Page 56 of Pride of Duty

His Aunt Elspeth had sent a small army of servants to help with the cleaning and prepare a late supper.

“Do you think your aunt suspects we’ve been naughty?”

He turned her to face him. “Naughty? Do you think she knows about the bottles of wine we’ve liberated from her cellars?”

“No, silly…you know…”

“Oh.” He gave a long exhale. “That. I’m afraid the whole clan knows we’re a couple of clumsy lovers who can’t keep their hands off each other.” He took a long sip of Madeira. “And I’m afraid you’re very noisy too.”

She smacked him hard against his solid chest. “You’re making that up.”

“No. Quite the opposite. There have been official complaints.”

“Complaints about what?” Her gray eyes were wide in the fading light, and he couldn’t resist prolonging the suspense.

“Complaints from Dr. MacCloud that he’s had to listen to his wife’s cries of pleasure, all the while waiting far too long to release all his own pent-up needs.” With that, he took the lemonade glass from her hand, pulled her to stand on bare feet, and scooped her up again to carry her inside toward the dark at the top of the cottage stairs.