Page 35 of An Enchanting Kiss (Captivating Kisses #5)

L ia’s euphoria from seeing the famous William Wordsworth slowly began to fade.

To have seen him in his element, dictating lines of poetry to his sister, was something she could never have imagined.

His concentration had been so great that he truly had not seen their riding party stop to watch him at work.

And his sister had not even glanced up, so rushed by trying to get down every syllable uttered by her famous brother.

She wondered if all the Lake poets, as they were known, worked in a similar fashion.

Lia had read all their works. Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Robert Southey. And naturally, Wordsworth himself.

It had been wonderful not only seeing him at work in the place he wrote about but also seeing his family at Dove Cottage, the wife and three small children.

Thinking of it caused sadness to well within her.

Soon, they would be leaving Traywick Manor.

She would never see Celia Cummings again, or at least not for many years.

While she knew it was wonderful that Miss Wilson had finally arrived and taken Celia’s education in hand, Lia missed the days spent with the child.

Celia was bright and optimistic and cared about everything around her.

Being in the young girl’s company made Lia certain she was meant to be a mother.

But who would become her husband?

She still loved Lord Cressley. She feared a part of her always would, despite the lack of reciprocation on his part.

He had felt the same attraction she had, but he would not give into those deeper feelings.

Why, she could not say. She supposed he thought himself incapable of love after having seen what he had during the war.

Yet he did love his niece. Lia was certain of that.

She only wished the viscount could open just a sliver of his heart to her.

She would love him completely, with kindness and patience.

How would she bear to see him next Season, dancing with other women, even courting some? She already dreaded the day the newspapers announced his betrothal. Lia told herself she needed to wash her hands of the viscount and look to her own future.

But all she could think of was one more kiss.

Just a final time. To be in his arms, their mouths pressed against one another, even as their bodies were, would be absolute heaven.

And if it were to occur, it had to happen tonight.

Once they returned to Traywick Manor tomorrow, she doubted she would even see Lord Cressley before they left for Millvale.

How to grab a few precious moments alone now dominated her thoughts.

“Lia? Where are you?”

She looked up, seeing Tia hovering over her, concern written across her brow.

“I am sorry. What did you say?”

“What haven’t I said?” her twin teased. “I have been talking to you forever, and I finally realized you were lost in your thoughts.”

“I will admit I was woolgathering. Our time in Cumberland is coming to an end.”

“Are you thinking about Lord Cressley?” Tia asked.

“A little. But also Celia. Being around her has convinced me even more than before that I am ready to have babes.”

“You certainly were good with her,” her sister agreed. “Why, if you were poor and had to earn your living, you would be highly in demand as a governess.”

“I would, wouldn’t I?” she said, then giggled. “I think I would prefer having children of my own and not having to go from post to post.”

“We should let Esther know that we need hot water to wash with from our long ride. I also want to change gowns,” Tia said.

They prepared themselves for dinner and went to the upper room where Lord Cressley had told them they would share a meal together. Mama and Aunt Agnes were already present. Verina and Justina joined them soon after, while Lord Cressley was the last to arrive.

“I just checked with the innkeeper. Dinner is on its way,” he told them.

He helped seat each of them, and Lia found herself on the viscount’s left.

They were served an onion and leek soup with crusty bread, followed by venison and vegetables.

When it came time for something sweet, they all decided to pass, feeling too full of all they had eaten.

Instead, they asked for tea to be served.

“Why is the bread at an inn so good?” Justina mused. “I have eaten numerous slices slathered in butter. In fact, if all I had eaten tonight was the bread and butter, I would be more than satisfied.”

“What are our plans tomorrow, Mama?” Verina asked.

“I was hoping we could take all you girls shopping in the morning, then we could return home in the afternoon.”

They agreed this was a good plan. Lord Cressley said they could meet here for breakfast.

“I will arrange for it to be delivered to us.”

“Shall we say breakfast at nine?” Mama said. “Then by the time we finish eating, the shops will be open.”

They all agreed nine would be perfect. Mama and Aunt Agnes excused themselves, and those remaining talked another hour. Then Verina yawned.

