Page 33 of Loving an Earl
Even if that feeling were her heart dropping. Not a note. No flowers. No acknowledgment of what they’d shared. Had it meant nothing to him? Well at the very least his silence let her know with certainty that she couldn’t put all her coins in one fountain. Thinking beyond Langford was necessary. They had no understanding between them, she reminded herself sternly, and that one night might be all they would have.
“With your permission, I would like to call on you tomorrow,” the viscount was saying.
“Yes,” she replied, bringing herself back to the present. But something in the depths of his eyes caused the back of her neck to tingle. Or perhaps it was just a chill in the air. “I believe I should like to rejoin the party.”
Redford stood and held out his hand. “As you wish.”
When Lilly took his gloved hand with hers, nothing happened—no shock, no heat, no connection, nothing.
Chapter Thirteen
Once back amongthe tables and other guests, Redford bowed off. Lilly joined Emmeline at the food table to fix a plate of sandwiches, cheeses, bread, and fruit.
“You disappeared with Redford quickly,” Emmeline said with an inquisitive look.
“Yes. We strolled down the path to a lovely small garden with a bench.”
“And?”
Lilly exhaled. “Nothing. He talked very little, as did I. I’ll admit he is handsome, but he seems rather dull. He is calling on me tomorrow. Perhaps there is more to the man than meets my eye.”
“Perhaps.” Emmeline agreed. “I wish I could help, but I have never met the viscount before. Nor have I heard much about him. I could inquire as to his nature with Blackstone if you would like.”
“There is no need. I’ll learn about him myself tomorrow.”
They found an empty blanket and sat down carefully, keeping their ankles covered with their skirts while they nibbled on their refreshments. When Lilly’s sun disappeared, she looked up and nearly choked on the grape she’d just popped in her mouth. Langford stood beside her, a plate balancing on the palm of his hand. “May I join you?”
How did he show up out of nowhere like that? And why did her insides heat up when he locked his creamy-brown eyes with hers? His wavy hair, with one wayward curl falling over his forehead, made her fingers itch to push it aside. To feel the silken threads between her fingers. The urge to moan out loud had her swallowing it down instead.
“Yes.” Was that her breathy voice?
“Hello, Langford,” Emmeline said as she placed her empty plate beside her. “Is Blackstone in attendance?”
Langford sat next to Lilly, his legs out straight with his plate balanced on his thighs. He hit Emmeline with a knowing smile. “Yes. He’s playing Pall Mall with Caldwell and several others.” Langford put a whole cucumber sandwich in his mouth. It was tiny, after all. “I’ll need about ten of these to quench my appetite.”
Giggles escaped Lilly before she had time to stop them.
Langford looked at her, one eyebrow brow raised, his lips quirked up into a smile.
Heat started inside her chest and unfurled to encompass her entire body. She would blame it on the warm sunshine rather than on what had transpired in her bed with him. Even though seeing him reminded her of the pleasure her body was capable of. “Sorry. Everything being served today is small in portion. It’s perfect for the ladies but not for gentlemen with voracious appetites.”
*
Edmund almost spitout the piece of cheese he’d put inside his mouth when Lilly said “gentlemen with voracious appetites.” Bloody hell, those words could refer to all sorts of things. Innocentandindecent. And the first thing that came to his mind was gentlemen’s sexual desires, specifically his sexual passion related to Lilly after all they shared beneath her sheets. Even now, her rose scent invading his nose and the close proximity of her lush body awoke such a need inside him that he considered moving his plate higher up his lap to hide his erection. His cock strained against his breeches, and with their tight fit, he wouldn’t be getting up anytime soon. Then he remembered his uncle’s papers he’d found in the hidden compartment of his desk. His heart had better freeze up because he wasn’t yet sure if he could trust her and wondered what other secrets she still hid from him. He hated to admit it, but he had a suspicious nature and would question her honesty in all things, knowing she’d already withheld information from him so easily.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t immediately realize Caldwell and Blackstone had joined them on the quickly filling blanket. There was hardly room for the five of them.
“How was Pall Mall?” Edmund asked. “Who won?”
Blackstone chuckled. “Lady Priscilla Amesbury. She stomped on Hollingsworth’s pride as he came in second. Those two play cutthroat. You’d think they were fighting to the death. The rest of us hadn’t a chance.”
Edmund was surprised when Lilly said, “Perhaps Hollingsworth has found his match with Lady Priscilla even though he denies it.”
He wanted to laugh, but he held himself back. “Perhaps he has. Only time will tell.”
“Caldwell, when, pray tell, are you going to stop traveling to faraway lands and marry a nice young lady?” Emmeline asked.
“I’m not ready to settle down.”
