Mesalliance (43 page)

She nodded and,
freeing one of her hands in order to lay it gently against his
cheek, said, ‘Yes. But I’d like … I’d really like you to hold me
and say it again.’

Laughter
stirred in his eyes and he said, ‘What –
all
of it?’

But he rose to
sit beside her and settled her within the shelter of his arm. He
felt her coil even closer, her face against his throat and her hand
reaching for his free one. His fingers tangled with hers and his
thumb brushed lightly and rhythmically over the inside of her
wrist. Peace settled over them.

For a time, he
said nothing, content to simply hold her while the tensions of the
last hours subsided a little and a new tenderness welled up in him.
But finally he said carefully, ‘You haven’t asked … but you may
wish to know that what I said last night in the ballroom was true.
You are not illegitimate. You should also know that it wouldn’t
make the slightest difference to me if you were.’

She lifted her
head to look up at him. ‘You’ve met my mother?’

‘Yes.’ His eyes
travelled to her mouth and then back again before temptation got
the better of him. ‘And, in due course, I’ll tell you about that.
But not quite yet.’

‘No. I don’t
want to think any more … I just want to be with you.’

That gave
temptation an unfair advantage. Turning her slightly and releasing
her hand in order to cup her face, Rockliffe bent his head and
kissed her. Gently, lightly, his mouth caressed rather than
demanded … and was immediately rewarded as Adeline’s arms went
round him and her body curved into his.

By the time he
finally released her to look into her face, the blue-green eyes
were filled with something that sent his hunger for her soaring.
But still he forced himself to say, ‘You must be exhausted. Do you
think you could sleep for a while?’

‘Perhaps.’ She
paused, seeming to consider it. ‘Perhaps. But not alone.’

Unsure exactly
what she was suggesting - but suspecting that, if she meant it
literally, it might present him with certain difficulties,
Rockliffe said cautiously, ‘We could try that, if you wish.’

‘I do. I don’t
want to be apart from you just now.’ Adeline leaned back against
his shoulder and sought his hand again. ‘And then, of course, I’ll
need help with my laces.’

And that was
when he knew. A slight tremor of laughter ran through him and he
said, ‘Ah. I should perhaps point out that, by the time I’ve
finished helping you out of your clothes, sleep might not be an
option.’

‘No?’ Slipping
out of his arms, she rose and drew him to his feet. Then, smiling a
little shyly but with no hint of uncertainty, ‘Then we’ll sleep
later. Afterwards.’

He looked at
her for a long moment, his expression already making her blood run
faster. He said, ‘Adeline … forget, if you can, what I might want.
Is this what
you
want?’

‘Yes. Oh –
yes,’ she replied on something between a sob and a laugh.
‘Please.’

Rockliffe
loosed the breath he was not aware he had been holding and, with an
almost imperceptible shake of his head, murmured wickedly, ‘You
might consider saving that word until later.’

Lifting his
hand, he gently pulled the ribbon from her hair to let it fall from
his fingers … and waited, smiling, while she reached up and
mirrored his gesture. Then, entirely without haste, he gathered her
into his arms and let his mouth find hers.

Having wanted
her so much for so long, he had always known that – when the time
came – control might be an issue. He had also always known that,
regardless of that, he wanted to make the pleasure last as long as
was possible … primarily for Adeline, but also for himself. So now,
holding her lightly in the circle of one arm and letting his other
hand slide up into her hair, he teased her mouth with tantalising
slowness until he felt her go weak; and then, releasing her mouth,
he forged a lazy trail of small kisses along her jaw to the place
where her pulse was hammering. She made a tiny, involuntary sound
and her arms tightened about him.

Still with the
same unhurried ease, Rockliffe moulded her against his body and
sought her mouth again, this time letting the kiss gradually deepen
and intensify. Adeline drew an unsteady breath and plunged her
fingers into his hair. Quite deliberately, he broke the kiss to say
with a smile, ‘Today is ours – and tonight, too; and I am in no
hurry.’ And kissed her again.

