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“It is smaller than my brother-in-law’s townhouse,” she said as he helped her down.

He feigned disappointment. “You surprise me. I did not think you were concerned about such things. Indeed, if fortune was your primary hope for marriage, you probably should have run from the church, after all.”

“It was merely an observation.” She smiled and began walking toward the steps.

He caught her before she could, sweeping her up into his arms to carry her the rest of the way. His hand curved around her thighs, his other hand gripping her upper arm, pulling her tight against his chest. And as he gazed down at her, seeing the surprise in her eyes, he could not resist a fleeting glance at her slightly parted, plump lips.

“What are you doing?” she asked flatly.

He had expected her to kick or fight as she had done the last time that he picked her up like this.

“I did not get to carry you over the threshold at Stonebridge. I am remedying that now,” he replied, reaching the porch.

She smiled. “Would you like me to turn the handle?”

“I have it in hand.” He knocked with his elbow, content to just stand there and hold her for a while.

The door opened, and the butler, Mr. Fenton, gave a yelp of shock. William would have rolled his eyes, but the ordinarily unflappable man recovered quickly enough.

He dipped into a low bow. “Good evening, Your Graces.”

“Good evening to you, Mr. Fenton. If you will excuse us, we are going to retire,” William replied, striding right past the butler.

He did not stop as he got to the stairs, carrying his bride all the way up to the middle floor and down the hallway to the adjoining chambers. There, he managed to turn the handle on the door to her rooms and carried her inside.

“I think you crossed the threshold, husband,” Lydia said.

William set her down on her feet, though he kept his arm around her. “I can never remember which threshold it is supposed to be, so I thought it best to carry you across them all.” He paused. “How long do you intend to stay?”

“Trying to get rid of me so soon?” She shook her head. “I did not realize I was such an inconvenience.”

He chuckled in the back of his throat. “That dress is inconvenient.”

Unable to resist, his fingertips traced the line of Dorset buttons that ran the length of her spine, imagining the satisfaction of ripping them off. She shivered at the touch, a ripple coursing through her that vibrated against him. Her eyes closed for an instant, her chin tilted up ever so slightly, offering that silent invitation once more.

“You should not be in here,” she whispered, opening her eyes once more.

Something strange and magical had happened in that slow blink, causing a sparkling light to dance in those beautiful blue pools.She was looking at him as ifhewas forbidden, as if they were clandestine lovers who had stolen a moment together that could not last. It was liquor poured on the flames of his desire.

“Then tell me to leave,” he replied, sliding his hand up her back, following that line of infernal buttons. His other hand came to rest on the curve of her hip, his head lowering in a silent invitation of his own.

She shook her head. “I will do one better—I will ask you to return to Stonebridge with me. I will ask you to play fairly.”

“If I go back to Stonebridge with you, if I stay there where you are near,” he murmured, breathing the words against her shoulder, “your rule will be broken.”

Her throat moved, her neck arching. “Would that be so terrible?”

“I do not trust… what would come of it. I will not be the first to break a rule.”

He raked his teeth across his lower lip if only to stop himself from kissing her. The frustration, the need—it was a powerful beast, clawing away the last few threads of self-control he had.

“Must you always win?” she sighed, slipping her hand into his hair.

As her other hand traced a meandering path up his abdomen and smoothed across his chest, those last threads snapped. He could not wait. He needed her, now.

Pulling her roughly to him, he kissed her with everything he had been holding back.

Lydia could not help herself. No one had warned her that by freeing her newfound talent for flirtation and seduction, she too would be swept up in the temptation of it all.