The Footman and I - Valerie Bowman Page 0,41

beyond the windows. “I care about fairness and what is right. I care about other people more than myself and my own interests.”

Lucas’s voice lowered. “You think anyone espousing the bill only cares about their own interests?”

Her nostrils flared. “I don’t see how they cannot. It certainly isn’t helpful to the hardworking people who’ve been in their employ for years, sometimes generations.”

“I’m certain some members of the House of Lords do oppose the law,” he pointed out.

“Not nearly enough,” Frances replied. She still wasn’t entirely certain if Lucas was for the bill or if he was just arguing the point in order to rile her, but either way there were few things she liked better than discussing the laws.

He clasped his hands in front of himself and steepled his fingers. “Do you know the members of Parliament who are for and against the law?”

“No,” she replied. “But I can guess at some of them and I understand there are still a handful who are as yet undecided. Those are the men I intend to look for the next time I’m in Society.”

Lucas looked as if he were about to say something but shut his mouth before finally saying, “You truly think you can sway them?”

“I’ve no idea but I know I must try,” she replied with a resolute nod.

“You’re certain you’re right, aren’t you?” he asked, narrowing his eyes on her.

“I’m beyond certain.”

He appeared to contemplate that for a moment.

She wanted to grab him and shake him. Instead, she leaned toward him. “Lucas, do you hear me? Am I making you think?”

He looked lazily into her eyes and his gaze focused on her mouth. Oh, God. He was going to kiss her again…and she wanted him to. “You’re making me think about all sorts of things.” He leaned closer, closer and his eyes began to close. Frances leaned closer too and when their lips touched, he immediately came out of his chair, pulling her atop him onto the thick carpet on the floor next to the table.

He rolled atop her and pressed himself against her while showering her face and neck with kisses.

This was madness. Someone might come in at any moment and find them, but Frances couldn’t make herself care enough to stop. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held him to her, her legs parting as far as they could beneath her skirts.

His mouth slid down to her neck and he nuzzled her ear before lowering his kisses to her décolletage, and finally pulling down her gown to free one breast. When his lips closed around her nipple, she went completely mindless. His insistent tongue brushed the sensitive peak and his lips tugged at it, pooling heat between her legs. “Lucas,” she cried softly against his ear. He shuddered and pressed himself more tightly against her. She could feel the outline of him through his breeches, pressing against her most intimate spot. He rubbed against her in a way that made her want to call out.

Then his mouth moved back up to hers and her fingers pushed up into his hair, knocking his wig to the ground beside them. She stared at him. His hair was dark. She liked that. She liked that very much. She’d guessed as much from the color of his eyebrows, but seeing him without the wig, the man was even more handsome.

The briefest hint of guilt flashed through her brain. Not guilt at her own shameless behavior, but guilt at the fact that Albina had told her she fancied him. If she were in her right mind, she would let him go. She should not be doing this. She would encourage a match with Albina. But she also couldn’t help but think that she’d had a moment with him before Albina had ever even met him and oh, it was so difficult to think with his mouth on her neck like that.

Lucas rolled over, pulling her atop him. They bumped into the table. One of the smaller books that had been opened near the corner of the table fell to the floor not an inch from their faces and their laughter over the silliness of that caused them to stop kissing.

Lucas rubbed his nose against hers. “I suppose that’s our cue to stop.”

She sighed, her hands still around his neck. “I suppose so.”

He rolled to the side, scooped up his wig, jumped up and then helped her up. They both spent a few moments putting their clothing to rights before