Finally, the guests departed, most planning a nap before dressing to return for the ball. Leo had led her upstairs to his big wide bed.
“Do you need a nap?” His gray eyes smoldered with desire.
She snorted. “Of course not. I just need someone to help me out of this dress—is there a maid? The buttons are down the back.”
“I think you’ll find I can perform maid service very nicely,” he said, turning her to start undoing the dozens of tiny buttons that fastened down the back of her dress.
“I’ll remember that for when I need my petticoats starched.”
“Baggage.” He kissed the nape of her neck, and she shivered deliciously.
Muttering under his breath about ridiculously tiny buttons, he finally lifted the dress up over her head and laid it carefully aside. He reached for the next layer, and she shook her head and stepped away out of reach. “Fair is fair. Off with that coat.”
He removed his coat. She then allowed him to struggle with her corset while she wrestled with his neckcloth. Halfway through they stopped and looked at each other.
“You undress you and I’ll undress me,” she said.
“Agreed.”
In minutes they were naked. Leo just stood and gazed. “Lord, Belle, but you’re so lovely. How did I ever deserve you?” Izzy would have felt embarrassed, except for the look of almost worship in his eyes.
Besides, she was too busy staring at him. At that intensely masculine part of him, already standing proud and erect. “Did that really—” She broke off, blushing.
He gave her a slow, knowing smile. “Yes, and it fitted perfectly, remember? Shall I demonstrate?”
***
Izzy thought nothing could touch the magic of that night in the summerhouse, but the second time of making love with Leo was even better.
The third time was better still. Afterward they lay in his big wide bed, naked and spent. And blissfully boneless.
“That was... that was...” Izzy couldn’t find the words.
“Practice makes perfect,” Leo murmured.
“Good, you’ll need lots more practice, then,” she said sleepily.
“Minx.” He leaned forward to kiss her. But she was asleep. “So, nap time after all, eh?” Rolling over he gathered her against him and dozed off.
***
Some time later, Matteo knocked on the door. “Time to get ready for the ball, milor’. I ’ave a bath prepared for milady in the dressing room, and another for you in the next bedroom. And Miss Studley and the maid Betty will be coming soon to help milady attire herself.”
Leo was very tempted to suggest they only needed one bath, but then thought better of it. What he had in mind would probably make them late, and the last thing he wanted was for Belle to feel hurried or distracted preparing for the first ever ball in her honor.
He woke her gently, and they went off to take their respective baths.
Then Clarissa and Betty arrived to help dress Belle for the ball, and Leo was banished to his own quarters.
But finally, the time came. Guests were already arriving downstairs. Leo paced. He wanted everything to be perfect for her.
Betty knocked on his door. “She’s ready, m’lord.”
He hurried to his bedchamber. Clarissa opened the door with a flourish. And there stood Belle, ravishing in a dress made of clouds. At least that’s what it looked like to Leo. Smoky ice blue in soft layers rising up her body to cup and frame her breasts. Her eyes were shining. A lump formed in his throat. His Belle. She was so beautiful.
She wore no jewelry—she needed nothing to adorn her beauty, but Leo snapped his fingers and raced back down the hall.
“What—?” Isobel stood, shaking her head in bemusement.
