Page 46 of The Captain Claims His Temptress

His face lit up showcasing his beautiful smile. “I dare say, that sounds quite enjoyable.”

In the distance, the dinner bell rang three times.

Stephen groaned.

“Let’s ignore it,” she said.

Bam. Bam. Bam. A knock thudded on the heavy wooden door.

They sat up.

Bam. Bam.

Stephen shoved her dress and chemise into place. Beneath the layers, her stays hung loose. He leaped from the bed and threw on his uniform jacket. Unfortunately, the coat was too long, and he moved so quickly that Madalene could not see much of anything as he exchanged tan buckskin for red wool.

Bam. Bam. Bam. Bam.

“Hide,” Stephen mouthed to her.

She crouched behind the door and held her breath as he cracked it open.

“You missed the pre-dinner entertainment,” Benjamin Calhoun said.

Ha! He had certainly entertained her. She stifled her giggle with her palm. Stephen seemed to sense her amusement because he held up a hand so that only she could see it.

“I assume you fell asleep. Are you ready for dinner?” Benjamin asked.

Stephen cleared his throat. “Give me a moment.”

Benjamin’s shoulder appeared as he tried to squeeze into the room.

“Wait in the hall. I will be out in one moment,” Stephen said.

Benjamin chortled. “Make sure you fix your hair. You look as though”—he lowered his voice—“and smell as though you had a toss.”

“Bugger off, Calhoun. I was sleeping.” Stephen nudged his mate into the hall. “One minute.” He closed the door, grabbed his Hessians, then sat on the bed.

Madalene’s giggle escaped.

He shoved his feet into his boots, then met her gaze. “Madalene, I am sorry I lost control. It has been a long time since I have bedded a woman and even though you are… Well, the next time you spy on me, you might want to forgo the perfume.”

His words did not make sense to her sex-muddled brain. “But I….” He would surely scoff if she mentioned love at first sight. “Be careful not to leave your room open again. I do not trust some of my uncle’s associates.” She shivered. “Especially Pierre. He dislikes you. And Hugo Adams is a male version of Arabella Beaumont.”

Stephen’s mouth fell open and he blinked.

Bam. Bam.

“Coming, Calhoun,” he yelled before turning to her. “Once I am gone, you can follow. Check to make sure no one sees you.”

She nodded.

“Can you lace your….” He pointed at her torso.

“Stays.” Not perfectly on her own, but she would change dresses and seek Portia’s assistance. She faced him and combed her fingers through his hair, doing her best to rid him of his “tossed” look.

“Madalene, were you spying on me the night I saw you in London?”

Why would he think that? “As I said, I was exploring and lost my way.”