Page 60 of The Duke of Daring (The Untouchables)
He had? She didn’t know what to make of that. Were they friends now? She glanced toward the bed. They were rather more thanthat. But what, then, were they?
He continued, his eyes lighting with excitement. “You can see all of London laid out below you. It’s astonishing—the dome of St. Paul’s, the spires of Westminster Abbey, the masts on the ships in the Thames. You can’t imagine the view. Well, you can, but it wouldn’t do it justice.”
“I’d be too terrified of falling, especially now after seeing you fall.”
He shook his head, smiling. “I don’t think so. You’re not scared of that sort of thing, are you?”
“Not really,” she admitted. She was, however, becoming afraid of fallingin love. With him. That realization sent prickles of unease along her skin, so she shoved the thought away.
“Anyway, the threat of falling isn’t anything compared with the ear pain and the cold.”
“What ear pain, and what cold?”
“The higher we rose, the more frigid it grew. Sadler warned me—it’s why I was wearing a heavy greatcoat—just as he did about the earache. The pain was minimal as we ascended, at least for me. Sadler says it’s a bit different for everyone. However, on the descent, it was excruciating. It’s due to the change in altitude. The air up high has less pressure, and you sometimes have to work at opening the ear canal to bring everything into alignment.”
“How on earth do you do that?”
“By swallowing and yawning, if you can believe that. Although, it didn’t work terribly well for me, I must admit.”
“You’re not encouraging me to try this.”
He laughed again. “I’d go again right now.”
She loved his enthusiasm. “Whatever gave you this idea to go up in a balloon?”
“My brother always wanted to fly. This is the closest I could come.”
“You’ve never mentioned your brother.” And he spoke of him as if he were deceased. “He died?” She realized she knew nothing about his family.
He turned his attention to the fire again. “Yes. A long time ago. When we were young.”
“I’m sorry to hear it. And your parents?” She knew his father had to have passed, since Andrew was the earl.
“They’re both gone too.” He picked up his wineglass and drained it. He didn’t look at her as he sat back in the chair.
She longed to ask more, but he didn’t seem inclined to talk about them. What was it he’d said earlier? He was in favor of forgetting things that troubled him? She’d wager what she’d lost today on the balloon contest that his family troubled him. Hopefully, she’d find out why. Because no matter what they were—friends, associates, something far more intimate—she cared for him a great deal.
He stood abruptly. “We should go to sleep. My headache is returning, and I’m exhausted.”
Lucy looked up at him tentatively. “I should ask Mrs. Alder to prepare a room for me.”
“You could. But I would prefer you stay here. With me.” He held his hand out to her.
“It’s terribly scandalous, but then I’m a walking scandal about to happen, aren’t I?” She laughed, uncaring about her reputation but also realizing she needed to guard it for her grandmother’s sake. Indeed, if it weren’t for her grandmother, she might have asked Dartford to make her his mistress.
Lucy pushed that thought right out of consideration. Shecouldn’t. She could, however, sleep beside him tonight. It would be an experience that she would likely never repeat. She put her hand in his and let him guide her to the bed. The hem of his dressing gown, made of dark blue silk, trailed behind her.
Mrs. Alder had discreetly provided a night rail for her, which she’d donned beneath the dressing gown before dinner. She shrugged out of his gown, and he took it from her shoulders.
She climbed onto the mattress while he laid the garment on a bench at the foot of the bed. He shucked his breeches and slipped in beside her, then drew her against his chest.
“We’re just sleeping,” he said before kissing her temple.
“I admit I’m a trifle disappointed.”
He arched a brow at her. “Just a trifle?”
“More than a trifle.” She curled her hand around the back of his neck and pulled his mouth to hers. He tasted of wine and pleasure, and the ache he’d satisfied earlier bloomed anew, pooling in her belly and spreading out until her breasts tingled and her core heated.
