Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
‘Control yourself,’ I tease, reaching down and pulling her to her feet. ‘Can you stand alone?’
‘Can you?’
I wrinkle my nose, and I cannot help it, so I kiss her again, unable to resist.
‘The plan?’ she asks around my mouth.
‘Oh, yes, the plan.’ I pull away, step back and pace, if only to keep her at a distance. ‘You will inform your mother that you are unwell and should like to leave.’
‘That shouldn’t be too tricky, for she is privy to my distaste of parties such as these.’
‘Good. Very good. You will get a carriage back to Belmore Square, where I will be waiting for you in the gardens.’
‘And how might you escape the party?’
‘Don’t worry your pretty little head about that.’
‘And what happens once I find you?’
I stop pacing and face her. ‘You want details?’
‘Yes, I want explicit details.’
‘Oh, my glorious Taya, you are not ready for explicit details, my love.’ I move in and take her in my arms, breathing every bit of her into me, for I am certain she is life. ‘But I shall give them to you.’
‘Please do,’ she begs quietly, gazing up at me, so much longing in her eyes.
I smile, my thumb dragging across her lips, and I kiss her chastely. ‘Once I have you in private,’ I whisper, letting my lips brush hers too, gentle and soft, ‘you will tell me what you overheard at the party.’
‘Oh,’ she whispers, looking guilty.
‘You didn’t hear a thing, did you?’ She was trying to entice me in, and, God help me, it worked. I reach for her backside.
Her gasp is endearing, and I chuckle. ‘You only want me for my eavesdropping abilities.’
I reach for her backside and give it a cheeky squeeze, making her eyes go all round. It is a novelty to see the quick-mouthed, smart-arsed Taya Winters taken aback, if I am honest, and I plan to make it happen more often. ‘Now go,’ I order, taking her shoulders and turning her back towards the palace. ‘I will follow you in shortly so as not to rouse suspicion.’
She starts walking, and I relax back on my heels, watching her, my hands linked behind my back. I am certain if I could see her legs beneath her beautiful dress, I would see them shaking. They’re not the only things that will be shaking soon.
Every inch of her and every inch of me.
And, I know it, the earth too.
Chapter 17
Escaping the party was far more difficult than it should have been. Suddenly, and disconcertingly, everyone had something to say, no one more than Mama, who wanted to pick my brain about my impromptu dance with Esther Hamsley. Apparently, our little twirl around the floor was the talk of the party.
After having my ear chewed off and working to convince Mama that it was merely a friendly dance – we don’t want her getting too carried away, now, do we? – I made my excuses, something about a breaking story that needed to be written and taken to the printworks immediately, and left with haste, anticipation killing me.
I quickly calculate that I am a good twenty minutes behind Taya now, twenty minutes too long, and I like not the thought of her hanging around in the gardens of Belmore Square alone, regardless of the fact that she appears to hang around in the dead of night alone a lot. The family carriage is not going to get me to her as quickly as I would like.
I see a curricle speeding towards the palace, the owner up from his seat looking like he’s having a whale of a time on his two-wheeled fancy means of transportation. The curricle skids to a stop, the horse neighs and stamps the ground, as aggressively as his owner drove, and a man, broad in shoulder, tall in height, and pointed in face, with a black mop of hair and mutton chops that would be the envy of many men far and wide, except for me, for I am not a fan, steps down and twirls his stick, looking important and aloof as he scans the palace.
I am in action before I can think better of it, approaching and bowing. ‘Sir.’
‘Lord Gayton,’ he declares, swanning past me without even so much as looking at me, leaving this supposed footman to take care of his impressive curricle.
‘You’re welcome,’ I say, hopping up and taking the reins, a new excitement finding me, to join the excitement I feel to get to Taya. I have always fancied myself owning a curricle, and I think I rather suit one. I take a seat, flip the reins, and I am off, racing away from the palace at an alarming but thrilling speed.
I must get myself one of these, I think, as I near Belmore Square, my journey time being cut by more than half, I’m sure, making up for the time I have lost being grilled by Mama. I leave the stolen vehicle round the back of Belmore Square, ensure the horse is secure in a stable with hay and water, and hurry to the gardens, navigating my way to the middle, but when I arrive there, slightly out of breath, there is no sign of her. ‘Taya?’ I call quietly, my vocal cords straining terribly as a result of fighting back my urge to yell her name, panic getting the better of me. ‘Where are you?’ Lord, I do so hope I didn’t pass her en route, for it is a distinct possibility, I remember not one minute of the journey from the palace.