Page 28 of Fortune Favors the Frivolous
Caroline wrinkled her nose, glancing at the aromatic heap of theatrical costume upon the floor beside the bed. “I’d be better off in this disguise for now, surely?” she asked, feeling heat steal across her body at the memory of how intimately he’d helped her remove those very garments. “If you can bear being so near to me, I’d be quite happy to ride the distance to where Venetia is right now.” She cleared her throat, realizing how much she wanted to feel his closeness again, the solid warmth of him at her back. “We could worry about a suitable conveyance then. After all, Venetia is dressed as a lady. She’d need to go in a carriage. I’m just… Well, no one would cast me a second glance.”
Suddenly, the freedom was exhilarating. To be free of the constraints of being a lady, even for a little while longer. To sit astride a horse rather than sidesaddle, to feel the wind in her hair without concern for propriety or reputation. It was a heady thought, almost as intoxicating as Henry’s kisses.
But Henry’s next words were dampening. “You’ll get attention you don’t want, Caroline. Your clothing marks you out as a theatrical performer, and some people view such folk with suspicion. You might be accused of theft, or worse, before youknow it.” His tone was gentle but firm, protective in a way that made her heart flutter.
“Well, that’s very unfair, since I’ve never stolen anything in my life. And I’m sure most of them haven’t, either.” She lifted her chin defiantly, though she appreciated his concern.
“Except you did steal the apples from Mr. Wilson’s orchard, so that’s not quite true.” A hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth, the same teasing expression that had charmed her since childhood.
“I was seven!”
“Yes, but I was just reminding you that your claims were not quite accurate—”
“Because you can’t help yourself, Henry, from saying exactly what you think about me and my behavior, which is one of the things I like most about you,” Caroline said with a grin that felt almost flirtatious. “I never have to worry whether you’re being truthful or not. All right, then I’m an untrustworthy performer, but I still want to travel to wherever Venetia is, sitting astride a horse and pressed close to you.”
The words hung in the air between them, charged with new meaning after their earlier intimacy. She watched as a flush crept up Henry’s neck.
He bit his lip. “You’re not ashamed about what happened between us?”
“Should I be?” She raised herself on the pillows, and quickly he interrupted, “No, no! I didn’t mean it like that at all! I thought it was wonderful too. I was just worried you’d be regretting what we did and maybe even angry with me.”
Caroline suddenly felt the wind drop from her sails as a terrible thought assailed her. Slowly she asked, “It was just a kiss, was it not?” Her heart seemed to pause between beats as she waited for his answer, suddenly aware of how little she truly knew about such matters.
For a moment, the room was utterly silent. Caroline’s heart hammered in her chest as she watched Henry’s expression shift from confusion to understanding to something that looked remarkably like tenderness.
“Lord, Caroline! Do you think I’d be so ungentlemanly as to go any further than a kiss?” His voice was a mixture of shock and disappointment—or perhaps relief.
The relief that flooded through her was powerful enough to make her lightheaded. But underneath that relief was a curious sensation.
Yes, disappointment, though she would never admit it, even to herself. She twisted the edge of the sheet between her fingers, avoiding his gaze as warmth crept up her neck.
“You’d never be anything but a gentleman, Henry. And I don’t really know what going any further than a kiss really means, but I’ll take your word as a man of honor that my reputation is not going to be compromised if we can find some way of returning to London and my absence—and Venetia’s—somehow explained to everyone’s satisfaction. Which I am sure my brother Frederick will help with once he knows everything.” She looked up at him through her lashes. “But to get to Venetia, I believe the quickest and best way is for me to ride in front of you on the same horse. I do not want to be sent on my way. Alone.”
Henry’s cheeks colored slightly, and he turned to look out the window as if the pastoral view held sudden fascination. “When I saw you on the back of that cart, and then the country lout pursuing you, I was angry enough thinking you were just a country lass in need of rescue… But when I discovered it was you.” He shook his head, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. “Oh, Caroline—”
“You came to my rescue just in time, and that’s all that’s important.” She leaned forward, wishing she could touchhis hand, offer reassurance and perhaps feel that spark of connection again.
But Henry was not yet ready to let the matter lie. “When I finally saw through your disguise…” He turned back to her, his expression earnest, his eyes dark with an emotion that made her breath catch. “I’ve never been more frightened in my life. The thought of what might have happened to you—what could have happened if I hadn’t arrived when I did—”
“But it didn’t happen,” she interrupted, not wanting to dwell on the dangers she’d faced when the present moment felt so much more compelling. “And now we must turn our minds to getting back to Venetia and then home to London without causing a scandal that would ruin us both.”
He nodded. “You’re right, of course. Very practical, as always.”
“Not always,” she said with a small smile. “After all, I did dress as a stable boy and leap onto the back of Lord Windermere’s carriage. Hardly the action of a sensible young lady.”
That earned her a reluctant laugh, the sound warming her more than she expected. “True enough. You’ve always had more daring than sense, Caroline Weston.”
“And you’ve always had both, Henry. Which is why I trust you to get us all out of this predicament.” The words were light, but the sentiment behind them was genuine. She did trust him. Completely. With her safety, her reputation, and—if she were being honest—her heart.
“Well… I’ll wait outside while you dress,” he said, his voice suddenly formal though his eyes lingered on her face. “And then, yes, we’ll ride together to the Rose and Thorn. But we must be careful. Windermere’s men could still be searching for you.”
As he reached the door, Caroline called out, “Henry?”
He turned, his hand on the latch.
“About that kiss…” she began, unsure how to continue. Her fingertips unconsciously touched her lips, as if they could still feel the pressure of his, the warmth and surprising softness.
His expression softened, his gaze dropping to her mouth before meeting her eyes again. “What about it?”
