Page 13 of One Jewel-tide Scandal (Singular Sensation #10.5)

Ensconced in the library well after dinner that night, Charlotte kept stealing glances at the baron, who occupied the sofa opposite hers with a low table between them.

They’d both opted to not take one of the comfortable leather chairs, which had been telling, for they were both sitting sideways with their legs stretched out before them.

The only difference was that she had a woolen blanket over hers.

For the past few hours, he’d been well and truly engrossed in the book he’d chosen, which, oddly enough, was about animal husbandry and new techniques in farming.

She had been surprised by his choice of reading material, but then, perhaps he wished to be a better steward with his estate; she knew almost nothing about him.

Except for the fact he’d kissed her twice, and that she’d enjoyed it both times.

Biting back the urge to sigh, Charlotte tried once more to concentrate on her own book—a thrilling gothic tale of revenge and desire—but the words kept swimming across the page and her mind drifted to places that had nothing to do with the storyline.

When he’d fallen out of the tree yesterday, she’d been genuinely frightened, even to the point of making herself look absurd in front of the footmen.

No doubt the gossip of Alexander’s flirting with her had already made its way through the rest of the staff.

Heat went through her cheeks to add to the toastiness she felt from the fire that flickered merrily behind the ornate metal screen.

Oddly enough, that kiss in the snow had opened her eyes to the possibility of considering him a potential suitor.

Was that what she wanted? To ultimately rejoin society on the arm of a man?

Granted, he was much nearer to her own age than her husband had been, but he was considerably lower in rank.

Did that even matter? To her, it didn’t; she couldn’t care less about titles or how much coin a man had in his possession.

Or rather, she shouldn’t except for the fact that her diamond necklace—the security for her own future—had gone missing, and that left her with a bit more panic in her chest than she cared to admit.

Distraction came in the form of Charlie and Cleo, who chased each other through the room, bounding over furniture and scrunching up the edges of the carpets in their play.

Every so often, the two had a stare down where they would pretend they were fighting each other with paws flying and slaps given.

Then in the next moment, another chase ensued, with the opposite aggressor chasing the one who acted as prey—a mildly entertaining game.

“It’s comforting to know our two pets are rubbing along well enough in their forced time together,” Alexander said, and the low rumble of his voice since delicious tickles through her chest.

Charlotte smiled, grateful to take her mind off trying to read.

“I don’t know if it’s play fighting with Cleo.

She’s far too set in her ways and has been alone too long to act with any sort of manners with another animal.

” As she spoke, the feline pounced on the beagle.

They rolled over the carpet before continuing the chase.

“Like her mistress?” he asked in a soft voice as she glanced his way.

“Perhaps.” Another round of warmth invaded her cheeks. “I’m wondering if I’ve hidden myself away for too long that my chance to return to London has passed.” Not that she could, since her brother-in-law occupied her husband’s townhouse now.

“Then don’t go back wearing the cloak of your past.” He shrugged. “If you wish to return to society, do it as the woman you’ve grown into, and experience that life in a whole new way.”

“You are far too wise, I think, or else you are too hopeful.”

“Am I?” After he set his book aside, Alexander stood, and when she assumed he would leave the library, he merely came around the table to perch on the edge of her sofa.

“There is nothing wrong with leaving mourning, grief, and the past behind in favor of something you might not have considered before.”

“Ah.” Another round of blushing came over her.

If it didn’t stop, she would burn to death in his presence.

“I will think about it.” As if she hadn’t done that far too much of that since meeting him.

“When last I was in London, my husband’s interests took an exorbitant amount of his time away from me. ”

“I’m sorry to hear that, for any man who was fortunate enough to have you in their life should make strides to spend as much time as he could with you.”

She blew out a breath. “You flatter me.” Having him so near had waves of awareness rolling over her. “Stuart was a good man and he often meant well, but since he was so much older than me, it was only natural we had differences or that he’d lived a whole different life before he married me.”

“Such things are inevitable, I suppose. Did you have family around to fill the void?”

