Page 90

Lady MarcyAnne’s recitation of Sonnet 18, with many meaningful glances at the fair Duke of Montagu, was highly amusing for Mei. He smiled back charmingly at Lady MarcyAnne, who glowed with the attention, but Mei could see him hiding his discomfort at being so singled out.

Moreso, Rose was not particularly amused by it, and her expression grew blanker and blanker at every glance Lady MarcyAnne sent the fair-haired duke.

However, that discomfort was naught compared to Northumberland’s performance of Sonnet 29, which made all the dukes present shift uncomfortably. It did not need to be specifically said aloud, but there was no doubt who had made Northumberland feel like an outcast, never able to live up to his deceased cousin’s legacy with them… and then the final lines directed at Lady Isabella were uncomfortable for an entirely different reason.

He might as well have declared himself publicly.

Lady Isabella smiled calmly through it as though she had no idea what he was doing, but there was now no doubt in anyone’s mind that Northumberland was courting her. Mei saw Lady Darcy and Lady MarcyAnne exchange a glance and a nod, indicating that they’d already had their suspicions and spoken of them together. The two of them were going to be a tour de force upon the rest of the Season; she was sure of it.

Lady Alexander and Lady Turner took note, too, though they were more circumspect about it than their daughters. Mrs. Fenley was not paying attention; she was far more focused on where Lord Owen and her daughter were sitting beside each other—something Lady Alexander was watching as well, for obvious reasons, but neither she nor her husband seemed to have any objection to the match.

Nor should they. Lord Owen and Miss Fenley were unexpected, in that Mei had not known Lord Owen well enough to predict that he and Miss Fenley might be drawn to each other. Seeing them together at the house party, she thought they made about as perfect a match as there could be in the ton. They were quieter than Lord Hayworth and Lady Juliette, but the foundation they had laid at this house party would keep them in good stead.

And Mr. and Mrs. Fenley obviously supported the match, recognizing their daughter landing a future earl as a bit of a coup. It was not a socially outrageous match since she was the granddaughter of a marquess, even if her father was far from the title, but they probably had not come into the Season hoping for such a highly ranked son-in-law.

Listening to sonnet after sonnet, Mei almost wanted to do something reckless, like perform her own… and look at Sebastian. Just thinking about it made her bottom feel extra sensitive, as if remembering the punishment he’d given her the other night. The consequences for doing something so public would be far more severe.

Unfortunately, that was as true of the very real social and professional consequences as it was of how Sebastian might spank her. She remained firmly planted on her seat, though her mind wandered to how she might prod Sebastian into putting her over his knee for a different reason. It was very difficult to remain focused, other than when Drake recited Sonnet 130, while Astrid stared out the window at the nighttime sky rather than look at him as he declared his love as rare as any she belied with false compare.

What Astrid made of such a claim was unclear since she did not look at Drake, even through the enthusiastic applause—as he had done a very fine job—or after he sat beside her on the couch again. At some point, those two were due for a very large reckoning.

Finally, the wait was over, and Mei was able to return to her room to change before sneaking out after Jocelyn left. A routine which was as exciting as it was becoming familiar, somehow never losing the little edge of anxious nerves. She snuck through the hallway, fleet of foot, eagerly anticipating.

Once again, Sebastian had arrived before her and swept her into a breathless kiss as soon as she was through the door. Mei felt her insides throb the moment his lips touched hers, her muscles clenching in anticipation—and perhaps a bit of discomfort.

“Hello there, minx,” he murmured against her lips, pulling back just enough to speak.

“Good evening, Your Grace.”

A chuckle rumbled through his chest as he lifted his hand from her waist to give her bottom a short, sharp smack that heated more than the skin he’d smacked.

“Naughty girl.”

Mei was feeling particularly naughty tonight. After all, why not? This was their second-to-last night together. She wanted to savor it. Draw it out. Feel his hands all over her again. Feel the intimacy of being over his knee.

“Oh, yes, Your Grace, I have been very naughty.” Mei tilted her head back to look up at him, lazy heat shimmering in her eyes. “Sneaking away to meet a man when I should be safely abed.”

His hand caressed her bottom where he’d spanked, his other arm sliding across her lower back, pulling her body flush against his.

“Mmm, and you keep calling me ‘Your Grace’ when you have already been told to use my name.” His dark gaze flashed with amusement.

“Have I?” She widened her eyes innocently at him, as if she was unaware of her slip, when it had been done quite deliberately.

Chuckling, Sebastian lowered his mouth to hers for another searing kiss that had her clinging to him as her toes curled inside her slippers and her knees went weak. Then his lips moved, traveling across her jawline and up to her ear.

“Very well, minx,” he whispered, nipping her earlobe between his teeth, tugging slightly on the sensitive spot as she tightened her grip on his shoulders. “If a spanking is what you want, then a spanking is what you shall get.”

“Oh!” Mei squeaked out the word as the world suddenly went topsy-turvy. Sebastian had tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and was now carrying her toward the bed while she looked at the backside of his dressing gown, watching it move along the floor with every step he took.

It was not just being upside down that made her feel dazed, though that was certainly part of it.

The other part was how quickly he’d moved. How vulnerable she’d realized she was. How decisive he’d been. He’d literally swept her off her feet and taken her breath away, and now he was going to spank her, and her whole body was tingling with aroused excitement.

One last time.

She didn’t even know why she wanted it other than to extend the time he would be focused on her this evening.

To wring every bit of this experience with him from their time together that they could.