She snorted. “Of course. Although I have to say, your presence makes going to those events far easier. My parents, for example, were able to acknowledge me since they had heard the news of our engagement.” She couldn’t help her rueful tone. “Except for Lord Balcham, whose effrontery nearly got him clocked in the nose by a lordly behemoth.”

He flung his head back and laughed, a complete, hearty laugh that made her laugh too.

“Behemoth, is it?” he said at last. “You’ll have to share that one with Mrs. Wattings.”

“My behemoth,” Della replied.

He nodded in confirmation.

“So now that we don’t have to skulk around the docks anymore, what will we do with our time?” He accompanied his words with a knowing wink.

“Honestly, is that the only thing you can think about?”

He nodded again. “I have to say when I am in your presence, yes.”

“Well, then,” she said, drawing closer to him and tilting her face up to his. “For once I am in perfect agreement with you.”

His lids lowered, his gaze on her mouth. “Then I believe we should leave your house and find our way to a place where we can explore our shared desires.”

The way he said it—shared desires—made her shudder in anticipation.

“Becky!” she called, and the girl scurried downstairs.

“Yes, my lady?” She cast an admiring glance toward Lord Stanbury. He’s mine, Della wanted to say. Even though he wasn’t.

But he would be. For a time, at least. She couldn’t afford more than that.

“Can you check in with Mrs. Wattings and ask if she wants you to sit with Emily? I have to go out, and Mrs. Wattings—” Well, she wouldn’t talk about what it was likely Sarah and Mr. Wattings were going to do later on this evening. “Mrs. Wattings might want Emily to be taken care of.”

Becky’s expression revealed her puzzlement at being asked to do something she did usually, but Della wanted to ensure Sarah had some time to herself.

“Yes, my lady. And I’ll see after Miss Nora also.”

“Thank you,” Della said as Becky walked up the stairs.

“We can go now, if you like,” Della murmured to Lord Stanbury.

“At last,” he growled. And then he took her arm and pulled her to the door, making her laugh at his obvious haste.

Finally. Finally she was going to get to explore all of him. As he would be able to do to her.

Chapter 16

Griffith’s whole body practically vibrated with need. Needing to get her alone and naked, needing to discover what would make her cry out, needing to touch her everywhere.

Thankfully, he’d already scouted a place they could go, or he’d be in an even worse feeling of frustration. He hailed a hackney, yanked the door open and assisted Della inside, before vaulting in after her.