“Not particularly. My family isn’t large; I’m an only child for whatever reason.

Both my mother and father are the remaining people in their connections as well.

My late husband has a brother, and that man has three sons who are all in the process of marrying and starting their families.

They live in London primarily and rarely came out here, preferring the estate in Kent over this one, for the one in Kent is a bit more modern.

” A slight ache squeezed around her heart.

“It was why I’d hoped to have children of my own. ”

“But those hopes were dashed due to your husband’s condition.” It wasn’t a question.

“They were.” Tears prickled the backs of her eyelids. “I wanted children; definitely three or more since I always thought a large family would be so fulfilling, but when I discovered what Stuart struggled with, I had to let that dream die.”

“For a time, but surely you can revive it if need be.” Intense interest reflected in his eyes, and it made her catch her breath. Was he thinking of marrying?

“It is sometimes torture to let myself hope.” She closed her book with a snap. “What of you, Alexander? Do you dream of having a wife and a family of your own?”

“I never gave either much thought. However, recently and especially after joining the Rogue’s Arcade club, I have begun thinking that it might be a good thing to have a family, people who belonged to me, who wouldn’t be just another number of the rest of my family.”

“That’s understandable. When you come from a large connection, you might not wish for the same in your own life.”

“True. But I’ve persisted in dreaming of seeing young children running through the meadows on my property in Derbyshire.” When he shrugged, he flashed a grin, and flutters went through her lower belly. “I suppose I’m a study in contrasts.”

“Aren’t we all?” Daring much, she rested a hand on his thigh, and when his eyes darkened, her pulse quickened.

“I’m worried about the missing necklace.

Without it, funding whatever future I choose won’t be possible.

” She waved a hand as if in dismissal. “Do I have thieves on my staff? Other little things have gone missing, and now that concern has been amplified with my missing diamonds.”

“It is something to consider, most definitely, but is that what you truly wish to talk about in this moment?” he asked in a barely audible voice. “I can see it in your eyes, my lady, that you have something else on your mind.”

Drat. How did he do that?

Perhaps it was time to do something daring, something just for her, something unexpected that she hadn’t been given in the whole of her adult life. “I do, actually, but I am not certain of what to do about it.”

Amusement and desire glittered in his eyes, but it was that desire that beckoned to her own. “Do whatever feels right in the moment.”

It was the only permission she needed. Shoving every thought to the back of her mind, Charlotte urged him onto the sofa next to her, and with a glance to the half-closed door, she put a hand to his chest and gently encouraged him to recline against the bolstered end.

Then she crawled into his lap so that she was awkwardly straddling his waist.

“Well, I certainly had no idea you’d do this, but I’m not complaining,” he said as he put his hands to her hips and a wide grin curved his sensuous lips.

“I… That is to say, I wanted to…” Oh, this was so embarrassing!

“Hush, my lady.” When he met her gaze, there was nothing but honesty and that same desire in those dark depths. “Follow your instincts. No doubt you’ve been thinking about something along these lines for a very long time.”

“How can you know that?” she managed to whisper as stared down into his face from her new perch. He was so solid beneath her; the heat of him seeped through her skirting to warm her legs. And she felt… strangely powerful in this position.

“Because I have felt the same, and it’s only intensified since I met you.”

“Oh.” Her throat grew dry. This was new and different. Never in the whole of her married life had she been given the chance to straddle Stuart, let alone ride him during a coupling. That wasn’t surprising given they only did that a few times a year.

His body tensed. Would he dump her off? “This is highly scandalous. If we’re caught…”

“I care not for that. At least not in this moment. Besides, I’m a widow, aren’t I?

They are given more latitude than other unmarried ladies, hmm?

” She ran her palms up his chest. It wasn’t the same as imagining feeling his naked skin beneath her hands, but it was exciting.

Slowly, she leaned down as a warning sounded in her head and kept going until their lips almost touched.

“What are you doing?” Gently, he held onto her forearms. His eyes darkened into dark coffee-colored pools filled with the same need pulsing through her veins.