Page 14 of One Scandal Too Many (Havenwood Academy #1)

C harlotte was a fool. There was no other explanation for why she decided to do as Declan had asked. She knew she should not go to the garden. If she kept acting recklessly, a scandal would happen. One could only be circumspect so many times before such bold behavior came to light. It was surprising she hadn’t been caught already. Twice she’d gone over to the estate and managed to keep her nightly adventures a secret. Surely, a third time would end up with her being caught.

Still... she fully intended to go to the garden. Charlotte could no more stop herself from going than forget to breathe. She needed him like the very air that filled her lungs. How had it come to this? To actually desire to be near a gentleman who would certainly lead her down a path of certain ruin, the very man that she’d both hungered for and been frustrated with after their first real conversation... the marquess would lead to her undoing. There was little doubt of that happening. Not with how little she could control her actions with him.

She sighed. Charlotte was more than aware of what she should do. It mattered not. She would go to him. As soon as she could be sure no one would catch her sneaking out of the school, she’d go to meet him. He would be waiting for her. What happened once she arrived—that was where her uncertainty became a bundle of anxiety. What did she expect would happen? More importantly, what did she want to happen? Another kiss? More than that? Charlotte did not want to think too much about it or she might become too nervous. Then she would be incapable of walking or even speaking. Her body would become some involuntary bit of movement bent on thwarting her need to be near Declan.

That could not happen.

Charlotte lay on top of her bed as still as possible. Her two roommates were fast asleep, and she didn’t want to do anything to disturb their rest. Soon she could crawl out of bed and quietly put on her gown. She had one that could be buttoned in the front for such adventures. Jaclyn had suggested it so they could do naughty things together. Before her garden adventures with Declan, she’d sneaked out with her friend often. They liked to skirt the edge of propriety and explore where they shouldn’t.

Even with all that, Charlotte doubted very much that Jaclyn would approve of what she planned to do, and not for the first time. She still had not confessed to her friend that she’d had any secret meetings with the Marquess of Easton. Jaclyn would chastise her for her reckless behavior. Scandalous intentions could only be taken so far, after all. Charlotte couldn’t even be certain what she hoped to gain by meeting with the marquess again. His kisses were addicting. Perhaps it wasn’t anything more complicated than that.

She took several deep fortifying breaths, then slowly crawled out of the bed. She grabbed the gown she’d left in a place where she could easily retrieve it. Charlotte slid it on and grabbed her boots from by the bed and then tiptoed out of the room. In the dim light she buttoned up her gown and then went down the stairs. Her boots would have to wait until after she was safely outside. If she slipped them on too soon, she ran the risk of creating unnecessary noise.

It did not take long for her to accomplish all that she needed in order to sneak out of the school. Once she was safely away, she picked up her pace until she reached the edge of the woods near the pond. She halted when she realized that someone was near the pond. Panic seized her. Who was there? Should she turn around and head back to the school? Terror had never filled her so much in her entire life. It could be a stranger or perhaps worse. She supposed she should be more terrified of a stranger, but someone familiar could out her, and then she would truly be ruined. With so many guests at the estate, it was possible that one of them had wandered over to the pond.

“Charlotte?” That voice was familiar and welcome. A rush of relief flooded over her, and she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

She took several steps toward him. He hadn’t moved from his place near the pond. The marquess stood there. Waiting. For her. Somehow she didn’t stumble as she moved forward or she might have tripped and fallen right into the pond once she reached him.

“Declan,” she said. She still shook a little from the fright. Charlotte held a hand over her racing heart. “What are you doing here? I thought...” She didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence.

“I had to meet you here,” he interrupted her. He sighed. “There was another couple having an assignation in my garden.” He sounded almost put out about that. “Another reason I abhor house parties. Your house ceases to be your own.”

She couldn’t help it; Charlotte laughed. “You poor dear,” she said in a droll tone. “How taxing that must be for you.” He was adorable in his frustration.

The moonlight fell over his face and made the glare he pointed in her direction more evident. “You don’t sound as if you believe that to be true.”

“Not at all,” she reassured him. “Your frustration is quite clear.”

“Not that,” he said. “That you believe it should garner any sympathy at all.”

“Oh,” she said and nibbled on her bottom lip. “I don’t.”

