Chapter 2

Aubrey had done up his breeches and reached down to help Daniel return to his seat. He opened his mouth to tell Daniel he would take care of him next when the hackney stopped.

Daniel had paid the driver when they got out but hadn’t said a word to Aubrey. Aubrey wasn’t sure what that meant.

When they got indoors they’d found a man waiting for Daniel. His father had died and Daniel was now the new Earl of Graystone. He was needed at home. Daniel had hurried off to get his things for departure. Leaving everything unsaid between them.

Only a little over a year later, Daniel had met and married Isabel. She had been the daughter of a well-respected peer and therefore they made the perfect match in the eyes of the ton.

During that time Aubrey’s own father died and he had little time to think about the loss of Daniel to Isabel. Not that he’d ever expected anything more from Daniel. Hell, he hadn’t known he’d get that much.

Where was he?

Aubrey decided, as he gulped down the last of his champagne, that he was the biggest fool. Graystone wasn’t coming.

“There you are, Rothton. Enjoying the ball?” Lady Whittington herself sidled up to him wearing a deeply cut burgundy gown. She sank her fingers into his arm. He smelled her perfume of roses and sweet pea. Her blonde hair had been pinned up and flowers adorned it. She looked ravishing.

“Not really,” Aubrey admitted. He handed his empty glass to a passing servant. “You’ve quite the crush though. Definitely a success, Maribel.”

“But someone is missing,” she replied. “He did say he would attend, Aubrey.”

He shrugged, trying to pretend it didn’t matter. It didn’t really. It didn’t change anything.

Maribel smiled. “I know how to distract you from your melancholy.”

“Do you?”

“I can sneak away for a short period. Down that hall,” she paused to flick a glance at a nearby hallway, “is a seldom-used library. I doubt my husband even remembers it’s there. Let’s go.”

Aubrey allowed her to take his arm and lead him down the hall. It would be a distraction. He liked women,had his share of them over the years. Had even briefly thought of becoming engaged. He’d never married though. Quite doubted he would.

Maribel opened the library door and pulled him in, shutting it behind them. She turned the lock.

They undressed each other in silence. It was a familiar routine.

If Aubrey had ever met a woman he would have married, Maribel was she. Of course, she was already married to Whittington even when they began their affair years before. So what if her two children bore a rather curious resemblance to Aubrey rather than Whittington?

She came to him, her arms encircling his neck, pressing her bared breasts against his chest.

“I want you to love me, Aubrey,” she whispered.

“I will…I do.” He kissed her hard, forcing her mouth open to receive his probing tongue. His arms enclosed her and he lifted her up so she could wrap her legs around him. Pushing her against the nearest wall, he entered her, sliding easily into her moist heat.

“Aubrey,” she breathed, clenching herself around his throbbing hard cock.

He pumped fast and urgently, roughly into her, the way she liked it, the way he loved it. She nipped his jaw, then kissed the spots that stung from her teeth.

“Yes, yes,” Maribel screamed. She’d always been a noisy lover, much more than him.

“Hush,” he said with a husky laugh. It became more like a groan as her hips urged him to go faster, harder. He could not deny her and he quickened his thrusts until he was slamming her into the wall, making the nearby bookshelves shake with the pounding impact.

“God!” She bit his shoulder, sinking her teeth in deep as her orgasm rocked through her. He felt everyquiver. He joined her then, spilling into her soft willing heat.

Aubrey continued to hold her up against the wall as they let their breathing return to normal. They shared a few soft kisses and finally he lowered her to the floor. The flowers so carefully dressed in her hair were ridiculously askew.

He laughed. He couldn’t help it, she was so adorably rumpled. It was terribly obvious she had just had sex.

Maribel pushed his shoulder and, rolling her eyes, reached for her clothing. She looked over her shoulder at him as she pulled on her underthings. “You’re leaving now, aren’t you?”

It didn’t take him long to think about it. He’d only come for Graystone. No reason to stay now.

“Probably,” he said evasively. He didn’t want to hurt her. She’d been planning the ball for months.He should have come even without the promise of Graystone.