took a step towards her, and she took a step backward. He took another step, and this time when she stepped backward, her legs encountered the sofa and she was pleased it was there. Her legs were shaking so she abruptly sat down. Lord Adlington did not waste a minute before he sat beside her. He reached out and used his fingers to caress her lips, and as he drew close, his face blurred and she closed her eyes to savor the first brush of his lips against hers.
His lips glanced over hers ever so lightly before he paused. His breath heated Emma’s lips before his tongue reached out and seared it. Her heart pounded in an erratic rhythm; the surging tide of warmth that flowed through her left her limp.
His kiss was gentle and soft at first. She opened her mouth, and his tongue darted inside, making her dizzy while the butterflies danced in her stomach. Emma breathed in deeply asthe thrust of his tongue grew in intensity. The heat of his kiss threatened to melt her like hot candle wax. She did not know when she had raised her hands, but they were on his shoulders holding onto him as she fell into the pleasure of the kiss. His mouth grew insistent and she felt shivers all over. He nibbled on her mouth, evoking sensations she had never known she was capable of feeling.I like being kissed. Emma’s hands left Lord Adlington’s shoulders and gripped his hair as she pulled him even closer to deepen their kiss. She sighed.
He broke away from her lips and kissed her neck before he whispered in her ear. “You taste so … so sweet.”
Emma turned her head and claimed his mouth. She could not believe she had done such a bold thing, but his groan was enough of a reward for her. She thrust her tongue in his mouth, mimicking his movements from earlier. She did it slowly at first, until he increased the tempo, their tongues battling for dominance. His hands were in her hair, massaging her scalp, and it felt so … good heavens!
Lord Adlington paused. “Tell me to stop,” was barely a whisper.
“I cannot,” Emma gasped.
