Chapter Thirty

M atthew wanted to hate Varley, but he felt sorry for him, stuck with Emilia Tupmoure for a wife.

"No one will believe Lady Foxford chose you over me," Matthew said. "I am sorry to say, but it's the truth. I have a reputation for pleasing ladies to the point that they have taken some lunatic measures to keep me."

Varley looked at Purity. She nodded sagely.

"He is the Fox, after all," she said.

Varley winced.

"Do you have a nickname, my lord?" she asked him.

Varley's nostrils flared. "No."

"Well then," she said, shrugging slightly as if that was the end of it.

Matthew had to stop himself from laughing out loud at the man's confounded expression.

"I suggest you return to your wife and try to work it out with her," Matthew said. "You destroyed your own engagement by getting caught with Emilia. I had nothing to do with it. Why don't you set aside your anger with me and embrace the female you ended up with?"

Varley clenched his fists, maybe reliving the moment when he lost his fiancée and her massive fortune, caught with his head under Emilia's skirts.

"If you hadn't broken it off with Emilia," Varley reminded him, "she wouldn't have set her cap at me . Despite knowing I was already engaged, she enticed me like a Greek siren."

Matthew was sure his expression mirrored Purity's, one of utter surprise.

"I cannot be blamed for your weakness, nor for Emilia's actions. You ought to have remained faithful to your fiancée if you truly cared about her."

"What do you know about fidelity?" Varley demanded.

Matthew was done talking.

"Get out!"

However, Purity was still behaving like a hostess whose party was souring and which she hoped to remedy.

"You and Lady Varley chose to marry one another. Surely, there must be some attraction that didn't perish because she cost you a different wife."

Matthew nodded, crossing his arms over his chest to keep himself from throwing punches.

"Maybe there is more to unify the two of you than your hatred of my husband," she suggested.

Varley stared at Purity, then back at him.

"I think Lady Foxford has a valid point," Matthew said.

Most of all, he wanted this war to end today, no longer needing to look over his shoulder, nor worry what might be in the newspapers. Varley had been dogging his tracks for the past three months — reporting or embellishing at will. Of that, Matthew was now certain.

For that matter, he no longer wished to dodge a glancing blow when Varley passed him in the sanctuary of their club.

"This conversation would have been better done without a lady present," Matthew added, certain she'd never heard the like before.

Come to think of it, he had never had such an odd discussion, trying to convince a man to be satisfied with the wife he had, even though she was probably disloyal, both root and branch.

When Purity bit her lip and appeared about to speak again, Matthew prayed she didn't spout some rule regarding kidnapping a lady that might set Varley off to more threats.

For while it was the case that most would believe Purity's version of events if they came to light, the ton would always cling to a shadow of a doubt regarding her faithfulness after she seemingly went to meet privately with a married man.

She ought to have known better.

Finally, Varley snatched up his hat.

"You are not worth my effort," he said to Matthew. "This lady will come to her senses and see you for what you are."

Matthew fisted his hands again but was loath to come to blows in front of his wife.

In any case, perhaps recalling their last altercation, Varley moved quickly to the door. But then he took the time to nod courteously at Purity, who gave him a friendly little wave of dismissal before he turned and left.

In a heartbeat, Matthew was on her, grabbing her upper arms and hauling her close.

"You idiot!" he said without heat, too relieved at finding her unharmed to be angry any longer. "Why did you come here willy-nilly?"

"Don't be ridiculous," she snapped, before putting her arms around his neck. "I did no such thing. I was lured here by the dire tidings that Diana needed me and that you were waiting."

He squeezed her tightly. "You came at my bidding?"

"Yes," she answered, sounding a little breathless as she went on tiptoe gaining a few inches.

"But Lady Purity, meeting in the middle of the day in an inn is inappropriate, indecorous, improper — do all dreary words start with the letter I ?"

"They might," she said. "I haven't bothered to investigate."

With that, she slid her fingers into his hair.

"Are you trying to compromise me?" he asked.

"Yes. Is it working?" Her saucy smile made desire roar through his body.

For answer, he kicked the door closed behind him and lowered his mouth to hers. He had been frightened for her beyond reason, and now, he had trouble holding back and being gentle. He wanted to dive into her lushness, to stroke her tongue with his, to lower her onto the bed, and pleasure her until they were both mindless and breathless.

