Page 87 of Midnight with the Marquess (The St. Clairs 2)

Alex slung his arm around his friend. “Let this old married man show you the ropes.”

Luke hugged Rachel. “See? I told you so. You are marrying before me. You can give Cor a half-dozen great-grandchildren to get me off the hook for another eight or ten years.”

“We’ll see,” Rachel said. “I’m already supposed to look for a wife for Merrifield. I might look for one for you at the same time.”

*

Evan and Rachelaccompanied Everton and his duchess to the theatre and had an enjoyable time. The duchess insisted that he call her Catherine since he was to be family. The duke looked straight through him, daring Evan to call him by his given name. Evan knew Alex had experienced the same problem. The Duke of Everton was a most intimidating man. Evan could see how much he loved his sister, though, and because of that he would summon up the courage and call the man Jeremy one day.

Just not tonight.

They said their goodbyes outside the theatre. Rachel told everyone how she was curtailing her late nights in order to rest up for her wedding next week. She’d been pleased that he’d been able to book St. George’s for them and told him though she wasn’t one of those women who’d always dreamed of her wedding since she was a little girl, she’d did enjoy attending ones at St. George’s and was happy they would wed there. He could picture her coming down the aisle. She would be his in six days.

Evan went to his club for an hour. He was still staying at the Alford townhome and had been given his own key. He’d use it when he returned in the wee hours tomorrow morning. Though he longed for a tumbler of whiskey to steady his nerves, he refused to wallow in the particular mire that drink had cost him. He glanced up and saw Randolph still shadowed him. Gray’s assistant was to keep a watch on Evan as best he could in order to prevent such an occurrence during this first week as he took his place in society once again.

When the clock chimed a quarter to midnight, Evan rose and exited the club. The streets were mostly deserted as his coachman took him to within two blocks of the St. Clair residence. He instructed the driver to wait at this distance until he returned. When the carriage stopped, Evan hopped from it and continued on foot. A ball was taking place tonight and its guests wouldn’t venture home for another couple of hours. Others of thetonwho’d attended the theatre or opera were now at supper, thus leaving the streets empty.

He headed to the right once he reached his destination. That side of the house was where Everton’s study was located. It was through a window there that Rachel would let him in.

It began misting just as he saw a dim glow appear on the other side of the curtains. A slender hand drew the curtain aside and then slid open the window.

“Hurry,” she urged, stepping back to give him room.

Evan climbed through and quickly shut the window. Turning, he saw she wore the silk dressing gown he knew so well. She took his hand, entwining her fingers with his as they sneaked from the study to the large staircase. He followed her up the stairs and down a long, carpeted corridor until they reached her room. She opened the door and he stepped in after her, closing it behind him.

Rachel put the lamp down and then rushed into his arms. Their kiss was urgent, his hands rubbing up and down her slender back as he tasted the woman he loved.

She was the one who unexpectedly broke the kiss and took his hand, leading him to her bed.

“Are you certain?” he asked.

In response, she untied the dressing gown and shrugged out of it, letting it fall to the floor.

She wore nothing underneath it.

Rachel had thought about this moment during the entire play tonight. She had no hesitation regarding what they were about to do. She wanted to be with Evan in the way a woman came together with a man. If anything, she was eager to begin this part of their life together. Cor had prepared her at the beginning of last Season, explaining how everything worked in the marriage bed. She was grateful her grandmother had done so. She doubted every young woman was as informed as she and Leah had been.

Evan stared at her, enraptured. “You are perfection,” he said huskily.

His hands cupped her face and he kissed her so tenderly that she knew how much he cherished her.

They kissed for a long time, each one deeper and more meaningful. Slowly, his hands began to caress her, sliding down her bare back.

Rachel broke the kiss. “I need my fingers to feel you,” she said breathlessly. “I want my naked skin against yours.”

“Then help me undress, my love,” he said softly, his eyes shining with both devotion and desire.

She slowly unknotted his starched cravat, sliding it from his neck and dropping it to the floor. Her fingers went to his shoulders and pushed his wool tailcoat from them. He wriggled as she went behind him and pulled it from his arms. He worked on the buttons to his waistcoat while she began on those fastening his shirt. Both pieces came off and she took a step back, admiring his torso in the candlelight.

Stepping to him again, she brushed her palms from his shoulders down his bare chest, loving the feel of warm skin and muscles that rippled at her touch.

“If I would have known what you looked like under your clothes, I would have suggested you shedding them back at Fairfield,” she quipped.

He caught her wrists and raised her hands, palms up, pressing a kiss into the center of each. “It was not the right time for us. It is now.”

Evan led her to the bed and he sat. “I’ll need help with my Hessians.”

Rachel grabbed the heel and supported the top with her other hand. With one long, smooth jerk, she removed the boot. He lifted his other leg and she did the same.

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