Page 33 of Surrendering to a Fiery Lady

“It would?” Ophelia closed her eyes as if waiting for that moment.

“I know that for certain,” Elliot whispered, then covered her lips with his. As suspected, the kiss was sudden in its intensity. It may have begun as something chaste, but it grew into something that was incredibly passionate.

Elliot didn’t think of the fact they were riding through London. He managed to reach behind him and close the curtain over the carriage window, enough to give them privacy as he continued to kiss her. When she angled her head to the side, the kiss deepened and his hands reached for her, pulling her toward him so that her body nestled against his own. The kiss continued, with them exploring one another’s tongues until Elliot was quite breathless.

The only thing that made them part was the carriage going over a pothole. They stared at one another, jolted apart, both breathless.

“Well, yes,” Ophelia said eventually. “I can see why you couldn’t do that in a church.”

“I could in a bedchamber, though.” His words were a suggestion of what was to come. When her eyebrows raised, he could see the hope there.

She hopes to consummate this marriage as I do.

He could practically feel himself stirring to the occasion, longing to be alone with her and to know her completely. He’d spent nights before with women. His first had been on the continent in his travels, and since he had returned, he’d found comfort in the arms of Celeste, the courtesan and theatre actress, but he could never remember wanting any woman so much before as he wanted Ophelia.

“I look forward to it,” she whispered to him. It was all he wanted to hear, that she wanted him, too. He moved toward her, about to kiss her again when the carriage came to a stop.

“We are there already.” He sighed and moved back from her. Ophelia straightened her gown and sat straight, trying to look proper. Elliot could have laughed at the sight, for he wanted to see her in a very improper situation, with that gown not so straight and her hair wild.

Controlling his urges, Elliot opened the door and stepped down.

“Welcome to your new home,” he said and gestured to the house. Ophelia leaned toward the open door of the carriage, her lips parted as she stared at the townhouse. It was more of a manor, set back from the road with a vast drive and gardens on each side.

“My goodness,” she whispered. “No wonder the death tax was so huge.”

“Yes, you could say that.” Elliot realised he could not take her into the house just yet. Turning to face her, he fidgeted, uncomfortable for a second. “Forgive me, Ophelia, but there is a confession I have to make to you.”

“Oh, no. Is this the point where you share some horrid secret with me? Because I rather feel it is too late now,” she said, holding up her hand to reveal the ring on her finger.

“Nothing like that.” He shook his head. “My confession is that I have not yet told my sister of our wedding. I didn’t want to give her false hope that we would be saved from financial ruin if something were to go wrong.” To his surprise, Ophelia smiled a little at these words. “I have not upset you.”

“Not at all. It shows a great care for your sister.” She pointed at the house. “I take it your sister is the young lady standing at the window, frowning at me?” She offered a cheery wave at Grace in the parlour window.

“Yes, it would be.” Elliot sighed, seeing the confusion on his sister’s face through the window. “Would you stay here for a minute whilst I explain all to her?”

“Of course.” Ophelia stepped down from the carriage and tilted back her head to stare at the house. “Who wouldn’t want to just stand here and admire this place?”

Elliot hurried into the house, leaving Ophelia behind. When he found the parlour, Grace was quite restless.

“Who is that?” Grace asked, running from the window toward him and pointing through the window. “I know you are not so inappropriate as to bring ladies here to the house, Elliot, but that woman is unaccompanied! Who is that?” She hurried back to the window, pressing her face to the glass, like a child impatiently waiting the return of a parent.

“That is… my wife.” Elliot held his breath as he waited for Grace to react.

“Your what?” She turned round so fast that she knocked over one of the few pieces of furniture in the room, managing to fall over the chair. Elliot hurried to help her up again and set the chair straight. She shook off his hold, clearly uninjured. “You are married?”

“I didn’t want to tell you beforehand in case things went awry.” He gestured through the window again. “Her name is Ophelia. She has a vast dowry, and Grace, she has quite saved us.” The words escaped him in a rush.

The anger on his sister’s face vanished as she returned to the window. “She has?”

“She has agreed to marry me and allow us to use the money to pay off our debts.” Elliot smiled as he watched Ophelia through the window. She seemed quite ignorant of the fact she was being watched, for she was busy admiring the house and trailing her hand through the borders of flowers at the edge of the drive. “She has saved us entirely.”

A touch to Elliot’s shoulder made him turn to look at his sister.

“Our knight in shining armour has arrived, then?” she asked with a giggle.

“The damsel in shining armour,” Elliot corrected her and pointed at Ophelia. “You should see her on a horse, too. Quite the knight indeed.”

“I have a sister, then?” Grace asked excitedly.

---