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A knock on the door and Amanda’s voice calling out startled her from her dream. “Time to get ready for afternoon tea.”

The dream made Emmeline want nothing but to stay in bed and ease the heaviness of her heart.

Instead, she got out of bed, wiped tears from her eyes, and forced her melancholy aside.

She refused to wallow in sadness about her past and her choices and instead enjoy her time away from London—her time with Catherine, Claire, and, more importantly, Andrew.

Stopping by her mother’s room, Emmeline was surprised to find her mother had gone down to tea already.

Perhaps she was late. She picked up her skirts and hurried down two flights of stairs, following the voices traveling down the hallway to a large green drawing room filled with twenty or so people.

Her eyes found her mother sitting on a dark green settee with two older ladies she recognized as Claire’s and Catherine’s mothers.

She was glad her mother had ladies her age to spend time with. Emmeline made her way over to Claire and Catherine, standing near the open double doors leading to vibrantly colorful and fragrant gardens.

“Claire, Catherine,” Emmeline said with a smile. “I’m so looking forward to spending time with you both.”

“As am I,” Claire said.

Catherine hugged her close. “It is so good to see you. I’ve missed you terribly. You need to tell me everything that has happened in your life and in London.” She leaned close to her ear and whispered, “The Duke of Blackstone is still as handsome as ever. Is there a chance?”

When Catherine stepped back, she held her hands and looked at Emmeline with sadness and hope. “Don’t look now, but he’s looking at you with hungry eyes.”

She tugged her hands from Catherine’s and covered her mouth before laughing aloud.

The word hungry and how she’d said it tickled Emmeline.

“Warn me before you say something inappropriate,” she whispered close to Catherine’s ear.

“I forgot you have a habit of saying shocking things. I’m glad to see you haven’t changed. ”

She smiled and patted her stomach. “Having five babies has made me fat, but otherwise, I’m the same. And as Charles says, it just means there is more of me to love.”

“Please don’t call yourself fat,” Claire admonished. “‘Pleasingly plump’ is much better.”

Once again, Emmeline had to cover her mouth, only this time her eyes found Andrew as he cocked one brow and grinned, no doubt wondering what had amused her.

“If you will excuse me, I would like to see the gardens and take in the fresh air.” As she stepped outside, she glanced over her shoulder and smiled at Andrew, hoping he would take the hint and follow her into the gardens.

It was time she became brazen and took what she wanted.

If she waited for him to make a move, years could go by.

Was she brave enough to seduce him? Invite him into her bed?

Even if they never married, she wanted to experience lovemaking with him.

It would give her memories to cherish for years to come if she married someone else she could never love.

The remembrances of Andrew’s lovemaking could sustain her and give her recollections to draw on and make the marriage act with her husband bearable.

Emmeline came upon a white gazebo at the end of a quiet pathway.

No one else was around, so she climbed the two steps and walked inside, taking in her surroundings.

Her heart beat a fast staccato as she knew Andrew was close.

His boots crunched on the granite stone, giving him away.

Her breath suspended inside her lungs as she waited for him to acknowledge her presence.

“Are you leading me astray?”

At the sound of his amused, deep voice, gooseflesh traveled up her arms, and her entire body tingled.

“Do you feel as though I’m leading you astray?

” Teasing with Andrew was something new.

He’d always tended to be a little reserved and guarded with her, even when they had courted all those years ago. Perhaps it had been because of Aiden.

“Yes. I believe it to be true.” He looked around at the scenery.

“This is a beautiful place. Peaceful and private.” He turned and looked questioningly at her.

“I haven’t seen you since Langford and Lilly’s wedding.

Have you been avoiding me because I almost kissed you that night at Vauxhall Gardens? ”

His words surprised her. “No.” Her cheeks warmed. “I wanted you to kiss me. We would have if not for Redford.”

He came up behind her, close enough that she felt his warm breath against her exposed neck. Warm hands slid up and down her arms as he pulled her back against his hard body.

“Yes. We would have. And I wouldn’t be wondering what you taste like now because I would already know,” he whispered into her ear.

His hands still lightly caressing her arms, her stomach tightened, and heat spread between her legs.

