Free A Marriage Made in Mayfair by Tamara Gill

within the room led to a passage that ran the length of the ballroom. At the supper room doors, he gazed over his shoulder and noted Suzanna following him at a discreet distance.
    As he made the supper room threshold, he gazed over his shoulder and hesitated as Suzanna made her way toward him. Once she made the room, he motioned her to follow him into the passage beyond.
    The air in the passage, cooler than in the ballroom, did nothing to dampen his desire to taste her again.
    “I’m sure someone has seen our less-than-discreet disappearance, my lord.”
    “Royce. And you are well hidden under the mask and domino should they have noticed. Your escape into my waiting embrace will be our little secret, Suzanna.” He pulled her into a darkened room. It smelt of cleaning oils and pine. Suzanna cautiously made her way forward then halted before a lady’s writing desk. She turned toward him. Royce twisted the lock on the door, the snap of bolts loud as they slid into place. Suzanna eyed him warily. He stalked toward her and stopped when her hand settled on his chest.
    “Royce, I should not be here embarking on such scandalous behaviour.” She stepped past him, and he clasped her arm.
    “Suzanna, I will not ruin you if that is your fear.” He frowned and clasped her face with his hands. Her skin was soft, her hair smelled of jasmine. Unable to wait a moment longer to gaze upon her beauty, he untied the mask. The silk ribbon fell away from her chin, and Royce allowed the mask to fall on the desk behind her.
    “I’m in love with you, Suzanna March. In truth, I do believe I fell in love with you the day I saw you in that ghastly frilly gown at your coming-out last season.”
    He smiled at her shock and kissed her. His body heated at her ardent response to his chaste embrace and the need within his soul roared.
    Royce pulled back and waited for her to look at him. He enjoyed seeing her eyes cloudy with desire. “I wish for you to trust me, Suzanna. I have been termed a rake and a scoundrel, but I have never dallied with an innocent. I wish to marry you, honour you for all of our lives, and have children with you. Please give me a chance to prove myself worthy of your love.”
     
     
    “Oh, Royce.” Suzanna swallowed the obscenely large lump wedged in her throat. Did he truly mean what he said? Did he speak the truth, or was he merely saying such things to have his way with her?
    “I don’t know what to say. I…”
    “Say you’ll marry me and make me the happiest man in London.”
    Royce kissed her again and Suzanna lost all line of thought. Heaven above, his kisses, no matter how quick, were enough to befuddle her senseless. And at this moment she truly needed to keep her wits about her.
    “My brother does not approve of you and I do not know if I can trust you.” As much as it pained her to see his disappointment, she truly did not. He had hurt her so last year when she thought they were forming a friendship. Henry kept terming him a fortune hunter. She prayed her brother was wrong.
    “May I think over your proposal, my lord?”
    He nodded. “Call me Royce in private please, Suzanna. And of course you may take your time. I’ll not rush your decision.”
    Suzanna stilled when he met her gaze, and the heat that radiated from his eyes sent her skin to burn. “May the fine lady grant her humblest servant a kiss now?”
    “I believe she will.” When his lips touched hers Suzanna leaned into his warmth and nestled against his chest. His heart beat fast beneath the many folds of clothing, and oddly, Suzanna had the urge to remove them. To feel his skin, taste, and kiss him all over.
    Heat bloomed on her face, and she was thankful Royce had his eyes closed. She was becoming scandalous with her wayward thoughts. Every time his lips sought hers and his hands touched her flesh, it left her longing for more, and strangely unsatisfied for something she could not name.
    He pulled away and gazed at her. He ran his thumb