Rhys shut both Jane’s bathroom and bedroom door, and he still seemed to sense her desire pulling at him, begging him to come back to her. He stopped in the hallway, his own desire telling him to go back. She was his betrothed after all. They weren’t married yet, but they would be soon, as soon as he could arrange it, and then that delectable body of hers would be his.

He nearly groaned, thinking about what she’d been doing when he arrived at her bathroom door. Her hands caressing her creamy skin, shaping themselves to the rounded curves of her breasts, her fingers teasing her swollen pink nipples.

He still remembered the taste of them. The heat of her body. His cock pulsed painfully in his trousers.

She was already his but—soon, he’d have her beside him every night.

Forcing himself to ignore his overly enthusiastic body, he searched for Sebastian. His brother had left him after their celebratory drink to talk with Jane again. Rhys was curious to see what Jane had told his brother.

Sebastian was in his room. He finished buttoning his shirt, then shrugged on a jacket.

“Where are you off to?”

“To the club.” Sebastian combed his fingers through his blond hair. The locks fell into their usual, unruly tangle.

Rhys nodded. “I would join you, but I’m certain Jane already believes me a complete reprobate. I believe I should stay with her this evening and try to convince her otherwise.”

Sebastian smiled, a puzzlingly amused twist of his lips. “Yes, I think you should.”

Rhys frowned slightly, then went over to pick up a tie lying on Sebastian’s bureau. How on earth would anyone get a proper cravat out of that skinny thing? He tossed it back onto the bureau.

“Where is Wilson?” Rhys had not seen their valet all evening. Not that any of the brothers utilized the man much. They all agreed that if a man couldn’t dress himself…well, he was truly inept.

Sebastian frowned, then his eyes widened. “Oh, Wilson. We gave him a holiday—for Christmas.”

Christmas? That was right. Today was Christmas. Good Lord, Jane must think she was the one about to wed a savage. He hadn’t even wished her a happy Christmas. And what of a proper Christmas meal? Surely the staff hadn’t forgone the meal because Elizabeth and Christian were away. And they had left on Christmas, too?

Rhys frowned. How very curious.

“I won’t be at the club long,” Sebastian said. “But I thought it would be nice for you and Jane to have a little time alone.”