Page 63 of The Danger of Desire

Coming to her senses, she broke the kiss. “Anyone might look out and see us!”

His eyes gleamed at her. “Do you care?”

“I... well... I mean, Ioughtto care.”

“Nonsense. You’ve never cared much about the proprieties before. Why start now?” His hands still gripped her waist, holding her anchored against him. “If anyone did see us, what could they do? Make us marry?”

A smile tugged at her lips. “Good point.”

“I thought so.” He bent his head to her ear. “Did you miss me, brat?”

“Not one whit.” Then she belied the claim by looping her arms about his neck so she could kisshim.

That had him crushing her against him once more so he could plunder her mouth hot and long and hard, until her blood raced and her heart faltered. He made her feel as if she could fly. Or die... utterly happy, right here in his arms.

It was madness. It was joy. She wasn’t used to joy. She didn’t know how to handle it.

After several moments of devouring her lips, he released her. “I missed you, too.”

Smiling shyly at that, she edged away to continue down the path. “How did you know I was out here?”

He fell into step beside her. “Clarissa told me you’d gone to see the folly alone, to clear your head. After witnessing the chaos in the manor, I figured you might want some company.”

“You just wanted to escape all their questions about the wedding.”

“That, too.” He shot her a knowing glance. “And I daresay I wasn’t the only one. You don’t strike me as the sort to exult in wedding plans.”

She cast him a rueful smile. “You’re not far wrong. I swear, if Brilliana had asked me one more time which shade of ribbon I wanted for some particular frippery, I might have strangled her with it.”

He chuckled, then skimmed his gaze down her relatively plain wrapped gown of pink gros de Naples. “You’re looking fetching today. Did you tire of plaids and stripes in warring colors?”

Heat rose in her cheeks. “I... um...”

“You don’t have to explain. I long ago figured out that your manner of dress was one more way of keeping suitors at arm’s length. When you aren’t attempting that, you dress quite nicely.”

“Don’t be fooled by this gown,” she warned. “Brilliana helped me choose it. On my own, I am by no means an arbiter of fashion.”

“Neither am I.”

“Nonsense.” She looked him over. “Only you can make a gray coat, white waistcoat, and white trousers look the height of fashion.”

“It’s all due to my valet. He keeps me looking lordly enough for my exalted rank.” He winked at her. “And despairs over whatever activities have me ruining my clothes at every turn.”

“In the future, I shall try to refrain from pouring wine on your shirts,” she said lightly as they entered the woods beyond the garden. “As long as you refrain from getting in my way.”

“I can’t make any promises.” He shifted to block her path. “Getting in your way sometimes leads to intriguing interludes.”

He reached for her, but she darted past him. “Oh no, you don’t. Enough of that, or I’ll never get to see this famous folly.”

With a snort, he caught up with her and let her continue on. “Are the wedding plans complete?”

“As complete as we can make them, given the limitations of time.” She eyed him askance. “And speaking of the wedding, you’re breaking the rules, you know. It’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride on the eve of their wedding.”

“It’s not ‘eve’ yet. Besides, you and I never follow rules. I don’t see why we should start now.” He folded his arms behind his back. “I’m actually rather surprised you didn’t insist on going to London with me and your aunt to participate in negotiating the wedding settlement.”

Her laugh wafted on the wind. “There was no need. I knew Aunt Agatha would never let you get anything past her. She’s far more knowledgeable about matters like this than I.”

“She does know a thing or two,” he said wryly. “She made my poor solicitor gasp with her demands. You now have what is probably the most generous jointure ever, given the size of your dowry, not to mention more pin money than even my mother had from Father.”