He would settle for an outstanding kiss, and by settle , he meant relish, worship, and cherish her with his mouth until he could do so again with his entire body when they went home.

Delving between her lips, he thrust his tongue into her mouth, growling when she caressed it with her own. Releasing her upper arms in order to cup her soft, rounded buttocks, he drew her up against him.

She growled a little in response, the sound reverberating in his mouth, making him want to drop to his knees and declare his utter devotion to this woman.

"I love you," he whispered against her mouth.

Freezing, she drew back and looked him in the eyes with her brilliant-blue gaze. Her direct stare.

"I love you, Purity Diamond, with all that I am."

"You love me?" she asked, rocking him back on his heels with her question.

"Of course!" Didn't she love him? Was this a new concept to her? "Why would you question me?"

"You never said it before," she remarked, astounding him further.

"I did," he promised. "I have told you more than once how I adore you."

"Adore is not love," she said softly.

"Isn't it? Is there a list of proper words for couples that I need to study, too?"

"Stop teasing," she said, her voice sounding thick with emotion. And he grew serious.

"You have been laboring under the misapprehension that I married you and have been tupping you nightly without loving you, is that correct?"

"I wasn't sure."

"You weren't sure," he repeated, shaking his head. "I hope you won't let Diana or any of our other children, should we be so blessed, marry with such uncertainty."

She shrugged, swallowed, sniffed, and then offered him a watery smile.

She was a priceless treasure, and he ought to have done better by her.

"I should have said those words before. In my defense, I truly thought that adoring and cherishing you were the same thing as loving you. But I will keep repeating ‘I love you' until you believe me."

After a second, she offered him a short nod.

He chuckled. "Truly? Is that your entire response? Isn't there some rule of etiquette that demands you say something?"

She tilted her head. "I don't think there is a rule, but from my heart, I will tell you I have been afraid. I have tried not to let my fear overwhelm my true feelings."

"Which are?" He knew it was wrong, but he squeezed her bottom while he asked.

"Ooh!" She made a little squeal of surprise.

Then she reached out and stroked his cheek.

"That I love you, my Lord Fox, with all my heart."

His body relaxed, all tension draining from him, and taking his bones with it. Again, he felt like dropping to his knees. She loved him! He had never pushed her to say it but had hoped in time she would.

Taking her with him, he took the few steps to the bed and sank onto it, dragging her down beside him. But he ran his hand over his eyes, feeling overcome.

"Are you well?" she asked.

"I am, indeed. I am truly happy. I don't think I have ever felt this way before."

"That's absurd," she said, but she was grinning with pleasure.

"Naturally, I've been pleased, but usually because I was getting something I wanted, like fine brandy or a plum horse or ..." He trailed off.

"Or a woman."

He sighed. "Yes. If I set my sights and got her, it was like winning. But this is different. This is utter, bone-deep contentment from loving you and finally knowing I have earned your love in return. And I predict this happiness will be long-lasting, don't you?"

"I do." She blinked and offered what he could only think of as a sensual smile. "You told Varley if we were alone — that is, you and the goddess , as you called me — in this very room, then you would have me in a clench, which we did as soon as the door closed. But I believe we are meant to be rolling on the bed if I recall correctly."

"How remiss of me." He pressed her down upon the counterpane.

"My hat," she said.

"I'm good with removing hats," he promised and then froze. What an asinine thing to say! Her active mind would be reminded of other women whose hat he'd removed.

However, she merely sighed.

"That's all right, then, my lord. I shall let you remove it for me."

Quickly but gently, he did, dropping the pins to the floor and sending the pretty pink hat gliding across the room.

"And your hair?"

"I still have to go out in public," she said. "Let's risk leaving my hairpins. If one of us gets pricked, I shall be to blame."

"I assure you, lady wife, you shall be pricked, but the blame will be mine."

"A double entendre," she said. "I am supposed to say I do not understand, but all I can think of is how glad I am that you are good with buttons, too."

Deftly, he undid the buttons down the back of her pale blue-and-white striped day dress. Each layer, he removed until — at last — she was entirely bare.

"You are a goddess!"

She shrugged slightly, which made her bounteous bosom rise and fall while a pretty flush spread up her chest and neck to her cheeks.

While she climbed onto the bed and drew her knees up to her chest to shield herself, giving him a delightful view of Carvel's ring and her sweet buttocks, he shed his clothing with the greatest haste.

