The night was half over by the time Ella’s carriage set them down them in Old Burlington Street. Once inside, Minette bade them goodnight with a wink and an “Amusez-vous, mes chéris.”
Amusez-vous, mes chéris.Pryor laughed and said, “We will.” He took Ella’s hand, tugging her towards the staircase. They hastened up the steps and tumbled into the crimson-and-gold bedchamber out of breath and laughing.
They kissed eagerly, hungrily, and set about the task of disrobing one another—his tailcoat and waistcoat, her jewelry, his neckcloth, her hairpins—and with the disrobing, formality fell away. They were no longer Mr. Pryor and Lady Fortrose, but Decimus and Eloïse.
They set aside their shoes, peeled off their stockings. Decimus unfastened Ella’s gown, carefully laying it to one side. Her pet
