Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

V ictoria racked what was left of her scattered brain, searching for answers. What was she to do? Offer to help him with his own release? She understood the basic mechanics of how these things worked, but her experience was purely theoretical.

"What do you want me to do to you?"

He shook his head. "Nothing, not for tonight. Fix your clothes and then I will take you home," said Robert, getting to his feet. The bulge in his trousers was unmistakable. He glanced at himself and hummed. "While you dress, I shall go find a coat."

After he'd left the kitchen, Victoria set her things to right. She picked up the cloak and fastened it at her throat. When he still hadn't returned a few minutes later, she took a stroll around the room. The kitchen was nothing like she had ever envisaged such a place would look. It certainly didn't appear as if he entertained on any sort of scale. Instead, it was all rather homely. And lovely.

She could just picture Robert sitting and eating his breakfast at the table each morning. He wouldn't use the formal dining room upstairs, rather he'd enjoy the warmth of the fireplace and the morning sun as it filtered in through the windows.

Passing the windows, she reached the end of the kitchen and found a small door. It wasn't locked. Opening it, she poked her head inside, catching sight of a set of stairs leading down to what she imagined would be a storage cellar. One which must be full to overflowing if the crates and barrels which were stacked on each step was anything to go by. Victoria bent and read the markings on the side of the nearest barrel.

East India Company was printed in an arc at the top, and underneath it was the familiar trident marking comprised of E - I - Co.

There were dozens of barrels and crates. More than a lifetime's supply of spices for one person. The sound of footsteps on the stone flagging of the kitchen had her moving quickly away from the door.

As Robert strode back into the room, his gaze went immediately from her to the open door, and she caught the unmistakable flash of shock which appeared on his face. The door to the cellar was closed and bolted within seconds. Robert stood with his back to her for a long moment, but when he finally turned to face her, a gentle smile had returned to his lips.

"Are you ready to leave?" he asked.

"Yes, thank you."

And with that, he towed her to the back door and out into the night. At the end of the laneway, he hailed a hack and gave the driver the address of her home in Berkeley Square, then helped her climb on board.

Robert sat on the other side of the carriage from Victoria. He was friendly, but she sensed a wall had gone up between them. She was tempted to ask about the crates of spices, but the look she had seen on his face when he'd returned to the kitchen had her holding her silence.

When they eventually reached Mowbray House, he asked the driver to go to the end of the row of houses, then pull the carriage over to the side. As the hack came to a halt, he reached over and took hold of Victoria's hand. "I must say that was the most eventful evening I've had in some time, but as much as I enjoyed your company, I want you to promise that you will never do it again."

Her heart sank, but Victoria nodded her agreement. What she had done was beyond stupid, beyond reckless. She should be grateful that he wasn't knocking on the front door of her parents' house, rousing the staff, and demanding to speak to her father.

If Robert regretted any of what had happened between them tonight, he was keeping it to himself. As for herself, Victoria held no regrets. Rising from her seat, she bent and stole a kiss. "Thank you. I shall never again take omelets for granted."

He went to help her down from the carriage, but she waved him away and opened the door herself. "Good night, Your Grace."

Quiet as a mouse, she made her way down the side of the house and headed toward the rear garden. She waited until the sounds of the hack had disappeared into the night, before retrieving a hidden key from a plant pot close to the back door. Once inside, Victoria headed upstairs to her room.

She was tempted to go to Coco's room to see if her sister had returned, but footsteps on the central staircase had her closing her bedroom door and hurriedly undressing. Climbing into bed, she threw the blankets over her and rolled onto her side. If anyone did happen to look into her room, they would find Lady Victoria Kembal exactly where she had been all night. In bed, fast asleep.

As she lay in the dark pondering all that had transpired this evening, her mind kept coming back to one thing. She couldn't stop thinking about it. Her hand slipped under her nightgown and between her legs. Closing her eyes, Victoria gave in to her thoughts, to the growl of unsated primal need which had edged the Duke of Spice's voice. To the one word he'd commanded she cry when she climaxed.

Reaching her peak once more, Victoria sobbed into the night, "Robert."