Page 26 of Margins of Love
She poured them each some of the tea, holding the wrinkled bits of leaves and blossoms back with a fork she found in the basket. “Try it. Please.” She held up the saucer with the old cup to him.
He took a sip. It was not too hot or too cold, but just right. He tasted its gentle bitterness in his mouth, which washed her scent away. He noticed the loss of her touch long enough to miss her sweetness on his lips. But it was replaced by something bewitching. A balmy, unknown taste. The taste enveloped his mouth so fully that it rose to the back of his throat, flooded his nose, and upon swallowing, Fave knew that there would be nothing more exquisite than the fragrant tea and Rachel’s mouth on his. It was a heady combination that confused his senses. He felt like a dandelion seed, hanging on to a feathery umbrella in the wind, hoping he would land softly on her mouth again.
Rachel watched him intently but did not speak. She seemed shy and thoughtful.
He took another sip and exhaled the flowery aroma. It was nothing short of beautiful. Could tea be beautiful? Or was it that it became so because of Rachel? Shewasbeautiful. But his mind was going in circles, circling her, focusing on everything that this mysterious girl was keeping hidden.
“In some cultures, jasmine tea is considered an aphrodisiac.” She dropped this nonchalantly. But it punched him in the gut. Could this be mere passion? Surely she was too innocent to trick him. And he did not feel this allure because of the tea alone. He could not quite tell why, but his senses were overpowered by the sheer glee that her presence brought him.
Her trivia was so endearing. She did not just ramble when she was nervous, she turned into an encyclopedia. He did not listen to her words but marveled at her demeanor and grace. She sat primly, despite being kissed for what he suspected was her first time. Her restraint was the epitome of a good upbringing, but Fave wanted none of that right now.
He put his hand on her cheek, trailed butterfly kisses down her neck before pulling her in for another deep kiss. This second kiss was infused with jasmine, and tenderness, and the familiarity of their first. She parted her lips and swished over his bottom lip. When he hesitated for a moment, he felt her swallow. So he did nothing for a split second and then she surprised him with her tongue in his mouth. He wished her exploration of him could last forever, for he knew he would never get enough of this enigmatic girl.
After they kissed, she busied herself with their little tea picnic again. She tilted her cup in her hand and noticed the fruit. Pomegranates with leaves and blossoms. A symbol of the Jewish New Year. The number of seeds symbolized the number of the good deeds one ought to perform that year. Fave thought she couldn’t possibly know what the symbolism of the fruit bore. Or could she? She was quite the master of trivia, but Fave realized that she was hiding shily behind the distraction of odd information. There was no knowing what she would figure out, for she knew a bit about everything. He had to be more careful to not blow his rakish cover and reveal himself as a Jew among the ton by touting picnic baskets with Jewish ceremonial fruit drawn on it.
CHAPTER19
Back in her room, Rachel drew the curtains wide open and stood by the window. She looked back over the garden, but the willow was out of sight, the secret kissing spot hidden behind shrubs, rosebushes, and the safe willow-leaf canopy. Some finches chirped their pretty songs, the clouds moved slowly in the sky, and the wind blew across the grass as if nothing had happened. But for Rachel, everything was different. Fave had kissed her. She could not believe her luck. The most handsome rake of the ton, a rich and—as it turned out, unbelievably talented—Adonis had kissedher.And she let him.
It was scandalous. And yet, if she had to marry a stranger, this would be her last chance to feel what the Greek goddesses had. Was this passion? It certainly felt different than merely breaking rules, this was not another prank she and Sammy concocted. If anyone had caught them, her reputation would have been ruined and they would have probably had to move again.
She could not risk her father’s business in London and Sammy’s education. And she would not refuse the arranged marriage. But something was different and she was hungry for Fave. His touch had marked her skin and his gaze entered her soul where she welcomed him. She wanted to curl up in his arms and intertwine her body with his. It was an odd sensation, for she missed him now. She had only known him for mere days and spent so little time with him, but she trusted him with her life. Something deep inside her had latched onto him and was unwilling to let go. But she knew, she would have to save herself for her husband—whoever had been chosen for her.
Her hand found her mouth. She could still taste him. The jasmine aroma and his hot lips on hers… a golden jasmine kiss. Rachel thirsted for more. Fave’s hair had shimmered in hues of gold and amber in the late morning sun, and she wanted to touch it, but she did not dare. Maybe he would give her another chance. She would know how to kiss this time. His eyes had glistened with an intensity that made her stomach turn. She could not possibly keep up with him, and yet she wanted nothing more than to impress him. Step one would be no more trivia. Step two… where was the lace dress?
CHAPTER20
It was midday when Fave returned from his picnic with Rachel. After he had seen Rachel off through the doors to the main salon, he entered through the orangerie. The other guests were most likely busying themselves with badminton, or some other outdoor pursuits, in the gardens on the other side of Brockton House. He planned to slip into the quiet corridor and hide his basket in the cupboard. It really was his cupboard since he had been using it since childhood. Every spring and summer, he had spent so much time at this house. No wonder his parents did not mind paying for it. He opened the side door and stepped onto the oriental runner in the small hallway connecting the orangerie with the main house.
“Where have you been?” Lizzie eyed Fave curiously when he entered the house with their grandfather’s picnic basket.
“I should ask the same of you, wandering the hallways unchaperoned.” His retort stung and she lowered her head.
“Touché.” Lizzie’s attempt of a smile melted when she saw Fave’s worried look. He knew her reputation was hanging by a thread as long as the dowager was close. A single wrong move and their hostess would unleash gossip that could have taken Phryne, the Ancient Greek courtesan, down with her. He would do anything to uphold her reputation so as to make her season, and the subsequent ones, the most pleasurable ones of her life. His heart tightened at the thought of the macabre scheme. He knew she was to marry a nobleman, preferably a titled one. It would secure his and Arnold’s future business when Eve grew too old to stand by Lady Bustle-Smith and Gustav passed the business on to the boys.
The door to the orangerie opened, and their parents emerged with Lady Bustle-Smith. Lizzie instantly stepped closer to Fave as Lady Bustle-Smith glanced haughtily at her.
“What is the meaning of all this?” Lady Bustle-Smith asked, waving her hand at the picnic basket.
“We had some tea in the garden. It is such a beautiful sunny morning,” Lizzie lied. “Surely, you would not begrudge us a brother-sister picnic without a chaperone?” She had always been better at making things up than Fave.
He nodded.
“Hmpf.” Lady Bustle-Smith took Eve’s arm and pulled her along without another word.
Fave watched his mother trail after Lady Bustle-Smith, as if she were going to calm a sputtering dragon. His eyes rested on the thick bound papers his father held.
“More money? Another filled ledger of her debts, Father?” Fave nodded at the bound papers in Gustav’s arm.
“I gave her nothing this time.” Gustav shook his head. “Your damn sense of fairness, son. It unleashed something I thought I had forgotten,” Gustav rubbed his eyes, “She owes us too much already, and I have no idea where it has all gone. She did not say.” He walked away. “I am sick of these lies.”
Fave and Lizzie followed alongside him.
“What do you have there?” Fave took the catalog from his father.
“Pavel sent it. His catalog. We need to find that emerald,” Gustav continued.
Lizzie seemed to know about it. Arnold must have told her.
