Page 32

G eorgina sat up in her bed and glanced toward Jaclyn.

Her friend appeared to be asleep, and she prayed she stayed that way.

She wanted to sneak out to meet her earl and she could not have Jaclyn preventing her from accomplishing that goal.

The other woman sighed in her sleep and shifted slightly, but Georgina remained still, barely daring to breathe until her friend settled once more.

Only then did she rise fully, pulling her cloak from the chair beside her bed and fastening it over her night rail.

The weight of it reassured her—it would keep her warm against the cool night air as she made her way into the maze.

She had been planning to meet the Earl of Foxmoore for some time now and he was waiting for her.

It would not do to disappoint him, and well, she wanted this as much as he did.

The earl had held her attention for some time.

He made her forget that she was normally too shy to hold a conversation or be around anyone in society.

He gave her hope. So for him she was willing to take any chance and take a much necessary leap of faith.

Even if it might very well lead to her ruination.

Georgina took a slow, steadying breath, her heart pounding with excitement and trepidation in equal measure.

She had never done anything so reckless in her life, but something about the Earl of Foxmoore made her forget her usual hesitations.

He made her feel seen —not just as a young lady destined to become some gentleman’s wife, but as a woman with thoughts and desires of her very own.

Dreams she had never believed possible for a woman so terminally shy.

She had become a wilting wallflower before she had a chance of fulfilling any of those desires.

With unpracticed care, she eased open the door to her bedchamber and stepped into the dimly lit corridor.

Every creak of the floorboards beneath her feet felt thunderous in the silence, but no one stirred.

The household had long since retired, and the teachers and headmistress who might have caught her were surely abed.

Her pulse raced as she tiptoed down the hall, reaching the staircase that led to the lower level.

She rushed down the stairs before she changed her mind and went back to bed where she belonged.

But she could not do that. This was what she was meant to do.

She needed this time alone with the Earl of Foxmoore.

Once outside, the crisp air hit her, bringing with it the mingling scents of night jasmine and primroses.

The garden stretched before her, bathed in moonlight.

This was only the first hurdle. She still had to cross over to the abbey and meet the earl in the maze at the Marquess of Easton’s estate.

That had been where they had agreed to have their clandestine meeting.

She hurried over the path leading to the abbey.

Not once did she look behind her. No one followed her.

Why would they? No one would believe she dared to do anything so scandalous.

Her heart raced inside her chest as she moved toward the maze.

The moonlight guided her path, and she reached the entrance of the maze.

She drew in a shaky breath and rushed toward the area they had previously agreed to meet.

It didn’t take her long to reach the location in the maze.

This was it. She had arrived and there was no turning back.

Not that she wanted to. Georgina wanted to be here.

To be with him… He was the only man she needed or would ever desire.

He held her fragile heart in his hands, and she prayed he handled it with care.

The winding paths and trellised alcoves of the maze at Easton Abbey offered the perfect concealment for a private meeting between potential lovers.

She pulled the hood of her cloak up, peering into the darkness for any sign of him .

A shadow moved near the path leading to this area of the maze.

Her breath caught. He stood in the shadows, a dark forbidding figure that made her heart leap with passion barely restrained within her.

The Earl of Foxmoore emerged from the shadows, his tall, broad frame unmistakable even in the moonlit gloom.

He was dressed in dark clothing, his greatcoat unbuttoned, revealing a crisp white shirt beneath.

He looked every bit the roguish gentleman that had first caught her attention.

That wild air about him had drawn her in from their first meeting.

His blond hair shimmered beneath the moonlight—not streaked with gold like it had been in the sunlight.

It was much more subtle in the limited light.

“You came,” he murmured, his voice low and intimate as he stepped closer. There was a husky drawl to his tone as he spoke. One that sent shivers down her spine.

“Did you doubt me?” Georgina replied, tilting her chin up, feigning more confidence than she truly possessed.

This was a far greater move than she would have ever dared take before.

Georgina did not do anything scandalous, and this was perhaps the most outrageous thing she had ever thought possible. At least for her…

“Never.” He reached for her, his fingers brushing over the back of her hand before closing around it gently. “I know this is a risk for you. I am glad you chose to come here. I needed this time alone with you.”

“It’s not that great a risk,” she said even though she did not truly believe it.

If the headmistress discovered this, she would surely tell her father.

That was not an outcome she wanted. Especially as she was such a disappointment to the viscount.

“I had to come. I could not bear another moment of uncertainty.” She nibbled on her bottom lip.

Did she dare tell him about her feelings?

His luminous brown eyes held hers; something unreadable flickered within their depths. “Nor could I,” he admitted. “Which is why I had to see you tonight, away from prying eyes.” He searched the area as if to make certain they were truly alone, and then he returned his attention to her.

“Then say what you must, my lord,” she whispered. “Before my nerves undo me entirely.”

He exhaled, his grip tightening ever so slightly. “My darling,” he began. “You must call me Adrian. I think we have reached a point in our relationship where we can drop formalities.”

“I…” She stammered. Could she use his given name? She wanted to. “All right. Then I insist you call me Georgina. It is only fair.” Georgina nodded. If they were to be more than mere acquaintances, and she believed they were destined to be much more than that, then she should refer to him as Adrian.

“Perfect, and I could not agree more,” Adrian said huskily.

He traced idle circles over her wrist. She swallowed hard, her pulse quickening as his thumb continued its slow, repetitive motion.

A rush of warmth spread through her, despite the chill of the night air.

What was this unfamiliar sensation stirring within her?

“You’re so lovely, my darling Georgina.”

“Why did you wish for me to meet you here?” She had to ask him. Did he feel the same way about her as she did him? She could not be the only one that felt as if her heart might burst from inside of her chest. Surely, he could feel this need between them?

He glanced up at the night sky. Stars blanketed the darkness giving little illumination.

What light they did have from the moon was limited.

Adrian focused on her and said, “I cannot— will not —pretend that what I feel for you is something frivolous. I have never felt anything similar to this before.” He lifted his hand and cupped her cheek in his palm.

“I want you in ways I have never wanted another woman. I cannot stop thinking about you.”

Her breath hitched. “Adrian…”

“I want you to be mine,” he continued, stepping closer.

“Not for a fleeting moment stolen in the moonlight, but for always.” He leaned down so that their faces were so close their breaths mingled.

Just a little farther and their lips would surely touch.

She wanted to kiss him. Almost desperately.

“Will you trust me? Will you take a chance with me?”

Her heart pounded inside her chest. Almost like a drumming that filled her ears as she fought to understand his words.

She had come here fearing this would be nothing more than a moment of reckless folly, a whispered promise of passion that would never survive in the light of day.

But now… She saw the truth in his eyes. It was not mere flirtation or even a passing fancy.

He did feel the same way she did. He had not mentioned words of love.

At least not yet, but she had to have faith. This was only the beginning after all.

“Yes,” she breathed.

A slow smile curved his lips, one of relief, of triumph, or perhaps it was something infinitely more dangerous.

“Then allow me to seal our understanding,” he murmured.

Then he closed the distance between them and captured her lips in a kiss.

It stole her ability to breathe and think.

It was everything she had desired and far more than she could ever have imagined.

Georgina melted into him, the sensation of his mouth upon hers almost magical in its simplicity.

It was soft at first, almost reverent, but as she leaned into him, as her fingers clutched at the fabric of his coat, it deepened, became something more urgent, more consuming.

He finally, reluctantly pulled away. She wanted to demand he kiss her again, but that went against her very nature.

This entire evening had been something beyond what she would normally do.

“We should stop,” he said hoarsely, his forehead resting against hers.