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“Certainly, yes. I can’t imagine the life they were forced to lead.

I am sad they had to live falsely, which perhaps resulted in our mothers’ unhappiness.

However, without that, you and I would not be here.

I must also admit that when my grandmother first began to reveal this to me, I thought she was going to tell me that we were somehow related. ”

Gasping, Fiona took her hand from his jaw and covered her mouth. “Oh, that would have been awful.”

“I thought so too, but then I wondered if it mattered since it seems we do not have a future together.”

She lowered her hand between them. “Tobias?—”

He put his gloved finger on her lips. “Just let me say one more thing. When I spoke earlier about the woman of my dreams, I meant you, Fiona. I love you, and not because you’re inheriting my mother’s house or because I desire you above all other women.

Which, I do, by the way. I love you for your sweet nature, your inquisitive sensibilities, and your hunger for life.

You make me laugh, provoke me to think about things I don’t usually, and you inspire me to be a better man. ”

Her throat constricted, and it was a moment before she could speak. “So your grandmother was playing matchmaker when she deterred me from Lord Gregory. She was trying to drive me to you.”

“If that’s true, she did an exceptionally poor job of it,” he said with a laugh. “Did she say anything to encourage you to reconsider my suit?”

“I suppose not, but she didn’t really need to. And she was wrong anyway—Lord Gregory is more than suitable, and he’ll make someone a fine husband. Just not me. He is not the man of my dreams, and someone I respect and admire once told me I shouldn’t settle for less than that.”

“You’ve decided what the man of your dreams should be?”

“He’s the man who’s made all my dreams come true.

Dreams I didn’t even know I had. I thought I wanted freedom—and I did.

I didn’t want to feel trapped and alone like my mother did.

Cassandra once said to me that a marriage with love was the best freedom a woman could hope for. I think she might be right.”

He drew her into his arms, pulling her deeper into the shadows. “If you aren’t talking about me, say so now.” His lips hovered over hers.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Of course, it’s you. It’s only ever been you.”

Their lips met, tongues and teeth clashing as they kissed with a new and desperate abandon. Nothing stood between them now, just clothing and a rather inconvenient location.

She pulled her mouth from his. “This is where I kissed you the first time.”

He glanced around briefly and grinned. “So it is. I may have a plaque placed on this very spot.”

Giggling as he kissed her jaw and neck, she asked, “What would it say?”

“Don’t get caught.”

He devoured her laugh with another kiss, turning her body until he pushed her up against the door in the wall. Yes, exactly the spot. She thrust her hands into his hair as he kissed down her neck and licked along the rise of her breast above her neckline.

“Should we go back inside?” she asked between rasping breaths.

“Where inside?” His voice was low, dusky, and made her want to beg him to kneel down between her legs and repeat what he’d done to her last night.

“To the ball.” She gasped as he cupped her breast, pushing it up as he suckled her flesh.

“I suppose we should, but there is a bedroom—a few, actually—on the second floor of the men’s side. Or we could wait until we get home…” He kissed up to the hollow of her throat, making her body quiver until she wanted to whimper.

“Except your grandmother is there,” she managed.

“Bollocks.”

She reached inside his coat and pulled him against her as she licked the edge of his ear and whispered, “Upstairs it is.”

His hand moved behind her, and the door gave way. He didn’t let her fall, holding her close against him as he propelled them into the other garden. Closing the door swiftly, he set the latch before taking her into his arms again and kissing her thoroughly.

Weak-kneed, she clutched his hand as he led her to the back of the building, seeming to trace the same path they’d taken the week before. He was cautious, looking from side to side and up at the thankfully empty terrace before taking her into a side door that led into a back stairway.

Fiona held onto him as they walked along a narrow corridor lit with sconces. “This is convenient.”

“We sometimes have parties in the garden. This provides direct access for the employees to come and go from the kitchens downstairs with food and drink.” He inclined his head to the stairs that led down, moving quickly to turn the corner where he took her upstairs.

