Page 49 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

We have just shared such an intense kiss and that is what you ask. How about, would you want to have another kiss?

He didn’t respond.

Any comment made right now would sound wrong.

He saw the sky darken, rain clouds had gathered with a furious pace, blocking out most of the sun. The wind whistled past the iron rods into the room. William savoured the feel of the cold wind against his sensitive skin. The caress of the wind on his lips reminded him of his kiss with Joane. Her kisses had taken his breath away.

He turned to look at her. She looked even whiter than she had when he first saw her earlier that day. Strands of her hair rose up in the wind as if in jubilation the rain was coming.

“It’ll soon rain,” William said.

“I need to go. Will you be at the next ball?” she asked him.

She had turned to leave.

“Of course, you owe me another dance,” William replied.

Joane smiled and started walking towards the door. William went after her. He caught up with her and held her hand as he led her out of the room and down the stairs. As he got to the hall, he saw that most of the students were back. William saw the tutor. He turned to Joane.

“Wait here a minute, let me tell Mr. George I am leaving.”

He ran to Mr. George who had seen him coming and was walking to him too.

“Where were you? I looked everywhere for you. I knew you couldn’t have left without informing me,” Mr. George said.

William held Mr. George’s right hand in a double fisted handshake.

“I was in the museum. I didn’t hear you,” William lied.

“You look to be leaving, because of the lady waiting on you,” Mr. George said, looking at Joane.

“Yes. I’ll visit another time,” William promised.

He ran off to meet Joane and led her out of the hall. The rain was threatening to come down with force; a dark shadow had been cast all over. William led Joane into the compound and turned around, looking all over for her coach. He couldn’t find it anywhere; neither could he find the driver.

“Do you see your coach?” William asked her.

“No, I don’t see it anywhere.”

Joane separated her hand from his and walked down the compound, turning around in search of the carriage. William went out of the compound and looked under the shed beside the fence. The only horse he saw under it was his white chestnut stallion. He ran back into the compound and saw Joane still looking around.

The wind was raging now, twirling leaves and twigs in the air. William felt the wind get into his shirt and rush out from his sleeves. William saw Joane struggle to pull down her gown as the rain raised the skirt of her gown up, revealing smooth white limbs and a glimpse of her underwear. William swallowed, his eyes refused to leave the tantalizing sight of Joane’s upper thighs. He imagined the taste of their creamy whiteness and the strong whiff of her scent if he wandered north till he reached the crux. Joane saw him staring causing him to divert his gaze. He looked behind her as if in search of the coach.

The rain had started to drop, far-apart droplets pattering the ground.

“Can you wait for your driver?” William shouted.

The wind was too turbulent and she would not hear him if he didn’t.

“I need to be home as soon as possible. Emma and I have something to do,” Joane replied.

William looked up to the sky, the rainclouds were gathering. It was going to be one heavy rain.

“Are you sure you need to go now? We can wait for the rain to end.” William told her.

She shook her head.

“Emma’s father is coming tomorrow; Emma needs me to help her collate a list for him. If I don’t get home now she will leave and would probably be angry at me. I could do without facing her ire,” she replied.