The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh (20 page)

L
ater that evening, Anna laughed so hard she had a stitch in her side, and Aunt Lillian had tears in her eyes. They were playing charades in the drawing room. Cece was bouncing around trying to make them understand who she was.

Earlier that day, Anna had begged off the house inspection so she and Sebastian could spend more time with Harry. They'd gone into town, and Harry had been mobbed by people welcoming him home. She was happier and more content than she'd been in years. Her brother and her betrothed had come to some sort of understanding. She'd half expected Sebastian to resist her plans to continue working with the smugglers. She was glad he hadn't. It would have been a serious problem for her.

Sebastian agreed with her suggestion to bring the girls and their governess to the Hill until Lady Rutherford returned. They'd dined
en famille
and played games after dinner. Together, the men kept the girls well entertained.

Althea came to sit beside her and said in her quiet way, “I've never seen my brother act so silly.”

Anna put her arm around her. “It's been a long time. Harry and Sebastian were my protectors and my fun-makers when I was a child. Once, when Percy Blanchard hurt my feelings, Sebastian threw him into the fountain.”

“Why do you call him that?”

Anna shrugged. “I've always called him by his first name. Although for years, it was Bastian. I couldn't pronounce it properly, you see.”

“We never have fun like this at the Priory,” Althea said wistfully.

Anna hugged her. “We'll have to see what we can do about that.”

She broke into laughter as Harry scooped Cece up and carried her horsy-back around the room.

Althea glanced up. “I think I'm going to like having you live with us.”

Anna hugged her tighter. “I know I'm going to like living with you.”

The next thing she knew, Sebastian lifted her in his arms. Anna shrieked like a child and turned to see Harry lift Althea up.

Anna put her arms around Rutherford's neck and kissed him. “We need to get them to bed.”

“We need to get to bed,” he retorted.

“Hmm.” She smiled and glanced at her father and aunt. “Not for a while yet.”

Harry and Sebastian chased the two younger girls up the stairs to their room. Althea chose to walk sedately next to Anna.

“I know my sisters have already asked, but when did you decide you wanted to marry Ruhy?”

“Oh, I have wanted to marry him since I was a child and had an idea of what marriage was.” Anna stopped for a moment. “Yet it was something else entirely, a spark, a fire that neither of us could ignore. That's what changed everything.” Anna took Althea's arm and continued to the corridor. “My dearest friend, Phoebe, told me about it. When you feel a sparkle, well, maybe more of a jolt—as if someone takes your breath away each and every time he touches you—that is the man you should look at more closely.”

“My mama is only concerned with title and money,” Althea said.

“Enough money to live on is not to be dismissed lightly. Title”—Anna shrugged lightly—“I would not have married without love. You go to bed, and I'll see you in the morning.”

Althea kissed Anna's cheek. “Good night, Anna.”

“Good night, Althea.”

Anna kissed Cece and Eloisa good night as well.

“That was fun tonight,” Eloisa said.

“I'm glad you had a good time.”

“I never knew Ruhy could be so much fun,” Cece added.

“We'll have to convince Harry to visit often,” Anna said as she drew the covers up over the younger girls. “Sebastian is always funnier when he's with Harry. Good night.”

Anna returned to the drawing room just as her father and aunt decided to retire. After wishing them a good night, she joined her brother and her betrothed.

Sebastian held his hand out to her. She took it and sat next to him. “I'm so glad the girls had a good time. It's strange to think you've never played with them. You two played with me all the time.”

Rutherford rubbed his chin. “Playing wasn't encouraged at the Priory. Something we'll have to change.”

“Yes, we will.” She turned to Harry. “You, my brother, must visit often. We can't have little girls growing up without knowing how to play.”

“And our children.” Rutherford took her hand.

Anna met his molten silver gaze. “And our children.”

“It's late. You two should be in bed as well,” Harry said.

Sebastian lifted her in his arms. “Harry, good night.”

Anna hung her head back to see him. “Good night, Harry.”

He laughed. “Good night to the both of you.”

Rutherford dropped her off at her room and went to his own. “How long will you be?”

Anna pursed her lips. “Give me about twenty minutes. Lizzy needs to comb my hair and braid it.”

He reached up and curled one loose strand around his finger. “Leave it. I want to take it down.”

Anna smiled softly and shook her head. “Will you really comb it?”

His eyes softened. “Yes.”

“Very well.”

Sebastian started down the corridor and stopped. “Have you heard from your mother?”

“Goodness, what made you think of that now?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Thinking of mine, probably.”

“Papa has,” Anna said. “She's over the moon about our betrothal and on her way here. Of course, she doesn't know about Harry.”

Sebastian came back to her and wrapped her in his arms.

“Papa sent a courier immediately after we told him, and she replied immediately. He received the note while we were out today.” Anna couldn't stop her brows from knitting. “I don't know how long it will take her to arrive. Oh, Sebastian, I hope they'll be able to mend their marriage.”

He touched his forehead to hers. “You know she wasn't always this way.”

“No. She changed so much when she received the news of Harry's death. Papa as well.” She pressed her lips together.