She hesitated, pulling on his hand. “You know far too much about this club to be an ordinary member. You must be on the membership committee. Don’t bother denying it.”

He turned, the light from the sconce illuminating the resignation in his features. “I’m supposed to deny it. The committee is very secret.” A smile teased his lips. “How did you know?”

“You’ve said things that made me wonder, but I really should have known the day that I was here as a maid.

You said there was a meeting to decide if a member’s family could attend assemblies.

How would you know that if you weren’t part of the Star Chamber ?

” She dipped her voice as she uttered the last two words and shook her head.

“I can’t believe I didn’t realize it then.

Was everyone else who was here also on the committee? ”

“That I won’t say.” He pressed his lips together, then led her up to the second landing. As they ascended, he continued, “And you must promise to keep the secret. If not, Lucien may toss me out.”

“My lips are sealed.”

When they reached the landing, he pulled her into his arms and gave her a wicked smile.

“For this, I would ask you to unseal your lips.” He kissed her again, his tongue licking into her mouth with delicious strokes.

She moaned softly, eager to get wherever they were going.

They needed to be fast. They would be missed if they were gone too long.

Except their absence was likely already noted.

Could they explain it away as a lengthy promenade in the garden?

Na?ve as she was about most of what went on in London, Fiona had no idea.

Nor did she particularly care in this moment.

It was hard to be concerned about rules that had never applied to you before.

Tobias swept her into his arms, and she let out a soft squeal. Laughing, she encircled her arms around his neck as he dashed up the rest of the stairs. At the top, he set her down gently and put his finger to his lips before opening the door carefully.

Glancing about, he took her hand once more and quickly guided her to another closed door. “Please let there be no one inside,” he murmured.

Before Fiona could protest, he ushered them both inside. Throwing the latch, he turned, only for her to shove him lightly in the chest. “You were concerned someone might be in here?”

He lifted a shoulder. “The chance of that happening at this early hour is incredibly unlikely. Especially with the assembly going on. Besides, a smart person locks the door.” He pivoted to set the lock, then faced her once more as he drew his gloves off and tossed them toward a table. “Now, where were we?”

Waggling his brows at her, he took her hand and removed the glove. Then he moved to her other hand and did the same. Tugging her against him, he kissed her again, this time taking his time exploring her mouth and stripping away the last of her defenses.

Well, if she’d had defenses, he would have stripped them away.

Ending the kiss abruptly, he took a step back. “I don’t want to muss your gown. Please tell me this isn’t a nightmare to remove.”

“It’s not exactly a nightmare, but I will require your assistance with the buttons on the back.” She turned her back to him, which forced her attention to the primary piece of furniture in the room—a large four-poster bed. Covered in a lush, dark purple coverlet, the bed looked fit for royalty.

There were only five buttons, and Fiona felt each one as Tobias plucked them open. Then he loosened the tie that cinched the dress around her middle until the fabric parted in the back. He lowered the gown, and she carefully stepped out of it.

Turning her head, she saw him gently lay the garment over a high-backed chair. “The best I can do, I’m afraid.” His gaze swept over her. “You are so beautiful.”

Fiona pulled the tie at the back of her petticoat and slid the narrow straps from her shoulders. She was not quite as cautious as she let the garment fall to the floor before stepping aside and plucking it up.

“Allow me.” Tobias took it to the same chair and laid it atop the gown. “I suppose we should leave your corset in place.” He sounded disappointed.

She pulled at the laces until the garment was loose and she could push it down over her hips. “Too late.” Keeping her gaze locked with his, she kicked her shoes from her feet. “I’m about to be nearly nude, while you are completely clothed.”

He scrambled to remove his coat, letting it fall to the floor unheeded before moving on to his dancing slippers and stockings, which required him to perch on a chair.

“I’ll just wait over here,” she called, climbing onto the bed where she sat back against the headboard.

A low growl crept across the room from his lips to her ears.

His body followed as he prowled toward her, discarding his cravat and waistcoat along the way.

When he reached the side of the bed, she met him there, first on her knees, then putting her legs over the side of mattress on either side of him.