Between last night’s steamy exchange with her betrothed and Eliza’s vivid description of the marriage bed, her dreams had left her aching and cranky and above all, curious.
But plague take him, Neville had greeted her as cooly as you please this morning. In fact, other than looking slightly rumpled, he hadn’t shown even a hint of the passionate lover he’d been.
Instead, throughout the settlement discussions—which had been rather quick, as Millie had investments but no property—he’d been civil, conscientious, and careful. His solicitude for her was the only thing that prevented her from believing he’d gone back to being the dull stick she’d once thought him.
And, as Cassie had reminded her, women were not usually present for these conversations.
That he’d included her was a sign of his deep respect.
He’d fetched her the most comfortable chair and then drew another one up by her side. Together, with Asquith, they’d gonethrough the papers, clause by clause, until each was written to her satisfaction. Her dowry was to remain invested, with the interest entirely at her disposal, and the principal going to their second and third children.
Thoughtful, yes. Generous, absolutely. But while they’d had their heads so close together, couldn’t he haveat leasttouched her knee beneath the table?
A slow smile spread her lips. Fortunately, she’d thought of an excellent way to provoke him this afternoon.
“You’ve made an excellent choice for yourself.” Cassie twirled a lock of Millie’s hair. “I cannot believe how much Neville accomplished in the space of a few hours.”
“I can.” Millie glanced over. “Last night, he displayed anurgentnuptial need.”
“Millie!” Cassie pretended shock as she picked up more pins. “And you acted so very coy when I suggested you might nocturnally wander!” Cassie placed the pins in her mouth so she could make use of her hands.
“Not because I’m prudish! But becauseyouwere the one doing the suggesting. If you want to know—”
“I don’t,” Cassie interrupted, speaking around the pins.
“Oh, don’t be so old fashioned. Nothingtooscandalous happened. But only because Neville refused, as he put it”—she lowered her voice to mimic his—“to deflower me on the ducal floor.”
Despite herself, Cassie erupted into giggles, causing the pins to clink their way down to the floor. “For shame, Millicent Wainwright! Now, look what you’ve made me do!”
“You’ve already put enough metal in my hair to bend a compass needle,” Millie replied. “I might need one later, too, as my future husband is, apparently, very particular in what he will and will not do, depending on where we happen to be located.”
Then again…
I’ll have you know, I would happily satisfy you in every room in every house I own.
Ah, to be satisfied. She sighed. And with him happily applying himself, too!
The amorous beast she’d glimpsed beneath his cool exteriorwasstill present, she was sure.
Cassie passed a critical eye over her coiffure. “I suppose that will suffice.”
“He’s only going to take them all out later.”
“Millicent!”
“Oh, stop sounding so shocked. I hear Harbury likes to brush your hair as prelude to the—” She recreated Emily’s kissing noises.
“I beg your pardon! Where did you—” She stopped herself, stunned. “Nettie!” she expelled their youngest sister’s name with derisive censure.
“Don’t worry, she only told me.” Millie cast her eyes innocently upward. “And Lenora. Oh, and Emily, too.”
Cassie groaned. “Why didn’t she just print a handbill and tack it up all over London?”
“Do you like when he brushes your hair?”
“Yes.” Cassie glanced askance. “And I’ve grown to like what usually follows. But I will kindly ask you to keep all this to yourself. Men can be quite sensitive about their…quirks.”
Millie considered this. Neville, she imagined, would be mortified if she told Cassie what he’d said about the licking. And the stripping her bare. And theevery room in every house.