"I do admire your long powerful legs," she said.

"I have something else that is long and powerful," he pointed out, unable to keep his arousal from stiffening like an oar, ready to guide his boat to the dock.

She giggled, a strange, enchanting sound from his Purity Foxford.

"Another double entendre, my lord."

He shrugged, joining her upon the bed. Utterly joyful, he wanted to laugh while making the most serious, ardent love at the same time.

All he could think to do, however, was kiss her. Rolling on top, settling himself between her thighs, which parted naturally for him, he took her face between his palms.

Her indigo-blue eyes stared up at him fearlessly. "How did you know I was here?"

"I was at Tattersall's looking at prize horseflesh when it occurred to me that my wife seemed unhappy. And I have made it my number one task to make you happy, so I came home to see what I could do. Jacobs met me with the note."

She nodded. "I'm ever so glad we're together. Here. Now."

"You came here for Diana and for me," he said wonderingly. "I love you."

"Kiss me," she demanded.

"I wouldn't continue if we weren't married. It would be a devilishly scandalous tryst."

"How chivalric," Purity said, digging her fingers into his shoulders and wriggling her hips under him, urging him to get on with it.

"Although I ought to halt anyway," he added, teasing her mercilessly. "Propriety and decency demand I stop at once and take you home to our marital bed."

"Propriety and decency be damned," she said, sinking her fingers into his hair and dragging his head down to her. "Besides, that is an imaginary rule."

Matthew claimed her lips, tilting his head and devouring her. As his tongue slipped into her mouth, he felt the magical moment when she surrendered.

"Mm," she moaned as he stroked her tongue.

Tracing a line of open-mouthed kisses down the slender column of her neck, he plucked one of her rosy nipples between his lips, swirling the tip of his tongue against it.

"I like that," she said with frankness.

He was glad she spoke. Previously when they swived, he guessed her likes and dislikes. He'd been storing away in his memory each time she gasped or moaned, intent on mastering the art of pleasing her.

After attending to her other lovely peak, he feathered a path with his tongue down her stomach, laying a teasing trail over her hip bones to their cradle, halting only to nuzzle the short soft thatch between her legs.

Purity gasped and lifted her hips. This was one thing he already knew she enjoyed immensely. Continuing to scorch a path over her heated skin, he noted the gooseflesh left in his wake as she hummed with pleasure.

Each time he had her naked, every inch of her was a new horizon to explore, her slender ankle needed to be stroked, the back of her knee was ripe for a kiss, the inside of each thigh was perfect for his tongue to tease.

When she was writhing, he couldn't deny either of them any longer.

Settling over her heated body, Matthew nestled between her thighs, fitting the tip of his shaft to her moist core.

"Yes, please," she said, with her usual politeness.

Instead of making him laugh, however, it further inflamed him.

Yes, please, indeed!

Slowly, carefully, he entered her, glad that she felt slippery already from his ministrations. Yet as he penetrated deeper, he braced himself on one forearm and slid his other hand between their bodies. With his thumb, he found the apex of her passion, the little nubbin that made her gasp and arch back.

This, he circled and stroked while sliding his arousal all the way inside her until he was solidly sheathed.

Holding on to his control by the thinnest of threads, he kissed her, feasting on the sweetest lips he could ever imagine. Then he lifted his head and smiled at her.

"Now," she whispered.

He wanted to reach under her, take her buttocks in his hands, and cradle her hips up against him so he could thrust deeply. But her release had to come first.

Continuing to caress her pearl with his thumb, he rose and surged into her again. A steady, time-perfected rhythm that had her trembling beneath him while sweat broke out between his shoulder blades.

From his position, he watched her face, beautiful and beloved, until she tilted back with closed eyes and her dark lashes feathering her cheeks. He saw the moment when the force of her pleasure swept her over the edge.

He knew she was soaring.

With her body clenching around him, he could wait no longer, driving into her and drawing out, his hips rocking at a galloping pace that had him joining her in a heady, breathless peak within seconds.

Her womanly channel was still rippling up and down his shaft when he spent inside her.

A few moments later, he felt the tension seep from her body. As she relaxed, so did he. With her eyes still closed, her kissable lips formed a wide smile.

Not wanting to crush her, Matthew collapsed to the side. A moment later, he covered them both with the counterpane as their skin chilled while the heat of their desire ebbed and cooled.

And then the door flew open.