Page 73 of To Wed an Heiress
She stood, still holding his hand.
“At least I have a dry shirt for you,” he said. “And a towel or two. We can dry your dress before the fire. If you insist on returning to Macrory House, you can do it at dawn. The storm will surely be finished by then and the causeway passable.”
He bent and placed his lips on hers. She hadn’t expected his kiss, but she didn’t pull back.
When his arms went around her, she stepped into his embrace. Any thought of her reputation was lost when he deepened the kiss. Everything narrowed to become simply sensation. It felt as though lightning traveled through her body, racing back again to where their lips were joined.
Her mouth opened beneath his. She wrapped her arms around his neck as colors sparkled behind her closed eyelids. She’d never considered that a kiss could be magical. Or that she would want it to continue for much longer than it did.
When Lennox stepped back and looked down at her, she had the impression that he was going to apologize. She pressed two fingers against his lips.
“No,” she said. “Don’t say a word.”
“I was going to say that I needed to show you to your room before I did something else foolish.”
She could feel her cheeks warm at his words. Foolish? Was it truly foolish to feel so alive? So excited and curious? She wanted to know what came after. What would happen next? She wanted to be in his arms, and that thought was most definitely scandalous. Her body was heated, her thoughts racing from one shocking proposition to another. She wanted to see him with his shirt off again, touch his magnificent chest, stroke her fingers across his impressive back.
What would it feel like to have him touch her?
She wanted to tell him all the questions she had, all the thoughts that were cascading through her mind. He wouldn’t criticize her or condemn her, but she wasn’t certain exactly what he would say.
How very odd that she had to come halfway around the world to find someone like Lennox, a man whom she admired. He was not simply kind and attractive, but she felt like she could tell Lennox anything and he would understand. She’d already divulged more to him than she had anyone, including Ruthie.
It wasn’t just being in Scotland that was changing her. Knowing Lennox brought out the best in her, made her want to be more daring and less of a coward, especially now. She wanted to ask for another kiss, but she stepped back as well.
A proper woman would certainly apologize for being so forward. If nothing else, she should attempt to find an excuse for her lamentable behavior. The truth was that she would do the same thing if offered another chance. She would stand within the shelter of his arms and become lost in his kiss.
She didn’t miss the world when she was with Lennox.
Chapter Thirty-Four
This was not a good situation. Mercy being alone with him in the castle would be enough to cause comment in the village and Macrory House for months, if not longer. Lennox wasn’t under any delusion that they would be able to keep the circumstances of this night secret. The gossips always knew, somehow, some way.
Although the castle was large, built to house members of the clan, the space wouldn’t protect them from rumor or innuendo. People would think what they would, and most of what they would think would be detrimental to Mercy.
The only thing that would save her from condemnation would be to leave Scotland. He doubted if the long trail of gossip could reach across the Atlantic Ocean.
The causeway that connected the island on which Duddingston Castle was built often flooded in a storm. By now it was impassable, which meant neither of them could go anywhere. Nor could anyone reach them.
They were just going to have to get through the night. Once dawn came and, hopefully, the storm ceased, Irene would arrive. She would serve as chaperone until he could find some way to get Mercy to Inverness.
She sat in front of the fire now, holding her hands closer to the flames.
Once back in New York, what made her think Gregory would leave her alone? Or that she could escape a marriage her parents obviously wanted?
The questions put him in a foul mood. The realization that he didn’t want her to leave made him even more irritated. She’d been in Scotland only a few weeks and had already managed to disrupt his life.
Connor and Irene—those were the only people he’d needed for the past five years. Somehow, however, Mercy had inserted herself into his thoughts and even his dreams. When he wasn’t looking, she’d somehow become important.
When had that happened? How had it happened?
“Do you have anything in your case other than money?” he asked. “Like dry clothes?”
She shook her head.
“For an heiress, you travel light.”
Her smile was quick and amused.