She had wanted to kiss him ten years ago before she’d married Aiden.

And once she was out of mourning, she’d dreamed of kissing him.

Those dreams and desires had her yearning for him.

Had he brought up that near-kiss because he planned to remedy the situation? Dare she hope?

“Yes,” she sighed, finding it difficult to breathe or think.

“Let’s hope this time we aren’t interrupted.

” He spun her around, his green eyes dark with desire as he stared so intently at her that she felt it inside her soul.

His hands cupped her face, and he lowered his mouth to hers.

She sighed and relaxed into him, finally knowing what his lips felt like upon hers.

He took it slow for a moment, then wrapped his strong arms around her back, pulled her tight against his body so they touched everywhere, and he devoured her mouth.

A moan escaped her lips, her arms circled his neck, and she rubbed her breasts against his chest to ease their sensitivity and discomfort as arousal lit up her body.

He licked inside her mouth, his tongue tasting her.

Her tongue joined his, and they swirled around and around languidly, teasing and withdrawing as though they had all time in the world.

Then the kiss turned raw, demanding, and possessive.

Emmeline had never experienced anything like it.

As he possessed her mouth, her body wanted to crawl inside him and become one with him.

Her hips pressed forward, seeking and making contact with the large bulge in his breeches, causing him to break the kiss, bury his face in the curve of her neck, and moan.

“You taste so good. I have waited for what seems like a lifetime to kiss you. To be able to hold you in my arms,” he whispered as he nipped her neck. “I want to lick every inch of your body until you scream out my name.”

“Oh, God,” she sighed as he placed featherlight kisses down her neck and slid one leg between her thighs, rubbing her core.

“Andrew,” she moaned. Unabashedly, she rubbed against his thigh, her body coiling up tight as she sought relief.

One of his hands massaged her bottom while the other tugged down the front of her dress, his lips attaching to one nipple, biting down.

Her knees trembled and threatened to buckle, and still, she clung to him as her orgasm came out of thin air and slammed into her.

She buried her face in his chest to stifle her cries of pleasure as wave after wave rolled over her until her knees did give way, and Andrew held her up as he righted the front of her dress.

When Emmeline caught her breath and could stand alone, she cupped Andrew’s face and kissed him deeply, trying to convey her feelings for him. “I wasn’t expecting that. Thank you,” she said as she nuzzled his neck.

“Thank you . I have dreamed of holding you in my arms for as long as I can remember. The other was a bonus.”

“Blackstone,” Caldwell’s low voice came from nearby. “People are coming.”

“Smooth out your skirts and your hair. We are about to be descended upon.” He kissed her quickly.

“I’m so glad I thought to have Caldwell stand guard,” Andrew said softly as he walked to the other side of the gazebo, straightening his jacket and cravat and adjusting his breeches.

Caldwell, his feet landing with a thud, joined them in the structure just before several people appeared on the walkway.

“Thank you,” she heard Andrew whisper to Caldwell.

“You can return the favor for me sometime.”

Laughter rang out. “I’ve been watching your arse for years, keeping you from the parson’s noose.”

“So very true,” agreed Caldwell with a smile.

“Your Grace, Emmeline. Mr. Caldwell. What a lovely surprise to come upon you,” Claire said with a smile, her arm linked with her husband’s. Catherine and her husband followed close behind.

“Your gardens are lovely, and this gazebo belongs in a fairytale,” Emmeline said. “I recently commissioned a small one for my garden and look forward to it being finished.”

“My dear husband built it for me for a wedding present,” Claire said, glancing lovingly at the marquess.

This caused Emmeline to experience a twinge of sadness and envy.

She wanted to be able to look at Andrew and claim him in front of everyone.

Let the world know she loved him without having to keep her emotions hidden.

“Did he build it himself?” She would be surprised if he had.

But then again, she did not know the marquess all that well.

Claire and her husband joined them in the gazebo. “He did,” she replied, her face beaming with pride and love.

“Really?” Andrew said as he inspected the craftsmanship. “I’m impressed. You are talented, Lord Waterford. Have you built anything else?”

Andrew and Caldwell exited the structure and went outside to study how it was built.