Declan shook his head and then grinned. “Why do I like you?”

She found herself smiling at him in the same way. “Because I’m perfect, of course. Why wouldn’t you like me?” Charlotte didn’t believe herself without faults, but that didn’t mean she had to list them all for him.

He stepped closer to her. There was barely any space between them now. It would be so easy for him to lean down and press his lips to hers. She was aching with the need for it now. Charlotte was desperate for him to kiss her. She wanted to know if it would feel the same way as it had before. Would it always be like this between them? Her breath felt stuck inside her throat, and she wondered if she would ever be able to breathe the same again. He changed so much for her.

Declan raised his hand and brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “You are perfect,” he agreed. “And so bloody beautiful.”

Her heart stopped. They were pretty words, but the huskiness in his tone made her whole body come alive with need. This man... he would be her undoing. That was not the first time she’d had that thought, and it wouldn’t be the last, but that didn’t make it any less true. Perhaps he would kiss her now. She almost wanted to beg him to. Somehow she held back those needy pleas.

“I’m really not,” she told him. “Perfect, that is.”

“To me, you are,” he told her. “I don’t know why I can’t keep my distance from you. I tried. Lord knows I tried.” He kept rubbing her cheek in light strokes. It tingled with each brush of his knuckles. “And I was a complete arse to you in the beginning.”

“Yes,” she said cheekily. “You were.” She didn’t believe in lying as a rule. There was a time and place for it. This was not a time to hold back. “But I forgive you.” How could she not? He was a temptation she couldn’t resist, and she hoped to spend more time with him. “Are you going to kiss me now?” She couldn’t wait any longer.

“I do believe I will,” he said.

*

Declan could not believe he hadn’t started kissing her the moment she’d reached the pond. He’d wanted to. He still did, and yet he kept some distance between them. He hated that he couldn’t bring her into his arms and just revel in the feel of her body against his. If he acted on the impulses raging through him, he might frighten her away.

“What is wrong?” she asked. She frowned a little as concern filled her lovely features. “You don’t have to kiss me.” Charlotte sounded almost disappointed. No, there wasn’t any “almost” about it. Dejection filled every inch of her tone, and she couldn’t hide it from her expression either. “I shouldn’t have asked.”

“Darling,” he began. “I always planned on kissing you. I don’t believe in rushing in when savoring holds more appeal.” He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers and then lifted his head. “We have plenty of time for kissing.” Declan had already started to consider that they may have the rest of their lives to enjoy each other. She might be the one meant to be his. Forever. If he dared to claim her, anyway. It was something he’d had to contemplate as they had grown closer. After that first kiss, the first true taste of her, he’d become addicted in a fashion he’d never thought possible. In that moment, marriage had not seemed like the disaster he’d always believed. With the right woman, nothing seemed impossible. He might even grow to love her—if he didn’t already. How did one know they were truly in love? He had never felt that emotion before. Perhaps that was why his desire for Charlotte remained so strong. Only time would tell, and he wanted all the time offered to him to explore this growing devotion to her.

“Savoring?” She lifted a pert brow. “Forgive me for having my doubts.” Charlotte lifted her hand and trailed her fingers over his jawline. “Because you are not even indulging in that. What you are doing,” she began, “is stalling. Why?”

Was he? Perhaps he was a little bit. How could he not? If he dived into what was brewing between them, he might have regrets. But what if he regretted not doing more? If she got restless, she might decide she didn’t want him and move on to someone else. Hell, he was such a contradiction of emotions. “Darling,” he said in a wicked tone. “I promise I am not.” He leaned down. “I am enjoying this time with you.” That was the truth. The more time he spent with her, the more he learned. He wanted to know everything about her. “And I’m looking forward to having even more time with you at the house party.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t really want to attend.”

“Even if that means you’ll see me?” He lifted a brow. “Should I feel dejected at your lack of enthusiasm?”

“It has nothing to do with you.” She sighed. “I should go.”

“No,” he said insistently. “You definitely should stay.” Where had that come from? Why did she suddenly want to leave? He had to convince her that she was exactly where she belonged. Her reluctance to remain at his side was concerning. Was it because he had not kissed her yet? If so, he could definitely rectify that mistake, and he would. He wanted to. No, he needed to.

