Page 45 of Miss Ellis Unleashed

“Do you dislike hearing it?”

“It is unexpected.”

“I don’t see why it should be. I’ve heard women call their lovers such all the time.”

He glanced around her room. “So, where’s the gown?”

“Hidden away somewhere safe.”

“Safe?”

“I won’t let you tear it up or give it away because you think it too scandalous for me to wear.”

He straightened and came around to the side of the bed, looking serious. “I wouldn’t do that now. I was hoping to help you slip out of it. I’d wanted to do that since I saw you wearing it tonight.”

Daisy grinned, delighted by his reaction to the forbidden gown. Since she was bare under the sheets, bare from head to knee, he’d already seen quite a lot of her. But she’d left her stockings on just for him, though he couldn’t know that yet. “I wanted to be sure you could not mistake my intentions with you.”

“I’ve never misunderstood you.”

“But you get very cross, very often.”

“Frustrated,” he corrected. “You enjoyed making my life difficult.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Don’t be. It’s in the past.” Her breath caught as Throsby slipped off his coat and undid one button on his waistcoat, and then another. “Tell me, is there an understanding between us now, Daisy?”

“I think there must be, Max. Or I could stick with darling,” she suggested with a bright smile.

“Only as long as you promise to marry me one day, Minx,” he murmured.

“One day?”

“I do not want you to rush your decision about us. That is why I have not taken anything for granted about you.”

Daisy cocked her head to the side and realized Max was quite nervous about them, when there was no need. She had chosen well for her husband. Max was exciting and surprising—now the tedious guardianship business was out of the way. He would not lead her on and break her heart.

He’d claimed it.

She rose up onto her knees, exposing her nakedness. “I would prefer some rush tonight, if you don’t mind. Any moment I could be an old maid.”

“You’re just the right age for me,” he promised, as he took a step closer, his gaze sweeping her from head to knee, then he glanced around her to her feet. “Just how many pairs of those do you own by now?”

“Oh, dozens and dozens. The purchases seemed to irritate you when the bills came, so I kept buying more, even after you were gone, though I suppose they won’t irritate you anymore.”

“Well, no.” He drew closer, and his fingers brushed her hips lightly, and her breath caught. “Thinking of you wearing them, and like this, will only ever arouse me.”

Daisy looped her arms about his neck and pressed her naked body against his. “My lord, we are done with irritation and have moved on to the more exciting part of our relationship. Please try to keep up.”

He cupped her face, staring at her with such an odd look that she blushed. “Would you care to take off my clothes, Daisy?”

“I thought you’d never ask, Max.”

“Will you also marry me once I’ve procured a special license?”

“Yes, Max, I will marry you, but before we head off to visit your family to break the news, there is something I need to do. I need to speak with Justine. Alone. Talk to her and ask what is going on. Hiding in dark rooms isn’t like her.”

“All right, our journey can wait for that conversation. But our marriage cannot be put off forever if I share your bed tonight. I’ll want to return too often.” He frowned. “I also heard the Duchess of Mamble plans to take you away with them soon.”