Page 36 of An Earl to Save the Diamond
“You think too little of me, Ellen,” Gerard replied. “Now come quickly. We shan’t be spending too much time out tonight. My carriage is down the road.”
Ellen took his hand in glee, and they rushed down the road. She wondered where he was taking her as the carriage took them into the heart of London. She found out that they had gotten to the theater.
“Oh, Gerard! I could not possibly go inside. It is the theatre; surely anyone would recognize me.”
“You’re right. Which is why we are going to the after-plays at dark. The theater has plays that they would never show to the general members of Society for obvious reasons.”
Ellen giggled. “What reasons?”
“Oh, you will see. But first, you must put this on.” Gerard handed Ellen a mask to put on her face as he did the same. As they walked hand in hand into the theater, she marveled at how transformed the place looked. It had taken an ethereal feeling of its own that wasn’t present during the times she had been there. Everyone was wearing a mask, and she briefly wondered if Andrew was here tonight. She saw ladies wearing gowns with low bodices, so low in fact that if she looked hard enough, she could see the fullness of their breasts.
They went to a private box Ellen knew was reserved for the Earl of Ridlington, and she stared for a moment trying to catch a glimpse of the Grant box, wondering if it was occupied.
“You should relax, My Lady. The show is about to begin.”
And relax she did for the next forty minutes. Ellen could not take her eyes off the scene below her. The actors played a story of a handsome rake of the highest nobility who fell in love with a simple dressmaker and did not know what to do about it. It was not the play itself that mesmerized her, but how the love scenes were portrayed so explicitly. Ellen had never seen a play where the milky breast of the actress was displayed, and similar things like what Gerard did to her in the carriage were displayed right there for everyone to see.
Ellen was truly shocked at the turn of events, but she soon realized that the only thing that could constitute a scandal in thetonwas if you got caught. As they watched silently, with Gerard’s hand stroking her thigh, Ellen could feel her own desire awakening. The familiar warmth she felt around the Earl had once again begun to pool in her stomach and between her legs, and she was quiet for many minutes even after the play had ended.
“Ellen, are you all right?” Gerard asked as they walked back to his carriage.
“I am.”
“Are you certain? Perhaps, I went too far tonight. I should not have taken you to see something so brash.”
“No, no.” Ellen shook her head. “You misunderstand me.”
“Then help me understand you. Why are you so silent?”
“I cannot stop thinking about it.”
“About what?”
“What they did on stage. I cannot stop thinking about it happening to me.” Gerard was silent as he helped Ellen into the carriage.
“I feel this burning sensation in the pit of my stomach, and I just want to be set free,” Ellen said.
“Oh, Diamond. What you feel is desire. It is perfectly normal.”
“I feel almost evil for my thoughts.”
Gerard held her face in his hands. “You should not. Even I feel the same way.”
“You also feel a burning sensation in your stomach?”
Gerard laughed. “Not exactly. For men, our desire is shown in another manner. Let me show you,” he said, drawing her hand to touch the bulge in his pants.
Ellen’s eyes widened in shock. “It feels so hard. Does it not hurt?” she asked, blushing furiously.
“No, it does not, Ellen. Not physically, at least.”
“How can I make it better?” she asked.
Gerard grinned. “I have a few ideas on how to do that. Come here,” he said, pulling her to sit on his lap.
Ellen moved across and adjusted herself until she sat astride him. Gerard pulled her even closer and met her mouth with his, and like always, she melted into his embrace.
Gerard groaned as the kiss got more heated. Her effect on him was maddening. The fact that she was not aware of it did nothing to quell his passion. With his arm across her waist, he kissed her deeply, only stopping when Ellen began to pant for air.