“I don’t want to go,” she admitted. “But if someone sees us...” She glanced around them as if she expected someone to jump out of the nearby bushes and declare a scandal had been witnessed. “It’s just that...”

“What is it?” Declan wanted to understand why she was so concerned. “Tell me.” It had to be more than the possibility of a scandal. He wasn’t worried about it, but he did understand why she might be. Her reputation could be ruined.

She licked her lips, and he almost groaned at the sight. Why the blazes hadn’t he kissed her yet? “My father,” she began, “sent me to Havenwood in the hopes that the ton would not discover the scandal I already created. I cannot be embroiled in another. It would be...” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “My father might disown me if I did. He’s not a patient man.”

Surely, he wouldn’t. What kind of man would do that to his daughter? “Then we will ensure that there is no scandal to be found.” He brushed a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. “I promise. I’ll always protect you.” Besides, if this courtship went as he thought it would, she wouldn’t have to worry about her father’s concerns. Declan would make her his wife, and her father wouldn’t have anything to say about the matter. All that they would need to concern themselves with was the two of them, and the feelings they stirred within each other. The rest of the ton could go to the devil in his estimation.

“I would like to believe that.” She smiled. “But I should still be careful either way.”

“We both will be,” he told her emphatically. Then he did what he had wanted since she’d walked into the clearing. Declan leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. It wasn’t a simple brush of his lips over hers. Not this time. He wanted to taste her and give in to the passion that had been brewing within him. This kiss would say everything he wasn’t ready to put a voice to. At least not yet. He wanted to make declarations and promises, but he had to wait. Just for a little bit longer. He had not been lying earlier. He had wanted to savor this time with her. They would only have so many firsts until they began repeating everything over and over again.

He licked his tongue over her lips, and she opened her mouth to allow him inside. Declan touched his tongue to hers until they were in an intricate dance of pleasure. He would never have enough of her. Every time he kissed her, he discovered something new. Would he always feel this way with her? Declan fully believed he would. She was a complex woman that he wanted more and more each day that passed.

Declan held her against him and enjoyed the feel of her in his arms. He would have to let her go and ensure she returned to Havenwood. Although he was reluctant to have that separation between them, he understood the necessity of it. They were not wed, and she had to keep scandal from touching her life. She’d been right to be concerned.

He sighed and let her go. “I want you to stay.”

“I want to stay,” she said, but her tone held a hint of hesitancy to it.

Declan chuckled. “You don’t need to tell me why you need to leave.” He kissed the top of her head. “Go before we both do something we regret.” He took a step back and lost his balance. His arms flailed as he tried to prevent himself from falling, but it was to no avail. Declan fell into the pond with a loud splash. When he surfaced, Charlotte was there staring at him with shock.

“Well, that’s one way to suppress my growing ardor,” he said in a self-deprecating tone. He chuckled softly and pulled himself out of the frigid water. “Darling,” he said. “I would hug you close, but I don’t think that is wise.”

“Most certainly not.” She smiled at him. “Are you all right?”

“I’ll live,” he said. “But I definitely need to return home and remove these wet clothes.”

She sighed. “It’s a pity I won’t be there to witness that.” She covered her mouth with her hand. “And I cannot believe I said that aloud.”

Declan grinned wider. “I rather liked hearing it.” He moved a little closer. “But I must admit I don’t care about you witnessing my own undressing.” He rolled his gaze over her. “You have been privy to my nakedness already. One day perhaps I will be blessed with the sight of yours.”

Charlotte laughed. “With that, my lord,” she began. “I must beg your leave. This has taken a turn we cannot pursue.” Charlotte took several steps away from him. He wanted to follow her, but he remained in place. It was a close thing, though. Declan’s desire for her was all-consuming.

“Not yet,” he said reluctantly. “But soon.” He pressed a kiss to his palm and blew it in her direction. “I’ll see you tomorrow, darling. Don’t be late this time.”

She turned around and walked away from him. Charlotte only glanced back twice, showing her hesitancy to leave. He couldn’t wait until he saw her again. The mere hours that separated their next meeting seemed like too long already. He was gone for her, and he couldn’t even be upset about that predicament. He was... happy. Declan whistled as he walked home. He couldn’t recall the last time he felt so bloody good, and he prayed this contentment lasted.