Chapter 4

Holding her head high, Letty weaved through the stifling ballroom, heading toward the ladies’ retiring room. Avoiding eye contact with anyone who would try to stop her from reaching Mac, she pretended to be in urgent need.

Noticing movement to her right, Letty saw Baron Oakfield heading toward her, a determined look on his pompous face. She whirled around quickly, practically running away from the penniless baron. It was no secret that he was in need of a wealthy wife, but unfortunately for him, Letty would not be said wife.

Reaching the safety of the long hall, she released a sigh of relief, turning right instead of left away from the ladies’ retiring room. The light taps of her footsteps and the distant playing of music were the only sounds in the deserted hallway filled with portraits of past generations.

Her heart crashed repeatedly in her chest. The rush of excitement running through her veins was so fierce it threatened to explode inside of her. Letty had never done anything so invigorating in her life; their clandestine meetings when he stayed at her estate weren’t, quite so secretive…forbidden.

Her eager feet ran to him, everything within her alight with need. When Letty reached the end of the hall, the door opened, and Mac’s gray eyes captured hers. There was a thrill inside of her, sitting low in her abdomen, ready to consume her whole, and she loved it.

Letty wanted more of it, for as long as she could have it.

Mac’s large hand reached out, slipped around her waist, and pulled Letty into the dark room. Moonlight shone in from the windows, setting everything aglow with possibility.

There was no time to observe her surroundings as strong lips captured hers in a searing kiss. Letty melted into him as her back was pressed against the door, officially closing it, sealing them in the shadowy darkness. Her fingers pulled at the silky strands of his hair as her breath came out in harsh pants.

It was the most perfect torture she had ever known. She opened to him, loving how he devoured her. This was what it was like to be so ablaze with desire for another person. Strong lips traveled down her neck, and she gasped for sweet breath as Mac nipped and sucked, forcing sparks to leap through her. Letty let out a deep moan of pleasure, her head falling back against the door with a light thud. She couldn’t stop the sounds coming from her throat even if she wanted to, and she truly didn’t. What she wanted was more, more of him, of the wicked feeling he was giving her.

Her core throbbed, and she couldn’t stop herself from pressing against his protruding member, needing to relieve the excruciating ache piercing through her womanhood.

“Dear God, I’ve missed you,” he whispered his lips trailing back up her neck, ghosting over her chin until they have hovered over her lips.

His large hands cupped her face, staring deep into her eyes.

“I thought these feelings you incited in me were an illusion,” she said, her breath ragged, her voice needy.

It was real, everything about him was, and that simple fact filled her with complete joy.

He gripped her nape, pressing his forehead to hers as he shook his head.

“Does this feel like an illusion, temptress?” he asked, his nose brushing against hers.

She shook her head, giggling at the pet name, everything in her roaring with an uncontrollable need for him. It was glorious. “No, it feels real,” she whispered, feeling the truth deep in her soul.

Standing on her toes, Letty crashed her mouth to his in a dominating kiss. He pulled her closer, lifting her off the ground and taking her deeper into the room. His hard body pressed into hers as he lowered them onto a sofa. The weight of him felt magnificent as he took control of the kiss, his hands roaming the curves of her body, touching her where no one had ever been.

In that moment, she knew she would never want anyone else.

“Six months is too long to wait for you,” Letty said her fingers combing through his dark locks.

“I’m never going to let you go again. Do you hear me, Letty?” His hand wrapped in her hair, his gaze unmoving, full of honesty.

Fear crawled through her at allowing him in and giving up her hopes and dreams. It was too late to turn back—she was painfully aware that she couldn’t walk away from Mack Meriweather.

Cleo was right, Letty deserved to be happy, and Mac made her happy.

“Yes, I understand,” she said, stroking her hand down his smooth cheek.

“Good.”

Their gazes stayed locked on each other until they heard giggling and the door to the dark room opened. Fear squeezed her heart, and she knew that there would be dire consequences for being discovered alone with Mac.

Mac stood quickly, pulling her with him. She stumbled into his chest; her head dizzy from rising. Nearly knocking him over, Letty gripped at his jacket, preparing herself to hit the floor, but Mac righted them before they could fall and make even more of a scene.

“Oh! Dear!” the Duchess of Richmore stumbled to a stop, her husband behind her with his hand on her waist and his head buried in her neck.

Looking up, he squinted in the dark. “Meriweather, what the bloody hell are you doing in here with Lady Leticia Crane?” Richmore asked, closing the door behind him and his wife.