“All that riding has exhausted me,” she said. “Come, Justina. We should retire for the evening.”

“I will go with you,” Tia said. “Lia, stay and finish your tea. I know you would not want it to go to waste. Lord Cressley, please stay with Lia until she finishes. I do not want her left alone.”

Lia knew her twin was trying to throw the two of them together a final time, hoping something might come of it. In this instance, Lia hoped she would be able to finagle a kiss from the viscount.

*

The others departed, and Lady Lia turned to him. Rupert could not have asked for a more perfect end to the evening. The innkeeper had checked on them a final time and should not be back. The mothers had retired, as had now the other young ladies. It left only the two of them together.

He turned to her and felt speechless as both her palms cupped his cheeks. Their gazes met, and he saw something burning in her eyes.

Could it be desire?

“I want to kiss you,” she boldly told him.

“I would like that very much.”

She pulled him toward her, and he did not resist. Their lips touched, and hunger for this woman filled him.

His hands went to her waist, and he pulled them both to their feet.

As he held her, they kissed, again and again.

He felt the fire light within him, the white-hot fire of desire.

Rupert pulled her closer, until their bodies brushed against one another.

He heard her sigh, and she opened to him.

He took advantage of this, slipping his tongue inside her mouth, tasting the unique sweetness that was Lia Worthington.

Their kisses grew bolder. More frantic, as tongues warred with one another.

He began to feel lightheaded and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly to him, not ever wanting to let her go.

Abruptly, she broke the kiss, gazing up at him, her eyes searching his face silently.

“Do you love me? ”

Her question shouldn’t have caught him by surprise—but it did. And the answer that came to him surprised him even more.

He thought he might.

But to vocalize that would commit him for all time to this one woman, and Rupert didn’t know if he could say the words. Even for Lia Worthington.

“No,” he said huskily. “But I do care for you a great deal.”

She stared at him a long moment, a knowing sadness filling those deep blue eyes. “I suspected as much.”

Then she shocked him by kissing him again. It was a tender, loving kiss. It also tasted of goodbye. He knew it. And she certainly knew it. But he drank in the bittersweetness of it, knowing it was the last kiss they would ever share.

She was the one to break it. Tears misted her eyes. She gazed at him for a long moment.

“I hope you find happiness, Lord Cressley. It will be nice to see you in town at the Season next spring.” She hesitated a moment and then added, “Goodnight.”

But they both knew this was goodbye.

“Goodnight, my lady,” he said, his voice breaking. “I hope you find the love you are looking for, Lia.”

It was the first time he had addressed her by her given name. The first—and last.

She nudged him back, and he let her pass, his heart a raw, bloody mess. He asked himself why he couldn’t give more of himself to her. Was it because he had never known love himself?

He hadn’t enjoyed the familial love Lia had experienced within her tightknit group of siblings.

He had never let himself get close to any of the boys at school, feeling something was wrong with him.

That he was so unlovable that even his own family couldn’t love him, much less want to be around him.

At war, he knew he chose not to get close to his men because he was the one who guided them onto the battlefield, toward death.

That had been gut-wrenching. It was the chief reason he had volunteered for spy work when the call had come.

He liked working alone, moving from place to place.

For so long, he had only trusted himself and no one else.

But Rupert felt in his gut that he trusted Lia. That he truly might even love her. That they could have something special together. That she could be the answer he was searching for, even though he had not known he did so.

But would she believe him if he did tell her that he loved her? She had just tested him now. Asked point blank if he loved her.

And he had failed that test miserably.

He decided he needed to win her heart next Season.

The Season would give them a fresh start.

For now, he would let her go, and they could reacquaint themselves come next spring.

Lia could meet other gentlemen. Compare them to him.

Rupert would stay within her orbit. Ask her to dance.

Call upon her. Even woo her. And when the time was right, he would confess his feelings to her.

Satisfied he now had a plan of action, Rupert returned to his rented room. And for once, he didn’t mind that he dreamed of Lia Worthington.