Page 34 of His Scarred Duchess
Edmund nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He knew he should step back, should put a respectable distance between them. But he found himself unable to move, captivated by the flecks of gold in her green eyes, the small smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose.
Almost of its own accord, his hand rose to cup her cheek, his thumb gently tracing the line of her scar. Far from detracting from her beauty, he found that the mark only added to her allure, speaking of strength and resilience that called to something deep within him.
Lady Adeline’s breath hitched at his touch, her lips parting slightly in surprise.
Edmund found his gaze drawn to those lips, remembering how he’d imagined their softness. His mind flashed to their encounters—the fiery spirit she’d shown at the masquerade, thevulnerability he’d glimpsed during her attempted escape at the ball.
He found himself replaying these moments, imagining her smile unobscured by a mask, wondering how it would feel to run his fingers through her honey-brown hair.
For weeks, he’d been fighting a growing fascination, telling himself it was mere curiosity about the mysterious woman who’d stood up to him.
But now, with Adeline so close, the scent of lavender enveloping him, he could no longer deny the desire that had been building.
With a low groan, he closed the distance between them, capturing her lips with his own. The kiss was fierce and hungry, years of pent-up longing and denial pouring out in a single, passionate moment.
For a heartbeat, Lady Adeline remained frozen, and Edmund feared he had grievously misread the situation. But then, with a soft whimper that sent fire racing through his veins, she melted into him, her hands coming up to tangle in his hair as she returned the kiss with equal fervor.
Edmund’s arm tightened around her waist, pulling her flush against him as his other hand slid into her hair, cradling the back of her head. He marveled at how perfectly she fit against him, as though she had been made for his embrace.
The kiss deepened, their tongues meeting in a sensual dance that left them both breathless. Edmund could taste the sweetness of the punch she must have sipped earlier, mingled with something uniquely her that he knew would haunt his dreams for nights to come.
Lady Adeline’s nails scraped lightly against his scalp, drawing a low, rumbling growl from deep in his chest. In response, he gently nipped her lower lip, reveling in the soft gasp that escaped her.
Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in each other, the world narrowing down to the points where their bodies met.
Edmund knew, in some distant part of his mind, that what they were doing was scandalous, potentially ruinous for them both. But at that moment, with the intoxicating scent of lavender and sunshine that was uniquely her filling his senses, he found it impossible to care.
It was only when the need for air became too great to ignore that they finally broke apart, both panting heavily. Edmund rested his forehead against hers, unwilling to let her go completely.
“Lady Adeline,” he breathed, her given name falling from his lips like a prayer. “I?—”
“Oh my goodness!”
The shrill exclamation shattered the moment like a thunderclap.
Edmund and Adeline sprang apart, turning to find Miss Amelia Carstairs standing in the stable doorway, her eyes wide with shock and no small amount of glee at having stumbled upon such a scandalous scene.
Behind her, Edmund could see his grandmother and Lady Gillingham, both wearing expressions of mingled surprise and… was that satisfaction?
As Edmund met Adeline’s wide, panicked eyes, he knew everything had changed.
For better or worse, there would be no going back from this moment.
It was the sight of Miss Carstairs’ shocked face that finally jolted her back to reality. With a gasp, Adeline pulled away, her hands trembling as she smoothed down her rumpled skirts.
Adeline’s mind reeled, her lips still tingling from Edmund’s kiss. For a moment, she remained frozen in place, her body yearning to lean back into his embrace even as her mind had screamed at her to pull away—which she’d just done. And yet, she yearned for him still…
“No,” Adeline whispered, more to herself than anyone else. “No, this can’t be happening.”
All she could think of was Isabella. Her sweet, innocent sister, whose debut was mere weeks away. How could she have been so selfish, so reckless? If word of this got out, it wouldn’t just be her reputation in tatters—it would ruin Isabella’s chances before she even had a chance to step foot in a ballroom.
Adeline opened her mouth, ready to offer some explanation, some excuse that might salvage the situation. But before she could speak, Lady Alderton stepped forward, a serene smile on her face that belied the calculating gleam in her eyes.
Lady Alderton, ever quick-thinking, stepped forward, placing a restraining hand on Miss Carstairs’ arm. “Miss Carstairs,” she said, her tone deceptively casual, “I believe we took a wrong turn. The maze is this way, if you’d like to continue our tour.”
But it was clear from Miss Carstairs’ wide-eyed stare that a simple distraction wouldn’t suffice.
The damage was done.
