Page 97 of Rules for a Bastard Lord
“Much time? We have no time,” the countess said. “The first ball is in four days.”
“Fortunately, I have already gotten things started. I had Helaine draw up some sketches. That’s Lady Redhill, you know. Now, where did I put them?”
Bluebell stood up. “The breakfast table.”
“Oh yes,” Eleanor said as she linked arms with the countess. “Let me show you.” Then she led the woman out of the room—just took her arm and walked her away, leaving Bluebell with the two men, one of whom was staring slack-jawed at his wife’s retreating form.
Bram waited, ready to stop whatever happened. If the man became violent…
But nothing happened. The earl sniffed at Bluebell and glared at Bram. “You will pay for this,” he growled. “Mark my words, there will come a time when I can end you completely. And I will.”
“Him!” Bluebell cried. “He’s got nothing to do—”
“And you will learn your place.” He shoved to his feet and puffed himself to his most intimidating size. But Bluebell was never one to be intimidated.
“Oh, I have,Grandfather. I have learned my place very well as an acknowledged granddaughter to the Earl of Cavener.”
To which the man growled, a low and feral sound, before rounding on his heel and stomping out. Bram watched him go, but there was no more threat there. For all that the earl thundered, he was defeated. His words were for show, and Bram was able to relax his fears for Bluebell.
She would have her Season.
“You’ve done it,” she whispered. “You made him accept me.”
“I haven’t done anything like that,” he said. Or he tried to. Instead, his words were lost as she threw himself into his arms. He caught her—barely—but once she’d pressed flush against him, he lost no time in wrapping his arms around her. In lifting her up in a hug. In looking in her shining eyes and taking what he’d missed for three long days.
Her kiss.
He kissed her well and deep, and she melted against him as if there were no other place in the world that she wanted to be. He thrust into her mouth, he played with her tongue and teeth, and he touched every part that he could reach.
And he was still doing it when Seelye’s loud cough penetrated his thoughts. And even then, his hands were on her hips, his groin hot and hard. But all he could think of was Bluebell in his arms.
She broke the contact, her breath now coming in deep gasps. And then he heard the cough again.
He set her down. He forced himself to step back, though it was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do.
Oh hell. He’d been kissing her in full view of the servants. He’d been ready to do a lot more and might very well have, if the butler hadn’t interrupted them.
He rubbed a hand over his face.
“I can’t see you anymore,” he rasped.
“What?”
He winced, because she said the word correctly. And didn’t that just emphasize what had happened in the last few minutes?
“You’re recognized. You’re the granddaughter of an earl now. You’re going to have a Season.”
She looked up at him, and her entire body seemed to glow with happiness. “I know. And it’s all thanks to you.”
“No, no,” he said, forcing himself to take another step backward. “It was your right, from the beginning.”
He gripped the back of the nearest chair, his knuckles going white as he processed what had happened. And what now had to happen.
It had worked. She was recognized. The granddaughter of the Earl of Cavener.
Who was well beyond his touch.
He’d known it was possible. Truthfully, he’d thought it a remote possibility. He thought they’d know he carried a blank page, not a letter from a bishop. He expected the countess to meekly follow her husband. He thought a thousand other things would happen…except for what did.
