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“William, we have guests waiting,” she said in a breathless whisper.

“Let them wait,” he growled, capturing her mouth again.

His kiss deepened, hungry and coaxing. Her thoughts blurred under the weight of his touch, his palm trailing under her skirts, fingers brushing up her bare thigh with agonizing slowness. Her legs parted without thought, welcoming his touch and craving more.

She forgot about the servants, hoping the cook had taken the maid and they had discreetly vanished, or they were about to witness quite a show. For a moment, the world melted away—no past, no future, no guests, just the heat of William’s hand on her skin and the press of his body between her thighs.

She moaned softly, her hips shifting closer, greedy for the pressure of his palm.

Knock. Knock.

She jolted, her breath catching. “Oh!”

William let his head fall against her shoulder and groaned. “More guests?”

“Seems so,” Victoria whispered, shaking with laughter.

“Damn their timing.” William cursed under his breath, and Victoria laughed, breathless and cheeks flushed, as she gently pushed him back and slid off the table. “Let’s go see who it is.”

“No,” he murmured, nipping at her jaw.

“William,” she chided through a laugh, swatting at him again before tugging his hand.

With her free hand, she tried to smooth her skirts and adjust her bodice, which bore the rumpled signs of his attentions. She pulled him along behind her, breath still uneven, heart pounding for reasons that had nothing to do with whoever stood at the door.

The knock came again.

“All right,” she said with a grin, “I suppose they’ve earned our attention.”

“But not my forgiveness,” William muttered, trailing her out of the kitchen with reluctant steps and flushed cheeks.

They made their way through the corridor, William pulling her waist and tucking her against his side, a show of possessiveness. As they reached the entryway, the butler stepped back to reveal two familiar—and road-weary—faces.

“Lavinia!” Victoria cried, throwing her arms around her friend. “You made it! I can’t believe—Uncle!”

She flung herself into Sebastian’s waiting embrace.

“Were you baking?” Sebastian muttered, wiping flour from her cheek.

Her face flooded with heat. “Not exactly.”

“I was about to partake in my favorite meal, but I was interrupted,” William complained, and Victoria wished the earth could swallow her whole from embarrassment.

It took a moment for understanding and equal horror to dawn on the guests’ faces.

“Take care what you say about my niece, William,” Sebastian warned.

“As if you aren’t thinking the same about your wife,” William muttered. “And if you’re not, then my sincere condolences—”

“William!” Victoria chided with a laugh. “Now, where’s my little cousin?”

“She’s here.” Lavinia turned back to reveal a nursemaid carrying Amelia in her arms.

Victoria leapt out the door to embrace her little cousin.

She turned to Lavinia and Sebastian, Amelia safely in her arms. “Now it’s a real celebration. Everyone is finally under the same roof again.”

Sebastian raised a brow. “Everyone?”