The woman rolled a shoulder as if she did not care. “I just wanted to meet you before you leave for the evening. I am Celia Weatherby.” She spoke as if Maggie should know who she was.
Maggie did not. “Lovely to meet you, Miss Weatherby.”
Miss Weatherby tittered. “Oh, I’m not Weatherby any longer.”
“I am Mrs. Piedmont. I mentioned my maiden name first under the assumption you would better know who I am that way.”
Maggie knew the mysterious woman just about as well as she knew the queen. Frankly, she knew the queen better in that she’d recognize her on sight. “Are you a cousin of Tobias’s?”
The woman’s full mouth formed a pout. “You’ve not heard of me?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Ah. It’s true then. I had not wished it to be so. But …” She shrugged a shapely shoulder.
“May I inquire as to what is true?” Other burning questions: Why was Mrs. Piedmont so cryptic? Just who was she?
She sighed. “It’s true that Tobias, after our … relationship last year is oh”—she waved her hand in the air—“you know.”
“I’m afraid I do not.”
Mrs. Piedmont laughed, as if Maggie shared a joke with her. “I’m sure he’s right as rain with such a sunny bride as you. Or he will be soon.” She patted Maggie’s shoulder. “After a time. I’m so glad to have made your acquaintance.” She danced away from Maggie and into the crowd.
“What are you gawping at, Mags?” Tobias sidled up close to her. He held a bottle of wine in one hand and two glasses in the other.
“Someone you know. A lady.”
“Oh?”
“She was rather odd.”
“Must be your relation, then, not mine.”
She swatted his arm. She didn’t want to think about Mrs. Piedmont’s confusing conversation.
He grinned. “Are you ready to retire for the evening, wife?” He bent down to whisper in her ear. “Please do say you are. If I don’t get you undressed and upstairs—”
“I hope not in that order.”
“In whichever order I please, madame. But if it does not happen soon, I may spontaneously combust.”
“Impossible.”
“I would have thought so, too, until now. Help me not go up in flames, Maggie.” His eyes took on a wicked glint. “At least not alone.”
Her breath caught in her chest and her words stuck in her throat. She nodded.
They both knew the way to her bedroom and were behind its closed door before either of them caught fire. Tobias placed the glasses and bottle of wine on a table and gathered Maggie in his arms.
She thought, she’d expected, he would combust and take her with him as he’d claimed he would. But he simply held her, stroking a line up and down her back, breathing deeply into her hair.
At first, his embrace made her sleepy. She wanted to sink into him and close her tired eyes. But then he pressed her tighter to his body and the hard planes of his chest and stomach ignited desire deep in her belly. She moved her arms from where they had been wrapped around his waist and pulled them between their bodies, pushing gently to get his attention.
He looked down at her with the softest eyes, the most unreadable emotions heavy in his gaze. He cupped her neck and brushed his thumb across her jawline. “Maggie, you asked me once if I’m ever serious.”
She nodded, remembering.
“I am tonight. Serious about making sure I touch every inch of your body. Serious about tasting those inches, too. Serious about making you scream with desire and scream my name with wild pleasure.”