Sparks were
exploding in Adeline’s veins and her bones seemed to be dissolving.
Everything outside the circle of his arms ceased to exist and she
couldn’t tell if it was his heart she could feel beating or her
own. She did not know when his fingers found and unfastened the
laces of her gown – was only aware that he had done so when it
slithered down to pool on the floor at her feet and his mouth
travelled down to sear the skin of her shoulder. Her head fell
back, offering him the creamy column of her throat … and, slowly,
sensuously, he took it.

Some exquisite
minutes later, her stays and petticoats followed the gown. Then,
for the first time, Rockliffe let his hands explore the slender
line of her back and the curve of her waist and hips though the
thin linen shift. Shaken by pulses and her breathing hopelessly
disrupted, Adeline gasped and, releasing his hair, slid her hands
inside his shirt. For the space of a heartbeat, he remained
perfectly still and then, having re-established his control over
the desire that was roaring through him like a rip-tide, he pulled
the shirt off and cast it aside.

‘
Oh
,’
said Adeline helplessly, as she discovered the smooth warmth of his
chest. ‘Tracy … I … I want you so much.’

That produced a
sudden urge to hurry but he forced it back and, with a dark,
gleaming smile, said, ‘And you shall have me, my darling – but not,
quite, yet.’ And, sweeping her up in his arms, he carried her
through the door to his own room.

Even then,
though his hands continued their leisurely exploration, he did not
immediately remove her shift. He even, from time to time, paused to
simply hold her face in his hands and smile at her. And when, at
long last, he slid the shift from her shoulders, his eyes feasted
on her with an expression which made her tremble and sent heat
flooding through her body as he said unevenly, ‘Oh yes.
Definitely
worth waiting for.’

Without taking
his eyes from hers, he lifted her into his bed and discarded the
rest of his clothes in a way which suggested that she was welcome
to look if she wished.

So she looked
and felt her breath leak away. She had known that, beneath the
elegant clothes, lay a well-proportioned body. The reality,
however, was beyond anything she could have imagined. Almost
unaware that she did so, she murmured the only word that seemed
appropriate … but did not see, as startled laughter flared in his
eyes, that he had heard her.

Laughter which
vanished as he drew her into his arms and flesh met flesh.

Adeline’s
breath caught and she traced the muscles of his shoulders and back
while her mouth burned kisses against his throat. Leaving her free
to explore his body as she wished, Rockliffe allowed his own
caresses to become gradually more intimate, his mouth following his
hands until every inch of her skin was on fire as he led her
through the labyrinth of desire towards the well of delight that
was its core. There was no uncertainty in her and no reticence.
Instead, she offered herself willingly and without reservation,
enabling him to relish every catch in her breath, every gasp of
pleasure and every tiny tremor which ran through her. Her response
was so open … so indescribably sweet, that it almost undid him. And
when she was beyond everything except sobbing two incoherent words,
one of which was his name … when he knew that, like himself, she
was very close to the edge … he imprisoned her hands in one of his
own and, using the other to brush the hair from her face, said
raggedly, ‘Slowly now, darling. Look at me.’

Then, releasing
her hands but continuing to hold her gaze, he moved slowly and with
infinite care into the molten, silk of her body. Her eyes told him
when he hurt her …and, moments later, revealed surprised wonder at
feeling him fill her. He waited. And finally, just when his control
was starting to falter, the shift in her expression let him know
that she was ready for more. Rockliffe kissed her … and gave it,
sending her spiralling back to the edge; and, when he knew she was
there, he abandoned the restraints he had placed on himself so that
they might make the fall together.

‘Heart of my
heart, I love you.’

Later, quite a
lot later, with her head pillowed on his shoulder and her breathing
slowly returning to normal, she said huskily, ‘I didn’t know. I
never guessed it could be like that. Is it always so – so -- ?’

‘No. Nor even
close.’ Rockliffe felt a tear drip on to his chest and, though he
thought he understood, still looked into her face to make sure.
Then, satisfied, he said plaintively, ‘Adeline … if you’re going to
cry every time I make love to you, I think my self-esteem could be
seriously damaged.’

A tiny
uncertain laugh rippled through her.

‘You know it’s
not … I’m not …’ She stopped and stifled a yawn. ‘I don’t know what
I am. I can’t think.’

‘Good.’ He
dropped a light kiss on her hair. ‘Go to sleep.’

