Free Sinful Seduction by Kate Benedict Page B

again.
    â€˜The library?’ he said urgently. ‘Once everyone has gone?’
    She stared at him, thinking of all the work that would have to be done before she could get away, and then made up her mind. This would be the last time they’d have together for who knew how long? Perhaps forever if his next posting was a dangerous one. ‘All right,’ she agreed. ‘But I won’t be able to get away until all my work’s done.’
    â€˜I’ll wait for you,’ he said, and kissed her gently. ‘Till the crack of dawn if needs be.’
    It almost was. The last guest’s carriage drew away at two in the morning and Maggie had to help Lady Georgina from her dress, hang up her clothes ready to be attended to first thing in the morning, help her into her nightgown and brush her hair, then fetch her hot milk and a plate of biscuits before she could finally escape.
    Back in the kitchen it was chaos. Pile upon pile of dirty plates and glasses covered every available surface and the tweenie was in tears of exhaustion as she stood at the sink trying to wash them in the lukewarm, scummy water. Mrs McAlister thrust a cloth into Maggie’s hands and pressed her into service drying and putting away.
    By the time order was restored, Maggie’s eyes were gritty with tiredness and her feet ached from being on them non-stop since six the previous morning. When they were finally allowed to stagger gratefully off to their bedroom, Emily hauled off her boots, crawled beneath the sheets fully dressed and was asleep in seconds.
    Maggie’s first inclination was to follow suit; every bone in her body ached with exhaustion. But instead she slipped out of her clothes and into her best nightgown, and brushed her hair. ‘Emily... Emily... are you awake?’ she hissed, and the only response was a gentle snore.
    Picking up the candle she slowly opened the door, careful that it didn’t creak, and slipped out into the passageway and down the wooden stairs. In the main hallway she held her breath and listened. Nothing. Not even the sound of a mouse scuttling behind the panelling. The flickering light of her candle illuminated the features of a family portrait, glaring disapprovingly down on her and she jumped, and then stifled a nervous giggle; it looked far too much like Lady Georgina for her liking!
    Tiptoeing along the corridor she pushed open the library door, and her heart sank as she peered around the room. It was empty. The dull remnants of the fire still glowed in the hearth, barely illuminating shelf upon shelf of leather-bound books. A single guttering candle still sat on the little wine table beside a half empty brandy glass - but there was no sign of Jeremy.
    A sigh of disappointment escaped her lips - so much for all his protestations of undying love. Their last night together and he hadn’t even bothered to wait for her. ‘Oh Jeremy,’ she whispered. ‘How could you...?’
    Maggie froze at the sound of movement, and then, as if her words had conjured him up, he leaned forward from the concealing depths of the high-backed chair in front of the fire and smiled at her sleepily. ‘Sorry, m’dear,’ he yawned. ‘Must have dozed off.’ Then his eyes widened at the sight of her, barefoot and wearing only her thin nightgown, and the expression of sleepiness vanished to be replaced by one of eagerness. In one panther-like movement he was out of the chair and across the room.
    â€˜I don’t think we need this,’ he said, removing the candlestick from her trembling fingers and placing it on the library table. The halo of light it cast shone though the flimsy material of her nightgown, revealing every curve of her body, and suddenly he was trembling as well.
    He kissed her and fumbled with the row of buttons at her neck. Once they were undone he thrust a hand inside, savouring the soft fullness of her breasts, feeling the tips rise and harden against