The Heart of the Rose

18

That night they would be attending a ball at the Marquis and Marchioness of Tilbury. On the ride over Ethan's thoughts gained the better of him. He needed to know how she obtain all the information she did. It was amazing how a young girl who never left her fathers side could ascertain such information. He shuddered to think she had gone in to some of those establishments. He wanted to protect her but if she stayed working for the crown he might not be able too.

"Rosy dear."

"Yes Ethan."

"How did you gather all of that information in such a short time?"

When she burst out laughing he thought her a fool. How could she think this matter was a laughing one. He watched as she tried to compose herself to tell him the truth. She took a breath of air and let it out slowly then began to tell him.

"Oh Ethan you are priceless. I talked with the Duchess of Buckingham yesterday on one of my outings. Seems that her and Charming were able to get that information on his inquirey of the Fallen Rose. The assassin is a part of this group and so far Charming has not been able to ingratiate himself with them. He is going to be telling all of this to Big B tomorrow. They were not coming back into town until the morning. If you thought I went to the Dragon Lilly or Madam Randsom's you would be wrong. First I would not know how to get there, and second why would I do something so foolish as to go to one of those places alone with someone trying to kill me?"

He had to laugh. She was aright she was not foolish and she would never be able to get there on her own. She was not knowledgeable on the locations of things in London. Up until she moved in with his family she had not taken a stroll through the park. He pulled her over to his side of the carriage and placed her on his lap. He was tire of all the pretending. He knew he loved this girl and he wanted her by his side for the rest of his life.

He liked how she felt in his arms as she snuggled to get comfortable. He had never been happy his mother had gone a head of them to the ball with the Earl of Lasky. At first he nibbled at Roses neck which was at the right height for nibbling. But when she threw her head back and exposed her neck and the tops of her breasts he lost his conviction to go slow. He moved down to the swells of her breast and began to kiss her soft creamy skin. When he came back up for air, he called for his driver to take a ride around the park. He was not ready to let her go and be in a throng of people. He made quick work taking her breast out of their binding and suckling on each. He did not want to show favoritism to either they were both perfect and he gave them each there due.

Rose could not explain why she was breathless she had not moved from Ethan's lap but it felt as if she had run a race. She could no longer breath but at this moment it did not matter. Every inch he touched or kissed was on fire she wanted more of him. More lips, more hands just more Ethan. She could not get enough. When the carriage stopped the loss of his touch filled her with such sadness she became depressed. How could he stop? When the driver opened the door and she found that she had been placed back on her side of the carriage she was amazed she had lost all that time and comfort without realizing it.

Ethan knew after this little ride he would need to obtain a special licenses. He did not know how long he could wait to make her his. He would have to go ask the king for her hand, and ask for a special licenses letting them marry fast. He was sure they could plan a wedding with in a fortnight he did not think he could last longer. God help him but he craved this woman like he had no other. He hopped out of the carriage and helped her down. They entered the ballroom to the heralds' announcement, but Ethan was glad when he found the prince regent was in attendance. He would ask him straight away. He would not wait.

He situated Rose with his mother and the Earl and then sought an audience with the Prince. George knew what his young cousin was coming towards him to ask. Olivia had filled him in on how splendidly their plan of marrying the English Rose off to one of the twins. He needed her protected even from her family. Hadn't her escapade with her brother prove that. He still had not decided how to deal with that situation, but something needed to be done for what they did to the poor girl. He could not imagine throwing one of his siblings out of a moving carriage perhaps his wife Caroline how he hated that woman. He waited for the Duke.