Sebastian gathered Anna to him. “I hope they can forgive each other. I think they were very much in love.”

Anna nodded. “Yes, they were.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. “The hard part is that they each feel betrayed by the other. I'll see you in a bit.”

She couldn't imagine starting a marriage without love. How hard it must have been for her parents.

Lizzy was ready to help her change. Once Anna was in her nightgown, Lizzy waited.

“I'm leaving it up tonight,” Anna said airily.

Lizzy's eyes grew round.

Anna wrinkled her forehead and looked everywhere but at her maid. “Yes, well, if he enjoys combing it, there is one less thing for you to worry about.”

Lizzy grabbed her hands and jigged. “Miss, it's so nice to see him in love with you. Everyone's talking about it.”

“Oh, no.” Anna closed her eyes for a moment. “That is just the sort of thing that will set Lady Rutherford's teeth on edge.”

Lizzy shrugged. “But you'll be Lady Rutherford soon.”

“Well, that is true. Still, I do not want to be in my mother-in-law's black book.”

“Miss Anna. You were in her book when Lord Rutherford decided to marry you. There's not a thing you can do about it.”

Anna sighed. “I'll see you in the morning.”

Lizzy smiled broadly and left the room.

Anna picked up her comb and the bowl for her hairpins and walked through the parlor to Sebastian. He stood naked, staring out the window. She marveled at his body. All hard muscle and long lines.

Dark curls covered his chest and ran down to his groin. His shaft began to rise as he turned to greet her.
All muscle and all mine
. Anna couldn't keep a wicked smile from her face as she sat down at the dressing table and waited.

Sebastian strode over to her and bent to kiss her neck.

“No, you said you wanted to take care of my hair. You must do that first.”

Silently, he removed the pins and placed them in the bowl. Then he took the comb from her hand and began at the ends, deftly working up to her crown. Anna reveled in his touch.

“Do I have to braid it? I love your hair when it's down.”

Their gazes met in the mirror. Contentment and love filled her. “No. If you want my hair down, down it will stay.”

Sebastian lifted her up and carried her to the bed. “You're my love and my life. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you.”

He unbuttoned her nightgown and pushed it open, revealing her breasts. The air was cold, but her breasts heated, wanting his touch. He cupped them and weighed them as if trying to decide what to do, then like a feather, his lips grazed one nipple. Desire thrummed through her and wet heat pooled between her legs. She panted, wanting him to take her, fill her. He moved to the other breast, pushing her gown over her hips. Anna swallowed, her voice sounding harsh. “Take me now.”

“Not yet.

“But I'm ready.”

“Umm.” One hand moved down to her curls.

Anna widened her legs and rocked, encouraging him to enter her. He slipped one finger inside. She uttered a breathy cry. Her skin flushed. Just as she could feel her release, he stopped. “Sebastian!”

“You'll have to wait.”

Anna opened her mouth to protest, and he brought his hard lips down upon hers, his tongue surging into her mouth. When she moved to wrap her arms around him, Sebastian captured both her hands in one of his and raised them over her head. His mouth left hers and placed soft kisses on her jaw and neck. She tried to open her legs but he'd trapped them. She wiggled desperately.

Sebastian chuckled deeply and moved to her breasts. Flames shot through her as his mouth wandered over her stomach and nestled between her legs. With her hands now free, she tried to urge him up. He licked, and she grabbed the sheets and arched into him as he played.

Anna thought she'd die of need before he was finished. “Oh, now,” she pleaded. He rose up and entered her slowly, then withdrew.

“Keep your eyes open. I want to watch you.”

“Now, Sebastian, now. Please.”

She tried to grab him, anything to make him enter her more fully. He captured her mouth at the same time as he plunged into her sheath. Flames engulfed her. She wrapped her legs around him, urging and pushing. When she opened her eyes, his gray ones, dark with silver around them, bore into her.

“Stay with me, love.”

He teased her over and over again, bringing her to the crest and taking her back down again. Anna sobbed, wanting release.

He pumped into her again, then twice more. “Now.”

Their wet bodies trembled. His mouth covered hers. When she gave herself over to the inferno, he tumbled in after her.

Rutherford collapsed to her side and drew her to him. His fingers lightly pushed back the damp curls clinging to her face. Anna's chest heaved as she gasped for air.

He knew he'd pushed her. He'd exposed his heart and soul to her, if she could but see it. He'd never expected the depth of feeling he had for Anna or the vulnerability that came with it.

“Are you all right?” He propped her up and held a glass of wine to her lips. “I wanted to show you how I feel, how much I love and need you.”

Anna's breathing gradually slowed. She sipped the wine and gazed up at him, her beautiful blue eyes dark with passion. “You did.” She reached up to touch his face. “And I'm glad. We've changed again, haven't we? I mean this was even deeper than before.”

“Yes.”

“Do your chambers at the Priory have a bathing room? If you intend to do this again, we'll need one.”

His laugh started deep in his chest.

She placed her glass on the night table. “Remember, my love, we must be quiet.” She drew him into a searing kiss.

Holding her close to him, he stroked Anna's hair. He'd do anything to protect her and prayed he wouldn't lose her in the process.