Pleasure.

She had never known. She had never considered this was what could be shared with one’s bed partner.

Tilly shifted her hips, opening up to Henry. Her teeth scraped against his shoulder as his erection slowly slipped inside.

“That feels…”

She nodded, almost as wordless. Henry thrust against, warmth spreading through her limbs, hungry for her. Whatever this was, Tilly wished only for him. Henry groaned with another thrust. She pulled back as his shoulder muscles tensed.

“Touch yourself,” he whispered. “Make yourself soar for me.”

She closed her eyes and slid her hand between them as he slowly stroked her. And just as suddenly, the feeling from earlier shook her body. Her muscles tensed until warmth spread through her body and her limbs shook. She opened her eyes, frustrated that Henry had stopped.

“I think that may be my favorite part,” he growled. She grinned up at him, drawing his head to her chest as he continued, “To hear you, to taste you…”

With a shuddering breath, Henry withdrew, spending his seed onto the sheets beside her. Tilly reached for him, and he rolled over, grabbing Tilly and hauling her close. He peered down with a smile.

She smiled back.

And that was enough for the moment. It was all she ever needed, and she had found that with Henry. The masked stranger.

“Do you really have to leave tonight?”

“We might still have time…”

“No,” she laughed, playfully swatting him away. “Well, yes… but I only meant must we leave one another again?”

“It would be safer if you didn’t return to London for a while. And I fear Cliffstone Manor needs some major structural work completed before I can bring you to the Isle of Wight. Though I wish… I wish for you to be with me.”

She stopped tracing circles on his chest with her fingertips.

“Henry, you may have fallen in love with me, but I have a large family who are very much a part of my life. You will welcome them all, not just Ethan?”

“I wasn’t expecting any of this, sweet. But I love you, and I am looking forward to meeting your family. Whatever they need, I will do my best to look after them.”

She couldn’t imagine a better Christmas. Still, she didn’t wish to be parted from Henry, though she was eager to return to Ethan and the others.

“My parents are still in Ireland. My father’s health is poor. I live with my twin sisters Fiona and Brigid, Maeve, and younger brother Daniel. My older brother, Patrick, is married, as well as my sister Imogen.”

“Well, then we will find schools for them and provide your sisters with a Season in London when they are of age.”

“That is all I had hoped for, but what now? If I am not to stay in London, where I am to go? What am I to do with Ethan and my brothers and sisters?”

“Could you stay with your older sister, Imogene?”

“She has three children. I wouldn’t want to impose on her.”

“Or perhaps, well I know of a place in Wales, about an hour from where I grew up, that would be quiet and safe. And then when I can, I will send for you.”

“You promise?”

“Tilly, I must help my brother, but I promise I will do everything within my power to see you with me at Cliffstone by spring. And until then, I will write every day.”

“And I’ll miss you.”

He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I will miss you more.”

CHAPTER 10

Henry yanked the collar upward on his coat and bent into the frigid wind wiping around the corner toward him. He left his wife for this.

Alone in her bed, tucked safely away at Haddington, miles away from London. She would return to London in a week’s time to pack up her brother, sisters, and Ethan before journeying to Wales.

No matter, she was too far away from Henry. Now, and once settled in Wales, still too far away until he could oversee the necessary repairs to Cliffstone.

He dragged in a sharp inhale, steeling himself as he opened the door to the gaol where Rafe was being held. He equally wanted to pummel his younger brother and shake him awake. Rafe was wasting his potential. A young lieutenant in the Navy who had bravely fought the French for years, now languishing on land as he awaited his next ship assignment.

In spite of his brother’s recent behavior, Rafe was an exceptional sailor and his superiors had noticed. So had Henry. Their father would have wanted Rafe to succeed, and Henry was failing at helping him. He had spoken to those who could promote Rafe in recent months to become captain. And the outcome had been favorable.

But his brother…

Rafe was a complete arse because he was determined to throw his years of hard work away on drinking, women, and gambling.

Henry squared his shoulders as he waited to be led back to Rafe’s cell. Their father would have known what to do. He always did.

The stench of piss burned his nostrils as he was led back down a long, dark corridor of cells full of men either hunched in corners sleeping or fighting.

“You have five minutes,” the constable warned before stopping short. Rafe was asleep on the straw covered floor, his jacket stuffed under his head.

Navy men could sleep anywhere, it was a habit Henry was usually jealous of. But not today.

He reached his boot in through the bars and kicked his brother’s foot. “Rafe, wake up.”

His brother didn’t stir.

Very well. Henry tugged on his coat and cleared his throat. “Rafe Davies!”

Rafe rolled over, squinting his blue eyes as he examined Henry in the hallway. “Why are you here?”

“The better question, Brother, is why are you here?”

Rafe groaned, sitting up and brushing off his clothes. He raked a hand through his curly black hair and looked about the cell, as if Henry had interrupted something more important. “I was awake, just napping.”

“You’re drunk.” Henry crossed his arms in front of him, leaning against the wall.

“Probably for a while now, given where I am.”