Her fingers
sought his hand. ‘You won’t go away?’

‘No. I won’t go
away. Go to sleep.’

Adeline fell
asleep very quickly. Rockliffe, his brain resuming its function
rather quicker than he would have liked, lay awake for some time
before sleep finally over-came him. And then knew nothing for
several hours.

He awoke to
find Adeline propped on one elbow, her hair straying wildly around
her shoulders and her eyes devouring his face. Smiling a little, he
said, ‘Good morning. How long have you been staring at me?’

‘Not long. Not
long enough.’

‘Of course.’
Laughter - mocking, tantalising and real - lit his eyes as he sat
up and pulled her to him. ‘I’ve been called many things. But
beautiful
? Seriously?’

Adeline flushed
a little. ‘I didn’t think you’d heard. You weren’t meant to. But if
you really want to know, then yes … seriously.’

‘I don’t know
whether to be flattered … or worried.’ Beneath the sheet, his hand
was investigating the silky skin of her thigh. ‘But I’m glad you
weren’t … disappointed.’

‘Yes. I’m sure
that must have been a relief,’ she retorted, making him laugh
again. She lay quietly for a moment, her body already in turmoil
from the as yet unfamiliar delight of having him naked beside her;
and then she said hesitantly, ‘Tracy … what will we do about the
scandal?’

‘Allow it to
burn itself out. Don’t worry about it. It will do so soon enough –
or something else will come along to eclipse it. And I imagine your
part is already paling into insignificance beside Diana’s
remarkable descent into social ruin and palpable insanity.’

‘What do you
think they’ll do about her?’

‘Lock her in
the attic?’ His fingers moved lazily on to the curve of waist and
hip. ‘I really don’t care.’

‘And
Richard?’

‘Ah. Yes. Him.’
His hand stilled and his voice acquired a certain grimness. ‘He
won’t bother you again. He knows what will happen if he does.’

Adeline angled
her head to look into his face. She said, ‘What did you do?’

Rockliffe
sighed. ‘I think I broke his jaw. I certainly relieved him of a
couple of teeth.’

Startled into
laughter, she sat up. ‘You
hit
him? In the middle of
Queensberry House?’

‘I hit him – in
the middle of Queensberry House,’ he agreed, pulling her back
beside him in order to continue beguiling her. ‘Crude, of course …
but oddly satisfying. Harry was most impressed. But then, Harry
would be.’

The levity was
back in his voice and his fingers were trailing enticingly up her
rib-cage. Not without difficulty, Adeline pursued a sudden
thought.

‘Oh God –
Nell
! What have you done about Nell?’

‘Left her with
Dominic and Rosalind – where she’ll stay until you and I return
from our honeymoon.’

‘I don’t wish
to cavil,’ she murmured unevenly, ‘but isn’t it a little late for
that?’

‘Not at all. I
want you to myself for a time. And how else are we to escape
Lucilla?’ His knuckles brushed her breast with exquisite lightness
making her breath catch. ‘I thought Paris ought to be far
enough.’

Giving up the
unequal struggle, Adeline turned towards him and slid her hands
slowly up into his hair. ‘Anywhere you like.’

‘Paris, then,’
The dark eyes looked deep into hers. ‘And from there, as and when
it pleases you, to a small farm that I know of in the region of
Nevers where a certain very charming lady is waiting to meet you.’
He paused for one lingering kiss before stretching down to retrieve
his maltreated coat from the floor. ‘Meanwhile, speaking of Paris …
I bought something for you there that I’ve been carrying with me
ever since, waiting for the perfect moment. And having you in my
arms like this … with a look in your eyes that stops my heart … I
can’t imagine a moment more perfect than this one.’ And he slid the
ring on to her finger beside her wedding-band.

Tears misted
her eyes, less at the beauty of the betrothal ring than the thought
which, at that particular time, had prompted him to buy it. She
said, ‘I don’t … I don’t know what to say to you.’

‘You could say
‘
Thank you, Tracy – I’ll wear it always
.’ Or you could
simply kiss me. Or better still,’ he murmured with a disturbingly
wicked smile as his hand slid enticingly down her body, ‘you could
do both.’

So she did.