Letty frantically straightened her gown and appearance, hoping she didn’t look too much of a fright. Her lips felt sensitive from their kisses, and a few strands of tresses fell lose around her face.

Mac straightened his jacket and waistcoat before running his hand through his hair that was gloriously disheveled from Letty’s hands. “Excuse us, Richmore, we were just talking?—”

“Talking?” Richmore walked up to them, his tall frame larger than Mac’s. “Is that what we’re calling it these days?”

“Darling, I’m sure you of all people can understand matters of the heart …” the duchess said, walking to stand beside her husband.

“I can, but I assure you, Pinerose will not be so understanding, don’t you agree Lady Leticia?” the duke asked Letty pointedly.

Huffing out a breath, Letty was unable to hide her annoyance with the question. Her father could not learn of this, any act of impropriety would surely give him a reason to delay her inheritance. All it would take was one word from her mother about her behavior and her plans would be ruined.

“There is nothing for my father to be informed of, Your Grace, as Mr. Meriweather has already said.” Letty turned for the door officially ending the conversation.

She had been gone too long, and surely her mother had begun to notice.

“I’m sure we don’t have to bore Pinerose with this, Richmore,” Mac said, from behind Letty.

She turned around to face the three of them, ready to flee from the room and the situation.

“I wasn’t intending on informing the earl, but if someone else had discovered you two together, you know what would have been demanded of you.” Richmore folded his arms over his large chest, looking very much like the menacing figure most thought him to be.

Marriage.

And it wouldn’t matter if they wanted it or not—in the eyes of the ton she would be ruined.

“I am well aware of the risk, Richmore,” Mac said emphatically, stepping closer to the taller man.

Richmore pressed a finger into Mac’s shoulder and the other man didn’t move. Mac wasn’t short in the least, his height substantial to other gentlemen in the ton, but to Richmore, he was still half a head shorter.

“Then you should know better than to sneak away with an innocent in my home?—”

“Richard, I believe you are being a little unfair. Just last year, it was you who had his own scandal and I believe it was much dire than this,” the duchess said, her small hand on her husband’s chest.

Letty couldn’t help the heat that spread over her face from the duchess words. She knew exactly what the other woman meant.

Oh my.

Taking a step back from Mac, who was eyeing him with distaste, he replied, “You’re right of course, Winnie. I’m just worried for my friend and Lady Leticia.”

“I assure you there is no cause to worry.” Letty gave him a tight smile.

As long as her father, mother, and brother didn’t find out how close she and Mac actually were, everything would be fine.

“Good. Next time you wish not to be discovered, perhaps don’t do it during a crowded ball in someone else’s home,” Richmore told her before walking toward the door. “Come darling, it seems this room is taken.”

“Don’t be an ass, Richmore.” Mac turned to Letty. “I shall escort you back to the ball?—”

“I will escort Lady Leticia back.” The duchess stepped in between them. “Why don’t you two return to the ball? No one will suspect anything if you enter together.”

Finally, the duke nodded his agreement before walking out of the room with Mac following behind him.

Letty waited for an impending lecture on propriety, but when the duchess finally faced her, there was nothing but kindness shining in her eyes.

“Now, shall we straighten you out before we return to the ball?” the duchess asked waving a hand at Letty.

Letty gazed down at her slightly disheveled gown, her hair falling into her eyes. She reached up, patting her wayward hair, trying to put strands in place.

“May I?” she asked gesturing toward Letty’s hair.

“Yes, please.” Letty sat down on the sofa. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

“Winnie, please call me Winnie. After all, we know intimate details about each other now.” She laughed as she placed the few strands of hair back in place.

“Is it true …” Letty began, feeling like she was talking to her sister or a close friend. “That you and the duke met at Pleasure House?”

Winnie giggled, sitting down beside Letty. “Met is a strong word. I went to Pleasure House to have a liaison with a stranger so that I could become with child?—”

“You didn’t!” Letty asked in shock.

She stared at the woman in disbelief, her blonde hair and blue eyes made her appear younger than Letty.

Winnie nodded, her cheeks turning a bright shade of red. “I would say I didn’t, but the proof is upstairs sleeping in the nursery.” Winnie stood, and Letty followed her.

“I am pleased everything turned out well for you and the duke,” Letty said, finding she liked the Duchess of Richmore very much.

“They can work out for you as well,” she said, walking toward the door with Letty. “Scandal has a way of turning into love when you least expect it.”

Winnie opened the door, leaving Letty frozen in place at her words.

Love? She couldn’t dare to hope for such a thing.

Could she?