Page 44 of Sir Hugo Seeks a Wife
She’d looked haggard when he’d burst into her office this afternoon.Fine-drawn and tired and deathly unhappy.Now she was vivid with life and anticipation.
“I’m so glad you were here,” she said breathlessly.“It was too cold to wait.”
“I’ve been circling the area for the last half hour.I didn’t want to miss you.”His gloved hand took hers.“Did you have any problems getting away?”
Only now that she was here did he acknowledge how afraid he’d been that she’d change her mind about having him.She had the power to bring him to his knees.He wondered if she knew it.
Somewhere it rankled that they did things her way.But it was difficult to bear a grudge when she was near and willing, and tonight she’d lie in his bed.
“No, with the weather, the shop has been quiet.”She tangled her fingers in his and canted forward with an invitation that he couldn’t resist.“And Sylvie has been on your side from the start.She cheered when I told her what we’d decided.”
Their kiss tasted of raindrops and desperation.Her skin was cold, even as her response heated to flame.When he withdrew, she whimpered with disappointment.“Don’t stop.I’ve wanted to kiss you since you left.”
“So have I.”Hugo sighed and settled back against the rich red upholstery.“But I have things to tell you first.”
Excitement flared in her dark eyes.“You’ve found somewhere?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“You spoke to your friends?”
He shook his head.“No.They’d ask too many questions.I turned to an expert.”
“Oh?”
“Fogg drinks at the local tavern.He’s heard talk of various hostelries that might suit.”
“This is poor Fogg who’s sitting outside in the rain?”
“Yes.You – and he – will be glad to know that we’re not going far.Only to Putney.We should be there in less than an hour, providing the weather doesn’t worsen.Fogg will be tucked up with a hot buttered rum in time for his dinner.”
“How clever you are.”Athene tucked back a strand of hair that had escaped the severe knot when he’d kissed her.
A picture of all that ebony silk cascading around her naked shoulders filled his mind.He shifted against the seat, as the hum of desire sharpened.A reminder that while he hadn’t got his way, what he had would be wondrous.“Thank you, but it’s Fogg who deserves the compliments.The inn isn’t on a main coaching road, and it’s far enough from Mayfair to make it unlikely that we’ll run into anyone we know.I’ve sent ahead to reserve rooms and order dinner.”
“I’ve been too upset to eat much recently.”
“Me, too.”Under all that enveloping wool, he couldn’t see her body, but he’d noticed that her dress had hung looser when he’d seen her this afternoon.“But first things first.I brought you a present.”
She looked charmingly flustered.“Oh.”
He produced a lavender and silver box from a pocket in the door.“They might stimulate your appetite.”
Even as she took the box, her expression said that her mind dwelled on appetites other than the one for food.“It’s Sylvie’s.”
“Yes.I picked it up on my way out this afternoon.”
“Oh,” she said again, as she opened the box.She sounded far more overwhelmed than his humble gift merited.“You remembered that I like her lemon drops.”
“Of course.”
Her shining eyes made him feel like a prince.Which pleased him no end.Balancing against the swaying vehicle, he flung an arm around her shoulders.“Good God, this cape is big enough to cover an elephant.”
She replaced the lid on the box and set it beside her.“I was trying to be discreet.”
“It’s hard to find you amongst the billowing folds.”
He slid one hand under her cape and around her waist, as she tilted her face upward.“You managed.”
