Page 98 of Impossible
He left her, and she somehow had the presence of mind to tell him to use her petticoat. He grunted, his legs still moving against the backs of her thighs as he spent himself.
Ada smiled against the table. “Thank you. That was lovely.”
“I’m sorry about your petticoat.” He smoothed her dress back down.
She straightened, and he held her arm as she turned. “It will be fine. I hope we didn’t crumple your new clothing. Whenever did you find time to get that?”
“Lucien asked his tailor to work a miracle today, and his valet trimmed my hair.”
“I noticed. You were exceedingly handsome before, but now you completely take my breath away.”
“You flatter me.” He kissed her again, softly this time, his lips teasing hers.
“Andyoudrank my whiskey.” She slid her tongue into his mouth and tasted it.
He pulled back, laughing. “I’ll get you more. Shall we return?”
“Yes, I suppose we should before we’re missed. Should we enter the library separately, I wonder?”
“Will anyone really think we were shagging in the orchestra alcove?”
Ada grinned. “I doubt it.” She took his arm.
As they made their way back to the library, she asked how his interview with Lady Peterborough had gone.
“Better than I expected, actually. I thought I wouldn’t be able to see past my anger for my father—and for her as the woman who’d lured my father away from my mother.”
Ada struggled to take a breath. This was why she hadn’t told him about Jonathan, that he’d been her employerandmarried. “I’m glad to hear it went well.”
“I still can’t make sense of it. Lady Peterborough cared for him, and he must have cared for her. However, he seemed genuinely sad when my mother died and said he’d loved her. I can’t understand loving someone and seeking pleasure elsewhere.”
That hadn’t been the case with Jonathan. He hadn’t loved Letitia, and she hadn’t loved him. Still, Ada couldn’t bring herself to tell Max the truth. Even if he tried to understand, he would never see her in the same way again.
That sentiment made it seem as though she expected a future with him. There wasn’t one. He would return to Stonehill, and she would…what? Continue here in the position she adored or become the mistress of her own house with a family and a man who loved her?
A man she no longer loved or wanted, and those things were important. No, they were vital. Max had reminded her of that just now, just by simply being.
She would visit Jonathan tomorrow and decline his proposal. Immediately, she felt lighter.
“Let’s go to the members’ den,” Max said. “I haven’t been in there.”
She smiled up at him, grateful for every moment they had together. “Then we must.”
This proved to be a very bad decision as the first people they encountered were Reginald Huxton and Jonathan Hemmings.
“Evening, Ada!” Reggie said with a hearty smile.
Ada’s heart hammered against her ribs. Her head felt light, and her knees were like jelly. She clutched Max’s arm more tightly. “Allow me to present the Viscount Warfield.”
Reggie inclined his dark head. “Pleased to meet you, my lord.”
Ada forced herself to continue even though she wanted to turn and drag Max to the library. Oh, why hadn’t they gone there instead? “This is Mr. Reginald Huxton.”
Reggie quickly spoke. “And my guest, Mr. Jonathan Hemmings. He’s visiting from Cornwall, but then you know that already, Miss Treadway.”
Jonathan’s eyes glittered with joy. “I will be so happy when you address her as Mrs. Hemmings.”
Beside her, Max stiffened. He turned his head toward her. “What is he talking about?”
