“I think I must at this juncture.” She giggled again, then forced herself to be serious. “Yes, I’ll marry you, and not because I must. Actually, it is because I must, for to not marry you is no longer conceivable.”

Grinning, he leaned forward and kissed her, drawing a deep sigh from her chest at how right everything felt, from that beautiful waltz to this enchanting moment.

She ripped her mouth from his and gasped. “The waltz! I’m supposed to be waltzing with Lord Gregory!”

“Shit!” Tobias leapt from the bed and dashed nude to the mantel where a lantern burned. There was also a small clock, which he surveyed. “I have no bloody idea when that waltz is, but we can’t have been gone that long.” He faced her, his hands on his hips. “Still, we should go home. Better yet, I should send you home. Because you’re ill.”

“I can’t leave without speaking to Lord Gregory.” Fiona climbed from the bed and found her chemise, quickly drawing it over her head. “I must explain to him that I cannot proceed with a courtship.”

Tobias, who’d started putting on his clothing, stopped. His breeches were on, but the fall hung open. His chest was still bare, the lantern light casting alluring shadows over the hard planes. Fiona averted her gaze lest she become irreversibly distracted.

“I feel bad about Lord Gregory. I know people noticed your…interest in each other.”

“It makes you think of your experience with Lady Bentley.” Fiona went to him and caressed his cheek. “This is different. I am not Lady Bentley.”

He smiled, then turned his head to kiss her palm. “Thank goodness for that. You’ll be kind and considerate.”

“And I love you. Lord Gregory will understand.”

Clasping her waist, he looked into her eyes. “How did I get so fortunate to find you?”

“I believe you have our fathers to thank. I wonder what they would say if they could see that their offspring would unite their families.”

“I think they would be very glad. And while it pains me to please my father in any way, I am glad too.” He bent his head to kiss her as the door crashed open.

“What in the devil is going on here?”

Chapter 20

Tobias recognized that feminine voice. He reached for his shirt and quickly drew it over his head. Then he realized Barbara was not alone.

“This room is occupied, obviously,” Tobias said. “How did you even get in here? And who are you with?” He stalked to the doorway where the gentleman stood in profile.

Constantine Westbrook, the Earl of Aldington, darted a glance toward Tobias, then promptly turned and stalked away.

Tobias ran past Barbara, who held the door as she stood inside the room. “Aldington, wait! Why are you here?” It wasn’t really the question he wanted answered, but he was flustered.

“This was a mistake,” Aldington said without stopping. “Please don’t follow me out.” He disappeared through the doorway Tobias and Fiona had used earlier as they’d come up the backstairs.