John thrust twice more, spilling his seed into her. She was his as much as he was hers. Rolling off her, he gathered Eleanor into his arms and nuzzled her hair. If only they could stay here the rest of the day and night. Her arm crossed his chest as her head lay on his shoulder. She fit perfectly.

Rousing herself, she kissed his chest. “It did not hurt that badly, and the end was very fine. Like a Catherine wheel. I suppose we must move soon.”

“Not yet.” He kissed the top of her head, breathing in the scent of lemons. “We still have to decide where to put our bathing chamber.”

She rearranged herself and looked up at him. “We can rearrange the rooms. I would like to keep the parlor and the dressing room, but there is no reason why we should sleep apart.”

Her words struck him. His mother had always had her own bedchamber. He didn’t know, quite frankly didn’t want to know, how often his parents slept together. “No reason at all. We will have to move some walls.”

“That is not much of a problem. I will choose one of the parlors for my study.”

He remembered Lady Worthington’s study was used for family meetings. John liked that idea. It wasn’t nearly as intimidating as his father’s or Worthington’s study. “That’s a good idea.” He turned his head to see the mantel clock. Damn. “We must dress if we are not to be late to dinner.”

Pushing against him, she sat up. “Leave a note for your valet to bring your clothing to Worthington House. You may change there.”

He pulled her down to him and kissed her. “Don’t forget. Tonight I get every waltz.”

Eleanor leaned back against the pillows. Her hair curled around her and she had a soft smile on her rosy lips. “Every one of them. I am glad we found each other.”

He traced her lips, then kissed her again. “I am too.”

She started to rise. “I must clean myself.”

“Allow me.” He climbed out of the bed and went to the washstand and dipped the linen cloth in the water. At least his dark counterpane wouldn’t show the blood. Going back to Eleanor, he cleaned her, then helped her to her feet. “Shall I play lady’s maid?”

“If you wouldn’t mind.”

They dressed quickly, then hurried down the servants’ stairs to the morning room and through the garden to the mews. John listened as she chatted with his stable master about her mare while the curricle was being readied. He didn’t know how he’d got so lucky to have her, but nothing was going to separate them now.

Cornflower Hill Mine

“Dobbins.”