Page 36 of Inconvenient Honor
They crossed to Bedford Square.
“The overly warm weather doesn’t bother you?”
She shook her head.
Her hand, he realized, trembled where it lay on his arm. A fierce desire to protect seized him. He placed his other hand over it.
“My lord?”
“You trembled.”
In the distance, his carriage turned away from them. They walked into the narrow confines of Gilbert Street, draped in darkness. Her home lay four doors down.
“I did not,” she protested. “Even if I did?—”
A shaft of yellow light from a window lit her face. She looked up, momentarily inarticulate.
Can she see desire on my face?
“—what concern is it of yours?” she finished in a whisper.
“Your well-being is very much my concern, Lily. Very much indeed.”It shouldn’t be, but it is.He searched her face in the dim shaft of light. He saw confusion in her eyes; he watched her tongue dart out to wet her lips.
Fascination with that mouth held him even while he used his free hand to pull her around into shadow.
She had ample time to protest when he lowered his mouth toward hers. Ample time. She did not.
One kiss. One taste before I tie myself to Sarah Wharton.He clamped down on his raging desire.One gentle salute, a farewell.
Lily froze momentarily but didn’t pull away. At his persistent urging, she opened her lips slightly and allowed him access. For a long moment, the taste of her satisfied him. When her hand crept up his neck and into his hair, however, the need for more overwhelmedhim. He pulled her closer, tasted deeply, and slipped his hand to her breast.
Lily wrenched herself away at that with a groan.
“What do you think you’re doing? What, dear God, do you think I am.” She turned on her heels and walked toward her house.
“Lily, wait—” he said, catching up in two long strides. He grabbed her arm to turn her. She tried to shake him off.Damn it, Lily, you seemed willing enough.
“Wait for what? For you to bring my father home? For you to maul me again? Leave me be.”
He dropped his hand.
“Go to Lady Sarah,” she went on. “Make your addresses. London will fall at your feet. Just leave. Me. Alone.”
He had no answer for that. No apology either.What does this confounded woman do to send my wits begging?For a brief moment, he considered offering for her again, but she would only throw it back in his face.
Instead, he bit back an angry retort and handed her to the door. She didn’t look back when the servant let her in and closed the door behind her.
He stood on the pavement staring at the closed door.She’s right, though. Nothing good can come of this. Offer for Lady Sarah Wharton and be done with it.
Lily stoodin her darkened bedroom and pulled the curtain aside. Richard still stood outside her house watching the door as if she might emerge from it. He shook his head.
He walked across the street and moved unerringly to the dark recess of a door near the corner. A man stepped out of the shadow and leaned forward for a word.
As if satisfied, Richard strode down Gilbert towardBedford Square.
She sat on her bed in the gloom and weighed her options.
Papa could be marooned in Copenhagen for months. He is probably making free with the libraries there. He probably assumes I manage fine on my own. He probably feels no need to hurry.
