A Second Chance at Love, A Regency Romance (A Danby Family Novella) Read Online Free Page B

good night, now, Philip. We have such a long journey tomorrow."
    He set the bow and his violin down and beckoned to her. "Come, sit. You look very unwell. Are you all right?"
    She crossed the room and sank onto the settee, giving him a wan smile. "Oh, just nervous about travel. That is all."
    He sat across from her, peering intently into her face. "You know everything. Giles told you."
    Tears pooled in her eyes, and she turned her head away. "Oh, Philip. I am so terribly sorry."
    He said nothing. What could he say? In some respects, he was embarrassed that Emily knew. On the other hand, it was a relief to have everything out into the open. He handed Emily his handkerchief, and she sobbed in earnest.
    "I don't blame you for hating me as you did, Philip. I had no idea what you suffered. All I can say in my defense is that I was trying to do the right thing. I wanted to strike out on my own, to have a home and a secure place in society. I-I felt the difference in our stations was such…I should have followed my heart, not my head."
    That last phrase, uttered in Emily's tearful, broken voice, gave Philip the first bloom of hope he'd felt in years.
    "Emily."
    She looked up at him, sobs still catching her breath.
    "Don't cry anymore, darling." He knelt beside her, brushing her tearstained cheeks with his fingertips. "Ever since I met you, when I was a lad buying sweets at your uncle's store, I've been trying to get you to follow your heart. I've been trying to show you how I feel. I want to show you how there is no difference between us, no boundary keeping us apart." He traced her beauty mark. "Come upstairs with me."
     
     

A kaleidoscope of emotions cascaded through Emily as Philip carried her up the stairs. What if she gave in and lost all hope at respectability? But then, she had shared a carriage and a home with him for days. Surely polite society would assume the worst by now, even if they never made love. But relinquishing that one shred of civility was frightening. She clutched Philip's collar as he opened the door to her room. And what if, once they made love, he decided that it was enough? He was so impetuous. Surely his lust would be satiated, and he would be done with her for good.
    He laid her down on the counterpane, then turned back to lock her bedroom door.
    "Philip."
    "Yes, sweetest Emily?" He began taking down her hair, hairpins springing away from his gentle touch. The feel of his hands on her scalp made her close her eyes, and she pressed her head harder against his palm.
    What was she trying to say? "Ummm." Oh, yes.  She opened her eyes and looked beseechingly at him. "Philip, how can I be certain that you will still love me after we've done this?"
    He looked at her as though she'd slapped him. "Emily, stop talking. Please. Give me this one chance, darling."
    "I'm sorry." Her eyes drifted closed, as he undid the tapes of her dress and allowed it to slide into a pool on the floor. Pushing her onto her back, he loosened the laces of her slippers and drew them off, one by one. Then his strong hands fumbled with her garters, his slightly callused fingers making her jerk slightly as they caressed the sensitive skin of her thighs.
    "Undress me," he commanded. She opened her eyes and sat up on the bed. With shaking fingers, she untied his cravat and unbuttoned his shirt. Heavens, how muscular his chest was. Tentatively, she traced the muscles of his abdomen with one finger.
    "Dear God. Take off the rest before I explode," Philip ground out between clenched teeth. She slid off the bed and tugged at his boots and socks. She reached for his trousers and he groaned. Her eyes widened at the bulk underneath. She had felt Philip before, years ago, but never seen him. And he seemed very large just now.
    Working quickly, she unfastened his trousers and held onto him, gently stroking as he had taught her to those years ago.
    He pushed her hand away and then removed her chemise. A few of the stitches ripped at his rough