Page 88 of The Duke's Wicked Widow
“I’m sorry, lass. I didnae mean to make ye blush.”
She was blushing? “No. I mean, thank you. I know my smile is not really lovely, but it is kind of you to say so.”
Somehow, he’d leaned closer. “It is,” he whispered, warm breath causing steam to caress her cheeks. “Just as ye are lovely. I would like to see yer smile more often, Ellie.”
Oh.
“Tell me what I can do to make ye smile, lass,” he breathed.
And she felt her insides go all wobbly.
What was that about him showing no interest inhappinesswith you?
“A kiss?” Fawkes murmured, nose nudging her own.
“Yes,” she breathed, realizing her head had lifted from the snow, straining closer to him.
Yes.
But moments before his lips could find hers, something small barreled into Fawkes’s side, shoving him into Ellie, knocking their teeth together, and causing him to curse. He rolled, taking her with him, a defensive move to protect them both.
It was only then that she heard the barking.
“Ellie! Fawkes!” Merida was laughing as she hurled herself down in the snow beside them and allowed Tramp to lick her face. “Was that fun? I’m glad you’re not hurt! I’ll bet it was fun.”
One corner of her lips curled ruefully, Ellie exchanged a glance with the man still holding her close. “Yes…itwasfun.”
“Good! I’m hungry now. Can we go back home? I want some ham and warm bread and cheese, and Fawkes, we gotta find some peas for me to eat so I can have hot chocolate too. I don’t know why—I don’t make the rules. C’mon, get up, get up!”
Chuckling, Fawkes allowed himself to be bullied upright, then offered Ellie his hand. When she placed hers in his, she felt a tingle climb her arm.
And she felt like smiling again.
Yes, Christmastime at Hangcok Hillwasfun. And the sparks floating through her blood today? They felt like a very different kind of fun.
Chapter 15
“I pay for servants for a reason,”Fawkes muttered to himself, stomping down the corridor. “I shouldnae have to be the one running and fetching things.”
But… Mrs. Clutterbuck was cooking, her daughter Sissy helping. The butler had run to town to fetch a few more supplies Mother had decided they needed “to get in the Yule spirit,” and young Clutterbuck was helping Mother set up the Christmas tree in the parlor. So when Mother decided they needed to decorate the treenow, and she needed Merida’s help sorting through the boxes of ornaments…well, the only one left to “fetch” Ellie was Fawkes himself.
He hesitated in front of the door to her bedroom.
Last week she’d come to him, she’dneededhim. He’d cared for her, comforted her. Aye, he’d seen her in bed then—hair down around her shoulders, wearing only her chemise…but she’d been sick. He’d been a right bastard for even noticing the curve of her throat or how fooking kissable her earlobe had looked.
But today…
Here and now, at Hangcok Hill…
After that almost-kiss yesterday on the sledding slope…
Fawkes wasn’t certain it was such a fabulous idea to be knocking on her door and stepping into her chambers.
Or, and hear me out: a fooking amazing idea?
She deserved the same Christmas fun Mother was trying so hard to give Merida. Well. Perhaps not thesame.
Mind made up—and like seventy percent certain it had nothing to do with the possibility she might be naked on the other side of the door—Fawkes knocked.
