Page 9 of Brazen Rogue
"I would say it's a Rana temporaria," his lordship said, peering at the little amphibian. "A common frog in England. I do have a book, as a matter of fact. In my library, Miss Hall. You're more than welcome to borrow it," he offered.
"Thank you, that will be most helpful."
"Shall we look elsewhere?" he suggested to them both. “Maybe we can find more. How would you like that, Alice?"
Lady Alice nodded eagerly, placing the frog back where it was when they found it, but before his lordship could lower the rock back to its original place, it jumped up and landed in Reign's bodice.
She screamed, reeled backward, and landed with a thump in the mud. Forgetting the ruination of one of her best gowns, she rummaged in her bodice, trying to fetch the little critter out.
Alice laughed and stated she would keep looking, unaffected by Reign's predicament. Reign let out another squeal as the little frog moved, sliding against her skin like a wet, slimy glob of who knew what.
"Let me look, Miss Hall," his lordship said, kneeling beside her.
Reign gasped and pushed his hand away. "You cannot! What if someone sees, my lord?" she said, her hand now down a good portion of her gown.
"There is no one to see," he said, moving closer to ensure privacy.
Reign met his eyes and could see he was in earnest. She sighed and glanced over her shoulder. Seeing no one about them, she dropped her hands at her sides and allowed him to do what he suggested. His finger pulled at her bodice, and he peered into her gown. Heat kissed her cheeks, and desire tore through her.
She wanted his hands on her. She wanted so much more than his hands, for that matter.
"I can see it," he said, his voice gravelly and deep. He cleared his throat and met her gaze. They were so close, their breaths mingled, and she realized they were both breathing heavily.
Warmth settled in her belly, and she bit her lip, fighting the urge to take what she wanted yet again and kiss him.
The frog jumped out, landed on his lordship's shoulder, and then jumped again somewhere in the muddy mess Reign sat in.
"He is out," he stated, not moving. His attention dipped to her lips, and she felt herself sway toward him before the squeal from Lady Alice on finding another frog brought them both to their senses.
"Come," he said, standing quickly. "This way." He strode to another part of the river where to Alice's glee, they found what looked like hundreds of frogs of all shapes and sizes. Reign stood and tried to push as much mud from her dress as she could, but it was no use. It was ruined.
She washed her hands in the river and let his lordship find frogs with his daughter as she prepared the picnic basket for lunch. After an hour or so, they joined her on the lawn. Reign opened the basket, full to the brim with cold meats, bread, honey, and biscuits, along with fruits and wine for the adults and lemonade for Lady Alice.
She poured Alice a lemonade before the little girl wandered off just in front of them, searching for more frogs while eating cheese and a biscuit.
"She is lovely, my lord. How proud you must be of her." Reign could not help but think that should she have had a child, she would have wanted one similar to Alice. Such a sweet, caring, honest, and happy child.
Reign passed him a glass of champagne and stilled when he reached across the picnic basket, his thumb caressing her chin several times. Her heart jumped at his touch, and she swallowed her moan. How would she survive being near him, wanting him, but denying herself when he did such things to her?
"Pardon me, Miss Hall. You had a little grime on your cheek. Not surprising after what happened," he said, laughter in his eyes.
She chuckled, knowing how true that statement was. Even so, the feel of him, his hand upon her chin, sent a longing through her that would not be repressed.
No matter how much she knew, she would have to deny herself every day she was here.
ChapterFive
Late that evening, Reign left her room when the house quieted, and Mrs. Watkins would surely be asleep. The housekeeper had told her the library was off-limits, but today Lord Lupton-Gage had said she could use the room, so she was determined to do just that.
On her way down the corridor, she checked on Lady Alice, who bathed and ate dinner after their afternoon outing and promptly fell asleep while listening to her nanny read.
Upon returning to the estate, she had heard his lordship mention that he was going out for the evening, so Reign took the opportunity to slip down to the library to find the book on amphibians that he mentioned earlier. She could not disturb him if he were not here.
Candles burned in the sconces, giving her ample light to find what she was looking for. She worked her way about the bookshelves, seeing all kinds of literature, from gothic novels to household maintenance and recipes to architecture, horticulture, and medicine.
Near the latter, she found several books on amphibians and frogs in particular.
She flipped through the pages, searching for similar frogs they had found that afternoon that she could show Alice tomorrow.
