Page 25 of Pursuing a Duke
“What is there to think about?” Andrew replied. “A hunt is a hunt. It’s always the same objects to find. Just once, I want the host and hostess to shock us and have us find something scandalous. But I doubt it will be the marquess and marchioness unless they are not quite as straitlaced as they appear.”
“Straitlaced!” Emmeline said. “Claire was never straitlaced, and the marquess is just a bit subdued and naturally reserved. There’s nothing straitlaced about them.”
Andrew cleared his throat and chuckled. “I stand corrected.”
“Speaking of our host and hostess, here they come.” The gentlemen rose and helped the ladies up from the blanket as the marquess and marchioness walked across the lawn to their guests. Emmeline didn’t want to let go of Andrew’s hand but resigned herself to waiting until later to hold it again. The four of them made their way toward several long tables with food and drinks set up beneath several canopies, along with several round tables and chairs.
“Welcome, everyone,” Claire said with an excited voice. “As you all know, today’s events are a picnic, followed by a scavenger hunt, pall-mall, and other lawn games if you wish to partake inthem. And tonight, there will be charades, chess, billiards, and cards.”
The marquess took over. “Luncheon is ready to be served, and my lovely wife will pass out the scavenger hunt list when the luncheon concludes. The hunt will begin when you have the list in your hand. You have an hour and a half to complete the list and meet back here.”
Andrew led her to the food table, handed her a plate, and took one for himself. They went down the line, adding various meat pies, salad greens, fruits, nuts, and jam and bread, followed by queen currant cakes and other confections. They made their way to a table where several other guests sat. After greetings went around, he held her chair out as she sat down, placing her napkin on her lap.
“The food on my plate looks delicious,” Andrew said as he picked up a meat pie and grinned at her with the pie close to his mouth. His eyes darkened as he stared at her lips, causing her insides to hum. Right before he took a bite he whispered, “Although I’m ravenous for something. Or should I say... someone?”
Instant heat coursed through her body, wetness pooled between her thighs, and she squirmed in her chair as she leaned close to his ear. “Do not say things like that unless you mean them.” Oh my, she was shamelessly flirting with him, which only added to her desire.
He murmured close to her ear, “I assure you, I mean them andsomuch more.” His hot breath wafted across her ear and neck, causing her to shiver in a most decadent way. “I want to taste every inch of your body and lick...”
She swallowed the gasp forming in her throat before she drew unwanted attention their way. “Promise?” she breathed out as she leaned away from him.
His brows waggled up and down several times, making her laugh. “I promise.”
Emmeline could hardly contain the excitement Andrew’s words caused her as she nibbled on first a veal pie and then some fruit. Her insides were jumbled up, which made her appetite vanish. At least her appetite for real food. So she sat and listened to the animated conversation going on around the table, without actually hearing it.
Finally, Claire’s voice rang out, “Listen up, everyone, Viscountess Appleton is handing out the list for the scavenger hunt. Find yourself a partner, and let the hunt begin.”
“Come on,” Andrew said, taking the list from the viscountess and standing with his hands on the back of her chair. “Let’s go.”
“I’m ready.” She rose, and they went and stood beneath a shady tree away from the crowd for privacy.
“There are ten things to find,” Andrew said, holding the handwritten list. “How about we start in the middle?”
She pointed at number six. “I think I know this one.I come in many colors. I open and close and resemble the wind.I think it’s a fan. We must go back to the house so I can go to my room and retrieve one.”
“Look at this one,” Andrew said as he pointed to number five. “I have feathers and fly, but I am not alive.It’s a shuttlecock. We’re near the lawn games, so let’s find that one first.”
They walked to where the lawn games were spread out not far away. “Over there,” Andrew said as he pointed to a pile of shuttlecocks. He picked one up and put it inside his jacket pocket. “I’m surprised no one else figured this one out. But, oh well. Let’s go get that fan.”
They entered the residence through the double glass doors into the drawing room. “Wait here,” Emmeline said. “See if you can solve any others, and I’ll be right back.”
She returned not five minutes later holding a blue lace-trimmed fan. “Did you solve any more?”
“Perhaps this one.What sails the seas becomes scarce and has seeds.”
“An orange,” she replied. Andrew held his hand out to her, and she took it quickly. They traveled back through the gardens, down a stone path to the side of the manor where the orangery the marquess built stood in all its beauty. Several teams were inside, picking oranges off the numerous orange trees.
“We may as well join the others inside,” Andrew said as he opened the door to the orangery, and a blast of warm air hit them. People quickly hid their finds, and Emmeline stifled a laugh. It wasn’t as though the riddles were all that difficult. Each team would probably get each clue and find the object. But who could do it the fastest? She picked up an orange that had already been picked from a tray, and they exited.
“I have an idea.” Andrew grabbed her hand and led them down a path to the gazebo they had visited yesterday.
Emmeline’s pulse soared. “What about the game?”
Andrew pulled on her hand and tugged her up the stairs. “I believe this is the perfect moment to be alone without any eyes on us. And I promised you a kiss or two.” He walked her backward until she leaned against the railing facing him. The hungry look in his eyes had her insides trembling. “Do you mind forfeiting the game?”
A giggle escaped her lips. “Not at all.” Feeling confident, she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into him, inhaling the masculine scent of sandalwood she was beginning to associate with him and him alone.
Wrapping her up in his arms, he lowered his lips to hers. Her toes curled as he devoured her mouth. Not a part of it was safe from him. He sipped, licked, sucked, and tasted all of her. Her knees nearly buckled under his assault. And that was beforehis hands began roaming up and down her back and her sides, his thumbs brushing the outer edges of her breasts. She was so thankful she had discarded her spencer in her room when she’d procured the fan.
