She came close to him. “Oh, my dear man. I know we agreed that we mustn’t see each other again. And I’ve stayed away, kept my distance. But . . .”

“No,” he said. “We can not think like this, not any longer.”

“You spoke freely to me. I feel that we are friends enough that I can speak freely as well.”

He drew back. “I’m afraid it is quite impossible.”

“I’m leaving in the morning.”

He grimaced as though he was in physical pain and stood even more rigid. “This is sudden.”

“I must rescue my aunt from that dreadful Dr. Agathon Carver. He seems to have cast a spell over her, possessed her, if you will.”

Newland did not speak of the night that he secretly watched the sexual escapade between Ellen’s aunt, Mendora Manson, Dr. Carver, and his journalist friend, Ned Winsett. But none of that mattered now. Newland could readily understand Ellen’s need to separate her aunt from the doctor.

“When will you return?” he asked.

She shook her head without answering.

“Can I see you to the Browne?” he asked.

She neared him again. “I thought I might remain at a distance from you. To try and forget your words, but it seems I am possessed.”

“And the Count?” he asked.

She placed a hand upon his chest. “I promised, but if I could see you just one last—”

He removed her hand. “No. We can not.”

She persisted, raising the other hand to his chest. But he grasped it, and now held both. She tilted her head up toward his face, letting her mouth part.

“You see, I need you,” she said. “My mind and body crave your touch. If we could make love just one more time.”

He tried to hold her back. “And where shall we go from there?”

She stood on her tiptoes and leaned toward his mouth, but he held the distance. “Kiss me, Newland.” Her breath was hot, the vapor rising as she exhaled. “Make love with me.”

When he turned his head, her lips brushed across his cheeks. Her mouth came to rest upon his ear, and she did not withdraw, but instead, touched her tongue to its flesh and slowly began to lick along the rim.

“Ellen,” he said, his voice quavering.

“You like that, don’t you?” she whispered and then pressed her body closer to him. He could feel her firm breasts pushing against his chest.

“No,” he said, feigning protest. But she continued to slowly and seductively slide her tongue down until she found his earlobe. She circled the soft lobe and then gently clasped it between her teeth and sucked lightly, while circling her tongue along the supple and tender skin.

He groaned lightly, aroused by her delicate touch.

“Just once more,” she whispered.

“There’s nowhere we can go. Our homes are occupied with curious eyes.”

She pressed her lips to his cheeks and kissed him. When his jaw grew slack, she reached for his face and turned it toward her. She began kissing his mouth, and before long, he responded, releasing his pent-up passion.